This was about Scott Gomez, gosh darn it. The governor of Alaska and the Rangers forward from Alaska. There you go. Oh, Pennsylvania is a battleground state? Oh, Flyers chairman Ed Snider, a McCain supporter, invited Palin?

Fans in blue-state Pennsylvania voiced their disapproval when Hockey Mom came out to center ice. Boos overwhelmed the cheers. We thought it was

70 percent to 30 percent in favor of the boos. The person sitting next to us in Section 123 thought it was 65 to 35.

See, the faltering McCain-Palin ticket has been right all along: It's the evil, mainstream media

distorting facts. This member of the mainstream media was stunned Palin wasn't wearing a Flyers jersey. Instead, she had her 7-year-old daughter Piper wear one, like that would help.

This Flyers crowd, perhaps annoyed that politics would be interjected into their sport without their permission, was not kind.

The booing and jeers lasted throughout the brief ceremony. Then, Sarah Smile was gone.

Then, the 19,623 fans could enjoy their favorite battleground opponent - the Rangers. This red state/blue state thing is important, but it shouldn't interfere with hockey. The only thing red this crowd cared about was seeing the blood of the Rangers on the ice.

Then, the veteran of self-immolation when interviewed by Katie Couric sat down for an interview with Steve Coates on "Coatesy's Corner," a safe venue with no annoying policy questions, or any questions about what she does when Vladimir Putin sends Russian planes over her Alaskan airspace. From Coates it was all Hockey Mom stuff and she responded with her bubbly and charming personality. Palin is terrific as Hockey Mom. She should continue that role, long into future. *

- Chuck Bausman

Send e-mail to highandinside@phillynews.com