Crosby the tough guy

[12Newf 0]

Not sure if its true or not but the rest of the article is here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_dadd...maining-content

Bruins center Marc Savard taunted Crosby after a Boston goal, and the taunting continued until both players neared their benches. Crosby challenged Savard to fight, and Savard responded: "Take off that [sissy] shield, and I'll be glad to."

So Crosby handed his helmet to equipment manager Dana Heinze and told him to remove the visor. Crosby took the ice for his next shift sans shield but Savard backed down, thereby looking like the [sissy] he accused Crosby of being.

Score one for Sid in the mind games department and cue a verbal beatdown for Savard, who took a brutal aural blistering from the Penguins bench throughout the rest of the afternoon (and no doubt lost a little respect in the eyes of his teammates when his bluff got called).

[Doc Holiday 0]

Big points for Crosby.

Story is true.

[Guest Shoreline]

I think I saw this posted a while back, at least, what occurred. I'd normally say that's a good tactic by Savard to get Crosby off his game but Crosby had 3 points that game and Savard had nothing.

[Mors 201]

I think it's a step in the right direction for Crosby.

[Guest micah]

Nice going, Sid. Exposing ******* for what they are is always good practice. Sid scored on the board and won the mindgame. Awesome.

I wonder what Dats would have done? Wait, no I don't.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Nice going, Sid. Exposing ******* for what they are is always good practice. Sid scored on the board and won the mindgame. Awesome.

I wonder what Dats would have done? Wait, no I don't.

******* histerical.

[Guest micah]

******* histerical.

How so?

[Guest Shoreline]

How so?

Goes against the popularity of bashing Crosby for breathing.

[Doc Holiday 0]

How so?

Your constant berating of "soft" Wings players, even when the subject has nothing to do with them.

[MacK_Attack 108]

I'll definitely be watching Coach's Corner on Saturday. Grapes loves Savard.

[Guest micah]

Your constant berating of "soft" Wings players, even when the subject has nothing to do with them.

Oh.

I appologise for contrasting the style of play of a Red Wings player with the subject of discussion on this Red Wings fan board.

[Chunkylover 26]

Neither Crosby, Savard, or Datsyuk needs to fight in order to prove their status as the best in the game right now.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I'll definitely be watching Coach's Corner on Saturday. Grapes loves Savard.

I thought that Crosby would be the King of Canadians for a guy who is so biased towards Canadians like Grapes is.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I thought that Crosby would be the King of Canadians for a guy who is so biased towards Canadians like Grapes is.

Grapes doesnt like Crosby very much actually. He's called him out many, many times, more then Avery if you'd believe it. I bet he'll get the good words from Cherry, that he deserves.

Seriously, anyone that says anything negative towards Crosby for this, is a down right hater. That's one of the most manliest moves I've seen a hockey player pull, espicially from a little girl like Sid (). Savard... I like him, but wow.

[Yzerman191 37]

Oh.

I appologise for contrasting the style of play of a Red Wings player with the subject of discussion on this Red Wings fan board.

I just don't get it. Why do you watch the Red Wings? They don't play a style of hockey that excites you, they don't regularly play anyone on the roster that you seem to actually like, and from what I've seen, none of our players can do right by you. What don't you get about the Red Wings style? We play a fast finesse game, much like European hockey. Maybe micah should start watching the Leafs, since Burke is notorious for the tough and gritty product of hockey he puts on the ice.

Personally, if I no longer found the Red Wings' play to be fun or exciting, I wouldn't watch it anymore. I'd watch another team that I felt was worth my time. After all, our time on earth is limited; why waste it watching a three hour long hockey game that doesn't even interest you? I liked the Red Wings back when they had the old Shanahan, and it was a lot of fun to watch guys like McCarty fighting regularly. However, when our style began to change, I found I really liked watching Datsyuk deke the jock off elite goaltenders, or the magic that Zetterberg and Datsyuk can create on the ice together. I love watching the 40+ shots our team puts on the board every night, and the explosive, almost score-at-will offense Ken Holland has put together for us. If you don't like it, don't watch it.

Anyways, I don't care much for Crosby but I think that's a great gesture. He definitely came out on top there. As long as he can stay away from the sissy incidents he's been involved with in the past (as well as the immature comments), and if the NHL decides to stop shoving him down our throats, I don't think I'd find it too hard to like the guy. He's got tremendous offensive potential, he's getting better on defense every year, and apparently he's got an unmatched work ethic for improving any aspect of his game that warrants it. If I'm Crosby's coach or GM, though, I'm probably not too happy with this gesture. He's too important to his team to sit in the box for five, or break a hand or jaw or something fighting.

[ben_usmc 253]

Nice going, Sid. Exposing ******* for what they are is always good practice. Sid scored on the board and won the mindgame. Awesome.

I wonder what Dats would have done? Wait, no I don't.

Datsyuk would have levled his ass like he has so many times before. Good choice in players to call out.........

