"Gluefingers" finished his career among the all-time leading receivers and was at his best in the biggest games.

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. 7, DANTE LAVELLI, wide receiver, 1946-56

Dante Lavelli was called "Gluefingers" and put together some amazing numbers over his career, especially considering the era he played in.

The Hall of Famer helped the Browns win seven championships.

Yet, there was more to Lavelli's significance as a player than his nickname and the individual and team accomplishments.

Lavelli joined with quarterback Otto Graham and fellow receiver Mac Speedie to revolutionize the passing game and thus help advance the NFL toward its national, made-for-TV popularity that began to flourish in the late 1950s, when the Baltimore Colts' offense got the better of the New York Giants' famed defense in the 1958 and 1959 championship games.

The precision passing game displayed by Baltimore quarterback Johnny Unitas and favorite receivers Raymond Berry, Lenny Moore and Jim Mutscheller emulated what Graham, Lavelli and Speedie had introduced a few years before.

There had been other dynamic passing games, including that of the Rams beginning soon after they had moved from Cleveland to Los Angeles following their 1945 championship season. But the Browns of Graham, Lavelli and Speedie -- soon joined by running back/receiver Dub Jones -- probably utilized more areas of the field with more timing and route combinations than had any previous team.

What Lavelli provided for the Browns and their ability to throw the ball was irreplaceable.

Counting his years in the All-America Football Conference, Lavelli caught 386 passes for 6,488 yards (16.8 yards per catch) and 62 touchdowns. Those regular season numbers were compiled in 14-game schedules over his first three seasons and 12-game schedules in his last eight campaigns. And, it was an era when teams didn't pass nearly as often as they have in recent decades.

When Lavelli retired, and again counting the AAFC years, he ranked second in pro football history in touchdown receptions and third in passes caught and receiving yards.

Then there was the postseason.

Lavelli caught 46 passes for 667 yards and five touchdowns in 12 playoff and championship games. The Browns got to the championship game in each of his first 10 seasons, winning all four title contests in AAFC history and going 3-3 in NFL championship games.

From the outset of his Browns career, Lavelli's ability to deliver when it mattered most was evident. He caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Graham with about four minutes left to give the Browns a 16-14 win over the New York Yankees in the AAFC championship game on Dec. 22, 1946 at Cleveland Stadium. That, of course, capped the Browns' very first season.

The Browns' first season in the NFL ended with their 30-28 championship game win over the Rams on Dec. 24, 1950 in Cleveland -- won on Lou Groza's 16-yard field goal with 28 seconds to go. Lavelli had 11 receptions for 128 yards, including touchdown catches of 37 and 39 yards from Graham. He made other big catches during the two fourth-quarter scoring drives that rallied the Browns from a 28-20 deficit.

Listed at 6-0 and about 190 pounds during his pro career, Lavelli was noted of course for his sure hands. But he was also very physical, often able to come away with the ball when crowded by defenders. He was expert at ad-libbing routes and coming open when Graham was under pressure. And, he was a fine blocker for the Browns' tough running game.

Graham retired following the Browns' 38-14 victory over the Rams in the 1955 championship game at Los Angeles. The great Graham-to-Lavelli combination had a fitting last hurrah, as they connected on three passes for 95 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown that put the Browns up, 17-7, in the second quarter.

The 1956 Browns went 5-7, the lone losing campaign in the first 28 years of their history. George Ratterman, Tommy O'Connell and Babe Parilli -- capable quarterbacks but none nearly of Graham's caliber -- all took turns at the helm. Lavelli retired after the season.

Lavelli was first-team all-AAFC in 1946 and 1947 and second-team in 1948 and 1949. Then, he made first-team all-NFL in 1951 and 1953.

Making it all the better for Lavelli and Browns fans was that he was a local guy. He graduated from Hudson High School in Summit County and played on Ohio State's freshman team in 1941 and began the varsity Buckeyes' 1942 season as a starting receiver. Ohio State, coached by Paul Brown, won the national title though Lavelli missed most of the season with a knee injury.

Lavelli entered the U.S. Army in 1942, during World War II. He was in the brutal battles at the Siege of Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge, both in Belgium in the winter of 1944-45 as the allied forces closed in on Germany.

A few months after returning from Europe, Lavelli was invited by Paul Brown to the Browns' 1946 training camp -- their first. He led the AAFC that season in receptions (40), receiving yards (843) and yards per catch (21.1) and scored eight touchdowns.

During the latter part of his Browns career Lavelli was one of the key organizers of the players' union, which would become the National Football League Players Association.

Lavelli remained involved in various activities around northeast Ohio after his playing career. He died at age 85 on Jan. 20, 2009.

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

Video: Receiver Dante Lavelli (56) is usually lined up on the right for the Browns during their 24-17 loss to the Rams in the 1951 NFL championship game at Los Angeles. Lavelli caught four passes for 65 yards:

Daisuke Matsuzaka earns victory in Clippers' win over Lehigh Valley.

Class AAA: Columbus 7, Lehigh Valley 2 The Clippers scored six in the seventh and beat the host IronPigs. The big inning featured Juan Diaz's sixth homer of the season, a two-run shot; a ground-rule double by Luis Hernandez; and Tim Fedroff's steal of third, his 14th swipe of the season. Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-5) got the win. He pitched six innings, giving up seven hits and one earned run while striking out five.

Class AA: Akron 3, Harrisburg 1 Akron starter Toru Murata (4-5) limited the Senators to three hits in seven innings as the Aeros defeated the Senators at Canal Park. Austin Adams and Trey Haley each followed with a shutout inning, with Haley picking up his fourth save. Left fielder Cedric Hunter clubbed a solo homer for Akron in the third inning.

Class A Advanced: Carolina 4, Winston-Salem 0 Starter Shawn Morimando (6-9) pitched five shutout innings as the host Mudcats blanked the Dash. Josh Martin pitched the final 11/3 innings to notch his first save.

Class A: Cedar Rapids 4, Lake County 1 The Kernels rode two home runs by Adam Walker, and completed a three-game sweep at Classic Park in Eastlake. Walker leads the Midwest League with 20 homers. Captains starter Jake Sisco (4-7) pitched five innings and allowed six hits, two earned runs and one walk. Kernels lefty Brett Lee (7-4) pitched his second consecutive complete game, striking out ten.

Class A Short Season: Mahoning Valley 2, Brooklyn 1 Four Scrappers pitchers limited the host Cyclones to four hits. Cole Suiser (1-1) picked up the victory with two scoreless innings of relief, and Harold Guerrero retired the last two hitters for his first save.

Independent: Lake Erie The Crushers were off.

Tiger Woods is in the hunt as the 3rd round begins this morning. See complete tee times and follow the latest from Muirfield in real time.

GULLANE, Scotland -- Tiger Woods couldn't get anything close Friday except for the one place that mattered at the British Open: His name on the leaderboard.

Woods didn't charge into contention Friday at Muirfield as much as he kept from falling back like so many others. Not only did he go 12 holes without a birdie, he only had two reasonable chances before finally cashing in with a 15-foot birdie putt on the last hole for an even-par 71.

That left him tied with Lee Westwood (68) and Henrik Stenson (70) and Dustin Johnson at 2-under 140, a great spot to be with a shrinking number of players under par. Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, 49, walked off Muirfield late Friday afternoon at 3-under 139, good for a 1-shot lead over that foursome.

• The Open Championship: Live leaderboard

Kent State alumnus Ben Curtis, who won his British Open title 10 years ago, shot a 71 Friday to go with his 74 Thursday. He is 3 over and tied for 24th. He tees off at 7:45 a.m. EDT today. Woods is in the second-to-last group of the day with Lee Westwood at 10:10.

Highlights include third round of the British Open; Indians at Minnesota; Cleveland Gladiators in an Arena Football League game; Columbus Crew soccer.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

ARENA FOOTBALL

7 p.m. Orlando at CLEVELAND GLADIATORS, CBSSN; FM/92.3 

AUTO RACING

4:30 p.m. Global Rallycross Championship, ESPN

9 p.m. TORC, Speed Channel

10 p.m. Mile-High Nationals qualifying (tape), ESPN2 

BASEBALL

3:30 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Boston, WJW

7 p.m. AKRON AEROS at Harrisburg, AM/1350

7 p.m. Quad Cities at LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS, AM/1330

7 p.m. Toledo at Buffalo, TWCS

7:10 p.m. CLEVELAND INDIANS at Minnesota, SportsTime Ohio; AM/1100, FM/100.7

8 p.m. Baltimore at Texas, MLB Network

8 p.m. Chicago Cubs at Colorado, WGN 

CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

7 p.m. Montreal at Calgary, ESPN2 

CYCLING

7:30 a.m. Tour de France, Stage 20, NBCSN 

GOLF

7 a.m. British Open, Part I, ESPN

9 a.m. British Open, Part II, ESPN

2 p.m. Marathon Classic, Golf Channel

3 p.m. British Open, WEWS

4 p.m. Sanderson Farms Championship, Golf Channel 

MAJOR LEAGUE LACROSSE

4 p.m. New York at Charlotte, ESPN2

MOTORSPORTS

5 p.m. U.S. Grand Prix qualifying, Speed Channel

6 p.m. AMA Motocross, NBCSN

SOCCER

7:30 p.m. New England at COLUMBUS CREW, Fox Sports Ohio 

SOFTBALL

2 p.m. USSSA Pride at NY-NJ Comets, ESPN2

Saturday's schedule and venue map for the 2013 National Senior Games.

