Sonics hire radio announcer
Matt Pinto has called games for Clippers, Mavs



By GARY WASHBURN
seattlepi.com
Published: August 14th, 2007

The Sonics filled their vacant radio play-by-play job by hiring Los Angeles Clippers broadcaster Matt Pinto

on Tuesday, giving the club a veteran complement to television voice Kevin Calabro.

Pinto was the Clippers' play-by-play man for the past two seasons and spent eight years with the Dallas Mavericks before then.

Team officials said they sought a veteran voice after removing David Locke after his lone season as broadcaster.

The Sonics will return to KTTH-AM/770 for a second season, although there had been brief speculation they would change their flagship station for the second time in three years.

"When we decided to go in another direction with the play-by-play of our radio broadcast, we knew we wanted to bring in an NBA veteran to fill the play-by-play role," John Croley, the Sonics vice president of facilities, sales and service, said in a statement. "By hiring Matt, we've taken our radio broadcast to a whole new level. We feel confident that by adding Matt to our radio broadcast, along with Kevin Calabro on FSN, we now have one of the best broadcast teams in the NBA."

Pinto spent four years as the radio voice for the Mavericks and four years as the television play-by-play man, and also hosted a talk show on the local ESPN radio affiliate.

"I'm thrilled for the opportunity," Pinto said in a statement. "I've been thoroughly impressed with everyone at the Sonics organization. I'm overjoyed and very excited to contribute to the broadcast in the Seattle marketplace. I'm looking forward to becoming a fixture for Sonics fans and delivering on this great product."

Last season, Calabro took over radio play-by-play duties when Sonics games were not televised and it's uncertain whether that will continue this season.

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P-I reporter Gary Washburn can be reached at 206-448-8006 or garywashburn@seattlepi.com. Follow his Sonics blog at blog.seattlepi.com/sonics.

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