Remembering "Fan Man"

A friend of mine recently told me he had no memory of this. I've always thought it was a defining cultural moment.

25 years ago, adventurer James Miller sailed into history with his first historic flight.

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on November 6, 1993 during the heavyweight title fight between Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield. Miller descended into the side of the ring area during the second minute of the seventh round of the fight, after circling Caesars Palace for ten minutes. The lines of his paraglider became tangled in the overhead lights, after which he landed on the top rope of the ring with his parachute still tangled in the lights.

Fans and the fighters' security detail swarmed around him immediately and began attacking him. He was knocked unconscious during the attack. One security officer reportedly struck Miller twenty times. He was rushed to a nearby hospital as spectators cut his paraglider into pieces for souvenirs.

The media immediately dubbed Miller "Fan Man," for the paramotor (lightweight engine and propeller) attached to his harness.

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The historic flight

Simpsons spoof, with hilarious end credits

In an interview with British television, Miller later claimed it was an accident. Then, he went on to do it many more times.

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On January 9, 1994, Miller circled approximately 1,000 feet over the rim of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on his paraglider during the Denver Broncos-Los Angeles Raiders NFL playoff game. He landed in a park north of the Coliseum where he was arrested for interfering with a sporting event. Later that same month, he skydove into the middle of a Bolton Wanderers-Arsenal 4th round FA Cup football match at Burnden Park in Bolton, England. After serving a seven-day prison sentence, Miller was deported by British authorities.

On February 5 he was witnessed by British police paragliding along The Mall before landing atop Buckingham Palace. He then removed his trousers revealing that he was painted green from the waist down. He was arrested without incident, fined £200 and was again deported. He was banned from reentering the UK for life.

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Sadly, Fan Man later developed a heart condition that destroyed his health, ruined him financially and led to his suicide.

But for one shining moment, he defined a generation.

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