Just as in 2002, when the Hurricanes fell to the Detroit Red Wings in the cup finals, this year's run for hockey's ultimate prize has attracted interest from folks who wouldn't know a one-timer from a pad save.
Nothing wrong with that. As a native Southerner, I'm just a few years removed from being a hockey novice myself.
Some in the political crowd have been caught up in the excitement. But unlike most other spectators at the RBC Center, a lot of them aren't doling out the $75 to $300 that a playoff seat costs. Lobbyists are picking up the tickets.
What some pols didn't count on is that a number of reporter/ columnist-types are Hurricane games regulars. When they made their way down from the luxury boxes on the building's second level to some ice-level seats, we noticed.
Two appearances by Rep. Bonner Stiller, a Brunswick County Republican, prompted columnist Paul O'Connor to skewer the legislator in a Winston-Salem Journal piece. Newspapers also noted the unpaid presence of Rep. Jim Harrell, a Surry County Democrat. Franklin Freeman, a top aide to Gov. Mike Easley, didn't escape without being spied either.
The North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives picked up the tab for all three.
But after newspapers noted the two legislators' appearances in print, no politicians showed up at the ice-level seats during Game 5 of the finals.
Funny what a little public scrutiny will do.
Plenty still probably took advantage of lobbyists' largess, but stuck to the penalty box, er, luxury suites, out of sight of us commoners seated behind the goals or up in the third deck.
One lobbyist who isn't treating legislators to games told me that up to a dozen politicians have shown up each night in the luxury boxes controlled by the electric co-ops, Blue Cross and Blue Shield and hog baron Wendell Murphy. The electric co-ops treated Reps. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake; Phil Haire, R-Jackson; and Ed McMahan, R-Mecklenburg, to Game 2 of the finals series, according to The News & Observer of Raleigh.
Perhaps the legislators see the Hurricanes' run as a last hurrah. Bills pending in the General Assembly would put an end to the freebies.
Interestingly enough, some firms with business before the legislature have already stopped this kind of thing, recognizing that it breeds perceptions of influence peddling. Too bad that Blue Cross and the electric co-ops decided that it's business as usual.
The public can only hope that the collective wisdom of the legislature exceeds that of some individuals, and that lawmakers approve the prohibitions being considered.
If not, the journalists who consider themselves Caniacs might go bankrupt during the next playoff run. Those second-level seats, where you can keep a close eye on the luxury boxes, get awfully expensive.
Scott Mooneyham writes for Capitol Press Association. Contact him at smooneyh@nc insider.com.
