Calabro is beginning his 18th season behind the microphone for Sonics broadcasts. Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

In the time since then, Calabro has seen a lot of training camps and a lot of change. Only three people who were with the Sonics when he arrived in Seattle remain with the team, including Coach Nate McMillan (then a player) and Equipment Manager Marc St. Yves.

Yet, as another October heralds the start of the NBA season once again, Calabro remains excited.

"There are certain elements that are routine, but to me it's always exciting to see the new players come on board and see them break in to the NBA, their teammates rooting for them and being very supporting of them, so that's maybe the best part of the job," Calabro said at Sonics Media Day. "Then, just to see the veterans who you've made friends with over the years, gotten to know these guys, and know that they have high expectations at this time of year … it's exciting. It's always exciting, every year at this time."

Amongst the new additions Calabro and Sonics fans will be watching this season are power forwards Nick Collison and Danny Fortson. Calabro got the opportunity to watch Collison begin his transition to the NBA last season as he watched from the sidelines following surgery on both shoulders. Calabro has also been a Fortson fan from watching him play against the Sonics during his seven-year NBA career.

"Fortson is going to help us a lot, because he's a guy that will send some people on their tail on the court, and we need some interior toughness because our interior defense has not been good, admittedly; our rebounding was last in the NBA," Calabro said. "Those are stats. Anything you can do to improve in those areas is welcome, so I think Fortson is going to be a welcome addition to the club. As will Nick Collison. People were expecting him to shoulder a lot of those responsibilities last year. I don't think having an injury that sends you out for the year can be all bad. I think Nick used it to his advantage, made a lot of observations. He was close with the team, so he's not a stranger, certainly, and he worked his tail off to get ready. I think, even though he's not technically an addition, he will be simply because he'll be ready to play this year.

"I think those are very positive additions to the club at positions where we badly need some help."

Then, there's rookie Robert Swift, the Sonics first-round draft pick this season. All eyes will be on Swift when he gets his opportunity this season, occasionally on the court in games but more likely during practices.

"I didn't mention Robert, just because I don't think he'll initially be a contributor on this club on the floor night in and night out," said Calabro. "He'll obviously be a contributor as part of the group in practices, those type of things, because he's already shown an ability to play with these guys and handle himself well. That was a terrific pickup, because he's going to get bigger - he's already at about 250 - he's going to grow a little bit, he's got a solid lower body and he's got terrific moves, has the ability to use either hand. There's a lot of upside to that. But he's 19 years old, so you've got to really go easy, go slow with him."

While the Sonics welcome newcomers on the court, so too will Calabro off of it. The Sonics move to Fox Sports Net for 71 televised games this season (which will continue to be simulcast on 950 KJR AM), something Calabro feels should help both the broadcast and the team.

"I think they'll be terrific for us, because they're going to give us maximum exposure pre-game, post-game," Calabro said. "They love to do features. They love to tell stories, and that's what we need to do. We need to get the word out about this club because we've got a lot of turnover here in Seattle with the Sonics, and we need to educate our fans as best we can about who we are and what we want to achieve, and they're certainly going to give us a platform to do that."

Calabro was immortalized with his own talking bobblehead two years ago. Marshall Sele/Sonics Photos

As part of the move, Calabro will have a new partner on the air this season in former Sonics guard Craig Ehlo, whose games Calabro once called. Calabro is looking forward to working with Ehlo.

"It's always nice to get somebody on the broadcast that has a different perspective on things," Calabro said. "He's been in the league for 14 years. Nothing came easy to him. He's been on some bad teams, he's been on some very good teams. He's had to work his way on to some NBA rosters. He's achieved a certain level of stardom, as well, in the NBA, being with those really good Cleveland teams that battled Michael Jordan's Chicago teams, particularly during the playoffs. It's nice to get that kind of perspective from him."

Working in a new partner is hardly a new experience for Calabro, who has worked with multiple different analysts during his time in Seattle. Developing an on-air chemistry can only be done with time and experience, but the ability both Calabro and Ehlo bring to the table should help.

"It takes a while," Calabro said of the adjustment process. "It's good that we have the preseason games; we can do some radio games and work some things out and I can figure out what he likes to do, what types of things he enjoys watching out there on the floor. It takes a while. It can be immediate sometimes, or it can take literally a year or a couple of years to get into a groove. I'm hoping it will take a few games rather than a couple of months."

The third member of the FSN broadcast this season is another newcomer, former Seahawks play-by-play announcer Brian Davis, another teammate Calabro is excited to be working with.

"I knew Brian when he got into town, and I personally really enjoyed his play-by-play on the Hawks," said Calabro, who has also done football play-by-play for FSN's Husky replays. "I liked his energy and his command and I think he's going to be a great addition because he's just a pro. He's a good broadcast pro, very solid."

Calabro's tenure with the Sonics has allowed him to inherit Blackburn's role as the voice of the Sonics and one of the faces of the team to the Seattle community. With time, he has reached the legendary status of Blackburn, long-time Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus and the late Pete Gross, the first voice of the Seahawks. It's a position Calabro enjoys.

"It's a great responsibility to have, to be recognized in the community as the Sonics guy," Calabro said. "People will come up to me and say, 'Aren't you that Sonics guy?' That's always fun, because I always wanted to be an announcer and loved the game of basketball and was enthralled by play-by-play and the ability to do it. I never get tired of it. I'm always excited about the opportunities and try not to take it for granted. I'm always pumped up for games."