Question: What was the Wings-Penguins score from Tuesday?
Alternatively -
Question: How many fingers am I holding up, Sidney Crosby?
The Wings won, with the usual suspects (Datsyuk, Howard) leading the way.^ But the bigger story is Sidney Crosby missing another game with post-concussion symptoms. Crosby is the latest in the Next Gretzky lineup of players the NHL has desperately wanted - but unlike his predecessors, Crosby has been the real deal.
^ Howard has quietly solidified the Wings perennial goaltender question. Seems like he's come out of nowhere, and with the young core of players, the Wings have a solid foundation for years to come. Gone are the days of revolving re-treads (Hasek, CuJo) or reaching for the next big thing (Vernon, Essensa).
Just 24, Crosby has already led his Penguins to two Cup Finals, winning one. He also is partly responsible for the Penguins even being in Pittsburgh at this point. But he has also missed the better part of a season after suffering concussions, and now he's out again.
The speed and violence of hockey and football are what draw people to watch. That such huge athletes can make so many amazing things happen never ceases to amaze me. But I am even more amazed that there are not career threatening injuries every single game, let alone every single play. I don't know the solution - some say tighter helmet straps could help - but these guys are putting their lives on the line every time they go out on the court/field. I am not calling them heroes, but they are doing things that could result in a drastic change in their lifestyle at any moment. So when everyone cries about overpaid athletes, keep that in mind.^
^ Granted, people like teachers, firefighters, policemen, armed service members, and probably countless I am not thinking of, should all be paid more, and athletes paid less - but athletes put more on the line than we sometimes give them credit for.
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