Ovechkin talks about trade, life and marriage
By Elena Khanian, Sobesednik.ru, Sept. 28, 2011
Ovechkin gave me permission to call him simply Sasha. Before leaving to America, where a new NHL season will start in couple of weeks, the Washington Capitals captain confessed to Sobesednik.ru why he can leave his favorite team, when he would fix his teeth, and revealed some little secrets of his personal life.
I can be traded if they decide so
Sasha, your team is called "Young Guns", but it is no longer as young, and Washington never had success in winning the Stanley Cup. Maybe it is time to rebuild again?
That's true, we are not that young anymore. Most of us are 25, some over 35. However our general manager George McPhee knows his job and is doing everything, in my opinion, to improve the team. If we signed few veteran players this season again, then it will do us a favor. But look who joined us! Jeff Halpern, former captain of the Washington Capitals, plus incredibly strong and skilled defenceman, a forward...
Plus Tomas Vokoun, Czech national team goalie, whose team beat Russia in the finals of the World Championship last year. You probably remember that game?
Yes, this is an incredible goalie! I'm happy now that he plays for me, not against me! I was so glad that Washington was able to entice him, at first I did not even believe it. My friends and I learned it by accident; we were in a restaurant and one of us had nothing to do but read the news on the Internet from his mobile phone. And then he caught a headline that my team signed Vokoun. To be honest, at first I thought it was a joke, this couldn't happen. I even called general manager to double-check. We got a lot stronger from that last trade. And I hope it will make us closer to the long-awaited victory.
How do you respond to the other side of the trade, when your friends leave the team?
it's always hard to part with anybody who had played at least one season. This time it was my close comrade Semyon Varlamov, but I hope that his transition to Colorado Avalanche will help him. He'll be better off there, as a number one, than here... Well, I hope our friendship will not suffer after what happened.
It is probably pointless to ask whether you can go to some team other than Washington Capitals. At least for the next 10 years, while you have your $124 million contract with your club.
Why not, ask me. My answer is that I can be traded. Easily.
What's that? Do you think there will be someone who can pay for you... even more?
Ha ha, maybe there is someone. Who knows? Or do you think that there won't be? Well, I am not going there. I just have such a crafty contract where the club has a theoretical right to trade me to anyone for any money. But in the next three years it can only happen with my consent.
Which...
Of course I won't give it. Well, after 3 years no one will ask me, this paragraph will be gone. And then there will be nothing that I can do. Hockey is business. That means I can leave Washington Capitals too.
No speed limit for one day in DC
Sasha, if we forget about the obligations, would you like to come back to Moscow? Even in your debut in the rap video you emphasize that you are Moscow Dynamo alumni.
Come back in Moscow, in what capacity? Dynamo is my Alma Mater, I love it, root for it, trying to help and support at every opportunity, but as a hockey player it is not in my plans to change the NHL for the KHL. And if just to live here like a normal person... then many years after the end of my career I would definitely come back. I'm a Russian, this is my homeland, I am playing for Russia at the world championships. Have to say, it is very nice in America, it's incredibly comfortable to live in the country where everything is thought of. At first I was amazed that people here seemed stilled, nobody was in a hurry. Then I realized that different services have provided them with all the details, that's why Americans can afford not to hurry anywhere. They have all sorts of cool innovations.
Do you really think there's something that will never be thought of in Moscow?
Well... how to say it. I guess not. Here, in the capital of America, you can order almost any product through the Internet, so everybody does it. It saves a lot of time. In our capital, it is not so large-scale...
Well, we've got it. But Moscow doesn't have a tradition to give the symbolic keys to the city that you were handed by the mayor of Washington, DC. I can imagine how you felt.
Yes, it was wonderful. But the keys, incidentally, were not symbolic!
Could you open some door with them?
Ha ha, because of them I was allowed to rule the city as I wish. But for only one day.
And what did you do?
I declared no speed limit for motorists.
Oh! I hope no one crashed.
On the contrary, on that day there were less accidents than usual. I am confident that people in Moscow would be less likely to get into accidents if the speed limit was removed, but other traffic rules were followed.
What things do you miss the most over the ocean?
Home food! I especially like my mother's dumplings (pelmeni), she always makes them by hand. I also like rissoles and borscht with Borodininsky bread.
Do you know how to cook?
