And lots of other great Red Sox nuggets in this month’s Boston magazine that you might be interested in. Pedroia calls A-Rod a dork and reveals much more in this feature story – http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/dustin_pedroia/

Even more Sox fun can be found in Boston magazine’s “Obsessive’ Guide to the 2009 Boston Red Sox: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/redsox/index.html

Among the highlights:

• Hideki Okajima’s delivery comes from a cartoon, seriously: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/home/display/Comic_book/
• Big Papi’s baseball card says he wanted to be announced as “El Gran Sexy”: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/redsox/trading_cards.html
• Little known stories of Fenway Park: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/redsox/it_happened_here_1.html
• Even better, how to sneak into Fenway Park: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/how_to_sneak_into_fenway_park/

CASK ‘N FLAGON HOSTS OPEN AUDITIONS FOR RED SOX TRIVIA GAME SHOW

New NESN show “The Batter’s Box” asks Sox fans, “Think You Know Your Red Sox?  Prove it!”

WHAT: The Cask ‘n Flagon will host an open audition for Boston Red Sox fans who want to compete in NESN’s new trivia game show.  The name of the show is “The Batter’s Box”, and die-hard Red Sox Fans will have the opportunity to show that they know everything there is to know about their adored Red Sox.

We are looking for contestants of all Sox trivia knowledge levels.  Fans wishing to audition will answer questions and tape a 30 second statement, saying why they should be on the show.  The show will air on NESN this fall, and it is being shot in July at Mohegan Sun’s Cabaret Theatre.  For more information on “The Batter’s Box”, please visit www.thebattersboxshow.com.

WHEN: Friday, April 10^th

9:00 pm – 11:00 pm.

WHERE: Cask ‘n Flagon

62 Brookline Ave
Boston, MA 02215

STORRS, Conn. – University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball Final Four travel packages, comprised of game tickets and hotel rooms, will be available for purchase by the general public beginning Wednesday morning.

Fans interested in purchasing Final Four packages through UConn may do so between 8:30 and 5:00 p.m. Tuesday by calling 1-888-GO-UCONN or by visiting UConnHuskies.com. Packages may also be purchased which include charter air travel to St. Louis.

Pricing information for all UConn Final Four packages is available at UConnHuskies.com.

Ticket & Travel Information

It’s off to the Final Four for both the UConn Huskies men’s and women’s basketball programs. It is the 7th time that one school has a team in both the Men’s and Women’s Final Four and UConn is the first school to do it twice. It is also just the second time since the inception of the women’s NCAA Championship in 1982, that a conference has had four of the eight teams playing in the Final Four. Both teams will be looking to bring home the trophy like they did in 2004.

UConn Women’s Basketball links

It wasn’t pretty, but UConn still won easy [ESPN.com]

UConn Clears Agenda for Stanford Rematch [New York Times]

UConn’s Tina Charles in charge as Huskies eye women’s Final Four [New York Daily News]

Final Four bound [Elm City To Eagleville]

UConn women beat Arizona State 83-64 to advance to Final Four [Mansfield Today]

UConn ends dream for ASU women [Arizona Republic]

Time for a Final Four rematch [San Francisco Chronicle]

UConn’s Moore Has Chance To Set Things Right [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women On To Another Final Four [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women Will Face Stanford In Rematch Of Last Year’s Final Four [Hartford Courant]

Moore Breaks Wolters’ Record [Hartford Courant]

NCAA Women’s Final Four Matchups In St. Louis [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Extras [Hartford Courant]

UConn women advance to Final Four [Waterbury Republican-American]

Don’t call these Huskies arrogant [Waterbury Republican-American]

Maya Moore sets scoring record [Waterbury Republican-American]

UConn beats Arizona State for 10th trip to the Final Four [New Haven Register]

Once again, Stanford stands in UConn’s way [New Haven Register]

UConn women advance to Final Four [Connecticut Post]

Montgomery’s desire fuels Huskies [Connecticut Post]

Next up for UConn: Stanford [Connecticut Post]

Moore sets single-season scoring mark [Connecticut Post]

Final Four women’s field has plenty of intrigue [Connecticut Post]

Huskies ride Moore into Final 4 [New London Day]

UConn vs. Stanford in semifinals [New London Day]

UConn Notes: AP All-America Team Has UConn Flavor [New London Day]

This UConn Team Doesn’t Crack [New London Day]

Huskies Advance To Final Four For 10th Time [New London Day]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

PCP: Best team in Final Four? [The Badger Herald]

Motown bound: Final Four preview [The Pacer]

Adrien takes pride in leading UConn back to top [Sporting News]

50,000 Spartan Fans? Could Be Wrong [Emeka, Nadav and Corny]

UConn Now Offering Ticket-Only Men’s Final Four Packages [Hartford Courant]

UConn-UNC in title game; Tar Heels win [Gary Post-Tribune]

How Connecticut can win the NCAA tournament [Detroit Free Press]

Final Four matchup: Connecticut vs. Michigan State [Sporting News]

Final Four In Detroit Hardly Neutral For UConn [Hartford Courant]

Izzo: Reaching Goal Not Enough [Hartford Courant]

Huskies’ Dyson to dress, but not play in Final Four [Waterbury Republican-American]

Huskies balancing fun and focus [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn hopes to avoid road to ruin in Detroit [New Haven Register]

