Thunder Games to be Broadcast on Fox Sports Net

Via TheSportsAnimal.com:

In news that comes as no surprise, the Thunder have announced that they will televise their games on Fox Sports Net. Furthermore, in news that comes as total surprise, Fox Sports Net will create a new network, Fox Sports Net Oklahoma, to cater to local interests. This replaces the old network covering Oklahoma, Fox Sports Net Southwest.

During Thunder games, the new network will be labeled as Fox Sports Thunder. It will have pre and post game shows (aptly named Thunder LIVE), along with a weekly magazine show.

Besides Thunder games, the piece says it will show OU, OSU, and "Olympic" events. They say that they'll even have some shows specializing in local sports.

So, what does this mean for you? Is it good news?

Well, first of all, yes, this is fabulous news. If fact, the news probably is all we could ask for. I was kind of hoping that we'd get to our roots and have the games broadcast locally on the CW or Channel 43, but Fox Sports Net is just as good. I have no doubts that it will be much better than Cox would be, as it makes the games available to more customers without NBA League Pass.

The creation of a new network is even better news. If they had attempted to stick us on Fox Sports Southwest, Thunder games would spend a lot of time on FSN+, which people have to pay for. As a longtime Warriors fan who watches games on Fox Sports Net Bay Area, believe me, it's a very bad thing. If you'd look through the comments on several Golden State of Mind game threads, you'd find a bunch of super pissed off fans, who didn't like the fact that they got replaced by Sharks hockey.

But, the question remains. Outside of Thunder stuff, why would you watch this network? I mean, OU and OSU football and basketball are already contracted out, except on rare occasions when the games are on all FSN affiliates. I can tell you right now, there's not going to be much worthwhile. Most of the programs will be cookie cutter national crap that no one watches.

Still, this is a very small complaint, given that we're getting a whole new network and maximum coverage. 65 games will be covered, with over half of them in HD. Absolutely meaningless to HD-less people like me, but I've heard from other fans that non-HD on an HDTV really, really sucks.

Stay tuned for more info from media day as soon as we can bring it to you!

OKluschens Note: This really sucks for Mavericks fans in the state, who will no longer be able to get most of the season without League Pass. Same for anyone else who relied on anything in FSN Southwest. Nevertheless, this is a lot better than just tacking on games to FSN Southwest.

Breaking News: Brian Davis and Grant Long Named Thunder Play-By-Play and Colour TV Commentators

Grant Long Rocking the Shades

Via The Sports Animal Text Alerts:

Brian Davis and Grant Long have been named play-by-play and colour commentators for the TV broadcasts of the Thunder.

It says to tune into the Sports Animal, but they're talking about the Rider Cup (ugh.)

I've done a quick search, and it says that both are former basketball players.


Brian Davis was a member of the 1991 and 1992 back to back Duke national championship teams. He was selected 48th overall in the 1992 NBA Draft. For one season, he went to Europe to play with Gheorghe Muresan on Elan Vernais Pau-Orthez. The next season, he had an average season with the Timberwolves before dropping out of basketball altogether. He co-owns a company developing a upscale community in Durham, North Carolina called "West Village". The other owners are none other than Christian Laettner and some Duke graduate named Tom Niemann, and the company is called "Blue Devil Ventures". They have donated 2 millions to Dukes basketball program (as if they needed it) and have reportedly tried to buy the Memphis Grizzlies and D.C. United. Why he would want to start doing Thunder play-by-play is anyones guess. He seems like a Duke guy more than anything.

Grant Long is a former journeyman Power Forward for the Heat, Hawks, Pistons, Grizzlies, and Celtics who was known for his defense and rebounding. Now that I think about it, I sort of remember him....but not really. What would make him come to Oklahoma City to do broadcasts?

Still, from the look of that photo, he has some Slammin' shades.

Brian Grant was just on the Sports Animal.

Basically, he was with FSN in the Pacific Northwest. He's also done some Pac 10 basketball and football, along with some Chicago Fire play-by-play. He says he's really excited to be here, and excited about how much fun he'll have. Grant Long got on the phone, and professed that he grew up in a small town, so he's not worried about moving from a big city to Oklahoma City.

Well, I can't say that I'm not a little disappointed. I'm sure these guys are great announcers, but I would've preferred if we could've had someone local who's been doing if for years, like a Bob Barry Sr. and Al Eschbach combination. It will take some getting used to, but hopefully these guys will prove to be great announcers. And please, please don't let them be massive homers. Un-biased commentary is golden (shoutout to Bob Fitzgerald and Jim Barnett, Warriors announcers).

Apparently, earlier everybody thought that Brent Price was getting the job. That would have been extremely cool, especially since Mark Price (his brother) was my favourite basketball player pre-Adonal Foyle.

Reguardless, a big welcome to Brian Davis and Grant Long!

EDIT: This is the WRONG Brian Davis. He is actually an old white guy who used to fill in on SuperSonics broadcasts. Thanks to Joe at thunderguru.com for the correction.