He brought out the pink vodka for the evening. Thats the good stuff.?Its 1989 and Tom Watt, along with fellow Calgary Flames coaches Terry Crisp and Doug Risebrough, had survived an adventurous car ride with Russian coach Anatoli Tarasov driving from the teams hotel near the Kremlin in Moscow to Tarasovs dacha, a cottage, just outside of town.Watt and Tarasov had become close friends over the years, trading North American coaching strategies for Russian ones, and Tarasov had invited Watt and the Flames staff for camaraderie at his place.On this September day, the vodka is flowing and Tarasov is on a roll. At one point, he pulls out a chalkboard and shares tactics with a Flames coaching staff coming off a Stanley Cup win.The Flames were in Moscow as part of a training camp tour, and it was there many in the organization got to meet their newest player, right winger?Sergei Makarov, for the first time.At some point at Tarasovs place, the conversation shifts to Makarov.Details are hazy, in part because of a language barrier, in part because this took place decades ago. And the pink vodka probably didnt help.?But at one point, Risebrough remembers Tarasov weighing in on Makarovs place in Russian hockey history.He told us that Sergei was the best Russian player ever, Risebrough said. A coach like that was looking purely at his ability and his ability to deliver.For years, Makarov delivered at such a high level, he was often referred to as The Russian Wayne Gretzky. He helped the Russians win two World Junior gold medals, in 1977 and 1978. He helped Russia win eight gold medals in the World Championships. And after the crushing loss to the Americans in the 1980 Olympics, Makarov and the Russians won back-to-back Olympic gold medals in Sarajevo and Calgary.And now, hes getting the recognition he probably deserved years ago, with an induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Monday. He joins former?Philadelphia Flyers star Eric Lindros, coach Pat Quinn and goalie Rogie Vachon in the class of 2016.?Makarov, 58, will make the trip to the inductions from Russia, where hes working on alumni hockey projects in Moscow. He also coached Team Russia in the World Legends Hockey League earlier this year.Is Makarov the best Russian to ever play? Thats up for debate, but just being in the conversation puts him in a lofty stratosphere.Russians have so many good players, said legendary Hall of Famer defenseman Slava Fetisov over the phone from Russia. He loved the game more than anybody. His background, where he came from, it showed how much he loved the game. I was so lucky to have a partner like Sergei throughout almost my whole career. I can only say thank you to him, his talent and his leadership.Around the same time the Flames coaching staff was meeting with Tarasov, the Flames players were getting to know Makarov. Made a 12th-round pick by the Flames in 1983, when Russian players were allowed to play in North America, Calgary was finally getting a chance to bring him to the NHL in 1989, at the age of 31.During that training camp visit to Moscow, Makarov invited a few of his new teammates, including a young Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk, over to his apartment for a home-cooked meal. The elevator to the penthouse where Makarov stayed was so small, players could only go up two at a time.Roberts estimates that the penthouse itself had two bedrooms and fewer than 1,000 square feet of living space for Makarov and his small family. One of those rooms was filled with crystal awards, trophies and medals from Makarovs years of hockey successes as a member of the legendary Green Unit with Makarov, Igor Larionov and Vladimir Krutov at forward and Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov on defense.I thought to myself, This guy is the Wayne Gretzky of Russia, look at where he lives, Roberts said. It was such an eye-opening experience for Nieuwendyk and myself.It was also a bit of foreshadowing of the cultural differences Makarov would have to overcome when he finally made his NHL debut. Considering what hed overcome to get this far, its no surprise it went as well as it did for Makarov in Calgary.A product of the Red Army, Makarov and his teammates endured 11 months of training that shaped them all into physical specimens. The players would report to their barracks outside of Moscow in July.We had a two-story building, a facility for hockey players. Around is a big fence, you couldnt really get out, said Larionov.Theyd alternate running, weight training and on-ice practice sessions that began early in the morning and lasted all day. If a player got home once a week, he was lucky.What stands out to Larionov and Fetisov years later is that, in the middle of such an intense physical experience, Makarov added workouts. He was up earlier than anyone, playing tennis at 5 a.m.For one reason -- to be ahead of everybody, Fetisov said.If they had a slight break during the day, he was on the grass playing soccer.He wants to be the best there, too, Larionov said. It was in his blood to be the best guy. Thats the guy. Get up, doesnt matter what, he wants to be the best. He wants to be on top of every sport. Thats what Sergei Makarov was all about.For long stretches, Makarov absolutely was the best.His line with Larionov and Krutov -- the famous KLM line -- is one of the best ever formed. Aside from his long list of gold medals, players from his era point to the performance Makarov?turned in during the 1987 Canada Cup. Canada came out on top that year, but in a tournament that featured Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux playing together, there were stretches in which Makarov was the best player on the ice.His goal opened the scoring in Game 3 against Canada, with Gretzky, Lemieux and Paul Coffey on the ice. It was his seventh goal of the tournament.Former Flame Joel Otto played with Makarov in Calgary, and against him for Team USA in that tournament.You get a first-hand view of not being able to touch the puck, Otto said. He was a great player.Otto saw that great player up close when he joined the Flames in 1989. The players and coaching staff also got to witness just how demanding he was -- Makarov was an incredible passer, and expected the passes back to him to be just as good.He would get frustrated, Crisp said. Hed give you that look, flip the helmet back and shake his head. How do you explain to him, that Hey, everybody doesnt have