A little bit, but not complicated dishes, of course. However, even without my favorite foods, I am more than satisfied with my life in America.
The national team's head coach should visit the West more often
Sasha, this is what happens: Russia develops great hockey players out of the ordinary kids and then they leave to play overseas. Maybe it is more profitable to recruit average players? They won't go to the NHL for sure.
This is the question... The vice-president of Dynamo recently also argued that by allowing talented young kids to go to America we are giving a free gift in which we invested the money, a lot of effort and time. I have a somewhat different view on this matter. You should definitely invest in developing gifted kids. And what if they won't want to leave? Even if they do, they still will come back to play for the national teams, right?
Recently Capitals signed a contract with another young and promising Russian, Stanislav Galiyev.
We do have a lot of Russian guys. Besides Galiyev we have Yevgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitri Orlov, Dmitry Kugryshev... All the guys are set to fight for the place in the roster, they all want to get into the National Hockey League. What can you do if it is the NHL, not the Russian KHL, that provides great opportunities for development?
How do you evaluate our young players? Will we be able to take the gold at the Olympics in Sochi?
We'll see. Sometimes we just miss something strategically important in our preparation for the tournaments. For example, I know that the Canadians study many hours of video on every team and eventually know all the teams very thoroughly. And we sometimes can not wisely develop an elementary tactical play. We can learn from the West, it's nothing to be ashamed of. The national team head coach should fly to America more often to watch opponents live. It is a normal practice throughout the world. No need to adjust to how the backbone of the team used to play in their clubs, you need to adjust to the opponent! It's more complicated, but more effective. Examine the weaknesses, the most frequent combinations and go! Everyone knows that in Sochi we are expected to get the first place. But if we won't think more about the strong opponents, we won't get it.
No problems with weight, touch my belly
Sasha, and is there's anything that you would like to change personally, in yourself, before Sochi?
You mean something like improving my skills?
Since I am a girl, I allude about something else. Oh well, let's just ask... You even sing now, but did not fix your teeth.
Oh my gosh!
It is true though that even without the tooth you have a charming smile...
But you still feel that I need to fix it? Well, well. (Laughs.) I'm not a Hollywood actor (yet), somebody will knock my teeth anyway in any game, even if put the tooth in. But many years later, when I finish my career, I'll take care of it. If I will ever be given "Grammy" then you have to look the best.
But you do watch your figure, don't you? Why are your fans constantly discussing if you need to lose weight or not?
They are worried, apparently. There recently was a case: I was giving an interview and it was recorded on video for our official site, I was shot looking so fat, my dear mother! And my hands looked swollen, like I was a hardened drinker. My teammates were teasing, saying "Sasha, why did you put on weight?"
You really have a reason because this summer you've started to advertise the American chocolates.
Actually I love acting in commercials and I see no shame in that. But how could I gain weight from these chocolates? Look at my stomach, is anything wrong with it? (Taking advantage of Ovechkin's kindness, I am not only look but touch his belly, washboard abs, nothing to worry about. Sasha is pleased with a little experiment too.) That's right, please emphasize in your interview that I have no problems with weight!
I will definitely marry Russian woman
Sasha, since you have no problems with your weight, then put in our way, you are a hot bachelor! This summer, you've been invited to two weddings and now your fans are wondering whether or not you get married.
When?
You know it better.
Of course, I will get married. But not as soon as one would like it. Or I wouldn't like it soon (laughs). I am a family man. I do not want to be considered a womanizer or a ladies' man. I do not want to be attributed to romances that I never had. And example for me is my parents, who have created a strong family for life.
And yet who you like more, our girls or Americans?
Ours, no options. I think I will only marry a Russian, well, I mean, a girl from Russia. Russians are sincere, understanding and cook well.
Sasha, who you'll go to see before your departure to America?
My Granny! Ha ha. I always visit her when I'm in Russia, I love her so much.
Besides Russia where do you like to spend time on your vacation?
Turkey! It's sunny and the sea is wonderful.
Interesting choice. Many believe Turkey is not very prestigious destination for vacation, especially when you talking about rich people.
Who cares? I like it. I chose Turkey because there were no problems with visas. All you need is to buy tickets and come instead of applying for visa a month ahead and then going in line to get it. And the sea, to my mind, is the same everywhere.
