Alexander Ovechkin v. The World

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by browntrout

Beyond belief to me why so many posters still endorse this man... thousands of Ukrainians die each day...but we let him off the hook...the guy at the very least could remove his social media accounts that show Putin support and people would of been happy with that...the angle he spins about danger to this family is just crap...it has more to do with protecting his business ventures in Russia. Lot and lots are speaking out in Russia against the war and are fine...

Yes he is a very talented hockey player, but he is just a coward and disgusting human being

It's beyond belief how some can't separate the athlete from politics. To be clear Ovechkin has committed no crimes against anyone and has absolutely zero bearing on any wars or lives lost. His family is in Russia and anything he may say one way or the other could endanger them so there's more here than meets the eye so let's just leave this discussion as a hockey one. We have a section to discuss politics so please be courteous and leave that talk there and leave this to the discussion of the player that is with striking distance of being the all-time NHL leading goalscorer.

[T-Dog]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's beyond belief how some can't separate the athlete from politics. To be clear Ovechkin has committed no crimes against anyone and has absolutely zero bearing on any wars or lives lost. His family is in Russia and anything he may say one way or the other could endanger them so there's more here than meets the eye so let's just leave this discussion as a hockey one. We have a section to discuss politics so please be courteous and leave that talk there and leave this to the discussion of the player that is with striking distance of being the all-time NHL leading goalscorer.

I disagree, this is a thread about Ovechkin and, yes, his accomplishments on the ice are the focus but it’s impossible to completely ignore who he is as a person. He’s on record for actively supporting an authoritarian dictator who started a genocidal war, so yes that does color my views about Ovechkin. I used to actually like him, but as far as I’m concerned he can #### off back to Russia. And as for the BS about him secretly wanting to denounce Putin and the war, but can’t because his family is in Russia, give me a break. His real views are pretty clear both by what he says and what he doesn’t say. There are lots other famous Russians in similar positions.

[Erick Estrada]

Opinion noted. Thanks. Now back on topic.

[FunkMasterFlame]

Ovie is a hockey legend.

[Finger Cookin]

A+ on the daily updates, love reading the posts about the goal scoring exploits

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by sharkov

Not wanting to have nato bases next to your country means you support genocide?

I’d love to debate this in the appropriate thread. Unless you are a too much of a coward to do so.

[Yobbo]

####, Ovechkin. Unbelievable athlete, but he's on the wrong side of history. I'd rather have a Canadian hold the all time goal record. Not some dictator loving p.o.s.

[Gemnoble]

As someone who is part Ukrainian and likely exists only because my Great Grandparents were expelled by Russian occupiers, I can't feel comfortable hearing anything about Ovechkin especially when he is chasing the records of a Ukrainian Canadian hockey legend. As Canada has the greatest population of Ukrainians outside of the Ukraine and with Ovechkin being possibly the most influential Russian athlete in North America and refusing to disavow Putin outside of a token statement when the invasion began I don't believe Canada should allow him to enter the country and he should even be sanctioned as other Russian public figures have been.

[SutterBrother]

Long list of “famous but Nazi” people from the late 30’s and 40’s. Same as “famous but racist” in the 80’s, or “famous but misogynist” in the 2010’s.

He’ll be the all time goal leader with a 21 century swastka astrix for the rest of time.

It’s hockey relevant, so shouldn’t be brushed aside.

[SutterBrother]

In a real sense he’s Theo Fleury x 1000. Can you separate the on ice vs the off ice, and still celebrate him?

[Bill Bumface]

I generally care far more about someone's character than what they can do with a puck or a ball. Personally, I'll spend my energy rooting for those who have shown to be decent people, or at least haven't yet publicly revealed that they are pricks.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Gemnoble

As someone who is part Ukrainian and likely exists only because my Great Grandparents were expelled by Russian occupiers, I can't feel comfortable hearing anything about Ovechkin especially when he is chasing the records of a Ukrainian Canadian hockey legend. As Canada has the greatest population of Ukrainians outside of the Ukraine and with Ovechkin being possibly the most influential Russian athlete in North America and refusing to disavow Putin outside of a token statement when the invasion began I don't believe Canada should allow him to enter the country and he should even be sanctioned as other Russian public figures have been.

Gretzky supported George Bush and the invasion of Iraq:

”All I can say is the President of the United States is a great leader, I happen to think he's a wonderful man and if he believes what he's doing is right I back him 100 per cent," said Gretzky, in Calgary for a news conference for Ronald McDonald Children's Charities.

"If the President decides to go to war he must know more than we know, or we hear about. He must have good reason to go and we have to back that."

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/...ticle25281806/

Not to excuse one or both of them or suggest that you have to feel differently, just to point out that there are a lot of asterisks to hand out if that’s what people want to do. I’m not particularly concerned that it’s Gretzky of all people Ovechkin might take the record from.

[jayswin]

Was that before or after the majority of the world came to understand the gravity of lies that led to the invasion? I'm a little foggy on timelines now, but I recall the media having a pretty good hold on presenting it has as necessary and right when if first started.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Was that before or after the majority of the world came to understand the gravity of lies that led to the invasion? I'm a little foggy on timelines now, but I recall the media having a pretty good hold on presenting it has as necessary and right when if first started.

From wikipedia, events prior to and happening amidst Gretzky’s comments:

The invasion of Iraq was strongly opposed by some long-standing U.S. allies, including the governments of France, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand.[33][34][35] Their leaders argued that there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that invading that country was not justified in the context of UNMOVIC's 12 February 2003 report. About 5,000 chemical warheads, shells or aviation bombs were discovered during the Iraq War, but these had been built and abandoned earlier in Saddam Hussein's rule before the 1991 Gulf War. The discoveries of these chemical weapons did not support the government's invasion rationale.[36][37] In September 2004, Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General at the time, called the invasion illegal under international law and said it was a breach of the UN Charter.[38]

On 15 February 2003, a month before the invasion, there were worldwide protests against the Iraq War, including a rally of three million people in Rome, which the Guinness Book of Records listed as the largest ever anti-war rally.[39] According to the French academic Dominique Reynié, between 3 January and 12 April 2003, 36 million people across the globe took part in almost 3,000 protests against the Iraq war.

Regardless, do we excuse someone for trusting the story told by the leader they believe in and condemn the other? If supporting the invasion of the Iraq war is excusable or understandable because they believed the government, believed the story told by the media in the invading country, ignored what the world was saying, etc, that should at least allow us to understand Ovechkin.

[memphusk]

I hope Ovechkin scores 1000 goals.

[powderjunkie]

I won't be comfortable supporting any athlete or celebrity unless they are willing to take very definitive stances that align exactly with my own beliefs on:

Abortion
How to hang toilet paper
Israel
Canada Goose jackets - pretentious or not?
Trump
What temperature to set your thermostat
Michael Jackson
Real of artificial Xmas trees
Guns
Apple or Android
And most importantly of all, is Hilary Swank hot?

[DoubleK]

You forgot pineapple on pizza...

[Samonadreau]

And cats or dogs

edit: in all seriousness though, it's a serious matter. Not to be insensitive on the suffering in Ukraine. I feel remorse already for my above comment.

Anyways back on topic: Goals. Politics and conflicts for the off topic forum.

[Moneyhands23]

https://www.hockeyfeed.com/nhl-news/...ntering-canada

Well this could make things harder. Plus if the playoffs happen to match TO and Washington...

[jonesy]

I guess that’s why people still love their rock stars despite being some of the worst people ever. Hey, it’s got a good beat and I can dance to it, so we good