The 2014 Gay Games are expected to draw 11,000 athletes and 30,000 spectators to Northeast Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Before Cleveland was tabbed to host the 2014 Gay Games, Mayor Frank G. Jackson made a singular promise to the selection committee.

“You will be the centerpiece and we will wrap all around you to ensure your success,” Jackson remembered Friday evening.

Cleveland earned the nod in 2012 to host the ninth Gay Games, and Friday’s sold-out gathering in the Terrace Club at Progressive Field signified that the games are exactly 365 days from arriving in sports-crazed and supportive Northeast Ohio.

The YearOUT Gay Games Celebration drew 400 people who wanted to celebrate the 11,000 international athletes who will descend up on the region in a year to not only play sports, but embrace the LGBT culture – and the city of Cleveland, as a whole.

“The exciting thing is it’s more than sports,” said Cleveland resident Alan Hazzard. “It’s the culture, it’s the city. It’s showing off what Cleveland has to offer.”

In return, Cleveland will be able to view some of the more unique sports offered in the Gay Games such as: bodybuilding, chorus, cheer and darts.

Anyone can participate in the Gay Games, board co-chair Hollie Ksiezyk stressed. Athletes don't even need to qualify; they simply must pay a registration fee.

“You don’t have to be gay, you don’t have to be good, you just have to be 18,” Ksiezyk said.

The YearOUT event drew Jackson and city councilman Joe Cimperman, and included a raffle and silent auction that featured an autographed Jason Collins jersey. Earlier this year, Collins became the first openly gay athlete in professional sports when the NBA player acknowledged his homosexuality.

In addition to the fundraising and awareness celebration, board co-chair Steve Sokany also announced Friday that closing ceremonies for the Gay Games will be held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Opening ceremonies will be at The Q, and events will be held around Northeast Ohio.

The games already are halfway to raising its $2.9 million budget, said Ksiezyk, but about 4,000 volunteers still will be needed to help run the 35 sports and ancillary events.

Previous host cities have included San Francisco, Vancouver, Sydney, New York, Amsterdam and Chicago.

More information on how to donate or sponsor can be found at GG9CLE.com.

Jason Dufner left a 12-foot birdie putt a good 18 inches short, settling for a 7-under 63 that tied the major scoring record at the PGA Championship on Friday.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Jason Dufner got on quite a roll after he holed out from the fairway for an eagle at the second hole.

Not that anyone could tell.

The laid-back player who gave us "Dufnering" hardly showed a lick of emotion during his relentless march toward the record book. Then, finally, with a chance to do something that had never been done -- shoot 62 in a major championship -- the significance of the moment finally got to the Cleveland native.

Dufner left a 12-foot birdie putt a good 18 inches short, settling for a 7-under 63 that tied the major scoring record at the PGA Championship on Friday.

"I showed a little bit of nerves there," he conceded. "That's one where you'd like to gun it when you have a chance at history. But I was able to two-putt and share a little bit of history."

Indeed, it was quite a round.

Dufner became the 12th player to shoot 63 in the PGA Championship. Steve Stricker was the most recent to do it, in the opening round two years ago at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

Overall, it is the 26th time a player has shot 63 in a major. It has been done at all four of golf's biggest events.

"The history of the game is something dear to my heart," Dufner said. "To be part of history, to be there forever, is a neat accomplishment. I never thought a guy from Cleveland, Ohio, would be able to do the type of things I've been able to do."

He is best known -- on the course, at least -- for squandering a four-shot lead with four holes remaining at the 2011 PGA. He lost to Keegan Bradley in a playoff.

Dufner gained even more fame this year when a photo emerged of him slumped against a wall, his arms straight at his side, during an appearance in a school classroom. Fans took the Internet to post pictures of themselves in various states of "Dufnering."

He had plenty of momentum after the second hole, when a sand wedge from 105 yards landed above the flag and spun back into the cup. In what passes for emotion in Dufner's world, he doled out a couple of fist bumps to his playing partners.

That was it.

Dufner tacked on five birdies in his bogey-free round, which left him with a two-stroke lead as he walked to the clubhouse.

Dufner was at 9-under 131 midway through the tournament, tying the 36-hole PGA scoring record held by six other players. Shingo Katayama and David Toms were the last to do it, at the 2001 PGA in Atlanta.

But Dufner is hardly in the clear, not on a course that has been easy pickings for the world's best players with its rain-softened greens.

During a round that began in dreary rain and finished in bright sunshine, Webb Simpson shot 64 to tie the course scoring record that was shared by Ben Hogan and Curtis Strange. That lasted only a few hours, before Dufner came along to beat them all.

