The body found about a mile from Hernandez's sprawling home in North Attleborough was that of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, according to a prosecutor's office.

BOSTON, Mass. -- New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez had a connection to a homicide victim found in an industrial park near the athlete's home, but family and officials were mum on the nature of their relationship Thursday, two days after police first visited the upscale division.

Media camped out today at Hernandez's home, on the Rhode Island state line not far from the Patriots' stadium in Foxborough. A news helicopter followed along as Hernandez drove in a white SUV from his home to the stadium, then got out and went inside.

Patriots spokesman Stacey James said the team had no comment on why Hernandez was there. He said earlier that the team did not anticipate commenting publicly during the police investigation.

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

The body found about a mile from Hernandez's sprawling home in North Attleborough was that of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, according to a prosecutor's office. His cause of death wasn't released.

Lloyd was a semi-pro football player for the Boston Bandits, and his family said he had a connection to Hernandez, whose home was searched by police.

Hernandez attorney Michael Fee acknowledged media reports about the state police search of Hernandez's home as part of an investigation but said he and the player wouldn't have any comment on it.

Lloyd's mother, Ursula Ward, would not say how Lloyd knew Hernandez and did not say whether police told her how her son died. An uncle said Lloyd had a connection to Hernandez but wouldn't elaborate.

"My son is a wonderful child," Ward said Wednesday as she cried outside the family home in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. "He's a family guy. He hasn't done anything to hurt anyone."

Bristol District Attorney Samuel Sutter's office said investigators were asking for the public's help to find a silver mirror cover believed to have broken off a car between Boston and North Attleborough.

Sports Illustrated, citing an unidentified source, reported Tuesday that Hernandez was not believed to be a suspect in what was being treated then as a possible homicide.

Two troopers knocked on the door of Hernandez's house Wednesday morning, but no one answered. The night before, police spent hours there as another group of officers searched the industrial park.

Later Wednesday, at least seven state troopers searched both sides of a road just off the street where Hernandez lives. The officers used thin poles to pull back plants and search through undergrowth along the road.

The Patriots drafted Hernandez out of Florida in 2010. Since then, he has combined with Rob Gronkowski to form one of the top tight end duos in the NFL. He missed 10 games last season with an ankle injury and had shoulder surgery in April but is expected to be ready for training camp. Last summer, the Patriots gave him a five-year contract worth $40 million.

Sports Illustrated reported that the link between Hernandez and the case was a rented Chevrolet Suburban with Rhode Island plates that police had been searching for. The Associated Press could not independently confirm the report.

Lloyd's neighbor Larry Connors said a black Suburban with Rhode Island license plates was towed out of the yard of Lloyd's house after his body was found. Lloyd had been driving it for a few days, but Connors had never seen it before that.

Bandits coach Olivier Bustin, who last saw Lloyd on Saturday at a team scrimmage and heard on Tuesday he had been killed, said he never knew him to be in trouble.

"He was a personable guy, just a guy who was well-liked by everybody on the team," said the coach, who said Lloyd didn't start but played a big role on defense.

Lloyd's sister, Olivia Thibou, said her brother always had her back.

"And, you know, it's just tough that he's not here," she said. "As my mom said, just give us our time to grieve. And I hope that they find out who did it."

The Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer and cleveland.com's Glenn Moore break down the top centers in the 2013 NBA Draft.

This is the third video in a series of position previews in advance of the June 27 NBA Draft. Previously, small forwards and shooting guards were highlighted.

1. Kentucky's Nerlens Noel (6-11 3/4, 212): Averaged 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, plus 4.4 blocks, in 24 games for the Wildcats, who were 21-12 overall, 4-5 after he got hurt. Long and athletic with a 7-4 wingspan, figures to be a defensive force once he adds weight and strength. Even though torn ligament in his left knee will keep him out until Christmas, most teams seem to think he's worth the wait.

2. Maryland's Alex Len (7-1, 255): Averaged 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds, plus two blocks, in 22 games for the Terrapins, who finished the season 17-15. His size is what intrigues scouts the most, since he is long and mobile, a good athlete who runs the floor well and finishes around the basket. He needs to cut down on his turnovers and improve his 59 percent free-throw shooting.

3. Pittsburgh's Steven Adams (7-0, 255): Averaged 7.2 points and 6.3 rebounds, plus two blocks, in 33 games for the Panthers, who finished the season 24-9. Although DraftExpress.com calls him ''a late bloomer with limited basketball experience'' because he has only been playing six or seven years, he does have size and athleticism but will need a lot of work.

4. Duke's Mason Plumlee (7-0 1/2, 238): Averaged 17.1 points and 10 rebounds as the Blue Devils finished 30-6. Tested bigger and more athletic during the combine in Chicago, which has helped boost his stock. Mobile and athletic and can put the ball on the floor. Needs to add weight and strength.

5. Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk (7-0, 234): Averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds, plus a block, in 32 games for the Bulldogs, who finished the season 32-3 after being upset in third round of the NCAA tournament. The big Canadian is polished offensively and can score with his back to the basket or hit a 3-pointer. Not nearly as strong playing defense or blocking shots and tested poorly in the athletic portion of the recent combine.

On today's PD Sports Insider, the crew talks with Ben Roberts about Nerlens Noel, Mary Kay Cabot on the Browns and Paul Hoynes on the Tribe.

Is Nerlens Noel the right choice for the Cavaliers at No. 1? Are the Indians breaking out of their 'June swoon'?

- Concern over Nerlens Noel's injury.

