The Confluence
Next entry: Crosby, Gonchar earn NHL.com All-Decade team honors
Previous entry: Brodeur sets shutout record in 4-0 pasting of Penguins
Backlash on Steigerwald’s Hobey Baker joke spreading quickly
by Tony on 12/22/09 at 11:05 AM ET
Comments (32)
It was one of those moments that you hear, kind of wince, and think to yourself, “did he really say what I think he just said ?”
Unfortunately for Penguins’ play-by-play announcer Paul Steigerwald, the answer is yes.
During last night’s 4-0 loss to Marty Brodeur and the Devils, Steigerwald made the remark after a hard check by Penguins’ forward Craig Adams on 2000 Hobey Baker Award winner Mike Mottau, which prompted Penguins’ color commentator, former Pen Bob Errey, to say, “the Hobey Baker winner went down ... real hard.”
Then Steigerwald responded, “not as hard as Hobey Baker went down though, he went down in a plane crash.”
Ouch.
For those who don’t know, Baker was killed in 1918 in an airplane accident. Ironically, the crash occurred on December 21st, 1918, exactly 91 years to the day the remark was made.
I was curious what kind of reaction the remark would make. I didn’t include it in my game recap, not because I was trying to hide it, but rather I just get in too much of a rush after games to get the recap out, and often miss things. The game wasn’t nationally broadcast, although it ended up a historic game with Brodeur’s 104th career shutout. But doing a quick glance around the online hockey community, it’s safe to say the remark did not go unnoticed. Do a Google search on ‘Steigerwald Hobey Baker’, you’ll see what I mean. Most of the primary hockey websites have picked up on it already, such as NHL Fanhouse, Empty Netters, Pensblog, Pensburgh, and various message boards.
This is, no doubt, going to fuel those that didn’t want Steigerwald to take over Hall of Fame Mike Lange’s play-by-play duties to call for Lange to go back to the television side. It’s important to note, however, that Lange’s highly controversial transfer from TV to radio play-by-play was Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh’s call, not the Penguins. The TV announcers are FSN employees, the radio employees are the Penguins’.
Although I would love to see Lange back on TV, I don’t know if I am going to go far enough to endorse Steigerwald’s removal based on this incident alone. I will say that I didn’t like Lange’s removal at all, much like thousands of other Penguins’ fans. Moreover, I don’t think Steigerwald and Errey’s broadcast are anywhere close to what Lange had done.
In my view, Steigerwald’s insensitive and painful remarks in reference to Baker were nothing more than yet another attempt by Steigerwald to make him witty and “hip” to the television audience, something that Lange had absolutely no problem doing. He has numerous sayings and remarks during the broadcasts that have become old and tired. [Yes, I acknowledge that many of Lange’s sayings meet the same criteria.]
It’s going to be interesting to see what is reported in the Pittsburgh press about this situation (besides Seth at Empty Netters, you know what I mean, Seth). So far this morning, I haven’t read nor heard anything about it from any Pittsburgh newspaper nor online sports talk radio.
Filed in: | The Confluence | Permalink
Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Comments
I haven’t read nor heard anything about it from any Pittsburgh newspaper nor online sports talk radio.
If it’s anything like Detroit media, it won’t be mentioned at all.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 12/22/09 at 11:12 AM ET
I truly don’t think it was that bad. But I also have a pretty twisted sense of humor.
I mean, we are nearing the point where that is 100 years old. I’m pretty sure it’s not going to offend too many people.
Posted by Link_Gaetz on 12/22/09 at 11:12 AM ET
I agree. Michael Jackson jokes are ok? (and I completely endorse every single one of them) but a Hobey Baker joke isn’t?
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 12/22/09 at 11:13 AM ET
Not so much that it’s wrong, just that Steiggy is stupid enough to think he can get away with saying something like that.
Posted by Steve from New Jersey on 12/22/09 at 11:21 AM ET
It was just a stupid thing to say. You have to know that when you say something like that, some people are going to find it tasteless and get upset. Plus, like Tony said, this just helps fuel the fires of the people who already don’t like Steigy.
Posted by kstewy16 on 12/22/09 at 11:35 AM ET
Steigy should be removed from television. Not because of these remarks but because he is an absolute horrible announcer. It’s so painful to listen to. Please FSN Pittsburgh, bring back Lange or just get somebody new.
