Welcome Home, Jessamy. . .

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Jessamy Tang, before hanging up her cell phone to head into yet another meeting, asks us to say “nice things” about her station, ESPN’s (late) radio entry into Boston (WAMG 890 AM and WLLH 1400 AM).

Scott’s Shots, heading into the wavy Hull waters yet again, tells Jessamy Tang that “there’s nothing to say” about her station. . .

YET, that is. Yet.

But with next week’s announcement of its local programming line-up and talent roster, the honeymoon is soon to be over for the month-old ESPN affiliate. (To start, the station has been delivering: Mike and Mike in the morning, followed by Colin Cowherd, Jim Rome, Dan Patrick and ‘Slot X’, what will become their challenger to The Big Show and the lead-in for evening programming, likely to be college properties.)

And it’s Jessamy Tang, a Lexington native, who has come home, bringing her mellifluous name and some high aspirations. And, those four letters that could sell just about anything: Eee, Ess, Pee and Enn.

If Tang’s return to Beantown (as ESPN Radio Boston’s general manager) doesn’t make Entercom’s Julie Kahn shake in her heels, perhaps it will in the next 18 months or so.

Because Kahn, the head honcho over WEEI 850 AM’s Jason Wolfe, now has to battle another driven, accomplished and trailblazing female radio executive for control of Boston’s Sports Talk radio market. Wow! The Herald’s Track Gals are going to love this battle, eh? Cat Fight For the Airwaves, the bold headlines will scream from the “Inside Track.”

(Apologies to the Eddie Andleman clingers-on, but WWZN 1510 AM is dead to me – and just anybody else. They really have no juice and are in for the death blow with Disney’s arrival on the scene. If that’s overly harsh or too simply stated, my apologies. But the facts is the facts is the facts.)

That’s right friends, Boston’s relevant sports talk radio market is being ruled by two ladies who think they understand what the boys like. Don’t bet against either mastering the (mainly) males they employ and the manly males they covet as listeners; but at least give the early edge to the entrenched Kahn.

‘EEI will be tough to knock off and even with those four magic letters attached at 890 and 1400, the battle is uphill, to say the least.

But Tang – who comes armed with both an undergraduate degree from MIT (’89) and an MBA from Stanford (’94) – and at least a few of the money people behind her, think Boston’s big enough for two sports talk radio stations.

What’s more, she would appear to have an important personal stake, having helped to organize the business plan (with her J Sports LLC) to scoop up the two stations and lining up the cash from media funder, WallerSutton , for the reported $9 million May ’05 deal.

A quick trip to the woefully under-updated WallerSutton site (last press release: Nov. ’03) indicates this would mark the private equity fund’s first foray into Massachusetts and would further extend their Route 81 division.

It is – at these very unsteady economic and industry times – a fairly sizable gamble. Satellite radio options abound for those who want national sports talk. The appeal of Jim Rome or Dan Patrick isn’t as great as it once was. And let’s face it, ‘EEI, for all its shtick and all its flaws, serves the purpose just fine. They give guys like me just enough to beat on them for and those few ounces of intrigue that keep me coming back consistently.

Tang certainly knows (even if she won’t let on) that Boston is a historically provincial sports town. “There’s a passion for sports here,” says Tang who was station manager at WEAE-AM ESPN Radio 1250 AM until June of 2002. “And, I believe in the quality of programming ESPN has.”

She refused to get into any type discussion of Pittsburgh vs. Boston as markets and repeatedly played on the theme that “Boston is a great sports town.” Left unsaid, was that Tang and ESPN believe that should translate into ALL sports talk not just the Big Four/Big Two of Boston.

But Tang’s not foolish enough to strictly base the strategy on immediately competing with ‘EEI’s reach and talents. Northeastern University recently announced its hockey games will be carried on ESPN Radio and other local college properties are likely as well. As for professional properties, the Pats are locked up through 2012 at WBCN 104.1 FM, the Celtics just signed a “multi-year” deal with Entercom (WRKO 680 AM), and the Bruins might as well have string and two corn cans. They’re irrelevant for the foreseeable future.

