Miller said he gained just 87 yards while scrambling in 2012, which leaves lots of room for him to make defenses pay more on broken plays in 2013.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sometimes when Braxton Miller scrambles effectively, he throws. Ask Bret Bielema.

Often, when Braxton Miller runs, he's poison to a defense. Ask Cal.

See the rest of the Ohio State Camp Countdown

Now, 18 days before the start of Ohio State's preseason practice on Aug. 4, you may just want to kick back and take in the highlights of Miller's 3,310 total yards from the 2012 season. Those moves won him the Big Ten's offensive player of the year, pushed him up to fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting and led Ohio State to the only undefeated record in college football.

After you watch, we'll get back to what he can do better, as our preseason countdown gets to …

No. 18: Braxton Miller making more yards on scrambles

18 days until the start of preseason practice

Urban Meyer didn't take long with his critiques last year. Two days after the end of the season, he was demanding better fundamentals from Miller, and, on the other side of the quarterback equation, seeking improved improvisation.

“As athletic as he is, he's not a great scrambler,” Meyer said. “I'm going to do a study, because I don't think he had any yards this year scrambling. That's something we're going to work on. You see an opening take it.”

“I know what he's talking about,” Miller then told The Plain Dealer. "When it's open field, and I'm rolling out and still looking for somebody down the field to get open and the whole space is right there. So I'm looking to throw the ball before I'm running. So that's what he's talking about.”

Maybe the study has been completed, because ESPN.com quoted Miller in the spring as saying his scramble total was 87 yards. Just 87 yards? He had an 81-yard touchdown against Indiana on a called run.

The scramble progress won't be gauged for a while though, not before the Aug. 31 opener against Buffalo. Wearing a black jersey for all of spring practice, Miller was touched down by contact, and the one time he did take a hit, he got mad, understandably.

So he may have to work this out on his own. But while he focuses on footwork and accuracy and reading defenses and deepening his understanding of the offense – the mechanical, cerebral parts of the position – he also must find a way to let it go when the time is right.

In this area, he could learn from former OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who was much less effective than Miller on called runs but made most of his great runs off scrambles by reading a situation and taking off. For instance, there was his 14-yard scramble on fourth-and-10 to keep the game-winning drive alive at Iowa in 2010. (No. 2 on this video of the best plays of that season.)

If Miller doesn't pick up 10 yards every time he's flushed out of the pocket, the Buckeyes still should be OK. But while considering Miller's big-play ability from 2012, the idea that he didn't do much when it came to running on broken plays is tantalizing. Though Pryor was bigger and liked to use a stiff-arm, Miller is a more evasive open-field runner.

If he can decide when it's time to go, then the Buckeyes might really go far.

Get your questions ready and join Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes today at noon as he talks Tribe baseball.

Paul Hoynes answers your Indians questions today at noon.

Get your questions ready and join Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes today at noon as he talks Tribe baseball.

Paul will chat with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore about the Tribe's first-half of the season and also about the All-Star Game last night.

You can jump in the chat room and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Hoynsie's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in MP3 format.

How much better does a healthy Andrew Bynum make the Cavaliers? What's up with the renovations at FirstEnergy Stadium? Can the Indians avoid another second half collapse? Send in questions like these for our weekly Hey! columns.

Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes is ready to take your questions.

What's on your mind, Cleveland sports fans?

How much better does a healthy Andrew Bynum make the Cavaliers? What's up with the renovations at FirstEnergy Stadium? Can the Indians avoid another second half collapse?

Got questions about these topics or others for our Cavs, Browns and Indians beat writers? What are you waiting for? Send them in!

Mary Schmitt Boyer, Mary Kay Cabot and Paul Hoynes tackle your questions every Sunday in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com in their Hey! columns. But you must use the links to the forms below to submit your question.

Submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for them to be considered for this weekend's columns.

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Corey Kluber's ability to rebound from a rough start has impressed his teammates.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Those who knew that Indians right-hander Corey Kluber would be 7-5 with a 3.88 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 95 innings at the All-Star break are smarter than his manager, Terry Francona.

Francona was asked last weekend if he had seen this coming in spring training. His one-word, two-letter answer spoke volumes: "No.''

Kluber believes in himself and his abilities, but deep down, he probably didn't see this coming, either.

Last season, Kluber spent the first four months with Class AAA Columbus before being promoted Aug. 2. He went 2-5 with a 5.14 ERA in 12 starts for the Tribe. In the offseason, he injured his right knee and needed surgery in late November.

Kluber competed for the fifth spot in the rotation in spring training but lost to Scott Kazmir. Kluber did not exactly distinguish himself at Columbus, going 1-1 with a 6.57 ERA in two starts, before being recalled in early April because the rotation got jumbled by a Carlos Carrasco ejection.

Kluber was supposed to start April 10 against the Yankees. Rain washed it out and he returned to Columbus. Kluber came back to Cleveland on April 17 when outfielder Michael Bourn injured his finger. He made two relief appearances before starting April 28 at Kansas City.

Kluber gave up two runs on seven hits in seven innings of a victory that night. He has been in the rotation since.

If Brett Myers had stayed healthy and been effective, or Carlos Carrasco had progressed as expected, who knows where Kluber would be. Instead, Myers has been on the disabled list since April and no longer is a rotation option, Carrasco is attempting to right himself in Columbus. ... and Kluber will make his 16th start Saturday night against the Twins in Minneapolis.

