2009 Boston Red Sox Spring Training TV/Radio Schedule

NESN, WRKO, Boston Red SoxCourtesy of Art Martone of the Providence Journal, here is the list of the Boston Red Sox games that will be featured on television and/or radio during spring training.

  • Wednesday, February 25 — vs. Minnesota at 7:05 p.m. NESN, WRKO Radio
  • Saturday, February 28 — vs. Northeastern (SS) at 1:05 p.m. WRKO Radio
  • Saturday, February 28 — vs. Cincinnati (SS) at 7:05 p.m. WRKO Radio
  • Sunday, March 1 — vs. Minnesota at 1:05 p.m. NESN, WRKO Radio
  • Saturday, March 7 — vs. Tampa Bay at 1:05 p.m. WRKO Radio
  • Sunday, March 8 — vs. Tampa Bay at 1:05 p.m. NESN, WRKO Radio
  • Friday, March 13 — vs. N.Y. Yankees at 7:05 p.m. WKRO Radio
  • Saturday, March 14 — vs. Baltimore at 1:05 p.m. WRKO Radio
  • Sunday, March 15 — vs. Baltimore at 1:05 p.m. WRKO Radio
  • Tuesday, March 17 — vs. Minnesota at 1:05 p.m. NESN
  • Thursday, March 19 — vs. Cincinnati at 7:05 p.m. WRKO Radio
  • Saturday, March 21 — vs. Florida at 1:05 p.m. NESN, WRKO Radio
  • Sunday, March 22 — vs. Philadelphia at 1:05 p.m. WKRO Radio
  • Tuesday, March 24 — vs. N.Y. Yankees at 7:05 p.m. NESN, WRKO Radio
  • Saturday, March 28 — vs. Minnesota at 1:05 p.m. NESN, WRKO Radio
  • Sunday, March 29 — vs. Philadelphia at 1:05 p.m. NESN, WRKO Radio
  • Friday, April 3 — at N.Y. Mets at 6:10 p.m. NESN

And don’t forget that NESN has expanded their spring training coverage as well.

Matt Light Will Be In SoBe Super Bowl Commercial

Light will be seen dancing with Ray Lewis and Justin Tuck: New England Patriots offensive lineman Matt Light will be one of three NFL players in the SoBe’s Super Bowl Commercial this year. “When I was asked if I was interested, the first thing I thought of was the spot they did last year with Naomi Campbell and she was dancing to ‘Thriller’ with lizards and all that. So my first thought was ‘I don’t think I’m the right guy for this spot.’ “Then I was informed that I’d be wearing a leotard and dancing with Justin Tuck and Ray Lewis, with the lizards, aliens and monsters.” [Reiss’s Pieces]

2009 Oscar Nominations

OscarsThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the nominees for the 2009 Academy Awards affectionately known as The Oscars.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” leads the way with 13 nominations and “Slumdog Millionaire” follows with 10. You will notice some notable omissions from the awards such as Leonardo DiCaprio in “Revolutionary Road” and “The Dark Knight” in the best picture category.

Heath Ledger was honored posthumously with a nomination in the supporting actor category for his brilliant performance in “The Dark Knight”.

Hugh Jackman will host the 81st Academy Awards ceremony on February 22nd. It will be broadcast on ABC.

Here’s the complete list of nominations.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

  • Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
  • Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
  • Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
  • Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
  • Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

  • Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
  • Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
  • Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
  • Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Performance by an actress in a leading role

  • Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
  • Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)
  • Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

  • Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)
  • Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
  • Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)
  • Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
  • Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

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No Boston Red Sox Spring Training Coverage From Hartford Courant

Courant Cuts Red Sox Spring Training Coverage: For the readers of the Hartford Courant here in Connecticut, don’t expect to see any Boston Red Sox spring training coverage from any of the Courant’s writers. “I just don’t have a beat writer to cover it anymore,” he said, noting last year’s Sox scribe, Jeff Goldberg, took a buyout. “For the first time, we will not cover them home and away.” [Editor & Publisher]

Gisele Says Her And TFB Not Engaged

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen and boyfriend, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady arrive for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" in New York, May 5, 2008. The superhero mania that is invading American cinemas this summer has taken hold at one of the country's most distinguished art museums with an exhibit on how their colorful costumes have influenced fashion. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

It’s been rumored that Gisele Bundchen and injured New England Patriots Tom Brady were engaged on two separate occasions and the first time it was shot down. Well as far as the second rumor of an engagement, it’s been shot down by Gisele herself.

