Tessitore (r) and McFarland called college football games together in the pastESPN IMAGES
In N.Y., Justin Terranova notes comfortable is the word ESPN play-by-play man Joe Tessitore "kept repeating when describing" the retooled "MNF" booth of he and Booger McFarland sans Jason Witten. Tessitore said of calling Texans-Saints in Week 1, "This feels a little more what I am accustomed to with all my years of doing college football. Last year, we were tasked with a lot. ... But right away with this new booth, there's definitely that well-worn-pair-of-jeans feeling now. It's comfortable." Tessitore and McFarland's chemistry "seemed to grow as the Saints' thrilling victory went on" (N.Y. POST, 9/13).
SWITCHING IT UP: The Wild are juggling their "television and radio broadcasters a bit" for the upcoming season. FS North play-by-play man Anthony LaPanta will be "joined by a rotation of color analysts including Mike Greenlay, who had the job on basically a full-time basis in the past." Meanwhile, Wild radio voice Bob Kurtz, who has held the role for the team's entire history, will "reduce his schedule of road games" this season for KFAN-FM (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/11).
NEW FACE: In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe reported NBC Sports Philadelphia has hired Katie Emmer as its "new Flyers pre- and post-game host." She will "make her hosting debut Oct. 4" when the Flyers open their season against the Blackhawks in Prague. Joining Emmer on the net's Flyers studio programming will be a "rotating cast" of Al Morganti, Colby Cohen and former NHLer Chris Therien, who was "removed as the network's rinkside analyst last season" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/12). Also in Philadelphia, Jeff Blumenthal noted Emmer joins NBCSP from FS North, where she covered the Wild, Twins, T'Wolves and Lynx, as well as Univ. of Minnesota sports. Emmer "essentially replaces John Boruk, who departed in April after 13 years" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/10).
ON THE MEND: In Birmingham, Michael Casagrande noted "health issues continue" for Univ. of Alabama radio broadcaster Chris Stewart, who was "recently hospitalized following a setback from heart surgery." Stewart has been "dealing with an infection related to his recovery." He had been "noticeably absent in his role on Alabama football radio broadcasts this season with the explanation that doctors had not yet cleared him for a return" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 9/12).
STEPPING AWAY: In New Orleans, Allman & Vargas report WWL-AM/FM sports radio host Seth Dunlap, who was "plunged into controversy earlier this week when someone with access to the station's official Twitter account used a gay slur against him, has announced he's taking an indefinite leave of absence," effective Thursday. The offensive tweet, which was "targeted at Dunlap after he published an essay about his life as a gay man covering sports, was later deleted by the station" (New Orleans ADVOCATE, 9/13).
