PITTSBURGH (AP) — Stan Savran, who spent almost 5 a long time in sports activities broadcasting chronicling Pittsburgh’s rise to the “City of Champions,” has died. He was 76.

WTAE-TV, the place Savran labored as a sports activities anchor within the Nineteen Eighties, introduced Savran’s demise on Monday. No official explanation for demise was given however Savran, who was residing in Upper St. Clair within the metropolis’s southern suburbs, had been very public about his battle with lung most cancers in recent times.

Affectionately referred to as the “Godfather” of Pittsburgh sports activities, the Cleveland native arrived in his adopted metropolis in 1976 and by no means left. He started his profession in Pittsburgh in radio earlier than transferring into TV whereas even often moonlighting as a newspaper columnist.

Savran was greatest recognized for the nightly “SportsBeat” present he co-hosted on regional cable alongside Guy Junker. The present, which ran from 1991-2009, was required viewing for followers in a metropolis avid about its skilled sports activities groups. Callers would typically begin their dialog with “Stan, Guy, love the show,” a phrase Savran affectionately carried with him after the present’s long term ended.

“You will not find a better person, someone who has been so helpful to people like me and so many others, who asked for his time, he was always gracious to help young people in this business of ours,” longtime KDKA TV sports activities anchor Bob Pompeani mentioned.

Savran mixed a tireless work ethic and nearly exhaustive data of sports activities with an opinionated however simple supply that made him one of the vital trusted voices in a crowded media market.

His versatility allowed him to put on many hats, together with stints as pre-game host for Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates broadcasts in addition to a number of iterations of an eponymous radio present.

“We loved the show, but more importantly, Stan, we loved you,” the Pittsburgh Pirates tweeted.

Savran additionally labored in a number of capacities for the Pittsburgh Steelers, be it on their radio community or as a contributor to the workforce’s Hall of Honor committee.

“He was a gentleman in every way possible, and he did so much for our city and Western Pa. with his honest candor and knowledge of all sports, both locally and nationally,” Steelers president Art Rooney II mentioned in a press release.

Savran’s nearly photographic reminiscence allowed him to work with no teleprompter, a rarity.

“He was just an old-school guy,” producer Roger Lenhart advised the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I was like, ‘How does he remember all of this with no ‘prompter?’”

That was simply Stan being Stan. Savran remained a fixture at Steelers residence video games, whereas additionally doing intermission and postgame reveals for the Penguins effectively into his 70s. His day by day radio present continued till his well being deteriorated earlier this 12 months, although that didn’t cease him from serving as a visitor on different reveals, lots of which had been hosted by personalities he mentored earlier of their careers.

“Not just a Pittsburgh media icon but a Pittsburgh icon, period,” tweeted Pittsburgh sports activities radio host Mark Madden, who introduced Savran on his present recurrently as just lately as this spring. “A good friend, true peer and thoroughly good man. It’s a honor to have known (and) worked with him. ‘Love the show’ will long be remembered. Stan did it right.”