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

Some 21 sports are being contested at several locations throughout the area during the course of the Senior Games.

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 change based on the final count of entrants or the weather.

Event calendar

The 2013 National Senior Games run from July 18 through Aug. 1. Here's a daily event calendar. However, some dates are for practice only.

The Indians' defense made two costly errors in a 3-2 loss to the Twins on Friday night at Target Field.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Indians returned from the All-Star break Friday night, but their defense was apparently still on vacation.

Joe Mauer sent a two-out single into center field in the eighth inning to give the Twins a 3-2 victory over the Tribe at Target Field. Two of the Twins' three runs were unearned and the third was tainted.

Pedro Florimon opened the eighth with a single off Joe Smith. Brian Dozier followed with a grounder to third. Lonnie Chisenhall threw to first, but the ball bounced out of Nick Swisher's glove for the Tribe's second error of the game as Florimon stopped at second.

Smith (4-1) tried to right himself by getting Trevor Plouffe to ground into a double play that sent Florimon to third. With first base open, the Indians elected to pitch to Mauer, who sent a 1-2 pitch into center field to win it.

The loss ended the Indians' four-game winning streak. Casey Fien (2-2) pitched the eighth for the win. Glen Perkins pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.

"We did some things tonight in a close game where you don't put yourself in the best position to win," said Indians manager Terry Francona.

In a meeting with pitching coach Mickey Callaway before Mauer came to bat, Smith was told to pitch around Mauer.

"But when I got ahead of him 1-2, I changed my approach," said Smith. "I went for the punch out. I wanted to put a slider down and in, but I left it middle in."

Mauer was 0-for-1 against Smith coming into the at-bat. Francona said he gave no thought to intentionally walking Mauer.

"The question I have is why would you walk Mauer?" said Francona. "Then you've got first and third and the guy on third can fly. So how can you defend that? They can do a lot of things.

"If you hold Mauer at first, you've got a hole open on the right side. I just think you're asking for trouble there."

After Mauer's single, Justin Morneau followed with a double, but Smith got out of the inning.

Lefty Scott Kazmir took a 2-0 lead into the sixth and looked good doing it. He retired the first two Twins, but then stepped behind the mound and started bending at his waist. Francona and Lonnie Soloff, head athletic trainer, came to the mound, but soon left.

"He was having some cramps in his calves," said Francona.

Said Kazmir, "I think I'm trying to set a record for trainer's visits."

Kazmir, bothered by back spasms in his recent starts, stayed in the game and immediately walked Florimon. Dozier followed with a grounder to third that bounced off Chisenhall's glove for an error. Florimon went to third and Dozier went to second when Asdrubal Cabrera recovered the ball at short and made an ill-advised throw to third to try to get Florimon.

"I was going in the hole for the ball and I didn't keep my head down," said Chisenhall. "It's frustrating when I don't come up with ball like that. After that the inning went the wrong way for us. Kaz deserves to win that game, but I just didn't come up with the play right there."

Plouffe, who came into the game hitting .345 (10-for-29) against the Indians this year, took advantage of the sloppy defense and dropped a soft single in front of Drew Stubbs in right field to make it 2-2.

"As good as Kaz threw, he got ahead of the No. 9 hole hitter [Florimon] and walked him," Francona said. "Then Lonnie boots a ground ball and we try to do too much with it [Cabrera throwing to third] and end up letting the guy go to second. Then they dump the ball into right.

• Box score | Standings | Scoreboard

"In a game like that, you never want to give them extra opportunities. It came back to haunt us."

Kazmir allowed two runs, both unearned, on two hits in six innings. In three starts against the Twins this year, Kazmir is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA (three runs, 19 innings) with 17 strikeouts and four walks.

The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the third on Michael Bourn's two-run double off Mike Pelfrey. Chisenhall opened the inning with a long double to center after Pelfrey started the game with six straight outs.

Until the sixth, Kazmir hadn't allowed a legitimate hit.

After starting the game with seven straight outs, Clete Thomas sent a bouncer to short. Cabrera tried to make a backhanded play, but the ball didn't bounce true and skipped off his glove and into left field. It was ruled a hit, but it just as easily could have been called an error.

Thomas was erased on a fielder's choice by Florimon and Gomes threw out Florimon attempting to steal second to end the inning. It was the 10th runner Gomes has thrown out in 19 stolen base attempts (53 percent).

Athletes participating in the National Senior Games in Cleveland offer training tips to other seniors looking to get in better shape.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — With the right advice, a little patience and a lot of dedication, anyone can get in shape. That's what the athletes in Cleveland for the National Senior Games say.

It won't be easy, and it wasn't for them. It may take a change in your lifestyle and diet, and it could take awhile to see results.

 These competitors are no strangers to fitness and have plenty of conditioning tips to share with seniors. So do some doctors and trainers who work with older athletes.

 Chagrin Falls bank investigator Bill Cloninger, 63, leaves work at 2:30 p.m. and heads to his local gym. Cloninger has been cycling competitively for two years and will participate in the 5k and 10k cycling events at the Games. He divides his workouts between bike exercises and strength training and does yoga and Pilate's.

 "The more flexible you are, the more resistant to injury you are," he said.

 Dr. Robert Truax said a focus on flexibility is important for seniors just starting to exercise. The sports medicine physician at University Hospital Case Medical Center said if you want to participate in something as intense as cycling and swimming at  something like the Senior Games, it will take about a year of training.

 As your body ages, it experiences a loss of muscle tissue and a decreased maximum heart rate that slows the fitness process, said Truax. 

 "That doesn't necessarily mean [older athletes] could injure themselves," he said. "The benefits of exercising outweigh the risks."

 Every morning Charleston, S.C., electrical engineer Walt Lancaster, 73, warms up with crunches, situps and stretches. Then he moves on to his games. He plays tennis twice a week and swims and weight trains once a week.

"It helps get the kinks out," he said.

 He needs all this training. In Cleveland, he will high jump, long jump, triple jump, as well as throw the javelin, discus and shot put. And that's not all. He will sprint in four track events and do some swimming.

 Lancaster said he exercises year-round despite chronic back pain from a disintegrated disc in his spine. He recommends that seniors take it easy when they start exercising.

 "As we get older, it's a lot easier to get injured, and it takes a longer time to get over it," he said.

 The versatile athlete advises a beginner to pick an enjoyable activity and stick with it.

 Richard Kratche, a staff physician at the Cleveland Clinic Twinsburg Family Health and Surgery Center, said exercise is beneficial at any age.

 "While people who exercise aren't guaranteed a pain-free existence, most will see a significant decrease in aches and pains," he said. "Our bodies were made for exercise."

Kratche recommends that beginning senior athletes visit their doctor to make sure it's safe for them to exercise. They should start with walking and gradually build to more strenuous activities. The key is sticking to it. Those who stay fit have a lower risk of injury.

 Lake County real estate agent Jeannie Rice, 65, wakes up everyday at 6 a.m. for a 10-mile run. Rice has run competitively since she was 35. She knows how to stay fit. Her advice is to eat healthy and listen to your body.

 "If something hurts, you've got to stop," she said. "I know friends who pushed  themselves too hard and were injured."

She said you don't have to be competitive to be healthy. "It's never too late to start," she said.

 Rice, though, is ultra-competitive. She has run in 89 marathons, including this year's Boston Marathon. Rice was 100 yards from the finish line when she heard the first explosion.

 "When the second one went off, we knew something was wrong," she said. "It was so scary."

 Though the experience left her shaken, she plans to return to Boston next year to participate in the marathon. She is competing in the Senior Games for the first time and will run the 5k race.

 Bob Collins, a certified athletic trainer and member of the Cleveland Clinic Senior Games Committee, said active seniors tend to bike and swim.

He has helped Senior Games participants with their cardiovascular work and endurance activities. He said competing inspires maturing athletes to dedicate themselves to their training.

 "It's the thrill of competing, that doesn't just die out," he said.

 No matter what the age, it takes time and dedication to stay fit. Cloninger, the cyclist, advises aspiring competitors to make the decision early.

