At a time when we search for identity, Sidney Crosby represents the very best in Canada

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Based on what is going on right now, we can agree that Canada has made some bad decisions in the last 20 years. One of the first – leaving Sidney Crosby from an Olympic team.

Crosby was still a teenager before Turin 2006, but what a teenager. Canada decided he was still too wet and ditched him for a veteran. It was a great story at the time.

The day Canada announced the team, Crosby tried to out of Venners in Pittsburgh. Globens Shawna richer without denoting him.

Crosby, who was unable to slip away, understandably bothered and disturbed, talked in the long run about how he wanted him to go, but would gladly wait his turn. When he had finished talking, you could have had the impression that it was Crosby’s idea not to choose Crosby.

“I was right in the mix,” Crosby said at the time. “I’m not there, but I can say I gave it a good shot.”

By doing so, Crosby took most of the pressure and kept Team Canada assistant director Kevin Lowe, who had to answer questions about it. It was a generosity that few current superstars would take into account, but Crosby had.

What we remember now is that Canada was cruel in the 2006 games without Crosby and Masterial in 2010 with him. He could also have made a bit of an appointment on it, but no. He doesn’t talk about it.

All he has been doing since then is Win – Sochi 2014, the 2015 World Cup, the 2016 World Cup.

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But when you think about what makes Crosby special, it’s not trophies. It’s easy to play the role of a winner. Be humble. Smile. Thank you your teammates and mean it.

It is that Crosby is the same person no matter what is going on. Good, bad or in between. And there is a lot between in an NHL career.

After being examined as a laboratory rat all her adult life, Crosby is still good at laughing, mostly on himself. He still sees people in his eye. He still seems to be enjoying himself.

On Tuesday, the cameras stuck him out for half an hour before Canada got off the practice. No other member of Team Canada received that treatment.

When Crosby showed up, he just appeared from nowhere. He can still enter a room without filling it. When you are as famous as he is, it is a cultured skill.

His hair is striped gray now. His age – 37 – finally fits his personality. He will probably remain that way until he expires.

First question – something about where he ranks this tournament in all the great internations he has played.

“It’s an opportunity to represent Canada,” Crosby said. “Every opportunity you get to play for your country … I’m grateful for that.”

How are you beating it? Hockey diplomacy has not run this heat since we talked about the Soviets in Afghanistan. It makes the 4 nations face-off either very lucky or very unlucky in its timing. We’re about to see.

Everyone here is – so far – eager to keep politics out of it. When the American Tip Brock Nelson was asked about anthem Booing on Tuesday, he said, “It’s another conversation for another time.”

A card to victory for four nations

Which second time? Should we wait for the first cross -border barrier?

In this country, this tournament stopped about hockey two weeks ago. Now it’s all about how much we can keep it to our neighbors and how badly they can take it if we do. For the first time in a very long time, Hockey could have consequences in the real world.

In an environment that was filled, how happy are you to have Sidney Crosby to represent your interests?

Crosby arrives, just as the rest of us are considering a few basic questions about identity.

Who are we and how do we all fit? Where are we on the idea of ​​becoming the 51st state? If the question offends us what is it that we think makes us different from them?

I could think of a lot of things and one of them is Crosby.

At some level, each country is one composed of a few of its most famous citizens. That’s the case I want people to think of Canada as a place with crossby-like virtues.

Decent and reliable. Do what it says it will do and expect not to be congratulated for it. Proud, but not proud. Unshowy, for a mistake.

What the best people all have in common is that they show up, especially when it is difficult. This intervention does not always work, but the good tests.

That’s what Canada is – a place that tries. Still an ongoing job and we don’t always get it right and Yadda Yadda, but that has never prevented us from trying.

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When you think of someone trying, I think of Crosby. The injuries, the concussions, the small, daily disappointments of a nearly 20-year career in every field-male just keep trying.

He appeared in Montreal with a wounded arm, but he will try. “Good to go,” Crosby agreed.

His coach, Jon Cooper, was more careful – “We won’t hurt Sidney Crosby” – but Cooper also understands something about the moment. When challenged, a country needs its masters.

In the end, it’s just a hockey tournament. Not even a very good, considering that only four matches, Max, with only four countries. But that’s all right now.

How Canada does it over the next eight days sets the internal temperature in the next few weeks. Are we fighting back or are we throwing ourselves in? Are we all in this thing together? When it comes to it, can we still throw a beat?

So even though the 4 nations don’t matter at a hockey level like Vancouver 2010 or Sochi 2014, it does on a deeper.

Great efforts. Much larger than usual. If Canada loses you get the strong impression we want to hear about it.

If I could choose anyone for any form to carry the metaphorical flag into this moment I would take Sidney Crosby in a sling over everyone else.