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Dennis Manoloff interviews Chris Antonetti: General overview of season (video)

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The Plain Dealer's Chris Antonetti sits down with the Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and discusses his overview of the Indian's season so far.

Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti sat down with The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff Wednesday at Progressive Field. With one week till the trading deadline, Antonetti shared his thoughts as the Indians hit the 100-game mark at 52-48. The interview was divided into three segments.

Segment 1: General overview of season

Antonetti assessed the Indians at the 100-game mark, including the offense and pitching staff. He talked about what has surprised and disappointed him. Antonetti said he was most pleased the Indians had put themselves in position to contend. He also addressed the attendance woes.

Watch the other two segments:

Thoughts on several individuals (watch video)

Moving forward (watch video)


Make sure to follow Dennis Manoloff on Twitter: (@dmansworld474).


Dennis Manoloff interviews Chris Antonetti: Thoughts on several individuals (video)

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The Plain Dealer's Chris Antonetti sits down with the Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and shares his thoughts about several Indians players

Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti sat down with The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff Wednesday at Progressive Field. With one week till the trading deadline, Antonetti shared his thoughts as the Indians hit the 100-game mark at 52-48. The interview was divided into three segments.

Segment 2: Thoughts on several players

Antonetti talked about, among others: Nick Swisher and his ailing left shoulder, Lonnie Chisenhall's up-and-down season; Mark Reynolds' slump; Jason Kipnis' rise; and the mysterious Trevor Bauer. Antonetti confirmed Swisher's injury is based in the rotator cuff but said it can be managed. He also said he didn't think Bauer pitching from the stretch against Chicago was a big deal.

Watch the other two segments:

General overview of season (watch video)

Moving forward (watch video)


Make sure to follow Dennis Manoloff on Twitter: (@dmansworld474).

Dennis Manoloff interviews Chris Antonetti: Moving forward (video)

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The Plain Dealer's Chris Antonetti sits down with the Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and addresses the trade deadline

Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti sat down with The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff Wednesday at Progressive Field. With one week till the trading deadline, Antonetti shared his thoughts as the Indians hit the 100-game mark at 52-48. The interview was divided into three segments.

Segment 3: Moving forward

Antonetti addressed the trade deadline. While saying no player is untouchable, he effectively ruled out moving shortstop Francisco Lindor and spoke glowingly of pitcher Danny Salazar. Antonetti also explained how he gathers intel as the trade deadline approaches.

Watch the other two segments:

General overview of season (watch video)

Thoughts on several players (watch video)


Make sure to follow Dennis Manoloff on Twitter: (@dmansworld474).

Two starting catchers are better than one: Cleveland Indians Chatter

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Whatever is going on between Scott Kazmir and Yan Gomes is working quite well, thank you.

SEATTLE -- Seen and heard Wednesday at Safeco Field.

Clubhouse confidential: Yan Gomes has caught Scott Kazmir in his last seven starts. Kazmir is 3-0 with a 1.60 ERA (eight earned runs, 45 innings) with 35 strikeouts and 12 walks in those starts.

"We have good communication," said Gomes, following Kazmir's victory over Seattle. "We're in a relationship right now where we can yell at each other (laughter). We just seem to be able to know what each other is thinking."

The Indians could soon have two starting catchers in Carlos Santana and Gomes.

"We have a pretty good catcher right now (Santana), but Gomes is going to be an everyday catcher," said manager Terry Francona. "If we have a problem where we have two starting catchers, good for us, because catching is hard to find."

On the run? In the third inning Wednesday, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a liner to center, but didn't go hard out of the box because he thought Michael Saunders would make the catch. When the ball hit in front of Saunders and skipped past him for an error, Cabrera should have been on third, but was only on second.

"Cabby's been playing on a sprained ankle ... put that one on me," said Francona, who thought Cabrera should have been given a hit.

Stat of the day: In their four losses on this six-game trip, the Indians hit .091 (2-for-22) with runners in scoring position. In their two wins, they hit .357 (10-for-28) with runners in scoring position.

Weeden, Mingo, Richardson and more; breaking down the Cleveland Browns' key camp issues

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"One of the main goals of this camp is to see which guys rise up when the pads go on," says head coach Rob Chudzinski

BEREA, Ohio -- Rob Chudzinski has waited for this moment since the day he became Browns head coach in January: the crunch of the pads, the whistle of the ball into the palm of a hand, the sizzling summer sun, the sea of orange and brown and the roar of 3,000 fans at Thursday's start of training camp.

Finally, after hours of film study, a whirlwind draft, 16 spring practices, dozens of roster moves and countless meetings, Chudzinski, the lifelong Browns fan, is eager to see what the 2013 team is all about.

"There's always an excitement for every season but this is special for me being here with the Browns and being part of this and I'm really excited,'' he said. "The thing that I missed from the spring is the fans being around and that's the part of it that will be a big excitement for me -- just being around the fans on a day-to-day basis at training camp."

Like his fellow fans, Chudzinski will be most anxious to see who can step it up when the action begins. Who can bust through the offensive line and menace Brandon Weeden? Who can stop rolling ball-of-thunder Trent Richardson from plowing into the end zone?

"That's one of the main goals of this camp is to assess that and see which guys rise up when the pads go on,'' Chudzinski said. "We've all had experiences before with guys in the past (who) have looked good in pads but when you get the pads on, they disappear. Or guys that don't look very good in shorts, but when the pads go on, they come out. That's what we'll be looking for and that's a key component and that is the physicality and toughness that we are going to assess in this camp."

A fan's guide to Browns training camp | Training camp roster

Times have changed since since Marty Schottenheimer entertained fans and terrorized his players with the nutcracker drill, but Chudzinski promises plenty of action for what figures to be capacity crowds each day.

"We’ll rarely be full-speed tackle to the ground, but it’ll be full speed," he said. "You'll see contact. And then we’ll be smart about it as camp goes on and guys are worn down. But I think fans will like what they see.''

With that, here are the key issues heading into camp.

1. Can Weeden stave off challenges from Jason Campbell and Brian Hoyer?

Earlier this week, Chudzinski tossed quarterback into his mix of most unsettled positions, meaning he's still not ready to commit to Weeden until he sees him in live action.

