Sometimes pop culture influences sports, other times sports influence pop culture. Sometimes, every once in a while, the two come together in a perfectly symbiotic way that could make the Grinch smile.
May 11, 1995, hit NBC sitcom Seinfeld airs the 22nd episode of the 6th season – The Face Painter. As a result, the New Jersey Devils organization was slightly altered for the rest of time (so far).
The Face Painter’s namesake refers to David Puddy, a recurring character on the show played by Patrick Warburton that has an on-again, off-again relationship with primary character Elaine Benes. The episode revolves around a typical spat between the two supposed lovers, one in which Elaine is upset over Puddy’s over-zealous support of the New Jersey Devils.
The real relationship finisher; the fact that Puddy would actually go to the lengths of painting his own face. His sole reasoning became one of the most iconic lines to come out the show from a secondary character; “Gotta support the team.”
Sorry, got a little carried away with the Puddy tweets there. I’m not actually sorry. Anyway…
New Jersey Devils goaltender Scott Wedgewood decided that it was his turn to, you know, support the team. Wedgewood enlisted the help of his friend and famous goalie mask artist Dave Gunnarsson, who touts himself as a huge Seinfeld fan.
My friend Scott Wedgewood had such an awesome idea for his new New Jersey Devils mask.. On Scott previous Devils masks we painted the coolest Devils fan ever, Puddy! And I even painted a mask for Puddy himself! So Scott’s new idea was... how about do a tribute mask design inspired from Puddy’s epic face paint. I am a huge Seinfeld fan so I totally loved the idea and couldnt wait to get started. Thanks Puddy and thanks Scott!
A match made in heaven. Or… wait…
(H/T Instagram/daveart)
