Pronger out for season with concussion, but Crosby still considered the ‘pussy’

Former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell was once quoted in describing what he termed to be the “wussification of America.”  If we look at this “wussification” in the spectrum of hockey’s concussion debate within the keystone state (the commonwealth of Pennsylvania), may we draw conclusions on differences between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins?  This is, of course, a heated in-state rivalry, and both teams understand the effects that concussions can have on even the brightest of players.  In the past, the Flyers have seen the woes of the likes of Eric Lindros and Keith Primeau.  The Penguins have seen their young star in Sidney Crosby miss much of last season on top of additional games missed this season.

Yesterday, ESPN published a report stating that one of the Flyers’ best players, Chris Pronger, would be out for the remainder of the season due to post-concussion syndrome.  Pronger has not seen the ice since November 19^th.

And for quite some time now we have all heard the news of Sidney Crosby’s recurring symptoms.  His career now may be in question.

But with regards to this “wussification,” as we may bend its direction toward the hockey organizations in Pennsylvania, there are some clear polarities between both fan bases between the Flyers and Penguins.  This is coming from the observations of an outside-observing indifferent viewer of the sport who is from Philadelphia and attends college in Pittsburgh—me.  For whatever reason, it is okay that Pronger is out for the season due to concussion complications in Flyers fans’ eyes, but Pittsburgh’s Crosby may still be subject to heated criticism and ridicule that deem him the ‘pussy’ of the matter.  I have seen and heard Flyers fans calling for Crosby’s final day on the ice, hoping that someone would knock him out and end his career for good.  I’ve heard just about it all, but not once have I heard anything to be said about the Flyers from the Penguins fans.

This bothers the hell out of me.  Personally, I stopped following hockey after the cancellation of a season a few years back, and stand non-biased on this matter because I can just as easily compare the majority of the Flyers’ fan base to that of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fan base—whom I absolutely cannot stand.  But aside from that, where is the common sense here?  Sometimes common sense is lost in rivalry, and sometimes the understanding of the concept of ‘sport’ replaces the concept in that which may be considered as ‘life.’  Life, meaning off the ice, and with one’s own family.  How do you wish for something like that to Crosby?  Who cares if he plays for the Penguins?  How do you not see that he is great for hockey, and that his presence should be valued?  Why don’t the Flyers’ fans of today’s age wish for a Stanley Cup championship, instead of wishing for Crosby to take the blow to his head that will damage his career and his own cognition?  Hell, Crosby’s already got a ring, Philadelphia…

There’s honestly not too much that I can say about this predicament other than “shame on you,” because it’s not right.  Wishing for something like to an athlete, and playing favorites when it comes to the concussion stigma, is not right.  If I, as an athlete, was subject to that kind of ridicule and shame from outside observers, then shouldn’t all concussed athletes?  Look yourself in the mirror, or even take a few minutes to read a book or scholarly articles or even journalistic coverage on concussions.  Educate yourself before you sound like complete assholes and the most neurologically dysfunctional fans in hockey.

Okay, that was a little harsh.  I apologize.  Another way that we may look at this is the steps in which management had taken in injury treatment for both cases of Crosby and Pronger.  Crosby was overseen by the likes of the UPMC staff, including Dr. Micky Collins, and ultimately served as the starting point for the right kind of recovery time frames needed for these athletes.  It took a lot of guess-and-checking and regressions met with progressions, but they met a proper precedent for concussion management, which has since been adopted this season.  Pronger, who was in limbo for about a month, was given the notice of the end of his season by UPMC and Dr. Micky Collins as well.  Maybe this difference in handling gave the perception that Crosby couldn’t well withstand his own self while on and off the ice, because there were continual reports of rumors of return for Crosby, although all hopes turned out to be too high of expectation.  Pronger, on the other hand, has not been active since the injury.  Pronger is not the ‘pussy’ in this case.

So as you see, I haven’t come to any solidified conclusions on this matter, but when breaking down the sides of the argument here (or lack there of an argument), you see the most ridiculous incidents of just poorly educated (on the issue), misguided, and ignorant fans.  I try not to forget this fact, but the guys beneath these helmets are real people.  I understand you don’t like them, but don’t single them out or wish harm upon their lives just because they’re in a different uniform.  It could just as easily happen to your own respective team, and for the Flyers, it has.

Chris Nowinski had once told me that “we need to take a step back and start taking care of ourselves,” but maybe what we really need to do is take a step back and grow up.

Tags: Chris Pronger, Concussion, Dr. Micky Collins, Fans, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby, UPMC