"Pasha" Datsyuk declares his readiness for start of tournament

At the time of the Ottoman Empire, the title of "Pasha" was one reserved for the highest levels of respect, military commanders, heads of state and dignitaries.

In the modern world, the title is still reserved for such things, and is not lightly thrown about - so when members of the Russian National Hockey Team greet veteran NHL forward Pavel Datsyuk in that manner, it is done with all respect due a great leader - a dignitary and an ambassador, the face of national sport of Russia.

But that doesn't mean he can't have a sense of humor, dark as it is.

Addressing the substantial throng of media members after the captain and his "Team of Brothers" posed for their team picture on Tuesday, Datsyuk took questions surrounded by his teammates like so many royal subjects, and spoke of the team-first mentality and the pride and expectations that he has for himself and his teammates.

photo credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Most of the questions seemed canned, so obvious that the responses were predictable - for example, when asked how long he ad been waiting for this opportunity to captain his national team in front of the home folks, he was accommodating, replying "All my life." then expounding, "Now to come back and play a home Olympics in front of your fans, it's an unbelievable feeling."

Then came questions about his trip and, finally and inevitably, his knee injury that had recently held him out of 14 games for his employer in the United States, the Detroit Red Wings, though he played briefly in the final two games on the schedule before departing for Sochi.

His reply? 

"What injury?"

His straight faced reply drew plenty of chuckles from the media members before he answered in earnest, saying, "My injury doesn't bother me at all and cold is not my concern, right now. I am fully acclimated. We are all in the same condition."

For certain, Datsyuk's sense of humor which makes him such a great locker room presence may not be appreciated by the Red Wings' management, who expressed very public fear that Datsyuk was minimizing his injury in order to play for his home country in these games - but he doesn't seem to be too worried about the repercussions, all he's concerned with is winning a gold medal.

And if he is well enough to center Russia to the top of the podium, he will try to do the same for his Red Wings when the NHL schedule resumes in late February.  After all, that's what a man given the title of Pasha would consider the honorable thing to do.

http://www.sportsinjuryalert.com/2014/02/pasha-datsyuk-declares-his-readiness.html#.UvrAzrQcq58