One Last Political Ad...

From (who else?) Puck Daddy:

Please Make It Stop

Wow.

She describes herself as a "hockey mom."

Is it a hockey story? Sure, maybe it's a hockey story. Is it somehow good for the game? I really tend to doubt it, considering that the introduction of "soccer mom" into the lexicon via the political arena a decade-and-a-half ago hasn't quite vaulted futbol past football on the national sports radar and that the most prominent hockey player in the instant story isn't exactly a great ambassador for the game.

Here's a look at the forest, for those of you focused on the trees. From Matt Yglesias last night:

Okay, I flipped from football — America’s favorite sport — over to the politics thing and once again I’m hearing about all-American values and, um, hockey. We understand that real Americans don’t play, watch, or think about hockey ever, right? Baseball, football, basketball, NASCAR we’ve got a lot of popular sports here in the United States. And then there’s this odd Russo-Canadian game that can’t even get on ESPN.

Before you bash Yglesias's bashing, note that he's actually a closeted hockey fan - he even wants Ice Girls! Sigh.

The point, of course, isn't "who cares what outsiders think of hockey?" it's "why do we care how some pol is branding herself?" All it's doing is giving bloggers paper-thin coverage for expressing their unsolicited political views (guilty) and turning message boards and comment sections into dumbed-down mini-versions of The McLaughlin Group (which is really saying something).

So whether you're a Hockey Mama for Obama, you're pulling for the "pitbull with lipstick" and her grandfather father running-mate, or you're somewhere in between (or outside), let's leave the political discussion where it belongs, namely outside the hockey blogosphere... at least until Jim Lehrer asks the candidates the question on everyone in America's mind - you know, "Ovechkin or Crosby?"

Just Wonderin'...

Who gets more thoroughly vetted - NHL draft picks or Republican Vice Presidential nominees?

Obama/Oshie '08?

Proving yet again that there's absolutely no demographic to which a politician won't pander, Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were in North Dakota last week and took the opportunity to suck up to UND Fighting Sioux hockey fans as their beloved team prepared to head off to this week's Frozen Four.

So who faked being a hockey fan better? First, the photos, courtesy of the Grand Forks Herald:


What the hell? Why does Obama look as if we should be impressed that he just clean and jerked a hockey stick? I've gotta give the edge to Hillary here, and the fact that she looks like she's ready to butt-end Kent Conrad gives her an extra edge - I bet she goes into the corners with elbows high.

And who talked the talk? Well, Hillary, oblivous to the controversy over the "Fighting" part of the UND team nickname, referenced the full name multiple times and even identified herself with the team:

"What if the Fighting Sioux had fought the Gophers to a tie and then given up? They didn’t... and that’s why they’re going to the Frozen Four."

Presumably Hillary thinks she's tied with Obama, which is darling but ridiculously and demonstrably untrue (par for the course, I suppose).

For his part, Obama played it down the middle, noting:

"I want to congratulate the University of North Dakota Men's Hockey Team for making it to the Frozen Four. I want to wish them luck in their game next week against Boston College.

"I am deeply honored and thankful to get that hockey stick. It will have a place of honor in my office but I promise you I will not wield it because my hockey game is worse than my bowling."

Lame.

Most disappointing of all, however, neither candidate seemed to take a position on the critical-to-North-Dakotans issue of mascot violence, but we'd guess that Hillary is "pro"... if it'll get her votes.

From Admiral To Congressman?

According to The Politico, "A wealthy Chicago-area businessman who played minor league hockey for the Washington Capitals organization is expressing strong interest in challenging Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.)."

The Hill adds that this newcomer, who may, in fact, have his sights set on Dick Durbin's U.S. Senate seat, "only briefly attended college [and] would be vulnerable to attacks on his limited political background and qualifications."

The would-be-pol in question is a fella by the name of Steve Greenberg, who apparently played 80 games for the then-Hampton Roads (now Norfolk) Admirals of the ECHL back in the late '80s/early '90s (I wonder if he'll play up this military experience in his Congressional bid).

For all of you Dems hanging 'round these parts, here's hoping that Greenberg gets no closer to a job in Washington this time around than he did during his hockey career.

And yeah, slow news day.