| | Welcome to ESPN.com's moderated chat room. On Tuesday, Up Close host Gary Miller dropped by to take your questions in chat. Miller anchors the 30-minute program generally seen at 5:30 p.m. (and 2:30 a.m.) ET. Up Close, which originates from the ESPN ZONE in the Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, features unedited interviews with top personalities from the world of sports. As host of Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter, Miller has anchored on-site coverage of the World Series, MLB Playoffs, NCAA Basketball, Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, MLB Winter Meetings and more. He has also served as play-by-play commentator for the College World Series and Major League Baseball. Prior to joining ESPN in 1990, Miller had been a CNN sports anchor/reporter from 1982-90 . In addition, he hosted CNN's weekly baseball highlights show and college football and basketball preview program. For upcoming ESPN.com chats, go to our chat page.
 Gary Miller at 5:31pm ET
I'm here and ready for your questions!
Gary Miller at 5:31pm ET
I'm sure you are all watching Carmen Policy right now but I'd be glad to chat along with you!
Adam G. from [63.200.241.14], at 5:32pm ET
Gary...I am a big fan of your show and the wonderful athletes you bring on. If you were a betting man, who would you put your money on to win the NBA title this year?
Gary Miller at 5:33pm ET
I don't really like the Lakers but I don't see anyone that much better to knock them off. I think they will be hurt by not having the home court ad they had last year. But I do think Sac and Utah have a chance to knock them off. I think that Philly and Milwaukee are going to have easier routes through the playoffs and have a good shot themselves.
keith from [204.34.211.82], at 5:33pm ET
Is there any chance the Cubs can be any good this year...
Gary Miller at 5:34pm ET
Teh only chance is if Kerry Wood pitches like he did in '98. They have made some good changes but it is basically a hodge podge of pieces that don't fit well together. As a lifelong fan I am ready for a season that will fit right in with our dismal exsistance.
Bob from [65.24.147.156], at 5:35pm ET
Hey Gary. Is a strike unavoidable at this point in baseball? Who is to blame for this mess?
Gary Miller at 5:36pm ET
I think there will be a work stoppage of some sort. The 2002 season is in serious jeapordy. I don't think you can blame any one party more than the other.
Kevin Barry from [63.254.248.179], at 5:36pm ET
Who is the most honest player you've ever interviewed?
Gary Miller at 5:37pm ET
The first one that comes to mind is Charles Barkley as he is showing on TNT. He is so honest he said our show should be an hour he had so much good stuff. He also said he should host the show. I agreed with him but said we probably couldn't get him to show up every day!
Marty from [24.4.252.97], at 5:37pm ET
Hello Gary, Which Sports Athletes have been the most accessible to granting interviews to you on "ESPN'S UP CLOSE"?
Gary Miller at 5:38pm ET
You can tell by the number of appearances they make. Jason Sehorn and Mark Grace always find the time. Eddie George, Marshall Faulk, these guys are not only available but they make good guests. They are entertaining.
Gary Miller at 5:39pm ET
A guest we are having again this week is Jerome Bettis, tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. ET. He is always a good guest.
mike from [131.156.97.35], at 5:39pm ET
hey gary i love your show, i watch it all the time i even tape it. i just wanted to know what kind of suits do you where?
Gary Miller at 5:40pm ET
ESPN has a clothing allowance for it's on-air people so some of them are XMI which is our clothier. It has been difficult since we went from the t-shirt look back to the tie. My wardrobe is back from a year and a half ago. When the budget allows, Hugo Boss and Armani or else just sometimes just Macy's.
KC in KC from [65.195.8.203], at 5:40pm ET
Being based in LA, do you find a disconnect with the folks at Bristol University?
Gary Miller at 5:41pm ET
Unfortunately yes to some degree. What is great about going to the Super Bowl is running into the guys like Tirico and Dan Patrick and also my friends from the 80s while I was at CNN.
Peter Huisking from [63.25.194.131], at 5:41pm ET
Do you miss Baseball Tonight and will you be back on anytime soon? You always had a way to make it interesting and you have a great knowledge of the game itself. Your thoughts?
Gary Miller at 5:42pm ET
Deepest gratitude for your comments. It is my favorite sport, that must show through. Usually I get involved in teh post season coverage. We usually do shows from the All Star game and most likely I will once again be part of our College World Series coverage in Omaha.
Mark G. from [198.81.17.26], at 5:43pm ET
Gary,
What are your thoughts on giving up the reins for a week and letting athletes host the show?
Gary Miller at 5:44pm ET
We are always looking for innovative ideas. That occasionally happens whether we like it or not ... ala Charles Barkley. When we had Bob Uecker on last year I did switch chairs with him for the last segment and found out hard uncomfortable that can be.
FrogFan from [205.188.200.27], at 5:45pm ET
Will you be doing an interview with LaDainian Tomlinson anytime soon?
Gary Miller at 5:46pm ET
It is possible. Each year before the Draft we dedicate the week to the top names in the upcoming draft. He would obviously be on our list of potential guests that week.
Brent Schauer from [131.212.93.17], at 5:46pm ET
What is your favorite sport to watch, what is your favortite to play, and favorite sport to telecast?
Gary Miller at 5:47pm ET
To watch on TV would be the NFL. It translates the best of any sport on TV. To play is baseball and softball. The only one I have broadcast on any significant basis is baseball so I would have to go with that.
