It was a cold.
Coldemus heademus - the unofficial Latin term for a head cold, or in Gary Roberts' case, a free pass from game night.
I'm sure Gary Roberts has never gone on the record for saying he's after Doug Jarvis' record of most consecutive starts (964), but in the world of hockey a head cold is comparable to an ingrown toe nail. Just ask Max Talbot, who despite being rocked in to the boards against Toronto Thursday night still managed to lace up the skates and make his presence known against the Habs. To top it off, Mad Max took another crushing hit last night that again sent him flying to the ice. Sore neck? Just another day in the life of Max Talbot. Just another day in the life of a hockey player.
Hell, we can even go back to the last Penguins vs Toronto matchup. Brooks Orpik took a glove to the face from Simon Gamache, sending him down to the ice and knocking him unconcious. After taking a few minutes to find his head, Orpik was assisted up off the ice and walked to the dressing room under his own strength. He'd miss a practice, but not a game, as he was back in the lineup against the Devils later that week.
A head cold? Come on Gary. You hold yourself in high regard, committed to playing at the level of an NHL enforcer. You bash people's faces in night in and night out, send yourself wielding in to the boards and aren't afraid to rally the troops with a few bone-crushing hits. And yet, a head cold puts you on the sidelines?
I know it's not playoff hockey we're talking about here, and I think Tyler Kennedy played a great game in Roberts' place, but even still it's not coming off to me as a method of leadership when you sit out for symptoms of a head cold while your teammates Max and Brooks are told to skate on 'the rink you see in the middle' because of shots to the head and neck.
Tsk tsk Scary Gary.
Readers, please send Coldeez, tissues and Dayquil to:
Mellon Arena
C/O Gary Roberts
66 Mario Lemieux Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Sniffle...
