Confirmed with Link: Legendary Pens broadcaster Mike Lange dies at age 76

[JTG]

Get this man a statue.

I imagine they very quickly immortalize him. They already named the media area after him.

 

[SomeDude]

The combination of Lange’s “It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh” with the old Fox Sports opening theme is the perhaps the most vivid nostalgic memory of my youth.

What a loss.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The combination of Lange’s “It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh” with the old Fox Sports opening theme is the perhaps the most vivid nostalgic memory of my youth.

What a loss.

Yeah well said I feel exactly the same way. So many happy nights with Dominos delivery, me and a few of my friends all dressed in our Penguins gear sitting on the floor as close to the TV as we could get and lots of talking trash through the screen at Adam Graves, Ron Hextall, Eric Lindros etc. win or lose. Truly formative... and Lange was there for all of it.

People often talk about his goal calls and of course that made his reputation. But the thing I always loved about him most was just what a great, balanced, detailed game he called. I learned more about the game from Lange than probably any coach. He always had some kind of insight and wouldn't whitewash the Penguins when they were morons or playing garbage hockey. He probably would not be popular with the team or many fans were he calling the Penguins today as he didn't pull punches. I always valued that about him... I think it showed how much he truly loved the sport itself and his true allegiances were to the beauty of the game and not the logo on the sweater... though dude was black and gold through and through no doubt.

Regardless I just had to pop on to express my deep sadness at his passing. It's like a big chunk of my childhood finally passing into the beyond.

Rest in peace, legend.

 

[cookthebooks]

the way he could do that light chuckle and pull steigy back to shore when steigy was on the verge of fully losing it

 

[SomeDude]

Another aspect of Lange’s work that was impactful to me was how much more effort he put into the bigger moments. He stepped up just like the players on the ice.

The extra emotion in “Heeeeeeee shoots and scores” for a big playoff goal never failed to give me goosebumps. The Staal SHG in the 2009 Finals immediately comes to mind. You could feel the weight of the moment in Lange’s delivery.

Edit: found the Staal goal call.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

the way he could do that light chuckle and pull steigy back to shore when steigy was on the verge of fully losing it

It still irks me to this day that they let that weird little fanboy masquerading as a broadcaster follow in Mike Lange's footsteps. We had to have the golden years of Sid/Geno called by a guy that would repeatedly mistake Jarkko Ruutu for Sid flippin' Crosby and whine for like 45 straight minutes about a perceived non-call.

Maybe that's harsh but man... sorry... could never stand Steiggy.

 

[Lomez]

Mike Lange calling the games, John Barbero as the arena announcer and "the Boys of Winter" as the skate on music. All gone. At least they can bring the "Boys of Winter"back.

 

[cookthebooks]

It still irks me to this day that they let that weird little fanboy masquerading as a broadcaster follow in Mike Lange's footsteps. We had to have the golden years of Sid/Geno called by a guy that would repeatedly mistake Jarkko Ruutu for Sid flippin' Crosby and whine for like 45 straight minutes about a perceived non-call.

Maybe that's harsh but man... sorry... could never stand Steiggy.

steiggy was a great foil for mike lange because he was everything that lange wasnt - over the top, dramatic in the middle school sense, a homer, a fanboy, and smug.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

steiggy was a great foil for mike lange because he was everything that lange wasnt - over the top, dramatic in the middle school sense, a homer, a fanboy, and smug.

I can agree with that. As a duo they worked. Once Steiggy was "the guy" it fell apart. At least for me.

 

[SomeDude]

Mike Lange calling the games, John Barbero as the arena announcer and "the Boys of Winter" as the skate on music. All gone. At least they can bring the "Boys of Winter"back.

Vince Lascheid on the organ, too.

It’s stereotypical to say things were better when you were younger, but man, what a time to grow up as a hockey fan in Pittsburgh.

Now if you go to any arena you’re going to hear the same music, the same “monster truck Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!” screaming PA announcer. It’s all cookie cutter.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Also what makes this extra sad is looking at the current state of affairs re: the broadcast team. How far we've fallen.

 

[SomeDude]

I can agree with that. As a duo they worked. Once Steiggy was "the guy" it fell apart. At least for me.

When Bob Errey is the level headed one in a duo, you know things are ****ed.

 

[LiffLaff]

Knew this was coming at some point, but still just as sad, a true legend! RIP Mike.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Back when the Pens were the worst team in the league and only on tv a handful of games a year, Mike's voice on the radio made me a fan. So many nights I spent in the basement listening to the games with a stick and puck, shooting at the small gap benieth the sink and a couple of buckets. His early calls always resonated: DION says NO. Great BALLS OF FIRE...........

Rest easy

Back when the Pens were the worst team in the league and only on tv a handful of games a year, Mike's voice on the radio made me a fan. So many nights I spent in the basement listening to the games with a stick and puck, shooting at the small gap benieth the sink and a couple of buckets. His early calls always resonated: DION says NO. Great BALLS OF FIRE...........

Rest easy

 

[Chili]

I grew up listening to guys like Foster Hewitt, Danny Gallivan, Rene Lecavalier, Dan Kelly...Used to flip around the radio dial and bless KDKA`s strong signal because was able to listen to another great legend, Mike Lange. His signature style is unforgettable.To paraphrase a song: Nobody did it better.

