Tournament cut to 54 holes for the first time since 1990

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CANTON, Ohio -- Dangerous weather plagued the 107th annual Ohio Amateur Championship for the second day in a row on Wednesday, turning the event into a 54-hole tournament for the first time since 1990.

Ohio Golf Association officials called the players off Brookside Country Club around 1:30 p.m. before the bad weather hit and determined that play could not continue after a subsequent heavy rain storm sparked flood warnings, lightning and a tornado warning around 3 p.m. halting the second round.

Tuesday's first round also was interrupted by inclement weather with 72 players in the 144-player field still on the course.

Corey Richmond, whose 8-under 63 had forged a 3-shot lead after the first round, was waiting for his second-round tee time when play was halted. He remained the leader in the clubhouse.

The inclement weather prompted officials to reduce the tournament to 54 holes for the first time since it was played at the Sharon Golf Club in 1990.

Second-round play resumes at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. The field will be cut to the low 60 scores and ties after the second round and a final 18 will be played Friday.

Westfield Center's Parker Hewitt, a Cloverleaf and Bowling Green graduate, had the best score of a local player with a 2-under 69.

Boater Freedom Act prevents local and state officials from boarding pleasure boats unless officers have reasonable suspicion a law is being broken.

Gov. John R. Kasich signs the Boater Freedom Act while flanked by sponsor Rep. Rex Damschroder and Rep. Randy Gardner at the annual Governor's Fish Ohio Day press conference at the Ottawa County Visitors Bureau in Port Clinton. D'Arcy Egan, The Plain Dealer 

PORT CLINTON, Ohio - After a short Lake Erie walleye fishing trip on the annual Governor's Fish Ohio Day, Gov. John R. Kasich took time out for lunch and to sign the Boater Freedom Act. The legislation reins in local and state officers from boarding local pleasure and charter boats unless there is a reasonable suspicion laws are being broken.

Sponsor Rep. Rex Damschroder, a Republican from Fremont, said boaters in Northwest Ohio have been complaining about constant safety inspections by local and state agencies, including the Ohio Division of Watercraft. Some boaters, said Damschroder, have been checked multiple times during the same day and cited one instance of a local boater being brought to shore while face down and in handcuffs, even though a breathalyzer test showed no evidence of alcohol use.

The regulation will not stop U.S. Coast Guard or Homeland Security officials from arbitrarily stopping and boarding boats.

"Our next goal ought to be sitting down with the U.S. Coast Guard and telling them they don't have to treat (boaters) like thugs," said Damschroder. "We want them to do what's right. If they see someone violating the law, go after them. But don't harass boaters."

The legislation was needed because local and state law enforcement officials "have become so repressive around Lake Erie, and especially the Western Basin," said Ken Alvey, head of the Lake Erie Marina Trades Association. "It's hurt tourism, fishing and boating in general."

Zach McAllister threw a 30 to 35-pitch bullpen session Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seen and heard before Wednesday's game between the Indians and Blue Jays.

Clubhouse confidential: Zach McAllister threw a 30 to 35-pitch bullpen session Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field.

"It went really well,'' Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. "The ball came out of the hand in great shape. His command improves each time out.''

McAllister, on the disabled list since early June because of a sprained middle finger, threw everything but curves. He injured the finger in a start June 2 against Tampa Bay, with curveball grip as a possible cause.

Since the injury, McAllister only has "spun'' curves on flat ground. He is expected to do so again Thursday.

"He's better than we expected him to be at this point in the process,'' Callaway said.

McAllister will take two days off, then pitch rehab innings Saturday for Class AA Akron against Altoona. The appearance will be four innings or 60 pitches. In the first bullpen session after the rehab, he is scheduled to begin throwing curves from the mound.

Barring setbacks, he should rejoin the rotation soon after the All-Star break.

Notable: Right-hander Danny Salazar makes his major-league debut Thursday when he faces the Blue Jays. The previous starter to make his major-league debut with the Tribe was McAllister on July 7, 2011, at Progressive Field. McAllister allowed two earned runs in four innings in a 5-4 Indians victory.

Stat of the day: Michael Brantley entered Wednesday ranked second in the American League with a .387 average with runners in scoring position.

"I've been working hard every day, waiting for this moment," rookie starter Danny Salazar said Wednesday. "I'm ready for this."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On the day before his major-league debut, right-hander Danny Salazar did not seem the least bit nervous as he met with reporters in the Indians clubhouse.

Salazar opposes Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey Thursday in the finale of a three-game series at Progressive Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.

"I've been working hard every day, waiting for this moment,'' Salazar said. "I'm ready for this. I'm going to go out and do my job, do what I've been doing.''

Salazar, the 10th pitcher to start for the Tribe this season, began at Class AA Akron. He went 2-3 with a 2.67 ERA in seven starts before being promoted to Class AAA Columbus on May 12. He has gone 3-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 10 starts for the Clippers.

"When they told me I was coming up, it was a shock,'' he said. "I didn't know what to say. It's very exciting.''

Among those Salazar likely will face is Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, a player he has admired.

"He's a great guy and a good hitter,'' Salazar said. "So I'm going to keep my fastball and off-speed pitches low.''

Indians manager Terry Francona said it is important to keep Salazar's game-day experience as normal as possible. Salazar joined the club Wednesday and "got the handshakes out of the way,'' Francona said.

"You only get one first game, and it's not going to dictate how his career is going to go, by any means,'' Francona said. "But it's fun to watch how guys act for their first game, and you're certainly interested in how they throw. Hopefully, he throws great. This is another step for him -- a big one -- and, hopefully, it helps us get a victory.''

Francona said he prefers to have a debut occur in an afternoon game, lest the player have all day to think about it. As calm as Salazar seemed, Francona anticipated a change by the middle of the night.

"He probably won't sleep a wink,'' Francona said with a chuckle. "Then he'll probably tell everybody he did.''

Salazar was expected to watch 4-5 innings Wednesday night from the ballpark before heading home. He relies primarily on a three-pitch mix: four-seamer, change-up and slurve. The fastball settles in the mid-90s. The change can have splitter action.

"I want to see him do what he typically does: Throw the fastball for strikes, be aggressive,'' pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. "If he does the things he was doing in the minors, it will translate because his stuff is so good.''

Salazar, 23, underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2010 and spent most of the 2011 season rehabbing the elbow. In 2012, he pitched a combined 87 2/3 innings for advanced-Class A Carolina and Akron.

Listed at 6-0, 190, Salazar said he used the off-season to get stronger physically and mentally. "I know how to attack hitters better than I did a year ago,'' he said.

Salazar, signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2006, said his favorite pitcher growing up was Pedro Martinez. Now that Martinez has retired, Salazar likes to watch Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander.

Salazar could be auditioning for other clubs. Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti wants to bolster the rotation, and quality prospects can help him do so.

Finally: The Indians entered Wednesday with 11 team shutouts, trailing only Pittsburgh (12) in the majors. The 11 shutouts are the most for the Tribe since it notched 13 in 2008 and most through 90 games of a season since 1968 (17).

Plain Dealer reporter Paul Hoynes contributed to this article.

Center Andrew Bynum agrees to two-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers after also visiting with the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A little more than a week ago, Andrew Bynum answered the phone without knowing the call would alter his future.

But after the 7-foot center with suspect knees talked to Cavaliers coach Mike Brown -- the same coach who guided Bynum to his best season in the NBA -- he was ready to not only listen to any free-agent offers from Cleveland, but also place the Cavaliers among the leading contenders for his services.

The result, after fielding offers from three teams over the course of three days this week, was that Bynum agreed to terms for a two-year deal with the Cavaliers on Wednesday. The incentive-laden contract is worth a guaranteed $6 million in the first season, and includes a team option for the second year, according to a league source. In all, if goals are met, it could be worth up to $24 million.

