Sidney: No Ordinary Rookie

Rookie? Shouldn't he be no ordinary Sophomore?
*ahem*

From Remo Zaccagna, The Suburban:

Thanks in part to modern innovations such as the Internet and 24-hour sports radio and TV channels, the attention last year surrounding Sidney Crosby’s entry into the National Hockey League (NHL) was unprecedented.

Not to mention the All-Sidney-all-the-time blog dedicated to his supremeness. *raise the roof*

But unlike previous highly touted draft picks who have wilted under the intense pressure, Crosby has embraced his celebrity and seems destined for greatness, says the author of a new book on the Nova Scotia phenom’s first year with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“Coming into the beginning of the season it’s hard to say, you want to have an open mind, but by the end of the season after watching what he did, I have no doubts that he’s going to be one of the all-time greats,” said author Shawna Richer in a telephone interview.

“I think the difference between Sidney and everybody else except maybe [Wayne] Gretzky is that Sidney wants to be hockey’s ambassador. And he totally understands that part of the job, just as Gretzky understood it, is being OK with the attention.”

Well, as much as I hate to admit it, that statement is unfair to Ovechkin. Alex has done a good job as an ambassador as well and doesn't generally shy away from the media spotlight.

Crosby, in large part because his father Troy was drafted by the team, was always a big Montreal Canadiens fan. Prior to the 2005 entry draft it was widely assumed he would have liked to have been drafted by the Canadiens. Now 19, Crosby will be eligible for free agency when he turns 25, at which point he can sign with any team. After her year researching the book, Richer said that Montreal fans may one day see number 87 don a Habs jersey.

“He has never come right out and said it specifically but I have no doubt in my mind that he would one day like to play for the Montreal Canadiens. I think it would mean a lot to him. I think he has a lot of love for the city of Montreal.”

ORLY? 0_o

Full story here.