Truth & Rumors > NHL

Mario admits Penguins used KC

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Back when the Pittsburgh Penguins were sort of flirting with Kansas City and the Sprint Center officials about moving here, most Kansas Citians pretty much knew we should not get our hopes up. The Penguins used that Kansas City leverage effectively and got their arena in Pittsburgh. And now co-owner Mario Lemieux, at the Penguins' arena groundbreaking ceremony last week, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the team was never serious about leaving Pittsburgh. "It wasn't a possibility," Lemieux said. "We had to do a few things to put pressure on the city and the state, but our goal was to remain here in Pittsburgh all the way. Those trips to Kansas City and Vegas and other cities was just to go and have a nice dinner and come back."

Kansas City Star

Mario Lemieux, Jim McIsaac/Getty Images Mario Lemieux, Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
August 18, 2008  06:29 AM ET

Like we didn't already know that. C'mon, Mario, we're not that dumb.......

August 18, 2008  06:45 AM ET

Mario...you tart...can't say the other word here.

August 18, 2008  07:23 AM ET

lol

August 18, 2008  07:41 AM ET

Do you blame him for using KC? He had to do something to get the city of Pittsburgh to "wake up." Now look what they have, an exciting team and a new areaa on the way. I'd say the management of the team did a great job.

August 18, 2008  07:56 AM ET

Better KC than steroids. I was worried there for a second.....

August 18, 2008  07:57 AM ET

WOW!!! What a revelation! Stop the presses! Extra! Extra! A sports team owner uses another city as leverage to extort concessions for his team! Read all about it!

Honestly!!

August 18, 2008  07:57 AM ET

And ze French influence shows! If Pittsburgh had more of this, they might have jobs and workers! They need to get with Iran to make nuclear reactors or something with General Electric.

August 18, 2008  08:13 AM ET

I use Kansas City too. For humor. Dont know if that counts.

August 18, 2008  08:15 AM ET

I'm surprised it worked. I heard that no one in Kansas City wants to play with Sid.

August 18, 2008  09:15 AM ET

Maybe Mario's looking for second career wrtinig for T&R with this particular "revalation"


BETTMAN S***S

August 18, 2008  09:24 AM ET

I'm surprised it worked. I heard that no one in Kansas City wants to play with Sid.
------------------------
I heard they were all set to sign the Tin Man, so that's not true Last Call.

August 18, 2008  09:55 AM ET

whoa whoa... ease up. It is called TRUTH and rumors after all... just because this truth was so blatantly obvious doesn't change that. ;-)

August 18, 2008  10:14 AM ET

You so crazy Mario!!

August 18, 2008  10:15 AM ET

whoa whoa... ease up. It is called TRUTH and rumors after all... just because this truth was so blatantly obvious doesn't change that. ;-)

BuffaloTF


Maybe they should change the name to ;
"No **** Weekly"

Comment has been removed
Comment has been removed
August 18, 2008  10:37 AM ET

Vegas i can believe but Kansas City? Well then again

Grossedout9
Contrary to convential wisdom, although hockey was tried in KC many years ago with less than successful results, there was more to it than people think. For starters, it was the worst arena lease deal I'd ever seen, amoung other things, (there are lots of articles out there about it) so it was domed before it started. From what I know, KC is a great sports town, and I see no reason why a team wouldn't do well there if set up properly.

Vegas would be silly. Besides, isn't Bettman's olde sugar daddy Stern trying to get in there?

August 18, 2008  11:01 AM ET

He needed to do something to motivate the city and state governments. Mellon arena is a huge dump...was nice, now outdated.

I'm surprised it worked. I heard that no one in Kansas City wants to play with Sid.

Last Call

That's cause there is no one there TO play! Like him or not, any real player that would not want to play with Crosby would be a MORON.

August 18, 2008  11:20 AM ET

LetsGoPens....well said, sir.

 
August 18, 2008  11:22 AM ET

Insane....why don't you go over?

Besides, The Burgh is officially at only 353,000 on the census. Three major league team. 2 of which have brand new stadiiums and the Pens are getting theirs. Thus, Insane, what other city with that population compares? Have fun in the dunes.....

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