The Lightening join San Jose, Florida, Ottawa, Toronto and Atlanta as orphan teams.
And check out this story from the Chronicle Herald apparently that whole little drama involving Sidney Crosby and Don Cherry doesn't exist:
There is no feud
Does Don Cherry have a beef with Sidney Crosby? Both men say no
) Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby denies he has any problem with Don Cherry. Al Hollingsworth, a local columnist, says Mr. Cherry has “been bullying this young man from Day 1, and people who watch this are saying, ‘What’s going on? Why?’ For somebody he’s never met, he’s highly critical." (FRANK GUNN / CP) |
SIDNEY CROSBY and Don Cherry publicly deny there’s a grudge between them.
But fans, bloggers and professional writers aren’t buying it, saying hockey’s loudest high-collared commentator has it in for one of the game’s biggest stars.
"If I were the head of CBC Sports and the best player in the game seemed to be ignored in favour of Gary Roberts looking up at the time clock, I think I’d wonder," William Houston, a sports columnist for Toronto’s Globe and Mail, said in a phone interview Tuesday.
Mr. Houston’s column after Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final said Mr. Cherry and Hockey Night in Canada have a ridiculous grudge against Mr. Crosby.
He said the Pittsburgh Penguins centre’s performance was one of the best stories of the year and should have received raves.
The Cole Harbour native had two of the game’s three goals and logged almost 20 minutes of ice time. Mr. Cherry’s post-game comments ignored Mr. Crosby, instead praising veteran teammate Gary Roberts.
Mr. Roberts had almost nine minutes of ice time and one assist to go with his gritty, physical play.
Mr. Houston said he likes Don Cherry and the two sometimes speak on the phone. While Mr. Cherry is a pundit paid to express his opinions, Mr. Houston said Ron MacLean, the show’s impartial host, had a responsibility to bring up Mr. Crosby’s performance.
"I like Don," said Mr. Houston. "I think he can do whatever he wants to do. He can say whatever he wants, ignore whoever he wants. However, I think most of the fault rests with Ron MacLean."
Mr. Cherry seemed to respond to the column during Monday night’s game, saying there isn’t a feud with Mr. Crosby. He said while he has chastised Mr. Crosby for diving and embellishing to draw penalties in the past, he hasn’t been the only target.
"If you ask (Wayne) Gretzky, I gave it to Gretzky pretty good because he was flopping around," said Mr. Cherry. "I gave it to Mario (Lemieux), and I tried to tell Crosby what’s going on. Mario was diving all over the place and he embarrassed the referees, and after a while they wouldn’t call anything against him.
"That’s all I tried to do with Crosby. I tried to teach him that, and not to yap at thereferee, and he’s doesn’t do it anymore. But it’s too late."
Mr. Cherry first criticized Mr. Crosby during the superstar’s rookie season in junior hockey, calling him a "hotdog" for a lacrosse-style goal from behind the net. He later cast doubt on Mr. Crosby’s injuries when he pulled out of an NHL top prospects game.
Mr. Crosby has dismissed rumours of a feud with Mr. Cherry, saying the two have never met.
Al Hollingsworth, a columnist for the website HalifaxLive.com, also took Mr. Cherry to task after Game 4. He says Mr. Cherry just doesn’t like the 20-year-old star.
"He’s been trying to get around what he’s been doing all along and that’s bullying the kid," Mr. Hollingsworth said over the phone.
"He’s been bullying this young man from Day 1, and people who watch this are saying, ‘What’s going on? Why?’ For somebody he’s never met, he’s highly critical."
Mr. Hollingsworth said Mr. Crosby is arguably the best player in the game, yet he gets almost no mention on Coach’s Corner. When he does, it’s usually negative.
While he’s all for legitimate criticism, Mr. Hollingsworth said the CBC, as a Crown corporation funded by tax dollars, shouldn’t let Mr. Cherry go out of his way to attack Mr. Crosby.
Herring Cove’s Jonathan Turner started a Facebook fan group about Mr. Crosby. He said he doesn’t believe Mr. Cherry’s comments about trying to help.
"That’s all show, everybody knows what he’s like," said Mr. Turner.
"He first saw Crosby in junior and he legitimately thought he was a hotdog. I think he realizes now what the kid’s all about.
"He’s just backpedalling and now he wants to be with Crosby."
’If you ask (Wayne) Gretzky, I gave it to Gretzky pretty good because he was flopping around. I gave it to Mario (Lemieux), and I tried to tell Crosby what’s going on.’
’If I were the head of CBC Sports and the best player in the game seemed to be ignored in favour of Gary Roberts looking up at the time clock, I think I’d wonder.’
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