Why? Because Weeden still hasn't played a ton of football -- just 26 starts in college and 15 in the pros. What's more, he's learning a whole new offense and working to get the ball out quicker. The Browns passed on rookie QBs in April not because they were sold on Weeden, but because they didn't see a franchise QB. So Weeden's got a ton to prove.

Campbell went 11-7 in Oakland in 2010-11. The front office also likes Cleveland-native Hoyer and believes he has starting potential.

Fortunately for Weeden, offensive coordinator and QB coach Norv Turner is in his corner and excited about him.

2. Can Richardson stay healthy and carry the load for 16 games?

The Browns are counting heavily on Richardson and as Turner says, "it all starts with him." But can he take the pounding for 16 games? He's carried the ball more than 800 times since the beginning of his college career and has undergone at least four surgeries on his legs.

The key is to take care of his body in camp and not try to do too much. Sure, he'll want to refute criticism that he's injury-prone, but he has nothing to prove. The smart thing to get him the necessary reps in camp and then back him off at times.

There are plenty of other backs who need reps, including Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya, Dion Lewis and Brandon Jackson.

3. Can Josh Gordon get enough done in camp to sustain him during a two-game suspension?

The Browns will have to balance getting Gordon ready for Week 3 with trying to get the other receivers ready for the season's start. With Gordon learning a new offense, it will be imperative for him to be on point before leaving the premises from Sept. 2-16.

How will the suspension affect his psyche? Gordon is on thin ice with both the NFL and the Browns, and will need to prove that he's worth the time. Fans will notice his raw, natural ability, but at least one minicamp observer, Greg Bedard of Sports Illustrated, felt Gordon was loafing.

He must go all-out between now and the end of preseason.

4. Can first-round pick Barkevious Mingo beat out Jabaal Sheard for a starting outside linebacker job?

Mingo plans to crack the lineup by the opener, but passing converted defensive end Sheard won't be a layup. The coaches have been impressed by Sheard's transition and love his versatility and experience. Mingo is athletic and fluid, but as a rookie has some catching up to do. He'll also be asked to put his hand in the dirt sometimes in Ray Horton's multi-front defense.

"I like where (Mingo's) at,'' said Horton. "He’s probably on pace for where a rookie should be. ... He’s spent a lot of time working on the playbook and terminology. For him being ready for Day 1 opening camp, I think he’s right where he should be.

5. Can rookie CB Leon McFadden win the starting job opposite Joe Haden?

That was the plan for the third-round pick from San Diego State. But will he develop quickly enough to overtake five-year veteran Chris Owens and third-year pro Buster Skrine, who split the first-team reps in spring practices?

"I hope we have a couple of starters penciled in, but there's always somebody's that's going to surprise you," said Horton. "Right now I have a little comfort zone in that we've got experienced corners (who) can play. Leon, just like Mingo, is a young rookie. Has a growing curve, a learning curve.

"I would like to play them as much as they will allow me to play them. Now what is that? That's up to them."

Owens, a free agent from Atlanta, has started only 12 games. Skrine will be asked to play some nickel and maybe free safety.

6. Can Tashaun Gipson nail down the free safety job?

Horton admitted this is his most unsettled position.

"It’s a concern of ours that we have to find quality starters and depth there,'' he said. "It's a fluid position for me right now. ... We will find somewhere in our mix of young DBs some good young starters that are going to have to step up and prove that they can play very good winning NFL football.

"Can the young guys handle it? That we’ll find out. I don’t have that answer yet."

Gipson, an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming last year, flashed ability in his three starts, but also missed six games with knee and foot injuries. He'll get a push from converted cornerback Johnson Bademosi, who established himself on special teams. But don't forget about rookie Jamoris Slaughter, a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame who's back from Achilles injury.

7. Can John Greco take one of the starting guard jobs?

Greco just signed a five-year contract extension worth about $13 million if he starts, including just under $3 million guaranteed and a little more than $2 million next season. It means they expect Greco to win one of the guard jobs, where he'll compete with Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao.

Greco has the flexibility to start on either side. The coaches' decisions may depend on how quickly Pinkston can get in football shape after suffering a blood clot in a lung last season.

Basketball and track breakdowns at the National Senior Games: Event spotlights

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Inside information on basketball and track 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.

Basketball

Dates of competition: Runs daily through July 31, beginning at 9 a.m. See detailed schedule here.

Where: Cleveland State University Recreation Center (2420 Chester Ave., Cleveland), Public Hall (500 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland) and Case Western Reserve Veale Center (2138 Adelbert Road, Cleveland).

Notable: The Senior Games is a three-on-three, half-court competition. Rosters are capped at 10 players and the team's youngest player determines its age division. Games are divided into two 12-minute halves. The tournament begins with round-robin pool play to establish the seeding for the championship bracket. When possible, teams will be divided into three skill levels for the championship bracket.

Who to watch: The Celadrin Tigerettes have played together for the past 20 years and appeared on NBC's "Today" show this spring. The Tigerettes have won seven championships at the Senior Games and about 200 games overall. They are competing in the 65-plus age division this year. The Arkansas Travelers have won two straight Senior Games championships and have several former college players on their roster. Ken Andrews was a part of the Memphis State team that lost to UCLA in the 1973 national championship game and three other players were teammates at Central Arkansas in the 1970s. This year, the Travelers are playing in the 60-plus age division.

Did you know? Joe Jakubick, the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School girls basketball coach and former Akron star, is playing for the Dellagnese Construction team in the 50-plus age division in this year's tournament.

Track and field

Dates of competition: Runs daily through Tuesday, with a rain date July 31. Events begin daily at 8 a.m. See detailed schedule here.

Where: Finnie Stadium (141 E. Bagley Road, Berea).

Notable: The meet includes 50-, 100-, 200-, 400-, 800- and 1,500-meter races as well as discus, hammer throw, high jump, javelin, long jump, pole vault, triple jump and shot put.

Notable Senior Games records: Ed Benham of Maryland set the 800-meter record in the 80-84 age division in 1989. His mark of 3:10.4 is the oldest National Senior Games track record still standing. Myrle Mensey set the Senior Games record for hammer throw in the 60-64 age division in 2009. Her throw of 131 feet, 10 inches is the longest for a woman, regardless of age, by more than 12 feet in Senior Games history.

