Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon recently appeared on Sports Talk 980 for an interview, and he had a few things to say about the Capitals and a D.C. Hockeytown."It's not going to be a hockey town. It can rally around the Capitals because of the great star. This is a star town -- you have to be a star in Washington. We don't have many. The biggest star we've got hasn't played in two years - Gilbert [Arenas]. So if Ovechkin can take over that and keep scoring goals and jumping into the glass and being the showman that the NHL needs and lacks, then this will become an Ovechkin town and a Capitals town for a minute. It will not become a hockey town, but that's okay."
While many will not agree with Wilbon's comments, he does have a point.
Washington has had a star-less sports sky outside of the Capitals. With Gilbert Arenas sidelined, the Nationals without a superstar and the Redskins roster full of aging free agents, the Capitals have taken center stage with their home-grown talent.
If the Capitals want to reach the "hockey town" fever pitch, it's going to require more than one superstar on the team. The Capitals are looking at having four: Green, Ovechkin, Semin and Backstrom, but now it's up to the community to embrace them.
Of course one scenario to think about would be this. If you're not convinced that Washington is currently "Ovechkin-town," then step into our "what if?" machine for a second.
Imagine if the Capitals didn't win the first overall pick in 2004 and instead drafted Evgeni Malkin or Cam Barker.
I think it's safe to say that we'd possibly be looking at a very different hockey climate in the area.
Can Washington become a "hockey town?" Sure, but it's going to require year after year of winning and more than one personality that fans will embrace just as they have with Ovechkin.
I hope Michael Wilbon is wrong, but he is right and he's not insulting the Capitals. Washington is currently "Ovechkin-town," and that's not a bad thing.
assist to CMB poster NeutralZoner
I think he is misunderstanding Washington. Washington goes out to see teams win. Last season, even without Arenas, the wizards were winning and thus the fans were there.
ReplyDeleteIf you look back to OV's first season, even with the great player, attendance was terrible, coincidentally the capitals record was terrible. Likewise if you go back 14 months, when the capitals were still terrible, there were no fans.
It is not just OV, its the fact that they are first in their division, 2nd in their conference and 4th in the league. We may have the 2008 mvp, but we also have the 2008 coach of the year. Not sure if you noticed the different marketing campaigns, at one point it was "come see alex ovechkin and the washington capitals" now i believe it is "come support the washington capitals"
The problem with DC is that aside from the skins fans, most people are fareweather or transplants from another city. Although im starting to think the redskins have lost their fandom as well. How many years do you have to be on the waiting list for season tickets now?
"Ovechkin is the showman [the NHL] needs and lacks" -- I fail to see the lack? He fills the role perfectly!
ReplyDeleteWilbon will never get it, because he doesn't get what Puck Daddy and others have noted. DC may not be a Caps hockey town yet, but there are transplant hockey fans all over this town. A run to the Cup will keep people in the seats at VC for a decade or more.
A run to the Cup will keep people in the seats at VC for a decade or more.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't happen last time, why would it happen this time?
The problem with DC is that aside from the skins fans, most people are fareweather or transplants from another city. Although im starting to think the redskins have lost their fandom as well. How many years do you have to be on the waiting list for season tickets now?
Hits the nail on the head. Though I think part of the reason there's no longer a Skins waiting list is that they play in a stadium that's 50% bigger than their old one.
@Drew he was just saying that the NHL doesn't have any personalities that are worth watching but Ovechkin is quickly becoming/become that person.
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