Boston Celtics: After trailing by 22 points, the Boston Celtics cut the Orlando Magic lead to 3 but it wasn’t enough as the Magic held on for an 86-79 win. Former UConn Husky Ray Allen led the Celtics with 32 points, scoring 17 of them in the 4th quarter. Paul Pierce added 16 points and Leon Powe had 12. The Celtics were without starters Rajon Rondo (sprained ankle) and Kevin Garnett (knee). Garnett will miss at least the next two games. Dwight Howard was too much to handle for the Green as he had 18 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. Hedo Turkoglu added 16 points and Rashard Lewis chipped in with 15 points. The Celtics are back in action on Wednesday night when they head to Miami to take on Dwayne Wade and the Heat. [ESPN.com]
Report: Red Sox Sign Lester To 5-Year Extension
According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, the Boston Red Sox and Jon Lester have agreed to a 5-year, $30 million extension with a team option for 2014. The deal buys out all of Lester’s arbitration years and first two years of free agency.
Next up for Lester is passing a physical on Tuesday to make the deal official. Lester had been the last player that the Red Sox had not signed for 2009.
In 60 games (59 starts), Lester is 27-8 with a 3.81 ERA. In 354 2/3 innings, Lester has 262 strikeouts and has issued 140 walks. In 31 games at Fenway (30 starts), Lester is 16-2 with a 3.30 ERA.
Lester joins teammates Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis who were both signed to long-term extensions by the club.
The Adventures of Digger and Friends: Episode 4
Digger, the animated alter-ego to FOX’s Gopher Cam, now has his own show. Here is the fourth episode.
[dailymotion]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lv39_the-adventures-of-digger-and-friend_sport[/dailymotion]
If you missed episode 1, click here, episode 2, click here and episode 3, click here.
Thabeet Named To First Team All-Big East
With the Big East Tournament expanding to include all of the teams in the conference, the regular season awards are going to be staggered over the next few days. First up today is the All-Big East Teams.
Defensive Player of the Year, Sportsmanship Award, Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year will be announced via e-mail on Monday. Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Scholar-Athlete will be announced in a press conference on Tuesday.
The UConn Huskies placed four players on the All-Big East Teams with Hasheem Thabeet being named to the First Team. A.J. Price was named to the Second Team, Jeff Adrien to the Third Team and Kemba Walker was named to the Rookie Team.
The six players selected to the All-Big East First Team will be eligible to win the Big East Player of the Year Award announced on Tuesday.
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Hasheem Thabeet , Connecticut, C, Jr., 7-3, 263, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Terrence Williams, Louisville, F, Sr., 6-6, 210, Seattle, Wash.
Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-3, 200 Chicago, Ill.
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, Jr., 6-8, 251, Schererville , Ind.
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, C, So., 6-7, 265, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sam Young, Pittsburgh, F, Sr., 6-6, 215, Clinton, Md.
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
A.J. Price, Connecticut, G, Sr., 6-2, 181, Amityville, N.Y.
Wesley Matthews, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 215, Madison, Wis.
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, G, So., 6-0, 185, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Dante Cunningham, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-8, 230, Silver Spring, Md.
Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia, F, Jr., 6-7, 225, Newark, N.J.
ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Jr., 6-1, 195, Indianapolis , Ind.
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, Sr., 6-7, 243, Brookline, Mass.
Earl Clark, Louisville, G/F, Jr., 6-8, 220, Rahway, N.J.
Levance Fields, Pittsburgh, G, Sr., 5-10, 190, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, So., 6-5, 185, Bronx, N.Y.
BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
Weyinmi Efejuku, Providence, G, Sr., 6-5, 210, Fresh Meadows, N.Y.
Dominique Jones, USF, G, So., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla.
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.
Alex Ruoff, West Virginia, G, Sr., 6-6, 220, Spring Hill, Fla.
BIG EAST ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, Fr., 6-9, 255, Cincinnati, Ohio
Kemba Walker , Connecticut, G, Fr., 6-0, 175, Bronx, N.Y.
