Actor Joe Manganiello on Why Mario Lemieux is The All-Time Best Pittsburgh Player - 12/5/16

[@CherryRedBanshee]

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Lemieux when I was a child. I was very sick and in Children’s Hospital, and he was visiting us kids. He was very kind, very genuine, and I truly believe that he was happy to be there and meet us young fans and bring us a bit of joy in our darkest hours. He’s also used his resources to help fund cancer research and children’s hospital playrooms, among many other things for patients and families. So yeah, Mario Lemieux is more than just one of the greatest Pittsburgh athletes, he’s a great human being.

[@brianbrink1421]

Wow… just wow.

[@tomgeoghegan9173]

@@brianbrink1421 I met him in 86" Good guy... Have a pic.

[@jodiuhron1979]

Awesome! I bet your mom didn’t kick him out of your room! My mom did that the day of my surgery. I have never let her live it down! She was in Mama Bear mode and wouldn’t let anyone disturb me.

[@Torgo1969]

Lemieux is arguably the best hockey player of all time, so it is absolutely no contest to call him King of Pittsburgh.

[@Maverick_42]

Gretzky himself said all his records would have been broken by Mario save his injuries. In Gretz I trust.

[@jh2245]

@@Maverick_42 I think he's being a little humble Gretz in saying that, because his assists records would still stand. No doubt though, Lemieux is easily the best goal scorer ever, and Wayne's goal records would be long gone.

[@JackBirdbath]

No athlete in the history of sport has had a greater impact on his team’s city than Mario Lemieux.

[@buryyourdraws]

Championships (including the FIRST one). Saving the team from collapse by BUYING IT. Followed by more championships. Yeah it's tough to think of anyone else who compares

[@mpuchar5003]

Almost sounds straight out of a documentary

[@hd-xc2lz]

@@mpuchar5003 And if told as fiction would be labelled too corny.

[@joeheid4757]

Facts.

[@ronaldgeorge3170]

Don’t forget Roberto Clemente

[@hugh2hoob668]

THANK u Joe! People outside Pittsburgh think were all Steelers All the Time They forget how important the Pens are to us

[@jared699]

Hell yeah. One of the best hockey fan bases in the league.

[@breakaway2x]

Mario is the greatest of all time, period.

[@kidpoker9408]

nope 99 is

[@The_Bad_Guy.]

Kid Poker gretzky never won the cup after he left his all star oilers team. And the oilers won another one without him. He was great yes but I would take a healthy Mario in his prime over Gretzky. Put it this way. If you could clone both of them 5 times and give them the same goalie, a team of lemieux's would beat a team of Gretzkys.

[@hugh2hoob668]

Kid Poker Haha no Wayne couldnt do what Mario could he's nowhere near the greatest player of all time he just had the stats Messier and Lemieux we're better than wayne

[@hugh2hoob668]

Mike Werley Not to mention Wayne cried after losing in 1993 to Montreal Mario cried due to saving an entire franchise on a injured back and after defeating cancer even Bobby Orr said Mario was #1 bar none

[@martinbourque5869]

mario for sure but messier is not in the top five

[@paulnettles9109]

The fact that he saved a franchise as a player, then saved them as an owner and happens to be an all-time great at both.

[@Miraclechild17]

That's rare to be both a great player and a great owner.

[@nathanmcdonald6552]

Such a beauty love how much he shows his Pittsburgh sports pride

[@quincee3376]

Best puck handler ive ever seen . Lemieux and Gretzky on the same line in the 87 Canada Cup was the best hockey ive ever witnessed. In Game 3 of a Best 2 of 3 series with the series tied 1 game a piece and game tied 5-5 with just over a minute left in the 3rd Period Gretzky stole the puck in Canada's own end , skates up the ice on the left with a 2 on 1 with Mario , passes to Mario, Mario roofs it and Canada wins 6-5 . 2 games to 1 and all 3 games ended 6-5 . Greatest hockey tournament. Lemieux was a scoring machine.

[@r.edward5701]

That was an amazing tournament.

[@quincee3376]

@@r.edward5701 it was for sure.

[@ORagnar]

I've never seen anyone make scoring look so easy with the possible exception of Gretzky. 2/26/22, 9:28 p.m.

