intheupside

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madden: My Sid story: When my mom passed, I got home &there was a msg from Sid on my machine. His words of condolence made me cry. He was 18. Calling from Latvia where Canada was playing in the world championships. Amazing guy.

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happy birthday to this giggly guy

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What’s the unhealthiest thing you’ve ever seen 87 eat? — @letangcult

Nothing that I recall. Though he did tell me once that he enjoys chocolate chip cookies at Subway. Who among us doesn’t?

Is Sid’s stance on no trade about his one-uniform legacy or does he really believe he can still win here? — @Rizzosarge

Probably both, but he always thinks they can win.

When I sit down with Crosby during training camp, we chat about the team. On the record, off the record, whatever. I just like to get a feel for what he thinks about the current team. He’s the ultimate optimist. He always thinks they’re going to win and always means it sincerely. I have no doubt he’s thinking about the upcoming season and concocting a way for this team to be better than expected.

What’s Crosby’s favorite road city (excluding Montreal)? — @skiab94

I know he enjoys the California swing. In 2009, I asked him what his favorite road arena was. He told me Atlanta. I swear to God.

I asked why.

“The lighting is unreal there,” he said. “I see the ice better.”

I relayed that story to Matt Cooke, who responded, “Yeah, he sees things we don’t see, so maybe he’s onto something.”

With how particular Sid seems about everything, what kind of challenges does that present you as a journalist? In a funny way, not suggesting he would be rude to you or anyone else. — @Franty_N

Well, he’s certainly never been rude. He’s polite and patient with members of the media, and I assure you we can be an obnoxious group.

He doesn’t present many challenges. Just little quirks. After games, he doesn’t like to talk until he has his Penguins ball cap on. So, just don’t ask a question until it’s on, because if you do, he’ll say, “Oh, just a moment, please. Let me get my hat. Thank you.”

He’s a dream to deal with. On rare occasions, he’s not in the mood to talk after games. It doesn’t happen often. When it does, he’ll usually be walking out of the locker room and he may give you the eye contact that conveys, “Sorry, not tonight.”

That’s fine. He seemingly conducts more interviews than any star athlete in the world.

You’ll never meet a reporter with a bad word to say about him. He makes our lives much, much easier.

from yohe’s mailbag

[intheupside]

Ryan Reaves didn’t score many goals during his time in Pittsburgh. In fairness, that’s not what he was paid to do.

However, on Feb. 6, 2018, Reaves did score in a 5-4 win against a Vegas team that would acquire him from the Penguins later that month.

After the next day’s practice, Reaves said he realized when he got home that he’d left his garage door open during the game.

Crosby, whose locker was nearby, quietly sat and listened while Reaves regaled the media with this story. As Reaves began to walk away, Crosby summoned him.

“You’re going to leave the garage door open before every game now, I assume,” Crosby said. “Right?”

Reaves responded, “Are you crazy? It’s winter, man.”

Then Reaves laughed and walked away.

Crosby, whose superstitions are legendary, looked at me with a completely serious face and said: “Can you imagine not leaving your garage door up for the rest of the season when you have a game? At least a home game? And I’m the crazy one?”

*

was the final season at Mellon Arena — the 2009-10 NHL season.

The rain was pouring down on a classic, dismal Pittsburgh day in November. About an hour earlier, the Penguins had completed their practice at the arena. Back when they didn’t have a state-of-the-art practice facility, most of their practices were at the Igloo.

Fans knew this, and what I surmised to be a group of high school kids was braving the elements and hoping for an autograph following practice. One by one, the Penguins whizzed out of the parking lot, passing up on the opportunity to get drenched while signing autographs. Then a familiar Range Rover pulled up beside the young fans. One by one, Crosby signed autographs.

That part was nothing new. But then, I saw Crosby — without an umbrella — get out of the car and pose for a group picture. He stood and talked with them for a few minutes while the rain poured down.

