After coming from behind in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Pittsburgh Penguins marched back to take Game 7 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit 2-1, but another hockey story began shortly thereafter. The rich and proud tradition that takes place after the conclusion of every series where the two teams form a line and begin to shake hands didn't completely occur for the Penguins captain. It's a show of sportsmanship that no other professional leagues duplicate directly following such fierce competition.

Many have bestowed upon 21 year old Crosby, the team captain, an ability to comprehend and understand the tradition and history of the sport he plays and loves. When he makes a comment about tradition or chastises opponents about the game he takes on the mantle of a veteran player from a bye gone era that's why not apologizing for not shaking the hands of several Red Wings seems hypocritical.

Interviews have occurred after every Stanley Cup victory and celebrations inevitably occur, so why is this the first time this has occurred and why has someone who's supposed to know better instead just casually shrug the entire incident aside? Crosby stated his understanding from the losing side as he waited after a defeat to the Red Wings the previous year, yet the Red Wings were able to shake hands and still be accessible to the media (who aren't going anywhere) in their victory the prior year.

When the Carolina Hurricanes won the Cup in 2006, Commissioner Gary Bettman could be caught telling captain Rod Brind'Amour to put the trophy down because he wasn't done talking yet. The ultimate "me" commissioner handed the trophy to a "me" player (Crosby) this season. Some may argue that tradition suggests the acknowledgement of accomplishment and shaking of hands that occurs at the end of the series takes precedent over festivities.

The NHL ritual would have been the ultimate "sell" to newly found sports fans watching hockey that they're watching something that's very unique - for two teams after competing to shake hands as soon as the series concludes. This would have been a great explanation to viewers about the tradition of hockey and explanation regarding why it would take some additional time to speak to Crosby. The oversight to shake hands from the entire Detroit team by Sydney Crosby appears to be missed by the commissioner and missed by Crosby as to what occurred and should have occurred.