Social media gives a voice to the voiceless.
It’s a shame it doesn’t give a brain to the brainless.
Being mad is our new national sport, and was indulged in the wake of the Penguins’ lineup decisions for the weekend’s home-and-home with Washington.
Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin (among others) sat out Saturday’s home game vs. the Capitals, then returned to active duty for Sunday’s tilt at D.C., likely the last home game for all-time leading goal-scorer Alex Ovechkin.
Ovechkin, Crosby’s foil for two decades and an integral piece of the Penguins-Capitals rivalry, is expected to retire after Washington’s season wraps Tuesday.
Sunday’s sendoff was first-rate: Ovechkin takes the opening face-off against Crosby. Photographs of Ovechkin with the Penguins’ stars. Tribute videos. Respect paid to Crosby. Fan buzz. National TV. Delightful scenes.
A dopey minority of Penguins fans nonetheless felt hard done by.
“Saturday at PPG Paints Arena was Fan Appreciation Day!”
“We paid so much for tickets and saw Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s roster!”
“Crosby and Co. should have played at Pittsburgh, not Washington!”
“They owe us,” blah, blah. blah.
Cry more.
The Penguins made the playoffs for the first time since 2022. They have home-ice advantage in the first round. Appreciate that, fans.
Nobody can feel cheated by Crosby, Letang and Malkin. Not after three Stanley Cups, two decades of highlight-cluttered glory and a freshly-minted playoff berth.
This was about lessening the workload in meaningless games. Also picking a spot to honor a legend and worthy foe.
Buying a ticket guarantees nothing but a seat for that game. This wasn’t NBA-style “load management,” a euphemism for laziness. This had rhyme and reason.
If you’re a season-ticket holder, what happened didn’t bother you.
If this was a rare purchase, where have you been?
Media wretches got reprimanded for defending the move because we get in for free.
But my mother and I had season tickets for nine years, 1971-80. We saw six playoff seasons, eight series total.
We’d have been overjoyed to see, say, Pierre Larouche and Jean Pronovost sit out the home finale to rest for the playoffs. (Maybe that happened. I don’t remember.)
But today’s fan thinks everything is just for him/her. It’s called “main character syndrome.”
Ovechkin deserves respect more than you deserve whatever you think it is you deserve.
Those attending Saturday did Penguins fandom proud with a hearty ovation for Ovechkin. Tribute was paid on the Jumbotron.
If you were there, you didn’t get to see Crosby, etc.
But you got to see the NHL’s No. 1 goal-getter ever score for the 929th time. It may well be his last goal.
I keep hearing about disappointed kids. Explain to them who Ovechkin is and what they saw. You’re not just there to see the hometown heroes. I have vivid memories of legends like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull and Bobby Orr.
Anyway, kids mostly just want ice cream.
Those complaining are a nutty fraction. It’s a great franchise and terrific fan base.
Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal Saturday but looked ready to retire. A bit broad in the beam and just tired.
Crosby, meanwhile, will have a little more left in the tank for having rested on Saturday.
He needs it. The playoffs beckon. That’s what’s important.
If you’re mad, go wait for Aaron Rodgers.