This just in...

According to a release sent by both the Comcast corporation and the Flyers organization about a half-hour ago, Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is scheduled to drop the puck for the Flyers' home opener this Saturday.

The release cheerfully touts Palin as "World's Most Popular Hockey Mom" who will join the winner of the Flyers' own search for the region's best hockey mom for a ceremonial puck drop before the team faces the New York Rangers.

Chairman Ed Snider, in perhaps the greatest revelation of the fact that he's sold out to the kind of people whose largesse can afford hockey tickets these days, said "We are very excited she has accepted out offer and we are very proud of the publicity she is generating for hockey moms and the sport of hockey."

Whew. Where to start with what's wrong with that...

First of all, she's probably not the most popular hockey mom in Alaska. Or Juneau. Or Wasilla. Or Barrow.

Second, how much good publicity can it be for hockey moms if Palin is a mother of five, who is a corrupt boss, who has been demonstrated to be a Bible literalist, and whose own house is in disarray. Nobody is perfect but there are so many better, more recognizable public figures to tab for the honor.

Third, the game of hockey speaks to some basic instincts in the human condition. Even now, the majority of Philadelphians (and I hope a majority of season or individual ticket holders) are Democrats, and I'm willing to bet there are some smart, middle-class GOP-supporting hockey fans who dislike the VP choice. Why hold up this national figure to some of the most vehement abuse from the most vociferous band of paying customers in the entire country?

Unlike the pre-arranged powwow at the Irish Pub two Fridays ago, there is no security force on earth without the use of guns that can stop nearly 20,000 pissed-off Philadelphians voicing their opinions in a place where sound cannot escape.

Next, while I think either Obama or Biden would get a better reception had they been chosen, I am staunchly against the insertion of political persons of any political party in order to create a sensation at a sporting event.

Yeah, I think the President throwing out the first pitch is OK because of the century-long tradition, but he's the elected head of the country. Sarah Palin is governor of a state 99.99999% of all Delaware Valley residents care little about, representing a party whose stronghold on the city ended more than 50 years ago.

Finally, I think it is the most compelling evidence yet that Ed Snider in his twilight years really doesn't care about his fan base and is unwilling to use his power to influence decisions like this.

It's true that the skyrocketing cost of player contracts and the efforts of the 30 owners and the commissioner to take the game to prominence has caused a major rise in ticket prices. These increases have taken the ordinary, traditional hockey fan out of even the upper levels and consigned them to the television or the once-a-year budget for attendance.

Nonetheless, Snider has continually pressed the notion that the Flyers continue to exist as an organization which dedicates itself to passion, hard work, determination and results - all the hallmarks of the old-school Philadelphia mentality that manifested itself in the Bullies of the 70's on the ice and block Democratic voting for all city mayors since the 1950's in the booth.

Yet now, the Republicans have co-opted the cause of the hard-working person as their own. But these same hard-working people who the elephants are supposedly looking out for can't go to the games. Instead, to generate more revenue, a larger arena has to be beholden to companies which pay for suites in order to conduct business or to lure potential clients.

I wish I had a demographic breakdown, but I can't begin to speculate on how many upper-bowl ticket-holders are Dems or GOP supporters. I can imagine that a majority of people who own tickets in the lower bowls are of greater economic status - and are not necessarily hockey fans.

Since about 1998, the douchebag quotient down there has increased exponentially. It seems to be more about status than dedication. It reminds me of how the majority of student fans reacted
at sporting events at BC - it's not so cool to be seen going nuts and showing your support for the club as it is just to be seen.

Remember, also, that Snider has spent the majority of his last 15 years in Malibu, only showing up to Flyers or Sixers games and garnering media attention when he feels his presence is needed to turn a bad situation around.

The old Snider, the passionate hands-on owner, would have railed against Palin's inclusion. But the old Snider was 30 years younger and didn't sell off his stake in the team to a heartless, multi-national corporation.

His inclusion as spokesperson on the release for Palin's appearance should be a final blow to anyone who thinks that Snider's looking out for you - the one who has spent on tickets for decades and has to eliminate something from a yearly budget to make a trip to a game. He's not interested in standing up for anything, because he's too content to sit down in comfort.

So, I call on every fan who actually pays to go to the game, whether they be Republican or Democrat, to:

A) Boo Governor Palin in the old-fashioned way Philadelphia is famous for from the minute you see her appear on the walkway to the ice until the minute she is hustled out of the Wachovia Center.

B) Boo Chairman Ed Snider for his refusal to act with all due power he possesses to stop the senseless merging of politics and sport.

C) Confront Mr. Snider with your negative opinion on the matter should he make any sort of public appearance before, during or after the game in the concourses of the arena.

In addition, I urge all fans of any stripe - particularly those who watch on television because they can no longer afford to attend games despite family packs and whatnot - to call and write the Flyers organization to voice their displeasure at the selection and to urge future celebrity appearance choices by the Flyers be turned away from the political forum.