Crosby's embarrassing display
by James Mirtle on Jan 3, 2009 7:31 PM CST
40 comments
This is pretty ridiculous:
I'm tied up in the newsroom due to the Canada-Russia festivities at the world juniors, but George Richards of the Miami Herald and Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports have more.
For what it's worth, I agree with Nick Boynton: "That was just embarrassing. I can understand a little bit what he was trying to do, but that's a not a very professional move. You ask a guy to fight. You don't jump a guy when his head is down taking a face off. That's pretty immature and childish."
UPDATE This is sort of the night for weird fights, as Alexander Semin took a turn "playing the bongos" on Marc Staal in the Caps star's first NHL fight.
I noticed Doug Weight fought Christian Ehrhoff in San Jose, too.
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Why is it ridiculous?
Because he didn’t square off before commiting assault?
Because he didn’t choose to run a guy in the Stop Sign like OV did to Heward a couple nights ago?
Because he didn’t slew-foot a Dman going into the end boards like Justin Williams did to Wideman last week, or Andrei Kostitsyn did a couple times earlier this year?
It’s only ridiculous if your world operates according to The Code.
Otherwise, it’s a fight. It was punished. Let’s not get carried away.
Boynton will be working at his old man’s construction company for 15 years before Crosby retires. He’s a no talent. A bum.
by Dr Van Nostrum on Jan 3, 2009 7:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
He did get 19 minutes in penalties for doing it, so I’d say the refs found it a tad ridiculous, too.
by James Mirtle on Jan 3, 2009 9:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The refs also missed a fair share of calls on both sides of the puck all game. That was also pretty ridiculous.
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by FrankD on Jan 3, 2009 10:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If penalty minutes are what’s used to judge ridiculousness, then every tripping, hooking, and delay of game penalty is ridiculous. Penalties fit the actions, they don’t make them ridiculous.
Then again, as an Avs fan in the post-Bertuzzi era, I tend to be quick to condemn any plays where one player gets jumped or mugged by another without any moment for preparation. I would tend to say this easily qualifies as one. I happen to love Crosby, but that was clearly dirty. It wasn’t dirty because he did it “without asking”, or even because it happened without any notice. It was dirty because after the initial assault, where the Florida player practically on the ice head first, he kept going at it. The guy was clearly not fighting back, and Crosby should not have continued wrestling him while he was incapacitated.
I do find it funny, however, that dirty-ol’ Nick Boynton is the one calling him out.
Now I think Crosby used poor, or no, judgment here, but I still love the guy, and I really enjoy it when actual skilled and semi-skilled players do their own fighting, instead of designated enforcers. For that I give Sid some props, but he still has something to learn if he wants to make this part of his game.
by Selanne on Jan 3, 2009 11:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Nice comeback, but the comment was not regarding the incident itself.
In fact, I don’t believe McLean should’ve been taken off for a fighting call either. Don’t assume every Pens fan sides with Crosby on these things. I think in terms of watching your team take to the ice down 4-1, the captain tried to take things into his own hands. Do I agree with the method? No. But do I at least understand what the motive was? Yes. He was looking to spark the team in some way, shape or form. He failed. He sat in the box and took himself off the ice when the team needed him most. The game was a wash, his ‘fight’ was all for nothing and now everyone has something to complain and cry about because the face of the NHL bullied someone around for once.
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by FrankD on Jan 3, 2009 11:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Because he didn’t choose to run a guy in the Stop Sign like OV did to Heward a couple nights ago?
Clean hit. Get over it. Puck was at Heward’s feet.
by Pi on Jan 4, 2009 8:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
not a clean hit. hit a guy in a vulnerable position from behind and pushed his head into the boards. Puck being there had nothing to do with it.
by poploser on Jan 4, 2009 10:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Jamie Heward disagrees with you. But then again, what does he know, right? He’s just the guy that got hit.
I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.
by marky narc on Jan 4, 2009 11:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
OV hit Heward from the side while the puck was at his feet along the boards. It happens 100’s of times per NHL game. In this case, Heward turned at the last minute and hit the glass at an awkward angle. The result was unfortunate, but the hit was within the rules. If that hit is taken away from hockey, it aint hockey anymore……
All this is like watching one of those Presidential debates. If you hate OV and the Caps (see the Pens blogs), this was barbarism’s finest hour and OV should be banned. Similarly, Crosby’s whacking of a player’s (sac) from behind and yesterday’s mugging were merely youthful indiscretions and an attempt to “fire up his team.”
(similarly after debates, supporters appear from nowhere to assuredly state (as fact) that their candidate won, when clearly one or the other won. These people are brainwashed and will never let reality interfere with their preconceived ideas and wishes).
