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Cleveland Browns' intent at QB is clear -- it's Brandon Weeden's job to lose: Terry Pluto

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The Browns want Brandon Weeden to be their starter, but he has to earn it.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quarterback is one of the unsettled positions on the Browns? Yes, that's what coach Rob Chudzinski said the other day.

That's enough start some fans thinking the coaches don't believe in Brandon Weeden. Or how about this -- they don't want Weeden to be a success.

Let's consider the context of Chudzinski's remarks. He listed the following positions under where he's not prepared to name a starter: Free safety, receiver, an offensive guard, lots of jobs on the special teams. And yes, quarterback was on the list.

But Chudzinski also said Weeden will continue to work with the starters, just as he did in the minicamps. That's because this coaching staff believes Weeden has the physical talent to be successful in the offense designed by Norv Turner and Chudzinski.

As Turner said Tuesday, "[Weeden] has taken to what we're doing, and I expect him to play at a high level."

The Browns want Weeden to become at least a good starting quarterback. If that happens, everyone wins. Not just on the field, but it terms of building a team over the next few seasons. It's a relief to not always be seeking the next quarterback.

But they want Weeden to know he has to earn the job. They are not dividing up snaps and time with the first unit between Weeden, Jason Campbell and Brian Hoyer. Weeden is at the heart of the offense. But Weeden knows Campbell is experienced and talented enough to be a decent starter.

As Browns CEO Joe Banner mentioned to me the other day, "Jason was 11-7 with Oakland. He's a good guy, a veteran who can work with Weeden ... but who also can play if we need him."

The message to Weeden is clear: The job is yours, but you can lose it. There are alternatives.

The shotgun

Turner mentioned that one goal for Weeden is to play with "more of a sense of urgency ... play faster." That means he must really know the offense so plays are called and executed at a quick pace. He also has to do his homework so that he's not confused at the line of scrimmage by defenses.

The coaches are installing the shotgun, a comfort level for Weeden. Turner (San Diego) and Chudzinski (Carolina) had their quarterbacks in the shotgun more than 70 percent of the time last season. The NFL average was 67 percent. Weeden was at 43 percent, ranking 38th out of the 40th quarterbacks who threw at least 100 passes last season.

That's a tough adjustment for a rookie who threw nearly every pass out of the shotgun at Oklahoma State.

Turner said more teams are using the shotgun because it allows the quarterback more time to deal with the pass rush -- in a league obsessed with pressuring the QB. In the Browns' old West Coast Offense, Weeden was usually under center (as opposed to five yards behind the line of scrimmage). The previous staff believed being under center made it better for the QB to see the defense.

But it also made it easier for the defense to reach him.

The hesitation

Over the last few months, Chudzinski has said there is no reason to officially name a starter. Remember, this regime is at war with what they believed was an entitlement culture with some of the players.

Notice that receiver was on the list on uncertain spots. Do you really believe that someone besides Davone Bess, Greg Little and Josh Gordon will start at receiver? That's right, Gordon is suspended for the first two games after flunking an NFL drug test. So Travis Benjamin will probably start in his place. But the big three receivers should be Bess, Little and Gordon.

From the moment Banner and his crew took over, they have been very guarded with their praise of Gordon. Now we know why. Gordon had already flunked one NFL drug test, because a player isn't suspended until he fails a second one.

When I asked Banner about Little, he said that he liked how the receiver played in the second half of last season. "Now, he has to carry it over into this year."

The big picture of a Turner/Chudzinski offense is a deep passing attack combined with a power running game. But these NFL lifers are flexible enough to adapt to the talent. When Chudzinski had the scrambling Cam Newton as a rookie in Carolina, he brought about 20 percent of the plays from Newton's Auburn playbook for use in the NFL.

The idea is find an offense that is right for the quarterback, not genuflect in front of any set system.

The Browns are doing that for Weeden, and now it's up to him to make it work.


Today's TV and radio sports listings for Cleveland and northeast Ohio

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Highlights include Indians at Seattle.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

AUTO RACING

7 p.m. Mudsummer Classic, Speed Channel

BASEBALL

7 p.m. COLUMBUS CLIPPERS at Buffalo, TWCS

7 p.m. Southern Illinois at LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS, AM/930

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

8 p.m. Detroit at Chicago White Sox, MLB Network

9:30 p.m. Chicago Cubs at Arizona, WGN

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

WNBA

7 p.m. New York at Indiana, ESPN2

 

Phil Mickelson commits to WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

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British Open champ will play in Akron once again.

AKRON, Ohio – Five-time major champion Phil Mickelson has committed to play in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, tournament officials said Tuesday.

The event begins Aug. 1.

Mickelson, who earned his fifth major on Sunday with a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the British Open, has played in the Bridgestone Invitational in each of the 14 years it has been held. His best finish came in the inaugural event (1999) when he finished second to Tiger Woods. He has one top-20 finish -- a tie for fourth in 2008 -- in his last 10 appearances.

The victory at Muirfield in Scotland was Mickelson’s 42nd on the PGA Tour. That ranks him ninth in all-time career wins. Walter Hagen is eighth with 45. It also moved him to second in this week's Official World Golf Rankings and second in the FedExCup standings. He becomes the first player to win the European Tour’s Scottish Open and the British Open the following week. 

He has won at least one tournament in 20 PGA Tour seasons -- the longest active streak -- and trails only Sam Snead (24) and Jack Nicklaus (21) all-time.

As of Monday, 11 players in the top 50 who weren’t already qualified earned a spot in the field for the third WGC event of the year.

That list includes Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who finished in a tie for sixth in Scotland. Matsuyama started the season ranked 127th but a tie for 10th at the U.S. Open and his strong finish last week and nine other top-10 finishes on the Japan Golf Tour have moved him into 34th place.

The other late qualifiers are Jason Day (19), Henrik Stenson (20), Hunter Mahan (22), Bo Van Pelt (31), Richard Sterne (33), Rickie Fowler (35), Thorbjorn Oleson (41), Angel Cabrera (43), Scott Piercy (46) and Carl Pettersson (47).

