A Charming End To A Memorable Season
by Stephen Pepper on Jun 19, 2009 1:30 PM EDT
37 comments
It's easy to pick apart a groundbreaking effort to stretch the boundaries of what some may say ought to confine a season-ending awards show for the greatest players in the world, of our favorite frozen game. Not being one who feels unendingly drawn to that plastic, wholly-artificial city in the desert, that reduces so many of the world's treasures to ugly replicas, I was skeptical of the decision to move the NHL Awards Show from a comfortable, traditional locale north of the border to one that is anathema to tradition (and to ice, though perhaps most any natural constraint can be managed in Las Vegas). But then I read and watched, during the events leading up to the main one last night, just how much the players seemed to be enjoying themselves there. And so I came around to applauding the move.
The name of the game is, of course, entertainment, and the Show capped a nice multi-day event, a reward for all of those who invested their physical, emotional, and financial resources into the endeavor of another successful season for hockey. And last night's shindig, particularly, and despite its make-believe backdrop, was a wonderful moment where players and family and friends and fans showed their humanity, in all of its awkward glory.
Even as a Gary Bettman-led league, time and again, seems to go to great lengths to fit our quirky, homespun game, played by mostly humble, self-effacing, charming, gracious, honest men, into the mold of other leagues more polished and choreographed for a mass audience (whether it be by altering the playoff structure to conference-wide seedings or insistence on keeping a failing franchise in the arid Southwest), this effort paid off. And in whatever detractors feel the league has now done to make its awards gala seem more like those of other pro sports other awards shows popular in North America, its efforts wind up, paradoxically but refreshingly, revealing the character and humility of the players, and just how unique hockey culture really is. (Heck, even Bettman himself showed a little humanity, suggesting that the podium be made shorter for him.)
I loved Ron MacLean's direction of last year's program in Toronto, and he was dearly missed this time around. But while Jeremy Roenick may have stumbled through some lines in his on-the-fly MC duties, his delivery seemed almost as heartfelt and natural as that great hockey bard of Canada. Who cares if he said "Fan Five" instead of "Fan Fav" by accident? How many times have you misplayed a public delivery, a speech or announcement or presentation, only to recover your form and see it through. That's life. It brought me closer to the players. Not so larger than life. And don't we want to feel connected? (For Caps fans, how can you not have been pleased to witness JR not quite able to get out his congratulations for the Pittsburgh Penguins?)
And how better to display what is wonderful about the game than to showcase true legends, like Igor Larionov, as award presenters, rather than hired celebs, cold actors with little vested interest. That the rough and, at times, inelegant delivery of the participants, or subdued mood of the audience, may not have quite fit with the ridiculous, over-the-top atmosphere of Sin City, to me, squarely evidences just how genuine was the show. To artificially inject gratuitous flash and mayhem into the hockey mix would be a tragedy, a real blandness and conformity. A race to the frenzied, mindless bottom.
So Denis Leary, undying standard-bearer for the hockey fan, commences the evening with an inspirational monologue. Excellent work as usual. And then Chaka Khan. Really? Yeah, really. What, do you want to listen to "The Hockey Song" for all eternity? I'm not ashamed to admit that, watching the photo montage of fans in the stands (one of which prominently featured Caps Nation in aching exuberance) and listening to "Through the Fire," my love the Caps was, strangely, at that moment, re-kindled again. Fans flamed.
"Through the fire, through whatever, come what may . . ." Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Go ahead and laugh! Watching the Penguins win the Cup, watching them defeat our heroes along the way, for the seventh time in eight playoff meetings, worked toward stamping out that fire. Despondency took firm hold.
Mirtle recently analyzed the likelihood of an individual player winning a Stanley Cup championship in his hockey career. And I've wondered whether I'll ever be part of the even lower percentage of hockey fans who enjoy at least one Cup victory in their "fan careers." The beginnings of the 2008-09 brought unprecedented hope for Caps country. A legitimate opportunity for ultimate victory. Yet, evil prevailed again.