Posted by tim from johnstown on 12/22/09 at 11:38 AM ET
Please FSN Pittsburgh, bring back Lange or just get somebody new.
Posted by tim from johnstown on 12/22/09 at 11:38 AM ET
FSN Pittsburgh does have new ownership now, so who knows….
Posted by Tony from Virginia Beach, VA on 12/22/09 at 11:39 AM ET
This is what you get when you fire a legend and replace them with amateurs. I love that this happened. Not so much because I dislike Steigy although he truly does annoy me. I mean who wouldn’t take advantage of a great opportunity to be the tv play-by-play voice for a pro sports team. I love it because it makes Fox Sports look like idiots.
Posted by Geno71 on 12/22/09 at 12:09 PM ET
I think 91 years is beyond the statute of limitations for good taste. Steigerwald gets a pass on this one.
Posted by Ross from Meadville on 12/22/09 at 12:26 PM ET
If it was a football broadcast and someone made the same comments regarding say, the Marshall football team, that would result in heads rolling almost immediately. ESPN would be all over it, etc etc.
Nobody knows who Hobey Baker is unless you’re a pretty die hard hockey fan. I’m not condoning it, just laying out the cold hard facts.
Posted by Eric Policaro from Monroeville on 12/22/09 at 12:49 PM ET
I give Pens fans grief at times, but at the end of the day if you’re a hockey fan then you’re a (relative) fan of this current Pens team. They are fun to watch most nights.
But, in all seriousness, your play-by-play team is horrendous. And I’m sure most honest Pens fans will admit there just is not a broadcast team that comes anywhere close to being the ‘homers’ these two guys are.
I cannot watch the Pens on CI anymore if it is the Pitt feed.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 12/22/09 at 12:50 PM ET
I listen to the games on the net, or if we’re lucky enough to have TSN cover it, so i’m happy when it’s on tv regardless of who is broadcasting, but i do agree with Red on this one. Although, saying that, i think the Caps announcers are by far the worse, or Mcguire even…
Posted by Greg on 12/22/09 at 01:02 PM ET
No, ninety-one years is not “too soon” for a pretty mild little joke. This is not really a controversy.
And, yes, Steigerwald and Errey are ‘homers,’ because THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THEIR AUDIENCE WANTS. I don’t understand why other fanbases complain that the Pens’ broadcast team is biased. Of course they’re biased. If they weren’t, why would you even NEED a local broadcast team at all? We could just have one set of commentators for each game.
In terms of actual quality, Steigerwald is in the upper echelon of play-by-play men, both in terms of his delivery and his hockey sense. Seriously. Go listen to other markets’ broadcasts, and the difference will be striking.
Now, Bob Errey, on the other hand? ...
Posted by The Duke on 12/22/09 at 01:09 PM ET
I don’t know how a Pittsburgh sports announcer can make a joke about somebody losing their life in a plane crash after what happened to the great Roberto Clemente.
But maybe it’s just me
Posted by dash_pinched from Rumour Mill Bay on 12/22/09 at 01:11 PM ET
I’m not a fan of Steigerwald’s work at all as a p-b-p guy and I’m a huge fan of Lange’s in the first place. If anything, this shows what a clown Steigerwald is and more proof of why he sucks.
As a huge college hockey fan this just shows up as one of my “F-ck you, *#$%@&” moments. I mean, hey, it’s not like there’s a college hockey showcase in Pittsburgh in early January at the Igloo or anything.
What a dope.
Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 12/22/09 at 01:21 PM ET
Whenever I turn to a Pens game on CI and it’s the Pens broadcast I instantly turn to another channel. I’ve had CI for a few years now and imo the Pens by far have the worst broadcast team in the league, unrepentant homerism combined with Steigerwald’s monotonous drone make it unwatchable.
Yes, every local broadcast is going to favor the home team, but they take it to extreme levels. If the Pens are getting blown out of the water they will still be endlessly gushing about how amazing Crosby and Malkin are playing.
