Penguins All-Star center Sidney Crosby jokes with Eastern Conference teammates before taking the ice for practice at the American Airlines Center, in Dallas.
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
DALLAS - Sidney Crosby's first All-Star week is supposed to be part celebration, part coronation. That was the mood when Crosby and fellow superstar Alexander Ovechkin walked to the podium for a joint question-and-answer session Monday afternoon at American Airlines Center.
Unfortunately, Crosby's success and that of the Penguins -- who have three players scheduled to participate in the YoungStars Game tonight and Crosby in the big boys game Wednesday -- cannot be fully celebrated because of the black cloud hovering over the franchise.
This was a prime example. With a room full of reporters and NHL types waiting to hear from Crosby and Ovechkin on subjects such as skating on the same line and establishing themselves as the faces of the league, the first question instead focused on the Penguins' ongoing arena saga.
"Sidney, I'm here from the Kansas City Star," the reporter said. "I was wondering what your thoughts are on this situation and what do you know about Kansas City?"
Talk about a buzz kill. The place deflated faster than Kirstie Alley (not that you could blame the guy).
"I don't know a whole lot," Crosby said. "Obviously, I think the players on our team are pretty content with being in Pittsburgh. We really enjoy it there. We get great support. That's where we want to be, but again, it's out of our hands. We have heard the rumor it's a possibility to go (to Kansas City), but I think we're quite content with being in Pittsburgh."
Somebody else asked the second question, which went like this, believe it or not: "Sidney, All-Star Game players tend to not exactly give 110 percent. What percentage would you say you're going to put out there?"
I was curious about that, too, pegging the figure at 94 percent.
"I don't know," Crosby said.
Sorry you missed the fun?
It actually got better, but the arena issue hung around like a sore throat all day. Mario Lemieux couldn't escape it when he showed up for a legends-of-the-game-promotion. No sooner had he finished posing for photos with the likes of Mark Messier, Larry Murphy and Paul Coffey when he was bombarded with arena-related questions.
Four days earlier, the Penguins left a meeting with local officials infuriated over the surprise appearance and participation of Majestic Star Casino owner Don Barden. Lemieux did not attend the meeting but said the team was "offended and very disappointed."
He also said time is running short on choosing an arena plan in Pittsburgh, Kansas City or somewhere else, putting the figure at 2-3 weeks.
"Sooner or later, we're just going to make a decision and go with it," Lemieux said. "Whatever happens, happens."
That doesn't sound good, but Lemieux's just posturing again, right?
Right?
I suppose I'm like a lot of people when it comes to the Penguins' situation. I can't believe the NHL would allow a team to leave such a solid market, not when so many others are struggling to support their teams. I still believe the Penguins will stay, and I'm aware these kinds of deals tend to reach a precipice before they are settled.
But doesn't a small part of you wonder if Lemieux will become so fed up that he doesn't care anymore? Don't you wonder about Ron Burkle, the California billionaire who has a 40 percent stake in the team and no ties whatsoever to Pittsburgh?
As we all sit here convinced the Penguins can't possibly leave, doesn't part of you wonder if we'll wake up shocked one day?
Part of me does.
Joe Starkey is a sports writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com
No comments:
Post a Comment