"Whatever Mike said, Andrew got off the phone and was actually excited to take the meeting," said David Lee, Bynum's agent, Wednesday evening. "I kid Mike that he should go into motivational speaking, but Andrew was extremely motivated and extremely excited."

And the Cavaliers are cautiously thrilled that their gamble to dangle a large amount of money in front of a player who missed the entire 2012-13 season with the Philadelphia 76ers pays off. The Cavaliers' deal -- authorized and heavily encouraged by owner Dan Gilbert and made possible by General Manager Chris Grant's careful hoarding of salary-cap space -- beat out offers from the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks, who were hesitant to take a risk on Bynum's knees.

The move also allows the Cavaliers to retain their coveted salary-cap flexibility for 2014 when a run at possible free agent LeBron James has long been expected.

Questions still remain about Bynum's knees -- "It's not a slam dunk," one league executive said -- and even moreso about his heart, according to a league source. Bynum missed his only season in Philadelphia because of what first was a bone bruise, and later was a knee injury suffered while bowling. Since undergoing surgery on his knees in March, Bynum has gained about 15 pounds, Lee said.

Lee said he expects Bynum to be ready to play by the start of training camp -- even though he wouldn't permit his client to work out for teams.

"Actually, there was no reason to have him work out," Lee said. "His skill level's not in question, so there's no reason to work out. The reality is he has not picked up the ball in some time and he has to get his weight down. He's got to lose probably about 15 pounds, which is not a big deal. But to get on the floor you've got to reduce your weight, otherwise you risk injury."

The last time Bynum did pick up a ball, however, he had his most productive season in the NBA, averaging 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds in 2011-12 while playing for Brown and the Lakers.

The Cavaliers not only offered the prospect of being reunited with Brown, but the opportunity to rebuild in Cleveland with All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving -- who texted Bynum for all of Monday and most of Tuesday encouraging him to sign with the Cavaliers.

"It was the best situation," Lee said. "The team looks terrific. We could not find a negative."

Bynum joins guard Jarrett Jack and forward Early Clark as free-agent pickups this off-season. Jack and Clark are scheduled to sign their contracts Friday and be introduced to media at a news conference that day.

Police found two marijuana pipes, a bong, a small amount of pot and two bags of marijuana roaches, as well as two grinders and a push rod in the basement of a home rented by Indians pitcher Chris Perez.

Chris Perez and his wife, Melanie, enter Rocky River Municipal Court on Tuesday, where they had a hearing on misdemeanor drug charges. They have pleaded not guilty, and their next hearing is Sept. 3.Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer

(Read the full text of the search warrent and related documents below.)

Police also seized two Ziplock bags with marijuana roaches in them, as well as two metal grinders used to break down the plant's buds, which is used to make it easier to smoke them. Investigators found two glass jars with about a small amount of the drug, as well as a push rod, which is used to gather residue, according to the document, which was filed Tuesday.

A bong, like the pipes, is used to inhale the drug. Authorities seized the items from a basement kitchen.

Officers found about 6 ounces of marijuana in the home, with the majority of it in two packages delivered there by an undercover officer. Previously, authorities said that the drugs weighed as much 9 ounces, but that included the shipping materials, according to interviews and a state lab analysis of the drugs seized.

The amount of pot found in the jars was slightly more than 3 grams, according to the analysis.

The packages, sent by priority mail, were addressed to the Perez family dog and mailed from Los Angeles. They were intercepted at the Rocky River Post Office after a supervisor detected a smell of marijuana coming from them, according to a Postal Service report on the incident.

Postal inspectors opened the packages after obtaining a search warrant from U.S. Magistrate Greg White in Cleveland. Authorities obtained approval from Rocky River Municipal Court Judge Brian Hagan to search the home Perez is renting on Parklane Drive. A Rocky River police officer wrote in a report that Chris Perez said the marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the basement belonged to him.

Perez and his wife, Melanie, are charged with drug abuse, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. If convicted, each faces a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $250 fine. They have pleaded not guilty. Their next appearance will be Sept. 3.

"We're hoping that the Perezes can put this behind them and get this resolved as quickly as possible,'' Rocky River Prosecutor Michael O'Shea said Wednesday.

Their defense attorney, Terry Gilbert, declined to comment.

Once postal inspectors opened the packages and found the drug, they resealed  and delivered them. An undercover officer, posing as a delivery man, approached Perez's wife, who confirmed the packages were for the dog, Brody. The package was addressed to Brody Baum. Baum is Melanie Perez's maiden name.

Melanie Perez and her husband, who was on the Indians’ disabled list at the time, then went out to lunch and a movie, leaving their two children with a baby sitter, according to the postal report.

After returning home, the couple found postal inspectors and detectives from the Westshore Enforcement Bureau and Rocky River police searching their home. Officers entered Perez's home at 3:36 p.m. They left at 4:55 p.m.

Perez returned on June 27 and has pitched well since, going 4-for-4 in save situations.

The Cleveland Indians get a good start from Justin Masterson, but Toronto scores three times in the ninth inning to beat the Tribe.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians and reliever Joe Smith were one pitch from quieting Blue Jays fans for at least a few seconds.

Toronto second baseman Munenori Kawasaki made sure it did not happen. Kawasaki snapped an 0-for-18 slide with a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning to push the Blue Jays to a 5-4 victory Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

Paid attendance was 14,134. At times, it seemed as if 14,133 were Blue Jays fans, what with all the chants of "O-le, Ole, Ole, Ole ... O-le, O-le!''

The Indians (47-44) scored once in the eighth to tie it 2-2.

Michael Bourn led off with a single against lefy Brett Cecil. Bourn stole second. Asdrubal Cabrera struck out and Jason Kipnis grounded out, the latter sending Bourn to third.

Tribe-Jays boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

Nick Swisher walked. Michael Brantley, who ranks among American League leaders in average with runners in scoring position, grounded sharply up the middle. Shortstop Jose Reyes attempted to make a side-saddle pick but missed -- an "Ole,'' which was appropriate given the incessant chants of the Toronto faithful.

Credit Brantley with a single and his 47th RBI. Swisher stopped at second.

Carlos Santana ripped a single to left that Emilio Bonifacio fielded cleanly. Third-base coach Brad Mills appeared to be pin-wheeling Swisher, who declined the invitation. If Swisher had attempted to score, he would have been out by yards because Bonifacio's throw was quick, strong and accurate.

Ryan Raburn pinch-hit for Jason Giambi. Righty Neil Wagner relieved Cecil and struck out Raburn.

The Blue Jays (44-46) erupted for three in the ninth against Rich Hill and Joe Smith. They loaded the bases with two outs for No. 9 hitter Kawasaki, who punched Smith's 1-2 pitch to left-center. A third run scored on center fielder Bourn's error.

"He just left the ball over the middle of the plate,'' Indians manager Terry Francona said of Smith, who worked his fourth straight day.

Kawasaki is hitting .214.

The Tribe made matters very interesting against closer Casey Janssen in the ninth. Kawasaki almost gave back everything.

With two outs, Bourn singled and took second on indifference. Cabrera's single drove in Bourn. Kipnis walked. Swisher grounded to second baseman Kawasaki, who threw wildly to first. Cabrera scored, Kipnis went to third and Swisher to second.

Steve Delabar relieved Janssen. Brantley flied to center on the first pitch, a fastball.

Brantley, asked if he had been looking for a first-pitch fastball, said: "Exactly. I just missed it.''

Brantley slipped to 25-for-64 (.391) with RISP.

The Indians put runners on first and second with none out in each of the first two innings against right-hander Esmil Rogers. They scratched across one run.

Bourn led off the first with a single to right. Cabrera singled to center, Bourn stopping at second. Cabrera snapped an 0-for-20 skid with that hit.