Posted by whodunwha on 12/22/09 at 02:00 PM ET
As someone who spends probably way too much time watching any NHL game I can, I feel that Steigerwald is by far the worst play-by-play guy in the league.10 seconds of play-by-play followed by 10 minutes of babble. His Hobey Baker remark just verified what many of us already know. To make matters worse, he giggled about it for 5 minutes afterward. Mike Lange? Hell, Artie Lange would even be better than Steigerwald.
Posted by pensfan66 from new york on 12/22/09 at 02:29 PM ET
I don’t think the comments were harmful enough to have Steigy removed, but they are enough to have Lange replace him since most Penguin fans want that.
It gives the FSN guys a way to correct a mistake they know they made, and not have to admit it
Posted by GhostWalker40 on 12/22/09 at 04:07 PM ET
there’s been plenty of jokes made regarding hockey players (Vlad/Limos, Heater/Ferraris, Lindbergh) and there’s probably a few of us that are guilty of making them or at least laughing at them, myself included. However, I am not a play by play guy on a national broadcast.
Is it the end of the world? No.
Was it in bad taste? You can say that.
Will something happen? I’m saying public apology and a probation at best.
OK, this is just *#$%@& odd unless you’re setting the capcha, but my capcha is “91years”
Posted by J.S. on 12/22/09 at 04:16 PM ET
Looks good on them.
Posted by Sunny from Raleigh, NC on 12/22/09 at 04:35 PM ET
Agreed that the Pens broadcast team is a joke… I don’t live in Pgh any more, but have Center Ice and it really exposes how bad these guys are. As bad as Steigy has always been (I mean, seriously, how is he still employed?), Errey is a poor color commentator.
I think that Lange and co were okay in the early Lemieux era when a lot of Pgh people started following hockey. While I still don’t think Pgh is as knowledgeable a hockey market as some, I think a slightly more insightful team would be appropriate now.
Of course, the sports media in Pgh is pretty poor. The papers provide pretty flimsy coverage (something I only realized once I left the city). If you hit ESPN on line after the game, what more do you learn from the PG or Trib? Just some homer columns…
Posted by catz27 on 12/22/09 at 05:13 PM ET
The Pens broadcast team make the Columbus broadcast crew seem tolerable (and they aren’t). I thought Columbus had the worst announcers of all until I heard the Pens pbp. Center Ice is really showing which teams have deficient announcers. Mickey Redmond and Ken Daniels covering the Red Wings do a really good job of being fair. With the exception of celebrating goals for and quietly announcing goals against (to be expected), they’re not total homers.
Posted by redxblack from Akron Ohio on 12/22/09 at 06:40 PM ET
Bring Mike Lange back!!! I hate Steiggy!
Posted by Cdiddy on 12/22/09 at 07:40 PM ET
the dude died in 1918. are theyre even more than a handful of people alive today who knew the guy personally?
over reaction backlash is all this is.
was it funny….i actually thought it was.
people need to calm the F down. just another reason for the more emotionally sensitive side of hockey fans to get their panties all in a bunch about.
Posted by saintjust21 on 12/22/09 at 09:24 PM ET
god, i effing hate whiny bi+ches. i wish now that the pens never won the rights to crosby and were mired in yet another five year losing streak. at least when they were, the white trash pieces of utter garbage kept away. GO FOLLOW THE FREAKING STILLERS AGAIN!!! YOU SCUMBAGS HAVE MADE IT SO I HAVEN’T FOLLOWED THEM IN NEARLY A DECADE. YOU WON’T DO THE SAME WITH THIS TEAM. STEELERS FANS ARE THE BIGGEST RETARD, WHINY, KNOW NOTHING BUT HOW TO COMPLAIN FREAKS THERE ARE. UNTIL THIS NEW BREED OF PENGUINS “FAN” (and i use that term in the loosest of all possible meanings) SHOWED UP ON THE SCENE 5 YEARS AGO. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU PIECES OF CRAP. AND DIE WHEN YOU GET THERE. ON A PLANE OR OTHERWISE.
Posted by shae on 12/22/09 at 09:48 PM ET
shae, you should really find the nearest cliff to fall off of
Posted by GhostWalker40 on 12/22/09 at 11:41 PM ET
I don’t see how mocking a soldier of the allied cause is justified now matter how long ago it was. Michael Jackson in no way should be compared to a person of the heart and will to protect citizens of a country. Celebrities are a joke, and so are most of societies citizens. Respect is due. Grow up. There is no statute for how long something is respectable.
