September 9, 2003

Portland, Ore. - The Blazers hired Mike Barrett as the club's television play-by-play announcer today. A 12-year Portland radio/television veteran, Barrett is in his fifth season as a member of Blazers Broadcasting and it will be the first season he has handled the play-by-play duties.

"Mike has been an outstanding performer and tireless worker for the Blazers Broadcasting team over the past several seasons," said Blazers vice president of broadcasting Dick Vardanega. "He is someone who possesses all the attributes to be a first-rate NBA play-by-play announcer."

"I'm extremely honored and excited to be taking over the role as TV play-by-play announcer," said Barrett. "Being a native Oregonian, I get the privilege of announcing for the team I grew up watching. The road to this position has kept me very close to home and that's a very rare thing in this business. I've covered the team for more than a decade and I am very thankful for this new opportunity."

Barrett joined the Trail Blazers broadcast team before the 1999-2000 season as the radio studio host, and worked as the television sideline reporter during the team's run to the Western Conference Finals. In the spring of 2000, he became the WNBA Portland Fire's first-ever TV and radio play-by-play broadcaster and continued in that role until the team disbanded.

A native of Albany, Oregon, Barrett graduated from Oregon State University in 1991 and worked at KUIK-AM 1360 in Hillsboro, before becoming Sports Director at KXL-AM 750 in March 1992. He was assigned to the University of Oregon broadcast team in the fall 1993 and spent seven seasons as the sideline reporter during football broadcasts.

During his tenure with the Blazers, Barrett has hosted "Chevy Trail Blazer Home Court," the television pre-game show, the Tony Roma's 5th Quarter radio post-game show on the Blazers Satellite Radio Network and continues to host "Courtside Monday Night" on KXL.