Mario Lemieux makes a comeback

27 December 2000
I'm watching Mario Lemieux in his coming-out-of-retirement game, and he already has two assists and a goal. Amazing.

When Al first forwarded from his pager the news that Mario would be coming back, I didn't really get what the big deal was. I knew Mario's name, of course, and I knew that Hockey For Dummies had talked about what a deadly scoring duo Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr were, but he retired before I started watching hockey regularly.

Watching him play now, I can't help but be amazed. The guy is incredible. Such finesse! Such power held in reserve until the exact moment it's needed! How is it that he manages to stay invisible to defensemen most of the time? Always moving, that boy. I plan to take a lesson from him and try moving in to the net and back to the boards in my next game, staying open and ready for anything.

My next game may not be for a while, though. I was planning to play this Thursday, but I managed to mangle a toe on Christmas morning (big gash, nail split vertically down the middle, and broken bone—is there anything else I could do to it?). I can't get my foot in a sneaker, so it may be a few days before I can skate. I was already planning on missing next Thursday's game because I'll be up in Truckee closing on my house (!), and this Monday is a holiday.

I'm hoping that I'll at least get a chance to put the skates on and practice a little before I have to play again. There's nothing like watching pro hockey to make you want to play—and play better.