Latest news with #PinkPony
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Wayne Gretzky's Trump connection resurfaces during Oilers' Stanley Cup run, sparking fresh debate among fans
As the Edmonton Oilers pursue their Stanley Cup dream, Wayne Gretzky's support for Donald Trump resurfaces (Getty Images) As the Edmonton Oilers chase their first Stanley Cup title since the Gretzky era, some fans are revisiting a controversy that's been simmering in the background—Wayne Gretzky's open ties to Donald Trump. But for many in Edmonton, politics are taking a backseat to playoff pride. Wayne Gretzky's past support of Donald Trump sparks criticism—and vandalism Earlier this year, Wayne Gretzky found himself at the center of political backlash after appearing at Donald Trump's inauguration alongside his wife Janet Jones. He had previously been seen socializing with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and even appeared to give a thumbs-up to Team USA as honorary captain during the 4 Nations Face-Off. The optics didn't sit well with many Canadians—especially after Trump suggested Canada could become the '51st state' of the U.S. The fallout was swift. A petition to rename Wayne Gretzky Drive garnered over 14,000 signatures, and a statue of the hockey legend outside Rogers Place was smeared with what smelled like feces. Security fences were later added to protect the statue from further vandalism. Fans defend The Great One and focus on his legacy Despite the controversy, local support for Gretzky remains strong—especially as the Oilers try to capture their sixth Stanley Cup. 'Let's forget about the past. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Our one of a kind Patented Cold Water Extraction Process Superior Ginseng Undo What he did here was a lot for the city, a lot for hockey,' said Craig Hiscock, who was seen taking a photo with Gretzky's statue ahead of Game 1. Longtime fans like Brian Foulken echoed the sentiment. 'At the end of the day, (Gretzky) played here for a long time. The diehard Oilers (fans), we love him,' he said. Darren Rogers added that Gretzky's leadership and records outweigh his political appearances: 'Politics aside, that accomplishment should matter more.' Now 64, Gretzky is still learning about the new culture surrounding the game. After Edmonton's Game 1 overtime win, he was puzzled by the team's latest post-game tradition. 'Pink Pony—is that a band or is that a song?' he asked on TNT Sports, referring to Chappell Roan's viral hit. 'It's the new generation, Wayne,' replied Paul Bissonnette. Smiling, Gretzky responded, 'I gotta get that (as) my ringtone.' Also Read: Wayne Gretzky sparks controversy by accusing Florida Panthers of buying success with tax loopholes
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Arson suspect in Pink Pony Showgirls fire denied bond
The Brief The man accused of setting fire to the Pink Pony Showgirls adult entertainment club appeared in court on Monday. Arvin Solimanpoor, 29, was charged with arson and denied bond by a Hillsborough County judge. He accused of setting Pink Pony Showgirls on fire and firing multiple gunshots inside the building. TAMPA, Fla. - The man accused of setting fire to an adult entertainment club in Tampa faced a judge on Monday morning. Arvin Solimanpoor, 29, is charged with arson in connection with a fire at the Pink Pony Showgirls adult entertainment club. He appeared in a Hillsborough County courtroom Monday morning for a pre-trial detention hearing. RELATED: Man arrested in Pink Pony Showgirls fire that injured firefighter, accused of shooting inside burning building The backstory Early Wednesday morning, Tampa Fire Rescue and the Tampa Police Department responded to calls about a fire and gunshots. Solimanpoor was arrested at the scene. Investigators say Pink Pony Showgirls shares a building with a 24-hour adult store. Police say an employee at the adult store called 911 when they saw a man going into the club and heard gunshots. "There was a person that was setting a fire to the building," Corporal William Baumann said. "Then, during the course of that call, they also indicated that person was also shooting gunshots." What they're saying Baumann says that when he got to the fire scene, he saw Solimanpoor fueling the fire inside the building with brush. RELATED: String of recent Tampa fires may be connected "The ones on the right were on fire next to the door, and the door was open," Baumann said. "There were branches. He comes out of the building. He goes down to grab more." Investigators say they found a melted bottle of what appeared to be lighter fluid near the building and another bottle in Solimanpoor's car at the scene. Police say Solimanpoor had more than 40 rounds of ammunition on him and a sticky note in his pocket. "In one of [his] pockets, there was at least one sticky that had the Pink Pony name on it," Baumann said. Prosecutors say Solimanpoor planned to set this fire at the Pink Pony Showgirls. "The defendant, alone, along with his post-it note, had planned this," the prosecutor said. "Having written down the Pink Pony, [he] did go there with the intent, armed with a firearm, to shoot [and] gain entry into the Pink Pony. With the intent to start a fire, which he did, using brush and lighter fluid to start that fire." The other side Solimanpoor's attorney asked the judge for a reasonable bond. He said Solimanpoor is employed and has family in Hillsborough County. His attorney also referenced possible mental health issues. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "There are adequate provisions of bond that could serve the purposes of protecting the public and making sure Mr. Solimanpoor appears in court," Solimanpoor's attorney said. His attorney also referenced possible mental health issues. The judge, however, denied bond for Solimanpoor on the charge of arson. Dig deeper Solimanpoor is also charged with shooting at, within or into a building, possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, battery on a law enforcement officer and felony criminal mischief. Solimanpoor is only charged in connection with the Pink Pony Showgirls fire. However, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is investigating several other recent fires that are believed to be arson. These fires happened 24 to 36 hours before the fire at Pink Pony Showgirls. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue says a fire was set early Tuesday morning at Smoke Bodega Smoke Shop and Indica Café Kava Bar. Overnight Wednesday, HCFR crews responded to a fire at Secrets Gentleman's Club on Hillsborough Avenue. Investigators say there was a fire set to the building and a car in the parking lot. There was also an exterior fire outside Curaleaf Dispensary on Sheldon Road. Investigators say the fire was put out before it damaged the interior of the building. What we don't know At this point, it's still unclear whether all these fires are connected with the fire at Pink Pony Showgirls. The Source The information in this story was gathered during Arvin Solimanpoor's pre-trial detention hearing. It also contains previous FOX 13 News reports. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
