from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,
Once upon a time, being a celebrity mattered to Lupul, the model-like face and voice of the Maple Leafs. He wanted to be known as more than a hockey player. He has a vast array of interests, opinions and thoughts on just about everything. In a world of frozen athletes with cliched minds, he is something of a hockey renaissance man.
And yet, probably for the first time in his life, for all he does, for all he goes, for as often as he appears, Lupul wants to be known as just a hockey player.
“It’s kind of weird,” he said in a lengthy interview on the eve of the commencement of Leafs training camp. “When I was younger in my career, I didn’t want to be perceived as just a hockey player. I wanted to be more than that. I knew I had more to offer.
“I don’t go out of my way to make appearances. These are things that interest me. Concerts. Festivals. Fashion. Magazines. Writing. I have a lot of interests outside the game. But now, at my age (29), as my career hits the middle stage, I just want to be perceived as a hockey player. That’s what matters most to me. It’s something I’ve grown into.”
Some might say, grown up to as well.
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