Feel free to keep stuffing in those write-in votes.
Mario Lemieux made it clear yesterday that he would be delighted to attend the NHL All-Star Game Feb. 4 in Denver. If he is invited.
"Absolutely," he said after a workout on Neville Island. "The All-Star Games are very exciting to be a part of, especially for the fans. If I'm asked to go, I'd love to play."
Lemieux can get into the game by one of three ways:
He can be voted in as a starter, although he would have to produce nearly 100,000 write-in votes because he is not on the ballot which was produced early this season. The leading vote-getter among centers for the North America team is the Colorado Avalanche's Joe Sakic with 66,560. A league official in New York said yesterday he was aware that Lemieux was receiving write-in votes, but added that no tally will be released before the starting lineup is announced in late January.
He can be selected for the North America team by general managers, based on merit. That, of course, would require having a fairly spectacular first four weeks.
Or, in the most likely scenario, he can be a special appointee of Commissioner Gary Bettman. The league has used this method in the past to ensure that players of prominence -- usually veterans -- appear in the game.
Lemieux has a tradition of dominating All-Star Games. In eight appearances, he had 11 goals and nine assists, and was named Most Valuable Player in 1985, 1988 and 1990.
If Lemieux goes, he can expect some familiar company. Penguins right wingers Jaromir Jagr and Alexei Kovalev are expected to make the World team.
Lemieux would play in All-Star Game ... if invited 
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