'Let that crowd noise come through': A chat with Bob Miller, voice of the LA Kings

“I hope not as far as injuries are concerned. Jonathan Quick, the goaltender, got hurt in the first period, and we’re waiting just to see how long he’s going to be out. So that’s not a good sign … and of course in the World Cup of Hockey tournament, Marian Gaborik, who they counted on for a quick start this year, has a broken foot. From that standpoint, things are not going very well. I think it’s a little early to tell. I’d like to see the Kings have a little more offense in their game, but the bottom line is win, whether it’s by one goal, or two or three, so we’ll see what happens.”

"I’m feeling very well, thank you very much. I appreciated all the fans’ response and well-wishes during my recovery. Did a couple of preseason games on TV from Las Vegas and got through those all right, so I’m really looking forward to the home opener on Friday night … it’s the 50th season of the Los Angeles Kings and the 100th season of the NHL, so I’ve got a lot to celebrate this season."

“I talked with Vin a couple of years ago when he cut back quite a bit from his travel. We both decided it wasn’t the actual flying, with charter flights and it’s very comfortable, it’s the getting into towns at 2:30 in the morning or 3 in the morning for the game the next night. In hockey, unlike baseball, where they stay in a city for maybe three or four days, we get in at 2,3 in the morning, play that next night, fly the next night, get in again at 2 in the morning, play the next night … both of us said that is really taking a toll on your body. Odd hours, eating at odd hours, you don’t get the proper sleep … Luc Robitalle and Mike Altieri of the Kings came to me this summer and said, ‘You tell us what you want to do, as much or as little as you want to do is fine with us. Whatever you decide, we’ll agree with. I thought it was the perfect opening to say ‘I’d like to not go back into the eastern time zone this year and see how that works.'

“I think it’s the longevity of the sportscaster. If you’re a fan of that team, every time you have that game on, TV or radio, you hear that voice. It’s like a member of the family. The cards I got when I was recovering from the heart surgery were, 'You don’t know me, but you’ve been in my living room for the past 43 years and I wish you all the best'. And I didn’t know these people. I was getting cards from all around the U.S. and Canada, and they were just people who love the game of hockey, they watch the game, they know that familiar voice is going to be there night in and night out every time that team plays. I think that’s the special connection. A lot of announcers are here for a while, make a big splash and then all of a sudden you say, ‘Whatever happened to that newscaster on such-and-such a channel? Where did they go?’ But then you look at Vin with 67 years and Chick Hearn who had over 40 years with the Lakers and now 44 for me, Jaime Jarrin, the Spanish announcer for the Dodgers, about 55 years, Ralph Lawler with the Clippers … it’s that longevity we have with our teams.

“This is something Vin did so well: Bring the crowd into your broadcast or telecast so the fans feels like they’re in the arena. Let the fan breathe a little bit, let that crowd noise come through. I think that’s very important."