So, putting on my Ovechkin hat on: “the OV hit was good hard old-time hockey.”
I will stop short of demanding (opponent) Sid’s suspension (or anything) for his most recents proclivities, however. Much, much worse acts have been committed by people with a will (and ability) to injure. Sid’s a great player and meant nothing with his actions. He’s under a lot of stress, and momentarily cracked. Fine with me….
by Pi on Jan 4, 2009 3:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
You can’t push someone on both shoulder blades if you hit them from the side. Your description of Ovechkin’s hit simply isn’t accurate.
by J. Michael Neal on Jan 4, 2009 5:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Agree to disagree
Watched it another 5 times after this note. Still inconclusive. Like I said above, if you dont like OV (bet you dont) you think it’s suspendable; if you do (that’s me); it’s not.
We can agree the puck’s there and Heward turned very (very) late.
Hopefully we can both agree that Perry’s hit vs. the Flyers (whom i dont like) was late, suspendable, etc…..
by Pi on Jan 4, 2009 7:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
When did they start putting stop signs on the shoulder?
by David M. Getz on Jan 4, 2009 12:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
At the very least, it is ridiculous because it took the team’s captain and a major offensive threat off the ice for most of an entire period. He can’t do anything to help the team from the penalty box.
"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams
by Baroque on Jan 3, 2009 8:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
It ridiculous..
because as a skilled player he serves his team better by being on the ice. But its not surprising as he is becoming quite adept at taking cheap shots. I guess it was too hard for him to punch lower at the FL players family jewels or maybe he didn’t because he was the only one involved in this “fight.”
by Blut-0 on Jan 3, 2009 8:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
What Crosby did dishonors the game. Again.
Last week on HNIC, Don Cherry devoted an almost an entire segment to ripping cheap-shotting punks who fight with their visors on. And now Whiny Diver instigates a fight while wearing a visor! HA!
Can’t wait to see Grapes tonight…
by TylerG on Jan 3, 2009 11:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Captain Junk Puncher keeps it classy.
Ain't nothing but puck drops and poke checks, babydoll.
by wrap around curl on Jan 3, 2009 11:49 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
that about says it all…
"You do dat, you go to da box, you know, uh, two minutes by yourself, and you feel shame, you know, and then you get free."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Jan 5, 2009 10:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Haters want to hate, lovers want to love...I don't even want, none of the above
A lot of it was straight up frustration. Campbell and McLean had been chirping (and getting subtle cross-checks, punches, etc) in all night. Crosby snapped.
For what it’s worth, FLA coach Peter DoBoer didn’t crucify Crosby when he was asked…
“He’s a competitive guy. If I’m coaching Pittsburgh, I’d like to see that kind of play out of your best players when things aren’t going well. … I can tell you I’m glad he wasn’t on the ice for 19 minutes. It made our jobs a little easier.”
At that point of the game though, Crosby’s personal frustration fired up the boys and the crowd. Shortly afterwards Malkin broke in alone and got a good shot (and drew a penalty).
The difference was Craig Anderson was stopping pucks while MAF and Sabourin were letting by shots you can’t allow to get in the net. Crosby didn’t do his team a service by basically taking himself out of the game, but at the point with the frustration and with the flow of the game, it’s not like the team was in a position to rally, even if he made a play or two happen.
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 4, 2009 12:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
DeBoer and McLean have a lot of class to not be too upset about the whole thing because I certainly would be in that situation. You can seriously hurt someone with a stunt like that.
It’s cheap.
by James Mirtle on Jan 4, 2009 12:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
FLA’s Nick Boynton: "That was just embarrassing. I can understand a little bit what he was trying to do, but that’s a not a very professional move. You ask a guy to fight. You don’t jump a guy when his head is down taking a faceoff. That’s pretty immature and childish.
’’He’s just, whatever. He’s not happy with the way things are going and he was trying to get his team going. But there’s no need for that.’’
by TylerG on Jan 4, 2009 7:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Why are people even quoting Boynton? He wasn’t even involved.
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by FrankD on Jan 4, 2009 11:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I want to hear the truth from McLean. Crosby says that he challenged McLean at the faceoff and McLean said yes. If McLean agreed to go and then turtled, I refuse to put the blame on Crosby for that.
If Crosby’s lying, then that’s another story.
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by JustinM on Jan 4, 2009 9:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Same here. It’s really between Mclean and Crosby, not McLean, Crosby and Boynton, whom everyone believes actually has something credible to say about this.
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by FrankD on Jan 4, 2009 11:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Turtled? How on earth was he even given an opportunity to do that?
