Alexander Ovechkin - the latest news
(Александр Овечкин - последние известия)
Ru: Александр Овечкин, Sv: Aleksandr Ovetjkin, CS: Alexandr Ovečkin, FI: Aleksandr Ovetškin, FR: Aleksandr Ovetchkine, DE: Alexander Owetschkin
Turned out it's pretty hot in Moscow, but last year heat records will remain unbeaten, reports KP.RU. The most sultry afternoon will be on Wednesday, when the thermometer will raise to 35 degrees C (95 F). However, the weekend will be slightly cooler. The hottest day in the Russian capital was on July 29th of last year. Back then the thermometer showed 38.2 C (100.76 F).
So what it means for Ovi? Probably less cross-country running and more working inside the air-conditioned gym. At least there's no smoke in the air. Last year it was hard to train even inside because of the smoke.
Team Russia's new Coach visited Bryzgalov's hockey clinic in Moscow and Bryz complained about heat.
Mr. Bilaletdinov, what was the purpose of your visit?
To see the kids, how they train," tried to laugh it off Bilyaletdinov. "You've asked about a rejuvenation."
But you were talking mostly with Bryzgalov...
And we talked with Ilya. We have known each other forever.
Did you talk about the national team?
At the RHF (Russian Hockey Federation) request I now give all interviews about the national team only through their spokesman. Naturally, we talked about the future. A player like Bryzgalov is important for our team.
After this brief talk Coach left the arena where Bryzgalov held a hockey clinic for young goalkeepers.
Interestingly enough after the clinic Ilya refused to talk about what specifically he was talking with Bilyaletdinov.
"We talked about the weather, what else," smiled Bryzgalov. "About how hot it is now in Moscow."
Here are former and future Caps players from incredible portrait galleries at HotIce.ru.
Chris Simon, the world's legendary hockey enforcer, 1996 Stanley Cup champion, NHL's best fighter in the 2002/2003 season with 148 fights in his career, 2010 KHL's All Stars participant.
Evgeny Kuznetsov, Chelyabinsk "Tractor" forward, 2011 KHL's All Stars selection, 2011 World Junior Champion (2011), one of the most promising Russian snipers.
And Sergei, he is like a good wine... the older, the better...
Sergei Victorovich Fedorov, three-time world champion, three-time Stanley Cup winner, Hart Memorial Trophy winner(1994), Frank J. Selkie Trophy (1994, 1996), Lester Pearson Award (1994), all-star NHL selection (1992, 1994, 1996 , 2001, 2002, 2003), KHL all-Star (2010), Olympic silver and bronze medalist.
During a boxing match spectators look not only at the sweaty athletes, they are also paying attention to the ring girls in explicit dresses that enter the ring carrying a sign with the next round's number. And I decided to give it a try, to become one of the ring girls.
The suburban "Crocus City" organized a fabulous event which was called as "The Battle of Moscow - 4" with the fights in ten different martial arts; mixed martial arts, kickboxing, combat sambo and something else. I did not understand or could not differ one style from another, but I got one thing: there would be 18 fighters and judging by the photos, they were all handsome and young. The ring girls had to enter the ring every five minutes, from 8 pm till 1 am. The organizers really needed extra hands and feet, so to my surprise they immediately agreed to hire me along with professional ring girls.
"Among the honored guests will be Michael Porechenkov and Garik Martirosyan," promised me Yana Chernenko who was in the organizing committee of the tournament. "What about single guys? I interrupted her trying to hide the excitement.
"How about Sergey Zverev? Alex Ovechkin is supposed to be here, will you be able to talk about hockey with him? And Steven Seagal! Do you speak English? Alright then. The ring girls with the signs sit with the guests in the same VIP area. Stay calm if they suddenly decide to talk to you," gave me the final instructions Yana, and then I went to change in a dressing room.
Eventually I did not dare to enter the ring, but helped the girls with the signs. I got tired and went to walk around the VIP tables. Fortunately nobody stopped me.
VIP guests were doing well without me. Their tables were lined with cognac, champagne, wine, assorted fish, meat, sausages, cheese. That's why I was not surprised that with such appetizers Steven Seagal did not pay any attention to me. I had to take the initiative in my hands.
"Hey, Stephen! Do you like Moscow?" I asked him in English.
"Moscow? Yes, I love Moscow," the famous actor and the owner of the seventh dan in aikido decided not to be very original.
"And how's the tournament, the ring girls?" I continued.
"Oh, everything is super! You are doing a great job!" slyly answered the actor. And what can you say to girl he saw giving the signs to the ring girls?
"Come to America, we need such girls!"
"Wow!" I agreed at once. "But where to exactly?"
"To Hollywood, of course," Steven smiled and sipped the wine.
While I was hitting on Stephen, the unpleasant news came in. Alexander Ovechkin's flight was delayed because of the weather at the airport in Colorado, and he wouldn't be able to arrive in time to our tournament. What kind of weather they've got in America?
No, I probably won't fly to Hollywood.
AO and Rasul Mirzaev, World champion in combat sambo, Russian champion in kick jitsu, pankration.
Why Ovi was supposed to be there? Among his friends are Batu Hasikov, the producer, Rasul Mirzaev, Dennis Ustimenko-Winestein (Dzhigan) as well as couple of other guys you could see in the video below. These were the "guys" in Ovi's tweet:
Translation:
Here's the video from that tournament, don't bother if you are looking for Ovi, but Steven Seagal and 'handsome young' fighters are there. :-)
According to Paparazzi.ru and our field reporter Emily Ovi shipped his Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG to Russia. I should've known it if I paid attention. :-) He was driving this car when he went to Afinogenov's wedding on July 16th...
First time I saw it, I was wondering why it looked like US license plate. On a second look... it is! Virginia! Ovi is (or was) driving in Moscow with American license plate. LOL.
Call directly Long Beach port and deal directly with them. 925 Harbor Plz. Long Beach , Ca 90802. Their phone number (562)437-0041. Will coast you around 1300.-1500 $. GOOD LUCK ! Thats what i'm going to do.Planning to ship 2 cars to Peter myself.
$1,500? That's cheap. Ovi probably paid 3 times more to bring his German shepherd Ghera to the States.
"I've already started training," said Alexander Ovechkin to Sovietsky Sport Dmitry Ponomarenko. "Getting ready for the season."
Isn't it too early?
This summer I've intentionally started earlier. Last year I started training on August 1st, this year on July 20.
Why?
Last season was so-so... It seemed that I also was training well, but ... It was evident that something went not right. So I learn from my mistakes and decided to do more. In order not to repeat the bad season, it is necessary to change something. So I began restructuring from the very first stage of training.
The famous national team and Washington's forward Alexander Ovechkin told the Sovietsky Sport Dmitry Ponomarenko for whom he was rooted at the game Anji vs. Zenith. "I am actually a fan of Moscow Dynamo," says Ovechkin. I ended up in Makhachkala for two reasons. First, I was invited by my friend, who is Anji fan. And second, a good friend of mine Alexander Prudnikov is playing for Anji. So we have combined the two in one, flew to my friend's home and rooted for Prudnikov.
So... in this game you were rooting for... For the beautiful game! And my friend Sasha Prudnikov. Until he was substituted at 63rd minute.
How long have you been friends with a footballer? For about 4 years. We met on the television show about soccer. Back then I heard that Prudnikov played for Moscow Spartacus. And I was said, "you have a twin brother. Only he plays football." I went to see with my own eyes...
Alexander Prudnikov on the left
And is he really look-alike? Friends say, yes. But either way we keep in touch with Alexander. He comes to me in America for two years in a row. And I try whenever possible to support him at his games.
Who put you in this burka and papakhi? I was very well received in Makhachkala in general. Was acquainted with the President of Dagestan, was greeted at the stadium ... I liked everything very much! But burka and papakhi - it was part of the program. To me it was interesting to try it on.
They probably presented you with something, did they? I've got a dagger. I brought it with me to Moscow.
Probably Mago invited him (third from the left)...
A burka is a dress made from felt or karakul (the short curly fur of young lambs of the breed of that name). Burkas were part of the customary male garb of various peoples inhabiting the Caucasus region. Burkas were adopted by Russian cavalry, and worn as part of the Russian military uniform from the middle of the 18th century until the 1850s, during the Caucasus War. Vasily Chapayev wore a burka as a part of his military uniform.
