God help Sidney Crosby.

That's what popped into my head yesterday while sitting in a news conference room bursting at the seams, with tempers and anxieties rising during a wait.

If Swiss tennis star Roger Federer's rock-star treatment here is any indication, Crosby could be looking at a mob of untold magnitude at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

The Penguins' star center might easily be the main attraction then, playing not only in his first Olympics but also in his native Canada.

Crosby was mobbed by media and fans in December when he made his first NHL trip to cities in western Canada, including Vancouver. In 2010, there will be many more media members and fans as well as expectations of gold for Team Canada.

Federer, like Crosby, seems to remain calm in the face of such adoration -- although Federer noted the Olympics bring him more attention than Grand Slam events, of which he has won 12, including five Wimbledons.

In un-Crosby-like fashion, Federer was a half hour late for his session. That allowed time for far more journalists to cram into a room whose seating capacity was listed at 200.

In addition, 50 video cameras lined every wall. With no room to breathe, the journalists sniped at each other for blocking a view or stealing a standing-room spot.

When Federer arrived, volunteers had to string together, hands held, to form a path for him to get through the throng. At times, photographers' shutters were so many and so loud, Federer struggled to hear the questions.

"I get a lot of press throughout the year, a lot of media. This is a little bit bigger," said the top-seeded Federer who will open against Russia's Dmitry Tursunov in the first round Sunday. "Hopefully, I'll get some good questions."

The first ones, no surprise, had to do with Federer losing his No. 1 ranking after 238 weeks to Spain's Rafael Nadal when the new computer rankings come out after the Games.

"I'm focused on the Olympic Games, not the rankings," Federer said.

No surprise in that answer, either. Federer seemed genuinely eager to talk about the Olympics and his third shot at a gold medal on what are being called medium-fast hardcourts.

He finished fourth in Sydney in 2000 and was upset by Tomas Berdych in the second round in 2004 in Athens.

"It's going to be one of my dreams to do very well in an Olympic Games," he said.

"It's very important to me. It ranks right up there with the Grand Slams. You're carrying your country as well, so you want to do well."

In a year in which he was slowed early by mononucleosis, Federer reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and the finals of Wimbledon and the French Open. He reports he feels strong for this tournament.

As he did in Athens, Federer is expected to carry his country's flag tonight in the opening ceremony (an honor Crosby would be a prime prospect to receive in Vancouver).

In a case of life handing Federer a serve he can't wait for, the opening ceremonies coincide with his 27^th birthday.

"This will probably be my most unique birthday of all time, unless I have a baby on my birthday or something -- and that's not planned yet," he said, grinning. "This is a very special moment."

So are his memories of his previous two Olympics, medals or not.

"Eight years ago, meeting my girlfriend [Mirka Vavrinec] was a highlight of my career," he said. "Carrying the flag was a different highlight. I don't know what's nicer, but I guess it was meeting my girlfriend because we've been together for eight years, whereas holding the flag was only 10 minutes."

Smart man, saying that.

Since then, Federer has developed a smashing rivalry with Nadal, the No. 2 seed here.

Who could forget their riveting Wimbledon final this summer, with the young Spaniard prevailing, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7, to prevent Federer from becoming the first man since the 1880s to win six Wimbledons in a row?

"We've already played, I think, 16 times and he's only 22, and I'm only 27," Federer said. "I have a feeling we're going to play 20 more times. It's good to have rivalries. With Rafael, there's something special there."

As there is wherever Federer goes. After staying in the Olympic village in Sydney and Athens, he's bunking in private quarters this time, but not because he has become a snob.

"I'm going there once in a while to see the other Swiss athletes and get some of the Olympic feel, [but to stay] it's not possible," he said.

"Athletes want pictures. I don't mind it, but it's just not the ideal preparation when you're trying to win a gold medal."