Who to watch: Flo Meiler of Vermont will compete in several track and field events in the 75-79 age division. She owns several world records in her age division and is the defending Senior Games champion in discus, high jump and pole vault. Amanda Scotti of California won the 100- and 200-meter races in the 50-54 age division in the 2011 Senior Games. She is competing in both events again this year, but is now racing in the 55-59 age division.

Did you know? Bill Finch of North Carolina is the oldest participant in this year's Senior Games. The 101-year old will run the 800 and 1,500 meters.

-- Teddy Cahill

Cleveland Browns' Joe Banner says Josh Gordon knows 'the rope that's left isn't long'

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Gordon could face possible banishment from the NFL for a year if he tests positive again.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns CEO Joe Banner made it clear Wednesday that receiver Josh Gordon, suspended for the first two games of the season for a positive codeine test, is on a short leash both with the Browns and the NFL.

Gordon, who says he ingested the codeine unintentionally in prescription cough syrup, could face possible banishment from the NFL for a year if he tests positive again.

"He spent a fair amount of time talking to (head coach Rob Chudzinski) and he’s got to do some work and he understands he’s going to be held accountable and he gets (that) the rope that’s left isn’t long,'' said Banner to reporters. "In working with the coaches, they need to see that commitment, that work ethic. Obviously, off the field he needs to make good choices.''

Banners' remarks came on the heels of linebacker D'Qwell Jackson telling The Plain Dealer's Tom Reed that it's time for Gordon to straighten himself out.

In addition to the positive codeine test, Gordon failed three marijuana tests in college and violated the league's substance abuse policy at least one other time to get to the point of a suspension.

“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,” Jackson said. "I could talk to him all day if I wanted to. (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. ... I think he is starting to realize that.”

Gordon can practice with the team during training camp and play in all four preseason games, but cannot be with the team Sept. 2-16.

There can be no rest for the Tribe's leaky defense: Cleveland Indians insider

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The Indians returned home from this six-game trip with a 2-4 record and a leaky defense that committed nine errors.

Lonnie Chisenhall behind the stealLonnie Chisenhall is coming off a rocky trip at third base. 

SEATTLE -- Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall and the Indians returned to Cleveland after Wednesday's 10-1 victory over Seattle with a 2-4 record and a defense that made nine errors in six games.

"You have weeks where you don't make errors and you have weeks where you make three or four," said Chisenhall.

He had a week where he made four in four games. Second baseman Jason Kipnis made two, while first baseman Nick Swisher, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and Mark Reynolds, filling in for Chisenhall at third Wednesday, made one each.

"We need to get home and get some good early work in," said manager Terry Francona.

The Indians have made 64 errors in 101 games. They entered Wednesday ranked 11th in errors and fielding percentage in the American League. Baltimore was first with 31 errors, while Houston and the Angels were tied for 15th with 73.

"For us to be a good team, and I honest to goodness think we can be, but we have to play cleaner baseball," said Francona. "We're not the team that hits the three-run homer a lot. But that doesn't mean we can't be good. The burden is on us to play clean."

Chisenhall has made eight errors in 52 games with the Indians. He made eight in 105 games at Class AAA Columbus. On the trip through Minnesota and Seattle, he made two bad throws, misplayed a grounder and couldn't catch a foul pop. There's not a whole lot of ground left to cover in the spectrum of E5s.

Two errors came in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Mariners. They didn't lead to any runs, but they did make starter Zach McAllister throw more pitches. Against the Twins, his two errors played critical roles in a pair of 3-2 defeats.

Francona said the more experience Chisenhall gets, the more he'll be able to anticipate what is coming his way.

"As the game slows down for guys, you don't see those plays," said Francona. "When the ball is hit to you and all of a sudden you see, not panic, that's not what I'm talking about, but indecisiveness or rushing something. That comes with experience.

"In some areas, we're trying to have guys mature into good big leaguers, while we're trying to win. You try to balance that and it's not always the easiest thing."

Francona said the Indians still have confidence in Chisenhall. They turned down a potential trade for Matt Garza because the Chicago Cubs wanted him in return.

"Our organization thinks this kid is going to be a good player," said Francona. "I agree. He hasn't even tapped into what he's going to be. That's what's exciting. There are things in there that no one has seen yet. ... When it happens, it's going to be exciting.

"I don't want to get in the way of that. I'm just trying to do the best I can."

The Indians opened the six-game trip following a four-day break for the All-Star break. They have not looked sharp since.

"As a manager, how you come out of the break is a concern," said Francona. "You're worried about coming out sluggish, and I don't think we are. . .We just aren't finishing plays. It will be good to get home and get on a schedule where we can take some ground balls."

Wedge update: After Wednesday's game, the Mariners announced that manager Eric Wedge suffered a mild stroke Monday when he had to leave Safeco Field during batting practice was hospitalized.

Wedge, who managed the Indians for seven years, was released from the hospital Wednesday and was at home resting. He will not manage for the rest of Seattle's homestand and will miss the following six-game trip to Boston and Baltimore.

A release from the Mariners said Wedge, 44, is looking forward to rejoining the team in the near future, but no timetable was given.

Bench coach Robby Thompson, who managed the Mariners against the Indians, will continue in that role.

Finally: Indians' minor league shortstop Rubiel Martinez has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, a banned substance under the minor league testing program. Martinez was hitting .176 (3-for-17) in eight games for the Indians' Dominican Summer League team. He's the second Indians minor leaguer to be hit with a 50-game suspension. Right-hander Dillon Howard was suspended earlier this season.


Cleveland Indians' minor-league report

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Dice-K solid but takes loss as Clippers fall.

Class AAA: Buffalo 3, Columbus 2 Clippers starter Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched well but errors cost him and visiting Columbus in a loss to the Bisons.

Matsuzaka (2-6, 3.97) pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (one earned), on seven hits and one walk. Ht struck out six.

RF Matt Carson (.238) had one of the Clippers' six singles.

Class AA: Bowie 3, Akron 2 Aeros LF Cedric Hunter (.285) hit a two-run homer in the first inning of a loss to the host Baysox. It was Hunter's eighth home run of the season.

