Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 11/11

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Thabeet Breaks Jaw

$Memphis Grizzlies head athletic trainer Drew Graham attends to Memphis Grizzlies center Hasheem Thabeet during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, in Memphis, Tenn. Thabeet was taken out of the game with a fractured jaw. (AP Photo/Alan Spearman)$

Former UConn Huskies and current Memphis Grizzlies center Hasheem Thabeet is out indefinitely after fracturing his jaw on Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.

While battling underneath the basket, Thabeet collided with Zach Randolph’s head which fractured his jaw.

Thabeet’s had a slow start for the Grizzlies. In seven games, he’s scored four points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Jasper Howard Stabbing Started With a Fight Over a Girl

RIP Jasper Howard 1989-2009 The arrest affidavit for John Lomax III, the person charged with the stabbing of UConn Huskies cornerback Jasper Howard, was released on Tuesday and it appears the fight started over a girl.

Redshirt freshman wide receivers Brian Parker and A.J. Portee made some remarks about a girl and were confronted by Johnny Hood, who was also arrested on charges of interfering with an officer and breach of peace. The police had come onto the scene and tried to clear up the mess.

Meanwhile, witnesses state that Lomax and Hakim Hakim Muhammad, who was charged with conspiracy to commit first degree assault, went back to their car to retrieve something. They then encountered Howard.

According to Michael Smith, a sophomore receiver on the football team, he saw Jazz throw a punch at Lomax. After he threw the punch, Jazz was then stabbed by Lomax according to the arrest warrant. Jazz then ran across the street saying he’d been stabbed and eventually fell down on the ground by the Student Union.

Parker was stabbed during the fight as well as one of his teammates tried to pull him from the fight.

You can reading the entire arrest warrant here.

Bart Steele Moves Forward With Lawsuit

Last year in October, I was contacted by Bart Steele, who is suing TBS among others for a song that he had written last year. Well late last night, he updated me on the situation and here is what he says in his own words:

Appeal filed in Steele v. Turner Broadcasting et al (case#08-11727)
Coincidence or Copyright Infringement?

On Friday, November 6, 2009, I filed a Notice of Appeal to the First Circuit Federal Court, which marks a turning point in my copyright lawsuit. The defendants in the case include Turner Broadcasting, Major League Baseball, The Boston Red Sox, and Bon Jovi. These defendants are connected in many ways–Major League Baseball Advanced Media runs Bon Jovi’s website.

My lawsuit is based on what I believe was the defendants’ use of my Boston baseball playoff song “Man I Love This Team” as a temp track in the production of a commercial for Major League Baseball. The audio portion of that commercial was performed by Bon Jovi. I believe that commercial–both the visual images and the Bon Jovi audio-were derived from my song.

I sent my song to the Red Sox and Major League Baseball and told them I had written another version called “Man I Really Love This Town.” In basic legal terms, what I believe defendants did was make an “unauthorized derivative work.” Their MLB “I Love This Town” campaign was one of the most expensive sports commercials in history.

The easiest way to understand what they did is to watch the commercial, with my song substituted for the Bon Jovi audio, and see how well it matches up. Boston Magazine described this as “advertising’s equivalent of Dark Side of the Moon and The Wizard of Oz.” Actually, it’s worse. Watch the commercial with my song (posted below) and decide for yourself. The documents I filed with the trial court contain extensive detail about the similarities, but here are just a few:

at the exact time I am singing “Yawkey Way”, the video shows a Yawkey Way street sign, and Bon Jovi is singing “this street”
at the exact time I sing “Tigers”, the video shows a Detroit Tigers player
over 50% of the commercial’s lyrics are identical to, or paraphrased from, my song
96% of the commercial’s frame cut editing is in perfect synchronization with my song’s tempo, beat and measure
the commercial and my song are exactly the same length.

As you watch and listen for yourself, keep in mind that the defendants claim the commercial was a wholly independent creation, neither copied from nor influenced by my song. Yet, at the same time they admitted they had access to my song. They claim that any similiarities (and there are many-see for yourself) are mere coincidence. You decide. The video is posted below.

“Thou Shalt Not Steele” – Bart Steele 11/09/09

This announcement and the MLB video with my song are conveniently located at:
www.myspace.com/chelseacitycouncil

And here is the Bon Jovi/MLB version.

