Tell Ovechkin I’m Sorry

Alexander Ovechkin (Photo credit: davidkosmos)

Done? Me done? With Ovechkin? I don’t think so.  I admit, I was mad at him for his lackadaisical attitude on the ice and it drove me to write that I was done wearing his jersey in public.  I was disappointed in him as he would have been if the situation was reversed.

Soon after writing my blog, ‘Tell Ovechkin I’m Done’,  The Great 8 went on fire!  Six goals and 3 assists in the last five games!  Maybe he follows my blog…  He also got the attention of the league, so much that he was named the week’s first star!  Now that’s my boy!

I watched him play the first of back-to-back games against the Winnipeg Jets.  He was nothing like the ‘drag-my-ass-around’ Ovechkin that I saw in his first game in the city.  He had fire and purpose.   I was happy.  Welcome back sir!

When asked about his turnaround, Ovechkin had this to say:

“I just try to do my best,” Ovechkin said.

“Right now I’m scoring goals and I’m the king of the world. And a couple weeks ago I was almost in the toilet. So maybe you just forget to flush me.”

Sounds like the old Ovie I once knew!  The line ‘I’m king of the world…’ reminds me of my other hero, the great Muhammad Ali.

Good luck Ovie!  Keep on rolling and I’ll keep on wearing that jersey.  If you are not done, then I’m not done, son.

Interestingly,  Oveckin is fourth in the league for goals, (5 less than leader, Stamkos) and his total points are good enough for 10th.  Pretty decent.

Related articles

• Tell Ovechkin I’m Done! (myvuze.wordpress.com)
• Don’t ‘flush’ Ovechkin, Capitals away just yet (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Ovechkin dominant in Capitals’ 4-0 win (shawglobalnews.wordpress.com)
• Holtby, Ovechkin help Capitals down Jets, 4-0 (miamiherald.com)
• Holtby and Ovechkin lift Capitals over Jets (theglobeandmail.com)
• CSN: Oates asks Ovechkin to ‘earn his keep’ (csnwashington.com)
• Alexander Ovechkin: ‘I’m King of the World. A Couple Weeks [Ago] I Was in the Toilet’ (nesn.com)

My Greedy Ex Is Back!

Have you ever been in a relationship with someone you loved, when out of the blue, they say,  ”Honey, I think we should take a break.  I need some space to sort things out.”?  At first you are heartbroken but as time passes, you start having fun enjoying the single life with your new-found freedom.  You have regular dates but nothing too serious and have your entire summer planned out.  Then again, out of the blue, she (it’s usually a girl) shows up.  ”Hey honey, I missed you.  I think I am ready to be with you now.”  Yep, how convenient.

So obviously, she was not having as much fun with the separation as you were.  For her, the grass wasn’t greener on the other side.  Unfortunately, you had made plans that did not include her, so her showing up throws a wrench into the mix.  Yes, you love her but you are just not ready for her at this time.

Well if you understand that scenario, you will understand my mixed feelings over the news that the NHL and the owners have ended their labor dispute.   This means that they would play the remaining 48 or so games instead of scrapping the entire season.  I guess they figured that a half year’s revenue is better than no revenue.

I am an avid hockey fan so I should be pleased if not excited about having some games this season, right?  Well not really.  You see the thing is, I have since moved on.  I made plans that did not include sitting down for a few hours watching hockey.  I have home renos and family stuff.  Maybe I am not that avid I guess.  I was hoping that they would have called the season and made plans for next year.  But no, here they are with 48 or so games to tantalize us.

I am also unhappy that millionaires are taking the sport out of sports with their greed for more millions.  At the end of all this, we the fans are the losers.  Not the overpaid players and not the fat cats who own them.  Lost revenue has to be recouped and I’m sure it won’t be done by a decrease in someone’s pay.  No sir, we will pay. Just watch.

And honey, I’m sorry but you just can’t show up when you feel like it.  You are toying with my emotions here.   What am I gonna do now? I have already made plans  and I just can’t fit you into my schedule right now.

Just my take.

Calm down, it’s only a game isn’t it? Isn’t it?

This ain’t your daddy’s back yard scrimmage

A day after my beloved hockey team, The Washington Capitals forgot to show up for their game seven against The New York Rangers and end up being bounced, I woke up with allergy symptoms.   As I sniffled and wiped my teary eyes, my three-year old son looked at me with an air  of understanding and said, “Daddy, I know the Caps are now out of the playoffs but don’t worry it’s just a game”.  Well I’ll be dang!  Out of the mouth of babes…

Well son, sorry to blog it to you but it ceased being ‘just a game’ a long time ago.        When professional athletes are paid more than the real professionals who save lives and educate world leaders, it is not just a game.  In fact, I am not sure if it can even be called a game anymore. ( Maybe a business franchise, a team of thugs, a gang or a group of rich spoiled brats won’t be that far off but your dad never said that and there are a lot of good teams out there and a lot of athletes are also good law abiding citizens).

Son, just last year, downtown Vancouver was laid waste, buildings were  burned, looted and vandalized,  all because their team, The Vancouver Canucks lost game seven of the Stanley Cup finals.  Read it all here.  People were hurt, son.  Human lives were disrupted.  Perhaps they didn’t get the memo that it was just a game.

Last year alone,  within the space of a few months, three hockey players died.  Two were from suicide and the other from drug overdose.  Son, I should not be telling you all this gruesome stuff at your tender age but it’s reality, not a game.  People don’t need drugs to play a game.  I could also tell you about the NFL and NBA where the players travel with armed posses and engage in illicit activities.  Drugs use is rampant, not that you would know what rampant means.

My boy, remember how daddy’s blood pressure soared to dangerous levels as he watched the playoffs? That’s serious stuff, son.  Serious stuff.

Snakes and Ladders is a game, hide-and-go-seek is a game but when it comes to pro sport, it’s ‘not just a game’ my little one.  Now excuse me while I go blow my nose.

Related articles

• Daddy and the hockey game (caramieandtheboyz.wordpress.com)
• ‘It just feels different’: Caps, Rangers talk Game 7 (aol.sportingnews.com)
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/16/vancouver-riots-2011_n_877924.html

Late Great 8, Ovechkin

Last night, I attended the Washington Capitals‘ first game against the new Winnipeg Jets.  I was excited to see my main man Ovechkin although he has not been his old self of late.  The powerful Caps were manhandled to the tune of 4-1 by the lowly Jets.  As for Ovechkin, he looked like a tired shell with no resemblance to the guy whose game I adored.

This brings me sadly to think, Is the Great 8 done?  Is it the coaching? Has he lost his passion or just burned out from his first couple years of high-octane play? It’s unfortunate but I think he is actually done. I hope not but it’s my take on this…

Related articles

• Why Capitals’ big gun Alex Ovechkin is firing blanks (theglobeandmail.com)
• Jets pound ‘Ovie’ and Capitals (theglobeandmail.com)