What gifts do you usually bring from vacation?
Oh, this time I'm taking a dagger! I was presented with it in Makhachkala, where I was at a football game "Anji - Zenith". A friend invited me there and I really enjoyed my time in Dagestan. They were so hospitable and before leaving I got the dagger, the real thing. it's a very nice dagger. This is what I'll take with me.
Source: http://sobesednik.ru
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Hey, Ovi.
American and Canadian girls are sincere, understanding and cook well too. If you don't date them, then you don't know them.
Try it sometime. They might surprise you.
There is a big change Ovi will be eating crow, just wait. C'mon, he is 9 out 12 months in North America.
But to be fair, he'll be better off marrying Russian woman, they will have much more in common.
Even in the States, Italians marry Italians, etc.
Oh no, not this again...
For some reason, whenever Ovi says "Russian women are....", people seem to always take it as him saying that American (or Canadian) women are NOT those things. But is that the case? I doubt it. He is just saying that those are his favorite things about Russian women. And I don't think there's anything wrong with Ovi wanting to marry someone who shares his culture.
I hope people choose to focus more on the things he says in the question right before, about being a family man and not wanting to be considered a womanizer or a ladies man. That's a pretty refreshing statement from an athlete in his 20's.
Although they are his preference, I don't think he completely rules out having an American or Canadian girlfriend/wife either, as long as she is willing to learn his culture and possibly language.
I don't see him as THAT discriminatory of a person. He's just stating his preference, not his only option.
Never mind my last comment. Just read it again... but I still think the option is there, just hasn't met the right girl.
"Everything has been thought of before, but the problem is to think of it again."
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von
I think the "American white trash" stereotype is stuck in some of the Russian men heads and also, the "American fat women."
But I don't blame them, I mean the ones who started the war of words were the Americans. Don't you remember the "huge and muscular soviet girls"? or the "Russian girls are bunch of whores the would do anything for money"?
So yeah... don't complain.
BTW, Ovechkin has not insulted american women by saying that he prefers Russians so stop crying. So far the good girls that he has found don't want to move out to D.C. because of their carers or whatever.
If he falls in love, then he is going to forget about his own set of rules. So all of his horny american fan girls still have a change with him hahaha!
As Russian woman living in Canada, I prefer a Russian man. It has nothing to do with attractiveness or anything like that- I find American/Canadian men very attractive and nice people, it's just the culture thing. I don't know how to explain it, but I've dated American men a few times, but to settle down is a whole different thing and I think it would be too difficult.
Not impossible for it to happen, I'm not saying that- I would consider it if I like them enough, but it's really difficult to sustain with cultures and languages so different. I haven't met many people willing to learn Russian, for example, and I think that's a big thing. For me anyway, I'm more comfortable to express myself in Russian.
I think that's all he means, really. When you think of marriage, especially in Russia(I don't know much about here, could be same), it is really big deal and to do with someone you aren't on the same page completely is not good.
I like how he says he doesn't want to be seen as womanizer, I think you all over looked that.
I'm a Russian girl living in NYC and I absolutely agree with Yulina. It's all about culture and mentality.
He's never been a womanizer that's why no one has focused on it.
And what's wrong with some saying hw should try dating American? He's in the perfect position to do so. Someone said he is here 9 months of the year and add to that the almost 20 years he'll be here. Carpe diem. Experiment. He's still young and free.
Why narrow down to one country so soon? You cut yourself off from new things or realizing that you can live with what few differences there are.
Dating isn't marriage. I'm with those who say he should try it out. What he needs is someone who is supportive and can handle both cultures. That person could be any where.
He even said a few years ago that he wouldn't date a Russian-American or a Russian who had been in this country for several years. That goes to a narrowness beyond wanting someone who shares your culture.
Devi, you are insulting. I'm not a crying horny fan girl. Grow up. A lot of your posts sound like you just want to bed Ovi so look in the mirror.
and the muscular Russian women has basis in truth; it was the Soviet steriod era. I remeber it. You sound too young to have seen it. They and the German women were big and masculine looking.
@Anon: I agree with you that he should consider dating American women before closing his mind to it, but I just don't see it as a big deal. So what if he prefers Russians "in theory"- it's more comfortable. HE gets food like home, company like home. Wouldn't you prefer that? I mean, hell- I still live with my Papa and brothers!
