Then what are you doing here instead of at home in bed?

Laughing hard at the whiny posts around here of course.

Having a nice day?

I hope so.  Enjoy it!

Posted by PenguinsRock from Where the Cup is! on 06/13/09 at 03:33 PM ET

“...and the Lord said a child shall lead them.”

Posted by Lindas1st on 06/13/09 at 03:36 PM ET

Just a comment on the above about trading Staal from a Pens fan view—No way in hell that happens. The strength of this team is down the middle. Staal is not only my favorite pen, but he is much more then just a checker. He’s a flat out beast and he’s only 20. Selke is in his future (potentially)

Anyway - If they trade Staal I’ll be extremely pissed, having a center like staal “under utilized” on the 3rd line is a damn good “problem” to have.

And please, don’t judge all Pens fans by the few tards that HAVE A BROKEN CAPS LOCK BUTTON (and lack of 3rd grade spelling skills)

Posted by Pen_is_mightier on 06/13/09 at 03:47 PM ET

Thanks for the great writing through the playoffs, Chief. Dropped by when I could and was always thoroughly entertained.

Congrats on another great year. 17 years and counting as a top contender, with four Cups and two runnersup. Greatest run in sports history, imo. I’m sure last night was brutal for you just as ‘06 was for me but your franchise is the class of the league.

Great series. Congrats to the Pens. Say what you will about Strong. Muscular. Thighs. but the kid is for real. Unlike Bettman. The twat.

See you in the fall.

Posted by BDHS from Canada on 06/13/09 at 03:47 PM ET

today has been rough

last night after i put my girly girl charade on at work i sped home (pushing over 60 in a 40 not a smart idea.. somehow made it though…) and i must say i was completely heartbroken when the wings lost. there are two things in my life and those are dance and hockey. but the void and numbness the loss gave me made it able for me to finally move my shit out of my ex boyfriend of 5 1/2 years apartment… after all it has been two weeks.

but today has been hell. i couldnt even fake being enthusiastic about make up and hair at work this morning. and i already know that work at the bar tonight is going to be a brutal blur. (if you look old enough to be the bar maids dad DONT PINCH HER ASS)

but congrats to the pens for one hell of a series, you gave my cousins something to brag about.

oh and i try not to be a bitch, but if you are a pens fan and your only diss is to make fun of a failing economy.. go to hell, you are a complete disgrace to the human race. also if anyone saw that lonely joke of an astrologist on the channel two news on thursday night who predicted the wings would win because “the stars and constellations told him so” know that i have displace my anger on to his sorry ass and really want to junk punch him in his man business.

that’s all. till next season

Posted by DancingPuck from ROC, MI on 06/13/09 at 03:50 PM ET

Well, today has been much harder than last night was. it was strange. I just sort of accepted it and went on with the rest of my evening, but at around 1am it all came crashing in. I have to admit that there were a couple of guys in Pens sweaters that I sickly enjoyed seeing raise the cup, but now? Nothing. I feel numb today. The only shinning portion of the day has been coming on here and seeing the 19’s resident Academics (Baroque and Andrew, et al) swat away the pesky (and illiterate?) pre-pubescent trolls. Keep learnin em guys. Makes me chuckle every time.
Again, thanks Chief and 19 for all the time you helped me waste over the past 9 months.

Shit nine months? Its like we had a child (collectively).
Let’s name him Jonny.

Posted by SharkBaiter from at play in the Labs of our Lord on 06/13/09 at 03:54 PM ET

Hello 19,

Well after 14 hours of depression sleep I’m bright eyed, bushy tailed and ready for a nice, long summer.  Congratulations to the Penguins for a hell of a series.  You earned that cup, and it’s good to see a fellow blue-collar town well-endowed with a rich hockey tradition and naturally occuring ice win it (*cough*) fair and square.  Seriously, though, well done.  I am truly happy to see a team that was on the verge of obvlion a few years ago turn it around and win cup #3.  We’ve got more than enough banners in our rafters for now.

I’m so glad trolls type in all caps so it’s easy to skip; I recommend looking up the definition of the word “magnanimous.”  Don’t these 13 year olds have any parental supervision while on the computer?

