12/21/24
January 13, 2009
Miracle of Nice: It was a young hockey fan's dream come true: After the Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day, a Detroit player motioned to Kalan Plew, then handed him the stick he had used in the game. Moments later, the Gurnee teenager and Red Wings fan was in tears. Just outside the stadium, a man in an official-looking jacket told Kalan he could not keep the stick, took it and disappeared.
It looks like some penalties have to be assessed here to the guy who took the stick from young Mr. Plew. First, we have a hook (for "hooking" the kid into believing he couldn't keep the stick), then we have a high stick (for charging $100 for it), and finally we have a misconduct and a game misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct. I'm awarding the stars of the game too. Third star is to be shared by the Detroit Red Wings for providing a replacement stick and Henrik Zetterberg for giving his stick to a young fan. The second star goes to the Chicago Tribune for providing the publicity of the event and assisting in the recovery of the stick. My first star goes to Mr. Pappert for returning the stick when he learned of the situation. It's really nice to know that for every jerk in this world, there are more than a few nice guys.
posted by Howard_T at 02:32 PM on January 14, 2009
Unfortunately, I doubt they will find the creep who conned the kid. My hope is that given the happy ending and the oodles of nice, maybe, just maybe he would come forward and admit his stupidity. I do think that Mr. Pappert should also receive a nice parting gift from the Red Wings for his wife, as was his initial intention by purchasing the stick. However, if there is a lesson to be learned here it would be if someone is in a Wrigley Field trough, waving their stick around, keep your money in your pocket.
posted by BoKnows at 10:30 AM on January 15, 2009
My hope is that given the happy ending and the oodles of nice, maybe, just maybe he would come forward and admit his stupidity.
I doubt that. My first impression after reading the article was "wow, that guy is an asshole". I'm sure many people felt the same way. Admitting to what he did has no benefit for him.
It is nice to see the stick made it back to the kid though. Also, props to Zetterberg for giving the stick away and to Pappert for willingly returning the stick.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:48 PM on January 15, 2009
Here is an interview from NPR.