by jgr80
Stephen Harper was at the Canada vs. Finland game.
At the 2nd whistle or so (because the first whistle was a Canada goal) they showed him on the jumbotron so that everyone could be in awe of his presence. Some people booed. Others looked around to find where he was.
I knew he was in attendance before the game began. So I didn't jump on this right away. I had announcing stuff to do. But it was one of those things I was told for encouragement.
IIHFGuy This is important. It's the Canada Finland game. They both finished first. Do a good job.
JGR80 OK.
IIHFGuy The Prime Minister's here, so you have to do a good job. Don't be nervous.
JGR80 OK. That would make me more nervous if I voted for him. But I don't care.
At about two minutes into the first period, a wayward puck goes into the stands about 10 rows over my right shoulder.
The first thing over the radio is panic.
RADIO the puck hit the prime minister. (pause...)
JGR80(soliloquy) Oh geez. This should make for funny news tomorrow. Did the Finnish player shoot it? Could be an incident.
RADIO (still pausing...) The guy's a right-wing. He shouldn't have been on that side of the ice.
Hardy har har.
...
First intermission rolls around though and I figured it might be neat to get a picture since he's doing non-stop photo-ops when the game is not on. I am the announcer after all. Maybe I can skip the line-up.
I get real close to the head of the line. And the most bizarre thing happens.
My phone rings. Fine. Whatever. The phone rings all the time. I'm in line to get the picture. I'm not answering it. Then one of his handlers makes it his business.
HARPERBODYGUARD Could you please answer your phone, sir?
JGR80 I'll call em back. I don't want to bug the other folks in line.
HARPERBODYGUARD Answer your phone, sir. Please step over here.
He shuffled me out of line. I didn't get my picture. This was the best I could do.
The puck didn't hit him. He did sit right beside Rodney MacDonald who posed for a total of 0 pictures during intermissions.
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