That leaves the Red Sox as the lone, worthwhile available purchase when their Entercom deal ends after next season. But it will be a huge sum to pay for the Sox and all they bring (Larry, Curt, Tito, Foulkie, etc) and there’s also the possibility that the Sox could NESN-ize its own radio package on its own network.

Whatever the case Tang, who was cautious not to reveal any details about next week’s scheduled line-up announcement, did hint that more local programming (in addition to the already-signed deal with NU Hockey) as well as signal-strength enhancements are likely in the offing.

The initial signing this week of Kevin Winter, another Boston-area native according to Tang, probably didn’t do too much in terms of revving up the audience or advertisers, but Tang sounds confident that ESPN Radio will be able to compete, if not flourish in Boston. “I listen to a lot of talk radio – all kinds,” Tang says. “I loved listening to it when I was growing up. And my dad (Wen, a former UMass Lowell professor) used to take us to Celtics games.”
Wen passed away this past December at the age of 83, according to this UML newsletter.

“He knew I was involved in (this business venture) and he was a huge Boston sports fan,” says Jessamy, whose mother is still in the area. “She’s definitely proud. It is really very nice to be home.”

So far, that is. Nice doesn’t last forever in this (or any) market.

Down the road – well. . . let’s just say the Track Gals are sharpening their pencils.

• We’re guessing Winter won’t be the last of the ex-WWZNers to join the ESPiNners: Ryen Russillo would be a logical choice to make the jump over and it’s believed that Tang also reached out to more than a few of the Globies. Let’s also hope she’s savvy enough to throw in some fresh meat – the recycled guys are, well, recycled. . . .For instance, if Butch Stearns winds up in the new Charlestown studios you can immediately give a couple of points to ‘EEI for addition by subtraction. . . Maybe this is the spot where a Neumie would fit nicely? If there’s anyone who could figure out a way to get paid by the New York Times Co., NBC AND a ‘subsidiary’ of Disney, we’re guessing it’s the suave one, Neumie. . .The afternoon show will likely be limited to a two-person operation with Winter likely serving as a Flash Guy and a Roving Reporter for sizable events and game coverage. The station will then likely try and get agreements with local writers to fill in guests and guest-hosts. This might be where someone like a Rob Bradford of the Lowell Sun might get to sign on in a semi-exclusive manner. Bradford has always impressed in his ‘EEI work. . . Whatever the case, this ESPN launch and the re-shuffle in Providence at The Score (see below) show you just how important it is to be putting your best foot forward as the all-important “Fall Book” begins. And most of all it gives the listener choices and that’s hardly ever a bad thing.

Scott’s Shots bonus content:

Some background that may be helpful:

1. According to the ESPN radio website , ESPN currently owns and operates five stations (in New York, LA, Chicago, Dallas-Forth Worth and Pittsburgh), the Boston entry is an affiliate. These are the three other affiliates in Massachusetts: Worcester – WWTM-AM 1440; W. Yarmouth – WXTK-FM 95.1; and Garnder – WGAW-AM 1340.

2. A recent New York Daily News story highlighted the four-year-old ESPN Radio entrant in New York’s market. That station, according to the story by Bob Raissman (see below), “. . . has been like a revolving door. Talent and time slots have shuffled. While the style of hosts – featuring lots of “guy” talk – is designed to attract younger listeners, ESPN has moved toward a national sound. . . This takes ESPN-1050’s focus off New York sports.”

The encouraging news form all that is they’re in their fourth year. The discouraging news, for someone like Tang, might be that The FAN “. . .has consistently crushed its competitor, doubling and sometimes tripling, ESPN 1050 (in ratings).”

3. Shots was told by a former program director at an ESPN affiliate that the mother ship requires all affiliates to carry, at the least, two hours of the AM drive show (M&M) and a majority of the Dan Patrick show. In our telphone interview, Tang appeared comfortable with the Jim Rome show she now has form Noon-2 p.m. That breakdown would allow for local talk in limited AM hours and afternoon drive only. ESPN spokesperson, Dan Quinn, was not available on Thursday to confirm the affiliate requirements for Shots. If true, the local elements really need to kick butt for Tang to be attractive to local advertisers looking for a “good buy.”

