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Miller: Lappy's In My Top 5

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Jul 1, 2009 9:10 pm US/Mountain

Miller: Lappy's In My Top 5

 Story: Ian Laperriere Signs 3-Year Deal With The Flyers

Written by Gary Miller

Reporting
Gary Miller
DENVER (CBS4) ― Losing Lappy left me a bit depressed. He's just one of the most pleasant, cordial athletes I've ever been around. He was always available, always accountable. He did it all with a wonderful sense of humor, too.

He took his sport and his team seriously, but not himself. He had the knack of including you in the joke, and the joke was almost always on him. Just a really good guy and I'm going to miss him.

Ian Laperriere's departure started me thinking about some of the other really good guys I've had the chance to cover and get to know a bit during my 18 years in Denver. Here are some of my other favorites, in no particular order. (Believe me, there are many, many others, but these guys come immediately to mind.)

Shannon Sharpe, like Lappy, was hysterical to be around. I never knew what he was going to do and I'm not sure he did either, but whatever it was, it always hit the mark and was never mean-spirited. Shannon was never afraid to speak his mind. If he thought it, he said it. People didn't always like it, but it was the absolute truth, according to Shannon.

You may be surprised that former Nugget Mahmoud Abdul Rauf is on my list. He is absolutely the most honest athlete I've ever spoken to. He had no filter and didn't concern himself in the least with doing the policitcally correct thing as I'm sure you remember when he didn't stand for the national anthem.

I didn't agree with his actions, but he was doing what he believed was right. When you asked him a question, he always gave a thoughtful, honest, intelligent answer and he had my respect from the moment I met him.

Then there was Patrick. Patrick Roy didn't really care what the question was, he had a message to send and he used the media to do it. It might be a message to his teammates or management or the opponent. I remember in Detroit during one of the Stanley Cup series, when he was asked about a particular play and he answered, "I want the Wings to prove to me how much they really want to win this series."

Unfortunately, for Patrick and the Avs, they did. The Wings won it all that year.

Finally, there's Walt Weiss. The Rockies shortstop was just the consummate pro. One of the few athletes I've ever been around who might ask you how your family was doing.

Weiss proved himself during the playoffs in Atlanta when after a game, we went into the clubhouse where all the players were eating. I had a 10 o'clock live shot coming up in about 15 minutes.

Most of the players ignored the intruding media, but Walt looked up and sensed my panic. "What do you need, Gary?" he asked.

I said a quick interview would be great. Weiss left his food and answered a few questions. I'm sure he doesn't remember, but it's something I'll never forget.

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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