Kipnis, AL player of the month for June, became too eager on a 1-0 pitch and grounded to the right side. Kawasaki fielded the ball and made a terrific jump-spin to trigger a 4-6-3 double play as Bourn advanced to third. Swisher struck out swinging at a full-count breaking pitch.

Rogers began the second by walking Brantley (five pitches) and Santana (five). He fell behind Giambi, 2-0, before Giambi grounded a single to center. Brantley scored and Santana raced to third.

At that point, Giambi had 23 hits and 23 RBI in 110 official at-bats.

The Tribe's potential big-inning failed to materialize when Lonnie Chisenhall popped to right on the first pitch, Drew Stubbs struck out and Bourn grounded into a fielder's choice.

Rogers gave up the run on four hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out seven. He was coming off a rough start against Detroit.

Toronto acquired Rogers from Cleveland last November in exchange for infielder Mike Aviles and catcher Yan Gomes.

"He works so quickly," Francona said. "He gets the ball and is ready to go. It's almost like there's deception because of the rhythm of it. And we had trouble with his breaking ball.''

Tribe righty Justin Masterson did not allow a hit and walked three through four. He threw 57 pitches. Two of the three runners were erased by double plays.

Colby Rasmus, former Little League World Series standout, opened the Toronto fifth by going with a sinker and driving it into left-center for a double. Rasmus moved to third on former Indians farmhand Maicer Izturis' grounder. Josh Thole stepped in.

Masterson fell behind Thole, 2-0, and 3-1. Thole, dealing with a drawn-in infield, fouled off five consecutive pitches. The infield depth paid off when Thole chopped the 10th pitch over Masterson's outstretched glove to second baseman Kipnis, who held Rasmus and recorded the out at first.

Bonifacio rallied from 0-2 to full. He fouled off a pitch, then swing through a filthy sinker -- Masterson's 79th pitch.

With one out in the sixth, Reyes notched Toronto's second hit by sending the ball into medium depth in left-center. Left fielder Brantley, moving to his left, got to it in a hurry and smoothly fired a strike on the fly to Kipnis. Reyes was out by plenty. Jose Bautista struck out swinging.

Brantley ranks among American League leaders with eight assists.

The Blue Jays broke through in the seventh. Adam Lind hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a grounder to second. Izturis walked on four pitches, setting up Masterson vs. Thole II. Thole fell behind, 1-2, but worked an eight-pitch walk to load the bases.

With the count, 1-2, Bonifacio singled to right on Masterson's 120th pitch. Lind and Izturis scored to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead. Thole went to third and Bonifacio to second when right fielder Drew Stubbs did not pick up the ball cleanly.

Francona signaled for righty Preston Guilmet, who made his big-league debut. Guilmet struck out Kawasaki.

"I tried to overthrow a couple of pitches,'' Masterson said. "I didn't really set a good tone for the bullpen. If I would have finished off the inning, it probably would have been a different story.''

Masterson allowed the two runs on four hits, walked five and struck out six in his final start before the All-Star break. He and Kipnis will represent the Tribe in New York next week.

"He probably was a little bit tired,'' Francona said of Masterson. "He needed just one grounder, or something, and just couldn't get it.''

Guilmet retired one in the eighth. Vinnie Pestano got the last two.

If healthy, the 7-foot Andrew Bynum could remind critics of just how good he was in Los Angeles.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The possible gain is bigger than the risk with Andrew Bynum.

The money is feasible ($6 million guaranteed in the first of his two seasons, with the second year at the Cavaliers' option.)

The knees may be bad, but if the attitude was also in Philadelphia, where he sat out the last season, it shouldn't be here. This is his audition to become a factor in the NBA again and to be a contributor on a team that has dreams of dramatic improvement.

When Bynum was teamed with fellow big men  Pau Gasol and Metta Worldpeace  (nee, Ron Artest), the Los Angeles Lakers could just pound teams inside and control the paint. The Lakers also won two world championships when Bynum, playing rerstricted minutes because of his knees, was with them.

At least he will be a player here who knows what it feels like to win big. Dion Waiters' loss with Syracuse to Ohio State in the Elite Eight doesn't really stack up that well.

If healthy, the 7-foot Bynum could remind critics of just how good he was in Los Angeles. At the very least, he gives some depth to a roster whose bigs consist of fragile Anderson Varejao, third-year man Tristan Thompson, project Tyler Zeller and rookie Anthony Bennett, the top pick in an unexciting NBA Draft.

Of more importance to  fans who have seen three straight seasons of sometimes epic losing, the Cavs are actually trying to make the playoffs with the Bynum gamble. You'll see more teams "pack it in" next season than there were San Antonio Spurs guarding the rim and daring LeBron James to shoot jump shots in the recent NBA Finals. All this positioning will be to try to get the prize of next year's draft, incoming Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins.

Cleveland fans have seen a team built to lose in order to gain more Draft Lottery lottery pingpong balls before. The purposeful pitifulness netted James, seven years of electric games and a Brown-out in his competitiveness at the end  that cost James the love and respect of many fans and cost Mike Brown his job.

Manipulating the entire roster and salary cap money solely to bid for James again if he chooses to become a free agent in 2014 would be a much larger risk.

Brown is back now as Cavs coach. Bynum had his best season as a pro with Brown in Los Angeles.

The stars aren't aligned, but they're not crossed, either. Bynum is hardly the most daring gamble Horseshoe Casino impressario and Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert ever took. 

Cornerback Minnifield was an elite pass defender for Browns teams that made the playoffs five straight years in the 1980s.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A countdown of the top 100 players in Cleveland
Browns history. Players must have spent at least four seasons with the
Browns. The ranking is based only on players' careers with the Browns.

No. 18, FRANK MINNIFIELD, cornerback, 1984-92

The Browns were confident Frank Minnifield could help them but it wasn't blockbuster news when the United States Football League cornerback decided to sign with Cleveland in April, 1984.

The acquisition would turn out to be one of the most fortuitous in Browns history. Minnifield joined Hanford Dixon to form one of the NFL's best-ever cornerback duos and help spark a fan connection with the team that has not been matched since.

Minnifield, from the University of Louisville, was selected by the Chicago Blitz in the third round of the USFL draft as the new league approached its first season, which would begin in March, 1983. He signed with Chicago but injured a knee in an early-season game and then, given the circumstances, was passed by in that April's NFL draft.

The USFL, which would cease play after 1985, was already struggling in its challenge to compete with the NFL. Chicago and the Arizona Wranglers were among the teams facing serious financial problems. The franchises swapped numerous assets, including most of their players, for business purposes prior to the 1984 season. Thus, Minnifield was with the Wranglers, though sidelined by a leg injury, when he signed with Cleveland.

Minnifield's injuries healed and he took over as the starter at left cornerback for the Browns early in the 1984 campaign. Cleveland finished 5-11 but would make the playoffs in each of the next five years, winning four AFC Central Division championships and three times coming within a win of reaching the Super Bowl.

The 5-9, 180-pound Minnifield was nicknamed "Mighty Minnie" but some teammates called him "Boom" for the wallop he packed making hits on opposing receivers. His toughness and strength helped him excel in man-to-man "bump-and-run" coverage, jarring receivers as they tried to come off the line of scrimmage and denying them their desired routes downfield. And, not only was Minnfield an elite pass defender, but he excelled in run support.

It was during the early stages of Minnifield's Browns career that Dixon began barking on the field to motivate his fellow defenders. Minnifield went along with the tactic right away. Soon, Dixon would be nicknamed "Top Dawg," the rest of the defense would get in on the act and the energized fans would join in. Browns fans brought all sorts of dog paraphernalia to games and the "Dawg Pound" formed in the bleachers at the open end of Cleveland Stadium, making the place a nightmare for opponents to visit.

