clarinews@clarinet.com (CHUCK MOODY) (01/19/90)
UPI SportsFeature _P_e_n_g_u_i_n_s_ _F_i_r_s_t_-_T_i_m_e_ _H_o_s_t_s _T_o_ _N_H_L_ _A_l_l_-_S_t_a_r_ _G_a_m_e PITTSBURGH (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Penguins star Mario Lemieux says he intends to treat Sunday's NHL All-Star Game in his home arena as ``just an All-Star Game'' -- which means Wales Conference fans should be in for quite a treat. The All-Star Game seems to bring out the best in the two-time defending NHL scoring champion. During five years in the league and five All-Star appearances, Lemieux twice has won Most Valuable Player honors, in 1985 and 1988. The 24-year-old center says the heroics have come naturally, that he refuses to pressure himself during the annual mid-season classic against the Campbell Conference. ``I think that's the way you have to look at it -- just an All-Star game -- and to try to do the best you can and try to put a good show on for the fans and try to have some fun,'' said Lemieux, who will represent the hometown hosts along with defenseman Paul Coffey. ``It's a weekend where the players can relax a little bit and get two or three days of fun during the regular season.'' Lemieux has played in every All-Star Game since he was selected first overall by the Penguins in the 1984 entry draft. In the past two seasons, he has topped all NHL players in All-Star voting. Lemieux said he doesn't mind playing in All-Star Games, but the activities that accompany the contest can be tiring. ``What's tougher is the banquets and everything that goes along with it,'' said Lemieux. ``It's a heavy schedule. If it was just the All-Star Game, it's no big deal for the players. But with everything that revolves around the All-Star Game, it's tough.'' Los Angeles center Wayne Gretzky, with whom Lemieux is most often compared in debates over who is the NHL's best player, made last year's All-Star Game a personal showcase. Returning to his former home ice in Edmonton, Gretzky scored one goal and added two assists to capture the game's MVP award. Lemieux said he is not concerned with trying to be the game's MVP for the third time just because he is on his home ice. ``I just approach the All-Star Game as fun, hopefully do well and put on a good show,'' said Lemieux. ``That's all I'm worried about. I'm not worried about who's going to get the MVP or who's going to be the best player that night. It's just a matter of having fun and getting to know the players.'' But Lemieux realizes the game is special for Pittsburgh fans who endured years of mediocrity before the team started building a contender around him. ``I think it's going to be important for myself and for everybody to give 100 percent and to show the people a good time,'' Lemieux said. ``Hopefully we can do that. They're paying a lot of money to see the All Stars play. This year it's going to be a little bit special because it's going to be in Pittsburgh. ``It's special to me because these fans have been waiting long enough to get an All-Star Game and see some great players. It's going to be special for the fans and for the city of Pittsburgh. It's going to be different, certainly, to step on the ice and have my people cheering.'' Lemieux experienced a new sensation this season -- being booed for the first time ever in Pittsburgh when he was in an early season slump and after he signed a contract that pays him $2 million per year. ``It was just normal the way I was playing earlier when the fans booed me a couple of times,'' Lemieux said. ``They have the right to. If you don't play well you expect people to get on you a little bit. If you play well, they'll cheer for you. That's the way fans are. ``I've been living in Pittsburgh the last three years in the summer. It's just a great city, and the relationship between myself and the fans has been very good the last five or six years.'' _A_d_v_._ _w_e_e_k_e_n_d_,_ _J_a_n_._ _2_0_-_2_1