Toru Murata (3.90) started for Akron and allowed two runs on three hits in six innings. Shawn Armstrong (0-1, 5.51) relieved and took the loss after allowing one run in one inning.

Class A Advanced: Carolina 8, Winston-Salem 2 Mudcats CF Tyler Naquin (.286) went 2-for-5 with a home run -- his eighth of the season -- and three RBI in the win over the host Dash.

Class A: Lake County 7, South Bend 5 1B Joe Sever (.306) had three hits and four RBI to lead the Captains past the host Silver Hawks.

Class A Short-season: Mahoning Valley 2-1, State College 1-0 2B Paul Hendrix (.267) walked with the bases loaded for a walk-off walk as the Scrappers beat the visiting Spikes in the first game of a doubleheader. In the nightcap, DH Juan Herrera (.271) delivered a sacrifice fly for another walk-off win and a doubleheader sweep.

Independent: Lake Erie 3, Southern Illinois 2 LF Seth Granger's (.269) tiebreaking two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning pushed the Crushers past the Miners.

Cleveland Indians end Seattle's 8-game winning streak behind Scott Kazmir and Michael Bourn

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The Indians combined an excellent start by Scott Kazmir and a whole lot of offense to beat Seattle, 10-1, Wednesday at Safeco Field.

SEATTLE -- The eighth inning was finished and Scott Kazmir knew what manager Terry Francona had in mind. So the crafty left-hander decided to have some fun.

When he saw Francona approaching to end his day's work on a lovely Wednesday afternoon at Safeco Field, Kazmir started sneaking down the tunnel toward the locker room to escape the manager's hook. It didn't work, as Vinnie Pestano pitched the ninth to finish the Indians' 10-1 victory over the Mariners to end Seattle's eight-game winning streak.

"I was just messing with him," Kazmir said with a laugh. "I knew he was coming to tell me, 'Good job.'"

Kazmir has appeared in 198 big-league games, 197 as a starter. He has one complete game, way back in 2006 when he pitched for the Rays. No. 2 was so close Wednesday that he could reach out and touch it. He was at 103 pitches with a 9-1 lead. The Mariners had one hit, Justin Smoak's leadoff single in the fifth, and one unearned run.

"He desperately wanted to go out there," Francona said. "I just think for what he's been through and where he's at, that would have been managing more with my heart than my brain."

Kazmir was definitely thinking about the complete game.

"Of course," he said, "but a lot of things have to go right for a complete game. That's why it doesn't happen often. It's something I wanted to do at the time, but right now I'm just focused on what I need to do right now. It was a good quality start and now I'm going to look at the next one."

Indians-Mariners boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

Kazmir (6-4, 3.96) struck out seven and walked two. The only run he allowed came in the second as a result of a throwing error by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. In his past seven starts, Kazmir is 3-0 with a 1.60 ERA (eight earned runs in 45 innings).

Last year, Kazmir was trying to revive his career with the Sugar Land (Texas) Skeeters of the Atlantic Independent League.

"Everything is feeling good out there," he said. "I'm getting ahead in the count. I'm able to throw my secondary pitch for strikes and bury them when I need to for strikeouts."

Said Francona: "We're proud of him. I think he felt he had a lot to prove and he's doing that. He's got a lot of baseball left in him."

The Indians ended this frustrating six-game trip with a 2-4 record. They scored 17 runs in their two victories and eight in their four defeats.

Before the game, Francona said the Indians have to play clean baseball to be as good as he thinks they can be. Well, they were far from squeaky clean as Cabrera and third baseman Mark Reynolds made the team's eighth and ninth errors of the trip. What the Indians did do was hit and hit in bunches.

Michael Bourn started a three-run first with a sweet drag bunt past left-hander Joe Saunders (9-9, 4.48). Nick Swisher walked, Jason Kipnis advanced them with a bunt and Cabrera knocked them in with a two-run double to the gap in left-center. Carlos Santana followed with a ground-rule double to make it 3-0.

"Bournie set the right tone with that bunt single," Francona said.

After showing off his short game, Bourn went to his driver in the fifth. He hit a 3-2 pitch over the center-field fence for his first career grand slam and an 8-1 lead. The Mariners were able to retrieve the ball and it made the trip back to Cleveland in his equipment bag.

"We got ahead real quick and that's always good for your pitcher," Bourn said. "Kaz was money today. If our pitching keeps giving us performances like that, we could be dangerous."

As for the slam, Bourn said: "I saw a good pitch out of his hand [Hector Noesi] and just put the barrel on the ball. I wasn't really trying to do too much, but I guess that's when things happen."

Cabrera added a homer in the sixth, his eighth of the season and seventh from the left-side of the plate. The Tribe's final run came on Reynolds' double-play grounder in the ninth.

"The win was much needed," Francona said.

Five takeaways on Ohio State after the Big Ten meetings in Chicago, with video

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Doug Lesmerises and Bill Livingston break down the Big Ten meetings.

CHICAGO – With 10 days until the start of preseason practice, Urban Meyer said in Chicago this week that he can't wait for practice to arrive. He can get the players to the coaches, make sure they're focused and get ready for football.

As the Buckeyes prepare for their second season under Meyer, here are five takeaways from these two days at the Big Ten meetings.

1. Meyer is legitimately worried about the leadership on this team. That's not new. His weekly leadership meetings for players already proved that, but so far those fears haven't been alleviated. It seems like his No. 1 guy for taking the lead with this team is left tackle Jack Mewhort. He called Mewhort his “pivot” when talking about how important he is.

2. The offense line depth is his top concern on the field. It seems like Taylor Decker looks like the guy for the one open starting job at right tackle. But Meyer sees what everyone else can as well – one injury and that line could have problems.

3. He likes Braxton Miller. Likes him even more. It's hard to expect a coach to say anything else, but Meyer talked a lot about Miller as a leader and a passer and the steps he has taken.

4. The freshmen will get a shot. Several may get a chance to play serious minutes.

5. Overconfidence is the one thing he feels that can take this team down. And he'll fight it every step of the way. (We'll get into this a lot more at the end of the countdown.)

