Explore our 319 Sports Blogs »
★
Local
- Arizona
- Atlanta
- Bay Area
- Boston
- Chicago
- Cleveland
- DC
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Houston
- Indiana
- Kansas City
- Los Angeles
- Minnesota
- New York
- Philly
- Pittsburgh
- Seattle
- St. Louis
- Tampa Bay
MLB
American
AL East
AL Central
AL West
National
NL East
NL Central
NL West
MLB Odds »
NFL
American
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
National
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
NFL Odds »
NBA
Eastern
Atlantic
Central
Southeast
Western
Northwest
Pacific
Southwest
NBA Odds »
NHL

NHL Odds »
NCAAB

View team list »

NCAA Basketball Odds »
NCAAF

View team list »

NCAA Football Odds »
UFC
- MMA Fighters
- MMA Rankings
- MMA Fight Schedule
- Promotions
  - UFC
  - Strikeforce
  - DREAM
  - Bellator
  - WEC
  - USA Regional
  - MFC
  - Sengoku
  - K-1
  - International Regional
Tennis
Golf
Soccer
Fantasy
NASCAR
Super Bowl 2012

From Our Editors

Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.

Pittsburgh: Even More Insecure Than Detroit

by Brian Cook • Jun 3, 2009 3:10 PM EDT

Last July, free agent right winger Marian Hossa picked a one-year, $7.4 million deal from the Red Wings over a host of lucrative long-term offers from a half-dozen teams. Pittsburgh, then his current team, was among them, though their offer wasn't the biggest.

So maybe it's not a huge surprise that every time Marian Hossa touched the puck in Pittsburgh last night he was vociferously booed as a Traitor To The Holy Cause. But if you go by the internet—and it's not like there's anything else—Marian Hossa is the most hated man in Pittsburgh. Here's a guy's Fourth of July jersey-burning tribute:

Here's a guy who says "way to sell your soul," and says Hossa's decision to turn down guaranteed zillions long term is "just greed." Here's a guy comparing Hossa to Benedict Arnold. Here's' the world's dumbest T-shirt. Here's an Urban Dictionary entry. Here's a guy ranking the "biggest traitors in Pittsburgh sports history" who slots Hossa at #5. There are many other enraged folk, most of whom spent every moment last night holding their breath so they could tell Hossa—with their lungs!—just how much they hated him. Mission accomplished.

All this is, of course, completely insane. Hossa, a pending free agent in 2008, spent all of three months as a Penguin after his trade deadline deal from Atlanta. He probably lived in a hotel the whole time. He's played 32 games as a Pittsburgh Penguin in his career… and 38 as an opponent of the Penguins.

If there was an anti-Pittsburgh anti-team that would completely annihilate itself if it ever came in contact with the Penguins, that team would have more right to be pissed off about Hossa's decision than the Penguins do. And when Hossa signed with Detroit he loosed this damning indictment:

"It was a really tough decision for me to make. When I compared the two teams, I felt like I would have a little better of a chance to win the Cup in Detroit."

If anyone should be upset it's Edmonton, which tried to dump $9 million per year on Hossa long-term only to be told to talk to the hand.

Questions for discussion: Is there something wrong with the concessions at Pennsylvania sporting events? Does the beer have mind-altering chemicals? If Mario Lemieux plays a pick-up game in Yellow Knife will his house get burned down by an angry mob? Could Penguin fans be more like Stacy, psycho hose beast, if they tried?

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

Do you like this post?

Next Post: Introduction

Comments

<!—[if gte mso 9]>

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

<![endif]—><!—[if gte mso 9]>

<![endif]—>

<!—[if gte mso 10]>

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:“Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:“Calibri”,“sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:“Times New Roman”;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

<![endif]—>

It’s truly amazing and somewhat insane the attitude towards Hossa
from Pens fans, but it certainly seems to be in the majority.

As far as him being greedy, how is turning down MORE money
greedy?

