So I’ll be here in Hawai’i (sunset pictures from Ala Moana Park and Diamond Head) for another week or so and that means you might have to see pictures occasionally that I’ve been taking while I’m out here.

Obviously, it was another day without the beloved Boston Red Sox playing baseball. We won’t get that around any parts of Red Sox Nation until about 135 days (give or take a few). Yes I know that sucks but them’s the breaks of having a team fall apart in front of you.

However, one of the teams who played an outside part in the demise of the local nine, the Tampa Bay Rays, was eliminated yesterday by the Texas Rangers as former Red Sox third baseman Adrian Beltre hit three home runs.

But what strikes me is a quote that Beltre gave after the game (quote courtesy of @redsox1234):

“I love it here. Great chemistry. Everyone roots for everyone else. I was never on a team like that before.”

Strong words folks considering on the outside, the 2010 Red Sox looked pretty solid as a team. Sure the injuries took a toll on them last year as they did this year but that’s a pretty damning quote in my opinion. Maybe Beltre was just pissed from the all head rubbing he got last year.

But it really makes you wonder that if this was happening last year, how bad was it this year?

To see the overnight links from the media, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Red Sox must address Epstein situation soon [Boston Globe]

Cubs are asking to talk to Epstein [Boston Globe]

Source: Cubs ask about Theo Epstein [Boston Herald]

Muskrats make ‘offer’ to Terry Francona [Boston Herald]

Papi under microscope [Boston Herald]

Looking ahead: The infield [Boston Herald]

Work left to be done [Boston Herald]

Alienation: Take me to your leader [Boston Herald]

Digging through the Red Sox rubble [Chad Finn’s Touching All The Bases]

Mackanin, Alomar, Martinez on Sox’ list of candidates [CSN New England]

Epstein could follow Francona out the door [CSN New England]

Looking to make their marks in Arizona [ESPN Boston]

A look at Sox prospects playing Fall ball [ESPN Boston]

Henry surfaces with a tweet, and a dodge [ESPN Boston]

Mackanin definitely interested in Sox job [ESPN Boston]

Daisuke Matsuzaka throws for first time since Tommy John surgery [Full Count]

Even Adrian Beltre thought Red Sox made a ‘good decision’ last offseason [Full Count]

Cubs reportedly ask for permission to talk to Red Sox GM Theo Epstein [Full Count]

Jacoby Ellsbury’s Breakout, Alfredo Aceves’ Durability Among Positives in Disappointing Red Sox Season [NESN.com]

Marco Scutaro, Josh Reddick Among Question Marks for 2012 in Red Sox Positional Breakdown [NESN.com]

Red Sox Mailbag: Starting Managerial Hunt, Looking at John Lackey’s Future in Boston [NESN.com]

A one-sided argument for Sox infield [Providence Journal]

Sox owner: Interviews for new manager may start next week [Providence Journal]

Tony’s Top 5 managers in Red Sox history [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]

Examining the Red Sox way [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England,  ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as some of the other sports. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Tuesday notes: West Virginia on tap [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]

UConn Offensive Coordinator DeLeone Talks Running Game [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn RB Lyle McCombs: Body Holding Up? Sure [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Coach P at the Podium: West Virginia edition [Ed Daigneault – The Republican-American]

Don’t make TCU angry. You wouldn’t like TCU when its angry. [Joe Perez – Norwich Bulletin]

Tuesday presser [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

UConn defense must step up at West Virginia [CT Post]

Hyppolite Close To Returning [Hartford Courant]

UConn Bringing Many Memories To West Virginia [Hartford Courant]

Gary Wilburn giving UConn growing pains [New Haven Register]

UConn names McEntee starting quarterback [Norwich Bulletin]

McCombs learning on the job [The Day]

Pasqualoni confident UConn would’ve scored [The Day]

UConn Football Notebook — UConn ready to start a whole new season [The Hour]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Dyson on Pan Am Games roster [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Dom answered a few questions in his mailbag [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Player Profile: Niels Giffey [UConn Huskies Basketball]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Former Huskies Charles, Taurasi on All-WNBA squad [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

ESPN will be at Gampel Pavilion for “First Night” [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Tina Charles Named To WNBA’s First Team [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

M. Tennis. Huskies Sweep Hartford, 7-0 [UConnHuskies.com]

Field Hockey. Field Hockey Rated No. 2 in RPI [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Volleyball. Volleyball Back on Track With 3-0 Win Over Hartford; Maving Posts 1,000th Dig [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Soccer. No. 1 Huskies Drop Manhattan With Ease, 3-0 [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Soccer. UConn, Maryland atop men’s soccer poll [Washington Post]

M. Hockey. Return of capable core has Connecticut eyeing a move up standings [USCHO.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Yes I’m still in beautiful Hawai’i (sunset pictures from Ala Moana Park and Diamond Head) and right now my biggest decision is whether to stay for a few more days or another week at least. The one thing I can say is that when the Boston Red Sox season ended, with the exception of what transpired with Terry Francona, I decided to not want to talk about it.

