Giving Malkin the respect he deserves

HAHAHA

So, natedogg3, it seems the Pens have gotten the two most despicable superstars in the history of the NHL! 20 year old Crosby and 21 year old Malkin. I'd take em.

I am going to write this off to the natural rivalry that borders on insane in Pennsylvania, kind of like it was when I was a kid and HATED Montreal.

The residual effect on me of this loathing was that I came to HATE New Jersey  (most hated team because of Lemaire) and the Wild and teams where Montreal's ex-players go to  coach because I feel they all hook and hold, just the way they were taught in Montreal to cheat and get away with it with the stupid refs. There. I feel better too!

Whwn you hate a team, you naturally see all the crap they do. It is all part of sports. Not liking each other's players comes with real passion. Ask Ottawa how they feel about the guys on the Leafs. Hatred, I say.

If this series goes 6 or 7, the hatred will really grow!!! If that is possible.

But what do I think about Lemaire as a player?

Well, I respect him a lot. He was pure Hall of Fame in my books.

• Fast enough to keep up with Lafleur
• Strong on the puck
• Excellent 2-way center, not afraid to start deep in his end.
• Excellent transition speed (acceleration)
• Booming slap shot! Sunk Chicago's Stanley Cup in game 7 with shot from CENTER ICE with Canadians losing 2 nothing.
• Great leader, team player.

He is a winner. And, I cannot remember the things he did I hated so much. I think it was just hooking and stuff when I just wasn't pulling for his team. Not things like you (natedogg3) complained that Malkin was doing (dirty and cheap stuff).

This thought and this thread all from a guy who recently said he doesn't go out of his way to bash the Penguins and their players. Chalk this up as the 2nd thread you recently created just for that reason alone. I'm sure everyone will now hate not only Crosby, but Malkin now too, just because of your wise and insightful outlook. Give me a break.

And since you are so worried about hockey players possibly doing something that might hurt another player (wow, wouldn't that be something new in the NHL), how about this tidbit from your Flyers' own saintly Derian Hatcher after being called for boarding the Canadiens Francis Bouillon...

"The call is the call. I am not going to sit here and say
anything, but I wish I didn't let up on him," Hatcher said of
his hit on defenseman Francis Bouillon. "If I am going to get
(a five-minute penalty), I might as well finish it (the hit).

He was quoted at different times, from different sources, and was sincere that he wished he finished the check. A check that put a player into the boards.

Hmmmm. I guess you should run out and start a thread about how dispicable Hatcher is. For that matter, why not start threads about every player thay has done something that might/did hurt someone?

Oh wait, that's right. Only the Penguins do such things. My bad.