NOTE: We initially said we had an exclusive on this story, but learned later that Jeffrey Flanagan of the KC Star was also working on it. We like his article better...
Posted on Wed, Jun. 18, 2008 UMKC replaces Clinkscale with Steven Davis By JEFFREY FLANAGAN The Kansas City Star WHB�s Danny Clinkscale is out after seven years as the voice of the UMKC Kangaroos. Replacing Clinkscale will be Steven Davis, who currently is the voice of the Royals� Class AA affiliate in Springdale, Ark. Davis is the son of Royals radio announcer Bob Davis, also the voice of the Kansas Jayhawks. Clinkscale said he found out about a month ago from UMKC athletic director Tim Hall that his contract wouldn�t be renewed. �It became apparent to me that (Hall) and I really didn�t see eye to eye on some matters,� Clinkscale said. �It�s my belief that they really wanted someone who was more of a cheerleader. �When you�re the voice of the Roos, obviously you want the team to win. I don�t think that anyone who listened to my broadcasts could have any misunderstanding there. But they (UMKC) may have thought I was too even-handed.� Hall said he doesn�t necessarily want the voice of UMKC to sugarcoat things, but � �What is the definition of cheerleading?� Hall said. �I want every aspect of the program to be positive and want to know that everyone is on board with that, and pro-UMKC. This is nothing against Danny. His reputation speaks for itself. But it�s just not necessarily a fit for us."
Davis, who graduated from Kansas in 2005 with a degree in American studies, worked for three summers as the voice of the Royals� rookie league affiliate in Idaho Falls. Clinkscale�s main career is with WHB, but he said he will definitely miss announcing UMKC games � which will remain on the station through the 2008-09 season. �I�m going to look for other play-by-play opportunities,� he said. �In 25 years of broadcasting, I don�t think I�ve ever gone more than one or two straight years of not being a play-by-play guy in some capacity.� LINK TO ARTICLE: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/jeffrey_flanagan/story/670128.html
Clinkscale not pleased with UMKC decision.
CLINKSCALE NOT HAPPY ABOUT BEING REPLACED ON UMKC BROADCASTS Veteran WHB-810 sports talk show host and announcer Danny Clinkscale has been replaced as the play-by-play announcer for UMKC basketball games by Steven Davis, the son of legendary Kansas City Royals announcer Bob Davis. In a news release (below) UMKC heralded the announcement of Davis being the new voice for the team, but never mentioned who he was replacing or why the change was being made. Clinkscale was not pleased with UMKC's decision. "I loved doing the games and my association with the program and I think my association with WHB helped them," says Clinkscale. "I was told I was not 'on board,' and not enough of a UMKC booster. I couldn't disagree more." "I think he (Athletic Director Tim Hall) has made a mistake, but I always have weighed other play-by-play opportunities, and was doing so again," he notes, adding. "This will just expedite that process."
Steven Davis, the new voice of UMKC basketball.
UMKC PRESS RELEASE (6/18/08)
Steven Davis To Be The New Voice of UMKC Men�s Basketball Kansas City, Mo. -- UMKC Director of Athletics Tim Hall announced today that Steven Davis has been named the new voice of UMKC men�s basketball. Davis, who is the son of long-time Kansas City Royals and Kansas play-by-play announcer Bob Davis, is currently the play-by-play voice for the Royals Double-A affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals professional baseball club, in Springdale, Ark. �Steven is a bright, young talent who has a great future ahead of him,� said Hall. �We are pleased to have him in such a pivotal role as we continue to advance the reputation and reach of UMKC Athletics.� Davis joins the Kangaroos with a wide variety of broadcasting experience, as he�s covered professional, collegiate and high school events early in his career. From 2005-08, Davis served as a commentator for the University of Kansas women�s basketball telecasts on Sunflower Broadband Television, and in the summers of 2005, 2006 and 2007, he was the voice of the Idaho Falls Chukars professional baseball club. The Chukars are a rookie league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Additionally, Davis has an extensive amount of experience in high school athletics, where he has covered football, basketball and track and field for stations such as 580 WIBW radio in Topeka, Kan., Metro Sports television in Kansas City, and KLWN radio in Lawrence, Kan. Off the air, Davis has worked for television production crews for the Royals and the Big 12 Conference. He also assisted the Kansas Jayhawk Football Radio Network from 2002-06, and he served as the P.A. announcer for Kansas volleyball in 2005. During his time as an undergraduate student at KU, Davis was a student manager for four years for the Jayhawk men�s basketball team under head coaches Bill Self and Roy Williams. Davis graduated with honors from Kansas in 2005 with a degree in American studies.
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