In a interview with the Brazilian magazine Caras, Bundchen told them that they are not engaged but will be married some day down the road.

“I will realize the dream of marriage, to have children and a family, of course. I’m sorry (to) disappoint you, there is no date set yet. I’m in love and you will see my wedding on the right day.”

“I don’t know how people are so creative. “First they said he proposed to me in a plane. Imagine, it was Dec. 24, Christmas, we were flying to Boston, then there was some champagne and we celebrated the date.”

“Ready? Someone deduced I was getting engaged! I received more than 100 e-mails from friends commenting about the proposal. Now there’s a new rumor, that he proposed to me on last Friday. I wasn’t even there, how can that be true?”

She goes on to add that she would like to raise her children back in her native land.

That should clear up the rumor mill involving Gisele and TFB.

Lee County Looking At Potential Red Sox Stadium Spring Training Sites

Finding a home for Fenway South: A Lee County panel is spending their afternoon hearing pitches from landowners for the new Boston Red Sox spring training home that will be built there. They did receive two bids that will not cost anything but there is a slew of problems they would face. They are also looking at other sites which will cost them millions of dollars. [Naples Daily News]

New England Patriots 50th Season Logo

New England Patriots 50th season logo

Here is a press release from the New England Patriots announcing the unveiling of their 50th Season Logo.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots will be celebrating their 50th season in 2009 and are already preparing for another exciting year. Today, the team unveiled an anniversary logo that will be used throughout the year to brand all of the team’s anniversary activities, publications and press announcements in 2009. The anniversary logo will be utilized throughout the year on the Patriots’ many media platforms and will commemorate each of the season tickets issued in 2009.

The red, white and blue logo contains the text “New England Patriots” and “50 seasons.” It features both the original “Pat Patriot” logo as well as the current “stylized minuteman” trademark that was introduced in 1993. The words “50 seasons” and the “Pat Patriot” logo are centered and rest atop the Patriots’ current logo. Six stars in the design represent the six New England states.

On Nov. 16, 1959, the Boston Patriots became the eighth and final original AFL franchise. During the 1960s, the Patriots played home games at stadiums throughout Boston, including Boston University Field, Fenway Park, Harvard Stadium and B.C. Alumni Stadium. A year after the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the franchise moved to the newly-constructed Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. and the team was renamed the New England Patriots.

The franchise enjoyed only moderate success in its first 34 seasons (1960-1993), appearing in one AFL title game in 1963 and one Super Bowl in 1985, both losses. In the last 15 seasons, coinciding with Robert Kraft’s purchase of the team in 1994, the Patriots have claimed three Super Bowl victories, five conference titles and eight division championships. Their 173 victories in the last 15 years are the most in the NFL.

New England is currently in the midst of a remarkable run of sustained success as the only NFL team to have a winning record in each of the last eight seasons. The Patriots are one of just two teams in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a four-year span, and in 2007 became the only team in NFL history to complete a regular season with a 16-0 record. The team now plays its home games at state-of-the-art Gillette Stadium, a 68,756-seat facility that opened in 2002. Patriots fans are among the most loyal and passionate fans in the country, selling out each home game since 1994. In 2008, the team unveiled The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon, a cutting-edge, 36,000-square-foot experience showcasing the tradition of the New England Patriots, providing a home for the team’s hall of fame and exploring the history of football in New England.

The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon will host a number of alumni events that will allow fans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the franchise with Patriots past and present. Fans will also have an opportunity to help the organization select a number of the most memorable moments and events in franchise history through a series of online voting initiatives that are planned in 2009.

