One of the biggest sport contracts of all time was signed last week
when the Washington Capitals signed Alexander Ovechkin to a 13- year extension
worth $124 million. He is a playmaker like
Sidney Crosby; however the Capitals need a core of players that fans are
interested in seeing. Some players like Pavel Datsyuk, Ryan Smyth, Chris
Osgood, Brad Richards, Chris Pronger, Marty Turco, Ryan Miller would make the
team a stronger draw. I think this is too much money for one player to earn for a
team that doesn't have a fan base. The only way such an investment will pay off at
the turnstiles is if the team invests in other stars as well so that the Capitals have a
strong team rather than just a star. This same situation arose in the mid 1990s with
the Houston Rockets. They won the NBA title with Akeem Olajuwon, but they still
were not drawing enough fans. The owner went out and brought in Clyde Drexler
and with two star players the team was able to draw more fans and won it second
NBA title.
by Thomas Chieppo
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Not being a huge hockey follower I have minimal knowledge of the landscape of the NHL and its current state. What i do know is that the NHL has probably had the most interest and media coverage the past three weeks (because of the outdoor game) than they have seen since the lockout. Conversely this intrest is positive as opposed to the negative coverage from the lockout. Washington may be trying capitalize on this excitement and interest amongst casual fans. I do agree this investment is a bit long at 13 years but the opportunity to ride this heightened intrest is also important. But to lock up a the second best player in the league for 13 years gives a lot of time to put a team around him. Whose the 2nd best player in the NBA? Say Lebron, behind Kobe just for arguments sake. Would you not sign him for the long haul if the opportunity arose? Maybe the Capitals can find and aging veteran to compliment Ovechkin, as Clyde Drexler was also and aging veteran to compliment Hakeem just looking for a ring.
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