Shock and Awe

Two fans in the arena's E-balcony had their foam fingers confiscated by arena security, and others were warned, during Tuesday night's Penguins-Islanders game.

The foam fingers weren't the "Number One" hands common at sporting events, rather they were the three-finger "shocker" symbol - a hand gesture that has a graphic, sexual connotation.

One of the fans protested on the wildly popular Let's Go Pens board. Discussion of free speech quickly turned into a five-page thread. The topic went way off course and the board administrator removed the whole posting. Two hours later, the topic was reborn and monitored heavily.

Mellon Arena management has every right to control events like this and that's not new. They do there best to make fans feel comfortable. One complaint usually represents the unspoken thoughts of many others.

Back in the day when fans started a "BULL****" chant to object a poor call from a referee, Vince Laschied would do his best to squelch the chant with a loud organ solo.

Off-color signs directing their wrath an NY Rangers' Adam Graves (who broke Mario Lemieux' hand with a slash in the '92 playoffs) were removed from the balcony.

A woman that sat near the Pens bench and flashed her breast behind Coach Ivan Hlinka was also ejected from the arena.


Last season ushers confiscated a young woman's poster that had lewd suggestions for Sidney Crosby.

Buying a ticket isn't a license to act like a fool.