Out Ovie Control

"I am very sorry that Brian was injured and I hope he is able to return to his team soon. NHL hockey is a physical game. We all play hard every time we are on the ice and have battles each shift in every game we play so we can do our jobs and win. As players we must accept responsibility for our actions and I am no different but I did not intend to injure Brian and that is why I was disappointed in the NHL's decision. Every time I have the honor to play for my team, I will continue to do what I've done since I was taught to play. I will play hard, play with passion, and play with respect for my teammates, opponents, and fans. I look forward to returning to my team and doing everything I can to be the best player I can be."

This is Alex Ovechkin's formal "apology" that he dished out after another dirty hit that lead to another suspension. First of all, tell me none of you out there actually believe he wrote this. You know some nerdy intern in the Caps organization thought this one up. What a bunch of garbage. Seriously it almost makes me ill. I think this is probably more like it, "There is nothing I can do right now. He fell, this just happens." This was his quote after the game. That's what I expect from a clown like Ovie. But let's break this fake apology down from the beginning. First, he could probably care less if Campbell can return to the Hawks at all this season. He only cares because he got suspended. He refers to the battles each shift, which apparently involve knee to knee hits, head hunting, flying cross-ice to blind side someone and hits from behind. Guess what Ovie, these hits don't show us that you are a physical player, they show us you are a dirty player and a punk. He says he did not intend to injure the guy. Anyone who has watched this hit can see that as soon as Ovechkin crossed the blue line he had Campbell in his sights. Campbell was clearly going to beat him to the puck. But why pull up when you can two handed shove a guy into the boards face first. And to disagree with a suspension amazes me. The Caps are lucky he got the superstar discount because anyone else would have gotten five games, he got two. Caps GM George MrPhee said "We have no problem with the way Alex tried to finish his check." Are these people watching the same replay I am? His coach even complained about the suspension and said "... he got caught in the ice and fell into the boards." Bet the two handed shove in the back didn't hurt. Actually it did, hes out for the season. The last thing he needs is people dismissing these hits as okay or right. Someone better get in his ear before someone lays him out. But back to his cheap shot style. His own coach said that he is out of control earlier in the season when he actually injured himself on a knee to knee hit with Tim Gleason from Carolina. Another hit that rendered a suspension. He is a repeat offender as stamped by the NHL. He hits with intent to injure all the time. Everyone wanted Matt Cooke suspended, but they proved that he did not break a rule, whether you like the hit or not. Ovechkin's hit the other night was as clear a case of boarding as you will ever see. I honestly believe that he thinks he in untouchable, that the rules on the ice do not apply to him because he is a star. And the code that goes around the league that maybe you don't take runs at the star players isn't going to apply to him much longer. He should showcase his skills, which no one can deny he has by the truckload, and maybe back off trying to smash faces and snap knees. Eric Lindros was the same way. He wanted to be the bully instead of the great player he was, so the other guys stopped giving him the free pass. He got lit up like a Christmas tree until he had so many concussions he didn't know who he played for. The Capitals need to do something before the same thing happens to Ovie. Every time a great athlete, and Ovechkin is that, feel that he is above the law or the rules of the game, a hard fall usually seems to follow. Someone needs to put an end to it within the organization before someone outside the organization ends it for him. Maybe he will change his ways, word is he actually called Campbell to apologize in person. It probably went to voice mail though. Its hard to answer the phone with your neck in three pieces.