Bill Watters: "Crosby is a Pain-in-the-Neck"

[CentreHice]

On Leafs Lunch today, Watters and Marek speaking of Crosby's comments re: Olczyk being fired. Apparently Crosby said, "Yeah, it was time for a change behind the bench.....etc......"

Watters took him to task. He said, from reports he's heard from people who know, Crosby is a pain in the neck. He chirps at the refs, he tells veterans where and how to play....and this comment about Olczyk was most disturbing in that an 18-year-old rookie should not be speaking as such.

Watters went on to say that it's an ego/maturity problem that has been fuelled by the fact that Crosby is living with Mario Lemieux. That never should have happened, in his opinion. Special treatment, feeling of superiority, etc.

He then said Crosby should grow out of this, and he thinks that deep down this kid is cut from good cloth....it's just that he's being so inappropriate right now. His agent should have told him to keep his mouth shut.

--------------------------------------------------------

Personally, I don't know how many of us could have kept a level head if we'd been a spotlighted phenom since we were 12.......#1 pick overall.....labelled The "Next One"....with millions of dollars in endorsement deals....taken under Mario Lemieux's wing.....

He'll either grow out of it.....or it'll get knocked out of him....hopefully by the time he signs with his favourite team.

[Deleted]

That is a pretty bold comment by Crosby regarding the coach.

He could also be just miserable because of how poorly the team is playing.

[jkr]

Watters is right. Crosby should have kept his mouth shut or just uttered some cliche.

How about some blame here for Craig Patrick. He signed Leclair & Recchi whose best days are behind them. And according to Pierre McGuire passed on Joseph and signed Thibeault as his netminder. Look at those two guys now.

[CentreHice]

I agree with Watters assessment too. But I can I see how it could be very easy for an 18-year-old in Crosby's position to act that way without proper guidance.

That kind of behaviour never sits well at any age....look at Terrell Owens. A quiet confidence is the best...let your play do the talking.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

"Nice kid, great player, but he's a coach-killer."

Poor Michel Therrien thought he was getting a second chance. Maybe he'll attempt to strangle Crosby.

Time to bookmark the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

[Doc Holliday]

I absolutely agree with Waters.

Crosby is acting like a spoiled brat. The other day I was watching the Wings/Pens game and they showed us a shot of Crosy giving Saperlipopette to Gonchar on the bench. That's big no-no. Gonchar is struggling right now but he's an established and respected veteran in this league. Someone will have to put Sid in his place. Therrien has the cohones to do it IMO.

[CentreHice]

mrbozo said:

"Nice kid, great player, but he's a coach-killer."

Poor Michel Therrien thought he was getting a second chance. Maybe he'll attempt to strangle Crosby.

Time to bookmark the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Seeing as how the Habs are Crosby's favourite team....he would have been watching, with great frustration, that Therrien meltdown in Game 4 of the Carolina series.

Wonder if he'll bring that up in the heat of a disagreement....

MT: You've got to go to the slot in that situation...don't stay along the boards!

SC: Don't yell at me! Yell at the refs and take a bench minor!

A scene from "The Crosby Show"? Or, in Therrien's case..."Survivor"?

Stay tuned.....

[jkr]

And the Penguins didn't help that ego problem he has by giving him the "A" yesterday.There must be a serious leadership problems on that team if an 18 year old with a couple of months experience gets an assistant captaincy.

What Crosby needs is a run in with Zdeno Chara's shoulder.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Lynch Crosby?
The team fired the Olczyk, not Crosby.
"Yeah, it was time for a change" confirms the teams management decision. It doesn't criticize management or the team or even Olczyk. He didn't say the coach is terrible and has to go. He implied that it was time to shake things up and Ed was a victim of a shakeup, not bad coaching performance.
The kid is under a microscope and an offhand remark is treated like he is a spoiled brat.
I forget. Where did Sidney demand to live in Mario's house? He is 18. He didn't even have a car at the start of the season. He went where he was told and is doing what is asked and more. He isn't holding out and demanding anything. If Crosby tells Bonk or Bulis where to stand to get one of his patented passes, they should listen and learn!

