Here's a transcript of what Kevin Calabro had to say Monday about being named the broadcast voice for Seattle Sounders FC's television broadcast package (as outlined in the post below):

“It’s good to be here. Thanks very much for coming out and spending time with us this afternoon. We obviously embark on I think a very exciting phase now in Seattle sports with the Sounders coming to town and joining the MLS. Obviously Adrian (Hanauer) has done a terrific job with the Sounders as it exists today, but we’ll obviously take it to a whole new and exciting level. And I look forward to working with all the great folks from KING, and Ray (Heacox) thank you very much. Tod thank you very much for reaching out. And Adrian, you’re going to get tired of seeing me and hearing from me, because I was telling Adrian earlier I’m going to ask him every, crazy, basic, rudimentary question about the game that I can possibly think of, so that we can deliver the best possible broadcast when we got on the air next spring. And we hope to convey all of the excitement, and all the passion that the game will present to the fans here in Seattle. We have a marvelous facility next door in which to play. We have dedicated ownership, and we have very, very creative management certainly, and a great broadcast partner. This couldn’t have worked out any better for me, personally, and for my family, the ability to stay here in Seattle and help embark on a new journey. I’m obviously very excited and enthused about it, and can’t wait to get to work.”

(On following the Sounders FC before the Sonics fate…) “I was following the developments certainly. We knew this was a possibility for the Sonics certainly. If you followed that at all, this was one of the many scenarios that could’ve played out. I’ve always been interested in the MLS, particularly when the MLS went out and signed Beckham and there of course was a great deal written and said about him. The fact that it’s in major markets certainly interested me as well. My kids have grown up and played soccer since they’ve been tiny. I live near Marymoor Park, and I see kids and adults, men, women, co-ed teams, every nationality down there playing 24 hours-a-day. It was pretty evident to me that it was a sport that I needed to examine and take a look at. And if I could get involved, so be it. So things sometimes work for a reason, so here I am.”

(On calling games at Marymoor of the kids playing…) “That’s probably not a bad idea Tony (Ventrella). I think basketball and soccer are very closely alike. It’s a game certainly of angles. It’s a game of passing. It’s a game of teamwork. The ball moves most efficiently, Adrian (Hanauer), when it’s going from point-to-point rather than one individual dribbling the ball, whether it be on the basketball court, or on the field or on the pitch. I think there are a lot of similarities in the game. I remember Hakeem Olajuwon talking a great deal about his experience with soccer growing up in Nigeria and how it really helped with the footwork. And of course, he developed a move called the ‘dream shake’, and was a tremendous offensive player in his days at Houston. He was the first NBA player I can ever recall talking about that. And then we had the infusion of the European players and the Canadian players, and Steve Nash swears by the game of soccer. He played a lot of it in Victorian, his brothers played up there, and his father coached for many years. So, I think there is a lot of commonality between the two games.”

(On idea of who the color analyst will be…) “We don’t. I know there are a lot of qualified people out there, so we’ll all get together and talk to a number of people, and see who is out there in the community. There is a great tradition of soccer here in the community certainly, and hope to find somebody that will bring that to the air.”

(On if he has a ‘signature goal call’ yet…) “I haven’t. I got a year to work on it though. That’s the good news.”

(On how to prepare for next year…) “I think it’s just the homework. It’s getting to know the athletes. It’s getting to know the nuances of the game, the little things that really mean a lot to the average fan. That’s kind of the approach I’m going to take is let’s reach out to the average fan, to the casual soccer fan, and let’s try to educate them, as well as being educated on the air. I think that will be the significance of having a color announcer that can bring those nuances to the game and educate people. That’s what we hope to do, as much homework as we possibly can, and then you put the passion into it.”

(On time period between Sonics leaving and decision to take Sounders FC role…) “It did not take long. We had been talking about possibilities. I guess it was back in June, early June, that those were certainly options. I was shocked like everybody else to see the Sonics move on. It hurts. Still hurts a great deal. As I said, I don’t think the full weight of that will hit until that basketball goes up on that opening night in the NBA. I think that’s when it will really hit. But, you have to move on. There are only so many things you have control over in your life, and this was one thing that I thought I could really get a hold of, and put myself into. That’s what you do. You keep moving on. You hold your head up, and get your shoulders back and march on. But you know, as one team obviously moves on to another venue, another city, another one is here on the horizon. And this is going to be exciting stuff. You got well qualified people, great soccer people, dedicated broadcast partners, as I say, very imaginative front office people, and an owner with a great deal of resources and imagination himself with a state-of-the-art facility and a great, great city. This is a fabulous city. So, why shouldn’t it work? It will work, and I think the league will work.”

(On contract expiration with Sonics…) “My deal was up. My contract comes to an end at the end of September. So, no, there really wasn’t a whole lot to talk about to be honest with you.”

Seattle Sounders FC got what it wanted out of their first television broadcast package: consistency. Every game that isn't part of the MLS national package will be shown on KONG-6/16 or KING-5.

And they may have gotten even more by landing longtime Sonics broadcaster Kevin Calabro as the play-by-play announcer.

The multi-year broadcast package was announced today by the club.

Here's the full release from the Sounders FC Web site.

Seattle Sounders FC has called a press conference for this afternoon when they are expected to announce the television broadcast package for their inaugural season.

We'll pop back in as soon as it's announced.

Tacoma, Vancouver, San Fernando Valley and Fresno will play out for the right to advance out of the PDL Northwest/Southwest playoffs next weekend.

All games will be played in Fresno, Calif.

Details should be coming from the USL and Tide web sites.