I know I know. I’ve forgotten about the UCONN Huskies. There’s so much going on with the MLB playoffs that sometimes it’s easy to forget, especially when your ace throws an absolute gem. But with First Night coming up in eight days, it’s time to catch you up on all the happenings of the men’s and women’s basketball teams at UCONN.
All you gray haired UCONN fans out there, yes you in the gray sweatshirt. Hold your breath and hope another recruit doesn’t suffer an injury playing another sport other than basketball. Elena Delle Donne, with the blessing of Geno Auriemma, is currently playing volleyball for her high school, Ursuline Academy. She will be at First Night along with the rest of the recruits in the 2008 class.
If you’re an Italian, you know the meaning of Sunday dinners. Geno Auriemma knows all about these and he made it a point to stop at the Delle Donne’s this past Sunday for one. I am sure he felt right at home with all that Italian food. Geno and Chris Dailey were there for Delle Donne’s home visit. Nothing like saving the university a few bucks by getting a free meal.
Geno, his wife Kathy, Rebecca Lobo, and Meghan Pattyson-Culmo were just some of the UCONN entourage at the Bruce Springsteen concert at the Civic Center this week. No word whether or not Geno got up on stage.
What is the one thing that this year’s women’s basketball senior class hasn’t accomplished? A trip to the Final Four and obviously a National Championship. For UCONN senior captain Mel Thomas, anything short of a National Championship is not acceptable.
“The only thing on my mind is winning [a national championship] before I get out of here,” Thomas said. “And I’m not excited at all about leaving here. Every time I think about the end, I get sad. But that helps motivate me from the aspect of basketball.”
For me, I’d love nothing more than for the Huskies to win the championship and beat Pat Slummitt and her Tennessee women’s team for the title.
vs
An absolutely amazing pitching performance by Josh Beckett last night. Whatever he threw seemed to find the strike zone. The complete game shutout was his second in a row in the playoffs as he threw one in 2003 to beat the Yankees to win the World Series. Is it a little early to anoint him “Mr. October” yet? It might be, but a few more starts like that and you can call him that. Big Papi was his usual clutch self as his two-run homer broke the back of the Angels. Youk had gotten the Sox started with a solo homer. This special night was all about Beckett and his special pitching performance. While the Red Sox and Angels take the day off today, let’s take a look at the headlines from the Boston and Los Angeles area media on the first full day of President RemDawg in office.
The Red Sox finally used their 
The Sox came back at Lackey in the bottom of the second as Jason Varitek singled to right but Coco Crisp hit into a 4-3 double play. Julio Lugo singled to right on a 2-1 pitch with two out but ended up getting erased at second on a steal attempt with Dustin Pedroia at the plate to end the inning. Replays showed that second base umpire Brian Runge missed the call, as Orlando Cabrera didn’t get the glove on Lugo.
In the third the Red Sox would pad their lead once again with Youkilis in the mix. With one out, Youkilis doubled down the line in left for his 2nd hit of the night. He came around to score when Ortiz’ second hit of the night ended up in the right field seats near the Pesky Pole for a 2 run home run and a 3-0 lead. Ramirez walked, got to second on a wild pitch and scored when Lowell singled to center and it was 4-0 Boston. But Drew would ground into a 4-6-3 twin killing and Lackey escaped without further damage.
Beckett retired 19 Angels in-a-row before Guerrero singled to left with one out in the 7th to break the streak. Beckett then retired Anderson on a pop out and Izturis on a fielder’s choice and went to the dug out leading 4-0 after 6 and half.
All Hail The New Leader of Red Sox Nation, RemDawg.