Trail Blazers purge most of their longtime broadcaster team

Published June 16, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Longtime Trail Blazers television broadcasters Mike Barrett and Mike Rice will not return to the team next season.

Team President and Chief Executive Officer Chris McGowan announced the changes on Wednesday. The Blazers also let go of radio analyst Antonio Harvey.

Barrett, a native Oregonian, had been with the Blazers for 17 seasons, 13 as the lead play-by-play announcer. Rice spent 11 years of his 26 years with the team as a color commentator. Fans referred to the duo as ''Mike and Mike.''

Harvey was the radio analyst for 11 seasons. His play-by-play partner, Brian Wheeler, will return for his 19th season.

No replacements were named. It is expected that Wheeler will work without an analyst.

McGowan said he felt it was a good time to ''transition into a new direction'' and added that there will be a national search to fill the vacant television positions.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trail-blazers-purge-most-of-their-longtime-broadcaster-team