Milbury apologizes for ripping Crosby
Posted April 3, 2012 4:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Hockey analyst Mike Milbury has apologized for his rant against Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby, saying it was “inappropriate and wrong.”
The former NHL coach and general manager ripped Crosby on a Philadelphia radio station Monday, calling out the Pens captain for his role in a game-ending line brawl Sunday between the Penguins and Flyers.
A day later, he apologized via a one-paragraph statement.
“I reached out to (Pittsburgh president) David Morehouse and the Penguins about the comments I made yesterday on Philadelphia radio,” Milbury said.
“In hindsight, I realize what I said was inappropriate and wrong, and I want to apologize to the Penguins organization and their fans.”
Milbury, who is an analyst on NBC and also appears on CBC, took issue with Crosby’s behaviour during the chaotic scene near the end of Sunday’s game.
The fighting was touched off in part by Flyers forward Brayden Schenn’s cross-checking Crosby in the back.
“So you know, Crosby gets cross-checked, big whoop,” Milbury told the radio station. “He said after he came back from his 35th concussion, ‘I’m not going to do this anymore, I’m not going to get into this scrums, I’m going to stay away from that stuff.’ He couldn’t help himself because there’s a little punk in Crosby.
“He’s not the perfect gentleman. He’s not the sweet kid you see in interviews with his hat pulled down over his eyes. I’d say screw him, hit him.”
It’s not the first time Milbury’s mouth has landed him in hot water.
During last year’s Stanley Cup finals Milbury, who was working as an analyst on U.S. television network Versus, mockingly referring to Vancouver Canucks twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin as “Thelma and Louise” for their “soft” play against the Boston Bruins.
Milbury also made headlines last year when Boston-area police sought to have the 59-year-old charged with assault and battery after an incident at a public hockey rink.
Police said Milbury grabbed, shook and threatened a boy who was fighting and jawing with his 12-year-old son.
A Massachusetts clerk magistrate later ruled there wasn’t not enough evidence to charge Milbury.
