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Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:05 pm EDT

Sarah Palin is dropping puck at the Flyers home opener

By Greg Wyshynski

Vocal Minority of Readers: "Argh, stop with the Sarah Palin stuff! It has nothing to do with hockey, even though hockey has been an integral part of her biography, stump speeches and political iconography!"

Me: "So what happens if, for example, the Hockey Mom from Wasilla is invited to drop the puck in a ceremonial face-off before an NHL game in a swing state? Say, for example, Philadelphia, Pa. This weekend. At the New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers home opener."

Vocal Minority of Readers:  "..."

From the Flyers, via the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the nation's most popular hockey mom, will join the winner of the Philadelphia Flyers regional search for the "Ultimate Hockey Mom" contest and drop the puck at the ceremonial opening face-off as the home team Flyers host the New York Rangers at the Wachovia Center on Saturday, October 11 at 7 p.m.

"Because of the tremendous amount of publicity she has brought to our sport, we invited the most popular hockey mom in North America to our home opener to help us get our season started," said Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider who founded the Flyers in 1967. "We are very excited she has accepted our offer and we are very proud of the publicity she is generating for hockey moms and the sport of hockey."

Nathan Gorenstein of the Inquirer wonders how Philadelphia fans will receive the governor of Alaska: "This is Philly, and we, don't forget, boo Santa Claus. Will the GOP buy up all the seats? Are hockey fans all Reagan Democrats? And are the Flyers taking a risk by doing what appears to be a political endorsement?"

I'm candid about my political leanings, and I've been to Philly enough to know this will fall on deaf ears, but I'll say it anyway: Polite applause will suffice. Don't be a jerk and boo her, or toss beer on the red carpet. Save that stuff for Bettman.

Alas, Matt P. from The 700 Level is skeptical that the Flyers fans will be on their best behavior.

Thanks to Puck Daddy reader Emidio Capponi for the tip.

Related: Hockey Fans, When Hockey and Hollywood Collide

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179 Comments

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  1. Zman
    1. Posted by Zman Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    Is it a political statement when the President, Senator or Congressman/woman toss out the first pitch of a ballgame?
    I think it was a good move by the Flyers to let her drop the puck. Maybe she will become the next good luck charm and besides, she is more eye appealing than Kate Smith was. Although I still get goosebumps when I hear a recording of Kate belt out "God Bless America".
    Go Orange and Black
  2. Cletus T. Yokul
    2. Posted by Cletus T. Yokul Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:55 pm EDT

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    I got no problem with it at all, even if I am not going to vote for her. Its people piming hockey and hockey pimping people.
    Still I don't like politicizing any of the sports, but at least its not Sidney Crosby dropping it... that would pi$$ me off.
  3. deand
    3. Posted by deand Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    Philly will boo her, badly, it will be really awful... truth is, I'll be joining them.
  4. kh111
    4. Posted by kh111 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    Argh, stop with the Sarah Palin stuff! It has nothing to do with hockey, even though hockey has been an integral part of her biography, stump speeches and political iconography!
  5. .................................................!
    5. Posted by .................................................! Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    Philadelphia: where the losers of the hockey world congregate.
  6. Bud Man
    6. Posted by Bud Man Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    It's a pure political stunt and she has no place there. As a life long Flyers fan it disgusts me that she will be doing this. Considering how "polite" she has been in the last few days on the campaign trail I hope the Philly fans give her what she deserves.....a hearty round of boos! She maybe be taken by it if that happens....the way the ticket has protected her I'm sure she thinks most everyone loves her....not this Flyer Fan and to all you who turn out to the game....let her hear ya! Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! You betcha!
  7. Kyle L
    7. Posted by Kyle L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    This is horrible.
  8. Wyshynski
    8. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

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    @ kh111
    +1.
  9. tmr
    9. Posted by tmr Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    I like her. She's fearless. She don't take no shyte. Good for Philly.
    But Dean is right, they'll probably boo her.
  10. Cletus T. Yokul
    10. Posted by Cletus T. Yokul Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:55 pm EDT

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    They're not booing, their saying "Boooourns"...
  11. Cletus T. Yokul
    11. Posted by Cletus T. Yokul Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:55 pm EDT

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    @ hokeytown brood- I would say that Wysh response has to do with bringing politics period into an NHL event, not her personally...
    but then again, I bet you believe Bush was right...
  12. hockeytown blood
    12. Posted by hockeytown blood Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    and THIS IS ABOUT A PHI vs NYR OPENER, enough with that f'g photo jerka$$.
  13. ClayMeow
    13. Posted by ClayMeow Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    It's a shame she'll see the home town team lose that one.
    NYR all the way!!!
  14. that girl
    14. Posted by that girl Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:43 pm EDT

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    Good, now I won't have to limit my booing to just the Flyers on Saturday.
  15. Wyshynski
    15. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

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    @ hockeytown blood --
    Seriously? I actually stand up for Palin and hope against reality that they'll treat her with some begruding respect as a guest, and I still take one to the chin?
    I clapped for Bush at the Nationals home opener. Because he was a guest of the team, because he's the president, and because you keep politics out of the sports arena. Too bad the Flyers didn't get the memo.
  16. hockeytown blood
    16. Posted by hockeytown blood Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    @Cletus
    my post has to do with NOT bringing politics period into an NHL blog. Go back to screwing your sister ou half wit piece of garbage
  17. rwl060
    17. Posted by rwl060 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    Admit it, Wysh ... You're sweet on her. Admit it, and we'll stop naysaying.
  18. tmr
    18. Posted by tmr Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    @ hockeytown blood
    I'd say the old tension scale is pushin' about a 9.5 eh? No use getting too upset about something you can't change. I mean, say your opinion - but don't stroke out over it. I can't read your stuff if you're dead. Chill.
    Wysh is going to write about whatever he wants anyway. It's his job. We're doing this for free.
  19. maotenear
    19. Posted by maotenear Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:05 pm EDT

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    Amazing - most of youz guys are way to serious... You're showin your political leanings,not your love for ice hockey!
  20. James M
    20. Posted by James M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    It's Philly, they'd boo themselves, they'd boo Christ. It's Philly, and it's just the way they are. They're used to booing.
  21. rwl060
    21. Posted by rwl060 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    I was joking, by the way ... Just want to toss that out there, to avoid being lumped in with folks like hockeytown blood. Dude, get your blood sugar checked. Seriously.
  22. Wyshynski
    22. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

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    @ rwl060 --
    Well, I do believe she's winking at *me*, if that's what you're asking.
  23. Mateo P
    23. Posted by Mateo P Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

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    I'd be against the idea were it Obama instead of Palin, but I'd certainly be less disgusted. That lady gives me the creeps, she's disturbingly cheeky. Plus it's the Flyers and everything is going to be orange... ugh!
  24. jibblescribbits
    24. Posted by jibblescribbits Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    @ Wysh:
    abortions for some... tiny American flags for everyone.
  25. Ctizzle
    25. Posted by Ctizzle Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Palin sucks!! I hope the Flyers fans boo her off the ice. This is best way to jinx the Flyers' entire season by pulling this crap. The only way to reverse the jinx is to boo her out of the arena.
    And...oh, by the way when you're actually running for office and not the sitting president, senator, congressman, or mayor...it IS political and Ed Snider knows it. This is a stunt by Ed Snider to influence PA and NJ presidential politics and it is wrong.
    Now if they laced up Obama and McCain and got down to an old fashioned hockey fight that would be different.

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