Getting on to summer stuff; Chief, I just don’t see the Hossa signing happening.  Unless he took 2mil next year and a big fat contract after that, I just don’t see it.  Moreover, I don’t want to see it.  First off the cap will go down about 1.5-2 Million.  The maneuvers we would need to perform in order to keep Hoss would cause irreperable damage to the pipeline of young players we’ve crafted over the years and I think that Kenny is just too smart and disciplined to do that.  That being said, I still see a good amount of turnover for next season: Chelios - gone, McCarty - gone, Lilja - traded, Hudler - lost to RFA (I think the draft picks are worth it, frankly), Howard - gone.  Leino, Helm, Ericksson and Abdelkader will be full timers next year.  Conks gets resigned.  Samuelsson gets a 1 year contract.  Using Red Wings Central’s cap calculator, I see this as our roster: http://tinyurl.com/nkx45u

As you can see, there’s clearly no room for a Hossa signing there; no way no how.

So now as my attention turns more towards barbeques, camping, fishing, and motorcycle rides through twisty northern-California roads, let me just say thanks to all of the 19 for another great season of camaraderie and irreverant banter.  See you next year!

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 06/13/09 at 04:19 PM ET

People keep saying things like “oh these aren’t real Pens fans” who are being trolls, but there sure are a whole lot of them and on their own fan sites they’re ridiculous with the jobless/Detroit stuff.  I don’t get what has warrented this sort of behavior.

And Chief, I don’t know why you keep defending Pensblog.  Not only do they continually rip you in public, but now they make a broad claim that “all the Detroit blogs” are basically mailing it in or not giving the Pens their due?  Where are they reading?  I haven’t read any of this.  Maybe they should update their Wings section on their links, since at least two of those aren’t even active.

Posted by daryl from AA on 06/13/09 at 04:33 PM ET

Playoff injury reports

“Nobody requires any off-season surgery,” general manager Ken Holland said today. “It’s all just a matter of time and rest. They need some rest, and then they’ll be good to go in two to three weeks.

Here’s a breakdown of the injuries:

• Nicklas Lidstrom: He was speared in the testicles by Patrick Sharp during Game 3 against Chicago and underwent surgery on the area two days later. he Missed Games 4 and 5 against Chicago, then returned and played every game of the Cup finals.

• Rafalski: He ruptured a disk in his back between the first and second round but returned for Game 6 against Anaheim. “It got to the point where he could play again,” Holland said, “but if had been the regular season, he would have been out another week or two. He played through the pain of a herniated disk.”

• Kris Draper: He missed the first 10 games of the playoffs after taking a stick to the throat that tore cartilage in the neck area, Holland said. “As a precaution, we didn’t want him to get hit in the neck and have something go down the air pipe wrong.” Draper was out from Game 4 against Chicago to Game 5 against Pittsburgh because of a pulled groin.

• Pavel Datsyuk: Suffered a charley horse when he was hit along the boards and also was hit by a slap shot in his foot during Game 2 against Chicago, causing him to miss seven games. “The charley horse turned out to be more significant,” Holland said. “He never was 100%—he didn’t have any thrust. A charley horse can be a 4-6-week injury, but he pushed through to play.”

• Dan Cleary: Played through a groin pull suffered in Game 4 against Pittsburgh. “He was very sore after Game 4, and we didn’t expect him to play in Game 5,” Holland said. “An MRI showed he had a significant groin injury, but he wanted to play.”

• Tomas Kopecky: Needed surgery after he fractured his right orbital bone following fight with Francois Beauchemin in Game 4 against Anaheim. Missed the rest of the playoffs.

I quoted almost the whole article, sorry Paul.

Nick’s injury sounds nasty.  Cleary sounds like he had to Bear a lot of pain.  And Rafalski’s injury is almost as bad as getting injured by a golf-cart.  But I’m not bitter.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 06/13/09 at 04:33 PM ET

STFU anyone who wants to keep Samuelsson.  The man is a cancer in the offensive zone.  I don’t care how good of D he plays, he screws up too many scoring chances.  It’s time for Sammy to find another box to try and poop in.

Hossa lacks so much chemistry I question his value on the team.  Except for Filpulla, he has not played well on any line consistently.  And the fact he was healthy and could not pick up some of the slack our injuries left us with, shows he may not be a good long term fit.

Sure he will gel better next year, but Hossa is too expensive to take the gamble that he can be dominant among this team when we need him.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 06/13/09 at 04:36 PM ET

“Police reported about 400 to 500 people crowded into the intersection of East Carson and 19th streets. A few moments later, police blocked off East Carson from 10th Street to the Birmingham Bridge.

