I guess. I just don't recall many where one player is sitting on top of another and won't get up...
- wolfhounds

That makes the situation a bit more classless, for lack of a better word. I just can't see that as suspension worthy.

I don't want to see all the grit taken out this game. Scraps at the bottom of piles happen and I want them to continue to happen.
- funmaster18

Yep. It is what it is. It was hardly McSorley taking a baseball swing at Brashear's dome.

I realize that most of the cut away stuff-the intermission feature, the sidebars and ISO cams and whatnot are directed by the suits. The decision to make Crosby the face of the NHL was not made by Doc Emrick or Pierre McGuire. It's also not made by Crosby. He simply accommodates the requests made of him.

However directed, on a play like the Malkin-Coburn one, it should be fairly easy to simply say "I give props to Malkin to even try that move, but what a play by Braydon Coburn to stop him"
- Jsaquella

Well put. These guys are perfectly capable of earning the spotlight, no need to fabricate it.

No, but I think he believes the hype the Media spews about him being the "saviour" of the NHL. Of course he can't change the media coverage, but he can shut down the media when they start talking about just him, or asking his opinion about things that dont involve the current game...

For example.... He should have told the media to Frank off during his whole concussion deal... Keep the interviews to questions pertaining to the last game, or the next game...
- RooNosHockey

What makes you "think" that. Do you have some inside sources on the matter?

Rumored groin for Meszaros. Not sure about Kubina, but he's closer to a return apparently.
- wolfhounds

ty

I watched the DVR of the game broadcast late last night after the other games (Caps-Hawks, end of Coyotes-Oilers) and noticed that same thing. But that's just how it goes. They also talked a lot about Giroux in segments of the game where he was a non-factor.

That's how it goes on national broadcasts. They pre-pick story lines and (the same few) focus players and talk about them throughout the game regardless of what actually is going on in the game.

A few years ago, I did a lengthy interview with Mike Emrick and learned a lot about the business end of broadcasting.

Doc told me that when he does a national game, the expectation is to talk 50 percent about the teams (roughly 25 percent devoted to each) and 50 percent on the focus players/story lines. When he did the Devils game, the expectation was roughly 60 percent focus on Devils, 40 percent on opposition. When he was with the Flyers, the higher ups wanted roughly 75 percent to 80 percent on the Flyers and 20 to 25 percent on the opposing team/players.

That is NOT decided by the announcers, contrary to people's accusations of "bias" or so-and-so must be a fan of X player or team. That comes from the producers and the channel execs who write the checks.
- bmeltzer

This sounds about right for Doc... which leaves about 0% dedicated to the actual game.....

I looked at it from a standpoint of if anyone was going to beat us, I was glad it was him. Still wish he hadn't..lol
- Emperor Filonius

Olympic hockey makes you do funny things, I remember someone laid Richards out and I found my self cheering and when parise scored the tieing goal I was screaming and jumping for joy, then I realized he was a devil and got confused

Hmm reap what we sow. Kind of like an eye for an eye? I like it. If that is Hartnell's punishment then we should be able to put Cooke in front of a firing squad right?
- Flyers1218

You'd think so, but he's reformed

Seriously, I think its been widely publicized that Cooke is working very hard to clean up his game. Despite that, he has a decade worth of dirty play in his past. Its been a regular theme this year where players get away with stuff against him that doesn't get called this year. I'm very certain that the refs let more stuff go AGAINST Cooke because of his rep, and that is perfectly understandable. It may not be fair, but Cookie hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt, and neither has Hartnell.

That makes the situation a bit more classless, for lack of a better word. I just can't see that as suspension worthy.
- Jsaquella

Suspension would be overkill, no doubt. An extra 2 would have been cool. Not quite sure how that evened up... Or how Rinaldo got a penalty for getting smashed in the mouth by Hartnell...

Olympic hockey makes you do funny things, I remember someone laid Richards out and I found my self cheering and when parise scored the tieing goal I was screaming and jumping for joy, then I realized he was a devil and got confused
- flyers4487

Black is white, up is down, bacon in beer... what a crazy world.

Haters Gonna Hate

I think Crosby handles everything asked of him very well. He's hardly out there pushing his own agenda. As I have said, Crosby's not the guy planning the media blitz, nd I'm not going to fault him for being accommodating to the wishes of the NHL and it's partners.
- Jsaquella

Even Gretzky would have been berated if the internet was around in the 80's. You can't please everybody, especially when it is very easy to remain anonymous while expressing discontent. Mark Messier and Gordie Howe would be hated in today's scope.

Yep. It is what it is. It was hardly McSorley taking a baseball swing at Brashear's dome.
- Jsaquella

Those battles in between the play fuel the fire in the game and it's also where guys let their frustrations out. Without letting it get out of hand, it's important to let the little stuff slide and let them scrum for a minute without calling 10 penalties aside.

No, but I think he believes the hype the Media spews about him being the "saviour" of the NHL. Of course he can't change the media coverage, but he can shut down the media when they start talking about just him, or asking his opinion about things that dont involve the current game...

For example.... He should have told the media to Frank off during his whole concussion deal... Keep the interviews to questions pertaining to the last game, or the next game...
- RooNosHockey

I thought he was incredibly rare to the media through his whole concussion situation. I also think that, being the understandable face of the sport, him being combative with the media wouldn't be good for hockey. He's just doing his job.

So your saying that the pens announcers (stagy and co) and Bostons Jack Edwards are told to act the way they do? If thats the case then maybe I retract any negative statements I have said about them and direct them to their bosses.
- flyers4487

To a degree, yes.

I heard Jack Edwards doing games on ESPN2 before I ever heard him doing Bruins games. On the national broadcasts, I thought he was quite good and also impartial. I was shocked at what I heard when I started hearing his Bruins work -- in which he's a lunatic-fringe Bruins homer. To this day, I wonder if that's even the same person.

