just curious... non-pens fans?

I don't know your a pitts fan. I don't like pitts because they are in the east, the easiest conference. the bing is overrated, but no hate.

Crosby...very talented player who walks on to any NHL roster as a first-line centreman (and makes the team better on arrival) and pretty much saved a franchise that was on life support (because lest we forget, Pittsburgh from 2002 to 2004 was in dire shape; the team was beyond awful and didn't draw flies) so when I hear the "I'm not a bandwagon fan" drivel from some rube wearing a fresh-off-the-rack Crosby sweater and a yellow Ed Hardy hat...my bulls**t detector is going off loudly. Let's say Pittsburgh didn't win the draft lottery in 2005 (let's say, for the sake of arguement, that Atlanta won the lottery since they had as many balls in it as Pittsburgh). Does the team still exist in Pittsburgh?

However...Crosby (through clever marketing, hype, and enough spilled ink to raise the Titanic) has been hyped as "the Next one" since he was 14 in these parts (to be intellectually honest, John Tavares was given an amount of hype that is close to it). Both have been given exhaustive media training to the point where they've become exceptional at saying absolutely nothing while managing to keep their lips moving and noise coming out.

Appointing him captain after his rookie year came off as being contrived and a cheap marketing ploy. The captaincy is something that has to come from the dressing room dynamic and NOT by appointment of ownership and management.

Not that it matters but I'm not a fan of "(insert name of player) sucks" chants. Frankly it lacks creativity...boring as hell, and frankly, I doubt Crosby gives two scoots. I'm for creative stuff that shows imagination. It's more fun.

There's the small matter of Crosby (and Ovechkin) getting away with murder. Crosby's taint-punch? The instigation (and jumping a guy) last year? Ovechkin's slew-foot and last night's knee-on-knee number? You can't say "that's not their game"...guess what- it is!

I don't "hate" Crosby. I just can't stand the way that some Pens fans and some of the media treat this guy like he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. He's a very young player and most of you already have him as the next Greztky, Howe, Lemieux, and Orr. That's absurd. What if he got a career ending injury next game? I hope he doesn't. But still. It could happen.

Plus I get sick of the way that the teenage crowd treats him. They expect everyone to basically want to suck his d#ck. In case they didn't know, most people just like players from their team. Unless they are legends such as Gretzky, Howe, Lemieux, and Orr.

As far as liking Ovechkin more, he just seems tougher. To me at least. I don't see nearly as many people praising him as they do Crosby. He has a lot. But Crosby has NBC, CBC all over him. It gets old.

Again, I don't hate him. Just sick and tired of him. Sick of people asking me about him. 30 teams in the league. Crosby plays for ONE of them.

Pittsburgh Pirates Fan 4 Life: I gave you thumbs up. Well said.

Ahh, don't pay the Fan Conduct Council any mind. They have nothing better to do than try to change everything in the world they have no control over. That, or they just want to be heard.

Anyway, as it has been in sports for God knows how long, the stars of any team get "the treatment" in opposing arenas. Many players feed on it and raise their game. I've picked on Crosby when it was convenient if only because of his groupies that show up here asking for his phone number or e-mail addy.

I learned to respect the better players because I hated them before I grew up into a man. It helps me appreciate them more.

Then again, it could be that I'm just getting old.....

I'd just like to add that the reasons that people hate him are not his fault. You hear mentioned that they hate him because of the fans.... they hate him because of all the hype from the media that cram him down fans' throats. Crosby this, Crosby that, Crosby Crosby Crosby.

Seems that their hate should be directed elsewhere and not on Sid, because he has no control over that.

Honestly I don't really hate him per say. But the thing is the whiny-ness and baby stuff he does. Don't get me wrong, the guy is a great hockey player and if he matures the right way most people will hate him because of his talent. I'm also aware that there were/are plenty of players that are similar, it's just that he's glorified by the league as if he can do no wrong. I just don't think that's fair.

I'm a Penguins fan, and I know you are the number one Penguins bandwagoner on here, but the reason most people don't like him is understandable: the media makes him out to be a God. He is a great player, no doubt, but he is NOT better than Jarome Iginla, Dany Heatley, or even Jason Spezza. I love Crosby, but the attention he gets is over the top and unnecessary. The NHL wants a clean - cut figure who is a great hockey player to represent it, and I believe they chose Crosby to be that guy.

- When the Pirates make it to the World Series I will expect to see you on that bandwagon as well...

Howe #9: Thanks. I gave you one as well.

1 - Crosby can be a bit of a crybaby.

2 - A lot of Pens fans are idiot bandwagoners who completely ride Crosby's nutsack and claim he is the greatest player to ever live even though they just started watching hockey last May.

i'm a caps' fan, and there's a bit of an intense rivalry there. you here everyone hating on my boy ovi too. everyone hates their biggest rivals' best players. thus caps fans hate cindy and malkin, and everyone else in the league hates ovi, dispite him being the best player in the league (with malkin a close second, and crosby a little ways down the line). people are also tired of the nhl and media treating him like a god. he's basically hockey's tom brady. there's also the thing about him whining about the hats after ovi's hat trick in the playoffs.

as for why people don't hate ovi as much, it's simple: they do. look at any forum, ppl talk so much **** about alex the gr8. a lot, including ppl celebrating his injury tonight. you just don't hear the chants as much b/c you probably don't watch every caps game like i do.

i didn't hate crosby until last years playoffs, when he began to whine because caps fans were throwing hats on the ice to celebrate ovechkin's hat trick. He went up to the ref and demanded that an announcement should be made to tell the fans to stop throwing hats because they were delaying the game.

the reason they hate Crosby is because he don`t play for their team......Crosby is one of the best players in the NHL