Road Warrior: Game On In Atlanta

By Ross Forman

Atlanta - "Uncle Ernie" showed his soft side before the game, but clearly had his game-face on during Wednesday's Atlanta Thrashers clash with the visiting Detroit Red Wings.

Hanging out before the game in the media dining room, The Cat Ernest Miller held and played around with six-month-old Marcus Jindrak, son of tag team wrestler Mark Jindrak. The Cat even told the youngster he was his "Uncle Ernie."

During a stoppage of play late in the first period, The Cat and Jindrak -- Mark, not Marcus -- helped Atlanta's roving reporter Jay-Bird convert a Detroit fan into an Atlanta supporter. The 20-something-year-old fan even took off his Red Wings jersey when Jay-Bird and The Cat showered him with Thrasher goodies. Of course, the Red Wings jersey came off quite quickly when the muscular Jindrak stepped in to help the fan remove it.

Mike Tenay, also attending the game at Philips Arena, watched, but actually wanted the fan to remain loyal to the Wings... like Tenay himself.

The WCW superstars visited the four-man officiating crew (referees Greg Kimmerly and Don Koharski and linesmen Brian Mach and Andy McElman) after the first period. The Cat attempted to bribe Koharski, but the NHL's senior referee refused -- actually laughing at The Cat's less-than-generous offer.

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