He likes America, he likes Americans, but it's still a big step. Despite living there for the next (more than( few years, when he retires, will she want to move to Russia?
Alex wont want to stay, his family is in Russia, and it's alot to ask someone to move to an other country.
It can't be that easy to find people in Washington looking for a relationship that would work. I'm not saying anything against anyone here- I'm just stating, there are a lot of people out there- anywhere who are looking to use him or whatever. Even in Russia, I'm sure lots of women try to sneak into his life.
Also, the muscular women thing is valid in what Devi said. She meant, I think, that a lot of non-Russians think of Russian women as the steroid-heavy figures with cold personalities the media makes fun of. It is, of course not true for all Russian women all the time.
I've been waiting for the regular season to start until I post regularly again, but I'll chime in on this since I am one who has advocated that Ovi should date a wider group of women while he is still young and free.
I think those of us who hold that position aren't hoping he'll see us and never go back to Russian women again. Instead, they see a man speaking with no knowledge of the otherside. That is not the way to make informed decisions. It comes across like he has written off most of the world's females because they are not from a specific place.
Americans are becoming accustomed to to having friends and family members who come from different cultures, are different ethnicities, and practice different religions or no religion. It is becoming more common to date and marry beyond what you grew up with. As the most recent census showed, blending has doubled in the last decade. In that context, rejecting entire groups is not modern, to an extent it is shocking, and seems close-minded. It's un-P.C. in the parlance of the past twenty years.
What is probably also feeding these reactions to Ovi's comments is that he seems like an out-going, open-minded person who embraces many things and approaches new things with enthusiasm. Restricting his dating habits to Russians only seems to be at odds with his personality and what some of us seem in him.
Saying it your first few years in a strange country is understandable, sticking to it after six years and once you've grown comfortable just seems stubborn or unexamined.
As many have pointed out here (TJ in particular) and on other internet sites, Ovi comes across as a hybrid, both Russian and North American - in his personality and in his playing style. We see that and think, "He needs a female who reflects that duality." and, "He is looking too much in one direction and focusing on the wrong primary attribute for a partner."
With the exception of nationality, all the traits he has ever listed as being ones he wants in a wife are easily found in females from other countries.
Blending can work. All he has to do is look at the mixture he sees in the U.S., or, closer to home, look at the forces that created his "looks like Kobe Bryant" cousin.
If you don't want to marry outside of your culture, fine, but don't deny yourself the opportunity to see what else is out there when it is available. They can be important learning experiences.
I learned more about myself, my needs, and my wants by dating someone who didn't fit my "types" (other than being a good person)than all the other opportunities combined. That is something I don't regret. Although it didn't last, it turned out to be a good relationship. It was enriching and invaulable.
Yulina wrote about something similar. These relationships might not work out, but they do clarify some things.
I would hate to see Ovi lose a similar opportunity because he was focused too much on a checklist.
You never know. It could work out as it has for many of my friends whose marriages are still going strong despite the partners being from different countries and none of the in-laws speak the others' languages.
@Anonymous
First, I don't know why I'm replying to someone who doesn't give his/her name, but I'm going to do it anyways.
Second, I think it's pretty obvious that I want Ovi on my bed... with Sasha too... so that's why I don't understand what's your problem. I was just giving the advice of not freaking out to my American comrades hahaha! And that everything is possible.
If they were insulted then I apologize to them.
Now, about you not being a crying horny girl... well maybe you are not horny, but I still think you are a crying girl. No offense, but your complaining over a silly comment Sweety :)
"and the muscular Russian women has basis in truth; it was the Soviet steriod era." "I remeber it. You sound too young to have seen it. They and the German women were big and masculine looking."
Yeah... I have seen a lot athletes from that era and they did not look like that at all. Well, maybe the track and field and weight lifters, but they still look the same or even worse. They are just a few soviet athletes that were caught using illegal substances and the majority of them were men. Also, half or probably more of those who claim to have used steroids don't give the right facts to back up their claims. For example: if you ask them where, and when they got the drugs or who gave it to them, they will just say something like "I don't know, I just know that I got them." It's hard to believe all that when people are just trying to sell a story.
Even if all that was true and all soviet female athletes were "big and huge" that doesn't mean that all women in the country were like that at the time. That was just a stereotype that was invented in the west.