Players not otherwise qualified can now only qualify by winning this week's RBC Canadian Open or moving into the top 50

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

On Twitter: @TimRogersCLE


Bullpen could be in Danny Salazar's near future: Cleveland Indians insider

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If the Indians starting rotation stays sound, Danny Salazar could help them pitching out of the bullpen.

salazar-horiz-soft-2013-debut-ss.jpgIf the Indians can't bring in a reliever from outside the organization, they might use starter Danny Salazar down the stretch. 

SEATTLE, Wash. -- With Zach McAllister returning to the starting rotation Tuesday night, and the rotation pitching well as a whole, the Indians have talked about using right-hander Danny Salazar in the bullpen.

It's no secret that GM Chris Antonetti is looking for pitching help as the Tribe pursues Detroit in the AL Central. Since a front-of-the-order starter to pair with Justin Masterson doesn't seem to be readily available with Matt Garza being traded to Texas, the Indians have increased their attention on the bullpen.

If a reliever can't be acquired from outside the organization, they have talked about using Salazar in that role for the stretch run. Salazar's big-league debut on July 11 against Toronto is still causing a buzz in the front office.

Manager Terry Francona, when asked about Salazar in the pen, said, "How about if I answer that in general? Down the road, as you say, there maybe ways to fortify our bullpen internally. It doesn't necessarily have to be Danny Salazar. To your point, we could take a route like that. ... It's something we've thought about."

Salazar took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Blue Jays. He allowed one run on two hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in six innings. He topped out at 99 mph in throwing 89 pitches.

He was optioned to Class AAA Columbus after the game where he's made one appearance since, a three-inning save in which he struck out four. Salazar returned to Columbus' rotation Tuesday, which meant he was in line to start for the Indians against Seattle if McAllister (right middle finger) wasn't ready to come off the disabled list.

If the Indians do add Salazar to the pen, it could help control his innings because of his Tommy John surgery in August of 2010. He pitched only 14 2/3 innings in 2011 and 87 2/3 innings in 2012.

"It's easier to say you're going to put a guy in the bullpen than to do it," said Francona. "All of a sudden you get a blowout game and a guy isn't used to coming back real quick.

"Salazar is coming back from Tommy John. There are things to think about besides the fact that he looks and fits the profile. It seems like it would be to bring him in, in the seventh and let him throw. He controls the running game. He does all those things. But there are other things to think about."

This season Salazar has struck out 111 batters, walked 34 and allowed 67 hits with Class AA Akron, Columbus and the Indians.

Wedge update: Seattle manager Eric Wedge missed his second game Tuesday as he remained hospitalized because of dizzy spells. Wedge went to the hospital after a dizzy spell during batting practice Monday.

"Eric is in good spirits," said Robby Thompson, bench coach and acting manager. "He doesn't want the players to focus on him and lose concentration on what they're doing on the field."

Seattle entered Tuesday's game on a seven-game winning streak. Wedge managed the Indians for seven years.

Thanks for coming: Right-hander CC Lee was optioned to Class AAA Columbus to make room for Zach McAllister, who came off the disabled list and started Tuesday.

"I think he can help us," said Francona. "He's an uncomfortable at bat for a right-hander."

Finally: Corey Kluber threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is in line for Friday's start against Texas. Kluber left his last start after five scoreless innings because of a sore left hip. ... Mahoning Valley first baseman Nellie Rodriguez is the Indians' minor league player of the week. Rodriguez, who attended the same high school in New York City that Manny Ramirez went to when the Indians draft him, hit .464 (13-for-28) with three doubles, three homers and nine RBI from July 15 through Monday.

Cleveland Browns and NFL P.M. links: The impact of veteran WR Davone Bess

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Sorting through some of the web's best NFL stories this afternoon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It is no secret that the Browns' passing game struggled mightily last season. From the beginning, Brandon Weeden struggled to fit into Pat Shurmur's West Coast offense. The receiving corps of Josh Gordon, Greg Little, and Mohamed Massaquoi lacked a veteran presence and it showed, as they made simple mistakes far too often.

While the front office made several off-season acquisitions on the defensive side of the ball, they also added that veteran presence to the receiving corps in the form of five-year veteran Davone Bess. The acquisition of Bess didn't receive as much fanfare as those of Paul Kruger or Desmond Bryant, but it is arguably just as -- if not more -- important.

Last season, the Browns' converted on only 30.7 percent of their third downs, 30th in the league. That inability to keep drives going hampered their ability to score points and thus win games. Enter Bess. Over his five-year career, he has 130 receptions on third down, second in the league over that time.

An undrafted free agent out of Hawaii, Bess is a hard worker and a model of consistency. In his five years with Miami, he never had fewer than 50 receptions. Ryan Alton of draftbrowns.com believes Bess is just what the Browns need to succeed this season.

"His sure hands, lateral quickness, and ability to move the chains on third down is exactly what Brandon Weeden needs as he tries to prove he is the man for the long term at the quarterback position. Bess may not be able to display his big play ability in camp where defenders are taught to pull up and avoid unnecessary contact but there's no doubt his ability to run after the catch and make guys miss will be evident once the Browns line up against someone in a different colored uniform come August."

In today's NFL, it's becoming more important to have a highly productive slot receiver in the mold of Wes Welker or Victor Cruz. The Browns' may have found their guy in Bess.

