Why Do You Hate Sidney Crosby? by @chicksdighockey

I have a confession to make. I love Sidney Crosby.

It goes beyond his boyish good looks for me. I love how he sits in his stall after the game and articulately fields even the most inane questions. I love his tickle me Elmo giggle as well as that intense face-off stare. I love that by 24 years old he was the winner of a Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold Medal, Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and Rocket Richard Trophy.

I am a fan girl.

I have such positive feelings for Sidney Crosby that it confounds me why so many feel such passionate hate for him. I asked the question, “Why do you hate Crosby?” to several people who expressed hate for my beloved. The responses were varied and, in some instances, fabrications.

                                          ( photo courtesy of Dave Sandford/NHLI)

I’m sick of having him shoved in my face.

He’s a product of the Canadian hype machine that proclaimed him the next Gretzky before he was 16-years-old. Ever since Crosby entered the league, he has been the NHL’s poster boy. He has everything they want for the face of hockey: looks, intelligence, charm and uber skill. They splashed his face and his name everywhere! The problem with that is over saturation translates to “I hate Sidney Crosby” for some people. According to something called a “PuckDucky” the NHL has created “the biggest bitch in the league” in Sidney Crosby.

That being said, can you really blame the NHL for pumping us full of Crosby? The NHL’s main marketing goal is not about appealing to us hockey-crazed fanatics. Their target is the non-hockey or casual hockey fan. Crosby is the NHL’s marketing dream. With his “wholesome boy next door” image and unwavering commitment to his sport, Crosby is one of the few NHLers who is known throughout North America by people who do not follow hockey = marketing success.

Crosby is over-rated (Fill in the blank) is better.

When a player is said to be arguably the best in the world, he is expected to live up to extremely lofty expectations. Many believe Crosby is overrated and feel that he gets undeserved praise and adulation heaped upon him that could just as easily go to several other players in the league, preferably one on their favorite team. Some refuse to acknowledge his greatness simply because they do not like him. I guess a Stanley Cup, a Hart Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, a Pearson Award, an Olympic gold medal, four 100-plus point seasons, etc., by the age of 22 is good reason to doubt his abilities…. 

All he does is dive and whine.

( Photo courtesy of Dave Sandford/NHLI)

I won’t even dignify the diving claim with a response (he was accused of diving after he took a puck to the face that fractured his jaw) other than to point out that PK Subban dives so much that they put a hyperbaric chamber in at Bell Centre.

In 2012, New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella was fined $20,000 for a post game tirade against the Penguins in which he called the team arrogant and singled out Malkin and Crosby as being whiners. Crosby himself has admitted in several interviews that he complained a lot when he first entered the league. He barked at the refs for seemingly every slight against him. He was young and transitioning from playing a boy’s game to a man’s game.

I think the early whining played a large role in Crosby’s development as a complete hockey player. He realized what he was doing was embarrassing and he’s stopped. Sure, occasionally he gives the refs an incredulous look, but it’s no different from the reaction that every player gives when they've been sentenced to the sin bin. People disparage Crosby because they have already made up their minds about him. He’s a whiner and so he shall always be.                                                                                       

 

He’s matured. If another team captain argues a call or demands an explanation they’re stepping up to the plate and doing their job. If Crosby does the same thing he’s whining. This argument is tired and old. Jeff Skinner is the new whiner in residence for the NHL.

Crosby can’t grow facial hair

OK, I happen to agree with this one. He grows atrocious facial hair.

If all of the haters would close their mouths and open their minds they would see he can score from anywhere on the ice, including his back. He’s called a whiner, a cry-baby, over-rated, and robotic but does anyone ever attack his work ethic, his leadership or skill?

Players like Crosby don't come around every draft, so even if you hate him, at least enjoy watching him play the game that you and he love. Fans always love to hate opposing stars and the teams for which they play. It's a natural human emotion born mostly out of envy and frustration.

God, I love Sidney Crosby!