[@maitrehg]

Mario was only 21 at this tournament !

[@quincee3376]

@@maitrehg yes! Unreal.

[@templetonbob]

Gretzky said Mario would have broke all his records if he didn't have back problems and cancer. I completely believe him. He was that good.

[@hanslilja3873]

Yes but anyway there is People ho is just looking at The stats that is just rediculous when gretzky was playing over 600 more games then lemieux and he was only injured 1 single time in his whole karriär when suter in usa team was hurting him then he was crying for over 6 month lemieux would have just been laufing at that compares to his backinjuries and cancer lllooll

[@flex4life]

Forget PHG, Mario is legit contention for alltime GOAT in all sports.

[@ironman4122]

You’re CRAZY! Lemieux is the all time best athlete PERIOD!

[@jared699]

Agreed. Any sport.

[@dextrosebizarre]

I'm from Quebec. You can't believe how much we envy you for the gifted players you had. Lemieux! Then Jagr! Then Crosby ( who played 2 years in Rimouski)! Then Malkin! Then Fleury and Letang, two more quebecers! Plus Talbot, who scores twice in in the last game for a Stanley Cup!! There are a lot of Penguins fans down here in Quebec!! :-) And let's not forget about Stevens, Francis, Recchi, Barasso, Zubov., Staal, Kovalev.. Wow!! (I only hate Samuelsson because of what he did to Cam Neeley)

[@timeghost5000]

Quebec and Pittsburgh have a strong history together of iconic hockey players. I love Quebec very much as an American and a Pittsburgher. You guys would fit right in down here. Thank you for all the great fledglings youve sent down to WPA. We very much appreciate it 🖤🖤

[@dextrosebizarre]

@@timeghost5000 Thank you very much!! Best luck for the upcoming season... It's gonna be rough, your team is aging... Bit they will give a good show still, I'm sure about it. Karlson can only be better than last year.

[@chais1111]

Mario is a living god on earth. This might sound ridiculous but nas a hockey player he was like a junior all star playing in a pee-wee league yes that dominant and as a man just as amazing. Also as a french Canadian i know how hard it is to loose the accent (not that it matters) but Mario's english accent is spot on. Anyway, all and all, a very special.

[@jared699]

You're so right. In his last year before joining the Pens, he had 133 goals and 282 points in 70 games. Also, 52 playoff points in 14 games. Amazing.

[@jmar5785]

100% agree. I believe Mario is the best, most gifted hockey player of all time. Better than 99. And, it’s not close. Sorry English Canadians. BTW Malkin is in the Top 100 and there are 40 or 50 he’s better than. Just the insane goal he scored against Carolina in the 2009 conference finals alone puts him in the top 100.

[@ryancalhoun2910]

Lol bro, you're way off. Anyone who puts Mario ahead of Gretzky is an idiot.

[@fredmar6436]

@@ryancalhoun2910 Goal scoring, Lemieux 10, Gretzky 9. Playmaker Gretzky 10, Lemieux 9. EQUALS!

[@fredmar6436]

@@ryancalhoun2910 P.S. People who resort to name calling are not mentally strong. Take it as you will. IDIOT!! JUST KIDDING.

[@ryancalhoun2910]

@@fredmar6436 Gretzky slightly ahead.

[@jared699]

Malkin is easily top 100. He's 16th all time in points per game. And, yes, that goal against Carolina was amazing. Had to watch it a few times to make sure I was seeing it correctly.

[@vinniedisco7]

Joe knows his hockey.

[@mikezinza9699]

I can understand where he's coming from but for me Roberto Clemente was the greatest Pittsburgh athlete ever. 50 years ago tonight he died in that plane crash trying to help earthquake victims in Nicaragua. As great of a player that he was an even better person.

[@vincentpepin5433]

For the city of Pittsburgh Lemieux and Clemente are probably the most important sports figure

[@spsawyer22]

Clemente or Art Sr are the only people who come close to Mario. And even then, it's 66 by a mile.

[@johnrencheck2283]

At 63 i was lucky enough to see them both play in person

[@jared699]

I'd have to say Art Rooney Sr.

[@jared699]

@@johnrencheck2283 You saw Clemente when you were 63? That must make you over a hundred years old now.

