He Calls The Shots Me, A Star? Lindros Out To Deflect Pressure And The Press

This is what Eric Lindros says he wants: pasta alfredo with peas, mushrooms and chicken. His choice is not on the menu, and it is not among the numerous daily specials the waiter has just finished reciting at the Italian restaurant in a South Jersey strip shopping center.

But Lindros asks politely, and smiles. The waiter smiles back. Pasta alfredo with peas, mushrooms and chicken, coming right up.

This is what Eric Lindros says he wants: to be no more than one of 20 Flyers dressed on any given game night, to be just one of the guys. To not be hassled or singled out. Despite the six-year, $20 million contract that the NHL Players Association says is the biggest of any rookie in the history of hockey, despite the fact, that at age 19, he is the subject of two books, an autobiography and a critical, unauthorized biography. Despite the six players, two No. 1 draft picks and $15 million the Flyers sent to Quebec for his rights.

Lindros outlines his wishes for his rookie NHL season with the same mixture of confidence and politeness he just used on the waiter. He seems to be hoping it will have the same effect. But filling this order will be quite a bit tougher.

Lindros moved into his South Jersey condo last week, in time to skate a little with his new teammates at a few informal workouts before the opening of training camp Friday night on Prince Edward Island, Canada. He has not yet met many members of the Delaware Valley media horde that will dissect his every

shift. He does not yet know about sports talk radio.

"It's not an open house; I'm not here to show off to anyone . . . I won't be in the media that much," Lindros said. "Maybe it's better if other players get to stick their heads out of the hole once in a while . . . I'm going to make it my way, and it's not always going to please people. That's unfortunate, but the guy who has to live the life is me."

Lindros has always made it his way. He sets a course and sticks with it. He does not care about your agenda. That is one reason he has been so controversial, but it also has helped make him such a sought-after talent. Lindros's allure is more than just size and speed; it is a mean, nasty edge, a need to dominate physically. Out of uniform, he takes off the sneer, but he remains intense.