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Tuesday, December 12, 2000
Lemieux, Penguins announce his comeback
ESPN.com news services
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PITTSBURGH -- The No. 66 jersey is hanging in Mario Lemieux's stall, his skates are sharpened and ready. The only thing
missing from the most anticipated comeback in sports since Michael
Jordan's is ... Lemieux himself.
Lemieux, whose unexpected comeback sent a shock wave across
hockey that stretched from Miami to Minnesota, isn't in good enough
shape yet to resume practicing, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager
Craig Patrick said Friday.
The Penguins also aren't guessing when Lemieux will play again,
although Dec. 27 against Toronto seems to be a target date.
"His body will determine when he's going to play," Patrick
said. "He's not ready yet. He hasn't given me a time frame, and
he's going to continue on that (conditioning) program he's on now,
but they're going to step it up now that it's public and he doesn't
have to hide."
Lemieux made his dramatic return official Friday by issuing a
statement and said he will make no further comment until after Bettman briefs the NHL Board of Governors on Monday. The Penguins have scheduled a 4 p.m. ET news conference for Monday afternoon.
"I missed the game and missed the challenge of competing,"
said Lemieux, who will talk to the board by conference call, then
hold a news conference. "I am excited by the challenge of
attempting a comeback. I look forward to the chance to get back on
the ice with the players.
"I think commissioner Gary Bettman, (director of hockey operations) Colin Campbell, (director of officiating) Andy VanHellemond and their staffs have done a great job of opening up the game. I really like our team and think we have a chance to compete for a championship. And it would be great for me, as a father, to enable my four children to see me play the game."
To comply with NHL bylaws, Lemieux must resign his position as the Penguins representative on the Board of Governors. It is unclear if he can remain involved in the club's day-to-day operations, but NHL officials will surely clear any hurdles that stand in the way of a return of one of the league's greatest draws.
When the 35-year-old Lemieux returns, Patrick expects to see the
Mario of old, not an old Mario.
Patrick predicts Lemieux's comeback will have the same dramatic
effect on hockey that Jordan's did on basketball. The Chicago Bulls
won three NBA titles before Jordan retired to play pro baseball and
three after he returned.
"His impact will be profound," Patrick said. "I think Rick
Tocchet said it best, that from the time Mario steps onto the ice
until the end of the season, he will be the leading scorer for
those games.
"He's still a young man. You look at the athletes who have
retired and could come back, and he is -- by far -- the only one who
could make this happen, make a championship possible."
There is one major difference in their comebacks: Jordan was an
active athlete after leaving basketball. But Patrick said anyone
who thinks Lemieux is playing again simply out of boredom or to
sell more tickets for the team he owns is mistaken.
Still, Lemieux's announcement forced the Penguins to add
additional phone lines in their ticket department. They sold 10,000
game tickets Thursday and the same amount Friday, about 10 times as
many as normal.
Lemieux was so secretive about his comeback, he didn't tell
Patrick of his plans until he started working out and became
convinced he could do it.
"I know how determined he is and how much desire he has to
accomplish things and he showed that by righting this ship,"
Patrick said. "Now he needs to accomplish something else. There is
a better challenge for him, which is on the ice."
Lemieux will be the owner when he returns, but he won't be the
captain. Lemieux told Patrick he "just wants to be another
player" and Jaromir Jagr will retain his captain's "C."
Patrick expects Lemieux to stay awhile, too.
"He indicated to us that he's not making this decision based on
60 games," Patrick said. "He's doing it for the seasons to come
as well."
Patrick and Lemieux have worked out contract terms that fit into
the Penguins' budget. Lemieux's salary will be more than minimum
wage but probably less than the $7 million he was making when he
retired.
Patrick doesn't expect Lemieux's status as owner to adversely
affect his relationship with teammates, and neither does defenseman
Darius Kasparaitis.
"When Mario comes back, he's a player, not an owner and we're
going to treat him as a player because he's going to be part of the
team," Kasparaitis said.
A team that can win the Stanley Cup this season?
"I think we have a chance to compete for a championship,"
Lemieux said.
When he retired in 1997, Lemieux was weary following years of
health problems -- cancer and persistent back pain -- but he has
since regained his desire and motivation to play, Patrick said.
"When you've had something taken away from you or you let it
go, you have a different attitude about it. That's what I sense is
happening here," Patrick said. "He's missed that so much. He was
busy with the ownership thing and getting that right, but now he
wants that challenge back, the sense of accomplishing something
great."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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Morganti: Lemieux gives East a makeover
Lemieux's comeback stuns, delights Pens players
Pang: Lemieux sees kinder, gentler NHL
Ratto: Shudder at the thought
Lemieux's skate a foretaste of comeback
Memorabilia market primed for a Lemieux return
AUDIO VIDEO
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