Jeremy Roenick: Ambassador of class and respect.
Jesse Marshall | National Hockey League
Jan 23, 03:03 PM | Hype this story!
Word of Jeremy Roenick’s “calling out” of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has spread across the message boards and blogs of the Pittsburgh community like wildfire.
I was directed to the story this morning when our friend Seth Roarabaugh of the Post-Gazette featured the article on Empty Netters
For those of you that have yet to have the privilege of reading Roenick’s dissertation on respect, here’s a sample of his tirade on the NHL’s youth.
“I see too many kids going the wrong way. They don’t have the respect or the know-how to treat the sport — even Sidney Crosby. You see him bitching, whining and crying. He’s supposed to be the poster boy of our league and yet every time he gets hit, he’s grimacing and complaining to the referees. Veterans teach the kids the right way to play.“
Way to start your exit from the NHL world in a graceful and professional manner, Jeremy.
Every time Crosby gets hit he whines? Every single time?
Here’s a suggestion for Jeremy Roenick: actually watch a Penguin game.
It’s a novel idea. It’s what we normal people call assessing a situation before opening your mouth.
While we’re on the subject of class and respectability, let’s revisit 1998, shall we?
In fact, I have a specific instance in mind. You know, that little 1998 incident where Jeremy Roenick was a part of a U.S. hockey team that trashed a hotel room after getting eliminated in the Nagano Olympics.
Jeremy Roenick: showing the youngsters how to lose gracefully since 1998.
Yeah, Sidney Crosby could really take a page from the Jeremy Roenick book of hockey professionalism. Not just about how to behave in hotel rooms or take losing with a graceful attitude, either. Sid can even dip into the Jeremy Roenick off-season training regiment.
All you need to do to rack up a monstrous 33 point NHL season is find yourself, as Roenick said, “On the golf course every day, and (drinking) a bottle of wine every night with my wife.”
Ah, the keys to success!
There’s also the story that Seth himself pointed out this morning when he highlighted JR’s tirade on making millions of dollars. Us hard working, dollar paying fans and bloggers can go ahead and pucker our lips at JR’s posterior
Then there’s the age old story of Roenick saying he would enter the broadcasters booth and openly cheer for Team Canada if the U.S. hockey program had omitted him from the roster.
Class and respect, down to the very last drop.
Perhaps that’s the solution to Crosby’s woes with the Philadelphia fanbase. Take a page out of JR’s book. Just flip em’ all the bird next time you’re at the Wachovia Center.
But we, the Pittsburgh faithful, can be happy that we have a competitive captain and one of the NHL’s greatest young stars.
For Crosby, all is said and done on the ice. Media-mongering has no effect on this young star. Humble is the first word that comes to mind for me as I watch Crosby consistently shrug off comments from fans and players alike.
When it’s all said and done, maybe one day Crosby will get his shots in.
But, if he stays true to his nature, and if his star power continues to increase, we might see him give the same response to his detractors that Patrick Roy gave to Jeremy Roenick.
“I can’t hear him. My Stanley Cup rings are clogging up my ears.”
As for JR?
He’ll always have a hotel room or two to trash.
Comments
TheOneAndOnlySurge
Jan 23, 04:48 PM
This is the kind of publicity the league doesn’t need. Hasbeens and never will bes, trashing talking one of our current superstars. Sid is as modest as they come and thats hard to do when people are always making up garbage about you. Someone buy JR a cane, ship him to a retirement home and lets be done with it. Of course he can’t use Semins out. He speaks English….LOL
Sherry
Jan 23, 05:23 PM
Ah, if only someone who could would point all this out to Jere-ME. After all, it’s about him, so he should love the publicity, good or bad, eh?
Great column, Jesse
Honestly
Jan 23, 09:09 PM
Sid probably whines more than he should, but keep in mind he is 21 years old. People forget that he is just a kid still, with an enormous amount of pressure on him. Give the kid a break.
Nathan
Jan 24, 12:07 AM
Jesse, well done once again.
