Fans at the University of Pennsylvania
throw toast on the football field after the third quarter because
the school banned liquor, which was formerly used to toast the team.
The students took the toast literally and now throw real toast.
This is much better than the University of New Hampshire fans, who
throw a fish on the ice during school hockey games. Also fishy,
during 2011, fans of the Nashville Predators threw catfish on the
ice.
Speaking of hockey, fans in Detroit have a tradition of throwing an
octopus on the ice during Detroit Red Wings home playoff games. It
began during the 1952 playoffs, when a National Hockey League team
played two best-of-seven series to capture the Stanley Cup. The
octopus, with eight arms, symbolized the number of playoff wins
necessary for the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup. Brothers Pete
and Jerry Cusimano hurled an octopus into the rink. The team swept
the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens en route to winning
the championship.
Florida Panthers fans littered the ice with plastic rats during
face-offs and regular play during Game 5 of their 2012 playoff
series.
Other tosses, that seem mild by comparison, include throwing flowers
for figure skaters, or tossing hats when a hockey player makes a hat
trick.