- Chris Perez's rehab outing in Akron.

Stay tuned for the next show Thursday, June 27 at 12:30 p.m.

Be sure to like PD Sports Insider on Facebook

About the show: PD Sports Insider airs live every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Co-hosted by The Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw, Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Glenn Moore, the show features a timely and lively debate of the biggest sports topics of the day and gives readers a chance to interact directly with PD sportswriters and columnists.

Viewers have to the opportunity to ask questions and post comments in a live chat room during the show. They can also their video questions during the week.
Fans who miss the live show can watch the archive, available a few hours later.

On today's Draft Insider, cleveland.com's Glenn Moore and Chris Fedor talk about the NBA Draft.

Who are the biggest sleepers in this draft? Why won't Nerlens Noel be an All-Star player in the NBA?

• If the Cavs don't draft Nerlens Noel, will he drop out of the top 5?

• Fact and Fiction statements on the draft.

• Questions surrounding the draft.

• Best overall player in the draft.

• Worst case scenario for the Cavs.

• Also see: Chris Fedor's NBA Mock Draft 2.0

Indians dropped three games under .500 but are now one game up. More Indians story links.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians have made a nice little comeback from their recent stretch of 16 losses in 20 games.

The Indians (36-35) are off today, following their 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night, as detailed by Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes in his game story.

The Indians will try for their seventh win in the last nine games on Friday night, when they host the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series. The Tribe is in second-place in the American League Central Division, 3 1/2 games behind the two-time defending division champion Detroit Tigers. Minnesota (32-36), arguably one of the big leagues' most improved teams, is in fourth place in the Central, six games behind Detroit.

Check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for Indians coverage, including numerous stories, columns, photos and videos. And, there are items such as the PD Sports Insider, the half-hour video that today features reporters talking about the Indians, Cavaliers and Browns.

Shortstop Francisco Lindor, the Indians' first pick in the 2011 draft, is considered one of baseball's top prospects. He's done nothing to diminish that status this season, playing with the high-Class A Carolina Mudcats and making the Carolina League all-star team.

WaitingForNextYear features a video highlighting Lindor in the Carolina League's 12-2 all-star win over the California League, and comments:

The 19-year-old shortstop has certainly held his own during his first taste of High-A ball with the Carolina Mudcats, tallying slash line of .300/.375/.400 with one homer run and 23 RBI, and 18 stolen bases… all while playing MLB–caliber defense.

("Slash line" referring to batting average; on-base percentage/ slugging percentage)

Indians hitters break through after four hitless innings in a 6-3 win over the Royals. (By Brian Dulik, Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette)

Some of the good and some of the bad happening with the Indians. (By Pat McManamon, FoxSportsOhio.com)

Vinnie Pestano continues to work as the Indians closer until Chris Perez returns. (By Sheldon Ocker, Akron Beacon Journal)

Indians notes, leading off with the Tribe keeping in perspective Chris Perez's performance during a rehab assignment with the Class AA Akron Aeros. (By Jim Ingraham, News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal)

What happened around the Indians' farm system on Wednesday. (By Jim Piascik, Indians Baseball Insider)

Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has reportedly destroyed his cell phone and home-security system when police asked to examine them.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Some of what's happening today in sports headlines:

Aaron Hernandez saga: ABC News is reporting that Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez "destroyed his home security system,'' according to an investigator close to the case. Also, the investigator and other law enforcement sources are confirming that Hernandez's security system - which included video surveillance - was smashed intentionally; and that he turned over his cell phone "in pieces." Hernandez has been connected to a man who was murdered and whose body was left not far from Hernandez's house.

Clippers-Celtics: The on-again, off-again, and now on-again trade talks between the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics apparently are on again. The two teams are discussing a deal that would send Kevin Garnett and coach Doc Rivers to the Clippers. The league office, however, has questions about the proposed transactions involving Garnett and Rivers and the appearance that they are connected.

Johnny Manziel: Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel nearly transferred from Texas A&M before the 2012 season. A&M initially suspended Manziel for the 2012 season following his arrest at a bar because of fighting. If Manziel would not have won his appeal, he would have felt it was necessary to transfer if the suspension wasn’t overturned.

Manny Ramirez: Manny Ramirez hit so well in Taiwan that he left his team (after 49 games) to free himself to be available to play in the Majors, says his agent. There's also a report that Ramirez left because he misses his family in New York.

Joe Torre's daughter: Thankfully Joe Torre's daughter, Cristina, caught a baby boy who had tumbled off a second-floor fire escape in Brooklyn.

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis provides a look inside his routine for a 7:05 p.m. home game.

View full sizeJason Kipnis' autograph shows he has signed off on this report. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Many baseball fans might think a player's working day lasts for the three hours or so that the game is being played. But that's hardly the case.

This is the third and last installment of Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff's in-depth look at a standard game-day routine of three members of the Indians, as told to him by the subjects in this three-part series. Today: Second baseman Jason Kipnis.

First two parts: Starting pitcher Justin Masterson, June 6. Reliever Vinnie Pestano, June 14.

Here is a look at an average day for Kipnis for a 7:05 night game at home:

Before coming to ballpark

• Sleep in.

"I've never been a morning person. I like my sleep. I'll sleep in until about 11, then pretty much head from my bed to the couch. It's a good transition to start my day, where I'm not just jumping into it. Slow and gradual. I'll watch TV -- ESPN, Comedy Central -- until about 12:15.

