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Crosby garners ESPY, Capitals’ fans enraged, yet again
You know, it never gets old to see Washington Capitals fans complaining about one thing or another about the Pittsburgh Penguins.
I mean, let’s face it, that’s been one disgruntled group towards the Penguins and their fans for quite some time now. Not that they don’t have reason to be disgruntled, mind you. I wrote about this back in March in an article stating that the Pens and Caps should be divisional rivals again. But for those who don’t wish to make that one extra click for a reminder;
- Caps fans have had their collective hearts broken six times out of seven in playoff matches vs. the Penguins. As I wrote, “The Jagr OT goal in ‘00. The Nedved goal in the 4th OT in ‘96. The Straka OT goal in ‘01 (my wife still reminds me to this day that she heard me yell from the inside of her car on the street when Marty scored that goal).”
- Despite efforts to block fans with Pittsburgh area codes from purchasing tickets at Caps’ home games (helluva try, Mr. Leonsis, gotta give ya credit for that), the Verizon Center and the Capital Centre before that has routinely been absolutely swamped by Penguins fans. Part of that is due to the relatively close 250 mile hike from Pittsburgh, and mostly is due to the massive Pittsburgh transplants around the D.C. area, which I am included in somewhat. The last game at the Verizon Center, a 4-2 Pens win on March. 9th, was very nearly a 50/50 split between Pens and Caps fans. The fact that the winning goal was scored with 28 seconds left after Niklas Backstrom poked a rebound into his own net made Pens fans that much more delirious and Caps fans that much more furious. Listening to the fans on the postgame show complaining about the amount of Pens fans made the ride home quite enjoyable.
Now, since the 2004 drafts of Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby the following year, arguably the best two players in a generation, the NHL has done a rather mediocre job in building up any rivalry between the two. Both of them are very courteous when describing the other, as well as seem to get along when they are at functions together. Both of them have earned more than their fair share of accolades since their respective arrivals. Ovechkin edged out Crosby in the ‘05-’06 Calder Trophy voting. Crosby came back in ‘06-’07 to earn the Ross, Hart and Pearson trophies. Ovechkin matched that in ‘07-’08, plus added the Richard Trophy.
But it’s the latest so-called “accolade” that has gotten Caps fans’ ticked off, once again. The winner’s list of ESPN’s ESPY Awards, which are due to be broadcast this Sunday, July 20th, have been released to public. As many believe that ESPN has forgotten to even spell hockey anymore, they did have a “NHL best player” award. And, since the ESPY’s are basically just a popularity contest anyway, the award went to Crosby, and not Ovechkin. Japers’ Rink (one of the best Caps blogs, highly recommended) posted an article about it today, as well.
Actually, in Japers’ article, some of the commentators made the excellent point that not only did Crosby win, and not Ovechkin, but they didn’t even include that beast Henrik Zetterberg in the voting. Huh ?? Doesn’t that tell you how out of touch ESPN is when it comes to hockey nowadays ??
Come on, Caps fans, you’re better than that, aren’t you ?? Everyone remotely connected to hockey knows that this past season belonged to Ovechkin. Until such time that ESPN gets itself back into hockey (which I don’t believe is far away, honestly), they’re going to continue to do these half-assed polls.
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14 Responses to “Crosby garners ESPY, Capitals’ fans enraged, yet again”
July 17th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Wow, that’s impressive. Even more impressive considering Malkin was the best Penguin this year.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I wouldn’t say we’re enraged at all. I didn’t even realize the ESPYs were awarded last night. Ovechkin’s got his name on four other legitimate pieces of finely-crafted hardware.
July 17th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
As you say ESPY is about popularity, thus, it makes sense that Sidney Crosby wins. Zetterberg? popular during the Stanley Cup and because Sidney Crosby was in the game.
LOL. At least the rest of the world (other than hockey die-hards) can recognize that “Sidney Crosby” and “hockey” are related.
