Watchdog

Gov. Sarah Palin is dropping the first puck Saturday night at the Rangers-Flyers game?!

Wow. Politics aside - since we no longer talk politics around here - I must admit I am enjoying the attention Gov. Palin has been bringing to both Alaska and to hockey in recent weeks.

She has done a service in reminding Lower 48 dwellers that the state and sport both are as American as Mike Richter.

Did I ever mention the only time I was invited to drop a first puck? It was at the men's hockey final of the 1984 Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, which I was covering for The Anchorage Times.

Wearing work boots, I thought I would stylishly slide the last few yards into the faceoff circle. But it turns out that freshly Zambonied ice is slippery, and soon I was on my back (and tush), looking up at University of Alaska-Anchorage center (and later head coach) John Hill, who shook his head.

I assume they still talk about that night during the long, dark winters of Yellowknife and have a chuckle at my expense over a few rounds of Molson XXX.

I think I have mentioned this here before. But that was before Gov. Palin started reading the blog. So, here's a fair warning, ma'am: Either put on skates, or walk gingerly.