from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,
One can still appreciate and maybe even marvel at Alex Ovechkin’s feats on the ice as the 37-year-old inexorably chases down Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career record of 894 goals that for the longest time seemed as untouchable as Hank Aaron’s 755 major league career home runs.
But the thrill is gone.
Because, at least for me, while it is intellectually possible to distinguish between Ovechkin the hockey player and Ovechkin the political commentator, it is a leap too far to do so on an emotional basis.
It is impossible to celebrate Ovechkin the man, who for years not only publicly aligned himself with the genocidal Russian president Vladimir Putin and his policies, but attempted to lead a movement in his support as late as 2017.
Larry Brooks is the biggest blowhard in sports journalism there is
Steve Simmons says hello
".....while it is intellectually possible to distinguish between Ovechkin the hockey player and Ovechkin the political commentator, it is a leap too far to do so on an "emotional basis." What a pampered life one must lead to get not only intellectual" but "emotional" over a hockey record. The 8 is Great! Straighten up your man bun Larry and get back to work....
Ovie sided with Putin a long time ago- now he's gotta own it.
Panarin on the other hand has courage.
Since Ovi came into the league, and to this day, remains one of my favourite non-Wings in the league. I couldn't care less about his politics, or anyone else's.
Ovie isnt a Red Wing, so his accomplishments are just noise to me. No one was gonna stop him from getting 801 & 802 eventually. I just didnt want the Wings to give those goals up to him. So, its a big who cares for me on that front.
There are plenty of bad things to be said about the pre-Ukraine war Putin regime, but if I try to think in non-American terms, there are bad things to be said about the USA too. Ovie cant be expected to carry American exceptionalism in his gear bag with everything else. Its hard for me to be too invested in tearing him down for his politics pre-Ukraine war, which is what Brooks does in this clip. If you have to go back to 2017, 3-4 years before the Ukraine invasion, to land a firm punch, its a weak take. Especially given that Ovie hasnt exactly condemned his countrys actions, which is a topic where I think a good writer ought to be able to articulate a decent criticism.
S.t.f.u. sanguinette
So brave...so couragous...
Hope he doesn't hurt himself dismounting
Haha! Brooks is looking for extra gold star virtue signaling points.
Triggered much?
I guess some people have a problem with someone who adamantly and publicly supports a murdering dictator. Who knew??
I wonder if that Card Carrying Commie would have scored that many goals with a wood stick? These kids have wrist rockets for sticks nowadays.😃
Politics aside, he is a great player and worked his ass off to reach these goals.
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