"Arrr, me hearties! This scurvy knave, a former Zamboni swashbuckler, was caught relieving himself in the bilge! Blames the crew for a mutinous plot to maroon him!"
2024-01-19
Arrr, me hearties! A scurvy dog, once a Zamboni driver, be cut from the Detroit Red Wings crew fer takin' a leak in a drain at Little Caesars Arena. But he be claimin' the crew be plotin' to give him the ol' heave-ho, arrr!
Al Sobotka, the Zamboni driver for the Detroit Red Wings for 50 seasons, was fired two years ago after being caught urinating in a drain at Little Caesars Arena during a game in 2022. The 70-year-old Sobotka claims that he suffers from a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, which makes it difficult for him to control urination. He believes that the team used the urinating incident as an excuse to fire him because of his age. Sobotka has filed a lawsuit against the team, accusing them of a cover-up in his firing.Sobotka's lawsuit claims that Olympia Entertainment, a company owned by Ilitch Holdings that runs the team, fired him because of his age and disability. He also alleges that the company had an executive who knew nothing about him make the decision to let him go. However, Olympia Entertainment maintains that Sobotka was fired for "egregious misconduct."
One of Sobotka's attorneys argues that management was aware of his medical condition and that Sobotka believed no one was in the building at the time of the incident. Sobotka even texted Chris Ilitch, the CEO of Ilitch Holdings, pleading for another chance to keep his job, but Ilitch never responded.
In addition to driving the Zamboni, Sobotka was known for removing octopuses thrown onto the ice by fans, a Detroit tradition at the team's previous arenas. Fans would cheer as he twirled the sea creatures over his head.
Overall, Sobotka's firing and subsequent lawsuit have brought attention to the issue of age discrimination and disability rights in the workplace. The case will likely continue to unfold as it makes its way through the legal system.