At the time, I didn’t want to face the truth of what really happened.

What seemed like the Red Sox being a lock to make the playoffs in early September (I remember saying something like “unless something catastrophic happens, the Red Sox and Yankees are playing for the AL East title”). And now, here we are six days removed from the greatest collapse we’ve all ever seen (you’re welcome New York Mets) and having to the face reality and the future.

We will have a new person at the helm of the USS Red Sox. There’s the chance we could have a new general manager as well.

But if current Red Sox GM Theo Epstein stays and doesn’t go the Chicago Cubs or any of the other teams who have GM openings, there will more than likely be changes to the team that ended the season (I’m not talking about the callups or anything like that). That was one of things Theo harped upon during his end of the season presser.

If the rumors are true of the beer drinking and other stuff, he better do something about it. There’s a reason why Fenway Park has the longest sellout streak in MLB history. Simply put, we love our Red Sox. But honestly when you hear about the stuff whether it’s true or not, it’s been put out there. And that to me is a little disconcerting.

If you were at your job and said well heck, no one’s around, let’s have a few beers or drinks and someone found out. You’d be finding yourself out of work and trying to explain to your wife and 2.5 kids why daddy doesn’t have a job no more. But if you play baseball for the Red Sox, you might be okay.

That needs to change folks. Personally, I think it’s totally unprofessional of the players to be lounging around having a few beers while the rest of the team is out there busting their collective asses off to try and get the team to the postseason. Now I will say this. If it was after the game, I have no problem with it all.

People have asked me if I thought Francona left on his own accord.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

I’m not totally 100% convinced he did. Sure he said it was his own decision. But it sounded more of a PR spin than anything.

Think about it for a second folks. They got rid of the man who brought TWO, yes count’em TWO World Series Championships to Boston. They came in 2004 and 2007 if you forgot.

Name me one Red Sox manager since 1918 that can say that. You can’t because it didn’t happen.

Again, if he left because he wanted to, I have no problem at all. I’ll just say Thanks Tito for what you did.

If Theo leaves, I don’t think they’re will be the same outpouring of emotions that there were when Francona left. Sure he’s been the architect of the team since late 2002 with the exception of the time he left in the gorilla suit for a while. 

I’ll end with this.

Theo, if you decide you’re going to leave the team you grew up rooting for and brought two World Series titles to that team, can you do us all a favor and take that mouth-breaking sucky ass pitcher you gave a boatload of money to (John Lackey) with you.

That’s all I ask.

And oh for the record, I have not watched one second of baseball since the playoffs started. I’m just not ready for it.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Hired to be fired: History says teams need managerial change [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Search model found [Boston Globe]

If Epstein leaves, price must be high [Boston Globe]

Terry Francona’s departure a ‘surprise’ to Adrian Gonzalez [Boston Herald]

Papelbon aside, relief needed [Boston Herald]

Looking ahead: The bullpen [Boston Herald]

Kevin Youkilis, Sox mates not stand-up guys [Boston Herald]

Uncertainly mounts on Epstein’s future [CSN New England]

Rivers on Francona: ‘Like losing a brother’ [CSN New England]

Psychology of loss for fans, players [ESPN Boston]

Youkilis upset by ‘so much finger-pointing’ [ESPN Boston]

Source: Phils’ Mackanin on Sox list [ESPN Boston]

Terry Francona would manage next season if offered job, source says [ESPN Boston]

Kevin Youkilis on teammates leaking info to media: ‘Don’t be a coward’ [Full Count]

Yu Darvish Will Be Hot Commodity During MLB Offseason, But Red Sox Would Be Wise to Steer Clear of Japanese Pitcher [NESN.com]

Former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette Thinks Challenge of Bringing World Series Title to Chicago Could Be Appealing to Theo Epstein [NESN.com]