Papakhi, also known as Astrakhan hat in English, is a male wool hat worn throughout the Caucasus.
Papakhi are also donned by the Chechens and other Caucasian tribes and were introduced to the Russian army following the campaigns in the Caucasus mountains, becoming an official part of the uniform in 1855 for the Cossacks, and, later, for the rest of the cavalry.
The game in Dagestan between Makhachkala Anji and St. Petersburg Zenith was the most important and the tour was intended to show the state in which the team went to the start of the second part of the championship. And it was timed for that with a few events.
First of all, the executive Sergey Cheban gave the Head Coach of "Anji" Haji Hajiyev a diploma "For contributions to the development of Dagestan football", calling the Coach a guru. In addition, as part of the festivities that the premier league organize in each of the cities, there was a concert featuring the most popular performers in Dagestan. Finally "Anji" made a rather unusual move: the day before the game the football club has organized the prayer services dedicated to the team and to the football, the game that should bring people together. The services were held in the Orthodox churches, mosques and synagogues.
...
But soon the attention from what was happening on the field was deflected to the events that began in the sector with Zenith fans. For sure it is not known what served as the cause, but the riot police went to calm down the visitors from the North. In response the fire was thrown on the riot police what was placed on the adjacent sector (the sector was acted as a buffer and was filled about halfway).
The police, of course, moved towards the Zenith fans. The Anji fans went to deal with the Northern guests as well. A few chairs flew in the air. It smelled as a trouble, but everything seemed to calmed down. The riot poli stood as a human shield between the hosts and guests, who immediately calmed down.
...
During a break it was announced that the Washington Capitals and team Russia forward Alexander Ovechkin was at the staduim. The stands reacted to it no less vigorously than the appearance of Dzsudzsak [A Hungarian soccer player who played for Anji in that game for the first time -tj]. It turned out the hockey star was popular in Dagestan.
Ovi @1:20
From Soccer.ru:
During the break Ovechkin was invited to the field and with a roar from the crowd was given a Caucasian black cloak and hat, which he immediately put on. In addition, they tied an Anji scarf around his neck, that virtually initiated him to the fans of Makhachkala soccer club. Interestingly enough, a similar gift was given last year to the head coach of Zenith Luciano Spalletti.
As for Ovechkin, after the ceremony he had a great difficulty to get back to his place, so many wanted photographed with him, reports SE correspondent Sergei Zimmermann.
H/t to our field reporter Emily...
Brazilian Roberto Karlos, who is black, plays for Anji and he was recently a victim of racial attack during the soccer game in Russia.
There's only one ethnic Russian player in Anji roster. His name is Alexander Prudnikov and it appears he is Ovi's friend.
Frankly Ovi was in a wrong place, at a wrong time there. Based on the tweets some ethnic Russians didn't appreciate his appearance there. The game ended in a confrontation between the riot police and Zenith fans.
Quote:
Finally "Anji" made a rather unusual move: the day before the game the football club has organized the prayer services dedicated to the team and to the football, the game that should bring people together.
The services were held in the Orthodox churches, mosques and synagogues.
That's how dead serious soccer is in Russia, like almost anywhere in the World excluding US.
During investigation found some old pic of Ovi, his bro, Prudnikov and Semin.
Turned out Prudnikov has a nickname: Slon, which translates from Russian as Elephant. So here we go, from left to right: Elephant, Goose and Little Lamb.
This is Prudnikov's photo from his Odnoklassniki account named as «гусь, кови, я» (goose, kovi and me)
Misha, Ovi, Magomet and Goose at Winter Classics, Pittsburgh, 12/31/2011
One can guess Alex Prudnikov was in Pittsburgh at Winter Classics this year.
Update:
Meanwhile Ovi is 4th in the list of Russian celebrities according to Russian Forbes. They calculate it based on popularity and income ($14 mil in 2011).
Update: Read what Ovi said about his visit to Dagestan in a new post...
