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Shawn Michaels: 'I'm Blown Away' By Pittsburgh's Big Heart
Shawn Michaels: ‘I’m Blown Away’ By Pittsburgh’s Big Heart
May 20, 2016 11:20 AM
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) – Pro wrestling legend Shawn Michaels will be joining Penguins fans at Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday.
First, he joined “The Fan Morning Show” to talk about how HBK-mania came to be in the ‘Burgh.
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Michaels has become a cult hero in Pittsburgh over the past week because of the success of the Penguins’ line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel, which has been dubbed the “HBK” line. It’s a reference to Michaels’ nickname, “The Heartbreak Kid,” or HBK for short.
The nickname went viral, Michaels became aware of it through social media, and soon enough, it turned him into an overnight sensation in Western Pennsylvania.
“I’m blown away,” Michaels said. “None of this has to do with me. This is 100 percent on the fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins…they’ve driven all of this.”
Penguins fans have been showering Michaels with love, and he has been impressed by how warm the reception has been.
“Sports can always be, especially on social media and stuff, pretty divisive,” Michaels said. “But, everyone’s been really nice and respectful…the thing that’s impressed me the most is just the respectful manner and the really genuine good fun everybody’s had with this, and that’s made it a ton more enjoyable for me…the Pens fans have been fantastic.”
Michaels has been especially dazzled by the way that Pittsburghers have shown that they have a warm side to go with the tough-as-steel attitude that they’re known for.
“I think of Pittsburgh as a rough, tough place to wrestle,” Michaels said. “You had to be a little rougher, a little tougher around the edges. That’s what been throwing me for a loop on this. Because everybody, when it comes to this hockey thing, has just been so genuine, and just open to, like, we want to share this, just come and enjoy it, don’t worry about this, don’t worry about that. No one cared.”
“Technically, you could call me just a fair-weather fan. I’ve got no ties to Pittsburgh. There’s no roots for me. I’m from Texas for God’s sake, and don’t know anything about hockey. And they’ve just been so open to that, and not having a problem with it. And so, for me, it’s sort of a disconnect, because I always associated Pittsburgh with a rough, tough town that wouldn’t put up with a guy like me. It’s very different, but it’s incredibly fun…I certainly appreciate it and it’s going to be a fun weekend, that’s for sure.”
Needless to say, Michaels has enjoyed every second of this.
“This has been a blast for me,” Michaels added. “It really has…I’m so looking forward to Sunday.”
The HBK line has really made an impression on Michaels, and not simply because it carries his name.
“Just from watching it the last 48 hours…you can feel the energy even through the TV,” Michaels said. “And then when those three guys step on the ice, the energy level sort of goes up. You feel like something exciting is going to happen when those three guys get on the ice…it feels like everyone in the building feels the same way, like when the HBK line comes on, something exciting is going to happen. That’s pretty cool.”
Michaels will surely get the crowd fired up on Sunday, but will he be able to get his foot up to “tune up the band” like he used to do before delivering his signature move, “Sweet Chin Music”?
“Are you kidding man?” Michaels said. “It don’t matter how old I get…I’ll be able to get that leg up until I’m two minutes from the grave. So, oh yeah, not a problem.”
But “Sweet Chin Music” on skates? That might be a bit too much.
“That’s going to be tough,” Michaels said. “I could do it, but I might be going down with the guy.”
The interview can be heard here:
Primanti Brothers is getting in on the HBK-mania with a new sandwich.
Primanti Brothers Operations Director Mike Mitcham joined the “KDKA Morning News” with Larry Richert and John Shumway to talk about the HBK sandwich.
He says the idea developed while they were watching Game 3.
“A few of us were sitting around watching the game…and we’re like, ‘HBK, all this talk about the HBK line and then they started taking over the game [and we said] HBK, Heartbreak Kid, HBK, Ham, Bacon, Kielbasa, that sounds pretty good,” said Mitcham.