"Corey pretty much said, 'I've got an opportunity here and I'm going to take advantage of it,'' Indians All-Star right-hander Justin Masterson said. "He's accepted the challenge. It's been fun to watch.''

Kluber, 27, has not been lights-out filthy, but he has been solid. And solid can feel like dominant given the inconsistencies within the Tribe rotation these days. In 12 starts of at least five innings, Kluber has given up three or fewer earned runs 10 times. He has posted eight quality starts (six innings, three or fewer earned).

In his two most recent starts, against Detroit on July 7 and Kansas City on July 12, Kluber has allowed two runs in 14 innings.

"I've got a number of good outings to build off,'' Kluber said. "Some outings didn't go so great, but I've learned from them. It's important that a bad start doesn't become a lost day.''

Kluber's ability to rebound from a rough start or a rough patch has impressed Masterson as much as anything about him.

On May 10 at Detroit, the Tigers rocked Kluber for eight runs in 4 2/3 innings. Kluber's next start was a six-inning, three-run victory at Philadelphia.

On June 5 at New York, the Yankees tagged him for six runs (four earned) in six. Kluber's next start was an eight-inning, one-run victory at Texas.

In a two-start stretch, June 27 at Baltimore and July 2 at Kansas City, Kluber allowed a combined 10 earned runs in 10 innings. His next two have been his most recent two, both quality starts.

"Being able to come back from bad starts is huge,'' Masterson said, "because you know you're going to have them. The question is, can you shake them off and stay confident in your ability to get people out? Corey has answered that question with a yes.''

What Masterson and others find especially encouraging about Kluber is, he has not relied on junk or tricks to get his outs. His fastball will settle in the mid-90s for long stretches and his breaking ball, which has several trajectories, has become a pitch that can get him out of jams. He also throws a changeup and cutter.

Kluber's success hinges on fastball velocity and command. He is throwing the four-seamer harder and with more command in high-leverage situations than at any stage in his Cleveland tenure, particularly last year. Kluber credits Tribe minor-league pitching coordinator Ruben Niebla with helping him retool his delivery to allow him to throw harder.

"I'm getting more and more comfortable with the changes that Ruben and I made,'' he said. "It's not really something I think about anymore. It's muscle memory. That's allowed my mechanics to be more natural and free-flowing.''

Kluber has reduced his dependence on the cutter. He thinks that has made all aspects of his fastball better. He has struck out 10 twice (at Boston, vs. Detroit). 

A pitcher can have all the pitches in the world and get rocked if he doesn't have the right temperament. When Kluber struggles, it is not because the game has sped up on him. Kluber pitches ice-cold. Nothing seems to rattle him.

"You can't afford to let things get to you out there,'' Masterson said. "Even when there's a lot going on, you've got to keep a level head. You can't get all excited or you'll start rushing and overthrowing. It's easier said than done, of course. Corey does a great job with that.''

Kluber follows lefty Scott Kazmir, another Tribe surprise, in the rotation coming out of the break. Masterson will work the series finale Sunday.

The Indians are 51-44, 1 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central. Imagine where they would be without Kluber and Kazmir, who have combined for 12 victories, 14 quality starts and 181 innings. Their ability to eat innings has been very important, especially given that they combined for 63 major-league innings last year. Kluber had all 63; Kazmir pitched for Sugar Land in the Atlantic League.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Bleacher Report, Wahoo's On First and Right Down Euclid.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

How many wins will Rob Chudzinski have in his first year as head coach? (Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer) 

"What identity will the team take under Chudzinski? Though he was able to get the most out of the talented Cam Newton in Carolina as a strong-armed, scrambling quarterback, much of that playbook won't be used in Cleveland.

The Browns do have weapons on offense. Brandon Weeden threw for 3,385 yards as a rookie and he will be aided by running back Trent Richardson. A player like Jordan Cameron could also benefit from Chudzinski's experience as a tight end coach.

The team may employ an offensive scheme with many four-wide receiver sets to attack the defense down the field. This could make free-agent acquisitions David Nelson and Davone Bess very key players."

Can Ubaldo Jimenez keep up his performance for the rest of the year? (John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer) 

"The main reason we have struggled against these teams has been pitching. Even in a game involving a significant talent disparity, a good pitcher can make a lesser team competitive, but the Indians’ starting pitcher has pitched into the seventh inning in only three of these fifteen games (counting the two against Detroit). In many of them, we have been into the bullpen before the fifth inning, which not only means those games are out of reach, but has a ripple effect in subsequent games. With the Indians’ offense, it is not necessary to throw a Cy Young candidate out there every night to contend, but they do need five guys who can give them six or more solid innings on a consistent basis."

Who will get more playing time: Alonzo Gee or C.J. Miles? 

"C.J. Miles has never met a shot that he didn’t like. I can’t count how many times I would shake my head at what appeared to be a poor shot by Miles early in the shot clock only to watch that shot go in. That doesn’t mean that they were the best shots, just that a surprising amount of them paid off for Miles. Overall he had a bit of a resurgence for the Cavaliers last year, as he posted a PER of 15.3 and saw his three-point percentage rise to 38% after shooting less than 31% from three with a 12.4 PER the year before with the Utah Jazz. According to 82games.com, the Cavaliers where better on both ends when Miles was playing, scoring 0.4 more points per 100 possessions and allowing 2.2 fewer points over the same span. Miles has shown himself to be a capable, if wildly inconsistent defender over his eight years in the league. He is also capable of creating his own shot, and is an adequate rebounder at roughly 4 per 36 minutes. While his FG% last season was a somewhat low 41%, this is partially due to over half of his shots being three pointers. With a salary of 2.2 million this year, Miles is a bit of a bargain for the Cavaliers, although on nights when his shot is not falling Miles is known to lose interest and become a liability on both ends of the floor.

