The most skilled, graceful, ridiculously talented player of all time, IMO, and I count it as a privilege to have been fortunate enough to be living in Pittsburgh, and a hockey fan, through his entire career. Watching him on a game-by-game, night-by-night basis perform his artistry on ice was simply a treat. His style was just so unique, it's hard to categorize -- almost like watching a ballet, or other fine arts performance...
I feel bad for all current Penguins fans, who missed out on watching Mario perform night-in and night-out...most have no idea...
The most skilled, graceful, ridiculously talented player of all time, IMO, and I count it as a privilege to have been fortunate enough to be living in Pittsburgh, and a hockey fan, through his entire career. Watching him on a game-by-game, night-by-night basis perform his artistry on ice was simply a treat. His style was just so unique, it's hard to categorize -- almost like watching a ballet, or other fine arts performance...
I feel bad for all current Penguins fans, who missed out on watching Mario perform night-in and night-out...most have no idea...
A few weeks ago I was at this nice, old lady's house because she was donating her old pool table to the church youth group and I was there to move it. She has a bunch of Penguins pictures and some signed stuff on the wall.(Just the players who came to Blair County Ballpark to sign at Curve games. Dupuis, Cooke, etc..)
So, anyway, we start talking hockey and I tell her how I used to go see Mario play all the time, and she says, "Well Crosby and Malkin are right up there with him!"
I said, "Wellll............" She says, "They are"
I just kept my mouth shut at that point cause I wasn't going to argue with this nice, old lady giving the kids her pool table.
It did, however, make me wonder how many people believe this. It saddens me to think that number is probably quite high.
i look at mario with a big "what if" in my mind. great player but i always wonder how much better he could have been had he been healthy and had a better attitude/work ethic, especially earlier in his career. i also always wonder what crosby could have achieved, had he been healthy and gone to a better franchise.
great players but i think they both were/are capable of more than they accomplished.
i look at mario with a big "what if" in my mind. great player but i always wonder how much better he could have been had he been healthy and had a better attitude/work ethic, especially earlier in his career. i also always wonder what crosby could have achieved, had he been healthy and gone to a better franchise.
great players but i think they both were/are capable of more than they accomplished.
i look at mario with a big "what if" in my mind. great player but i always wonder how much better he could have been had he been healthy and had a better attitude/work ethic, especially earlier in his career. i also always wonder what crosby could have achieved, had he been healthy and gone to a better franchise.
great players but i think they both were/are capable of more than they accomplished.
"Your son is going to be fine, but had he been born without any abnormalities, he could have achieved so much more".
Crosby started his first season playing on a team with Mario, lived with Mario for years, has had Geno by his side the entire time he's played here and has had a pretty good amount of talent playing with him -- albeit not always on his line -- every year of his career. I don't think you can ask for a better situation than that. Having the best player to EVER play the game mentor you for the first years of your career. I attribute Crosby's success as much to that as anything else.
Yes. As mikelegacy just said, this city has been absolutely blessed, hockey-wise...just thinking of the number of years this team has employed the stellar services of Lemieux, Jagr, Crosby, Malkin...
And as billybudd said, ZERO disrespect meant toward Crosby or Malkin. I count myself fortunate to be able to watch these two generational talents perform night in and night out, no doubt -- and amazingly, right on the heels of the Lemieux/Jagr era.
THAT SAID, and I'll say this as politely as possible, that lady is flat wrong. Anyone who believes that Crosby and Malkin are "right there with" Lemieux in his prime, simply have no clue what they are/were watching.
There are the very good/highly talented players, and we've had lots of those...Coffey, Kovy, Francis, Hossa, Letang, and many others very near that level (Recchi, Straka, Tocchet, Stevens, Murphy, Neal, etc.). And THEN, there is great/a "cut above" all of your peers. This is Crosby and Malkin, and Jagr.
And THEN, there is "otherworldly." THAT was prime Mario...
I love watching Sid and Geno. It's a blessing to have the best two players in the game today on the Pens. But honestly, neither of them holds a candle to Mario. I hope Crosby eeks into that "Top 10" conversation, and 1 in every 50 games or so, Geno basically plays a "Mario" game, but ultimately neither Sid nor Geno are remotely on Mario's level.
That was a nightly basis for Mario. It got to a point in his career that after awhile nothing and I mean NOTHING surprised you watching what he was capable of doing on the ice. The guy's skill level was astronomical. There was a reason he was known as "Super Mario" and "Le Magnifique"
Meh Crosby's success is because of his hard work and talent. Sure having Mario around as he entered the league helped, as does any mentor, but Sid has earned all of his success.
The thing I miss most from that video is the air raid siren that used to play when the Pens scored. It was so much better than the dumb horn they have now.
Games where they wear the throwbacks, they should play the siren for goals.