The environment was a perfect fit for the feisty Minnifeld, who never met a receiver who intimidated him, be it in Cleveland or on the road.

Minnifield made four straight Pro Bowl teams (1986-89) and was a first-team all-NFL selection in 1987 and 1988. His 20 career interceptions aren't a fair indicator of his pass-defending excellence. Opponents faced quite a dilemma when playing the Browns. They'd rather not throw toward either Minnifield or Dixon. As often as they could, quarterbacks chose to not dare either.

Minnifield intercepted two passes, returning one 48 yards for a touchdown, in the Browns' 38-21 playoff game win over the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 9, 1988 at Cleveland Stadium. He also scored touchdowns in regular season games on a fumble recovery and on a return of a blocked punt.

The Browns changed coaches four times during Minnifleld's career. Sam Rutigliano, in his seventh season with Cleveland, was fired and replaced by defensive coordinator Marty Schottenheimer midway through Minnifield's first season. After four playoff campaigns, disagreements between Schottenheimer and owner Art Modell prompted the coach's departure.

Cleveland hired New York Jets defensive coordinator Bud Carson as its next coach. Carson had run the Pittsburgh defenses when the Steelers won their first two Super Bowls in the 1974 and 1975 seasons. In Carson's first Cleveland season, 1989, the Browns lost the AFC championship game to the Denver Broncos for the third time in four years. Carson was fired and offensive coordinator Jim Shofner was named the interim coach midway through the Browns' 3-13 season in 1990. Modell then hired Bill Belichick, who had been the New York Giants defensive coordinator since 1985, including their 1986 Super Bowl championship campaign.

Through all the changes, Minnifield stayed at right cornerback. From 1990-92, though, he missed 15 total games with a variety of injuries. Even before, in his best years, the compact Minnifield often played through a variety of leg ailments.

Minnifield was 33 and his contract was up after the 1992 season. The Browns didn't offer him a new deal and soon after the draft Modell made it clear the team wouldn't bring him back. In 1990, the Browns had allowed an unsigned Minnifield to negotiate with other teams, hoping it might lead to a beneficial trade. A series of events resulted in Minnifield's filing of a lawsuit against the Browns for collusion between them and the Atlanta Falcons. The lawsuit was merged into a class-action antitrust suit with other players against the NFL. Between the first and second weeks of the 1992 season, a court ruled for the players and awarded damages.

Instead of trying to catch on with another team after Cleveland no longer wanted him, Minnifield retired.

Minnifield's son, Chase, is a cornerback with the Washington Redskins but has not yet played in a game. Prior to microfracture knee surgery while at the University of Virginia, Chase Minnifield was projected as a middle-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft. He went undrafted and signed with the Redskins but suffered a torn ACL in his right knee last summer.

Frank Minnifield was 53 on Jan. 1. He was elected chairman of the University of Louisville's board of trustees in Sept., 2011.

(The Browns' all-time top 100 players so far)

Video: Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon are ranked the second-best cornerback tandem ever in an NFL Network feature from a few years ago:

Video: Part 1 of an NFL Films Game of the Week, the Browns' 27-24 win over the Steelers on Oct. 5, 1986 in Pittsburgh. About 50 seconds in, Browns left cornerback Frank Minnifield (31), right cornerback Hanford Dixon (29), strong safety Ray Ellis (24) and free safety Chris Rockins (37) are introduced in the starting lineup. About 3:25 in, Minnifield is highlighted and makes a leaping interception:

Video: Part 2 of the Browns' 27-24 win over the Steelers on Oct. 5, 1986 in Pittsburgh.

Cavs sign former all-star center who missed all of last season to a two-year contract loaded with incentives in the first year and with a team option for the second year.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Andrew Bynum to a two-year contract.

Bynum, 25, helped the Los Angeles Lakers win two championship and made one all-star team but missed all of last season with the Philadelphia 76ers due to knee problems.

Jodie Valade writes about the Cavs' signing of Bynum for The Plain Dealer:

The incentive-laden contract is worth a guaranteed $6 million in the first season, and includes a team option for the second year, according to a league source. In all, if goals are met, it could be worth up to $24 million.

PD columnist Bill Livingston writes about Bynum joining the Cavs:

The possible gain is bigger than the risk with Andrew Bynum.

The money is feasible ($6 million guaranteed in the first of his two seasons, with the second year at the Cavaliers' option.)

The knees may be bad, but if the attitude was also in Philadelphia, where he sat out the last season, it shouldn't be here. This is his audition to become a factor in the NBA again and to be a contributor on a team that has dreams of dramatic improvement.

And, PD columnist Bud Shaw gives his opinion on the Cavs' deal with Bynum:

The Cavs' pursuit of Bynum was nevertheless understandable. The deal that he agreed to on Wednesday is as smartly constructed as you could expect under the circumstances, laden with incentives and a second-year team option. But let's step back from the desert mirage that makes Bynum look like a probable franchise-changing free agent and look clearly at the horizon ahead and behind.

When you do that, you see an often-injured, sometimes immature player who threw up threes in transition, then defended it, and who didn't always feel the need to partake in the timeout huddles in L.A. when Mike Brown coached there.

What do you think of the Cavaliers signing Andrew Bynum to a contract?

Andrew Bynum won't work out for teams but that didn't stop the Cleveland Cavaliers from rewarding him handsomely.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Andrew Bynum made $16 million last year in Philadelphia and played in zero games.

Now that may sound like a complete waste of money. You investigate further, though, and discover he did practice one day. Coincidentally, that day was in February.

For the purposes of what came next, the practice should've been held in Punxsutawney, because Bynum saw the shadow of his former self and retreated to the bench for the next six weeks.

The Cavs' pursuit of Bynum was nevertheless understandable. The deal that he agreed to on Wednesday is as smartly constructed as you could expect under the circumstances, laden with incentives and a second-year team option. But let's step back from the desert mirage that makes Bynum look like a probable franchise-changing free agent and look clearly at the horizon ahead and behind.

When you do that, you see an often-injured, sometimes immature player who threw up threes in transition, then defended it, and who didn't always feel the need to partake in the timeout huddles in L.A. when Mike Brown coached there.

Chasing Bynum is excusable because of his talent and the old adage about how you cant't teach height.

 It's more understandable here because coveted free agents, let alone 7-0, 25-year-old free agents, don't exactly circle over Hopkins Airport waiting for their chance to land. Understandable because the Cavs need to make this a place Kyrie Irving wants to call home after a three-year stretch of 64-166.

Justified because they need to gussy up this roster for the free agent class of 2014. For a LeBron James reunion to happen, he'd at least need to see a better supporting cast than he walked away from in the summer of 2010.

Bynum didn't make it easy on teams. There are no hard and fast rules in free agency. But there should be at least one. If you feel good enough to dance the Flamenco in Spain in May as Bynum did, you shouldn't refuse to work out for teams two months later.

Nobody is suggesting he moved around the dance floor with great abandon. This wasn't Emmitt Smith on Dancing with the Stars ...

... as the video attests.

Then again, we're not suggesting he needed to play two hours of five-on-five to prove his worthiness.

What we are saying is for a guy who missed all last season and whose teammates have questioned his desire and maturity, going on a three-city tour with his hand out and no basketball shoes on his feet was a bad look.

What we are saying is a player who further injured his right knee bowling last November while rehabbing his left knee probably shouldn't be talked up as a potential All-Star. And that the risk the Cavs are taking is that he's trying to hide the "fragile" sign attached to both knees.

"I'm sure most people feel I shouldn't (have bowled)," Bynum told reporters the day after his Saturday night out at the lanes. "But I'm kind of taking the position if that happened bowling, what happens dunking? I don't see anything wrong with going bowling."

That might provide some insight into why he's not working out. It should also have sent up some red flags -- as should what he also said that night.

"I have an issue with my knees. I've pretty much seen every specialist."

