Mike Barrett and Mike Rice
Mike Barrett and Mike Rice Twitter

Mike and Mike are out. And so is Antonio Harvey.

From today's press release from the Portland Trail Blazers:

Portland Trail Blazers President & CEO Chris McGowan today announced that television play-by-play announcer Mike Barrett; television color analyst Mike Rice; and radio analyst Antonio Harvey will not be on the broadcast team beginning with the upcoming 2016-17 season. No replacements have been hired as yet, though McGowan said a search for successors has already begun. Radio play-by-play voice Brian Wheeler will return for his 19th season, with current plans for him to broadcast games without an analyst on flagship Rip City Radio AM-620 and the Trail Blazers Radio Network.

...

Barrett ends his run with the Trail Blazers after 17 seasons, 13 of which as the lead play-by-play TV broadcaster. Rice, a successful collegiate and high school basketball coach, concludes 26 years with the Trail Blazers organization, including 11 years on-air as television color commentator. A former Trail Blazers player whose pro career spanned 10 years – eight years with six NBA teams and two internationally, Harvey wraps an 11-year run as Portland’s radio analyst.

No concrete reason for the change is given, although McGowan said “After reviewing our entire broadcast operation over the past couple of seasons, I felt it was a good time for us to transition into a new direction,” which could mean literally anything. The Blazers are also looking for another television partner—their contract with Comcast SportsNet Northwest expires next year—so that surely weighs heavily in the decision.

It's the sad end of an era for the Blazers and their fans, many of whom have been listening to Barrett, Rice, and Harvey as long as they've been watching Blazers games. Thank you, gents, and best of luck with everything. Maybe we'll hear your voices somewhere else soon.