Speaking of which, that Ben Roethlisberger clip was jarring. Maybe it was the background in which the clip was filmed that brought me discomfort. Yeah, I'm sure that was it. Pittsburgh fans sure are starting to get spoiled. Even their city was recently voted as the most livable in America. Pool parties in Mario's backyard with the holy grail. Penguin players shamelessly cavorting. The horror of it all.
But watching last night's celebration, and listening to Alex Ovechkin's remarks after taking the Hart Trophy again, a mixture of fervent hope and guarantee for next season, listening to Caps supporters in the crowd shouting, cheering for him, louder than the cries of any other audience members that I could hear during the entire program, stoked the fire back to life. All is not lost, and all may still, soon, be obtained.
So thanks Alex, and the NHL, for a fine conclusion to the 2008-09 season.
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You’d think that a Vegas resort could manage better TV lighting than what they had.
I enjoyed most of it. I liked it when the players and actors are talking, and cringed when they weren’t. (I find Chaka Khan very difficult to listen to.) Maybe they should get Pat Sajak to do the NHL Awards some year.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jun 19, 2009 1:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Also, did anyone else notice that the Caps had two idfferent goalies represented in the “Saves of the Year” highlight reel? Johnson’s robbing of Blake Wheeler made the reel, and one of Varlamov’s did.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jun 19, 2009 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I couldn’t bring myself to watch it for more than a minute at a time. Half of the presenters must have been drunk or almost there, but they weren’t entertaining at all.
On the one hand, it is nice to have presenters that have some history and connection (going with the Russians for the Hart and Pearson was a nice touch, even if Larionov was hard to understand).
But on the other hand, these are the greatest awards in all of sports… you’d think the league would put a little more effort into the ceremonies. This felt very thrown together and the people doing the presentations (for the most part) weren’t nearly good enough to pull it off.
by brs03 on Jun 19, 2009 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Want me to thank your wife Pepper?
/Timmy’d
by Bald Pollack on Jun 19, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
One of the best lines of an acceptance speech ever. That stuff can’t be scripted.
by Stephen Pepper on Jun 19, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That stuff can’t be scripted.
Not at all. I thought Thomas was by far the best, the most genuine. I also liked his ‘Award? I’m just happy to make the roster’ comment as well He is a-okay by me.
What on earth did Chewbaca Chara have to talk about for what seemed like an eternity? Did he thank, like, everyone in Slovakia individually? My finger hit the ‘Mute’ button on it’s own, with no involvement from my conscious mind at all.
by Uncle C on Jun 19, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No way, man. Chara said probably the most outreaching thing of the entire night when he talked about getting cut from Junior teams but not giving up (and encouraging other youngsters to follow his example). I think those comments along reached more hockey fans and hockey hopefuls than anyone else not named Tim Thomas. And after I got over Greenie not winning the Norris and wiped the drool away as Chara claimed it, I imagined him or Malkin wearing Capitals red, white & blue. Stupid salary cap!!!
by war_capitals on Jun 19, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
along alone, that’s more like it
by war_capitals on Jun 19, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not to threadjack, but I wanted to take a second and thank everyone who made it out to Bailey’s last night – you’re a much better looking crowd than I’d have expected (disclaimer: I may have been drunk).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 19, 2009 2:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I know I was – but I was yelling at the board from my own computer at home!
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 19, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Noted in a different thread — awards show much easier to watch with others. Especially when you really are interested in only about 10 minutes of the fool thing. Thanks for coming up with the party.
by gfcaps fan on Jun 19, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn’t Wysh get the memo that you guys would be on TV? You had the nice blazer on while he looked like he had just come from the pool. :)
Even Ivan had a beer nearby. Pretty cool.
by Cluster on Jun 19, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wysh is a blogger and has to look like a blogger (hey, we’re lucky he put on a pair of pants).
I’m a lawyer coming from work who almost had to be convinced to lose the tie.
