With a great basketball team comes a great television crew, and that's what we have here at FOX Sports Ohio.
Our team gives the viewer quality, in-depth coverage of the Cleveland Cavaliers and has fun doing it.
Without further ado, let's meet FOX Sports Ohio's starting five!
Jeff Phelps - Host, Cavaliers Live
Jeff Phelps is the host of Cavaliers Live, the Cavaliers pre-game and post-game show. He's also the host of Cavaliers in the Paint and is a co-host on 92.3 The Fan WKRK radio on weekdays. Phelps began his career in sports broadcasting at WAKR-TV-Radio in Akron, Ohio. He then moved on to KJAC-TV in Beaumont, Texas, where he served as Sports Anchor/Reporter for five years. Prior to joining FOX Sports Ohio in 2003, Phelps spent 15 years with WUAB-TV and WOIO-TV in Cleveland. An Emmy award-winner for sports reporting, Phelps was named Ohio Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 1994. He was a 2007 inductee into the Radio/Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame of Ohio. A graduate of Kent State University, Phelps currently resides in Medina, Ohio with his wife Gayle, and their three children.
Campy Russell - Host, Cavaliers Live
Campy Russell is a Cleveland Cavalier legend. The nine-year NBA veteran played for the Cavs from 1974-1980. He was chosen in 1979 as an NBA All-Star at small forward. He also played three-years with the New York Knicks from 1980-1983. Russell led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage during the 1981-82 seasons with 43.9 percent. He was named to the Cavaliers' All-Time team and remains in the Cavs' all-time top ten in eight categories. In 2002, Russell rejoined the Cavaliers as the team's outer market events specialist involving sales, community relations and youth basketball programs. In 2005, he became the Director of Alumni Relations and hosts Cavaliers Live pre- and post-game shows on FOX Sports Ohio. He also continues to champion the organization's Black Heritage Celebration and efforts with the Greater Cleveland Praisefest. He is also the father of four daughters, Allex, Mandisa, Oyin, Saki and one son, Michael II. He also has four grandsons, Grant, Chris, Elijah and Ayden, as well as four granddaughters, Kyndall, Alahjanai, Sierra and Solai.
Fred McLeod - Cavs Play-By-Play
Fred McLeod is back home on FOX Sports Ohio for his 10th season as the play-by-play voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers, teaming up with color analyst Austin Carr. Prior to joining FOX Sports Ohio, McLeod served 22 consecutive seasons as the Pistons cable TV play-by-play voice, nine with FOX Sports Detroit, and 13 with PASS Sports. His 22 years at the time, was the longest tenure of a TV-only announcer with the same NBA team. McLeod began his professional career in 1974 at KQTV in St. Joseph, Mo. and a year later at WSTV in Steubenville, Ohio. The Strongsville native then fulfilled a childhood dream by joining WJW, channel-8 in his hometown of Cleveland, as their weekend sportscaster for four years. He later took a job at KPIX-TV in San Francisco as their weekend sports anchor. Fred is a graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, where he pitched in the NAIA College World Series. McLeod's career includes play-by-play experience of the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, and Detroit Lions, along with numerous national events for Prime Sports. McLeod's wife, Beth, is also a television personality, as the weekend weather forecaster for WOIO, 19 Action News.
Austin Carr - Cavs Color Analyst
Austin Carr will be in his 17th season as the analyst for all Cavaliers games televised on FOX Sports Ohio. Carr played the first nine of ten seasons in the NBA with Cleveland before stints with Washington and Dallas. He ranks as the Cavaliers' All-Time leader in field goals made (4,272) and field goals attempted (9,480). Carr is second on the Cavaliers' All-Time list in scoring (10,265) fourth in games played (635) and fourth in minutes played (19,003). After a standout career with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1971-80, Carr rejoined the Cavaliers in the front office in June 1991 as the Director of Community and Business Development. In 2007, Carr was named to the College Basketball Hall of Fame in honor of his years playing for Notre Dame. In 1970, he dropped 61 points on Ohio University in the NCAA Tournament, a record that still stands. His numbers from that game - field goals made (25) and field goals attempted - are also untouched in the record books. Always active in community affairs, Carr won the Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award after the 1979-80 season, an award which recognizes an NBA player or coach who makes substantial contributions to his community. He continues his charitable activities with the United Black Fund, Youth Opportunities Unlimited, the March of Dimes and the Center for Prevention of Domestic Violence. He is also the spokesperson for the Cavaliers "Read to Achieve" program, in addition to making numerous speaking engagements to youth groups. Carr is the proud parent of Jason and Ashley.
Allie Clifton - Cavs Sideline Reporter
Allie Clifton returns for her third year at FOX Sports Ohio as the Cleveland Cavaliers sideline reporter. She has over 10 years of experience playing competitive basketball and four years of experience as a sideline reporter and sports reporter. Born and raised in Van Wert, Ohio, Clifton was the captain of her high school's first and only Western Buckeye League basketball title in 2006. She continued her basketball success at The University of Toledo, where she was a 4-year letter winner and 3-time co-captain and led her team to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division title in 2010. Clifton also played at Quicken Loans Arena in the MAC Tournament during her four years at Toledo. With a bachelor's degree in Sports Analysis and Communication and a master's in Communications, Clifton has served as sideline reporter for the Toledo Mud Hens of minor league baseball's AAA International League, sports feature reporter for 13 ABC Action News in Toledo, and color analyst and sideline reporter for high school and collegiate basketball, volleyball, and track and field on Buckeye Cable Sports Net in Toledo.
Here's to a great season, Cavalier fans!
