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Mario Lemieux on becoming magnificent CBC Archives News Sports Entertainment Radio TV My Region Go directly to the menu Site plan CBC ArchivesSearch Advanced Search Address or username Your Password Submit Forgot your password Sign Up Text size Categories Economy & Business Arts & Entertainment Environment Health Lifestyle Politics Science & Technology Society Sports War & Conflict Discover Programs On This Day Great Interviews Guess Who Days to Remember Learn For Teachers Virtual Tour Outils Your Archives Search Podcast RSS Feeds About Contact Us Newsletter Home Great InterviewsGreat InterviewsWe hope you find all the interviews on our site interesting But we know that a handful of them occupy a special place as great interviews We have chosen them because of the charm or eloquence of the personality the skill of the interviewer or the notoriety of the guest 61 television clips39 radio clipsThe Story Did you know Credits Comments You must sign in to leave a comment on this clipNo comments Mario Lemieux on becoming magnificentBroadcast Date Jan 23 1989Im trying to put into peoples minds that I can be one of the best that ever played the game 23yearold Mario Lemieux modestly asserts Its January 1989 and the young star is on his way to earning a lofty moniker Mario the Magnificent Lemieux is in the midst of the best season ever seen by anyone not named Gretzky By seasons end he would tally 199 points with 85 goals and 114 assists Already established as a young superstar Lemieux is becoming one of the games alltime elite players And as we see in this clip Lemieux has some kind words for Wayne Gretzky the man whose point record he is chasing Hes my idol Hes been my idol for a lot of yearsMario Lemieux on becoming magnificent In 1989 (the year this clip was broadcast) Mario Lemieuxs Pittsburgh Penguins made the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons Though they missed the postseason a year later they became backtoback Stanley Cup champions in the following two campaigns The highlight of Lemieuxs season came on New Years Eve when he became the first player in NHL history to score a goal five different ways in the same game at even strength on the power play shorthanded on a penalty shot and into an empty net Unlike the smaller Gretzky Lemieux could dominate physically The six foot four inch 235pound Lemieux scored many of his goals with opponents literally on his back In his 17 seasons all with the Penguins Lemieux won two Stanley Cups three Hart Trophies as the NHLs most valuable player six Art Ross Trophies as its leading scorer and two Conn Smyth Trophies as playoff MVP The Montreal native also helped Canada win two World Cups of Hockey (one while it was called the Canada Cup) and an Olympic gold medal These lofty marks were attained despite the fact that his ...