I had to comment on this thread. Ive always watched these boards never posted cause i never had anything to contribute. My favorite teams ar the Hawks and the Avs. Im a native to chicago but ive always loved sakic and his style. So with that said both of my teams have played the Wings for as long as i can remember, and while dispising them(primarily cause they are a great team) there was ALWAYS respect. BECAUSE THEY EARNED IT, yea we may chant "detroit sucks" in chicago but again is cause we want our team to win but their is always respect. Players like Lidstrom and Datsuk and truly great players all around, respectable from their actions on and off the ice and most of all the EARNED it. They were not forced down our throats they rarly speak to the refs complaining or the media complaining. Crosby is different, his spot was not earned but more given, alot with the fame he has received, sure he is a good player but he is not the god-send bettmann makes him out to be plus every i know hates him for the amount of bitching, and diving he does. He is not like the greats we know who play the game for what it is and plays accordingly. When have you seen Sakic or Lidstrom complaining to a ref or taking a dive in their LONG careers. never. That is the difference it is simply the sportsmenship of these different caliber players. Sakic Lidstrom and players similar to them have EARNED their place and they are all very modest players. That is the difference, So dont ever compare crosby to them
