Second chance It’s worth noting after Wednesday’s confirmation that Dale Arnold would be returning to NESN to host its studio programming during Bruins telecasts that he actually turned down the same role before the 2007-08 season. Arnold, who was then a midday co-host on WEEI, left his play-by-play gig when he was asked to call road games as well. NESN offered to keep him as a studio host, but he turned the job down, and Kathryn Tappen was promoted from weekend anchor and reporter for “SportsDesk’’ … It was lost a bit in the news of Arnold’s return, but NESN also signed Bruins reporter Naoko Funayama to a contract extension Wednesday. Good move. She is a subject of frequent praise for her professionalism and work ethic by her media peers … Finally, one request of NESN: Please, no more focusing on visitors to the broadcast booth, no matter how noble their cause, at the expense of elaborating on pivotal moments during games. It’s happened more than once lately, and with the Sox in the midst of an epic collapse, viewers want Jerry Remy’s perspective, not ancillary chatter while another Oriole or Ray is circling the bases.