For a final take on the week, Bill Livingston and I had a chat in this video.


Rep. Dave Joyce's legislation to protect, restore Great Lakes hit by budget cuts: Outdoors Insider

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Rep. Dave Joyce of Russell Township had his legislation to protect the Great Lakes threatened with major funding cuts.

Algae sign at Lake Erie Bluffs.jpgA sign at Lake Erie Bluffs in Perry Township warns of the dangers of algal blooms on Lake Erie. It is a growing Lake Erie problem that Rep. Dave Joyce hoped his new legislation would help cure.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Rep. Dave Joyce must have felt like he'd just been snagged in the back of the head by a treble hook.

The freshman Republican from Russell Township debuted legislation on Monday to finally make a federal case over much-needed funding of protection and restoration programs for Lake Erie and the Great Lakes. He was almost immediately gunned down by his own party.

A Republican-controlled congressional spending panel on Tuesday voted to slash funding for such important programs as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a major component of Rep. Joyce's Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA).

GLRI was the keystone of five federal programs under GLEEPA to get a total of $600 million to restore the Great Lakes. The panel, however, voted to cut GLRI funding by nearly 80 percent, from $285 million to just $60 million.

Rep. Joyce had the numbers. More than 40 million people get their drinking water from the Great Lakes. More than 1.5 million jobs are directly connected to them. The lakes contain about 85 percent of North America's freshwater.

Those of us who live on Lake Erie, boat on its wide waters, admire its sunsets and catch its bounty of walleye and yellow perch are well aware it is a lake in trouble. We've long been facing agricultural and industrial pollution and untreated sewage pouring into the lakes after big rains, a toxic mix helping to coat the big lake with green slime each summer. We've struggled to deal with a steady parade of invasive species. Now we face the horror of an Asian carp invasion, a fish that will change Lake Erie forever when it arrives.

Cutting programs like GLRI only allows Great Lakes problems to multiply. That will make them far more difficult to solve in the future.

Going to the Fair: Fishing, target shooting and paddling a kayak are featured at the 8-acre Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair, which runs through Aug. 3 in Columbus.

Designed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to provide family entertainment and outdoor information, a focal point in recent years has been a youth fishing pond. Open to anglers under the age of 14, the pond is stocked with thousands of bluegill and catfish, the perfect species of fish to handle the summer heat. Cuyahoga County wildlife officer Jesse Janosik has been helping kids to bait hooks and unhook their catch this week, with young anglers allowed to take a fish home for dinner.

A 7,000-square-foot Kayak Pond is giving kids 18 and under lessons in water safety and paddling before donning a life jacket and taking a watery spin. Ohio State Parks officials have daily 11 a.m. sessions of its new Camping 101 program to teach camping skills. Native wildlife is on display, ranging from red fox to a great horned owl and an eagle. The Annie Oakley Shooting Range encourages kids to test their shooting skills with a laser simulator, or shoot a few arrows at an adjacent archery range.

The ODNR Amphitheater is featuring retrieving dog demonstrations, birds of prey, animals from the Columbus Zoo and a lumberjack show from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. each day.

Sportsman's Package introduced: Sponsor Sens. Rob Portman and Lisa Murklowsky, a Republican from Alaska, introduced the Sportsmen's Act on Wednesday. The legislation "would open more federal land for hunters and anglers in Ohio and around the country," said Portman in a press release.

Provisions of the Sportsmen's Package would protect the public right to hunt, fish and shoot on federal land; authorize states to issue electronic duck stamps; exclude ammunition and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act; allow bows to be transported across national park lands, the same as firearms; and use existing revenues to provide increased access to public lands for hunting, fishing and other recreation.

Hadsell, Bury, are new water cops: Ashtabula County wildlife officer Jason Hadsell and Sandusky County wildlife officer Brian Bury have been promoted to Lake Erie Wildlife Investigators by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. They will enforce sport and commercial fishing laws on Lake Erie and around the Lake Erie Islands. Bury will join enforcement crews monitoring western Lake Erie. Hadsell, who began his ODOW career as a Cuyahoga County wildlife officer, will patrol the eastern portion of Lake Erie.

Coming right up: The 9th annual Waterfowlers Boot Camp, a free show with hunting exhibits, calling contests, shooting events and seminars, is Saturday and Sunday at the Cardinal Center Campground in Marengo, Ohio. ... The high power rifle phase of the National Rifle & Pistol Matches begins at Camp Perry on Monday. ... The National Wild Turkey Federation is sponsoring a Youth Outdoor Skills Day on Aug. 4 at the Ohio Sportsman & Farmers league in Copley, and pre-registration (330-414-6535) is needed. ... The National Trappers Convention opens Saturday at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima.

Table tennis player Carlo Wolff: Five questions with the National Senior Games participant

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Carlo Wolff has been playing table tennis since he was nine and resides in South Euclid.

carlo-wolff.jpgView full sizeCarlo Wolff is eager to test his table tennis skills. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Carlo Wolff, 70, is competing in table tennis in the singles and doubles divisions at this year's National Senior Games. He has been playing table tennis since he was nine years old. Wolff currently resides in South Euclid and has lived in the Cleveland area since 1986.

He has been a reporter since 1971 and, upon arriving in Cleveland in 1986, was a freelance journalist for many local newspapers until he went to work at Penton Media Inc. in 1990. Following his retirement from Penton in 2008, Wolff continued on as a freelance journalist until last summer when he had the urge to go back to work. Currently, he works as a staff reporter for the Cleveland Jewish News.

In his career, he has written publications for the Boston Globe, Chicago Sun Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Plain Dealer. He wrote the book Cleveland Rock & Roll Memories, which was published in 2006. This will be the first time Wolff has competed in the National Senior Games.

1. What has been your favorite aspect of Cleveland since you moved here?

A: I like its history and I also like it's navigability. One of the advantages of a shrinking population is you still have big infrastructure. I like its culture, I like the fact that its both the first Midwestern city and the last Northeastern city, I like living here and right now it seems to be at a good time.

2. How did you get interested in table tennis in the first place?

A: It was based on play. We had a table in the basement; I played with my parents. I always kinda liked it, still do.

