By David Scott
Boston Sports Media Watch

We’re quite near the saturation point in our ESPN tolerance and Mitchell Report Day isn’t even two hours old. Call us Krukked. Assailed by Assael. Ravaged by Ravetch. Gammoed. Ley’d to Rest. Bustered.

Doesn’t mean I’m shutting it off. But I am flipping around. And surfing the Interwebs (chiefly with Deadspin, Big Lead and Yahoo!).

Here’s a bit of what I’m seeing, when I’m looking:

• Doug Sheckler at Epic Carnival is live-blogging with active commentary in real-time. (I have no idea what that means or if it’s explained correctly). But he’s always got some good smarm and parm. (I’m Mitchell-drunk, leave me alone.)

• Awful buzz on the audio from ESPN’s feed. And then foreign yelling during a Mitchell answer at 2:34 p.m.

• Neither of the national news networks (FOX and CNN) went live with Mitchell, but the Boston FOX affiliate (FOX 25) and NECN did go with Mitchell live - as did NESN. Boston’s other local affiliates stayed with regular programming or snow storm coverage.

CNBC went with Mitchell as did MSNBC. More of a business and sports story, perhaps?

• “1:50 p.m.” The distribution begins. Roger Cossack appears in the Fog and gets lawyerly on our asses.

• Comcast SportsNet is beginning to show signs of its promised “news-gathering” operation albeit through a decidedly New York lens.

According to a company release from the Burlington offices:

Comcast SportsNet will provide live coverage of the Mitchell Report announcement beginning at 2:00 p.m. Comcast SportsNet’s coverage will be anchored by SportsNet New York’s (SNY) Chris Cotter and Matt Yaloff in-studio and on-site.

Coverage will include Jim Duquette, former Mets GM and Orioles vice president of operations; MLB.com radio host Seth Everett; ESPN radio host Brandon Tierney; Chris Carlin from WFAN; drug and sports expert Dr. Gary Wadler; and attorney/agent Bob Baratta.

Comcast SportsNet’s coverage will represent the first time Comcast SportsNet New England has joined its sister networks to cover a national sports story. . .

. . . In other Comcast News, Shots has learned that CN8’s 11 p.m. “Out of Bounds” (to which I am a regular contributor) is slated for a re-configuring come February.

Details of the shake-up are still being worked out, according to several Amory Street insiders but early indications are that the show will be slashed in half and start at 11:30 p.m. instead of 11:00 p.m.

A CN8 spokeswoman replied to a Shots email inquiry on the matter Thursday with the following:

“CN8 is constantly evaluating its original programming to best serve its more than nine million viewers in 12 states and 20 television markets along the East Coast, and to fulfill its mission to continually reshape and revolutionize regional television with relevant content of local, regional and national interests. At this time, we do not have any announcements to share.”

Auditions for a new host (as well as a job posting on for a “Talent” position appear at the cn8.tv job board) are ongoing at the CN8 studios.

The 7 p.m. “OOB” is not believed to be affected by the 11 o’clock changes.

• Pre-Mitchell presser, ESPN dug up a February 2002 video of Pettite, Clemens and McNamee working out together and Clemens pointing to Pettite’s thighs and saying they were AP’s “money makers.”

• Patriots playoff tickets arrived in the afternoon mail. In the midst of a snow event.

Perfect. New England in December.

David Scott writes from a seaside shanty on the shores of Hull, Mass. and can be reached at shotsATbostonsportsmediaDOTcom.
His work – and weekly college hoops report card – for CSTV.com can be found at the Hang Time blog on Mondays and The Glass Sneaker throughout the week. You can also listen for the weekly Professor’s Podcast, also at CSTV.com in iTunes at The Daily Buzz.