NFL story links

Lou Groza is No. 3 on Mike Pettica's list of the 100 greatest Browns' players of all time. (cleveland.com)

Josh Gordon must prove himself to a lot of people this season. (foxsportsohio.com)

A preview of the Browns' secondary heading into training camp. (foxsportsohio.com)

All the latest Browns' news out of Berea. (dawgpounddaily.com)

Analyzing Buster Skrine's performance last season. (dawgsbynature.com)

The new expectations for the Browns' defense. (waitingfornextyear.com)

Ray Horton spoke to Mary Kay Cabot about the Browns' defensive pieces this season. (cleveland.com)

Who are the NFL's top 50 most valuable assets? (grantland.com)

Jaguars' RB Maurice Jones-Drew has been cleared to return to practice. (cbssports.com)

The Jets have signed kicker Billy Cundiff. (profootballtalk)

Veteran referee Walt Anderson believes the NFL must change from within before outsiders force changes upon the sport. (profootballtalk)

The bond between Redskins QB Robert Griffin III and 49ers RB Marcus Lattimore. (yahoo.com)

The Buccaneers released CB Eric Wright after he failed a physical. (yahoo.com)

Cycling and golf breakdowns at National Senior Games: Event Spotlights

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Learn more about the cycling and golf competitions at the National Senior Games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Each day we will spotlight one or two of the 19 medal-contested sports being held at the National Senior Games throughout Cleveland. Up today is cycling and golf.

cycling_300x300.gifView full size

Cycling

Dates of competition: 10K time trials, Wednesday; 5K time trials, Thursday; 40K road race, Saturday; and 20K road race, Sunday. Time trials rain date is Friday, while road race rain date is Monday. See detailed schedule at cleveland.com/national-senior-games online.

Where: Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation (4811 Valley Parkway, Cleveland) hosts the 5K and 10K at 9:30 a.m. each day in the South Mastick Picnic Area. For the 40K and 20K, the races start at 7:30 a.m. and the start/finish line is on Lakeside Avenue behind the Cleveland Convention Center. The course takes riders along the Shoreway.

Notable: The 5K and 10K races are time trials, while the 20K and 40K are traditional road races. Racers in the time trial will start in 30-second intervals, while the road races will begin with a mass start.

Who to watch: Eleanor Hamre of Colorado and Phyllis Goodlad of Florida swept the cycling events in the 75-79 and 80-84 age divisions, respectively, in the 2011 National Senior Games in Houston and will compete in all four races again this year. Eric Lippens of Florida nearly became the only male to sweep the cycling events in Houston, but finished second to Gary Hickey of Dayton in the 10K time trial. Lippens will try for all four gold medals this year in the 65-69 age division.

Did you know: Cleveland Heights city councilwoman Mary Dunbar is competing in the 10K time trial and 20K road race in the 70-74 age division. In addition to serving on city council, Dunbar is the president of the Heights Bicycle Coalition, which seeks to encourage the use of bicycles in the Heights communities.

golf_300x300.gifView full size

Golf

Dates of competition: Wednesday through Friday, beginning with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. daily (at Quail Hollow, women age 70+ play at 1 p.m.). Rain date is Saturday. See detailed schedule at cleveland.com/national-senior-games online.

Where: StoneWater Golf Club (1 Club Dr., Highland Heights); Little Mountain Country Club (7667 Hermitage Road, Concord); and Quail Hollow Golf Club (11295 Quail Hollow Dr., Concord).

Notable: Men and women in age divisions 50-54, 55-59 and 60-64 will play at StoneWater. Men in age divisions 65-69 and 70-74 and women in the 65-69 age division will play Little Mountain. All older competitors will play Quail Hollow's Devlin Course. It is a 54-hole tournament, except for competitors in the 90-94 and 95-99 age divisions, who will play 27 holes.

Matchup to watch: Robert Sims of Colorado and Nick Kent of Florida have finished 1-2 in their age division in back-to-back Games. Kent won the 60-64 age division in 2007, but has lost to Sims in each of the past two Games. Sims beat Kent by two strokes in 2009 and by three strokes in 2011. Regardless of age, they had the two lowest 54-hole scores in 2011. Sims and Kent will once again go head-to-head this week at Little Mountain in the 65-69 age division.

Did you know: Mary Lauffer of Maryland, who is competing in the 95-99 age division, has hit two holes in ones in her life. She also collects scoring pencils from each course she plays and has amassed more than 400.

-- Teddy Cahill, Special to The Plain Dealer

This college football season, helmet-to-helmet hits will send the offending player out of the game: Mid-American Conference Insider

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A new penalty for helmet-to-helmet hits can allow officials to eject players immediately.

DETROIT, Mich. - It is being described as a new rule, when it reality it is a new penalty. In college football this season, helmet-to-helmet hits - or violent "high hits" to the head - will not only bring a 15-yard penalty, but also the potential for ejection.

Bill Carollo, coordinator of football officials for the Collegiate Officiating Consortium, met with the media to explain the new penalty. If an official on the field rules that a player led with the crown of his helmet on a tackle, that player will draw the penalty, and be escorted to the sidelines.

The instant-replay booth will then determine if, indeed, this was the correct call. If replay backs up that decision, the player is ruled out of the game. If it happens at any point in the first half, he also misses the second half. If it happens at any point in the second half, that player is not eligible to play the first half of the next game.

"The coaches don't like it, but they get it,'' Carollo said.

This penalty is a reaction to the concussions suffered in football. However, if there is a helmet-to-helmet infraction that was not called on the field, instant replay can not impose the rule from off the field.

Akron 'blues': For the fourth straight season, few are expecting much the Akron Zips, who are coming off three straight 1-11 campaigns. But coach Terry Bowden and Co. are taking steps to get better.

If all NCAA transfer criteria are met, look for the Zips to add up to six fifth-year transfers who will be eligible to play immediately, including four offensive linemen from the likes of Pitt, Florida State, and Wisconsin, plus a quarterback from Colorado.

Also look for the Zips to give scholarships to some "blue shirts." According to Bowden, these are players who were walk-ons and are then eligible for scholarships once joining the team.

Say what?: MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said during a morning Q & A with the media, "The (NCAA) system is broken."

And in a veiled shot at NCAA president Mark Emmert, the MAC Commissioner indicated that the annual NCAA meetings in January could be quite lively, as conferences attempt to get some power back within the ranks or at least change the current governing model to be more inclusive.

Steinbrecher does not see a return to "one school, one vote," but does look for a model that includes much more involvement from Division I athletic directors and conference commissioners from leagues outside the major conferences. He pointed to the ongoing discussions over paying athletes as an example of the current system that can't find a way to solve its problems.

Numbers don't lie: Is MAC football on the rise? Consider this: The MAC had seven bowl teams in 2012, including six with eight wins or more. And the No. 1 draft pick in the NFL Draft was from the MAC (Eric Fisher, Central Michigan). And about 60 players are on various watch lists for national awards this season.