A few small fires were reported on the street in Oakland and the South Side.

Some revelers broke windows in the 1400 block of East Carson Street, and police began clearing the street around 11:30 p.m”

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_629439.html?source=rss&feed=12

Did this happen in Detroit last year?

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/13/09 at 04:40 PM ET

The exchange where the Pens troll ripped and ripped and ripped on an actual Pens fan was priceless.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/13/09 at 04:47 PM ET

And Chief, I don’t know why you keep defending Pensblog. 

AA, it’s becoming more difficult.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 06/13/09 at 04:48 PM ET

Win or Lose with class and dignity.

Might want to direct that towards talbot, dupuis, gill, malkin, cindy, orpik and the other gutless cheap shot artists on your “team.”

Posted by TeamDub from The gratch. on 06/13/09 at 04:51 PM ET

Hossa was right.  When he made the decision, he was right.  At the time, Detroit was the team most likely to win the Cup the following spring.  It didn’t work out that way, but the guy can’t see the future.    I hope he doesn’t regret his choice.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/13/09 at 04:57 PM ET

Turning point of the series?

The Malkin non-suspension.  If he misses Game 3, the Wings likely go up 3 games to 0.

Honourable mentions:  The quick start to the series.
Jordan Staal’s SHG.  To think Pens fans were calling for his head last season, I kept telling them Staal is a keeper.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 06/13/09 at 04:58 PM ET

If you are a total masochist, and want to twist the knife some more, NHL Network is airing “Summer Of Stanley 2008” as we speak.

I couldn’t do it.

Posted by dougie on 06/13/09 at 05:06 PM ET

Wow VooX, that injury report is an eye-opener; it really speaks to the character of the leading players of our team to see them play through some of the crazy stuff they had to, all with professionalism and not the least bit of whining about their woes.  They definitely earned their paychecks.

p.s. I kinda agree about Samuelsson, he’s been in my doghouse for over 2 years now, but the way he played last year kinda made up for it.  At $1M next year he would be a deal compared to a similarly-priced player.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 06/13/09 at 05:07 PM ET

The Malkin non-suspension.  If he misses Game 3, the Wings likely go up 3 games to 0.

Right now—despite numerous attempts by drool-toothed cretinoid Pen fans to make it even more difficult for me to say it—the Penguins played hard. In the coming days, we’ll talk about injuries and maybe ask half-hearted “what-if” questions—what if Dats was healthy, what if Lids was healthy, what if, what if—but the bottom line is that the Penguins were the better team in this series, according to the only metric that matters—i.e., winning.

That said, when all is said and done, looking closely at how these playoffs were officiated might be instructive. As I perceive it, the philosophy behind that odious phrase, “Let them play,” is that Big Games should be decided at even strength. There seems to be the implication that games decided by special teams play are somehow “tainted” or less legitimate than games decided by play at 5-on-5.

As we all have seen, that means that infractions that would have been called, for instance, in January, are not penalized in June. This represents a total reversal of the league’s stated philosophy, to wit, that officials need to crack down on obstruction in order to “open up the game” and promote scoring. Did anyone else notice that the last two games of the series seemed to have the most non-calls on both sides, and also the fewest goals?

It could be argued that Detroit was therefore penalized simply for using a style of play that can be especially vulnerable to clutch-and-grab obstruction. But even aside from that, the league tossed out its own mandate, that obstruction needs to be reduced via more stringent penalty calls. The result was a low-scoring Game 7. Instead of a game decided by special teams, the game was decided, in part, by obstruction that would normally be called. Is that really any better for “the game” or the league?

Posted by Bio on 06/13/09 at 05:30 PM ET

Anyone notice the chompers on Fleury when he took his helmet off after the game?  Now that was scary.

Posted by Surfer Ken from San Clemente on 06/13/09 at 05:32 PM ET

QUOTE:

think the excessive Crosby marketing will do nothing but tick off hockey fans from the overdose, and won’t get people who aren’t hockey fans already interested in the game just because Crosby is playing - it’s just a waste of energy when they would be better off marketing the individual stars of each team in the local markets.  It’s not a national sport - hockey just isn’t, and all the wishing in the world won’t make it so.

  END QUOTE…

What do you mean WILL do nothing but tick off hockey fans???  You mean already ticks off hockey fans don’t ya? 

