TOTALLY off-topic....

[RoboTECH]

Yeah, I know. I'm sure this thread'll get kicked shortly

but I was born and raised a hockey fan, and the most incredible news in several years has just come out:

Mario Lemieux returns to hockey

to quote Badger Bob Johnson:

"It's a great day for hockey"

 

[Ben88]

Yea its too bad hodgkins struck him in the prime of his career. Even at 50-75% he'll be a great asset to the Penguins. I always believed he was as good, if not better than Gretzsky.

 

[Supergax]

I have always felt that Gretzky was a bunch of hype, there are many other players much better than him. Yeah, it would be nice to see Lemieux come back, even though I don't care much for the Penguins.

 

[RoboTECH]

well, Gretzky certainly wasn't hype if you saw him play in the early 80s.

It is definitely good for hockey and obviously the Pens. If he comes back @ 80%, he'll be the best in the league (again)

<drops to knees praying>

SORRY MODS!!! It's just too incredible to pass up. I'm talking about this in all forums.

I've had over 800 on-topic posts since I've been here. This is my first OT stuff.

 

[Supergax]

Well I'm certainly not trying to dis Gretzky, but he should have retired a long time before he did. Same with Messier, his age is showing. I haven't watched hockey as much as I used to; I used to be an avid fan, and when I would watch him play with the Rangers on MSG, I could certainly tell that the flame had died out. He had his own style, which isn't that rough, and unfortunately for him I think it ended up hurting his ability later on. It certainly will be nice to see Lemieux return to hockey though.

 

[RoboTECH]

agreed on both counts Gax. Gretz stuck around 2 years longer than he should have.

Messier was playing pretty well earlier in the season, it remains to be seen if his 89-year old body can hang for a whole season tho. <g>

I hope Mario is ready. I'm wondering if the league's goons will be gunning for him?

 

[harpomx]

have any of you stopped to think what a conflict of interest it's going to be for the owner of the club playing on the team? How's the coach or GM gonna feel, telling the guy that signs their paycheques how to make plays?
Besides the fact that the game has opened up a lot, a big reason he may want to come back is because the Pens' sales/attendance is getting as bad as Carolina's a few years ago. The Major Junior team in my city gets more attendance every night than Carolina's avg. Anyway, 48 hours after Lemieux announced his return, 21000 tix sales were reported. That's good bucks for a team that hasn't really been making money.
I'm not trying to bash Mario, although I never really liked him a lot, but that's just because I loathe Pittsburgh almost as much as Boston (can u guess my nationality?). I will admit he was nearly as good as the Great One, and almost as much of a gentleman too. I don't think he retired 2 years too late any more than I think Michael Jordan did. I also think that Moose is doing just fine, &quot;89 year old body&quot; and all. I don't know where you came up with that one.

 

[RoboTECH]

How's the coach or GM gonna feel, telling the guy that signs their paycheques how to make plays?

good point, but think about it. Who's going to tell Mario how to play hockey? Scotty Bowman didn't tell him how to play hockey when he was just a kid, so why should they start now?

Besides the fact that the game has opened up a lot, a big reason he may want to come back is because the Pens' sales/attendance is getting as bad as Carolina's a few years ago

oh, no doubt about that. Mario coming back guarantees sellouts for the rest of the year. Also makes merchandising HUGE in PGH. Jagr is good, but he doesn't have the same effect that Mario has. Mario coming back is good for Pittsburgh, but it's also good for hockey overall. I bet away games will be selling out in force when Mario comes to town, especially if he gets his &quot;A&quot; game back pretty quickly.

I'm not trying to bash Mario, although I never really liked him a lot, but that's just because I loathe Pittsburgh almost as much as Boston (can u guess my nationality?).

well, you gave yourself away when you said &quot;paycheques&quot;

why hate Boston or Pittsburgh? Or do you hate all US hockey cities?

. I also think that Moose is doing just fine, &quot;89 year old body&quot; and all. I don't know where you came up with that one.


uh, that was the point. If Mess can do it, half a dozen years older than Mario, then Mario should be able to do it also.

 

[snow patrol]

LOL Robo - we do have an off topic forum you know

 

[RoboTECH]

really?

I don't see it.

 

[Wingznut]

The NHL is ON-topic, no matter what msg board you are on.

 

[bluemax]

Hockey just hasn't been the same since Lanny McDonald retired.

 

[RoboTECH]

the crowbar lives......

 

[harpomx]

I bet away games will be selling out in force when Mario comes to town, especially if he gets his &quot;A&quot; game back pretty quickly.

You're right about that. Game againts Montreal at the end of February is selling out now. I agree that it's good for hockey, I just expect some biased motives. What if Mario gets in a disagreement about how Kasparitis is playing? (Not that THAT could EVER happen). Could Darius find a pink slip in his locker? I just think he may have too much power, and the ability, if not the temptation, to abuse the power will always be there. The league as a whole has a clause that active players can not hold more than 5% or so of team shares, could be 10. Mario has 16.

well, you gave yourself away when you said &quot;paycheques&quot;

Honour. Colour. Eh. Aboot.

why hate Boston or Pittsburgh? Or do you hate all US hockey cities?

Come on, that's not fair. I don't hate US teams, I wouldn't be much of a hockey fan. I was raised a Hab fan, So I was also brought up a Bruins and Leafs hater. I guess it just stuck. Actually, my two favorite teams now are Edmonton and St. Louis. I guess liking the Habs didn't stick.