Russian Super League Road Trip

[DarkStar50 679]

http://wzus.ask.com/r?t=p&d=us&s=a...an_Super_League Here is the road trip Jagr and Dubi and the rest who go to RSL have to look forward. I think every night is like landing in Winnipeg in January. I don't see any Tampa Bay or Los Angeles warm weather games in this league. "Hockey the way it was meant to be. Freezing your ass off for $20mil, but only if you are Jaromir Jagr."

[kovalchuk71 212]

Hope they enoy riding the bus.

[hellaavangard 33]

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/27/Lightnin...anslation.shtml

This is an article I found when Richards got traded to Dallas, gives a good look at life in the Super League as Lecavalier experienced it during the lockout.

[mxihockey 0]

Ak Bars Kazan ("The White Bear") is owned by the government and sponsored by Tatneft, a big oil company, and, if the rumors are true, the Russian mob. "I don't know about that," Lecavalier said with a smile.

Theres gut to be a reason why guys like Malkin and Ovechkin did whatever it took to play in North America. If it were my choice I'd rather make a fraction of the pay playing in the NHL knowing your safe from the Russian Mob.

[DarkStar50 679]

Is it true that if you are injured in the RSL, they try to remove your body parts to sell on the black market?

Oh wait, I got mixed up. That is not in the RSL, that is in downtown Moscow if you are a tourist and end up getting some drugs in your drink at the bar.

Back on topic, "hey are we at the rink yet?" "Jaromir, we haven't left our rink yet." "Oh."

[wingsfan7777 0]

What a great story that Lecavalier piece is. It really is amazing to see the differences. I would've been scared sh*tless going over there.

[JJ Thompson94 0]

I've been to Moscow as a tourist. It's very different than the US. Moscow is really fun, but you need to be careful. The clubs are so crazy, they beat the clubs in Vegas, but it completly turns the table. I felt so weird, I had to cover my beer all the time, and it feels like a strip club. Girls are hitting on you left and right and all my friends russian relatives kept telling them to go away. They told me that those girls were going to get me alone and then rob me, maybe kill me. It's like entering a world of crime, and it's so open. Theres no such thing as "don't make me call the cops." The cops will help them rob you, and then will rob the people robbing you. It was fun for a few days but I would NEVER live there. Western Europe maybe Russia NEVER.

[DarkStar50 679]

I've been to Moscow as a tourist. It's very different than the US. Moscow is really fun, but you need to be careful. The clubs are so crazy, they beat the clubs in Vegas, but it completly turns the table. I felt so weird, I had to cover my beer all the time, and it feels like a strip club. Girls are hitting on you left and right and all my friends russian relatives kept telling them to go away. They told me that those girls were going to get me alone and then rob me, maybe kill me. It's like entering a world of crime, and it's so open. Theres no such thing as "don't make me call the cops." The cops will help them rob you, and then will rob the people robbing you. It was fun for a few days but I would NEVER live there. Western Europe maybe Russia NEVER.

A friend of mine did almost get killed in a Russian club. He was drugged, didn't know what happened, and luckily two cops helped him off the street in the middle of the night. His one phone call was to someone very important in Russian sports. That person helped save his life. Otherwise, his body parts were headed for the black market. I'll check out Moscow on the Discovery Channel.

Why do you think so many Russians want to come to America?

[WhiskeyTango19 0]

I've been to Moscow as a tourist. It's very different than the US. Moscow is really fun, but you need to be careful. The clubs are so crazy, they beat the clubs in Vegas, but it completly turns the table. I felt so weird, I had to cover my beer all the time, and it feels like a strip club. Girls are hitting on you left and right and all my friends russian relatives kept telling them to go away. They told me that those girls were going to get me alone and then rob me, maybe kill me. It's like entering a world of crime, and it's so open. Theres no such thing as "don't make me call the cops." The cops will help them rob you, and then will rob the people robbing you. It was fun for a few days but I would NEVER live there. Western Europe maybe Russia NEVER.

A friend of mine did almost get killed in a Russian club. He was drugged, didn't know what happened, and luckily two cops helped him off the street in the middle of the night. His one phone call was to someone very important in Russian sports. That person helped save his life. Otherwise, his body parts were headed for the black market. I'll check out Moscow on the Discovery Channel.

Why do you think so many Russians want to come to America?

