kings fan checking in. I honestly believe all the hostility towards the penguins stems from a little bit of fear. Penguins were a good team all year but teams like Boston, New York and Philly figured they could handle them, especially after Crosbys injury in Decemeber. I think these teams were really banking on him not returning this season. Now hes back and tearing it up. I think they feel all they accomplished through out the year might end up being a waste. They are building up the hostility to scare Malkin and especially Crosby. Of course the die hard fan has more evidence to hate the Penguins and Crosby/Malkin but for the average fan alls they know is Malkin+Crosby= my teams worst nightmare. I would be doing the same thing if I were these teams/fans. I can guarantee you that Crosby is feeling the pressure about all this. He really would be inhuman if this didnt affect him. All this hate and intensity feels alot like soccer mentality. This situation makes the game of hockey not feel like a game at all. Its like a war, or a life and death situation. This is very unfimiliar for hockey at least in my opinion. This is going to be one hell of an emotional series.
edit: of course this is just my opinion and im not trying to say it as fact.
You honestly cannot see a single reason for the pens to get prefferential treatment?
Crosby is the most marketable player in the entire league. He has star status, and is a recognisable face outside of hockey regulars. A succesfull Crosby = more marketting.
Read my last post. The Penguins don't need any help to be successful.
How much did Lemieux get fined for threatening to sell the team/move to Kansas City?
so weird.
Quote:
"It wasn't a possibility," Lemieux said during a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for Pittsburgh's $290 million hockey arena.
"We had to do a few things to put pressure on the city and the state, but our goal was to remain here in Pittsburgh all the way. Those trips to Kansas City and Vegas and other cities was just to go and have a nice dinner, and come back."
Quote:
In other words, according to the KC star, the Penguins held a gun to the head of local and state officials in Pennsylvania -- and those politicians caved in.
I'm 100% in agreement on this. But I don't think it's just because the Penguins are the Penguins, Mario or anything else. I believe it's because the NHL needs more publicity and needs it's "jordan, bird, Manning, Brady, Jeter" type heros.
The Penguins are not the organization the NHL wants right now. It's the organization the NHL needs.
Why not promote the NHL with classy players like Stamkos, Pietrangelo, Karlsson, Doughty, the Sedins, Giroux, and not with petulant whiners who dive, whine and complain while being allowed to slash and punch opponents in the onions?
Lols, the conspiracy theories just keep on keeping on.
Brooks is only writing this so that Tortorella doesn't hate him as much.
I love Torts, but the rant warranted a $20,000 dollar fine. Yupp. It did. And Millbury is an idiot.
So why didn't Marios "I'm taking my team and leaving" boo-hoo tirade warrant the same if not more. It's not like a small rant that Torts did. Mario went to the press with it.
A topic about the Pens can never be a civilized discussion.
Even if it starts out that way, Pens fans come in guns blazing.
lol seriously? All these threads do is bash the Pens and their fans and you wonder why they are defensive? Remember last year when everyone was attacking Canucks fans and their team and how did they respond?
Read my last post. The Penguins don't need any help to be successful.
This. Hey, if you guys wanna rant on about how they got help in being successful by maybe a little help in the Crosby derby, I'll go ahead and listen to your wild conspiracy theories there. But sorry, Pittsburgh doesn't need any help winning titles and selling out crowds nowadays. This is a team that kicked major ass last season without Crosby or Malkin and a lot of no Letang. They don't need the League conspiring to further them.
Some people are just mad the Pens are better than their team. It's okay, being jealous is a normal human feeling. Embrace it, don't make excuses for your bitter feelings.
So why didn't Marios "I'm taking my team and leaving" boo-hoo tirade warrant the same if not more. It's not like a small rant that Torts did. Mario went to the press with it.
Why not promote the NHL with classy players like Stamkos, Pietrangelo, Karlsson, Doughty, the Sedins, Giroux, and not with petulant whiners who dive, whine and complain while being allowed to slash and punch opponents in the onions?
Your definition of "classy" varies a lot.
And you can go to the NHL when all those players put up multiple 100 point seasons before they're 26.
What the **** is this nonsense? So in your book, anyone who disagrees or tries to refute the point is not a genuine fan? While those that just hold their hands up and say "yep, we suck" are the true fans? What a bunch of ********.
Tell me, what do you say when people say the flyers are a classless organization who load teams with bullies and constantly mask dirty play with codewords like "tough" and "old time hockey"? Do you just go ahead and say "Yeah, thats my team"? Im guessing you have something to say about that too.
For the record, I dont agree with the fine at all, but what exactly can we do about it other than say its wrong? I also thought the hit was not even close to intentional and Torts is a big whining jackass. But what's new about a lack of credibility? Im guessing some of the people in this thread probably think the 09 cup should be taken back from us.
And for the most part its Wings, Rangers, Capitals, and Flyers fans that love these threads because it just gives them a chance to pat each others backs about how much the Penguins have ruined the league. But now that I know defending your team is a no no for a true fan, I will go ahead and just pick a new team
"yep we suck"
Where did you possibly get this from ? The penguins have a well built team.
As for the comments on our team. We have had them for the past 40 years. Do you really think it bothers us. If the league want to think we are a bunch of dirty cheaters, then let them. We still attract the best free agents in the league, and have no problem keeping them on the team. We have the best owner in the business, and we have a rich history of great teams constantly trying to win.
