SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy cited sources as saying that Allie LaForce is "finalizing a full-time deal with Turner Sports" and is expected to cover the NBA and the NCAA Tournament. A source said that LaForce "could become the lead sideline reporter for 'NBA on TNT' in addition to her college basketball duties." CBS yesterday confirmed that LaForce "was leaving the network" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 6/4). The Athletic's Richard Deitsch reported LaForce is leaving after she and CBS "could not come to a new deal." She had been with CBS since '12 (TWITTER.com, 6/4). In Birmingham, Creg Stephenson noted Jamie Erdahl is replacing LaForce as the "lead sideline reporter for 'SEC on CBS' football coverage." Erdahl, who will join the broadcast team of Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson, "has worked as a reporter on NFL and college basketball telecasts." LaForce had been part of the CBS crew since '14, when she "replaced Tracy Wolfson after Wolfson moved to covering the NFL" (AL.com, 6/4).
A NEW RADIO BUZZ: The Hornets named Chris Kroeger their new radio play-by-play voice, replacing the retiring Steve Martin. Kroeger has hosted a show on Hornets flagship station WFNZ-AM the last four years and has served as the Hornets pregame host and sideline reporter the past three seasons (Hornets). In Charlotte, Rick Bonnell noted Kroeger also will have a "presence on hornets.com and the team's social-media platforms." He said that he "doesn't intend to try to mimic Martin's very conversational style when he takes over game calls." Kroeger was "overtaken with emotion" at the start of his radio show Monday when announcing the news (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 6/4).
MISSING IN ACTION: In San Diego, Tom Krasovic writes it was "odd not to hear" Padres radio announcer Ted Leitner on a recent broadcast, as he is "recovering from last week's surgery to remove a cancerous kidney." It is "possible he could return to the booth this month." The radio calls are in "good hands" with a combination of Mark Grant, Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn Jr. in Leitner's absence, but there "is a void" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/4).
YOU HERD CORRECTLY: SPORTING NEWS' McCarthy reported FS1's Joy Taylor is "poised to succeed" Kristine Leahy as the "news desk/update anchor partner" of Colin Cowherd on his daily radio show. Taylor has served as the moderator of the Skip Bayless-Shannon Sharpe show "Undisputed" since its debut in '16. Sources said that two "possible candidates" to replace Taylor on the show are Jenny Taft and Holly Sonders (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 6/4).
NOTES: NESN studio host Dennis Eckersley "will join Jerry Remy and Dave O'Brien in the NESN booth" for Sunday's White Sox-Red Sox game (BOSTON HERALD, 6/5)....Charlotte-based WJZY-Fox has "fired" sports anchor Chuck Howard following an incident last month "involving a female co-worker." Howard said that he "grabbed the co-worker by the lapel of her jacket." However, he "compared it to shaking someone's hand or patting them on the back" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/3).
