About this episode
Feliks Banel’s guest on this BONUS ENCORE EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Bob Blackburn, Jr., son of legendary "Voice of the Sonics" Bob Blackburn.
The NBA Board of Governors voted Wednesday, March 25, 2026 to “explore” expanding the league to Las Vegas and Seattle. Explore? Really? EX-PLORE?!?! The original Sonics left Seattle in 2008 and became the OKC Thunder.
Anyhow, despite the NBA's goofy word choice, this seemed like the perfect occasion to revisit one of our most popular shows ever: when we marked the centenary of the late Bob Blackburn back in October 2024 with help from his son.
The elder Blackburn was born in California on October 14, 1924, and became one of the most beloved broadcasters in Pacific Northwest history. Bob, Jr. shared memories on the eve of what would have been his father’s 100th birthday, and played highlights from a treasure trove of vintage audio from his father's broadcasts of Portland Buckaroos hockey, Portland Beavers baseball, OSU football and, of course, the Seattle Supersonics (including a postgame interview from 1971 with Wilt Chamberlain).
This LIVE broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY was originally presented at 8pm Pacific Daylight Time on Sunday, October 13, 2024 via SPACE 101.1 FM and streaming live via www.space101fm.org from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.
CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.