The next day after practice, I explained to him that I wasn’t stalking him but had noticed what he did during a rainstorm.

His response: “I mean, they seemed like nice kids. They were out there dealing with the rain. Was the least I could do.”

If I had a dime for every time I’ve seen Crosby inconvenience himself to make a fan’s day, I’d have retired long ago. He truly does not see himself as being better than anyone else.

and i’m the crazy one? 😂

[intheupside]

Ryan Reaves didn’t score many goals during his time in Pittsburgh. In fairness, that’s not what he was paid to do.

However, on Feb. 6, 2018, Reaves did score in a 5-4 win against a Vegas team that would acquire him from the Penguins later that month.

After the next day’s practice, Reaves said he realized when he got home that he’d left his garage door open during the game.

Crosby, whose locker was nearby, quietly sat and listened while Reaves regaled the media with this story. As Reaves began to walk away, Crosby summoned him.

“You’re going to leave the garage door open before every game now, I assume,” Crosby said. “Right?”

Reaves responded, “Are you crazy? It’s winter, man.”

Then Reaves laughed and walked away.

Crosby, whose superstitions are legendary, looked at me with a completely serious face and said: “Can you imagine not leaving your garage door up for the rest of the season when you have a game? At least a home game? And I’m the crazy one?”

*

was the final season at Mellon Arena — the 2009-10 NHL season.

The rain was pouring down on a classic, dismal Pittsburgh day in November. About an hour earlier, the Penguins had completed their practice at the arena. Back when they didn’t have a state-of-the-art practice facility, most of their practices were at the Igloo.

Fans knew this, and what I surmised to be a group of high school kids was braving the elements and hoping for an autograph following practice. One by one, the Penguins whizzed out of the parking lot, passing up on the opportunity to get drenched while signing autographs. Then a familiar Range Rover pulled up beside the young fans. One by one, Crosby signed autographs.

That part was nothing new. But then, I saw Crosby — without an umbrella — get out of the car and pose for a group picture. He stood and talked with them for a few minutes while the rain poured down.

The next day after practice, I explained to him that I wasn’t stalking him but had noticed what he did during a rainstorm.

His response: “I mean, they seemed like nice kids. They were out there dealing with the rain. Was the least I could do.”

If I had a dime for every time I’ve seen Crosby inconvenience himself to make a fan’s day, I’d have retired long ago. He truly does not see himself as being better than anyone else.

and i’m the crazy one? 😂

[intheupside]

babies 🥹

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team canada’s olympics orientation camp from 26-28 aug

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apparently that’s nate behind the fan’s head 😂

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@Penguins: When you’re just locked in on Oct 7th

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yeah 😔

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@Penguins: When the GenZ draft pick doesn't know how to use a disposable camera...

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“the alpha of alphas” “for a group of alphas to have an alpha in the room”. STOP.

from cominghotsens

[intheupside]

he’s having a very hot geno summer

[intheupside]

Sidney Crosby can only say so many times and so many ways that he is not leaving the Penguins. Sure, there might come a moment over the next two seasons when things get so bad that even Crosby has to tap out.

It’s possible, maybe.

No, Crosby signed up for this. He knew the score, and general manager Kyle Dubas has made a point to be transparent with Crosby about the process. Despite some assertions to the contrary, we do know what Crosby is thinking. He has asserted numerous times that he’s here for the long haul.

After the talk mushroomed back in January, a line of reporters were waiting after a practice in San Jose to ask Crosby the question again. A Penguins team source pulled a couple of reporters aside (including PHN) to say–No. Crosby isn’t thinking it, isn’t considering it, he’s getting a little annoyed by it, so just save your breath.

Crosby has been asked the question so many times that the notoriously polite superstar began to roll his eyes at successive attempts.

enough crosby talk

[intheupside]

mich helping announce the schedule in a great the pitt parody 👀

[intheupside]

the pittsburgh penguins announce their schedule with a great the pitt parody 👀

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sweetheart