ESPN: Lemieux to announce retirement

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

Mario Lemieux will announce his retirement Tuesday at an afternoon news conference, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The 40-year-old Lemieux hasn't played for the Penguins since Dec. 16 because of problems with an irregular heartbeat.

Lemieux retired in 1997 after years of back pain, a rare bone infection and a bout with cancer, but he came out of retirement five years ago.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2304087


He was one of the greatest to ever play the game and I'm glad I got to see him play many times here in Pittsburgh. Thank you, Mario.

[Oreo]

1. Do you think the Pens can survive in Pitt?

How solid is the gambling deal? Mario is making all these moves to sell the team obviously but when they do sell, what's to keep the new owner from negating the deal for the casino and leaving the city?

Trivia question...
Mario is the only player to score a goal every possible way in a game. What are they? (Hint: he had 5)

[Cush]

2. ummm

Even strength
Power Play
Short Handed
Penalty Shot
Empty Net?

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

3. I know the trivia answer but not the Pens survival answer...

There are only 5 ways to score in the NHL and Mario did them all in a single game...Mario scored even strength, power play, shorthanded, penalty shot and empty net goals in a single game.

I've been to several Penquin games and I think hockey is much more enjoyable to watch live and in person. I would hate to lose the Pens but it's beyond my control.

[Ravenseye]

4. Too Hard To Tell

As far as fan support they have it. Even with a godawful team, and without Mario playing, they're still selling out. That won't last forever, much of that is Crosby generated, and just people happy to have hockey back...but if they suck for another year the attendance will start to lag again. It's hard to watch a really really bad team. Believe me. I know. I've seen all but one game this year in some capacity.

As far as the gambling deal it's all local and state politics. So far the only two proposals I've heard about really seem to favor the Penguins proposal, but there is already talk of corruption on the board, and that the Penguins might not get the slots liscence because of backrubbing.

We'll see though. If they get the liscence they're not going anywhere. If not, i don't even think there is a plan B. If they have a plan B they're not talking about it.

Most likely if there is a new Owner, he'll be tied into that deal, but if they dont' get the liscence the new owner will be free to do whatever they like, and then who knows...I wouldn't be surprised if the team moves.

And if they move I'll blame Rendell and the Pittsburgh Mayor O'Connor, and the rest of the 'good ole boys' local political network. They might claim to be Democrats but they really aren't, they're all in it for themselves. The real local democrats are always relegated to the backseats.