 "Set it as a goal, train for it and enjoy the experience," he said.

The Cavaliers were eliminated from the summer league tournament in Las Vegas, but rookie Carrick Felix made a lasting impression.

LAS VEGAS -- Carrick Felix knows just what to say to get on Mike Brown's good side.

"I love to play defense," said the Cavaliers' second-round draft choice, the No. 33 pick overall in the 2013 draft from Arizona State. "I preach it all the time. it's just something that fires me up.''

Unfortunately, Felix was in foul trouble much of Saturday afternoon and the Cavaliers' defense quite wasn't good enough to prevent an 82-76 loss to the Miami Heat that eliminated the Cavs from the inaugural NBA summer league tournament.

Former Orlando forward Justin Harper, a second-round pick of the Cavs in 2011, the 32nd player taken overall, scored 21 points, former Houston and Sacramento guard Jermaine Taylor added 20 and former Charlotte guard Cory Higgins, son of the Bobcats president Rod Higgins, had 17 points as the Cavs finished 3-2.

Brown elected not to play Dion Waiters or Tyler Zeller in order to get them some rest heading into the USA Basketball mini-camp that begins here Monday and runs through Thursday.

Waiters said he had an MRI of his sore right hand, which he banged earlier in the tournament, and Zeller took a couple of stitches on top of his left ring finger after trying to block a shot last week. But Brown said neither injury was anything to worry about and both players are expected to be fine for the USA Basketball event, where they will be joined by teammate Kyrie Irving.

The Cavs already know what they can expect from those three, but a few other youngsters, including the 6-6, 210-pound Felix, made a good impression on the Cavaliers' head coach.

"I liked what Carrick did,'' Brown said. "He’s a young guy that really doesn’t know quite what he’s doing, but he seems like a quick learner. He’s long, he’s athletic, he brings a lot of energy to the table on every possession. So he’s a guy who has a pretty good chance of making our team. I don’t want to speak too soon, but I like what I saw from him this past week and a half.

"There’s a lot of guys on our roster who I thought deserved invites to our vet camp. [Matthew] Dellavedova I thought played well, Cory Higgins and Jermaine Taylor and Justin Harper played well. I’m probably missing a few guys, but I thought we had a handful of guys that stepped up and played well throughout the course of the week in games and in practice''

There won't be many spots available on the regular-season 15-man roster. But Felix could claim one, especially since he's a quick learner who loves to play defense.

"I just take it personal,'' Felix said of his attitude toward defense. "I just see it as 'Don't let my man score on me.' I look at it as being a little embarrassing.

"In college it was easy for me to lock down guys and hold them to five points. Now I've got to work on getting my feet, having good hands and making guys take bad shots, making them take off-balance shots. Defense is something I take personal. It has been natural to me.''

He said Brown's defense reminds him of what he played at Arizona State last year.

"The difference is the spacing,'' Felix said. "It's the same rules that we had in college, but different terminology.''

Felix already has been studying film and asking lots of questions. He may have gotten a head start on training camp, but figures he won't have a day off from now until then.

"This is honestly going to be the longest year of my life, but I'm ready for it," he said. "I've just got to make sure I rest my body and prepare mentally."

If the Indians don't make a deal by July 31, manager Terry Francona has confidence in his current roster.

Terry Francona is ready to take his chances with his current team for the rest of the season.Associated Press 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Manager Terry Francona talks frequently with GM Chris Antonetti. Trades and rumors of trades are part of the discussion, especially at this time of year with the July 31 deadline approaching.

So Francona knows what's real and what not, but Saturday afternoon he said if the Indians don't make a deal he's more than ready to take his chances with the current roster.

"I really enjoy this team," he said. "I know that Chris is always trying to make us better. That's his job, but I enjoy our team.

"That's a good feeling because there's been a time or two when I haven't always felt that way -- not with this team -- and that's not a good feeling.

"What I'm saying is regardless of what happens (at the trading deadline), I'm fine. I like what we have. I think better days are ahead. There are no guarantees, but that's how I feel."

Antonetti is trying to improve the bullpen, especially from the left side. The chances of finding the kind of starter they want, a top of the rotation arm, are slim, but they've been looking at hitters as well.

Francona, however, is not obsessed with making a deal.

"The one thing I never really want to do is press Chris to do something," said Francona. "I know he cares. I also know that we have some prospects in our minor leagues that we don't want to lose.

"There are times when the job description makes you a little different. The GM has to be more of a caretaker and every manager wants to win every day. I want to make sure that he understands that I get where we are and where we're trying to get to."

He's back: Zach McAllister will start Tuesday against the Mariners. He threw a bullpen session Saturday after pitching six scoreless innings Thursday in a rehab start at Class AAA Columbus.

"He's good to go," said Francona.

McAllister has been on the disabled list since June 8 with a sprained right middle finger. The starters who filled in for McAllister, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, went 1-3 with a 7.96 ERA.

The length of his stay on the DL tested McAllister.

"I'm thankful they let me travel with the team," he said. "It made me feel like I was still part of it."

Said Francona, "We forced him to be patient, if patient is the right word. We tried to impress upon him that if he did this right, it was something he could move on from and continue his progression to see how good he can get as opposed to fiddling around with this thing and having a problem. He did a really good job."

You and me: Scott Kazmir has a personal catcher in Yan Gomes.

Kazmir has a 2.95 ERA when Gomes catches him as opposed to a 7.39 ERA with Carlos Santana. In Kazmir's last six starts, all with Gomes behind the plate, he's 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA.

Most managers don't like to give a pitcher a personal catcher because it hinders his ability to make out his lineup. Francona usually leans in that direction, but is making an exception. Friday, Gomes caught Kazmir and the left-hander allowed two unearned runs in six innings in a 3-2 loss to the Twins.

"It seems like Gomes got Kazmir on a roll," said Francona. "For the foreseeable future we'll probably keep doing it. We want Gomes to play and this builds in a day where he can be in the lineup. Then we'd like to build in another day where maybe he can DH some.

"When he first came up, I remember saying we'd keep him here as long as we didn't delay his development. He's playing enough where he's OK."

Finally: Entering Saturday night's game, the rotation was 4-0 with a 2.14 ERA in its last nine starts. When it was suggested that getting McAllister back was like making a trade, Francona said, "That's a nice way to look at it." ... Nick Swisher entered Saturday's game in an 0-for-12 slump. Through 96 games, Indians cleanup hitters have 44 RBI, ranking 12th in the AL. In those 96 games, Swisher has made 70 starts.

Former Olympic equestrian Sztyrle successfully repeats as Grand Prix champion.

Teddy Cahill

Special to The Plain Dealer

MORELAND HILLS, Ohio -- Riding the 10th of 11 horses into the ring for the jump-off at the Chagrin Valley Professional Horsemen's Association Grand Prix on Saturday, Federico Sztyrle knew the time he had to beat. It would be a tall order, but he had an idea of how he could guide his horse, Chicago 88, to victory.

Sztyrle, who represented Argentina in the 2004 Olympics, and Chicago 88 executed the plan flawlessly, cleanly making it over all seven jumps and finishing in 32.676 seconds, good enough to move into the lead. When the event's final horse finished well off the pace, Sztyrle had repeated as champion of the $25,000 Grand Prix event.

"It feels good," Sztyrle said. "It was a big competition today."

 

Bugatti, ridden by Sharn Wordley, finished in second with a clean jump-off and a time of 33.960. Jennifer Jones guided Cliff II to a third-place finish, finishing the jump-off cleanly in 34.241.

Megan Moshontz-Bash, a native of Chagrin Falls and the only local competitor, rode Pourkoipa Fontaine to a sixth-place finish. She completed a clean jump-off in 36.066.

Monshontz-Bash's strong performance came in front of a large group of fans and just a day before her 38th birthday, making it an extra special event.

"It was one of my best rides," Moshontz-Bash said. "My horse felt fantastic today. I knew from the first jump I took in the practice arena that my horse was really on it today."

Several riders complimented the skill level of the field, which had four Olympians among the 10 riders and 14 horses. As a result, 11 horses cleanly completed the preliminary round and qualified for the jump-off. Because the winner is determined by who has the fewest faults, with time as a tiebreaker, there is a certain amount of strategy necessary in the jump-off round. But with such a large field, the riders said it was difficult for them to plan.

Sztyrle had the advantage of going second to last and knowing what time he had to beat. He said he pushed Chicago 88 a little harder to beat the time established by Wordley and Bugatti. But both riders agreed if the order had been reversed, it likely would have been Wordley taking home first place.

"With my horse, I thought I'd done enough whilst being slightly conservative," Wordley said. "I thought I was fast enough not to have to risk it, but I wasn't."