[sergei_is_still_a_wing 1]

wow. i would think svard would hand him an ass kicking too. maybe not. i have never felt crosby was a ***** or whatever. a few times ive seen him step up and drop the gloves (usually to no avail). I like the kid. Do i hate the fact that every hockey analyst has been sucking him off since 95', of course. but that isnt his fault. he seems humble, and of course loaded with talent.

always glad to see stories like this and i hope it changes the minds of a few "crosby is a sissy asshat blah blah blah"-ers.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Somewhere lost amongst all this is the fact that Savard is what, 175 pounds and maybe 5'8? I dont buy what hes listed as on NHL.com, Savard is right up there (or down there, rather) with Hudler and Sullivan.

There isnt a story here. Savard taunts Crosby to get him off his game, which isn't some secret , and Crosby proves his willing to guy with a guy smaller than him. Both guys come out of this looking like a couple of high schoolers who care way too much about what the other guys think.

[Kevin182 1]

As much as I hate Crosby, this is awesome. Yes, we all call him a sissy but for him to remove his visor for a fight is huge brownie points in my book. Fighting is apart of the game right?

[Frozen-Man 144]

Nice going, Sid. Exposing ******* for what they are is always good practice. Sid scored on the board and won the mindgame. Awesome.

I wonder what Dats would have done? Wait, no I don't.

Oh.

I appologise for contrasting the style of play of a Red Wings player with the subject of discussion on this Red Wings fan board.

Hey Micah why don't you just cut and paste "I hate all Red Wings players except Downey (and maybe Mac) because they are all soft" for every post and save some time?

[The Mule 0]

Admirable move, but Savard > Crosby.

[softshoes 83]

I just don't get it. Why do you watch the Red Wings? They don't play a style of hockey that excites you, they don't regularly play anyone on the roster that you seem to actually like, and from what I've seen, none of our players can do right by you. What don't you get about the Red Wings style? We play a fast finesse game, much like European hockey. Maybe micah should start watching the Leafs, since Burke is notorious for the tough and gritty product of hockey he puts on the ice.

Personally, if I no longer found the Red Wings' play to be fun or exciting, I wouldn't watch it anymore. I'd watch another team that I felt was worth my time. After all, our time on earth is limited; why waste it watching a three hour long hockey game that doesn't even interest you? I liked the Red Wings back when they had the old Shanahan, and it was a lot of fun to watch guys like McCarty fighting regularly. However, when our style began to change, I found I really liked watching Datsyuk deke the jock off elite goaltenders, or the magic that Zetterberg and Datsyuk can create on the ice together. I love watching the 40+ shots our team puts on the board every night, and the explosive, almost score-at-will offense Ken Holland has put together for us. If you don't like it, don't watch it.

Anyways, I don't care much for Crosby but I think that's a great gesture. He definitely came out on top there. As long as he can stay away from the sissy incidents he's been involved with in the past (as well as the immature comments), and if the NHL decides to stop shoving him down our throats, I don't think I'd find it too hard to like the guy. He's got tremendous offensive potential, he's getting better on defense every year, and apparently he's got an unmatched work ethic for improving any aspect of his game that warrants it. If I'm Crosby's coach or GM, though, I'm probably not too happy with this gesture. He's too important to his team to sit in the box for five, or break a hand or jaw or something fighting.

Because they win, oh, also there is a man love/hate thing there. You know like back in 3rd grade when you whacked the girl you liked on the shoulder. Hating is the first step to loving. Wait till 6th grade then you'll see how much he luvs him some Wings.

[55fan 5,133]

Nice going, Sid. Exposing ******* for what they are is always good practice. Sid scored on the board and won the mindgame. Awesome.

I wonder what Dats would have done? Wait, no I don't.

Dats would have proposed that they drop helmets completely. Then they would have fought. Then they would have remembered to take their gloves off, but by that time there would have been 42 threads on how Dats should not have to fight and that we need an enforcer.

I like what Sid did. Sends a message without mussing his face. And, yes, I do believe he would have followed through if necessary.

[Guest micah]

I just don't get it. Why do you watch the Red Wings?

Because they're my favorite team, silly. Have been for many years. Maybe since before you were born.

What don't you get about the Red Wings style?

I'm not sure I understand the question.

Personally, if I no longer found the Red Wings' play to be fun or exciting, I wouldn't watch it anymore. I'd watch another team that I felt was worth my time. After all, our time on earth is limited; why waste it watching a three hour long hockey game that doesn't even interest you? I liked the Red Wings back when they had the old Shanahan, and it was a lot of fun to watch guys like McCarty fighting regularly. However, when our style began to change, I found I really liked watching Datsyuk deke the jock off elite goaltenders, or the magic that Zetterberg and Datsyuk can create on the ice together. I love watching the 40+ shots our team puts on the board every night, and the explosive, almost score-at-will offense Ken Holland has put together for us. If you don't like it, don't watch it.

Are you saying that you're a fan of the Wings until they adopt a style of play that you don't care for, then you're out?

