Bellator announced a new three-man booth featuring announcers Mike Goldberg and Mauro Ranallo alongside analyst Jimmy Smith beginning with its event on June 24 at MSG headlined by Chael Sonnen-Wanderlei Silva. CBSSPORTS.com's Brian Campbell noted Bellator broadcaster Sean Grande, who also serves as the radio voice of the Celtics, "stepped down after two years in order to spend more time with his family after Bellator's schedule increased" this year. Goldberg "saw his nearly 20-year run as the voice of UFC broadcasts come to an abrupt end in January." Ranallo, the voice of Showtime Championship Boxing, "recently cut ties with WWE after a 16-month run but has extensive MMA experience calling fights for Pride, Strikeforce and Elite XC, as well as Glory Kickboxing" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/13). Grande "indicated that he was open to an eventual return" to MMA if "circumstances permitted" (MMAWEEKLY.com, 6/12).
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Shumate spent the last five years as IMG Dir of
Audio Operations before coming to Duke |
DEVILS' ARCADE: In North Carolina, Jonas Pope IV noted David Shumate, Duke's new play-by-play voice for football and men's basketball for its Blue Devil IMG Sports Network, takes over for the legendary Bob Harris, who had been "involved with Duke athletics longer than Mike Krzyzewski." One of Shumate’s first stops on campus after a sitdown with Duke AD Kevin White "was a visit" with Krzyzewski and football coach David Cutcliffe. Shumate spent the last five years as IMG Dir of Audio Operations. He will also hold the title of Duke Dir of Broadcasting (Durham HERALD-SUN, 6/13).
HE'S GOT TALENT: In Detroit, Tony Paul noted FS Detroit broadcaster Justin White "won an Emmy over the weekend during the Michigan chapter ceremonies at MotorCity Casino." The Emmy "came at a crossroads for White, who announced June 1 that he was leaving FSD after nearly 10 years." White said it was his decision to leave, but he "wasn’t left with much of a choice” (DETROIT NEWS, 6/13).
HEAVY COURSE LOAD: In Detroit, Mark Snyder noted the Univ. of Michigan football's weekly radio show "will have a new host this fall." WXYZ-ABC sports anchor Brad Galli "takes over for longtime host Jim Brandstatter," who "made the decision to step away due to his workload" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/13).