3. How often do you play competitively?

A: I play competitively less than I used to. I play recreationally two to three times a week at a club in Willowick. Part of the reason I compete less is a lot of tournaments are far away and expensive. I like convenience more than I used too. I still compete where I play though; I'm not against competition. It's just that the tournament circuit can be taxing, that's all.

4. What are your expectations for your first experience at the National Senior Games?

A: I don't think it'll be that different from other big tournaments. There's something called the International Senior Games and I've competed there. This will be a high-level tournament. I think I'll do well, I'll try hard and the great thing about table tennis is your style can win. What I mean by that is I might meet somebody who's rated way higher than I am and is technically much better but if he doesn't get what I'm doing, I might beat him. That's the fun of it.

5. How much longer do you see yourself playing competitively?

A: I'm gonna play until I can't walk. When you're enjoying yourself and playing at your peak, it's a famous phrase, 'you're in the zone' and you're unbeatable. Is it hard to give up? Yeah, it's a good feeling; it's a wonderful feeling. That's why you do it.

What's your top sporting achievement? The Daily Q at the National Senior Games

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Each day we are asking National Senior Games participants a question related to their training or life.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Each day we are asking National Senior Games participants a question related to their training or life.

Today we ask: What is your greatest athletic achievement?

Here is a sampling of responses:

"Winning a medal in San Francisco at the Senior Games." -- Ray Ranallo, 91, Minneapolis, tennis

"Being named to the Big-12's All-Big Swim Team in college." -- Dave Hinderliter, 73, Dawsonville, Ga., swimming

"I played in the first two NCAA final four volleyball championships." -- Bill Wiseman, 63, Toledo, volleyball

"Coming in 15th place in cycling at the National Senior Olympics in Louisville, Ky., which is my hometown." -- Barbara Tretter, 65, Louisville, cycling, shotput, discus and javelin

"I got a silver medal in the high jump several years ago at the Senior Games." -- Barbara Self, 81, Dayton, high jump

"Winning the gold medal at the Senior Games in shuffleboard." -- Marcus Hurley, 65, Roswell, N.M., shuffleboard

"Probably a hole-in-one." -- Ran Swanson, 58, Cleveland, volleyball

"Being 50 and playing in the Senior Games!" -- Jacqueline Stewart, 50, Houston, Tex., volleyball

Josh Gordon comes up limping, but likely just a cramp: Cleveland Browns training camp quick hits

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News, notes and observations from the first day of Browns training camp.

BEREA, Ohio -- Josh Gordon gave fans and Browns coach Rob Chudzinski a scare when he came up limping late in practice after dropping a long bomb from Brandon Weeden. He beat corner Chris Owens to the ball on a double move down the left sideline.

Gordon walked off slowly with a trainer and then spent time stretching his lower left calf and ankle on the sidelines. He sat out the remaining 15 minutes or so of practice, but Chudzinski said it was just a cramp.

"We'll look at him and make sure but I’m not expecting any issues there,'' Chudzinski said. 

• Defensive tackle Phil Taylor sat out with a left calf strain suffered last week. John Hughes started in his place. Tight end Kellen Davis was out with a strained knee. Both are day-to-day.

• Chudzinski, a lifelong Browns fan, was a man of the people before and after practice. He ran over to the fans and high-fived and shook hands at the start of practice and again at the end. Fans barked at him and he pumped his fists.

“It was awesome,'' said Chudzinski. "Just looking out and seeing those young faces out there with their Browns jerseys on and knowing how much that meant to me and how much it means to them. Hearing the dog barks and those kind of things. That’s the kind of excitement we want out there at practice and we want to generate. Our fans deserve it and we plan on giving it to them.”

At one point, after Travis Benjamin came down hard after a leaping grab, Chudzinski presented him to the cheering fans and assured them, "He's alright.''


• Weeden got off to a rocky start in the first team period, but settled down and performed well. He was picked off by Owens on a pass to Gordon down the left sideline, but Gordon may have cut his route short. He later overthrew a wide open Jordan Cameron. He also had an early pass batted down at the line of scrimmage by a blitzing Jabaal Sheard.

But Weeden found his rhythm in the second and third team periods, hitting Davone Bess with a perfect sideline strike and finding Cameron down the deep right sideline. Weeden got the ball out quickly, made good reads and played fast.

"Overall for Day One, I thought we looked pretty good. We started a little bit slow but we picked it up and finished strong. Overall, guys were playing fast. There weren't too many missed assignments. Motions were good, we were playing fast, we didn't have any delay-of-game penalties and we were maneuvering really well. Overall, I believe we looked pretty good."

• Trent Richardson played fast and light on his feet. He took the first rep in team drills, a message that he's healthy.

• Practice featured a rumble to the ground, with big bodies tumbling and fists flying. I trained my binoculars on the very bottom of the pile, and there was six-time Pro Bowler Joe Thomas, in all his glory.

“Joe was in there somewhere,'' said Chudzinski. "I don’t know if he started at the top and ended at the bottom or not, but I was in the melee there, too. It is training camp, energy is high. I am really pleased with the tempo of practice for these guys to have come back and haven’t worked out over the course of the summer and work out with this kind of tempo is outstanding.”

Weeden, on Thomas mixing it up: "That's the way he is. He's a competitor.''

"It's training camp,'' said Chudzinski with a smile.

Added D'Qwell Jackson: "I went the other way. There were bodies flying everywhere.''

• The starting guards were John Greco on the left and Shawn Lauvao on the right.

• Outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo is still working with the second team behind Jabaal Sheard, and Leon McFadden is working with the second team behind Buster Skrine.

• Benjamin has made great strides from last year. He seldom drops a pass and made a number of nice catches, particularly on out routes.

• T.J. Ward broke up a deep ball from Weeden to Greg Little.

• Several receivers changed numbers: Davone Bess purchased No. 15 from Greg Little, who's now wearing No. 18. Gordon has switched from No. 13 to No. 12, to match the tattoo on his back. He wanted it last year, but Colt McCoy had it.




Video: Jimmy Haslam talks about the Cleveland Browns and the Pilot Flying J investigation

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Watch highlights of of news conference with Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam as he discusses the team and the investigation at Pilot Flying J.

