I’m willing to admit my ignorance, when I have to. When the National Hockey League expansion team in Seattle announced last week the team name would be the Kraken, I asked, “What’s a Kraken?”

Well, after a little internet research, I found a kraken is a giant sea monster, in Scandinavian folklore, that resembles a large squid or octopus. That it explains it; I’m a full-blooded Italian from New York. Scandinavian folklore was never discussed at the dinner table, nor read to me at bedtime.

There are some differences of opinion as to how the word is pronounced. Most sources seem to say; crack’-in.

The expansion franchise was awarded to Seattle two years ago, and the Kraken becomes the 32nd team in the NHL. I, however, wasn’t alone in not knowing what a kraken is. Even the CEO of the team had no idea in the beginning, but it was a name popular among the team’s fans.

During an interview on the “Dori Monson Show” on KIRO radio, Tod Leiweke admitted, “When this started out and I first heard the Kraken name I’m like, ‘What in the heck is it?’ People wondered why it took so long [to choose a name], but first, we were slated to be a 2020-21 launch, so when it moved to 2021, we actually had time, and we just became disciplined listeners, because I have learned in this business that if you listen to your fans, you can’t go wrong.

“It sounds so corny to say, but if you can really create an environment where the fans can truly express their passions, it transfers to the players so that when a player pulls on — in hockey they don’t call it a jersey, they call it a sweater — so when our players pull on that Kraken sweater, I think they’re gonna feel the passion of our fans,” Leiweke said. “In this crazy business, that is often the difference that is the margin between success and failure.”

The Seattle Kraken will play in the NHL beginning in the 2021-22 season.

BUFFALO BLUE JAYS

After a lot of discussions and pleas for exemptions, the Canadian government decided last week the Toronto Blue Jays would not be allowed to play this MLB season in Toronto, due to the mandate of a two-week quarantine for anyone coming from outside the country. That just wouldn’t work with the visiting teams and the MLB schedule.

The Blue Jays then looked at the idea of playing their home games in either their Triple-A team’s home stadium in Buffalo, N.Y., or in Pittsburgh, where the Pirates play, or maybe even Baltimore. Some of the players were not keen on playing at Sahlen Field in Buffalo; a minor league ballpark that is 42 years old.

However, the decision was made for the team by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which rejected the Blue Jays’ temporary move to Pittsburgh, saying the risk is not worth the reward.

“In recent weeks, we have seen a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in southwestern Pennsylvania,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a statement. “To add travelers to this region for any reason, including for professional sports events, risks residents, visitors and members of both teams. We know that this virus does not discriminate, and can even make professional athletes very sick. We are committed to protecting the health and well-being of all Pennsylvanians.”

Interesting, since, the Pirates are still being allowed to play their home games in Pittsburgh.

Then, ESPN wrongly reported the Blue Jays would play in Baltimore, but the team announced on Friday, that Buffalo will be their home; for now.

“We are extremely grateful to have a home in Buffalo this season, thanks to the openness, creativity, and partnership of the Buffalo Bisons, Major League Baseball, and Blue Jay staff, who have worked tirelessly to prepare us for games at Sahlen Field,” Jays CEO Mark Shapiro said in a statement.

It’s irrelevant what Sahlen Field’s seating capacity is, since no fans are allowed to attend MLB games, but it is the largest Triple-A stadium in the U.S., and at one time could hold more than 21,000 fans. After several renovations and upgrades, Sahlen Filed now has a capacity of 16,600.

As a side note: Sahlen Field opened in April 1988, and I’ve driven past it many times, but never had the opportunity to attend a game there, as I moved to Tulsa in November of that year. The stadium has had several sponsor names over the years, and the current name comes from Sahlen Meat Packing company in Buffalo (aka. Sahlen’s). They produce my all-time favorite hot dogs, and on a trip back to New York in June, I brought back several packages of Sahlen’s hot dogs.