Caps Briefing: When Russian Jaws Are Flapping
Well, it's been several weeks since we got a false report out of Russia saying that Washington Capitals superstar left winger Alexander Ovechkin savagely attacked someone. Therefore it came as no surprise yesterday when we got an apparently false report out of Russia saying that Alexander Ovechkin broke a hockey agent's jaw in a bar fight.
Last time, we had to watch the video to see that nothing happened. This time all we have is Ovechkin's denial and some odd circumstances. The original story appeared anonymously in a fairly new and unknown publication. Also, the agent in question represents Pittsburgh Penguin Evgenei Malkin, who has long been friends with Ovechkin. The two played together on the Russian national team. Alex translated for Malkin for a TV interview last year on VS. The day that Ovechkin won the NHL's rookie of the year award, he correctly predicted that Malkin would win it next.
What's troubling, though, is that the only story that's pointed out Ovechkin and Malkin's friendship as possibly relevant evidence appeared on America Online. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis has just been promoted to Vice Chairman Emeritus of AOL, which he co-founded, so the appearance of a potential conflict of interest is noteworthy whenever AOL speaks up for the Capitals. The Ottawa Citizen and Vancouver Sun reported the allegation and Ovechkin's denial without further comment.
UPDATE: Caps Owner Ted Leonsis has written a friendly blog post responding to this one, and clarifying that he is retired from AOL. We're honored to count such a great hockey fan among our readership, and we hope he'll continue to keep us on point.
According to AOL, Ovechkin called the report a "duck." In Russia, according to AOL, a duck is "a false story that's purposely placed in the media to stir things up." In America, it's what Ushakov forgot to do after insulting one of the world's best athletes.
Photograph "Duck on Glass" by Flickr user lonecellotheory.
One would think that after so much controversy from so many online sources, Ovechkin would be entirely sick of the Internet. Instead, he's just now decided to launch his own blog. Ovechkin's blog provides us with no useful insight, because it's written entirely in Russian.
Anyway, enough about unconfirmed reports from anonymous sources in foreign publications, and on to some exciting news about the Capitals. In a story credited to "Canadian Press," The Sporting News reports that Olaf Kolzig thinks the Caps could make the playoffs this year.
Unfortunately, yet again today we must point out a possible conflict of interest in reporting a story from an anonymous foreign source. Olaf Kolzig, it turns out, is the starting goaltender for the Washington Capitals, and one of the team's highest-paid players. He's not exactly an objective observer.
Further damaging the credibility of the anonymous author, the story lists Steve Eminger right up with Ovechkin and Alexander Semin as one of the best three young players on the Capitals, and a team leader. Capital Fanatic describes Eminger's situation more accurately, saying that Eminger debuted with high expectations several years ago, but has never met those standards and may or may not have a place on the team this year. He certainly played less of a role last year on the Capitals blueline than similarly young players Shaone Morrisonn and Milan Jurcina, and had less impact than even younger players Mike Green and Jeff Schultz.
Therefore, we'll have to dismiss this "Canadian Press" story in this so called "Sporting News" as just some sort of misguided publicity stunt, probably designed only to stir things up. As for the Ovechkin-smashing-faces debate, retired goaltender and alleged punching victim Gennady Ushakov has not yet commented on the situation, possibly because his jaw is broken.