Lord Stanley, Lord Stanley, Bring Back Mikey!!

That the issue will not die is testament to the miscarriage of justice that it was. In this morning's PG, Smizik cautions anyone who thinks that the departure of Steve Tello from FSN Pittsburgh and the arrival of Ted Black, combined with the expiring contracts of Mike Lange and Paul Steigerwald will lead to Lange returning to the TV booth, is mistaken.

He downplays the move by pointing out that ratings for Pens games on FSN are higher than ever and that the backlash against the Lange firing paled in comparison to the uproar that came after Bob Prince was fired by KDKA. But in doing so, Smizik misses the point. The point is that, two years after the firing, fans are indeed clamoring for the return of Lange to TV, that Smizik wrote a column about it proves it. And secondly, ratings are higher because the Pens are better, much better than they were for four years prior to and just after the lockout. People want to watch the exciting Pens now, they didn't want to watch the Pens of Tarnstrom and Fata and Morozov.

One point Smizik was correct about was that Lange's performance had slipped some in these years. I will agree to that, but also wonder about whose wouldn't after seeing the cavalcade of talent and winning the Pens provided in the 90s and then having to call 82 games of horrible clutch and grab hockey? Smizik acknowledges that Lange has rebounded in the past couple of years on the radio - all the more reason to bring him back to TV where he can reach a larger audience with his Hall of Fame style.

This is not to denigrate Steiggy's work, though that is easy enough to do. Simply put, he is not Mike Lange and never will be.

The forces of change are swirling...the time is fast approaching...circumstances are aligning...fans are clamoring...it's time for FSN Pittsburgh to bring Mike Lange back to TV!!!

Let's all do what we can to let the powers that be know how we feel. Here is what you can do:

• Visit Mike Lange Belongs on TV. Once there you can sign the online petition that currently has over 3100 signees (more I'm sure than those who went in the street to object to Prince's firing).
• The same site also gives out the phone number of FSN Pittsburgh so everyone can call and offer their opinion on the matter. The best course of action to help the cause and have it taken seriously is to be courteous and calmly explain how you feel. The number is:

Phone: 412 - 316 - 3800 (then choose option 6 for media relations)

• Email Bob Smizik and let him know that you are one of the many who are infuriated by the decision to fire FSN made to fire Lange.
• Let Seth at Empty Netters know how you feel, he is very supportive of the cause.