NHL stereotypes, they are a changin'

[Guest NumbaSixty-Six]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/stor...&id=3931322

As I was pondering the Malkin question in my larger-than-ordinary skull, something else dawned on me: Malkin and Ovechkin are having all the fun. And they're Russians!

Evgeni Malkin may be a little more understated than Alex Ovechkin, but Bucci believes he still brings passion to his game.The old stereotype of Russian players was that they were dour, aloof, gloomy, boring and soft. One of the enduring observations from the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" was the Soviet Union players acting like voyeurs as the young Americans reveled like schoolboys after their victory. It was as if having fun while playing hockey never entered the Soviet players' minds. That's because, as we now know, they weren't really having fun. Hockey was a full-time job, and their personal lives were full of conformity, monotony, few true freedoms and no blue jeans. Plus, Russian swimsuit models had yet to hit the mainstream.

--------------------------

It also has a great datsyuk piece at the end .

Edited February 25, 2009 by NumbaSixty-Six

[Guest Shoreline]

When people mention Ovechkin and the attention he gets I just remember him trying to golf. While his swing is wild and funny, he probably could still beat at least half of us on the course. Personally I'm tired of NHL players putting on a boringly serious face for a sport that's supposed to be fun. Good to see Alex having fun. I've seen some shades of that in Malkin but only when he scores (I didn't bother watching the ASG).

Edited February 25, 2009 by Shoreline

[seeinred 1,488]

When people mention Ovechkin and the attention he gets I just remember him trying to golf. While his swing is wild and funny, he probably could still beat at least half of us on the course. Personally I'm tired of NHL players putting on a boringly serious face for a sport that's supposed to be fun. Good to see Alex having fun. I've seen some shades of that in Malkin but only when he scores (I didn't bother watching the ASG).

The fact that he got a hole-in-one his first round says that he could probably beat more than half of us. Either that or he's just the luckiest mofo ever.

[Guest Shoreline]

The fact that he got a hole-in-one his first round says that he could probably beat more than half of us. Either that or he's just the luckiest mofo ever.

Beginners luck. I find it happens quite often with golf, bowling, and pool. Though, I've only ever got a hole in one in mini-golf.

That bastard.

Edited February 25, 2009 by Shoreline

[seeinred 1,488]

Beginners luck. I find it happens quite often with golf, bowling, and pool. Though, I've only ever got a hole in one in mini-golf.

That bastard.

Haha yeah, though the beginners's luck required for a hole-in-one is astronomically higher than for bowling or pool. Most people that aren't avid golfers can't even hit the green from 150 yards out, let alone ace it.

If people haven't seen it yet, there's another great example of AO just loving what he does on the Caps' NHL.com video section where he and Mike Green take one of those little maintenance golf-cart type things for a spin before a game. Ovie guns it under a closing door and just barely misses taking his head off. Ted Leonsis probably had a heart attack when he saw it.

Edit: Here's the video.

Edited February 25, 2009 by SeeinRed

[betterREDthandead 58]

Russians these days didn't defect, and they didn't grow up in the age when players had to defect, so they don't feel like they have to keep a low profile.