People & Personalities: Lee Corso Expected To Recover From Stroke

Corso (l) Expects To Recover From Stroke In Time For '09 College Football Season

ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso recently "suffered a minor stroke." Corso in a statement indicated that he "suffered no permanent damage" as a result of the stroke, which was "caused by the blockage to a small artery." Corso is "expected to make a full recovery," and "plans on being back for the kickoff of the 2009 college football season" (ESPN.com, 5/28). ESPN's Linda Cohn said Corso "plans to be back where he belongs this fall, donning the headgear on the 'GameDay' set" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 5/28). ESPN's Hannah Storm called Corso a "fixture on the ESPN 'College GameDay' set and a treasured colleague" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 5/29).

LEARNING CURVE: In Boston, Chad Finn writes NESN Red Sox analyst Dave Roberts is "personable and articulate, and he has an easy rapport" with play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo. NESN Manager for Public Relations & Promotions Gary Roy: "Dave is a very fast learner. He's impressed a lot of people around here already, particularly considering how new he is to all of this." But Finn notes Roberts also "slips into the rut of repeatedly describing star players and important players as 'great,' and his habit of saying, 'See, right there,' as a play unfolds on the screen is a rookie mistake." Roberts: "I realize there are things I need to get better at, and that comes with time. ... I don't want to be just another ex-ballplayer with a microphone" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/29).

INSIDER INFO: In California, John Maffei notes former MLBer Phil Nevin, who will serve as analyst for ESPNU's coverage of the NCAA baseball tournament's Irvine Regional this weekend, "spent most of Thursday meeting with players and coaches from the four teams in Irvine." Nevin: "There isn't much film out there like the NFL or college football. So I get a lot of my information by talking with people and looking over the stats. But my job isn't to spout numbers. I think the viewers want to learn something from a broadcast. My job is to tell why things are happening without overanalyzing" (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 5/29).

GRIDIRON BATTLES: A source said that Washington Post Redskins beat writer Jason La Canfora is "heading to NFL Network," where he will "join a stable of NFL reporters that has been filling the shoes previously occupied by Adam Schefter." Schefter is "moving to ESPN after his contract expires in August" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 5/28)....Former NFLer John Lynch "will be going to Fox this Fall, while longtime analyst Brian Baldinger is being shown the door" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 5/27).

NOTES: Baseball HOFer Al Kaline is serving as the Tigers radio analyst for Thursday's and Friday's games against the Orioles. Normal radio analyst Jim Price "will do the play-by-play for Dan Dickerson, who's recovering from surgery to repair his left quadriceps tendon after a jogging injury" in K.C. Kaline was a broadcaster for the team from '75-'01 (FREEP.com, 5/28)....Former KFAN-AM producer and host Darren Wolfson has joined the independent American Association St. Paul Saints as a TV sideline reporter (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/29).