Honestly –
Seriously, have you watched at least most of the games this season and last? It seems like you haven’t unfortunately.
DaBich
Jan 24, 12:27 PM
Great job Jesse. This needed to be publihed. Now, to get it to the national level…
Sid USED to whine more (2+ years ago), now he’s “grown” up at 21 (more grown up than Roenick obviously), he does it rarely, and then it’s because something SHOULD be said.
Jesse Marshall
Jan 24, 12:49 PM
Nathan –
I haven’t missed a single game, actually. Does Sidney Crosby do his share of yapping? For sure. Has he been better with it? Resoundingly yes. Does Jeremy Roenick have a place to call him out? Absolutely not.
TheOneAndOnlySurge
Jan 24, 11:34 PM
Jesse…LOL...Nathan was repling to the guy who posted under the name Honestly…Good Stuff.
Chrislovesthepens
Jan 25, 12:56 AM
Great article Jesse, Has anyone else noticed that Roenick makes comments at least once a year about someone else in the league. I wouldn’t take anything he says seriously.
jay s
Jan 25, 03:50 AM
Didn’t JR make a big deal when he returned to the NHL? Like “Hey, I am back (cricket cricket).” Nobody cared when JR came back and nobody still cares for him.
JR = Sean Avery. Needs to rattle something off so people can mention his name and can be the lead story on TSN.
Nate
Jan 27, 11:52 AM
Sorry, I guess I missed the part where I knew that Roenick was still in the league.
Johnny Sayer
Jan 29, 03:10 PM
I agree with JR. Crosby is a baby, he whines all the time. Expecially when he plays the Capitals. Semin called him out and then scored two goals while Crosby was on the bench bent over and yea, he was crying. I think he was placed as the “next great one” so its not his fault but he is not the best player in the league or on his team. Malkin is the star of his team but lacks English so he wont be the Captain. Crosby is a good player and contributes but is no where near what pen fans think or the people on VS. Ovie is the star and Ovie is the poster boy..Just not by popular demand..The proof is there, just listen to what other people think..Dont let being a Pen fan blind you from the obvious.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 29, 03:24 PM
Johnny, there is plenty debate as to who is the best player in the league and even on the Penguins’ roster. The fact is, though, that Crosby, Malkin and Ovechkin must all be considered in the conversation.
Crosby has a reputation as a whiner, but the reality is, this has been exaggerated mightily over the years and the idea has taken on a life of its own. Crosby needs to mature, for sure. But maturation happens with age, and he’s still a 21 year old. Not everyone matures at the same rate, and it’s not something that can be forces.
And, if you don’t see the irony of JR calling someone a whiner, then you completely missed the premise of this article. JR is one to talk. Maybe before he calls someone out for his actions he should look in the mirror.
Johnny Sayer
Jan 29, 03:45 PM
JR is a warrior, I dont know what sid will be like or if he will be in the NHL for more than 16 years…If so, it will only get worse. Maybe JR should have stayed hush on this but I for one think what he said was true. The more I see it is that many of the people that are not real hockey fans will say that they love Sid but the actual people that watch and love the sport do not like Sid and for more than one reason. Either way its okay, you still have a great team.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 29, 03:55 PM
Johnny, no doubt JR is a warrior. But opening your mouth about other players is, well, whining. Truthfully, I can understand why many don’t like Crosby. He’s force fed to everyone, and people hate that. He’s a great player, but he certainly has maturing to do.
Anyway, thanks for the kudos on the team…hopefully it can have a much better second half.
Johnny Sayer
Jan 29, 04:02 PM
That is very true and if he can develop some more and become that leader on the ice(mature) he will become a better player and a better leader. I am glad he is in the league because he brings a lot to the NHL. I am not a Pens fan but I respect them and the organization. I am a Caps fan and our biggest threat is the “caps killer” SATAN. ...Anyways good stuff and good luck the rest of the way.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 29, 04:12 PM
Thanks Johnny! We’d love to have you around more often around the time of Pens/Caps games to get a view from the other side. Please return, and good luck to your Caps, as well!
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