Stars Cross: Ovechkin, James Meet Face to Face

The Wizards got the band back together Thursday night, and I was heading to the after-party inside their locker room when suddenly another gig presented itself. It was Ted Leonsis, standing with Alex Ovechkin and Maverick Carter, who is LeBron James's manager.

"We're going to try to introduce Alex and LeBron," Ted told me.

Bands reunite all the time, but this was, I dunno, Shostakovich meeting Gershwin, with replica jersey in hand. I walked toward the Cavaliers' locker room.

So we all stood in the hallway: Leonsis, Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, several of LeBron's people, a few other media folks and a few Cleveland fans. The entire Cavs team came through, with some, such as Zydrunas Ilgauskas, stopping to chat with Ovechkin, and others, such as Daniel Gibson, wearing a Nats cap, of all things.

("It matches my shoes," Gibson explained.)

Wizards forward Darius Songaila also walked past. "You've got all the hockey guys out at the game?" Songaila asked Leonsis. "Way to go."

While they waited, Ovechkin and Carter talked about cars (LeBron has 12), and speed limits, about training regimens and Verizon Center food (Ovechkin had two orders of nachos during the game). Carter praised Ovechkin's hot stick celebration; "I do like NBA," Ovechkin joked.

Finally, after his last teammates had filtered out, we were told the King was ready for visitors. Then we all went into the Cavs' locker room.

"What's going on, sir, what's going on?" LeBron asked Leonsis.

"I'm Ted Leonsis, nice to see you," the owner said. "This is Alex Ovechkin."

"What's up, Prime Time?" LeBron said, as two of the greatest athletes in the world shook hands. "What's going on, man?"

The earth didn't shake, and the lockers didn't rattle, but it wasn't a bad way to spend a Thursday evening. Leonsis introduced Backstrom as one of the NHL's young stars, and mentioned Ovechkin's status as reigning MVP.