Alonzo Gee is the kind of story that sports fans love. Undrafted out of the University of Alabama in 2009, Gee used hard work to carve out a niche in the NBA. Gee is a hard-working defender and explosive dunker who has a knack for getting to the free throw line and converting his chances. While he regularly takes corner threes, Gee is a below average three-point shooter, converting roughly 32% over each of the last two seasons. In addition, Gee’s impact on either side of the floor is debatable, as his 2012-13 stats at 82games.com show that the Cavaliers were better on both ends of the court when Gee was off the floor."

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio -- Bill Barger's comeback as Walsh Jesuit's wrestling coach is over before it began. Former St. Peter Chanel two-time state champion Adam Koballa is the Warriors' new coach, athletic director Barb Salata said. Barger said his intention all along was to oversee the program until a successor could be found, and he said he stepped aside...

Adam Koballa (top) wrestles at the 2006 district tournament for St. Peter Chanel. Koballa went on to win his second state title that year. - (Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio -- Bill Barger's comeback as Walsh Jesuit's wrestling coach is over before it began. Former St. Peter Chanel two-time state champion Adam Koballa is the Warriors' new coach, athletic director Barb Salata said.

Barger said his intention all along was to oversee the program until a successor could be found, and he said he stepped aside this summer after Koballa became available. Koballa had been coaching at Nashville (Tenn.) Catholic.

"I knew I had to have some more time to get the right guy, so I took control of the program to see where we were at,'' he said. "Adam came in a did a camp for me at Walsh and I got to know him.''

Barger said that led to Koballa taking the head coaching position. Barger said he will continue to coach youth wrestling in Akron and help out at Walsh Jesuit.

Barger was hired in April to begins his third stint as as head coach of a program he founded in 1976 and led to eight state championships and four national poll titles. Prior to the 2010 season, Barger suffered a head injury and complications followed that led to three surgeries. He said he still is recovering.

Koballa won two Division III state titles at Chanel and wrestled at Old Dominion and Notre Dame College. He is in North Dakota at the USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior national championships this week and could not immediately be reached for comment.

The big moments in the majors seem too big for Tiger Woods these days. They never used to be.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - This was before the Valley of Sin at St. Andrews became not just a dip near the 18th green, but something of a metaphor for the life of the 2000 British Open winner, Tiger Woods.

I covered the tournament because there Woods sought - and  completed -  the "Career Slam." In 2000 by the North Sea, he hit it hard and far and yet stayed out of trouble, never landing in any of the Old Course's 112 bunkers. Some were so deep they almost had stalactites hanging from the rim. Woods skirted all the trouble, from everyone's favorite bunker, the Principal's Nose, to the Road Hole and  those named named Hell and Grave.

He won again at St. Andrews in 2005, then won at Royal Liverpool the next year, outsmarting the field by relying on his 5-metal to avoid the rough on the brown and barren course.

It is obvious that the Tiger of those years is not the Tiger who Thursday reports to Muirfield, outside Edinburgh, for the start of this year's British Open. In 2002 there, he caught an awful weather break, teeing off in the afternoon in howling wind, whipping rain and teeth-chattering cold. He shot an 81, his worst competitive round as a professional.

At least he had the excuse of the weather then. Now, Woods is looking more like the Tiger of Muirfield (Village) in Ohio. Coming off victory in The Players Championship, his fourth of the season, where he gave Sergio Garcia a comeuppance that will be hard to forget, Woods finished tied for 65th at Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament.

He teased the first day, then for the last three rounds couldn't overcome the injury he had incurred at The Players and  hidden, which is an old Tiger ploy. (See the 2008 U.S. Open, when Tiger won while stumping around like a pirate with a wooden leg and a map to the doubloons, all while denying the severity of his injuries.)

The ferocious swing and the injuries that resulted have whittled him down, not to ordinary size, but certainly to far less than the icon who changed all the dynamics of how often even the best players won.

Once Woods hit all the big shots impeccably and seized the big moments.

He was insurmountable with the late lead.

He played with Nicklaus' carefully developed game plans. No one else was hitting a 5-metal consistently at Royal Liverpool in the British Open.

He had Arnold Palmer's flair for the dramatic shot. Golf aficionados can name a dozen of them, probably beginning with the stunning chip on 16 in the 2005 Masters.

He was aloof and distant, had few close friends, and  never was "one of the guys." Nowadays, without a major victory since the one-legged one at the  U.S. Open, he has become a player who wants it too badly; who can't keep the ball in the fairway sometimes; can't get the distance right on the approach other times; and can't make the big putts all the time and even the medium and little ones some of the time.

The big moments are too big for him. In a way he never thought would happen, he has become one of the guys.

The objection to this is that Woods leads the world rankings. Yet by the extraordinary expectations Woods has for himself - goals of obliterating Nicklaus' record of 18 professional majors and  crushing Sam Snead's mark of 82 PGA Tour wins - he has been ordinary.

