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Beavers broadcaster Burk to Expos, Neyer joins TV broadcast team

June 21, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - During the course of a 144-game Triple-A Baseball season, a deep bench is vital to any team's success--both on the field, and off.

With today's announcement that Portland Beavers radio broadcaster Rich Burk will be joining the Montreal Expos broadcast team for 10 games in early July in Puerto Rico, the Beavers announced today a series of on-air talent additions and adjustments for their upcoming radio and television broadcasts.

Namely, ESPN.com senior writer Rob Neyer has signed on to provide color commentary for the Beavers' recently announced TV broadcast package, which begins Thursday, June 24, as the Beavers play host to the Sacramento River Cats in the first of six games to be aired on Comcast Cable Channel 14 in parts of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Neyer, a noted baseball author of four books, recently entered his ninth season with ESPN.com and is featured in a weekly spot on ESPNews and as a regular guest with host Bob Valvano on ESPN Radio. Neyer, a Portland resident, has been a frequent guest analyst on several Beavers radio broadcasts in the past.

Neyer joins Burk on the television production.

"I'm thrilled to be working with Rich Burk, the most prepared play-by-play broadcaster I've ever known, at any level," said Neyer.

A veteran with 10 years of professional baseball play-by-play duty, Burk will have the opportunity to call his first regular-season major league action when he joins Expos broadcaster Elliott Price on TEAM 990 All-Sports Radio for Montreal's 10-game "homestand" at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, P.R., July 2-11.

Burk will do two innings of play-by-play during each game, providing color commentary and pre- and post-game show analysis the remainder of each contest.

Burk, who has been with the Beavers since their inaugural 2001 season, called two major league spring training games at the Peoria Sports Complex in 2003, but his involvement with the Expos will represent his first regular-season experience in the big leagues.

"Obviously, this is a great opportunity for me," said Burk. "I owe a lot to TEAM 990 and Elliott Price for the chance to get some regular-season major league work."

In Burk's absence, the Beavers are calling upon Oregon State University broadcaster Mike Parker to call the action for 11 games on KKAD AM-1550.

Parker, a past recipient of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association's Oregon Broadcaster of the Year award, serves as the radio voice for the OSU Beavers in the sports of football, men's basketball, and baseball. He also hosts the weekly Beaver Sports Talk program, serves as the master of ceremonies at various events, and is employed at KEJO radio in Albany, Ore.

The 1982 University of Oregon graduate has also been employed by KEX and KFXX radio stations in Portland, served as the play-by-play announcer for the Portland Beavers and Eugene Emeralds baseball teams, and called Oregon women's basketball games.

During the team's six television broadcasts when Burk moves to his TV role, PGE Park public address announcer Mike Stone will assume the play-by-play duties on KKAD. Stone, the PA voice at PGE Park since the 2001 season, is a former University of Oregon football and basketball play-by-play broadcaster and served as the radio voice of the Eugene Emeralds from 1973-79.

In addition to his duties at PGE Park, Stone is an editor for Sportspages.com.



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 21, 2004


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