Now, I don't hear Americans saying anything about their females athletes or from other countries being huge and muscular because they know that the more they train their bodies without caring how they look, it will give them results! Gold results!
Saying that a woman is huge and muscular because of steroids is a HUGE FAIL! And saying that all the women in the USSR were huge and muscular just because a few athletes did look like that is another FAIL!
It doesn't matter if that stereotype has a basis because it still is a lie.
I don't want to start anything with you, but if you wanted an apology for my comments even though I didn't meant any harm to you and everyone else, then you have it.
I apologize.
But leave the Soviet athletes alone X(
Since I'm American, I'll chime in on something else mentioned in these comments.
I agree with Anonymous that the "muscular Russian women" were a product of the Cold War and came from observations of Olympic athletes from Soviet bloc countries. That image, unless the past is being discussed, has been replaced by Russian-women-look-like-models-or-tennis-players point of view. Obviously, neither stereotype reflects the majority of the population.
As for the coldness, that remains in the minds of many Americans, even me. In my experience, even today, the Russian men I have seen are more engaging even amongst strangers in public, whereas the women are less open to stangers. Therefore the women are labeled cold or unapproachable.
I have also encountered too many of the attractive-young-Russian-female-on-the-arm-of-a-wealthy-male type whose glance instantly dismisses all the other females in the room as inferior. On my bad days I just want to slap them and tell them to get over themselves, or on my good days I want to laugh at them and tell them to lighten up because on some level they are pathetic.
Americans tend to have open expressions, aren't people from other countries always saying we smile too much?, and we expect the same in others whether we know them or not. Anything less in return, and we feel shut (frozen) out. We're a nation of puppies.
The newest generation of Russians, born post-1990, seem more approachable. They will be the ones to break through this view of their countrypeople.
Although he's older than what I call the "new generation", look how hybrid-Ovi has been changing people's views about Russians. They have personalities! They hit!
When people see more examples, better examples then views start changing.
@Devi,
Your comments do come off as flippant and baiting. Cattiness during a good discussion is unnecessary. Maybe that it what Anonymous was responding to.
Leave the name-calling out. Anonymous didn't deserve that treatment or your half-assed apology followed by again calling her a "crying girl". The poster had interesting and valid things to say. Respect that.
Need I remind you, you were the one who brought up stereotypes.
@O: I agree with you there, but as in the US, Russians weren't given the most honest opinion of Americans growing up either. I think a lot of Americans can only say from what they see, and that is mostly athletes. Russians come in all shapes and sizes, yes, even overweight. lol
On the coldness of women, I can't speak for all Russian women. I am certianly not most women, but I used to be afraid to talk because not knowing the language very well, I've had some... "negative" feedback from other people, women especially.
I never really understood the superiority complex some woman get, but I asure you it's not only Russians and it's not all of us. I, for example, feel quite inferior in the presence of many Americans. Then again, I kind of steer away from wealthy men. I wouldn't slap though, I know a lot of Russian women who can fight. Oddly enough, since not fighting is a Russian stereotype. lol
As for being open, I honestly never looked at it like that. I'm not the most smiling person, maybe I should change that? I don't want to be intimidating or rude. I also REALLY have to stop switching to Russian when another Russian is in the room. It's really rude, first of all. I don't mean to though, I have to make an effort to notice and stop myself.
The newer Russian generation is raised with different, more friendly values. It's really noticable. I met Vlad Tarasenko, from the Russian Jr. team and he's very well spoken (in Russian) and polite. So, hockey players alone will probably come here and make people think twice about that. Orlove and Galiev already have shown a different personality.
That was interesting to read, thank you, ladies... To leave some kind of Id, so it would be easy to address instead of Anonymous, click on Name/URL button.
The person who interviewed him is Armenian Russian, or maybe half Armenian, at least her last name is, that's why when Ovi said "I will marry Russian", he immediately corrected, "a girl from Russia".
Ovi's Mom is not ethnic Russian, so Ovi is open on that subject.
:-)
Personally I feel that Ovi will eat crow, he'll fall for some American girl and marry her. Why? Because he has very little chances to marry a girl from Russia in DC.
