Quotes from Mario Lemieux

One thing I hate is people screaming at me. If you want me to do something, talk to me.

I think that with a lot of hard work and dedication, I feel that I could be the best in the world. I'm still only 35 years old... I have a fresh start physically and mentally, and I feel that I can achieve my goal to be the best again.

I didn't speak English until I came to Pittsburgh.

Everybody I talked to - from my friends to my family and some of the players - really gave me a lot of support from the start. And that certainly made me feel good about trying to come back and be one of the best again.

We feel that, with Sidney, we have a great opportunity over the next few years to put a great team on the ice. We're prepared to lose some money along the way. Eventually we're going to need some help.

It's up to the community now to decide if they want to keep this team.

He's only 4 years old, so I don't think he realized, you know, that I played so many years. Of course, we watch tapes here from the Stanley Cup years, but I don't think he realized how many years I played.

My son, he is the reason I got involved. It's been a joy to be around him and teach him the stuff that I know, and to the other kids as well. When he started playing I wanted to be involved in his hockey career. It's a lot of fun for both of us.

All I can say to the young players is, enjoy every moment of it. Just enjoy every moment of it. Your career goes by very quickly.

Once I'm at the arena with the guys in the dressing room, and in the bus, and on the plane, I'm a player. And I sit in the back with the players and I play cards and try to take their money.

I didn't like the way the game was being played.

Certainly we're not satisfied with just winning games. We've been playing some pretty good hockey, but we think we can play much better.

I've gone through back surgery a couple times, and of course, my radiation treatments for six weeks got me to the point where I was not able to play at the level that I was accustomed to.

We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players.

Depending on how we start the season, I can play center or wing... It doesn't matter to me.

Well, I think just a desire to come back and be a part of the game again.

As I've said, in 2007, we're free to go and we'll just have to do what's best for the business.

I don't try to match wine with food, I just drink what I like. And I think a lot of people are going towards that now, which never used to be in the past.

When I'm able to see the ice ahead of time when I get the puck, I'm able to make some pretty good plays.

Every day is a great day for hockey.

For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a professional hockey player.

When it comes to hockey, it's been in my blood since I was 3 or 4 years old. I love coaching the kids, especially at that level.

If I could play this game at a decent level, I'd come back and play.

I can no longer play at a level I was accustomed to in the past.