The Prodigal Son Returns

Sidney Crosby, hockey’s chosen one, returned to NHL action last night after missing almost a full year with a concussion, and immediately reminded us what we were missing without him.  As a Capitals fan, it pains me to admit this, but Crosby is the best hockey player on the planet.  Crosby netted two goals on eight shots on goal, also adding two assists, in his return to the ice.  Despite my hate of the Penguins and Crosby in particular, even I have to admit the NHL has been far less interesting with Crosby off the ice.  The absence of an NBA season looks more and more likely with each passing day, and the NHL needs Crosby to be back in full force to capitalize on the opportunity to be the premier winter sport and expand their fan base.

                Sports are a game of stars.  Stars are the ones that captivate fans’ attentions, dominate the games, and win championships.  While leagues like the NBA, NHL, and MLB, currently have many stars, the NHL has two: Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.  There are other phenomenal players in the league, but you can’t count Steven Stamkos, either of the Sedin brothers, or Corey Perry as superstars, at least not yet.  Ovi and Sid the Kid make Caps-Pens games must see TV and give the NHL a great rivalry, not just between players but between teams.  The Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry can be compared to that of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in the’98 season.  Together, those two sluggers lifted baseball back to the front pages with the greatest home run chase of all time.  In those days, the MLB was struggling to recover from the effects of a lockout and shortened season, and attendance and interest was way down.  Together, McGwire and Sosa revived the national pastime by captivating the nation by both breaking the single season home run record.  Neither McGwire or Sosa could have had the same effect by themselves, but together, they were able to save baseball.

                McGwire and Sosa are not the only example of a great rivalry between superstars lifting an entire league.  Larry Bird and Magic Johnson may be the better comparison to the Ovechkin-Crosby rivalry.  Magic was all about Hollywood and Showtime, while Larry focused on the fundamentals and winning with hard work.  Ovechkin has showed many Magic-like tendencies, getting himself into trouble with antics like this 50thgoal celebration, unbelievable goals, and almost decapitating himself on adrive through the Verizon Center.  Crosby is more of a down to business player, and, like Bird, so far has been the more successful of the two, especially come playoff time.  Magic and Bird frequently met in the NBA finals, and while the Caps and Pens play in the same conference, the two teams faced off in an epic conference semi-finals series in the 08-09 season, which the Penguins won in seven.  Magic and Bird had a dislike, but underlying mutual respect of each other, which Ovechkin and Crosby seem to share.  Like Magic and Bird, Ovechkin and Crosby have the opportunity to lift an entire sport on their shoulders.

                With Crosby back in action, hockey is on the road back to the way it should be.  With any luck, Crosby will build on his incredible start, and Ovechkin and the Caps will regain their early season form in which they won their first seven games.  In this crucial season for the NHL, with an opportunity to capitalize on the lack of an NBA season, Crosby and Ovechkin must both be at the top of their games.  It is said that a rising tide lifts all boats, and it is up to Crosby and Ovechkin to elevate the NHL to the next level.