No timetable for Crosby’s return
PITTSBURGH (AP) 无毛视频� Sidney Crosby remains confident he无毛视频檒l play hockey again.
When remains a mystery.
The Pittsburgh Penguins star said Wednesday he无毛视频檚 continuing to recover from concussion-like symptoms that have sidelined him since last January, adding it无毛视频檚 无毛视频渓ikely无毛视频� he无毛视频檒l return to play this season.
Yet the 24-year-old former MVP remains adamant he won无毛视频檛 don his familiar No. 87 jersey until he无毛视频檚 back at full strength.
无毛视频淢aybe I can get by with 90 percent, maybe I couldn无毛视频檛 but I无毛视频檓 not going to roll the dice with that,无毛视频� he said.
Flanked by Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero and the two doctors who have carefully monitored his progress after sustaining blows to the head in consecutive games nine months ago, Crosby shot down speculation he无毛视频檚 considering retirement.
While acknowledging there无毛视频檚 a 无毛视频渟light chance无毛视频� he may never play again, Crosby quickly added 无毛视频淚 wouldn无毛视频檛 bet on that.无毛视频�
Guessing when arguably the game无毛视频檚 greatest player will consider himself at full speed is an equally risky proposition.
Dr. Michael Collins likened Crosby to a Ferrari. Sure, Crosby can go out and skate. He just can无毛视频檛 do the things he wants to do without experiencing a recurrence of the issues that have plagued him since January.
无毛视频淪id无毛视频檚 100 percent is different than anybody else无毛视频檚,无毛视频� Collins said.
Crosby无毛视频檚 symptoms have included 无毛视频渇ogginess无毛视频� that at times made it difficult for him to drive or watch television. He无毛视频檚 also endured painful migraines and likened the recovery process to a roller coaster. The good days far outnumber the bad ones, but the bad ones aren无毛视频檛 gone completely.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 lucky,无毛视频� Crosby said. 无毛视频淚 feel like I无毛视频檓 in pretty good shape and on the right end of this right now.无毛视频�
Doctors don无毛视频檛 anticipate the symptoms having any long-term effect on his day-to-day life, with Dr. Ted Carrick calling it 无毛视频淐hristmas for Sid Crosby and the people that care for him.无毛视频�
The true test of his hockey future won无毛视频檛 be determined until he gets hit for the first time in a real game. That will likely be months considering it无毛视频檚 still uncertain when he can begin practicing with his teammates.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e going to introduce contact with Sid very carefully,无毛视频� Collins said, 无毛视频渁nd we无毛视频檙e not even close to that.无毛视频�
Crosby has spent the summer working out in Canada and undergoing various tests to his vestibular system, which is directly tied to a human无毛视频檚 movement and sense of balance. Crosby struggled with those tests shortly after his diagnosis and Carrick said only recently has Crosby shown progress when contact of any kind is involved.
Contact is going to be unavoidable whenever he comes back, though Crosby is hoping the NHL will take steps to crack down on head shots like the two that put his career in jeopardy.
The first came against the Washington Capitals in the Winter Classic on New Year无毛视频檚 Day, the second five days later against Tampa Bay. Crosby stressed he didn无毛视频檛 feel obligated to play against the Lightning, saying his symptoms didn无毛视频檛 really manifest until after he took the second hit. Crosby has refused to say whether the hits were dirty. He无毛视频檚 not sure it matters.
无毛视频淎 guy无毛视频檚 got to be responsible with his stick, why shouldn无毛视频檛 he be responsible with the rest of his body when he无毛视频檚 going to hit someone?无毛视频� Crosby said. 无毛视频淲hether it无毛视频檚 accidental or not accidental, you无毛视频檝e got to be responsible out there.无毛视频�
Crosby doesn无毛视频檛 believe outlawing head shots would adversely affect the game, even if there无毛视频檚 no guarantee he无毛视频檒l ever be the player he was before the injury. He无毛视频檚 as stunned at anyone by his slow and sometimes unsteady recovery. He thought he was making progress last month before his workouts were scaled back when symptoms reappeared after working at what he estimated as 无毛视频�80-90 percent.无毛视频�
无毛视频淲hen I really fatigue myself or really stress (my system),无毛视频� Crosby said, 无毛视频淚 didn无毛视频檛 really respond the right way.无毛视频�
What 无毛视频渢he right way无毛视频� will be going forward is unclear. Crosby has basically had to reacclimatize his body to working in space, trusting his right arm is where his mind is telling him it is, things like that. It无毛视频檚 a long road. The end is in sight, but it无毛视频檚 blurry.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 not easy to go through that, there无毛视频檚 no guideline,无毛视频� Crosby said. 无毛视频淵ou无毛视频檝e got to listen to your body, listen to your doctors. At the same time, end of day I know how I feel.无毛视频