Red Sox Will Likely Need to Figure Out What Theo Epstein’s Future Holds Before Hiring New Manager [NESN.com]

Too many Lackeys, not enough . . . [Projo Sox Blog]

Sox had no relief in sight [Providence Journal]

Dice-K plays catch for first time since surgery [RedSox.com]

Adrian named Aaron nominee for Red Sox [RedSox.com]

A look at what the future holds for Red Sox position players [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

For 2011 Red Sox, there was plenty of blame to go around [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England,  ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as some of the other sports. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Big East power rankings: Week 6 [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Johnny McEntee named to Big East Honor Roll [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Big East news and notes [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

It’s WVU … and everybody else [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Now the real season starts … but is UConn ready? [John Nash – The Hour]

Defense needs to look in mirror [Journal Inquirer]

Huskies hit Big East schedule with big questions [New Haven Register]

UConn, WVU both have motivation from within [The Hour]

WVU motivated by last year’s loss [The Daily Anthenaeum]

Holgorsen: UConn’s Record Deceiving [MSNSportsNet.com]

UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni on hot seat after defensive meltdown in loss to Western Michigan [New York Daily News]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jim Calhoun: ‘Chemistry Will Change’ Without Kemba Walker [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Ray Allen: Sports Science [UConn Huskies Basketball]

UConn’s Andre Drummond eligible despite Adidas video, school says [CT Post]

Calhoun On Conference Shuffle: ‘We’ve Worked Too Hard To Let Anyone Stop Us’ [Hartford Courant]

Andre Drummond Cleared By UConn In Video Case; No Infraction [Hartford Courant]

UConn: Drummond’s NCAA eligibility not harmed by video [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Xylina McDaniel Update [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Coach Summitt Appreciates The Concern Of UConn Fans [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

W. Soccer. Season Ending Injuries Bring Huskies Together [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Soccer. UConn’s Schulmann is Women’s College Player of the Week [New England Soccer News]

Field Hockey. Jestine Angelini Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Soccer. Andre Blake Earns Second-Straight BIG EAST Honor [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Volleyball. Huskies hope to end five-game losing streak [The Daily Campus]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

UConn Huskies head coach Paul Pasqualoni has released his depth chart for the Big East opener this Saturday against the West Virginia Mountaineers on the road and there are some changes to it from last week’s depth chart.

Johnny McEntee is officially QB1 by himself on the depth chart after being listed in an “OR” situtation with Scott McCummings and Michael Nebrich. Those two are now listed in “OR” situation as McEntee’s backup.

Also with the news that D.J. Shoemate is out for the year with a dislocated shoulder, Jonathan Jean-Louis and true freshman Deshon Foxx are listed in “OR” situation  as the backup to Lyle McCombs at running back. 

On the offense line, Mike Ryan moves back to left tackle for Jimmy Bennett who is out for the year after tearing his ACL in practice last week. Kevin Friend takes over at right tackle for Ryan with Steve Greene moving into the starting position at left guard.

There are no changes on the defensive side of the ball or on special teams.

For a full look at the depth chart, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

OFFENSE

LT: 71 Mike Ryan (RSr., 6-5, 335)
50 Tyler Bullock (So., 6-4, 298)

LG: 69 Steve Greene (RSo., 6-4, 304)
70 Gary Bardzak (RSr., 6-3, 289)

C: 57 Moe Petrus (RSr., 6-2, 302)
70 Gary Bardzak (RSr., 6-3, 289)

RG: 63 Adam Masters (RJr., 6-4, 292)
65 Gus Cruz (RFr., 6-4, 288)

RT: 77 Kevin Friend (RSo., 6-5, 300)
61 Stephen Brown (So., 6-6, 290)

TE: 89 John Delahunt (RJr., 6-3, 247) OR
94 Ryan Griffin (RJr., 6-6, 248)
81 Corey Manning (RJr., 6-5, 247)

WR: 6 Kashif Moore (RSr., 5-10, 175)
31 Nick Williams (Jr., 5-10, 185) OR
84 Tebucky Jones (RFr., 5-11, 186)

FB: 39 Mark Hinkley (RJr., 5-11, 226)
47 Reuben Frank (RFr., 6-3, 238)

QB: 18 Johnny McEntee (RJr., 6-3, 224)
11 Scott McCummings (RFr., 6-2, 218) OR
2 Mike Nebrich (Fr., 6-1, 204)

