Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Sidney Crosby is shown the score sheet from 1967 by lifelong season-ticket holder David Disney after Crosby delivered Disney's season tickets yesterday. It marks the second season Penguins players helped deliver the tickets to their fan base.
It's likely Penguins center Sidney Crosby scoped out a few houses with for sale signs yesterday as he and other members of the organization roamed the area hand-delivering season tickets to 35 homes.
For all that the fourth-year center has seen and everything he has experienced in the NHL, Crosby finds himself in familiar surroundings this week -- that is, he is back living at the home of team owner and former teammate Mario Lemieux and his family.
"I've been looking for a place for the last year, but I haven't found anything I'm quite ready for yet," Crosby said after spending time at the Mt. Lebanon home of David and Mary Disney, original Penguins season-ticket holders dating to 1967.
This was the second year the team had members deliver season tickets. The other Penguins who participated were goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, forwards Jordan Staal, Max Talbot, Tyler Kennedy, Pascal Dupuis and Jeff Taffe, defensemen Sergei Gonchar and Brooks Orpik and coach Michel Therrien.
One thing Crosby, 21, is ready for is the 2008-09 season. Players officially report Tuesday and open the regular season Oct. 4 against Ottawa in Stockholm, Sweden. Most of them are in town.
"It's been a short offseason, but we're here now," Crosby said. "Guys are all skating together, and we've all got that itch to get back out there."
At the end of the 2006-07 season, Crosby was recuperating from a broken foot but was able to resume workouts June 1 as usual. This year, the team still was playing on that date, advancing to the Stanley Cup final before losing to Detroit in six games.
That meant a change in routine.
"It's just a little bit less of everything," Crosby said. "You have to let your body heal a little bit more. You probably can't gain as much as you might have in a typical summer in terms of getting stronger or faster. It's more of just getting back to where you need to be and getting back to feeling good."
That includes his right ankle. He missed 28 games in the second half of the regular season because of a high ankle sprain.
"No issues there," Crosby said. "Hopefully, I don't have to deal with it and I can have a healthy season."
After the Penguins won the Atlantic Division title and spun through the first three rounds of the playoffs with just two losses, falling to the Red Wings hit them hard. That meant there was some soul-searching during the short offseasonhe mostly spent at home in Nova Scotia.
"For the first few weeks after the season, it still stings. You still think about it," he said. "But, once you start working out and you start seeing who's coming in and everything that's happening in free agency and things like that, you realize that it's a new season and you use last season as a motivation. I think we've all moved on. We'll take the experience."
Among the roster changes were the loss of top-six forwards Ryan Malone to Tampa Bay and Marian Hossa to Detroit. It was expected that Malone would leave for a big contract, but Hossa's decision to join the Red Wings on a one-year deal while turning down a multiyear offer from the Penguins came as a surprise to many.
Hossa recently arrived in Detroit to skate with his new teammates and again explained his reasoning.
"It's my decision, and I try to get the best chance to win the Cup and I felt like this is the team to be [with] and that's why I sign with Detroit," Hossa told The Detroit Free Press, adding that it came down to the Penguins or Red Wings and he wasn't concerned about criticism of his choice.
"I don't care. People can say what they want. It's my life, and I make the decision I like."
Crosby, who developed good chemistry with Hossa when they were linemates late in the regular season and during the playoffs, doesn't hold a grudge.
"He's happy with his situation. That's fine," Crosby said.
Asked who he thought had the better shot at winning a Cup -- the Red Wings in 2008-09 or the Penguins over the next five to seven years, Crosby grinned.
"I love when they ask that question because there's 30 teams and the league isn't [predictable] anymore," said Crosby.
"Detroit's got a great team, and they haven't really lost anyone and they've added Hossa. I'm not going to take anything away from them. They're the champions right now and they're a favorite. But since when has it really been a favorite that's really dominated? The league's too competitive. I could say us for the next five years, too, but who knows?"
First published on September 11, 2008 at 12:00 am
Pens Fan Gets Crosby Delivery
By Tricia Lafferty
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby hugs season-ticket holder Aubri Covol after he delivered tickets to Guy and Karen Bradford at their Edgewood home.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review
When Guy Bradford opened the front door of his Edgewood home, he didn't expect to see Penguins center Sidney Crosby on his doorstep.
Bradford and his wife, Karen, knew their Penguins season tickets would arrive Wednesday afternoon. The couple, however, didn't know Crosby would be the player to deliver them.
"We didn't know who it would be until we opened the door, and then it was, 'Oh my!'" Karen said.
Moments after Crosby knocked on the door, sounds of excitement and surprise were heard from the Bradfords and the six other guests inside the house. But by the looks of the Crosby banner hanging on the porch and the handful of guests wearing Crosby jerseys, you would have thought the group knew their favorite player would be stopping by.
"We didn't want to know, but it was the best," Karen said. "It was the best we could have hoped for."
Crosby, dressed in jeans and a jersey, was one of 10 Penguins who delivered tickets yesterday to the homes of 35 randomly chosen season-ticket holders. The fans were informed a player would be delivering their tickets, but they weren't told which Penguin would be visiting. Marc-Andre Fleury, Jordan Staal, Sergei Gonchar, Brooks Oprik, Maxime Talbot, Tyler Kennedy, Pascal Dupuis, Jeff Taffe and head coach Michel Therrien each made a couple home visits yesterday.
"It's a personal thing," Crosby said. "You see (Mellon Arena) jammed every night, but you don't get to meet people usually personally. We get a lot of support every night, so it's a nice gesture.
"It's fun. I think a lot of the guys enjoy this. It's pretty easy for us. We're more than happy to do this. I don't think you see too many teams in any sport do this."
Crosby was first greeted by Guy, who chatted with Crosby about this past season and the Penguins' run to the Stanley Cup final, where they fell to the Detroit Red Wings.
"Thank you for last year," Guy said.
As Crosby made his way through the living room, Karen showed off her 32-year-old son Turner's first hockey stick. Crosby then signed the three-foot long wooden stick before taking a seat at the head of the Bradford's dining table. He signed paraphernalia, including jerseys, pictures and T-shirts.
The guests -- all of whom are season ticket holders -- chatted with Crosby about the Ice Bowl, the playoffs, Nova Scotia and Crosby's backhand that just missed the net in the final seconds of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.
"Oh, so close," Crosby said.
Conversation with Crosby was easy as the Bradfords and their guests had so much to say to the Penguins star.
"He's so personable," Karen said. "He's so nice and just makes you feel relaxed. He's just such a good role model that I'm so proud he's in Pittsburgh."
The Bradfords sheepishly admitted that they weren't always Penguin fans. Guy grew up a New York Rangers fan, and Karen cheered for the Boston Bruins before the couple moved to Pittsburgh in 2001.
It didn't take long, though, for the Penguins to win them over.
"It's not hard when they're so great," Karen said.
After Crosby spent about 25 minutes in the Bradford's home, the group headed outside to take a group picture on the porch.
But the fans had one last request before Crosby left.
"Aubri wants a hug, Sidney," someone blurted.
So Crosby turned around and gave Aubri Covol, a 15-year old from Plum Borough, a hug to cap the visit.
"I was in disbelief, lost for words," Covol said. "I never would have dreamt it. I go to all the games to see him play, but I never would have dreamt being 10 feet away from him."
Tricia Lafferty can be reached at tlafferty@tribweb.com or 412-380-5666.
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