Bob Miller Is Best He’s Never Heard

Re: “Voice of the Kings Gets Royal Treatment at Last” [Nov. 14]: Congratulations to Bob Miller on his entry into the NHL Hall of Fame. Hockey fans in Los Angeles are very lucky to have him. Unfortunately, King fans who attend the games at Staples Center (and want to hear Miller inside) get the shaft from the team that employs him.

As a season-seat holder, I attended a meeting before the last regular-season game played by the Kings at the Forum, in which King President Tim Leiweke addressed the hundreds of fans there and answered our queries. I explained to Mr. Leiweke that coming to a King game and not being able to hear Bob Miller’s play-by-play inside the building is akin to going to a Laker game and not being able to hear Chick Hearn’s play-by-play, or going to Dodger Stadium and not being able to hear Vin Scully’s play-by-play.

I asked Mr. Leiweke if Miller’s play-by-play during home games televised by Fox Sports would be piped into the new, modern, high-tech Staples Center. His one word reply? Yes. Hundreds of fans applauded.

Fast forward to Year 2 of Staples Center. Fans are not able to hear Miller inside the arena and finding any fan who brings a radio to hear the play-by-play from the radio broadcast is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Once upon a time, another president looked me in the eye, wagged his finger and lied about a very personal matter that did not affect me directly. When the president of the Los Angeles Kings looks me in the eye and lies about something that does affect me, I am offended.

HOWARD COHEN

North Hills

*

Bob Miller has taught Southern California more about hockey than 15 Wayne Gretzkys.

And he has taught me to speak several foreign languages, as well. In fact, when I run across some oddly pronounced hockey name, such as Shjon Podein, Antti Laaksonen or Miroslav Satan, I recommend something called “The Bob Miller Test,” as in “how would Bob Miller say it?” Using this method, you get it right more often than not. Thanks, Bob.

JIM MALLON

San Luis Obispo