Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 30, 1994 TAG: 9408300077
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PITTSBURGH LENGTH: Medium
His ability and desire drained by four years of medical problems, Lemieux on Monday confirmed the worst-kept secret in hockey: he will sit out the Pittsburgh Penguins' 1994-95 season to recuperate from lingering fatigue.
An aftereffect of both radiation treatments for cancer and a dozen cortisone shots for back pain since 1991, the fatigue can persist for up to two years. It developed following radiation therapy in January and February 1993.
Lemieux won't decide for another year if he'll play again, but says he won't return to hockey - either in 1995-96 or beyond - if he can't again be the greatest player in the game.
``I don't want to come back until I can play the way Mario Lemieux can play,'' said Lemieux, who will be 29 in October. ``If I feel I'm not able to go on the ice and be close to 100 percent, another decision will have to be made.''
That decision, of course, would be retirement, but Lemieux said he plans to resume his career in September 1995 if his strength returns and his doctors agree his health won't be jeopardized.
``It's been very difficult the last couple of years, but I want everybody to know I still love the game of hockey,'' Lemieux said. ``It's not a hockey issue, it's a health issue.''
A battery of medical tests this month detected no recurrence of the Hodgkin's disease or the anemia he developed late last season, only the fatigue.
``I need to regain the strength I had two years ago,'' Lemieux said. ``I can't train the way I want. I get tired very quickly. The stamina is not the same it was at the end of last season.''
And, he said, it's hard to have your mind right for hockey when your body isn't.
``Right now, it's hard to think that way [to have the desire to play],'' he said.
One of the greatest scorers and playmakers in NHL history, the four-time scoring champion and two-time MVP hasn't played a full season since he was 23. He had back operations in 1990 and 1993, a rare bone infection resulting from his first surgery, cancer and anemia. Hodgkin's disease is a former of cancer that attacks the lymph nodes.
``He's had a lot of trauma and medication. ... He's been punched and prodded and poked and zapped and rezapped,'' agent Tom Reich said. ``It's a very, very difficult decision that's been made, but [medically] it was a crystal-clear decision.''
Eddie Johnston, rehired as the Penguins' coach 14 months ago on Lemieux's recommendation, said his team will be good even without Lemieux - perhaps even good enough to win a third Stanley Cup in five years.
Since learning a month ago that Lemieux wouldn't play, the Penguins have traded for Los Angeles Kings star Luc Robitaille and signed three centers, including former Penguin John Cullen. They also re-signed Jaromir Jagr to a long-term $19.5 million contract.
``It's a great opportunity for the young guys to step forward,'' Johnston said. ``When you lose the best player in the world it's got to hurt, but I think we'll challenge anybody for the Stanley Cup.''
Although he led the Penguins to Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, some fans have criticized Lemieux for spending the summer playing in numerous celebrity golf tournaments. However, Lemieux insinuated playing golf is hardly comparable to the physical demands of hockey.
``Right now, my health is a lot more important than hockey. And if the fans don't understand it, they're the ones who have a problem,'' Lemieux said.
Penguins owner Howard Baldwin, who continues paying Lemieux even as he sits out the season, offered refunds to any season-ticket holders who ```want to jump off the bandwagon'' because Lemieux won't play.
Even should he feel better this winter and step up his conditioning program, Lemieux insisted he won't even consider playing, not even in the playoffs.
``The playoffs are out of the question,'' he said. ``The level of hockey played in the playoffs is very high and I wouldn't be prepared. The decision is a year off.''
by CNB