Longest Week EVER

MY GOD. Is this the longest week of your life or what? This week has been dragging on ALMOST as long as the week before the puck drops at the beginning of the season. Okay... it's not quite that bad - but it is bad! Fortunately (read: unfortunately) for me, I have been kept busy for the last week or so with IBM training. (>_<) Seriously, it's so boring I thought I was in hell more than once. Anyhoo, the training is what is to blame for my neglecting TSCS. That will end now as I have for you an article sent to me by none other than TSCS founder Jes Golbez.

It is an essay written by Sports Illustrated's Darren Eliot about why Sidney Crosby is the perfect fit in the Pens' captaincy position. For starters, Eliot doesn't seem to mind the somewhat mechanical answers the Saint often gives the media saying, "He answers all media inquiries with thoughtful consideration, all the while looking his questioner in the eye." While some may accuse Sid of not relaxing, not being sincere, or not having personality because of his interviewing style, Eliot thinks it shows a great deal of restraint and maturity. "Still, his cautious attitude is disarming, especially when the Penguins' talent level can easily breed overconfidence."

He's perfect for the Pens.

So why does Eliot think Sid is the perfect captain for the Penguins? "...Crosby has a much broader perspective than most his age. He knows the rigors of constant scrutiny and elevated expectations. That's why he is the perfect captain for this talented young group." You can't argue with that reasoning. If anyone knows about elevated expectations, it would be Sid, who as a teenager still in Shattuck-Saint Mary's Boarding School was already being touted as "The Next Wayne Gretzky." I'm not sure if the word pressure is strong enough to describe what that must have felt like. And yet, through it all, he's managed to maintain that approachable, genuine, "Aw shucks" humility that makes fans like me run blogs about him. :) The summary of Eliot's point:

Crosby's example is precisely why the Penguins will continue to grow, learn and excel, both on and off the ice. ...on the ice, Crosby sets the tone. He is unselfish with the puck and willing to go into the high traffic areas to make plays. He is the hardest working player on the ice every time he jumps the boards, and never takes a shift off. That willingness to work separates the great from the regular and the special from the great. And make no mistake. Crosby is special.

The net effect for the Penguins -- call it the Crosby quotient -- is that there is no shirking of responsibilities. Everyone is beholden to one another. I don't care what his birth certificate says, that is damn admirable leadership at any age.

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STILL DOING YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING? The "Bid for 66" event to benefit the Mario Lemieux foundation has been extended!!! There are some GREAT items up for bid. Check out the list below.

The following items, and many others, will be added to the Bid for 66 on-line auction:

• Mario Lemieux autographed memorabilia, including a game-used stick
• Game-used and autographed items from Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Maxime Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury
• Mike Tomlin autographed Pittsburgh Steelers football
• Jeff Reed autographed Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
• Emmitt Smith autographed All-time Leading Rusher football
• Sidney Crosby autographed Pittsburgh Penguins jersey
• Charles Barkley autographed basketball

Remember, the following items, and many more, are still up for bid:

• Hines Ward autographed Pittsburgh Steelers throwback jersey
• Sidney Crosby game-issued Pittsburgh Penguins jersey
• Phil Mickelson autographed Masters flag
• Tony Dorsett autographed Pittsburgh Panthers jersey
• Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational merchandise

As you can see, not only is this a hockey fan's dream, there's also something there for football fans, basketball fans, and even golf fans. These would be holiday gifts you could feel good about giving. If you think about it, it would be like giving 2 gifts for the price of one because when you buy one of these items, the proceeds go to the Mario Lemieux Foundation, which funds cancer and neonatal research projects. Click the banner below for details.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Find Out What It Means To Sid

For regular readers, by now it is obvious that I am a big Gary Roberts fan. It turns out, so is Sidney - so much so that Sid called Gary, as well as the Penguin's other resident veteran, Mark Recchi, to make sure they would approve of his captaincy:

Everyone makes a big deal of the leadership Roberts provides to a young team, and rightfully so. Sidney Crosby thought so much of him and Recchi that he called both last month to make sure they were OK with him becoming, at 19, the youngest captain in NHL history. That's respect.

It's hard to imagine a better role model for young players than Roberts. His workout regime is legendary, to the degree that many of the Penguins made sure to get his cell phone number at the end of the season so they could make arrangements to join him this summer to train. Crosby spent a couple of days with him in Toronto earlier this month.

Wow. That says a lot. Sid could have simply accepted the captaincy without consulting anyone. Actually, he could have added the C to his uniform following the All Star game weekend in late January. But it says something of his maturity that he waited a few months, consulted both Roberts and Recchi, and talked it over with his parents before saying yes - even though he was already the "unofficial" leader of the Penguins. Obviously, Sid got the thumbs up from the vets (and Mom & Dad!). Now, with the C on his chest, I'm sure Sid will prove to the naysayers that he is indeed mature enough to be captain. Who knows? Maybe he'll even tone down the on-ice complaining a bit... ;)

Sidney, shown in Mr. Roberts' Neighborhood

Referring back to my post from 06-22-07, I will better explain my point: resigning Roberts was the best thing that could have happened to this team. In the few short months he wore the Penguins sweater, his attitude and work ethic have obviously had a significant impact on the team. Don't get me wrong - the guy is an awesome talent (even at his advanced age), but what really matters is that these young Penguins want to be like Gary when they grow up. That will be what makes it worth every penny paid to keep him around for next season.

Just call him "Captain Sid"

It was only a matter of time before Sidney Crosby was named the CAPTAIN of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

I just didn't think it would be THIS freakin' soon!

Penguins center Sidney Crosby will become the youngest captain in NHL history tomorrow.

The team will announce his appointment during a press conference at Mellon Arena.

Crosby has served as an alternate captain for most of his two seasons here. He shared those duties with Mark Recchi, Sergei Gonchar and, before he severed ties to the team, John LeClair during the past season.

Crosby, who will not turn 20 until Aug. 8, became the youngest scoring champion in league history in 2006-07, when he put up 120 points. He will succeed Vincent Lecavalier of Tampa Bay as the youngest player to become a captain.

The Captain's C seems to be a pressure cooker and has caused many players to choke under the pressure (Lecavalier and Pronger, for example).

I don't expect Sidney to be bothered with the extra pressure, but it certainly seems like a bit much to put on his plate.