"Could be, we have some people that know how to play football,'' Steinbrecher said of those numbers.

New faces: Among the new faces on the 13 MAC teams this season, Kent State has a unique one.

Jim Katusha is not only a coveted 6-5, 290-pound offensive lineman, he also is a sophomore junior-college transfer from Butte C.C. in California by way of Ohio University.

What makes him rare at KSU is the fact he is a product of St. Ignatius High, and the Flashes have not been able to crack that hotbed of prep recruiting in decades.
"He wanted to get back home, and we were looking for guys who could help us,'' first-year coach Paul Haynes said.

Katusha has already made his first impression, as his game jersey complete with name and number, was hanging at the Kent State table during media day in Ford Field.


Charlie Toman, 13, double-eagle maker: Fore Questions

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One ball, two swings. Youngster scores rare accomplishment.

toman.jpgView full sizeCharlie Toman. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Charlie Toman, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Notre Dame Elementary in Chardon, recently scored a rare double-eagle during a tournament at Big Met. He used a driver and a 3-wood to make a 2 on the 455-yard, par-5 fifth hole.

A veteran of the NOPGA, AJGA and U.S. Kids tours, he plans on attending Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin.

1: Holes-in-one are made frequently but double-eagles are rare. You had to be pretty excited.

A: I've never had one before, so it was pretty exciting. I've never had a hole-in-one-either, but I've come real close a couple of times. I've had a couple of eagles too.

2: Were you able to watch the ball go in the hole?

A: No, I didn't see it go in. I knew it had to be close because the shot was on the pin the whole way. My dad, Tim, said he thought he heard the ball hit the pin but we didn't know it was in until we looked in the hole.

3: Do you have a favorite professional player?

A: I like Thorbjorn Oleson. I like his style.

4: Name your three favorite golf courses.

A: Painesville Country Club, Silver Lake and Prestwick.


Ready Caddy organizer and Spakesology ball marker: In The Pro Shop

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A minicaddy keeps key items within your reach, while this ball marker gives you an improved chance on the greens.

ready-caddy-golf-pro-shop-dh.jpgView full sizeThe Ready Caddy golf organizer. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here's a sampling of products The PD's golf team discovered this week in its never-ending quest to reach single-digit handicaps.

Ready Caddy

The draw: Ready Caddy can be called a lazy man's minicaddy, but a useful portable caddy nonetheless. It easily attaches onto golf carts -- ones with square roof support posts --with three clamps that snap into place, and it is small enough to store in your golf bag after a round. That also means it is limited in what it can hold in two compartments, which measure 4x2 inches and 4x1 inch. The caddy is 31/2 inches tall. It also can be used with the golf cart windshield up, which keeps your contents dry in case of rain. A green storage bag is also included.

The scorecard: I found the device useful. The larger compartment safely held my Bushnell range finder vs. it rattling around in its case in the back basket in the cart. I put my ball marker and tees in the smaller front compartment. The Ready Caddy is designed to hold cellphones, sunglasses, cigars, cigarettes, lighters or even your wallet. It was designed and patented by Cleveland native Dan Horowitz. It retails for $19.95 at readycaddy.com or call 561-379-3777.

-- Pat Galbincea

Spakesology ball marker

golf-ball-lineup-putt-spec.jpgView full sizeGrooves in the Spakesology ball marker help players line up their next putt. 

The draw: Everybody uses a ball marker. Why not one that helps you line up your putt? The Spakesology ball marker is the invention of Leland Spakes, an Avon engineer and gun enthusiast who tried to replicate the view seen with a precision rifle sight. The notches allow you to mark your ball and start it on the proper line.

The brochure shows a golfer sighting the target (the hole) through the notches. That takes some getting used to. You quickly gain confidence knowing your putt is starting on line. Once I aligned the marker to my line and the line on my golf ball to the marker, I had great success making short puts I often miss. I gave the brochure and a ball marker to a friend, who took it to the putting green Monday at Big Met Golf Course and he texted me this a short time later: "Just made 7-of-8 from 6-8 feet."

The scorecard: The markers, which can be customized, start at $5 and are available at spakesologygolf.com and at Columbia Hills Country Club (16200 East River Road, Columbia Station, 440-236-5051).

-- Bud Shaw

Shuffleboard player Norman Traffis: Five questions with the National Senior Games participant

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Chesterland resident Norman Traffis qualified for the Games in just second year playing shuffleboard.

TRAFFIS.JPGView full sizeNorman Traffis, 70, of Chesterland will compete in singles and doubles in shuffleboard at the Cleveland Convention Center starting Monday at the National Senior Games.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Norman Traffis, 70, is among a handful of local competitors in shuffleboard at the National Senior Games. He competes in the event with fellow Chesterland resident Gino Palombo, although Traffis grew up on the west side in Fairview Park. They compete starting July 31 at the Cleveland Convention Center. Traffis also qualified in singles, which begins Monday.

He worked as a manager in engineering as well as research and development until his retirement five years ago. This will be Traffis' first appearance at the Games. He started playing shuffleboard just two years ago. He proved to be a natural as he qualified for the Games last year.

These Games will provide a new challenge for Traffis. He is used to playing primarily on wood, whereas the surface at the Games is vinyl. Traffis has played on vinyl before, at the Senior Games qualifiers, but is not quite used to it yet.

1. How did you get involved in shuffleboard?

"About two years ago, in July, I joined a group of people that went to the North Coast Senior Games, which occur up in Willoughby. We played 12 or 14 different kinds of games and one of them was shuffleboard. Essentially, it was the first time I played and I didn't do very well. The following time, we actually won the tournament we played in."

2. Were you surprised when you heard you had qualified for the National Senior Games?

"Absolutely surprised. In fact, we're overwhelmed right now."

3. How often do you practice over the course of the year?

"Since January and February, we've been practicing about three times a month. We have a little group that will go up and play every Friday at 12:30 so we play with them just for fun for about an hour and a half."

