from Brendan Prunty of Rolling Stone,

"There are so many things that divide us, but nothing unites like a winning sports team," Leonsis says. "Those are magical moments. And that's what I envision winning a championship here will be like. This über-magical moment for the city. All of that is summed up by that sign: 'Now I Can Die In Peace.'"

So why do the dreams of another super-rich sports owner matter? Who cares that a man worth over a billion dollars wants to win a title (or ten)? Why should what Leonsis wants even register at all? It's simple: When Ted Leonsis wants something he usually gets it.

And that's the best place to start, really. Because on New Year's Day, Leonsis' Washington Capitals will host the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL's annual Winter Classic. It is, on the surface, just another game; but to Leonsis, it's also something more – a showcase for the nation's capital, and the first of many big games he envisions the Caps playing in over the next few years.

"I think our fans appreciate that we went for it on the Winter Classic," Leonsis says. "But no one is going to cut us any slack at the end of the day if we don't win a Stanley Cup. They'll say, 'Nice job in doing all that.' But if we don't win a Stanley Cup, they'll consider me a failure."

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