Brett Favre, David Beckham, And.......................Mike Komisarek?

Which of the three does not belong, right?

But hang on a moment.

First of all, the NHL is the flea on the back of the NFL elephant in the U.S. of A., popularity wise. Globally it is a minute speck of plankton in the belly of the World Football sperm whale. So big Mike is never going have to worry about an encampment of jounalists and paparazzi outside his residence 24 hours per day. His earnings and endorsements will always be a 0 or two short of Brett and Becks, with the 0s coming at the end of the figure.

On the other hand (OTOH), he was romantically linked with the infamous Elisha Cuthbert well before Sean Avery elbowed Dion Phaneuf in the five hole over the matter. The "linking" may have not been all that "romantic", to be sure, but according to sources it did occur. Elisha who? Well, like it or not, she is probably the closest thing the Dominion has to a Victoria Beckham in terms of celebrity, jock itch, and sheer tackiness. Like England's golden boy, Komo will represent his nation in the upcoming year at the highest level, and it isn't out of the question that at some point in the future he could be "wearing the armband" as the Brits would say. Likely the star quality of his dates will be on the uptick as his own career takes off.

At the same time he is being trashed and reviled for changing uniforms to his former team's worst enemy. By Leaf fans as much as Hab fans. Brett Favre knows that feeling too well, and both athletes will get to see the ugly and twisted face of "fanatical" fandom close up in the coming season. Like Favre and Beckham, Komisarek seems to inspire wildly divergent opinions on his talent and character. People seem to love him or hate him. Or both at different times.

Looking forward to the storylines involving the Habs/Leafs/Bruins rivalry with the imposing, emotional, (and very underrated in my opinion), Michael Komisarek squarely in the middle. Lord knows that the league and the country need a shot of star power. Sidney Crosby is about as interesting as a Newfoundland cod (do they still make those anymore), Dion is not "The Goof" Phaneuf for no good reason, Henrik and Daniel are guys you meet at Ikea (pushing the stroller while the wife shops), and the Canadiens are now composed of a lot of  guys who look like they should be playing for the Peruvian soccer team, or something.

I say that Komisarek becomes a celebrity at least, and perhaps a star with the Leafs. He is a late bloomer, didn't take up the sport until he was almost in his teens, has really underrated puck skills, and the square jawed good looks coupled with intelligence and integrity that fuel the public fascination with the likes of Favre and Beckham.