Let me just say straight off that I'm not writing this article to attempt to sway your voting opinion whatsoever. While I, like most Canadians, tend to adopt a haughty and condescending tone of voice when discussing American politics, it is in no way my business to tell you Yankees how to conduct your business. As much as I might like to do otherwise. 'Cause you know, I know shit. That said, let me contradict it and point out why
Just Wide voters should favour the challenger this November.
From Kerry's
latest ad:
JOHN KERRY: "I'm John Kerry and I approved this message."
Back-Up:
NARRATOR: "He's a husband and father. A pilot, a hunter, a hockey player."
Indeed he is. John Kerry played for
hockey for Yale, and got his
daughter to play as well. He recently played in a
charity game for firefighters, and in an
interview with SI he had this to say:
SI: You play in charity games with ex-NHL players. What's that like?
KERRY: Like you're a kid in heaven. I mean, you come off your shift and your tongue is hanging out and you look over and there's Ray Bourque sitting next to you. Then you look to your other side and there's Phil Esposito. Then you feel a hand on your back and someone says "nice shift," and it's Gordie Howe. Come on. It doesn't get better than that.
No joke. I'd give a finger to have Gordie Howe tell me I'd played a good shift without me having to pay him large sums of money to do so. He also had this to say:
SI: What about in the NHL, would you get rid of the red line? Abolish fighting?
KERRY: Well, I'm just not a fan of all the grabbing and the clutching. I'd like to see things open up a little more. I like the finesse game, like Jaromir Jagr's. The players are so big now, I'm not sure the rinks are even big enough anymore for the game to be as wide open as it could be.
Aside from the Jagr comment, all sentiments I agree with. And note how he didn't comment on the fighting. He clearly knows where the league's bread is buttered. And to top it all off, apparently he doesn't even wear a sissy helmet (or at least not in his obviously doctored photos).
I think it's clear what you have to do.
[Editor's note: Dave e-mailed me this article, and I'm happy to be able to share it on Just Wide. If other readers have thoughts they want to share, they're encouraged to e-mail them to me.]