Sidney Crosby Arrives in Pittsburgh

Sidney Crosby arrives in Pittsburgh for the first time and draws more attention than Mario Lemieux, or even Ben Roethlisberger

Thursday, August 11, 2005
By Shelly Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mario Lemieux didn't get this kind of reception in his first moments in Pittsburgh. Neither did Ben Roethlisberger or any other athlete in the 20 years between the time those two were drafted by local teams.

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But when Sidney Crosby rode down an escalator to the baggage claim area of Pittsburgh International Airport just after 7 p.m. yesterday, his white polo shirt reflected the glare of a host of television cameras. When he reached the bottom and was escorted into a back corner for a brief interview session, Crosby was mobbed by reporters, photographers and a few dozen fans who had gotten wind of his arrival or were just lucky enough to be there and figured out what was going on.

Crosby's first public words?

"It's nice just to finally be here," said the 18-year-old center who was the first overall draft pick in the NHL draft.

"Obviously, after the draft, I'm excited to get here and see the city and meet some guys."
Crosby, of Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia, and a handful of other young prospects are in town for a few days of medical testing and orientation.

He'll return on a more permanent basis before Sept. 13, the start of Penguins training camp.
Although he was three hours late because of immigration problems and flight delays and despite the attention he drew at the airport, Crosby was smiling and relaxed. His dark, curly hair didn't have a lock out of place. His dress was casual, down to the jeans and flip-flops.

"It's been a long day, but now I'm happy to be here," he said.

He handled a battery of questions with ease.
He expected to get some dinner and have an early night.
He likes the Penguins' recent free-agent signings. "I think it's great."
He doesn't know which players he might be skating with on a forward line.
Since the draft, he has spent his time training for camp. (He didn't mention the appearance with Jay Leno.)

Yes, he expects he will live with team owner/star Mario Lemieux.
No, he doesn't know whether he will be asked to baby-sit Lemieux's four children or have a curfew.
Yes, he had heard about driving through the Fort Pitt Tunnel and seeing the city view on the other side.

He liked other things he had heard about Pittsburgh.
"Just a great sports town, especially right now," he said. "They said there's a lot of energy in the city with the Penguins, a lot of tickets being sold."

With that, Crosby, still surrounded, was led across the street and into a police facility that was off-limits to everyone else. A few minutes later, as the group outside dwindled to a last few reporters and photographers, he re-emerged and climbed into a waiting chauffeured Cadillac -- though not a stretch model. His bags and hockey sticks were loaded into the trunk.
Then he began his first ride toward the heart of his new city.

(Shelly Anderson can be reached at shanderson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1721.)