To be honest, it’s kind of disturbing how some of these
people feel and think about this.

by SugarRay8 on Jun 3, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions

maybe if you would quit writing these (non) stories people wouldn’t talk about it.

i love the way he plays and i wish he was a Pen. but he is not.
so F him! and osgood and zetts and so on….

im booing you right now…lol.

ray lewis is the most hated athlete in pittsburgh by the way.
so F him too!

GO PENS!

by dwb on Jun 3, 2009 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

they hate him because he basically said you guys wont win a cup but they will. The fans feel disrespected so I can completely see where they are coming from

by stajan.41 on Jun 3, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

"they hate him because he basically said you guys wont win a cup but
they will. The fans feel disrespected so I can completely see where
they are coming from"

This is the first post I’ve seen explaining it that really makes sense.

by SugarRay8 on Jun 3, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

I just love that he goes by “Maid Marian.” Was “Mrs. Hossa” not catchy enough? I’m pretty sure Maid Marian was a broad.

by ChiAdam on Jun 3, 2009 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t hate him, I just wouldn’t mind seeing him block a slap shot with his rat face…that wouldn’t qualify for hating him…right?…LOL

by Captain Kokanee on Jun 3, 2009 6:15 PM EDT reply actions

Pittsburgh fans hate anyone who doesnt think that Football and Hockey begin and end with them. Hossa turned the Pens down because he didnt think that they have the stones to win the Cup, Pens fans boo him because they fear (know) he might be right

by blackbandit20 on Jun 3, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions

OK here’s your explanation… straight from the horse’s mouth. I live in Pittsburgh and am a diehard Pens fan, even above the Steelers. Last year, Mr. Hossa went on and on about how much he liked Pittsburgh and really enjoyed playing here on Sidney Crosby’s line. Management was confident, from his statements and attitude, that he was going to remain a Penguin. Up until the day he left, there was no indication whatsoever he had any other intentions of leaving.
Reference any material you can find from Detroit on their complete shock that Hossa decided to sign with them.
His misleading words and indications caused management to let several fan favorite players go to other teams (Ryan Malone, J. Ruutu, Gary Roberts, Adam Hall, and the list goes on) to keep cap room for the Hossa signing. Maybe we still don’t keep these guys, but at least management would have had the opportunity had Hossa not been so ignorant.
Hossa completely ignored any needs the Penguins might have in the offseason in regards to signing someone to replace him. Does anybody think maybe he did that so the Penguins, a legitimate contender to face his new team in the postseason, would not be able to maintain strength in offseason signings?
I could care less that he said whatever he did about going to the best team, that’s completely beside the point. The issue is Mr. Hossa’s selfishness and virtual flipping of the bird to the Penguins organization by handling his business the way he did. It left the Penguins scrambling at the last minute to try and figure out who to go after in free agency.
If the Pens pull out a victory on Thursday… watch out!

by straus on Jun 3, 2009 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

Keep it clasy Pittsburgh. LOL

No one in their right mind would voluntarily live in Pittsburgh. Just as bad as Philly

by ptviperz on Jun 3, 2009 10:52 PM EDT reply actions

If you only look at the contract he signed, Hossa told Pens fans that we wouldn’t win the cup this year.But if you look at the 7-year deal Pittsburgh offered and he turned down, Hossa told Pens fans that we wouldn’t win the cup before 2016. Now THAT’S an insult.

by KWRussell on Jun 4, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions

straus, I can understand some anger based on your explanation.

The guy with the list is a complete wackjob calling Cowher a traitor just because he retired and claiming Pittsburgh is a top three NHL city when it’s not even top ten.

by jimnasium on Jun 4, 2009 1:11 AM EDT reply actions

Great, great point, straus, and very well stated. Look, it’s only natural for an ex player (in most cases) to be villified when they leave…nearly everyone who is a fan of sport has done it. When a fan favorite leaves, and does so graciously, they may even be cheered on return (Pittsburgh still adores Recchi, Ronny Francis, Ryan Malone, etc, but Hossa, agree with this or not, by his actions, help create some of the ill will spent on him by allowing the Pens to create the cap space for him, then saying no, as straus very eloquently described.
If I were at the game, I might boo him a bit in the first period, but it’s done. He’s not a Penguin, he’s a Red Wing, and right now, that alone is plenty enough reason to not like him.

