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Czechs worship Caps' new star

Despite having played in the NHL since 1990, Jaromir Jagr remains very popular in his native country.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 23, 2001

TAMPA -- Lightning defenseman Stan Neckar has seen Jaromir Jagr with his guard down; at moments when he is not a superstar, not one of the best players in the world, but just another guy getting a home-cooked meal from his mom.

Neckar got to know Jagr through Martin Straka, who played with Neckar in Ottawa before teaming with Jagr and the Penguins.

Neckar said the three Czech Republic natives got together occasionally in Pittsburgh, where Jagr's mother cooked a traditional Czech meal away from the fans and other prying eyes.

"It must be hard, kind of like a Hollywood star," Neckar said of Jagr's fame. "It's nice to be a star like that, but I don't think it's good because he can't go anywhere or do anything.

"I think sometimes he wishes he was a normal guy."

It is way too late for that. The Capitals right wing, the NHL's leading scorer the past four seasons, has been the talk of the league since his debut in 1990-91.

He has 442 goals and 643 assists in 811 games and is in town today for Washington's game against the Lightning at the Ice Palace.

It will be a bit of a reunion for Jagr, who is friendly with Neckar and fellow Czechs Pavel Kubina and Vinny Prospal. Each Lightning player has played with Jagr in charity exhibitions (on the ice and tennis courts) back home.

If you think Jagr is big in North America, they said it is nothing compared to his megastar status in the Czech Republic.

"Almost every day, you open the papers and read in the sports page Jagr, Jagr, Jagr," Neckar said. "The media is all over him."

"He has a tough life there," Prospal said. "Everybody knows him. People constantly read in the newspapers what he does off the ice and are looking for him to produce. It's not as much in the NHL as when he puts on his national jersey."

What jersey Jagr would wear was the subject of much speculation last summer. Jagr had worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh, and the Penguins could not afford to keep him.

Jagr knew it was time to leave after a disappointing playoff.

"Whatever I did, it was wrong, no matter what I did," he said on a recent conference call.

Jagr also did not want to re-sign with Pittsburgh if it meant the team could not re-sign some of its other stars.

"All of a sudden, everything turned against me because fans would start saying that we should trade Jagr and sign the other players," he said. "I knew I would be the guy to blame, and I didn't want that."

With the Capitals, Jagr said, "I'm having fun again."

Jagr, who has three goals and three assists this season in five games, has had good times against the Lightning. He had four goals in four games last season, two winners, two on the power play and 18 shots on goal.

He is tied for fifth in scoring against the Lightning with 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 33 games.

"Basically, he's a very strong guy," said Kubina, a defenseman whose usual duty, which he gladly accepts, is to cover Jagr. "You can't go for the big hit in the corner. You just have to wait for him. Using the body against him is not going to work because he's so strong."

"He's one of the most skilled players in the world," Prospal said. "He's so tough to get the puck away from because he has such a strong body and a long reach."

Not that the Lightning is an easy assignment. Kubina put the clamps down in 1999-00 and held Jagr to a goal and an assist in four games.

"You know what? When I look at my record, I do a lot better against New Jersey and Philadelphia than against teams like Florida and Tampa," Jagr said.

"Sometimes against those teams, everybody thinks it's an easy win. But they work hard, and they have good hockey players. They are good teams and know how to play."

If Jagr feels any pressure, he doesn't show it.

At least he hasn't let on to his Lightning friends.

"I don't think he admits to himself any pressure," Prospal said. "He laughs at life. He's enjoying life to the fullest. He laughs before games. It's a walk in the park for him."

"He's 29 right now, so he knows how to handle that pressure," Kubina said. "I think he handles it right."

Neckar said it best.

"I think he acts pretty cool."

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