BEREA, Ohio --  The Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam talked with the media in Berea about the investigation into Pilot Flying J and how it relates to owning the team as they began the first day of Training Camp.

Haslam apologized once again for the negative attention the investigation has caused.  He is focused on two things, correcting the activities at Pilot Flying J and making the Browns better.

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@CLEvideos


Optimism reigns among Browns fans at opening day training camp

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Another interested observer at the opening day of Browns training camp Thursday was Jim Brown, who many consider the greatest running back in NFL history. "I absolutely see good things out there," he said. "I see a freshness, a team with talented people and executives who know what they're doing...I like it."

BEREA, Ohio -- Hope and optimism took the field Thursday afternoon as nearly 4,000 fans attended the Cleveland Browns' opening practice session.

A new team owner, a new general manage, and a new head coach have inspired fans, plus the dream that the Browns can finally provide a winning season, something that has seldom occurred since the team was reborn as a new National Football League franchise in 1999.

As owner Jimmy Haslam has observed, Browns fans are rabid and devoted, and nothing they said to reporters Wednesday at the Browns Training & Administrative Complex changed that.

"My expectations are always too high," said Kristi Ogden, 35, who drove up from Canton with her husband Josh and 2-year-old daughter Lyric. She sported rainbow-colored hair, and wore a Jim Brown No. 32 T-shirt.

"My dad made me a Browns fan, and I plan to do that with my daughter," Ogden said. "I went to old Municipal Stadium...I lived there in the fall."

Her interest was checking out the Browns' facility -- tours were given earlier by officials -- and to see the players up close as they drilled and practiced.

As to Haslam's legal woes with Flying Pilot J, Josh Ogden said he wasn't concerned the team would have to be sold.

"I'm sure not as worried as Haslam is," he said. "But the good news is the previous owner (Randy Lerner) had no interest in the team. Haslam does."

Mary Summers, 55, of Garfield Heights and her husband, Jerry Simon, 70, were excited to be at the camp.

"I'm a long time fan looking for the Browns to have a fantastic season," Summers said. "Yes, I know everything with the team is new again, but hopefully, we'll see positive improvement. I love the Browns, win, lose or draw."

Simon, who watched and adored past Browns greats like quarterback Otto Graham and running backs Jim Brown and Ernie Green, took more of a wait-and-see attitude.

"I'm getting awfully frustrated with these recent losing seasons," he said. "We really need a good year."

Two Browns fans who actually bought season tickets Thursday for the first time -- Ryan Gray, 30, of Wellington and Mike Powers, 26, of LaGrange, said they expect the team to start winning with the new regime. They were happy Haslam eliminated the Private Seat License costs for the 2013 season tickets.

"Haslam has been making the right moves," Powers said, "and his fan-friendly move to eliminated the PSLs saved Ryan and I $500 each."

Gray added, "It's also very exciting that we got a tour of the Browns facility. And to be this close to the players on the field, for me it's a dream come true."

Fourteen-year-old Taylor Corbett of Parma came with her mother, Doreen, 42, to watch Browns sophomore running back Trent Richardson. Taylor said her two brothers -- Trevor and Travis, who are offensive tackles at Baldwin-Wallace College and Parma High School -- made her into a football fan.

Jose Cruz, 64, of Lorain who sported a long white-and-gray beard, also came to watch Richardson, whom he believes will be the best Browns running back since Brown and his successor, Leroy Kelly.

"As for my beard, I get a lot of comments about it," Cruz said. "At one time, I grew it below my waist."

By far the most unusual fan was Pumpkinhead, aka Gus Angelone, 37, of Parma. He wore a complete Browns uniform with shoulder pads, but wore a plastic pumpkin head. He said he started the trend in 2002, when the Browns changed helmet colors to pumpkin orange.

"Everybody here today is a big Browns fan," Angelonne said. "I just wanted to be a different kind of Browns fan, like the Big Nut is at Ohio State. When pumpkins are in season, I'll wear that instead of the plastic one which has foam and a screen inside to shield my identity."

Another interested observer was Jim Brown, who many call the greatest running back in NFL history. Like the fans, he is highly optimistic. He was hired in May by Haslam for a front office position.

"I absolutely see good things out there," Brown said. "I see a freshness, a team with talented people and executives who know what they're doing...I like it."

Opening day of training also had other new activities. Ford Motor installed sites where kids (and some adults) could try to throw a football through holes in a colorful canvass, and do the same with a soccer ball.

"What a great idea to keep kids occupied," said John Smola of Brecksville. "And we had ideal weather...you can't ask for more."

Another popular area was a tent that contained four huge fan that sprayed cool water.

Food trucks were also available. Dave Long, 31, of Westlake said his Fahrenheit Food Truck -- which is also camped in Tremont -- was busy. He said Haslam allowed the trucks to come in and serve the spectators.

"Our chef, Rocco Whelan, is a huge Brows fan," Long said. "For selfish reasons we're here for business but we also get to watch the practice as Browns fans."

Throughout the practice, fans cheered -- and made catcalls -- as plays were successful or unsuccessful.

When wide receiver Greg Little dropped a throw from quarterback Brandon Weeden, both players were criticized by Browns fans.

""Hey Greg, this ain't high school," one fan moaned.

"Boy, he is such a bum," another yelled.

But a third fan said "It ain't his fault. Weeden still thinks he's playing baseball (he was a minor league pitcher). Did you see the sinker he threw him?"

Fans were a little more tolerant after Little later caught a nice touchdown pass.

"I guess you can keep your job another day," one heckled...but in the good nature most of the crowd displayed.   

Cleveland Browns looking to play a more uptempo offense under new coaching staff

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Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson says uptempo offense has benefits for young defenders, too.

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns weren’t able to woo Chip Kelly to Cleveland, but it appears the coaching staff they hired plans to employ the fast-paced principles similar to the ones Kelly made trendy in Oregon.

Those attending the opening day of training camp saw an offense moving at a much higher tempo than in recent seasons. Coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner are emphasizing pace and efficiency. There’s no standing around. Little wasted motion at the line of scrimmage.

