Interviews: Stephanie Ready | Eric Collins | Dell Curry
CHARLOTTE (Aug. 27, 2015) – FOX Sports Southeast, entering its eighth year as the Charlotte Hornets regional television partner, announced today it will have a three-person telecast team for the Hornets upcoming 2015-16 regular season. Broadcasting veteran Eric Collins joins the FOX Sports Southeast telecast team as the new Hornets play-by-play announcer. He will be partnered with Stephanie Ready,who will become the first full-time female NBA game analyst and former Hornets standout Dell Curry, who returns to FOX Sports Southeast as a game analyst.
Long-time announcer Collins joins the network following time with FOX Sports and FOX Sports 1 as a play-by-play announcer for Big East college basketball, college football and Major League Baseball. He has also called games for ABC Sports, the Big Ten Network, ESPN, NBC Sports and served as an in-game reporter for the Chicago Bulls on FOX Sports Net Chicago.
“I couldn't possibly be more excited to return to the NBA under the absolute best of circumstances,” said Collins. “I’m thrilled to work with Dell and Stephanie covering an organization on the rise. This is going to be special.”
Ready will be entering her 12th season with the Hornets telecasts. She was previously the host of Hornets LIVE! and an in-game sideline reporter. Prior to her broadcasting career, Ready was an assistant coach in the WNBA and the NBA D-League, making her the first woman to coach a men's professional sports team. Ready also spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the men's basketball program at Coppin State University, becoming the first female to hold the position of full-time recruiting assistant on an NCAA Division I men's basketball staff.
“I’ve had a love affair with the game of basketball for as long as I can remember, both as a player and a coach. I’m honored and excited to be able to share my passion for this sport with our audience,” said Ready. “FOX Sports and the Hornets have always taken pride in being innovative and forward-thinking. I’m extremely proud to be a part of history.”
Curry returns to FOX Sports Southeast for his seventh season as game analyst. A member of the original Hornets team in 1988-89, Curry is the all-time leader in scoring and games played for the franchise. In 2015, he was named a Hornets Ambassador and Special Projects Advisor.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the new Hornets announce team on FOX Sports Southeast alongside Eric and Stephanie,” said Curry. “Eric is a seasoned pro behind the mic and with our combined experience on the court, Stephanie and I will provide fans with insightful analysis to complement Eric’s play-by-play.”
The Hornets LIVE! pregame and postgame show will return this season with Collins, Curry and Ready at the desk. The show will continue to provide viewers with expert analysis, exclusive interviews, and special features for every telecast.
“With national sports broadcaster Eric Collins making his debut as the Hornets play-by-play announcer, Stephanie Ready moving to the broadcast booth with her unique X’s and O’s insight and Hornets all-time leading scorer Dell Curry returning with his player perspective, this will be a milestone season in Hornets television coverage,” said Jeff Genthner, senior vice president and general manager, FOX Sports Southeast. “We could not be more proud of making history with our local NBA telecasts right here in Charlotte.”
“We are excited to welcome Eric to the Hornets and the Charlotte community,” said Hornets President & COO Fred Whitfield. “He brings experience, versatility and a strong play-by-play call to our broadcasts. Our re-vamped Hornets telecast with a three-person booth of Eric, Dell and Stephanie will provide our viewers with even more insight, knowledge and expertise. We are proud to have two talented basketball analysts in Dell, a former player, and Stephanie, a former coach, and be able to utilize their collective strengths to benefit our fans.”
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About FOX Sports SoutheastThe FOX Sports regional networks serving the Southeast – FOX Sports Southeast, FOX Sports South, FOX Sports Tennessee and FOX Sports Carolinas – collectively reach more than 13 million households in seven states across the Southeast. They are the television home of the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Dream, Atlanta Hawks, Carolina Hurricanes, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Nashville Predators, Cincinnati Reds, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, and St. Louis Cardinals, as well as the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East, Conference USA and the Big 12 Conference. Combined, the networks televise more than 1,400 live local events each year. For more information, please visit FOXSportsSouth.com, FOXSportsTennessee.com, and FOXSportsCarolinas.com.
About The Charlotte HornetsHornets Sports & Entertainment owns the Charlotte Hornets and operates Charlotte’s Time Warner Cable Arena. The Charlotte Hornets are a member of the NBA’s Southeast Division. Owned by NBA Legend Michael Jordan, the Hornets organization strives to deliver a relentless attack on the court, an unmatched experience in the stands and a positive impact throughout the community. The name of the city’s original NBA team from 1988-2002, the Hornets moniker returned to Charlotte in May 2014, uniting the rich history of NBA basketball in the Carolinas. Time Warner Cable Arena is the premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas, hosting over 150 sporting events, concerts and family shows annually. For more information, please visit hornets.com or timewarnercablearena.com.