Crosby removed visor to take Marc Savard's fight challenge
by Hooks Orpik on Mar 16, 2009 7:36 PM EDT
in News
32 comments
Eagle eye observers, like Jodie at the Sidney Crosby Show might have noticed that Sidney Crosby was playing without a visor for the first time in his NHL career.
According to Chris Kunitz, who appeared on Mark Madden's radio show in Pittsburgh: Crosby and Marc Savard were chirping at each other but Savard did not want to fight since Crosby wears a visor.
Savard has has gotten into one regular season fight in the NHL back in 2003 (against current Penguin Philippe Boucher!) according to hockeyfights.com, so it would have been interesting to see him and Crosby--two smaller centers known for their playmaking abilities, not punching abilities throw them.
Needless to say, the fight didn't happen even though Crosby did his part to get the fight going, we can't say that Savard backed down or anything but given how willing Sidney has been to drop his gloves who knows.
All things considered, maybe it's a good thing that Crosby didn't put himself in the penalty box for 5 minutes: Sid got three assists on the game, Savard generated nothing.
0 recs |
32 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
I caught Jodie’s post about that earlier. This was Crosby’s effort to show everyone he’s not going to pick a fight under the protection of a visor. And yet how many people are talking about it today?
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Mar 16, 2009 7:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Puck Daddy mentioned it, though at 6:45 PM, so not exactly in a prime position. But yeah, this story probably won’t hit the light of day a lot of other places.
I think close observers can tell Crosby isn’t taking s— from anyone anymore. I like the new attitude.
by Hooks Orpik on Mar 16, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup, I saw PD picked up on it too. But i mean the Sid/McClean thing was first thing up on sites all over by the end of the night. Same can be said when he speed bagged that dude’s jock on the Thrashers. Not saying PD dropped the ball or anything, but if it took Wysh this long to catch on to it then you know the subject has very little life behind it. It’ll be interesting to see what Don Cherry has to say about this, if anything at all.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Mar 16, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s just dumb on the part of Crosby. It doesn’t send the message “I’m bad ass and won’t take your crap”, it sends the message “I’m so concerned with my image that if you mouth off at me I’ll get focused on that and you might be able to throw me off my game”.
by David M. Getz on Mar 16, 2009 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
DMG— If Crosby doesn’t take the visor off he’s just a punk that chirps behind his visor (because we all know he’s the first person to ever fight wearing a visor).
But if he does take off the visor, he’s just concerned about his image.
So to some people no matter what he does— he just can’t win.
by Hooks Orpik on Mar 16, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree, he has 90 points thus far, and the guy can’t catch a break.
by AngelaMc on Mar 16, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He is a hockey player, not the Virgin Mary : )
by AngelaMc on Mar 16, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No doubt, but I don’t think it’s a good message to send to the league because it not only shows that he’s listening, but that he cares.
For the record, I think the whole “that guy sucks because he fights with a visor!” this is stupid, whether it’s Crosby or anyone else in the league.
by David M. Getz on Mar 16, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fair enough, DMG. I don’t think it’s a bad thing that Crosby is an emotional player, I’m happy he stood up for himself by removing the visor. It’s not like something he makes a habit of, he’s literally never done this before.
And I don’t think he did this for his image, he’s a lot more emotional and wrapped up in the game to worry about what’s others are thinking. The message Crosby was sending wasn’t to everyone it was to Savard: “if you challenge me, I won’t back down, I’ll meet it”.
by Hooks Orpik on Mar 16, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some would say he’s just as worried about his image when wearing a visor. (Insert “face of the NHL” comment here.) Once again I think this falls into Sid’s mainstay category of “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Mar 16, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
An honest question here from someone who has never been in an on ice hockey fight… How much does it really hurt to punch the face of someone with a visor? Does it hurt more than getting your face punched, landing a punch catching opponents teeth or the game in general with checks, hits, slashes, blocking pucks? How much do players complain about fighting someone with a visor, or how many more hand injuries are there due to punching head with visor vs. without?
by AngelaMc on Mar 16, 2009 9:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The thing is Angie, if you’re fighting behind a visor you’re not only risking the other guy for cuts, but you’re cowardly for “hiding” behind it.
A lot of the leagues I played in (including college) required full cages. Guys would still fight…Seems dumb when you think about it, I saw a teammate or two break a hand while punching a cage (while in the process of trying to get the helmet off). Sometimes both participants in a fight would take off their helmets beforehand, but often times when tempers flared up there was no time.
