The Ovechkin Project

Two of the bigger names in hockey journalism (Damien Cox and Gare Joyce) combine forces to bring us the new book The Ovechkin Project: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Hockeys Most Dangerous Player.

Buy the book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

The book, however, disappoints. It is written with a negative theme, as if the authors' mandated their vision right from the outset. I heard one of the authors (Joyce) try to defend their approach as painting him as tragic figure. I don't buy it. The book reads as if the authors go out of their way create an image of a spoiled prima donna more interested in the spotlight than winning.

The book is split between two storylines. The first is of Ovechkin's youth in Moscow, where they treat his mother as a controlling freak, detached from emotion and pushing him too hard. On the other hand they treat his father as a happy-go-lucky dolt. They should have spent more telling us about the effect his brother's death had on him. While they touch on the subject, it should have been given much more time to what undoubtedly was a life changing event. They end the book on this note, but it should have been the book's theme if they were truly attempting to paint him as a tragic figure.

The authors then jump ahead to his established life in America as the star player and face of hockey. They gloss over his early career highlights and dominance that got him there, and jump right into comparing him endlessly to Sidney Crosby. Which is fine, because we all do it anyways. But they use it to no end to point out all of Ovechkin's shortcomings in order to make him appear to be a flawed and lesser hockey star.

I think what disturbs me the most is how different of a view the authors give us from the public image we all have of Alexander Ovechkin. We all know him as the fun loving, electrifying superstar hockey player who everyone loves. The authors go out so far out of their way to paint a different picture that we do not recognize the Ovechkin they write about at all. Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said so much himself, and he knows the real behind-the-scenes Ovechkin better than most.

It is one thing to offer a critical view of Ovechkin. But this book immediately reeks of a biased mandate to contrast him from his public persona. The authors go at long lengths to do so.

Why? Damien Cox has a long history of going out of his way to be controversial. So his influence here does not surprise. He does himself no favors in his much publicized defense of the book, coming across as an insecure fool. Gare Joyce has a much cleaner record and has always been known as a top writer. It is noteworthy though that he previously wrote a glowing biography of Sidney Crosby.

I expected more objectivity and professionalism. But controversy is good for business, I guess. Even if it comes at the expense of others, in this case Alexander Ovechkin. But the bottom line is the book's #1 audience target - the legions of Alexander Ovechkin fans - will not want to spend their money on this.

Here's the specs:

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (Sept 17 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047067914X
• ISBN-13: 978-0470679142

Here's more from, Wiley, the publisher:

The behind-the-scenes story of Alexander Ovechkin's phenomenal rise from Russian athletic prodigy to NHL superstar

Having signed the most lucrative contract in NHL history with the Washington Capitals, Alexander Ovechkin, at 24, is an undisputed hockey legend. In the mold more of a rock star than hockey player, Ovechkin courts the limelight, is never shy with his opinions, and, in a sport that thrives on the collective culture of the team-Ovechkin is an iconoclast who flouts convention, while loving the game. In The Ovechkin Project, veteran hockey writers Damien Cox and Gare Joyce trace his elite sports pedigree, his role representing Russia in the World Juniors, and how since entering the NHL, he's taken his team from worst to first in their division, and the hockey world by storm.

* Gives fans an inside look at such off-limits stories, as the impact of the death of Ovechkin's older brother, his bitter split with his agent, and his ongoing feud with Evgeni Malkin
* Offers the perspectives of teammates, his coach and general manager, other players in the NHL, and the general manager of the Capitals

A candid look at one of the most charismatic figures in hockey today, The Ovechkin Project offers an inside, little-known look at Ovechkin himself, the makings of his spectacular on-ice talent, and the Great 8's meteoric rise to the world stage of professional sports.

Buy the book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Ted's Take On New Ovechkin Book

A war of words is brewing between Damien Cox, co-author of the new book The Ovechkin Project andTed Leonsis, Ovechkin's billion dollar employer.

Along with Gare Joyce, Cox penned the unauthorized biography of Ovechkin. When Cox spoke critically of Leonsis concerning Ovechkin's contract, Leonsis fired back.

The 13 year deal signed by Alex Ovechkin was a simple deal. His salary is straight-lined across the life of his contract. There was never an issue with the structure of the contract with the NHL. It was all done in the light of day - honest and transparent. By the rules. The writer of this article knows that. He is just mad because he didn’t have access to Alex Ovechkin when he wrote his book. We don’t agree with his point of view in his book and we won’t have anything to do with him and his book now. He is on his own.

The writer can say anything he wants about me. He doesn’t scare me. He just can’t distort facts. We won’t let him and he is being called out on this one right here and now.

Stick tap to Kukla. You can get more information on Cox and Joyce's new book The Ovechkin Project here.

Brodeur: Beyond The Crease

He is a three-time Stanley Cup winner. He is an Olympic gold medallist and a four time Vezina trophy winner as the NHL's best goalie. Before all is said and done he will be the NHL's winning goalie and all-time shut out king. The Hall of Fame awaits him.

And now Martin Brodeur is an author, too.

Brodeur released his autobiography in 2006, with a little help from top hockey writer Damien Cox. The book, called Brodeur: Beyond the Crease, was published by Wiley. In 2007 separate Canadian and American paper back editions were released.

| Buy at - Amazon - Chapters |

His autobiography is certainly premature. After all he has already put in great seasons after the book's release and he is showing no signs of slowing down just yet. But he offers a lot of insight and opinion on a wide range of topics and is worthy of a read.

As the Beyond The Crease subtitle suggests, Brodeur had things to say, and this was his preferred way to communicate them.

Don't forget back in 2006 the NHL was coming out of the lost lockout season, so there was plenty on his mind. He talks at length about many aspects of the business of the game, from the lock-out to agents to the salary cap to Lou Lamoreillo.

The book even opens with a chapter entitled "A Company Man" where Brodeur explains his own contract he himself negotiated, a contract that was criticized by agents, the NHLPA and even some players as being too far below market value and therefore hurting players across the league.

He goes on to thoroughly offer his insight of the game on and off the ice, never afraid to make suggestions to make the game better. He gives us an inside peek at the life of a professional athlete, as well as running through the mostly ups and few downs of his career from the New Jersey to the Olympics. He gives advice to kids, talks about players and other goaliesaround the league and gives his thoughts on the direction the sport needs to head next.

But the book offers more than just hockey. In a very personal and likable fashion he openly talks about his cherished youth and his relationship with his father, an Olympic goalie-turned-hockey-photographer who is a bit of a hockey legend in his own right. He even weighs in on topics such as Quebec and Canada, life in America, and life as a celebrity.

Two things are obvious in reading this easy page turner - Brodeur has a lot to say, and he's a really genuine and open guy. His passion for the important things in his life is so obvious you can almost see a twinkle in his eye as you read his words.

All in all this easy-to-read book is solid though honestly not spectacular. Brodeur does not shovel a lot of dirt (although he does rip Patrick Roy pretty good), but he is very open about a wide variety of topics, ensuring even non-Brodeur fans something to take away from the book.

I would recommend this to any hockey fan, even juvenile readers. For adults it may be more of a time-passing, light read on a long trip or sitting by the fire waiting for the game to start.