Why Alex Semin Doesn't Do Interviews

by J.P. on Sep 19, 2008 6:39 AM EDT

Q. Why do hate to talk with journalists so much?

A. Because of the crap they all write.

Alrighty then.

H/t Tuvanhillbilly, who has the whole interview with Alex Semin up.

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Eh....its just Sasha being Sasha...

He's our Manny

by Ryan on Sep 19, 2008 7:27 AM EDT reply actions

In fairness, there's no reason to think he's talking about the American media here, and some of the Russian media outlets are a bit more tabloid than they'd get away with here.

I just dig the quote.

by JP on Sep 19, 2008 7:30 AM EDT reply actions

I'm sure part of his reticence is related to his command of English. I regularly communicate in a non-native language in the context of my job and it can be tough, even though I'd venture to say I'm in a more nurturing environment, to put it mildly, than Semin, i.e. I don't have microphones and cameras documenting my grammar errors.

Whatever prompted his comments, score goals in bunches and oh pretty please, fewer hooking penalties, and we'll love you, with or without interviews.

by Lisa on Sep 19, 2008 8:14 AM EDT reply actions

I dunno. I think he's got a point.

by this space for rent on Sep 19, 2008 8:21 AM EDT reply actions

I wonder if Alex ever read Dave Fay....

Semin's known for being a careful guy when it comes to the media, which is why he still uses a translator with reporters despite the fact from players' and coaches' accounts his English has improved. Given the crap he went through in Russia before he came over post-lockout, I can't blame him.

by exwhaler on Sep 19, 2008 9:03 AM EDT reply actions

No mincing of words there, huh? Maybe if his english gets better, he'll be more open but he's got a point there...

Thanks for the post - this is stuff we don't get from the mainstream!

by hockey mom on Sep 19, 2008 9:04 AM EDT reply actions

With that one quote my appreciation for Alexander Semin just attained a new high. Plus I imagine every other question he gets involves "What's it like playing on a team with Ovechkin?" Imagine you work in an office and every client you handle wants to know your opinion about working with some other star employee. It'd drive me nuts.

by Snktimoniuz on Sep 19, 2008 9:06 AM EDT reply actions

I think this interview is exactly what Semin is afraid of, it's all made up. For example, a date when he is leaving is 20th while in video interview at the same game he said he would be leaving to US on 18th.

I do believe though he could say everyone in the team ("равняются на меня и Овечкинa") measuring up to ME and Ovechkin.

That's the difference between Semin and Ovechkin. Ovechkin would never say that. He always says all his success is because of his teammmates. Ovechkin always compliments the team, Semin compliments himself and Ovechkin second.

by tj on Sep 19, 2008 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Rhetorically, Sasha fall down go boom.

by Tyler on Sep 19, 2008 9:28 AM EDT reply actions

I guess I contradict myself here. In Semin defense I hope Semin didn't say anything like that and that the whole interview is made up.

Another thing that is suspicious; the interview was taken like a week or two ago? and now, when Semin is gone, it's been published?

by tj on Sep 19, 2008 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

Good for you, rrrrrrrrrrabbit!

by hotdog88gt on Sep 19, 2008 9:39 AM EDT reply actions

The title of the interview has been edited to reflect a more accurate translation-- which actually puts Semin in a better light and not so self-serving. Also, I agree with TJ that article exactly proves Semin's point. This interview was just published today, but it has no dateline as to when it was, and as he points out it actually was from over a week ago. I just saw that someone's comments in Tarik's blog indicate that Semin has been spotted back in DC.

by tuvan on Sep 19, 2008 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

"Zhenya" Varlamov???

by stepguybrian on Sep 19, 2008 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

@ stepguy

Russian names have diminutives, think of it as like "Joe" for Joseph or "Fred" for Frederick

"Sasha" is the diminutive of "Alexander" or "Alexei" for example, "Vanya" for Viktor, "Dima" for Dmitri and so on and so forth

by Ryan on Sep 19, 2008 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

Remember, this is a guy who had an article published about him last year (in Russia) that said he had a badly injured knee, that he ignored a request by the Caps that he get surgery on it, and that he would miss a substantial amount of time that season due to his bad knee. It even included quotations from Nikolishin supporting the story. Every word of it was a lie. I'd be suspicious, too.

by norske on Sep 19, 2008 4:40 PM EDT reply actions

You guys who think this is a bad interview are coneheads. Ovechkin AND Semin are both felt to be great, hard working players in Russia. What Semin is being quoted here saying is that he thinks EVERYONE on the Caps team works as hard as he and OV do and all are very talented.

Thant said this like many print interviews in the Russian Press is probably made up. Comapring much of the Russian Media to the National Enquirer's jounalistic integrity is like comparing the National Enquirer to the New York times here.

Give the guy some slack he's a great hard working talent who stayed home most of the off-season working conditioning at his hometown where he feels most comfortable.

by Usually Frustrated Caps Fan on Sep 20, 2008 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

Ryan said...

@ stepguy

Russian names have diminutives, think of it as like "Joe" for Joseph or "Fred" for Frederick

"Sasha" is the diminutive of "Alexander" or "" for example, "" for , "Dima" for Dmitri and so on and so forth

9/19/2008 12:55 PM

NO!
LESHA for Alexei
Vitya for Viktor
Vanya for IVAN

by n on Sep 20, 2008 1:37 PM EDT reply actions