Peter Huisking from [63.25.194.56], at 5:47pm ET
What was your best memory of Dale Earnhardt?
Gary Miller at 5:49pm ET
As I mentioned in our Monday broadcast it was reminiscing with Dale about the old days at the dirt track at the Savannah Speedway as I had broke into broadcasting at Savannah. I didn't know he had raced there on a regualr basis. He was also good friends with Delma Cowart, a local legend around there.
Robert from [24.12.64.239], at 5:49pm ET
Is ir harder to get hockey guys on or is there not muck interest? Anyways it's a shame, these are the last of the honorable athletes
Gary Miller at 5:50pm ET
Unfortunately your latter premise is the accurate one. I've found hockey guests to be some of our most engaging, cooperative, enjoybale guests. But the ratings, just as they are for the games, aren't strong. One of the most disappointing was having Brodeur and Modano on the same show and getting one of our lowest ratings of the year. Otherwise we would have them on all the time.
Marty from [24.4.252.97], at 5:51pm ET
Hello Gary, How much "Input" do you have on deciding which guests will be appearing on "Up Close"?
Gary Miller at 5:52pm ET
It is a cooperative between our superstart talent coordinator Todd Fritz, our new producer Charlie Moyniham and the staff. But generally I would say I can excercise veto power. But 95 percent of the people we consider, I am interested in taking a shot at.
Blake from [161.45.184.61], at 5:52pm ET
Hey, I like your hair cut and suit. Keep it up bro.
Gary Miller at 5:53pm ET
TV is pretty generous. You can make a Lord and Taylor look like an Armani if the lighting is dark enough!
Raider Randy from [64.12.105.44], at 5:53pm ET
Hi Gary! Which interview over the years has had the biggest impact on you? Is there one that you still think about? Thanks
Gary Miller at 5:54pm ET
John Wooden had the biggest impact on me as a person.
Jim Brown turning hostile on me and having to weather the storm had the biggest impact as an interviewer.
Brent Schauer from [131.212.93.17], at 5:54pm ET
Do you show bias or are more excited toward players that play for your favorite teams when interviewing them?
Gary Miller at 5:56pm ET
I don't belive so because being from Chicago, most of my teams are in contention enough to be on our show. Only reason I would be biased to Sosa or Grace is because they are wonderful guests who are genuinly charming to be around. I've had to tell a few guests before we taped them how much I hated them growing up because of what they did to my teams. But I still had a great time with them.
Shawn from [206.216.59.60], at 5:56pm ET
I hope you are not actually believing all the BS that Carmen Policy is spouting now, it sounds nice and organized.....but tells you what you want to hear.....his facade is becoming known in Cleveland....and he will not last.....
Gary Miller at 5:58pm ET
Carmen comes from a background where he broke into the legal business defending mob figures. He has possessed that quality a long time. All I can do is ask him the appropriate questions, challenge him and allow him to say wht he feels. I have to admit he charmed me to some degree. He can be tough to pin down.
Mark G. from [198.81.17.26], at 5:58pm ET
Gary,
Which athlete do you have the best friendship with?
Gary Miller at 6:00pm ET
I've tried to keep a professional distance from the guests and athletes that I've covered. I've tried to maintain friends of a true nature as opposed to fellow celebrity status. One of my favorites is a guy that most people had a difficult time getting along with - Randy Meyers, first meeting him when he pitched for the Cubs.
Robert from [24.12.64.239], at 6:00pm ET
does jim rome annoy you too?
Gary Miller at 6:01pm ET
I"m going to stay above being drawn into that discussion. I'll just say our styles are distinctly different for a reason. But if you go simply by name recognition and followers as your standard, you can't argue with his success. I would just stay my standards are a little different.
John J from [208.155.82.81], at 6:01pm ET
With an increasing amount of elite Major League baseball players coming from other countries,(Cuba, Dominican Republic, Korea, Japan, etc.) do you find it difficult interviewing them do the language barrier?
Gary Miller at 6:04pm ET
There are certain guests that we have to turn down because you just can't carry a half-hour show with their difficulty with the English langauge. WHile Manny Ramierez becomes one of the highest paid players in teh sport, he's not a gifted speaker of the English langauge. Ivan Rodriguez also. Some of the players with a heavy accent we really can't consider for an Up Close. If there was a story of such magnitude that you had to use an interpreter we might. But we still probably wouldn't do a whole half hour. It doesn't make good TV in my eyes.
Carp from [65.24.209.77], at 6:04pm ET
Who do you eat lunch with at the cafeteria?
Gary Miller at 6:05pm ET
I pretty much eat at the Zone everyday!
Marty from [24.4.252.97], at 6:05pm ET
Hello Gary, What makes a great "Interview" with a guest on
"Up Close" in your opinion?
Gary Miller at 6:07pm ET
Larry King was a great interview and he expressed it during our interview: Someone who is entertaining, forth coming, someone who makes you laugh and think, and challenges you. That is the most you can ask of a guest.
I appreciate all your interest. Sorry for the ones we didn't get to. Keep sending your questions and maybe you will make it on the show. Be sure and check out Jerome Bettis tomorrow and Mark McGwire on Monday.
Thanks everybody!
| |
|
