Ex-Red Wings defender Konstantinov becomes U.S. citizen

AP ^ | 07/07/05

[nypokerface]

DETROIT (AP) -- Former Red Wings star defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov has become a U.S. citizen.

In a private ceremony Wednesday at a federal courthouse in Detroit, U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Tarnow swore in Konstantinov, 38, and his wife, Irina, just a few blocks from Joe Louis Arena, the site of many of Konstantinov's on-ice highlights.

The couple applied for citizenship about a year ago and have lived in the U.S. for nearly 15 years. Konstantinov is a native of Russia.

``I feel good,'' he told The Detroit News after the ceremony.

The Red Wings drafted Konstantinov in 1989 and he began his career in Detroit in 1991. Konstantinov was injured in a limousine crash days after Detroit's 1997 Stanley Cup win and left with severe brain damage.

A resident of northern Oakland County near Detroit, he uses a walker to get around.

[Dan from Michigan]

Good to see. "Vlad the impaler" was one of my all time favorite players.

I hope he fully recovers. It's a shame that his career ended thanks to some doped up limo driver.

[MarxSux]

Good for Vlad!

[SJSAMPLE]

Yep. I'm always proud when somebody who didn't have the luxury of being born here makes the decision to become an American. He was a great player and Detroit will always remember his contributions to our Red Wings.

[grellis]

God bless him!

[GarySpFc]

Yep. I'm always proud when somebody who didn't have the luxury of being born here makes the decision to become an American. He was a great player and Detroit will always remember his contributions to our Red Wings.

My Russian wife was sworn in as a citizen on 5/27. For a couple of months prior to that she walked around saying to everyone, "Just give me liberty or give me death." After the ceremony they took them downstairs and asked if they wanted to register to vote. I looked over Nadya's shoulder as she filled out the form and checked the box REPUBLICAN. I was thrilled.

[SJSAMPLE]

Outstanding story.
(Are Russian wymens really as hot as they say?)

A Brazilian-born friend paid the US one of the best compliments a few months ago: "I thank God my daughter was born in the USA."

Doesn't get any better than that.

[GarySpFc]

My wife is the prettiest 50 year old lady I have ever seen. Do not pay attention to the first two pictures, because those are her schoolmarm pictures she originally sent me. http://home.kc.rr.com/thebutners/Nadya.htm

[Erasmus]

From the headline, I thought this was about a former commie who was a fan of Paul McCartney's band.

< ]%^)

[dakine]

For some reason I "hear" the theme to "Jaws" when I ever I think of him skating...

I was at game 4 of '98 Cup finals when the Red Wings wheeled him on to the ice. A lot of tears....