Crosby on the Bedpost

Right now, my Sidney Crosby jersey hangs triumphantly on my bedpost, right where I hung it after the last victory over Ottowa. It will remain there until the Pens no longer are alive in the NHL playoffs - hopefully sometime in June when they lift the Stanley Cup in a repeat of their 90's repeat. I wear it every other day and then I hang it up in its spot for the next installment - a routine I hope to continue for some time. It's a happy reminder in the morning, to know that there is something toward which to look forward and about which to smile.

So much else in my sporting world is less than happy. The Mountaineers' devestating loss in the Final Four, poor Santonio's trade to the Jets, and, of course, Big Bad Ben. Goodness gracious, you'd think he had killed someone...like, say, Ray Lewis or Dante Stallworth. You'd think he'd been convicted of something...like, say, half the rest of the league. But, no, not really. He is, apparently, evil enough to dominate the negative press of every major sports-shouting show and internet site and, thus, I can no longer watch those shows or read those articles. I can't explain my views in this blog because I can't exactly pin down my views.

But, don't count me in with the rest of the frenzied bandwagon "trade him!" followers. In my mind - and plenty of others' - he's still a great quarterback. All these people loved him in the final 40 seconds of Super Bowl XLIII. What, now because he may be sexually aggressive he's no longer able to throw a precision pass under pressure? I guess that is the same logic that because Tiger is a man whore he can no longer...putt. (I don't know enough about golf to make an intelligent analogy here. All I know is that it's fun on the Wii and boring as crap in real life.)

In the real world, I know plenty of respectable people who are great at their jobs, and up to whom others may very well look. I also know that these same folks have made mistakes - sexual and otherwise - in their lives. I don't really think differently about them and don't suspect others would either, even if they knew the facts. I might not agree with the actions or mistakes or missteps or...whatever. I also don't want to start down the slippery slope of legislating/criminilizing morality and/or stupidity. We simply don't have the manpower in this country to keep up with all that!

So, for now, I'll just sit here on my bed with my Crosby jersey and keep all my energy on the ice, where it would be now anyway, even without all the other distractions. I know Sid and Geno and the rest of the Mighty 'Guins will give it their all, making the 'Burgh proud no matter how far they go in the post-season. Because on the ice, at least it's still all about the game.

So, Let's Go Pens!! Because I want that Crosby jersey to stay put a while longer.