Greg Monroe, Georgetown, C, Fr., 6-10, 240, Gretna, La.
Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F, Fr., 6-8, 240, Trelawny, Jamaica
Mike Rosario, Rutgers, G, Fr., 6-3, 180, Jersey City, N.J.
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, Fr., 6-9, 205, Long Island City, N.Y.
Early Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 3/8
After filming an minisode of the Bad News Bears yesterday, the Boston Red Sox return home this afternoon to City of Palms Park at 1:05 PM to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in Grapefruit League Action. The game will be televised on NESN and will be broadcast on WRKO in the Boston area and WDAE in the Tampa area.
Here are the lineups for today’s game:
Tampa Bay Rays
- Fernando Perez CF
- Adam Kennedy 2B
- Evan Longoria 3B
- Carlos Pena 1B
- Dioner Navarro C
- Gabe Gross RF
- Morgan Ensberg DH
- Ray Sadler LF
- Elliot Johnson SS
- Wade Davis P
- Scheduled relievers: Chad Orvella, Winston Abreu, Dewon Day, Derek Rodriguez
Boston Red Sox
- Julio Lugo SS
- Rocco Baldelli DH
- Jason Varitek C
- J.D. Drew RF
- Lars Anderson 1B
- Chip Ambres Zach Daeges LF
- Jonathan Van Every CF
- Nick Green 3B
- Ivan Ochoa 2B
- Justin Masterson P
- Relievers scheduled: Jonathan Papelbon, Daniel Bard, Junichi Tazawa
Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 3/8
It’s game day for No. 1 UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they take the first step to winning the Big East Women’s Tournament this afternoon at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. The Huskies will take on the South Florida Bulls who beat the Cincinnati Bearcats. The game is scheduled to start shortly after 2 PM and will be televised on ESPNU. For those who don’t have ESPNU, you can always listen to Bob Joyce and Kara Wolters Wayne Norman on WTIC-1080 or online at WTIC.com.
UConn women’s basketball links
Reunion set for tomorrow [Elm City To Eagleville]
Wearing of the green [UConn | Women’s Basketball]
Bulls Ready for Rematch [Connecitcut Post]
Running with the Bulls [UConn | Women’s Basketball]
Hayes, Denson reunite at tournament [New Haven Register]
UConn women take perfection in stride [Connecticut Post]
UConn women’s game day [Connecticut Post]
Humble Huskies hungry for more [Norwich Bulletin]
Only Perfect Postseason Will Please Geno [Hartford Courant]
Big East Gives Everyone A Shot [Hartford Courant]
Preview: South Florida Vs. No. 1 UConn Women [Hartford Courant]
UConn Women Seek Perfection Again [New London Day]
No. 1 UConn Vs. No. 8 S. Florida [New London Day]
UConn men’s basketball links
UConn falls to Pitt [UConn | Men’s Basketball]
Young Guns [In Storrs Now]
Young’s Town [Emeka, Nadav and Corny]
Senior forward powers Pitt past No. 1 UConn [Tribune Review]
Young, Pitt leave no doubt against UConn [Sporting News]
Fields and Young combine in Panthers’ takedown of top-ranked Huskies [ESPN.com]
Pitt’s Young getting old for Huskies [New Haven Register]
Austrie, Walker have to counter Young’s output [New Haven Register]
Pitt masters No. 1 UConn again [Connecticut Post]
UConn men’s notebook [Connecticut Post]
Forecasting the Big East’s best [Norwich Bulletin]
Panthers dump Huskies — again [Norwich Bulletin]
No. 3 Pitt Defeats No. 1 UConn [Hartford Courant]
Again, Sam The Man For Pitt [Hartford Courant]
Thabeet-Blair Matchup Gets Heated [Hartford Courant]
Hasheem Only Half Better [Hartford Courant]
UConn Men’s Extras [Hartford Courant]
Loss to Pitt no reason for alarm [Waterbury Republican-American]
Thabeet rebounds but gets no support [Waterbury Republican-American]
Huskies can’t find an answer for Young [Waterbury Republican-American]
Pitt Men Beat No. 1 UConn [New London Day]
UConn men’s notebook [New London Day]
Eyes on the Prize [UConn Huskies Basketball]
Other UConn related links
Von Bargen Leads No. 15 UNH Past UConn 15-7 on Saturday [UConnHuskies.com]
Softball Splits On Day Two Of USF Tournament [UConnHuskies.com]
From Austria: Ryan McGuire [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]
Tryin’ To Get Paid (Straight Cash Homie) [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]
Men’s Hockey Falls To Sacred Heart 4-2 In First Round Of Atlantic Hockey Tournament [UConnHuskies.com]
Matt Hamill Knocks Out Mark Munoz At UFC 96
[flv]http://ianbethune.com/uvc.FLV[/flv]
Evening Red Sox Delight – 3/7
Apparently the Bad News Bears played for the Boston Red Sox as they committed 6 errors on their way to a 15-7 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte.
