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Mario: 'It was all worth it'
Joe Starkey can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7810.
What else could he say?
The truth of the matter is that everybody who watched Team Canada's championship celebration Sunday knew it was the last such celebration for No. 66.
Deep in his heart, Lemieux had to know. The chance to revel like that one more time is why he put such an emphasis on preparing for the Olympics, even at the expense of his franchise.
His family in the E Center stands had to know. They are ones who have seen first-hand how much pressure their father, husband and son has endured over the past month - from his home country and his home city.
Lemieux's current and former Penguins teammates knew, too. Ex-Penguins defenseman Ulf Samuelsson was at the E Center yesterday. He was riveted to the post-game celebration, watching the Team Canada players crawl all over each other to line up for a team photo, just the way the Penguins did in 1991 and '92.
By the time Lemieux walked into his post-game news conference, gold medal draped around his neck, you knew the answer to your question, but you asked, anyway.
Was it worth the grief, Mario?
He did not smile in articulating his answer, which ended like this: "I certainly took a lot of grief the last few weeks, but it was all worth it, just because of this."
With that, he grabbed the gold medal and gave it a little shake.
You better believe it was worth it. And if you were still ticked off when you watched Lemieux throw his gloves in the air at the buzzer, take a skate with the Canadian flag and wave to his family in the crowd, then you'll never understand.
"This was a chance of a lifetime, to play in the Olympics and do something great for your country," Lemieux said. "Once you're born (in Canada), you're always going to be a Canadian, and you always do whatever you can for your country."
Lemieux never thought he'd get this opportunity.
"I was retired 3½ years ago, sitting on a beach in Florida," he said.
Had Lemieux stayed on the beach, Canada would have missed the boat again. It would be 50 years and counting without a gold medal. Lemieux was the consummate captain. He could have helped this club without a scoring a single point.
"He's the guy we would look to in the room," said coach Pat Quinn, who added that Lemieux's line played a major role in shutting down Team USA's top line of Mike Modano, Brett Hull and John LeClair.
Team Canada's executive director, Wayne Gretzky, spoke of how Lemieux, Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman set an incredible example for the younger players by playing their hearts out in the third period of the 5-2 loss to Sweden that opened the tournament.
"Mario was exactly what I said he would be a year ago when we picked him as captain," Gretzky said. "He did exactly what we expected him to do. He's the best player in the game.
"Canadians should be very proud of him."
Lemieux made his presence felt on the scoresheet, as well, despite playing with a still-injured hip. He scored twice in a morale-lifting 3-3 tie against the Czechs, when the world was waiting for Team Canada to crumble after its wobbly start. He set up Yzerman's game-winner in the quarterfinal victory over Finland, and he made a tremendous play without touching the puck on Paul Kariya's first-period goal yesterday that tied the score 1-1.
Lemieux saw a pass from Chris Pronger headed his way, and instead of trying to redirect it he let it slide through his skates to Kariya. In the meantime, he moved his stick as if he would shoot it, fooling goaltender Mike Richter.
About the only thing Lemieux did wrong was miss a wide-open net at 10:55 of the second period, with the Canadians leading 2-1. He nearly gave Gretzky a heart attack on that one, and he wasn't feeling so hot when the Americans tied it a few minutes later.
"He missed a chance I don't think he's ever missed in his life," Gretzky said, laughing.
Said Lemieux: "It's not something I've done too many times over my career."
Indeed, it was a rarity, sort of like winning a championship. Lemieux has enjoyed the taste of ultimate victory three times in his professional career - twice with Stanley Cups and once when he took a pass from Gretzky to win the 1987 Canada Cup. He wasn't about to let the naysayers back home spoil the fun after championship No. 4.
Asked if he'd caught up with his family yet, Lemieux shook his head.
"We're going to see to them later," he said, "when we're done partying here."
Joe Starkey is a sports writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