QUOTE:

And true, NBC is indeed populated by “so-called” “experts.” Of course, an “ex” is a has-been, and a “spurt” is a drip that didn’t make it, so ... that is about how much their hockey opinions are worth.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 11:10 AM ET

Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/13/09 at 05:35 PM ET

I am a HUGE Pens fan, and since the bginning of the series have strolled in here to read what the Detroit faithful had to say on occasion. 
(Posted this on the Puck Daddy blog too…)

I definitely think the two best teams played each other for the trophy, I think the Detroit would have rolled over any other team besides the Pens, and vice versa. Hats off to the Red Wings for a HARD FOUGHT series that at times had me doubting the Cup would be coming back to the City of Champions. Hats off to the fans too, the ones that had class and cheered for the players skating around with the Cup. I would like to say I would have done the same for Detroit players had I been in Mellon Arena for Game 6 last year, if even just for the chance to see the Stanley Cup…......but I kinda doubt my bitterness and disappointment would have let me. At the beginning of the series, Maxime Talbot said he couldn’t wait to shake the hand of Hossa in the line at the end, and say “You picked the wrong team, buddy”. He decided to let it slide and just told him good game. Am I completely classless for wishing he would have followed through on the original statement?

In that last 6 seconds I kept thinking to myself, “This is where Hossa finally puts the dagger in my heart, getting the tying goal, and then the game winner in OT”  Thank god I was wrong.

I will say though, the Detroit fans DID show a lot of class at the end. They booed Bettman, not the Pens, When Malkin skated with the MVP they cheered, as soon as Bettman left the ice, they cheered the Pens on as they skated with the Cup. Down to the end of the televised parts of the celebration there were still a LOT of Wings fans still in the building. I remember Mellon being virtually empty last year for the Wings celebration. I know it’s easy to say, because I was rooting for the team that won, but the Wings have NOTHING to be embarrassed about. A GREAT, GREAT series was played.

Posted by hillie16 from Pittsburgh on 06/13/09 at 05:36 PM ET

NO HOUSE
NO JOB
NO CAR
NO CUP.

ENJOY YOUR THIRD WORLD SHITHOLE.

CHIEF RAPES LITTLE BOYS, NO WONDER HE JOINED THE NAVY!

Posted by FUCKOFF on 06/13/09 at 05:39 PM ET

And that is the exact thing that makes some Pens fans look like total jagoffs.

Posted by hillie16 from Pittsburgh on 06/13/09 at 05:50 PM ET

o badvibesdude:
You started out ok, and actually gained a little credibility. Now you’re just annoying. Could you please go away?

Posted by The Other Saler from Wyoming, Mi on 06/13/09 at 01:37 PM ET

Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/13/09 at 05:51 PM ET

no its just stating a truthful fact  

Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/13/09 at 05:53 PM ET

Getting on to summer stuff; Chief, I just don’t see the Hossa signing happening.  Unless he took 2mil next year and a big fat contract after that, I just don’t see it.  Moreover, I don’t want to see it.

I’m with you Dave – on both counts. And I’d buy your roster (with Howard replacing Conklin) if it wasn’t a 21-man squad and you didn’t have Leino at $875k and Sammy at $1.2M. Leino will get an offer sheet of at least $1.2M if the Wings don’t offer him that much. And some team will offer Sammy $2M or more. But at least you used real numbers and a cap that might even be a bit low (that’s got to be a first among those projecting next year’s squad).

I think the Chief is dead on regarding the Hossa re-signing.  And you know what?  I hope he is absolutely correct, if its at a reasonable price.

Well, 39°, since the Chief won’t offer a salary cap number for Hossa, maybe you’d like to give it a shot. Below are the official cap numbers for the Wings under contract for next year. I took the liberty of removing Lilja because I don’t think he’s ever going to play again.

So, here’s your challenge. You have 18 guys signed for a total of $52,220,653. You need at least four more players…all forwards. Add whoever you want. Remove whoever you want. And pay Hossa whatever you think he’ll sign for. Then, tell us how you’ll fill those other three forward slots.

Oh, and note that the cap figure below assumes the salary cap will remain the same as it is this year. Some think it will go down by as much as a million dollars, but let’s leave it the same for now.