• ESPN, late last night, posted the AP story reporting that the Boston Globe had been able to speak directly with Tedy Bruschi , meaning that the Globe released the story early to the AP (even before posting it on its own boston.com website) in order to get proper credit for the first meaningful words from No. 54. A nice coup for the Green Boxers, we must admit.

• Uptight Pete Meat Sheppard unleashed what seemed to be a completely uncalled for swipe at Dennis and Callahan at the end of Thursday’s “Big Show.”

“I don’t need to talk about them,” was the gist of what the Mad Meat said in reference, we gathered, to Meat’s mix-up on the Craig Hansen situation (which must have been pointed out by Denky and Cranky). Who the heck does Meaty Boy think he is? The radio talent and appeal found in one pinky of either Dennis or Callahan equals the entire, bitter “Turd” package of Meat. If we were bossman, Jason Wolfe, we might think about reminding mediocre Meat that he’s not the engine driving the ‘EEI train. And furthermore, that he never will be.

• As a public service, we visited andysmojo.com so you don’t have to. With Roddick bounced and interest in male tennis sinking below the Mendoza Line, American Express can consider its Roddick campaign a COMPLETE and TOTAL failure.

• As reported elsewhere earlier this week, there is change IN and ON the air at Providence’s 790 The Score (99.7 FM). Still no official word however and the uncertain status of Andy Gresh might be causing the delay in announcing the re-vamped line-up. Gresh, The Prince of Providence Radio, is still, according to Bob Raissman’s New York Daily News Sunday colum, in the running for the coveted overnight gig at WFAN 660-AM. Gresh – who has done fill-in duty for the past couple of months at The Fan, and performed well according to some Metro NY listeners – is up against at least two in-house candidates. One of them, according to living Dweeb/Dude legend Raissman is “Mike and the Mad Dog’s” producer, Mark Malusis. We’d guess that Double M and Tony Paige (another Raissman reported candidate) have the inside track – so to speak. But it never hurts someone like Gresh to get some looks from the Big Apple folk. But Providence’s The Score can’t wait too much longer and the FAN might not decide on the Schmooze-created spot, until the end of September.

• In addition to a worthwhile read on “Rescue Me’s” sparkplug, Denis Leary, the new Boston magazine has a solid contribution from the talented, Nate Crossman, on BC’s entrance into the ACC. (Shots, it should be noted is quoted in the story, but my assessment of the piece stands just the same. Crossman nailed the piece and accurately portrayed the money-grubbing Eagle Elitists as just the latest institute of higher learning who made a money grab, as this pull-quote illustrates: “This move was never a gamble. The money’s already in the bank. Boston College won the second it joined the ACC.”

• Shots uncovered the Globe’s newest print/on-line attempt to lure the college crowd, Uncovered: The Ultimate Guide to What’s What. The bottom-of-the-webpage silhouettes are almost a direct rip-off of the iPod ad campaign and the “Brought to You” icons of the Metro newspaper leads users to a page that read (as of Wednesday afternoon): “No instance available.” No instance of what? The Globe having a clue or the Metro having a website? (Although shots is hearing that an actual, real live website for the Metro is being bandied about. Once the Globers figure out how to build a compelling website, we assume.)

• We were formerly of the belief that the only extensive cloning operation on network TV was being done in the Bristol Lab of ESPN. This week proved otherwise. NBC, unbeknownst to most of America, has gone and cloned Katie Couric. There were about a dozen of ‘em giving Katrina coverage for Today this week. Same hair. Same legs. Same skirt style. Same ability to go from perky to poised to pretty to perky, all in a flash. One seemed to have escaped to Good Morning America for a bit as well, which means someone must have forgot to lock the doors at NBCLab 3 recently.

• In the course of the 45 seconds that Shots could stomach of the segment on Tuesday night’s ESPN Classic’s Classic Now, the eternally annoying, playah-lovah Michael Silver (of Sports Illustrated) managed two “Dudes” directed at his former colleague, Josh Elliott. May we suggest, Dude Silver, a trim of the eyebrows and a post-haste retreat to the San Diego shore to discover newer, hipper words to call a national show’s Host? Something like ‘Josh’ might work nicely. . .That show, by the way, continues to try anyone and everyone to fill guest roles (hello, Jackie Mack!) and continues to be held back from the learning-on-the-job Elliott. . . Tony Mazz appeared on “Mold Pizza” Thursday morning along with Buster Olney. Buster probably has to do such wasteful spots to keep the ESPN bosses happy. But what’s Mazz’s excuse? That show is reaching all-time awful status with each passing day. Woody needs to be sent back out west and Skip needs to be skipped across the pond like a flat rock. It’s okay to fail sometimes, ESPN. Just be Network enough to admit it.