[@victoriaouthere8975]

I'm from Pittsburgh (huge Pens fan) and was living in Connecticut in '96. I was at that game in Hartford (in the Mall)!

[@blaisebanko3487]

Mario and Roberto. In classes of their own. Nobody touches them.

[@earlviney2820]

I have watched all pgh athletes. lemieux was the best athlete ever in pgh. sorry steelers fans

[@Justinohella]

Earl Viney amen

[@mikes3827]

As a Boston sports fan, I'd have to agree that Mario is tops. He seems God-like to Pittsburgh fans much the way Bobby Orr was/is in Boston. And both were riddled with serious injuries (Mario with his back, Orr having had 12 knee operations), yet both were the greatest of the greats.

[@cityofchamps66]

I don't know I would say athlete, Roberto Clemente may get my pick and his legacy spreads across cultures and countries and his death has God-like implications, Mario had the most impact on the field of play and saving a franchise, but Clemente is untouchable when up for debate

[@The_Bad_Guy.]

cityofchamps66 what you're talking about is a humanitarian. In that sense I'll give that to Clemente. But we are talking best athlete. Best player in their respective sport. And Mario lemieux is without a doubt number one. No player that ever played pro sports in Pittsburgh dominated the way Mario did.

[@cityofchamps66]

Best player and best athlete are 2 different things, Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders were great athletes

[@dinoc734]

Mario was involved in all 5 cups.

[@sebastienlaporte3427]

Mario used To live a few blocks away where my father grew up and he was, beside Roy, my favorite player as a kid, eventhou I'm a diehard habs fan.

[@Torgo1969]

Interesting, since Lemieux is a cool cucumber and Roy is a maniac.

[@tonyaltano7992]

Le Magnifique received a rare standing ovation from the rough Philadelphia fans.

[@johnskay8583]

Not just the best in Pittsburgh but the best all time i have never seen a better player in any spot better then #66 Michael Jordan is close but that's about it !

[@hanslilja3873]

LEMIEUX IS THE GOD ON EARTH

[@mpuchar5003]

Would have to agree. Mario is at the top of Pittsburgh's Mount Rushmore of athletes. Followed by Roberto Clemente and then Jack Lambert

[@The_Bad_Guy.]

Jack lambert?? I don't know about that... I would say mean joe and Tony dorsett would probably be the top 4 with Mario and clemente.

[@joeheid4757]

@@The_Bad_Guy. Personally Mario, Roberto, and Mean Joe are obvious. I'd go way back and pick Honus Wagner as my 4th. Dorsett's a tough call as I might even go Marino over him. TD was a legend though.

[@lawrence142002]

I love Lambert but no way. There are plenty of Steelers that have to go ahead of him in terms of contributions just to that 70s team. Mean Joe was the driving cog of that defense before Lambert came around.

[@nsmlwarriors8886]

I’d say Mean Joe, Super Mario, Clemente, and Jagr of Sid for the Pittsburgh sports Mount Rushmore

[@jared699]

Mario, Clemente, Mean Joe and Art Rooney Sr.

[@JBM425]

Nice to hear Rich talking hockey! 🏒🐧✅

[@bobkatfan2013]

Mario and Clemente are up there

[@bggraham83]

Yeah I'd probably say Clemente

[@111oooo]

I am old enough to remember how the Philadelphia Flyers were THE Pennsylvania team with two straight Cups (Bobby Clarke and the Broad Street Bullies) and the Pens being the "Not So Good Little Brother". Then along comes Lemieux with the Pens having the first overall draft pick. The Montreal Canadiens were offering a treasure trove to get the Pens first overall pick. I mean it was enticing but the Pens management knew what they were getting and turned down every offer.

[@drunkviggo7263]

Jagr is still slaying all the young poon.

[@r.edward5701]

God bless him

[@seal4ever778]

Joe is correct 100%….only other Pittsburgh sports icon that you could make an argument for would be Art Rooney, Sr

[@hanslilja3873]

KING OF KINGS GOD OF GODS MARIO LEMIEUX THE MAGNIFICENT ONE THE GREATEST ISHOCKEY PLAYER IN THE HISTORY NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT END OF THE STORY ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@tomgeoghegan9173]

No question Mario #1 Pittsburgh athlete let alone huge time all round athlete.

