News Article CHERRY CRITICIZES CROSBY, SAYS HE SHOULD CHANGE STYLE OF PLAY

[OzFlyer]

CHERRY CRITICIZES CROSBY, SAYS HE SHOULD CHANGE STYLE OF PLAY

Don Cherry is the latest hockey personality to call out NHL superstar Sidney Crosby for his attitude and his playing style.

Cherry spoke out against the Pittsburgh Penguins captain Saturday during his weekly "Coach's Corner" segment on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. He joined the chorus of critics who claim Crosby is a cheap player who whines to the referees.

"A long time ago when Crosby was coming out I tried to warn him 'quit diving, quit whining,' I was the worst guy in the world ... and all I was trying to do was help him," Cherry said.

"All I said was stop whining, stop diving and snapping the head back."

Cherry says that Crosby is being targeted by opponents because they don't respect him.

The former Boston Bruins coach said that Crosby has to learn to rise above the physical play of his opponents, or he will get injured.

"If you want to survive in this league, he's got to suck it up and stop getting stupid penalties and going back at guys," Cherry said.

Crosby has struggled with head and neck injuries over the past two seasons.

Cherry showed a clip of Crosby giving Philadelphia forward Brayden Schenn a retaliatory shot in a game last Sunday. Schenn later replied with a cross-check to Crosby's back, an incident which was partly responsible for touching off a line brawl between the two teams in the game's dying minutes.

Cherry said Crosby shouldn't have retaliated against Schenn.

"Listen, I admire him, but he should be like (Montreal great) Guy Lafleur," Cherry said. "All you have to do is look at (Tampa Bay star Steven) Stamkos, he gets more abuse than anybody. You cannot be the greatest player in the world and expect to get a free ride. And what you've done, you've turned the league and teams against you."

Earlier this week, New York Rangers coach John Tortorella, Philadelphia assistant Craig Berube and former NHL coach turned TV analyst Mike Milbury all took turns accusing Pittsburgh of being one of the dirtiest teams in the league. Tortorella was fined US$20,000 for his comments.

All three had choice words for Crosby, while Tortorella and Berube also showed disdain for the Penguins' other superstar, Evgeni Malkin.

Milbury started the avalanche of criticism on Monday, calling out Crosby on a Philadelphia radio station.

"So you know, Crosby gets cross-checked, big whoop," Milbury said. "He said after he came back from his 35th concussion, 'I'm not going to do this anymore, I'm not going to get into this scrums, I'm going to stay away from that stuff.' He couldn't help himself because there's a little punk in Crosby."

Milbury later apologized for his comments.

On Tuesday, Berube picked up where Milbury left off. Speaking on CSN Philly Daily News Live, Berube called Crosby and Malkin "the two dirtiest players on their hockey team."

"I've got no problem with what Schenn does," he added. "And if somebody runs (Crosby) over, that's great. They should run him over."

Tortorella's comments came after the Penguins' 5-2 win over the Rangers on Thursday, which included a knee-on-knee hit by Pittsburgh defenceman Brooks Orpik on New York forward Derek Stepan.

"It's a cheap, dirty hit," Tortorella said. "I wonder what would happen if we did it to their two whining stars (Crosby and Malkin) over there. I wonder what would happen. So I'm anxious to see what happens with the league with this. Just no respect amongst players. None. It's sickening."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=392545

[flyerrod]

@B21

Damn.....there is somebody else who knows nothing about Hockey criticizing the little "angel"...... :blink:

[mojo1917]

The Stamkos comparison is interesting to me, I don't get to see too many 'ning games so I don't know a lot about the muggings he takes, but since he goes into those high traffic scoring areas I'll bet he takes his share

[TedZep]

That's at least five former or current coaches/players in just a week calling Crosby out.

I do take issue with one thing Cherry said: "... Crosby shouldn't have retaliated against Schenn." It was the other way around, Schenn retaliating for Crosby initiating dirty play. When Crosby hit the deck, he didn't look to see who it was, he knew who; he was looking to see if a referee saw it. Ever see a little kid fall down and not start to cry until she sees Mommy? That's Sid.

[terp]

@OzFlyer

Obviously gamesmanship by Cherry. I'm not sure why but I'm sure it's gamesmanship. And garbage.

[terp]

The Stamkos comparison is interesting to me, I don't get to see too many 'ning games so I don't know a lot about the muggings he takes, but since he goes into those high traffic scoring areas I'll bet he takes his share

I'm sure Stamkos takes a beating but I think Cherry is saying that taking a beating because you're very good and hated is a lot worse than taking a beating for being very good and respected.

Edited April 9, 2012 by terp

[doom88]

I think Cherry means, don't abuse the protection from the league.

[Spinorama]

@OzFlyer

Obviously gamesmanship by Cherry. I'm not sure why but I'm sure it's gamesmanship. And garbage.

[Phillygrump]

I'm sure Stamkos takes a beating but I think Cherry is saying that taking a beating because you're very good and hated is a lot worse than taking a beating for being very good and respected.

Thats the thing. I always hear Penguins fans say "you just hate Crosby because he's so good." but its not true. I don't hate Stamkos. I don't hate Toews or Kane. I don't hate Datsyuk. They don't remind me of whiney kids on a playground.

[mojo1917]

I hate Kane

he's a bonafide conceited jerk. his NHL 36 portrayed a guy with a lot of skill but isn't a 3rd as talented as he thinks he is..

some people can pull his attitude off and still be likeable he however doesn't have that gift.

plus game 6...

yeah he's easy to hate. just sayin'

[KnucklesNilan]

That's at least five former or current coaches/players in just a week calling Crosby out. I do take issue with one thing Cherry said: "... Crosby shouldn't have retaliated against Schenn." It was the other way around, Schenn retaliating for Crosby initiating dirty play. When Crosby hit the deck, he didn't look to see who it was, he knew who; he was looking to see if a referee saw it. Ever see a little kid fall down and not start to cry until she sees Mommy? That's Sid.

If I remember correctly, Schenn threw a nice, clean body check into Crosby along the boards... Sid tried to almost ducking under it, Sid's helmet came off... Sid retaliated after that.. not only against Schenn, but two vicious slashes, breaking his stick on one of them. Then, and only then, Schenn retaliated with that little shove that obviously Crosby embelished to holy hell...

[JUNGJAMS]

Foremost the reason why people hate Crosby is because of his attitude. there's been players in every sport who have been well liked by even rivals because you can have respect for how well they play because they just work hard and don't ask for favors or calls to go their way. i think if crysby looked at the **** he took his first couple years as other players competitiveness and took it like a man instead of a "kid" then i think we wouldn't be talking about him right now, maybe cooke or orbik those losers. and malkin too, i have seen more crosschecks to the back of players by him then anyone else. this dude is taller then almost everyone he faces yet he has to give out cheap shots like that. Cherry and Torts are right, the respect for players has really dwindled in the last decade or so. its a shame because ill admit that the penguins have a hard-working team for the most part. i think Staal is a great player (i never hear anyone talking **** about him) and some other guys, but its the cooke's and malkin's and crysby's that just ruin it, and make it that much sweeter to beat them.

[TedZep]

If I remember correctly, Schenn threw a nice, clean body check into Crosby along the boards...

That was well prior to the "incident." Crosby slashed Schenn right after the non-phantom goal, just seconds before. Or are you saying that Crosby's slash on Schenn was retaliation for the good hit 10 minutes prior? Could be.