Mike Barrett (sportscaster)

[2] He grew up as a fan of the only professional major league team in his home state of Oregon, the Portland Trail Blazers, regularly attending games with his father.

[3] After graduating from Oregon State University, Barrett went to work for radio station KUIK-AM 1360 in Hillsboro calling high school basketball games.

[3] While at KXL Barrett anchored the station's morning and afternoon sportscasts as well as working as a sideline reporter for University of Oregon football broadcasts.

[3] The next year, he went to work as a radio and television play-by-play announcer for the WNBA's Portland Fire, a role which he continued until the team disbanded in 2003.

[3] Barrett was named the play-by-play announcer for the Trail Blazers for the 2003–04 season, working for the first two years next to Steve "Snapper" Jones.

[3] From the 2005–06 season he was joined by analyst Mike Rice on Blazers' telecasts, an assignment which often caused him to assume the role of straight man for his loquacious and unrestrained broadcast partner.

"[2] In addition to calling the play-by-play, Barrett and Rice frequently appeared on a weekly radio and television show, Trail Blazers Courtside.

Barrett also wrote voluminously for his blog on the Blazers' website, offering game reviews and a behind-the-scenes perspective on the team.