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.

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

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UConn Football links

UConn Football Profit/Loss 2003-07 [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Like usual, DC was busy answering questions in his mailbag [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Video: Connecticut’s reasons for hope [ESPN.com – Big East Blog]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Charles is top rookie – again [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

A peek at the future [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Tina Charles Is WNBA Rookie Of The Month [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Charles Named WNBA Rookie Of The Month … Again [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Moore to Play in WNBA vs. USA: The Stars at the Sun Game [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn women have to play waiting game [New Haven Register]

Former UConn teammates Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi remain winning combination [ESPN.com]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Greater Hartford Pro-Am Kicks Off Saturday [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Wolf at the Door [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Another recruit commits [Gavin Keefe – The Day]

BREAKING NEWS: LeBron to sign with … [Lee Lewis – The Republican-American]

Enosh Wolf To Attend UConn [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Ollie never stopped working [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

A Wolf in Husky clothing [Neill Ostrout – CT Posts]

Walker officially joins USA Select Team [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

Wolf, a 7-1 center, makes oral commitment to UConn [CT Post]

Ollie returns home, to a family atmosphere [CT Post]

UConn Gets Commitment From 7-1 German Center [Hartford Courant]

Napier Reminds Calhoun Of El-Amin [Hartford Courant]

UConn men get 7-foot-1 center [New Haven Register]

Kemba Walker pretty much sums it up [ESPN.com]

Kemba Walker: ‘It just seemed like we couldn’t connect’ [SportingNews.com]

Other UConn related links

Field Hockey: Five UConn Field Hockey Players to Participate in Junior National Camp [UConnHuskies.com]

Women’s Ice Hockey: Weber Added to USA Hockey Women’s National Festival [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball: Baseball Ranked No. 23 in Final USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches’ Poll [UConnHuskies.com]

Okay Red Sox Nation, it’s time to step up our game to get our Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis to the 2010 MLB All-Star Game in Anaheim on July 13th.

With just under six hours to go in the AL All-Star final voting, Youkilis still trails New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher by mere percentage points. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto still leads Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the NL side of things.

So what can we do to help Youk join his teammates in Anaheim?

Well if you’re reading this, stop reading and go Vote Youk. If you’ve got a spare ten minutes, 20 minutes, whatever it may be, go Vote Youk. If you can take your lunch break near a computer, go Vote Youk. Or if you’re sitting around on your butt all day, spend it Voting Youk.

Ask a friend to Vote Youk, do whatever you can to help him get there. He’s deserving of the spot and we don’t want to let him down. We didn’t get any starters to the game in the regular voting so Red Sox Nation, let’s show our clout and get Youk to Anaheim.

Don’t forget to vote for Votto when voting for YOUK!!!! Voting for YOUK ends at 4 p.m. this afternoon.

Here’s how the voting looks going into the final hours:

American League:

1. Nick Swisher, Yankees
2. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
3. Paul Konerko, White Sox
4. Michael Young, Rangers
5. Delmon Young, Twins

National League:

1. Joey Votto, Reds
2. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
3. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
4. Billy Wagner, Braves

Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays 7:10 p.m Tropicana Field SP: Tim Wakefield vs David Price TV: NESN, MLB Network, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Evening Red Sox Delight – 7/7 [SOX & Dawgs]

After losing two games by one run the past two nights, the Boston Red Sox will look to avoid the sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Tonight’s game will start at 7:10 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. The game will be shown on Sun Sports in the Rays television market. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2010 Red Sox radio network.

Tim Wakefield, who hasn’t faced the Rays in 2010, has done yeomans work for Terry Francona this season. In 17 games (13 starts), Wake is 3-6 with a 4.96 ERA. Wakefield has had a great success against the Rays in his career and at Tropicana Field. Overall in his career, he is 20-5 with three saves and a 3.45 ERA in 42 games (32 starts). In 24 games (18 starts) at the Trop, Wake is 10-3 with three saves and a 3.12 ERA.

