Sidney Crosby wins the ESPY for best hockey player

by Hooks Orpik on Jul 16, 2009 9:42 AM EDT in News

(Warning: spoliers for a taped event show from ESPN ahead...If this concerns you, I extend my pity.)

For I believe the third consecutive year, Sidney Crosby has won the ESPY for best NHL player. Granted it's a fairly meaningless honor considering how little ESPN covers hockey on television, but an honor nonetheless and a pretty good indication that amongst the general fan public it's Crosby, and not Alex Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk or Evgeni Malkin that is the most recognizable and popular player in the game.

Malkin -- who won the regular season scoring title and the post-season MVP obviously had the best season from start to finish, but I digress. As I asked on twitter, do you even think Geno knows what an "ESPY" is? I would be every dollar in my wallet he does not.

It was also a fairly good night for the other championship team in Pittsburgh, as the Steelers took home "Best Game" (for Super Bowl 43, natch) and Best Play for HARF HARF HARF's SB winning pass to Santonio Holmes. Unfortunately, both Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Pens coach Dan Bylsma lost "Best Coach" to Phil Jackson of the Lakers. ESPN also didn't give James Harrison the award for best player, what a mistake. You know, if anyone cared.

This concludes your ESPY report.

Actually a picture of Erin Andrews on the red carpet concludes your ESPY report. You're welcome, boys.

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Comments

Thanks for the spoilers. This way I don’t actually have to watch it (even though I wasn’t going to anyways).

by xaryss on Jul 16, 2009 9:49 AM EDT reply actions

I’ll take the spoiler any day. I don’t think I’ve considered watching the ESPYs in a long time. This year’s really no different.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Jul 16, 2009 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

I watch the ESPY's for one reason and one reason only

The Jim Valvano speech. It brings me to tears and motivates the hell out of me every single year.

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by Jon Woods on Jul 16, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t watch the ESPYs either, and I agree that Malkin had the better season overall, but I still liked reading this. I admit I have a soft spot for Crosby—he reminds me of the very driven young men in my family, and I always prefer emotional and easy-to-read athletes, and, um, he’s not at all bad to look at from the back. ;-)

I will be remembering that series against the Capitals for a long time to come. People who don’t watch hockey really did miss something special there.

"Don't fear idiocy. It's the new smartness!"--Coke Zero commercial

by GreenEyedLilo on Jul 16, 2009 11:11 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

what a series!!!!

by C Los on Jul 16, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I understand Home Shopping Network will award Peyton Manning the Homey Award for best NFL player.

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Jul 16, 2009 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

That statement more or less sums up my opinion on the ESPY’s. Well played.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Jul 16, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Malkin — who won the regular season scoring title and the post-season MVP obviously had the best season from start to finish

Had Ovechkin not gone to visit his dying grandfather and played the two games he missed instead, likely tying Malkin if not passing him in the scoring race, would this statement stand? Does it even stand now? “From start to finish” only stands because he made it to the finals, which was of course a team effort.

All I’m suggesting is that he did not “obviously” have the best season. An assist is not a goal, and the league knows that, but hides under the veil of the Art Ross to suggest they are equivalent. The tie-breaker on the award is goal total.

by :hsughrofl: on Jul 20, 2009 8:27 AM EDT reply actions