Now that the Penguins have gone belly-up in the playoffs for the fourth time in five years in the Sidney Crosby era, maybe we'll hear less about how their ownership will turn around the Pirates in no time if given the chance.
The fact is, despite every conceivable advantage from first or second overall choices in four consecutive drafts to the mother of all lottery picks to a league that operates with a salary cap to a pucks-mad fan base, the Penguins have been unable to dominate their own division let alone the entire league.
Or did you know that, while the Pirates have gone 17 years without a sniff of .500, the Penguins have hoisted exactly one Stanley Cup in that period?
[snip]
God help the franchise if Sid the Kid goes down any time soon. Cart him off and the Penguins are the New York Rangers all of a sudden.
I wouldn't wish that on even a Philadelphia Flyer let alone Crosby, who represents everything that is good about professional sports. I wouldn't wish that on any team owner let alone Mario Lemieux, a guy that only the devil could root against.
It's just that, before people wish for the Penguins to step in and save the baseball team in this town, they should remember that the Penguins have to help themselves first.

Heretic wrote: ^^
How??? Other than making generic, wide-reaching comments to prove a flawed point?

The Pens have only won one Cup in the 17-year losing record streak of the Pirates and were admittedly even more pitiful than them to a degree (the period where there was a legit chance they'd be leaving the city). But during that time period, the best season for the Pirates was one where they were a bit above .500 and in contention in mid-August, only to fall apart down the stretch and finish about 77-85. The Pens have a Cup, a loss in the Finals and other playoff bids, including this year's second-round defeat.

They might not be the be-all, end-all of the NHL, but they're one of the better teams in the league. Hell, unlike the Cavs and LeBron (another 2009-10 pretender...who, unlike the Pens, also were an also-ran in 2008-9), the Pens and Sid actually have won a title. Shit...only one title in five years for Sid??? I can think of a lot of teams who wish they could fail that badly.

lhslep134 wrote:

Heretic wrote: ^^
How??? Other than making generic, wide-reaching comments to prove a flawed point?

The Pens have only won one Cup in the 17-year losing record streak of the Pirates and were admittedly even more pitiful than them to a degree (the period where there was a legit chance they'd be leaving the city). But during that time period, the best season for the Pirates was one where they were a bit above .500 and in contention in mid-August, only to fall apart down the stretch and finish about 77-85. The Pens have a Cup, a loss in the Finals and other playoff bids, including this year's second-round defeat.

They might not be the be-all, end-all of the NHL, but they're one of the better teams in the league. Hell, unlike the Cavs and LeBron (another 2009-10 pretender...who, unlike the Pens, also were an also-ran in 2008-9), the Pens and Sid actually have won a title. Shit...only one title in five years for Sid??? I can think of a lot of teams who wish they could fail that badly.

Ignorance is bliss, right?

You bring up Lebron and the Cavs and then fail to mention the Penguins have 2 OF THE TOP 5 PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE

In fact, there are some NHL circles that feel Malkin is even better than Crosby.


Give Lebron another top 5 player and they win the championship every year.

God your attempt to bring in the Cavs and try to prove a point failed miserably you asshole.