Baby steps

Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, it seems, is getting brave. In what appears to be his favorite trick to avoid autograph hounds, the face of the today's NHL routinely limits his public exposure by limiting those instances to mere seconds, not moments.

Rather than have the hotel courtesy van park within 4 feet of the front door, as he did last year in a visit to Tampa, the Next One graciously allowed the driver to park 8 feet away yesterday. Four feet might not seem that great a distance, but it represented a giant leap in the young ambassador's maturation process.

The extra distance gave five hounds -- all collectors, too -- a glimpse of Crosby. We asked him if he would sign, but all he did was look over. No wave. No smile. Not even an "I'll sign for you later."

Oh, well, what can I say? I tried. My low expectations for Crosby were fulfilled.

Thanks again, Sidney. You're a real friend of the fans.