The Cavs had to spend some money just to reach the salary cap basement. Dan Gilbert isn't going to ask any of us for a loan to pay Bynum. The organization is doing what teams do when they feel as if they've lost forever and need to accelerate the rebuild. They get desperate. They get bold.

That's understandable. But let's not pretend signing him is more than taking a reasonable chance on talented, damaged goods  -- at least until we see him on the court instead of the dance floor.

SPINOFFS

• The Denver Broncos had harsh words for former Browns' GM Tom Heckert and Matt Russell, the team's director of player personnel, after DUIs in separate incidents.

Joe Banner knew Tom Heckert (right) going back to their Philly days. Was that another reason Heckert was let go?John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer 

Heckert's arrest came on June 11, but the team said nothing publicly. Heckert reportedly was not suspended. The Broncos only addressed the Heckert incident after Russell last weekend hit a police car and injured an officer.

They may be trying to move the needle on the Outrage Meter but the Sincerity Meter isn't budging.

•Only Joe Banner can say if he had concerns about Heckert and if those concerns played any part in not keeping him around.

But in the meantime, we'll say it for him.

• Word out of the Bynum camp is that he will be ready by November.

They did not specify for what.

• Steve Nash told a radio show in Los Angeles that Dwight Howard was never really happy playing for the Lakers.

In Orlando, of course, he was as happy as a kid at Disney.

• The Buddhists have an expression: wherever you go, there you are.

• Anna Benson, the estranged wife of former major-league pitcher Kris Benson, was arrested after entering his home in a bulletproof vest. Police reports said she had a handgun, expandable baton, taser, knife and hatchet.

Kris Benson left the house and called police. They found her sitting on the back porch smoking a cigarette.

Anna, Delonte. Delonte, Anna.

• Gary Player does hundreds of situps a day at age 77.

I am closing in on 77 situps since high school but several of those were an attempt to get off the bed after putting on jeans straight from the dryer

• Milwaukee Brewers' slugger Ryan Braun reportedly refused to answer MLB's questions about his connection to the Biogenesis Clinic. Braun insists he has nothing to hide.

And by that he means nothing he wants to talk about.

• After 16 days of rain, we should take this opportunity to set aside our unrequited passion for football in this town and declare canoe-kayak our sport.

• WEWS Channel 5 quoted a NFL spokesman saying the league has "no plan" based on the possibility of an indictment of Jimmy Haslam in the FBI-IRS investigation of his company, Pilot Flying J.

And if you believe that of a league that polices how players wear their socks on game day, you believe O.J. Simpson was looking for the real killer all those days he spent on the golf course.

View full sizeColin Kaepernick didn't see the big deal about his Dolphins' hat but wore a Niners hat last time out in public.Instragram 

• Colin Kaepernick angered some 49ers fans by wearing a Miami Dolphins cap in public. Is that smart? Not really.

But if there's any off-season where we ought to be able to discern between dumb and criminal behavior in the NFL, it's this one.

HE SAID IT

"Time will tell." -- David Lee, the agent for Andrew Bynum, on when his client might pick a team.

I hope that's clear.

HE SAID WHAT?

"America is maybe the most unhealthy nation in the world because the live on crap." -- 77-year-old South African golfing great Gary Player, who posed nude in ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue, and who believes in healthy eating.

I think I speak for all Americans and most sportswriters when I say, sir, thank you for saying "maybe."

Thanks for all the support from my @ESPNMag Body Issue shoot. I do hope I was able to inspire just a few people to keep fit & healthy. Best

— Gary Player (@garyplayer) July 9, 2013

YOU SAID IT

"Bud:

"Any chance the Indians will buy back my Matt Laporta jersey?" -- Flo

There's a chart, like NFL teams use on draft day, that says it can only be exchanged for a Felix Pie jersey.

"Hey George Bernard:

"We have a league where a player who hasn't played in a year because of a bowling injury, now refuses to work out for his prospective team and will probably sign a contract for 15 million a year. We have players who went into the stands to beat up paying fans. A referee convicted and sent to prison for fixing games. Any idea why I haven't watched one minute of NBA basketball in 15 years?" -- Devin, Concord

Too busy painting with a broad brush?

"Bud:

"Why don't the NFL owners just hire Maracopa County Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio as the Commissioner?" -- O. Bill Stone

Roger Goodell considers him too soft.

"Hey Bud:

"I have reason to believe the recently departed Browns fan requesting the Browns as pall-bearers so that they 'can let him down one more time' had to be a Spin reader. -- Russ

I hope you don't mean because they're a dying breed.

"Hey Bud,

"Do you ever go to the bullpen to write a 'simulated' column?" -- Gary D, Columbia Station

No more than three times a week.

"Bud:

"Losing three out of four and not getting swept? Do you think the Tigers were even aware of the message Terry Francona was trying to send?" -- Mark A, Bainbridge Township

The message was clear. Have your fun now Tigers, because you don't play us at all in September.

"Bud:

"Manny Ramirez comeback or 'Pet Rock' comeback?" -- Jim Corrigan, Fairview Park

I root for the one that's the better interview. Not that I don't also wish Manny the best.

"Hey Bud:

"Has Fausto Carmona changed his name to Carlos Carrasco?" --Tim, Twinsburg

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection. Repeat winners need to lie about their identity.

The Indians send Scott Kazmir to the mound tonight as their series against the Royals continues.

What: Indians vs. Royals.

» Get updates from the pressbox here

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Potential new lineups can veer toward small-ball with three guards, or focus on big men if players such as Andrew Bynum and Anderson Varejao are finally healthy.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Maybe you glanced at this new Cavaliers roster after an off-season of draft picks and free-agency signings, resorted to head-scratching and shoulder-shrugging, and uttered a questioning "Huh?"

It's understandable.

That Cavaliers do seem to have a glut of power forwards and guards -- and still a glaring hole at small forward (hello, LeBron). But the franchise's decision-makers see this roster with six new faces and view only possibilities, provided:

1. You're willing to think a bit outside the box, and

2. You realize that this is most likely not the finished product.

"I don't know if you can ever say you achieved everything you want in the draft and free agency," General Manager Chris Grant said this week. "The team is very fluid and is constantly changing. You're always looking for the next opportunities. Even in free agency as we sit here today, we still have ongoing conversations and there's ongoing trade possibilities."

But if this is the roster that arrives at training camp, the team believes 6-10 Earl Clark can play small forward (especially defensively) and No. 1 draft choice Anthony Bennett could slide there, too (especially offensively).

Veteran guard Jarrett Jack can play alongside All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving and shooting guard Dion Waiters. The same potentially goes for putting Tristan Thompson on the floor with Andrew Bynum and Anderson Varejao.

Why not?

"I think we'll see different matchups on the court," Grant said. "If you watched a lot of games in the playoffs, you see multiple ball handlers and creators on the court at the same time. ... When you have smart basketball players that are willing to be unselfish and willing to make plays, it’s easy to put those guys on the court together."

Here's a look at how all the pieces might fit.

Guards

At last, the Cavaliers have multiple players who can penetrate and create plays in Irving, Waiters and Jack. Irving is the only lock to start, as he could play alongside Waiters or Jack -- or both. Waiters has long professed his preference to start, going back to his days in Syracuse, but he's also had great success coming off the bench. Jack can come off the bench at either position -- or start.

First-round pick Sergey Karasev is reportedly a sharpshooter, but a rookie is tough to count on for long-range buckets. Don't be surprised if another shooter is added. Chris Quinn, signed late last season, is the third point guard but an upgrade is undoubtedly preferred.

