Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
I dont know, I'm still somewhat sympathetic to Ovechkin on this.
You cant really cozy up to a lunatic and then change your tune when that lunatic goes off the rails.
His fear for his family seems grounded in reality. I think a lot of people would do the same thing, just keep their head down and try not to poke the crazy bear.
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Ovechkin could have taken the route that 98 per cent of Russian athletes have done and just stayed out of politics. But he has been an active and enthusiastic supporter of Putin for more than a decade. As have his parents. They weren’t forced to buddy up with him and partner in his PR projects.
I don’t think Ovechkin has a duty to speak out against the war in Ukraine. But his long-standing role as a cheerleader for Putin’s regime is absolutely something he should wear. He didn’t have to lend his own popularity to the cause of a tyrant - he chose to.