I heard this tonight and it made me sad. Antonio Daniels—the lone non-delusional member of the Oklahoma City Thunder broadcast group is leaving to join the New Orleans Pelicans broadcast team.
I don’t mean this to be insensitive, but with Jim Traber’s very serious medical condition for which he’s been told to stay calm and not froth at the mouth talking about Russell Westbrook…I fear the Thunder coverage will become even weaker in Oklahoma City and even lean more (if possible) to the delusional homer slant the way the Thunder portray themselves to this college market pretending to be major league.
Daniels made my top ten list of the locals either in print or on the radio who talked the Thunder. He was knowledgeable, tough, fair, and even handed.
Behind his exit the market I fear will become even more childish in the manner in which the Thunder are discussed or written about.
My little underground rogue blog may turn out to be minus Mark Rodgers and Dusty D one of the few outlets of non quid pro quo honest Thunder coverage. Who at this point even knows who long Gates Media which own the Daily Oklahoman will continue to stay in the market? Tramel should come over here and blog with me at so.
Can the faces of a pro franchise look more foolish or more childish in the post game pressers?
Can any of us really expect Michael Cage or Little Nick Gallo or Low Energy Royce Young to fill the void created by the exit of Daniels or Traber being told by his doctors to cool it on the air?
I have no idea who the Thunder will hire to replace Daniels, but I’ll be fair in my comments to that person.
Anyway…thank you, Antonio Daniels for being the only reason I’ve watched the Fox Thunder telecasts these past two seasons. Best of luck in the Big Easy.