I will expect a much more detailed version of the story when I return to work! :)

[JJ Thompson94 0]

I've been to Moscow as a tourist. It's very different than the US. Moscow is really fun, but you need to be careful. The clubs are so crazy, they beat the clubs in Vegas, but it completly turns the table. I felt so weird, I had to cover my beer all the time, and it feels like a strip club. Girls are hitting on you left and right and all my friends russian relatives kept telling them to go away. They told me that those girls were going to get me alone and then rob me, maybe kill me. It's like entering a world of crime, and it's so open. Theres no such thing as "don't make me call the cops." The cops will help them rob you, and then will rob the people robbing you. It was fun for a few days but I would NEVER live there. Western Europe maybe Russia NEVER.

A friend of mine did almost get killed in a Russian club. He was drugged, didn't know what happened, and luckily two cops helped him off the street in the middle of the night. His one phone call was to someone very important in Russian sports. That person helped save his life. Otherwise, his body parts were headed for the black market. I'll check out Moscow on the Discovery Channel.

Why do you think so many Russians want to come to America?

Would that one person Pavel Bure by any chance. Would it be someone I know.

[DarkStar50 679]

I am sure you don't know the people involved. It is a pretty chilling story because otherwise this guy would never have made it out of Moscow. Bure had nothing to do with this. The names will remain anonymous.

[chippa13 1844]

From what I understand of Russia, it isn't as bad if you're a foreigner playing in their league as it is if you're a Russian playing professionally anywhere. Lots of stories of Russian players having to pay "protection" money to the Russian mob to protect their family still in Russia.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

If it were my choice I'd rather make a fraction of the pay playing in the NHL knowing your safe from the Russian Mob.

You're still not safe. Ask Mogilny and Zhitnik among others.

[WhiskeyTango19 0]

If it were my choice I'd rather make a fraction of the pay playing in the NHL knowing your safe from the Russian Mob.

You're still not safe. Ask Mogilny and Zhitnik among others.

Ok, yeah the next time the three of us sit down at lunch I'll try to bring it up.

Just kidding. :D

[OTHockey96 0]

So that's what everyone here thinks about Russia? If you go to a club you're going to be dismembered automatically? Just out of curiosity, and I'm not trying to act angry...have any of you personally been to Russia and seen this shit? Moscow can be a tough place...it is well known, but just b/c you're a foreigner doesn't mean they do this shit to you. Disregarding dealing with the mob if you're a Russian-born player, which can be true, if you ever went there yourself, its not like that...unless you're going places you shouldn't go....

[DarkStar50 679]

Shit happens. I live next to NYC. Can I get killed there? Sure, if I end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Am I worried about going to NYC? No. Someone else might be. The same as someone being in Moscow in the wrong place at the wrong time or London(see underground terrorist attack) for that matter might be.

[OTHockey96 0]

I understand your point. Glad your friend made it out ok.

[headonaswivel 1]

I have yet to talk to my buddy that signed for Dinamo Riga, but they started preseason last night.

Pre season in July....jesus.

Thing is though you get with a good team and its first class all the way. He signed for something like 400k tax free with a personal car. Thats a lot better than busting your ass for 90k in the minors.

edit: forgot to mention they only play 56 games a year, but in his division there is a team 6600 miles away. That's a 1000 more than Vancouver to Miami.

Who's the brain surgeon that decided to put them in the same division?

[DarkStar50 679]

Alexander Medvedev, president of the KHL. We're going to hear this name a lot in the next few months.

"They’re calling it Jagr-mania in Russia as Jaromir Jagr landed at five in the morning in Omsk today, ready for training camp, says Robert Pettersson, blogging for hockeysverige.se. JJ was reportedly “wearing his red scarf with the text JAROMIR JAGR and he was met by a large number of journalists and fans.” At a press conference, Jagr revealed why he chose the KHL to continue his career: It’s not for the money but “The most important thing now is that I can fly home often to my parents.” " from The Morning Skate blog in the New York Times on 7/25/08.

[durke 0]

Hope they enoy riding the bus.

Not sure, but it may be safer than flying. I work at an airport here in Norway, and every once in a while we have Russian planes land here. They are in such bad condition you wouldn't believe it. They often skip some safety procedures like de-icing because of cost. I wouldn't want to travel with any of the Russian airlines I've seen anyways.

[Aussie Joe 0]

Getting robbed in a bar can happen anywhere. It happens here afterall on occasions you just have to know what to look for thats all.