I agree with those who describe Ovie as a hybrid. His extroverted, outgoing personality defies the stereotype of the cold, emotionless Russian that some Americans might still have, even now so many years after the breakup of the Soviet Union. He does embrace most new experiences with gusto, which makes his stubborn nature regarding dating and marriage somewhat of a paradox. If he ultimately marries a woman from Russia, so be it, but until then it's surprising that he would deny himself at least the opportunity to acquaint himself with non-Russian women as dating partners. Dating outside his comfort zone could be a valuable learning experience for him, if for no other reason than provide a basis of comparison to Russian women. His attitude that it's a woman from Russia or nothing seems almost provincial and archaic.
And getting to what TJ suggests, what are the chances Ovie will meet a life partner that fits his criteria as long as he's playing hockey for the Capitals in Washington DC? Despite his comments about being traded, let's be realistic. Does anyone think Ovie won't be playing in DC at least for the next 10 years? The majority of the year during the next decade will be in DC, so why doesn't he open his mind and expand the scope of his dating pool? Could it be Ovie is afraid he just might meet a non-Russian woman, start dating her, and fall in love, and would rather not take that chance? Is he so rigid in his beliefs that he won't take any risks, won't take any chances that he could find his life partner outside his native country? IMO in this respect Ovie is behaving counter to his basic personality to seek adventure and live life to the fullest. Perhaps with a little more maturity he will realize this, and find the courage to at least consider the possibility that his soul mate could be non-Russian.
@O:
I never meant to call she/he a crying horny girl! She or whatever took it personally when I was just joking around. Then she complained like... yeah, I would keep it to my self before you kill me.
I brought the stereotypes because that's one of things that people use in order to make a wrong idea of others. Ovi is a good person and I don't think he will ever discriminate someone, but he still is a guy! And you know how guys think about women and sex so those type of thoughts are probably in his head. Still, we don't know if uses those thoughts in order to judge others. He said that he is a family guy, but he still fallows his own set of rules. He is looking for the "perfect girl" hahaha! That will take time unless he miraculous found her really fast or he gives up.
Now, back to the stereotypes. Yes, I know that I brought them, but I never thought someone would try to defended them or whatever Anonymous tried to do by saying that it has a "true basis."
I could say that there is a true basis on the stereotype of "all American women are fat" just because of numbers and statistics, but it still is a lie. So I don't understand what was the point of saying that.
Wow, I am surprised to see people get so worked up about who Ovie dates. Personally I could care less as long as she's a good person. I can't criticize Ovie for wanting to date a Russian woman. Nothing wrong with wanting someone of the same culture and language. Marriage is hard enough without adding extra complications.
Also, keep in mind his English is not the best. He can't fully express himself the way he wants to in English. One of the reasons why I love all the translated interviews on this site is that Ovie comes across as very intelligent. That isn't quite as obvious in English. Dan Steinberg (DC Sports Bog) did a feature article on Ovie last year and he got a translator for that, he said Ovie couldn't discuss more complex topics in English. I can't blame Ovie for wanting to be with a woman that he can talk with in Russian so it's easier. It's already hard enough for men and woman to communicate!
@AB:
I agree this side is awesome! I still have problems with the Russian language even though I have been training with Russians and study for a couple of years. I still need translations so I can fully understand what Ovi, Sasha and others are talking about.
I love his interviews in Russian. He is able to express his ideas and feelings without any trouble.
Blogger Martha said...
Oh boy here we go again!
I am Cuban American and my husband is "white". Growing up my parents would take me to "Cuban" parties so I could meet a "nice Cuban boy". I discovered I have NOTHING in common with them..I hated to dance, hated 'salsa music", but loved hockey and alternative rock. I had more in common with "white guys" than I did Cuban guys so that's who I dated and married. Now if a ran into a Cuban guy who loved hockey (Al Montoya where were you when I was in my dating period?...lol) and wanted to take me to a U2 concert, I wouldve been on that!!!! The same thing if it was a guy of any other race!
What I am saying is that we tend to date and form relationships with who we have the most in common. Maybe Ovie thinks he would be more comfortable and have more in common with a Russian girl? Or maybe he is trying to subconsciously make his mom happy by only dating and wanting to marry Russian girls?
I am wondering if he would be open to dating a girl from Eastern/Central Europe like a Czech, Slovak or from Ukraine??
Devi
"True basis" was my example of Soviet female athletes and steriod use. That is true (meaning it happened) and it was something that formed the basis of American opinions.
