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Player’s style wows boy, family
By SHERRI CONER
Daily Journal staff writer
sconer@thejournalnet.com
April 20, 2005
Tricia Milto thought Reggie Miller might show up for the Make-A-Wish moment wearing a practice jersey.
She thought Miller would shoot a few hoops, smile at her son, Nathan, and call it a day.
But Miller surprised Tricia, her husband, Phil, and Nathan, 10, who suffers from Batten disease, a rare, genetic and terminal condition.
When Miller strutted onto the basketball court at Conseco Fieldhouse that afternoon in March 2003, he was outfitted to play some serious basketball: Wrist bands, team shoes and everything in between.
“(It was) as if it was a real Pacer game,” Milto said with a smile from the family’s White River Township home. “He came out, totally dressed to the hilt. Reggie was ready to play.
“He was totally into it.”
Working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to make Nathan’s wish complete, Phil Milto created a script for a fictional game.
Pacers radio announcers Mark Boyle and Bobbly “Slick” Leonard and Pacers television play-by-play announcer Al Alberts announced the entire event in a recorded script, which included Nathan Milto and Miller playing together for the Pacers against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Dressed in his favorite Pacers jersey, Nathan was pushed onto the basketball court in his wheelchair. With the recorded action booming through the speakers, Phil Milto maneuvered Nathan’s chair around the court.
A little boy’s imagination was in full swing that day.
Nathan Milto and his favorite Pacers player battled the Bulls in the final game of the playoffs.
Family and friends cheered from the sidelines.
“Reggie was chanting, ‘Nathan, you can do it. I know you can,’” Tricia Milto said.
The Pacers won the championship against the Chicago Bulls, according to Phil Milto’s script.
Miller then bent down to thank Nathan for helping him win the ring.
“Reggie was jumping up and down and celebrating like he actually had won the game,” Tricia Milto said.
Tricia Milto then reached for the Pacer jersey, autographed by Miller for Nathan.
“Reggie signed Nathan’s jersey, ‘To Nathan, thanks for the ring,’” she said. “Reggie may have never won a championship ring. But he is certainly our champion. He is such a stand-up guy.
“And he helped create a memory for a family that will never be forgotten.”
Such a stand up guy and if you happen to be watching basketball tonight make sure you atleast tune in for the Pacers vs Bulls game in Indiana as this will be his last regular season game at home. They are having a ceremony after the game also. I wish I could watch the game but it looks like i'll have to settle for downloading it tommorow, if any of you miss it just pm me and ill give you a link.
some of that was kinda corny. Awell, it's corn for a good cause 
