By Chad Pergram

John McCain's decision to tap Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate reminds me of one of the greatest leads in the annals of sports journalism.

In 1956, New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen improbably blanked the Brooklyn Dodgers with the only perfect game in World Series history. And the legendary Shirley Povich of The Washington Post documented the occasion with this line:

"The million-to-one shot came in. Hell froze over. A month of Sundays hit the calendar."

That's what happened with Sarah Palin's stunner Friday.

It's not that long ago that Palin was mayor of a town with 7,500 residents. In an outpost of the American political scene. And how many Americans even know what the Iditarod is?

But most fascinating could be the political landscape from which she emerged.

In the past couple of years, the darkest corruption clouds imaginable swirled across Denali. You think politics in Chicago or Louisiana is rugged? You haven't seen anything until you've encountered the rough and tundra politics of Alaska.

State and federal authorities have probed various Alaska state legislators for the past four years. It's resulted in jail time for four lawmakers including former Speaker of the Alaska state House, Republican Pete Kott.

In July, the feds indicted Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the most senior Republican in the Senate and former president pro tempore, on charges of failing to report gifts. Known for donning "Incredible Hulk" ties, Stevens' trial starts in late September and could bleed past the November election. Stevens was named "Alaskan of the Century" in 2000. But even though he's collected at least 67 percent of the vote in every election since 1970, the senator's hold on his seat is tenuous. Democrats spot blood in the snow. And Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich is forcing Stevens into a political smackdown that could force Stevens to summon the services of other Marvel Comics superheroes to prevail.

Stevens may have deep ethics issues. But his electoral problems could pale compared with electoral issues facing the state's lone congressman, Republican Rep. Don Young.

Even his Republican colleagues agree that Young is one of the most cantankerous members of the House. He roosts in a chair toward the back of the House chamber and shouts catcalls at fellow members during votes. He heckles the presiding officer when he or she makes a parliamentary ruling he doesn't agree with. Last year, Young even threatened fellow Republican Rep. Scott Garrett, N.J., on the floor.

"Those who bite me will be bitten back," excoriated Young.

During one debate, Young even wielded the pubic bone of a walrus on the House floor.

Young authored the legendary "Bridge to Nowhere" earmark which would have spent $400 million for a tiny community in rural Alaska. He also added the controversial, $10 million "Coconut Road" earmark to a 2006 transportation bill. The earmark originally called for the widening of Interstate 75 in Florida. But after both the House and Senate approved the package -- and before President Bush signed it into law -- the word "widening" mysteriously morphed into "interchange."

It was later discovered that real estate developer Daniel Aronoff owns acreage adjacent to the highway and could have benefited from an interchange. And Aronoff helped Young raise tens of thousands of dollars for his campaign coffers.

The feds are investigating Young for possibly taking bribes connected to the Alaska state legislature scandal. And that's dimmed the congressman's re-election chances this year.

In last Tuesday's Republican primary, Young faced a challenge from Palin's top deputy, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. Several days later, the race remains deadlocked with Young leading Parnell by about 140 votes. More than 7,600 absentees cast ballots in the election. And the Alaska Division of Elections says it won't have a final tally until early September. In a statement, Young conceded that the contest was so close that both candidates would probably ask for a recount.

So as McCain invites the little-known Palin to join his campaign, some things to watch for:

While Stevens' trial would have commanded spectacular media attention, McCain has upped the ante. Expect a tumble of revolting information about corruption in Alaska's political system to spill out during testimony. While Palin isn't in trouble, it could cast Alaska in a light so dim, even the Aurora Borealis couldn't illuminate things.

Or, this gives McCain a boost. He's been a "clean up politics" man for years. He can argue that Palin was a new sheriff in Juneau. And she certainly wouldn't have backed projects like the "Bridge to Nowhere."

Also, energy is the country's No. 1 issue right now. While McCain hasn't favored drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), his running mate does.

McCain can campaign on a message of expanded drilling in Alaska (that isn't ANWR) and elsewhere. Meantime, Palin can give rock-ribbed Republicans red meat and push the longtime GOP battle cry of drilling in ANWR.

Still, Democrats haven't been represented by an Alaskan in Washington since 1980. And they intended to turn both Stevens and Young into Baked Alaska this November. Reporters around the country are now scrambling to unearth skeletons in Palin's closet. And if they discover something significant, it might be easy for Democrats to link Palin to Stevens and Young.

And it could hamstring the GOP message that it's spruced up the party and dismissed ethically challenged members like former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, and convicts like former Reps. Duke Cunningham, R-Calif., and Bob Ney, R-Ohio.

Just having the governor on top of the ticket could make the races easier for both Stevens and Young (if he survives the primary fight). But there could easily be a looming shakeup in Alaska politics.

Here's one perfect storm: voters elect McCain and Palin becomes vice president. Then Parnell beats Young and wins the general election. Who becomes governor while Parnell joins the House? And Stevens long career is over if Begich emerges victorious this fall.

Thursday night, Alaska appeared to be the ethical wasteland of American politics. But Palin's selection Friday could prove to be like Shirley Povich's "million-to-one shot" or "month of Sundays hitting the calendar."

And it's possible the road to the White House this year might not snake through battleground states like Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania after all. It might wind through a courtroom in Washington, DC.

And the rough and tundra playing field of Alaska politics.