Stan Savran reflects on 45 years of broadcasting Pittsburgh sports

After four-and-a-half decades in Pittsburgh sports media, Stan Savran has done it all.

Yes, yes. Even this podcast.

Twice now!

In honor of Savran’s 45th anniversary on the air in our city, he joined me to discuss some of his many memories of covering sports in the Western Pennsylvania market.

Today I begin my 45th year of broadcasting in Pittsburgh. My first show was 1/19/76. It's been a great 44! Hoping for a few more years. #TheGodfather. #AskWednesday show this week.

— Stan Savran (@StanLoveTheShow) January 20, 2020

With that much ground to cover, we went in lots of different directions throughout our conversation in his studio at ESPN Pittsburgh on Thursday morning.

Primarily, Stan and I spent a lot of time talking about how the industry has changed throughout his time here. He reflects on arriving in the market in the heyday of some of the great local anchors and what it was like getting acclimated to a town that may not have been quick to embrace him because of his ties to Cleveland.

LISTEN: Stan Savran on his 45 years of broadcasting in Pittsburgh

Stan also flashes back to how the landscape of the Pittsburgh sports scene has changed during his run — literally. He goes in depth about his memories of Mellon Arena and how hard it was for him to see it disappear from the Pittsburgh skyline.

“When they began tearing it down, and I’d drive to Consol Energy Center (now PPG Paints Arena) and I’d see those big jaws ripping that roof apart, it really hurt my feelings,” Savran laughed. “I couldn’t look at it. It was like someone was doing an autopsy on me while I was still alive.”

Plus, Stan tells us what the future holds and how long he wants to remain on the air before retirement.

“I don’t have length in mind,” Savran said. “Another five would make an even 50. That would be nice. But I really don’t have a time in mind.

“I still enjoy it. I still like being involved. I hope I am still relevant. And I like what I do.”

He expresses a sentiment a lot of people in this industry have about either retiring or getting into another line of work: “If I’m not doing this, what am I supposed to do with my day?”

“I don’t think I could retire without knowing what I would do,” Savran continued. “Until I can answer that question, I can’t retire.

“I’d get up the same time, drink a pot of coffee. Read the paper or online. But then it would be 8:15. Now what am I going to do? I can’t play tennis eight hours a day.”

We veered into another tangent about not only Stan’s longevity in Pittsburgh but also those of his peers. Not many have 45 years under their belts on TV and hosting radio shows in one place. But many of his colleagues have career paths decades long in this city.

And that’s before we get into some of the play-by-play guys such as Bill Hillgrove, Mike Lange, Greg Brown, and Ray Goss.

“It says a lot about Western Pennsylvania,” Savran smiled. “They don’t like a whole lot of change.

“That’s why people like me are still accepted and trusted. I don’t think my approach has ever changed. My work ethic has never changed. I may not be the best. But no one is going to out-prepare me. That’s part of it.”

I’ve only been in the market with Stan for 18 years. So I guess that’s a blip on the radar by comparison to some of the others we bring up in the interview.

But I’ve really enjoyed my time working with him, especially when we hosted together on ESPN Pittsburgh back in 2014.

So, with that I say: “Stan! Loved the podcast!”