Mario Lemieux is set to retire from the NHL for the 2nd time.
The announcement of his retirement isn't really shocking. He hasn't played a game in 5 weeks due to an irregular heartbeat....and he's pretty much been a year-to-year case. What shocks you is that this may be the end for a lot more in Pittsburgh.
His greatness is undeniable [and I still love hockey's system of putting the Greatest players in the Hall Of Famer after one season out...hence Mario's Hall status]. In his first tour of duty...he won MVP awards, won scoring titles, won Stanley Cups. Just as people place Wayne Gretzky a comfortable #1 among the all time greats.....Mario is a comfy #2.
His second tour of duty has been a more admirable one. He came back from cancer, hip ailments and heart problems to keep on playing. Unlike many people who come back for a 2nd or 3rd time....he truly did it for the love of the game. And the love of his Penguins. He was the first major sports star to buy the team that he was playing for.
And that's where the story gets sad. Lemieux did all this to keep the Pens in Pittsburgh. He, and a group of investors, bought the Penguins out of bankrupcy court in 1999...and [no pun intended] the franchise has been skating on thin ice ever since. The team has been horrible and a money pit. The lone bright spot was when Lemieux stepped down from the owner's box [yet was still the owner], strapped on the skates and helped the team get to the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals. That's the last time they made the playoffs.
For the last 5 years, the lone reason to watch a Pens game was that Mario Lemieux was out there. Even as the team floundered...he was still out there trying to do his thing. The team has seemed to have found his replacement....The Next Great One, Sydney Crosby.
But Pens fans can't fall too much in love with him. Lemieux has seen the writing on the wall....and as much as he wants to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh.....he can't. Barring a miracle that would allowfor an arena with a casino built inside....the Pens are gone. Maybe as soon as after the 2006-2007 season. So Mario stepped down as CEO and wants to sell the team.
He doesn't want to be the owner that relocates the Penguins.
It's heartbreaking...because you know that Mario wanted to make this work. And, in reality, he did for a bit. This team was almost relocated or just folded when he decided to buy them. How many athletes have that much love for their team or their city? He could just as easily sat back, been an elderstatesman and just been a legendary face of the NHL. But he wanted to have NHL hockey in Pittsburgh.
It still could happen. If that casino thing goes thru...the Pens may actually stay in Pittsburgh for a long time. If not, there are out-of-town bidders for the franchise, that will most likely honor the Pens lease with the Mellon Arena [aka The Igloo] which is up in 2008....then bounce for Kansas City, Las Vegas or wherever the bidders want to go.
On a personal note, I hope the team stays and the new owners keep Lemieux around the team in some aspect. I hate to know that the NHL can have teams in Tampa, Miami, Raleigh, Nashville and Phoenix.....but not one in Pittsburgh. Sure, the Pens aren't the greatest franchise ever in the NHL......
....Mario just made them look that way.
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