I've fallen in love!

[ed_rex]

An unrepentant Habs fan living in Hogtown, I've seldom seen Sydney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin play and so no them largely by stats and hearsay.

My friend Vern was the other day talking up Washington's superstar as a player who shows "pure joy" in the game and, since last night's remarkable game in Washington, I've come around to that position.

My infatuation started during (I think) the second intermission, when a replay showed Ovechkin clearly exchanging complementary words with Penguins' goal-tender Marc-André Fleury, who had just stopped Ovechkin on a scoring attempt.

We too seldom see the pros engaging with a member of an opposing team. Too witness it during the playoffs and in the middle of a hard-fought game was wonderful.

That Ovechkin also scored three of Washington's four goals only sealed the deal with my heart — it's true, I just might see Crosby on the side, but don't tell Ovi, okay?

P.S. I'll try to stop this flood of posts now.

Comments

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

As you may have gathered from some of my posts, (check under my 'sports' tag, about half are about Ovie), I'm head over heels with the man myself.

For some time I stopped going to NHL games, the cost is too high, but it's worth the ticket price to watch this guy live. He's amazing.

But as you note, he's also a decent human being despite what Don Cherry claims. For example, like some other marquee players, Ovie donates a block of tickets for various disadvantaged kids groups in the city. Unlike a lot of these players, Ovie insists on meeting all the kids after the game. After he's played an entire gang, been harangued by reporters and whether he's won or lost and long after the cameras and reporters have left to publicize his good deeds he goes down and hangs out with the kids for a while.

Ah, I could gush all day.

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

I mean "after he's played an entire game", although I guess he does play a gang.

One hell of a gang

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

I just bet it's worth the money to see him live. And I've definitely noted your continuing interest in All Things Cap.

But as you note, he's also a decent human being despite what Don Cherry claims.

Actually, Cherry's come around. He got on his case for the hot-dogging, but otherwise thinks he's a helluva player. (And lately, he's taken credit, in his inimitably smug fashion, for Ovi's toning down of the celebrations.)

Subject

[xsweet16x.livejournal.com]

*Sidney. (Sorry.)

I know you're supposed to choose between Crosby and Ovechkin, but I love them both. It's refreshing to see a player actually display personality - I think if you look OV up on youtube you'll get a flood of videos of him dressing up as a Mountie and saying that his favourite person to watch on TV is himself and just enjoying being in the NHL. Love!

(Oh yeah, and his hands aren't too shabby either.)

Re: Subject

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

Oops. You're quite right. (Funny thing is, I even "corrected" my spelling when I wrote it.)

It's refreshing to see a player actually display personality...

Yes, exactly. I mean, Crosby also put on one hell of a show the other night, but it was Ovechkin who won my heart.