Why you got worked up over the term and started thowing out insults (what you call jokes) are your problems. I was civil, you weren't.
Your posts put a lot of words in my mouth that were never implied. And that's the last I'm saying on it.
@Martha:
That's true, it could be just a cultural thing and language difficulties, but Ovi and the rest of the guys are always ask which they prefer Russian or American girls and who is better. Their responses always leaves people wonder what they actually meant.
Sometimes I feel that this is more like a macho thing, like they feel better for having more "hot girls" than American men or from other countries. Maybe that's the reason why reporters keep asking that stupid question all the time they have a change.
I would say that our Russian hockey boys don't think low of American girls, but instead they think too high of their Russian women when they compare them with other girls. Ridiculous high! And not only them, but also a lot of men around the world do that too with their women.
I'm not saying that there are not reasons to think high of them, but I think some men go too far away from reality.
The reality is that there are different type of women around the world and there is not such a thing as "the best and most beautiful are only in one country."
So when I hear a boy saying something ridiculous about their women or others, I just think is their "stupid macho side talking."
So that's the reason why I don't get offended with those silly comments. Also, I know a lot of boys that said they would only date hot girls, but they end up with different type of girls and that's because they felt in love.
So love overcomes everything, yay!XD
@Devi: Did you know Russian saying, "Любовь всё преодолеет" means "love overcomes all" so yes, him saying "only girl from Russia" could only be for now. I personally don't mind either way. He is Russian, I like him. If he's happy, good.
I think everyone could be right, like I said, Russians are very expressive people, even hockey players, so thinking in English all the time, trying to get things out is hard. Ovi's English isn't that good. It may become that good, or who knows what the future holds, it doesn't really matter.
Also, I think Semin said once that Brazil(I think) hat the most beautiful women, but he prefers Russian. So, that may give a little imput into at least one Russian male's thinking. Beauty isn't everything. I know a lot of ugly Russian women, many of them have husbands, even rich husbands.
And I've actually heard many Russian men talking about American women in positive way. Russians really like Canadians, too. Probably moreso than Americans, but that may be subconscious bias talking. I do not know why they keep asking question all the time though.
Also, his answer could be because it's Russian media, it's what he's supposed to say, what he's expected to say. Not fully what he means, but he never said anything bad about Americans anyway.
Oh, and it's not just men doing that, I can't tell you the many women who say only Russian men or disregard other men. It's not right, either way. Let people have their pride! haha.
I'd agree with TJ. He may be saying one thing and he might be planning on marrying a woman from Russia, BUT I bet he ends up eatingn crow and marrying an American.
And I agree with O that Ovi is so open to new experiencesa and that he seems part American already. Heck, he even said in an interview how he doesn't care as much about fashion anymore--that he has become more American in that regard.
Time will tell, but I have a feeling TJ and I will be right.
@Anonymous:
"True basis was my example of Soviet female athletes and steroids use. That is true (meaning it happened) and it was something that formed the basis of American opinions. “
So what? Are you saying that you believe that it did happen? Female soviet athletes did use steroids? All of them? Including the mother of the great 8?
Well, I hope you don’t think all of them did because that would include Ovi’s mom and that’s something fans of the great 8 would not like to hear from another fan…
I mean so far I haven’t hear Ovi’s mom said that she did and I haven’t hear some else accusing her before and there are not records that claim that she did! So in other words there is not evidence!
I didn’t add words to your comment. I’m just questioning what you said and what you meant. Also, I only said that you complained over me calling you a crying horny girl and then about you saying the “truth basis” stuff.
The rest what’s just part of my really long response and this is a long explanation of the things that formed that “true basis. “
Like I said before, I don’t believe in that BS! Not until I see real evidence.
Rumors, and sad, pathetic and exaggerated stories, interviews, documentaries, books and acclaimed “victims” or “witnesses” that came out in the 90’s don’t prove anything! Especially when they retracted what they said after realizing that they mess up everyone’s reputation for a few bucks!
I know they were a few who did use steroids because there are records and reports, but those that were caught are not even the half of the whole national team. But yeah, I guess people can defame them as much as they want because there are not ex-soviet athletes and coaches training US and Canadian athletes… oh wait… that’s not the case, is it?