View full sizeChris Morris, The Plain Dealer 

Arrival at ballpark

• Get to ballpark between 1:30 and 2 (periodically arrive with roommate Vinnie Pestano).

• Check greaser board in middle of clubhouse for daily schedule.

• Change into workout shorts and T-shirt.

• Eat.

"Chef Mark likes to keep it varied. I'll eat whatever he puts out. If it's a day game, two eggs and pancakes or waffles."

• Relax at locker and let food digest. Check handheld for messages, tweets.

• Review scouting report at about 2:35.

• Go to trainer's room for a stretch.

• Enter hot/cold tubs for about 20 minutes.

"The contrast is to help out the legs, help out the body, whether I'm feeling good or bad. You never know when you'll need it, and it's always going to help."

• If not nap, then go to indoor cage to hit off tee or flip toss.

• Available to media (one of Indians' most accessible players).

View full sizeChris Morris, The Plain Dealer 

• Read newspapers or do crosswords puzzles or Sudoku.

Batting practice

• Leave clubhouse for on-field stretching at 4:10-4:15.

• Hit in batting practice group one (top of order).

"Typically 4-5 rounds, about five swings per round. First round: Go the other way, everything to left of second base. Just let ball travel as far as I can, to kind of find the barrel. Second round: up the middle. Third round: I'm starting to feel loose, swing starting to feel good, so more of pull round, maybe a home-run round. Fourth and fifth rounds: where it's pitched, mostly up the middle."

• Take grounders during group two.

"I start doing double plays first while Cabby (shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, currently on disabled list) throws across diamond. I will do flips at second, then, once Cabby's done, back up and throw to first. Do grounders to right, left, charging, in to my right, spin throw to left, backhands. If anyone is left, if anybody wants to turn any, I'll go to second and turn. That's my routine."

• Return to clubhouse after group two.

View full sizeChris Morris, The Plain Dealer 

• Eat sushi.

"Spicy tuna and California roll will find their way onto the plate. And there's this other kind; I'm not even sure what it is, but I've started to like it."

View full sizeChris Morris, The Plain Dealer 

Post-Battting Practice

• Sometimes naps, against wall and in front of locker, for 20-30 minutes. (For a player to take a power nap at some point pregame is not unusual. To nap the way Kipnis does is.)

"I use a towel for a pillow, put on my sweatshirt for some coziness and curl into a ball. It's more comfortable than you think. Sometimes, a stiff floor actually feels good on the back. I don't want to sleep on the couch in the middle of the clubhouse, because you're in the middle of the action, in the middle of all the noise, and it's bright. I often sleep behind a laundry bin and chair. I want people to think I'm not here."

• Enter hot/cold tubs for 20 minutes, roughly 5:50-6:10.

• Apply baby powder, front and back, and tape right wrist.

"Baby powder is a must."

• Get dressed for game at about 6:10.

• Re-check scouting report and watch opposing starter on TV near locker.

"I'll be watching his rhythm, miles per hour, what his ball does, what he likes to throw in certain counts. I pay special attention to what he likes to throw with two strikes, what he tries to do to get you out. What he does ahead in count, behind in count, first pitch."

• Get stretch from strength trainer Joe Kessler in training room.

• Hit off tee and flip toss at about 6:40.

"I want to build up a little sweat. If you're going bad, it's one reason to get in the cage. If you're going well, it's another reason to get in the cage. There are guys who are in the cage a lot more than I. For me, it's more to maintain, to get a feel for the bat, to be able to line it up."

View full sizeChris Morris, The Plain Dealer 

• Listen to music.

"Before going out, I want to be in a good mood, where I've got a little bounce in my step to get the day going. I like Michael Jackson. Anything with a beat."

Near game time

• Put bats in rack before 6:50.

• Head to sideline to stretch.

• Run several sprints in the outfield.

• Throw, usually with third baseman.

View full sizeChris Morris, The Plain Dealer 

• Drop glove, go to dugout fence and do leg swings and other stretches.

"They take about two minutes. They're not exactly in order, not exactly at a certain time, but they're something I do every game. I need to do it. I feel better when I do it.

"I'm one of the only ones who does legs swings. There's a reason for it. Growing up, I was a big fan of the Chicago Bulls. You watch all the Michael Jordan videos, and you see him and his teammates doing all these legs swings in the hallways, against the walls, before the games. That's 100 percent where I got it from. It gets the hips and hamstrings loosened."

• Visit "Coffee Room" beyond dugout.

"If I have enough time, or if I think I need a pick-me-up, I'll make myself a cup."

View full sizeChris Morris, The Plain Dealer 

• Begin handshakes with teammates in dugout after National Anthem.

"There's a bunch of handshakes that you have with guys. Different handshakes for different guys. They also actually help me get stretched. Everyone has one with guys on the team. You've done them so many times, it becomes routine."

• Consume Gatorade Prime 01 Pre-Game Fuel, a 4-ounce pouch supplying carbs and B-vitamins.

• Take two Advil.

• Put in eyedrops.

• Stretch on bench.

In-Game

• Take grounders between innings.

"One forehand, one backhand. If I can get in a third one, it will be where I go toward second base and pretend I'm turning the double play."

View full sizeChris Morris, The Plain Dealer 

• Move to on-deck area.

"Apply pine tar to bat handle, rosin to batting gloves, just enough to feel good. I'll start with the white sleeve weight on the bat. If I get a hit or walk or have good at-bat, I'll stay with sleeve weight. If not, I'll switch to the black donut, which is lighter. If I'm 0-for-2, I'll go to a third one.

