Doc Emrick and Mike Lange are the two greatest hockey announcers I’ve ever known. Emrick, a remarkable nine-time national Emmy winner, was known across North America as the voice of the NHL before his retirement in October 2020 after 40 seasons. Lange is and always will be nothing less than a Pittsburgh legend, right there with Bob Prince and Myron Cope.
“I’m glad to be mentioned in the same sentence with Mike,” Emrick was saying Monday afternoon.
“What an honor for me.”
What a tribute that is for Lange.
It just seemed right to call Emrick on the day Lange announced his retirement after 46 seasons with the Penguins. The two shared more in common than just their magnificent work in front of a microphone. They have had a wonderful friendship that started in an odd sort of way in 1974.
“We both applied for the Penguins’ job and were two of the three finalists,” Emrick said. “The Penguins made the best decision they ever made when they picked Mike.”
Emrick grew up in rural Indiana, listening to the inimitable Prince call Pirates games on 50,000-watt KDKA. That’s a big reason he wanted to be a broadcaster. Years later, Emrick, a fan of all sports, knew of the equally inimitable Cope’s amazing career with the Steelers. Cope became bigger and was more beloved than probably any of the Super 70s Steelers except for maybe Jack Lambert. Then, there was Lange. Has anyone been bigger and more beloved with the Penguins? Other than Mario Lemieux and maybe Sidney Crosby?
Really, how blessed have the sports fans in this city been? To have Prince, Cope and Lange provide the soundtrack for our greatest sports memories? To sit on the back porch during a steamy summer night and hear Prince gush about “Arriba, Arriba,” the great Roberto Clemente? To hear Cope hem-hawing on Sunday afternoons about “The Emperor Chaz,” the great Chuck Noll? To hear Lange speak on frigid winter nights about Lemieux or Crosby shooting and scoring?
“All iconic people, all unique people, all with great longevity, all associated with the success of their team,” Emrick said.
Emrick mentioned Lange’s many catch phrases, the ones all Penguins fans know and love, from “Elvis has just left the building,” to “Buy Sam a drink and get his dog one, too.” And who will ever forget his simple, yet powerful call on an unforgettable May night in 1991 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minn.: “The Stanley Cup has come to the City of Pittsburgh.”
What unbelievable words.
What an unbelievable night.
“Only one guy could get away with those phrases — Mike,” Emrick said. “If any of the rest of us would have tried it, people would say, ‘You’re crazy!’ They were unique to Mike …
“Do you know where he was born? Sorry to get off track, but I wanted to mention it. I had to look it up. He’s from Sacramento. But to me, when I think of him, I think of a guy from Pittsburgh. He is Squirrel Hill. He is the Parkway. He is a Pittsburgher. Just like Mario. Mario is from Quebec, but he’s a Pittsburgher. They’ll always be Pittsburghers.”
Emrick and Lange also shared an admirable work ethic. Until their final game, they believed in going to the morning skate, to talk to every coach, to see as many players as possible to mine nuggets for that night’s broadcast. Lange would go home briefly, arrive back at the arena late in the afternoon and sit in the media dining room, compiling his copious notes. He probably didn’t use 95 percent of them during the game, but, man, when one was necessary, he was ready, delivering it naturally, never forcing it. He was the ultimate pro’s pro.
That was Lange’s passion for his job and for hockey. I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like it. He loved what he did. That’s why his retirement is just a little frightening. Lange is 73 and has had some health problems. I just hope he’s ready for the next chapter of his life — like Emrick, still in good health, was at 74 — and not that his retirement was forced.
“The best part is his voice is still going to be heard in Pittsburgh,” Emrick said. “He’s still going to be around. He’s still going to be associated with the Penguins.”
Lange always will be associated with the Penguins.
What a fabulous run Lange had. He deserves a long, healthy retirement. He has earned it.
I have to admit I am envious of Lange. All he has to do for the rest of his life is be Mike Lange.
We all should be so lucky.