TB: 43 Lyle McCombs (RFr., 5-8, 172)
1 Jonathan Jean-Louis (RSr., 6-0, 207) OR
10 Deshon Foxx (Fr., 5-10, 170)

WR: 83 Isiah Moore (RSr., 6-1, 195)
85 Geremy Davis (Fr., 6-3, 211)

DEFENSE

DE: 48 Trevardo Williams (Jr., 6-1, 231)
26 Marcus Campbell (Sr., 6-3, 231)

DT: 4 Twyon Martin (RSr., 6-2, 273)
53 Ryan Wirth (RJr., 6-2, 268)

DT: 99 Kendall Reyes (RSr., 6-4, 295)
59 Shamar Stephen (RSo., 6-5, 315)

DE: 98 Teddy Jennings (RJr., 6-5, 248) OR
91 Jesse Joseph (Jr., 6-3, 262)
97 B.J. McBryde (RFr., 6-4, 277)

LB: 3 Sio Moore (RJr., 6-1, 232)
32 Jefferson Ashiru (Fr., 6-1, 210)

LB: 33 Yawin Smallwood (RFr., 6-2, 229)
36 Michael Osiecki (Fr., 6-1, 238)

LB: 28 Jory Johnson (RJr., 6-1, 227)
46 Marquise Vann (Fr., 6-0, 225)

CB: 7 Dwayne Gratz (RJr., 6-0, 195)
29 Taylor Mack (So., 5-9, 169)

S: 15 Jerome Junior (RJr., 6-1, 215)
2 Gilbert Stlouis (So., 5-11, 183)

S: 25 Harris Agbor (RSr., 5-11, 199)
16 Byron Jones (RFr., 6-1, 187)

CB: 21 Gary Wilburn (RSr., 5-11, 197)
29 Taylor Mack (So., 5-9, 169)

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK: 38 Dave Teggart (RSr., 6-0, 203)
13 Chad Christen (RSo. 6-2, 211)

P: 86 Cole Wagner (RSo., 6-2, 211)
13 Chad Christen (RSo. 6-2, 211)

H: 13 Chad Christen (RSo., 6-1, 201)
86 Cole Wagner (RSo., 6-2, 211)

DS: 67 Adam Mueller (So., 6-1, 207)
66 Dominick Manco (Fr., 6-1, 251)

KR: 31 Nick Williams (Jr., 5-10, 185)
10 Deshon Foxx (Fr., 5-10, 170)

PR: 31 Nick Williams (Jr., 5-10, 185)
29 Taylor Mack (So., 5-9, 169)

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook.

STORRS, Conn. – It was announced today by the Los Angeles Athletic Club that UConn stars Jeremy Lamb (Norcross, Ga.) have been named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top-50. Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball.

Lamb and Oriakhi are two of 10 selections from the BIG EAST Conference. Connecticut was one of nine programs that had at least two players selected. North Carolina became the first program in the history of the award with four players selected to the preseason list. UConn’s Kemba Walker (’11) was a finalist for the award in 2011.

Oriakhi, a junior forward/center, averaged 9.6 points and led the Huskies with 8.7 rebounds and 1.63 blocks per game. A dominant force inside, Oriakhi finished the season with 11 double-doubles, including an 11-11 output against Butler in the National Championship. He also added four blocks in that contest. Oriakhi finished the year ranked second in rebounding and seventh in blocks in the BIG EAST Conference.

Lamb, a sophomore guard/forward, earned All-Rookie honors last season after averaging 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Lamb was sensational in UConn’s run to the NCAA Championship, averaging 16.2 points while shooting an incredible 58.1-percent from the field.

UConn will open the season with an exhibition against American International on Wednesday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies will open the regular season against Columbia on ESPNU on Friday, November 11 in Gampel Pavilion beginning at 7 p.m.

To see the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top-50, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

INFO ON THE WOODEN AWARD

Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation’s best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84), Tim Duncan (’97), Candace Parker (’07 and ’08) and Maya Moore of Connecticut (’09 and `11). BYU’s Jimmer Fredette won the men’s Award in 2011.

2011-12 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 List

Players listed alphabetically
*indicates player chosen to the 2011 Wooden All American Team; GS=Graduate Student
Based on a preseason poll. Award winner honored April 6, 2012 at The Los Angeles Athletic Club.