News From Max, Fun With Sidney

Before we get started, you'll need a little background info. About a week ago, I received this email:

Just letting you know that our local sports network, RDS, signed on Max Talbot as an NHL correspondent. There's a lot of Pittsburgh fans, and especially a lot of Sidney's friends in Montreal, who wanted more updates on the Penguins situation throughout the year--especially since, well, half the team is from Quebec :-P. Talbot signed on and is going to provide weekly coverage and blogging to keep us updated on the situation and how things are going for them out there. Because Talbot and Sidney are fairly good friends, I suspect there will probably be a lot of neat insider info coming out.

The downside, of course, is that it'll be in French. But no worries, I'll be checking it regularly, and if anything is mentioned, I'll translate it for you guys :)

It was from Friend of The Show and past TSCS translator Lisa-Marie W. This morning when I woke up, this was in my inbox:

(The article was long--but he mentioned at the beginning that playing against the Habs is always special, especially for Sidney. Max says that Sidney always gets extra hyped when they play the Canadiens.) [snoop: That's pretty obvious. If you can read lips, then you already know that Sid's got an, um, shall we say, 'extra-colorful vocabulary' during these games...]

From Max's blog: "If they gave me the choice of which team to join, like most Quebecors, I would have picked the Canadiens. But now that everyone is talking about the Penguins, there's a certain pride associated with being part of this team.

When I saw that Sidney Crosby was drafted by the Penguins, I became proud of this team. My first year in the NHL, I was 20 years old and it was on lockout. The next year was my first official year in the NHL--like Sidney.

Skating with Sidney every day helped me progress as a player. His habits and his work ethic continue to surprise me every day, and it's a privilege for me to be a part of the same team as him. He makes EVERY player better. I play the same position as him, and just watching him play and observing him outside the rink, his way of passing the puck and the way he approaches each game, it helps me.

His one point in two games doesn't worry him. For him, the success of the team comes before his personal statistics. He's not frustrated that he has one point. He knows the results will be there, and the rest of the team knows it too, because he's the best. What matters is that we win games. And if we do that, then Sidney is happy."

That makes US happy, too Max! :) A big thank you once again goes out to Lisa, without whom we would miss this awesome story. Well, okay, at least I would miss it, as my French is more than a little rusty.

Now for the fun with Sidney. The guys over at ThePensblog.com have had some of their readers send in some really great photoshops this past week. With their permission (and the permission of the photoshop creators), I am bringing you two that star our man Sid. Both pictures are outstanding, and I present them in no particular order.

First up is one for the person that submitted the nickname "Dizzy" in TSCS's nickname vote (I'm sorry - I've forgotten your name!). The creator of this picture, Brian Steimer, said that "In honor of Crosby's new found love of the spin-o-rama, I created this nugget of awesome:"

Brian Steimer's Tasmanian Crosby

Next up is one that my friend Jeff, who is one of ThePensblog's personal photoshop gurus, came up with the idea to see what the Penguins would look like if they were brothers. He morphed the players with each other, with the coach, with the general manager, and with the owner. A few of the morphs were my own requests (thanks, Jeff!). You can and should check them all out by clicking here, but for TSCS, there's one you MUST see. It was one that I requested. Ever wonder what Sid and Mario would look like if they came from the same family tree? Here's your answer:

+ =

Imagine "Sidnio LeCros" on the ice. That guy would be a hockey GOD.

Thanks again to everyone who gave me permission to use these photos.

Pittsburgh v Montreal - 7:30pm (eastern) tonight!
GO PENS!!!

Wanna Know What He's Saying?

Wow. I received another email from Lisa-Marie today. She is amazing. She translated the audio of both videos I mentioned in the Grab Bag of Saint Sid Stuff post and sent it to me. I can only imagine there are other non-French speaking Saint Sid fans that are dying to know what he's saying, too. Without further ado, here are the translations:

GOLF TOURNAMENT VIDEO:

REPORTER: Diana Hayfield at The Mirage golf club. Michel Therrien has convinced a few Penguins players to participate in a friendly round of golf. Sidney Crosby, and the new addition of Angelo Esposito were two of the Penguins who joined on the fun. They were two of about 10 Penguins who accepted the invitation extended by Therrien. Last year, the golf game consisted of mainly Penguins players who considered Quebec their hometown. For this second annual tradition, players like Ryan Malone joined the game thanks to the persuasion of the captain, Sidney Crosby.

THERRIEN: It's important for me. We believe that we have a great chemistry at the core of our team. That chemistry is something that we need to keep up, and keep building on.

CROSBY: It's just a chance to see the guys and have a bit of fun, but it's important too to meet the newer guys. It's just good for the team.

ESPO: It gives me the chance to meet the guys before going to the training camp, and it'll put me more at ease. It'll be good for me.

REPORTER: the young Penguins developed a team spirit and friendship many teams in the NHL only dream of. Marc-Andre Fleury was particularly happy to meet up again with Dany Sabourin, who will be returning to Pittsburgh once again after a season with Vancouver.

SABOURIN: It was my choice to return to the Penguins, to play more games than last year. I'm taking the next step.

REPORTER: Last year Pittsburgh experienced a season that surpassed all expectations. For 2007-2008, Sidney Crosby has the Stanley Cup in his sight.

THERRIEN: Athletes, good athletes will force themselves to achieve goals like that.
However, the first goal is, primarily, to make the playoffs. It's still a great accomplishment, and a good start. We have to be realistic in acknowledging that we do still have a young team, but the big difference between the seaosn before last and last one is, of course, confidence.

TALBOT: I think the environment will be different this year--we'll have a lot more pressure to win, and the pressure to finish first. But it's a good kind of pressure--I think it'll be fun.

REPORTER: Crosby dominated in his second year in the NHL--it could even be said that he far surpassed his rival, Alexander Ovechkin. (snoop: ummmmmm, do ya THINK?!)

CROSBY: I think the comparison will always be there, between me and other players. I just try to focus on my game and on my team.

REPORTER: Sidney Crosby is already on his second vacation in Quebec, in just one week. Number 87 also plans on staying in Rimouski for awhile, at the end of August.

At last we understand one another, Sidney Crosby.

---

CROSBY AT A BOUT DE SOUFFLE TOURNAMENT
(I won't type out the english parts...because,
well..y'know *LOL*):

REPORTER: Sidney Crosby makes the crowd crazy. Despite the hair-frizzing 30-degree weather, the Magog arena was packed with fans.

CROSBY: There's always a great group of guys that are here. And I think it's fun for the people to see this kind of hockey--it's a lot of skill and lots of skating, so it's fun to watch.

REPORTER: in his second season in the NHL, Sidney Crosby got his hands on pretty much every individual award available. For 2007-2008, his goal is to win the Stanley
Cup.

CROSBY (speaking english)

REPORTER: The newly appoitned captain was pleased that the team success ultimately persuaded a prolonged agreement for Michel Therrien to remain coach.

CROSBY (english)

REPORTER: As for newcomer Angelo Esposito, Crosby acknowledges that it'll be tough for him to transition from Juniors into the NHL.

The reporter then just goes on to say that Crosby will play at east 3 more matches, and if they make it to the finals, he's got at least 5. But we already knew that ;)

Many, MANY thanks again to Lisa-Marie for her translations. Translating the words may be easy for her, but I guarantee you typing all of that out (I just copied and pasted from the email - she did all that work!) is no picnic. Lisa, your work is appreciated!!!