Khattab the Dog

BOULDER, Colorado -- This has nothing to do with hockey, but it does have to do with Russia, and my friend Tyler insisted that I include it in my blog.

Apparently, the sport of dog fighting is becoming quite popular in the former Soviet Union. I will admit that I do have some interest in blood sports of this type, but what I found especially pleasing about this article from the New York Times (there was little to take pleasure in, honestly) was that one of the dogs was named Khattab, supposedly named after Khattab the Lion, a Saudi-born jihadist who became a prominent rebel commander in Chechnya. He was killed in 2002 by Russian security forces by means of a poison-soaked letter.

Check out the video as well.