McLean can hold his own. He fought plenty of times in junior and wouldn’t have had a problem going with Crosby.
by James Mirtle on Jan 4, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Why is Crosby
such a BITCH?
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by eyebleaf on Jan 4, 2009 8:34 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
It was a stupid move, but do we know that McLean didnt agree to “go” before that?
Either way, all these comments just highlight the stupidity of fighting. Was that “enjoyable” for the fans? They got to see one guy jumped, one guy throw punches at the back of a helmet, and one superstar offensive talent out of the game for an entire period.
Did Crosby “make a statement”? Do people think because he jumped some guy all of the “chirping (and getting subtle cross-checks, punches, etc)” are going to stop when they play next time? Of course not, and now they will probably increase because people think they got under Crosby’s skin – so the “fight” probably had the exact opposite effect.
Finally, if this was Crosby snapping after “chirping (and getting subtle cross-checks, punches, etc)”, then its another failure of the League to police the game appropriately. When players feel they have to police themselves, its a failure of the officiating and the League.
by poploser on Jan 4, 2009 10:58 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Right. It’s the refs fault Crosby ignored the code.
I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.
by marky narc on Jan 4, 2009 11:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly right!
Its dead-on. If someone takes a whack at me, and the ref calls it, and I score on the PP, its going to have more effect on that player and the game than if I throw some punches at his helmet.
If the refs ignore those little slashes because, well, there’s an all-important code where the players are also the policemen, then the its the leagues fault for not disciplining the refs for not doing their jobs.
by poploser on Jan 4, 2009 9:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m no fan of Crosby, but I do think this is being blown out of proportion a little. If it has been Joe Schmoe jumping some guy in the faceoff circle, we all would have tsk-tsked and moved on. Obviously the way the league tries to market the guy means he’s going to be under a bigger microscope, but let’s not over-exaggerate. It was a boneheaded move borne out of frustration and he deserved 19 minutes in penalties he got.
I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.
by marky narc on Jan 4, 2009 11:26 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
I’m no fan of Crosby, but I do think this is being blown out of proportion a little. If it has been Joe Schmoe jumping some guy in the faceoff circle, we all would have tsk-tsked and moved on.
Not if the same guy had jumped someone from behind and punched in the groin three weeks earlier.
by David M. Getz on Jan 4, 2009 12:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Obviously Crosby’s under a bigger microscope. He’s one of the league’s scoring leaders, a former Hart Trophy winner, etc., etc. This would be a big deal if it was Iginla, Ovechkin or whoever.
by James Mirtle on Jan 4, 2009 2:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes it was cheap. But it really wasn’t that bad. I can’t believe some people think this should go to the disciplinary review board? For what? Dude got frustrated, sure, and should he at least have squared up with McLean, absolutely, but suspended? I don’t think so. BTW, I’ll listen to Nick Boynton when he apologizes to the Caps organization for refusing to sign when he was drafted…Where are you now?
by wittcap79 on Jan 4, 2009 11:46 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
At least he didn't punch him in the yam bag
That’s a step up from his normal behavior.
by SDWingNut on Jan 4, 2009 11:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I don’t understand the love of hockey fights, on so many levels. For now, let’s look only at the fact that, as fights, they’re terrible. Boring. Once upon a time, I was a boxing fan. (I got over it. Don’t ask. It’ll just get me ranting about my ex-wife.) Last night, ESPN2 showed a replay of Evander Holyfield/Dwight Muhammed Qawi II. If you like watching two guys hitting each other, that’s good stuff. Jared Boll/Chris Stewart, not so much.
Ice and skates makes for an exciting sport, but punching each other isn’t it.
by J. Michael Neal on Jan 4, 2009 11:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Fighting can have it's place,
but it seems to work best when it’s a spontaneous part of the action. When two heavyweights talk about it for shift after shift before jumping into the fray, that’s just stupid. I guess they feel that they have to justify their existence on the team.
by SDWingNut on Jan 4, 2009 12:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s pretty much an accurate description of almost every hockey fight I’ve seen. In hockey fights, you get more blood because they drop the gloves, but that’s not a substitute for action. If we have to have fights, give them an extra two minutes for grabbing the other guy’s jersey.
by J. Michael Neal on Jan 4, 2009 5:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, I’d watch the game if someone put Valuev on skates… he is Russian.
by James Mirtle on Jan 4, 2009 6:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, from what I was reading, prior to about the 1950s, the linesmen would step in if either player grabbed on; it was stand-up bare-knuckle boxing. (Actually, watch The Rocket, when he takes on Sean Avery. That’s about what we’re talking about.) I have to imagine the action looked more like a barroom brawl than what we recognize today.
by Doogie2K on Jan 4, 2009 10:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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