Eric McErlain recently highlighted a bit of Penguin hypocrisy. After Penguins fans raised holy hell in 2001 when Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis restricted playoff ticket sales to the local DC fan base, the Penguins are now doing the same thing as per the Ticketmaster fine print:
Orders by residents outside of PA, OH, WV, MD, NY, NJ, DE, VA and the District of Columbia will be canceled without notice and refunds given.
Leonsis remembers the reaction to his strategy in 2001, and the irony of the most vocal complainers doing the same thing seven years later:
We were raked over the coals in the Pittsburgh media for our efforts. Furthermore, a Department of Justice attorney called me. He hailed from Pittsburgh and threatened a lawsuit against us for discriminatory business practices. We, of course, heeded the warnings and stopped this practice. This is situational ethics at is finest.”
The tactic is not inherently bad — though a local-area “pre-sale” would be better than an outright restriction on out-of-town purchasers. But the Penguins’ front office using the same tactic that they gnashed their teeth about in 2001 . . . well, that smacks of hypocrisy. They complained and threaten legal action back then, and now take the very same objectionable approach when it suits them.
This situation is reminiscent of Penguins head coach Michel Therrien blaming poor officiating for his team’s 0-2 deficit. Therrien apparently does not not see the irony of accusing Detroit’s netminder Chris Osgood of diving while defending Sidney Crosby from the same accusations in prior rounds and the regular season. “Situational ethics” seem part and parcel of the Penguins’ plan of late, though it isn’t serving them particularly well on the ice.
On Frozen Blog 
Last night the Pens took a “shut up and play” approach and they squeaked out a victory in a must-win game. I’d wager on the Wings this Saturday, but we shall see… at least last night’s game was exciting, and showed a glimpse of the promise this series held before the two Detroit dominations.
IMO the Pens were still a bit lucky to win, at least in regulation, as the 3rd goal was pretty flukey. Still was an entertaining game though still rooting for Detroit :P.
If hockey was 4 periods Detroit would have won last night. Now that the hiccup is out, back to business as usual. Oh, we’re wagering on the Wings. Yes we certainly are.
From my perspective, any series that involves the Pens must be a blowout the other way. The sight and sound of the home fans last night roaring in reaction to the Pens’ third goal made my stomach turn, and I had to stop watching.
I don’t want to see anything less than complete domination by the Red Wings the rest of the way. Please, make it happen.
It sounds like jealousy in Capsland.
Not jealousy. Just regular old hatred.
Why is all criticism accused of being jealousy, anyway? It’s a completely lame comment and is almost never true. Yet fans of opposing teams always pull it out as though it were a trump card of sorts.