He didn’t score.

But Sidney Crosby had two goals and his efforts were downplayed in game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals by Canada’s favorite hockey coach and Hockey Night In Canada star, Don Cherry. I spent most of my time at Mellon Arena during game 4 tracking Don Cherry with a group from Hershey, PA, his alma mater AHL hockey town, but he was nowhere to be found. Don’t get me wrong, I like Don Cherry and his loud striped suits, but it appears that like many Penguin fans he has bought into the mythical character of Gary Roberts.

In actuality, the Gary Roberts hype was started by a Penguins fan himself who thought it would be hilarious to poke fun at the veteran. It would be something like Chuck Norris; an over aged iron man still in the league and surviving against any calamity. The myth appeals to the masses and the media quickly bought the script to be typed in the front pages of newspapers in the US and Canada. Don Cherry likes Gary Roberts as much as Penguin fans who wear their “WWGRD "<What Would Gary Roberts Do?> wrist bands in bright yellow and black.

Gary Roberts is an urban legend.

What about Sid, the Kid? Sidney Crosby is expected to win. He is expected to make the pretty plays. For Pens fans, Crosby is the equivalent of a young Mario Lemieux, and just another talented player. His efforts were definitely downplayed not by just Don Cherry but by Penguin fans themselves who are caught up on the Gary Roberts idolatry. Crosby is still a one class act despite the controversy and the supposed grudge that Don Cherry holds against him stemming from being called “a show off” after scoring a trick goal back when he played in Rimouski a few years ago in Juniors.

"I grew up watching Hockey Night In Canada just like every kid," he said. "I've heard negative things on there more than positive things, but it hasn't changed me…I still watch it whenever I get the chance. There's really nothing there. I've never met him (Cherry) and I have nothing against him whatsoever, so I don't think there's really much to say." (CP)