Will a new driver for the Miller empire result in changed direction?

To date, there has been no clear explanation as to how involved Larry Miller will be when he returns, though the family says he continues to make a steady recovery.

Greg Miller seems a nice, competent guy, but in some ways he's Larry in grayscale. He has been appearing recently on the dais at Jazz-related events, making a few perfunctory remarks but letting others do most of the talking.

His is a measured, modest approach.

What you won't see is his opinions about contract disputes. He won't be feuding with Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts. And it's doubtful he'll storm into the locker room at halftime to rail at his team. (In the 1990s, Larry earned the nickname "The White Rhino" by the players, thanks to his epic locker room rants.)

Don't look for Greg to come out wearing short-shorts on Jazz Retro Night, either.

As for the flow of information, that probably won't be the same, either. When I was the Jazz beat writer in the early 1990s, the team would announce a contract extension, but insist terms would be kept private ...

That is until someone got to Larry.

I once said to him, "I know you're not releasing the terms of the player contract, but would I be off base if I said he'll be averaging about $800,000?"

"If you said he'll be making $830,000, $875,000 and $910,000 for the three years, you wouldn't be far off," said Miller.

I related that story to Greg Miller on Friday and said, "I'm guessing you probably wouldn't be that upfront, would you?"

"You're probably right," he chuckled softly.

So get well soon, Larry.

I need the material.

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com