6/29/2006
Buh-bye Lange
What few hockey (or soccer on ice as I prefer calling it) people remain in Western Pennsylvania are probably upset over Fox Sports' removal of Mike Lange from the TV booth. I, for one, am not one of them.
Mike Lange was terribly overrated. Like ESPN's Chris Berman (the biggest idiot on sports television), Lange build a career out of catchy phrases. He lacked insight, strong play-by-play skills and only seemed interested in spouting off a "She wants to sell my monkey" or "Michael, Michael motorcycle" during the game.
Lange represents the overall talent of Pittsburgh sports broadcasting. It's a very, very weak group. From the poor Pirates booth - hey, if they're gutting that franchise, let's start with the announcers – to the ridiculous Steelers broadcast team, trying to get through a local game is more painful than a kidney stone. Well, almost as painful.
In my opinion, there are guys out there doing high school sports on the radio, and a few others like Tim Benz, who are far better than anybody doing the big franchises right now.
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I think Steven A. Smith of Quite Frankly could give Berman a run for his money on "the the biggest idiot on sports television" title.
I completely disagree. Mike Lange was given the shaft by FSN. The man was honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame for his work as a broadcaster. If FSN thought they were upgrading by promoting Paul Steigerwald they are sadly mistaken. Talk about a guy who calls the opening face off of a meaningless preseason game like the game winning goal of game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. My thoughts are that there is more to this story than what is being reported. It's a bit fishy that FSN would not renew Mike Lange's contract. They made a very stupid decision.
I couldn't agree more. Lang's catch phrases are as old as Chris Berman's. Although Berman is much, much more annoying - as is Stuart Scott.
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Wow-A lot to disagree with here.
* First of all, Tim Benz does his job pretty well, but it's as a sports talk show host. The only thing he can do play by play of are rides at Kennywood.
Lord knows he isn't tall enough to ride them.
* To say Lange was all catch phrase and no insight to me shows this is an opinion from someone who doesn't really follow hockey. That and that 'soccer on ice' comment. This is a sports writer?
* That said, Lange did come with flaws, but so did Bob Prince, Myron Cope, Harry Caray, and announcers today that are on the decline (Vin Scully come to mind).
These are people however that were/are folks that are just 'in the booth', but were linked with a fan base, a community, and historical moments of their respective franchises.
* I understand that this brand of announcer is nearly extinct, but let's give some due credit here. Mike Lange is honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
That's quite a far cry from doing a Trinity game on WJPA.