Posted by robo7o7 on 12/23/09 at 01:44 AM ET
right, think 50 times about what you’re gonna say in a spur of the moment ‘cause it might offend someone somewhere.
Political correctness has gotten way to big if this remalrk is receiving backlash. If jewish people can go on stage and make jokes about being gassed to death while they’re in a concentration camp, then i can make jokes like that 55 years after it’s happened, and this Hobey Baker thingie (or the sloppy seconds thingie) are nowhere near as serious as being gassed to death…
Get it in perspective please . Lighten up people (I nearly made that light it up, you know, with the gas and all… no? Not funny? dang…)
Posted by fish from antwerp on 12/23/09 at 07:00 AM ET
That dude sucks it. I’ve had the NHL CenterIce package now for 2.5 years and of all the announcers out there, he’s gotta be the Nummero Uno in the Dingaling category. He’s so atonishingly poor, that words can’t describe…
Posted by ProjectMayhem on 12/23/09 at 10:48 AM ET
In all honesty, who doesn’t prefer Lange and Borque? But, keep in mind, this guy hasn’t had it all that easy anyway. Imagine coming into a job where upwards of 500k people do not want you to succeed. The poor guy is a nice guy. I got to meet him in the broadcast booth and he was very congenial. I love Lange, but when I walked by both of the booths for TV and radio, both of which were not on the air, only one of them asked me to come in and show me the view and answer some questions regarding their jobs.
Steiggy is obviously not on the same level as Lange, and he is a homer, much like Errey. You expect otherwise, though? Since when is it the home team announcer’s jobs to appease other fans? Get over it. It was a bad comment to make, not because it is actually offensive, but rather because it is something we could turn offensive. If someone made a joke like that about my great grandfather, I would find it funny. Know how I know? My great grandfather died in a plane crash and there were similar comments made. It really isn’t that bad unless it’s been very recent and still has emotional baggage. How many of you still cry over Hobey Baker’s death? That’s what I thought.
Also, I know every summer after listening to Pierre McGuire for a game or two, I long for Steiggy and Errey (especially since radio and video never sync up properly).
Posted by Chris from PA on 12/23/09 at 12:57 PM ET
I understand favoring Lange over Steigy, but the response to this is ridiculous. I can’t be the only one who watched that clip repeatedly and laughed every time. And what makes it so funny is the fact that Steigy didn’t even mean it as a joke. It was an (admittedly terrible) attempt to transition to the fact that Baker died in a plane crash. He probably read that it was the anniversary of the guy’s death and had it in his notes as a possible talking point. As soon as he said it I’m sure he realized how it sounded, but it was too late. Errey was clearly already losing it in the background. If that’s a fireable offense, I doubt any of us would be employed right now.
Posted by Emperor from PA on 12/23/09 at 03:11 PM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Turn Out The Lights, The Party’s Over: I’m Stepping Down
Bill Cowher’s Daughter to Marry Kevin Westgarth
Penguins Sign Forward Steve MacIntyre
Penguins Re-Sign Forward Dustin Jeffrey to Two-Year Deal
Crosby Donation Leads To Renovation at Children’s Hospital
About Kukla’s Korner
Kukla’s Korner is updated around the clock with the work of our own talented bloggers, plus links to the best hockey writing around the internet. We strive to bring you all the breaking hockey news as it happens.
The home page allows you to see the latest postings from every blog on the site. Subscribe here. For general inquiries and more, please contact us anytime.
Get the top online sports betting bonuses available to sports betters!
When learning from experts it’s best to learn personally from them, or from their blog. We can provide that with poker lessons blog, your home to learn poker personally.
Do you get shocked from the luck in the game of poker? Stop getting shocked and start being a Poker Shoker.
As well as reading about hockey games, you can also find info about poker like which poker sites accept American Express or which are the best Canadian poker sites and also find the top rakeback sites at rakeback.net.
Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.
I truly don’t think it was that bad. But I also have a pretty twisted sense of humor.
I mean, we are nearing the point where that is 100 years old. I’m pretty sure it’s not going to offend too many people.
Posted by Link_Gaetz on 12/22/09 at 11:12 AM ET