Now that a new arena deal finally is in place and the Pittsburgh Penguins are staying put, is there really any hero emerging from this entire mess?

Absolutely.

Mario Lemieux.

How many times can one person be declared a hero by the same city?With Lemieux, the answer is three — so far.

The franchise was dying until his arrival as a player in 1986 pumped life into it. He scored 100 points during his rookie season, turned around the attendance figures, led the team to two Stanley Cups, etc., etc.

Then Lemieux heads a group of investors that buys the team out of bankruptcy in 1999, despite still being owed $25 million by the team. The Penguins franchise likely would have folded or moved if not for him.

Since then, he fought an eight-year war to get a new arena built in Pittsburgh.

He had to watch the Pirates and Steelers get new playing facilities. Three Rivers Stadium was demolished when it was barely 30 years old.

Mellon Arena is now 46 years old.

Still, Lemieux stayed the course. He negotiated and made proposals for a new arena on different occasions.

He even partnered with Isle of Capri, which agreed to pay for a new arena for the Penguins if it was awarded a slots parlor license from the state.

When that license was not awarded, Plan B went into effect, and Lemieux was promised an arena would be built regardless.

Plan B had a number of holes in it, however, and a frustrated Lemieux entertained buyers for the franchise — still hopeful it would remain in Pittsburgh.

At one point, he completed a deal with an investment group from Hamilton, Ontario. That transaction was voided when the new ownership group learned the NHLwould not approve relocation of the Penguins even if a new arena deal wasn't in place.

More negotiations followed. Kansas City, Houston and Las Vegas beckoned. Kansas City offered the Penguins the $262 million Sprint Center rent free and half of all revenues taken in by that facility.

Still, Lemieux wouldn't take the money and run. Eventually, he penned a letter to the state that basically said to get an arena deal finalized or we're outta here.

And the deal got done.

The Penguins have to put up $4.2 million per year toward construction of their $290 million new home. They have to pay half of any cost over-runs up to $310 million.

If the arena costs more than $310 million, the Penguins must pay 100 percent of the difference.

Lemieux could have taken the Kansas City offer and paid nothing.

Because of his loyalty to the city he's chosen to make his home, he's contributing team revenue to a new arena that won't only house the Penguins, but numerous other attractions of interest to all tri-state area residents.

If Lemieux isn't considered a local hero after all this, then short of our military, teachers and emergency personnel, I don't know what a hero is.