Epic anti-Ovi rant in 18 tweets by fellow Russian Slava Malamud
1/#Caps problems extend beyond a bad def pair, and under-performing goalie. The failure is endemic and systematic. It's the result of choices.
2/fanboy owner Leonsis made in 2004 when he decided his business model would be not building a winner but servicing a marketable megastar.
3/There's nothing wrong with building a team around a star, but it has to be the right kind of star. Ovi just isn't the 'win first' type.
4/I've know Ovi since he was 17. Kid was born with a silverware set in his mouth. Always told he is the greatest, teammates must be worthy.
5/but his demands on himself stay the same. He's not the bloodied inspirational leader. He is the tousled-hair sexy charismatic ruffian.
6/Yes, he's the NHL's favorite stripper who's been giving the hockey world a lap dance for 13 years. Sorry, but the length of your erection
7/hockey world, is unhealthy by now. You need to face the truth: the Caps personality-cult culture is counterproductive to winning the cup.
8/Fueled by innumerable fanboy blogs and media whipped into terrified subservience by CapsPR, the culture feeds on self, kills all dissent,
9/and spurns all criticism. You know, Caps fans, that despite all the issues Oates and Hunter had, your main problem w/ them was trying to
10/turn Ovi into a man of the system. You hate that. You want your boy toy wild and free. Everyone wants this of Ovi, even RUS coaches.
11/Compare this to Crosby who will take any role on CAN w/o complaint. You call 87 a whiner, but who whined the loudest during the lockout,
12/threatening to stay in the KHL? Who whines now, threatening to leave the league to get an Olympic trinket? While Leonsis bends over
13/backwards to satisfy all his ridiculous demands. This is a guy who looks out for himself and his public image (Wild and Sexy Rebel,
14/Patriot of the Motherland). His only interest in the Cup is how his reflection will look in it. Problem is, Leonsis has the same priorities.
15/He has dissolved himself and the team in Ovechkin's 13-year long marketing campaign. It worked out great financially. The price to pay
16/is being humiliated every year by real winners. Congrats, Caps, you've sold lots of t-shirts. Congrats, Caps fans, you've been had.
17/Oh, and that sound you've just heard is your window of opportunity slamming shut. I hope this wild ride on the charisma Train was fun.
18/Rant out. Enjoy your Redskins mini camp.
Be interesting to see what becomes of the Russian super-star now.