The funny thing is that I don’t hear people saying anything at all. Suddenly the bad guys became good hahaha! Maybe is because Americans are getting the gold now? Hahahaha!
Let me ask you something. With all the American women that have been caught using illegal substances at the Olympics and other competitions, do people accuse all American athletes of using steroids just because of a few? Do they call USA women big and muscular? I’m not talking about fat; I’m referring big and manly. Do they?
Continuation:
Anyways, this is what I would have said instead of what you said:
The stereotype of “all Soviet women are huge and muscular” is based on the prejudgment that all Soviet female athletes were under the influence of illegal substances during their active time. This prejudgment actually came out from the fact that a few soviet athletes including females were caught or reported to have used illegal substances at the time.
The prejudgment was directed against all soviet female athletes even though not all of them had the “characteristics of being under steroids;” That means not all of them were big and muscular like it was so acclaimed in western countries.
For example: gymnast, figure ice skaters and other athletes from disciplines that did not require excessive muscular mass were mostly small and with regular weight. Of course, more excuses were created in order to explain the performance of those who had “normal” appearance.
For example: soviets were accused of making their gymnast take drugs in order to shrink (because the smaller you are for gymnastics the better) them even though it has been proved that gymnast grow slower than other athletes. Pair ice skaters were accused of having advantage because small girls were pair up with taller and older partners. And the list of made up excuses goes on.
In other words there were always excuses for every accomplishment by soviet athletes. Western countries could not deal with the fact the USSR was fairly beating the crap out of them in almost every discipline at every single international sport competitions.
O said: "muscular Russian women" were a product of the Cold War and came from observations of Olympic athletes from Soviet bloc countries. That image, unless the past is being discussed, has been replaced by Russian-women-look-like-models-or-tennis-players point of view. Obviously, neither stereotype reflects the majority of the population.”
Yes, but why was that image replaced with the like-models-or-tennis-players image?
Anna Kournikova was born, raised, and trained in the USSR and she gained more fame over her appearance than her skills as a tennis player. Wasn’t she supposed to be ugly since she was born in the USSR instead of actual Russia? Would she still have gotten the same type of attention as a soviet athlete?
What about Maria Sharapova? Did she get beautiful for living most of her childhood in USA? The answer is no. The beauty was always there, but the rest of the world was too stubborn to see it.
People could say that it was because of the Iron curtain that the other side was not able to see soviet women as beautiful since the majority of women they only got to see were athletes. But that’s not an excuse either because not all of them looked “huge and muscular.”
Besides, even if more regular soviet women or artist and musicians or whatever would have been more exposed in the west, they would have never gotten the same attention that Anna Kournikova got and that was because of the political differences between the west and east.
The west generalized the image of soviet citizen as bad because of the actions, and attitudes taken by Soviet politicians and the Soviet government.
With the fall of the Soviet Union the west realized that the image of the people from the eastern blog was different from the one that was usually portrayed in the American media.
And that's what let people to change the “huge and muscular” image for the “hot tennis player” image.
So that’s what I would have said.
BTW, wasn’t Ovi accused of using steroids too? Of course, now there are more reasons to suspect since there are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more Russian athletes using steroids than before and that’s because the sport system fell and because of other social problems or lack of control of illegal substances, etc. But Ovi was tested and he came out clean, right? So yeah, he is a hard worked just like his mom and most of the old athletes.
@Devi,
You seem to be agreeing with Anonymous whether you realize it or not. The poster never accused all of them and you act like she did. It did happen. You admitted it yourself. As more records are released a clearer picture of those years emerges. What those programs did to many of their athletes was criminal, in my opinion. A few of those poor women lost their female identity and ended up getting sex changes later in life. That is sad.
Regarding current steroid use, there are many types now for different purposes and people are supposedly smarter about their use and consequences. Bulking doesn't help in many sports so you aren't going to see that effect among certain athletes anymore. Athletes are more likely to use steroids for injury recovery purposes.
There are many more ways, legal and otherwise, to gain an edge in sports. Steroids aren't as important anymore.
@Yulina,
About Russians and expressiveness, maybe Ovi should learn pantomime, then he won't have to worry about finding the right words. LOL! It works for the Italians.
@D,
Maybe he is less interested in fashion because his teammates keep making fun of some of his weirder clothes. :P Thank you, sensible Canadians!
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