4. What are some of the more difficult aspects of shuffleboard?

"Shuffleboard is not a terribly tough game to learn but there's a certain amount of finesse. There's some strategy involved in the game. It takes a lot of concentration and finesse. You can't put spin on the disk or anything so you just push it forward and pray a little bit."

5. What are some of the obstacles in playing on the vinyl surface as opposed to wood?

"I think the biggest obstacle is speed. With vinyl you need to be very, very careful you don't take the disk and give it a good push. The key is having just a little touch so it gets going."

Indians at Mariners: Get game updates and post your comments

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Zach McAllister will try to earn his first win versus Seattle in his return from the disabled list (sprained right middle finger).

Game 100: Indians (52-47) at Mariners (47-52)

When: 10:10 p.m.

Where: Safeco Field, Seattle.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM 1100/AM, WMMS 100.7/FM.

Starters: RHP Zach McAllister (4-5, 3.43) vs. RHP Erasmo Ramirez (0-0, 13.50)

» Live box score | MLB scoreboard

» Get updates from the pressbox here

» You can also follow Tweets about the game and post your comments below.

Could Tribe be feeling the heat? Cleveland Indians Chatter

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The Indians are saying all the right things as they try to weather their slow post-All-Star game start, but there seems to be some tension hidden in their words.

michael-bourn.JPG Michael Bourn, stealing a base against Kansas City, says it's time for the Indians to start pushing hard because that's what good teams do in the "second half." 

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seen and heard at Safeco Field.

Clubhouse confidential: The Indians are saying all the right things regarding their slow start since the All-Star break. So much so that it sounds like they're starting to press. Listen to Michael Bourn after Monday's 2-1 loss to the Mariners.

"These games from here on out count," said Bourn. "There's no way around it. We have to be able to press and stay strong for nine innings. ... That's the way the second half is played. That's the way good teams get into the playoffs. They play the game within the game and every inning counts to them."

Bourn's not the only one talking like that and August is still eight days away.

Tough job: The Indians have played Seattle and Minnesota on this trip. On each stop, the opposing manager, Eric Wedge and Ron Gardenhire, has not been in the dugout because of medical issues -- dizziness with Wedge, stomach illness with Gardenhire.

"We're probably all lunatics for wanting to do this job," said manager Terry Francona. "Sometimes it wears you down. When the season is over, I collapse, regroup and do it again."

Stat of the day: Entering Tuesday night, the Indians have lost their last five games decided by one run. Overall, they are 18-12 in one-run decisions.

Cleveland Indians' minor-league report

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Danny Salazar throws four shutout innings for Columbus.

Class AAA: Buffalo 4, Columbus 1 Danny Salazar started for the Clippers and threw four shutout innings against the host Bisons, but reliever Matt Langwell (3-3, 2.84) allowed two runs in two innings and took the loss. Salazar allowed three hits, no walks and struck out six.

DH Jeremy Hermida (.250) had two of the Clippers' five hits.

Class AA: Bowie 8, Akron 2 Aeros starting pitcher Paolo Espino (2-4, 6.03) got shelled for eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits in 41/3 innings as the host Baysox clobbered the Aeros. Akron RF Carlos Moncrief (.311) had two hits.

Class A Advanced: Carolina 8, Wilmington 7 Mudcats CF Tyler Naquin (.284) hit his seventh homer of the year and DH Paddy Matera (.345) hit his fourth to lead Carolina past the visiting Blue Rocks. Naquin finished with two hits, two runs and two RBI, and also threw out a runner at home plate.

Class A: Lake County The Captains were off Tuesday.

Class A Short-season: Mahoning Valley The Scrappers' game against visiting State College was postponed.

Cleveland Browns captain D'Qwell Jackson says teammate Josh Gordon must make changes

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D'Qwell Jackson says it's time for Josh Gordon to straighten things out.

BEREA, Ohio – One of the Browns most respected players has a message for talented yet troubled teammate Josh Gordon: He’s running out of football “lives.”

Inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson said the team supports the second-year receiver, who will miss the season’s first two games due to drug suspension, but that he’s exhausting chances at a young age. Another failed test might produce a season-long ban for a 22-year-old who’s an integral member of the franchise’s new vertical passing attack.

Jackson’s comments were part of a wide-ranging interview about leadership and the upcoming season.

“No matter how many bodies you put in front of him or people who speak to him, Josh has to be willing to make a change for himself,” said Jackson, the team’s defensive captain, in a phone interview. “I could talk to him all day if I wanted to. (Coach Rob Chudzinski) could talk to him all day if he wanted to, but it’s not going to do any good unless he takes that next step.

“He doesn’t have that many lives left . . . He’s got one more time to really straighten things up before he’s got to leave. I think he is starting to realize that.”

Gordon, who tested positive for marijuana three times in college, said again Monday the codeine that triggered his latest failed test was unintentionally ingested through cough syrup prescribed to him for strep throat in February. The league does not reveal the substance when announcing suspensions and fines.

The Baylor product said he didn’t take codeine recreationally and stressed that he’s staying clean. He apologized to the organization and it’s fans, noting he has much to prove. He also was contrite for Tweets of support for LeBron James and Miami Heat last month that irked some Cleveland fans.

Jackson, a 2006 second-round draft pick and the team’s most tenured player, believes Gordon is doing everything coaches are asking of him right now. Gordon enters training camp off a solid rookie season that saw him finish with five touchdowns and rank eighth in the NFL with a 16.1 yards per catch average. But the suspension coupled with the failed college drug tests are coming to define Gordon as much as his talents.

“These mistakes he’s making early on in his career people are watching,” Jackson said. “Players and coaches are watching. We all wish him the best. People make mistakes.

“If he wants to last in this league and be successful and productive and have his word mean anything to anyone over his career I think right now would be the time to straighten those things out . . . He’s young and he’s going to have to learn quick in this business.”

Jackson does not just dispense advice to first and second-year players. A season ago, after Joe Haden drew a four-game drug ban, Jackson made reference to the star cornerback’s lifestyle and fleet of luxury cars.

“He’s a flashy guy,” the eighth year veteran told reporters. “Hopefully he’ll correct that issue with the cars one of these days. Get rid of ’em.”