UConn prospect named the nation’s best [New Haven Register]

Hostile crowd a challenge for UConn men [Connecticut Post]

Huskies’ Postseason Success Bittersweet For Injured Dyson [New London Day]

Hasheem Thabeet Plays the April Fool of March Madness [The Arena]

UConn Football links

Hockey’s over. Let’s watch some spring football practice! [Ramblings From the Runway]

Frazer Having Fun Today [UConn | Football]

UConn Tackles Make Best Of Opportunities [Hartford Courant]

Freshmen trio looking to make immediate impact [New Haven Register]

Other UConn related links

Baseball: Huskies Fall In Mid-Week Game At Hartford 6-4 [UConnHuskies.com]

America Shop [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]

According to Zac Boyer of Rivals.com, UConn Huskies linebacker Kijuan Dabney was arrested on early Sunday morning for his involvement in a fight on campus.

Dabney, 20, was charged with second-degree breach of peace at 12:25 a.m. and had to be physically removed from the university-sanctioned event he was attending, reports said. He was released on $500 bond and given a court date of April 7.

A 6-foot, 211-pound outside linebacker, Dabney was spotted leaving the Burton Complex in a sweatshirt and sweatpants Tuesday at approximately 3 p.m., when the football team was scheduled to begin practice. He was again spotted walking into the Shenkman Center and down the sidelines of the artificial turf at approximately 5:15 p.m., near the conclusion of the practice.

Dabney saw action in 12 games his freshman year making 5 tackles and played in 6 games last season with 2 tackles.

Dabney arrested after fight [UConnReport.com]

After losing one of the final spots on the Boston Red Sox roster to Chris Carter, Jeff Bailey was assigned to minor league camp. Also reassigned to minor league camp were pitchers Enrique Gonzalez and Fernando Cabrera.

Bailey hit .356/.455/.600 with 1 home run and 8 RBIs in 45 at-bats during spring training. All three will most likely end up on the roster of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Somehow I missed this in the evening roundup.

Geno Auriemma

Opening Statement
We were talking in the locker room after the game. We read in the paper all the time, There’s a lot of talk about playing with pressure. The pressures on us, the pressures on us. There’s no pressure on the teams that play against us. It’s all about winning the national championship or bust for Connecticut. I wanted to be sure that they understood, and they do. Honestly that’s the goal for Connecticut every year and certainly this year, it’s a more realistic goal than some other years. But, it’s not been about national championship or bust. It’s been one great event after another; it’s been one great win after another. One great performance after another. Especially these two right here when they play. They played out of their minds tonight. We’ve enjoyed every bit of it and we love the pressure. We love what comes with it. We love how it energizes us. I’m proud of them because kids their age buckle under pressure. These two specifically embrace the pressure. I said last year we would be back and we are going back. We’re pretty excited right now. It’s good. It’s all good.

How excited are you to play Stanford again and show everyone that you’re the best point guard in the country?
Renee: I’m very excited. Not to show people I’m the best point guard in the country, but just because I’m confident with the team I’m going with this year. It is great that we do get to play Stanford again. We’re excited to play them. I’m sure they’re excited to play us. I’m just excited for this whole season and how everything has worked out and how everyone has responded and just the team chemistry. I’m just excited about everything.

Going back to Missouri, how excited are you for the homecoming and how much of your family do you think will come out?
Maya: I don’t know. It will be interesting to see how many people come out. But I know my immediate family will definitely be there or watching it on TV at someone’s house. It is very exciting to go back and just to be so close to my birth spot. To go there with a group of girls that I love just like my family. I feel like all of my family is going to be in St. Louis

Describe what it’s like to play on the floor with Renee?
Maya: The first thing I think is, ‘Where’s Renee? I don’t want to mess this play up without Renee.” So, once she gets the ball in her hands, I know it’s pretty good. Something great is going to happen. 9 times out of 10 in full transition Rene and I are going and we are just going to get something done. That’s just exciting to know. If I run hard, work hard, we’re going to get rewarded. I trust her completely to dominate and make big plays and make some tough shots. Just taking people one on one, baseline from the middle. She was unstoppable tonight and I’m just excited.

Describe that 2nd half run? How did you see that stretch play out for you guys?
Maya: Our team is one of the teams where we work and we are always looking to get on a run. Every timeout, every huddle, “let’s get on a run.” Everyone believes that we are capable to go on runs like you saw. It’s not necessary something that we’re always conscious of. Anytime another team scores on us or they get a run. We’re just competitive and that’s just the type of basketball that we’re trying to play. They score and we’re going to score back on them. That’s just our style and we’re comfortable playing that way. That’s how we’re going to continue to play.

Kara Walters said after the game that she is honored to be mentioned in the same breath as you. How does it feel to break the record that you did and what did it mean to have her in the radio booth to call it?
Maya: Records and breaking this. First whatever. The fact is celebrating UConn. Kara Walters is one of those special people that you walk in practice everyday and all you have to do is look up and see her name on the rafters. She’s a great player. Set history here at UConn. She was a trailblazer. She’s part of the reason I’ve been able to be in such a great program. It’s an honor for me to even be able to compete with such a great player that she was. It’s all good. We are both just laughing, celebrating, and smiling together. It’s all in the family. She’s one of the few players that is in the UConn family. She comes back and she’s involved in the program. She’s great to us. It’s just a win win situation.

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