[olematelot]

Bill Watters is a pain in the neck Leafs lover. The comment I heard Crosby said after the firing happened was not as quoted by Watters who gave his own spin on it to create contrversy. If one of the veterens had made a comment like this would it create as much a stir, I doubt it, so whats wrong with Crosby commenting on it and lets face it something had to be done there. Good for him if he's crapping on guys for not carrying their weight, thats what leaders do. His comments whatever they were supported managements decision, is that so wrong

[blny]

I think part of what is going on is the country club mentality. Too many people in the organization are still living off the championships and the days when the team was essentially an allstar team. Therrien should be able to insert more of a system than Eddie O. He should be more of a task master, and not a "friend" of the captain and owner.

[clear observer]

olematelot said:

His comments whatever they were supported managements decision, is that so wrong

Yes...yes it is...he's 18, a rookie, and he ain't management, IMHO.

It's the "bigs"...ya gotta shut your pie-hole and pay your dues before taking ANY "shots" or "digs" (subtle or not) at ANYone...and until then, use "canned responses".....especially where the firing of your coach is concerned and where it may be possible that you yourself contributed to that very firing...

"we've all played poorly as a team and feel desperately responsible for Coach Olczyk's dismissal. He's a fine coach and gave 100% of himself to this organization. I'm certain it won't be long before he lands a new coaching job elsewhere. Thank you for your time"

for those without the "gift-of-the-gab"

we've been playing like crap and unfortunately the coach has to pay the price - I wish him the best

He'll learn...trust me, he'll learn.


CO

[Cranky]

admin said:

olematelot said:

His comments whatever they were supported managements decision, is that so wrong

Yes...yes it is...he's 18, a rookie, and he ain't management, IMHO.

It's the "bigs"...ya gotta shut your pie-hole and pay your dues before taking ANY "shots" or "digs" (subtle or not) at ANYone...and until then, use "canned responses".....especially where the firing of your coach is concerned and where it may be possible that you yourself contributed to that very firing...

"we've all played poorly as a team and feel desperately responsible for Coach Olczyk's dismissal. He's a fine coach and gave 100% of himself to this organization. I'm certain it won't be long before he lands a new coaching job elsewhere. Thank you for your time"

for those without the "gift-of-the-gab"

we've been playing like crap and unfortunately the coach has to pay the price - I wish him the best

He'll learn...trust me, he'll learn.


CO

What he said. And I would add that as a manager, I would keep Crosby in my crosshairs.

[Polarice]

There's nothing wrong with telling the truth.

What Crosby said, everyone was thinking....so was Bill Watters a couple of days before on Hockey Central.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

polarice said:

There's nothing wrong with telling the truth.

Time and place. Tact. Maturity. That's politics, just ask Paul Martin or any politician.

Blurting out whatever is on one's mind without considering how it may affect others or even oneself may be viewed as precocious coming from the young ("out of the mouths of babes!") but it is unprofessional and quite often ill-advised when coming from an adult—just ask Michel Therrien (who now admits that he knows better).

What Crosby said, everyone was thinking....so was Bill Watters a couple of days before on Hockey Central.

See above re Crosby.

Watters is an outside observer and thus has some degree of immunity, though even he may find his access to inside information restricted if he should blurt out the wrong thing.

[olematelot]

admin said:

olematelot said:

His comments whatever they were supported managements decision, is that so wrong

Yes...yes it is...he's 18, a rookie, and he ain't management, IMHO.

It's the "bigs"...ya gotta shut your pie-hole and pay your dues before taking ANY "shots" or "digs" (subtle or not) at ANYone...and until then, use "canned responses".....especially where the firing of your coach is concerned and where it may be possible that you yourself contributed to that very firing...

"we've all played poorly as a team and feel desperately responsible for Coach Olczyk's dismissal. He's a fine coach and gave 100% of himself to this organization. I'm certain it won't be long before he lands a new coaching job elsewhere. Thank you for your time"

for those without the "gift-of-the-gab"

we've been playing like crap and unfortunately the coach has to pay the price - I wish him the best

He'll learn...trust me, he'll learn.


CO

I didn't say he was management I said he supported management and futhermore when interviewed by the Globe and mail after the firing this si what he said "We're a family. When you loose a guy like that it's like loosing someone in your family. He was always there. He was the first one to take the blame and held himself responsible. He cared about us as a coach especially me. I'm 18 and he gave me a chance to play here and I feel fortunate for that". That sure doesn't sound like anything that Watters said he said.

[CentreHice]

Don Cherry went up one side of Crosby and down the other on "Coach's Corner" on Saturday. He said exactly what Watters said, except in a more candid, entertaining way.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

mrbozo said:

"Nice kid, great player, but he's a coach-killer."

