Damien Cox

This book has been at the center of a small hurricane of controversy within the Washington Capitals hockey community. The gist of the drama seems to focus around the fact that a) the authors never actually interviewed Alex Ovechkin for this biography, and b) taking issues with their lack of access, the authors spun their tales of Ovechkin more negatively than is actually the truth.

It's not as uneven and Ovie-bashing as one might pick up from some of the press surrounding the books' release. Whatever point the author's are trying to make is unclear and obscure. If you read with this in mind, then the book is an enjoyable overview of his life, his career, and a behind-the-scene peek at what it means to be an NHL superstar.

Ovechkin, in real life and in the book, comes across as a very fun-loving, gregarious and sometimes goofy guy.I think this has been fairly consistent in his time with Washington. Can he be aloof? Definitely. Is it off-putting to some people? No doubt...sometimes.

The authors appeared to be making a point about Ovie and his life as an NHL superstar, but I could never get my hands around it exactly: is he on the decline? Will he never be an A-list sports star celeb? Were the Olympic and Playoff failures and indication that he can’t handle this crazy life?

The first half of the book interestingly presents insights into his childhood and the tragedy of his brother's death, which has only been spuriously reported since he joined the NHL (because Ovie doesn't talk about it). The authors detail the role his mother played in his upbringing and even in his adult life, as well as the history of the NHL’s role in the warming relationships with the former Russian empire. While detailing Ovechkin's beginnings on ice, the authors lay out how Russian hockey stars are made in the post-cold war country.

One should read the afterward before starting the book. It provides the context around the author's sources. They write that they’re indebted to the Capitals organization for supporting their work, despite the fact that Ovechkin wouldn't play along.

An underlying theme of the book is Ovechkin's emergence and growth as a star. Much detail is put into the description of several key games in Ovechkin's life including his failures in last season's Olympics and NHL Playoffs. There's too much play-by-play of his games, and the speculation and "insight" is both questionable and tedious. Granted, it's no fun for a Caps fan to have to relive those lowlights.

It's a quick and enjoyable read for the more factual-appearing elements of the book. One can't help but question what details are skipped, and how different the story might be if Ovechkin (or even his family) had participated.

I received "The Ovechkin Project" as part of the Goodreads First Reads program.… (más)

Book Review: The Ovechkin Project: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Hockeys Most Dangerous Player

Link to my review: http://thehockeywriters.com/the-ovechkin-project-%E2%80%93-book-review/

Excerpt:

"The authors, much more so Damien Cox than Gare Joyce, have taken some heated criticism for this project. Damien Cox is known to be controversial. I am left to wonder if this is not simply Cox being Cox, and this is simply a way of creatively marketing his product. Whether purposely or not, he often keeps his name relevant by concocting stories out of left field; case in point when he earlier in the year, based on no evidence whatsoever, stated Toronto Blue Jays slugging outfielder Jose Bautista has to be on steroids because of his monumental jump in home run production."… (más)