By David Scott
Boston Sports Media

• It being Mother’s Day weekend and all, let’s give credit where it’s always due and offer up The Shirl’s most-insightful comment of the Spring: “That Paul Pierce, David,” she said sternly, “he looks the same way that Nomar did before they got rid of his pouting puss.”

The Shirl – talking like a mutha on the Day of the Mother.
She’s right, of course. Pierce was 10 times more upset when his team won Game 6 than he was when they lost Game 7. Frankly, he almost seemed relieved that he didn’t have to come to work again for a while.

Last thing – Antoine can stay or go and Gary earned the right of first refusal (not to mention he seems like a good (bad) influence on Marcus Banks) and if someone will take Mark Blount, then he’s expendable as well. But the whole thing doesn’t get much better if Pierce is still a Green Teamer come six months hence.

• Mark Torpey is indeed taking the paper’s buyout, according to another Herald insider, but we’re hearing Torpey could re-surface – and soon. Torpey’s name is thought to be in the mix for the recently expired ad at journalismjobs.com for the sports editor position at the Standard Times in New Bedford. . . Meanwhile, there doesn’t yet seem to be a consensus about who will replace Torpey, but both of our previously mentioned, current assistants - Hank Hryniewicz and, Mark Murphy – are likely to be in the mix. . . What Scott’s Shots wonders is why a traditional print guy would be able to do much different than what Torpey accomplished? When the entire buyout period shakes down, the sports staff will be down bodies for sure. Those positions aren’t likely to be filled any time soon. With those trying conditions, it’s going to take a radical thinker to make the Herald sports entity be both viable and worthwhile. If I’m making the calls at One Herald Square, I have to, at the very least, talk to some Internet innovators/forward thinkers, who understand that generating revenue is not a taboo concept in today’s editorial environment. . . I’ve been under whelmed by the amount of people who actually care about the changing of the guard at Yellow Box headquarters. To me – and a few of the faithful – it’s always significant when one of the head sports jobs in this town opens. It takes on more significance as we enter into the next generation of the Internet and begin to use our computers, cell-phones and broadcast devices in multitudinous ways, never before thought of. And you know what? Even if you, my valued consumer of info, isn’t intrigued by it, I am. It’s the Ziff in me.

• ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli had the Brady extension first – late Saturday afternoon, and soon thereafter, Mike Reiss (and thus the Herald family) was confirming the news and promising more info on this “major news,” which he delivered at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.

• Even dry-witted Kenny Mayne’s best efforts couldn’t hide the fact that George Steinbrenner is not ready for live TV. But a nice job of getting Costanza’s Boss on-air during the ESPN pre-Derby coverage. . . Shame on Tom Hammond of NBC who incorrectly reported that Steinbrenner wasn’t granting interviews all week. In fact, Steinbrenner just wasn’t granting ‘good’ interviews and, apparently, only to ESPN.

• Neumie again showed why he’s too good for talk radio and well-deserving of a better national gig. But even Neumie got snookered by the Giacomo surprise.

• Tony should be proud of Meadow Soprano for dropping some Belmont Raceway knowledge on the ESPN viewers just before 5 p.m. on Saturday: “I used to go there with my dad,” said Meadow, modeling a floppy hat for charity. Did she mean Tony or her real dad? So confusing.

• Kid Rock was drunk and belligerent on the same pre-Derby coverage and in the 2 o’clock hour on Saturday, he had his Joe Namath/Suzy Kolber moment with the attractive ESPN talent Jennifer Smith. Rock had the gall to say “No, I won’t sleep with you,” when the comely interviewer (with a wedding band, we should add) tried to get some worthwhile, live content. Travis Tritt, of all people, basically saved the segment, and when Travis Tritt is saving anything other than Hee Haw, you know there’s trouble. . . Address all claims if Hillbillyism to my pseudonym: Tom Arnold.

• Carl Beane’s seventh-inning “streeeeeeeetch” is really starting to grow on me. Beane is officially the VOICE of Fenway and has earned that title in perpetuity. So sayeth the Shots.

