Yesterday the enigmatic and supremely frustrating Alexei Kovalev had some words for the media in Ottawa. Normally it would be semi newsworthy, but I doubt anyone would really care, but this time it was funny because he declared that that the journalists who cover the Sens smuggle beer in their suitcases at airports. It's such a ridiculous claim that maybe it's true? I knew the Ottawa media would likely fight back to the outrageous comment, so here are some of their retorts.
First up is the TEAM 1200's Steve Lloyd, who tried to be funny but didn't really get there. The stay classy Alex hashtag just killed any humurous momentum, however small, he had going. Using a border joke that everyone in the area can related was a good move, he just didn't execute it well. Oh well it's a long season and he can just take it one joke at a time. The important thing was his teammates picked up the slack.
This is a much better effort by Wayne Scanlan. He pokes fun at himself and the other media members and still manages to get a shot in against Kovalev. What makes a joke work is making fun of something we all know to be true, so Scanner nailed it. I especially like the beer smuggling part. I think the Ottawa media should now be known as the beer smugglers.
Bruce Garrioch was the seemingly the most upset about the comments and people's reaction to it. No joke to be had here, just his feelings on the matter. The real reaction was this piece he wrote about it, in which I thought he killed it. He does a great job at delivering facts, while also getting some revenge with truthful barbs peppered throughout the artcile. Well done.
And the winner.........who else but my personal favorite, Ian Mendes, who has to be one of the funniest people in the sports business. What an excellent way to handle it. Spot on joke and hits all the necessary points. You see this is what you do, you poke fun at yourself in a self depricating way and don't take yourself too seriously.
Thoughts?
UPDATE @ 4pm on August 9th:
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