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Months of therapy ahead for stricken Laver

Despite slight improvement in the movment of his right arm, medical experts attending on the stricken Australian tennis legend Rod Laver said it would take months of physical therapy before the Hall of Fame-r could recover his impaired speech and movement.

The 59 year old remains in intensive care at the UCLA Medical Center.

Laver, who suffered a stroke while being interviewed for a television show on the century's 20 greatest athletes, caused weakness on his right side, though the doctors said that thanks to the prompt medical attention -- he was just two blocks away from the UCLA campus when stricken -- had averted the danger of paralysis.

Hundreds of calls and faxes have been inundating the hospital as friends and fans alike shower their good wishes on the stricken tennis ace. The hospital, meanwhile, is struggling to cope with the avalanche of flowers sent by fans, none of which are allowed inside the ICU unit.

Visits, however, are restricted to Laver's wife and son.