Big man on campus. All DC sports fans were able to vote via the Washington Post and even hard core Redskins fans could vote via Extremeskins.com and they both chose to vote for Alex Ovechkin as DC’s most popular athlete.
In the Washington Post poll — Alex won by garnering more than 50 percent of the vote — in the Skin’s blog poll — Alex got 70 percent of the vote. There was nothing scientific done here and only about 7000 people voted — you werent able to vote twice either — but still — the clicks told an interesting story.
Change has come — can you imagine 5 years ago — if I stated that a Washington Capitals player could be the landslide winner in this kind of vote? Over ANY Redskins player or star?
As I noted — no one knows nothing and Dan Steinberg did a nice retort to Mike Wise — thank you.
We need to remain humble — we need to earn our fans clicks and time and dollars every day — but I really appreciate the outcome of this ad hoc poll; I think it shows how far we have come as a franchise in getting mind share on the local sports scene.
This is good from two perspectives. First, is the recognition of Ovie and the Caps. Second, maybe things like this will finally get the Redskins owner to wake up and admit that he doesn’t know what he is doing. That was a platinum franchise in the 80′s and he’s running it right into the toilet.
I see an undercurrent among the DC Metro’s youth (and others) as we look toward the Capitols. I see it in little interactions and kudos given wearing my Ovi, or “Rock the Red,” shirt around town. Someone might hold a door for me and give props. When I spot others Rocking The Red there is usually a little connection. DC is and has been hungry for a team we can get behind. Our eclectic, soccer-infused mix of nationalities trends toward the action and play of hockey over other more “traditional” sports. This is the year DC goes wild for the CAPS.
Another nice thing I have noticed at MCI center; many young women are fans and love to go to the games. Nuf’ said? ;-j