Last night, the right wing owner of the Philly Flyers had Sarah Palin drop the puck to open the game and the hockey season in Philly. It's a shameless ploy by owner Ed Snider to promote his right wing agenda. Luckily, he was met with less than an enthusiastic reception. It's his team, so he can do what he wants, just like George Steinbrenner can with the Yanks (much to my dismay), but what was shocking to me was that a long time MSG sports host called Snider and the Flyers out for it.
Al Trautwig hosts the show along with former players Ron Duguay, Dave Maloney, Ken Daneyko and Butch Goring on MSG and he had this to say on their new "Hockey Night Live" (rough transcript)
Trautwig: I want to hear all your opinions before we start. I just want to let you know that every email is on my side, but what happened tonight before the Ranger/Philadelphia game was an absolute disgrace.
Q: What happened, Al?
Trautwig: They brought out the Vice Presidential candidate...
Duguay: Oh, look how hot she is.
Trautwig: Stop it. Stop it..
Daneyko: I am a Sarah Palin fan.
Trautwig: I don't care. Hear me out. This is disrespectful of the Philadelphia Flyer fans and to the National Hockey league.
No, no, no, everyone that walks into the room, Kenny, what's the two things that kill a good party? Religion and politics. So let's say every fan walking into this building has stated their love for the Flyers tonight, let's say it's 50-50 and the election is close. Now they're presented with a VP candidate, an almost endorsement by the Flyers. And some are uncomfortable with that. Why should they be put in that position? Why don't they just put rabbis and priests at the door and say come on over to our side?
Daneyko: The Flyers have that right. I think people are a little more intelligent in this country than that to worry about whether Sarah Palin is dropping the puck or not. She's a celebrity nowadays....
Trautwig: Why would you put a negative mojo into let's say half the arena, a third of the arena? Why would you want to do that on opening night?
Duguay: But Al, all this is about entertainment. Hockey is entertainment. She's entertainment. She's the hockey mom of the States.
Trautwig: To Democratic fans, she's not entertainment. Fingers on the chalkboard.
Sure Duguay, we're electing a VP because you think she's hot. Anyway, send an email to Al and tell him thank you for stating the obvious. Let us enjoy the games in peace.