"When it's time to hit, I'll take a swing, then bend down to touch toes for a hamstring stretch. Sometimes I'll also bend down into a squat for the quads."

• Prepare to get into the box.

"Walking up to the plate, I hold the barrel, not the handle. I'll look into the crowd, somewhere behind home plate or in upper deck. I don't know why.

"I'll do my batting gloves right before I step in. I keep the same gloves as long as they have hits in them.

"I'll outline the outside half of the plate before the pitch."

• Swing Sam Bat (maple).

“I used ash last year. I’ve always liked ash and the way it feels, the way the ball comes off the bat. But I know maple has been a little more of a durable bat; it doesn’t break as easily. With a Sam Bat, I feel like I get the best of both worlds: It’s maple and really strong, but at the same time, when you hit the ball, it feels like an ash bat. My bat has the “Bonds finish’’ -- cherry-red handle with black barrel.”

• Consume water or "Gatorlytes" packets.

Postgame

• Take one or two bottles of water into steam room.

"When I'm done with the water, I'm done with the steam room."

• Use hot/cold tub for 5-10 minutes.

"More cold tub this time, for recovery."

• Available to media.

• Eat.

"It's always good to get in a meal after a game, because you're usually drained and you sweat more than you know. Nothing specific, but I try to make sure there's protein somewhere."

• Leave clubhouse for players' parking lot.

• Go to fence to sign autographs.

• Leave for home.

"I'm usually one of the last ones out."

Will LeBron James and the Miami Heat win their second straight title or will it be No. 5 for Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs? Read Tweets and talk about the game as you watch it in our comments section below.

Will LeBron James and the Miami Heat win their second straight title or will it be No. 5 for Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs?

We'll find out tonight as the Heat and Spurs battle in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Tip-off is at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Talk with other fans about the game as you watch it, here in our comments section below.

» Game preview | Live box score

Tweets from @joeyjoe/nba

Since 2009, the first year without CC Sabathia in the rotation, eight pitchers who started their careers in the Indians' system have made starts for the big-league team. Combined, those eight pitchers are 96-128, and none of them is in the rotation. Danny Salazar, currently at Class AAA Columbus, could be the next homegrown pitcher to make a start for...

View full sizeJosh Tomlin, currently on the disabled list, is one of the Indians' few homegrown success stories as a major-league starting pitcherChuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

*Roberto Hernandez, 92 starts, 25-44 record

Josh Tomlin, 54, 23-19

David Huff, 52, 18-26

Jeanmar Gomez, 38, 14-16

Aaron Laffey, 24, 9-12

Jeremy Sowers, 22, 6-11

Alex White, 3, 1-0

Scott Lewis, 1, 0-0

Related: Indians' farm system hasn't produced much, but Salazar making his pitch

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Kurt Busch may need another solid performance in Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 to revive his hopes of making the season-ending Chase for the Cup. Busch enters this weekend's race at Sonoma Raceway 20th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings after a disappointing 35th place finish at Michigan International Speedway last week. He led the first...

View full sizeNASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kurt Busch is in 11th place in the Sprint Cup standings and is looking for a solid showing this weekend on the road course in Sonoma, Calif.Mic Smith, AP

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Kurt Busch may need another solid performance in Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 to revive his hopes of making the season-ending Chase for the Cup.

Busch enters this weekend's race at Sonoma Raceway 20th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings after a disappointing 35th place finish at Michigan International Speedway last week. He led the first 21 laps, but his car later became loose, hit the wall and suffered major damage.

With the result, Busch dropped five spots in the standings. He is 33 points back of 10th-place Tony Stewart and 154 points back of leader Jimmie Johnson. The top 10 drivers in points, plus two other wild-card drivers who have collected the most wins through the first 26 Cup races, make the 10-race Chase at the end of the season and are eligible for the season championship.

"Like we found out, it's hard to gain spots in the standings," Busch said Thursday at a media luncheon for the event, "but it's really easy to lose them."

Busch won in Sonoma in 2011 with Penske Racing and finished third last season with small budget Phoenix Racing. He challenged for the victory last year and was in second place behind Clint Bowyer going into a green-white-checkered finish. But after he encountered problems with his suspension, he dropped to third, finishing behind Bowyer, the winner, and second-place Stewart.

Busch said he took what he learned from Penske in 2011 and applied that to the fledgling Phoenix Racing outfit.

"I guess you could say I'm equally proud of both results," said Busch, who finished 25th in the Cup standings last year.

Now with another small-budget team in Furniture Row Racing, Busch is hoping to find some consistency in the next 11 races before the start of the Chase. He has three top-five and five top-10 finishes in 2013, with his best finish being a third-place result in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. But he also did not finish races in Martinsville and Talladega.

In 12 Cup starts at Sonoma, Busch has one win and five top-fives.

Busch predicted that a track record would be set in Sonoma as the Gen-6 car makes its road-course debut. The car creates more downforce, is lighter and features better grip than the previous car, which was used from 2006 to '12.

Marcos Ambrose holds the track record for qualifying at 95.262 mph and Bowyer holds the race record at 83.624 mph.

Last season was a breakthrough year for Michael Waltrip Racing. Bowyer's win in Sonoma was the first for the sixth-year Toyota team as he and teammate Martin Truex Jr. both made the Chase.

This season, MWR is again hoping to get two drivers into the Chase. The team is without a victory this season but Bowyer sits third in the standings and Truex is 13th.