The whole thing is, if you want to be a “tough guy” you don’t hide behind a face shield. Nowadays no one in the NHL minds if a player wears a visor—everyone has to look out for their own safety. Maybe “back in the day” guys would catch grief for wearing a visor but I don’t think it’s too big of a deal now. However, if you want to run your mouth and challenge guys to fight, if that’s your game, you probably shouldn’t have half your face protected when the other guy usually doesn’t
by Hooks Orpik on Mar 16, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was asking questions… not trying to defend an argument that players who do wear visors to fight are not cowardly : ) Maybe I was more or less asking if the visor debate was more about image of being cowardly or how much it changes the actual outcome of the fight, ie: more injuries to the hands etc. ugh, my brain knows what it want to say but it is not connecting with communication abilities right now : )
by AngelaMc on Mar 16, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ask Feds how it felt when he busted his hand on Army awhile back??
by penskorn6687 on Mar 16, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I genuinely think it’s more about a player’s protection. A guy like Sid, known for his vision on the ice and precision passing can’t afford an eye injury. See also: New Jersey Devils defenseman Colin White. That guy suffered a pretty bad eye injury last season that took a while to turn around.
Hooks is right though. If you want to be an enforcer in this league, or even an instigator for that matter, you don’t wear a visor or you take off your helmet before a fight. There’s an unwritten code among enforcers that likely doesn’t include the visor rule, but from what I’ve seen in the past guys don’t hesitate to take them off if it really comes down to blows.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Mar 17, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perhaps he should play without a visor more often, can’t argue the success of the points ;)
But I highly respect Sid answering the bell for himself in an instant like this. It adds to something all the ney sayers of the guy should read into, because he isn’t some whiny person to be the face of the league, he’ll defend himself and net 3 points to boot.
by Lavender on Mar 16, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow, didn't catch this.
Pretty cool of him to take no shit. I think it was for appearances with his peers, but I don’t think it was a bad message to send; He acknowledged that he hears when people chirp, but he proved that it doesn’t get him off his game, and he won’t back down.
He also did it with Savard, a player who’s probably in Crosby’s weight class, fight-wise. He obviously wouldn’t have done it if George Parros or someone similar was chirping him.
by PeterR on Mar 16, 2009 10:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hah Sid vs. Parros = Parros Mortal Kombat finisher, whereby he removes his mustache, throws it at his victims like a boomerang and decapitates. FATALITY
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Mar 17, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kunitz interview
Anyone know if their is a podcast of the Chris Kunitz interview mentioned in this post?
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Mar 16, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
*there
I am clearly a Grammar Rodeo Champion.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Mar 16, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are going to have to fight me for that champion status! I reckon I was the one bugging FrankD the most about editing you own comments, for that reason alone ; )
by AngelaMc on Mar 16, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
me fail spelling that’s unpossible
by lambofgad on Mar 16, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Crosby probably just figured that Malkin’s visor was big enough to protect the whole team.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Mar 16, 2009 11:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, I realize the irony of that joke as hide behind a full cage.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Mar 16, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let’s try that again…
Yes, I realize the irony of that joke as I hide behind a full cage.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Mar 16, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lambofgad – Coincidentally the same phrase Manny Fernandez hasn’t heard since October.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Mar 17, 2009 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hahaha. if you keep on saying things like that frank it’ll make our friends like chowder here think twice before dropping by.
by lambofgad on Mar 17, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah, surely I jest. They posted up a photo of Sid in a cradle last week. I’m sure this is nothing knew for Pens fans.
Plus, I don’t think they’d necessarily disagree.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on Mar 17, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d say since Christmas, but I’ll give you points for that one.
My theory about the Crosby-Savard rivalry is that they have the exact same personality. I mentioned this back in October. http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2008/10/last-minute-costume-ideas-for-boston.html
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Mar 17, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good for Crosby.
He gets a lot of hell from NHL fans for his “whiny” antics, and while some of it is joking, most of it just un-warranted hate. While I’m not sure I’d necessarily want Crosby fighting (and off the ice for 5 mins, or sent off), it’s nice to see him taking an active role in defending himself.
In a way, Crosby could be the highest scoring “agitator” if he played with brass balls every game.
by CapitalsKremlin on Mar 18, 2009 6:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