• We spotted multi-use guy, Mike Perlow in the NECN newsroom doing a local angle on Katrina on Tuesday night. Guy’s got the versatility of a Kapler. . . On Saturday, Perlow will join the “E4” guys (James Murphy and Brian Malone) who are winding down their first summer with WWZN 1510 AM baseball show (Harvard football gets the Saturday time slot during the Fall), but word is that (Umie) Murph and Malone are trading rawhide for pigskin with a football show slated to debut in a couple of Sundays. It is expected to be another “time buy” for the earnest and engaging duo.

• It got some serious play in the six disc changer of the Shotsmobile when we first received, but we neglected to ever mention how much we enjoy the “It’s Possible Team” CD sent to us by the Red Mooner himself, Mike Folloni. The original, Impossible Dream record was a late discovery by Shots in the late 1970s, but it quickly became a cherished treasure. Folloni reports that charities and fund-raisers continue to sell the disc all over the region and many US Troops have been treated to the CD as well.

• It’s always a good idea to check out Dave Doyle’s World, but this weekend will mark the debut of Dave’s World’s Wiseguys , of which Shots is wising up for. So it’s an especially opportune time to check in on the Seattle Rattle emanating form Doyle’s vivid mind. You won’t get rich off of any of the picks, but you’ll be wealthier in spirit, pep and good humor.

• It’s been a while since we heard form My Buddy Paulie Brookline, but after a weeklong retreat to the Shores of Hull for his annual vacay (and Fantasy Draft prep period), we’ve heard all too much from the official Fantasy Football Guru pf Shots.

“Davey Hull,” he always begins, “whaddya think of so and so this season.”

To which I inevitably answer: “Who’s he with now?”

To which MBPB inevitably says: “You sure you follow sports?”

MBPB has been going through a rough off-season with his long-time co-owner and CFO of Team Paulie Brookline, Robbie Brandeis, venturing out on his own in fantasy for the first time. Shots offered to step in and fill the void for MBPB and the only thing I told him in my interview for the still-vacant slot was this: “I will do everything in my power to make sure that any team run by That Traitor winds up finishing last. Or at least behind us.”

In other MBPB news, he spent the first four days of his work respite making buddy-buddy with Skippy Parent’s Hull DPW guys in hopes that they’ll continue to blow out his catch basin (and that’s not a euphemism for anything, sadly).

• Sounds like the debut of newbie Globie, Mike Reiss, on the recently improving “SportsPlus/Minus” show will come in the next week. Neumie appears to have settled in nicely and is starting to push conversation down worthwhile avenues. Reiss will certainly shine and some of the NESN folks are already chomping at the bit to get him some air time.

• How’s this one for confounding? Philadelphia’s Terrell Owens will do an exclusive call-in each week during the season with 790-AM, “The Ticket” in – get this – Miami, the radio home of the Dolphins. Here’s how they spun the announcement in FLA:

“Hollywood Fl. - August 31, 2005 - Sports Talk 790 the ticket in Miami will be the exclusive home of the The Terrell Owens Show. The show will take place Friday afternoons at 5 pm., and will be debut on September 9th. Hosted by Dan LeBatard, this program will be hard hitting and informative.

With T.O. off the field controversy 790 will be the only station in the country to give you access to T.O. On a weekly basis to find out what is going on off the field as well as on the field. LeBatard Said “I can’t wait to bring out interesting answers from such a shy personality. He’s a lightning rod… and I look forward to asking him all the tough questions and giving him an unfiltered forum to be heard.”

This show will be simulcast around the country for other stations to carry. “This was a terrific opportunity to feature a personality that is the most high profile athlete in America’s most popular sport. We look forward to Terrell Owens joining us weekly on our radio station.” Jon Weiner, GM of 790 The Ticket the flagship station of the Miami Dolphins.”