• Scott’s Shots thanks ever-diligent (and, shame, shame, Mother’s-Day-working) Jill D. Jones for confirming the local Emmy winners from Saturday night’s Television Academy, Boston/New England chapter event. The 28th annual gala got rave reviews from Mike Giardi’s NECN guest, Teddy Sarandis, following the Celts season-ender. . . Take note of the title-sponsor as recognized on the organization’s website (http://boston.emmyonline.org/) – Tewksbury’s Avid is also a player within the most recent “Project Greenlight” on Bravo. That is niche marketing at its finest, folks.

Here’s the winners, pared down to sports-related categories. (Surprisingly, it appears that David Wade of FOX25 won most every hard news category award.)

In scanning the names of the various winners members below, the most satisfying was seeing former Glory Days in Amherst chronicler, Mike Ratte, honored for his always-solid reporting. Also bringing joy to the extended UMass family is ex-Minuteman and ‘Associate Producer/Development’ Ryan Nadeau, and all-time great guy, ‘actor’ Ray Bourque, who nabbed an Emmy for their Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Announcements, “Diner.” We’re guessing that spot is the Mass. License Plate ad where Ray orders up the Bruins plate. Or the Blue Plate – I get confused. Without further ado, the list, which deserves space if only because no one else will do it. And remember, you can’t spell Remy without Emmy – or something like that::

Outstanding Achievement in Set or Studio Design
Michael J. Nosel, Set Design/Construction
Red Sox This Week Composite
UPN 38

Outstanding Achievement in News Editing Feature or Series
Kevin Connelly, Editor
Red Sox Composite
UPN 38

Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Announcements
Joseph A. Curnane, Executive Producer
Kevin Shea, Producer/Director
Ray Bourque, Actor
Cleon Daskalakis, Actor
Mary Clivio, Actress
Ryan Nadeau, Associate Producer/Development
Lou Leta, Photographer
Dave Hakala, Sound/Lighting
Diner
NESN/Boston Bruins

Outstanding Achievement in Writing Promotional or Public Service Announcements
Jonathan K. Markella, Writer
Composite
NESN

Outstanding Achievement in Non-News Promotional Announcement-Single Spot
Jonathan K. Markella, Producer/Writer
Matthew Daday, Producer/Designer
Heroes of Red Sox Nation
NESN

Outstanding Achievement in Program Elements ***TIE***
Arne Jensen, Design Director
Bill Ritchotte, Designer
Mike Ruzicka, Compositor
Bob Root, Compositor
Jim Priest, Designer
Ron Wilhelmsen, Designer
Cory Silva, Designer
Gary Stout, Designer
Erika Schneidewind, Chyron
CBS 4 News Program Elements
CBS 4

AND

Arne Jensen, Producer/Design Director
Ron Wilhelmsen, Producer/Designer
Michael Ruzicka, Producer/Compositor
Bill Ritchotte, Producer/Designer
Cory Silva, Producer/Designer
Brian Fox, Producer/Compositor
Red Sox Friday Night Baseball
UPN 38

Outstanding Achievement in Service Report
Mary Caraccioli, Executive Producer
Jimmy Fund
CN 8

Outstanding Achievement in Sports Reporting
Mike Ratte, Sports Director
Composite
WB 56

Outstanding Achievement in Sports Play-By-Play Coverage
Bill Borson, Executive Producer
Russ Kenn, Producer
Mike Narracci, Director
Greg Petronzio, Graphic Coordinator
Don Orsillo, Play-By-Play
Jerry Remy, Color Analyst
Eric Frede, Reporter
Boston Red Sox Baseball
NESN

Outstanding Achievement in Sports Series
Timothy Egan, Executive Producer
Eagle Insider
NESN

Outstanding Achievement in Sports Feature
Eric Frede, Producer/Talent
Kevin Newton, Editor
John Martin, Photographer
The Cabrerra Handshake
NESN

Outstanding Achievement in Sports Special Program
Stevan Reagan, Executive Producer
Paul Lucey, Producer
Jeff Grice, Editor
Andrew Levine, Associate Producer
Barry Alley, Photographer
Jim Burgoyne, Director of Production
Mike Gorman, Narrator
Legend of Red
FSN New England

David Scott writes from a seaside shanty on the shores of Hull, Mass. and can be reached at shots@bostonsportsmedia.com