View full sizeAt 6-10, Earl Clark has the size to be a power forward, but the defensive skills to be helpful against the league's small forwards.AP file 

Swingmen

The biggest question mark is at small forward, where Alonzo Gee was the starter. He's back and sure to be among coach Mike Brown's favorites for his defense. However, Clark will get looks at the position because of his abilities to defend. Bennett, too, could play here, but at a sturdy 6-8, he might have trouble keeping up with some of the quicker threes in the NBA. C.J. Miles could provide some instant offense off the bench, and second-round pick Carrick Felix reportedly is an athletic hustle player.

Big men

This could be either a great strength or an enormous unknown -- primarily depending on health. Varejao has managed only 81 games combined in his last three seasons, and might be best suited returning to his role coming off the bench. However, no one is sure what Bynum can provide, if his knees will be healthy enough to allow him to play much or at all.

If Bynum can play, the Cavaliers have tons of options. Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller were last season's starters, but Zeller's lack of athleticism might move him down in the rotation if the Cavaliers opt for a more flexible lineup. Bennett is a natural power forward, but is a bit undersized in the NBA. Kevin Jones has the same problem, but has proven he can hustle off the bench. Clark can fit at power forward, too.

It's a more talented roster, unquestionably. The trick, still, will be putting it all together.

"We're very happy with the progress we made from the draft into free agency into what we still have on the horizon," Grant said. "We're excited. There's a good spirit amongst our guys. Our own players are very excited, too. Our guys have been working like crazy, here every day and getting after it.

"We feel like we have good momentum and we're excited about that, but it's got to come together on the court and it's got to translate into wins."

Justin Masterson may get an extra day of rest and not start again until Saturday in Minnesota.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seen and heard at Progressive Field before the Indians hosted to the Royals on Saturday night:

Clubhouse confidential: Indians manager Terry Francona said he and his staff are reconsidering having Justin Masterson pitch the first game after the All-Star break. The Indians play the Twins at Target Field in Minnesota on Friday night.

Masterson and second baseman Jason Kipnis will represent the Indians on the American League team. The All-Star Game will be played Tuesday night at Citi Field in New York City.

"We want Masty to enjoy his experience there, be able to pitch, and not have to worry about coming out of it three days later,'' Francona said.

Francona said he wants to have the rotation order "in concrete,'' regardless of what Masterson might or might not do in the All-Star Game, before the break. That would mean his starters likely will know Sunday.

If Masterson does get pushed back, it would be for one or two days.

Right-hander Zach McAllister, on the disabled list since June 8 because of a sprained right middle finger, pitched rehab innings for the Class AA Akron Aeros on Saturday night. He still needs to prove he can throw curves in game situations without discomfort.

Francona did not rule out McAllister coming out of the break.

"Things would have to go really well, though,'' he said. "They might. We'll see. You can be sure we will err on the side of caution with him.''

Go easy: The Indians have an optional workout scheduled for Thursday night at Target Field. Francona does not want his players to be concerned if they decide not to go.

"We have an optional workout -- and that's what it is,'' Francona said. "It's there for guys if they think it will help them get ready for the second half. It's not mandatory, it's not a test. If you want to stay home, pick up a bat and swing it a few times. We want guys to get away.

"The hope is, you come back crisp. You've seen it happen a lot of times with teams, where guys come back a little groggy. We want guys to recharge, because there are no more breaks after that.''

Raise the Reward captured the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial Stakes on Saturday afternoon with Jacob Radosevich in the saddle.

Raise the Reward and jockey Jacob Radosevich hit the ThistleDown Racino finish line almost two lengths in front of second-place Startin Something in Saturday afternoon's $50,000 George Lewis Memorial Stakes. JJ Zamaiko/Special to The Plain Dealer 

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio -- Raise the Reward returned to the friendly dirt oval at ThistleDown Racino on Saturday afternoon to win his second stakes races of the season in the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial, knocking off 9-5 favorite Startin Something and avenging a loss last month to the ageless Catlaunch.

Jockey Jacob Radosevich and Raise the Reward battled speedster Ruled by Mars for the early lead, finally taking it by a half-length in 46.46 seconds at the half-mile. Raise the Reward opened up an almost five length lead heading into the final turn, and held off a hard-charging Startin Something ridden by Pablo Morales in the stretch for a 1 3/4-length victory, covering the mile and one-eighth in 1:52.60.

It was the second stakes win in four starts this season for Raise the Reward, and both were at ThistleDown. He won the $50,000 Rowland Memorial here on May 18. Raise the Reward paid $6.20, 4., 3; Startin Something returned $3., 2.60, and Uncle Virgil paid $6.

"I had plenty of horse left turning for home," said Radosevich, whose uncle, Jeff Radosevich, trains the 7-year-old brown gelding. "This horse is going to have many more wins this year."

Trainer Radosevich said he was a little scared when Raise the Reward hit the stretch.

"I told Jacob if he got the lead, to slow Raise the Reward down a bit and just ride him from there," he said. "When the horse started hanging up in the stretch, I was scared he'd fold. But Jacob handled him well at the end, and Raise the Reward went on again to keep his lead."

Raise the Reward was a major bargain for owner Michael J. Annechino of Corpus Christi, Tex., who claimed him March 12, 2012 for just $8,000. Since being claimed and turned over to Radosevich to train, Raise the Reward has won five Ohio stakes races and more than $100,000.

This was only his fourth start of the season. Radosevich said "you don't have to race him more if he's making money and keeping the owner happy."

"Raise the Reward is fit, he's healthy and thank goodness for the Ohio Sires Stakes," Annechino said at trackside after the race. "The Ohio stakes races are spaced well, and I expect Raise the Reward will be competing in Ohio stakes the rest of his career."

Catlaunch, going off at 3-1 in a bid for his second straight stakes win after capturing the $50,000 Gendelman at Beulah Park in Grove City on June 16, could have been affected by the hot weather or a long Friday night ride to ThistleDown. The 12-year-old looked to be in top shape in the parade to post, but was never in contention and jockey Megan Fadlovich pulled him up after the 3/4-mile pole.

Hall spokesman said of photo: "In the spirit of good taste we thought we'd take it down."

View full sizeThis photo by Mary Schwalm of the Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass., shows Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez beating Green Bay's Sam Shields in a 2010 game. It was the winner in an annual photo contest presented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but removed from viewing this week.Mary Schwalm, Eagle-Tribune 

CANTON, Ohio -- The Pro Football Hall of Fame has removed a photo of former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez celebrating a touchdown from a display after several visitors complained about its presence.

Hernandez has been charged with the June 17 shooting death of Odin Lloyd, a story that has dominated headlines in recent weeks. The tight end has pled not guilty to one count of murder and five gun-related charges.

The 2010 photo of Hernandez scoring a TD was an award-winning image from the annual HOF photo contest. Hall officials removed it from a display earlier this week.

“In the spirit of good taste we thought we’d take it down,” said Joe Horrigan, the hall’s vice president of communication and exhibits.

The decision marks the latest move by the league and Patriots to distance themselves from Hernandez, who’s been released by the team and remains in custody without bail.

Last weekend, New England fans were allowed to exchange their “Hernandez” jerseys for another Patriots’ replica jersey at Gillette Stadium. More than 1,000 fans took advantage of the team’s offer.

The HOF's growth has mirrored that of the game it glorifies through artifacts, education and outreach. Watch video

CANTON, Ohio – Somewhere between exhibits featuring pro football’s “birth certificate” and Pete Rozelle’s manual typewriter, Joe Horrigan stood for a moment Wednesday in the renovated rotunda and listened to the whir of activity surrounding him.

The voices of narrators from interactive displays echoed through the Pro Football Hall of Fame's corridors. Crowds roared on highlight reels from distant games. Fathers made like Peyton Manning at the line of scrimmage, gyrating and directing, getting their kids huddled in the frame for another iPhone memory.

Celebrating its 50th year, the Canton landmark sounded more like an arcade than a museum. This greatly pleased its vice president of communication and exhibits.

