Open Memo to Adam Proteau

by Jonathan Willis on Oct 22, 2008 5:57 PM MDT

Better check out TSN - it turns out that there is another evil ownership group using their hockey team to promote their political leanings. You'd better write another column, I suppose.

Also, to everyone - what do you think of an owner using his hockey team to advance whatever political cause he supports? Personally, I think if someone has invested however many million dollars into their team, they've got the right. I personally wouldn't do it (in the alternate universe where I have millions to squander on a hockey team), but it seems defensible to me.

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It probably has very little to do with any actual political support: Palin's a big name, wants to be seen in the limelight, is going to be in the state anyways, and is known to be a hockey fan.

John McCain toured Yankee Stadium as a VIP back in July, and President Bush (who I still think only became U.S. President to pad his resume for a stint as Commissioner of MLB) has thrown out numerous ceremonial first pitches for team owners who may donate to George Soros for all we know.

by Feynman and Coulter's Love Child on Oct 22, 2008 8:01 PM MDT reply actions

Fair point.

by Jonathan Willis on Oct 22, 2008 8:44 PM MDT reply actions

Well, it went so well the first time...

by mike w on Oct 22, 2008 10:01 PM MDT reply actions

There's different levels of political exploitation of sports. It ranges from strong (Ken Dryden) to weak (Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings taking ceremonial cup photos at the White House).

This Palin event would probably rank somewhere off the chart, as it qualifies as utterly shameless.

by raventalon40 on Oct 23, 2008 12:55 AM MDT reply actions

Is Bush really qualified to be the commish?

by Matt N on Oct 23, 2008 5:35 AM MDT reply actions

There's a big difference between a photo op with, say, a sitting duck, oops I mean a lame duck, oops again I mean a sitting president, and with somebody who is RUNNING FOR OFFICE. To me that crosses the line.

Of course if the owner of the hockey team wants to piss off that significant portion of his fan base that is voting for the other guy, well, that IS his prerogative I suppose. But there is no guarantee the candidate will get a polite reception.

Gotta say the concept of "Feynman and Coulter's love child" stopped me dead in my tracks. There's only one Feynman, but would that be the obnoxious right-wing asshole Ann Coulter, or the equally infamous Mrs. Coulter from The Golden Compass?

by Bruce on Oct 23, 2008 3:18 PM MDT reply actions

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