Susan’s Sport Talk!

Like other Pittsburgh sports fans, I’m reeling today. First, the Pens go and trade away two of my favorite players, Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen. ColbyJack, as we sometimes call him in my house, is a heck of a great dude. Funny as hell. And a good foil for Sid the Kid.

Christensen, by all reports, would be a ShapeShifter fan. The man likes my music. And he’s got a wicked wrist shot.

I hope they both come back during the off-season and return to the nest as free agents.

And a huge and warm welcome to Marion Hossa and Hal Gill (Hal Gill!) and the other guy no one’s paying much attention to, winger Pascal Dupuis.

Hockey players have the best names.

While I’m sighing, let my happy sigh turn into one of sadness. Man, we lost an institution today. Myron Cope gave up the good fight this morning. I’ve got chills as I’m typing this. Myron was one of my heroes; when I protested that a voice like mine would never be broadcast over the airwaves, Myron was held up as an example of how voice doesn’t matter, content does.

And did Myron know sports. Yoi! That man knew so much, it wasn’t funny. Whenever a transplant would tell me they just couldn’t stomach listening to Myron, I’d tell them to get past the voice and listen to what he had to say. He was so much more than a squeaky voice and a reason to drink (the Myron Cope drinking game: do a shot every time he says Yoi. Do two for a Double Yoi, and three for a triple Yoi); you couldn’t help but learn from him.

Like most Pittsburghers, I grew up on a winter diet of Steelers and Myron. Because of that, I might know more about football than the average fan — and believe me, while I’m a fan of the Steelers, I’m not a huge football fan. I’ll watch hockey games ’cause it’s hockey, but I won’t watch football because it’s football.

Over the past few years, after Myron retired, I’ve missed him in the broadcast booth. Yeah, Tunch brings a ton to the game. And Billy Hillgrove remains his steady self. But … it’s not the same without Myron.

So there’s three guys who’ve left the city. I hope two of them come back.

And the third?

I don’t think he’ll ever truly leave us.

Rest in peace, Myron. You made my world a better place and I thank you for it.