Waltrip said his team is a little behind Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, which have a combined 11 victories this season and seven drivers in the top 12 in the Cup standings, in their development of the Gen-6 car, but "we're not that far back. Our team goals are the same as they were last season. We still feel we can win races and we want two drivers in the Chase."

Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs face off in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs face off in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

MIAMI — Victory in Game 7 brought more than another crown for LeBron James and the Miami Heat. It validated the team and its leader, forever cementing their place among the NBA's greats.

MIAMI — Victory in Game 7 brought more than another crown for LeBron James and the Miami Heat. It validated the team and its leader, forever cementing their place among the NBA's greats.

For the vanquished San Antonio Spurs, it simply compounded the misery of a championship that got away.

James led the Heat to their second straight title, scoring 37 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 95-88 victory Thursday night in a tense game that was tight until Miami pulled away in the final minute.

• What's next for LeBron James? A wedding and then... | Box score

Capping their best season in franchise history — and perhaps the three-superstar system they used to build it — the Heat ran off with the second straight thriller in the NBA's first championship series to go the distance since 2010.

Two nights after his Game 6 save when the Heat were almost eliminated, James continued his unparalleled run through the basketball world, with two titles and an Olympic gold medal in the last 12 months.

"I work on my game a lot throughout the offseason," said James, who was MVP for the second straight finals. "I put a lot of work into it and to be able to come out here and (have) the results happen out on the floor is the ultimate. The ultimate. I'm at a loss for words."

He made five 3-pointers, defended Tony Parker when he had to, and did everything else that could ever be expected from the best player in the game.

The Heat became the NBA's first repeat champions since the Lakers in 2009-10, and the first team to beat the Spurs in the NBA Finals.

"It took everything we had as a team," Dwyane Wade said. "Credit to the San Antonio Spurs, they're an unbelievable team, an unbelievable franchise. This is the hardest series we ever had to play. But we're a resilient team and we did whatever it took."

Players and coaches hugged afterward — their respect for each other was obvious from the opening tipoff of Game 1 through the final buzzer.

A whisker away from a fifth title two nights earlier, the Spurs couldn't find a way to win it all in what was perhaps the last shot for Tim Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili to grab another ring together.

"In my case I still have Game 6 in my head," Ginobili said. "Today we played an OK game, they just made more shots than us. LeBron got hot. Shane (Battier), too. Those things can happen. But being so close and feeling that you are about to grab that trophy, and seeing it vanish is very hard."

They were trying to become the first team to win a Game 7 on the road since Washington beat Seattle in 1978, but those old guys ran out of gas just before the finish.

Fans stood, clapped and danced as the clock ticked down, when every score was answered by another score, each stop followed by a better stop. The Heat pushed their lead to six points a few times midway through the fourth but San Antonio kept coming back.

Duncan had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, but missed a shot and follow attempt right under the basket with about 50 seconds left and the Spurs trailing by two.

James followed with a jumper — the shot the Spurs were daring him to take earlier in the series — to make it 92-88, sending San Antonio to a timeout as Glenn Frey's "The Heat Is On" blared over the arena's sound system.

He then came up with a steal and made two free throws for a six-point lead, and after Ginobili missed, James stalked toward the sideline, knowing it was over and that he was, once again, the last one standing.

Wade had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who overcame a scoreless Chris Bosh by getting six 3-pointers and 18 points from Shane Battier.

"It was a great series and we all felt that," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I don't know if 'enjoy' is the right word, but in all honesty, even in defeat, I'm starting to enjoy what our group accomplished already, when you look back. And you need to do that, to put in perspective. So it's no fun to lose, but we lost to a better team. And you can live with that as long as you've given your best, and I think we have."

Streamers fell from the arena ceiling onto the fans for the second year in a row, but this one meant so much more. A narrow escape in Game 6 was still fresh in everyone's mind.

They were down 10 in the fourth quarter of that one before James led the charge back, finishing with a triple-double in Miami's 103-100 overtime victory. This one was nearly as tight, neither team leading by more than seven and the game tied 11 times.

Kawhi Leonard had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Spurs, who had been 4 for 4 in the championship round. Ginobili had 18 points but Parker managed just 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting.

"Just give credit to the Miami Heat. LeBron was unbelievable. Dwyane was great. I just think they found a way to get it done," Duncan said. "We stayed in the game. We gave ourselves opportunities to win the game, we just couldn't turn that corner."

The Heat and coach Erik Spoelstra collected the Larry O'Brien trophy again from Commissioner David Stern, presiding over his final NBA Finals before retiring next February.

He couldn't have asked for a better way to go out.

James avenged his first finals loss, when his Cleveland Cavaliers were swept by the Spurs on 2007. That helped send James on his way to South Florida, realizing it would take more help to win titles that could never come alone.

He said he would appreciate this one more because of how tough it was. The Heat overpowered Oklahoma City in five games last year, a team of 20-something kids who weren't ready to be champions yet.

This came against a respected group of Spurs whose trio has combined for more than 100 playoff victories together and wanted one more in case this was San Antonio's last rodeo.

Duncan is 37 and Ginobili will be a 36-year-old free agent next month, the core of a franchise whose best days may be behind them.

Meanwhile, it's a potential dynasty along Biscayne Bay, but also one with a potentially small window. Wade's latest knee problems are a reminder that though he came into the NBA at the same time as James and Bosh, he's a couple of years older at 31 with wheels that have seen some miles.

James can become a free agent again next summer with another decision — though hopefully not another Decision — to make. He's comfortable in Miami and close with Wade, and the Heat have the leadership and commitment from owner Micky Arison and president Pat Riley to keep building a championship core around him.