David Price, who figures to be the starter for the American League All-Star team next week, has made 16 starts this season and has an 11-4 record with a 2.42 ERA. He hasn’t faced the Red Sox in 2010 and is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in two career starts.

Lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, and links after the jump.

And here is the how hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers:

Ryan Shealy has been called up from Pawtucket. He takes the place of Niumen Romero who was designated for assignment.

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Vote Youk/Votto!!!!!!

Pregame notes: Ellsbury to join Sox in Toronto [Clubhouse Insider]

Updated: Red Sox recall Ryan Shealy [CSN New England]

Kevin Youkilis’ Injury Scare Brings Red Sox’ Situation to Level of Absurdity [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]

Notes: Romero DFA’d; no word on Lowell [ESPN Boston]

Shealy to be added to roster [Extra Bases]

News and notes from Tropicana Field [Extra Bases]

Ellsbury will make an appearance in Toronto [Extra Bases]

Remy on D&C: Sox ‘hanging on’ until break [Full Count]

Changeups in the Red Sox bullpen: 2003-2009 [Full Count]

Bowden on moving to pen: ‘I’m excited’ [Full Count]

Francona on D&C: Youkilis expected back in lineup [Full Count]

Do Yankees or Rays Pose Bigger Threat to Red Sox’ Playoff Chances? [NESN.com]

Peter Gammons: Mike Cameron ‘May Soon Have to Shut It Down’ [NESN.com]

Red Sox Call Up Ryan Shealy Prior to Wednesday’s Game Against Rays [NESN.com]

Cash pickoff could have been a key play [Projo Sox Blog]

Shealy arrives, Romero DFA’ed [Projo Sox Blog]

Michael Bowden’s move to the pen could foreshadow a major-league move [Projo Sox Blog]

Ellsbury to rejoin Red Sox on Friday in Toronto [Projo Sox Blog]

Buchholz throws bullpen with eye on post-break start [Projo Sox Blog]

Youkilis in need of surge in Final Vote [RedSox.com]

Photo credit: Getty Images, Getty Images

Come on Red Sox Nation! We are disappointing Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis in his bid to join his teammates in Anaheim for the 2010 MLB All-Star Game.

After taking over the lead in the voting for the AL All-Star final roster spot on Tuesday, Youkilis has fallen back in second place behind New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher by just one percentage point. On the NL side of the things, Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto still leads Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

Let’s not disappoint Youk, folks. We didn’t get any Red Sox starters in the game but let’s show the players and Youk especially, that we care and want him there. Do your part and get Youk back to the top, vote now!!!! And don’t forget, the Red Sox and Reds have teamed up for a Youkilis/Votto ticket so show your support for Votto in the National League when voting.

Get your vote in before 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.

Here’s how the first three days of voting look:

American League:

1. Nick Swisher, Yankees
2. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
3. Paul Konerko, White Sox
4. Michael Young, Rangers
5. Delmon Young, Twins

National League:

1. Joey Votto, Reds
2. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
3. Billy Wagner, Braves
4. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
5. Heath Bell, Padres

For all intents and purposes, the Boston Red Sox lost their game to the Tampa Bay Rays last night when Kevin Youkilis (vote Youk) left the game before his at-bat in the 4th inning when he left with what was announced as right ankle pain. But why is this reason the Red Sox lost last night?

It’s quite simple actually. Why in the world are you going to pitch to David Ortiz (who hits before Youk) when you can take your chances with Niuman Romero, who had just two hits in 14 career at-bats before last night. And that’s exactly what Rays skipper Joe Maddon did last night.

With a runner on second in the 5th inning, Maddon had his starter Jeff Niemann intentionally walk Big Papi to face Romero who ended up flying out to leave two runners stranded on base. In the 7th inning with a runner on first, Maddon had reliever Lance Cormier intentionally walk Big Papi to face Romero who ended up grounding out to first to leave two more runners on base.

