UConn Women Destroy Team SRP In Final Exhibition Game

Maya Moore and Tina Charles play some tough defense - Hartford CourantTina Charles led six UConn Huskies in double figures with a double-double of 16 points and 11 boards in a very easy 103-39 win over Team SRP at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

This was the final exhibition game for the Huskies as they open up their regular season on Sunday afternoon against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Charles also added 5 steals. Caroline Doty and Renee Montgomery both had 15 points with Doty adding 8 rebounds and Montgomery had 6 steals. Maya Moore had 14 points and 8 rebounds while Kalana Greene had 12 points, 7 rebounds. Tiffany Hayes rounded out the Huskies in double figures with 10 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.

The only Husky who saw action not to score was Jacquie Hernandez. Heather Buck didn’t play tonight due to an undisclosed medical issue.

Kindyll Dorsey led Team SRP with 8 points. Former Holy Cross star Laura Aloisi added 7 points and former Southern Connecticut star Shamika Jackson added 6 points.

This game was pretty much over from the start as Team SRP was easily outmatched. The game though did give the Huskies another chance to work on things as they prepare for Sunday’s opener.

Team SRP @ UConn Huskies 11.12.08 boxscore

Brown Named Doak Walker Semifinalist

It’s about time UConn Huskies running back Donald Brown got a little national recognition.

Donald Brown, UConn running back

Donald Brown

Brown was named 1 of 10 semifinalists for the 2008 Doak Walker Award which is given to the top running back in the country.  The award is presented by The Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum.

The Award is named after three-time SMU All-American running back and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker. Walker, who also punted, returned kicks and kicked extra points, led the Mustangs to two Southwest Conference Championships. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and led the league in scoring his rookie year. During his six years with the Lions, he led the team to two NFL championships and was chosen All-Pro four times. Walker is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

The 2008 Doak Walker finalists will be named on November 24th and the winner will be announced during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on December 11th.

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.

Here are the semifinalists:

  • Donald Brown (Jr.), Connecticut
  • Glen Coffee (Jr.), Alabama
  • Tyrell Fenroy (Sr.), Louisiana-Lafayette
  • Shonn Greene (Jr.), Iowa
  • Kendall Hunter (So.), Oklahoma State
  • LeSean McCoy (So.), Pittsburgh
  • Knowshon Moreno (So.), Georgia
  • Javon Ringer (Sr.), Michigan State
  • Jacquizz Rodgers (Fr.), Oregon State
  • Evan Royster (So.), Penn State

Maddon, Pinella Named 2008 AL & NL Managers of the Year

Tampa Bay Rays skipper Joe Maddon and Chicago Cubs manager Lou Pinella were named American League and National League Managers of the Year respectively this afternoon.

This is the first Manager of the Year award for Maddon who took the Rays from last place to first place in the AL East. They beat the reigning World Series Champions at the time, the Boston Red Sox, to get to the World Series where they fell to Philadelphia Phillies.

This is the third time Pinella has won the award, his first in the National League. He won the award twice with the Seattle Mariners in 1995 and 2001.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona finished 4th in the AL voting.

In The Red Zone – Jets (6-3) at Patriots (6-3) Preview – Week 11

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This Week

Jets at Patriots - Week 11

The New England Patriots welcome the New York Jets to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro MA on Thursday night at 8:15 p .m.

Thursday night is Troy Brown Night.  The team will honor the former receiver who retired earlier this year at halftime of the game.

The Patriots (6-3) are 4-1 at the Razor, 2-1 in the division and 4-3 against the AFC. The Jets (6-3) are 2-2 on the road, 2-1 in the division and 4-3 against the AFC.  The two teams are tied for 1st place in the AFC East one game ahead of Buffalo and Miami.

The Patriots beat the Jets 19-10 in Week 2 in the Meadowlands.

Here are the rosters for the Jets and Patriots.

Here are the projected starting lineups for the game.

The Line/Prediction

As of Wednesday the line on the game from Yahoo! Sports is Patriots -3.5. The over/under is 42.

My prediction is Patriots 20, Jets, 17.  Take the points (Jets) and take the under . I am 3-5-1 against the spread and 5 of 9 on calling the over/under in 2008.

Tickets

The Patriots are reporting the game as a sell out. It is the 157th consecutive sellout dating back to the 1994 season opener. The record includes preseason, regular season and playoff games.

Tickets to the game, if available, may be purchased through Ticketmaster. You can check the availability here. Many times tickets are released in the last 48 hours prior to the game.

Getting To The Game

If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game at the Razor make sure you check out the links.

Here is the up to date weather forecast for the game from The Weather Channel.

Click for stadium directions, parking information, parking map, specific MBTA train times for this game and a Gillette Stadium seating chart.

Tailgating

Here’s a bunch of different tailgating recipes from Tailgaiting America. There’s something there for everyone and every type of meal or snack. I’ve tried some of the recipes and they’re very good and for good measure here is one of my own.

And with tailgating many people enjoy some adult beverages. With that in mind check out Drink Nation for how to make all sorts of great drinks. You can look things up by name, ingredient(s) or by theme.

