Pals Brinkman, Minor enjoy being voices of Badgers

Badgers football fans will be on the edge of their seats whether they go to the games or listen to David Brinkman and Joel Minor call games on 1450  KBFI am radio. 

Brinkman and Minor, both Bonners Ferry residents, have been Badger fans and good friends for more than a decade making for great football chemistry.

Their knowledge of football and quick wit have brought the friends into their second year of calling Badger games together. 

The show is live, entertaining and informative for those who may be fair weather fans.

Brinkman is in his fourth year with KBFI. He once called the games with Dan Kropatch, “The Voice of the Badgers. ” 

After Kropatch passed away two years ago, the station asked Brinkman to find someone else who would fit the bill. Brinkman chose Minor who he said is one of his closest friends.

“We both have the same sense of humor and became really good friends right from the start,” Brinkman said.

A love of sports and loving to talk are prerequisites to working on live radio, Binkman said. 

He knew he and Minor could talk to each other on a live show and that “dead air” would not be likely between them.

Brinkman and Minor met in 1999 when their paths crossed professionally.

Brinkman managed Boundary Trading Company.  On occasion he had to call on Minor a police officer.  Keeping children and young people on the right path lead to their friendship.

After  working for BTC, Brinkman spent time in admissions at Northwest Academy, and as a substitute teacher at the middle school. He was involved with Idaho Drug Free Youth and  Boundary County Prevention Coalition which focuses on drug-free youth. He now is self-employed and works with with families and consultants to help young men who have undergone treatment use life skills to achieve their goals.

Bonners Ferry Police Department hired Minor as its drug abuse resistance education officer in 1999. He then launched the first School Resource Officer and Drug K-9 program for the BFPD and Boundary County School District.

In 2000, Minor was awarded the Idaho DARE Officer of the Year Award. 

He is the Deputy Chief of Police for the city of Bonners Ferry.

Both are family men with children of their own.

Announcing the Badgers football games is one more way the pair have chosen to support the town.

“We are regular everyday guys having fun announcing a game so people who don’t get  a chance to see the game can hear it,” said Minor. “We want to do a good job and have a lot of fun doing it.”

“I think one of the biggest things is that you have to love sports and you have to love the Badgers,” Brinkman said. “We love the team, the kids and the coaches.”

 The Badgers play St. Maries at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, at home in their first league game.