By David Scott
Boston Sports Media Watch

• Things have been swirling in Scott’s Shots land and a late week visit to the Nutmeg State means an early – and abbreviated – filing from Shanty headquarters. It seems like a good time to have a bit of lull, in fact. This sports town, at the present, ‘ain’t got no heart,’ as the Dead once intoned, and won’t for another month or so.

• That said, Shots has been hearing unconfirmed rumblings of some additional local programming and/or local talent over at 890 AM ESPN Radio Boston. For the second time in as many weeks, the ERBers have made overtures to New York City’s (and ESPN’s) Duke Castiglione, Shots has been told by two separate Dukies, aka Friends of Duke.

Castiglione, 32 and a a 1996 Stonehill College is the Big Apple’s rising sports media talent and son of Red Sox voice, Joe Castiglione. Duke has been ascending in both the New York market and on the national scene for the better part of two years. He’s been dissed by a new Yankee (Randy Johnson) and embraced by a newer Yankee (Johnny Damon).

His baseball “sideline” work for ESPN led to some post-season bowl action for the net and his morning TV show, trivia shtick (called “Stump Duke”) on CBS2 in NYC is just the kind of stuff that could spice up local, Beantown radio.

However, it’s unlikely that Castiglione would make a move from the Big Apple for JUST a radio job. He would also need to continue his career on the TV side and Shots has been told that more than a few of the local CBS4 talent-assessors are keen on Duke to either replace or gently shove out, Bob Lobel, who it is believed is still working without a contract.

We like all of this on a number of levels:

1. The word play Shots will be able to scrape together for use with Duke and ‘Lil Stick will be both priceless and endless.

2. Lobel can be eased out, given a more John-Henning-of-Sports type of role and you get instant name recognition and legitimacy with a “Castiglione” doing the shoving.

3. Duke’s a talent. Aggressive (he had a nice Damon sit-down a couple of weeks back), smart, funny – the guy would be a personality in this town. He crosses demographics and reels in the girlfriend or wife AND the boyfriend or husband. He a 21st century version of Lobel in the 1980s – but more polished. He’ll make good radio, good TV and he’ll break stories and own them – he would bring a New York mentality to staid and proper Boston – again, exactly what this region needs.

4. Castiglione, Shots is told, is open to the idea of returning to his roots, where he still has family. “Never say never,” Duke has said in the past. “I’m not opposed to coming home.” (We’ve also been told that Duke’s contract at CBS2 is, conveniently, up for renewal in the Spring.)

5. ESPN can still use the Duke of Dapper for its baseball and other assignments. Between Fenway, Alumni Stadium at BC and Foxboro, Duke would be able to expand from sideline-reporter, to reporter-reporter. It’s a win-win for everyone.

6. Call us sentimental, but how cool would it be to work in your dad’s market as his career winds down and yours winds up? It’s the stuff of movies, I tell ya.

Shots did reach out to programming director, Doug Tribou at ERB to discuss future plans for the station, but we have yet to hear back – which is perfectly understandable when you are trying to build a legit contender to the heavyweight throne. If and when, Tribou is able to afford us some time, we’ll be sure to let you know.

• So I tried the TD BankNorth commercial hook shot at the local Rockland Trust and not only didn’t the cute girls inside cheer for me; it distinctly felt like they were cursing at me. . . I’d got to that drive through simply for the enthusiasm of the tellers.

• If you recall the tale of a lonely Florida visitor (Shots) playing radio games with Jim Rome and Jeff Ruland, you’ll be happy to know the culmination of that sordid tale came to pass on Wednesday afternoon. Ruland, the Official Big Man of Shots, was simply tremendous, batting third in a string of guests that went form Terry Bradshaw to Bob Costas to Rules.

• Yep, I’m turning Tennissian. Watching the Australian Open on ESPN2 AND reading Bud Collins. And enjoying both – although Bud needs to be more timely and remember that we’re looking for the out of the ordinary and compelling from him. . .And you thought I was one-dimensional. Go James Blake!!!

. . . ESPN2 even extended its coverage window on Sunday night in order to get the Sharapova match to its male-dominated audience. Bless the decision-makers that saw the benefit in giving Maria over poker or World’s Strongest ‘Roids User.

• ESPN’s been pushing the ESPN360 package a bit more in these Mobile ESPN days, so we figured we’d take it for a test run for you. With many thanks to our Bristol buddies, we must say: I’m not worthy.

Worse yet, I’m Mac – but through the walk through I was given, it does appear to be some cutting-edge stuff. . . If you’re interested in that kind of thing, check out this release excerpt and then get spinning over to 360:

“ESPN360 ANNOUNCES BOSTON COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT MEN’S HOCKEY MATCH-UP (on) JANUARY 21 . . .

ESPN360 will feature a men’s college hockey match-up pitting #4 Boston College vs. #6 University of Vermont, Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET from Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass. ESPN360, ESPN’s customized broadband service, provides users with live games, access to highlights, inside analysis from ESPN commentators and extended SportsCenter interviews. ESPN360’s exclusive coverage of Vermont and Boston College will not be available anywhere else – television or online. ESPN360 will roll in trucks, announcers and production teams to give the ESPN360 users a quality program they expect from ESPN.

“We look forward to working with two highly-ranked teams like Vermont and Boston College on this exclusive Hockey East match-up,” commented Len Mead, Director, New Media Content, ESPN. “ESPN360 sets a new standard for live events available on broadband and our webcast of this game further demonstrates ESPN’s commitment to college hockey fans.”

“We are pleased that ESPN360 has decided to feature this game,” said Gene DeFilippo, Boston College Director of Athletics. “This is an exciting venture that will provide additional exposure for our nationally ranked men’s hockey program.”

“We are excited to be part of this ESPN360 broadcast as it is another opportunity for our great fans to follow our program,” Chris McCabe, Assistant Vice President for Business and Marketing at the University of Vermont, said. “Internet broadcasts are growing and The University of Vermont is pleased to be featured on this exciting distribution platform.”

ESPN360 is available on your computer via a high-speed data connection by logging on to www.ESPN360.com. ESPN360, ESPN’s multi-dimensional broadband service, highlights the value of a high-speed connection by combining the best elements of television and the Internet for the computer user.

ESPN360 is available in both the state of Vermont and the Boston area through Verizon and Adelphia, with additional coverage in Boston through BELD (Braintree Electric). . .”

• For those of you who are wondering, Shots is unlikely to tag along on the famed Yahoo! Sports spring training caravan (as we have done the past two years) as the caravan’s driver will be in Italy, drinking wine and following skeleton scandals.

However, Shots is attempting to secure funding for an abbreviated, independent, trip that would be Red Sox-centric – with less baseball and more adventures.

Lastly, on a programming note (The Boston Sports Guy wears off on me yet again: I’m previewing and promising stuff that I can only hope I’ll deliver.) – we have confirmed a special Shots Road Trip to Albany for the weekend of March 4, 5 and 6 and the MAAC Basketball Tournament(s). Planned for that extravaganza are live blogging from the Hotel Bar and instant access to all Instant Classic Freddie Albany stories that are sure to ensue with papa Fritz and young Fred in the throes of March Madness and/or other beverages of choice.

Mark your calendars and be sure to blog along as Shots gives you the Flava Flave of one of the country’s great Mid Major tournaments and prepares you for March Madness.

• Watch how you go and check back often . . .

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