T.J. Oshie bared his soul for a nation. On national television through tear eyes Oshie talked about his father’s battle with Alzheimer’s and the fact he does not remember much anymore but “he will always remember this.” The Caps winning of the Stanley Cup in a week where sports were divisive, re affirms why they are necessary for society.
The Capitals are the most deserving franchise in sports to finally win a championship. After years of suffering through heartbreaking playoff losses. They weren’t bad but I would argue that I would rather be a fan of a team that was constantly out of the playoffs over one that constantly lost in the playoffs. Year after year, a fan base given excellent regular seasons and mile high expectations only to be crushed. Imagine being Alex Ovechkin? Remaining loyal to that team your entire life and finally grabbing the elusive trophy that kept you out of the conversation of the all time greats. Ovechkin will never catch Gretzky, unless he wins two more cups, but he will now be in the conversation of one of the top 5 hockey players of all time. Even if you can’t agree with that no rational human being can agree that Ovechkin didn’t deserve to finally win a cup.
The look of pure happiness on Alex Ovechkin’s face as he lifted the cup was pure joy. How in the world can you denounce pure joy? Pure happiness. The world so rarely gives us moments to be grateful for. It takes to much from us. It ravages us with, death, war, crime, and destruction. It’s redeeming factor is joy. Sports provide pure, unadulterated, joy. To a city, to a legend, and to a father whose son knows his lasting memory will be joy.