The errors were committed by Jeff Bailey (fielding), Jed Lowrie (throw), Argenis Diaz 2 (fielding, fielding), Nick Green (fielding) and Gil Velazquez (fielding). 9 of the 15 runs given up by the Red Sox were unearned.
Tim Wakefield got the start this afternoon and gave up 4 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits and a walk while striking out 3 in 3 innings of work. Devern Hansack was touched up for 5 runs (none earned) on 3 hits and 2 walks in 1 2/3 innings. The other victim on the pitching staff was Dustin Richardson who was torched for 4 runs on a hit and 3 walks.
Even with an 11-hit attack, the Red Sox managed just the 7 runs. Bailey led the way with two of those hits. Jonathan Van Every had a home run and 2 RBI while George Kottaras added a solo home run. Lowrie, Josh Bard, Velazquez and Diaz also had an RBI each.
These same two teams will be back at it again tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 PM and that game can be seen on NESN and can also be heard on WRKO (Boston) and WDAE in the Tampa area. Justin Masterson will start for the Red Sox and will be followed by Jonathan Papelbon, Daniel Bard and Junichi Tazawa
Several members of the Red Sox were also busy this afternoon in the World Baseball Classic.
Farm hand Dennis Neuman pitched an inning of work in The Netherlands 3-2 win over the Dominican Republic. David Ortiz went 0-for-2 with 2 walks in the loss.
Kevin Youkilis went 1-for-2 with 2 walks, a home run, RBI and 3 runs scored in Team USA’s 6-5 win over Team Canada. Dustin Pedroia went 1-for-5 in the win and Jason Bay went 0-for-2 with a run and 3 walks for Team Canada.
Farm hand Angel Chavez went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in Team Panama’s 7-0 loss to Team Puerto Rico. Javier Lopez didn’t see action in the game for Puerto Rico.
A date for Lowell, and more [Extra Bases]
Notebook: Arms a luxury for Sox [Extra Bases]
Penny to throw 35-pitch side session on Sunday [Providence Journal]
Baldelli skips trip to Port Charlotte because of tightness in his groin [Providence Journal]
Generation Next: Red Sox getting an eyeful of their next wave of prospects [Providence Journal]
Francona: Matsuzaka ‘okay’ in Japan’s WBC win over South Korea [Providence Journal]
Stability has Ellsbury feeling confident [redsox.com]
Keeping Wakefield fresh on agenda [redsox.com]
WBC: Youkilis keys U.S. victory [Clubhouse Insider]
The book on Manny: He loves LA! Boston? Not so much [Los Angeles Times]
Tim Lincecum MLB 2K9 Commercial
This commercial featuring 2008 NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants cracks me up everything I see it mainly because of the animated Lincecum in the car.
Enjoy folks.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf02Sq2WZlM[/youtube]
Terrell Owens Has A New Home In……….
Sources: Owens, Bills agree to deal [ESPN.com]