The longtime Los Angeles Kings play-by play- announcer Bob Miller was honored on Wednesday by the L.A. City Council as members officially announced that October 11th would forever be "Bob Miller Day" in the city.
Miller spent 44 years as the Kings announcer, and many colleagues, friends and fans showed up to watch this epic moment in L.A. sports history. Amongst those in attendance were Kings president Luc Robitaille, Radio Play-by-Play Announcer Nick Nickson, Radio Analyst Daryl Evans, TV Analyst Jim Fox, and AEG CEO Dan Beckerman.
After many stories were shared about working with Miller over the years, Miller himself reflected on how important the people he worked with were to him over the last four decades.
"I think one word: loyalty," Miller said. "They have been loyal through some of those lean years, and there were a lot of lean years where we wondered, ‘will we ever win anything? Will we ever win the Stanley Cup?’ And those fans were there night after night, still cheering this team long, and then I was so happy to see them rewarded with the first Stanley Cup, and then the second Stanley Cup, to see the joy that it brought to all of them."
After the ceremony at City Hall, Miller received an official plaque commemorating his 44 years of changing the sports culture for hockey in Los Angeles.
Saturday Jan 13th Bob Miller statue will be unveiled at Staples Center #LAKings pic.twitter.com/TggTty4vDG— NICK HAMILTON (@NickHamiltonLA) October 11, 2017
It was also announced that the Kings would unveil a statue of Miller in front of Staples Center on January 13th in honor of "Bob Miller Appreciation Day" before the Kings-Ducks game. He'll join former Laker play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn as the only broadcasters to have statues erected in their honor.
"There are moments in a person’s career that never enter your wildest dreams," Miller said in a statement. "A statue of me unveiled outside Staples Center is something I never thought of in my life. I wish to thank AEG and L.A. Kings management for this distinction. I am truly honored to be joining some of the great athletes of our time, as well as my good friend, the late Chick Hearn, who 44 years ago recommended me for the Kings job."
Miller will also be honored on Feb. 6 at the 13th annual Los Angeles Sports Awards, with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Celebrating Bob Miller Day in LA at City Hall #GOAT pic.twitter.com/QYaKszNzAa— LA Kings Ice Crew (@LAKingsIceCrew) October 11, 2017
