Long before his colorful sayings reached Pittsburgh’s airwaves, Mike Lange thought to himself, “If I ever, ever, ever get into the broadcasting field, I am gonna use a phrase or two.”
He ultimately spent 46 years as the soundtrack to the Penguins, and he had more than just a couple of “greatest hits.”
The legendary broadcaster and king of catchphrases died at age 76 last week. Lange retired in 2021, but you can still hear his recordings at home games.
In his honor, here are a few of my favorite “Langeisms.”
“Get in the fast lane, grandma! The bingo game is ready to roll.”
Imagine Lange calling bingo like he did a hockey game! This phrase was MY grandma’s favorite. She didn’t play bingo or drive fast, but she was a lifelong Penguins fan, always ready to roll.
"Scratch my back with a hacksaw!"
Many of Lange’s quotes were funny and nonsensical, like this one. After the Pens won the Stanley Cup in 1992, they celebrated at Three Rivers Stadium, and Mayor Sophie Masloff gave the saying a go.
“Book ‘em Danno”
This isn’t an original; it comes from the show “Hawaii Five-O.” My dad, Dan, used to hang with Lange at the Huddle in Beechview (which no longer exists) when they both lived in the South Hills. Lange would say “Book ‘em Danno” to him all the time. I like to think that’s one of the reasons the phrase stuck.
"Oh, Lord Stanley, Lord Stanley! Bring me the brandy!"
If you heard this, it was a moment worthy of cheers with your favorite drink! Mike Lange’s spirited voice is on record for all five of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup championships in 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017.
"Elvis has just left the building!"
Lange’s legacy will surely live on through this one. After every home win, a recording of Lange saying this phrase broadcasts in PPG Paints Arena. It means “the show is over,” and it originates from Elvis Presley concerts, when the announcer would let the crowd know there wouldn’t be an encore. Check out this video where Lange drinks from the Stanley Cup and exclaims “Elvis has definitely left the building.”
