Long time Red Wings zamboni driver fired for most absurd reason

He's the man that for so many years would go out onto the ice at Joe Louis Arena pick up the octopus and swing it around as he walked off the ice. Al Sobotka is a legend for his pregame octopus swings during the Red Wings playoff games. Unfortunately, the club hasn't seen too many of those in recent times.

As the Wings said goodbye to The Joe a few years ago and moved into Little Caesars Arena, Al Sobotka followed them. He has been the zamboni driver for the Wings for 51 years. It appears his time with the Wings has come to an end as the Wings announced they had fired him. You may be wondering what in the heck could they have possibly fired a 67 year old beloved zamboni driver for. Well, I can assure you it is not what you would think. Sobotka was fired for urinating in a floor drain between two zambonis. Yes, you read that correctly, peeing into a floor drain.

Why was he peeing into a floor drain you might ask? Sobotka was diagnosed with benign prostatic hypertrophy - which causes frequent and uncontrollable urination problems. Clearly he wasn't going to make it to the washroom so he picked the next best thing, the floor drain. At least he used the drain right? He could've just said screw it and found a corner instead leaving a mess to clean up afterwards.

Sobotka is now suing the Red Wings for violation of civil rights claiming discrimination based on age and disability. This will be an interesting court case if it isn't settled before, just for the fact he peed in a floor drain.