Locke: Storm Fans to Hear ’A’ Team

RELATED CONTENT

Storm Unveils New Broadcast Partner and Talent Storm Q&A: Adia Barnes Storm News Archive

Today, the Seattle Storm announced the new broadcast team of Alan Horton and Adia Barnes. The “A” team has arrived in Seattle.

On a personal note, it is a strange day to not see my name affiliated with my beloved Storm as the radio announcer. After seven fulfilling, heart-racing years with the team, six with the wonderful Elise Woodward, I will move into the crowd to yell, cheer and heckle (the refs, of course) with the rest of you.

Also from a personal level, it is an incredibly exciting day for the Storm. As program director of Seattle Storm Radio, I was at the forefront in the hiring process of the “A” team.

You are going to love Alan and Adia.

You know Adia well, so let me tell you about Alan. I received more than 100 applications for the Storm play-by-play job and he was our unquestioned first choice.

On a gorgeous Seattle afternoon, I was waiting in line for the Bremerton Ferry with my front seat filled with resume CDs of prospective announcers. Plop one in the CD player and pull it out, then plop another in and pull it out, and then all of a sudden I heard Alan. I heard this voice, with a great calmness, a succinct delivery, comprehensive description and an ability to tell me what was important.

A scan of his resume showed play-by-play at every level, from Major League Baseball to NCAA Division I in both basketball and baseball. When I dug a little deeper, I found a guy who had battled hard to get a break. Moreover, the recommendations he received were out of this world.

As the CD was playing I picked up the phone and called Alan at his house in San Diego.

“Is Alan there?”

“This is,” he said.

“Hey, I’m David Locke. I am listening to you and you are good. Tell me about yourself.”

I figured that would fluster most people. Instead, a bemused Alan held himself together and started the process that ended with him accepting the job.

When Alan was chosen, the key members of the organization (that doesn’t include me) all sat in one room and listened to the finalists. Alan was the unanimous choice. We were all very excited to have him as a part of the organization.

For the past five months, Alan has been in Seattle as the executive director of the Sonics Radio Broadcast. Let me tell you, this guy is gold. His dedication to the product, his attention to detail and the steadiness he brings to the broadcast is world class.

On the day we hired him I was 99 percent sure he was the right guy for the Storm fans. Today I can tell you I don’t have a single doubt in my mind that Alan will be a stalwart inside the Storm community.

You all know Adia, but I have to share with you the work Adia has put in to rejoin the Storm family.

When the job became open Adia called and called and called from all places, at all times and with one overriding question each time: What do I have to do to get this job?

She got herself hired by NBA-TV calling the FIBA World Championships last fall. She was terrific. I eagerly tuned in to hear how she would do in her first big-time broadcast. She was right on the money. Adia brings a perspective that very few women can bring to the broadcast. She has played in the WNBA. She played oversees with many of the current players. She understands the life of a player. She has won a championship. Yes, she has won a championship !!!!!! Therefore, she comprehends the uniqueness of that type of team. As a player, she has been a starter, a role player and at times out of the rotation. She has a perspective on what is being asked out of each player on the floor. Most importantly, she knows what the Storm means to Seattle and what the Storm fans mean to the team.

And, of course, to know Adia is to love Adia, as any Storm fan will tell you.

In closing, it has been a highlight in my life to team with Elise and bring you Storm basketball over the past seven seasons. From the high-energy, scoring-impaired days of the early years to championship-caliber performances of the past years, it has been a blast.

Thanks to all of you who made it great, especially my partner on the broadcasts. Now I ask you to welcome into and back into the Storm family, the Storm “A” team, Alan Horton and Adia Barnes.

See you at the Key rooting on the Storm.