I've said this before, and I'll say it again, politics and sports just don't mix. Last night, as I'm sure many of you know, Sarah Palin dropped the opening puck in Philadelphia for the Flyers v. Rangers game. And if you're wondering why Palin was dropping the puck in Philly - a place that she has no connections to whatsoever - it's because Flyers owner Ed Snider is a big MCain supporter, not because Palin is "America's most famous hockey mom."
The Times hockey blog said the boos were "resounding" and one paper said it was "an avalanche."
It's actually a little tough to hear the boos after they initially start on the video because the volume for the arena's music was jacked up to near deafening levels to drown them out (and some have said artificial crowd noise was added as well). A poor attempt to cover up the obvious, just like Snider's even worse attempt to pass off Palin as some kind of person critical to the sport of hockey.
Naturally, a lot of people thought this move was incredibly stupid, including Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.
“I am surprised that the candidate would go on the ice in Philly — Philly fans threw snowballs at Santa Claus and booed Beyonce because she was wearing a Michael Jordan dress," said Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals, a conference rival of the Flyers. "This is dangerous territory.”
Indeed. But it's also a good reminder that politicians of any party - Republican, Democrat, Communist, Socialist, Green Party, or Purple Party - shouldn't partake in cheap political ploys at major sporting events.
Let sports continue to be what they are - an escape.
Through rain, sleet, snow or cheap political ploy, Philly fans always deliver [Deuce of Davenport]
Booed on the ice [Politico]
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