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Thunder Expands Broadcast Family With Veteran Talent


Oklahoma City, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 – Veteran NBA announcer Tom Werme and former University of Oklahoma basketball player Elissa Walker Campbell will join the Thunder broadcast team of Brian Davis, Grant Long and Matt Pinto this season.

“Bringing Tom and Elissa to the team is going to enhance our broadcasts,” said Thunder Senior Vice President and Executive Producer Ken Adelson. “They each bring a unique perspective to the game, creating a better viewing experience for our fans.”

Werme will serve as host and sideline reporter for all Wednesday night Thunder games, both at home and on the road, on KSBI, Thunder TV. He debuts on Thunder broadcasts at the season opener in the Ford Center on Oct. 28 vs. the Sacramento Kings. Werme brings 18 years of play-by-play experience to the Thunder, and currently serves as a play-by-play announcer with Fox Sports South, the Big Ten Network, Raycom Sports and college sporting events.

“I’m very excited to be back in the NBA, especially with an organization and team that is young and fresh with a bright future,” Werme said. “Oklahoma City has shown that it’s a great NBA market, and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”

Walker Campbell will handle hosting and sideline reporting duties for a majority of the Thunder home games on Fox Sports Oklahoma. She will debut with the Thunder on Sunday, Nov. 1 vs. the Portland Trail Blazers and Tuesday, Nov. 3 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. Walker Campbell is a Great Falls, Mont. native, and was recruited to play basketball at the University of Oklahoma where she played from 1989-1992. She began her broadcasting career as a color commentator for the Sooner Women’s Basketball Radio Network. From 1995-2001, she served as a basketball game analyst and sideline reporter for Fox Sports Net, covering the ACC, Big 12, Conference USA, PAC 10 and Southeastern conferences. She currently hosts her own regionally syndicated radio show “The Big E Sports Show” , in seven markets in the U.S.

“I’m a long-time NBA enthusiast, and I’m fascinated with the players and the teams in the NBA,” Walker Campbell said. “This is the highlight of my broadcasting career. It’s always been a goal of mine to cover the NBA and to report on such premiere athletes. The opportunity to work with such a great organization along side some of the best broadcasters in the business is tremendous, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Mike Steely from the Sports Animal in Oklahoma City has also been added to the broadcast team as well. Steely will serve as host of the weekly television show, Air Thunder. Steely will also provide Air Thunder previews on game broadcasts. Air Thunder returns Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. on WWLS, The Sports Animal, the Thunder’s flagship radio station, and on KSBI Thunder TV. The show will re-air on Oct. 30 on Fox Sports Oklahoma. Air Thunder moves to a new and unique format this year as Steely will host a lively, weekly discussion about all things Thunder basketball. Steely and Thunder personalities Brian Davis, Grant Long, Matt Pinto and Thunder Basketball writer Chris Silva will take an in-depth look at the Thunder, both on and off the court. There will also be special appearances by Thunder basketball staff, including players and coaches throughout the year.

This season, the Thunder will broadcast all 82 regular season games in high definition (HD). All games will be carried on either FOX Sports Oklahoma (OKC COX Ch. 37 – HD Ch. 722) or Thunder TV/KSBI (OKC COX Ch. 15 – HD Ch. 715). The Thunder is one of only ten NBA teams to broadcast all 82 games in HD.

The Thunder will also broadcast three remaining preseason games on KSBI, Thunder TV, including Monday, Oct.

12 vs. the Phoenix Suns from the Ford Center, Wednesday, Oct. 14 vs. the Miami Heat from the BOK Center in Tulsa, and
Tuesday, Oct. 20 vs. the San Antonio Spurs from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. All Thunder preseason games
can be heard on the Thunder Radio Network, led by flagship station WWLS, the Sports Animal 98.1 FM and 640 AM.

THUNDER NEWS:
• The Thunder Girls will be holding an Open Practice for fans in front of the Macy’s store in Quail Springs Mall this
Saturday, Oct. 10 from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
• Single game tickets for the first half of the season up to and including the Jan. 16 game against the Miami Heat are
on sale now. A number of seats at all price levels remain for marquee matchups including the season opener
against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 28, the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 3, and the only visit by the Los Angeles
Clippers on Nov. 15. Single-game tickets start as low as $10. Similar to last year, the Thunder will hold back
approximately 200 tickets for walkup sales on game day.


Thunder Media contact:
Dan Mahoney (405) 208-4634, dmahoney@thunder-nba.com
Tom Savage (405) 208-4608, tsavage@thunder-nba.com
Vicki Guerra (405) 208-4616, vguerra@thunder-nba.com
Follow the Thunder on Twitter @okcthunder

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