• “Don’t buy gas if you don’t need it.” Did our president just say that? Really? We’re doomed, aren’t we?

• One final note on fantasy from MBPB’s favorite Fantasy Forecaster, Jack Pullman of All Pro Publishing: “Drafting is part science and part art. The science part is anticipating what you’re options will be in the next round or so. The art part is making your choices. Good luck!”

I just don’t have the heart to tell MBPB that I could give him that advice for free and he could save his 17 bucks on Pullman. But if there’s one thing MBPB likes, it’s supporting the little guy. Just ask Vito the Barber who gave him the Ivy League Cut on Wednesday. (Like we always say, if you can’t go to the Ivy League, at least get their haircut.)

• We’ve been overlooking the solid effort of bostonherald.com online editor, Mike Ryan, for far too long. He’s always linking the stories that sometimes fall through the cracks and he’s got just enough smarm in him to make him worthwhile on a daily basis. Bookmark the man, would you please?

• A Shots welcome back and best wishes go out to Jeff Jacobs at the Hartford Courant who penned this sobering column on Sunday. Aunt Esta Sarasota, now a year removed from her West Hartford days, says she still misses a good Jacobs offering every now and again. She endures the pain with a trip to the pool with Uncle Stevie Sarasota or with a ride in Stuff’s convertible.

• The Dripping Sarcasm Shot of the Week came from Herald Clubhouse Insider Blogger, Michael Silverman last Sunday: “(By the way, colleague Howard Bryant points out two things: 1) Players have noted that Remlinger occupied the locker of Alan Embree and Lenny DiNardo, so there is obviously a curse at work here. That’s great to hear because there just hasn’t been enough curse talk ‘round here since last Oct. 27.”

Silverman, at least to these eyes, seems to thrive in the HeraBlog setting. These guys are going to start opening eyes with their ability to “playground” write better than we thought. It could, at the very least, make for competition when the bigger content distributors start to Pac Man the littler ones.

• (For more on that type of topic, we’d encourage you to find the Wired magazine story on ESPN from the Jon Stewart-eating-the-remote-Sept. ’05 cover by Frank Rose. There are so many elements of the Big Picture Thinking that is so lacking in the region’s market.

• “NESN is Scouting” – that means they have jobs or money or both. Attack!

• ABC caught Thomas Hitman Hearns at the Detroit pre-season game on Monday night and just as they showed the Hitman, an off-screen person presented something to be signed. Hearns stared the autograph seeker down and reluctantly signed. We were hoping for a couple of round of vintage Hitman.

• How long until the Magic Bus Kid from New Orleans gets a movie deal? Shots is available for the screenwriting, Hollywood types.

• A special delivery from Chief of Staff Jeff O’Malley deposited the Marshall Thundering Herd Collector’s Edition football media guide in the Shots PO Box, and with it came a reminder of the football passion possessed by one Robert Marcum, the former UMass AD (and Shots’ best, ultimate boss ever). Marcum, now leading the Herd into Conference USA, started treating Minuteman football like it was important in the 1990s and low and behold, it became important (albeit briefly). The Chief of Staff reports that new head man, Mark Snyder (former Ohio State defensive coordinator), is getting things rolling at Troy Brown’s alma mater AND that we should be sure to catch the Sept. 10 morning tussle with K State on ESPN 2. (The preceding announcement virtually assures Shots of unfettered access to adult beverages upon my next visit to Huntington, W. Va. And you can never have enough of those passes accumulated. Go Herd!)

• Shots would like to take a moment to thank all of our visitors who were kind enough to download Scott’s PodShots No. 1 last weekend. Because of your kindness, Shots was able to donate $100 ($.30 per download) to the NESN/WEEI Jimmy Fund Telethon drive in the name of Scott’s Shots. All involved should be proud to have pulled off such a tremendously successful endeavor in Year 4 of the Telethon.

• On one other charitable note, Steve Buckley’s Oldtime Baseball Game had a record setting year with more than $50,000 in donations at last month’s event in Cambridge. Monies raised went to the Lupus Foundation. Nice work, Buck.

• Enjoy the waning days of summer and don’t forget to help out for Jerry’s Kids and Katrina’s victims.

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