Al Sobotka clearly broke the rules. He should zip up and move on. | Letters to the Editor

While I can sympathize with (fired Red Wings Zamboni driver) Al Sobotka because he lost a job he enjoyed, I can’t understand some of the issues raised in his firing for urinating inside an open area workplace garage as opposed to the restroom. ("Ex-Red Wings Zamboni driver Al Sobotka begged Chris Ilitch for 2nd chance after firing," Detroit Free Press, Jan. 19.)

My first concern was that Sobotka initiated a lawsuit for his firing over his self-admitted indecent exposure. In my opinion, the lawsuit is baseless and has no place in our courtrooms. Sobotka clearly broke the rules, and should zip up and move on. Working for Olympia for years does not mean they owe him.

Next concern is that the judge concluded that a jury should hear the case "given the severity of the discipline."

Too bad this judge was not presiding in the courtroom when I went to court for a ticket I received for urinating in public. The judge hearing my case had no sympathy for me. In fact, she verbally admonished me in front of everyone in the courtroom. She reminded me and everyone in the courtroom that anyone witnessing a person urinating in public can suffer emotionally. She also educated the room that if found guilty of urinating in public, a person is exposing themselves, and could be subjected to filing on the sex-offender website.

Another concern is with Sobotka’s attorney Deborah Gordon’s remark, “men urinate in front of each other all the time.” Clearly Gordon is making an assumption about something she knows nothing about. Plenty of men visit the restroom to urinate, and wait for a stall to open as opposed to using a urinal.

It’s human nature to be sad when leaving employment, especially when you have had it for years, but turning that sadness into a lawsuit is wrong. You did wrong, Mr. Sobotka. Move on and enjoy your retirement!

Steven Lukasik

Plesant Ridge

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Sobotka's firing is upsetting

What a sorry state of affairs at Olympia Entertainment.

Have these people nothing better to do than persecute a long-time employee for taking a whiz near a drain that empties into the sewer?

Ilitch Holdings CEO Christopher Ilitch's excuse for not getting involved sounds like he’s copping a plea to me. He would be better off living up to his promises to the city, like limiting the parking spaces at his parking lots and replacing them with the landscaping that he and the other parking lot owners agreed to do when the arena was built.

I suggest that Sobotka’s attorney, Deborah Gordon, cut to the chase and ask Marian Ilitch, the matriarch of the Ilitch family, to get involved. I’m confident that she would do the honorable thing, and bring this matter to a decent end.

While she is at it, she might want to clean out management at Olympia Entertainment. The money would be better spent elsewhere.

Ken Ross

Dearborn Heights

Zamboni driver's firing is a reflection of management

Management skills were sadly lacking in the firing of Red Wings Zamboni driver Al Solotka. This is a chance for owner Chris Ilitch to step up and show some leadership by overruling the termination decision of an employee who gave his entire life to the organization. Instead, by not even responding to the employee's request for reconsideration, he proves correct the many who say he is a failure as an executive.

Michael John

Royal Oak

Zamboni incident is a stain on the Ilitch family

Little guy Al Sobotka may not win his lawsuit against big guy Chris Ilitch, but the pee incident will forever be a stain on the Ilitch name for their lack of compassion and forgiveness.

Frank Selinsky

Lathrup Village

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Al Sobotka broke the rules, needs to move on. | Letters to the Editor