“You used to come in here and sometimes it was so quiet,” said Horrigan, who arrived in 1977 and has stood watch over the venue for almost as long as the 7-foot Jim Thorpe statue. “Football is a loud sport. You are not in a church. Until you get in the Hall of Fame Gallery (which houses the busts) there isn’t a need for hushed tones.”

Since opening its doors in 1963, the HOF has increased in volume, square footage and relevance. Its growth has mirrored that of the game it glorifies through artifacts, education and outreach.

Three decades ago, workers here passed time by loading up a 16-millimeter projector and driving miles to Moose clubs and veterans’ halls to show the latest NFL Films releases. Nowadays, Commissioner Roger Goodell dispatches all the league’s drafted rookies to Canton each summer to learn about the game’s pioneers and seminal moments. Whether they should include controversial subject matter is open to debate.

“The museum has gone through tremendous change since I first started coming here,” said Hall-of-Fame cornerback Mike Haynes, inducted in 1997. “It’s not only gotten larger, but there’s more events surrounding it and the NFL has placed a greater emphasis on it.”

The hall will stage its Golden Anniversary Reunion on Aug. 3, and expects upwards of 130 of its 162 living enshrinees to attend festivities. They will toast the recently completed $27 million renovation project and honor the new class of inductees that includes Larry Allen, Cris Carter, Curley Culp, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, Dave Robinson and Warren Sapp.

A record 111 Hall of Famers returned a decade ago for ceremonies that usually attract between 75 and 80 gold jacket-clad legends. But for an institution dedicated to history it is relentlessly forward thinking. Bigger, bolder, louder. That is the way of the NFL’s de facto 33rd franchise – even as it clings fiercely to its roots.

‘Polish our diamond’

With enshrinement crowds sometimes exceeding 20,000 spectators at adjoining Fawcett Stadium and millions more watching on ESPN, it’s easy to forget the hall’s humble beginnings.

Like noisy neighbors who throw parties on their porch, HOF organizers used to induct new classes on their front steps. The ceremony wasn’t broadcast live. There were no seats except for the enshrinees and dignitaries. Parade, enshrinement and game were rolled into one chaotic day.

“We opened the front doors, guys started giving speeches and the game sometimes kicked off before we were through with the ceremony,” Horrigan said. “It was not a particularly well-orchestrated event.”

Stark County won rights to the hall in part because the NFL was birthed here in 1920 with teams like Thorpe’s Canton Bulldogs and because civic leaders campaigned for it. While the original 19,000-square-foot structure drew as many as 330,000 visitors in 1973, some NFL owners thought it needed a more high-profile home.

“(Some said), ‘why not move it to L.A.?’” Horrigan recalled. “’You have a diamond there. Why not polish it and put it where it can do its best?’

“We wanted to show this is the place it should be and let us polish our diamond (here) ... and that’s what we have done over the last couple of decades to where we now think we have the best hall of fame in the world.”

Nothing short of a Congressional act could relocate the hall today. Rookie first-round draft picks who know nothing about the Duluth Eskimos or Johnny “Blood” McNally say they want their careers to “wind up in Canton.”

The hall has undergone four expansions and boasts 118,000 square feet, a total that doesn’t include a traveling exhibit which attracts about 600,000 visitors per year. The interest in HOF candidacies generates countless web clicks on message boards and sports sites. Remember the stir proponents of Art Modell’s failed bid for enshrinement created last winter?

It’s the vignettes, however, that remain at the heart of the museum’s appeal for romantics like Horrigan. It’s running back Eric Dickerson knocking on the door after hours and asking the cleaning staff to allow him a private moment in front of his bust. It’s Hall of Famers requesting the same volunteer drivers each year. It’s the late Ray Nitschke walking downtown before the grand parade and talking to the locals like he was one of them.

“When you grow up here you can sometimes take it for granted,” Canton Mayor William J. Healey II said. “But as I got older I understood how much it means to Canton. I really don’t think there is a sports museum that is comparable.”

History and reality

Administrators like to think of the hall as a repository for good news. The game’s greatest players and games reside within its walls. There is scant mention of controversy or scandal on the video screens and placards.

“We are living positive moments, the inspirational moments,” Horrigan said. “That’s something that is unique to us. Fans are excited to relive their memories.”

But the game’s troubles sometimes arrive at the doorstep of 2121 George Halas Drive. Earlier this week, hall officials removed a photo of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez from a display after several visitors complained about its presence.

As the museum embarks on its next 50 years, Haynes said it will be faced with increasingly tough decisions. Because draft choices are now made to tour the hall as part of the NFL Rookie Symposium, is there an obligation to spotlight some of the game’s dubious moments? Haynes wonders if O.J. Simpson’s imprisonment merits explanation. And, while there are exhibits dedicated to improved equipment and player safety, will the concussion issue, so prominent in recent years, become part of the hall’s narrative? Some enshrinees, after all, have joined the lawsuit against the league.

“I think they should have those things,” Haynes said. “It is history and it is reality. We don’t need to glorify it, but young players should know about it.”

Haynes also wants them well versed on the game’s high points. He has walked alongside rookie classes and quizzed players about pro football’s history. Horrigan recently showed a Pittsburgh Steelers rookie a display on the Immaculate Reception. The administrator quickly realized the youngster knew nothing about the franchise’s most iconic play or Franco Harris, the Hall of Famer who caught the deflected pass.

“Too many of our young players come in today having no idea what league was like,” Haynes said. “That’s why what the hall is teaching is so important.”

Evolving with the times

David Jamison chuckled Wednesday as he saw his 8-year-old son, Brian, squeeze into a helmet that simulated a quarterback listening to famous plays being radioed from the sidelines. It’s the type of interactive displays that engage young fans.

Brian, of Columbia, S.C., loves football. He developed an interest not from watching the sport, but playing Madden video games.

“We used to have only one interactive quiz game,” Horrigan recalled. “If you got the right answer a light on top of it lit up.” Nowadays, visitors use touch-screen monitors to view team photos of every franchise dating to 1920. They compare hand sizes and football grips with molds of legendary players.

“I came here when I was a kid and all I remember is the stadium and the busts and the team shop,” said Browns fan Tom Roth, who brought his three sons from Norwalk. “This place is unbelievable.”

Roth and two of his boys were wearing Joe Thomas No. 73 jerseys. It’s common to see hall visitors outfitted in gear from their favorite teams as if they’re attending a game.

Few NFL franchises seem to please their fans more than the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It is a 50-year-old evolutionary hip enough to teach history without living in the past.

Lefty Scott Kazmir gave up two runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings and Lonnie Chisenhall hit a grand slam to give Tribe a third straight win.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Gateway complex was running hot Saturday night.

At The Q: Bieber Fever.

At Progressive Field: Indians Fever.

The Tribe held up its end of the entertainment double play by disposing of the Kansas City Royals, 5-3. Judging by high-pitched screams that pierced the walls of The Q and reverberated across the plaza, Justin Bieber also delivered a strong performance.

Lefty Scott Kazmir gave up two runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings and Lonnie Chisenhall hit a grand slam as the Indians (50-44) won their third straight and fifth in seven games. Kansas City (43-48) has lost four in a row.

The Tribe pulled within 1 1/2 games of Detroit in the American League Central Division. The Tigers and Max Scherzer lost at home to Texas, 7-1. 

The Indians went old school -- old, old school -- in front of a high-energy crowd of 29,740. They wore 1902 Cleveland Bronchos replica road jerseys and did Addie Joss and Nap Lajoie proud.

•  Royals-Indians boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

As Bronchos, the Indians were navy blue from head to shin. Stirrups were black. Tops had a white C on the chest and white numbers on the back. Belts, buttons and parts of the hats and shoes were white.

