Is Sidney Crosby actually overrated? By Garth McLennan, Sports Editor veryone acknowledges that Sidney He; is one of the NHL’s premier talents and best players. There’s no doubting his on-ice talent and his ability to produce points on par with the very best in the world. But despite Crosby’s consistency, his crowded mantle stocked with NHL scoring championships and MVP awards and his captaining of the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup last year, Crosby doesn’t seem to get the recognition or respect from most fans, or at least, not on the same level as guys like Alexander Ovechkin or even teammate Evgeni Malkin. Maybe it’s the tremendous hype we’ve been exposed to about Crosby for years now. After all, since the Nova Scotia native was 15 years old, we’ve been bombarded with a seemingly endless stream of highlights, reverent talk from all of hockey’s television experts and a massive promotional push from the NHL, who have centered their entire post-lockout image on Crosby. So maybe people are a little burned out by it all. Maybe all the Gatorade and Reebok commercials, the non-stop following of him by the entire hockey world no matter what city you live in and the heart-warming Tim Horton’s ads have everyone a little bit tired of Sid the Kid. “Sure, Crosby’s good, but he’s no Ovechkin,” or “Yeah, I guess he’s good, but he whines a lot, and he dives, too.” Those are just a few of the general responses you'll get if you ask for an opinion on Crosby. Heck, I used to subscribe to them myself. The thing is, they just aren’t true anymore. Sure, Crosby may be a little bit overexposed by the NHL, but when it comes to what he can do on the ice, he has proven time and time again why he’s the one getting all of the attention. Everyone is familiar with Crosby’s laundry list of awards and accolades, and there’s no sense in repeating them here, but what really stands out, at least to me, about Crosby was his remarkable performance DJ HOTT WAXX droppin ihe bears it in last year’s playoffs, where he proved beyond a shadow of a doubt just how good he can really be when the pressure’s packed and the lights are on bright. There was no lack of grit or toughness from the Penguin’s captain. There was emotion, for sure, but no whining or complaining to the referees like we saw in Crosby’s early years in the NHL. What replaced that image was an iconic version of the 22 year old battling madly each and every game, putting up 15 goals and 31 points during the most physically and mentally gruelling time of the year and hoisting the Stanley Cup on basically one leg after a thrilling seven- game duel with the dynastic Detroit Red Wings where Crosby sustained a damaged ab Siicete has 33 at last count and is leg after a crushing body check from Johan Franzen. This season, Crosby has continued his maturation. Whereas in previous years he has never exceeded 39 goals in a single campaign and has always been known more for his passing skills, this year tied for second in the league in goals. After dramatic runs to the Cup finals “Sure, Crosby’s good, but he’s no Ovechkin,’ or ‘Yeah, | guess he’s good, but he whines a lot, and over the last two years, he dives, too.’ Those are just a few of the general responses you'll get if you ask for an opinion on Sidney Crosby has proven Crosby. Heck, | used to subscribe to them myself. The thing is, they just aren’t true anymore.” himself to be not just a generational talent but also one of the best and fiercest leaders in hockey. He’s coming to Vancouver in a few weeks as an integral part of Team Canada’s entry at the 2010 Olympic Games, and it is now perfectly clear that he fully deserves everything that comes his way. i fe) Viele — Join us at 87 Below for ALL your Co NUS Ban/fe ge hUa Cleon (ele Hone a fundraiser ei ay aa Poker Sundays - JOIN the IN@ No lini Iron Oe kaenye ee Monthly Sponsorship into CPT events z for Baas ie al! Douc! cer Hi seats nt ID card Coyote Ug!ly on the: » bar 1 Fay nighis OV >] W NOL elit loll P:604.522.001 1 NEW WESTMINSTER BC F: 604,522,0544