It's time to step aside.
The overriding emotion is gratitude. First and foremost, I am thankful to God. I’m living a charmed life. Often, I stop and ask, “Why me?”
When I think of the amazing people I have met and befriended, the beautiful places I’ve been and the unforgettable moments I’ve shared, it's almost too good to be true.
I owe my broadcasting career and all those experiences to Mario Lemieux, without whom most of it would not have been possible.
I've been to Stockholm, Tokyo and Ireland. I have seen much of the United States and Canada because of my job. I've stayed in luxurious hotels, eaten in some of the best restaurants in the world and had more free time to smell the flowers than most people could ever imagine.
I've had the fulfilling privilege of making a great living calling the world’s greatest sport, played by the game's greatest players, something I set out to do at the age of 16 when the original Penguins’ general manager, Jack Riley, was kind enough to give tickets to me and my friends (my first sales job in hockey).
Before I was offered the TV gig, I was the radio play-by-play voice for six seasons. And prior to that I was honored to work as a color man alongside Mike Lange for 15 years. Along the way I shared many special moments in and out of the booth with Bob "Eagle Eye" Errey, and was incredibly lucky to have called nearly 3,000 NHL games for Penguins fans in our region and around the world.
I will always cherish that first ride through the Fort Pitt Tunnel with an 18-year-old prince who would become the king of Pittsburgh sports and change my life forever.
To all the management people and co-workers, viewers and friends who have genuinely supported me over the years, those who said kind words to me on the street or just expressed their love for the Penguins, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I will miss traveling with my hockey family, the TV crew and the Penguins staffers who worked so hard to make my job easy. They are the best in the business.
This might sound odd, but I believe in my soul that being the TV play-by-play announcer for the Penguins was not as much my goal in life as it was my destiny.
Someone up there likes me despite all of my flaws.
What will I miss most?
The thrill of standing in the booth above the crowd for the national anthem with my headset on, the butterflies in my stomach as I await the words from my producer Lowell McDonald, "Go Steigy.”
It was exhilarating every single time.
So now this dream job will go to my friend, the eminently qualified Steve Mears. I wish him all the best.
I hope most people will think fondly of my work when they look back at the moments we've shared.
Oh, and by the way, I am very excited about the opportunity to help Pens TV and radio in a new capacity as I continue to enjoy life and work in the incredible Penguins organization.
How on this earth could I not be grateful?
Amen,
Steigy.
P.S. Thanks again, Jack.
First Published: May 16, 2017, 3:53 p.m.