Bottom line: There's a lot of "performance" and pre-determined banter that goes on during the broadcasts, apart from simply calling the games. It's the nature of the beast, especially nowadays.

No, but I think he believes the hype the Media spews about him being the "saviour" of the NHL. Of course he can't change the media coverage, but he can shut down the media when they start talking about just him, or asking his opinion about things that dont involve the current game...

For example.... He should have told the media to Frank off during his whole concussion deal... Keep the interviews to questions pertaining to the last game, or the next game...
- RooNosHockey

He did blow the media off for most of the time he was dealing with the concussion.

You're blaming Crosby because the NHL and it's broadcast partners have decided he's the Chosen One. Then you negatively compare him to Gretzky and say that he's a media whore, when all he's done is EXACTLY what Greztky did in the 1980's. Gretzky was the face of hockey in the 1980's. When he was in his prime he was all anyone talked about, even with guys like Lemieux and Yzerman in the league.

Do you think that Crosby's not pressed by the NHL to be accommodating? It's exactly the same as when Gretzky was in his prime.

Can I ask a serious question of you Flyers fans?


What would be the perception of Crosby if he turned down all of these interviews and such. Actually came right out and said "I'm tired of all the attention, I don't want to be the face of the NHL, stop talking to me".

I already know the answer.
- canadianpenfan

Depends how he said it...

If he said... "I dont want to be the face of the NHL." Its a little arogant, and I wouldnt like it...

If he said... "This league is filled with Stars, and the leading point player is on this team. Lets get his point of vew on the topic." I would praise him...

If people complain about Richards and Carter's drinking habits now, what the hell would people have said in te 70s?
- funmaster18

"Bobby Clarke is so cheap. I was OK with him driving his forearm into the players head at the bottom of the scrum, but when he slashed Kehoe in the face on his way to the penalty box- that was bush league man"

Suspension would be overkill, no doubt. An extra 2 would have been good cool. Not quite sure how that evened up... Or how Rinaldo got a penalty for getting smashed in the mouth by Hartnell...
- wolfhounds

I think we can all agree that the officiating left a lot to be desire yesterday. Don't forget how Giroux "sold" that slash at the end of the second period by Michalek yesterday. Michalek was stupid for letting himself get sucked in like that, but Giroux should get an Oscar for that performance...Jackson is going to feel foolish when he sees the tape.

I thought he was incredibly rare to the media through his whole concussion situation. I also think that, being the understandable face of the sport, him being combative with the media wouldn't be good for hockey. He's just doing his job.
- BulliesPhan87

Its the medias job and obligation to cover the rehab of the best player in the sport. It's up to the fans to decide to read it/listen to it or not.

To a degree, yes.

I heard Jack Edwards doing games on ESPN2 before I ever heard him doing Bruins games. On the national broadcasts, I thought he was quite good and also impartial. I was shocked at what I heard when I started hearing his Bruins work -- in which he's a lunatic-fringe Bruins homer. To this day, I wonder if that's even the same person.

Bottom line: There's a lot of "performance" and pre-determined banter that goes on during the broadcasts, apart from simply calling the games. It's the nature of the beast, especially nowadays.
- bmeltzer

I don't know, I always get a sense of uncomfortableness from Crosby during interviews, especially of the type where they're about him and not the team. I don't think he likes the attention at all, but does what he has to do given his situation.

Just giving my opinion here, which I think is on par with most people.

To a degree, yes.

I heard Jack Edwards doing games on ESPN2 before I ever heard him doing Bruins games. On the national broadcasts, I thought he was quite good and also impartial. I was shocked at what I heard when I started hearing his Bruins work -- in which he's a lunatic-fringe Bruins homer. To this day, I wonder if that's even the same person.

Bottom line: There's a lot of "performance" and pre-determined banter that goes on during the broadcasts, apart from simply calling the games. It's the nature of the beast, especially nowadays.
- bmeltzer

Edwards did a good job being impartial when working the odd game for Versus, too.

When you have a guy who is that over the top as a homer, you know a lot of it is coming from the team. As Tim Saunders said when he was on NHL Network's Voices of the Game show a couple years ago, "Look, I know who is signing my paycheck"

You'd think so, but he's reformed

Seriously, I think its been widely publicized that Cooke is working very hard to clean up his game. Despite that, he has a decade worth of dirty play in his past. Its been a regular theme this year where players get away with stuff against him that doesn't get called this year. I'm very certain that the refs let more stuff go AGAINST Cooke because of his rep, and that is perfectly understandable. It may not be fair, but Cookie hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt, and neither has Hartnell.
- Emperor Filonius

I was just messing too. It's actually kind of scary how calm Cooke has been this year. It's like waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I don't know if it's coming.

To a degree, yes.

I heard Jack Edwards doing games on ESPN2 before I ever heard him doing Bruins games. On the national broadcasts, I thought he was quite good and also impartial. I was shocked at what I heard when I started hearing his Bruins work -- in which he's a lunatic-fringe Bruins homer. To this day, I wonder if that's even the same person.

Bottom line: There's a lot of "performance" and pre-determined banter that goes on during the broadcasts, apart from simply calling the games. It's the nature of the beast, especially nowadays.
- bmeltzer

no better performer than ricky j.

I don't know, I always get a sense of uncomfortableness from Crosby during interviews, especially of the type where they're about him and not the team. I don't think he likes the attention at all, but does what he has to do given his situation.

Just giving my opinion here, which I think is on par with most people.
- eayost

he's been having the media follow him around long before he donned a pens jersey. i'm sure he'd rather it not be there.

he's a great hockey player, and i'm sure goes above and beyond what his team and the league ask him to do.