He might have an opportunity to reverse the results as soon as next year. Both he and Sztyrle said they enjoy the event and plan to return to Cleveland.

"The footing is very nice for the horses," Sztyrle said. "My horse is not at an international level yet, so it's good experience."

Teddy Cahill is a freelance writer in Cleveland Heights.

A sloppy oval didn't bother the three-year-old trotters in Ohio Sires Stakes on Saturday night as Final Breath and Heza Rube sparkled in a pair of $30,000 trotting divisions.

Trainer-driver Hugh Beatty and three-year-old trotter Final Breath win a $30,000 Ohio Sires Stakes race at Northfield Park on Saturday night with a hot 1:57.1 clocking on a sloppy track. JJ Zamaiko, Special to The Plain Dealer 

NORTHFIELD, Ohio -- A sloppy oval didn't bother the three-year-old trotters in Ohio Sires Stakes on Saturday night, or the switch to the extra turns on Northfield Park's tighter half-mile track as Final Breath and Heza Rube sparkled in a pair of $30,000 trotting divisions.

Final Breath opened the evening's 14-race program with a solid performance in the first $30,000 trotting division, guided to his fifth win in seven starts this season by trainer-driver Hugh Beatty on a track soaked by pre-race rains. Beatty had the sophomore son of Victory Sam sitting third in the early going, and made his move heading to a half-mile in 59.1 seconds.

Final Breath took the lead heading to the 3/4-mile pole in 1:28.2, and opened a 4 1/2-length margin over Annie's Rocketman at the wire in 1:58.3. It was the fifth win in eight starts this season, and 11th triumph in 17 lifetime starts. The win pushed his career earnings to $88,197 for owner Duane Lowe of Malta, Ohio. Final Breath had clocked a 1:57.1 victory in Ohio Sires Stakes action on Scioto Downs' 5/8-mile oval, making the Northfield Park clocking on a tighter, sloppy track just as impressive.

Final Breath paid $2.10, 2.10, 2.10; Annie's Rocketman $2.80, 2.10; and Chet N Spanky $3.80.

Heza Rube and reinsman Kurt Sugg didn't get too muddy in the second trotting division. They charged to the lead coming off the starting gate and splashed to a 2 1/4-length victory over Buzzin Troubador in 1:57.4. It was the second win in seven outings this season for Heza Rube and Northfield Park Wall of Fame trainer Marty Wollam. The gelding has won seven races in his career and $100,399 for owner Bob Troyer of Middlefield.

The top clocking this season for Heza Rube had been a 1:59.2 on Lebanon Raceway's 5/8-mile track. The Master Lavec gelding had little trouble topping that speed mark despite Northfield's off track. Also a strong favorite, Heza Rube returned $2.40, 2.10, 2.10. Buzzen Troubador returned $13., 5.80; and Trottin on Over $2.10.
 
Lyons Josephjnr pulled off a mild upset in the $6,000 George Verban Memorial Pace, coming on late with Tony Hall at the reins to win in 1:54.1. It was his fifth win in 10 outings this season for Pennsyvlania's Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. The four-year-old stallion paid $10, 5.80, $3.80. Bruisen N Cruisin was second, $7.40, 6.40, and Blueridge Camagot was third, $17.

The Indians' defense broke down at the wrong time for the second straight game Saturday in a 3-2 loss to the Twins.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The hot corner can't get much hotter for Lonnie Chisenhall, and the Indians' bats can't get much colder.

For the second straight game, Chisenhall made a bad error at a bad time as the Twins came from behind Saturday night to beat the Indians, 3-2, at Target Field.

In their first two games since the All-Star break, the Indians have scored four runs on nine hits. To make matters worse, starter Corey Kluber left the game with a sore left hip after pitching five scoreless innings.

"It's getting into late July right now," said second baseman Jason Kipnis. "We can make excuses for a while, but we need some guys to start stepping up right now. We've been shooting ourselves in the foot these last two games.

"You can't blame the starting pitching. You can't blame the bullpen. You can't win many games if you don't score runs."

The Indians did catch one break, as the American League Central-leading Tigers lost for the second straight time to Kansas City. The Indians are still only 11/2 games behind Detroit.

Kipnis gave the Indians a 2-0 lead in the sixth with a two-run homer off Kevin Correia (7-6, 4.19 ERA). The Twins, however, came back to score three runs in their half of the inning, and Chisenhall's error opened the door.

Lefty Rich Hill (1-2) started the sixth to face lefties Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Mauer walked to start the inning, reaching base for the third straight time in the game. Morneau followed with a single to right, as Mauer went to third. Like Mauer, it was Morneau's third straight time on base.

• Indians-Twins boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

Ryan Doumit grounded to Chisenhall with Mauer running. Chisenhall's throw home to Carlos Santana was off target, as Mauer scored, Morneau went to third and Doumit to second. Bryan Shaw relieved, and rookie Chris Colabello blooped a single to right to tie the game as Doumit went to third.

Bryan Shaw struck out Aaron Hicks and appeared to be out of the inning when Clete Thomas sent a double-play ball to Kipnis at second. Kipnis, however, bobbled the ball, and the double play wasn't turned as Doumit scored.

In Friday's 3-2 loss, Chisenhall failed to field a two-out grounder by Brian Dozier in the sixth, with the Tribe leading, 2-0. The Twins tied the score on Trevor Plouffe's two-run single, with both runs unearned.

Asked if Chisenhall, the subject of trade rumors involving the Cubs' Matt Garza, was pressing, manager Terry Francona said: "I don't think so. I think he just made a bad throw home. I thought we caught a break when Mauer went home. Usually, you don't go from third unless you think the defense can turn two. We couldn't have turned two."

As for his bobble on the missed double play, Kipnis said, "That play has got to be made."

Hill faced three batters and didn't record an out. He allowed three runs, one unearned.

The Indians tried to rally in the eighth, but Michael Bourn was robbed of a hit by Thomas, who made a nice running catch in left. Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a liner off the wall in right, but the ball bounced right back to Doumit, who threw Cabrera out at second as he tried for an ill-advised double.

Closer Glen Perkins, after giving up a leadoff single to Nick Swisher in the ninth, recorded his 23rd save. Pinch-runner Drew Stubbs reached second, but Perkins retired Santana and Ryan Raburn to end it.

Kluber struck out seven, walked two and allowed three hits. He threw 93 pitches, 55 for strikes.

"In my last start, I felt the hip on one pitch," Kluber said. "Tonight, it was kind of constant. It's something minor to work through and get ready for the next one."

Kluber said Lonnie Soloff, the Indians' head athletic trainer, worked on the hip between innings. Kluber said it shouldn't keep him out of his next start.

"I wanted to go more than five innings, but 'Tito' [Francona] said he wanted to get me out of there because they thought I was altering my delivery."

Said Francona: "It was more about protecting Corey. I just felt it was time to get him out of there."

Correia, 1-1 against the Indians this season, didn't give them many chances in the first five innings. Bourn walked to start the fourth and Kipnis followed with a one-out single, but Swisher struck out and Michael Brantley flied to left.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire left the dugout due to illness during the game.

Gladiators QB Chris Dieker throws six TDs, runs for two.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On Saturday night at The Q, the Gladiators did not look like a team that can't wait for a long and frustrating season to end.

Quarterback Chris Dieker accounted for eight touchdowns as the Gladiators defeated the Orlando Predators, 65-62, in front of 8,512 fans. CBS Sports Network televised the game.

The Gladiators improved to 4-13 overall, 3-6 at The Q. They are done after next week's game at Utah, but they played as if a spot in the ArenaBowl depended on the outcome.

"I can't say enough about our effort," Gladiators coach Steve Thonn said. "Our effort was incredible. We'd talked all week about finishing strong, and how we wanted to play well in front of our fans. We needed this victory, and I'm so glad we could do it for our fans, because they've been great all year."

The Predators (6-11) missed an opportunity to secure the second and final wild-card berth in the American Conference. They knew during the game that the New Orleans VooDoo had lost, enabling them to control their own destiny. Now Orlando must defeat the VooDoo next Saturday at home.

Dieker completed 24 of 41 passes for 273 yards and six touchdowns. He was intercepted once and sacked once. He rushed four times for 16 yards and two touchdowns.

Dieker rebounded from a bad performance in a lopsided loss at Chicago.

"Chris made a lot of good decisions and hit the deep ball," Thonn said. "We needed the deep ball from him against this team, and he came through."

Dieker won a duel with Arena Football League legend Aaron Garcia, who went 22-of-32 for 353 yards and eight touchdowns.

As well as the quarterbacks played, the game came down to onside kicks. Orlando had an opportunity to recover its first attempt early in the fourth quarter, but the ball somehow squirted away. The Gladiators turned it into a one-play touchdown and 48-42 lead.

