In sports, there are some crazy superstitions. From Michael Jordan wearing his college shorts under his Bulls uniform to Wade Boggs taking batting practice at 5:17 every day, sports are chock-full of superstitions and traditions that players complete to feel more comfortable and gain a competitive edge. Sidney Crosby, center for the Pittsburgh Penguins, is no different. Crosby has always been fascinated with the number 87 because his birthday is August 7, 1987. This fascination has influenced the number he wears and has played a crucial role in everything from contract negotiations to helping the organization put the best team on the ice.

Who Is Sid the Kid?

With the first pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Crosby. At 18, he was seen as a generational talent and did not disappoint. In his first NHL game, Crosby scored. This was the first of 39 goals and 102 points in his rookie season. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to Washington’s Alex Ovechkin.

At 19, Crosby became the captain of the Penguins, the youngest in team history.

As Sid the Kid matured, he became one of the best to play the game. He is a two-time league MVP, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, and twice a leader in the league in scoring.

Winning Mentality

With such a decorated resume, Crosby could ask for whatever he wanted in contract negotiations. However, since 2013, he has earned $8.7 million a year, well below what he could make in the free-agent market.

“Sid is making a tremendous personal sacrifice in an effort to help the Penguins win, both now and in the future, as he has done for his entire career,” the Penguins’ GM Kyle Dubas told reporters.

When asked why he doesn’t care about being one of the highest-paid players in the league, his response boiled down to one answer: winning.

“I think winning is the most important thing to me, and I think understanding the dynamic and how it works, and trying to give the team the best possible chance to be successful,” he told reporters. “Ultimately, you have to go out there and do your best and do your job, and ultimately I’m more focused on that than the number, I guess. That’s just my approach, and that’s always how I’ve seen it.”

Giving Back

Crosby gave back to the Pittsburgh faithful to celebrate his new contract. Just a half-hour after signing the contract, he delivered season tickets to the Rodgers family, who are lifelong Penguins fans. Check out their reactions below!

For Crosby, winning comes before personal gain, and that is precisely the mentality you want from your superstar and captain. Great leaders will always work to put the team above themselves.

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