Broken 16

The Caps will be up for sure. Sergei will be flying. Hopefully Datsyuk and Lidstrom will still have a hair across their ass about the ASG fiasco. He's all of em... he instictively knows what your favorite is and goes for it.

Been looking forward to this game the whole season.

Boycott the ASG because the Wings chose not to send any representatives? That seems kinda strange. I'm actually disappointed that the Wings didn't send SOMEBODY from the team. I'm sure there are easily two or more younger guys that would have been thrilled to go. And as far as I'm concerned, almost every player on the roster would deserve to be there.

I thought it was pretty good. They looked like they were having a lot of fun. Would have been nice to see some Wings mugs get some face time, but it was still entertaining.

Sorry if this has been done before but I'm new here... SO BACK OFF!!! Inspired by the Fedorov or Datsyuk thread, I'd like to compare the Russians to the Swedes. ---The Russian Five--- Fedorov/Larionov/Kozlov (Imagine Datsyuk instead of Kozlov... holy Jesus) Fetisov/Konstantinov I was never on the edge of my seat more. The puck movement was phenomenal. They slid into the zone like butter. ---The Swedish Five--- Holmstrom/Zetterberg/Franzen (you gotta suspend reality for just a tick...) Lidstrom/Kronwall Dominate through strength and sheer will. Seem to be more defensive minded than the Russian Five but capable of ridiculous offense. I pick the Russian Five. Konstantinov was the best open ice hitter I had ever seen. Larionov and Fetisov were class all the way. (I met Fetisov in an elevator at the Toronto Westin... super nice dude)

I dunno... I guess I'm less picky. I think more than a few of them are downright hot. "Twins, Basil... TWINS!"

I think the main difference between Crosby and Lidstrom (and to a lesser extent, Datsyuk) is that Bettman has A LOT more influence over a younger player. Especially someone like Crosby. Between the Penguins and the League... they got that poor kid twisted in so many directions, he may never recover. Someone like Lidstrom isn't going to be intimidated by Bettman. Ever. Especially when he's getting moral support from his GM. The Wings knew full well what the consequences were. They obviously couldn't care less. I really don't see Bettman taking on the Wings, head on, in a PR battle. Even he isn't that stupid. He did what he had to do... he's making them sit a game.

Crosby used the 'Bat-phone' that Bettman gave him as a stocking stuffer... You have no idea how that phone call went down. And, again, someone implies that Lidstrom wouldn't get the same respect from Bettman. Complete and total speculation with no basis whatsoever.

So... gauging the responses to this thread so far, it seems that a majority of people would prefer NOT to have scantily clad women shoveling the ice during breaks... hmmmm, ok. I'll go on record as saying that I would much prefer watching a hot blonde shovel snow over some crusty dude. But I'm not here to judge...

So how do you REALLY feel about AO?

I missed it. Went to a Plymouth Whalers game instead. That was WAY more entertaining imo.

AO is definately a ham. Refreshing to see a player that doesn't take himself too seriously.

Define "grow up"... Because if growing up entails pissing and moaning non-stop about how unfair life is with Crosby in it, then I'll pass. The dude is 21 years old and is not only the figurehead for his Conference winning team, but the figurehead for the ENTIRE league. The guy has his face thrust in the camera over every little thing and is always expected to say the PERFECT thing at all times. I'm not a big fan of the guy personally. I think he is vastly overrrated in a lot of facets as well. But he is human and does a lot of things for kids and the community at large. He volunteers a lot of his time (oh, thats right... he's a loser that lives in Mario's basement... ) and is a WILLING spokeperson. It has nothing to do with being a Crosby slappy. I've been going to Wings games since they were playing in the Olympia. I was at the Barn in 79 when they played their last game there. The Wings decided to pass on the All-Star game (I know, I know... they're injured), they got suspended... but WAIT!... Crosby was interviewed and didn't say the things I wanted EXACTLY the way I wanted him to. Not only that... he made an arrangement with Bettman to avoid suspension. Evil incarnet. Crosby did the right thing... said the right things, at the right time (I understand that he didn't take a bullet for Lidstrom so that makes him an *******... I get it). This constant misguided hatred towards Crosby makes a lot of people look really, really petty. I've been labeled a troll, a Crosby slappy and a few other things I don't care to mention. But here's my total take on the situation: 1) The All-Star Game is a joke. 2) Bettman is handling the All-Star game poorly 3) Datsyuk is hurt. Lidstrom is hurting, but not injured. 4) Lidstrom probably should have made the trip, Datsyuk... probably not. 5) Neither deserve suspension (I think a fine would have been more appropriate), but they are... no big deal. 6) Lidstrom and Datsyuk are getting bum raps because Kenny Holland decided not to 'disturb' (I still don't really get this... but ok) them with an option for the All-Star game, they'll recover. 7) Crosby was more concerned about his reputation and possible retribution from the league for not participating. So he called Bettman to try and work it out. And it worked. I don't see where the preferential treatment comes in. He still had to be there all weekend. 8) When asked about the suspensions, Crosby did come off a little smarmy. Gee, I wonder why? He hates the Wings man... HATES THEM. We spanked his ass in the SCF's... badly. We stole his best winger and a great back-up goaltender. Now, they are struggling. Honestly, he could have said: "I'm glad they got suspended, they're jerks" and I would have understood. 9) Lidstrom and Datsyuk avoid the clusterf*** that is the ASG. Get much needed rest and a reset for the second half. A couple of young guys will more ice time for a game. Oh yea... and we get to invent new reasons to hate Crosby! Rejoice!!

