How did your team do on opening day? Well, I hope. My Cleveland Indians weren't able to pull out a W in Seattle. But here's a neat story for you I heard yesterday as I was driving home: Michaela Murphy's hilarious tale about her unsupervised childhood trip to the 1981 All Star Game at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. (And if you want to watch the game, you can do so here.) Enough about baseball for a bit, let's move over to hockey. A cool bit of hockey history was experienced last night: Scott Foster, a 36-year-old accountant from Chicago, was tapped to come in and play goaltender for the Blackhawks. He has never played in the NHL before, not even for a minute. He stopped all seven shots taken at him, thus maintaining the lead and getting the win. How can this be? Here's a brief explainer from the Washington Post: Foster is one of a small group of “emergency backup” goaltenders who are kept on hand, usually in the press box or the stands, in the highly unlikely event both regular goalies on the roster are hurt or otherwise unavailable. “Among hockey’s great quirks,” as Hockey News explained, “is that it’s the only pro sport with the potential for someone not on the roster to come out of the stands and actually play in the game.” But, “it takes a very rare set of circumstances to open that door.” Hours before the game, goaltender Anton Forsberg injured himself during a morning practice, according to the Chicago Tribune. Down to one goalie, rookie Collin Delia, the Blackhawks signed Foster as an emergency backup. Delia got hurt. Foster was told to put on his helmet. His post game interview was also a thing of beauty. Livin' the dream. "There's just no reward for governing right now." That was retiring senator Jeff Flake of Arizona Thursday night at Arizona State University, talking with his predecessor (and my former boss) Jon Kyl. For his part, Kyl had this to add: "The worst enemy today, always, is the one you need tomorrow... So don't be a jerk." Advice members of Congress, journalists, and citizens can all take to heart. Checking in with Paul Bremer. The military news and lifestyle site Task and Purpose has an interesting profile of the long-time public servant and former administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority during the George W. Bush administration. Bremer is now retired and working as a ski instructor: Bremer’s home office is piled with books, as well as mementos from his career, including his Presidential Medal of Freedom, a photo of his first meeting with President Bush, and an embroidered Iraqi flag with a message of thanks “for your remarkable heroism, vision, energy, leadership and unmatched dedication,” presented to him by his CPA team in Mosul. There’s also a certificate affirming that he has “met the requirements and standards” of a Level I Alpine Ski Instructor and a ball cap declaring him the Okemo Ski + Ride School’s “most awesome rookie.” Save the date! Join us at the 2018 Weekly Standard summit.This May 17-20 at the historic Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, join Stephen F. Hayes, Fred Barnes, John McCormack, Michael Warren and special guests Bret Baier, Senator Tim Scott, Representative Trey Gowdy, A.B. Stoddard, and Jonah Goldberg as they discuss the future of American politics. RESERVE YOUR PLACE TODAY! Book your tickets now. —Jim Swift, deputy online editor. Please feel free to send us comments, thoughts and links to dailystandard@weeklystandard.com. —30— |