Alexander Ovechkin: 'I'm a Hit‑and‑Run Player'
by tuvanhillbilly on Oct 29, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
in Translations
34 comments
[Sport-Express reporter Slava Malamud caught up with Alex Ovechkin after the nail-biter against Philly and had this interview in today's issue of Sport-Express.. After reading Ovy's comments on the Semin-Ovechkin-Backstrom line perhaps it should now be called the Reese's Cup line?]
Ovechkin came out to meet the press directly from the shower, dressed only in a towel and some bling. Your correspondent is not informing you of his déshabillé simply for the sake of our female readership, but solely for the purpose of reporting some valuable news. Alexander's bling partially consisted of half of a Canadian dollar, attached to a chain around his neck. This is the infamous dollar (aka ‘lucky loonie') which Ovechkin dug out of the ice in Quebec after winning the World Championship finals in 2008. Friend and teammate Ilya Nikulin then took the coin with him in order to split it into two parts, and apparently he recently completed this assignment. Ilya must have been in high spirits when he sawed the coin, or perhaps he did it in the middle of the night, because the ‘loonie' is cut in half in a zigzag. Nonetheless, Ovechkin must be pleased with the results for he has proudly added it to his collection of cervical accessories. It's quite a novel concept, considering it's an Olympic year.
Concerning recent spate of injuries to Olympic hopefuls, Ovechkin had the following to say:
"Ahh hell only knows. The season's just begun and the three best players are injured. God willing, Markunya (Andrei Markov) will have recovered in time for the Olympics. I also wish speedy recoveries for Gonchu and Kovalyu (Sergei Gonchar and Ilya Kovalchuk) of course. In hockey, nobody's safe from anything. Even during an Olympic year you can't play injured and regret it. If you're going to regret it, it's much better to simply say that you've hurt your leg and take a week's rest."
While your friend Semin was ill, did you keep far away from him?
"We didn't see him at all. He stayed at home the entire time."
The swine flu has basically caused a state of emergency in this country. The journalists had to wash their hands before they came into the locker room. Is it upsetting?
"We try not to pay any attention to it."
You weren't very aggressive at the start of today's game.
"We were sleeping a little bit in the first period and didn't take advantage of opportunities. More precisely, we really didn't have any opportunities. After our opponent knocked in two goals we woke up and started playing aggressively and kept the puck in their zone."
It seems your hard hit on Richards woke up the team.
"It was just a game moment. I don't even remember who I hit, Richards or Hartnell. As I recall, Hartnell was the one who jumped on my back. Anyway, these things happen."
In any case, the game kept the fans on the edge of their seats. Was it also enjoyable for the players?
"Of course, especially since we came back from a two goal deficit. Theodore was magnificent today. He really saved us."
You're not going to recognize your contributions?
"Backstrom gave me an excellent pass, and I was a little bit lucky. The puck jumped, and [Kimmo] Timonen blocked [Ray] Emery's view."
It seems that Philadelphia is one of your favorite opponents.
"Yeah, I really like to play against them. Especially away games. The fans there are nuts. It's always a good test for me and the team."
The team has now won five games in a row. Is it safe to say that the bad start is far behind you now?
"Really good teams have to be able to win even more than five games in a row."
Certainly you were following the statistics and knew that Kopitar and Gaborik got ahead of you in goal-scoring.
"You tell me about it all the time. All the time."
Nevertheless you can't be used to seeing some other names above yours on the list of snipers?
"Yeah well, my goal this season is to get farther in the playoffs than last year. And I've already won the awards for top goal scorer and point leader. It's better to win something new."
But there are other objectives-like the record book. At least Mogilny's record.
"I don't look at that. You can only think about such things at the end of the season."
Can you comment on the reunion of the Semin-Ovechkin-Backstrom line?
"Semin and I understand each other perfectly. He is more of a technical player, able to make a pass, and I'm more of a hit-and-run type player. These two things go great together."
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mmmmmmmmmmmm, Reese’s cups! My favorite candy, my favorite line, yes, I think this will work.
by RedBirdie on Oct 29, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Let’s be sure we get the pronunciation right if this is going to become popular (I hate it).
It’s Reese’s cups. As in, a guy named REESE has some cups, so they’re Resse’s cups.