Late in the fourth, after the Gladiators had scored for a 55-48 advantage, they recovered Craig Camay's onside kick. The ensuing possession resulted in a Camay field goal and 58-48 lead with less than one minute remaining.

"Everybody contributed to this victory, which is what makes it so special," Thonn said. "We all came to play. Our record isn't what we want, but we've kept fighting."

The Predators led, 28-27, at halftime. Garcia was 12-of-19 for 181 yards and three touchdowns.

Both teams scored on their two possessions in the first quarter. The Predators blinked first, turning over the ball on downs to begin the second quarter. The Gladiators capitalized with a Dieker scramble for a 20-14 lead. The extra point was barely wide.

After Orlando pulled ahead, 21-20, the Gladiators faced second-and-long deep in their end. Dieker threw short to his left and into the arms of Predators linebacker Tanner Varner, who returned it for a touchdown.

Dieker shook off the mistake and connected with Thyron Lewis for a 47-yard TD. Dieker put just the right touch on a pass that was released in the Cleveland end zone and landed in Lewis' hands at the Orlando 5.

The Predators drove inside the Cleveland 10 in the final 10 seconds, but the Gladiators denied them on fourth-and-1.

Among those in attendance was Jerry Kurz, who is in his fourth season as AFL commissioner. Kurz took note of the size and energy of the crowd at The Q.

"Their team is 3-13, but that hasn't stopped the fans from coming out and really being involved in the game," Kurz said. "It's why we love this market and why we're very happy with the Dan Gilbert ownership group."

Jesus Aguilar's 10th-inning home run leads Akron past Harrisburg.

Class AA: Akron 3, Harrisburg 2 1B Jesus Aguilar (.263) drove his 10th home run to left field in the 10th inning, giving the Aeros the win in Harrisburg. For the Aeros, 2B Matt Lawson (.230) drove in one run with a sacrifice fly and CF Tyler Holt (.280) brought in another with a groundout. Top prospect SS Francisco Lindor (.333) went 2-for-4. Enosil Tejeda (1-1, 1.07 ERA) pitched the ninth for the win and Rob Bryson (10.93) picked up his first save.

Class A Advanced: Winston-Salem 8, Carolina 7 Carolina scored its share of runs, but couldn't keep up with the Dash in Zebulon, N.C. DH Bryson Myles (.261) had a home run (his fourth) and drove in two runs with a double and another run with a sacrifice fly while C Tony Wolters (.270) added an RBI single and 3B Paddy Matera (.333) produced a run with a sacrifice fly. Mudcats starter Joseph Colon (4.24) went five innings, giving up 10 hits and four earned runs.

Class A: Lake County 5, Quad Cities 3 The Captains got off to a fast start, scoring four runs in the first inning in Eastlake. SS Dorssys Paulino (.240) hit his fourth homer to right to start the scoring. 3B Erik Gonzalez (.257) added an RBI double and DH Richard Stock (.296) followed with a two-run homer to right. 1B Joseph Sever (.296) had a double and RBI single. Ryan Merritt (6-9, 3.56) went seven innings for the win, giving up six hits and two earned runs. Grant Sides (4.09) finished off the game and got his first save.

Class A Short Season: Mahoning Valley at Staten Island, postponed

Motley, with the Browns for their first eight seasons, is considered one of football's greatest all-around players with his ball-carrying, blocking and, for a couple years, his play on defense.

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. 6, MARION MOTLEY, fullback-linebacker, 1946-53

Here's an idea for a football video game.

Marion Motley the fullback storming downfield behind Marion Motley the blocker, with linebacker Marion Motley only in the way of the goal line.

Unfortunately, there's not much actual video of Motley or, for that matter, the other great players who made the Browns a dynasty.

Precious old film shows Motley to be a big, bruising back with the speed to turn the corner and a devastating blocker. In only a couple seasons did he play much linebacker, as the pros gradually went away from two-platoon duties and as the Browns were stacked with defensive talent and could afford to save Motley's legs. But the consensus at the time was that Motley -- listed at 6-1 and about 240 pounds -- was a great linebacker with his big hitting and swift sideline-to-sideline pursuit.

Motley's legacy is not only that he was a great player on dominating teams, but that he was a trailblazer too. Motley and a fellow Browns Hall of Famer, lineman Bill Willis, were among the players who broke pro football's color barrier as the lone African-Americans in the All-America Football Conference's first season, 1946. That same year, offensive-defensive back Kenny Washington and receiver Woody Strode played for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. They were the first African-Americans to play in the NFL since 1933. It was also the Rams' first season on the West Coast. As the Cleveland Rams, they had won the 1945 NFL championship with a 15-14 win over the Washington Redskins at Cleveland Stadium.

Motley, Willis, Strode and Washington made their pro football debuts a few months before Jackie Robinson of the National League's Brooklyn Dodgers broke baseball's color barrier on April 15, 1947. That July 5, the Cleveland Indians' Larry Doby became the first African-American to play in the American League.

A few weeks before the Browns were to begin their first season as a franchise with a Friday night, Sept. 6, 1946 game against the Miami Seahawks at Cleveland Stadium (won by the Browns, 44-0, before 60,135 fans), coach Paul Brown invited Willis to the Browns' training camp, held in Bowling Green. Some days later, Brown called on Motley to try out.

Willis had played for Brown's 1942 national championship team at Ohio State. Motley, from Canton McKinley High School, played three years at the University of Nevada before joining the United States Navy in 1944 and being sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station near Chicago. He played for the station's football team, which played some (and defeated many) of the country's top college teams and was coached by Brown, a commissioned navy lieutenant who trained recruits at the station.

There was no guarantee the 26-year-old Motley would make the Browns when he got to training camp. There was soon little question of what he would contribute.

The Browns won the AAFC championship in all four years before the league folded. Motley finished as the league's all-time rushing leader with 3,024 yards. His 944 yards in 1948 led all runners. And, in the first two seasons especially, he excelled at linebacker.

The Browns' weaknesses would be exposed when they joined the NFL in 1950, many critics felt. Instead, they did the exposing, beginning with their first regular season game, a 35-10 rout of the two-time defending champion Eagles at Philadelphia. Cleveland went 10-2 to tie the New York Giants in the American Division standings and force a playoff won by the Browns, 8-3, in Cleveland.

A week later in Cleveland, on Dec. 24, the Browns rallied for a 30-28 NFL championship game win over the Rams on Lou Groza's 16-yard field goal with 28 seconds left. Motley ran just six times for nine yards but his stout blocking helped protect quarterback Otto Graham, who completed 22 of 33 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns.

Motley's personal entrance into the NFL was impressive, finishing first in the league with 810 rushing yards in the 12 regular season games and first with 5.8 yards per carry. The Browns' pet running plays for Motley, the trap and draw, worked just as well against teams in the established league as they had against AAFC opponents.

Motley hurt a knee during the 1951 training camp, an injury that hampered him the rest of his career though he missed just one game in his last three Cleveland seasons. He helped the Browns win the division title each year although they lost each time in the championship game. He totaled 878 yards and two touchdowns in 197 carries (4.5 yards per carry) and 29 pass receptions for 312 yards and two scores in the three years, but continued to make a major impact with his blocking.

The hard-working Motley was 34 when he retired during training camp in 1954, the weary legs not packing the punch they had during his prime. A rested Motley decided to try a comeback in 1955. The Browns held his playing rights and traded him to Pittsburgh for fullback Ed Modzelewski -- the brother of star defensive tackle Dick Modzelewski, who helped Cleveland win the 1964 championship.

Motley played seven games at linebacker for the Steelers -- and also had two carries for eight yards -- before they released him during the season.

In his eight seasons with the Browns, Motley rushed for 4,712 yards and 31 touchdowns in 826 carries. His 5.7 yards-per-carry over his career rank seventh-best on the all-time list. Not counting quarterbacks, the only player with a better rushing average in his career is current Kansas City Chiefs back Jamaal Charles, who has 5.8 yards per rush. Motley also caught 85 passes for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns. The 13.0 yards per catch is a remarkable number for a running back. Motley averaged 23.4 yards on 48 kickoff returns.

In two playoff games and eight championship contests, Motley carried 80 times for 571 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards a rush. The bulk of that came in AAFC games, though he had a solid 4.9-yard rushing average in NFL postseason play and of course made bigger contributions with his blocking.

Motley remained visible in activities around northeast Ohio after his playing career. He died at age 79 on June 27, 1999.