It has been re-posted, re-tweeted, copied on numerous blogs with the titles like "HOLY BEER GUT, BATMAN!". :-) When I look at keywords that people use to get to this blog, it is like "Ovechkin fat", "alexander ovechkin recent fat pictures", "alex ovechkin weight gain" and so on. Come on, people, enough is enough.
7/9/11: He does look fat on the screen shot from the video, but it's because of the angle, some video stretch, almost like from 4:3 video to 16:9 or slouching that makes you look fatter.
The video was shot probably Saturday, July 9, 2011. In the video interview Ovi said that would start training on Wednesday or Thursday (July 14th) in Moscow.
John Carlson is 6'3", 208 lb. Ovi was listed last year in official Washington Capitals media guide as 6'2", 234 lb. Looking at this picture you can tell how much weight Ovi has lost, he looks thinner than John Carlson!
Repeat: Ovi looks thinner than 208 lb John Carlson!
Ovechkin didn't gain the weight, he LOST it. Enough said.
Penguins strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar is in Moscow training star forward Evgeni Malkin. Kadar was kind enough to send back some footage of their work out sessions for www.PittsburghPenguins.com.
Can we collect some money to send Mark Nemish and Mike Vogel to Moscow? :-) There's a button down there at the bottom. :-)
We posted before Ovechkin's video on RapidShot simulator. It was a bit odd, Ovi was using a very short stick. Here's why...
From rapidshot.ru:
On July 14, 2011 it suddenly smelled as a thunderstorm. And there was a reason!
That afternoon, in a cloud of thunder and lightning, Alexander the Great (which translates to Russian as Sasha Ovechkin), showed up. He, as an intelligent athlete, doesn't forget about his education and visited the "Alma Mater" (Russian State University of Physical Culture - RGUFK is where RapidShot simulator is installed in Moscow) with the purpose of continuing his work on the graduate degree.
The kids were thrilled and brought all their clothes for his autographs. Alexander didn't reject a single request and showed a "stoic" restraint and patience.
And we too were not left behind! Sasha started shooting on the RapidShot simulator, gave some advice to our coaches and said that in America he often uses the shooting simulator for training.
We thank him for his support and a huge motivation that our kids have received by seeing and hearing him!
We wish all the best to Alexander!
Exclusive video of Alexander Ovechkin "How I would practice if I were a little kid!"
Next day...
A shooting stars parade continued!
On July 15 we saw a calm and confident walking of Evgeni Malkin!
Kids stuck to him immediately. Evgeny signed possibly all the sticks that were at the skating rink. He is also concerned about education and most importantly, is preparing for the season after injury.
We wish him a speedy recovery from the injury, so that we will continue to admire his game!
P.S. We have a "little secret"; Evgeny will be using our RapidShot simulator in his training.
Pittsburgh forward Yevgeny Malkin now owns a condo in Moscow where he already started his pre-season training. Sports.ru interviewed him in Moscow, here's an excerpt:
How is your health?
I don't feel any pain, the injury is healed. A few days ago my fitness coach arrived from America. I started training under his guidance and is getting ready for the season. The next year for all of us will be very important, because we are already preparing for 2014.
we all know city of Pittsburgh from the movie "Groundhog Day."
Really? I didn't even know it! Though I watched the movie a few times. It has an association with my life, this is what is happening to me. I have a Groundhog Day every day: morning skate, lunch with the players, a nap, the game. If it is at home, in Pittsburgh, then it is a little brighter than on the road.
Where is your Stanley Cup ring?
In Pittsburgh. It's a bit uncomfortable to wear it, it is huge, catches the eye, covered in diamonds... not for everyday life. I can wear it occasionally, to some important dinner or at someone's wedding. But it is not comfortable to wear it all the time.
Mike Vogel sits with Ovi and talks about summer vacation, trades and Ovi's off-season training.
When this video was made?
ovi8: Yes babe!I'm in dc!!!!!! - Friday, July 08, 2011
ovi8: Guys I'm going back to moscow!ill text soon! P[l]ease!!! - Saturday, July 09, 2011
ovi8: I'm in moscow! - Sunday, July 10, 2011
Probably Saturday, July 9, 2011. Vokoun was signed July 2nd and Ovi was in Moscow when it happened.
