Mark Travis – Founder, Editor
Mark Travis is the founder and editor of B I have been a credentialed sports writer since I was 15. That’s when I started my first website, But The Game Is On, which was dedicated to covering Michael Crabtree’s Texas Tech Red Raiders. After just a few weeks, the idea of sharing all of my thoughts and opinions about sports online had me hooked.
It started in the summer of 2009. Having just found their number thanks to some sleuth-like Googling, I picked up the phone and called the offices of Team USA Basketball. I contacted their media director, Craig Miller, told him my story and asked him if he would allow me to fly out to Las Vegas in July to cover Team USA’s training camp. Having had countless credential requests rejected since then, I realize how lucky I was to have Mr. Miller say he would love to give me a shot, so long as I brought my mom along with me.
Ever since then, my site has grown exponentially. I’ve been invited back to cover Team USA each and every summer, I’ve started writing online sports columns for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, which has allowed me to cover numerous NBA playoff games, including the 2013 and 2014 NBA Finals, in person, as well as a Cowboys game on Thanksgiving. I’ve also joined the Pro Basketball Writers Association, had ESPN’s Jay Bilas mention my longform feature on Marcus Smart during telecast, talked to Kobe Bryant about his legacy, sat next to Larry Bird at a practice, and been shown interviewing Mike Conley during a live ABC telecast.
Olivier Thonard – Graphic Designer
Olivier was an integral part of the creation of Blaugrana Waves. He designed and created graphical elements that I thought were crucial to the concept of the site, helping give us a unique, sleek and fresh look that helps set us apart from other online outlets that cover FC Barcelona. Any time you visit our page and see our new banner and logo, catch our Starting XI graphic before a game or read my player grades and tactical analysis, you are seeing Olivier’s brilliant graphic design work.