Pittsburgh hockey announcer Mike Lange lost his job yesterday. Mike Lange is a Pittsburgh icon. He stuck with the Penguins back when they were in the cellar of the NHL, he was there for the Stanley Cup years, and right on through the post-Cup years. He used “colorfull” phrases, some of which he originated. “Scratch my back with a hacksaw!” “He’s throwing out checks like it’s the first of the month!” “Buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!” “He hasn’t scored since the eighth-grade picnic.” Those are just of few Langeisms.
Wiki is right up-to-date on the situation:
I have been friends with Mr Lange for a while. We both enjoy listening to music, especially blues/rock. Last night he was at Moondogs (http://www.moondogs.us/index.asp) to see Walter Trout. Great show, BTW. Mike, the class act that he is, heard about my gf celebrating a job promotion. On a night when everyone in Pittsburgh was wanting to buy Mike a drink, he bought us a few rounds.
Fuck you Pittsburgh Penguins. Fuck you Mario Lemeeew. You fuckin hoser. I hope you choke on poutaine mother fucker. I hope your sister gives you crabs.
I usually go to a few hockey games every season. No more. Never again.
Actually, the $ answer was from a mutual friend. Last night was all about showing support for Mike. We all went out of our way to not mention his situation other than telling him we loved him. And Mike was all into Walter Trout. Awesome guitar.
I hadn’t heard anything about that yet, but I haven’t been listening to DVE and I don’t follow any other local media, so that’s not a big surprise. I’m just stunned, however. The guy is the Pittsburgh Penguins as much as anyone is.
I’m absolutely done with FSN. According to the paper, the Penguins only have control over the radio broadcast, and it wasn’t their doing that he got the boot from TV. They apparently offered him the radio job and he’s considering it. It seems like a kick in the teeth to me though and almost assuredly would be less money. I don’t doubt that the Penguins are accomplices in the firing though.
The local NPR sports guy seems to think there’s a TV job open in Chicago where he’d pair up with his old buddy Eddie O.
Best of luck to ya, Mike, wherever you may land. Fuck you FSN. Fuck you Fox for that matter.
And the Pirates didn’t fire Bob Prince, KDKA Radio did. Bob Prince - Wikipedia
However, most people blamed the Pirates for not “going to bat” for Prince. The same is being suggested about the Penguins.
