Brooks Laich changes a tire after Game 7





Mary Ann Wangemann and her 14-year-old daughter Lorraine were already in a fairly poor mood Wednesday night. The Washington Capitals -- the first sports team they had rooted for together, the team that prompted 49-year old Mary Ann to begin painting her face before games and to sign up for a season-ticket waiting list -- had been eliminated in Game 7 of the NHL playoffs. The season was over.

A lot of people weren't sure quite how to react to this loss. When you put a lot of emotion into something -- even something as silly as a sports team -- and you can feel sort of empty when it goes away. One fan e-mailed me to ask, quite seriously, whether I thought any Caps threw the series for gambling reasons. Another, who said he's rooted for the Caps for 28 years, sent me an e-mail that included 49 exclamation marks.

So the Wangemanns were driving home to Ashburn, and they got on the Roosevelt Bridge, trying to remain optimistic about the future of the team. Then they hit a pothole and got a flat tire. Perfect ending to the night.

Mary Ann pulled over to the side of the bridge, and called AAA. They said they had a heavy volume of calls, and that they weren't sure how long it would take to send help. Mary Ann and Lorraine, still wearing their Caps gear, got out of the car and watched the traffic whiz by.

"We were getting a little spooked," she told me. "You feel pretty vulnerable right there."

Finally, an SUV slowed down ahead of them and pulled over. And then Brooks Laich got out and asked if he could help.





Mary Ann Wangemann and her daughter, Lorraine. (Family photo)

Since the AAA folks were already on the way, Mary Ann asked Brooks -- whom she immediately recognized -- if he'd just wait with them by the side of the road. Instead, he asked whether they had a spare. Mary Ann said they did. So he took off his jacket -- he was still wearing his postgame suit -- got out the tire, and started jacking up the car.

"He was like an angel, I'm telling you," Mary Ann told me. "Can't say enough nice things about him."

(The Caps had nothing to do with sending out this story, but they did get in touch with Laich to confirm it for me.)

The thing took a while, as late-night tire changes on the side of bridges often do. So they started talking hockey. Laich, who scored the team's only goal in Game 7, apologized to them for the Caps losing. They told him how great the season had been and how much they liked this team. Laich said he hoped they got a chance to stay together.

The jack fell down, and he had to start again. Lorraine stood behind him, mouthing to her mom over and over, "It's Brooks Laich! It's Brooks Laich!" Laich was friendly but somber as he worked. Mary Ann -- who had never before cared about a sports team -- talked about why she liked this group so much, and how they seemed so nice off the ice.

"We're just people, too," Laich said.

The whole thing lasted maybe 40 minutes. Laich got the tire changed, and cautioned Mary Ann to drive slowly on the way home, to listen closely for any rattling sounds. She agreed, and said she didn't know how she could possibly thank him.

"I'm sure you'll do something nice for someone in the future," Laich responded. He hugged them and drove off.

By this point, another car had pulled over, also with a flat tire. Mary Ann went to see how she could help, and told the other driver what had just happened. Then -- after making sure the other driver was going to be okay -- she and her daughter got in their car and drove home. Within 30 seconds, of course, Lorraine had updated her Facebook page to alert the world that Brooks Laich had just changed their tire. That loss sure stung, but Mary Ann and her daughter figure they'll keep their spot on the waiting list for next season.

"When you think about what he was going through yesterday, just the disappointment..." Mary Ann said. "Given everything else going on in his life, I just thought it was really remarkable. I want people to know it."