Dan Miller (sportscaster)
Encyclopedia
Dan Miller is an American sportscaster
based in Detroit, Michigan
. He currently works as the sports director and anchor on WJBK
("Fox 2") and as a radio play-by-play announcer on the Detroit Lions Radio Network.
and raised there and in Northern Virginia
. It was there he fell in love with sports. He played several sports as a child such as basketball, football, and baseball. He says his father wasn't a sports fan but he always took him to his games and practices.
, Baltimore Colts
and Washington Redskins
games with his father, who was a season ticket holder to the latter, even though "he didn't even know how to keep score", according to Miller. He also never missed one of his basketball, baseball or football games when Miller was on the team.
as a college student to help as an engineer for their weekend sportscasts. At the job interview, he was asked if he knew how to edit audio tape. He lied and said he could. He kept the job for 11 years.
In 1992, Miller got a job at WTNT
("Sports Radio 570") in Washington, D.C. as an overnight talk show host and Washington Redskins
beat reporter. He only worked there for 3 months.
In 1994 he got his first job in TV at WTTG
as host of the Washington Redskins pre-game show. In 1995 he got a job at WJLA-TV
as weekend sports anchor.
From 1994-1997, Miller was a play-by-play announcer for NFL on Fox
's regional broadcasts.
(Fox 2) as sports director and on-air personality.
He is the currently the sports director, sports anchor and host of weekly sports discussion show Sports Works on the station.
Miller's voice can also be heard announcing during The Ford Lions Report when Lions highlights clips are shown. The program is broadcast statewide in Michigan.
Miller also regularly appears via satellite to discuss the Lions on NFL Network
's pre-game show NFL Game Day Morning during the "Word on the Street" segment.
Detroit Lions
. as well the host of their official pre-game discussion show The Lions Roundtable on the Detroit Lions Radio Network teaming with long-time color commentator
Jim Brandstatter
, and sideline reporter
Tony Ortiz
. Miller replaced longtime Lions play-by-play man Mark Champion
. This is not Miller's first stint as a Lions broadcaster, however; he was the play-by-play announcer for pre-season games on the Detroit Lions Television Network
from 2001-2003.
Miller also hosts The Lions Review Show Mondays at 7:00 PM ET on WXYT-FM during the NFL season.
announcer Ty Tyson
.
The Detroit Free Press
named Miller the "best local TV sportscaster" for 2004.
"OOOOOOO MEGATRON!"- Everytime Calvin Johnson scores a touchdown
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
based in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. He currently works as the sports director and anchor on WJBK
WJBK
WJBK is the Fox–owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan broadcasting on digital channel 7...
("Fox 2") and as a radio play-by-play announcer on the Detroit Lions Radio Network.
Childhood
Miller was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and raised there and in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
. It was there he fell in love with sports. He played several sports as a child such as basketball, football, and baseball. He says his father wasn't a sports fan but he always took him to his games and practices.
High school
As a teenager, Miller often attended Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
and Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
games with his father, who was a season ticket holder to the latter, even though "he didn't even know how to keep score", according to Miller. He also never missed one of his basketball, baseball or football games when Miller was on the team.
Early career
Upon graduating high school, Miller (with the help of a friend who also worked there), got a job at Mutual Radio Network affiliates WJLA and WTEMWTEM
WTEM — branded ESPN 980 — is a sports radio station licensed to Washington, D.C. and serving the Washington metro area. It is the flagship of a sports talk trimulcast with WWXT in Prince Frederick, Maryland and WWXX in Buckland, Virginia, all affiliated with ESPN Radio and owned by Red Zebra...
as a college student to help as an engineer for their weekend sportscasts. At the job interview, he was asked if he knew how to edit audio tape. He lied and said he could. He kept the job for 11 years.
In 1992, Miller got a job at WTNT
WTNT (AM)
WTNT —branded AM 730 WTNT—is a news/talk radio station licensed to Alexandria, Virginia and serving the Washington metro area. It operates with unlimited hours, with 8,000 watts during the daytime, and 25 watts in the evening hours...
("Sports Radio 570") in Washington, D.C. as an overnight talk show host and Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
beat reporter. He only worked there for 3 months.