Whether it’s at the game, a bar or someone’s house moderation is always the key to a great time. Please don’t drink and drive and designate a sober driver. Remember You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.

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Red Sox Freeze Ticket Prices For 2009 Season

Boston Red SoxHere is a press release the Boston Red Sox distributed this morning concerning the price of tickets available to the public in 2009.

Red Sox freeze ticket prices for 2009 season

First time in 14 years the team holds prices on all seats and standing room tickets available to the public; Spring Training prices also held

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox today announced the team is holding prices at 2008 levels for all existing seats and standing room tickets available to the public at Fenway Park for the 2009 season. The team will also hold prices for all tickets available to the public for 2009 Spring Training games at City of Palms Park in Ft. Myers, FL.

“We have been listening to fans, friends, and family about the challenges they are facing in light of the current adverse economic conditions,” said Larry Lucchino, Red Sox President/CEO. “We are also grateful for the unwavering faith and support our fans have shown us year after year and we hope our ownership’s decision to hold prices for the upcoming season will in some way help ease the burden on Red Sox Nation.”

The move marks the first time in 14 years, since 1995, that the team has held ticket prices across the board. Ticket prices have been held in several categories in recent years, including 70% that remained the same in 2006 and 81.5% in 2007.

“John Henry, Tom Werner, and our ownership always try to look at our business through the prism of the Red Sox fans who have stepped up to higher prices each year for several years,” said Lucchino. “We are taking this step to arrest the growth of season ticket and individual game ticket prices to ensure the great and distinctive Fenway Park experience is a viable option in 2009 for as many citizens of Red Sox Nation as possible.”

(In addition to maintaining 2008 ticket price levels on all existing seats and standing room ticket areas, the Red Sox special discount programs for Active Duty Military and Clergy will continue in 2009. Premium seat contractual ticketholders are also being given the option to freeze their tickets at 2008 prices for 2009. For those choosing to stay at the same 2008 price level, contractual agreements would be extended for one additional season.)

This announcement to freeze ticket prices at 2008 levels follows a tremendously successful season when the Red Sox organization and the citizens of Red Sox Nation together achieved several significant milestones. In addition to the team reaching the postseason for the fifth time in six years and Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS, the fans set a new all-time Major League sellout streak record on Sept. 8th and ended the season at the 469 consecutive game mark (going back to May 15, 2003). A new Fenway Park attendance record was also set, with 3,048,248 fans coming through the turnstiles during the regular season.

“As stewards of this great franchise, John, Larry and I hold our positions as a kind of public trust, and from that perspective, a freeze in ticket prices for the 2009 season is both fair and appropriate for the times and economic conditions,” said Tom Werner, Red Sox Chairman.

Consistent with efforts undertaken by Red Sox ownership since 2002, the club will remain true to its pledge “to field a team worthy of the fans’ support” by investing in its formidable roster of uniformed personnel at both the Major and Minor League levels. During the off-season the organization will also continue its ongoing efforts to preserve, protect and enhance Fenway Park, “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark”, through the Year VIII Improvement plan currently underway.

Fans’ first opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2009 season will be the annual “Christmas at Fenway” celebration on Saturday, Dec. 13. Additional details will be released in the near future.

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Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 11/12

Will he be leaving on a jet plane?

Thing are still quiet for the Boston Red Sox on the Jason Varitek front as the deadline for exclusive negotiations is coming to a close.

David Ortiz was on hand at Fenway Park yesterday to talk about his upcoming charity golf tournament in the Dominican Republic but he also talked his wrist and the fact that the Red Sox need another 30 home run bat in the lineup.

(Regarding his wrist): ”I know it’s going to feel fine. It’s feeling better. I had inflammation at the end of the season, but it went away. Just like the doctors said, you take a month, a month and a half without swinging, you feel fine.

“There’s one thing I can control is what I time I go to sleep. That’s it. After that there are a lot of things you’re not going to be able to control, and injuries are one of them. You have to just deal with it and suck it up.”

(Do the Red Sox need another middle of the order hitter): ”I think so, I think so. Especially our division the pitching is improving a lot and next year, let me tell you, you’re going to have to face a lot of good pitching.

“We just need a few guys in the bullpen and another 30 home run guy and we’ll be all set.”

If Kevin Youkilis can come back with another season like he did this year, Big Papi may not need that 30 home run back. But then again Youk isn’t your prototypical cleanup hitter.

Third base coach Brad Mills enjoyed his visit to Seattle.

Before Matt Holliday was traded to the Oakland A’s, the Red Sox were in talks with the Colorado Rockies about him but likely backed off due to the high asking price.

Here is the transcript of Tony Massarotti’s chat yesterday at Boston.com.

James Stewart of WEEI.com offers up what he would like the Red Sox roster to look like in 2009 and explains how they got there.

Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 11/12

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

It’s game night for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they take on Team Sport Resource Program.

Here is a look at Team SRP’s roster.

Is Renee Montgomery the top point guard in women’s basketball?

Renee Montgomery and Maya Moore are listed as the top players at their positions at ESPN.com. Tina Charles checks in as the third best center.

