By Melanie McNaught
So, who do you believe? Did Alexei Yashin’s agent phone the NAC asking them to make a phony invoice for services (never) rendered?
Yashin and his agent Mark Gandler say the phone call was about why the NAC wasn’t bringing in Russian performers.
Since only Gandler and the NAC’s Elaine Calder were privy to the call, we’ll likely never know the truth.
What we do know is that Yashin says that he and his family want to show their gratitude to “the people of Ottawa for the warm manner in which they have welcomed us to the community, and their support in our difficult transition period.” He and his camp have repeated this position like a mantra.
Yashin also expressed his disappointment that the NAC deal fell apart because he especially wanted to entertain children who couldn’t ordinarily afford the performances.
To show his sincerity, Yashin could give another charity the $800,000 he had promised the NAC before he was made to “feel like a criminal.”
Forget this deal that only an accountant could understand. If Yashin really wants to give back to Ottawa and its children, he still can. In fact, there are even better ways for him to help underprivileged children. Bread – not circuses – is what Ottawa’s less fortunate need. Even in our prosperous city there are children who don’t get enough to eat, who don’t have enough warm clothes. Some don’t even have a roof over their heads. These children need more than a free matinee.
That’s not to downplay the good Yashin’s donation did the arts centre. Unfortunately, that he gave $200,000 has become lost in the he-says-she-says debate. That’s a sizeable chunk of change, even for a well-paid hockey player.
But it isn’t enough to spare him from criticism because the public was expecting more. Fans have huge expectations of their heroes; both on and off the the ice.
In today’s NHL it is not enough for a player to shoot and skate. In order for a player to truly be a star, he must be as fast on his feet with fans and reporters as he is on the ice. Yashin, with his faltering English, doesn’t excel under the media microscope.
By making a donation to another charity he could regain the support of the fans – who truly want to believe in him – and put the focus back on what he does best – hockey.
And, let’s not forget about the children whose lives he could change.