Sports View

By Sun Advocate

We should all be a little sadder and we are certainly a little less rich in life this week.
The passing of Doug Miller, or “Mr. Outdoors” as he was known, is a hit to all our sporting lives.
Years ago I found myself glued to the television because his program on KSL on Saturday night intrigued me. He made even sports I had no interest in fun.
I know I am not alone in that either.
Last night I went on line to KUTV’s web site, looked at the clips they had there, listened to David James, Reece Stein and Craig Bolerjack talk about what a great guy he was.
But that wasn’t what was the most impressive.
It was the sheer mass of emails that had come from viewers, and yes, might I use the term, “fans” of his.
The word fans is usually reserved for rock stars or big athletes, but to me Doug Miller was more important than most of the athletes I have seen in this state. He brought home common sports to our televisions; sports you and I can go out and enjoy whether we are nine or 90.
I found myself over the years having to be home by 11 p.m. on Saturday night so I could watch his show. There are a lot of things I have never done in the outdoors, and when I first became a sports writer for this paper six years ago I counted on Miller’s television show to give me some insight into some of those activities which local people are part of.
Miller was a broadcasters, broadcaster. He had the voice, he had the personality and he had the command of the language one needs to do well in the dog eat dog world of television. But what I liked best about him was that first and foremost he was a journalist, a storyteller.
Somehow, with that Arkansas accent he kept the 30 years he lived in Utah, he charmed us all.
I wasn’t lucky enough to ever meet him, but I know a number of people who did and they said he was no different off the miniature screen than he was on. He was friendly and cared about everyone he met. He was truly interested in the people who listened and trusted him.
As a journalist myself, I respect someone who can command that kind of following. It’s not easy, because from time to time (and sometimes often) no matter whether you are reporting sports or politics you are going to cross people up and they remember it.
Thanks Doug, for all the good times you gave to all of us.
I hope as many people say at the end of their lives, you truly have “gone fishin.”