Homeless man leaves notes for Mario Lemieux

PITTSBURGH (AP) - July 28, 2009

Allegheny County authorities don't plan to charge 54-year-old James Hoop with a crime for the notes, which were confirmed by a probation officer and Hoop's attorney at a probation violation hearing on an unrelated case Monday.

NHL security officials contacted authorities after Hoop started addressing some notes to Lemieux's wife and daughters and tossing them into Lemieux's yard earlier this year.

Hoop offered advice on diet and vitamins for players and game strategies and allegedly sent similar notes to players Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal.

Authorities say Lemieux's groundskeeper found the notes before almost every home game.

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