I'm sure everyone has heard by now that Alexander Semin has been cut from the Russian squad at this year's IIHF World Championships for failure to report to training camp on time. In fact, Mike Vogel has a great rundown today of all the details.
I think we can all agree that Semin probably should have just booked his flight to meet the Russian team's schedule. But we all know that Semin has had his share of travel, er...issues. Back in 2003-04 he missed the team plane (how do you miss the team plane??) from New York to Pittsburgh and was scratched for the final game. So there's a history there - maybe Ovechkin should give Semin the Rolex he won for being the #1 star this season...
BUT here's the thing - according to Vogel, Russian coach Sergei Nemchinov called Semin Sunday to remind him he needed to arrive at 4:00 pm the next day. When Semin informed Nemchinov that his flight didn't arrive until 7:30 pm, the coach told him to get an earlier flight. I thought that seemed odd...I mean, there can't be that many flights from DC to Moscow, right? Depending on when Nemchinov contacted Semin, what are the odds he could have even changed his flight at that point?
I decided to serve as Sasha's imaginary travel agent and do a little investigating.
- The average flight from DC to Moscow is about 13-14 hours, although depending on how many transfers you have and how much time is left between them, the trip can take up to 20 hours.
- It took Semin a little less than an hour to get on the road from the airport - therefore we can assume that to make the 4:00 deadline he would need to land before 3:00; 18 flights would get him there before then, all of which leave before 7:00 pm the day before.
- Changes to international flights need to take place at least 4 hours in advance to insure adequate time for security checkpoints.
- Last minute fares from DC to Moscow increase by up to $1000 over fares booked at least two weeks in advance.
- On any given Sunday there are between 50 and 60 flights from Dulles International Airport to Moscow. I'm sure the equivalent number is available from BWI, as well as Reagan National (although you'd have to add a transfer at an international airport).
Conclusion?
Uh...yeah. He should have just gotten his rear in gear and booked an earlier flight to begin with.
*SIGH* Sasha, Sasha, Sasha. Have fun watching the game from the stands, kiddo.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Semin a Spectator
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10 comments:
A spectator, huh?
Your investigating reminded me of the math problems in grade 7: If car #1 leaves point A at 8:30am and if car #2 leaves point B at blah blah blah...
Ouch! Digging this up has made me want to judge him a bit more severely.
Look - Semin is known for being a headcase, so how is this suprising? The fact they won't cut him any slack is telling about how bad his reputation actually is...no matter what SPIN that Vogel and Teddy and the crew put on it.
HG: Yes. He will be pouting in the stands at the game because he couldn't plan ahead. Silly boy.
Hockey Amor: No, don't judge him too harshly. He made a mistake, and I'm sure missing the tournament will be punishment enough. He's been very well-behaved this year - I'm not inclined to pick on him too much for something that is really just a runners-up prize for missing the playoffs.
Anon: I don't know, I think they just wouldn't bend the rules for anyone. If Semin shows up 4 hours late for training camp and they let him play, isn't that setting a bad example for the rest of the team? I do think it's a bit harsh...maybe just suspend him for a game or two.
He's not a head case, though, and I don't really see where the spin is coming in. He just has a tendency for, shall we say, diva-like behavior. That needs to be nipped in the bud, but I don't think it makes him crazy or evil or anything...
Yo Anonymous,
Show me where I spinned anything. I had a friend translate a document. Some people are always gonna read the worst into everything. I spin, and you don't have a name. I'd rather be me.
CapsChick,
I'm pretty sure Semin was already in Russia, but not yet in Moscow when the Sunday phone call was made. He lives in a very remote area of the country. He and Ovechkin left DC right after the season ended. But that's just me spinning stuff.
Vogel
I love it. Thank you, Vogel, you rock. :)
Oh, and Semin was already in Russia? Damn. There goes a half hour of researching flights, down the drain. Consider the entire post moot - thanks for clearing that up, though!
(See, I don't spin so much as I just...um, make stuff up.)
The flight Semin missed at the end of the 2003-2004 season was from Bhawlmuher (BWI to be exact) to Pittsburgh.
We had played the Rangers earlier in the day at the Phone Booth.
Yeesh! First I'm called out by Vogs, then Caps Nut....that's it. I'm turning in the keys to my blog.
See, THIS is why you don't blog at work. Because you miss things and make mistakes. That, and you should probably be doing, like, work stuff. Maybe.
Ok, he's a headcase...but can't he stickhandle like a mo-fo?
kasak kusuk
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