A few guys want to say **** about the team? go for it. It's not like we are going to listen, least of all to a pens fan.
Who in their right mind thinks the cup should be taken from the penguins? I don't think the organisation won it fairly ( taking advantage of the suck for years building draft picks, then being given the first overall which happened to be Crosby) but the team was fantastic and did what 30 other teams in the league wanted.I harbour no ill feelings towards the players.
You have such a defensive whiney attitude. The league favours you because you rocket up the TV ratings. The flyers make use of the big bad attitude and it also makes them a strong hockey market. Star players get preferential treatment in the league. But whats new eh?
Imagine a scenario where the Penguins play against the Caps and Wideman knees Michalek in a much similar fashion. Bylsma then says this in the post-game interview:
Quote:
"It's a cheap dirty, it's just... What would happen if we did it to their two whining stars over there? I wonder what would happen? So I'm anxious to see what happens with the league with this. Just no respect amongst players. None. It's sickening."
"Why do you think that happened?"
"Ask the guy who did it. Ask him. It's one of the most arrogant organizations in the league. They whine about this stuff all the time, and look what happened."
"It's ridiculous. But they'll whine about something else over there, won't they? Starting with their two ****ing stars."
All because of a knee-to-knee that didn't even warrant a suspension. In short, Tortorella is a ****ing embarrassment to the league and I'm curious as to how anyone can justify any of his comments. Incredible.
He didn't NEED expletives. Swears are bleeped out in the media anyway. Mario took it beyond that with actually calling out the league, saying it failed and that he didn't have any faith in it. TO NATIONAL MEDIA level coverage, not just some post game rant. Mario had a premediated rant he went to press with, not just the angry coach post-game angry about losing kinda way either.
I think the article is a good one, and there's probably some truth to it. But still, nobody but me seems to understand why he was fined...
Trots got fined because he made a derogitory remark about deliberately trying to injured Malkin and Crosby. His comment about "what if we did that to them" was really disturbing, not because they are stars, but because they are pro athletes in the NHL. And therefore don't deserve to have their livlihood threatened just because he thinks the Pens made a dirty hit on his guy.
Do you get it now? THAT'S why he was fined. It's really rather obvious, but I mean please do continue on with the favortism campaign. It's like watching babies fight over a toy, comical.
I think Orpik's hit was a direct retaliation to Rupp's knee on knee to Staal. So, maybe he should tell his players to stop kneeing if they don't want to be kneed?
Do the 20k actually go to the Penguins for slander? It wasn't mentioned in the article so I'm curious.
No, half of the money goes to the retired players fun and the other half (10k) is held by the league for a year and given back to the coach if he behaves.
I'm 100% in agreement on this. But I don't think it's just because the Penguins are the Penguins, Mario or anything else. I believe it's because the NHL needs more publicity and needs it's "jordan, bird, Manning, Brady, Jeter" type heros.
.
Im not sure if youre trying to be cynical here, but imo that's exactly why they levied the fine they did.
Theyre clearly trying to punish him because he is **** talking league stars who have name recognition to the average joe. Personally I would rather just sort it out on the ice.
I guarantee if the Rangers and Flyers were better than the Penguins, and this same alleged "double standard" was happening, it wouldn't be as big a deal.
I seem to remember the Lemieux letter, and the response from the NHL was the same response as Lemieux's was when Matt Cooke ended Marc Savards career. Chirping crickets.
Legal hit at the time. Where is the suspension for Richards hit on Booth? Both legal hits at the time.
No Larry. It had nothing to do with Torts dropping F-Bombs in the post game. Nope.
Agreed. I do think that the league overreacted by fining Torts $20,000, but if Brooks - and the people who agree with Brooks - can't see the difference between what Lemieux wrote and what Tortorella said (especially knowing the league is keeping a close eye on what comes out of Torts' mouth after accusing the league of rigging the Winter Classic), then I have to question the critical thinking of him and his followers.
I wish I had enough free time to invest into this silly conspiracy theory that the league has the Penguins in its pocket, and God help you if you hurt their feelings. It's quite possibly the stupidest notion I've ever been exposed to, and all of the 'evidence' that's been presented to support it is nothing more than confirmation bias.
The league doesn't need or want journalists (or fans) who think so little of their operation. If you honestly believe that there's anything to this, then do yourself and the league a favour and just stop watching.
I'm still waiting for the GM/coach/owner of a team that's not a bitter rival of the Pens to complain of a conspiracy as well.
Either way, I love it. Being favorites rules, because you win more often, and it makes people disproportionately upset on HFBoards. It's Easter, go spend some time with your families.
He didn't NEED expletives. Swears are bleeped out in the media anyway. Mario took it beyond that with actually calling out the league, saying it failed and that he didn't have any faith in it. TO NATIONAL MEDIA level coverage, not just some post game rant. Mario had a premediated rant he went to press with, not just the angry coach post-game angry about losing kinda way either.
There's a difference between what the Islanders did and the hit from Orpik though. A large difference.
I think the league should explain this fine and end the debate. I personally think the unusually large amount is due to the fact that Torts called the league's integrity into question. The idea that the league puts one teams interests over others is understandably something the NHL doesn't want to tolerate. Besides, all the profanity and Tortarella's track record as a world class complainer don't help.
