Versus Coverage is Terribly Biased.....

I can't believe that this isn't out here yet.  After the first two games, I felt a lean toward the Philly side.  The went to the Philly crowd after the few goals they had.  They seemed to discuss things guided toward what ever the Flyers did.  I almost thought Gov. Rendell was the producer for Versus Hockey.  I was fine with this until last night.

Last night was an outrage!!  You would have barely have known the Flyers were playing the Pens.  No cameras at a Pittsburgh bar.  It was "what was Philly needing to do to get back into it"..."what the Flyers we doing wrong"...analysis of every plausible detail related to the Flyers.

It was painful to watch, other than the Penguins winning again.  It was like they were told to keep the focus off the small market team, since Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, and Fleury all demand attention at any other time.

Is Versus based out of Philly?  Is the NHL taking note on how lobsided the announcing is, let alone how bad it is?  Time to have a voice about it.

brised- listen, I hear what your saying I too thought at times the coverage was biased in the sence that it maid it seem they were actually rooting for the Flyers. Case in point:

"I think the Pens are playing the way the Flyers should be playing" This was said after the Pens started to ramp their defense up. They were forchecking the heck out of the Flyers. So much that they couldn't get any offense going. It was said often that the fact they were minus two players on defense and one on offense, it was a contributing factor. We already knew this. Why o they keep talking about the two injuries. I don't know who should be more upset....the Pens fans or the Flyers. (for continuing to bring it up as they are trying to forget that fact already)

I think the one guy used to be in Washington. The  Biotti dude, or what ever his name is.

Well, I remember that statement.  I just see it as they can't accept that Pittsburgh is this good for how young they are.  I could see where they are coming from.  We didn't expect this this year.  A playoff round win or two...maybe.  I'm past that now.

The Penguins are the #2 seed and played seeds lower than them, so why shouldn't their play be stellar against these teams.  Yes, we didn't have the greatest records against those teams for the season, but we didn't have the team put together like we have now.

Crosby and Fleury had their injuries.  Hossa and Dupuis come later.  Fleury comes back from his injury a new goalie!! 

So, I can already see that Detroit would get more of the attention in a Pittsburgh/Detroit final matchup.  They almost talked as much about Detroit last night than they did about the Penguins.

I just find it annoying.

Them pulling for a longer series isn't going to make that happen.  Everytime, they would point out what Philly did wrong...what about what the Pens did right. 

The point they were trying to make was where they were saying that the Flyers needed to get the puck in deep.  Penguins take the puck back to the other end and scores.  So, they use the telestrator to show what he did wrong.  Ok.

Same thing happened to the Pens in a previous game, but is was the great play by the Philly player to telegraph the pass and get the goal.

Oh, and I loved the pans they did of the Pittsburgh bars after the Penguins scored their goal on opposition ice.  

From the sounds of it, though, Hockey Night in Canada is drowning Philly completely and making up for the VS. B.S. Don Cherry is even calling Detroit and Pittsburgh for the finals. Personally, I don't see it any different. It was the same for the OT game 5 last series and NBC. We aren't deceived. Pens are gonna rock in the Finals.

Phuck Philadelphia! GO PENS!!!

It's been killing me!  They started the coverage last night by talking about how good Richardson has been.  Then moved to the improved play the Flyers had in game two.  If you didn't know the Penguins were up 2 games to none, you would assume the Flyers were winning! 

Then during the game they will say things like Gill "mauled" one of the Flyers, but a Flyer defenseman will "clobber" a Penguin...implying that the same hit is ok for them and not for us.  It feels like they have to force themselves to say something complimentary of the Penguins.  I can't wait for the coverage of vs to be done.

brised, I agree that the coverage has been biased in favor of the Flyers, but who cares? Stay focused...the Pens are one game away from the Stanley Cup Finals. Fans of 28 other teams wish they were us right now.

Plus, I know we don't see it this way, but Crosby and Malkin (especially Crosby) are shoved down everyone's throats all season long, so most casual viewers know the Pens...the Flyers on the other hand? Who is their superstar? Who is the face of their franshise to the casual fan? They have some good players (Richards, Briere, Biron, etc.) but no one that has had near the marketing focus as Crosby has, and to a lesser extent Malkin. That's probably why VS has been focusing on Philly more. All that matters to me is that we're very close to being where we want to be.

One comment on the game from last night, can we chain Fleury to the goal post so he can't leave the crease? He makes me very nervous every time I see him leave the crease to play the puck. GO PENS!

PSU-  I can't listen to that either. Just keep in mind that we are 1 win away form going to meet the Wings. I was ramped up last night so much that I hardley slept. I wanted to play game 4 last night. HA HA.

The Flyers should hold nothing back tomorrow night, but it will be on us to close it out. I can't wait until we line up against them and they have to look us in the eye and give us the respect we deserve.

I agree that it is more important that we are winning.  I'm thrilled.

This is also a showcase for the city and it's fans.  By watching the telecast of the 3 games, if you were in another city, who has the better fans?  Which city looked more inviting?  They never focused on Pittsburgh and its fans.  They started the broadcast last night in front of fans in a bar.  It makes it looks like Pittsburgh doesn't care about the teams they have.

I agree with Fleury moving around.  There is a limit on what he should try.  He almost got burned a couple times -- he won't be able to do that against a nimble team like the Red Wings.  Loved the post to post split though

GO PENS!!!

Just to add to the first post, There were 2000 fans outside of Mellon arena last night watching this game. If VS were on top of their game they could have had some nice coverage from that area. Interviews, (from both sides is what I am hearing) live feed with an exciting atmosphere. I have a notion to write to VS after this season and let them know that Pittsburgh did not get a chance to showcase their beautiful city in an extremely perfect opportunity . VS also missed the boat on some much needed ratings.

 I'm not much for ESPN, but if they had the rights this year, you bet they would have been there. They know what are fan base is like for sports in our city. Again, this was a great post and there should be more made out of it from everyone.

I was just over at the Flyers board and there is some guy over there saying that Philly has been the recipient of a 30+ yr conspiracy of Philly teams. Is he kidding! They have not been very good for a long long time. The Eagles choke becasue of their QB/Off. situation, The Phillies have not been there since late 90's. The Flyers are their most consistant team and he is saying that it is a conspiracy that they have not won a championship.  

I do have to say that I felt that way about Duke BB for a long time. They seem to get all the call's. Especially in the ACC> Pitt handed them a 1 point loss this past year. The score was no indication though becasue Pitt dominated them and made subs.

I think this series ends tomorrow night. If we get the first goal again, it will be lights out. Philly will have to take some chances, and that's when we will get our's to put it away. If Biron stops some good chances, he may just get some confidence and stifle the O. I think Philly will go down with a whimper.

Dude, it is not just Vs.  Check out ESPN's coverage on Sportscenter.  No one mentions this series without first stating that the Flyers are missing Timonen and that other yahoo.  I just wish they would mention that we had injuries to even more important players:  Crosby/Fleury.  We didnt fold.  If we were not playing playoff-winning caliber hockey during that stretch, we would not have had the chance to be playing for the Cup.  I am so used to it though, I dont even notice until someone else brings it up. 

We just need to stay aggressive on the forecheck, keep generating scoring chances, and keep grinding in our end.  I dont think that the Flyers can sustain the energy level we are playing with right now.  Fleury is making big, timely saves, the defense is solid, and our playmakers are pouring it on. 

Do we play againg tonight?? Cmon please tell me we do!!!!