The affection between Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin and the city is genuine. As with other legends, the two are now forever linked.
The bond between Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin and his adopted city will last forever. This love affair goes beyond winning a championship.
Yes, it is the first big four pro sports title in DC since the football Redskins won Super Bowl XXVI after the 1991 NFL season. Whichever team broke that drought first would wear the special fan-favorite label a long time. It’s what came after the championship that puts Ovechkin into Washington’s super-stratosphere of legends.
His sheer joy leaps off your televisions and cell phones and goes straight into the regions collective hearts. Anyone who makes a major accomplishment celebrates it a certain way. We can all relate to the images of Ovechkin drinking an endless supply of adult beverages out of Lord Stanley’s Cup.
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But, those pictures of him sleeping with sports most-prized trophy and the stories of hospital visits to raise spirits take a mere sporting victory into a life-changing event. No one would have batted an eyelash if Ovechkin did the parade, said a few happy words and retired into his short summer break.
Instead, he gave love and hope to a city and region in desperate need of good news and heroes.
Washington is the city the rest of the country loves to hate. Forget the federal government, you have a major metropolitan area that has huge public transportation issues and hours of traffic nightmares. The area needed a diversion to feel good and Ovechkin and the Caps delivered.
Emotions are contagious. When you feel frustrated, it rubs off on those you love and vice versa. But, it is impossible to stay in a bad mood when everyone around you is on cloud nine. Ovechkin and his teammates did more than lift the Caps to a title, they carried the city of Washington.
You have to go back to the Redskins first Super Bowl win to find that same innocence rewarded. When they stunned the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game at RFK in January 1983, Washington united. John Riggins heroics on 4th and 1 to ice the Miami Dolphins gave DC a positive charge.
OK, the ‘Skins won two more. But, the first one was special.
Same thing here. For generations, future Washingtonians will speak of Alex Ovechkin’s antics like they do of Frank Howard, Joe Gibbs, Walter Johnson, Wes Unseld and Riggins. His lore is yours. Because of that, the Washington Capitals created a new generation of fans and memories.
Not bad, eh?