by hockey_eh_721 on Jun 4, 2009 8:16 AM EDT reply actions

It makes Pens fans more angry that he took less money to sign with the team that just defeated them. And then he said he feels like he has a better chance with the Wings. That is a slap in the face to the Penguins and their fans. How is it so hard for you to understand why they hate him?

by adammc02 on Jun 4, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

Nice comment by hockey_eh_721. As a Pens fan, I was very upset to see Hossa in another uniform this year. Especially when he made the comment about going someplace else with a better chance to win the CUP!! That comment made me dislike Hossa. He made his decision, but he could have kept his comments to himself!!

by jcurtis on Jun 4, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

<!—[if gte mso 9]>

Normal
0

<![endif]—>

It’s always entertaining reading Brian Cook. As a Michigan
fan he’s essential.

by stadium&main on Jun 4, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

<!—[if gte mso 9]>

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

<![endif]—><!—[if gte mso 9]>

<![endif]—>

<!—[if gte mso 10]>

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:“Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:“Calibri”,“sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:“Times New Roman”;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

<![endif]—>

Straus, thanks for that explanation. Very good and valid
points, I certainly understand the discontent towards him from the Pens fans.

Good luck tonight! (Go
wings)

by SugarRay8 on Jun 4, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions

I will tell ya what MY problem is with Hossa. First he said just a few days before his deal with the Wings that he wanted to stay in Pittsburgh – he loved the fans, city, and Pens organization. Due to his comments and actions players like Ryan Malone and Adam Hall were put on the back burner and basically went elsewhere because it was well known that the Pens could not afford them if Hossa was signed to a deal. Especially with the Pens having to make sure they had cap room for contracts like Fleury, Staal, and Malkin. So yes we boo him, yes we don’t like him, and who cares if he was only here for 31 games – he still misled the organization and the Pens fan after the season!

by PensFan3204 on Jun 4, 2009 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

Marian Hossa doesn’t need to sell his soul. It’s already in him.

by PFoJ on Jun 6, 2009 5:37 AM EDT reply actions

Yea he misled the Red Wings too! He never once hinted that he wanted to join the team that won the cup right in front of his eyes. Then he ate up our salary cap space which prevented the Wings from calling up our young talent like Ericsson, Helm and Adelkader during the regular season. They were put on the back burner and were forced to develop more in the minors. Now look what they are doing in the playoffs! Now I bet when the Wings win the cup again, Lidstrom will give him the cup first, so that he will vindicate himself to those crybaby pens fans that he truly did make the right decision. Darn you Hossa!!!

by SKCrow on Jun 9, 2009 1:00 AM EDT reply actions

I just love reading comments from Wings fans saying how they were going to win Cup. How did that turn out?

Network Bar

SB Nation Front Page

American

AL East

AL Central

AL West

National

NL East

NL Central

NL West

American

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

National

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

Eastern

Atlantic

Central

Southeast

Western

Northwest

Pacific

Southwest

Promotions

From Our Editors

Pittsburgh: Even More Insecure Than Detroit

Do you like this post?

Comments

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Recent Posts on From Our Editors

More From Our Editors »

Recently on SBNation.com

NCAA Football Rule Change Proposals: More Touchbacks, Fewer Injuries

Stanford Routt Setting Up Visits After Release From Raiders

SI.com: 10 Big NFL Offseason Questions

Network Bar

American

AL East

AL Central

AL West

National

NL East

NL Central

NL West

American

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

National

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

Eastern

Atlantic

Central

Southeast

Western

Northwest

Pacific

Southwest

Promotions

Pittsburgh: Even More Insecure Than Detroit

Do you like this post?

Comments

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Recent Posts on From Our Editors

Recently on SBNation.com

SB Nation Newsletters