Posted on 07/26/2019 12:55:11 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
The New York Rangers’ free-agent signing of the summer, Artemi Panarin, gave an interview where he did something unprecedented for a Russian athlete of his caliber: criticize President Vladimir Putin.
“I think he no longer understands what’s right and what’s wrong. Psychologically, it’s not easy for him to judge the situation soberly. He has a lot of people who influence his decisions. But if everyone is walking around you for 20 years telling you what a great guy you are and how great a job you are doing, you will never see your mistakes.”
Panarin admits that he used to not be so politically aware, because he was focused on hockey...but a few years of living in America helped him come around to an opposing point of view:
“We have two cities that are developing, Saint Petersburg and Moscow, but the rest of them are a joke. I lived in Columbus, which isn’t even in the top 10 American cities, but look at the pictures and you will see how nice it looks ... American cities are developing thanks to local taxes which stay in the state. But here, a lot of money goes to Moscow, so people everywhere work for Moscow’s benefit.”
Panarin’s interview stands in stark contrast to...Alex Ovechkin, who has openly complimented Putin and called on other Russians to support him...
“There is still this belief in our society that you can’t say bad things about the government or you will be killed or poisoned. This should not be happening. [In America] a star or an athlete can directly badmouth the president, and nothing will happen. They can refuse to go to the White House. But here, it’s impossible.”
“I am coming from a positive place, I want to change something, to have people live better.”
(Excerpt) Read more at deadspin.com ...
You’re right!!! That PROVES Putin never hurt anybody!!!
Go back to sleep.
I wish he still played for the Blackhawks. The guy is devastating on the power play. The Rangers paid dearly for him though.
I am sorry. Did they speak out against Russia and nothing happened to them?
I hate being proven wrong :)
It happens often!
Thanks Condi !!!
The NHL is the only major sports that I watch...even though I hate Bettman for helping move the Whalers...
His take makes certain sense although I don’t get why he cares. He makes a lot of money and doesn’t live in Russia anymore.
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