Mario Lemieux is hanging up his skates:
Penguins star and owner Mario Lemieux, one of hockey’s greatest players, announced his retirement for the second time at a news conference held Tuesday afternoon.
Lemieux, a Hall of Famer who won Stanley Cups and scoring titles and then battled through cancer and heart problems in a comeback, announced his decision at a news conference.
“If I could still play this game I would be on the ice,” Lemieux said. “This is it, and it hurts.”
The 40-year-old Lemieux learned in early December he has atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can cause his pulse to flutter wildly and must be controlled by medication.
This will undoubtedly spark a ‘who was the best’ contest, pitting Gretzky fans v. Lemieux fans, and I think it is kinda silly. First, they played a different style, Gretzky was always surrounded with more talent, and Lemieux was plagued with injuries while Gretzky was relatively healthy his entire career. It is hard to compare the tow, given the differences.
I will simply say this- no one who every saw Lemieux gracefully move down the ice with a puck will ever forget what they saw, and they will never see a big man that agile again. My mother, seeing Lemieux for the first time a few years ago at a Pens game, remarked to my brother- “It is amazing how smooth and easy he makes it look.”
My brother, without flinching, replied- “There is a reason people are always debating whether he is the greatest hockey player ever.”
Goodbye, Super Mario, and thanks.
Marcus Wellby
I think you are forgetting a little someone called Bobby Orr.
Blue Neponset
Gretzky fan here. I think it is prety easy to compare them and Gretzky wins hands down. He was the first player of his kind in the game. To me that counts for a lot.
Regardless, my hat is off to Mario. He was a great player. I hope his medical condition doesn’t stop him from enjoying his retirement.
Dave Ruddell
My two lasting images of Mario will be his winning goal in the 1987 Canada Cup (Lemieux to Gretzky, back to Lemieux…) and his amazing non-goal in the gold medal game of the 2002 Olympics, where he intentionally waved his stick over a pass that ended up going to Paul Kariya for an astounding goal.
BTW John, you could have just titled this post ‘Le Mieux’, since it means ‘best’; of course, that would cause all the Gretzky (Orr, Howe) fans to get up in arms.
Steve
I’m a homer, so I always felt Gordie Howe was the best of all time. Gretzky had Marty McSorley, but Gordie had to do his own dirty work.
I remember once upon a time the conventional wisdom was that the best players in the league were Gretzky, Lemieux, and Yzerman, in that order, but people really used to debate whether Yzerman was actually 2nd best. Once Mario truly broke out, though, it was clear he was on another level.
For someone who has virtually no connection with Pittsburgh, I remember the two Stanley Cup teams quite fondly. Those were great teams.
BumperStickerist
Had Manute Bol been given a fair shake as a hockey player, I think the Gretzky/LeMieux debate would be moot.
I’d go with Gretzky, though I don’t know how Gretzky would fare under the same rules that earlier era players (e.g. Orr) played.
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The Other Steve
Gretzky, hands down.
But LeMieux is a player to be admired.
Weasle
I grew up hearing stories about Gordie Howe from my dad. I watched Lemieux, Gretzky, Yzerman and others play hockey every time I could.
I think they are all GREAT. They have inspired people to play hockey and to love the game.
The thing is that comparing them is like arguing over whether Jazz, Classical or Heavy Metal is “the best” music. They are all different – each has its own unique style, meter, and flow. Liking one of them doesn’t mean the others have no merit or are “lesser”.
Mario Lemieux is an awesome hockey player, and he always will be – just like Gretzky, Yzerman, Parent, etc.
jg
Lemieux had more pure talent that Gretzky. Gretzky had an incredible game awareness. You couldn’t cover him because he was a step ahead of you and was setting you up to leave a man open for his pass. Lemieux couldn’t be covered because he was better than you. A man among boys as Phil Esposito put it. Give him space and he’ll beat you soundly. Cover him tight and he’ll reach around you and still get his shot or pass off unhindered.
Bobby Orr is above and beyond any other defenseman to play the game. He changed the game. No defenseman ever skated like that, they never carried the puck. He changed all that.
Pablo
Super Mario, indeed. Thanks for the memories.
canuckistani
Mario was great, no question, but he wasn’t as great as Gretzky, who brought the whole team up with him. Of course, if I were pressured to commit myself, I would also have to admit that Bobby Orr was also the greatest of all time. And Gordie Howe was also the greatest of all time. And Rocket Richard, he was the greatest of all time too. And I haven’t even thought about goalies…
Ben
I’ve always sorta followed Pittsburgh… growing up a Hartford Whalers fan well the transition was sort of natural given how many ex-Whalers played for Pittsburgh. I honestly wish the team never left even if we were just a glorfied farm team.
Anyway… I’ve always appriciated Lemiuex the player… Lemiuex the team owner and GM not quite so much. :)
Sam
Every hockey player that I’ve ever known says that Lemieux would have ended up being considered better than Gretsky if he’d just had any medical luck. Unfortunately, he didn’t.
John Cole
All you need to do is watch a highlight real of Gretzky and a highlight real for Lemieux. Who was better is clear. Gretzky just had more longevity and a better supporting cast, and better luck with health.
but, since nothing can be proven, there is really no point arguing it. Gretzky has the numbers, and to some that is all that seems to matter.
Steve
I happen to think David Thompson was a better basketball player than Michael Jordan, but as John says, it’s simply not a debate one can reasonably have. Of course Thompson, unlike Mario, created his own problems.
Kirby
If I had to choose between Gretzky and Lemieux, I wouldn’t want to choose. That’s why my favourite memories of both of them come from watching them play together in International tournaments. Especially the Canada Cups. Gretzky’s awareness and talent combined with Lemieux’s pure goal-scoring ability. Shock and awe best describes the looks on opponents faces when those two were coming down the ice together.
moe
gretz had the better supporting cast through most of his career. when you have some of the highest point getting wing men in history it really helps. again – different era. lets say lemiuex started his nhl career when wayne did. smaller goalie equipment and the fact that the game was more scoring based means double digit games. that era will never be repeated. if 66 and 99 were at their prime then, 99 would not be able to win games by himself as much as mario would. the reason for this is simple. mario was stronger. he was a tank with grace. 99 was all grace, but would not score on will as much as 66 could. 99 could use his players amazingly, 66 could as well, but wouldnt be required to as much. was just stronger physical. experts say the 70s belong to orr, 80s were 99 – 90s – were all mario