Ready? Set? Go…

FORWARDS:
Pavel Datsyuk: 6,700,000
Henrik Zetterberg: 6,083,333
Johan Franzen: 3,954,545
Valtteri Filppula: 3,000,000
Daniel Cleary: 2,800,000
Tomas Holmstrom: 2,250,000
Kris Draper: 1,583,333
Kirk Maltby: 883,333
Darren Helm : 599,444

DEFENSEMEN
Nicklas Lidstrom: 7,450,000
Brian Rafalaski: 6,000,000
Brad Stuart: 3,750,000
Niklas Kronwall: 3,000,000
Jonathan Ericsson: 900,000
Brett Lebda: 650,000
Derek Meech: 483,333

GOALTENDERS
Chris Osgood: 1,416,666
Jimmy Howard: 716,666

ROSTER SIZE: 18
SALARY CAP: 56,700,000
PAYROLL:    52,220,653
CAP ROOM:    4,479,347

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/13/09 at 05:55 PM ET

Chief, today should be a weirdly proud day for you. On a day when these trolls should be thinking of nothing but how happy they are, how good their team is, how nice it is to have won it all after a decade-plus of suckitude—they’re still so angry at you that they come to this place and heave still more bile into your comments section, because you have gotten so far under their collective skin that the anger you have inspired prevents them from enjoying this moment as they should.

I can’t think of a better form of revenge against the redolent underbelly of the Penguins fan base than that.

Posted by Bio on 06/13/09 at 02:58 PM ET

Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/13/09 at 05:55 PM ET

Actually we have houses, jobs, cars and are just leasing the Cup to you for a year.  Try not to f*ck up our cup, we’ll be inspecting it for any damage and charging you for it when we get it back next year.

If I were a Pens fan I’d be absolutely embarassed to read their fellow “fans” comments right now, way to represent “the Burgh.”

I would like to say, all of the Pens fans I ran into at the Joe last night were classy and respectful, obviously because they left their kids at home to browse the internet.  Ain’t it funny how 12 year olds care to talk about people not having jobs when mommy pays for everything they own.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/13/09 at 06:06 PM ET

“Police reported about 400 to 500 people crowded into the intersection of East Carson and 19th streets. A few moments later, police blocked off East Carson from 10th Street to the Birmingham Bridge.

A few small fires were reported on the street in Oakland and the South Side.

Some revelers broke windows in the 1400 block of East Carson Street, and police began clearing the street around 11:30 p.m”

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_629439.html?source=rss&feed=12

Did this happen in Detroit last year?

Posted by Red Winger from The Soo on 06/13/09 at 05:40 PM ET

I don’t recall reading any kind of problems like that after the Wings won last year

Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/13/09 at 06:08 PM ET

To those Wings fans who can’t seem to make the connection, including this blog’s writer: the accusation that Gary Bettman or the officiating group made any deliberate or conscious effort to favor the Penguins in this series, whether for marketing purposes or to create an easier environment for the commissioner’s “pet project”, is inexorably linked to what can be called a “conspiracy”, even if the use of that word has different implications than those you mean to portray.  This is why Penguins fans come here and accuse you of whining.  You are (deliberately or not) concealing the number one point, that the winners of the Stanley Cup are the Pittsburgh Penguins, thanks to the fantastic play our team has given us all year.  I know that Bettman has an unhealthy obsession with the marketing and success of Sidney Crosby, but sorry, neither Pittsburgh fans nor Crosby himself can really do anything about it. 

Even in consideration of your personal frustrations, we Pittsburgh fans feel that more direct congratulations are in order.  We want this approval for our team because true Detroit fans are certainly great authorities on the sport, having watched every motion of the best team in hockey for the past two decades or so.  (Even without said approval, we’ll be happy with just the talent and success.)

All of that aside, I have the utmost respect for your amazing hockey team and fan base.  Congratulations on an excellent 2009 season, even though you came up just short of the prize this year.  Just as in any great series, this one could have gone either way.  You have no reason to be ashamed of your hockey team.

It goes without me having to say it, we Pittsburgh fans have the utmost respect for your team.  This is partly why it seems out of place for some of your fans to hate on our captain with such over-the-top vitriol.  Even if your true gripes are with the head of the league and NOT our captain, it is only the barbs for our captain, and the claims of a front office “conspiracy” favoring our team and handing us a trophy, that we are concerned about.