There were 60s all over the board.

Just not from Tiger Woods.

Mired in the longest major drought of his career, he plodded to a 70 that left him at 1-over 141 for the tournament, a staggering 10 strokes off the lead and facing the very real prospect of being 0 for 18 in the big events since his 2008 victory at the U.S. Open.

Others fared better.

Matt Kuchar shot 66, while 18-hole co-leaders Adam Scott and Jim Furyk both posted 68s, leaving all three tied at 7 under. U.S. Open winner Justin Rose, bouncing back from missing the cut at the British Open, shot 6-under 29 over his final nine holes for a 66 that left him three shots behind Dufner. Henrik Stenson also was 6 under after a 66 of his own. Robert Garrigus (68) and Steve Stricker (67) were 5 under.

Scott is a serious contender for fourth time in the last six majors.

"The platform has never been better for me to go on and win multiple majors," Scott said. "You've got to take the confidence and form of winning a major and run with it."

Last summer, he endured the bitter disappointment of losing a British Open that seemed all but locked up before he bogeyed the final four holes. Instead of moping about that defeat, Scott used it as a catalyst to win at Augusta National, where he defeated Angel Cabrera on the second extra hole.

Three weeks ago, Scott had another Sunday lead on the back nine of the British Open before fading with another run of bogeys.

"I'm playing well in the majors and giving myself a chance," Scott said. "I don't care if they call me the best player as long as I win on Sunday."

Simpson, a former U.S. Open champ, was 7 under through his first 15 holes and flirting with the major scoring mark before a bogey at the seventh -- his 16th hole of the round -- stemmed the momentum. He had one more birdie shot at the eighth, but missed a 10-footer.

"I was thinking about it coming down the last few holes," said Simpson, whose 4-under 136 total left him tied with a group that also included 2010 PGA champion Martin Kaymer.

British Open champion Phil Mickelson knew it was a day for going low, but his game wasn't up to the task. Lefty shot his second straight 71, leaving him 11 shots off the lead and probably too far back to contend for a second straight major title.

Defending PGA champ Rory McIlroy was headed to the weekend after bouncing back from a tough start Friday. He played his first 10 holes at 5 over, but closed with four birdies for a 71 that left him even for the tournament -- nine shots behind.

"I've just got to try to get off to a fast start tomorrow," said McIlroy, who won last year by a record eight strokes at Kiawah Island. "I need to shoot something in the mid-60s to give myself a chance on Sunday."

The Angels bedeviled lefty Scott Kazmir, scoring their five runs before the second out of the game was recorded.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the Indians, the Los Angeles Angels were supposed to be an elixir for the migraine administered by the Detroit Tigers the previous four nights.

Instead, the Angels compounded the Tribe's woes Friday night. They scored five runs in the first inning as the foundation for a 5-2 victory at Progressive Field.

The Indians (62-54) have lost five straight, all at home. Los Angeles (52-62) snapped a four-game slide behind right-hander Jered Weaver's quality start.

The Indians' seven-game homestand began with Detroit kicking them out of the AL Central high-rent district. A three-game deficit in the division swelled to seven. But the Indians still had the wild-card race, and they welcomed the thoroughly disappointing Angels to town.

Now they need to scramble to win a series that concludes Sunday.

• Angels-Indians boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

When starting pitching goes south, the record of the opposition means nothing. The Angels bedeviled lefty Scott Kazmir, scoring their five before the second out was recorded. Kazmir lasted three-plus innings and 63 pitches and exited with the Tribe trailing, 5-1.

Kazmir was coming off a superb performance in Miami, during which he gave up two hits and struck out seven in six innings of a 2-0 victory over the Marlins. Kazmir improved to 7-4 with a 3.89 ERA in 20 starts. His numbers were that much better when viewed through the prism of the previous two seasons, when he worked 1 2/3 innings in the majors and played independent ball for the Sugar Land Skeeters in 2012.

Kazmir remains a great comeback story, but he might be wearing down. He has pitched 114 innings this season after a combined 81 the past two years. He threw 64 for Sugar Land last season.

"It just feels like I'm going through a bit of a dead-arm period,'' he said.

Kazmir will meet with manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Mickey Callaway to adjust his schedule. Kazmir almost certainly will not make his next start on regular rest.

"It wasn't realistic to expect him to get through this season pitching every fifth day,'' Francona said. "He's not injured. He's a little bit tired.''

Kazmir thought after the Miami game that he might be pushed back several days, but his team needed him Friday. Starter Corey Kluber was injured earlier in the week.