It seems obvious that Woods could not cope both with the injuries and the turmoil in his private life that occurred five years ago. Tiger reached his off-course low point when, like baseball's Wade Boggs before him, he claimed he was a sex addict, which gave him the presumption of sympathy that comes with suffering from a disease and not indulging an obsession or an inclination, enjoyable though it no doubt was.

No one knows where the low point will be on the course. Or the high point, for that matter.

He says he is healthy at Muirfield. A player with Woods' gifts might conceivably put four straight rounds together out of the blue, as did Ben Crenshaw at the 1995 Masters. Crenshaw's win had the mystical vibe or inspiration from the grave after the death of his beloved teacher Harvey Penick just before the tournament.

Tiger is playing to inch the big rock closer to the summit occupied by Nicklaus, who still leads him in majors by four. At Woods' peak in 2000, I thought he would have passed Nicklaus by the end of the decade on his way to 20 or more majors .

We didn't know it, but Woods was playing a different game. All the guys on the PGA Tour fall victim to bunkers every now and then. Tiger's troubles were much deeper.

Who has been the biggest surprise and disappointment so far this season for the Indians? Can the Indians win the division? The Plain Dealer's Tribe beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Will Jason Kipnis be able to stay hot and help the Tribe overtake the Tigers? Paul Hoynes talks about this and more during his weekly podcast. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) 

Who has been the biggest surprise and disappointment so far this season for the Indians? Can the Indians win the division?

The Plain Dealer's Tribe beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore.

Among other topics discussed:

• Senator Sherrod Brown asked a few Tribe questions.

• Can Ubaldo Jimenez keep it up?

• Jason Kipnis and his performance in the All-Star Game Tuesday night.

• Will the Indians make a trade before the deadline?

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Be sure to follow Hoynes on Twitter.

MACEDONIA, Ohio – In the 1970s, Graham Coghill founded the Longwood YMCA wrestling program that would help Nordonia win a state wrestling championship in 1977. More than three decades later, Coghill is back in the thick of it in Macedonia. He has been named head wrestling coach at Nordonia, athletic director Rob Eckenrode confirmed Wednesday.

Graham Coghill - (Special to The Plain Dealer)

MACEDONIA, Ohio – In the 1970s, Graham Coghill founded the Longwood YMCA wrestling program that would help Nordonia win a state wrestling championship in 1977.

More than three decades later, Coghill is back in the thick of it in Macedonia. He has been named head wrestling coach at Nordonia, athletic director Rob Eckenrode confirmed Wednesday.

Coghill replaces Audie Atienza, who left to take a teaching job at Orange. Atienza rebuilt Nordonia in recent years. The Knights were 19th at state this year with four qualifiers, none of whom was a senior.

Eckenrode said Atienza's teaching position at Nordonia was eliminated two years ago and he stayed as an in-school suspension coordinator in the hopes of being rehired as a teacher, but no positions became available.

Coghill coached St. Peter Chanel for 33 years and his teams were state champions five times, most recently in 2012, and runners-up seven times. He coached more than 100 state place-winners and retired from Chanel in 2012.

He joined Atienza's staff last season along with veteran coaches Conrad Calendar, Dan Milkovich and Jason Walters, all of whom will be back, Eckenrode said.

"You're not going to find anyone with more wrestling knowledge than Graham, and with the caliber of the team and him being an assistant on the staff, the continuity made logical sense,'' Eckenrode said. "We're excited to have him.''

National Seniors Game venue locations and daily schedule.

2013 National Seniors Games (sample daily map).Rich Exner, The Plain Dealer

Some 21 sports are being contested at several locations throughout the area.

Choose a date to see your choices.

Before you head to a venue, however, check for updates on specific times or any late schedule changes by using the links provided for each event. Schedules could changed based on the final count of entrants or the weather.

The game does not yet have a sponsor and will join the bowl lineup for the 2014 season. An ACC team will be the opponent, AP reports.

DETROIT, Mich. - The Big Ten and the Detroit Lions have announced a six-year agreement to play a bowl game at Ford Field, and a person familiar with the situation says the Atlantic Coast Conference will provide the opponent.

The new bowl will start in 2014 and it has not been named or sponsored.

The person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press the game will be a matchup of Big Ten and ACC teams. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement was to come later. ESPN.com first reported the ACC would be part of the new Detroit Bowl.

The conferences will select the teams to play in the new game.

The new game could spell the end for the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, which has been played in Detroit and tried to match the Big Ten and Mid-American Conference. The Big Ten often would not have enough bowl eligible teams to send one to the Little Caesars Bowl. Only three times has a Big Ten team played in the game (Northwestern in 2003 and Purdue in 2007 and '11).

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl organizers have been trying to find a new home for their game -- possibly Comerica Park, home of Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers -- or persuade Lions officials to hold two bowl games at Ford Field.

The Little Caesars Bowl has been held at Ford Field since 2002. The game was originally called the Motor City Bowl and held at the Silverdome.

Jason Kipnis' first All-Star game is one he'll remember for a long time.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It was almost midnight in the swirl and congestion of the American League All-Star locker room Tuesday at Citi Field.

Reporters, All-Stars, clubhouse workers and MLB personnel were everywhere.