Renee Montgomery is hoping for a 40-minute effort out of the Huskies tonight.

Pam Webber will be the only member of the 1994-95 NCAA Championship team that will be honored at Sunday’s home opener against Georgia Tech.

There are still tickets available for Sunday’s women’s basketball home opener.

Geno Auriemma has added some new wrinkles to UConn offense this season.

Caroline Doty is diving right into things at UConn.

Will the bad economy hurt the UConn basketball teams?

According to BetOnline.com, the UConn Huskies are 20-1 favorites to win the NCAA men’s basketball title.

Mike Anthony of the Hartford Courant talked with Western Carolina head coach Larry Hunter.

David Gillett has an alumni profile of former Husky Charlie Villanueva.

Mike Anthony of the Hartford Courant has a look at why the UConn men’s game won’t be on TV Friday night.

Chip Malafronte of the New Haven Register, Neill Ostrout of the Connecticut Post, Joe Perez of the Norwich Bulletin, Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant and John Silver of the Journal Inquirer all have some notes from Randy Edsall’s press conference yesterday.

Tyler Lorenzen will most likely return next week for the UConn football team which means Zach Frazer or Cody Endres will be QB1 on Saturday.

Rob Lunn answered some questions over at Thoughts From a Fat White Guy.

Donald Brown talked about running backs coach Terry Richardson’s touchdown celebrations when he played for Syracuse.

Brian Bennett of ESPN.com says not to count the Huskies out of the race in the Big East.

The Big East Football coaches aren’t happy about the quirky scheduling this year.

The Yale Bulldogs got a goal in the last minute of the game to beat the UConn men’s hockey team 2-1.

The UConn Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will be holding food drives at Friday night’s men’s basketball game and Sunday afternoon’s women’s basketball game.

The UConn field hockey team will open up with Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

All 5 Celtics Starters On All-Star Ballot

2009 NBA All-Star Game logoDuring a press conference in Phoenix this afternoon, the NBA unveiled the 2009 NBA All-Star Game Ballot presented by T-Mobile.

For the Boston Celtics, all 5 of their starters, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, were named to the ballot. In last year’s game that was held in New Orleans, Pierce, Garnett and Allen all participated in the game.

You will be able to cast your ballot online starting Thursday at NBA.com.

Remember to vote an all-Green ticket in this year’s NBA All-Star balloting.

NFLN Makes Public Plea

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This comes through our great friend, Ken at Fangs Bites, it is a piece submitted to several newspapers all over the country by NFL Network President Steve Bornstein.  Ken has offered to also run any responses from cable companies who wish to state their case.  The Bornstein piece now runs in it’s entirety:

Memo To Cable Companies: Heed the FCC and Offer NFL Network Now
By Steven M. Bornstein

The Jets-Patriots rivalry gets more intriguing each year. This week, the rivalry has taken a new twist with first-place in the AFC East at stake and Brett Favre leading the Jets while Matt Cassel has taken over for injured Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Favre has helped spark a Jets resurgence, and Cassel has led the Patriots into position for their sixth consecutive AFC East title. NFL Network is excited that our next game telecast this Thursday, November 13, features the Jets at the Patriots.

Unfortunately, some fans may be left on the sidelines for this game. For the second year in a row, Comcast has pushed NFL Network to a narrow sports tier where fans have to pay extra for games they want to see. Time Warner is denying its subscribers the game and other NFL Network programming by refusing to negotiate a deal to put NFL Network on its systems.

It is clear that several big cable companies continue to turn a deaf ear to football fans, blocking or charging extra for our most popular programming on TV. We in the NFL have been trying without success for months to negotiate with these companies for broader coverage.

The good news is that our nation’s regulators are paying attention and keeping the fans in mind. Just last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Media Bureau found that Comcast did discriminate against independent networks like NFL Network. The FCC Media Bureau found Time Warner guilty of the same type of anti-competitive behavior in a similar sports case. It is once again a reminder that these cable companies need to negotiate fairly, not discriminate.

Large cable companies discriminate against networks like NFL Network because we are independent. Have you ever wondered why you get the Golf Channel but not NFL Network? The Golf Channel is owned by Comcast, which makes the channel broadly available. Networks like NFL Network, Wealth TV, and a group of other sports and specialty programming options are not owned by the cable giants. Instead of negotiating with independent programmers, the cable giants discriminate against them in favor of their own.

Meanwhile, cable rates continue to go up. In the last decade, cable rates have increased significantly even though you are blocked from independent programming you really want.

The recent FCC Media Bureau rulings that Comcast and Time Warner Cable discriminated against NFL Network and other independent networks should be a big step forward for consumers and NFL fans. The FCC ordered the case for additional proceedings. But the cable companies continue to drag their feet and are now trying to delay the proceedings, virtually guaranteeing that yet another NFL season will pass before fans get TV they really want, like Thursday night’s Jets-Patriots battle for first place.
You can take a stand. Contact your elected officials today. Tell them cable should stop the discrimination and give you NFL Network.

The author is President & CEO of NFL Network.
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