your skill and can see the ice like you do?Makarov would express his frustration to Roberts.Hed say, Robs, on stick. On stick. Not on skates, Roberts said. I used to say, Hey, Sergei, youre playing with me, youre going to get pucks in the skates. Im not Larionov or Krutov. Im just a grinder.There was also a frustration with the style of play. The way the Russian Five skated circles around the ice was much different than the North American style, where teams dumped the puck in and worked to retrieve it.That style drove Makarov crazy.He hated when I dumped the puck in, Roberts said. Absolutely hated it. Hed look at me like, You go get it if you dump it in.But Roberts leaves no doubt. He and his young Flames teammates were better players because of their time with Makarov. Roberts scored 53 goals in 1991-92, and said that 39 of them came from Makarov assists.Makarov won the Calder Trophy at the age of 31 with the Flames, scoring 24 goals and registering 86 points. His dominance would later lead the NHL to setting an age limit of 25 on rookies of the year.He was so strong on the puck that his teammates noticed black tape marks all over his jersey from when he pulled away from the hooking that was so prevalent in the game then. When he took his jersey off in the dressing room, his torso was scraped and scratched from opposing sticks.He wasnt going down, Otto said.At the age of 35, he scored 30 goals for the San Jose Sharks after reuniting on a line with Larionov. His presence on that Sharks team convinced Larionov to play in San Jose, and those 1993-94 Sharks went on to upset the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs -- a breakthrough for the young franchise.In all, Makarov would score 134 goals and 384 points in 424 NHL games during the twilight of his career.That time served only as a tease of what could have been had the world been different and allowed for him to play in the NHL in his prime -- especially if he could have done it with the unique Russian style designed by Tarasov.Nonetheless, his impact on the sport is indisputable.To me, when you play this kind of hockey for a long time, its like Picasso. Youre an artist, doing a masterpiece, Larionov said. Thats what it was like to play with this guy. You create something on the fly. Makarov was artistry. To play with him was amazing. Just amazing. Air Force 1 Cheap Outlet . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. 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If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency.Lewis Hamilton has admitted Mercedes may not have fixed the fault that has caused his engine to break down twice in the opening four rounds of the season. Ahead of this weekends Spanish GP, Mercedes have described finding a solution to the MGU-H failures which affected Hamiltons car in qualifying in both China and Russia as their highest priority.However, the world champions have been unable to offer Hamilton any guarantees that the problem - described by team boss Toto Wolff as a freak occurrence - will not occur again. The team have explained the issues we have had and the efforts they have made to rectify them, Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. They arent rectified but they are in the process of being rectified. Hopefully this weekend they will be rectified but that might not be the case. Trailing Nico Rosberg by 43 points in the standings, Hamilton has described the deficit as a mountain but insisted he is relishing challenge of trying to catch his team-mate. It is what it is, theres no point being concerned, he said. I have less engines than Nico, so Ive just got to do what l can with what l have. For sure, I have a mountain to climb, but l love a challenge and I am excited about it.Who is under the most pressure this weekend in Spain?The world champion has also vowed he has no concerns about his Mercedes garage crew after the teams decision to swap personnel over the winter coincided with a series of mechanical malfunctions on his car. The issues we have had are nothing to do with the mechanics, said Hamilton. That is not a concern. I have 100 per cent belief in the guys and the team. I am just hoping l have had my share of bad luck.While Hamilton has bore the brunt of Mercedes reliability glitches so far in 2016, Rosberg has reeled off four successive victories to establish a commanding early lead in the Drivers Championship.But, despite his run of wins from the final races of last season now stretching to seven, the German remains unmoved in his belief that nothing is won yet. Ted Kravitz thinks Mercedes have to sort out their mechanical problems at the Spanish GP if Lewis Hamilton is to have any chance of winning the drivers championship Its not difficult to keep the feet on the ground, you just need to look at reality, he said.dddddddddddd Lewis is still the same Lewis as the last two years. Hes still just as quick and just as difficult to beat. Thats it.Its a long, long way to go.It wouldnt be good for me to think seven months down the road. The best way for me to try and win Barcelona is to think about Barcelona. And thats my aim, to win Barcelona. Thats the way I like to approach it and its the best approach for me.Rosberg led large parts of the 2014 season before Hamilton eventually overhauled him, but his championship advantage never exceeded 29 points. This time his lead is nearly the equivalent of two race victories but Rosberg, runner-up to Hamilton in each of the last two years, denied suggestions 2016 now presented him with an opportunity of a lifetime to become world champion. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton react to the news of Daniil Kvyat and Max Verstappens swap Im 30 now and still a young F1 age Id like think, he said. So I dont think that way and have such thoughts.Im just in a great situation which Im enjoying. I have the opportunity to win races - winning is a massive thrill and thats what I race for. [I am] up against some awesome drivers. Up against Lewis and the red guys, Kimi [Raikkonen] and Vettel. Some great battles and it makes it all the more fun when I win races, especially in a straight battle.Watch the Spanish GP live on Sky Sports F1. The race starts at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway at 11.30am. Or watch the race without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV. Also See: When is the Spanish GP on Sky? Whats different on the cars in Barca? ' ' '