Screen Shot 2012-04-03 at 4.21.28 PMPhoto: Canada.com, eh

This upcoming Flyers-Penguins series is going to set the bar for soap operaish storylines. Somewhere, a blogger jumps for joy.

Mike Milbury apologized for his comments on WIP yesterday, some of which made light of Sidney Crosby’s concussion. Like this one: [TSN.com]

"Crosby gets cross-checked, big whoop," Milbury told Sports Radio 94WIP. "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 those scrums, I'm going to stay away from that stuff' but he couldn't help himself because there is a little punk in Crosby. He's not the perfect gentleman, he's not that little sweet kid you see in all those interviews with his hat pulled down over his eyes. I say screw him, hit him." 

 

Here’s what Milbury said today in a statement to TSN:

"I reached out to David Morehouse and the Penguins about the comments I made yesterday on Philadelphia radio. In hindsight, I realize what I said was inappropriate and wrong, and I want to apologize to the Penguins organization and their fans."

 

Milbury was right in the first place. Sure, mocking the number of concussions may have crossed the line, but the sentiment doesn’t change. Just because Crosby’s brain rattled around his skull a few times doesn't mean that he should be treated any differently. He plays dirty. And, if his team can’t find other ways to pad his bra, he should have to deal with whatever consequences (on-ice) that arise.

So, yes, when Milbury says “screw it, hit him,” he’s right– the Flyers and every other team should make him accountable for his actions. 

If you’re thinking this all sounds like Bobby Clarke… well, you’d be right. Clarke played dirty too. But he had a legion of goons to protect him, and that’s the role Joe Vitale was playing for Crosby on Sunday. It was old-time hockey, and we’re going to be seeing a lot of it this month.