Fashion details are necessary in this case because, appropriately for a 1902 throwback, the game was not televised by either club. The Indians elected to play at night, meaning it fell in the Fox national exclusivity window.

It is the Tribe's only scheduled non-TV game and second this season. The first occurred April 28 in Kansas City, when the Tribe played a day-night doubleheader.

Many Indians, no doubt concerned about style points, had strange facial expressions when they took the field in the 1902s. Two who seemed comfortable with the look were third baseman Chisenhall and second baseman Jason Kipnis. Fittingly, they performed splendidly. Chisenhall's first career slam created a cushion in the sixth and he doubled in the eighth. Kipnis went 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.

"I wish the pants had been baggier, and we looked like referees in those caps, but overall, I liked those uniforms,'' Chisenhall said. "I got two hits in them.''

Since his recall from Class AAA Columbus on June 18, Chisenhall is hitting .279 (21-for-72) with three homers and 14 RBI. He has raised his season's average to .247.

"Nobody wants to go down,'' Chisenhall said, "but I knew at some point I'd start hitting the ball.''

Indians manager Terry Francona said: "When he's getting balls to hit, he's not fouling them off.''

Francona said he likes when Chisenhall is lurking in the eight-hole, thereby lengthening the lineup.

The Indians generated plenty of traffic in the first three innings against right-hander Jeremy Guthrie but managed just one run. It came when Michael Bourn led off the third with a single, sprinted to third on Asdrubal Cabrera's single and scored on Kipnis' fly to left.

Kipnis opened the sixth with a single. After Nick Swisher struck out, Michael Brantley doubled Kipnis to third. Carlos Santana was intentionally walked, a strategy that worked momentarily when Guthrie struck out Jason Giambi. But Chisenhall kept the hands back on a first-pitch curveball and hammered it over the wall in right for a 5-0 advantage.

"Probably the best feeling of my career so far,'' Chisenhall said.

In his previous at-bat, Chisenhall struck out looking to end the fourth.

"I saw two curveballs in that at bat, and a fastball finished me off,'' he said. "I used that to my advantage the next time up. I'm glad I could help out Kaz, because he deserved the win.''

Kazmir (5-4, 4.60 ERA) allowed four hits through six. He struggled to throw strikes in the seventh, walking the first two. He eventually gave way to Matt Albers with runners on first and second and one out.

Francona and head trainer Lonnie Soloff had visited the mound during Kazmir's wild stretch.

"It was just something where it took a while to get loose,'' Kazmir said. "But by then, I had walked two guys.''

 Both ended up scoring as part of a three-run inning for Kansas City. Tribe lefty Rich Hill struck out Eric Hosmer looking to end the surge.

 Kazmir, continuing his remarkable comeback from injury and ineffectiveness that had him pitching independent ball last year, improved to 5-0 with a 3.92 ERA in eight starts at Progressive Field as an Indian.

"When he takes the mound, we feel like we're going to win,'' Francona said. "He looks like he's getting stronger as the season goes on.''

Vinnie Pestano worked the eighth for Cleveland and gave up two hits. Chris Perez earned his 12th save with a perfect ninth.

Notable: Tribe designated hitter Giambi moved into a tie for 11th all time with his 178th hit-by-pitch (Andres Galarraga). Guthrie plunked him in the second. ... Right-hander Trevor Bauer was scratched from a start for Columbus because of lower-back spasms. ... Right-hander Zach McAllister threw 3 1/3 innings and allowed two runs in a 61-pitch rehab outing for Class AA Akron.

Mistakes on three kickoffs doom Cleveland.

By Jeff Arnold

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The Gladiators hoped to keep their playoff chances off life support Saturday night.

The first five minutes of the third quarter and a season-low offensive output prevented them from doing that.

Chicago's Reggie Gray returned the second-half kickoff 54 yards before Gladiators mistakes led to two more touchdowns in the Gladiators' 68-32 loss to the Rush at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

The loss dropped the Gladiators to 3-13 a week after their win over Pittsburgh snapped a seven-game losing streak.

The Rush (9-7) turned an eight-point halftime lead into a 48-20 advantage, sparked by Gray's touchdown return.

It got worse from there.

"Crazy things always happen in Arena football -- we know that," Gladiators coach Steve Thonn said. "But I think they were a little lucky on a few things they got, but they were opportunistic and we weren't.

"They kind of took it to us."

The Gladiators failed to field the kickoff after Gray's return, which took an awkward bounce off the upright and was recovered by Chicago at the Gladiators' 1-yard line. Quarterback Luke Drone scored on the next play.

The Gladiators' misfortunes continued as they fumbled an onside kick, which led to Taurus Johnson's 20-yard touchdown catch.

While the Rush kept pouring on the offense with 40 second-half points, the Gladiators struggled to get their offense rolling. The Gladiators produced only two second-half scores -- a 1-yard Chris Dieker run and a 21-yard Clay Harrell run that caught Chicago's defense off-guard.

Cleveland's 32 points were its fewest all season, one short of the total the Gladiators scored in losses to Orlando and San Antonio.

"It's incredibly frustrating," said Dieker, who finished 11-for-26 for 128 yards and three touchdowns. "To not play well tonight and not get the win after all the progress we made the last few weeks.

"Tonight, we took a step back and so the only thing we can do from now on is to move forward."

The Gladiators trailed, 28-20, at halftime after thwarting a Chicago scoring drive in the final seconds of the first half. The Rush reached the Gladiators' 1-yard line, but fumbled the snap on the next play, and then Jose Martinez pushed a field-goal attempt wide left to end the half.

Chicago led, 21-6, with 5:05 remaining in the second quarter after Drone connected with Gray for the second time in the game. But the Gladiators, who didn't score until Cody Pearcy's 19-yard touchdown catch midway through the second quarter, responded, quickly cutting into the lead.

Dieker threw for two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the half. He first hit Dominick Goodman on a 15-yard pass before the two connected again from 20 yards out with 34 seconds remaining in the half to cut the deficit to eight points.

The Gladiators return home to play Saturday against Orlando.

"We just need to prepare ourselves for next week and just get better -- and we're going to do that," Dieker said. "This team, we're strong mentally and physically and we're going to get back and we're going to be OK."

Jeff Arnold is a reporter at the Northwest Herald.

Jesus Aguilar homers to help Akron rout Altoona.

Class AA: Akron 10, Altoona 3 The host Aeros scored five runs in the first and fourth innings to rout the Curve. Akron opened the first with six straight hits, including an RBI double by 2B Ronny Rodriguez (.289) and a two-RBI double by 3B Giovanny Urshela (.269). 1B Jesus Aguilar (.265) had a two-run homer in the fourth.

Class A Advanced: Carolina 11, Frederick 1 C Alex Lavisky's two-run double was the big blow as the visiting Mudcats scored seven times in the fourth inning. Lavisky (.244), a St. Ed grad, also hit a two-run homer in the fifth. LHP Shawn Mormando (5-9, 3.03) pitched five scoreless innings for the win, allowing four hits and a walk.

Class A: Wisconsin 6, Lake County 4 (12) Michael Reed's two-run homer in the 12th inning off reliever Jack Wagoner (2-3, 4.58) lifted the host Timber Rattlers over the Captains. C Richard Stock (.298) went 4-for-5 for Lake County.

Class A Short-season: Vermont 6, Mahoning Valley 3 SS Juan Herrera (.283) had three hits including a double but could not keep the Scrappers from falling to the host Lake Monsters. RHP Caleb Hamrick (1-4, 5.16) started and took the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits in five innings.

Independent: Lake Erie 4, Frontier 1 Crushers All-Star lefty Matt Rein (5-4) held the Greys to a run on seven hits over 71/3 innings as host Lake Erie won its third straight. Dale Dickerson worked a perfect ninth for his fourth save in the Crushers' last six games.