Posted by Radioguy on September 19, 2008 at 14:10:53:
Many of us recall Brian from his sports days on WBBM AM and pre and post-game shows around town......
By Mel Bracht
Staff Writer
The Oklahoma City Thunder introduced their new TV broadcast team Wednesday, which includes a familiar face from the transplanted Seattle SuperSonics franchise.
Brian Davis, who served as host of Sonics telecasts on FSN Northwest the past four seasons, will move into the role of play-by-play announcer, replacing Kevin Calabro. He will team with analyst Grant Long, a 14-year NBA veteran who retired in 2003. A sideline announcer also will be hired, said Ken Adelson, Thunder senior vice president and executive producer.
Davis and Long will face a busy schedule as all 82 of the Thunder's regular-season games and four of the preseason games will be televised, Adelson said.
Adelson said the team is continuing negotiations to secure a television partner, but said the game telecasts might be shared between cable and over-the-air outlets. FSN Southwest, which covers Oklahoma, is expected to be the cable partner.
Adelson said the team sifted through candidates from all over the country before deciding on Davis and Long. He said the pair will bring high energy to the telecasts and are likeable on and off the air.
Calling it "an opportunity of a lifetime,� Davis said he was excited about following the Sonics to Oklahoma City.
"It's a young team, a young organization with tremendous potential, coming into a market that is celebrating its first-ever major-league professional sports franchise,� he said. "It's an honor to be associated with it in this position.�
A Northwestern University graduate, Davis also is looking forward to returning to play-by-play, a role he occasionally filled with the Sonics. He has called pro games in three other sports � the NFL's Seattle Seahawks (2000-2003), NHL's Chicago Blackhawks and MLS' Chicago Fire. He also broadcast Arizona Cardinals preseason games from 2005-07.
"There is nothing like being in the booth or on the floor on the game night calling the action, because you're walking the tight rope,� Davis said. "It's improv every moment of every show. All things being equal, I'd much rather being calling games than setting them up.�
Long, 42, served as a commentator with the Atlanta Hawks for two years, and served as an analyst with Turner Broadcasting and Fox Sports. An Eastern Michigan graduate, he has spent the past two seasons working in player development with his alma mater.
"I have a passion for bringing the game to the fans where they can understand it,� Long said.
A 6-foot-9 forward, Long averaged 9.5 points and 6.1 rebounds a game in his career with Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Vancouver/Memphis and Boston. His best statistical season was 1991-92, when he averaged 14.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a game with Miami.
Long prided himself on his heady play in the NBA.
The Thunder also announced that the Tulsa Sports Animal � KYAL-FM 97.1 � will serve as the team's Tulsa affiliate. The 100,000-watt signal covers eastern Oklahoma and the western edge of Arkansas.
Adelson said the team is leaning toward having Matt Pinto calling the games on radio by himself, as he did last season with the Sonics, and hiring a host to assist with the broadcasts.