I apologize if you cannot accept this state of events.  The last thing I need is a lecture about the failures of the league’s front office, but if anyone has some positive input about my team, I and my fellow fans would appreciate it.  Either way, best of luck in the offseason.  Also, sorry about the losers who have nothing better to do but come here and troll after a Cup win.  Some things are out of our control.

Posted by BingCrosby5000 from Picksburgh PA on 06/13/09 at 06:21 PM ET

can someone please explain to me why bettman secretly wanting to win a cup is a terrible thing? he hasn’t openly expressed his favoritism towards the pens.
      gary bettman is a representative of the nhl and the game of hockey. his interests fall in line with what will help his league. it is not a personal agenda.  he knows that a crosby/ovechkin winning the cup is better for the league, then if detroit wins again.
      it is no different then the nhlpa’s president openly admitting that he roots for teams that are down in series so more revenue can be generated, which would directly affect the people he is representing, the players.  bettman’s desires are the same. if he thought detroit winning would benefit the nhl more he would root for them, but they don’t and crosby winning does. he’s actually trying to be a good commissioner in this instance.

Posted by nick on 06/13/09 at 06:26 PM ET

Even in consideration of your personal frustrations, we Pittsburgh fans feel that more direct congratulations are in order

.

I’m sorry, but begging for congratulations?  That’s really a bit much.  I didn’t read one post last night after the game that didn’t say Congrats Pens, and I only read about 10% of Pens posts that weren’t completely disrespectful and derogatory.  You Pens fans want our respect?  Earn it.

You have no reason to be ashamed of your hockey team.

Uhh, what?  None of us has ever been ashamed of our team.

The last thing I need is a lecture about the failures of the league’s front office

And none of us need you to talk down to us like we should worship at the feet of the Pens and their fans.  I could never even imagine going to another team’s site and begging for their approval.

Your team won, you should be proud, but we don’t have to like it.

The fact your “Captain” was one of the last man in the handshake line and didn’t even shake our Captain’s hand says all that needs to be said.  Congrats.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/13/09 at 06:35 PM ET

can someone please explain to me why bettman secretly wanting to win a cup is a terrible thing? he hasn’t openly expressed his favoritism towards the pens

If the Bettman/Pitt fans have resorted to this line of thinking, then this debate is over.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/13/09 at 06:39 PM ET

If the Bettman/Pitt fans have resorted to this line of thinking, then this debate is over.

yes you are correct sir. you quote one line of a post, yet disregard all valid points made in it. you win.

Posted by nick on 06/13/09 at 06:55 PM ET

I’m sorry, but begging for congratulations?  That’s really a bit much.  I didn’t read one post last night after the game that didn’t say Congrats Pens, and I only read about 10% of Pens posts that weren’t completely disrespectful and derogatory.  You Pens fans want our respect?  Earn it.

 

I don’t care if you respect the fans, it’s the team I’m talking about anyway.  Was that begging?  I hardly care what you think about the dregs of Pens Nation.  I thought this was a hockey blog.  The truth is, we don’t really feel any love or consideration coming from prominent Detroit fans.  You’re missing the point.  Your complaints are devaluing our victory.

You’re right, Wings fans are without a doubt the most proud group of sports fans on the internet lol.  Who knows why would need to say that.

My point was, most Pens fans give your team plenty of respect all of last year and this year, and yet there is no reciprocation for our triumph.

The fact your “Captain” was one of the last man in the handshake line and didn’t even shake our Captain’s hand says all that needs to be said.

Crosby was getting interviewed and moving slowly thanks to his very fresh injury, and the handshake line started without him.  Of course he isn’t ready for taking every responsibility of a captain, he’s freaking 21 years old and his team just won the Stanley Cup.  Lidstrom would be moving slow too with a busted knee, but I bet Detroit would have waited for him.  Bitch about it all you want, but it happened and I certainly could care less about the formality of it. 

On another point, who cheers an injury?  This gets at the heart of the problem I’m talking about.  Who boos the Cup presentation because of some douche who didn’t even play?  isn’t this missing the point?

Anything thoughtful guys?

Posted by BingCrosby5000 from Picksburgh on 06/13/09 at 06:57 PM ET

Who boos the Cup presentation because of some douche who didn’t even play?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-n7q5k1RPE

Begin watching at the :25 mark…and enjoy!

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/13/09 at 07:11 PM ET

Crosby was getting interviewed and moving slowly thanks to his very fresh injury,

LOL!!!!!

