Quite a risky thing to do - dropping the puck for the first game of the Philadelphia Flyers season. Sarah Palin is a risk taker like John McCain. But why drag the kids into it. Piper was used as a protective shield - how can you boo a child - even if she is Sarah's offspring.

It is understood that Todd Palin has a lot of time on his hands, as highlighted in the Troopergate case, but don't these kids have to go to school or something? Learn to Ice-fish or trap Polar Bear or something?

Inviting Sarah Palin was club owner Ed Snider's idea. He's a big Republican booster and Palin claims to be queen of the hockey moms. A perfect match. Problem is, not everybody feels so fondly about Palin.

For days, blogs and Web sites had suggested Palin’s appearance would be met mostly with jeers. But Palin received a mixed reaction as she joined the winner of the team’s “Ultimate Hockey Mom” contest, Cathy O’Connell from Erdenheim, Pa.

Perhaps it was Palin’s youngest daughter, Piper, who emerged with her in a Flyers jersey, which helped mollify the crowd. The Alaska governor had even foreshadowed the tactic earlier in the day.

“Flyers fans get so enthused, that they boo everybody at the drop of the puck,” she said at a Philadelphia fundraiser Saturday afternoon. “But what I thought I’d do is I’d put Piper in a Flyers jersey, bring her out with me. How dare they boo Piper!”

Palin stepped from the team tunnel and out onto a black carpet with Piper and middle daughter Willow and walked across center ice. Some fans clapped, while others booed or held their thumbs pointed down. She shook hands with O’Connell and Flyers captain Mike Richards, and gave a kiss to Rangers assistant captain Scotty Gomez, a native Alaskan.

Palin knelt down, posed for photos with the players and O’Connell and dropped the puck with her simultaneously. She then shook the players’ hands again and walked off into the tunnel.

Palin watched part of the game in a skybox and also gave interviews to Comcast SportsNet and ESPN.

They should have let her drive the Zamboni in a Bikini at half-time! Now that would get the crowd excited!!