And it happened again in the 9th inning after Eric Patterson’s triple brought in Bill Hall to cut the Rays lead to 3-2. With Patterson on third, Maddon had his closer Rafael Soriano intentionally walk Big Papi for the third straight time. Interestingly enough, instead of having Mike Cameron pinch-hit for Romero, he had him pinch-run for Big Papi. That move backfired for Terry Francona as Romero grounded out to second to end the game.

There wasn’t much Francona could do when Youk went down. He only had Romero who could play first. Sure he could have used Big Papi at first base but then the Red Sox would have had their pitcher batting cleanup for the rest of the night.

Fortunately for the Red Sox, it doesn’t appear the injury to Vote Youk is all that serious and he could be back in the lineup tonight. Things won’t be easy though as the Rays will be looking for the sweep with their All-Star ace David Price.

We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, news and any links from the day but for now enjoy the overnight links after the jump.

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No gain, just pain for Sox [Boston Globe]

Backup plan falling apart [Boston Globe]

Beckett takes another step [Boston Globe]

Get your game on [Boston Globe]

Recap: Rays 3, Red Sox 2 [Boston Herald]

Kevin Youkilis deserving of intense support [Boston Herald]

Lineup in real crisis [Boston Herald]

Rough night for Niuman Romero [Boston Herald]

Red states promote Youkilis-Votto ticket [Boston Herald]

Ortiz: ‘What I’m seeing right now is like a curse’ [Clubhouse Insider]

Red Sox lose third straight, Youkilis leaves injured [CSN New England]

Youkilis’ ankle locks up, should be ready for Wednesday [CSN New England]

Closing Time: Rays 3, Red Sox 2 [Full Count]

Injury shouldn’t sideline Youkilis [Full Count]

Maddon: We were not pitching to Ortiz [Full Count]

Sox and Ranaudo play a waiting game [Full Count]

Ortiz: Rash of injuries ‘like a curse’ [Full Count]

Anthony Ranaudo, 39th Overall Pick and Scott Boras Client, Playing Hardball With Red Sox [NESN.com]

Jason Varitek, Darnell McDonald Among Best Bench Players in Baseball [NESN.com]

Kevin Youkilis’ Injury Sinks Red Sox in Tampa Bay [NESN.com]

Prospect Ryan Kalish Predicted to Make Greatest Impact for Red Sox in Second Half of Season [NESN.com]

Terry Francona Optimistic That Kevin Youkilis Won’t Miss Series Finale With Rays [NESN.com]

Kevin Youkilis Says Ankle Injury Was ‘Very Odd’ [NESN.com]

Red Sox Avoid Major Injury to Kevin Youkilis But Can’t Avoid Third Straight Loss [NESN.com]

Rays 3, Red Sox 2: Another injury, another loss [Providence Journal]

Doubront, featuring curveball, shines in second start [Providence Journal]

With two strikes, Patterson makes his cuts count [Providence Journal]

Beckett scheduled to start Sunday in Pawtucket [Providence Journal]

Red Sox journal: Youkilis leaves with ankle problem [Providence Journal]

Beckett pitches simulated game [RedSox.com]

Ellsbury about to resume baseball activities [RedSox.com]

Hermida participates in batting practice [RedSox.com]

Okajima returns to Boston’s bullpen [RedSox.com]

Healthier days ahead for Red Sox [RedSox.com]

Youkilis’ right ankle injury appears minor [RedSox.com]

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

And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying, head over to the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times websites.

Photo credit: AP Photos

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UConn Football links

DC answered a few questions in his mailbag [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Graham Stewart’s Unofficial Visit To… [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Season Ticket Sales Update [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Football Losing Money? An Update [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Former UConn Star Ketia Swanier Suspended By WNBA For One Game [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

LSU, Lehigh Join Howard For November Tournament [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Huskies To Host Baylor Nov. 16 [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Other UConn related links

Men’s soccer releases 2010 schedule [UConnHuskies.com]

Men’s Ice Hockey: Four Huskies Earn Atlantic Hockey All-Academic Team Honors [UConnHuskies.com]