In 1994 he got his first job in TV at WTTG
WTTG
WTTG, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, located in the American capital city of Washington, D.C...
as host of the Washington Redskins pre-game show. In 1995 he got a job at WJLA-TV
WJLA-TV
WJLA-TV, channel 7, is the ABC affiliated television station in Washington, D.C.. It is the flagship station of the Allbritton Communications Company, which also operates local cable station NewsChannel 8. The two stations share broadcast facilities in the Rosslyn section of Arlington, Virginia...
as weekend sports anchor.
From 1994-1997, Miller was a play-by-play announcer for NFL on Fox
NFL on FOX
NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports...
's regional broadcasts.
Television
In 1997 he joined Detroit's WJBKWJBK
WJBK is the Fox–owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan broadcasting on digital channel 7...
(Fox 2) as sports director and on-air personality.
He is the currently the sports director, sports anchor and host of weekly sports discussion show Sports Works on the station.
Miller's voice can also be heard announcing during The Ford Lions Report when Lions highlights clips are shown. The program is broadcast statewide in Michigan.
Miller also regularly appears via satellite to discuss the Lions on NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
's pre-game show NFL Game Day Morning during the "Word on the Street" segment.
Radio
Since 2005, Miller has been the radio play-by-play announcer for the NFL'sNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. as well the host of their official pre-game discussion show The Lions Roundtable on the Detroit Lions Radio Network teaming with long-time color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
Jim Brandstatter
Jim Brandstatter
Jim Brandstatter is an award-winning American sportscaster based in Southeastern Michigan. He is currently the radio color commentator for the Detroit Lions and Michigan Wolverines football teams. Brandstatter is also a sports television show host and radio show host; both shows are about Michigan...
, and sideline reporter
Sideline reporter
A sideline reporter, also known as a field reporter, courtside reporter , clubhouse reporter or dugout reporter , rinkside reporter or inside-the-glass reporter , on-court reporter , hole reporter , or boundary rider , is a member of the...
Tony Ortiz
Tony Ortiz
Tony Ortiz is a sportscaster and sports talk show host for CBS Radio owned sister stations WXYT-FM, WXYT-AM and WWJ in Detroit, MI.-Education and early positions:...
. Miller replaced longtime Lions play-by-play man Mark Champion
Mark Champion
Mark Champion is an American radio sportscaster who is the current primary radio play-by-play voice of the Detroit Pistons, a position he has served in since 2001...
. This is not Miller's first stint as a Lions broadcaster, however; he was the play-by-play announcer for pre-season games on the Detroit Lions Television Network
Detroit Lions Television Network
The Detroit Lions Television Network is a network of six television stations in Michigan that broadcast the NFL's Detroit Lions preseason games as well as its weekly regular season pregame show The Ford Lions Report. As of 2011, WXYZ-TV in Detroit is the flagship station...
from 2001-2003.
Miller also hosts The Lions Review Show Mondays at 7:00 PM ET on WXYT-FM during the NFL season.
Community involvement and awards
Miller is an active member of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association founded in 1948 by pioneer Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
announcer Ty Tyson
Ty Tyson
Edwin L. "Ty" Tyson was an American sports broadcaster and radio play-by-play announcer.-Early life:Tyson was born in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania and he attended Penn State University. As a young man, he played ball and acted in nearby Tyrone, Pennsylvania. While acting in a play, he met another...
.
The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
named Miller the "best local TV sportscaster" for 2004.
Memorable calls
- After the final game of the 0-16 2008 season2008 Detroit Lions seasonThe 2008 Detroit Lions season was the 79th season for the franchise in the National Football League. Although the Lions had a flawless preseason with a 4-0 record, the Lions became the first team in NFL history to compile an 0-16 record in regular season play. They were mathematically eliminated...
, Miller eloquently summed up the whole year in a few sentences:
- After the Lions defeated the Washington Redskins2009 Washington Redskins seasonThe 2009 Washington Redskins season is the 77th season for the team in the National Football League. They failed to improve upon their 8–8 record from 2008, which resulted in Jim Zorn being fired after two seasons.-Movement:...
on September 27, 2009, snapping a 19 game losing streak, the 2nd longest in NFL history, Miller proclaimed:
- After the Lions defeated the Cleveland Browns2009 Cleveland Browns seasonThe 2009 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and its 59th season as a member of the National Football League . The team placed fourth in the AFC North with a record of 5–11, improving upon its 2008 record of 4–12...
on November 22, 2009, Miller proclaimed:
"OOOOOOO MEGATRON!"- Everytime Calvin Johnson scores a touchdown