Ovechkin is over-exuberant as opposed to malicious
By Stu Hackel, Slap Shot, New York Times, Dec. 1, 2009:
Ovechkin has defended himself by saying he plays all out every shift. He challenges and defies opponents to stop him. It’s one reason he is the biggest star in hockey. But even when the perpetrator is over-exuberant as opposed to malicious, kneeing, slew footing and boarding are still reckless plays. Boudreau admitted this morning that his best player is “pretty reckless.”
Ovechkin doesn’t just play on the edge. He goes over it. Nothing unusual in that and historically, many of hockey’s greatest players have also been among the most physical — and most highly penalized. For every Lady Byng-type scoring star like Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky, there were the Rocket Richards, the Gordie Howes, the Ted Lindsays, the Mark Messiers, the Stan Miktias (the younger version), the Bobby Clarkes, the Clarke Gillies. None were choir boys and all are revered despite their reputations as tough customers. None of these players were ashamed of being rugged, even if that ruggedness sometimes ran ragged.
There’s a long-standing perception that the league is reluctant to suspend star players, and no star is brighter than Ovechkin. If the Hockey Operations group decides Ovechkin’s most recent action warrants no further punishment, that perception will only grow stronger. But if it determines he careened out of control in Carolina, they should not hesitate to suspend him effective when he’s able to play again.
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4 comments:
You are absolutely correct in your analysis. I am a great fan of the WAshington Capitals, but this was more than simple "over-exuberence". Here is a funny thing. This morning when I wanted to see what the NHL was going to do about OV, I typed "NHL Reaction to Ovechkin hit" into Google. Guess what I got? A dozen articles about the knee on knee incident last year when he took out Surgi Gonchar.
Ovechkin has a loose wire. He needs to be reined in, and not just by the league. He needs to seek counseling. Did you see the video of him coming down a driveway in an commercial garage with Mike Green in a golf cart? The video ends with them passing under a closing garage door, just barely missing decapitating both stars. That is not the action of someone who goes "all out". That is the action of someone who takes extreme risks with his body, with his life, and the body and lives of others. I am sure that a behaviorial pshchologist would have a field day trying to understand the man. Greatest player in the game today? Perhaps. But his career will be short if he dosn't learn to respect himself and the other players on the ice.
First, Ovi didn't deserve a suspension for kneeing Gonchar because he didn't stick his knee out. This time he did though, you can see it on the video, and you can't see it on the video vs. Gonchar.
Second, if you take away Ovi's recklessness, it won't be Ovi. It will be some average player with great potential.
So just take Ovi like he is and enjoy the ride if you think his career will be short because you might witnessing the greatest player ever played this game. Everybody else is marginal compared to Ovi.
TJ, I agree with you completely, but this in particular caught my eye:
"Second, if you take away Ovi's recklessness, it won't be Ovi. It will be some average player with great potential."
In other words, he'd be Cindy Crosby, HAHA!
Seriously, "Anonymous", if you think Sasha needs "counseling" or professional help, or whatever, maybe you should stop watching him and hockey in general, and start watching golf or tennis instead. :P
@ the first poster:
There is nothing wrong with Ovie that warrents counseling. It's called youth.
I think he is maturing at a normal pace for young men. The difference is the media attention he garners and the instant internet posting and reposting of every transgression - real or perceived.
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