Why would he want to leave?

San Antonio's most recent title came at James' expense. The Spurs exploited the weaknesses in James' game though knew someday they would be gone, Duncan telling him afterward that the league would someday belong to James.

And James simply isn't giving it back.

He came in averaging 33.8 points in Game 7s, already the best in NBA history, and was even better in this one.

He can't be defended the way he was six years ago, too strong inside and too solid from the outside. He drove Danny Green back like a tackling dummy to convert a three-point play in the second quarter, then knocked down a 3-pointer for the Heat's next score.

Video: Game highlights

Heat fans, criticized over the last two days after many bolted before the finish Tuesday and then tried to force their way back in, weren't going anywhere early in this one. The game was too good.

And there was another celebration to watch.

The Heat had the classic championship hangover through the first few months of this season, too strong to lose at home but not committed enough to win on the road, where they were just 11-11 following a 102-89 loss in Indiana on Feb. 1.

They won in Toronto two nights later on Super Bowl Sunday and didn't lose again until well into March Madness, running off 27 straight victories before falling in Chicago on March 27 and finishing a franchise-best 66-16.

The small-market Spurs have always been a ratings killer, but interest grew throughout this series in their attempt to toppled the champs. Game 6 drew more than 20 million viewers, a total that Game 7 was expected to top.

And the games got better, too. Games 2-5 were all decided by double digits, neither team able to carry its momentum from one game to the next.

This one was back and forth for more than three quarters, with Mario Chalmers' 3-pointer at the buzzer giving Miami a 72-71 lead heading to the final 12 minutes of the season.

Game 6 could have shaken the Spurs, who were so close to holding the trophy that officials were preparing the championship presentation before Miami's rally. The Spurs held a team dinner late that night, figuring the company was better than having to dwell on the defeat alone in their rooms.

The pain of that game or the pressure of this one had little effect on their veterans but brought out a change in their leader, the subject of some rare second-guessing for his rotations near the end of the collapse.

The famously blunt Popovich was in a chatty mood pregame, actually preferring to stay and talk even when there were no more questions, saying the busier he was, the less he'd worry.

"It's torture," he said earlier of Game 7s. "It's hard to appreciate or enjoy torture."

But it sure was beautiful to watch.

The sport's most pressure-packed game had a nervous start, each team making just seven baskets in the first quarter and combining for seven turnovers. The Spurs took an early seven-point lead, but a pair of 3-pointers by Battier during an 8-0 run helped Miami take an 18-16 lead.

The Heat nursed a narrow lead for most of the second quarter, and after San Antonio went ahead in the final minute of the period, James tipped in a miss before Wade knocked down a jumper with 0.8 seconds left to send the Heat to the locker room with a 46-44 edge.

Notes: Home teams are 15-3 in Game 7s of the NBA Finals. ... Miami improved to 5-3 all-time in Game 7s in the postseason and became the fourth team to win the final two games at home since the finals went to a 2-3-2 format in 1985, joining the Lakers in 1988 and 2010, and Houston Rockets in 1994. ... Green was just 1 for 12, going 1 for 6 behind the arc. He started the series by making 25 3s in the first five games, a finals record for an entire series.

Highlights include Indians at home against Minnesota.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

AUTO RACING

4 p.m. Toyota/Save Mart 350 practice (tape), Speed Channel

6:30 p.m. Toyota/Save Mart 350 "Happy Hour Series," Speed Channel

BASEBALL

7 p.m. LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS at Dayton, AM/1330

7:05 p.m. New Britain at AKRON AEROS, AM/1350

7:05 p.m. Minnesota at CLEVELAND INDIANS, SportsTime Ohio; AM/1100, FM/100.7

8 p.m. Texas at St. Louis, MLB Network

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

6:30 p.m. 18 Elite Nationals, third-place game, CBSSN

9 p.m. 18 Elite Nationals, championship game, CBSSN

BOXING

10 p.m. Rances Barthelemy vs. Fahsai Sakkreerin, ESPN2

COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES

3 p.m. Game 11, Oregon State vs. Mississippi State, ESPN

8 p.m. Game 12, North Carolina vs. UCLA, ESPN

GOLF

9 a.m. BMW International Open, Golf Channel

12:30 p.m. Encompass Championship, Golf Channel

3 p.m. Travelers Championship, Golf Channel

6:30 p.m. NW Arkansas Championship, Golf Channel

SOCCER

1:45 p.m. U-20 World Cup, U.S. vs. Spain, ESPN2

TRACK AND FIELD

8 p.m. U.S. Outdoor Championships, ESPN2

Follow adventures of sunup to sundown golf challenge with live, continuous updates from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. -- including pictures and videos all day long.

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio - Welcome to the longest day of the year. What better way to spend it than on a golf course seeing how many holes can physically be played from sunup to sundown?

Eight golfers are at Hickory Nut Golf Course in Columbia Station doing just that today in The Plain Dealer's third annual 16-hour Summer Solstice Golf Challenge.

We invite you to follow the adventures in the box below, which features live, continuous Twitter updates from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. -- including pictures and videos all day long thanks to four "caddie" player assistants, as well as most of the players. 

Have a question for one of the players? Ask it on Twitter or in the comments below and one of the caddies will get an answer.

The players -- four online contest winners and four PD staffers -- have been divided into two foursomes and will compete to see which group can play more holes. Both foursomes, playing on opposite nines, will attempt to set a record for holes completed, trying to eclipse the 72 holes played last year.

