Kevin Calabro Age: 64
City: Seattle/Chelan Job: Former play-by-play announcer for Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN Radio TV, TNT, NBA TV Personal: Married to Sue 38 years; four children: Anthony (and wife Stephanie), Nick, Lauren and Joey Hobbies: Hiking, backpacking, paddleboarding, cycling, archery, stargazing, boating, fishing, winter skiing and gardening
SPEED ROUND
Best NBA player you’ve seen play: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem AbdulJabbar, Julius Erving, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James — they’re the best I’ve seen.
The Seattle Times archive photo
Kevin Calabro, the voice of the Sonics on radio and television, broadcasts the team’s exhibition game versus the Sacramento Kings in October 2002.
W
hen the NBA season resumed in late July, absent from the microphone was legendary broadcaster Kevin Calabro. The play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers decided not to return to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic that turned everyday life upside down. In the Pacific Northwest, Calabro’s best known as the Voice of the Seattle SuperSonics from 1987 to 2008. When the team relocated to Oklahoma City, Calabro was offered a chance to move with the team, but he elected to stay in Seattle with his family. Since the NBA shutdown in March,
Calabro and wife Sue have spent a good share of their time at their second home along Lake Chelan’s south shore. Foothills Magazine caught up with Calabro in July while he was at his Lake Chelan home and he agreed to an email interview. How long have you lived in the Lake Chelan area? We bought a house with a community marine in 2006 on the south shore about 12 miles from Chelan. It is a second home. We live in Seattle as well.
All-time Sonics lineup: Gary Payton, Gus Williams, Jack Sikma, Shawn Kemp, Spencer Haywood Favorite season: Love the summers in Chelan! First concert: Adam Smasher and Pure Funk 1970, at the Westlake Beach Club in Indianapolis Cats or dogs? We love dogs and cats equally, but they’re different. Our dog of 15 years, Buck, passed a couple of years ago. Broke our hearts. Favorite dessert: Cherry pie made with cherries from the two trees we have here at the house. September / October 2020
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