Tag: Alexander Ovechkin

LOOK: New owners, legends and other pro sports stars in attendance for Commanders’ win

Former players returned and a pair of NBA superstars were at FedEx Field.

The stars were out for the Washington Commanders’ season-opener against the Arizona Cardinals from FedEx Field. Sunday’s game was dubbed the “Welcome Home” game by Washington’s new owners, as several former players returned to FedEx Field after being alienated from the franchise for years.

However, Sunday wasn’t just about former players, owners, or celebrities. It was mainly about the fans. Washington’s new ownership group has seen what has happened to the fan base over the past 24 years. Heck, three of Washington’s new owners grew up as fans of the franchise.

If Sunday was any indication of the future, the Commanders should be excited. FedEx Field was sold out — and loud. Until Washington becomes a consistent winner, it won’t be easy to keep opposing fan bases, such as Dallas and Philadelphia, out, but you must start somewhere. And Week 1 was a terrific starting point.

Here are some images and videos of former players and current professional sports stars who attended Sunday’s game.

14 athletes with incredible seasons (Connor McDavid!) who egregiously weren’t named unanimous MVP

A list of superstars who dominated but weirdly didn’t get universal MVP praise.

Winning a unanimous MVP in sports is one of those eccentric, niche milestones that seemingly only truly great superstars can achieve. But with these honors usually voted on by media members — who are fans of the sport they cover first — sometimes, perspective can be lost in the shuffle.

Because to be a unanimous MVP means you were the undisputed best player in the world in your respective league or sport. No questions asked. At least, that’s what a clean-sweep vote essentially dictates.

You were a cut above, and everyone else paled compared to your brilliance. (Never mind that all of these votes are inherently subjective.)

Despite a historic 2022-2023 NHL season, Connor McDavid wasn’t a unanimous MVP. It’s mind-boggling as to why. But McDavid certainly isn’t the first major sports star to lose out on this distinction that would probably only bother Hall of Famers. There’s a laundry list of athletes who put on an all-time show for an entire year, only for some people to say their excellence actually wasn’t the best.

Across four of the major American sports leagues — the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL — here’s a look at a few stars who probably should’ve received unanimous MVP honors. Note: This list is not a ranking of egregiousness. It is in chronological order by year from top to bottom.

‘The Last of Us’ actor, deaf youth hockey player meets Alexander Ovechkin in heartwarming video

Keivonn Woodard, a 10-year-old actor on “The Last of Us,” met his idol Alexander Ovechkin and took the ice with the Washington Capitals.

Even actors can still get starstruck. 10-year-old Keivonn Woodard, recognizable from the hit TV show The Last of Us, practically froze when he walked into the Washington Capital’s locker room on Friday and saw his idol, legendary player Alexander Ovechkin.

Woodard, who is deaf, intends to be the first deaf Black hockey player in the NHL. He proved that you don’t need to hear a person scream or yell to know they can barely contain their excitement.

After staring for a second, he turned to the American Sign Language interpreter and signed, “Oh, you’re Ovi,” according to an NHL.com article.

Ovechkin presented Woodard with a signed hockey stick, and Woodard taught the star how to sign his name in ASL, according to USA TODAY.

Woodard also met former Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly, one of 11 Black players who has played for the Capitals. Smith-Pelly participated in the puck drop for the Capitals’ pregame event, “Celebrating Black History.”

The Capital’s Twitter page posted video and photos of Woodard at the arena and with Ovi. The young hockey player even got some time on the ice, showing off his skating skills and flicking a shot into the upper right corner of the net past the impressed goalie.

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Alexander Ovechkin moonlights as soccer player for FC Dynamo Moscow, somehow continues scoring goals

On the ice or on the field, Ovechkin will score either way.

Whenever he decides to hang up his skates, the Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin will assuredly be remembered as one of the greatest pure goal scorers ever. As the NHL’s current third all-time leading scorer (780 goals), Ovechkin has found a way to bury many one-timers from the left circle over the years.

On Saturday afternoon, Ovechkin showed his prolific goal-scoring ability extends to more places than just the ice. After signing a one-day contract with soccer club FC Dynamo Moscow a day earlier, Ovechkin took to the pitch in a friendly match with Amkal, a squad of bloggers.

Once again, he scored from the left side. Of the goal box. On grass:

Look at that graceful touch off his left. Are we sure he hasn’t been playing soccer on the side over all these years? Actually, I bet it’s because he was in his favorite shooting spot.

If Ovechkin finding the back of any kind of net wasn’t a familiar-enough sight, there was also this moment where he trucked over a seemingly helpless defender:

Ah, just like old times.

Dynamo went on to win the exhibition 5-0 and fans voted Ovechkin the MVP:

I guess goal-scoring in any sport or league is really an instinct more than anything.

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