04/24/24
October 03, 2003
Mario, Mario, Mario, when will you learn not to spit at your fanbase. You save yourself for Team Canada (and your best play in those Olympics was not touching the puck) and piss off Penguin die-hards. You give away all your proven talent, and get nothing in return. Now, you double your salary the same week you "hope" you can sign your goalie phenom. Give Pittsuburgh something to cheer about, cause your shit is getting tired.
Oh come on. Mario didn't give himself a raise, the board of directors did, as is clearly stated in the article. A stupid move, probably, since the Penguins have almost zero in the way of revenues, but Mario had nothing to do with it. And now the money to sign Fleury simply isn't there. Everyone knows that Pittsburgh was forced to do a salary dump last year, so it's hard to begrudge them for having a lack of talent. This franchise is on life support right now. And the best people can do is bash Mario for all of this? Please.
posted by Succa at 01:09 PM on October 03, 2003
My understanding is that the board gave him the raise after the Pens sold off some land that they owned (for a future, never to be, arena, I believe). That gave them some money, and they decided to reward Mario with it.
posted by mkn at 01:35 PM on October 03, 2003
Why reward Mario when they needed it for the kid? Regardless of whether Lemieux was involved in the decision regarding his salary (and if he was, BTW, that violates American law).
posted by billsaysthis at 02:22 PM on October 03, 2003
How is it a reward? Aside from giving his back, living/playing in probable constant excruciating pain, becoming a partial owner to help the franchise, coming back as a player to help the franchise (twice) don't they actually owe him a ton of money (from his contract before the last retirement, I believe). Oh, and don't forget the hardware he brought to town in his heyday. While I'm sure he has input, technically isn't he out of these player personnel decisions, as a term of his being able to play? And hello, all. I'm the new guy.
posted by pivo at 04:08 AM on October 04, 2003
Welcome to SpoFi pivo.
posted by lilnemo at 11:04 AM on October 04, 2003
Welcome pivo. Reward, I said, because Mario was already getting a million and what's the point of his pain and sacrifice if they can't put a decent team on the ice? Seems like the youngster is potentially the best tender and if so, the money would be better spent there.
posted by billsaysthis at 03:19 PM on October 04, 2003
Mario own the Pens, a failing franchise with a dwindling fan base. Why does he own the Pens? Because they couldn't pay him and he didn't seem to notice for several years, and the best he could do was obtain ownership. So why make excuses for Mario when he doesn't have the well being of the team in mind? I don't blame him for trying to get what he is owed, but I do blame him for being stupid enough to get in this position.
posted by garfield at 08:03 AM on October 06, 2003
atleast the deal got done
posted by garfield at 05:42 PM on October 06, 2003
...and surprise, surprise....he bolted steel town.