Apr 4, 2008 9:25 pm US/Eastern
Crosby Named Honorary Pittsburgh Firefighter
(KDKA)
From ice to fire, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was welcomed today as Pittsburgh newest honorary firefighter.
This morning at Southpointe, eight members of the Pittsburgh Fire Department welcomed Crosby as an honorary member of the department with a personalized chief's helmet, the number 87 emblazoned on the front.
Crosby's new honor all started in February of 2007 when he told KDKA's Sonni Abatta that he thought about becoming a firefighter if he wasn't a hockey player.
"With the interview last year, our President, Joe King was watching and decided to go get a helmet made for him," said master firefighter, Walter Haig.
The firefighters say they see a lot of good qualities in Crosby.
"When you think about it, he's a team player, has leadership, shows courage being out there with some pretty big people," said Deputy Fire Chief Frank Large. "These are things we look for in qualities of firefighters."
And Crosby says the honor means a lot to him as well.
"I never would have thought I would be accepting this, but it means a lot," said Crosby. "I think myself, like all the other guys, realize the sacrifices that come with a job like this and have a respect for what they do."
Crosby is only the second person ever to be bestowed the honor of honorary firefighter with the Pittsburgh Department. The other honorary firefighter was Bishop Donald Wuerl.
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