http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/409898.html
Fatherhood helps Kings' Miller rededicate himself
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 5:57 am PDT Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Brad Miller was speaking for himself, but he might as well have been announcing the Kings' teamwide stance.
Asked about last season, that dreadful 33-victory campaign that came with negative news of so many kinds and ultimately the firing of coach Eric Musselman, Miller said it has been forgotten. Erased. Nothing good to remember.
Except one thing.
"The birth of my child," the Kings' center said at Monday's media day to kick off training camp. "That's the only thing I'm taking out of last year."
It was the private subplot to Miller's season of struggle, the addition to his family that came with angst and fears of the worst kind and subtracted so mightily from his focus on the floor. Anniston Miller, whose name is tattooed along the inside of Miller's left forearm, arrived more than two months early in January.
"We were in Portland (on Jan. 12), and I came home to a call at 2 in the morning, and we had to go back to the hospital," said Miller, who had the baby with his longtime girlfriend, Abby Robinson. "She comes in at 3 pounds, 4 ounces, (which) is not very good for a 7-foot (father). It was really hard on me."
Fatherhood, Miller said, has provided a new outlook, a new dedication that revealed itself in a new physique that is 25 pounds slimmer than six months ago. Well aware his reputation took a beating last season when he struggled on both ends, Miller teamed with team strength coach Daniel Shapiro to return to form.
He held himself accountable in advance, telling Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, new coach Reggie Theus and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, that he would follow through with the offseason work this time.
"I made a big commitment, saying, 'You're going to see me where I was when I got here (in 2003), if not better,' " Miller said. "It wasn't easy. I don't like eating chicken every day, don't like eating salads every meal. But it's something I had to do."
August, in particular, was crunch time. Attending a friend's wedding near Pendleton, Ore., Miller spent the week doing two-a-days with Shapiro, who followed him there.
"I flew from (Sacramento) to Seattle, to Pendleton, stayed in the same hotel, found a gym and spent three or four days doing two-a-days the whole time we were there," said Shapiro, who also worked with Miller in Indiana for five days in August. "Brad was as motivated as I was. He did not miss workouts. That's why he is where he is. ... He knew he wanted to make changes to his body and his athleticism, and he did it."
There was work to be done on the body but also the mind. Miller had endured quite the rough run, starting with the Team USA experience last summer in which he hardly saw the floor, continuing with the foot tissue injury that limited him for most of the season that went so awry. And though he is known to escape to his home region in Kendallville, Ind., to unwind, something different was in order. He went on a camping trip to the Arctic Circle of Alaska, toting a tent through the cold and rain.
"They talk about Indians going out on their walks to really figure out life -- well, getting away for 10 days really put things in perspective," Miller said. "Even though I'd been getting my body right, I'm feeling pretty good mentally, too."
Soon after being hired June 19, Theus issued a challenge to Miller: Be ready to run, or don't take part in the fun.
"I really believe that those kinds of challenges midway through a guy's career are really what they need," Theus said. "It gives him a reason to get himself in shape, a reason to be fired up about what's coming down the pike."
There are plenty of reasons now.
"Life hasn't been good the last year," Miller said. "But I'm putting all that in the past. I'm starting over. ... No more excuses. I'm just ready to get back to the old-style Brad and get us back where we need to be."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Fatherhood helps Kings' Miller rededicate himself
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 5:57 am PDT Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Brad Miller was speaking for himself, but he might as well have been announcing the Kings' teamwide stance.
Asked about last season, that dreadful 33-victory campaign that came with negative news of so many kinds and ultimately the firing of coach Eric Musselman, Miller said it has been forgotten. Erased. Nothing good to remember.
Except one thing.
"The birth of my child," the Kings' center said at Monday's media day to kick off training camp. "That's the only thing I'm taking out of last year."
It was the private subplot to Miller's season of struggle, the addition to his family that came with angst and fears of the worst kind and subtracted so mightily from his focus on the floor. Anniston Miller, whose name is tattooed along the inside of Miller's left forearm, arrived more than two months early in January.
"We were in Portland (on Jan. 12), and I came home to a call at 2 in the morning, and we had to go back to the hospital," said Miller, who had the baby with his longtime girlfriend, Abby Robinson. "She comes in at 3 pounds, 4 ounces, (which) is not very good for a 7-foot (father). It was really hard on me."
Fatherhood, Miller said, has provided a new outlook, a new dedication that revealed itself in a new physique that is 25 pounds slimmer than six months ago. Well aware his reputation took a beating last season when he struggled on both ends, Miller teamed with team strength coach Daniel Shapiro to return to form.
He held himself accountable in advance, telling Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, new coach Reggie Theus and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, that he would follow through with the offseason work this time.
"I made a big commitment, saying, 'You're going to see me where I was when I got here (in 2003), if not better,' " Miller said. "It wasn't easy. I don't like eating chicken every day, don't like eating salads every meal. But it's something I had to do."
August, in particular, was crunch time. Attending a friend's wedding near Pendleton, Ore., Miller spent the week doing two-a-days with Shapiro, who followed him there.
"I flew from (Sacramento) to Seattle, to Pendleton, stayed in the same hotel, found a gym and spent three or four days doing two-a-days the whole time we were there," said Shapiro, who also worked with Miller in Indiana for five days in August. "Brad was as motivated as I was. He did not miss workouts. That's why he is where he is. ... He knew he wanted to make changes to his body and his athleticism, and he did it."
There was work to be done on the body but also the mind. Miller had endured quite the rough run, starting with the Team USA experience last summer in which he hardly saw the floor, continuing with the foot tissue injury that limited him for most of the season that went so awry. And though he is known to escape to his home region in Kendallville, Ind., to unwind, something different was in order. He went on a camping trip to the Arctic Circle of Alaska, toting a tent through the cold and rain.
"They talk about Indians going out on their walks to really figure out life -- well, getting away for 10 days really put things in perspective," Miller said. "Even though I'd been getting my body right, I'm feeling pretty good mentally, too."
Soon after being hired June 19, Theus issued a challenge to Miller: Be ready to run, or don't take part in the fun.
"I really believe that those kinds of challenges midway through a guy's career are really what they need," Theus said. "It gives him a reason to get himself in shape, a reason to be fired up about what's coming down the pike."
There are plenty of reasons now.
"Life hasn't been good the last year," Miller said. "But I'm putting all that in the past. I'm starting over. ... No more excuses. I'm just ready to get back to the old-style Brad and get us back where we need to be."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
