Erin Brown

While digging through a Google-translated version of Soviet Sport, I came across the following headline: "Sidney Crosby, the best player in the NHL."

The story discussed how Crosby took honors as the NHL's top player from an awards ceremony by a network that dedicates one, sole minute of coverage to the sport of hockey in a given week. As you can imagine, this did not go over well in Russia, given the record-breaking season by Alex Ovechkin.

Below is an excerpt from the story (cleaned up translation in parentheses):

"The leading North American sports television station ESPN annually determines the best athletes of different leagues and sports. The vote on the (2007-08 season's best NHL hockey player) was not Alexander Ovechkin (but) Sidney Crosby. True, fans make the choice themselves, (by) fans who voted at ESPN. If elections were held on the site Soviet Sport, Crosby (would not have won) and (won) 10 percent."

I'm surprised the story's headline didn't read "BULLS---!"

How many of the voters, do you think, knew Crosby missed a third of the season with an ankle injury and finished outside the top 30 in scoring? Or did they somehow overlook the fact Ovechkin became the first player to capture the NHL's four major awards (Hart, Pearson, Art Ross, Richard) in a single season thanks to a 65-goal, 112-point effort?

I guess it really shouldn't be a surprise considering David Beckham, who went without a point in five games with the L.A. Galaxy last season, was named "Best MLS Player."