OTTAWA -- OK, so the folks at the Ottawa Tourism department hosted a draft welcome party Thursday night at the legendary Heart & Crown, where the beer flowed like wine. Which, of course, led to a few interesting moments.
One of the party favors was a chance to get your picture taken with "Lord Stanley." It was a big painting of the Stanley Cup next to a guy's body with his face cut out. Three girls would walk around with the picture and ask the writers if they wanted to put their face in the hole. They'd take a photo and people would laugh. Ha, ha, look at the goofy dudes.
So, two writers whose names you would recognize but shall remain nameless at the moment because the NHL is in a foul mood (see League versus New York Rangers owners), had a Eureka! moment. Standing 5 feet away was Commissioner Gary Bettman, and the writers' faces lit up at the exact same time.
"Hey ladies. See that guy over there? Ask him to pose with Lord Stanley."
"Really?" one of the women said. "He looks kind of important."
"Nah, he loves that sort of thing. Just go ask him if he wants to stick his face in that hole."
The lovely, lager-sipping ladies tapped Bettman on the shoulder. "Would you like your picture taken with Lord Stanley?"
The Commish politely declined, after giving an incredulous "Are you kidding me?! Don't you know who I am?!" look. Rumor has it he was none too pleased with the exchange.
But the writers and tourism gals sure were. Or so I hear.
---John Vogl
tagged
NHL Entry Draft