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

Video: A tribute, with some highlight plays, to the Browns' Marion Motley (76) and Bill Willis (30), among the first African-Americans to break pro football's color barrier:

Video: Third quarter action from the Browns' 17-7 loss to the Detroit Lions in the 1952 championship game at Cleveland Stadium. At 30 seconds in, Marion Motley catches consecutive screen passes from Otto Graham. At 5:50 Motley returns a kickoff:

Video: Fourth quarter action from the Browns' 17-7 loss to the Lions in the 1952 title game. At 50 seconds in, Marion Motley runs for 41 yards. A slow-motion replay follows. Motley runs on the next play and again at 4:10 and at 5:55 into the video:

Controversial Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel faced the SEC media this week and we learned as much about the lecturers as the lectured.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Media Outrage Meter is tipping toward hysteria over Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, who stands guilty of consistently demonstrating behavior consistent with being a college kid.

Sportswriting may look easy. It's more complicated than you think, what with all the responsibilities some of us take on: moral police, gatekeepers of "the game," lecturers and, often, amnesia sufferers.

Manziel commanded a huge gathering at SEC Media Days, a Super Bowl-like event where some of the 1,200 credentialed media came to find out whether an alcohol-fueled late night caused Manziel to oversleep and get sent home from the Manning Passing Academy.

The clucking disapproval of Manziel's indiscretions to date -- an incident outside a bar, an angry Tweet after receiving a parking ticket, and now this -- says as much about the lecturers as the lectured. Let's take a look at the outrage, on a scale of zero (who, what?) to 10 (hide the women and children, Johnny Football is going out on the town).

9-10: It's easy to see what's right from here, seated on such a high horse. Manziel is a "train wreck" in the making in one opinion.

It's not that people who hold this view don't remember what it was like to be in college. It's just in college they scheduled all 8 a.m. classes as a matter of convenience. They could go straight from 7 a.m. daily mass.

College nickname: Pastor.

7-8: Believes big-time college football players owe their schools complete dedication at every turn, seeing as how the university is giving them a "free education."

These opinion makers remember having a two-hours-a-week hash-slinging job in the college cafeteria, but over the years have embellished it into working the nightshift at the salt mine while walking home barefoot in the snow.

At Florida State.

5-7: Don't like when athletes act entitled. (Manziel comes from money and traveled to various big events on his parents' dime after winning the Heisman. Manziel also said this week, "I guess I feel like Justin Bieber or something.")

Media in this group, despite what you may think, got cut from intramural football. But some took a girl to a frat party in college where she left with the intramural starting quarterback.

3-5: Addicted to making sweeping predictions on just about everything. Believe Manziel's behavior will cost him dearly in the NFL and that someone -- them -- better warn him before it's too late.

Why this is their issue, nobody is quite sure. Actually, they don't remember all that much about being 20 years old. Except their father's admonition that they'd never amount to anything.

1-3: Think kids today should show more respect, but overall remember college as the greatest time in their lives and are willing to cut slack to a 20-year-old who said at the SEC Media Days, "I made mistakes, and I'm trying not to make the same one twice."

0-0.5: Kids will be kids, as Romeo Crennel said.

Plus, they're the only amateurs in the big business known as college football. You don't have to remember college as a four-, five- or six-year Passing Out Academy to fall into this group.

But if you do, Manziel not making it up in time at a summer camp is not a big deal.

Wake me when the train wreck happens, but try not to call too early in the morning.

SPINOFFS

View full sizeBefore you think this looks too crazy, consider those guys in Columbus with the scarlet and gray skulls.AP file 

• University of Alabama fan Shannon Villa took off work, put on a $300 hat made in the shape of a national championship ring, picked up his fiancee and waited in the hotel lobby at the SEC Media Days from 7:40 to 3 p.m. in hopes Tide coach Nick Saban would autograph his lid.

The most surprising thing wasn't that Villa failed to get Saban's signature on his hat. Coaches can't sign everything.

The most surprising thing is he has a fiancee.

• Alex Rodriguez thanked the Yankees for their "full support" during his rehabilitation.

When they weren't telling him to shut ($#!@$) up.

• After Marc Anthony performed at Tuesday's All-Star game, MLB received complaints from people who felt it was inappropriate for a foreign-born entertainer to sing "God Bless America."

You have to acknowledge people who have such firm convictions and aren't afraid of the blowback for expressing their opinions, especially when Anthony was born in New York.

• At one point in Friday's introduction of Andrew Bynum, Cavs' GM Chris Grant said, "The doctors at the Cleveland Clinic have done an amazing job pulling together many groups, many parts of their organization, to put Andrew in the best position to succeed."

Think of the Clinic as all the king's horses and all the king's men.

• Can we agree for now, at least until we see if Bynum can play, to stop calling him the "biggest free agent signing in franchise history." Unless we simply mean tallest.

• A reminder: When you see website and newspaper headline references to "Fun-Loving Jimenez," they mean Miguel Angel, not Ubaldo.

The Spanish-born Jimenez, the second-day leader at the British Open at age 49, is golf's answer to the Most Interesting Man in the World. After shooting a first-round 64 in 2009 at Turnberry, he was asked what he was thinking and said, "That it would be nice to have a little whiskey."

• Charl Schwartzel, upset with a bad shot out of high grass, broke his 6-iron in disgust Thursday at the British Open.

I mention this only because I like watching Tour players look like me on No. 2 at Sleepy Hollow.

• The Charlotte Bobcats will become the Hornets again in the 2014-15 season, thereby making them an instant title contender.

• Retired linebacker Brian Urlacher says of the Bears, "They better not win a championship without me because I'll be (ticked). ... I don't want them to win a Super Bowl without me."

You have to appreciate Urlacher's honesty. If not the Browns' unofficial slogan:

"Keeping alumni happy since 1964."

• The NCAA is not renewing its video game deal with EA Sports but insists the decision has nothing to do with the lawsuit filed by former UCLA star Ed O'Bannon, who objected to the organization cashing in on his likeness.

And if you believe letting the EA Sports agreement expire is pure coincidence, you believe in the order of the term "student-athlete."

• Florida International head football coach Ron Turner has apologized after some of his players ended a workout/barbecue on the beach by showering and changing clothes in view of other beach-goers.

"We are committed to helping our student athletes grow as gentlemen while preparing them for their careers," Turner's statement read in part.

Who can be rightly expected to grasp public nudity laws at such a tender age?

• San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh traded with Tampa for former Browns' corner Eric Wright, who has a recent arrest and a positive test for PEDs. It's not as if Harbaugh just spoke out about PED use among the Seattle Seahawks.

Wait. He did.

• Statistician and blogger Nate Silver is leaving the New York Times for ESPN. I don't know what they're paying him but if he can provide early warnings on Chris Berman's next tortured nickname, he'll be worth it to viewers.

HE SAID IT

"This is definitely a playoff team." -- Bynum on the Cavaliers.

Except for hinging on the indefinite future of their starting center, book it.

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Bud:

"If (Pilot Flying J) were a Japanese company, the CEO would take responsibility and fall on his sword. Since it's an American company, the CEO professes ignorance and pays off a bunch of middle managers to fall on his sword." -- Frank Fletcher

If you didn't already recognize this as a great country (or what?), 7-11 held Free Slurpee Day last week.

"Hey, Bud:

"Websites say Johnny Manziel had to leave the Manning Passing Academy due to a night of drinking. His dad said he was just dehydrated while he claims he overslept. A night of drinking, followed by oversleeping and dehydratation? Thought that only happened to Shaw's Spin readers." -- Andrew Johnson, Hudson

Since Spin readers drink alone, who would know?

"Bud:

"Didn't you do a four-year study of dehydration at college?" -- Nikki P

Don't be ridiculous. Six.

"Bud:

"Cleveland's sports teams consistently give us disappointing and heartbreaking seasons. I see that the Cleveland Clinic is No. 1 again in the nation in cardiology care. Is this by coincidence or out of necessity?" -- Kevin, N, Ridgeville

Better hope they're just as good at knees.

"Hey Bud:

"Trent Richardson is drawing a buzz announcing he plans to participate in training camp next week. Makes me wonder how your peers react when you show up for work?" -- Russ

Work? Good one.

"Bud:

"Did Johnny Manziel think the Manning Passing Academy involved throwing footballs or meeting minimum grade requirements for eligibility?" -- Jim Corrigan, Fairview Park

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

"Hey, Bud:

"Do you think Cavs center Andrew Bynum will be making his first TV appearance on 'Dancing with the Stars' or 'Bowling for Dollars?'" -- Tim, Twinsburg

Repeat winners have reason to be pessimistic.

Veteran sports columnist offers a few thoughts on his expansive interview with Browns CEO Joe Banner ... plus the Indians and Cavaliers. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With training camp just around the corner, we're talkin' ...

About the Browns and Joe Banner ...

1. After spending an hour with Banner, the most impressive part was the clarity of his plan to build the team. Banner made a strong case to play the kind of defensive style (3-4) found in Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

2. He put tremendous emphasis on the ability of his head coach to attract experienced coordinators. If you are going to hire Rob Chudzinski (a rookie head coach), then you must surround him with strong coordinators. The Browns paid top dollar for Norv Turner and Ray Horton.