View full sizeChris Morris, The Plain Dealer

The teams:

G.O.B.O. -- Sean Drapac of Lakewood, 26, a student at Baldwin Wallace; Deb Solyan of Cleveland, 51, a sales agent with Aflac; and Doug Lesmerises and Tim Rogers from The Plain Dealer.

T-PAR-T -- Tom Breno of Strongsville, 58, a production manager at AlphaGraphics; Damian Lee of Bedford, 35, a cook at Beachwood's Yours Truly; and Kristen Davis and Cliff Pinckard from The Plain Dealer.

With two straight NBA championships and two straight NBA Finals MVPs, what will LeBron James do for an encore? Watch and read highlights from his post-game press conference.

Post-game video: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Tim Duncan after Game 7

With two straight NBA championships and two straight NBA Finals MVPs, what will LeBron James do for an encore?

"I got a wedding coming up with my beautiful fiancée," James said. "And it will be an unbelievable wedding now that we've won, instead of losing."

Still, after the celebration is over, there will be basketball decisions to make.

The Heat are staring at an aging roster and a huge luxury tax bill, while James can opt out of his contract in 2014.

When asked about the immediate future of the Heat and the chances of winning more titles in Miami, James was elusive.

"I hope so, I hope so," he said. "I don't want to think about next year right now, what our possibilities are next year."

• Photo gallery: Heat vs. Spurs in Game 7

Dwyane Wade was equally evasive. "We're living in this moment right here, and it's a sweet moment to live in," he said. "It will be sweet to be able to have a long run like the Spurs, but we'll get to that when we get to that."

Here are more excerpts from James' post-game press conference. You can read the full transcript at asapsports.com.

Q. LeBron, three straight Finals trips. Two straight championships. Do you guys feel like you're just starting to scratch the surface of the potential of this thing?

LeBron James: I hope so. I hope so. I mean, this is what it's all about. I came here to win championships and to be able to go back to back. Two championships in three years so far. It's the ultimate. I don't want to think about next year right now, what our possibilities are next year. Got to take full advantage of this one. It's an unbelievable moment for our team.

...

Q. LeBron, you were drafted ten years ago this week. Can you put in perspective the improvement you've made as a player. And was that on display tonight?

LeBron James: I mean, I said before the series that I was a better player than I was last time I faced the Spurs. Didn't look that way the first couple of games. But I stuck with it. Through all that adversity and throughout, I guess, the rhythm that I was in at that point, I just kept going. Just trusted all the work that I put into my game. And to be able to come through for your teammates, for me, I think‑‑ you know more than anybody how much I care about my teammates and hate letting my teammates down.
To be able to come through for my teammates in the biggest moment on the biggest stage makes me more satisfied than anything in the world.

...

The Miami Heat's LeBron James kisses the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy as he holds his Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after Game 7 of the NBA basketball championship game against the San Antonio Spurs, Friday, June 21, 2013, in Miami. The Miami Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 to win their second straight NBA championship. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

 Q. LeBron, so many people are saying this was tougher, but everybody always says the first one is the toughest. Was this tougher for you? And what made it‑‑

LeBron James: Last year when I was sitting up here, with my first championship, I said it was the toughest thing I had ever done. This year I'll tell last year he's absolutely wrong. This was the toughest championship right here, between the two. I mean, everything that we've been throughout this postseason, especially in these Finals, to be down‑‑ we were down every odd game. We were down 1‑0. We tied it. We were able to take a lead, but then we were down. We were down‑‑ we were scratching for our lives in Game 6 down five with 28 seconds to go.
To be able to win that game and force a Game 7 is a true testament of our, I guess, perseverance. And us being able to handle adversity throughout everything. It meant a lot for us to be able to do that and force a Game 7 and being able to close out at home.

...

Q. LeBron, you've won it all now for two years in a row. What's the goal now for your career going forward? Where do you want to go from here?

LeBron James: I mean, I have a few goals. My goal, one of my first goals is to continue to inspire the youth to want to play this game of basketball or to be better at whatever they do. I mean, I love kids. Hopefully tonight I was able to inspire a lot. Inspire millions to‑‑ no matter what they've gone through in their lives at that point in time, they can always overcome it. That's the first thing.
Second thing for me is to continue to lead my teammates. Every single day in practice, every single day in film sessions, I know the grass isn't always green and there's going to be trials and tribulations. But hopefully I can continue to be the leader for my teammates.
And then lastly, I want to be, if not the greatest, one of the greatest to ever play this game. And I will continue to work for that, and continue to put on this uniform and be the best I can be every night.

...

Q. So what do you do to reward yourself now? Because that was one of the most grueling stretches the last month of the season, postseason, that anyone has ever seen. What do you do to reward yourself?

LeBron James: I need to rest my body. I do. As much as I love working out and as much as I love getting better, at this point I think the smartest thing to do is to rest my body. Give my body a break. I think that's the smartest thing. I got a wedding coming up with my beautiful fiancée. And it will be an unbelievable wedding now that we've won, instead of losing. I might have called it off if we lost (laughter).
So now it's going to be one of the best weddings ever. I'm going to sign off with that. And I will see you guys when I see you guys. And please continue to motivate me. I need you guys. Thank yo

The Cavaliers are rumored to be one of the teams that may try to lure James in 2014.

James and his longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson, incidentally, are scheduled to be married during the weekend of Sept. 13-15 in San Diego.

Video: James' on-court speech -- "I'm LeBron James. I'm from Akron, Ohio."