Title Contender early pick for Saturday's $100,000 Ohio Derby 2013 at ThistleDown Racino

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Title Contender and Mongolian Saturday top a field of seven lightly-regarded three-year-olds racing in Saturday's $100,000 Ohio Derby at ThistleDown Racino.

Ohio Derby Draw.jpgLive Racing Manager Bob Hickey (left) shakes the pill bottle that will select the post positions for Saturday's $100,000 Ohio Derby at ThistleDown Racing. Assistant Racing Secretary Kathy Mahan and Director of Racing Pat Ellsworth draw each entrant in the seven-horse field.  

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio -- Director of Racing Pat Ellsworth admits this year's field for the 79th edition of the $100,000 Ohio Derby Saturday at ThistleDown Racino isn't the most dynamic group of three-year-old thoroughbreds.

"Our goal from day one was to put together the most competitive field possible for this year's Ohio Derby," said Ellsworth. "That's what we've done, and we look forward to improving in the years to come. It was very tough, assembling this group. I'm surprised I still have hair left."

It's never easy, especially when you're offering a stakes purse that's considered peanuts by the top stables, and only large enough to garner Grade III status. ThistleDown General Manager Rick Skinner, who was ill and didn't attend the Ohio Derby draw on Wednesday, said weeks ago that owner Rock Ohio Caesars had refrained from sweetening the pot.

But Ellsworth did round up a field of seven. In 2011, six went to post in the Ohio Derby. That shrunk to just five last year, with a late scratch resulting in a four-horse field.

The horses to beat on Saturday, according to odds maker Pat Lynch, are Title Contender and Mongolian Saturday, both coming from Arlington Park. Title Contender's claim to fame for noted Chicago trainer Wayne Catalano was that the gelding was a well-regard 8-1 shot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year. Title Contender finished eighth, and is still chasing his first win after four starts this season.

Mongolian Saturday won a pair of allowance races this year at Arlington, but finished ninth in the $200,000 American Derby on July 13. Completing the field are Fiery Marco, Braveman, Act of Madness, Mongolian Saturday, Handsome Tiger and Silver Tongued, a colt whose first victory of the year came in the $75,000 Cleveland Gold Cup here on July 13 with Lori Wydick in the saddle.

The people's choice for Cleveland area fans has to be Act of Madness. A recent purchase by John Caniglia, a retired ThistleDown mutuel clerk from Pepper Pike, Caniglia has shared ownership with Joei Driscoll, manager of the Winking Lizard in Macedonia; Leo Sirna, owner of Sirna's Tavern in Bedford; and Joe Ruda of Shalersville, whose father Rich Ruda is a ThistleDown official.

"I asked jockey Scott Spieth (of Chagrin Falls) to find me a horse to buy, and he recommended Act of Madness, who had been racing at Gulfstream Park," said Caniglia. "A few friends wanted a piece of him, so I shared (Act of Madness) with them. After working for 40 years at ThistleDown, I wanted see how owning a horse would pan it.

"So far, it's been great, and Scotty says it's going to get even better. We didn't want Act of Madness constantly out in front every race and risk burning him out. He's finally getting used to coming from behind. Act of Madness has only 10 career starts, and Scotty said the horse is learning more every race.

"My philosophy," said Caniglia, "has been to let the jockey (Spieth) and trainer (Florida's Kathleen O'Connell) pick their spots and do what they think is best. They're the experts. Having partners can also be a lot of fun, as long as they all get along and hope for the best."


After Ohio State's discipline problems, Urban Meyer faces the music at Big Ten meetings: Bill Livingston

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At Big Ten media days, weary Urban Meyer answers the same type of questions about discipline that have long dogged him.

CHICAGO -- As the face of Ohio State football, as the most visible coach in the Big Ten, as the leader of the stated mission of "Making the great state of Ohio proud," Urban Meyer faced something less pleasant Wednesday -- the music.

It could not have been a proud moment. But Meyer doesn't do humble well. He didn't exactly do contrition for the terrible triad of woes from his current and past programs. But he didn't do defiance, either.

OSU starters Carlos Hyde and Bradley Roby popped up in criminal investigations over the weekend. One of Meyer's signature Florida players, tight end Aaron Hernandez, an NFL star, was arrested  for murder earlier in the summer. In his comments, Meyer said he would self-evaluate. He said he and his coaches had to do better.

Then he said, properly; "Every young man is ultimately held accountable."

There was no growling that he wasn't going to talk about Hernandez, as he had said, dismissively, at a recent football camp in Northeast Ohio. There was no reluctant text message about Hernandez to a Columbus reporter, without suffering follow-up questions. There was no brief, official statement late Monday afternoon about Hyde and Roby, with no place to take the conversation beyond the hazy allegations swirling around Hyde and the police report of the bar dust-up in Indiana involving Roby.

It's never all rainbows and lollipops for a college coach. But it came close last year for Meyer. The giddy ride included a 12-0 resurrection from the rubble of probation and a coaching change, a tightrope walk of six games decided by 30 total points with two of those in overtime, and a "12-0 Row" sign for a couple of blocks of Lane Avenue near campus in commemoration.

The good feelings will never be completely gone, but they have been changed by the renewed charges of expediency in recruiting and laxity in discipline that critics have long made about Meyer.

Purdue's Darrell Hazell mentioned learning from Jim Tressel when Hazell was an OSU assistant. "Just his demeanor through the course of my time there was something that you can take from," said Hazell, "and the great decisions that he made on game day, when those bullets are flying, and it's a chaotic moment."

It was a poor, but innocent, choice of words. Everything can't be conditioned by the Hernandez case. Or can it?


Meyer's comments in the big ballroom at the South Loop Hilton aside, it was more interesting to watch what he did in his second session, when he was surrounded in a small room by reporters, a phalanx of tape recorders on the table in front of him, camera lights in his face, the drumbeat rattling on of questions about his players acting out.

A fleeting look of weariness crossed Meyer's face after the first Hernandez question of the session. "It felt awful. It's a sick feeling," Meyer said of his reaction when he heard the news of the murder charge. "The thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim. Every player situation, every recruit situation, it'll be in the back of my mind."

