Bill Pikus

Summary: It was reported here first (1/17) that Bill Pikus, second banana to sports legend Len Dawson at KMBC-TV, will not have his contract renewed. On 1/30 Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star confirmed the station is looking for his replacement.

Jeffrey Flanagan (1/30), Kansas City Star

Job opening?

While there is no reason to believe Len Dawson won’t be Channel 9’s sports anchor for quite some time, the station apparently is again searching for his eventual successor. Channel 9 recently posted an opening on its Web site for the station’s No. 2 sports anchor/reporter position that has been held by Overland Park native Bill Pikus since 2001.

(Karen Kornacki is considered to have the features/sidebar beat.)

Neither Pikus nor Channel 9 general manager Wayne Godsey said they would comment on Pikus’ job status.

January 17---Bill Pikus, who grew up in Kansas City and returned in September 2001 to join the sports staff at KMBC-TV9, will be leaving the station after his contract was not renewed. The station is advertising for a sportscaster to work with veteran Len Dawson.

He began his television career in Laredo, Texas. He then went to KOAM in Pittsburg, Kan. and then covered the Packers for two season in Green Bay at WGBA. That was followed by a stint as sports director at WSBT in South Bend, Ind.

Pikus grew up in Overland Park, Kan., where he resides today and attended Bishop Miege High School. He went on to graduate from Creighton University in Omaha with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications.