More (Stupid) Advice for Sidney

I hate to rehash an old subject, but someone ELSE has yet another piece of unsolicited advice for Sidney regarding the millions he earns from his contract extension and now his RBK SC87 clothing line. This one comes from Leafs TV sportscaster Jody Vance:

Even young ladies get to join in the fun by donning the "I (heart) Crosby" tops. You must applaud the idea of a new, hip brand targeting the young hockey fan, but there is one thing missing from this marketing equation. Where is the charity element? If there is one, I can't find it.

[...]

Amid all of the organized chaos [of the fans at the September 1998 launch of The Wayne Gretzky Collection], Wayne's message was loud and clear: Part of the proceeds would go to support P.E.B.B.L.E.S. -- Providing Education By Bringing Learning Environments to Students.

[...]

For Sid, this can't be "just" about making money, can it?

We know after signing a five-year extension with the Penguins recently for a cool US$43.5 million, the 20-year-old Pittsburgh captain hardly needs the RBK revenue.

If Sid the Kid is truly tearing a page out of the PR book written by Gretzky, he needs to make sure he is giving back as he grows his brand.

Excuse me, Ms. Vance: EXACTLY WHAT BUSINESS OF THIS IS YOURS? Honestly, is Wayne Gretzky the NHL legend that Sidney should REALLY be idolizing? Personally - and I admit that I may be biased here - I think that Sid's Pittsburgh landlord is a 1,000,000 times better role model than Wayne could ever hope to be.

Sid shows us what his rank will be this season

And, Jody, I can't let this slide: SHAME ON YOU for reducing me and my fellow female Crosby fans to stereotypical, puck bunny caricatures with one sentence!!! As a female sportscaster for Leafs TV, I would think you of all people would understand how hard it is for females who are legitimate fans of the sport of hockey to overcome that particular stereotype. That you would perpetuate that cliché says more about you, ma'am, than it does about Sid's female fans.

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Moving on... Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come (again) for you to vote for Sidney (again). This time our main man Sid is nominated in AskMen.com's top 49 to determine who voters consider to be the best representatives of the male gender. (Last year's winner was George Clooney.) To vote for Saint Sid, simply click the banner below and click the "3. Athletics" link. Also, be SURE to turn on your speakers when you check out his profile and use the slider scale below his picture - that music is priceless, especially when you click the submit button! UNREAL!!!

I'll include this link in the next couple of posts as a reminder to VOTE FOR SID!!!

Opinions - Everyone's Got One

Okay. I know you've all heard stories about "long lost cousins" showing up on big lottery winners' doorsteps. And Oprah Winfrey once said she stopped reading her fan mail because she gets so many sob-story requests for money. It seems like everyone wants a piece of someone else's action; which leads me to this next story.

You've got a lot more rea$on$ to $mile, $id!

TheChronicleHerald.ca posted an article by Josh Visser in which the author asks Cole Harbour residents, most of whom are under the age of 16, what they believe Sid should do with the money he'll earn from his contract extension. Ummmm, yeah... I have two words for you, Mr. Visser - JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY. Go find some. Is there nothing going on in Sidneyland™ that is more interesting than this? Last time I checked, SIDNEY earned that money, not his former neighbors. Who honestly cares what Joe Blow down the street thinks Sid should buy? (And why did it surprise me that most of the answers were requests, not suggestions?)

Well, since I brought it up, here's just a few of the most ridiculous "suggestions":

• "He could get Hannebury Drive a pave," Karen Costello said, referring to the street the hockey star grew up on.

Yeah, because every multimillionaire teenager can't wait to purchase blacktop.

• "Cole Harbour doesn’t have an outdoor rink," Steve Mac-Donald hinted. "He should spend it on something he loves."

Uh huh, but is that a rink for Sidney or for YOU?

• "Sidney should buy me a bunch of cookies," said Josh Kendall, 14.

Uh, are you freaking KIDDING ME?

• "And Cole Harbour needs a McDonald’s," said Ashley Sweet, 12, snacking on a rival restaurant’s fries.

For some reason, I just can't picture Sid in a "Fry Guy" costume...

Look, I for one hope Sidney will follow the example of some of his peers (Mario Lemieux, Daniel Briere, Cam Neely) and share some his his vast wealth with others who are less fortunate. He can't possibly spend all that money himself, anyways. But, um, shouldn't we let Sidney decide what Sidney wants to do with Sidney's money?

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Don't forget: you have until July 19 to submit suggestions for the nickname vote! A big thank you to all of you who have sent one in already. I've gotten some good ones. :)