GOLFWEEK’s Beth Ann Nichols wrote golfer Nelly Korda “had a familiar face following her inside the ropes at the season’s fourth major,” as her older sister Jessica “served as an on-course reporter in Korda’s group” during the first round of this weeks’ Amundi Evian Championship. Jessica, who was on medical leave for a back injury before she got pregnant with her first child last year, has worked in television at previous events, but this marks the 32-year-old’s “first time with the Golf Channel crew.” Jessica said last year that she “planned to come back to the LPGA in 2026” (GOLFWEEK, 7/10).
SWITCHING IT UP: In St. Louis, Matthew DeFranks reported John Kelly, the TV voice of the Blues for the past two decades, will “no longer call games for the franchise after his contract was not renewed.” Instead, the club, FanDuel Sports Network and 101 ESPN will “switch to a simulcast model” with announcers Chris Kerber (play-by-play) and Joey Vitale (analyst) calling the action. TV color commentator Jamie Rivers will return to his role in the studio as an analyst on “Blues Live.” Additionally, former NHLer Chris Pronger will have a “greater role” on “Blues Live,” which will still feature former NHLer Bernie Federko and broadcaster Scott Warmann. Andy Strickland will “serve as the rinkside reporter for both home and road games,” while Alexa Datt will “no longer be part of coverage” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/10).
BACK AGAIN: In Nashville, Alex Daugherty reported Univ. of Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello “will return to the broadcast booth for the 2025 MLB Draft, serving as a guest analyst for MLB Network.” As the first round begins July 13 at 6pm on MLB Network, Vitello will “provide insight on the draft selections” from the broadcast set up at the Coca-Cola Roxy in The Battery outside of Truist Park in Atlanta. Vitello was previously on the broadcast in 2022 and 2024 (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/10).
