I wanted to take a moment and thank all of you for your support and fandom over the past years with the Sonics. Obviously, I am very disappointed that I will no longer be able to bring you the action of the Seattle Supersonics. It has been great to be involved with the Sonics organization over the past 9 seasons. Most of all it has been a real pleasure interacting with you via the radio, the blog or whatever.
It is irrelevant whether we agreed or disagreed, whether you like my work or not we were all fans of the same team with the same passion. In regards to the Sonics I want to make sure you all know this is a group worth rooting for. The players that put on the Green and Gold are good men that are worth cheering for. The upper management of the Sonics are high quality people. They are talented and working very hard to make sure you get the best product. Certainly, I wish they felt differently about my role, but that doesn't take away that the people I worked for, John Croley, Brian Byrnes, Karen Bryant and Danny Barth, are all solid people. Most importantly, the organization's core is a bunch of young people who work feverishly each day to make sure the Sonics are a great product. It was impressive to watch them day in and day out.
In closing, my termination doesn't change my belief that the NBA is a fantastic game, the Sonics are a team worth rooting for and worth working to keep in Seattle. Thanks again for all the fun times over the last 9 years. I will be right there with you rooting for Kevin Durant or Greg Oden next year.
Thanks,David Locke
Monday, June 25
David Locke
We got this message from David Locke, the Sonics' now former play by play man earlier today. Here's what he had to say:
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6 comments:
Locke move is great. The guy isn't compelling and really turned me off to listening to Supersonic games through NBA's Audio Pass (see as I live in SF). I'm hoping that KC is brought back in, the guy is just killer on the radio and think his enthusiasm for the game just fits the radio environment as Calabro does. Kevin just has this way of describing the game of basketball that is not only informative but that is artistic gem. When I think back to memories of Kemp, Payton, and Schrimpt I heard Kevin's voice describing the games.
It is also a good sign that the new Sonics brass is cutting it's ties from the old regime. Granted we might worry that this another sign of the Seattle Supersonics apocalypse, but I don't.
To hearken back to an earlier blog on this site. In order to accomplish a true cultural change you gotta cuts those entrenched into the old ways of doing things. It's like breaking up with a girl, if do the "friends" thing and let hear hang around you never quite complete the disconnect that is needed to full move on. In a sense Locke's departure is just another step in us getting over being dumped by Schultz and Co.
Also, it is now clear at Presti is our leader and we are going to follow is vision, whatever that may be. And considering that Wally Walker set us back a decade as a franchise it's a breath of fresh air to future distance ourselves from any hires, roster moves and business decisions that he ever made.
I'm not as thrilled with the simulcast idea as everyone else is. The nice part of it is we get to hear Kevin Calabro on the radio, which everyone agrees is wonderful - KC is one of the best broadcasters in the business and hearing his voice is a true sign of Seattle hoops.
However, the negative is listening to radio commentary on television. These are two different mediums and there's a reason why very few (if any) NBA teams do a simulcast - it makes the TV broadcast suffer and the TV broadcast is the gasoline that fuels the engine. I'd much rather see the Sonics find a new radio guy rather than opt for the simulcast scenario.
Agree with Nuss. Simulcasts work well in baseball, as the action is slow enough to warrant pauses that work both on the radio and the television. Not so in basketball with the rapid ball movement and mandatory steady stream of dialogue.
The last few years of Chick Hearn simulcasting the Lakers resulted in some of the worst televised sports coverage ever produced.
Nuss makes a good point on tv/radio calls for different rap but I think folks would take KC tv rap on radio.
Anyone would suffer in comparison to KC, who is a god among sports announcers. I thought Locke was solid but not especially compelling, and his work outside the booth has always been good. Mostly however I am impressed with his class. In an increasingly me-first league (and society), it's refreshing to see someone take the high road under what are very disappointing personal circumstances.
Locke can run circles around any Times or PI basketball writer. His detailed analysis of NBA basketball is approaching ESPN Senior editor John Clayton's. In addition, he has a solid understanding of the X's and .O's, and the physics of the basketball. In this regard, he is superior to Clayton. I hope Locke get's a great gig as an editor someday.
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