Sports Magazine

What would be better than watching a heated match-up between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin? Perhaps having a heated seat while watching the game. The NHL is in talks with the Pittsburgh Penguins about hosting the 2010 Winter Classic. The Winter Classic is a marquee event put on by the National Hockey League once a year at an outdoor venue. This is a tribute to where most kids begin playing the game.

The Ovechkin Crosby feud is one that is well know in hockey circles. Perhaps calling it a feud is not the right term, but the rivalry certainly does exist. These are the league’s two most marketable players and they play on teams that seem to really hate each other. On top of that the two players have evolved into roles not dissimilar two the old-time wrestlers. There was always a bad guy for the hero to toil with. Ovechkin is a very rough, aggressive player and has already been suspended a couple of time for some illegal plays. Although he is a very well liked guy, his on-ice play (like the devastating hit on Jaromir Jagr during the Olympics) has cast him in the villain’s role. The two players have had many great games against each other and they always seem to mix it up a bit but when asked during interviews they both tend to blow it off. Between the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Olympics and the Montreal All-Star game (where Alex mocked Crosby during a shootout segment) the two have always put on a great show and added a little spice to the stew.

Seeing these two top athletes go head to head in arguably the biggest game of the year – from an entertainment perspective – would be a huge event. Let’s hope that Pittsburgh gets the deal done. If you have a moment you may want to take a quick trip over to you tube and do a search on The Winter Classic hockey game. It’s only been running a few years and already has become legendary.