Remembering Mike Lange: A Legend in Hockey and Life

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00:00There's no one I thought more of than Mike Lang.

00:04We lost a legend, Scotty, without question.

00:07I know what he meant to you.

00:08I mean, I know the connection, the Pittsburgh connection.

00:10I told you a story off air.

00:12You know, the Penguins came through Los Angeles.

00:13I'm based in Los Angeles once a year, and he was such a legend way back in the day when

00:17I started this.

00:18The first two years, I was, I couldn't even go up to the guy and say hello.

00:22I'm like, that's Mike Lang, you know?

00:24And finally the third year, I went up and said hello, and I know he's a gracious guy,

00:28but you know, on the cusp of what we have, hopefully he's one of the biggest hockey games

00:32in a very long time, the passing of Mike, it just, it makes tonight bittersweet, to

00:35be honest with you.

00:36Yeah, I think they'll certainly honor him at the game tonight, and they'll have a moment

00:41of silence for him for sure, and they'll show him on the Jumbotron.

00:46I think that, you know, what's weird about him was that, you know, I've always tried

00:53to be like him.

00:54He was the most humble guy you ever met in your life.

00:58Like, I'm not saying I'm humble, but I've always believed that I never mattered.

01:03I've always believed that I was just good at what I do, and that the show was cool.

01:07I was pretty big in my career.

01:09I've been syndicated nationally for over 35 years.

01:12I've always been blessed and lucky to be at such a high level in the business.

01:16I really have, and I never thought I mattered.

01:19I just thought I was a cool guy that did a cool show, and people dug it, and it crossed

01:22generations.

01:24And when you met Mike, and I mean, anyone that met him, he was so nice and so humble.

01:32He didn't care if you were homeless or rich.

01:35He didn't care what color you were.

01:37He didn't care if you were a baby.

01:39He was nice to everybody.

01:41He never acted like he was this living legend, which is exactly what he was.

01:47No question.

01:48And Scotty, that's why I cover this game, because the people like Mike Lank, he enriched

01:52everybody.

01:54He was generous with his time.

01:55If you were just starting out or so established like he was, it didn't matter.

01:59He was happy to talk to you, talk hockey, so it's a big loss.

02:02It really, really is.

02:04And I'm just lucky that I got to know him a little bit, and I know the relationship

02:07you had with him.

02:08I'm sure you're crushed right now, and hopefully we have a great game in his memory tonight.

02:13You know, I also contributed to both of our alcoholism.

02:18I have never drank more booze than I have with him than with anyone, ever.

02:24I mean, that guy, he was so much fun to go drinking with.

02:28You have no idea how funny he was.

02:31He was just like, it was like he was not even real.

02:35He was so real.

02:36He was so-

02:37Half the life, Scotty.

02:38A great storyteller.

02:39I mean, he would tell stories.

02:43He would go out after hours drinking, and he would tell me stories that lasted a lifetime

02:49with me.

02:50A lifetime.

02:51When I listened to his play-by-play today, last night, I did it for an hour and a half

02:56last night, and an hour this morning, I listened to all these great games he called.

03:00And I was gushing.

03:01I was literally gushing.

03:02My wife's like, what's wrong with you?

03:04And I'm like, shut up.

03:05You have no idea.

03:06Stay out of this.

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