No one else exists. if they are going to not even pretend hockey is a sport anymore, then why give them what little they focus on?

I know a few people I talked to about him in his rookie year even, who hated on him for being a “whiny diver”. I don’t think he complains about anything much more than most players, and if he was a diver, he certainly isn’t now.

I agree that he had a tendency to complain during his rookie year, and his reputation then was probably deserved. But don’t forget that this is a kid who spent his entire youth career being gunned for, and transferred teams and towns on a regular basis because other players were out to hurt him. He was bound to feel a bit…attacked. The whining is non-existent now, as is the diving, and when he talks to the refs, it’s in his capacity as captain. He is a stand-up guy: sticks up for his teammates, accepts responsibility when things go wrong, and doesn’t shirk the media. Plus he’s crazy talented.

He might be bland off the ice, but mostly because he’s well coached – he’s been doing media since he was nine years old, and he knows that he can’t say anything that might be misconstrued because everyone is just waiting for him to slip up. To be honest, I’m sick of Ovechkin’s schtick — it doesn’t seem genuine to me anymore, just like an ego trip, and I hate that. Give me the unassuming, quiet, humble Canadian boy any day.

I loved this when I saw it! I agree wholeheartedly; I know that there are great Canucks fans, they just seem few and far between! Sooooo tired of the Vancouver media right now, all "We’re better this year, the ‘Hawks are worse, we’re going to take this series!’ I really really really hope the Hakws go crazy on Saturday night, and Lu blows it!