"I thought I could gut it out, but it was tough getting good extension and being accurate with my pitches,'' he said. "At the same time, I said I wanted the ball. I wanted to go out there and come up big, especially after the Detroit series. It just didn't happen.''

If Kazmir misses a start, the logical candidate to replace him is righty Carlos Carrasco. The Indians recalled Carrasco early Friday to be a multi-inning reliever, and he went to work immediately. After Matt Albers pitched the fourth, Carrasco gave up one hit in five innings. He became the first Indian to notch five shutout innings of relief since Jeremy Sowers on May 25, 2009.

"Carlos pitched great,'' Francona said. "We've seen him have some pretty good games. We know it's in there.''

Ohio State product J.B. Shuck led off the game with a single to center. Collin Cowgill blooped a single to center, Shuck racing to third. Ultra-dangerous Mike Trout walked on a full-count fastball deemed too wide by umpire Kerwin Danley.

Mark Trumbo hit a two-run single to left, Cowgill hustling to beat Michael Brantley's throw. Chris Nelson struck out swinging, bringing Josh Hamilton to the plate.

Hamilton, a high-priced signing in the off-season, entered the at-bat hitting .163 (15-for-92) with one homer with runners in scoring position. He was hitting .217 overall, .165 against lefties. The struggles meant nothing when Hamilton smacked a 2-2 pitch over the right-field wall for his 17th home run.

Erick Aybar singled before Kazmir retired the next two. Kazmir threw 40 pitches in the inning.

"Starting out, it just didn't look like he had his best stuff,'' Francona said. "Little things led to big things.''

Kazmir followed a 61-pitch start by righty Zach McAllister, who went 2 1/3 innings in a 10-3 loss to the Tigers. Tribe relievers have logged a staggering 19 innings in the past three games.

A five-run deficit is difficult enough to overcome against a decent pitcher. It is mountainous when facing Weaver at Progressive Field. Weaver entered with a 5-0 record and 1.52 ERA in eight career starts here -- the only AL starter since 1916 with a record of 5-0 or better and ERA of 1.52 or lower at any road ballpark.

Weaver, who went 20-5 last year, was not his typically nasty self. While the Indians hit an assortment of liners, Weaver limited their scoreboard damage to homers by Brantley in the second and Asdrubal Cabrera in the fourth.

Weaver (7-5, 2.87 ERA) allowed the two runs on six hits in seven innings. His defense performed splendidly.

"It's hard to play down, 5-0, and Weaver knows what to do with a five-run lead,'' Francona said. "But I thought our at-bats were tremendous. Our guys had a really good approach. We just weren't rewarded.''

The Indians finished with seven hits; no player had more than one.

Trout went 0-for-2 with one run, two walks, two strikeouts and two stolen bases. He extended his on-base streak to 39 games -- second-longest in Angels history. For the season, he is hitting .331 with 20 homers, 70 RBI, 81 runs and 26 steals. Trout, 22, is the youngest player in MLB history with two seasons of 20-plus homers and 25-plus steals.

Catch all the action as 16 teams compete in North Ridgeville for the right to be called East Side or West Side champions. The tournament runs all day at Victory Sports Park in North Ridgeville.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Let the games begin. The inaugural Plain Dealer-Cleveland.com Softball Championship begins today at 9 a.m. at Victory Sports Park in North Ridgeville. Eight teams will play a double-elimination tournament for the right to be called East Side champions; and eight other teams also at Victory Sports Park also will compete to be called the West Side champion.

Next weekend, Saturday, Aug. 17, the East Side champion and the West Side champion will play in the winner-take-all tournament title game at Eastlake’s Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains.

Check back here all day for the latest on the tournament with updates from the tournament Twitter feed, @pdsoftball, as well as Cleveland.com writer Joe Noga and correspondent Joe Ginley; and check below for updated scores and pairings.

Tweets from @dcamp9/pd-cleveland-com-softball

TODAY
EAST SIDE TOURNAMENT

10:15 a.m.

Winners bracket

Warriors vs. Unknowns

Integrity Stainless vs. Stow Dinosaurs

Lifeguard Financial vs. Ohio Lawmen

Finish Line Painting-Franz Auto Service vs. C&M Transport-Firehouse

12:45 p.m.

Winners bracket

Warriors/Unknowns winner vs. Integrity Stainless/Stow Dinosaurs winner

Lifeguard Financial/Ohio Lawmen winner vs. Finish Line Painting-Franz Auto Service/C&M Transport-Firehouse winner

Losers bracket

Warriors/Unknowns loser vs. Integrity Stainless/Stow Dinosaurs loser

Lifeguard Financial/Ohio Lawmen loser vs. Finish Line Painting-Franz Auto Service/C&M Transport-Firehouse loser

3:15 p.m.

