The Sporting News Interview with Alex

Capitals star Alex Ovechkin released his behind-the-scenes DVD on Tuesday, featuring an inside look at his life in both Washington D.C. and Russia. Alex Ovechkin: The Gr8 hits the market just as HBO cameras are following him around for the HBO all-access series setting up the Winter Classic.


Ovechkin chatted with Sporting News writer Craig Custance on Tuesday (Nov. 16, 2010) about life in front of the camera for one of hockey’s most visible stars:

I saw some highlights from the DVD release party on Monday night. Any problems with a hangover?
(laughs) It’s OK.

It has to be challenging when cameras are constantly following you around. What was the hardest part about shooting this DVD?
Actually, the hardest part was bringing all my friends together. Sometimes, it was just my family was there — not all of them, but most of them. A couple friends couldn’t make being a part of the DVD. That’s too bad. But I think it’s fun. Fans are going to love it.

Hockey players typically don’t like self-promotion or to bring attention to themselves. Do you consider yourself different from other players in that regard?
No. Some people don’t like telling about personal life. I don’t like it, either, but you want to tell the fans where I’m growing up, how I did it, who supports me — see my house, my family. It’s nice.

What was your family’s response to being a part of the DVD?
They were happy; they like everything. We watched the DVD and my family say it was good.

So what didn’t make the DVD that you thought should have?
Wow, it just showed my life and how I live in Russia. Most of the things you see in it, it’s true.

Do you act any differently when you’re in Russia than you do in the States?
No, I have a lot of friends here, too. I think fans and people that know me want to see how it is over there.

HBO has been shooting you and your teammates for its series setting up the Winter Classic. Is it a distraction to have the cameras constantly around?
It’s easy. They don’t bother us. It’s fun—you’re going to be in the show. You’re going to be on TV again.

Do you act any differently when the cameras are on?
No, sometimes when it just started, you want to show how good you are. After that, you feel normal. You just don’t pay attention.

So the next step has to be an Alex Ovechkin reality show, right?
I will be in a reality show. On HBO.

I was thinking something more like Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
(laughs) No. I’m not ready for that right now.

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