Almost every player was in the process of changing and headed to the shower or out the door in street clothes. Jason Kipnis, Indians second baseman, was the exception.

He was still in full uniform, talking to reporters, enjoying the post-game buzz of the AL's 3-0 victory, his RBI double in the eighth inning, and getting to play behind Mariano Rivera in his 13th and final All-Star game.

There was another reason Kipnis was still in uniform. It ruins the flow of the story, but he'd gone back on the field to take pictures with family and friends. Still, Kipnis was in no hurry for the night to end.

If not for Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano leaving the game in the first after taking a Matt Harvey 96-mph fastball off his right knee and quadriceps muscle, Kipnis may have not even gotten an at-bat. It happens a lot to rookie All-Stars.

"Dustin Pedroia and me were sitting next to each other when Cano came out," said Kipnis. "We immediately looked at each other and waited to see who could find their glove and hat first. I think it was designated that he would go in next and that's completely understandable."

Kipnis replaced Pedroia in the seventh.

"You start out the day thinking about when you'll get a chance to go in and who you might face," said Kipnis. "Then you start simplifying things. It's, 'all right, just don't strike out and put the ball in play. Just do your job and blend in.'"

Kipnis did his job, but he forgot to blend in.

With the AL leading, 2-0, and two out in the eighth, Kipnis drove a 1-1 pitch from Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel over the head of the Phillies' Domonic Brown in left field to score Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez from third base for a 3-0 lead.

"I couldn't have scripted it any better," said Kipnis. "That was a cool thing to happen.

"I hit a fastball away. It's the first at-bat I've ever had against him. All I knew was about his fastball. That's what I was looking for the whole time and he starts me out with two curveballs. . .and pretty good ones, too. So I'm happy I wasn't just up there swinging."

Kimbrel finally threw a fastball and left it up on the outside part of the plate. Kipnis, using the same swing that extracted him from an April slump and helped him hit .419 in June, lined the ball to left field.

"He supplied all the power," said Kipnis. "I just slapped it to left."

Said Justin Masterson, the Indians other All-Star, who did not get to pitch in the game, "Kip did what he always does. He hits doubles and makes play."

AL manager Jim Leyland used 10 pitchers, but the fully-rested Masterson was held in reserve in case the game went into extra innings. Ever since the 2002 All-Star game ended in a 7-7 tie because as Commissioner Bud Selig so elegantly put it, "we ran out of (bleeping) pitchers," the rosters have been expanded and one starting pitcher is named as a rear guard.

"I had the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th innings," said Masterson with a smile.

Kipnis' night was not done. After Neil Diamond finished singing Sweet Caroline before the bottom of the eighth, he was about to take his position at second base when a teammate tugged on his jersey.

"I was walking up the steps to go up there and I got a little tug on my jersey and someone said, 'Hold up, we're going to wait and do something else,'" said Kipnis. "I really didn't know what was happening and then I heard the music come on (Enter Sandman). I told myself, 'OK, that explains it.'"

Enter Sandman is Rivera's entrance music when he comes into a game at Yankee Stadium. This was at Citi Field, home of the rival Mets, but the meaning was still clear. The crowd of 45,186 gave Rivera a standing ovation. The players in both dugouts stood on the top step and applauded and tipped their caps to Rivera.

Rivera did the same and then waved to the crowd.

"I thought that really pretty cool," said Kipnis. "I thought it was a great idea to give him his own field for the last time out there. . .To be able to play behind him in his last All-Star game was really special.

"I mean, he's not one of the greatest closers, he's the greatest closer."

At first there was confusion as to why baseball's all-time saves leader, who will retire at the end of the season, was coming in for the eighth instead of the ninth inning with the AL leading, 3-0. Leyland, however, was taking no chances.

If the National League rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth, there could conceivably be no bottom of the ninth and thus no All-Star farewell for Rivera.

Asked about his strategy, Leyland said, "I wanted to make sure I got out of here alive tonight."

Milwaukee shortstop Jean Segura, the first man Rivera faced, sent a ground ball to Kipnis, who handled it cleanly for the first out. Rivera retired the next two batters in order.

"For almost a second I just wanted to watch," said Kipnis. "I don't want any balls hit to me right now. With Mariano throwing cutters and guys slapping it the other way, you figure a ball would come your way. I'm just happy I made the play."

Rivera, who has saved 638 games throwing a cut fastball, retired the NL in order.

"It's so much nicer watching the cutter when you're playing behind him than when you're at the plate," said Kipnis. "You're just happy to get to feel one time what it's like to have him on your side. Any hit or any run is going to be a surprise."

Midnight came and went and Kipnis was still in full uniform. . .still talking.

A judge has issued an arrest order for two-time WWE Hall of Famer and former professional wrestling champion Ric Flair for not paying his estranged wife more than $32,000 in spousal support.

 

A judge has issued an arrest order for former professional wrestling champion Ric Flair for not paying his estranged wife more than $32,000 in spousal support. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) 

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw & CineSport's Noah Coslov analyze Brett Myers' tweets as he disagreed with Mariano Rivera getting the All-Star Game MVP.

 

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw & CineSport's Noah Coslov analyze Brett Myers' tweets as he disagreed with Mariano Rivera getting the All-Star Game MVP. Myers also said he would be 'all in' if the Phillies wanted him back for a postseason run.