Winners bracket

Semifinal

Losers bracket

Two elimination games

4:30 p.m.

Losers bracket

Elimination game

5:45 p.m.

Losers bracket

Elimination game

7 p.m.

East Side championship game

8:15 p.m.

East Side championship rematch, if necessary (if loser of 7 p.m. contest has only one loss)

WEST SIDE TOURNAMENT

9 a.m.

Winners bracket

Laria-Dave Nager Attorney-SPC Sports-Monarch Interiors vs. American Metal Recycling

S.U.B. vs. Shadows

Ironwood Westlake vs. Cook's Sports

PRC vs. Young Guns

11:30 a.m.

Winners bracket

Laria-Dave Nager Attorney-SPC Sports-Monarch Interiors/American Metal Recycling winner vs. S.U.B./Shadows winner

Ironwood Westlake/Cook's Sports winner vs. PRC/Young Guns winner

Losers bracket

Laria-Dave Nager Attorney-SPC Sports-Monarch Interiors/American Metal Recycling loser vs. S.U.B./Shadows loser

Ironwood Westlake/Cook's Sports loser vs. PRC/Young Guns loser

2 p.m.

Winners bracket

Semifinal

Losers bracket

Elimination games

4:30 p.m.

Losers bracket

Elimination game

5:45 p.m.

Losers bracket

Elimination game

7 p.m.

West Side championship game

8:15 p.m.

West Side championship rematch, if necessary (if loser of 7 p.m. contest has only one loss)

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, Aug. 17

At Classic Park, Eastlake

Greater Cleveland Slow-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame Home Run Derby, 6 p.m.

Title game: East Side Tournament winner vs. West Side Tournament winner, 8:15 p.m.

Follow Jason Dufner and all the other golfers in today's third round, and watch the leaderboard all day.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – How about a "Dufnering" picture with the Wanamaker Trophy?

Cleveland native Jason Dufner, who coined the term earlier this year when a photographer caught him sitting slouched against a wall during a visit to a youth center, holds the lead at the halfway point of the PGA Championship.

Dufner blitzed the field Friday at Oak Hill Country Club with a 7-under 63, tying the major scoring record at the PGA Championship, the final major of the year. He stands 9-under overall and mentioned his ties to Cleveland in an interview after his record-tying round.

"The history of the game is something dear to my heart," Dufner said. "To be part of history, to be there forever, is a neat accomplishment. I never thought a guy from Cleveland, Ohio, would be able to do the type of things I've been able to do."

Keep up with Dufner and all the other golfers in today's third round, and watch the leaderboard all day in this blog, which at the bottom of this page features Twitter updates from the PGA Tour, the official PGA Championship account, and more.

Dufner, who lived in the Cleveland area until age 11, and Adam Scott tee off at 2:55 p.m. Scott, Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar are two shots back, followed by Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson at 6-under.

See all of today's tee times here. Play begins at 8:25 a.m.

And look for a similar blog post Sunday for the final round.

Rob Chudzinski said he hopes to get recuperating players such as Trent Richardson and T.J. Ward some playing time Thursday night against Detroit.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Running back Trent Richardson (shin) and safety T.J. Ward (hamstring) will be worked back into team drills this week, and coach Rob Chudzinski hopes to get them some playing time Thursday night against the Lions in the second preseason game against the Lions.

Both players sat out Thursday night's 27-19 victory over the Rams.

“I think we’ll have a number of guys that’ll be back practicing within the next couple days that were out for this game, and we’ll obviously have to see how that goes,'' said Chudzinski. "But I'm expecting Trent to practice and then we’ll see as far as getting him some rep time and getting him some work in the game.''

Dion Lewis replaced Richardson and gained 12 yards on his five carries. Three runs went for one yard or less, including two on which he was knocked back a yard. But he also caught three passes for 22 yards, including a 16-yard catch-and-run on a screen and a 2-yard TD in which he was singled up with rookie linebacker Alec Ogletree in the end zone.

He also converted a third down on the opening drive with an 9-yard gain on a draw, his longest of the night.

"I thought he ran the ball well for what was there for him,'' said Chudzinski. "He showed good vision. He showed good awareness of knowing where he needed to get (for) the first down. He had a couple good plays in catching the ball and doing some things with it after the catch, and scoring the touchdown as well.''

