All of a sudden cocky Penguins fans are everywhere.
How does any part of this thread justify bashing Pens fans? The statement was made by a player (to a local magazine, btw, it's not like he was being interviewed by SI) and the thread was started by a Rangers fan.
I think it's easy to see why it would be hard to get up for a game in a dead environment and easy to get up for a game that's sold out and the crowd is great.
He probably shouldn't have taken that shot at a rival teams fans, but maybe he just wanted to take a jab at Lovejoy. You never know. I don't think it's a big deal.
He's not leeching off Malkin either. Just to be clear. This dude can snipe and can play like a bull on the forecheck, taking guys off the puck etc. Very good young player.
I think the bandwagon of other teams calling us band-wagoners is bigger than the actual Pens bandwagon. If that's all you got to say, why bother? Anyway, it's not the smartest thing Neal could have said but it's also a huge exaggeration. I notice a lot of comments that are directed at the Devils talking about their boring style, but not everyone feels that way. I won't pretend I know what it's like to play a pro sport on the biggest stage but obviously if a crowd is comatose you would expect it to translate a little to on ice play. Of course I realize Pens home games are frequently in "you could hear a pin drop" territory.
That's odd considering Penguins fans are traditionally pretty mild at games. If Neal has a problem playing in front of quiet crowds, I'm amazed his numbers are as good as they are.
(I'm a Penguins fan. Don't get all defensive, being louder doesn't somehow make you better anyways)
Give diplomatic, non committal answer - Hockey players have no personality
Speak openly - Players should shut up
I read that interview about 3 weeks ago, I didn't see a big deal then, and I don't now. Neal asked how you get through the grind of an NHL schedule, and was saying that its tougher to get going for games that are sparsely attended, like Jersey on a particular Sunday afternoon.
Now, what that has to do with the 2003-04 Penguins, I have no idea. If someone had said that back then, I'd have responded by saying Good - we needed every advantage possible back then. If players found it tough to get up for playing us back then, I shudder to think what our record would have been if they didn't.
I wish more players in the NHL actually had personalities. The dude made a joke about a rival (it was right around the superbowl when the arena was very very quiet for perfectly acceptable reasons imo) and one of his friends/teammates. Meanwhile Sid gets called boring and robotic for giving stock answers to that kind of question.
This is a quote from an interview with James Neal, I do not have a link to the source. But anyway, this got me thinking, is this the reason why the Rangers and the Maple Leafs are always mediocre? Maybe not THE reason, but a contributor at least?
I admit that there is probably some bias influencing my view here, but I can't tell you how many times I've seen a team swing through the NYC metro area on a road trip, fight the Rangers tooth and nail and play great regardless of how they looked the night/week/month before, and then move on to NJ or LI and look like ****. And I'm not just talking about this year when it makes sense for them to have a target on their back. I mean, sure the errors of management need to be pinned with the most blame, but is this the real reason why it's so hard to win in NYC and TOR?
Looking forward to many sarcastic, flippant responses.
this coming from a guy that played in Dallas? I guess that expalins why he was so inconsistent until now.
Just watched "NHL 36: James Neal", and I really like him. Seems like a very nice person, and the biggest insult on the ice he can come up with is "you're a loser".
Just watched "NHL 36: James Neal", and I really like him. Seems like a very nice person, and the biggest insult on the ice he can come up with is "you're a loser".
I'm sure that was the only insult they could find that was PG .
Devils fans are always sensitive to attendance jabs, and always will be.
I was there for Game 1 of the 2006 ECQF in New Jersey when they played the Rangers and everyone was talking about how it would be like a Rangers home game...it was false. Devils fans showed up. I wore my Rangers jersey there and I have NEVER been so harassed at any sporting event (The Rangers also lost 6-1 or something, was the game Jagr injured his shoulder trying to push Scott Gomez).
The Devils have a hardcore fanbse, but New Jersey is a small state and many NJ residents are more into baseball and football.
Neal is probably concerned that not enough fans are in attendance to witness his hair.
WTF, Neal only washes his hair once a week and sits in the bathroom styling his hair prior to warmup skates. You don't want to lose the natural oil level of your hair because it could lead to hair loss?
No offense, but Neal sounds like a complete total idiot.
There's no question that when teams come to play at the Bell Center, the passion is there, they can't wait to perform and it's harder for the home team.
I guess when you need to tank for 5 yrs just to get people back to your arena while being on the verge of heading to KC after drafting 2 generational talents it gives your players a lot of room to talk. I'm sure the majority of that bandwagon fanbase will back him up.
Credit to the real Penguin fans who realize he's a idiot though.
Neal is probably concerned that not enough fans are in attendance to witness his hair.
WTF, Neal only washes his hair once a week and sits in the bathroom styling his hair prior to warmup skates. You don't want to lose the natural oil level of your hair because it could lead to hair loss?
No offense, but Neal sounds like a complete total idiot.
That was weird. He washes his hair only once. That sounds gross. Yeah, his logic was kind of stupid though.
That, and him waking up and immediately going to Paul Martin's house to eat breakfast.
That was weird. He washes his hair only once. That sounds gross. Yeah, his logic was kind of stupid though.
That, and him waking up and immediately going to Paul Martin's house to eat breakfast.
If you wash your hair too much it will strip your hair of its natural oil and basically ruin it. But I'm pretty sure "too much" doesn't mean more than once a week.
You mean when they arrived in New Jersey? I know...shocker people didn't really care about a new team that was nestled between the Original 6 New York Rangers, the dynasty New York Islanders, and the immensely popular Philadelphia Flyers...indeed...how dare they.
Thats the same time period where your franchise tanked so they could survive right?
If that's all you got to say, why bother? Anyway, it's not the smartest thing Neal could have said but it's also a huge exaggeration. I notice a lot of comments that are directed at the Devils talking about their boring style, but not everyone feels that way. I won't pretend I know what it's like to play a pro sport on the biggest stage but obviously if a crowd is comatose you would expect it to translate a little to on ice play. Of course I realize Pens home games are frequently in "you could hear a pin drop" territory.
