It would test his defense too

Having endured thousands of bazooka-blasts of vulcanized rubber fired at him from short range, Mike Richter, former New York Rangers goaltender, figures he’s ready for a career change -- to a job involving less stress, pressure and aggravation.

He says he’s contemplating a run for Congress.

A 40-year-old Democrat who lives in Guilford, Conn., Richter told the Associated Press he expected to decide in the next two weeks whether to run for a seat in the state’s 4th Congressional district in 2008.

“I’ve considered entering public office in some form for a long time,” he said. “I’m getting positive responses.”

Considering his resume, Richter looks to be an ideal candidate:

* He was a goaltender with a so-so defense, so he’s used to taking shots from all directions.

* He was the goaltender on the Team USA that won the 1996 World Cup in Canada, so he obviously has a foreign policy that works.

* And he played for the Rangers in the 1990s, so he will understand why the Pentagon spends $700 for a hammer.

Trivia time

How many times did Richter represent the United States in the Winter Olympics?

A cold one with greatest of ease

If it weren’t for the occasional need to waddle to the refrigerator for one more cold one, some sports fans would get no exercise at all. And now there is an invention that could make even that walk extinct.

John Cornwell, a recent Duke graduate, has concocted a device that chills up to 24 cans of beer and then, with a punch of the remote control, launches one to a thirsty fan up to 10 feet away.

“There is a slight danger of being hit in the head with a flying can,” Cornwell told the Mirror of London, “but this danger decreases the more you use it.”

Remind you of anyone?

In his book, “Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich,” author Mark Kriegel includes a passage that Lakers fans might find hauntingly familiar.

Kriegel wrote: “Pete responded to the ball movement critique on a November night in New York. The score remained close, despite the fact that he declined to put up a single shot in the fourth quarter. After the game, a fifth consecutive loss, an anonymous teammate took him to task in the press for ‘not making sacrifices.’

“ ‘If they want me to sacrifice, I’ll sacrifice,’ said Pete, who went four of five while handing out 15 assists in the next game, a win over Seattle. Then, a couple of nights later, he was back to his old self, scoring 39, including the game-winning basket with 15 seconds left on the clock.”

Paging Dr. Freud

Kriegel then offered this bit of psychoanalysis:

“To pass or shoot? Given Pete’s excessive nature, these pendulum swings can be seen as his attempt to find some balance in his game, and his life.”

Wonder if Phil Jackson came to a similar conclusion.

Trivia answer

Three -- 1988, 1998 and 2004. Before 1998, NHL players were not eligible for the Olympics. Richter did not make his NHL debut until 1989, enabling him to compete in the Calgary Olympics.

And finally

During an interview with the Associated Press, Detroit Tigers’ Manager Jim Leyland recalled the time he played a round of golf with Arnold Palmer.

“After playing good on the front, shooting a 41, I hit a bad shot on the back,” Leyland said. “And he gave me the best advice I ever had: ‘Jim, you’re not good enough to get mad. Enjoy the round.’ ”

*

mike.penner@latimes.com