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/13/09 at 07:13 PM ET

On another point, who cheers an injury?  This gets at the heart of the problem I’m talking about.  Who boos the Cup presentation because of some douche who didn’t even play?  isn’t this missing the point?

Crosby is guilty of “crying wolf.”  The guy dives all the time (like when Maltby tapped the back of his leg and he stays down for 30 seconds).  The crowd reacted because we all assumed he was diving again.  It’s obvious now he wasn’t, so yes, it was wrong to cheer, I’ll give you that.

As for the booing the Cup presentation because of Bettman, the EXACT same thing happened last year in Pittsburgh, so don’t get righteous here.

Listen man, you seem like a bright and respectful guy, but you just need to understand the game was LAST NIGHT.  Believe it or not, it still hurts us immensely, and for me, it hurts more than it did last night.  We are going to be sad, angry, bitter, you name it.  It seems you guys forget easily what it felt like last year.  Truth is, your comment that

Your complaints are devaluing our victory.

is just weak.  It shouldn’t matter what we say and think less than 24hrs after a heartbreaking loss.  You guys won, even though it’s your right to rub our noses in it, and I’m sure Wings fans did it to you guys last year, we don’t have to like it or respond well to it.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/13/09 at 07:14 PM ET

i can’t exctly blame him for reveing in that moment.  after the joe booed him the entire time he was out there and the whole time he was talking.

Posted by johnnyred on 06/13/09 at 07:24 PM ET

It just looks like Gill is always interfering with players because he is so big and so very very slow.  He almost always keeps his feet moving though, so technically it’s not interferance.  He just can’t skate any faster than that.

Posted by underneon lights on 06/13/09 at 07:28 PM ET

He almost always keeps his feet moving though, so technically it’s not interferance.

That’s not true, if you impede a player’s progress w/o the puck, it’s interference, doesn’t matter if you’re moving or not.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/13/09 at 07:33 PM ET

Did this happen in Detroit last year?

Posted by Red Winger from The Soo on 06/13/09 at 05:40 PM ET

Nope.  At least they didn’t burn cop cars like Montreal. 

********

(I shouldn’t even bother, but ...)

I don’t care if you respect the fans, it’s the team I’m talking about anyway.  Was that begging?  I hardly care what you think about the dregs of Pens Nation.  I thought this was a hockey blog.  The truth is, we don’t really feel any love or consideration coming from prominent Detroit fans.  You’re missing the point.  Your complaints are devaluing our victory.

Okay ...

Are you part of the team, or a fan?  Because the bolded comments are mutually contradictory.

And why should any fans posting here love the Penguins?  The Penguins aren’t our team!  Only a hockey bigamist would love both the Wings and the Penguins.

And why, if you have stated that you “don’t care what fans or bloggers think,” should any complaints, non-complaints, or misunderstood criticism affect your victory at all - or how you view it?

For those unclear on the concept of “conspiracy”

CONSPIRACY, noun:

1.An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act.
2.A group of conspirators.
3.Law. An agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime or accomplish a legal purpose through illegal action.
4.A joining or acting together, as if by sinister design: a conspiracy of wind and tide that devastated coastal areas.

Also:

A secret plan to achieve an evil or illegal end.

Definition number one is what most people think of, and that IS NOT what anyone is alleging - a deliberate action by parties who agree to a preconceived outcome and alter the natural course of events to bring the outcome about.  That is also what so many visitors are thinking of.

(I also bolded definition number four, because that is sometimes used as a literary device in particular, to describe the coincidental coming together of disparate elements into a whole as though it had been designed - but it hadn’t.)

Please, before you start ripping people, double-check what the actual precise definitions of terms are.  The modern world is so linguistically sloppy that it can be difficult, but it really does add to clarity if everyone is using the words the same way instead of msunderstanding what they actually mean.

********

You know who the Penguins fans are starting to remind me of, with their requests for respect?

San Jose fans.  Very similar attitudes in some ways.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 07:37 PM ET

[quote…]the accusation that Gary Bettman or the officiating group made any deliberate or conscious effort to favor the Penguins in this series, whether for marketing purposes or to create an easier environment for the commissioner’s “pet project”, is inexorably linked to what can be called a “conspiracy”, even if the use of that word has different implications than those you mean to portray. 