3. Banner mentioned the Packers and Patriots throwing downfield, and how he wants some of that for the Browns. That's what attracted him to Chudzinski, who has designed a variety of offenses. As an offensive coordinator here, the Browns threw deep from the pocket with the stationary Derek Anderson. Then he put together an offense where Carolina's Cam Newton could use his legs and throw off the run. Turner is a real pro when it comes to using a variety of offenses and developing a deep passing game.

4. Horton was a defensive backs coach with the Steelers before taking a Steelers-style defense to Arizona as a coordinator. Banner views Chudzinski as the leader, but the coordinators are crucial to the new Browns.

View full sizeRob Chudzinski's rookie season as a head coach should be considerably eased by the veteran offensive and defensive coordinators he has on his staff.Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer 

5. Listening to that, I thought of how Mike Holmgren hired a rookie head coach in Pat Shurmur. Then he allowed Shurmur to be his own offensive coordinator. He hired a rookie special teams coach in Chris Tabor. Only defensive coordinator Dick Jauron had been a coordinator before. That staff was doomed to fail, and Holmgren should have seen it coming.

6. Tabor was better in his second season as a special teams coordinator, and was retained. Chudzinski has handed off the play-calling to Turner. Maybe this coaching staff will struggle, but the composition of it makes sense.

7. Banner kept talking about playing "like winning teams do" in terms of schemes on offense and defense. That certainly implied that his research reveals the 4-3 defense and Holmgren-style West Coast offense is antiquated.

8. He has complete faith in Michael Lombardi, believing the general manager can find good players. He knew some fans and media members would groan -- and didn't care. There's a sense of how he'd love to prove his critics wrong.

9. In many ways, Lombardi is critical to Banner's success. Yes, the coaching staff has been upgraded, but the coaches need talent. It's up to Lombardi and Player Personnel Director Ray Farmer to find the players. Banner is not a draft expert, and he knows it.

10. Banner's expertise is contracts and salary cap constructions. He said he handled the big contracts for free agents Paul Kruger and Desmond Bryant. He has "people helping me with the cap," but that's still in his domain.

11. The input of Chudzinski and Turner had tremendous influence in the decision to build with Brandon Weeden this season, rather than reach for someone such as Geno Smith in the draft to compete at quarterback.

12. Banner has enormous respect for Jim Johnson, the Eagles' defensive coordinator who died in 2009 of cancer. From 2000-08, Johnson's defenses ranked second in sacks. Banner said: "He had blitzes that blew up on him, but he never flinched. He kept the pressure coming. I think Ray [Horton] will be the same way. We know the pressure won't always work, but we're not going to turn it off."

13. He didn't say it, but I sense Banner believes this team should win more games in 2013 than the usual five. He expects something close to a playoff contender in 2014. Several times, he said it "doesn't take long" to sense if "you're on the right track."

14. The free-agent plan is to sign players in their middle to late 20s, so that you aren't overpaying for guys who are physically beaten up and worn down after years in the NFL. He may bring in a veteran over 30, but it won't be on a long-term deal.

15. He said he thought the defensive backfield could be better than it appears. He said they have internal stats that show cornerback Chris Owens was more effective when covering wideouts than slot receivers, yet often was covering the slot with Atlanta. Here, he will compete for a spot on the outside -- with Buster Skrine covering the slot, where he had some success last season.

16. He thought Greg Little made progress in the second half of last season. He continued to see improvement in minicamps. "But now it's up to Greg to keep it up. Nothing is guaranteed."

17. Yes, Banner and Lombardi are behind the battle of what they believe was a bit of entitlement culture with some young players. So when they praise Weeden, Little or anyone else, it's tempered with "we'll have to see what they do when the season starts." They don't want players to feel too comfortable with their starting jobs.

About the Ubaldo Jimenez trade ...

View full sizeBy now, Terry Pluto says it's pretty obvious that the Indians got the better of the Ubaldo Jimenez deal with Colorado in 2010.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer 

It was nearly two years ago that the Tribe traded Drew Pomeranz, Alex White, Joe Gardner and Matt McBride to Colorado for Jimenez. It was supposed to help the Tribe contend with Detroit, while the Rockies hoped Pomeranz and White would eventually join the rotation. Neither team got what it bargained for -- although the Tribe certainly would make the deal again.

Fans know about Jimenez's short ups and big downs. In his first two seasons with Cleveland, he was 13-21 with a 5.32 ERA. The Indians knew they weren't getting the Jimenez who was an All-Star in 2010. But for a while, it seemed they had Jeff Juden or Kane Davis.

At least Jimenez has worked his way up to 7-4 with a 4.56 ERA this season. The Tribe is 13-6 when he starts. They wish he'd pitch longer. He's reached the sixth inning only six times in 19 starts. But he also has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 14 starts this season. He is durable, never missing a start.

Meanwhile, the trade has been frustrating for the Rockies. Consider:

• Pomeranz is 0-3 with an 8.76 ERA this season. He has walked 14 in 121/3 innings;

• For his career, Pomeranz has been good in the minors (16-9, 2.97), but 4-13 with a 5.37 ERA for the Rockies. He is in the minors now, but expected to rejoin the Rockies this week;

• White had a finger injury with the Tribe. The Rockies traded him to Houston. He was 5-13 with a 6.03 ERA in the majors from 2010-12. He is recovering from elbow surgery and will miss the entire season;

• Gardner is 3-2 with a 6.07 ERA in Class AA; and

• McBride is hitting .328 with 15 homers in Class AAA. But he's 28, and considered a marginal prospect. He batted only .205 for the Rockies during a six-week trial in 2012.

About the Tribe ...

View full sizeFrancisco Lindor appears to be the next best thing to an untouchable prospect in the Indians' farm system, says Terry Pluto.Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer 

1. They are not likely to trade their key top prospects -- Francisco Lindor, Danny Salazar, Clint Frazier and some others. If there is a megadeal where they can obtain a high-caliber starter who is a few years away from free agency, then they may trade one of those guys -- but that would be a shocker.

2. The Tribe is loaded with promising middle-infield prospects. Lindor, 19, is at the top of the list and has already moved up to Class AA. He joins Ronny Rodriguez and Jose Ramirez at Akron, and both of those players are highly-regarded. All three are shortstops, although Ramirez is very good at second base.

3. Ramirez is the biggest surprise in the farm system. He's only 21, and looks like he's still in high school at 5-9, 165 pounds. He batted .354 at Class A Lake County in 2012. He skipped over Advanced Class A Carolina, going directly to Akron. His overall stats are solid -- .278 (.705 OPS) with three homers and 31 RBI. He also has 33 steals. But in his past 10 games, he's batting .468 (22-of-47).

4. Until Lindor's arrival, Akron's starting shortstop was Rodriguez. He's hitting .290 (.728 OPS) with four homers and 44 RBI. Keep in mind that the Class AA Eastern League and Akron's Canal Park are both tough places to hit. Players often have better stats once they move up to Class AAA Columbus, a hitter-friendly park and a league with fewer long bus trips.

5. Rodriguez is only 22. He had 19 homers at Class A Carolina last season. With Lindor, Ramirez and Rodriguez in Akron, the Tribe has three legitimate middle-infield major-league prospects. If the Indians did have the right deal for a pitcher, they might be willing to part with Rodriguez or Ramirez.

6. There is even more depth below. At Carolina, Joe Wendle is hitting .313 (.958 OPS) with 12 homers. He's 24, a left-handed hitter who plays second. The Tribe knows he has earned a promotion to Akron, but they are already loaded with middle infielders there.

7. At Class A Lake County is Dorssys Paulino, an 18-year-old shortstop hitting .233 with three homers and 30 RBI. The Tribe signed the Dominican product for $1.1 million at age 16. Scouts like his long-term future, but you have to wonder if it will be at shortstop -- he has 30 errors in 74 games. So far, his reputation has been much better than his performance.

8. Prospects can flame out or level off. A few years ago, Cord Phelps was considered a top prospect. He's now 26, batting .267 with nine homers at Class AAA. He showed little in a few trials with the Tribe. It wouldn't be a surprise if Ramirez is promoted to Class AAA in a few weeks, taking over at second with Phelps becoming a backup infielder.

9. Top pick Frazier is at the bottom of the farm system in Arizona, and the outfielder is hitting .339 (.993 OPS) with two homers and four triples in 62 at-bats. He has nine extra-base hits, and is showing real promise. Last season's top pick -- Tyler Naquin -- is hitting .286 (.781 OPS) with six homers at Carolina. He's 22, and sort of a Drew Stubbs-type outfielder, although the Indians believe he has a chance to be a much better hitter.

