Father’s honesty puts $50,000 shot in jeopardy

A Minnesota 11-year-old won $50,000 during an on-ice, between-periods promotion during a benefit hockey game last week.

Or did he?

Nate Smith shot a puck from the opposite blue line toward a 3½-inch hole. The 90-foot shot went in, and it appeared he had won big bucks. However, the insurance company that underwrote the promotion isn't sure it's going to pay because Smith's twin brother, Nick, was supposed to have taken the shot.

Nick was outside the rink when his name was called in the raffle drawing, and Nate subbed for his brother. Their father, Pat, had purchased three raffle tickets. But after Nate made the shot and some soul-searching, Pat Smith told officials of the switch.

"We kind of went along with it that it was Nick," Pat Smith told KEYC-TV. "Then the next day I called back and said, 'You know, it was really Nate that made the shot.' We thought honesty was the best policy, and we wanted to set a good example for our kids."

The insurance company, Odds On Promotions, still is deciding whether to pay up. If it receives the money, the family said it will go for the twins' college educations.

Asked if he and his brother will continue to swap places, Nate Smith replied: "We have before, but I don't think we can again."

■ MAN-U IPO -- Soccer's richest franchise needs a cash infusion.

English Premier League soccer champion Manchester United is looking to raise $1 billion via a stock market flotation in Singapore by the end of 2011. The move, if successful, could help reduce the club's huge debt pile, estimated at $817 million, which has helped make the owning Glazer family deeply unpopular with many fans.

It would be a second stock market incarnation for the club, which was listed in London before the Glazers took it over in 2005.

Despite their unpopularity among fans, the Glazers consistently have said they do not plan to sell the club, making it more likely they plan to issue new shares to raise funds.

If the initial public offering fails, maybe the Glazers can borrow $50,000 from the Smith twins in Minnesota.

■ STRANGE SWITCH -- How many quarterbacks convert themselves into offensive linemen?

Oklahoma junior Lane Johnson never expected his football career to go like this. Johnson, a former junior college QB, is being asked to protect the quarterback as a left tackle for the Sooners.

"It's been a crazy process," Johnson said. "I would have never thought I would be playing tackle in college. I've always thought of playing a skill position."

The lanky 6-foot-6-inch Texan has put on 75 pounds over the past two years and weighs 290. He initially was going to switch from quarterback to tight end. Then he decided to become a defensive end. When that didn't work out, he went back to the offensive side of the ball and became a tackle.

"Learning the position, it takes time, but everything's worked out perfectly so far," Johnson said.

COMPILED BY STEVE CARP
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL