June 13, 2019
The St. Louis Blues won their first ever Stanley Cup on Wednesday night, defeating the Boston Bruins 4-1 on the road in Game 7.
In Philadelphia, the immediate reaction — apart from that Mummers clubhouse in South Philly that became a Blues bar — was to lament the fact that so many former Flyers have gone on to win championships.
Berube, Schenn, Streit, Sharp (3x), Timonen, Handzus, Carter (2x), Richards (2x), Williams (3x), Gagne, Hextall, Stevens, Recchi (2x), Fedotenko (2x), Barber, Podein & Brind’Amour have all won the Stanley Cup this century AFTER leaving the Flyers. C’mon.
— Joe DeCamara (@JoeDeCamara) June 13, 2019
Another moment from Wednesday night's game will also draw the ire of Philadelphia sports fans.
Former 76er and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley was in Boston for the game and stopped by the broadcast booth during the first intermission. Barkley was asked to compare Toronto Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard to an NHL player. He came up with Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, the arch-nemesis of the Flyers.
If @kawhileonard was a hockey player, who would he be?
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 13, 2019
Charles Barkley immediately had a response: Sidney Crosby. pic.twitter.com/XFaEB6j22v
"He's the perfect superstar," Barkley said. "He's quiet. He's gonna' win. You never hear any drama about him. I think Kawhi Leonard's a great player and a great man, but Sidney Crosby to me — I know I probably can't go home to Philadelphia tomorrow bragging about Sidney Crosby, but he's a perfect superstar. You've never heard anything bad about Sidney Crosby."
Charles — what? Never heard anything bad about Crosby? He's known as arguably the biggest whiner and diver in the NHL, and has been for years. He is undoubtedly a great player and a winner, but the whining alone is enough to prevent him from being the NHL's Kawhi Leonard.
It's probably for the best if Barkley spends Thursday night in Oakland, where he'll probably be attending attending Game 6 of the NBA Finals. He'd be wise to give it some time before he makes his next stop in Philadelphia.
Keith Jones: “Charles if Kawhi was a hockey player who would he be?”
— Mic Mannion (@Gwavesoccer1) June 13, 2019
Charles Barkley: “Sidney Crosby. He’s a great player there is never any drama with him no controversy just a great player.”
Sidney Crosby is clearly the only NHL player Charles Barkley knows
lol Charles Barkley saying nobody has ever said anything bad about Sidney Crosby
— Adam Kirstein (@whatsupdoc499) June 13, 2019
Did Charles Barkley just say Sidney Crosby doesn’t bring any drama? Have you ever watched him? #crybaby
— Jordan Citron (@jordanmcitron) June 13, 2019
