The Denver Nuggets came into Boston to face the reigning NBA Champions having gone 3-1 since they traded Allen Iverson to Detroit for Chauncey Billups.  They came out of Boston 4-1 since the trade with a 94-85 road win over the Boston Celtics Friday night at the TD Banknorth Garden.

The win was only Denver’s (5-4) second in Boston in their last 19 tries but unlike some football team and those that cover them from New York who won in Foxboro this week the Nuggets and the Denver media aren’t acting as if their win just won them the league championship.  The loss for Boston (8-2) was their first at home this season and and snapped an overall 6-game win streak.

Billups, the 2004 NBA Finals MVP, had 18 points and 7 assists, Carmelo Anthony also had 18 points with 13 rebounds for a doubel-double and Kenyon Martin chipped in with 16 points for Denver in the win.

The Green were led by Ray Allen who had 26 points, Paul Pierce added 19 points and Kevin Garnett score 16 in the loss.

The Celtics are right back at it Saturday night in MIlwaukee when the face the Bucks for the second time in a week.

Earlier this morning, I passed along in an update that the Fenway Sports Group owned Salem Avalanche had been renamed to the Salem Red Sox. Here is the press release announcing it.

SALEM, Va. (November 14, 2008) – The Salem Avalanche, a Class-A Advanced Carolina League baseball franchise, today announced that it will bear the name of the 2004 and 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox, and will now be called the Salem Red Sox.

As part of the announcement, team officials unveiled a new logo that features the Red Sox brand and marks including the team’s iconic dangling socks against a backdrop of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountain range, a symbol that is synonymous with the Roanoke Valley. The new uniform will be officially unveiled at a Salem Red Sox fan celebration at the Tanglewood Mall on Saturday, November 15.

Fenway Sports Group, the managing partner for the ownership group that acquired the team in December 2007, recently announced that the Salem baseball franchise signed a player development contract with the Boston Red Sox and now serves as the club’s top Class A affiliate. The organization has played under the name the Salem Avalanche since 1995 and was most recently affiliated with the Houston Astros.

“We’re thrilled to bring Red Sox Nation and everything associated with it to the Roanoke Valley,” said Fenway Sports Group President and Red Sox Chief Operating Officer Mike Dee. “This is not merely a cosmetic change but a change in the organization’s culture. This will be reflected in all aspects of our organization as we deliver on our commitment to field a championship-caliber baseball team, provide an unparalleled fan experience, and operate a franchise that continues to grow deep roots into the community.”

This announcement marks the sixth time that the Boston Red Sox will hold an affiliation with a Carolina League team, but only the third time the franchise will bear the Red Sox name. Previous clubs include the Wilmington Blue Rocks (2005-06), the Lynchburg Red Sox (1988-94), the Winston-Salem Red Sox (1961-84), the Raleigh Capitals (1958-60) and the Greensboro Patriots (1953-57).

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UConn Huskies women’s basketball freshman center Heather Buck will miss at least the next 3 weeks with mononucleosis. Jim Fuller of the New Haven Register has the scoop.

As was feared, freshman center Heather Buck does have mononucleosis and is out a minimum of three weeks and will be checked every week for progress. The three-week window of recovery could have Buck returning to practice in time for the Dec. 14 game against Penn State in the Maggie Dixon Classic in New York although it is possible it could take her more than three weeks to get back on the court.

This is a blow to the Huskies who will now be lacking a body in the post. Buck was expected to help out backing up Tina Charles at center. Charles will now have to play smart basketball and stay out of foul trouble.

Head coach Geno Auriemma is concerned about the lack of depth he has in the post.

“We’re already thin,” Auriemma said. “So there isn’t really more room for fouls, sickness for anything. I think that’s the most crucial part of our game right now.

“If something were to happen to Tina or Kaili during a game, where do you go? We have to make sure it doesn’t happen. It’s one of those things in your control, yet not in your control.

“Kaili is getting better, but she is up and down. She came back from the summer OK, not great.

She kind of lost her way a little bit. What I’d like to see is her become much more consistent so that we get the same things from her everyday, every game. That’s what she’s going to need to do if she wants to contribute to this team. The opportunity will be there for her.”

Buck has mono [Elm City To Eagleville]

Buck Out At Least Three Weeks [Hartford Courant]

The Result

It was a tale of two halves and overtime.  In the first half the New York Jets were the dominant team racing out to a 24-13 lead at halftime.  Brett Favre and the offense were clicking, the defense wasn’t letting the Patriots get anything going making them settle for field goals.  The New England Patriots came out in the second half and turned things around outscoring New York 18-7 which included a Matt Cassel to Randy Moss 16 yard TD pass with 0:01 left on the clock to tie the game at 31-31.

The Jets won the coin toss and marched down field in overtime getting the ball down to the New England 16 where Jay Feely kicked a game winning 34 yard field goal to win the game and give the Jets sole possession of first place in the AFC East with a 34-31 win at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

New York is now 7-3 while New England drops to 6-4 and the Patriots now have two losses in the division both coming at home.   

Scoring Plays

1^st Quarter

• NYJ – Favre 7 yard pass to Washington – Feely PAT
• NE – Gostkowski 42 yard FG
• NYJ – Feely 22 yard FG

2^nd Quarter

• NE – Gostkowski 31 yard FG
• NYJ – Washington 92 yard kickoff return – Feely PAT
• NYJ – Favre 15 yard pass to Cotchery – Feely PAT
• NE – Cassel 19 yard pass to Gaffney – Gostkowski PAT

3^rd Quarter

• NE – Cassel 10 yard pass to Watson – Cassel 2 yard pass to Gaffney PAT (2)

4^th Quarter

• NE – Gostkowski 47 yard FG
• NYJ – Jones 1 yard run – Feely PAT
• NE – Cassel 16 yard pass to Moss – Gostkowski PAT

Overtime

• NYJ – Feely 34 yard FG

Offensive Players of the Game

New England QB Matt Cassel was 30 of 51 for 400 yards 2 TD’s and 0 INT’s, he also rushed for 62 yards.  New York RB Thomas Jones had 30 carries for 104 yards and 1 TD.