I'm a Wings fan, and I am a hockey fan. I watch lots of games and lots of teams. I pull for the Wings, always. They are my team, have been since '84-ish. I appreciate many Wings players for what they can do, this team has assloads of skill. why talk about that? We all know it, it's boring. I believe in continuous improvement, and I believe in hiolding yourself and those around you to a high standard. I do not believe in saying "wow - I did a great job today, look at how well I did this". I believe in scrutinizing what I do, finding fault, and fixing it. That's how I became great, perhaps the best in the world, at what I do. I will be better at it tomorrow than I am today. If I were Mule - I would have gone home and mentally bitched myself out for letting Vandermeer make me look like a *****. I would see to it that nobody would ever be able to do that again.

I think the wings should be playing a more physical game. That doesn't mean that I think they should be less skilled, or even that they need an enforcer. It is and has aklways been my belief that every single player on the team ought to be willing and able to scrap when the time is right. The time isn't always right - heck it usually isn't right - but that doesn't excuse anyone on this squad from being the sort of gunshy types that our best players have proved themselves to be in recent years. The best young players in the league are willing to fight, and have demonstrated as much. Our guys haven't and I don't get why. So often, certain dildos on this board say things like "oh, you'd rather have a million penalty minutes than a stanley Cup?" The answer is "no". There need not be any distinction between having a few fighting majors and winning the cup. There is zero reason that a guy like Franzen can't fight other than that he chooses not to. I don't know hwy he chooses not to, but he does. He's a big, strong fella - bigger and probably stronger than some guys in the leage who fight reasonably often and reasonably well - and yet he refuses to do it. I can see if he got his eyes blackened a few times and he decided he ought not fight anymore until he can improve at it, but I've seen no evidence that he (or and current Wing) is at all interested in standing up for himself or his teammates. Yes, skill is wonderful and skating is important and so is defence and putting pucks in the back of the net - but none of those attributes prevent guys from sticking up for themselves and their teammates. Bad attitudes do. Bad attitudes also result in teams that sometimes can't be bothered to even try on the ice. That isn't okay. The Wings are supremely skilled - but that doesn't give them a free pass to just turn it on when they feel like it.

[Yzerman191 37]

First of all, you probably have been a Red Wings fan since before I was born. I was born in '89, and have been brought up on the 'Wings my whole life. Fortunately, I was born into a time that the Red Wings have enjoyed great success, and have put phenomenal teams on the ice for our enjoyment.

I think my question was pretty straight forward. What is it that you can't understand about the Red Wings style? Babcock recently said he wouldn't necessarily call this his style of choice, and he likes fighting as much as the next guy, but he coaches in a manner that will allow the team to have the most success. With the 'Wings leading their division year after year, one cannot expect them to be able to draft young power forwards. Every team in the league looks for these types of players. Skilled enforcers are another hot commodity; there definitely aren't enough to go around. My point here is that the Red Wings do the best with what they have. The only chance they have at staying competitive seems to be by drafting players like Datsyuk and Zetterberg. When you keep drafting players that were born and raised on European hockey, it's no wonder our style is the way it is, and why it helps us flourish to play such a style. Over the last few years, our "boring" European hockey has helped us to be better than almost every team in the league.

Next, I wouldn't watch a team that I think is boring or uninteresting. I don't see a thing wrong with that. Take the New Jersey Devils, for instance. Sure, they've experienced great success. And that's nice, but from a fan's point of view, it's not all about winning. It's fun to win, no doubt, but I'm not going to PERSEVERE through games to see the end result. Three hours a night, 2-4 times per week is a LOT of time to spend watching something you don't enjoy. If the Red Wings implemented the trap, and played 1-0 games or 2-0 games every night, I think I'd lose interest. It's not something I enjoy watching, and I'm not going to spend my valuable time doing something I don't enjoy. On the other hand, if they lost 6-4, or 7-5, it would make for an exciting game. Sure, they lost, but time enjoyed is not time wasted. Take the last game at the Shark tank, for example. That was one of the best games I've seen this season even though we lost. It was extremely exciting with playoff intensity. Even 1-0 games with stellar goaltending duels can be very exciting.

And to be honest, I'd rather Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen (who is injury prone enough, thank you), Lidstrom, and our other talented players stay the hell away from flying fists. If we could get an enforcer that was solid enough defensively, and not necessarily talented offensively (like McCarty used to be), I'd be all for letting the guy stir it up sometimes as long as he kept other players away from our stars. But to say that star players like Datsyuk or Zetterberg, or even grittier star players like Ovechkin or Crosby, should fight is ridiculous. Let's say Ovechkin is on the receiving end of a dirty hit, and is pissed off and decides to go at it with (insert name here). If he gets his jaw broken and is out 6 weeks, he's out just in time for the first round of the playoffs. IMO, Ovechkin should tunnel any aggression into "beating them on the scoreboard." A player as skilled as any of the above mentioned players has no place in fighting (especially Franzen). And you say that the league's best players have demonstrated the will to fight, but you don't get why our players haven't. Don't you think Mike Babcock might have something to do with that?