Plain Dealer's stats-driven Believe-O-Meter shows improving hope for the Cleveland Indians.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - After winning six out of their last eight games, including series wins over Texas, Washington and Kansas City, the prospects for the Cleveland Indians are on the rise, according to The Plain Dealer's stats-driven Believe-O-Meter.

65	61	69
Overall	Heart	Head

The meter, an index taking into account on-field performance and fan interest, reads a 65 heading into the weekend on a scale of 1-to-100.

That's up from a 62 on Monday. It's been on the rise since dropping to a 53 on June 10.

The stats-driven Believe-O-Meter shown here is an alternate way to judge the Indians' hopes this season to the subjective fan-driven Believe-O-Meter. You can be part of that separate rating by voicing your opinion at this link.

Here's how we come up with the stats-driven Believe-O-Meter rating, an average of our head and heart indexes.

• For the head (currently a 69): We've created an index that takes into account the Indians' record over the last 10 games, the overall record for the year, games behind first place, and the team's American League ranking for runs scored and runs allowed.

• For the heart (currently a 61): The index factors in attendance over the last 10 home games and readership over the last week on cleveland.com for Indians stories vs. stories about the Browns, the Cavs and Ohio State. Indians stories ranked first among this group over the last week. But the heart rating is hurt by continued low attendance. Their last series drew 12,803, 14,853 and 17,349 fans.
  

We'll check back often with updates on the the Believe-O-Meter, stats version, as the season goes along.

Visit the fan-driven Believe-O-Meter to register how you're feeling about the Tribe today.

Indians Believe-O-Meter rates a six.Bill Neff, The Plain Dealer

LeBron James the Miami Heat won their second straight NBA championship last night over the San Antonio Spurs. Fans and media react from Cleveland and around the country react to Miami's win.

Front page of South Florida Sun-Sentinel 

Davis is playing in her first Wimbledon main draw; Safarova her seventh.

WIMBLEDON, England -- Gates Mills teenager Lauren Davis will face Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in the first round at Wimbledon, which begins Sunday. It will be their first meeting.

The singles draws were announced Friday. Match start times will be announced later.

Davis, ranked No. 88 in the world, is competing in her first Wimbledon main draw.

Safarova, ranked No. 28, is a 26-year-old left-hander. This is her seventh Wimbledon, where her best performance was a third-round finish in 2007. Last year, she lost in the first round to Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-0.

Davis and Safarova are in Maria Sharapova's quarter of the draw. The winner of the match will face either Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic or Karin Knapp of Italy in the second round.

Gladiators look to end five-game loss string.

Where: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

Kickoff: Saturday at 7 p.m.

Radio: WKRK FM/92.3.

Notable: Gladiators (2-10) are coming off a 62-55 loss at Orlando. Predators scored a touchdown with less than five seconds left. Gladiators, behind six touchdown passes from QB Chris Dieker, overcame a 20-point deficit in the second half but were unable to avoid a fifth straight defeat. Dieker ran for a touchdown and was not intercepted. WR Thyron Lewis caught three touchdown passes and WR Dominick Goodman had two. WR Carlese Franklin scored twice -- on a catch and a kick return. Franklin's kickoff return was the first such touchdown for the Gladiators this season. ... Sharks (8-5) defeated Gladiators, 66-49, April 6 at The Q. Jacksonville is coming off a 62-55 loss at Utah. Jacksonville, which started 6-0, has gone 2-5 since. The Sharks' previous two losses, at Spokane and Utah, respectively, were by a combined score of 138-96. ... Cleveland DB LaRoche Jackson spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons playing for Jacksonville. ... Sharks DB Micheaux Robinson is a native of Fostoria, Ohio, and attended Otterbein University in Westerville. Robinson was a starter all four years of his collegiate career and tied the record for most interceptions in school history (13).

-- Dennis Manoloff

Barkevious Mingo says the Browns could have the No. 1 defense, and TheBigLead.com supports his claim.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Rookie Barkevious Mingo recently said the Cleveland Browns could have the best defense in the league this coming season.

That certainly raised a few eyebrows but the folks at The Big Lead has this article on how Mingo's claim is a possibility.

In the article, The Big Lead writes how, even though the Browns were 5-11 last year, they went
3-5 in close games and were a lot closer to an average defense over the
course of the season. The Browns were 19th in points allowed, 17th in net yards
per pass attempt, and 13th in yards per rush attempt.

Six
teams ranked below this Browns team in terms of what they looked like
from the previous season. While it is not typical, it would also be far
from an unusual situation for a defense with a performance like the
Browns in 2012 to shoot to the top spot.

If I were to look for reasons why Cleveland could
take a big leap on defense, it would be because two of their top young
defensive players missed a lot of games last year (Phil Taylor and Joe
Haden missing 5 games due to suspension/injury), because they are making
a defensive change in scheme with new coordinator Ray Horton, who did
well in Arizona, and because there are a lot of young players that could
emerge.

More Browns and NFL news

Hanging with the wrong crowd can hurt NFL players (Fox Sports).

Aaron Hernandez's scouting report was ominous (Boston Globe).

Korey Stringer's legacy kept alive by his family (NFL.com).

Kirk Cousins says he's preparing as if he's starting (The Washington Post).

Steelers president Art Rooney III wants to host NFL Draft (Yahoo.com).

A.J. Green named in NFL Network's top 100 players (Cincinnati.com).

Here's how Baltimore sees the Cleveland Browns (Baltimore Sun).