Who is more Popular?

Since this is a topic running around the internet I figured I would hit on it. Who is more popular in DC? Alexander Ovechkin or Stephen Strasburg? Lets start with Strasburg. He signed the biggest contract for a MLB player out of the draft. His first start in the minor leagues drew a huge crowd and ESPN broadcasted his half innings pitched live. Strasburg's first Major League game in front of a sell out crowd at Nationals Park, t.v. crews and reporters galore and to top it all off, got the win in 7 innings pitched with a team record 14 strikeouts. He pitched only 12 games in his rookie year, in games in which he pitched the Nationals attendance was up 15,000 fans per outing. Strasburg only pitched in 12 games in 2010, posted a 2.91 era and averaged 1.35 strikeouts per inning. That is not only two good stats for a pitcher for a season but for a rookie that is a nice stat line. On Sunday, Stephen Strasburg made his first rehab start since his season ending Tommy John Surgery last September and pitched 31 pitches (25 strikes) struck out four and gave up a run. That isn't bad considering how serious the surgery he had is, and it does leave some hope that his career will pick up right where it left off. Strasburg pitched in front of right around 7,000 fans in Hagerstown, MD, well over capacity for the stadium. While his comeback is something to watch, does that really slate him as the more popular of the two?

Alexander Ovechkin was drafted number one overall in the 2004 NHL draft. Like Strasburg, Ovechkin did have to wait a year to play but that was amid the NHL strike/lockout. When Ovechkin's first season started he was on the top line and on the roster from day one. His first game was far from a sellout, the verizon center holds roughly 18,000 fans and all you have to do is go to youtube and see that even the lower level had a spotty amount of fans. Fastfoward to the present time, the 2 MVP awards and 4 consecutive Southeast Division Championships later, Alexander Ovechkin is the face of the franchise. The Capitals have a waiting list for season tickets and Ovechkin is the main jersey you see across everyone's back while walking the concourse of the Verizon Center. He has led his team to the playoffs four years in a row and counting and is always a favorite to win the MVP and the Rocket Richard Trophy. Why wouldn't Ovi be the most popular in DC?

As all Washington Capitals fans would say, Alexander Ovechkin is by far the most popular player. He has already received the key to the city, after winning his first MVP award, and you can see his face on commercials (capital one) and on the jerseys worn by the swarms of people during hockey season. The downside to Ovechkin's sport is that, in this town the Capitals are fighting for the second spot of favored sports team. Football is and always has been the number one sport in DC. With the revival of a baseball team, the sport that is "America's favorite past time," it makes it hard for Ovechkin to get the recognition. Let's face it, in this town we start hearing about Strasburg in February and it doesn't stop until late September. Strasburg has ESPN all over his major games, not to mention the media and press. The only time Ovechkin makes the national stage is with a great goal or if the Capitals fall short in the playoffs. The only regular recognition that Ovechkin receives is when Don Cherry decides to open his mouth and rip Ovechkin for his celebrations and style of play. Strasburg only plays at most two games per week and that all depends on how the rotation lays out in the week. On a national level, Stephen Strasburg is by far the more popular player. It is unfortunate that hockey is a lesser watched sport in this country and Ovechkin only gets noticed on the top ten plays of SportsCenter. If hockey got the same recognition as baseball, Alexander Ovechkin would be the more known and more popular of the two, but for now us Caps fans will hold Ovechkin near and dear to our hearts and know that he truly is the better known athlete in Washington DC.