@3Rivers the goat is our town, only time I care about the Penguins
Shawn Michaels: ‘I’m Blown Away’ By Pittsburgh’s Big Heart
May 20, 2016 11:20 AM
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) – Pro wrestling legend Shawn Michaels will be joining Penguins fans at Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday.
First, he joined “The Fan Morning Show” to talk about how HBK-mania came to be in the ‘Burgh.
ADVERTISING
Michaels has become a cult hero in Pittsburgh over the past week because of the success of the Penguins’ line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel, which has been dubbed the “HBK” line. It’s a reference to Michaels’ nickname, “The Heartbreak Kid,” or HBK for short.
The nickname went viral, Michaels became aware of it through social media, and soon enough, it turned him into an overnight sensation in Western Pennsylvania.
“I’m blown away,” Michaels said. “None of this has to do with me. This is 100 percent on the fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins…they’ve driven all of this.”
Penguins fans have been showering Michaels with love, and he has been impressed by how warm the reception has been.
“Sports can always be, especially on social media and stuff, pretty divisive,” Michaels said. “But, everyone’s been really nice and respectful…the thing that’s impressed me the most is just the respectful manner and the really genuine good fun everybody’s had with this, and that’s made it a ton more enjoyable for me…the Pens fans have been fantastic.”
Michaels has been especially dazzled by the way that Pittsburghers have shown that they have a warm side to go with the tough-as-steel attitude that they’re known for.
“I think of Pittsburgh as a rough, tough place to wrestle,” Michaels said. “You had to be a little rougher, a little tougher around the edges. That’s what been throwing me for a loop on this. Because everybody, when it comes to this hockey thing, has just been so genuine, and just open to, like, we want to share this, just come and enjoy it, don’t worry about this, don’t worry about that. No one cared.”
“Technically, you could call me just a fair-weather fan. I’ve got no ties to Pittsburgh. There’s no roots for me. I’m from Texas for God’s sake, and don’t know anything about hockey. And they’ve just been so open to that, and not having a problem with it. And so, for me, it’s sort of a disconnect, because I always associated Pittsburgh with a rough, tough town that wouldn’t put up with a guy like me. It’s very different, but it’s incredibly fun…I certainly appreciate it and it’s going to be a fun weekend, that’s for sure.”
Needless to say, Michaels has enjoyed every second of this.
“This has been a blast for me,” Michaels added. “It really has…I’m so looking forward to Sunday.”
The HBK line has really made an impression on Michaels, and not simply because it carries his name.
“Just from watching it the last 48 hours…you can feel the energy even through the TV,” Michaels said. “And then when those three guys step on the ice, the energy level sort of goes up. You feel like something exciting is going to happen when those three guys get on the ice…it feels like everyone in the building feels the same way, like when the HBK line comes on, something exciting is going to happen. That’s pretty cool.”
Michaels will surely get the crowd fired up on Sunday, but will he be able to get his foot up to “tune up the band” like he used to do before delivering his signature move, “Sweet Chin Music”?
“Are you kidding man?” Michaels said. “It don’t matter how old I get…I’ll be able to get that leg up until I’m two minutes from the grave. So, oh yeah, not a problem.”
But “Sweet Chin Music” on skates? That might be a bit too much.
“That’s going to be tough,” Michaels said. “I could do it, but I might be going down with the guy.”
The interview can be heard here:
Primanti Brothers is getting in on the HBK-mania with a new sandwich.
Primanti Brothers Operations Director Mike Mitcham joined the “KDKA Morning News” with Larry Richert and John Shumway to talk about the HBK sandwich.
He says the idea developed while they were watching Game 3.
“A few of us were sitting around watching the game…and we’re like, ‘HBK, all this talk about the HBK line and then they started taking over the game [and we said] HBK, Heartbreak Kid, HBK, Ham, Bacon, Kielbasa, that sounds pretty good,” said Mitcham.
@3Rivers the goat is our town, only time I care about the Penguins
