Even if Crosby does somehow "whine" more than other hockey players, nobody would bother making signs and t-shirts against him if it weren't for team rivalries. The reason you see more 87-hatred in Washington than just about anywhere is that Washington and Pittsburgh are bitter rivals -- they hate losing to each other, and when Washington gets beaten by Crosby and his team, fans console themselves by hating Sidney Crosby. I think it's telling that many Capitals fans would rather make t-shirts about a Penguins player than wear the shirts and jerseys supporting their own team.
The weakness of the criticisms (whining) just shows how unfounded they are. These days we have professional athletes who beat their girlfriends, drive drunk, take drugs, bring guns to nightclubs... Crosby is by all accounts a role model who stays out of trouble and does countless charity events. He purchases hockey equipment for little kids and surprises them by showing up at their practice. He is known for almost never refusing an autograph because he remembers what it was like when he was a kid and a hockey player gave him an autograph.
He might occasionally make comments that annoy opponents, making them think he complains too much, but he doesn't deserve the passionate hatred expressed by opposing teams' fans. It can only be explained by their frustration that they don't have someone like him on their team.

I'd cook for Crosby. Hope he likes meatballs.

yeah I lost all respect for this when you started with the wrestling comparison. People watch wrestling because they love or hate the wrestlers involved (but the ultimate reason is that they have the IQ of a house plant). Hockey is a sport. You can't just change the way you talk about a superstar and expect everyone to change their views. People love and hate hockey players because of- wait for it- the way they play hockey. There's no big buildup with players talking to each other before the game. People love or hate crosby because of the way they perceive him on the ice. The NHL's marketing campaign hasn't helped because no one likes anything shoved at them again and again, but mostly the reason is because they look at the way he carries himself during a game and make their judgments based on that.

Do you smellllllll what Sidney is sataying???

Looks like sid is thinking about hunkering down on a wenis. What a snatch.

is it just me or did anyone else notice that all his goals are scored on a rebound when hes sitting backdoor. he camps backdoor and waits for a rebound...........or an empty net goal.

Crosby is awesome, as he's showing by coming back from an injury and overtaking Ovechkin in scoring. He's leading his team into the playoffs after serious doubt earlier in the season.

@happygilmore- did you happen to catch his goal last night? yeah I didn't think so.

Crosby with his whinning and diving OR Ovechkin with his TO excessive celebrations.Honestly I don't know which one I despise worst. AO calls Cherry old school and there are plenty of old school players that don't like to be dissed - my suggestion to AO is to keep your head up, you are not bigger than the game.

Thanks, Wysh. Sad thing is I still own Miro in my staff league.
You may know me as someone who writes a certain NHL weekly column that appears on Yahoo. (Hint: The initials are NZW.)

ps- 5-4 I really don't mind OV's celebrations. The fans dig it and it really doesn't hurt anyone. Is it excessive? Sure, but at least he's not touching someone's balls.

To answer your question, people in Pittsburgh support him because of his talent and his character. Sure he's a whiner, but aren't captains supposed to defend their team and question the calls refs make? I'm from the 'burgh and people think he's awesome. I do agree with some people that think Malkin is better, because he is. But he's got some raw talent that few match. And yes, he is at times a good form of comic relief. But he never asked to be the "Savior of the NHL" He was thrust into that position.

wow. 8 minutes of my life i can't get back. tell me wysh, how exactly does the nhl sell crosby as the anti-hero? the outcomes are not scripted like the wwe, which makes it more difficult. however, i would laugh my a$$ off if crosby jumps on the ice during a caps game and nails ovechkin with a steel chair.

HappyGilmore, do you watch Sidney Crosby? He creates most of the offense when he's on the ice, he's the one pushing through the blue line, he likes to work behind the net, works hard in the corners. He doesn't just score on those kind of chances (spinning move, top shelf on Lunqvist, last night against Quick to name 2 quickly), he's a versatile offensive guy, but he's more into passing than scoring. He's not cherry-picking when he gets there, he's doing everything in his power to win. What forward doesn't get rebound goals? Ovie gets his own rebounds, Malkin gets rebounds, Iginla is a power forward and gets rebounds.
Choosing between Sid and Malkin? Eek, I hope that choice doesn't need to be made, but MVP right now is Geno. It'll be hard for him to win because AO didn't have a bad season and he's reigning Hart winner, not to mention having Sid on his team is a disadvantage in the voting.

Steel City sounds like the Village, now. What a bunch of banana eaters.

@happygilmore - sid was the best penguin in the finals last year and tied zetterberg for points, even though sid got those points in fewer games then zetterberg did. malkin was the one who disappeared in the finals. not sid.

Leahy's a bum!

Now I hate the whole city of Pittsburgh after watching that! What was the guy with the yellow sock on his head saying about Crosby getting angry during a game because another player tripped him with his dick? Surprised he would get angry over that.

haha lake 86- did better than zetty? whats why zetty got a new ring this year and criesby didnt. and for the record zettys sick but hes not the best on our team pal

I hope that video wasnt intended to get fans off Sidneys back, you may as well put a "Dart Board " on his face. Now I have more people in my life I need to Bi=tch Slap.

This comes down to the fact that Sid was forced fed by the NHL to all the fans with them saying he is the best. Fans don't like being told who's the best so they revolted, latched onto minuscule things. Honestly the incidents of Crosby complaining in the last 3 seasons vs. the first one doesn't compare. It's that first year where he set a bad rep. I've been a Crosby fan since he was at Shattuck Saint Mary's and my friends who played Prep hockey told me about. I am a die-hard pens fan but I'd like this guy even if he was a Flyer/Cap/Ranger take your pick. I like Mike Richards and Jeff Carter and would love to have either on my team. But the three of those guy all share one thing, they play all 3 zones of the ice. Guys like Ovechkin and to a lesser extent Malkin play only in the offensive zone. As far as the comparison between Ovechkin and Crosby, Alex may get more trophies and score more goals, but Crosby back checks he plays defense. The only time Ovechkin comes back into his zone is to run someone. I know that part of the reason Ovechkin isn't as defensive is that he's a wing not a center, but he rarely back checks and it drive me nuts.