By David Scott
Boston Sports Media Watch

Real Life has interrupted a good portion of this week, so today’s regular shot of Shots is abbreviated. We would however, encourage you to continue the scroll down and check back on the week of Shots offerings that included Felgie/Flutger follies and rabbit ears everywhere, sagging their droopy ears upon news of the Red Sox severed partnership with over-the-air mainstay, UPN38.

• In the course of Shots pursuing NESN’s moneygrab at the last, dangling portion of the TV schedule, we got some (graciously) extended time with NESN president, Sean McGrail.

McGrail hoped the emphasis of the news was that HD telecasts are becoming the norm and that NESN is serious about its HD AND programming future. The scheduled March completion of new Watertown complex for the Sox (and Bruins) in-House Channel are going to afford the network FOUR separate studios and enough technical doodads to send NESN from here to Pluto and back – with Plutonian subtitles and Pluto-centric advertising included.

Okay, that’s an exaggeration. But the Little Sports Network that Could is becoming the Media Heavyweight that Can and if you don’t think that means good things for the Sox portfolio, well, then you’ve been drinking the NESN nectar – which McGrail sounds to be sipping as part of his duties to ensure separate identities for the two business partners/tentacles of Conglomerate Red Sox Nation, Inc.

No matter how important (and in cahoots) NESN is to and with the Sox, the fact remains that the Network is looking more and more like ESPN Northeast and less and less like a Poor Man’s FSN.

“We’re going to have a much larger presence in spring training than ever before,” said McGrail, who calculated that his network will now have a live professional game televised about 225 days out of the year. “And we’re doing more original programming than any regional sports network in the country. We’re not far from being programmed with our own products (every hour of every day).”

Considering the regional ‘net is no longer subscribing to ESPNEWS (as of Jan. 1), that’s saying something. Now all they’ve got to do is get rid of the slicked back greasy/greezy looking guy trying to change our lives.

The original programming aspect includes this week’s launch of the Yankees rivalry show and the growing roster of other Sox (and Bruins)-related shows/documentaries.

Even more intriguing than a bunch of fan magazines on TV (aka “Tales From Red Sox Nation”) is McGrail’s confirmation that an expansion of the “SportsPlus” show to the daily format that has been rumored for some time. Specifics are still be worked out and it doesn’t sound as if too much has been done in terms of actual show-philosophizing, but you can be sure Joel Feld, NESN’s programming poobah, has the item near the top of his To-Do list.

“I want to see that show expanded. I absolutely think that will be a great show for us,” said McGrail, who didn’t care to speculate on format or talent. He did however, when the name of Bob Neumeier was brought up, say: “I think the World of Neumie.”

Here’s hoping that Neumie is asked (and accepts) and, that the show take on more of a PTI feel into its daily evolution. I could see Neumie and Basketball Bob Ryan playing Role Playing, if you will, the roles of Korn and Wilby. It would work – and throw in good interviews and some key Globe writers for a Good Five minutes, and you’ve got the region’s most innovative (and hopeful) sports shows in many a moon.

• Word from the Worcester Foothills is that a certain, eccentric Marquette Warrior with a penchant for peculiar headwear, found fault with Shots for not wildly splashing the news, from early in the week, of the Crean Men destroying the Calhoun Boys from UConn.

True, true, we were a bit negligent in our duties of Hucking those Fuskies after a BAD loss. But you know how we do here at the Shots Symposium: we keep it real and stay on the side of truth. So yeah, it’s a nice win for the Blue and Gold, and yes, Ernie Novaks or whatever the kid’s damn name is, can play a little ball. But let’s be honest – Them Golden Eagles aren’t ready for the likes of Jeff Ruland Golden Gaels or suddenly surging Bruiser Flint’s Golden Dragons of Drexel. My early Joe Lunardi bracketology sneak-peek has the Gaels and Dragons meeting on Championship weekend Saturday for the right to face the Gonzaga-Memphis winner on Monday night in Indy. . . Oh, and that whole BC-UMass commonwealth Classic thing – we’re all set with that. Nice concept, but the Umies suck now and it’s too painful to watch all the Flutie Flakes cheering against the State U that was their safety school. (Felger made me say the Flutie line – call his ass up. He loves to hear from you.)

• Just started the smart and swift, “Marley and Me” by ink-stained wretch, John Grogan. If you like dogs, good prose and a touch of sentimentality, this is your book. And if you don’t like those things, you probably should.

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