Paulsen’s a player
WASHINGTON - His campaign ads refer to him as "the math guy." In Congress, where he's served three terms in the U.S. House, he has a reputation for being a low-key policy wonk. But 3rd District U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen has another persona: jock.
When he puts on his cleats for Tuesday night's Capital Soccer Classic in Washington's RFK Stadium, Paulsen will have played in three of the five congressional charity sporting events open to men in the past year, a feat shared with just two other members of Congress. Paulsen also laced up his skates in the Verizon Center for a lawmakers versus lobbyists hockey game (unlike in real life, the lawmakers won) and swung a bat at Nationals Park while playing in the annual Republicans versus Democrats congressional baseball game.
Paulsen, a Republican, emphasizes that playing in the games is a good way to get to know other members and can sometimes lead to cooperation off the field. His introduction to congressional sports came after his housemates (Paulsen splits a house with several lawmakers when he's in Washington though our sources say it's no Alpha House) "roped" him into playing in the baseball game. In 2013, he joined the hockey team and this year is his first playing soccer.
"Soccer's my sport," said Paulsen, who played the game in high school, at the intramural level in college and also coaches his daughters' teams.
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The games require different levels of preparation. Baseball practice is a daily, early morning affair whenever Congress is in session. The hockey team met once a week ahead of that game.
"With soccer, they have not had a practice yet," said Paulsen. "So watch out for injuries, watch out for stretched and strained muscles, it could be coming." Paulsen avoids the congressional football and basketball games because of the risk of injury.
Paulsen plays forward in soccer and wing in hockey but is modest about his abilities, saying his biggest strength is that he's fast.
"In baseball, I'm just a total utility [player]," said Paulsen. "They'll put me in the field once in awhile, but the bottom line is they'll put me in a pinch run because they'll use my soccer running."
Proceeds from Tuesday's game benefit "Soccer for Success," an after-school program funded by the U.S. Soccer Foundation. The baseball game has funded the Washington Literacy Center and the Boys and Girls Club while the hockey game has benefited the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and a hockey program in a poor neighborhood of Washington.
Paulsen's isn't Minnesota's only congressional athlete. First District Democrat Tim Walz played in last year's football game and has taken up running in a serious way. He plans to run in a marathon in Rochester next month.