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Tuesday, November 13, 2001

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

TORONTO -- Mike Lange is hardly one to shiver in front of a microphone, having spent 27 years as the voice of the Penguins. But as he was unfurling the papers of his Hall of Fame acceptance speech yesterday, the nerves were evident.

So, in an attempt to cool down, he cracked a joke.

"Right now, I feel like a turkey trying to hide out on Thanksgiving Day."

Sounds like it has potential for one of those patented Lange goal calls, doesn't it?

Lange was feted as the 2001 winner of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, given for outstanding work as an NHL broadcaster. The ceremony is held separately from those of the Hall of Fame, four blocks away at the Westin Harbour Castle, but winners in this category are recognized with the players and builders.

"It's a very special moment, isn't it?" Lange said as he tried on his blue Hall jacket. "Obviously, I'll cherish this for the rest of my life."

Lange appeared touched by the outpouring of affection from family, friends and co-workers in attendance. Len Shapiro, a former broadcasting partner in Sacramento, Calif., presented him with a proclamation from Sacramento's City Council declaring it Mike Lange Day. Greg Brown and Steve Blass of the Pirates' announcing team made the trip. So did Ed Olczyk, his current color commentator.

And Paul Steigerwald, his longtime partner in the Penguins' booth, presented him to the audience.

"If you've ever been to Western Pennsylvania, it's a very provincial place," Steigerwald said. "It has its own accent, unique unto itself, and the people in Pittsburgh embrace their public figures in a way I don't think they do in other cities. ... Mike has reached folk-hero status in our city."

Lange saved his warmest words for those who have supported the Penguins over the years.

"Perhaps the biggest reason I'm here is the Pittsburgh fans. There's just no way that I can express my gratitude or my feelings for their loyalty and support during these 27 years. All I can say to them is thank you. Thanks for the ride. It's been great."

Lange spent much of his 12-minute speech discussing his unique brand of goal calls, prompting rounds of laughter from those in the crowd who were hearing them for the first time. He mentioned, "Look out, Loretta," "Oh, no, Eddie Spaghetti," "How much fried chicken can you eat?" and "Let's go hunt moose on a Harley."

He estimated he has "25 or 30" of them and chooses each carefully before using it on the air.

"These phrases really have given me a way to express the game the way I think I'd like to hear it broadcast. Something with a little bit of a twist, a little different. It's something I really enjoy, and I hope the people who listen to the broadcasts feel the same way."

Lange emphasized that he aims to take a serious approach to his craft, despite the silly sayings.

"If I'm going to be remembered in this great game, it will be for the fairness and integrity I, hopefully, have brought to this profession. Certainly, those are two of the characteristics of the late Foster Hewitt. That's why this award carries a very special meaning to me."

By the end of his speech, Lange appeared far more comfortable than at the start. He closed by leaning into the microphone and delivering a Lange classic:

"Heeeeeeeeeeee shoots and scores! Mario Lemieux! Aw, scratch my back with a hacksaw!"

Along with Lange, Eric Duhatschek was recognized with the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for distinguished hockey journalism. He covered the Calgary Flames for two decades and is a columnist for the Globe and Mail of Toronto.

World class

Jim Gregory, chairman of the Hall of Fame's selection committee, described the class of four players and Penguins General Manager Craig Patrick inducted yesterday as "the most diverse in our history."

Slava Fetisov was the greatest defenseman in Russian history; Jari Kurri, a Finn who four times scored 50 goals while skating next to Wayne Gretzky; Dale Hawerchuk, a Canadian who was the youngest player in history to record 100 points; Mike Gartner, a Canadian who scored 30 goals or more 15 years in a row; and Patrick, the lone American.

"These are some great, great talents we were fortunate to have in our league," Patrick said. "I didn't really know them too well before this weekend, but I've also found out they're great people."

Brass present

It's not common to find NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players Association chief Bob Goodenow in the same room, but each attended both ceremonies yesterday.

Of the inductees, Bettman said: "They represented their teams, their game, their nations at the highest level. They have done so much for our sport."

New perspective

Hawerchuk couldn't help but point out the unusual sight of Fetisov being enshrined. Fetisov is only the second Russian inducted, along with legendary goaltender Vladislav Tretiak.

"We had different visions of each other back then," Hawerchuk said, recalling facing Fetisov in the 1987 Canada Cup tournament. "I don't know ... it was like we were from different worlds."

That they no longer are such strangers has much to do with Fetisov, who receives much of the credit for the freedom Russian hockey players now have to come to North America. Fetisov also made note of the contributions of the New Jersey Devils' management, especially General Manager Lou Lamoriello.

"When I was still in Russia, Lou would always call me to make sure I'm not in a jail or something. It's funny now, but it wasn't at the time. The Devils did so much to help our players get their freedom from the communist system."

Fetisov joined the Devils in 1989 at age 31. He is an assistant coach with them now.

Stiff suspension

Canada won that memorable Canada Cup tournament, thanks to a Lemieux goal off a feed by Gretzky.

Reminded of this, Fetisov playfully retorted: "The official didn't call offside. And that was a Russian linesman, by the way. I think he's somewhere in Siberia now."

A fire doused

Line of the day was delivered by Kurri in the morning interview session.

When a reporter began reminding him how early in his career it often was written that a fire hydrant could score 50 goals skating next to Gretzky, Kurri interrupted and shot back, "You again?"