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 11/10

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

UConn Football links

Has There Been A Team That’s Lost Five Games By 15 Pts.? [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Your Thoughts On UConn At 6-6 And Bowling? [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Big East football: Pike might start for Cincinnati [Connecticut Post]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Vanguard reflections [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Signing on the dotted line [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Davis Likes UConn [Rich Elliott – Connecticut Post]

UConn women roll; Dixon hurt [Connecticut Post]

Dixon Strains Hamstring In UConn Win [Hartford Courant]

State recruits finding success outside Storrs [New Haven Register]

Huskies impressive even on an off night [New Haven Register]

Dixon injury mars UConn exhibition win [The Day]

UConn women suffer 1st key injury [The Republican-American]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Coombs-McDaniel Good to Go [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Gavin Edwards Through Two [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Jamal Coombs-McDaniel Cleared To Play [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Coombs-McDaniel good to go [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

Countdown: 4 [TheUConnBlog.com]

NCAA says UConn freshman good to go [Connecticut Post]

UConn Men: Coombs-McDaniel Eligible To Play [Hartford Courant]

Coombs-McDaniel cleared to play for Huskies [The Day]

UConn men’s freshman cleared to play [The Republican-American]

Other UConn related links

Momentary Huskies: The Best Of UConn Basketball Transfers [Hartford Courant]

Men’s Ice Hockey: Huskies Unveil New Third Uniform For 50th Season [UConnHuskies.com]

Men’s Ice Hockey: Larson Named AHA Rookie Of The Week [UConnHuskies.com]

Women’s Volleyball: Connecticut Garners BIG EAST Volleyball Weekly Honors [UConnHuskies.com]

Women’s Soccer: Huskies To Face BU In First Round Of NCAA Tournament [UConnHuskies.com]

Field Hockey: Bubbler sisters get it done for Huskies [The Sentinel]

Jason Varitek Back With Red Sox In 2010

Boston Red Sox's Jason Varitek watches his two-run RBI single during the sixth inning of their 4-0 win in game two of a baseball doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park in Boston Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 - AP Photo Just hours after the Boston Red Sox declined their option on catcher Jason Varitek, he has decided to exercise his player option worth $3 million. He can make an additional $2 million in incentives based on the number of games he starts.

The news was first reported by Adam Hirshfield of NESN.com.

With Victor Martinez coming back as the full-time catcher, the Captain will most likely will be relegated to the backup catcher’s spot. My best guess is that he’ll probably catch at least Josh Beckett and maybe Jon Lester on occasion.

Varitek hit .209 with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs in 109 games during the 2009 season. He did see his role reduced behind the plate when VMart was acquired from the Cleveland Indians.

Jason Varitek to Exercise Player Option, Will Stay With Red Sox [NESN.com]

Theo: Red Sox see Martinez as their everyday catcher [Full Count]

Update 10:44 PM: According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe via Twitter, Jason Varitek has not picked up his option yet. He does say that it could come on Tuesday.

Wakefield Re-Signed For Two Years; Varitek’s Option Declined

Tim Wakefield (L) - Reuters, Jason Varitek (R) - Getty Images

Rather than exercise the annual $4 million option on Tim Wakefield, the Boston Red Sox have re-signed him to a 2-year deal worth $7 million. They also announced they have declined the $5 million option on Jason Varitek’s contract. Varitek still holds a $3 million team option that includes $2 million in incentives based on games played.

According to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, the deal for Wakefield is worth $3.5 million in 2010. In 2011, he would be paid a base salary of $1.5 million and could earn an additional $2 million in incentives.

Wakefield needs 18 more wins to become the Red Sox all-time winningest pitcher. He was 11-5 and had a 4.58 ERA in 21 starts. He spent a good part of the second half on the disabled list with back problems. He’s had the problem surgically repaired and will be ready for the spring training in 2010.

Update: John Tomase of the Boston Herald has the breakdown of Wakefield’s new deal.

Red Sox Exercise Option On Contract Of Victor Martinez

Catcher Victor Martinez #41 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out looking in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Game Three of the ALDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Fenway Park on October 11, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts - Getty Images

Back on October 12th, we learned that the Boston Red Sox were going to pick up the option on the contract of catcher Victor Martinez. And today, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein made it official.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have exercised the $7.5 million option on VMart’s contract. And he has also points out, we know wait to see if the Red Sox will do the same thing with Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield.

The Red Sox hold an annual $4 million option on Wakefield and hold a $5 million option on Jason Vartiek. Tek also has a $3 million player option plus can earn an additional $2 million in incentives based on how many games he starts.

In 56 games with the Red Sox, VMart hit .336 with 8 home runs, 41 RBIs and a stolen base. Overall in 155 games with the Indians (99 games) and Red Sox, he hit .303 with 23 home runs, 103 RBIs and a stolen base.

In other Red Sox news, Nick Green and Joey Gathright have elected to become free agents after being outrighted to the minors last Thursday.

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