{"id":173003,"date":"2025-08-25T00:30:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T00:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/173003\/"},"modified":"2025-08-25T00:30:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T00:30:10","slug":"red-wings-konstantinov-offended-us-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/173003\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Konstantinov Offended US President"},"content":{"rendered":"

Detroit<\/a>\u00a0Red Wings icon Viacheslav Fetisov<\/a> recently discussed his Russian Five compatriot, Vladimir Konstantinov<\/a>, recalling a controversial moment from the team\u2019s 1998 visit to the White House as Stanley Cup champions.<\/p>\n

Fetisov was in the limousine with Konstantinov that crashed into a tree just days after Detroit\u2019s Cup triumph in June 1997. The accident left Konstantinov wheelchair bound with traumatic brain injuries. Still, he accompanied his championship-winning teammates when they were invited to the White House.<\/p>\n

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On this day in 1998, the Detroit Red Wings became back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, and Steve Yzerman handed the Cup to Vladimir Konstantinov in one of the most powerful moments in hockey history. #LGRW<\/a>\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/w83v3Je2Hw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) June 16, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThey took Vladimir Konstantinov in a wheelchair, we arrived at the White House, and waited,\u201d Fetisov told Russian website RIA Novosti<\/a>. \u201cThe President was late.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen he came in and walked purposefully towards us. \u2018Guys, congratulations, the Russian Five played a significant role in the victory,\u2019 and immediately turned to Vladimir, and I held the wheelchair. \u2018Vladimir, it is clear that the situation is difficult, but America has invested so much in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries in recent years that I am sure that you will soon be playing,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

Vladimir is sitting, his head thrown onto his chest. Clinton is opposite. I lean over and say, Vladimir, show the President of America who is the best hockey player in the world. He waves affirmatively. Vladimir raises his head, and with it his middle finger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fetisov Claims Clinton Offended By Red Wings Konstantinov<\/p>\n

According to Fetisov, the US President was taken aback.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe president\u2019s expression immediately changed,\u201d Fetisov said. \u201cAnd he asked someone over his shoulder: \u2018Find out if there was a precedent when the US President was shown the middle finger in the White House.\u2019 Then, during a group photo in the Fireplace Room, I said to Clinton, You can check, for us, the middle finger is the number one sign, don\u2019t doubt it.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth noting that the official visit of the Red Wings to the White House in 1998 on the Clinton Presidential Library site shows footage of the full visit. During President Clinton\u2019s interaction with Konstantinov<\/a>, the Red Wings defenseman gave the President the thumbs-up sign twice. He also lifted his right pinky finger upward at one point. However, there\u2019s no video evidence of Konstantinov lifting his middle finger.<\/p>\n

Watch for yourself. The interaction between the two men begins at the four-minute mark of the video.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Fetisov said everyone on the team was sent an official White House photo from President Clinton. He claims all were autographed, except his.<\/p>\n

Clinton And Fetisov Meet Again<\/p>\n

Years later, and now a member of the Russian government, Fetisov and Clinton would meet again. They were among the dignitaries receiving invitations to the 75th birthday party of former Russian leader Boris Yeltsin.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is over, we are seeing off the honored guests,\u201d Fetisov recalled. \u201cClinton comes over. He saw me and my wife, Lada. Lada decided to ask him: \u2018Mr. President, how do you like Moscow?\u2019 And he answered: \u2018I checked. No one has ever shown the middle finger to the US president in the White House. \u2018And my husband was the only one you didn\u2019t sign the photo for,\u2019 my wife said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe gave me a business card, asked me to send this photo, and promised to sign it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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