“It’s just two different systems,” quarterback Brandon Weeden said in comparing the offenses of Chudzinski and former coach Pat Shurmur. “You want to play fast all the time. We weren’t tying to play slow last year, but we have a conscious effort to put the play clock at 16 and when we break the huddle the ball is going to snap. ... That’s our mind set: to play fast. Get lined up, don’t move around. That’s our first and foremost goal.”

Guard John Greco said an accelerated offense has been an emphasis since players arrived in Berea for conditioning on April 1.

“I think we embraced it and we had to get used to it because it is hustle, hustle, hustle,” Greco said. “I think it’s only going to be good because it keeps defenses on their heels.”

Inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson said he noticed a difference in practice tempo and believes it will help young players assimilate to the game speed against opponents such as New England. Obviously, the Philadelphia Eagles will be a quicker team under Kelly.

“It’s easy when guys come out and take their time lining up,” Jackson said. “This forces guys to get into their (playbook) if they’re not sure what they are doing and it forces guys to think on the run.”

Table tennis breakdown at the National Senior Games: Event spotlights

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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. Table Tennis Dates of competition: Runs daily through Wednesday, beginning at 9 a.m. See detailed schedule here. Where: Veale Center at Case Western Reserve (2138 Adelbert Road, Cleveland) Notable: There are three table tennis...

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.

Table Tennis

Dates of competition: Runs daily through Wednesday, beginning at 9 a.m. See detailed schedule here.

Where: Veale Center at Case Western Reserve (2138 Adelbert Road, Cleveland)

Notable: There are three table tennis events -- singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Games are played to 11 points and matches are the best of five games. The tournament begins with round-robin pool play to establish the seeding for the championship bracket.

Who to watch: Bob New of Dayton won the 65-69 age division in singles and doubles with Jack Scott in the 2011 Senior Games. He, along with Scott, will look to defend both titles this week in Cleveland, though he is now competing in the 70-74 age division. Chiyako Suzuki of California comes to this year's games as the defending champion in the 60-64 age division in singles and doubles. She will have a new doubles partner this year and is now playing with Linda Cass of Tennessee in the 65-69 age division.

Did you know? Byng Forsberg, who has won the singles tournament five times at the National Senior Games, was nicknamed the "Ponginator" by Arnold Schwarzenegger. During Schwarzenegger's campaign for re-election as governor of California, Forsberg offered to donate $100 if he could play Schwarzenegger in a match. Schwarzenegger accepted the challenge and the two played a friendly match in 2006. Forsberg is competing in the 85-89 age division this year.

-- Teddy Cahill, Special to The Plain Dealer

Sports and clubs at Ohio public schools now open to home-schooled and private school students

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Ohio's new budget says school superintendents must allow kids who are home-schooled or who attend private schools to participate in extracurricular activities -- including sports -- in district schools where they live.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ohio students who are home-schooled or who attend a private school will have the right to participate in extracurricular activities – from sports to marching band to the debate club – at their local public schools starting this fall.

Educators across the state are still figuring out exactly how the new provisions, contained in the recently approved state budget, will work when they officially become effective at the end of September.

But the Ohio High School Athletic Association, despite philosophical and practical concerns, is telling member schools that it already is abiding by the new law.

Deborah Moore, the association’s associate commissioner, said she had testified at a legislative committee hearing that the old policy for participation by home-schoolers, “seemed to be working well for years” and didn’t need to be changed.

Under the old rules, local school boards decided whether to open access to home-schoolers, now numbering more than 10,000 across the state.

Participating students had to partially enroll in the district by taking at least one class, a requirement that helped connect the student to the public school and helped ensure the student was on track for academic eligibility, according to Moore.

Under the new rules, home-schoolers don’t have to enroll in any public school classes. The district where they live must open activities to them. If the home district doesn’t offer a given activity, the home-schooler can ask to sign up with another district.

Word is slowly spreading among parents who home-school. Alina Melanin, a South Euclid mother of four, said her daughter now takes private violin lessons but may want to look into joining the public school orchestra.

“I think it’s a good option to have,” she said.

Almost 180,000 private school students across the state also will gain access to public school extracurriculars under the new law – an opportunity they didn’t have before.

If their private school doesn’t offer the sport or club they want, they can join up at a public school in their home district. They can also use a public school outside their home district, but not for sports or a club that competes interscholastically.

Robert Tayek, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, said diocese educators will have to study the new rules to gauge what the impact will be on local parochial school students.

The high school athletic association is concerned about several potential effects, including how the new set-up jibes with the notion of athletes playing for “their” school.

According to an association release, having team members who don’t attend the school could work against “the notion of citizenship, loyalty and school spirit, the building of a cohesive student body, the promotion of amateurism by drawing athletes from the school’s population only ...”

Moore also cited practical considerations revolving around academic eligibility, accounting and standards:

  • Administrators responsible for certifying academic eligibility have to look at grades and course loads – not necessarily an easy task when the student is home-schooled or attending another school.
  • Student counts determine a high school’s division, but it’s unclear how home-schoolers and private school students will work into those counts.
  • Team members have to sometimes pay fees as well as attend meetings, have signed consent forms and pass a physical – things that could be seen as unwanted bureaucracy by a parent who has chosen to home-school.

Damon Asbury, director of legislative services for the Ohio School Boards Association, said public schools across the state are waiting for more clarification on the new law.

“It could potentially add a significant number of students who wish to compete for positions on teams or clubs,” he said.

On the basketball team, for example, only so many spots are up for grabs, Asbury said. “Some tough decisions may have to be made, and districts will need to be careful not to be subject to claims that they’re showing favoritism to the traditional students.”

Tom Ash, director of governmental relations for the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, said more students participating in extracurriculars could require public schools to add personnel or other resources. “But if we’re talking about a few students, there are probably no financial implications.”

Similarly, losing the requirement that participating home-schoolers be partially enrolled won’t cost districts much in state funding, he added.

Ash said he has been hearing “both complaints and relief” from public school administrators. Having private school students compete for slots on a team is a “whole new wrinkle that could cause some controversy at the local level,” he said.

But others think it will beneficial to get private school students onto public school teams earlier. Many Ohio students go to public high schools after attending private elementary schools that don’t offer certain sports, Ash said.

“They’re going to become our kids anyway. The thinking is now we’ll be able to coach them and teach them what they need before they come to us in ninth grade.”


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