TDMMC March Madness - CULTURE - Octopi vs. The Granite M

[Dave Gray]

Like each March, TDMMC is doing it's own bracket.  We're voting on sports traditions, culture, and oddities.  We're only including American sports and picked the most popular ones we could find.  The four brackets are named: TRADITION, CULTURE, HISTORY, and LEGENDS.  Vote on the best until one remains.

A) Octopi (Detroit Red Wings)

In 1952, fans threw an octopus on the ice, symbolizing the 8 wins needed for a championship.  Ever since, fans have been sneaking and throwing octopi on the ice.  In 1996, seafood company owners snuck in a 50 lb beast, which was given a free zamboni ride.

B) The Granite M (Missouri)

In their stadium, painted rocks make up a 95 foot "M" in the endzone.  Freshmen repaint it every year.

[Brian Fein]

Octopus Story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtE7eFcKvvs



Rock M: (from Wikipedia)
The stadium's most historic and identifiable landmark is the rock "M" above the stadium's north end zone. The "M" is formed by whitewashed rocks, and it measures 90-feet-wide by 95-feet-high. The landmark was built in 1927 by students, using leftover rocks from the original construction of Memorial Stadium. This distinctive feature has not been immune to pranks, such as enterprising Nebraska or Kansas fans attempting to change the "M" to an "N" or a "K", but groundskeepers and students have in the past protected what may be the stadium's best-known landmark. One of the traditions of the football team is that seniors, after playing their final home game, take a rock from the "M" as a souvenir. The rock "M" is also whitewashed every year by incoming freshmen during welcoming activities prior to the first home game.

[Dave Gray]

I chose the Octopus one, only because it's so weird paired with how far it goes back.

[Phishfan]

One of the best known and weirdest hockey tradions. This is a landslide.

[Brian Fein]

The octopus, IMO, could be the winner of the entire bracket.

[Dave Gray]

One other thing, I think that the Granite M is kinda lame, since it's painted.  Originally, I thought it was colored rocks arranged a certain way, which would be cooler.  The best part of it is the thing about the incoming Freshmen doing the work on it.  That's kinda cool.  No chance that it was winning this bracket, though.