Keith Law’s Farm System And Prospect Rankings

For those looking for Keith Law’s 2010 Prospect Rankings, click here:

Boston Red Sox

Keith Law of Scouts, Inc has released his 2009 organizational rankings and the Boston Red Sox checked in at No. 7 on his list. The Texas Rangers boast the top system in his opinion. Here’s what he had to say about the Red Sox minor league system.

Probably an aggressive ranking, but their 2008 draft class has the potential to be one of the best. They have become more aggressive at going over slot to obtain premium players in the draft and have become more active internationally. Their system probably had more prospect depth on 2008 short-season rosters than any other but Texas’.

Law also released his top 10 prospects in the Red Sox organization and his top 100 prospects in baseball. Here is the list of the prospects and where they ranked in the top 100, if they did at all.

1. Lars Anderson, 1B – No. 7 in top 100
2. Michael Bowden, RHP –  No. 52 in top 100
3. Nick Hagadone, LHP – No. 81 in top 100
 4. Junichi Tazawa, RHP – No. 90 in top 100
5. Daniel Bard, RHP – No. 94 in top 100
6. Josh Reddick, RF
7. Casey Kelly, RHP/SS
8. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP
9. Ryan Westmoreland, CF
10. Michael Almanzar, 3B

Anderson is also ranked as the top 1B prospect and is the only member of the Red Sox in the positional rankings.

Law says that Anderson is a few years away from the big leagues and just needs development time which leads me to believe that the Red Sox will not rush him and try to get him ready for when Mike Lowell’s contract runs out after the 2010 season. They would probably move Kevin Youkilis back to third base at that time and have Anderson take over  at first base.

Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 1/22

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

(My apologies for this not showing up at 8 AM when it was supposed to. Apparently it got eaten by wordpress)

It was good win for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team as last night as they fought off the Villanova Wildcats at the end. The one thing that I didn’t like from UConn last night was the fact that they lacked the killer instinct at the end of the game. They had a chance to put the game away but a silly foul by Jeff Adrien and then a stupid turnover by Jerome Dyson almost cost the Huskies. But in the end, they persevered to pick up their 6th straight win.

Matt Stout of the Norwich Bulletin, Gavin Keefe of the New London Day, Neill Ostrout of the Connecticut Post all have some postgame notes from last night’s win over Louisville.

As we learned last night, Ater Majok has been partially cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Mike Anthony of the Hartford Courant has some extras from last night’s win.

A.J. Price had the best game of his career last night.

David Gillett says the Huskies rose to the occasion last night.

Hasheem Thabeet apologized to Luke Harangody earlier this season about his comments from the ESPN The Magazine interview.

In big games, A.J. Price shines above everyone else.

One little push was all the Huskies needed last night.

A.J. Price played like the player UConn had recruited last night.

The UConn men are stacked and hungry for a national title.

Former Husky Barbara Turner re-signed with the Connecticut Sun.

It appears that another player has opened her mouth about the UConn women’s team. This time it’s Candyce Bingham of Louisville.

Connecticut has become the women’s basketball state.

Former Huskies defensive lineman Rob Lunn offers up some final thoughts on the inauguration over at Thoughts From a Fat White Guy.

Brian Bennett of ESPN.com has a look at some of the UConn football team’s recruiting needs.

Ater Majok Partially Cleared By NCAA Clearinghouse

ater majokUConn Huskies freshman Ater Majok can breathe a little easier tonight as the NCAA Clearinghouse gave him partial eligibility.

Unfortunately for him that means he can’t play this season but he will be able to practice with the team. He’ll be eligible to play for the Huskies at the end of the fall semester in 2009.

It’s been a long time coming for a decision on Majok but it’s one he’ll accept.

“It’s good but it’s bad,” Majok said. “It’s bad because I don’t get to play [immediately] but it’s good because I can get acclimated. I’ll practice and get to know the team.”

Majok will not be able to travel with the team but can sit on the bench during all home games.