(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
There is not a player in all of sports who is more unfairly vilified than Sidney Crosby, the Penguin's on-ice leader.
The guy can't catch a break. Every thing he does results in the spewing of hatred in his general direction.
That's why this latest controversy that has resulted in a chorus of "unsportsmanlike" calls is so illustrative.
Even I underestimated this one, figuring the silliness would quickly blow over. But, Sidney Crosby Derangement Syndrom (SCDS) should never be underestimated.
I've even seen articles comparing Crosby to LeBron James, who angrily marched out of the stadium following a playoff loss without congratulating a single member of the opposition.
Comparing the actions of a guy who was caught up in the moment after winning his first championship with someone who was intentionally and defiantly a sore loser borders on delusional.
Let me stipulate up front that Crosby made a mistake. He should have been at the front of the Penguins' handshake line.
On that point, I agree with the critics. No doubt when the Penguins win their next Cup, Crosby will be out front leading them in the traditional handshake.
But, he got caught up in the moment and celebrated just a little bit longer than perhaps was appropriate before heading to the hand-shake line after the Penguins claimed the Stanley Cup.
Can anyone blame him? That is, other than some disgruntled Red Wings' veterans and their media enablers.
This guy has had the weight of the world on his shoulders from the moment he stepped into the league.
This was the biggest moment in his life, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. He was overcome with both joy and a healthy dose of relief at the same time.
The guy was simply lost in the moment. Anyone with a shred of common sense could see that.
Nobody has had more pressure on him than Crosby, a key savior of hockey in Pittsburgh and the face of the NHL. The new Arena going up in Pittsburgh is frequently referred to as the "House that Sid Built" for good reason.
Despite his tremendous success up to this point, the "will he win a cup?" nonsensical monkey was forever off his back.
Was it really asking too much for the Red Wings' players to let Sid enjoy this magical moment without trying to poison it?
This guy has carried himself with class far exceeding his 21 years on this planet, handling media availabilities under even the most trying circumstances with grace while being a community leader in Pittsburgh.
Crosby ultimately made it to the handshake line, shaking hands with much of the Red Wings' team and their fiery head coach, Mike Babcock, who congratulated Crosby on his leadership.
No doubt Sid would have been more than happy to shake the hands of the Red Wings who had already left for the locker room.
It is never hard to shake hands when you are the winner.
And, let's not forget that a devastated and emotionally exhausted Crosby shook hands with every last Red Wing last year. He didn't miss a single one of them.
He politely waited for them to finish their celebration and then did his duty.
Do the Red Wings' veterans really forget how it feels to win that first Stanley Cup?
We're going to send you the most entertaining Detroit Red Wings articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
28 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete