With Gilbert Out, is Alex Ovechkin the King of D.C.?
There’s no question that Gilbert Arenas is the face of pro sports in the District. He’s the most recognizable player, commands the most commercial opportunities, and is steadily building a global brand.
But Gilbert Arenas is out, and there appears to be a new contender for the throne of most popular athlete in Diamond City. A man who wears helmet hat for a crown, and gets hair cuts with common men.
Alex Ovechkin.
You would think it would be Clinton Portis, right? After all, he’s the league’s rushing leader on pace for an NFL MVP award, has been a star in Eastern Motors commercials since his arrival in the Metro area, and can be caught at local parties more than Soulja Boi could ever hope to be.
But there’s something about AO that captivates the imagination. Perhaps its the fact that he’s Russian, and everything he says is unintentionally hilarious. Maybe its the missing teeth combined with the exuberant willingness to smile at almost any photo opportunity.
But it could also be that he is the best player on a local team that is finally catching up to the Redskins and the Wizards. By far, the Skins reign supreme, and the Wizards are a nice early spring fling. But the Washington Capitals are an underdog franchise in the town, and are led by the super-talented Ovechkin in their quest for local relevance and NHL prominence.
If you really want to know why Alex Ovechkin can be the King of D.C. sports, ask yourself this question: Would Gilbert ever wear a Nick Backstrom jersey to the Caps game with a matching hat? Would Clinton Portis wear the same dorky outfit to every home contest?
See how good and how easy it is to be king?
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I must say I like the fact that AO shows up to Wizards and Skins games ready to be a fan instead of a star.
And Caps fans….they easily brought the hometown passion back.
No matter how good the Wiz are, you’re still going to have many people more worried about networking near the buffet in the luxury box…assuming they don’t get to the game until midway through the 2nd quarter.
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