"I think discipline begins in recruiting," said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. "The identification of a student-athlete that fits your program. In Evanston, it starts with that character evaluation."

Was it a shot at Meyer? Probably not. No one seems to embody the ideals of his school as well as Fitzgerald. But some 500 reporters were on the look-out for snarky comments from Meyer's colleagues.

Mostly Meyer looked tired of the same old, same old. To a question about how he had mentored Hernandez, who last played for Meyer five years ago, the coach said, "I'm going  to move on. I'm going to talk about the Buckeyes. But I respect you for doing your job as a reporter."

There was an  itch under his ring finger at the time, and Meyer twisted the wedding band on it and rubbed the skin. There are places a coach can't scratch, however, places outside the white lines, beyond the scripted playbook, times when players lack guidance.

There had been a flash of anger when he told a Columbus television reporter that he was so furious when he heard of the alleged Hyde incident that he didn't even want to talk to the player.

Later, a reporter he knew asked about Roby, one of the players Meyer trusted to lead his team this year after Roby spurned the NFL and returned to Columbus. "Trust" and "loyalty" are huge words in team sports. Meyer feels their weight come crashing down when someone has thrown them away carelessly.

He nodded three times during the questioning, with his chin almost on his chest, agreeing with the critical tone of the query. "That's the most disappointing of them all," Meyer said of Roby. "That was a crushing blow when I got that phone call."

Last year, Ohio State was the hunter, hungry for the respect it had lost after a 6-7 record in 2011. Now that has changed. "Ohio State is the hunted. We always approach it as if we're the hunted. That's the history of the program," Meyer said.

It's also Meyer's own role. It's also his own history.

To reach Bill Livingston:

blivingston@plaind.com

On Twitter; @Livy70

Video: Wrapping up Ohio State and Michigan at Big Ten media days

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Meyer handled himself pretty well while talking about player discipline and off-field issues.

CHICAGO, Ill. - Brady Hoke got to talk about football, while Urban Meyer talked about almost everything but football on Wednesday in Chicago.

But the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes were the teams of the day, as they should be this fall, as the Big Ten prepared for the 2013 season.

Doug Lesmerises and Kyle Meinke of MLive.com wrapped up the first day, with another round of interviews on Thursday, followed by the Big Ten's kickoff luncheon.


Cleveland Browns P.M. links: Don't count out Brian Hoyer as No. 2 QB; much depends on Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert's decisions

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Assuming Brandon Weeden starts at quarterback, Hoyer could challenge Jason Campbell for the backup job. To a large extent, Browns' nucleus remains players who were acquired during stints of former team president Holmgren and GM Heckert. More Browns story links.


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns begin training camp for their 2013 season on Thursday.

Ahead is the preseason opener against the St. Louis Rams on Thursday night, Aug. 8 at Cleveland's FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns open their regular season with a home game on Sunday, Sept. 8 against the Miami Dolphins.

Check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for Browns coverage. The numerous stories, columns, photos and videos include Mary Kay Cabot's story that Browns CEO Joe Banner says team operations haven't changed while owner Jimmy Haslam is dealing with legal issues; Tom Reed's commentary that teams and memories are made in training camps; a poll asking whether Jim Brown of Otto Graham is the all-time best Browns player, as a countdown of the Browns' 100 best all-time players nears its end; Tom Reed's story that offensive tackle Joe Thomas and linebacker D'Qwell Jackson are hopeful about the Browns' chances to improve.

Brandon Weeden heads into training camp with the starting quarterback job his to lose. Nate Ulrich writes for the Akron Beacon Journal that -- assuming Weeden stays the starter -- there is no guarantee that Jason Campbell will hold off Brian Hoyer as Weeden's first backup:

With Weeden on track to start, the real competition is between his backups. Campbell took the majority of the reps with the second-team offense during spring practices, but Hoyer received some as well. So even though Hoyer, 27, is No. 3 on the depth chart entering camp, he’ll get a legitimate opportunity to surpass Campbell, 31. Campbell, who signed with the Browns in March, has a better arm than Hoyer. Still, Hoyer was sharp in team drills despite his late arrival. He signed with the team May 17 in the midst of OTAs. Of course, the backup quarterback job is vital, especially in Cleveland. No Browns quarterback has played a full 16-game season since Tim Couch in 2001. Weeden came close to ending the streak last season, though he missed the finale with a sprained throwing shoulder.
Browns story links

The Browns' bosses are new, but much still depends on the work of two departed leaders -- team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom
Heckert. (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)

Training camp is set to begin, and there are several key questions regarding the Browns. (By Jeff Schudel, News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal)

It's a transition season for the Browns' special teams, now without mainstays Josh Cribbs and Phil Dawson. (By Tony Grossi, ESPNCleveland.com)

Might Trent Richardson have the capability to lead the NFL in rushing? (By Jamison Hensley, ESPN.com)

Five Browns issues that bear watching during training camp. (By Scott Petrak, Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette)

Guard John Greco, a Youngstown Boardman High School graduate, begins his third season as a Brown with a new contract. (By Mike McLain, Warren Tribune Chronicle)

New coordinator Ray Horton can boost his head coaching chances as he directs the Browns' 3-4 defense. (By Marla Ridenour, Akron Beacon Journal)

New coordinator Norv Turner is optimistic about the offense that features Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson. (By Fred Greetham, Orange and Brown Report)

A look at the Browns' defensive backfield as training camp begins. (By Fred Greetham, FoxSportsOhio.com)

Former Browns running back Peyton Hillis signs a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (By Stephen F. Holder, Tampa Bay Times)

It looks as if the New York Jets are about to bring back Braylon Edwards, the former Browns wide receiver. (By Conor Orr, Newark Star-Ledger)


Keeping physically strong motivates 83-year-old swimmer Graham Johnston at National Senior Games

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Graham Johnston, 83, has raced all around the world, and represented South Africa in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.

Teddy Cahill

Special to The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Moments after winning the 200-yard individual medley Tuesday at the National Senior Games, his second victory of the day, Graham Johnston floated lazily on his back, catching his breath.