NO ONE IS SAYING THERE IS ANY DELIBERATE FAVORITISM, JUST THAT THIS IS THE OUTCOME THE LEAGUE PREFERRED FOR MARKETING REASONS!!!  IT IS POSSIBLE TO WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TAKING NO EXPLICIT STEPS TOWARD MAKING IT HAPPEN!!!

I DON’T KNOW ANY SIMPLER WORDS TO MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND!!!

And I also want a larger font size, because I was yelling very loud in frustration.  I’d have better luck having a conversation with a cinder block wall at this point.

And I’m done with the Pittsburgh fans - I don’t know anything other than English, and they don’t seem to get it. At all.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 07:44 PM ET

On Detroit’s cup presentation:

I didn’t hear a chorus of boos, but an unsettled crowd and actually some applause, maybe I wasn’t listening right?  It was a visible whiteout featuring mostly Pittsburgh fans, so most of the crowd noise was ours.  Perhaps we both listened to the presentations for different things.  Surely those who may have been booing from our side didn’t claim to be booing Gary Bettman.  If your fans were booing Crosby and you acknowledge it, then it is besides my original point.

Also, I admit weak excuse for Crosby, but he must have some explanation other than being a nancy douche like Lebron James and not wanting to shake hands.  He’s not the diva you want to portray him as.  I’ll bet you anything Crosby meant to be a part of the handshake with the Detroit Red Wings he had just triumphed over as captain.

On Crosby’s injury:
Cheering a dive?  or cheering ironically because he was “faking it”?  Either way, I disagree.  He plays all out and doesn’t focus on his balance as much as making a play.  I confess that does result in him falling over for what seems like nothing more than most players; but then again, I saw some embellishment from Detroit players in this series as well (Talbot “spearing” Osgood?  Just about all of Game 5?)

I get that you guys are a proud franchise going through a very tough time.  We only wish to have the same type of success.  Your coach and team are have acknowledged us as the winning team without the reservations many are showing, whether they did so wholeheartedly or not.  I also can’t blame the whole Red Wings community for the derisive comments of a few.  I don’t think you’re hurting anybody’s feelings.  I was just trying to explain why some Pens fans are up in arms about the Wings fans.  I also realize, parts of my last statement sound like a self righteous, preachy douche trying to lecture you.  No reason you should have to put up with that.  Just trying to clear up some confusion.  If you don’t like the Pens, you don’t like the Pens.  That’s all I need to hear, really.

My original point though, I don’t like the conspiracy theories which seem to be so popular around here.  We’re a good team dammit.

Have a good offseason folks.

Posted by BingCrosby5000 from Picksburgh on 06/13/09 at 07:52 PM ET

Cheering a dive?  or cheering ironically because he was “faking it”?  Either way, I disagree.  He plays all out and doesn’t focus on his balance as much as making a play.  I confess that does result in him falling over for what seems like nothing more than most players;

that is the funniest excuse I’ve ever read ...   

Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/13/09 at 08:03 PM ET

that is the funniest excuse I’ve ever read ...

Agreed. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 08:06 PM ET

In light of Baroque’s comment:

Alright, so you’re having fun at the Pens’ and Crosby’s expense, and the “conspiracy” I allege isn’t taken seriously by any of The 19.  I am correct?

Then, I’m miles off base about this.

Your war isn’t with us, but with Bettman.

I guess that was closer to my point, in this series Wings fans don’t think their enemy is the Pens (who were treated more as a nuisance) but the League.  Can you see where this would cause some confusion?  If you’re upset about losing to us, and you think it’s the league’s fault, then that connection appears in my head.  It’s sort of overlooking the team you played in the series.  Like you didn’t lose to US, but to the conditions produced by the LEAGUE.

I realize now that is not your ultimate point, that this post is about Gary Bettman and not Sidney Crosby.  My bad.  Sorry for the jobbing.  Either way, I’m done talking about it.

Posted by BingCrosby5000 from Picksburgh on 06/13/09 at 08:11 PM ET

Then, I’m miles off base about this.

Your war isn’t with us, but with Bettman.

Yes, you are.

And yes, it is.

Thank you for finally getting it.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 08:14 PM ET

God I hate arguing semantics, and that’s all Pens fans seem interested in doing.

Pens won, Wings lost, we don’t like it, we’ll get over it, if you don’t like it, leave.

Is that clear enough?

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/13/09 at 08:21 PM ET