Poor Michel Therrien thought he was getting a second chance. Maybe he'll attempt to strangle Crosby.

Time to bookmark the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

AND, I heard it on the radio this morning, but didn't Therrien give Crosby an "A" for his jersey? If so, it is definitely the wrong move.

Cheers.

[cigarviper]

disgruntled70shab said:

mrbozo said:

"Nice kid, great player, but he's a coach-killer."

Poor Michel Therrien thought he was getting a second chance. Maybe he'll attempt to strangle Crosby.

Time to bookmark the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

AND, I heard it on the radio this morning, but didn't Therrien give Crosby an "A" for his jersey? If so, it is definitely the wrong move.

Cheers.

Absolutely right (giving him the 'A'). Michel's first move could turn out to be his deathblow. Although, I always thought of Lemieux as a coach killer. He now has a young coach killer to mould in his likeness. This team is gonna be a mess for a long time. As far as Watters goes, he such a homer. If Crosby was a Leaf, he'd be able to walk on water.

As for Crosby, I think Pittsburgh was the worst team he could have landed on as far as his development goes. The inmates are running the asylum over there. Oy.

Oh, and Michel strangling Crosby on the bench..that would be worth the price of admission, lol!

[MC Habber]

jkr said:

Watters is right. Crosby should have kept his mouth shut or just uttered some cliche.

How about some blame here for Craig Patrick. He signed Leclair & Recchi whose best days are behind them. And according to Pierre McGuire passed on Joseph and signed Thibeault as his netminder. Look at those two guys now.

Craig Patrick isn't the only one who passed on Curtis Joseph.........

[Skilly]

habsfaninla said:

Lynch Crosby?
The team fired the Olczyk, not Crosby.
"Yeah, it was time for a change" confirms the teams management decision. It doesn't criticize management or the team or even Olczyk. He didn't say the coach is terrible and has to go. He implied that it was time to shake things up and Ed was a victim of a shakeup, not bad coaching performance.
The kid is under a microscope and an offhand remark is treated like he is a spoiled brat.
I forget. Where did Sidney demand to live in Mario's house? He is 18. He didn't even have a car at the start of the season. He went where he was told and is doing what is asked and more. He isn't holding out and demanding anything. If Crosby tells Bonk or Bulis where to stand to get one of his patented passes, they should listen and learn!

Mario basically made him stay with him. He wanted to protect Sid from all the girls, drugs, partying etc that an 18 yr old with millions to spend and nights alone can easily get. And I bet you Sid's parents and Mario talked about it too.

[jkr]

machabby said:

jkr said:

Watters is right. Crosby should have kept his mouth shut or just uttered some cliche.

How about some blame here for Craig Patrick. He signed Leclair & Recchi whose best days are behind them. And according to Pierre McGuire passed on Joseph and signed Thibeault as his netminder. Look at those two guys now.

Craig Patrick isn't the only one who passed on Curtis Joseph.........

Yes, but his alternative was Jocelyn Thibeault.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

skilly said:

habsfaninla said:

Lynch Crosby?
The team fired the Olczyk, not Crosby.
"Yeah, it was time for a change" confirms the teams management decision. It doesn't criticize management or the team or even Olczyk. He didn't say the coach is terrible and has to go. He implied that it was time to shake things up and Ed was a victim of a shakeup, not bad coaching performance.
The kid is under a microscope and an offhand remark is treated like he is a spoiled brat.
I forget. Where did Sidney demand to live in Mario's house? He is 18. He didn't even have a car at the start of the season. He went where he was told and is doing what is asked and more. He isn't holding out and demanding anything. If Crosby tells Bonk or Bulis where to stand to get one of his patented passes, they should listen and learn!

Mario basically made him stay with him. He wanted to protect Sid from all the girls, drugs, partying etc that an 18 yr old with millions to spend and nights alone can easily get. And I bet you Sid's parents and Mario talked about it too.

I think Crosby is a great kid who has done everything as well as could have been expected and better in most cases.
Everybody seems to want to take shots at him as though he was red light racicot. Cherry who usually tells the truth is looking for ways to criticize Crosby to make headlines and increase ratings the way writers pick on Brittney Spears to get headlines. Cherry has become a talking loud suit with more flash than substance. Don is jealous that Sidney has already passed him in NHL career goals scored.
Crosby will be around long after Cherry and his tired act are gone.