Below are Myers' tweets from last night during the All-Star Game:

Appreciate Mariano Rivera for all he has done but, MVP???? No way! Mariano is a class act and respect him but the media rules who wins!

— Brett Myers (@TheOutlaw39) July 17, 2013

The guys that deserve the MVP are the guys that drove in the runs to get Mariano the chance to be a hero in his last all star game!

— Brett Myers (@TheOutlaw39) July 17, 2013

“@mschmanek21: @TheOutlaw39 what you think if the phillies try bringing you back to help out in the pen? For another run” All in!

— Brett Myers (@TheOutlaw39) July 17, 2013

Browns cornerback Joe Haden and Sarah Mahmoodshahi recently exchanged vows at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach resort and honeymooned on the Caribbean Island of Anguilla.

Browns cornerback Joe Haden wore a No. 23 jersey on his wedding day. But don’t assume that means the Virginia native’s wedding to longtime girlfriend Sarah Mahmoodshahi was a garish event styled in hometown orange and brown.

No, sir. If you’ve ever seen Haden off the field with his just-stepped-out-of-magazine bride, you know their June 29 resort wedding was nothing but a high-class, elegant event all the way, assisted by celebrity wedding planner Carrie Zack.

“They are such a wonderful couple,” Zack emailed about the newlyweds, who are just back from a honeymoon on the Caribbean Island of Anguilla. They exchanged vows at the beautiful Fontainebleau Miami Beach resort with witnesses that included teammate Phil Taylor and former teammate Josh Cribbs, who Tweeted that the event was “grade A++ top of the line.”

While we weren’t there (invitation lost in the mail, we’re sure), we’ve been following along with Haden’s 120,000 Twitter followers as he shares glimpses of his big day.

Ladies and gentleman! Today is the day! 💑👰🙏😍

— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) June 29, 2013

S/o 2 @canesbarber 4 giving me and all my groomsmen cuts! #respect! tonburr5 @flowdaboss blueserving… http://t.co/3JbPNptUpY

— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) June 29, 2013

For the ceremony, Haden wore a three-piece Tom Ford suit with Christian Louboutin gold studded loafers -- photos of which he also Tweeted, along with a picture of the couple's rings (and Mahmoodshahi's beautiful French manicure) a few days later and one of him wearing a “This guy loves his wife” tank that he says Mahmoodshahi gave him.

#tomford #jayZKnowsWhatsUp! Lol! Pics of sarah_moo will come soon! http://t.co/LToifkXIHk

— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) July 10, 2013

Wedding kicks! http://t.co/GbfVEYzq09

— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) June 29, 2013

sarah_moo of course bought me this shirt! 😂😂! Love u http://t.co/ca3TGjNulJ

— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) July 2, 2013

If your invitation to the big event got lost in the mail like ours did, you can still send the happy couple a gift. Their registries at Crate & Barrel and Bloomingdale’s are still open with only a few items left. We call dibs on the chip and dip tray.

Join Glenn Moore, Dennis Manoloff and Bud Shaw as they talk Browns with Mary Kay Cabot and Cavs with Mary Schmitt Boyer.

Watch PD Sports Insider live at 12:30 p.m. today on cleveland.com.  

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About the show: PD Sports Insider airs live every
Thursday at noon. Co-hosted by 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 email their video questions during the week.

Ohio State has a great chance to play in the third Big Ten title game, and Buckeye Nation could take over Lucas Oil Stadium.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – When the Big Ten Championship Game was created, it's doubtful that anyone intended it as a Bret Bielema showcase.

For now, the conference breakdown for Big Ten title game wins by current coaches goes like this: SEC 2, Big Ten 0.

After beating Michigan State for the Big Ten title in 2011 and Nebraska in 2012, Bielema left for Arkansas. And now, as we continue the countdown of the 25 most important things in Ohio State's season, we get to the game that could be the last step toward the BCS National Championship. And the game that Ohio State fans have been waiting to swarm …

No. 17: The Scarlet and Gray take over Indy

17 days until the start of preseason practice

Obviously, a title game is a vital portion of a season. But the idea here is not just about Ohio State getting there, but about the ability of OSU fans to make a neutral site seem like home.

This will be the last season that Ohio State and Michigan could meet in Indianapolis before the teams get moved into the same division next year. That's the right idea for both teams and the conference as a whole, but since we have this once last chance, it would be fascinating to watch this matchup happen.

Ohio State and Michigan playing in the championship game on a regular basis the week after they meet to end the regular season would be disastrous. And the conference figured that out. Ohio State and Michigan meeting in consecutive weeks this one time, creating the kind of historical blip that will cause people in 50 years to say, “They played back-to-back?! When?!”

That would be cool.

Monday we'll release the predictions from the Big Ten media poll, a group of 26 writers I organized – two from each team as well as two conference writers – and find out if the consensus has that Michigan-Ohio State game on tap for Dec. 6 in Lucas Oil Stadium.

At the very least, it's hard to imagine Ohio State not being there. Penn State is still banned from the postseason, and I think there's a chance that the other four teams in the Leaders Division – Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois – all finish under .500 in conference play.

So that means a weekend of Columbus West.

In its first year, the Big Ten title game drew 64,152 fans and last year, just 41,260. That in a stadium that seats 67,000 for football. Even Jim Delany was disappointed with the turnout last year. Regardless of the opponent, if Ohio State is there, OSU fans won't let any seats go empty. And creating a home-game atmosphere will matter.

