Tuesday, February 07, 2006

The Big News

So, here's the headline:
New BattleWings Broadcaster
27 Jan 2006
A longtime local television and radio sports host takes over behind the BattleWings' game microphone.

Not that anyone would actually care, because it's not a big deal in the short run: My pals at the (Shreveport) Times were kind enough to publish an edited version of this in the Sunday paper. People have been congratulating me for days. However, most think I've joined the team full-time. It's 18 Saturdays out of my life, with an opportunity to travel to exotic locales like Oklahoma City and the Rio Grande Valley. I'm grateful that my full-time employers, Willis-Knighton Health System, are allowing me to do it. Here's the raw release:


January 27, 2006 (Bossier City, LA) The Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings will have a new radio voice for the upcoming season. Veteran Louisiana sportscaster Darrell Rebouche will handle play-by-play duties for the six-year-old AF2 team’s games in 2006.“Darrell is a longtime friend and a professional broadcaster in the truest sense of the word,” said Dan Newman, BattleWings’ owner. “Local sports fans have seen and heard Darrell for many years. I’m thrilled to have him as part of our family.”“This is shaping up to be a breakout year for the ‘Wings,” Rebouche said. “Coach John Fourcade brings a long track record of success and a new level of credibility to the team. His name recognition and his history of coaching winners at the highest level of arena football are impressive.”Rebouche spent more than 25 years as a television and radio sportscaster in Shreveport and Bossier City. For two years, he was Managing Editor at KTAL-TV (NBC in Shreveport) before joining the administrative team at Willis-Knighton Health System in 2005. Willis-Knighton is the exclusive sports medicine provider for the BattleWings. During his broadcasting career, Rebouche covered sports at the highest levels, including the Dallas Cowboys, the New Orleans Saints, and LSU football. He has covered Super Bowls and major bowl games, the NCAA basketball tournament, as well as countless local and regional events. His play-by-play experience includes Southland Conference football television. For many years, he hosted a popular radio sports talk show, “Sports Day with Darrell Rebouche.” He also provided daily morning sportscasts for three Clear Channel stations in Shreveport. He contributes features and sports columns to City Lights Magazine. “Darrell knows sports, but more importantly, he knows sports in Shreveport-Bossier. I’m thrilled to have him as part of our family,” Newman stated.“I am excited through this agreement to have an opportunity to be part of two outstanding organizations that are working together,” Rebouche said. “This is a chance to use the skills I have gained over the years in sports reporting and analysis. I am grateful to Dan Newman and to (Willis-Knighton President and CEO) Jim Elrod for this chance.” The BattleWings enter their sixth season in Bossier-Shreveport – the only professional football team to ever last five years in this market. The Wings host Central Valley at the CenturyTel Center in their home opener Saturday, April 8th. Negotiations are underway to play either a preseason game with the Tulsa Talons in the New Orleans Arena, normally home to the New Orleans Voodoo – the Arena Football Team owned by the New Orleans Saints – or possibly move the Talons vs. BattleWings game scheduled for April 22nd in Tulsa to New Orleans. The Voodoos because of Hurricane Katrina had to cancel their 2006 season. The Talons and BattleWings owners have close ties to the New Orleans area and are trying to assist The Voodoos in keeping arena football in the city.

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