If you like BEN ROETHLISBERGER, You'll Love RICK NASH

Welcome to the second eagerly anticipated installment of "If You Like ____, You'll Love ____." Today's listing looks at the captain of tonights rival, the Columbus Blue Jackets.   Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets:  these two large offense machines have the potential to terrorize opposing defenses, hit an opponent in the mouth, and put up points in bunches.  More importantly, both of their teams still on the outside of the playoff race, looking in.  On the field, they have similar playing styles.  Off the ice... well they're pretty different.  Regardless, you're head-to-head comparison after the break!

Basically, the players are built the same, burst on the scene at an early age, play the same physical style, and have Ohio ties.

Scoring Ability

Check out Nash's top 10 goals here:


Similarities

1. Rookie of the Year:  Both were nominated, though Ben actually won Rookie of the Year.
2. Power:  Both are power players.  Both can deliver a big hit when necessary.  The physical play is especially important to Rick's game.  
3. Size:  Rick = 6'4, 220 lbs.  Ben = 6'5, 240 lbs.  Both are pretty big guys for their position.
4. Ben grew up in Ohio and Ben play's in Ohio.  I've never been there, but I'm sure its lovely.  
5. Both can score some serios points.  In Rick's second season (age 19), he scored 41 goals, tying Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk (two really top notch players) for most goals scored that season.  In Ben's second season, he lead the league in yards per attempt, and won a little thing called a Superbowl (sure, it was the worst winning QB performance in Superbowl history... but its like they say about a doctor who graduates last in his class...).

Differences

1. Ben Rethliswhatever has a ridiculously long name.  Rick Nash's = bloggers best friend.
2. Ben has won 2 superbowls... Rick has been swept lost one playoff series.
3. Rick is well known for his work in the community.  He won the NHL Foundation Player Award in 2009, which is awarded to the player "who applies the core values of hockey—commitment, perseverance and teamwork—to enrich the lives of people in his community".  Ben... well, he's best known off the ice for a terrible motorcycle accident and a sexual assault allegation.

Rick Nash against the Predators

Currently Rick's 33 points leads his team, and is significantly better than the Predators top players: Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont both are tied for 20 points.  Regardless, the Blue Jackets are have been terrible, and I mean TERRIBLE, against the predators.  (The Preds have won the last 13 against the Blue Jackets, which, IMHO, is one of the worst team names in the NHL).  On the other hand, Ben and the Steelers, if you remember, beat the Titans in a heartbreak of a NFL season kick-off game, and started a run that crushed Titan spirits everywhere.


A Disclaimer


The comparison between Rick Nash & Ben Roethlisberger was not my first choice, and isn't the most persuasive comparison outthere. I expect to get blasted on the comments about it. I was planning an amazing Like/Love with Jordan Tootoo... but thanks to Shea Weber & Tootoo's broken foot, that will have to wait 3-4 weeks. In the interim, I decided to profile Rick Nash on the advice that a friend gave me: "I know to root for the good guys... tell me who to root against for the bad guys." For these Like/Love posts, the goal is to get it 80% right and 80% accessible to the less-than-average fan, then to get the discription 100% right, and sacrifice accessibility in the process.


That being said, if you have a better comparison, please feel free to leave it in the comments. I'd love to hear it!