This game is built for Ohio State. The Buckeyes already take over games in Bloomington when Ohio State plays at Indiana. That's four hours from Columbus. Indianapolis is only three. And after no postseason last year, fans will be gearing up for a roadtrip.

The 12-game regular season really may just be a buildup to this.

Ohio State will play in this game. And then Ohio State will need to win it in order to end its season in California, either in the BCS National Championship or the Rose Bowl. Creating an indoor version of Ohio Stadium for a night would help that cause. And, with a win, would make for a heck of a celebration.

So in July, it might be silly to talk about a potential 13th game of the season in December. But Ohio State and its fans have been waiting to get to Indianapolis. And a trip there could lead to so much more.

See a fact box on the National Senior Games, the biennial sporting event for people 50 years and older.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are the general details on the 2013 National Senior Games.

The games start Friday. Check our six-page special section preview guide with schedules, maps, entertainment and other news you can use to see the games.

What: This is the 14th iteration of the biennial National Senior Games. The games began in 1987 and now feature 19 sports, plus two demonstration sports.

When: Friday-Aug. 1.

Where: There are 23 competition venues in Greater Cleveland, including: Cleveland Convention Center, Case Western Reserve University, Baldwin Wallace University, Cleveland State and downtown Cleveland roads and parks.

Who: About 11,000 male and female athletes. Athletes must be at least 50 years old (by Dec. 31, 2012), and have qualified through a National Senior Games Association-sanctioned State Qualifying Games.

Sports: Archery, badminton, basketball, bowling, cycling, golf, horseshoes, pickleball, race walk, racquetball, road race, shuffleboard, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field, triathlon, and volleyball. The demonstration sports are bocce and disc golf.

Admission: All competitions and special events are free. The July 26 Celebration of Athletes requires a ticket. Free tickets available at the Convention Center and The Q the day of the event. 

NOTABLE EVENTS:

Opening Festival, featuring the torch arrival ceremony, is Friday at Mall B in downtown Cleveland, 4:30-10 p.m.

Celebration of Athletes, with parade of athletes, is July 26 at The Q, 7 p.m.

The Village, featuring vendor booths, entertainment, exhibitions, medalist parades, and more is held daily at the Convention Center, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

NOTABLE FACTS:

Event co-chairs are Toby Cosgrove, President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic; Jeff Friedman, President and CEO of Associated Estates; and Beth Mooney, Chairman and CEO of KeyCorp. Honorary chairs are Mike Hargrove, former Indians manager; Bernie Kosar, former Browns quarterback; and Austin Carr, former Cavaliers guard and current broadcaster. ... The event is expected to generate $35 million of economic activity in Greater Cleveland. ... About 4,000 volunteers will work during the event. ... Expected attendance is 30,000, with about 18,000 friends and family anticipated to visit Cleveland.

PARKING/SHUTTLE INFORMATION:

The National Senior Games will feature a complementary shuttle system in Cleveland. Shuttles run from Lakefront Municipal Parking Lot ($2 daily parking, 1500 Marginal Road) and North Port Parking Lot ($5 daily parking, 100 Alfred Lerner Way) to the Convention Center. Shuttles run 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Friday through Aug. 1. Extended hours until 10 p.m. on Friday for the Opening Festival and July 26 for the Celebration of Athletes. The shuttle also will make stops at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The RTA is promoting its routes to venues and offering specials for athletes' families and friends. For details go online to riderta.com/seniorgames and nsga.com/getting-around-cleveland.aspx

ROAD CLOSURES:

Because of events taking place on Cleveland roads during the Games, the following road closures will be in effect:

July 20 – 10K road race

Lakeside Avenue from Ontario Street to East Ninth Street, 5:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

July 21 – Triathlon

East Ninth Street: Erieside Avenue-Lakeside Avenue, 6-11 a.m.

East Ninth Street: Lakeside Avenue-St. Clair Avenue, 6-11 a.m.

Shoreway (Westbound): East Ninth Street-West Third Street, 6-11 a.m.

Shoreway (Eastbound): Lake Avenue-Interstate 90, 6-11 a.m. (Edgewater Park/Marina access via West 49th Street)

West Boulevard: Lake Avenue-Edgewater Drive, 6-11 a.m.

Erieside Avenue: West Third Street-East Ninth Street, 5 a.m.-noon.

Lakeside Avenue: West Ninth Street-East Ninth Street, 6-11 a.m.

West Third Street: West Lakeside Avenue-Erieside Avenue, 6-11 a.m. (Access to North Coast Harbor via East Ninth Street)

July 27-28 – Cycling

East Ninth Street (Southbound): Erieside Avenue-Lakeside Avenue, 5:30 a.m.-noon (One lane northbound will be maintained)

Shoreway (Westbound): Interstate 90 to Edgewater Drive exit ramp, 5:30 a.m.-noon (Edgewater Park/Marina access via Lake Avenue at Clifton Boulevard)

Shoreway (Eastbound): Lake Avenue-West Lakeside Avenue, 5:30 a.m.-noon (Edgewater Park/ Marina access via Lake Avenue at Clifton Boulevard)

Erieside Avenue: West Third Street-East Ninth Street, 5:30 a.m.-noon

West Lakeside Avenue: West Sixth Street-Ontario Street, 5:30 a.m.-noon.