10. I will be speaking at the Tuscarawas Library on Wednesday at 7 p.m. It's free and open to the public. I will be signing books after the talk, so feel free to bring some along.

About the Cavaliers ...

 

1. I'm all for the signing of Andrew Bynum, despite having major doubts of how much he'll play this season. He hasn't played any basketball in more than a year because of his knee problems. He said all the right things about wanting to get in shape (needs to drop at least 20 pounds) and prove he can still play -- but who knows if he can?

2. His knees have to be bad, because several teams looked at him. The contract that he signed is very team friendly: $12 million in 2013-14, only $6 million guaranteed. Next season, it's a $12 million team option. This guy is 7-foot, only 25 and was an All-Star in 2012. Yet, there was little market for him because of his knee issues.

3. I've heard people say, "Tyler Zeller may not play much next season" because of Bynum and Anderson Varejao's return. They have Tristan Thompson and Anthony Bennett at power forward. So the 7-foot Zeller would be the "fifth big man."

4. Varejao has played 81 games in three years. So far, all is well for Varejao, who had leg surgery and blood clots in his lung last season. But he is not playing fullcourt yet. That won't start until next month. It would be a shock if the Cavs have both Bynum and Varejao reasonably healthy for most games given their injury histories. They'll need Zeller.

5. The reason they drafted Bennett (a power forward) at No. 1 goes beyond their appreciation of his athletic talent and scoring ability. They know how quickly what appears to be "deep depth" in the frontcourt can become thin due to injuries.

6. When the Cavs considered putting in a bid on Mike Miller, they knew the Miami Heat forward has back issues. Yes, he played in 59 games last season, but only 38 times did he play at least 10 minutes. He often couldn't practice. Back problems tend not to improve with age. There also were reports that he wasn't especially interested in coming to Cleveland.

7. The Cavs don't want to pack the roster with injury-prone veterans. If they signed Miller, it is possible Bynum, Varejao and Miller would all be out for long periods of time.

About Kyrie Irving ...

View full sizeKyrie Irving's contract status is always a topic for fans with opinions about the Cleveland Cavaliers. Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer 

The rumors about Irving leaving ... wanting out ... or something ... are back. Irving refuted them with a Tweet. Who knows what he really thinks; certainly being on one of the NBA's worst teams in his first two years was no fun.

But keep this in mind:

• The Cavs can't offer Irving an extension until summer 2014. He is under contract through 2015;

• Since the current maximum contract system became NBA law in 1998, no rookie has ever turned down some form of a maximum contract;

• The Cavs can offer Irving $80 million over five years starting in summer 2014;

• LeBron James and Chris Bosh were offered maximum extensions in summer 2007. They signed for three years. So Irving may sign for less than the five years -- but odds are he'll take some form of the maximum contract;

• If Irving declines an offer in 2014, he is still under contract until summer 2015;

• In summer 2015, he will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Cavs can match any offer. That makes it doubtful another team will offer him more money; and

• Irving can't become an unrestricted free agent until summer 2016. That's why the odds are he will sign at least some form of a contract in 2014, when first offered.

About the Cavs' approach to Irving ...

1. Obviously, they want to sign their All-Star point guard to an extension as soon as possible. But they don't want to play the "build the team around Kyrie and make him happy game" that they did with James.

2. They want to build the best team possible. They believe defense is the key to winning, which is why Mike Brown replaced Byron Scott. It's why Brown is already having some long practices with the Cavs' summer team to teach defense.

3. The real reasons for optimism is not signing Bynum. It's that Jarrett Jack is a legitimate starting guard who can play either spot in the backcourt. He will push Dion Waiters and Irving for playing time -- and push them to defend. He also gives Brown a chance to play three guards. Jack is a major insurance policy in case one of the guards is injured.

4. They believe free agent Earl Clark is an underrated addition. He's 6-9, but is seen as a small forward because of his defense. He joins Alonzo Gee at that position. Last season, the Cavs had no real backup behind Gee. They often played three guards.

5. Anthony Bennett is not expected to start, but he can score. The bench will have Jack, Tyler Zeller, Bennett and Gee/Clark. That doesn't include rookies Sergey Karasev and Carrick Felix. The Cavs have been impressed by Felix this summer. Karasev is playing summer ball in his native Russia.

Highlights include the final round of the British Open and the Indians' game at Minnesota.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

AUTO RACING

11 a.m. STP 300 qualifying, ESPN2

1 p.m. Grand Prix of Mosport, ESPN2

3 p.m. STP 300, ESPN

6 p.m. Mile-High Nationals (tape), ESPN2

6 p.m. Ansell ActivArmr 150, Speed Channel

BASEBALL

1:30 p.m. L.A Dodgers at Washington, TBS

2 p.m. AKRON AEROS at Harrisburg, AM/1350

2 p.m. Atlanta at Chicago White Sox, WGN

2:10 p.m. CLEVELAND INDIANS at Minnesota, SportsTime Ohio; AM/1100, FM/100.7

7 p.m. Quad Cities at LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS, AM/970

8 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Boston, ESPN

CYCLING

11:30 a.m. Tour de France, final stage, NBCSN

GOLF

6 a.m. British Open, part I, ESPN

8 a.m. British Open, part II, ESPN

2 p.m. Marathon Classic, Golf Channel

3 p.m. British Open, WEWS

4 p.m. Sanderson Farms Championship, Golf Channel

MOTORSPORTS

4:30 p.m. U.S. Grand Prix, Speed Channel

SOCCER

3:30 p.m. Gold Cup, quarterfinal, WJW

SOFTBALL

3 p.m. USSSA Pride at NY-NJ Comets, ESPN2

The Aztecs feature a talented running back and won't be an easy opponent in the second game of the season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Seven months ago, my analysis of the Buckeyes' 2013 schedule found that the second game of the season against San Diego State would be the toughest of the season. Tougher than the Michigan game.

Not everyone agreed with this (Michael Reghi at WKNR thought it was crazy.)

Since then the Aztecs have undergone some change. At the time I thought San Diego State might challenge to win the Big East. In January, the Aztecs left the conference without ever joining it and returned to the Mountain West.

But the talent it still there. So though you may consider the idea of this game serving as the toughest test of the season to be ridiculous, it still can't be ignored. Particularly because of a running back that USA Today called “a monster, pretty much.” With the start of preseason practice two weeks away, we hit the next stop on the Ohio State countdown with …

No. 14: Stopping San Diego State's Adam Muema

14 days until the start of preseason practice

San Diego State was No. 52 on the Orlando Sentinel's college football list of the 125 teams in the FBS. USA Today has the Aztecs at No. 48. And they are dangerously positioned as Ohio State's second opponent of the season.

The Buckeyes are expected to easily handle Buffalo in the opener. The offense could hang a big number. The defense could force a lot of turnovers. Ohio State could be in the top two in the country, thinking about a trip to Cal in week three, and, in week two, not prepared for a battle.

By the time the Michigan game rolls around, Ohio State will be ready. For the first conference road trip, in primetime at Northwestern, the Buckeyes will be ready. It is the San Diego State game that provides the most opportunity for the Buckeyes to underestimate an opponent capable of making them pay.

And that starts with Muema.

The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder ran for 1,458 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, topping 100 yards seven times, with two of them 200-yard efforts. If the Buckeyes have early-season tackling problems like they did in 2012, he could run for a while.

As we said earlier in the countdown while writing about Cal, it's hard to find potential problems on the OSU schedule. If the Buckeyes aren't ready, this could be one of them.

Coming Monday, No. 13: Veteran safeties who should make you feel safe

Get updates and keep up with the leaderboard this morning as the final round of the British Open is played in Scotland.

GULLANE, Scotland -- Tiger Woods is in position to win his first major championship since 2008 today at the British Open.

Woods shot 72 Saturday in the third round and is tied for second with Hunter Mahan, two shots behind Lee Westwood, at a sunny Muirfield.

• The Open Championship: Live leaderboard

Follow all the action from Scotland today in the box below, which features realtime Twitter updates from several sources.

Westwood, Woods and Mahan are the only players under par, led by Westwood’s 54-hole total of 3-under 210.

Westwood, vying for his first major championship, fired a 1-under 70 Saturday and will play in the final group with Mahan. They will tee off at 9:10 a.m. EST. Woods will be in the second-to-last pairing with Adam Scott, beginning at 9 a.m.

Woods also can record a first today. He has never come from behind on the final day in any of his 14 major championships.

Woods’ last major was the 2008 U.S. Open and he has since gone 0-for-16 in the game’s biggest events, stalling talk of him passing Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships.

Is today the day the buzz returns, less than two weeks before the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational gets under way at Akron’s Firestone Country Club? It would make for a great week, as Nicklaus is being honored at the event as the 2013 Ambassador of Golf winner.