PITTSBURGH -- The NHL Stanley Cup finals have brought the hockey world to Pittsburgh, including the game's most colorful and controversial analyst, Don Cherry.

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Cherry is the star of Canada's top TV program, "Hockey Night in Canada," and on the air, he calls it like he sees it.

In town for the Pens' Stanley Cup series against the Detroit Red Wings, Cherry said he heard something Wednesday night at Mellon Arena that he had never heard before in his long career."

"That is the loudest crowd in the National Hockey League," he said. "I cannot hear what I was saying. (Another broadcaster) could not hear what I was saying. I put it (the fans) are here for one guy, and that is (Sidney) Crosby."

But before the Pens captain became an NHL star, Cherry was one of his fiercest critics.

"When he started out, he did a lot of diving, and he had too much to say when he was young," said Cherry. "He had not earned his spurs yet, but now he is the guy."

Cherry, known for his crazy outfits and candor, might remind Pittsburghers of ESPN sports radio analyst Mark Madden, who was taken off the air recently for comments he made about Sen. Ted Kennedy.

"You can only go so far," said Cherry. "I have gone over the line a little bit. There are certain things, when people are sick, you give them a break."

Cherry said he once got involved in a debate during a game about Canada's role in the Iraq war, which was a fine line he might have crossed.

"I don't know why I have lasted, to tell you the truth," he said. "There are times I have done some things I thought I was done for, but I'm still here. They must like my suits or something."

Despite the Pens' 3-2 victory on Wednesday, which cut Detroit's lead in the best-of-seven series to 2-1, Cherry's prediction has not wavered. He still believes the Red Wings will take home the Cup.

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