Mike Vogel: So a couple of months of summer left. How do you spend a rest of your summer? How your training program changed or evolved since you came in the league 6 years ago?
AO: I was here, I talked to Nemo [Caps' strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish - tj] and I explained the whole situation, I talked to Bruce I talked to George and explained the whole situation, so I probably gonna start training like right away when I come back to Moscow.
It's gonna be tomorrow... not tomorrow, probably like Wednesday or Thursday and... I don't wanna... the situation has changed and I don’t want to say about it, I don’t want to talk about it, but I’m gonna decide on some little things, but don’t worry; I’m gonna be in good shape and I’ll be ready for the year because this is a very important year for Caps and for me, too.”
I am a bit worried. He had to explain the whole situation? Sounds like Ovi doesn't have a detailed plan and a fitness coach for now. And it's harder to train on your own, even for athletes like Alex Ovechkin. BTW, Crosby skates for the last couple of weeks already. In his 6 years in the league Ovi never started on ice training before August, so it's not a big deal, just sayin'.
Elena Dementieva and Maxim Afinogenov got married today at 5:55 PM Moscow time. The ceremony was held on the roof of the Moscow hotel "Ritz" with the background view of the Kremlin.
The guests of the wedding, that is taking place at the moment, are tennis players Elena Vesnina, Alla Kudryavtseva, Vera Zvonareva, Dinara Safina, Svetlana Kuznetsova. The hockey side of the wedding is represented by Alexander Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, Viktor Kozlov, Alexei Yashin, Alexei Kasatonov, the KHL's president Alexander Medvedev and the owner of SKA Petersburg Gennady Timchenko.
Update:
Ovi looks cool in a white tuxedo. Photo by Alla Kudryavtseva
Apparently Ovi started 'late nite filings' right from the wedding. :-)
Update:
Guess by license plate who's car is it? :-)
Our readers were right, Ovi didn't wear a tux, just a white shirt.
Update:
Turned out Ovi was at the wedding with a girlfriend, but somehow managed to keep her off the cameras. From SovSport.ru:
Одним из самых энергичных гостей был 71-летний Владимир Юрзинов, который от души танцевал с подругой Александра Овечкина под песни своего друга Юрия Антонова.
One of the most energetic guests at the wedding was 71-year-old Vladimir Yurzinov who enjoyed dancing with Alexander Ovechkin's girlfriend to the songs of his friend Yuri Antonov.
"He's like the shark in Jaws, circling in the water waiting for blood. They should play that music from the movie – da-duh, da-duh, da-duh - when he's out on a shift. He doesn't just go after loose pucks, he hunts them down."
~John Davidson, President of Hockey Operations for the St. Louis Blues.
Blog o Alexovi, psaný anglicky, je vážně kvalitní a aktuální
Just wanted to thank you for posting my book on your blog, which I consulted a fair bit while researching and writing the book. In particular, the comprehensive list of links on alexovetjkin.blogspot.com is the best library on Ovechkin material available anywhere.
Regards,
Geoffrey Lansdell
"The fan blog Alex Ovetjkin does a fine job of tracking all things OV on a daily basis..."
Stu Hackel, Slap Shot The New York Times hockey blog
"Your work on the Ovechkin and Semin interviews was wonderful, and both are just great reads. Thanks for the time and effort..."
Greg Wyshynski Editor - Puck Daddy, Yahoo! Sports Blogs The Bill Murray Award -- For Outstanding Work From a Bilingual
Nominees: On Frozen Blog, The Alex Ovetjkin Blog
Winner: The Alex Ovetjkin Blog has seriously upped its game over the last twelve months and they continue to be the offseason's premier blog for info on our Russian players. OFB has the connections, but The AO Blog has the heart. Tic Tac Toe Hockey
"If you don’t read “Alex Ovetjkin,” you’re missing out on information on the Caps’ star forward that you probably won’t find in other places." The Peerless Prognosticator
"Alex Ovetjkin: This is a very cool blog, all Alex Ovechkin. If you are a Caps fan it is a good read. If you are a Alex Ovechkin fan, it is a must read. This is one of the best sources to track Ovechkin! Link partner of DCPSR! Rank: * * * * * DC Pro Sports Report
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