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Big League Stew - MLB

Big League Stew

Tue Mar 02 11:57am EST

Despite Crosby's gold, Nyjer Morgan chooses to hype Ovechkin

By 'Duk

VIERA, Fla. — Normally it's not difficult to mount an argument on why Alex Ovechkin and not Sidney Crosby is the best player in the NHL.

But on the day after Crosby secures the gold medal for Canada while Ovechkin sits at home, bling-less?

Well, it takes a little more motivation to not respect a temporary ceasefire.

Luckily there are guys like Nyjer Morgan(notes), a former hockey guy who has roots in both Washington and Pittsburgh, not to mention an unquenchable desire to ham it up and an acute knowledge of who butters his bread.

And that's how Morgan was easily talked into mounting a quick defense of Ovechkin by a radio reporter on Monday afternoon. Take it away, Nyjer!: 

"Now that I'm a Washingtonian, I think (Crosby) is  a heckuva player, but he's not Ovi ...  (Ovechkin) likes throwing the body around, he loves throwing the weight around, which I absolutely love. He's definitely flamboyant, I love it.

"The Kid is a heckuva player, but I'm just an Ovi fan now. So don't worry Washingtonians. T-Plush is definitely on the Caps bandwagon." 

Morgan then capped off his address with a maniacal, but infectious laugh that I wish I would have recorded to embed here. It could be heard everywhere on Monday.

Of course it's not as if Morgan doesn't know what he's talking about. As you might know, he was an excellent hockey player when he was younger, even moving to Canada to play junior hockey in Regina before the advanced level exposed the weakness of his size.

But he still enjoys talking hockey and Dan Steinberg directs us to this piece, which includes footage of a young Morgan flying around the ice:

BLS editor Kevin Kaduk is currently on a weeklong tour of spring training camps in Florida. To ride shotgun, follow him at @bigleaguestew.    

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