Does Mario Lemieux Still Own The Penguins

So, there I was, a few weeks back, at the local sports bar, watching the Penguins game. I'm a die-hard fan, you know, been following them since I was a kid. And there's this guy next to me, probably in his 40s, wearing a vintage Mario Lemieux jersey. I comment on it, he grins, and says, "You know, Mario still owns the team, right?" I blinked, taken aback. I mean, I knew he was a part-owner, but still owned? I had to find out more.

Mario Lemieux, the Original Owner

Let's rewind to 1999. The Penguins were in a bit of a pickle. They were on the verge of bankruptcy, and the team was at risk of being relocated. Enter Mario Lemieux, the hockey legend who had already retired once (but that's a story for another time). He stepped in, bought the team, and saved Pittsburgh's hockey pride.

Now, you might be thinking, "Wait, didn't he sell the team in 2006?" Well, yes, he did. But here's where it gets interesting. He sold it to a group of local investors, but he retained a small stake in the team. Then, in 2010, when the team was struggling again, he bought back a majority share. So, in a way, he's been the owner all along.

Mario Lemieux, the Silent Partner

You might not hear about Mario Lemieux's ownership much these days. He's not the flashy, in-your-face owner like, say, Mark Cuban. He's more of a silent partner, letting the team management do their thing while he keeps a watchful eye. But make no mistake, he's still very much involved.

He's the one who brought back the iconic penguin logo, for instance. And he's been instrumental in keeping the team in Pittsburgh, even when other owners might have considered relocation. He's also been a driving force behind the team's community initiatives, like the Mario Lemieux Foundation and the Penguins Foundation.

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Mario Lemieux, the Penguin Whisperer

So, does Mario Lemieux still own the Penguins? Technically, no, not entirely. But in every way that matters, yes, he does. He's more than just an owner; he's a part of the team's DNA. He's the reason the Penguins are still in Pittsburgh, and he's the reason they're more than just a hockey team - they're a symbol of the city's resilience and spirit.

And that guy at the sports bar? Turns out, he wasn't just wearing that jersey for the nostalgia factor. He was making a statement. A statement about Mario Lemieux, the man who still owns the Penguins, in every way that counts.