Governor Ed Rendell: The only guy in his state who still cares about hockey

Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell definitely will contend for this year's innaugural Sports Politician of the Year.

He does weekly on-air commentary before Philadelphia Eagles games, he's a fixture at the famed Palestra for Penn men's basketball games (including last night's Penn-Temple matchup) and now he is personally getting involved in trying to keep the NHL's Penguins from moving out of Pittsburgh.

According to the Associated Press, Rendell -- the former mayor of Philadelphia -- is optimistic that a new agreement can be reached to build a new arena for the Pens. Rendell spoke with Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle on the phone Tuesday night and the two expect to speak again next week.

"We want to reach an agreement. We think we're getting closer," Rendell said Wednesday. "We're hopeful."

This is a shrewed political move by Rendell. First, politician sports fans associate themselves with a new sense of populism. They seem like "regular guys," even if -- like Rendell -- they are well-to-do Ivy League graduates.

Secondly, a big knock on Rendell is that he cares too much about Philadelphia and not about his state's other metropolitan center. He'll gain a lot of street cred in the Steel City by trying to save the Penguins.