Ratings for OKC Thunder-Mavericks playoff series up 28 percent over last year's first-round series

Mel Bracht is a copy editor on the presentation desk and also covers sports media. A 1978 graduate of Indiana University, Bracht has been a print journalist for 34 years. He started his career as sports editor of the Rensselaer (Ind.) Republican and Marion (Ind.) Chronicle-Tribune, and joined The Tulsa Tribune as assistant sports editor in 1982. After the Tribune folded in 1992, he served as assistant sports editor on the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal-Gazette.

Bracht joined The Oklahoman in 1994 as a sports copy editor and wrote a weekly sports media column. In 2000, he became a full-time media writer for the features staff. He also has served as a copy editor for the features and Opinion sections and as an editorial writer. He sings on the worship team at Victory Faith Center in Midwest City.