BewareThePenguin

'Member the good ol' days back in May, when the Pens were just another Eastern Conference patsy, and the Wings would take them out in 5 at the most? Good times, huh? Good times!

I certainly had no shortage of them, as some here complained. You're welcome to look up my history if you want.

Are you saying he's Marian Hossa or something?

I would think after Saturday Night's whistle party thrown for the benefit of the Detroit Red Wings you might not still be complaining about the ref treatment. Oh well. You have to admit, the top poster has a point about that "we can't be beat with Dats back!" thing. Can't you just congratulate the opponent for a job well done, and look forward to the treat of having a Game 7?

Ouch! Seems you Wings fans aren't exactly too thrilled any more with your Mr. Hossa, just reading the last few posts. Oh my! Poor Mr. Hossa. Anyhoo, here's something hot off the presses at Sports Illustrated. Perhaps now you see what I'm talking about. Benedict Arnold indeed. This guy gets it. I have to ask now: what did you expect out of Hossa? He's playing just like what he is: a team-hopper who thought he could coast to a Cup with a superior squad. A freeloader who's happy to take a seat rather than drive the bus. You reap what you sow, Wings fans, and this is what you've harvested. Hossa? You can have him. All that's left now is for Crosby to lift the Cup and skate it around Hossa a couple times, and the cherry will be on top of the sundae. We'll see if the Pens can make that happen Friday Night.

Be sure to create a new thread about it.

When a player tells a team they're his "first choice," you generally expect there's a probability he'll sign with you. "Delusional"? Oh man.

So the article is golden when some Wings fan here posts it -- "bravo!" and all that. Until I pick out the money quote which perfectly makes my case, and now you can want to doubt the sincerity of the source? Don't think I need to "get over" anything except how amazing you Hossa apologists are. And what lengths you'll go to to defend him, now that he's in a Wings uni.

Cool... yet another Hossa/Pittsburgh thread. Cue up all the people telling me how obsessed with this I am.

Yeah, bravo for that link indeed. For here is the main point: Fits in exactly with what I've been saying -- Hossa talked sunshine and roses and wanted to stay in wonderful Pittsburgh playing with wonderful Crosby the whole time, right until he suddenly always just wanted to play for the Wings. "Just wants to be sure" -- as in, I know what I want, but let me look one more time to confirm. As in sure I'll look at free agency, but you know where my heart is -- what part of "my first choice" don't you get? Doesn't sound like a guy likely to be signing elsewhere, now, does it? "You're my first choice, Pittsburgh" -- right from Hossa himself. And as I've said before, it's not just that he left, it's how -- he could've just thanked the city for his time here, or even just left quietly. Instead, he had to deliver that little jab about how he wanted to go where he could win the Cup, and all. If he'd said that about your team, you'd have an issue with it. So please, enough of the whole "what's your prob, dude?" mentality here.

Why? Watch the play again -- Malkin mostly hits with the shoulder. There may be elbow contact, but it's minimal. Certainly not up to the "I've been shot! Call 911!" reaction Franzen gave. If that's a penalty, fine, but can you really compare it to just walking up and whacking a guy between the shoulder blades with your stick? There's a lot of other stuff I could point to, like Zetterberg cross checking Crosby earlier on in the game, and no call. This isn't to complain, it's just to point out how ridiculous the whole conspiracy thing is. As much as I appreciate your offer, I don't really need help to crush that myth like a bug. By the way, that's not to suggest Crosby was an angel either -- but he got called for what he did. See my point? Thanks for commenting.

Again -- Crosby whacked in back with stick, no call. Was that part of the sanction plan too? Franzen hit in shoulder mostly during legit hockey play, gets the call. Maybe that was sanctioned too? Old myths die hard.

Games 2 and 3 could've gone either way. Game 2 the Pens easily could have had 5 goals if not for the post god. You give credit to Osgood for the first two, you don't mention Fleury outplayed him in game 3.

Did Maltby, or did Maltby not smack Crosby in the back with his stick? Of course -- and here's the difference -- no call. (So much for that Bettman conspiracy huh?) Franzen, on the other hand, milked what was essentially a shoulder hit by Malkin -- the main contact is in the shoulder region as the replay shows -- by holding his hand to his face. And of course, that did draw a penalty. You can't even compare that little acting job with anything Crosby did. Maltby just stick-whacked Crosby in the back because he thought nobody was looking -- Malkin's hit was at least part of legitimate play. Which is why I have to laugh when people bring up Crosby's fall vs. Franzen's little acting job.

Yes, I know, an opposing team's fan drives some frankencar touting the enemy's colors all over our turf -- hey, let's throw roses on it and serendade it with sweet, sweet lullabies!!! How far would a Penguinmobile make it through downtown Detroit before it was confronted? Nothing says "class" like a rub-in joy ride through the other guy's territory.

Yeah, that's why I started this whole thread in the first place... oh wait, I didn't. But that won't stop all you from talking about how obsessed with the issue I am, I'm sure.

Aw c'mon, Crosby's young, he needs to learn from the master himself. Really, nothing comes close to Franzen's "oh I've been shot!" motion, along with the wounded-deer look he shot the ref. Forget those squids, you oughta be tossing roses onto the ice for an Academy-Award performance like that. Bravo, Johan, bravo!

I don't know, I didn't post the thread... maybe you should ask the Wings fan who took the time to start it?

"Franzen takes the odd dive?" That's like saying the President takes the odd trip to the Oval Office. Really, watching him act like he was shot in the face after Malkin hit him Saturday Night made me think he should work as an extra in war movies. But I digress... and hey, thanks for pointing out there were some actual Pens fans who showed some sportsmanship during the Cup presentation ceremony. With all the "Pens fans have no class, they're the Devil on Earth!" posts that have been put up here, that's quite a refreshing change.

Nor did I, if you bother to actually read what I wrote.

Interesting how you see Hossa's play. I see a guy who's been fed like a Japanese cow the whole playoffs, and has almost nothing to show for it. The other night was a prime illustration -- do you ever get a sweeter pass than Hossa got while all alone in front of the other team's back-up goalie -- and still not score? And check the "should we resign Hossa?" thread -- only about a dozen Wings fans screaming about what a waste he is after the loss in Game 4. Only the win in Game 5 took the heat off him. I'd like to see more sportsmanship too this series, which I must admit was a bit lacking from my own team in Game 5.

Another rationalizer who knows more about Pens fans than Pens fans themselves. Glad to have you aboard!

Again, and for the millionth time -- it's not about him leaving for another team. It's HOW he went about it that's stuck in some people's craws. You guys are trying to have it both ways. On the one hand, so many fans here are delighting in the thought of Hossa winning the Cup and rubbing it in to Pens fans. On the other hand, you all want to claim Pens fans have no right to gripe about Hossa in the first place. Well how can that be? By acknowledging Pens fans would be ticked off, you admit there was something there to make them ticked off in the first place. See what I mean? It's like it's not enough that your guys win, they also have to be the "good guys," the angels who never do any wrong. Pardon me while I sit back and chuckle at that thought. Kind of like saying there really IS a tooth fairy, and Franzen never dives. I mean, c'mon...

Translation: he plays for my team now, he can do no wrong.