I am tired of coming to a Red Wings forum and seeing a bunch of whining pansies like you piss and moan about Crosby endlessly. Don't you have anything better to do than hate Crosby? Seriously dude... get a f***in life. I've never seen so many people so fixated on one player. You act like a bunch of lemmings. Break free dude... think for yourself. If you can. "Crosby did this and Crosby did that and, oh my God!!!!... I think Crosby almost giggled when asked about the suspensions (I forgot who said that little nugget, but Jesus... get a life), Crosby should have said this that way and Crosby should have said that this way..." Are you people serious? I've never seen a player so far inside another teams fans collective unconscious. Its almost alarming. You people are like Stepford Fans when it comes to Crosby. Dudes probably reading this thread laughing at you. Who could blame him. People like you are an embrassment to REAL Wing fans. You're just a poser doing what everyone else is doing. But the more I think about it... you're right. It IS Crosby's fault. How could I have been so blind. He's after us. There's no escape. I think I even saw him steal the last Pop-Tart out of my cupboard. THAT ******* BASTARD!!!!! Uh oh... I have to stop writing now. I just saw Crosby giving me the throat slit signal through my kitchen window.

Obviously, there was something to "work out"... because Crosby worked it out. Right? Apparently, this rule is "up for interpretation". Crosby showed that all one needed to do was make a simple phone call. I can't believe that you are implying that Bettman was ONLY willing to work with Crosby and that he is recieving special treatment. Maybe Bettman was willing to work with whoever called him. I know its more fun to create more reasons to hate Crosby... but c'mon. For whatever reason, Holland refused to call Lidstrom and Datsyuk and give them a heads up. He felt it would be fine for them to just take the suspension and move on. All indications show that neither the Wings or Ken Holland cared enough to make any attempt at a resolution. That's their business.

Ok... so the beef here is that Crosby made a call to see what could be worked out and Lidstrom or Datsyuk didn't? Again, you guys imply that Bettman was unwilling to work with anyone except Crosby. Thats some really weird paranoia s*** there...

I dared once and I'll dare again... They are blowing it off. Wake up... Datsyuk and Lidstrom aren't perfect, flawless human beings. No matter how much you would like to pretend they are. They broke the rules and they are being punished. Get over it.

Him recieving special treatment is a bogus claim unless you can show that Lidstrom and Datsyuk made similiar attempts with Bettman. Its fairly obvious that NO attempt was made. I still don't see where Crosby threw anybody under the bus. I guess I'm not looking hard enough.

Is this the quote you're talking about? He's spot on. There are enough reasons to dislike Crosby. Do we really need to manufacture more out of thin air?

I must have missed the part where Crosby bashed the Wings...

Are you implying that Bettman wouldn't have worked with either of them had they called like Crosby? I guarantee you that if they had called Bettman and expressed what was going on and wanted to find a resolution, he would have worked with them. They didn't, so they didn't, so he didn't. Crosby did...

When and where did this occur? I've been trying to find it. Link?

If they were that concerned, I'm fairly certain they could have called Bettman. Just like Crosby did. Sounds like Crosby did the right thing. He called. If Lidstrom and Datsyuk were so concerned, they could have called days ago. I don't see the point in crucifying Crosby just because he was decent enough to make a simple phone call and make an arrangement with Bettman. Good for him.

He still has an obligation to the league, in my mind. You may not agree, but that's ok.

I'm not a grouch... I'm just passionate. I'm mostly responding to people that are claiming that them being suspended is some kind of travesty of justice. It's not. They are, basically, blowing off the All-Star game and deserve to be suspended. Period.