Talking trash on the ice has been part of the game for a very long time. Players do it trying to gain an edge on the other team, or by just venting some frustration. It is normal, it is a part of hockey. So why does Terry Frei decide to focus on Peter Forsberg in his article?
I am sure at least several times a week there is a player mocking, complaining or talking trash on the ice about a player diving. And I would not be surprised if the complainer has dived in the pass as well. Let’s face it, its part of the game whether we like it or not. The NHL does need to take a hard-line with diving and make the penalties more severe. Personally I hate diving, it takes away from the game.
But to say players can ‘toss around indiscriminant charges’ on the ice is ridiculous. So I can’t say that Terry Frei breaks the law by speeding because I have done so in the pass? Or Forsberg can’t say Sid Crosby hooks because he has hooked in the past?
Oh wait, I think I see the problem now. This isn’t about the European, future hall of fame Peter Forsberg, 5 time NHL all star who has won the Stanly Cup twice and Olympic Gold once. A player that has proven himself time and time again. It is about Canadian born ‘hockey phenom’ Sidney Crosby. Anyone who criticizes him gets blasted, heck just say you ‘didn’t notice’ Crosby gets the fanboys to label you as disrespectful. While Crosby is a really good rookie, he still needs to prove himself in the NHL, a process that could take years. All the gushing over him is fine, but those that do not sing the praises of Crosby when asked should not be vilified. Carrying the ‘thou not disrespect the Crosby’ banner should not be necessary when discussing his play.
Would Frei write this article if Forsberg had mocked Shane Endicott, Matt Murley or even Alexander Ovechkin? I think not.
Terry Frei should spend more time writing about hockey than writing about the banter that goes on between the whistles.
Wow, you hit that one pretty good. Great commentary!
I don’t know Mike. Terry Frei made a living out of covering the Avalanche and covering up for Forsberg in the past. While the Sidney Crosby angle is pertinent (TSN would never have made hay otherwise), the fact of the matter is that Forsberg is a notorious diver and the hypocrisy of him calling someone out is more than just a little cheeky.
Read the article closely and you’ll see him rip on a lot of people, and for very good reasons.
Lastly, hating diving is not good enough. Doing something to get rid of it should be part of our job as bloggers/commentators.
Ta,
I am a huge Crosby fan, as he is from my hometown, but I hate to see anyone do things to mess up their character, or to make stupid penalties, but he is young, don’t forget that, and he will learn, although it may be the hard way. I just wish everyone would just leave him alone and let him play. Ovechkin is on pace for rookie of the year too, and he doesn’t get half the razzing as Crosby does. Everyone wants a shot, its ridiculous!!
The reason Ovechkin doesn’t get half the razzing as Crosby is because the media pays more attention to Crosby and puts him up on a pedestal.
Ovechkin is Russian and plays on a US team that really has no shot at winning anything this year. A team that most people frankly don’t care about.
Crosby is Canadian and was taken under ‘Super Mario’s’ wing in Pittsburgh. With all the free agent signings the Penguins were expected to compete.
I agree people should leave him alone and let him play. But the problem is the media wont, so non-Crosby fans have gotten sick and tired of hearing about him. So Sid the Kid doesn’t get the glowing reports overall in the blogs as he does in the old media.