At this point, I realize we're all tired about Jaromir Jagr and the #jagrwatch and especially since he spurned the Penguins for our biggest rivals. But this needs to be said..
I'm gonna guess that Jaromir Jagr never watched 'The Sandlot'. He was born in a different time and place. Which is too bad because everyone could take a thing or two from the coming of age story.
Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you'll never go wrong.
From a movie where a lot of Jagr's biggest fans grew up on, he's badly neglected this sage advice.
11 years in Pittsburgh, 5 scoring championships, 2 Stanley Cups, 1 Hart trophy. By any definition, Jaromir Jagr is a hero to anyone that watched the Penguins in the 1990's. His power, skill, and grace made Jagr one of the best players who have ever played, as evidenced by the 1,599 points and counting he's had his NHL career.
But the fact remains, Jagr could have been a legend. Come back to the Penguins, help the team to try win another Stanley Cup to bookend your illustrious career and fade off into the sunset. For a franchise with Mario Lemieux and three Cups it's not easy to be considered the second best player to ever wear the jersey. Now, we'll have no problems moving Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury past him- assuming they move past 68 in terms of points, wins and (hopefully) win at least as many championships.
Jaromir Jagr could have followed his heart back to Pittsburgh, become a legend, gotten his number retired and figuratively would never die. Instead, he traded that away for a better offer to the tune of $1.3 million dollars from the Penguins biggest rival and will only be remembered that way.
And, as the character Squints from the Sandlot will say, this will follow Jagr "FOR-EV-ER".