http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puc...urn=nhl,245582
Every spring during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, local politicians from opposing cities are known to make silly wagers with each other, with the payoff typically local cuisine. That's pretty much the standard as far as the involvement of politicians in the playoffs: Ride the back of the team's success to get some face time on TV by showing your support.
But in Allegheny County, Pa., one city councilman is standing by himself with an initiative he introduced this week for the Stanley Cup Finals.
On Tuesday Councilman Matt Drozd introduced a proclamation asking for statewide support of the Philadelphia Flyers as they vie for the Cup against the Chicago Blackhawks.
What major city is right smack in the middle of Allegheny County?
That's right: Pittsburgh, home of the rival Penguins.
Despite the location of his district, Drozd is trying to drum up interest among the Pittsburgh faithful to support the Flyers, believing that the revenues generated by a third Flyers Cup would result in lower taxes for not only his constituents in Allegheny County, but across the entire state.
Drozd explained his thought process to the Tribune-Review:
"People gotta look beyond here," he said. "This is an opportunity to cut taxes and bring in revenue. It's my job to cut taxes, and how do you cut taxes? You bring in revenue."
By his calculations, a Flyers victory would draw visitors, which equals money for the state — and, by extension, he says, the county. The choice is obvious, even for a die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan as Drozd.
"When the Penguins lost, all the air went out of the sails (for fans). But this is a no-brainer," Drozd said. "Why would we want to see that revenue go somewhere else?"
Drozd, an admitted Penguins fan, told local radio station 93.7 The Fan this week that "when" Sidney Crosby(notes) and company are back in the Stanley Cup Finals next year, he'd expect Philadelphia fans to reciprocate the support.
Perhaps he's never been inside Wachovia Center for a Flyers-Penguins game?
It's a bold move by Drozd, but trying to dictate the rooting interests of a sports team, especially rivals, no matter what the goal is, is a sure-fire way to fail. It was bad enough when Penguins fans were trying to decide whether or not to support the Flyers or root for Marian Hossa(notes); they don't need a politician to try and sway their feelings.
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Originally Posted by SCSTILLER
