Your right the players have done nothing. But it is pretty weird to issue Green cards to ppl from a country currently at war with your allies.
Key word there being "issue". And good luck to anyone trying to get a green card now.
But for the people that already have one, they have met the requirements, and are here, living their lives and fulfilling their obligations. They are not responsible for the actions of Putin. Nor should they be punished for them.
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Maybe something in the middle. No new visas until there is peace.
Seems unfair to ban people already here though.
Certainly a better idea than sending people back. Still don't like it though since I think we will see more and more people wanting to leave Russia now. I have a friend in Moscow who after the last few weeks is looking to move here now
Certainly a better idea than sending people back. Still don't like it though since I think we will see more and more people wanting to leave Russia now. I have a friend in Moscow who after the last few weeks is looking to move here now
To me Ovechkins support for Putin is regrettable, but also understandable. Putin has been quite popular in Russia for most of his reign, and even sports stars can be easily starstruck when they meet their president.
If you don't follow the news much and think the news is unreliable anyway (quite normal if you grew up in Russia), it's understandable that you can think "Putin isn't that bad, at least he's keeping the country stable" etc.
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No doubt Ovechkin has been influenced to like Putin. But the people saying all of his past expressions of admiration are because of threats are engaging in huge speculation to explain away actual events. Putin is a scary guy who doesn’t shy away from killing or harming political opponents or reporters who threaten him. But I don’t see why he’d do that just to get a hockey player to say he liked him.
Occkham’s Razor.
"a hockey player"? This is Alex Ovechkin we're talking about. ARguably the greatest Russian hockey player of all time.
But on the topic of hockey
Just look at how much effort is being put into not upsetting Putin.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
Really? How so? Unless the “devastated” person was Ovechkin, which I didn’t think was the case.
Anyway, it was Ovie who set up a foundation for Putin. I’m not saying Ovie is a bad guy, I’m saying he has been influenced and star struck.
That article is good... precisely because it examines a lot of the uncertain motives behind those events and the fuzzy reality of what it's like to be someone like Ovechkin.
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"May those who accept their fate find happiness. May those who defy it find glory."
"a hockey player"? This is Alex Ovechkin we're talking about. ARguably the greatest Russian hockey player of all time.
But on the topic of hockey
Just look at how much effort is being put into not upsetting Putin.
That article is good... precisely because it examines a lot of the uncertain motives behind those events and the fuzzy reality of what it's like to be someone like Ovechkin.
Sure, but it seems Ovie bought into it, more so than Malkin (and he was at the top for a year or two in Russian eyes) and especially Panarin, who’s outspoken the other way. I just think they have an actual relationship.
"a hockey player"? This is Alex Ovechkin we're talking about. ARguably the greatest Russian hockey player of all time.
But on the topic of hockey
Just look at how much effort is being put into not upsetting Putin.
That article is good... precisely because it examines a lot of the uncertain motives behind those events and the fuzzy reality of what it's like to be someone like Ovechkin.
lol what a ####ing loser
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Hasek's comments may not all be right, but he is definitely not wrong either.
It is one thing to just do 'photo-ops' with Putin. It is another to publicly support him and take an active role in trying to make him more popular in Russia, which helps him to remain in power. Ovechkin did that.
Now, we don't know what (or IF) coercion was used. Putin likes to go after families after all. From the outsider's point of view, it certainly does appear that Ovie genuinely liked Putin, and that relationship between the two looked like a reciprocal one. He definitely was NOT a Panarin here.
Panarin should be lauded for his courage in criticizing Putin. The criticism towards Ovechkin certainly seems warranted. Now, if there were threats made by Putin to get them, certainly some patience can be shown toward Ovechkin - not everyone is a hero after all. By all outward appearances, Hasek is right (at least towards Ovie).
Panarin is the hero though. He even had to take time off and return to Russia to help get his family out - I can only imagine the stress of that trip, trying to figure out if he would be able to ever leave again, or what would happen to him and his family in those days before he was able to get them out. He is a damn hero for his continual criticisms.
Edit: and to be clear here, Putin is not a beloved figure in Russia. Most Russians don't seem 'ok' with this. Protests are illegal in Russia, and people are risking it all to try and change the actions of their government. There are many heroes in Russia right now and across the world that have publicly criticized Putin and are fighting back against what he and the rest of the government is doing. We also know that the propaganda machine has been in full swing - I am betting that a lot of people in Russia that happen to support the war think that Russia is actually acting in the best interests of the Ukrainians. It is easy to judge from the outside. Criticism is fair. I do look forward to Ovechkin coming out eventually and talking about his apparent 'friendship' with Putin after Putin gets kicked to the curb (which is likely to happen in the coming months I would bet).
Last edited by Calgary4LIfe; 02-27-2022 at 05:51 PM.
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Sure, but it seems Ovie bought into it, more so than Malkin (and he was at the top for a year or two in Russian eyes) and especially Panarin, who’s outspoken the other way. I just think they have an actual relationship.
Gotta think Pootin hand picked Ovi to be one of his cheerleaders. He, by far, has the highest profile of Russian players.
Plus his family is in Moscow. It fits the narrative.
Malkins family is from the East from what I understood.
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Russia athletes have three choices when it comes to Putin’s regime:
1) Vocally denounce it. Due to repercussions with family back home, few take this risk.
2) Keep their heads down and avoid the subject. This is the approach taken by the vast majority, a choice which they suffer no negative consequences from.
3) Go out of their way to express vocal support for Putin and take an active part in his propaganda. Very few choose this option. Ovechkin is one of them.
And far from being simple and apolitical folk, Ovechkin’s parents are well-connected to Russia’s establishment. Ovechkin’s support for Putin is genuine and enthusiastic, regardless of how disappointed he seemed to Barry Trotz when he had to make a visit to Putin rather than party with his buddies.
That doesn’t mean he should be run out of the league. But excuses that he had no choice are simply not true. And it’s baffling how much more tolerant a lot of fans are of Ovechkin than they would be of, say, Patrick Kane publicly endorsing and chumming around with Donald Trump.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
Last edited by CliffFletcher; 02-27-2022 at 07:30 PM.
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"a hockey player"? This is Alex Ovechkin we're talking about. ARguably the greatest Russian hockey player of all time.
But on the topic of hockey
Just look at how much effort is being put into not upsetting Putin.
That article is good... precisely because it examines a lot of the uncertain motives behind those events and the fuzzy reality of what it's like to be someone like Ovechkin.
Putin is like Homer as the leader of the Stone Cutters. No, No, you win...you have the royal um, sampler
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GFG
Last edited by dino7c; 02-27-2022 at 09:38 PM.
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I have memories of feeling like I was being patronized by adults in sports… I can’t imagine doing this. How does he not feel like the biggest moron in the world out there!?
Obviously I didn’t hear it but what you wrote suggested that Ovie dumped his teammates for Putin.
Poor writing then.
He left yes. But he was devastated. Trotz said he was looking forward to winding things up with his "brothers" for the season back in DC when he got a call and then somberly packed up and left.
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