[@POMPLP72]

1. Lemieux 2. Joe Greene 3. Clemente 4. Bradshaw 5. Roethlisberger 6. Crosby 7. Stargell 8. Franco 9. Lambert 10. Polamalu

[@janellemaynait]

1. Lemieux 2. Clemente 3. Wagner

[@sageantone7291]

That's not even a question.

[@MMGJ10]

Gretxky cane into the NHL and dominated the league more than any player ever did in any sport, probably even more than Babe Ruth.. Lemieux came into the league in Gretzky's shadow and could do everything Gretzky could.. Those two were head and shoulders above anyone else in league history In terms of scoring. So..yeah, Lemieux was one of the top 2 or 3 dominant athletes in sports history. Then you throw in how he saved the franchise (twice), made a comeback and still dominated.. Yeah, I'd say he's the best in Pittsburgh's sports history.

[@markandersen793]

Wayne Gretzky only has one peer, he's name is Mario Lemieux.

[@MrsPaul]

If Mario had been fully healthy, I think it might even have been possible for him to beat some of Gretzky's records. I mean, look what he accomplished while dealing with such shitty health?

[@ontarioguyincalgary4845]

Couldn't agree more bruh

[@caligulaaugustus2977]

Since Mario is basically the 2nd best player ever, it goes without saying he's the best Penguin.

[@codekhalil6437]

He is the only player that one can ever argue that he is the greatest of all time.

[@manco828]

Gretzky

[@jared699]

I laugh when today's youth in Pittsburgh make the claim that Crosby is better than Lemieux was. Boy did they miss alot.

[@babouska5985]

Gretzky just said Lemieux would have beaten all is records without his health problems,he said i have no doubt @@manco828

[@hanslilja3873]

My god crosby is just NOTHING compares to THE GREATEST ISHOCKEY PLAYER IN THE HISTORY MARIO THE MAGNIFICENT ONE LEMIEUX ❤❤❤❤❤

[@johnrencheck2283]

Yhat 3 hour story of pens is excellent watch it

[@nsmlwarriors8886]

Yeah lol, I’ve probably watched it 20 times 😂

[@jujifrogge5605]

who the heck is joe manganiello?

[@cowetascore8476]

Pittsburgh Mount Rushmore is pretty damn good: Lemieux, Clemente and then you debate the other two. Stargell? Jagr? Crosby? Mean Joe? Franco Harris? Terry Bradshaw?

[@mikehari5658]

It’s not even close!

[@relshdan191]

Joe is correct

[@eddy5097]

No doubt

[@rickalessi7490]

Funny that Jagr is still playing. 😂😂😂

[@Ironclad6661]

Mario Lemieux #1 and a close #2 is Terry Bradshaw and #3 is Crosby

[@mpuchar5003]

Clemente

[@55Porter]

Mark Malone

[@POMPLP72]

@@55Porter Bubby Brister

[@The_Bad_Guy.]

@@POMPLP72 kordell stewart!!

[@ryancalhoun2910]

Crosby? Dude...

[@brianfitzpatrick1183]

I own 2 Pens jerseys. Both are #66

[@michaelboyle4321]

Not even an argument hear!!

[@Anticipat0r]

Y r teams like pens oilers avalanch blessed then there is canucks. Who can t win Stanley cup n they can't get a 1st overall draft pick

[@fafafofo2]

Bruno Sammartino is up there.

[@lawrence142002]

Bruno was great (and a real gentleman to boot. Had the opportunity to meet him) but he's not even the best wrestler to come from the city. Kurt Angle was a better worker and a better "legitimate" wrestler. He just wasn't the draw that Bruno was.

[@randyhuke3773]

If you have to argue this, means you are talking to a clueless person.

[@note2owns]

This dude gets to go home to Sofia Vergara........unfair

[@62BillAD]

I beg to defer...there's 99 commmm

[@tifoobtsuj]

He's better than Wayne too. Just ask Wayne himself.

[@claudedupont7432]

Wayne mention How as the greatest because of his longevity

[@ThatDamnDoughboy]

I was at that game, Rich. I was 6.

[@marksibley4546]

Joe is correct

[@62BillAD]

I beg to defer...there's 99 commmm