There is a occasional segment called "Man crush" on Steve Czaban's morning show on Fox Sports Radio. It's where callers call in and talk about which professional athlete they are crazy about.
With the possible exception of Tiger Woods and the fact I practically don't move when he is playing in a major tournament, I can't say I really had one. Until tonight while watching the Caps-Canadiens game. Alex Ovechkin is now my man crush. He scored four goals during the Caps 5-4 overtime win over Montreal tonight.
He's got 43 goals so far this season, tops in the NHL. He scored a pair of goals in this past Sunday's NHL All Star game.
Oh yeah, he negotiated an extension of his contract without an agent. Ready for this sports fans: 13 years, $124 million dollars.
Another cool fact and this comes quoted from the Washington Post: On 10/2/06 during the Caps annual charity golf tournament he had never played a round of golf in his life. So he didn't enter the tournament. He stood on the tee, greeting golfers, signing autographs and taking practice shots. On about his 100th shot, something happened that most golfers wait a lifetime to achieve: The ball soared 160 yards, bounced three times and dropped into the cup -- a hole-in-one. Gleeful, the young hockey star hooted, stomped, pumped his fists. He picked up his borrowed 4-iron sideways and strummed it as if it were a guitar.
I forgot to add that he assisted on the other goal the Caps scored tonight. For those keeping score that's 4 goals and an assist. Incredible!
In my Favorite Reads section I've added the blog of Caps Owner Ted Leonsis so you can keep track of Alex and the Caps.
I'll sign off with what's been simply called The Goal. Enjoy!
Update: Mike Wise from The Washington Post writes A Night To Remember and the game recap
1 comment:
Ovechkin's 4 goals last night give him 43 for the season in 52 games -on pace for 68.
No player has scored 60+ goals in the NHL since 1995-96, when both Mario Lemieux (69) and Jaromir Jagr (62) did it for Pittsburgh.
The Capitals' record for goals in a season is 60, set by Dennis Maruk in 1981-82.
And in case you're wondering ... here is the list of 70-goal seasons all-time in the NHL:
1981-82 Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton 92
1983-84 Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton 87
1990-91 Brett Hull, St. Louis 86
1988-89 Mario Lemieux, Pgh 85
1970-71 Phil Esposito, Boston 76
1992-93 Alexander Mogilny, Buf. 76
1992-93 Teemu Selanne, Winnipeg 76
1984-85 Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton 73
1989-90 Brett Hull, St. Louis 72
1982-83 Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton 71
1984-85 Jari Kurri, Edmonton 71
1991-92 Brett Hull, St. Louis 70
1987-88 Mario Lemieux, Pgh 70
1988-89 Bernie Nicholls, LA 70
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