It’s not Reesie cup. If I hear Reesie cup, I’ll lose my mind.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Oct 29, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Obvious spelling failure, but you get the idea.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Oct 29, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well I have to say thankee to one of my compadres for fixin’ that error. Sometimes us hillbillies just spell things like they sound. You know, like when we spell fish as ghoti. BTW did anyone see Slapshot’s recent tweet where he was beggin for some Reese’s?
"I tried to capture the spirit of the thing"
by tuvanhillbilly on Oct 29, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kinda related- did anyone else get a random Direct Message from Slapshot about that colon cleansing stuff?
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
by crabchowdah on Oct 29, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ha – yes! Spam (I hope).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 29, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Spam in your colon?
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Oct 29, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know someone who calls them “Ree-see Cups”
odd fellow…
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 29, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My mom does it. A lot of Baltimore people do it. It’s annoying as all hell.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Oct 29, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perhaps, but I’ve heard it in places all across this great land.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 29, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was going to type some version of the “Hey, you got peanut butter in my chocolate…” exchange, but once I put Semin in there, it got all disturbing. Idea abandoned.
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
by boutros23 on Oct 29, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
You went there, and now you’ve taken me with you. I hate you. (Not really.)
Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood...Make big plans, aim high in hope and work. - Daniel H. Burnham
Fan Clubs: Sloan, Schultz
by gotsparkly on Oct 29, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love reading translated interviews with Ovie. Hearing him speak limited English you don’t realize he’s actually pretty well-spoken.
"My face is my mask."
by jakeshapiro on Oct 29, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Did Slava really use the term déshabillé ?
:: goes to article, checks ::
“дезабилье”
Why yes, yes he did. Unreal.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Oct 29, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
from the French for “undressed,” to Russian, to English.
Japers’ Rink… more “UN” than the UN.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 29, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Since he can speak French in Russian, does that make him… wait for it…. The Most Interesting Man In The World?
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
by crabchowdah on Oct 29, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Awesome interview. Have to love Ovie’s answers re: playing in Philly and not caring so much about the scoring titles at this point. Thanks for the translation TH!
by grapejoos on Oct 29, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I love Wikipedia, and can probably trust what they say about candy…
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a brand of chocolate candy filled with peanut butter, marketed by the Hershey Company. They were created in 1928 by H. B. Reese, a former dairy farmer and shipping foreman for Milton S. Hershey. The H. B. Reese Candy Co., established in the basement of Reese’s house in Hershey, Pennsylvania, merged with the Hershey Company in 1963. Reese started making peanut butter cups around 1928, along with other types of candy.
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
by hotdog88gt on Oct 29, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
OK, there isn’t…
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
by hotdog88gt on Oct 29, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The information about the half a loonie about made me spit my soup, Tuvan. That is beautiful.
Also beautiful is the line about not caring about individual scoring titles. He’s walking the walk, too – he’s passing the puck a lot more this year. I guess it really is all about the Cup this year – which makes the line name all the more appropriate.
Thanks for the translation.
Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood...Make big plans, aim high in hope and work. - Daniel H. Burnham
Fan Clubs: Sloan, Schultz
by gotsparkly on Oct 29, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not if you ask Broad Street Hockey, who seem to think everyone passes it to Ovechkin to pad his individual stats.
"Let the rest be scared of us." - Sasha Semin
by Scott in Shaw on Oct 29, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn’t OV have the most assists for a LW in the NHL last year? Yeah…
by JustJeff on Oct 29, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn’t OV have the most assists for aLWnon-C in the NHL last year? Yeah…
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 29, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right. And Finland is in Scandinavia.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 29, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is a Nordic country…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 30, 2009 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know it’s technically correct, but “cervical accessories” is about the most uncomfortable way to describe jewelry.
I don't care how you score goals. Pretty or ugly. The ballet or the bulldozer. However you do it, just do it. And make sure you do it more than the other guys.
by Holt Worth on Oct 29, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
haha. i wish i could have seen my face when i read that part.
by aaw6848 on Oct 29, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the things kids will pierce these days…….
by SethB on Oct 29, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If this was a site devoted to another team, talking about Ovechkin, we’d be in a whole other area of the body.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 29, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Frequent, translated, in depth interviews is just another reason why it’s great to be a CAPS fan.
by Direction 87 on Oct 29, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They’ll always be the “care bear line” to me…
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 29, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
19 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 18 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.20.2009 at 9:16 AM EST)
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