And yeah, I thought the beers on the table was a nice touch.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 19, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wysh is smaller in real life, but you’re taller. So there’s that.
by CapitalCentre on Jun 19, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your firm must not be in Arlington, otherwise you would’ve been wearing brown flip flops.
by Cluster on Jun 19, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
HOLY CRAP with the BROWN FLIP FLOPS.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jun 19, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aw, ya’ll are making me sad not to be back east! Maybe next year…
by SeattleCapsFan on Jun 20, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Televised awards shows – pretty much the most worthless things on the planet. Glad I had something better to view last evening.
by CP2Devil on Jun 19, 2009 2:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And in whatever detractors feel the league has now done to make its awards gala seem more like those of other pro sports popular in North America…
Are there any other pro sports awards ceremonies? I know there’s the ESPYs, but I can’t think of any awards for each individual sports other than the NHL.
Anyway, I guess it’s good that I missed the show if people are saying it was that bad. I fell asleep for some 6 hours and couldn’t be woken up. But I grabbed my Blackberry to make sure Ovi won the Hart, and I watched the speeches online this morning. As cliche as it may sound, a bittersweet ending to the season.
Oh, and anyone know when development camp is?
by letsgocaps on Jun 19, 2009 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Tentatively July 12-18, but not yet confirmed by the team.
by Stephen Pepper on Jun 19, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t laugh but I think the only other professional ‘sport’ that has an award show is NASCAR. Not enough individual trophies in the other 3 sports to have an award show.
But College football has an award show as well, it is also a pain in the ass to watch.
by vt caps fan on Jun 19, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Baseball has what seems like a billion awards but they manage the string out announcing them over 3 months. Makes for an entertaining off-season and all, but sometimes I just want to scream “Just announce the MVP already!”
by RedBirdie on Jun 19, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess there aren’t many other sports awards shows out there, though many other popular awards fêtes for music, theatre, etc, so there’s that comparison as well.
by Stephen Pepper on Jun 19, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just watched the replay on the NHL Network as I was stuck at an airport with a delayed flight back to DC last night. My husband went to Bailey’s and called me with an update for Ovie getting the Pearson. I had expected the entertainment portions to be way better as the show was held in Vegas. With all the shows in Vegas, they get Chaka Khan as the big name performer?
by NovaCath on Jun 19, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Isn’t that what Vegas is about – singers that were most popular a decade or two ago getting a second-career on the casino theatre circuit?
by Stephen Pepper on Jun 19, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn’t have minded Chaka Khan if she could have sang in tune the whole time. That shouldn’t be asking much IMO.
by zephyr on Jun 19, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m with you there. She should have been presenting and Michael Buble should have been singing.
There's always more to learn about Hockey.
by WordsOnIce on Jun 19, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we’re at a record low comments for a post by a major blogger on this site. These awards really were nothing special, huh?
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 19, 2009 4:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Eh, Friday afternoons are slow, traffic-wise, especially in the summer.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 19, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can only hit refresh so many times JP!
Capitals Kremlin the second line center of the Caps blogosphere.
by CapitalsKremlin on Jun 19, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know if I can speak for anyone else but, personally, I don’t want to even think about these individual awards.
They meant a lot more last year when the team was just lucky to enter the playoffs but right now they sort of just make me feel sick.
It also became obvious to me after last years awards that everyone recognizes Ovechkin as the best player in the NHL. This year was a nice way of solidifying that fact but as Ovechkin said they really don’t matter since we don’t have the cup.
by zephyr on Jun 19, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Conversely, this year’s awards have given me a sense of perspective. Gretzky has, what, 30 individual awards? And four Stanley Cups — over about two decades. Ovi is probably the one person alive with a chance at beating many of his records. But no one carries a team himself, and so the individual excellence also should be acknowledged.
by CapitalCentre on Jun 19, 2009 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t what was worse, the Chaka Khan performance, or Jeremy Roenick saying “one of my personal favorites” before introducing her.
Capitals Kremlin the second line center of the Caps blogosphere.
by CapitalsKremlin on Jun 19, 2009 5:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Methinks (or mehopes) JR was being facetious. Otherwise, I don’t know what to think…
Rockin' the Red in Section 412
by boutros23 on Jun 19, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t think too deeply on it. You’ll only hurt yourself. :-/
There's always more to learn about Hockey.
by WordsOnIce on Jun 19, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m pretty sure my fan career will last long enough to see a Caps Cup. But I’d rather get the first one on the board next season.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jun 19, 2009 8:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn’t be surprised to see more than one in the Ovechkin era.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jun 19, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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