By David Scott
Boston Sports Media Watch

It’s never my practice to tout the Boss just for the sake of touting the Boss, but My Boss Bruce needs to be commended for bringing to light some of the inherent problems of performing journalism in a world where news is delivered minute-by-minute, rather than day-by-day.

Jackie MacMullan’s Sunday takeout piece for the Boston Globe (which clocked in at 3,000 words) was, most certainly, timed to run on the day of the Pats’ first playoff game. That’s nothing more than excellent planning by sports editor, Joe Sullivan and his staff. The purpose of doing extended features such as “Payment Due” is to get more bang for your buck and to allow one of your best writers to sink her teeth into a subject. The issue that we seem to be overlooking is the flaws in the actual system.

From this perch, it was important for readers to know WHEN Asante Samuel made the comments he did to MacMullan. The fact that Samuel is claiming (in Julian Benbow’s Globe story from Monday) that the interview took place “three or four weeks ago,” indicates that at least Samuel had the good sense not to be stirring the pot in the midst of playoff preparations. It’s quite likely that Samuel had no idea when the story would run. Players grant one-on-one interviews (usually, if not always, set up through Pats PR) throughout the season and the results of those interviews are used at various times – not always the day after the interview occurs.

Samuel’s words are his ticket out of town – that’s almost a given. He broke the “Patriots code of silence” on contract matters. It wouldn’t have mattered when they came public, his future is now determined. I for one, however, find it a lot less galling that Samuel would express his desire to be traded in December than on the eve of the opening round of the playoffs, as the Globe story might lead some to believe. Maybe that’s a small distinction, but it’s one that has to be made in order to be fair to the player.

But it says here that MacMullan (or Globe policy) should insist that some background of when the interview with Samuel took place should have been noted within the piece (prominently, and early on). Let’s remember, it’s only in recent years that the Globe’s notebooks have included the disclaimer about using AP and other resources. This all goes to the transparency issue that has driven, in large part, the rise to blogging.

Understand this – MacMullan got great access, did tremendous leg work (her Benny Sapp quotes were stellar) and put forth a compelling piece. She, does, it appears, leave out some sense of what kind of monetary numbers Samuel could be looking at in the open market and that’s actually something that could have made for nice relief art (in form of a chart) on a text-heavy piece. But overall, MacMullan nailed her subject and delivered for her bosses.

(An email to MacMullan’s Globe address, sent by Shots Monday evening in the dinner hour, seeking to confirm when the Samuel interview took place and other clarification, was not returned as of posting time, see timestamp below. We will add any comments MacMullan responds with, when and if she does so.)

. . . Shots had occasion to speak with media talent (and NFL player) agent, Brad Blank on Monday and we’re able to pass along a couple of interesting items on three of Blank’s higher profile local clients.

First, it would appear that former Red Sox voice, Jerry Trupiano, is in the mix on a few jobs nationally. Although Blank would only confirm one potential radio gig (believed to be in-studio with XM Satellite Radio) and one potential TV job (possibly with the Turner Broadcasting folks), Shots has also learned that Trupiano is “in the discussion” for a radio position with the San Diego Padres. The opening at Padres’ flagship XX 1090 AM/105/7 FM arose when Tim Flannery went from the booth the dugout, as explained by North County (Calif.) Times writer, John Maffei. Maffei reported last week that a short list of candidates should be in place this week and a replacement will be named by the end of the month.

Flannery was a former infielder and coach for the Padres and shared booth duties with the long-time Padres duo of Jerry Coleman and Ted Leitner, who are both returning for 2007. Coleman, in recent years, has cut back his game schedule, leaving opportunities for the Padres’ third man to call 100 or more games each year. That would seem to be an ideal fit, although Trupiano would have to be considered a long shot, at best, for the Pads’ job. There are few logical connections for him with teh organization and the tendency in these matters is to stay local and, more and more, go with an ex-athlete.

Trupiano obviously has the talent to call games in any media market, but like so many of these things, timing is everything. Trupiano “officially” got into the marketplace late as he still held out hope that he would be retained by the Sox and Entercom. But he knew what was happening and wheels have been in motion for a few months on the part of his agent, Blank.

At worst, we’re guessing, Trupiano would need to sit out a year and do some fill-in or minor league work and then get aggressive when next year’s jobs open.

Next, is news from Blank that client Don Orsillo has been extended by NESN and the Red Sox by two years with a team-option for the year 2010. Orsillo’s last deal was set to expire after this coming season, but he is now in the NESN booth through, at least, the 2009 season.

And the third bit of Blank-et coverage we can provide is a follow-up to the rather incomplete Globe story on Bob Neumeier (which the Track Gals blatantly ripped off).

NBC Neumie has officially joined the ranks of the Snowbird Set and has settled in Ft. Lauderdale, according to Blank. However, “Neumie” maintains a residence at Lewis Wharf on Boston Harbor and will likely return to Beantown for the spring and summer months. Neumeier’s three-year deal with NBC includes the full NFL season, horse racing coverage (of course), track and field events, the Olympics and, Blank said, perhaps some work on the network’s Notre Dame football package.

“He doesn’t make more money than some of my other (media) clients,” said Blank, who includes Glenn Ordway, Gary Tanguay, Orsillo and NFL Network (and Al Davis’s fave) Adam Schefter on his current roster. “But pound for pound, Neumie does very well and has a much easier existence than some people (making the same or less).”

Aside from allowing Neumeier to frequent Gulfstream Park, where he can play the ponies ‘til his heart’s desire, the move(s) also mean that “NESN’s Boston Globe Sportsplus” show is without a “true” host and hurting because of it. Last week’s two shows were anchored by WEEI 850 AM’s Dale Arnold, who was the polar opposite of the always engaging Neumeier.

It won’t be easy for NESN to replace Neumeier and knowing what we know about the tight purse strings over at the Sox-run network, we should probably prepare ourselves for a parade of guest-hosts and wannabe-hosts. Ultimatley they will likely have to settle for someone far below the Neumie Line.

. . . FOX got a rather blah romp in the BCS Championship game, so prepare for the spin to begin on why the ratings are low. As Bob Ryan pointed out over the weekend, the ratings (and interest) are low because the damn game lost all its momentum in the extended run-up.

. . . Wendi Nix popped up with a very solid Chris Leak interview on ESPN’s pre-game coverage for the BCS title tilt. We miss Wendi.

. . . Some excellent fire-dousing by the Patriots in not allowing Scott Pioli rumors to become a distraction in what will already be a circus-like environment in advance of “Sunday at 4:30 p.m.” It hardly had time to fester here in Boston and the team was already releasing a statement.

. . . Julian Benbow, by the way, has now had two stories in the course of one week where he goes after a fan in order to set up a portion of his story. He employed the practice on a Northeastern-ODU game story last week (on Thursday) and now, the Samuel story referenced above, employs a similar technique. It might get annoying by the third time. Benbow, a recent VCU grad (scroll down for this fascinating story in which Benbow is quoted), appears to be getting more reps on larger beats lately.

. . . We’ll be back as scheduled on Friday and plan to include some wonderful memories of a Saturday night spent at the Hot Stove, Cool Music pre-Sunday show concert featuring members of Little Feat and the Hot Stove All-Star Band (no longer confused with Ringo’s incarnation.) Just a preview: Peter Gammons is a living legend. Period. (A nice story at that link by the multi-talented, five tool writer and stage manager, Maureen Mullen.)


David Scott writes from a seaside shanty on the shores of Hull, 
Mass. And can be reached at shotsATbostonsportsmedDOTcom