 

[Deport Ogie]

Another aspect of Lange’s work that was impactful to me was how much more effort he put into the bigger moments. He stepped up just like the players on the ice.

The extra emotion in “Heeeeeeee shoots and scores” for a big playoff goal never failed to give me goosebumps. The Staal SHG in the 2009 Finals immediately comes to mind. You could feel the weight of the moment in Lange’s delivery.

Edit: found the Staal goal call.

Speaking as an elderly person, the one I always go to is the Lemieux goal to win game 1 in 1992:



You can always tell because there's that little pause where you know Mikey is gathering his breath to just utterly dominate that next call.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

No offense to others (ok, some offense to others) but Mike Lange and John Barbero will always be the voices of the Penguins.

 

[SEALBound]

Speaking as an elderly person, the one I always go to is the Lemieux goal to win game 1 in 1992:



You can always tell because there's that little pause where you know Mikey is gathering his breath to just utterly dominate that next call.

That's the one I think about when I think about Lange.

I mean, there's countless one-liners that are always good but at that moment the "and you'd have to be here to believe it" just absolutely captures that moment and drives it home perfectly.

 

[Victor Z]

Also what makes this extra sad is looking at the current state of affairs re: the broadcast team. How far we've fallen.

Replacing a legend is an unenviable task to say the least, but Lanny Frattare -- after a few years -- eventually managed to do a fine job replacing Bob Prince on the Pirate broadcasts and became a very solid broadcaster in his own right.

I don't know who the Pens could have worked in during Lange's declining years (like when he no longer worked road games) but.... Josh Getzoff sure as hell ain't it. Neither was Steve Mears.

Phil Bourque is the worst broadcaster of any kind in the NHL, to the point where even Colby Armstrong and Mike Rupp -- who are both terrible -- look good by comparison. Getzoff/Bourque manage to be bland, boring and obnoxious all at once. Of all the voices of the Pens in recent seasons, Bob Errey was the best and how sad is that?

It makes a person treasure the memories of Mike Lange all that much more.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Replacing a legend is an unenviable task to say the least, but Lanny Frattare -- after a few years -- eventually managed to do a fine job replacing Bob Prince on the Pirate broadcasts and became a very solid broadcaster in his own right.

I don't know who the Pens could have worked in during Lange's declining years (like when he no longer worked road games) but.... Josh Getzoff sure as hell ain't it. Neither was Steve Mears.

Phil Bourque is the worst broadcaster of any kind in the NHL, to the point where even Colby Armstrong and Mike Rupp -- who are both terrible -- look good by comparison. Getzoff/Bourque manage to be bland, boring and obnoxious all at once. Of all the voices of the Pens in recent seasons, Bob Errey was the best and how sad is that?

It makes a person treasure the memories of Mike Lange all that much more.

For sure. And while I'm not super familiar with the Pirates I understand who/what you are talking about so you are correct that it's possible to do and that it's more likely that the Penguins as an organization haven't done a very good/diligent job with their hires over the years. They seem more interested in vapid yes-men than knowledgeable on-air personalities. Toe the company line and all that.

And yeah... Bourque in particular is just... not good.

But anyway sorry... wasn't trying to make this about anyone else. Truly a huge loss for us all.

 

[Pens x]

I feel like I outgrew Mike when I was 16 years old

 

[lokomotiv15]

Guy was awesome. Always tell this story to anyone who will listen; Super random but met him at Cheesecake Factory when I was in Pittsburgh to watch a game with my girlfriend about 15 years ago. Always loved Mike, but didn't want to fanboy and bug him so on the way on the way out as I was walking by I quickly said "Huge fan Mr Lange, have fun tonight" and he said something of the lines of "Appreciate that, are you a hockey player? You look like one." and stopped me. I said I was and he asked if I played around there and told him no, that I was from Canada and played up there. He went out of his way to ask me where I played, how long the drive down was and tell me a few people that he'd met from around where I was from. Special people take time to make someone else's day for no reason at all, and he definitely did for me that day.

Saw Bob Errey at the same Cheesecake factory just before the back-to-backs, must be a broadcaster hot spot haha.

R.I.P to an amazing person and absolute legend.

 

[Interior Cascadian]

Kraken fan here- I just heard the news on 32 Thoughts. My condolences, Penguins fans. Announcers have a way of crystallizing the biggest sports moments when we replay those memories, and you certainly had a special one to narrate so much of your franchise’s biggest moments. RIP, Mike.

 

[Beauner]

Going to games, I remember rushing to to car to listen to the "radio replays" during the postgame show. In 2009, during the last faceoff in game 7 the TV went on mute and the radio was turned on.

I'm not sure exactly how to describe it, but he was part of the DNA of the team in the same way the logo, jerseys and arena are. Things that don't have to do with the players or coaches or staff, but still form the identity and soul of a team. He makes/made the Penguins who they are.

The combination of Lange’s “It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh” with the old Fox Sports opening theme is the perhaps the most vivid nostalgic memory of my youth.

What a loss.

Followed by "...Tonight from the Mellon Arena..."

 

[JTG]

I think the thing that he did versus how telecasts are now, he was an exception story teller and was very adept at involving the color guys and having super interesting, fact filled conversations and insight.

People hate Steiggy, but I stand by the fact that he was an outstanding color guy. Mike was almost the loose entertainer and Steiggy was the facts and figures guy. Stan Savran was awesome also, but they didn't quite find a way to figure that out.