Death Threats made against Steve the Mason

Typically during a game, I will follow Mark Wyant down to the locker room where he will interview a player immediately after the conclusion of the period. Jim Day does the same for Fox Sports Ohio. During the intermission, a police officer sits down next to us, assuring that no crazy fans or puck bunnies are able to get near us or the players in the locker room. I do not know the officers name because I am terrible with names (when Jess first appeared on the show, I wrote her name down so I wouldn't forget). But I had approached him because he looked tired and was about to fall asleep. A few minutes later, another officer approached him in an uncommon fashion and asked to speak with him in private. I didn't think much of it and they were still talking as Mark and I walked back up to the press level for the second period.

When we headed back down for the second period, another officer was down in his place. I naturally got worried about the first guy, because I was thinking maybe he got in trouble for something and was getting removed from the arena. What actually happened is that, according to the Columbus Dispatch, Peter Stenzel of Dublin started making threatening phone calls against our goalie, who was on his way to his franchise-record tenth shutout of the season. Of course, I didn't know this at the time, but I could definitely feel something was different.

Then as we headed down to the locker room at the conclusion of the game, I noticed probably seven Nationwide Arena employess checking our press passes to ensure that we were allowed to enter the bowels of the arena (as I call them). Typically there are all of three. I guess the NHL head of security was there as well. Now I was starting to get a tad bit nervous. When I left the locker room after getting all of my interviews, I saw the first cop in plain clothes. That made me feel better, because I knew that he was still there and on duty, but it became apparent that there was some sort of threat at Nationwide Arena, whether it be a bomb scare, or there was a registered child molester there, or whatever.

I guess they arrested the guy, who apparently is an avid Flames fan. First off, what a moron to call in a threat from his house. Hello? There is caller ID in the world! And second off, do you really think you are going to get anywhere near the 2009 Calder and Vezina trophy winner? NO! Ha, that guy deserve every bit of punishment he gets plus more. And you know what the ultimate irony would be? The Blue Jackets face the Flames in the first round of the playoffs, beat them, and then Steve Mason meets with the guy face to face in jail. Good times. Let's Go Jackets!

BK out!