West Third Street: West Lakeside Avenue-Erieside Avenue, 5:30 a.m.-noon (Access to North Coast Harbor via East Ninth Street)

July 31 – Race walk

Erieside Avenue: West Third Street-Al Lerner Way, 5:30 a.m.-noon (Access to North Coast Harbor via East Ninth Street)

See a list of July road closures for the National Senior Games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Because of events taking place on Cleveland roads during the National Senior Games, the following road closures will be in effect.

July 20 – 10K road race

Lakeside Avenue from Ontario Street to East Ninth Street, 5:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

July 21 – Triathlon

East Ninth Street: Erieside Avenue-Lakeside Avenue, 6-11 a.m.

East Ninth Street: Lakeside Avenue-St. Clair Avenue, 6-11 a.m.

Shoreway (Westbound): East Ninth Street-West Third Street, 6-11 a.m.

Shoreway (Eastbound): Lake Avenue-Interstate 90, 6-11 a.m. (Edgewater Park/Marina access via West 49th Street)

West Boulevard: Lake Avenue-Edgewater Drive, 6-11 a.m.

Erieside Avenue: West Third Street-East Ninth Street, 5 a.m.-noon.

Lakeside Avenue: West Ninth Street-East Ninth Street, 6-11 a.m.

West Third Street: West Lakeside Avenue-Erieside Avenue, 6-11 a.m. (Access to North Coast Harbor via East Ninth Street)

July 27-28 – Cycling

East Ninth Street (Southbound): Erieside Avenue-Lakeside Avenue, 5:30 a.m.-noon (One lane northbound will be maintained)

Shoreway (Westbound): Interstate 90 to Edgewater Drive exit ramp, 5:30 a.m.-noon (Edgewater Park/Marina access via Lake Avenue at Clifton Boulevard)

Shoreway (Eastbound): Lake Avenue-West Lakeside Avenue, 5:30 a.m.-noon (Edgewater Park/ Marina access via Lake Avenue at Clifton Boulevard)

Erieside Avenue: West Third Street-East Ninth Street, 5:30 a.m.-noon

West Lakeside Avenue: West Sixth Street-Ontario Street, 5:30 a.m.-noon.

West Third Street: West Lakeside Avenue-Erieside Avenue, 5:30 a.m.-noon (Access to North Coast Harbor via East Ninth Street)

July 31 – Race walk

Erieside Avenue: West Third Street-Al Lerner Way, 5:30 a.m.-noon (Access to North Coast Harbor via East Ninth Street)

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Stepien Rules, Dawgs By Nature and Did The Tribe Win Last Night?.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

Will T.J. Ward step up this season? (Joshua Gunter/ The Plain Dealer) 

"1. T.J. WARD - STARTING STRONG SAFETY

Note: Entering the final year of his contract...praised by various media outlets...has missed some games.
This is a big year for T.J. Ward for multiple reasons. First, it's a contract year for him -- he is in the final year of what was a very affordable 4-year, $5.09 million rookie deal. Ward has been a solid safety for Cleveland, and has drawn praise over the years from the likes of Peter King, Pro Football Focus, Pete Prisco, and other members of the media. Despite that, as he enters his fourth year, I still find myself desiring a lot more from Ward.

As a rookie in 2010, Ward started all 16 games at safety and recorded a career-high 123 combined tackles. Since then, he has been banged up quite a bit -- he only played 8 games in 2011, and 14 games in 2012. Statistically, he had 68 tackles all of last year. Pro Football Focus praised the difference maker he is when Ward is in the box to stop the run, and that he rarely missed tackles (second best among safeties). That may be true, but I think Ward needs to find a way to contribute more game-changing, hard-hitting type of plays to elevate him to that next tier of safeties in the NFL, and to ensure that the front office will want him back in 2014."

Scott Kazmir has enjoyed some success with the Tribe this season. (John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer) 

"Adding a new pitch to his arsenal has been a big help to Kazmir. He didn’t start throwing a cut fastball until his eighth start of the season, and even then it was only 5% of his pitches or less. Over his last five starts he’s been throwing it 10% of the time, and he threw it 13% of the time in his last start against Kansas City. Cut fastballs are a great weapon to use against hitters that bat from the opposite side of the plate. There is the natural advantage of the lefty on lefty matchup, but adding the cutter tips the scales in the pitchers favor when a left handed pitcher faces a right handed batter. The ball looks like a four-seam fastball, but breaks in hard on the right handed hitter, jamming him. In his last start against Kansas City, Kazmir threw his cutter more than ever. He was able to get right handed batters to ground out 62.5% of the time, a rate that is about 15% above league average. 300 game winner Tom Glavine loved to use his cutter against righty’s, especially with two strikes; it was his go-to pitch in that situation."

Will the Cavs be in the playoffs this year? (AP Photo/Mark Duncan) 

"At 75/1, the Cavaliers are getting identical odds with the Atlanta Hawks to win the NBA Championship, both with the 6th best chances of teams the Eastern Conference to walk away next season hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy and hosting a parade.

The opening odds for the Cleveland Cavaliers were 100/1, which changed after the Bynum trade and also the supertrade between the Celtics and Nets changed the landscape of the Eastern Conference. Also that Sergey Karasev has dominated the World University Games over the past two weeks in Kazan, Russia, leading the Russian team to a Gold medal with otherworldly per 36 minute statistics. "