Defensive Players of the Game

New England LB Jerod Mayo had 20 tackles and 1 passed defensed.  New York LB Eric Barton had 16 tackles.

Turning Point(s) of the Game

The coin flip for overtime.  The Jets won it and drove down field for the winning field goal and the Patriots never saw the ball.  The NFL really needs to address overtime, can you imagine if a Super Bowl were to end like that?

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As the clock strikes midnight here on the east coast, the exclusive rights any teams had to negotiate with the MLB free agents is over.

So let the bidding begin and watch as the teams will open up their checkbooks despite the poor economy.

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It’s Mangini vs. Belichick VII…and it’s next!!

The well-deserved national recognition continues to come in for UConn Huskies running back Donald Brown.

Walter Camp

On Thursday afternoon, The Walter Camp Foundation announced it’s 15 “players to watch” for it’s Player of the Year Award and Brown was on that list.

The Walter Camp Award is the 4th oldest individual college football award in the nation and the 15 “players to watch” will be whittled down to 5 on December 2nd.

The winner of the award will be announced on December 11th during the 6 PM edition of SportsCenter. The award will given out on January 17th at the Walter Camp Foundation Awards Banquet which is held at the Yale University Commons in New Haven, CT.

Brown currently leads the country averaging 156.22 yards a game and has rushed for 1,406 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is also one of the semifinalists for the Maxwell Award which is given to the top college football player in the land and the Doak Walker Award which is given to the top college running back.

Here is the full list and notes from the press release about each player:

• Sam Bradford, Sophomore, QB, Oklahoma – Has passed for 3,406 yards and 38 touchdowns for the Sooners
• Donald Brown, Junior, RB, Connecticut – Leads nation in rushing yards per game (156.22) for the Huskies
• Michael Crabtree, Sophomore, WR, Texas Tech – Has 78 receptions and 18 touchdowns for Red Raiders
• Chase Daniel, Senior, QB, Missouri – Has passed for 3,264 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Tigers
• Jarrett Dillard, Senior, WR, Rice – Has 69 catches and 17 touchdowns for the Owls
• Graham Harrell, Senior, QB, Texas Tech – Has thrown for 4,077 yards and 36 touchdowns for the Red Raiders
• Jerry Hughes, Junior, DL, TCU – Leads the nation with 14 sacks for the Horned Frogs
• James Laurinaitis, Senior, LB, Ohio State – Has 101 tackles, two interceptions and five sacks for the Buckeyes.
• Jeremy Maclin, Sophomore, WR/KR, Missouri – Averaging 198.5 all-purpose yards per game for the Tigers
• Rey Maualuga, Senior, LB, USC – Has 57 tackles and 2 interceptions for the Trojans
• Aaron Maybin, Sophomore, DL, Penn State – Has 16.5 tackles for loss, including 11 sacks, for the Nittany Lions
• Colt McCoy, Junior, QB, Texas – Has passed for 2,879 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Longhorns
• Scott McKillop, Senior, LB, Pittsburgh – Has made 89 tackles (61 solo) for the Panthers
• Javon Ringer, Senior, RB, Michigan State – Has 1,548 rushing yards and scored 20 touchdowns for the Spartans
• Tim Tebow, Junior, QB, Florida – Has passed for 17 touchdowns and rushed for 10 more for the Gators.

Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians was named the winner of the 2008 AL Cy Young for his stellar season. He is the second straight member of the Indians to win the award, C.C. Sabathia won it last year.

Lee received 24 of the 28 first place votes. Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays finished second and received the other 4 first place votes.  Free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim finished 3rd.

Boston Red Sox Japanese import Daisuke Matsuzaka finished 4th.

After having to compete for the 5th starter spot in spring training, Lee came out firing as he won his first six starts and racked up a 0.81 ERA. He finished the season with a 22-3 record and a 2.54 ERA.

We all know of ESPN’s love affair with New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre. And now the NFL Network is trying to make it a Ménage à trois. And better yet, they are making Favre out to be a hero.

I’m not sure if we can expect a love affair of Favre from Bob Papa and Chris Collinsworth during tonight’s New England Patriots vs Jets game on the NFLN tonight.

The NFL Network Thinks Brett Favre Is A “Hero” [Awful Announcing]

Former Hartford Whalers General Manager Brian Burke has stepped down from the same position with Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.  Burke, who earlier this week declined a contract extension offer, sighted family obligations for not wanting the extension.  He felt it was best for the team that he step aside as they had someone in the organization to replace him.

Taking over as Ducks GM is Bob Murray, who was Burke’s right hand man in Anaheim and prior to that worked with him in Vancouver.

Burke came to Anaheim in 2005 and built the 2007 Stanley Cup championship team.  Prior to that he was the GM in Vancouver for six seasons.  Previous to that the Providence RI native was in the NHL office as the vice president in charge on discipline and was the GM for the Hartford Whalers for one season before joining the league.  He got his front office start in Vancouver as the Canucks Director of Hockey Operations in 1987.  he is also a former player agent.

Burke who is the general manager for the 2010 US Olympic Hockey Team is reported to be one of the candidates to fill the vacant Toronto Maple Leafs general managers slot.