• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

CONTENTS APRIL 5, 2017 ▪ VOLUME 7, ISSUE 33 LAUREN ARNDT ADVERSITY AND OPPORTUNITY Injuries ended their seasons. But for Jack Cichy and Chris Orr, the road back has provided more than rehab and healthy bodies. It’s given them a clearer outlook on football and life. JACK MCLAUGHLIN FEATURES SOFTBALL IN [FOCUS] WALK-ON SUCCESS The week's best photos Wisconsin’s culture of finding and BY THE NUMBERS growing local and regional talent is Facts and figures on UW building success for softball. WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers LUCAS AT LARGE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH Badgers’ best & brightest LEGEND OF THE MIC ASK THE BADGERS After starting his storied career Why Badgers fans are great calling Wisconsin hockey games, ICON SPORTSWIRE NHL Hall of Fame announcer Bob Miller is ready to turn off the mic. BADGERING Sarah Disanza (Track & Field) -SCROLL FOR MORE- INSIDE TRACK & FIELD Arizona’s Shootout up next Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St. Madison, WI 53711 VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Jessica Burda Director of Digital Content Managing Editor Julia Hujet Editor/Designer Mike Lucas Senior Writer Andy Baggot Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Chris Hall, Jerry Mao, Brandon Spiegel Video Production Max Kelley Advertising Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Brian Mason, Diane Nordstrom Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, The Players Tribune, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2017 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER A legend of the hockey mic at UW, in NHL he storytellers were Bob In late January of 1990, Grana- recalled Granato. “And, then, I Miller, whose legendary to was in Madison for the NHL said, ‘Hey, Bob, who’s this W. Tbroadcasting resume in- All-Star break when he got word Douglas that I’m rooming with?’” cludes having his own star on that he had been traded from the Miller got a smirk on his face. the Hollywood Walk of Fame; New York Rangers (along with To- “Oh, you know what, that’s and Tony Granato, whose return mas Sandstrom) to the Los Ange- Wayne’s name that he regis- to his alma mater has already les Kings for Bernie Nicholls. The ters with at the hotel,” Miller bordered on the stuff of leg- following day, Granato flew to informed Granato. “That’s so ends with the revitalization of a Vancouver to join his new team. people don’t know it’s Wayne dormant program after just one “When I checked in at the ho- Gretzky.” season. tel,” he said, “I asked, ‘Who’s my Miller picked up the story from From up-close and afar, they roommate?’” there. “Tony says, ‘What? I’m have earned each other’s re- This was before NHL players rooming with Wayne Gretzky?’ I spect: Miller, 78, the former had single rooms on the road. said, ‘Yes, Gretzky.’ And he says, DAVID STLUKA DAVID Wisconsin hockey play-by-play “They said, ‘W. Douglas,’” ‘Oh, my, God.’” man and iconic voice of the Los Granato recounted. “So I was Yep, the one and only, the Angeles Kings; and Granato, 52, wondering, ‘This is kind of Great One, Wayne Douglas the former UW star, Olympian strange.’” Gretzky. and battle-scarred NHL survivor That’s because he was un- “It’s funny,” Granato went on. as a player (13 years) and coach aware of a W. Douglas on the “Gretz had played in the All-Star (13 years). Los Angeles roster. game (in Pittsburgh) and had “He’s such a wonderful human Walking to the elevator, he been given an extra day off. So being,” Granato said. bumped into Miller, the venera- I get to the room and I’m in the “He was an individual who ble Kings announcer. room by myself for a day waiting would do anything to win the “He welcomed me to the Kings for that knock on the door and game,” Miller said. and we were talking about Bad- for Wayne Gretzky to appear as Now for their story. gers stuff and everything else,” my roommate. HARRY HOW HARRY LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER ICON SPORTSWIRE ICON “IT’S BASED ON MY HEALTH REALLY AND IT’S REALLY NOT A TOUGH CALL,” ADMITTED MILLER. “I ALWAYS SAID I WANTED TO RETIRE WHEN I’M STILL HEALTHY ENOUGH TO ENJOY RETIREMENT. I WAS READY TO DO IT.” “I can remember calling Donny (Granato, his younger brother) back here (in Madison) and