The Bengals and Clear Channel announced today that Brad Johansen
and Dave Lapham will form the radio broadcast team for the Bengals
2000 season.
Johansen, sports anchor for Cincinnati's WKRC-TV (CBS
Channel 12), will do his first season of Bengals radio play-by-play.
He has been the play-by-play broadcaster for Bengals preseason
television games the past two seasons on Channel 12.
Lapham will serve his 15th season as the analyst for the
broadcasts. He has been in the booth since 1986, and has previously
worked with all five Bengals play-by-play men, including Phil Samp,
Ken Broo, Paul Keels, Pete Arbogast and Johansen . Johansen called the Bengals assignment "the fulfillment of a
dream I've had since grade school."
"Doing the preseason games was great," he said, "but to
be a part of the broadcast team for the full season will be special,
especially in the opening season of a spectacular new stadium with a
team ready to turn the corner."
Lapham has acquired an impressive analyst's resume,
including pro and college newtork assignments from Fox. He's
entering his 25th year as a Bengal, combining his 10 years as a
player and 15 as a broadcast team member.
"The Bengals know me and I know them," Lapham said. "I
think there's a level of trust between us, and it helps me do my job
effectively."
Though he has logged considerably more Bengals hours than
Johansen, Lapham shares his partner's sense of excitement over the
2000 season.
"The new stadium is going to be fantastic," Lapham said.
"To be a part of that experience is going to be very memorable."
Bengals games will be aired this season on three Clear
Channel stations. All games will be carried by All Sports 1360 Homer (WCKY-AM) and
92.5 The Fox (WOFX-FM). Also, once the Major League Baseball season
is over, games will be aired on 700 WLW-AM. The Bengals also will be
heard on a radio network with stations across Ohio as well as in
Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.
"We look forward to an excellent season on radio for our
fans," said Bengals president Mike Brown. "Dave Lapham is a very
knowledgeable guy with a talent for making football interesting to
fans at all levels. Brad has done an excellent job on our television
broadcasts, and I think they'll work well together."
Darryl Parks, Clear Channel Director of AM Operations,
said:
"We are very pleased, as we head into a new era with the
Bengals, to provide fans with recognized and veteran broadcasters to
bring Bengals games to them. Having the play-by-play handled by
Brad, one of the most visible sports anchors in town, and being able
to team him with Dave, who will return for his 15th year as analyst,
gives us a broadcast team all Bengals fans will know and trust."
