Crosby and "whining"

I'm constantly hearing people (mostly Flyers fans) say that Sidney Crosby needs to stop his whining, or that he runs his mouth to much. I always kind of laugh when I hear this because aren't the people constantly saying this just whiners themselves? Look, he's just a kid. An extremely talented, passionate about his sport, kid that was thrust into the position as the "savior of the NHL" before he was even drafted, at all of 18 years old. Young players of any sport have a tendency to open their mouths and express their opinions or displeasure about something that happens during the course of a game. I saw it all the time (and did it myself) as an athlete, and I've continued to see it while coaching and attending my son's various sporting events throughout the years. You know what it comes down to? They hate to lose. They want to, and expect to, win every time they set foot on a rink, field, or court. And you know what? It's that passion that drives them to be and do their best. It's that passion that a lot of athletes lose over time. Some hockey player, maybe you've heard of him, named Wayne Gretzky was also labled as a whiner due to his running of the mouth. As he matured, he learned to handle himself better, and I don't think anybody even bothers themselves about any whining he may have done during his career now.

So, Is Sidney Crosby just a whining little punk, or just a passionate athlete doing nothing more than acting his age?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9UpLXqI0qhc

Look at all the dives! Especially the one at 1:45! Sure its a cheapshot, but no doubt thats a total dive. If someone poking you with their stick knocks you down, then you shouldn't be on the ice!

Sure hes a great player, but don't even try to say he doesn't act overdramatic at times!

You mean the spear in the gut? Have you ever taken a spear? Let me shove the blade of a hockey stick in your gut and see how you react.

Yeah, I saw a couple dives in that video. A couple. They also were from his rookie season. But the first clip on there is when Hatcher hit him and he lost teeth, and the second clip was when he sprained his ankle this year that has cost him to miss more than a quarter of the season. Guess they were dives.

I voted "not sure".  I personally don't think he is a whiner, but I'm sure if he played for any other team (especially the Flyers), I would probably be saying he is a whiner. 

I agree with you Pezkiz, I think he is passionate.  But I think with experience, he will become more skilled in his arguing, that is, he will continue to argue and complain as a captain should, but not look so whiney when doing so.

Actually I have been speared before while playing roller hockey, but the way that he went down was so overdramatic it isn't even funny. A normal person would grab at their gut then fall to their knees if it was that bad. He falls to his stomach immediately, trying to draw the penalty. I never said it didn't hurt, but it was an ovbvious overdramatization.

And sure everyone acts overdramatic at times, myself included, but Sidney Crosby acts overdramatic more than a normal person or a normal hockey player.

Plus the guy runs his mouth a hell of a lot, but hes never willing to drop the gloves or actually stand up for himself. I don't care if you don't want to fight in hockey, but don't go running your mouth standing behind your teammates if you aren't willing to back it up.

Like Daniel Briere?

I agree with you, the high scorers on teams shouldn't be the ones out their fighting a lot. But they also shouldn't be the ones running their mouth more than anyone else on the ice either, unless they're ready to drop the gloves once in a while. I'll admit that Briere can be quite the woman at times, such as spearing Ovechkin in the crotch, but I very rarely see him running his mouth at other players (at least that I know of). Crosby on the other hand will get in players faces, yell things to them and then when they want to drop the gloves he skates away. His play may back up his words, but someone who's play speaks so much, shouldn't be out there running his mouth like hes going to single handedly take down the other team with his fists, if he isn't willing to.

I love how whenever somebody has something bad to say about Crosby being a whiner or week, the other person brings up the Ference fight.  Mind you Ference doesn't fight, and weights 190lbs soaken wet.

The fight wasn't such a beat down as some people say.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FY2lsKPo0B8&feature=related

This is the fight. I really wouldn't call it a beat down and in fact, Crosby is the one taken to the ice. Seems like it was pretty much a 50-50 fight, mabey Sid had a couple of better punches, but thats about it.