say- ing, ‘Donny, you’re not going to believe this, but I’m sitting in a room right now and there’s an- other bed in here and Wayne Gretzky is going to be in that bed — he’s my roommate.’” Keep in mind, Tony Granato was only three years removed from his senior year at Wiscon- sin. “All the college guys back in Madison,” he said, “would call my room (in Vancouver) just to see if ences back here in Madison and his storied career in what will Wayne would answer the phone how special they were to him. be the final two regular-season so they could talk to him.” We talked about Badger hockey games for Los Angeles on April Over the years, Granato be- all the time.” 8 against the Chicago Black came good friends with W. Granato spent seven years Hawks at the Staples Center and Douglas. with the Kings (380 games). on April 9 against the Ducks in “He learned a lot from Wayne “He’s obviously a great broad- Anaheim. Gretzky,” said Miller, who remem- caster, a Hall of Famer,” Granato “It’s based on my health really bered Granato for his feistiness, said of Miller, “who has not only and it’s really not a tough call,” enthusiasm and competitiveness meant a lot to the Los Angeles admitted Miller, who has dealt as a Kings player. “I think that’s Kings but to the NHL as well. It with quadruple bypass surgery still the way he is today.” was classy how he represented and two strokes within the last Granato has fond memories of himself and his retirement is sad year (most recently in January). Miller, too. from the standpoint that he’s “I always said I wanted to retire “We had a connection right not going to be around calling when I’m still healthy enough to away from the Badger ties,” said games anymore.” enjoy retirement. I was ready to Granato, reflecting on his recep- After 44 years with the Kings, do it. tion with the Kings. “He came some 3,351 broadcasts, Miller “It was a good, long run and it up to me and shared his experi- will call his final two games of was time to end it.” LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ color analyst on home games, us out, 3-0. It was as dull as it eady or not, Miller became while Phil Mendel handled the could be. My wife Judy and I the original voice of Bad- assignment on the road. were driving home and said, Rger hockey on Dec. 13, In 1972, Miller applied for the ‘What have we done?’ We left 1968. He had no idea of what play-by-play job with the Kings. Madison where we had parties he was getting himself into when One of his references was Los after games and everybody was his program director, WKOW’s Angeles Lakers announcer Chick upbeat. Roger Russell, informed him, Hearn. But owner Jack Kent “We came here (Los Angeles) “Oh, by the way, we’re doing the Cooke acted on a whim and and we don’t know anybody and hockey broadcasts this weekend hired someone else. A year later, that first regular season game and you’re doing the games.” after the Badgers won their first was terrible. There was so much Although Miller, a TV sports national championship, the Kings more energy around the college anchor in Madison, had experi- position reopened. game than there was the profes- ence doing football, basketball Miller again sent them an au- sional game. It was just a whole and baseball, he was a newcom- dition tape. And this time, he different atmosphere.” er to the sport of college hock- was hired. “I had people tell me, It didn’t take long for Miller ey, which was still a novelty and ‘Why would you take a job with to make adjustments or find curiosity to most people in the the Kings? They’re a terrible his niche in a legend-rich mar- community. Bob Johnson’s bud- team,’” Miller related. “But I just ket. Besides Hearn, who passed MAX SIKER ding program was just beginning wanted the opportunity to get away in 2002, there was the to generate interest. into the National Hockey League incomparable Vin Scully with the “What was in my favor,” Miller and see where it would lead.” Dodgers. Last October, Scully said, “is that I don’t know how Miller’s first impression of the retired after 67 seasons. What a many people in Madison had pro game was not a good one. hat trick: Scully, Miller, Hearn. listened to hockey on the radio, “One of the worst games I’ve In fact, it was Hearn who set so they didn’t know how bad I ever seen,” he said.

Load more

  27

Copy Link