In the lanes around Johnston, his fellow competitors in the 80-84 age division continued the race, some thrashing through the freestyle, while others, well off the pace, bobbed up and down, doing the breaststroke. Johnston looked up in the stands, where his wife, Janis, was cheering and waving. Johnston flashed a smile and a thumbs-up.

It is a familiar moment for them. Their first date was at a swimming pool in Oklahoma, where they both went to college, and since then they have spent a lot of time around the water.

Johnston, 83, has raced all around the world. He represented South Africa in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and twice in the Commonwealth Games. He was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma and has been a fixture in masters competitions since the qualification was established 40 years ago.

This week he came to Cleveland to compete in the National Senior Games for the fifth time. Though he enters some meets that are more competitive than the Senior Games, he keeps returning to them because of their welcoming atmosphere.

"It's a friendly group of people," Johnston said. "I feel that everyone that comes to this meet, they're all champions. Whether they come first or last, they're doing the best they can and that's all you can do."

No matter where Johnston is swimming, Janis can usually be found in the stands, watching and cheering.

"I love to go and be supportive and watch him swim," Janis said. "I'm there to cheer him on."

Their partnership almost didn't begin. One day in spring 1952, Johnston went into a lounge in a dorm at Oklahoma looking for a girl in one of his classes.

"Janice," he called out.

At first, Janis thought he was looking for her, which she found strange because she had never seen him before. One of her friends told her Johnston was looking for another girl named Janice, who he occasionally studied with. Once it became apparent that girl wasn't around, Janis decided to talk to Johnston.

Not knowing who he was, she tried making small talk by asking if he liked to swim. Though Johnston was headed to the Olympics that summer, he told her he didn't know how. She offered to teach him and told him to meet her Saturday at the pool. Later that night, Janis learned of Johnston's swimming resume. She was mortified she had offered to teach an Olympian how to swim.

johnston-swim-kiss-wife-srgames-gc.jpgView full sizeA pre-race kiss from his wife, Janis, helps fuel Graham Johnston's performance in the pool. "I think if you exercise your body and your mind, you might live a little longer," Johnston says. "But not only longer, better." 

"I cried and cried and cried," Janis said. "There would be no doubt in my mind I would never see him again."

But Johnston was waiting for her at the pool that Saturday and they have been a couple ever since. They married in 1955. If Johnston has his way, the two will continue to travel to swimming meets for many years to come. He said he will continue to swim as long as his mind stays sharp. He believes staying active is one of the keys to longevity.

"I think if you exercise your body and your mind, you might live a little longer," Johnston said. "But not only longer, better."

These days, Johnston is swimming more for the love of the sport than anything else. He remains one of the best swimmers in the country in his age group, but he has little left to accomplish in the pool. Johnston has been inducted into five Hall of Fames, including the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Of course, there is also his Olympic experience, which he knows will be difficult to top.

Johnston competed in the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay for South Africa in Helsinki. His best result came in the relay, when South Africa placed seventh. But more than his results, Johnston remembers the Olympics for their place in history. The 1952 Olympics were the first to be contested outside the shadow of World War II.

"That Olympics was the beginning again of the Olympics," he said. "I think from that point on, things started to get faster and more technically improved."

Now, Johnston's Olympic days are long past him. He marvels at the advances in the sport over the past 60 years. He said Cleveland State's Busbey Natatorium, where the Senior Games are being held this year, is a vast improvement on the pools he remembers from his youth.

Despite all the changes, Johnston has managed to retain his status as an elite swimmer and it doesn't look like his career will come to an end anytime soon. He easily won his first two races in the Senior Games and will be expected to do the same in his remaining races.

And that's the way Johnston wants it to be. He has no intention of slowing down.

"I want to die in a pool," Johnston said, "which is not bad. Rather than to be plugged in and stuff. I want to swim until I'm 105."

Teddy Cahill is a freelance writer in Cleveland Heights.

Swimmer Loretta Fleming: Five questions with the National Senior Games participant

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Loretta Fleming grew up on the west side of Cleveland and graduated from West High School.

Loretta Fleming w Scrapbook.jpgView full sizeSwimmer Loretta Fleming still has scrapbooks that document her teenage success in the Cleveland area.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Loretta Fleming, 85, is a champion swimmer who currently resides in New Hampshire. She has been swimming since she was five years old.

Fleming grew up on the west side of Cleveland and graduated from West High School. At the age of 15, The Plain Dealer wrote about her because of her various swimming accomplishments.

Fleming and her husband, Ed -- who also grew up in the Cleveland area and is competing in two track events, have seven children. One of them, Lorie, is competing in swimming at this year's games. Fleming has already received recognition for her accomplishments in these games. She received a ribbon for her fifth place finish in the 50-yard backstroke on Tuesday.

1. What is your fondest memory from your time at West High?

A: That's kind of a blur sometimes, but I made a lot of friends and I was still swimming while I was in high school. They had a lot of publicity. In fact, a reporter came over to my high school once, which I was very, very amazed at. One of the fondest memories is I was featured at the Sportsman Show once as being one of the outstanding sportswomen of the time around this area. They put the spotlight on me; I was so shocked.

2. How do you manage to stay in swimming shape throughout the year?

A: After we joined the New Hampshire games, that's when I started entering different events up there. I usually did fine. That made me want to work out and get more in shape which ultimately gives me better health. I don't really take much medicine.

3. What is your workout regimen when preparing for the Senior Games?

A: Usually, I would go to our Merrimack Y and I would go like three times a week. This time, I hired a coach because I was really serious about trying to do well. I want the gold, you know. I had the best coach, boy she inspired me and I think it did get me in a little better shape. That shows you how serious I was about it.

4. What do your swimming accomplishments mean to you?

A: It just keeps me healthy. Actually, I want to be on top and let somebody know about it. I would rather have the trophy rather than the suitcase; one time in my youth, they offered me a trophy or a suitcase, I want the trophy!

5. How does it feel to be back in Cleveland?

A: It's amazing. I just visited one of my old school friends; she was from high school. And of course we're gonna visit all our family that's left here.

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