But hey, let’s admit it. Sid the Kid got everything. The skills, the hollywood good looks and the hockey dramas. Anything he was involved in included great hockey drama - i.e. Stanley Cup, 2008 NHL Winter Classic, shootouts, etc.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
AO should of won with the year he had.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Stu, another valid point as well…
Pepper, the actual show is on ESPN on Sunday night, the lists of winners was the only thing that was released….
Mino, yeah in essence the ESPY is a popularity contest, but that’s not the way it SHOULD be… Simply said, because of Sid’s injury, he was not the “NHL’s best player” this past season…
Concur Nathan, AO had a monster year….
Just imagine if he backchecked….
July 18th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Why does everyone outside of Washington still suggest that “Ovechkin edged out Crosby in the ‘05-’06 Calder Trophy voting.” If 124 out of 129 FIRST PLACE votes isn’t a landslide, I don’t know what is…
July 18th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I think something important was left out of this article. The fact that AO won the NHL awards this year by default. Had Sidney Crosby not been injured and missed all that time he would have easily walked away with the awards minus the Richard. Stop complaining Washington fans and be happy that AO won because as long as Crosby’s healthy AO will not see the major awards again…
July 18th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Where are all these enraged Capitals fans? Personally, this Caps fan isn’t angered at all… it kind of tickles me because it makes ESPN look ridiculous, and the NHL stupid for overmarketing Crosby as much as they originally did, to the point where you get a poll like this, where all across the country the less-than-die-hard-fans say to themselves, “NHL? That’s hockey, right? Umm… I’ve heard of that Crosby guy, I’ll pick him.”
God help me, I love it when ESPN looks dumb, and even more when Bettmans’ brillaint marketing scheme shows how much he is failing. [single tear]
July 20th, 2008 at 2:05 am
S. Stewart, too bad Crosby hurt his poor wittle ankle and was out all season. Oh and Ovechkin owned the stats lines all over the league. Ovechkin won the awards that matter. If it makes Pens fans feel better that Cindy can still win a popularity contest while his ugly horse face is shoved down everyone’s throats, then I say let them have it.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:38 am
to S STEWART:
you are aware that Ovechkin had more points per game than Crosby right? How can people say Crosby would have walked away with points? I understand he was leading when he went down, but Ovechkin was insane the second half of the season. To me, the points per game issue settles the whole BS argument of the injury. Ovechkin had more points AND more points per game. End of story.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Considering this is a popularity contest and many voters in the US aren’t as aware of the NHL game (too bad but it competes with NFL and the NBA); I’m actually surprised that Gretzky didn’t win this year because most voters probably only recognize him.
Ovechkin was the best in 07/08 and he won the awards that actually matter in the NHL.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:32 pm
“Stop complaining Washington fans and be happy that AO won because as long as Crosby’s healthy AO will not see the major awards again…”
That’s funny, I recall them both playing for the Calder and I do believe that’s the only one we know for sure won’t be won by Crosby.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Dave P- i’m commanting on your comment
i also recall in both AO’s and Sid’s 2nd season. Super Sid came out ahead by 1000 mile. i’ll end it with Crosby has never had a terrible nhl season. (he got injured in the last one but was still able to do great in the games he played) AO had a terrible 2nd nhl season. how good will he be down the road? think about it. will ya? Crosby will show you what he’s made of in the 08-09 season. GO PENS!
August 8th, 2008 at 10:35 am
S. Stewart, you can’t say Ovie won by default just baecause the Crybaby got hurt. Who’s to say Crysby wouldnt have stunk the rink up in the 2nd half of the season the way Malkin stunk in the playoffs? That’s like saying, Malkin had a great year, (which he did) and he did it without Crosby. Guess what… Ovechkin had a better year and he did it without Crosby- there’s no Crosby on the caps, but there is a real man who wears number 87 on the Caps. Brashear!
-PS Crosby looks like Freddie Mercury
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