Mario Set To Resume Greatness

Mario Lemieux’s 18-month layoff from hockey may not seem all that long, until it is remembered he was only in his 20s when he last played. Now he is in his 30s.

Lemieux, one of the few top athletes to resume his career after taking a season off for reasons other than an injury, returns to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup today against Toronto.

There is every reason to expect him to be the old Mario, not just an older Mario - even if he did turn 30 Thursday. It was an occasion celebrated by the off-key singing of “Happy Birthday” by several teammates during a team luncheon.

“I’m definitely anxious to get going,” said Lemieux, who rested last season following a succession of injuries and a bout with Hodgkin’s disease. “For a week or so, I’ve been ready and I’m looking forward to the opener. My back feels good.”

Lemieux, a four-time NHL scoring champion and two-time Stanley Cup MVP, hardly looked rusty or off his game in the exhibition season. He didn’t score in his first game, then had three multiple-goal games and twice scored game-winning goals.

One reason may be that his persistent health problems - recurring back pain, anemia, fatigue - finally convinced him to work out in the off-season for the first time. He began in late June, stretching and lifting weights, and resumed skating in early July.

“As you grow older, you’ve got to do that more,” he said. “I feel I am in the best shape of my life. My back has been making good progress … and I have been working hard at it. I wanted to go into the season in the top shape possible.”