This one has been eating at me for a while.
It goes back to the day we talked about wearing players' jerseys, and a couple people said they had an Alex Ovechkin, No. 8 Capitals jersey.
It struck me that some people in here – a self-proclaimed Baltimore hangout – would openly pledge allegiance to a Washington team given how many of you answered the bitter Baltimore-Washington rivalry questions in the past.
I guess I want to know whether you can cheer for the Capitals (and Wizards) and still stay loyal to the Orioles, Ravens and your Baltimore sports roots.
The only hockey I watched growing up was the occasional trip to the Civic Center (or whatever you want to call it) to see the Clippers and then Skipjacks. It wasn't until I was a senior in high school that I went to my first Capitals game in Landover.
From that point on – especially through college while living with Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers fans – I supported the Caps. I also sort of adopted the Washington Bullets/Wizards as my NBA team (I know, sacrilege for many of you).
Now, in an area that has two bad professional baseball teams, a terrible NBA club and struggling major college programs, it would make sense that some of you would start paying more attention to the Capitals.
The Caps are really good right now and they have the best player in hockey. Ovechkin, 23, may be one of the most exciting young athletes in any sport. He definitely has the ability to pull in new fans to a sport and a team that doesn't get much attention around here.
Personally, I think it would be great if Ovechkin energized a little bit of Baltimore, as well as Washington, D.C. Honestly, I am considering taking my 10-year-old son to a game before I head to spring training. My guess is he'd love it.
So I want to know if that has happened to you. Is Ovechkin making you a Caps/NHL fan? Have you always adopted the Caps as your NHL team, despite the fact they represent Washington?
Or are the Capitals just a part of that other city south of here, and you just can't accept them as your own?
Daily Think Special: What's your thought on the Washington Capitals? Has Alex Ovechkin turned you into a fan?
