My letter to the PG in response to the Smizik article

Bob Smizik recently wrote an article entitled "Smizik on TV: Lange returning to TV not likely".

Now, I don't know where he gets his information, but I have never, EVER, met a person who likes Paul Steigerwald calling Pens games on TV - quite the contrary actually, which is why I created the website www.BringBackMike.com

If you take the time to read the letters people have written to me to post on the site, or more specifically the messages people are writing on the petition portion of the site, it is plain to see what the public opinion is. Bob obviously didn't take the time to do so, but I am quite sure he did see the website in general, which led to his article.

I wish it were easier to encourage people to place a phone call to Fox Sports Pittsburgh, rather than simply writing a quick message on a web petition, but I am certain that an impact has been made at FSN Pgh based on conversations that I've had with their Media Relations representative, Jacquie Gray. In fact, prior to FSN Pgh switching to Liberty Sports Group email addresses, she told me she had to close down her email address because she was so inundated with emails from people wanting Mike Lange back on TV. I've since removed her email address (which she gave me on her own volition) from the website out of respect for her - just incase she was stretching the truth about closing down her email address.

Paul Steigerwald is by far the worst broadcaster I've heard in my over 23 years of watching sports. It is an absolute travesty that Mike Lange was fired and treated the way he was by the Steve Tello management regime; luckily Tello is gone and we have a chance at getting Mike Lange back where he belongs.

Bob Smizik claimed in his article that ratings have not slipped since Lange's dismissal, but what Bob doesn't understand is that Sidney Crosby plays for the Penguins and was a rookie when Mike Lange called his last game on TV - how could ratings slip with players like Crosby and Malkin maturing game after game? He also suggested Mike Lange's performance was declining in his last season or two on TV; again, Bob doesn't care about hockey, so he wouldn't know that even hardcore hockey fans like me couldn't watch hockey prior to the NHL lockout. For goodness sake, how could anyone, let alone Mike Lange get excited about a Penguin team led by Rico Fata and Ramzi Abid?

Please, acknowledge the true Penguin fans' opinion and write a story about how much we want Mike Lange, the last living broadcast legend in Pittsburgh, back on TV where he belongs!