Jim Miller talks about the stories behind ESPN book

Author Jim Miller sits with Dan Patrick at the studio.

Jim Miller, the co-author of “Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN,” came in studio to talk about the decisions behind the book. Here are some of Miller’s takes:

— Miller said the guy who wouldn’t be interviewed was Tom Rinaldi. Miller wanted to talk to him about his Tiger Woods interview.

— Miller commented on interviewing on Keith Olbermann. “It was a journey,” Miller said. “The truth is, he was great.”

— Miller said ESPN wouldn’t allow him on campus for the first year. “They became convinced the book was going to go on with or without their cooperation,” Miller said.

— Miller explained that it was long process to get some comments on record. He had to go back to people multiple times.

— Miller said Tony Kornheiser was upset about the perception that he’s not a team player. “The truth is Tony Kornheiser and Mike Tirico are very different people,” Miller said. Miller said that Tony carries around one of the letters he received suspending him (he was suspended twice).

Miller said the golden rule is you can’t speak ill of another ESPN employee. That’s why they suspended Kornheiser for his Hannah Storm comments.

— Miller said that three times people came to him and said please remove certain stories because they thought they were going to get fired if things came out.

— Miller said that he could have filled the whole book with sex stories, but he didn’t think that it had anything to do with the big story at ESPN. He said the current regime is trying to deal with all the sex problems and is taking a tough stance. “It’s about what is tolerated,” Miller said. “It doesn’t mean these things aren’t going to happen.”

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