He is selling the franchise that drafted him, who he won back-to-back stanley cups with, and the franchise who he spent his entire hockey career with. why is he selling them, and do you think he is a traitor?
2007-01-17 09:45:50 · 27 answers · asked by shotgunmerc 4 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Super Mario deserves to do what is best for him for once.
It does not need to be said that Mario Lemiuex is on the NHL Mt. Rushmore. He saved the Pens when they went into bankruptcy.
He has sat by while the other two sports franchises in Pittsburgh, who used to share a building, got their own state of the art facility. Not to mention that those two's yearly events combined will nearly be matched by the desperately needed new arena.
The Pirates play in one of the best sports venue's in America, and they are the worst team in the Major Leagues. On the other side, the Penguins have the best player in the NHL, and by the way the kid is 20 years old. Can you imagine if a team as talented as the Pittsburgh Penguins played in a facility equivalent to PNC Park.
Then there is the slot liscense that would have given the city of Pittsburgh and $290 million dollar new arena, that the polititicians managed to fumble away.
The chances are that the Pens are staying in Pittsburgh, but after Lemiuex has been working for nearly a decade to keep the team in Pittsburgh, he has the right to do what is best for him.
2007-01-17 13:39:08 · answer #1 · answered by SteelJuice 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
He was selling them because he didn't want to be an owner. If you knew about the franchise you would KNOW he bought them to save them. Last I heard he took the team off the market long ago though, like a month or so. Also I can't blame him for not wanting to be an owner with the people who he has to put up with in the City, aka City Officals NOT fans. Had things worked out better with the City and State he might have been more willing. When he ALMOST had a deal made he said he was done with being an owner after he sold the team because of the political aspect. Maybe you don't understand the amount that goes on behind the scenes.
Oh and the Arena is OLDER then the team. It was built in like '60 and the team in '67.
He made ONE comeback. As to the supposed half-hearted idea of it he played as good as before. Perhaps you only remembered the best years, not the years when he started and wasn't surrounded by talent. That was the problem when he came back, there was no talent there. As to the fact that he didn't have talent you can't blame that on "bad buisness decisions" the team was losing money hand over fist. They had a fire sale because it was all they could do. He was trying to in the least break even. He didn't have money to spend to that degree. Who does?
2007-01-18 08:29:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Traitor? He should be considered a hero all over again because if he hadnt purchased the franchise and came out of retirement to play again the team would have been moved then. he gave the city of Pittsburgh plenty of opportunity to make things better (like build a stadium that could actually make them money) but like with the Steelers and pirates the city officials didnt do anything to fix the situation until they threatened to move. That isnt Mario's fault and he is tired of the politics and losing money. He gave up a personal fortune to save a bankrupt team and still he has worked in good faith to save the Penguins from leaving. Anybody else who would have bought them when he did would have left town with the team long ago, Mario should be revered as a hero not a villian! Even while trying to sell the team he is working in incredibly good faith on behalf of the Pittsburgh fans (who deserve better than what the city leaders have done for them). Like I said before any other owner would have already signed an agreement to move the team to K.C. , it amazed me after hearing what K.C. offered Mario to move the team that he didnt sign on the spot and plan to leave at the start of next season.
2007-01-17 17:59:36 · answer #3 · answered by viphockey4 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
If he were doing this and the team were profitable you might have a point. However I think Lemieux tried on MANY occasions to save the franchise, first he bought the team, then he came out of retirement to play and help the team in the playoffs and boost ticket sales. Then he tried to make a deal with the city of Pittsburgh for a new arena that was denied. You can only try so many times before you have to cut your loses and move on. I am still hoping that the city of Pitt comes around and helps build an arena.
2007-01-18 13:33:16 · answer #4 · answered by needingajob 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a Penguins fan I have to say I'm not surprised. Mario saved this franchise twice. If he wants to sell that's his choice, you can't expect him to stay around forever. When he bought the team he said it would only be for a short time, basically until he could stabilize the franchise and find an adequate owner. With out the new arena the city of Pittsburgh is making it hard for him to operate.
2007-01-18 08:38:46 · answer #5 · answered by dohen 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mario Lemieux loves hockey and the city of Pittsburgh. I honestly think Mario is only saying the club is for sale so that the city will do something to get the Penguins a new arena or a better deal at the Mellon Arena. It is long past the time that a new arena be built for the Penguins. They play in the oldest arena in the NHL and even though it is been kept in good shape, it is not in the most accessible area of town and really has outlived its usefulness.
2007-01-18 01:46:25 · answer #6 · answered by P.I. Stingray 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pittsburgh fan here.
I have to admit that when I heard he was thinking about selling the pens with the possibility of relocation, I was ticked off and I said I hated the guy, but then I remember all the crap that he had to deal with with the politicians. He loves his hockey team and he wants them to have a nice arena and to be acknowledge as a sports team in Pittsburgh. Is it right that we have the Heinz Field and PNC Park, but yet the Igloo is as old as the team (almost 40 yrs I believe) Even when the pens sellout, Lemeiux loses money because of the cost of Mellon Arena. Without Lemeiux though, the Pen would've left awhile ago.
2007-01-17 23:32:50 · answer #7 · answered by sax_chick88 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Dude, you can't be serious. I can't believe Mario bought the team out of BK then came back to play for the Pens. Speculation at the time was that he'd trade himself to the Rangers for a year, make bank and possibly win another Cup. He has shown unwavering loyalty to a town which is not worthy of it. Pittsburgh sucks and losing Mario and the Pens is only going to make it worse. I say he should finally cash in for as much as he can get and enjoy the life he has made for himself with a clear conscience.
2007-01-17 18:57:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lets see... He saved the franchise on a couple of occasions as a player when fan support was negligible to say the least, rescued it again as an owner. Hmmm. Then the elected officials in Pittsburgh don't back the team. Yeah, right .. Lemieux deserves the key to the city and cudos for keeping the team alive when the city so obviously doesn't want them.
2007-01-17 17:54:12 · answer #9 · answered by Bob D 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋
The Pens ain't going nowhere...7 straight sell outs...13 all season...already more than last season combined...huge fan base...mario will sell them once he establishes the new arena deal in da 'burgh...he will only sell them to a new owner who has the money to support them...he saved the pens, now it is his turn to pass the torch...he has done alot for the city...the pens are competitive this year...#9 playoff spot with the 2nd least played games out of the eastern conference...pens will make the playoffs and beat buffalo first round....you watch...
Go Pens!!!
2007-01-17 23:15:15 · answer #10 · answered by Stank 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