Most people who don’t let ESPN do their thinking for them hate Sidney Crosby. He is the Veruca Salt of the National Hockey League; a spoiled little rich kid who even when he does get his way is still an absolute brat. Even when his NHL sugardaddy, Gary Betteman, bought him a championship this year, Sideny still couldn’t accept the Stanley Cup with grace. He refused to shake the hands of many players on the losing side of the series, including the Captain of the Detroit Red Wings, Nicklas Lidström (one of the sports great gentleman). Presumably Sid did send thank you cards to all the referees and league officials who made his Stanley Cup success possible. With Sidney out there, making the world of hockey worse, thank God we have Alex Ovechkin out there to bring at least some balance to the sport. And while the hockey season is over, Alex “the anti-Crosby” Ovechkin is far from done competing. He recently appeared during the World Series of Poker to play in the PokerStars.net NHL Charity Shootout.
Alex was joined by other players who have spent time in the penalty box for making Cindy Crosby cry after a perfectly legal check. Vancouver Canucks captain Roberto Luongo, Jeremy Roenick (San Jose Sharks), Mats Sundin (Vancouver Canucks), Scott Hartnell (Philadelphia Flyers) and Sheldon Souray (Edmonton Oilers) all found time in their summer golf schedules to show up and play for charity. These NHL greats were joined by some of the most recognizable team PokerStars players on the planet. Vanessa Rousso, Dennis Phillips and Chris Moneymaker were among those who sat down to play with the guys who are used to breaking their stick across the back of their opponents.
The charities that benefited from this event were the Ronald McDonald House of Las Vegas and the NHL Players Association's Goals & Dreams fund. $2000 will also go to the charity of each participant’s choice. This event will be airing on ESPN Classic and ESPN2 in the United States. Canadian viewers can catch it on TSN. The NHL Network throughout North America will also be showing it; they broadcast to both sides of the border. Check your local listings for times.
