T-Gray will just go back to his job as an a & r for universal music group.. I believe this is a good move for the rox
I thought it was Mario Nani. Allright houston, on your feet and prepare for rockets....liftoff... this is clutch city and here are the starting for your houston rockets.
Mario Nani followed up from 1996 due to Matt Thomas going back to U of H. Also a footnote.....Matt Thomas was also the PA guy for the Dream Team in the Atlanta Olympic Games of 1996.
I doubt it.....TGray will most likely end up in a tag team role with Stevenson so that Stevenson's voice won't tire late into the season. There's alot of effort and strain on the voice box that goes into the way Stevenson does his presentations. Ordinary folks like us would loose our voices by halftime. Plus, I believe T-Gray handled the in-game music....hence the reason for so much rap/hip-hop instrumentals during games. The Rockets were the first to really delve into rap instrumentals for in-game music like this when T-Gray hit the scene in '03 and alot of players league-wide liked it....and why wouldnt they, right? Now arena's all over the NBA (like Memphis) are following suit. I'll have to do some research but IIRC, San Antonio has even hired a local disc jockey to handle there in-game music, which is exactly what the Rockets did with TGray. I believe Gray will take on a greater responsibility of the handling of in-game music.....
Found an old article on John Paul Stevenson on the Grizzlies website..... (http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/feature-060601-stevenson.html) John Paul Stevenson Turns Off the Microphone He arrived in Memphis in July 2001, not knowing anyone in his new city. Five years later, he’s set to leave having become one if it’s most recognizable ambassadors. As was announced during the playoffs, Grizzlies Public Address Announcer John Paul Stevenson is moving to Houston to be closer to his family, and where he’ll also start his own freelance commercial voiceover business. Anyone who’s attended a Grizzlies game since the team moved to Memphis is familiar with him. His deep, booming voice projected from the arena’s speakers became as much a fixture of attending a Grizzlies game as a Pau Gasol dunk or a Mike Miller three-pointer. In his five years, he’s seen the team go from winning 23 games, to making three straight playoff appearances. He’s seen 46 players suit up for the Grizzlies and four head coaches roam the sidelines during 231 preseason, regular season and playoff games in two arenas. He’s had to say the names of everyone from Joe Smith to Arvydas Macijauskas. But through everything, he remained a constant at courtside and in the ears of the fans at The Pyramid, and then FedExForum. And as much as Grizzlies fans will miss him, Stevenson will miss them even more. “When I look back on this, if I never get to do anything like this again it’ll be the most amazing five years of my professional career,” he said. “It was very, very special. I’m so incredibly lucky to have been part of something so special.” He considers himself so lucky that even the loquacious man whose living is made by speaking is rendered momentarily mute when asked to name some of the highlights of his tenure at the microphone. “There’s a bunch of highlights, the first game in Memphis was fun. There’s so many memories that I’ll take away from this…Mike Miller hitting the three at the buzzer against San Antonio last year was probably one of the big highlights. That’s what it’s all about, when the crowd’s into it and he nails one at the buzzer to win, that’s what it’s all about right there.” Getting paid to work NBA games from the best seat in the house was a dream come true for Stevenson. As time went on, he developed a rapport with the players as they came and went from the games right in front of him. “I’m a small West Texas farm boy, and I’ll admit that when I first got the job, I was a little star struck and I was afraid to even say anything to them. But it got to the point where I finally realized they’re just regular people like the rest of us,” said Stevenson. “Shane (Battier)’s a great guy, everybody knows about Shane. Pau (Gasol) is a great guy, Mike Miller’s just great, they’re all just real down-to-earth people. Brian Cardinal’s probably one of the funniest guys I’ve ever met in my life…They all had some really nice things to say when they announced I was leaving. It’s a very, very classy group of guys…Mike Fratello, after Game Four, the first thing he did was walk over to me and shook my hand and said, ‘All the best, good luck’. It’s such a classy organization from top to bottom.” But the friendly rapport he developed with the team was secondary to his primary functions at the games. The P.A. announcer’s main duties are twofold: keep the crowd apprised of critical information throughout the game, such as the foul situations and player substitutions, while also helping entertain fans during timeouts in conjunction with the action on the court. It’s a fast-paced, hectic atmosphere where you work without a safety net, and don’t get a second take. “Whenever I would get home from a game, there was no way I was going straight to sleep. I had to wind down for a little while because you’re just so amped up after a game whether it’s a win or a loss,” said Stevenson. “The energy level you have to put into doing it is amazing. You’re physically and emotionally spent after a game and you have to take an hour or two to wind down.” After five seasons, it will be someone else’s turn to take the microphone at FedExForum. If you think you have what it takes to be the next P.A. announcer, find out how to apply. Of course, before leaving, Stevenson has some words of advice for whoever winds up being his successor. “I think the most important thing is to have fun, when it boils down to it that’s what your job is, is to try and make the game fun. Know that you’re not the reason that people are coming to the game, you are a part of what goes on there,” he said. “You also need to have an open mind, be open to suggestions, don’t be afraid to learn because I’ve learned so much about the game. I know so much more about the game now than I did when I first got the job. Be open to suggestions, and have fun with it, those are the two biggest things.” Stevenson embodied those traits as much as anyone who’s ever worked for the organization. And while he may soon be gone, Grizzlies fans won’t soon forget him.
cool. yeah the video doesn't do much justice but i can imagine him screaming YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING! or TRACYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY MAAAAGRAAAAADDDDYYYY. but damn, that whole stadium at fedex...i feel so bad for them being so pumped but instead getting swept by the dallas douchebags. hmmm i guess i can relate since the stros got swept last year.
This guy was seriously one of my favorites. The way his voice changes from the beginning of someones name to the end is cool. Also, if anyone remembers the voice during the Batman ride (the escape?) at Astroworld, thats what it reminds me of.
So first we take Memphis' top defender and ultimate role player, then we take their ace PA announcer too? That's it, no playoffs for them this year.
Matt Thomas is my old history teacher's son. When the Rockets won the championship he brought the championship ring to class and I got to hold it and try it on. I was awestruck by the size and weight of the ring.
Well, whoever is handling the music, I think they should look for something other than the gayest song in the world to play everytime Rafer scores. I don't care what his nickname is, that song sucks.