Chudzinski said cornerback Chris Owens, who suffered a strained arch on Wednesday, is among the players that should be back soon. Buster Skrine started and made a good case for himself with a fumble recovery and a breakup.

Leon McFadden also sat out with a pulled groin muscle.

Mingo's night: Linebacker Barkevious Mingo jumped out on tape when Chudzinski reviewed the game film today.

"He was impressive,'' Chudzinski said. "It seemed like he was around the quarterback a lot. He played hard and he did a really nice job on special teams as well, so he showed up well.

"I think the biggest thing for him is just continuing to improve from a technique standpoint and from an understanding standpoint. ... The more experience he gets, the better he'll be.''

Mingo, who made the tackle on the Rams' first kickoff return, got consistent pressure on the pass rush and spun past tackle Joe Barksdale to drop quarterback Austin Davis. Barksdale was penalized trying to trip Mingo on the play.

"It always feels good hitting the quarterback,'' said Mingo. "We can't do it in practice. We got a chance to hit him out there a couple of times, rattle him a little bit, but it felt good.''

So did his first trip through the tunnel.

"Ever since I started playing football, I've wanted to play at this level,'' he said. "Having the opportunity to do it is awesome.''

Good night behind center: Chudzinski was happy not only with Brandon Weeden's performance, but with Jason Campbell and Brian Hoyer too.

In his two series of work with the second team, Campbell produced only a field goal, but sustained a 12-play drive with a pair of third-down conversions.

"I thought (Campbell) did a good job as well,'' said Chudzinski. "He ran and was able to scramble and get out of the pocket for a big pickup for us. There's a good calmness about him and he showed the leadership he needed to.''

Hoyer closed out the second half by completing 10 of 14 attempts for 100 yards, including a 26-yard TD pass to receiver Cordell Roberson.

"Anytime guys go out against competition and play and perform you take stock in that,'' Chudzinski said. "Obviously as the preseason goes on, the intensity ramps up. By the third preseason game, everybody’s doing more gameplanning and it’s more realistic of a mock type week, which is what our plan is. I think that the limited reps in the games you take with a grain of salt and you expect when the guys get in there that they do make good with those reps. and I think we had a number of cases where guys did a good job with the time they had in there.

Kicking duel: The kickers and punters remain even. Rookie Brandon Bogotay made a 25-yard field goal and veteran Shayne Graham made a 41-yarder. The big-legged Bogotay was wide left on a 54-yarder. Punters T.J. Conley and Spencer Lanning each had moments.

"I think that all of those guys had some moments where they shined in terms of things they did,'' said Chudzinski. "I still see it as really close, both from a kicking and punting standpoint. Wanted to give Brandon Bogotay a chance for one of the long ones, because obviously he's got a strong leg and he got a chance at that 54-yarder last night. He pushed it a little left -- there was a cross-breeze going from right to left and he just missed it -- but it was a good experience for all of those guys.''

A good incompletion: Chudzinski was fine with Weeden's throw off Greg Little's fingertips in the end zone on the opening drive.

"It’s so compact down there,'' he said. "You put too much air under it and the receiver’s going to run out of space. I think Greg would have been able to bring it down inbounds but I don’t think Brandon had much more space to leave it any more air. It was close, within a couple inches of being a catch.”

FB debut: Chudzinski was pleased with Chris Ogbonnaya in his first outing at fullback.

“Obi did a nice job,'' he said. "He had a real nice one that stands out in my mind, a real nice block, an isolation block on a linebacker that was blitzing through the line of scrimmage and timed up the snap pretty good.

"His versatility is a good thing for us, and he’s learning and improving the angles as a blocker and being able to execute the blocks and the techniques.”

Practice resumes: Practice opens back up to the public Saturday at 4 p.m. There are four more open practices through Tuesday.

The Cleveland Browns will have to prove it's a new era in September. Until then August is just a tease.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One impressed media outlet called the Browns' offense a "well-oiled machine." A wide receiver received praise for his "great hands," another for superior "route running."

In the words of one satisfied observer, "The offense (the Browns) have trotted out looks entirely different." The linebackers were credited with bringing significant pressure. Their quarterback was, according to almost all, excellent in his efficiency. The play-calling looked crisp and quick.

Who were these masked men?

Well, actually, all that was written in August 2010 and the players in question were as follows:

Great hands -- why, Brian Robiskie of course.

Route running? Well, Mr. Ripley, none other than Josh Cribbs.

The linebackers: Chris Gocong and Scott Fujita.

The quarterback: Jake Delhomme, whose preseason numbers in late August were 38-48 -- a whopping 79.2 percent completion rate.

In baseball, they say you shouldn't trust anything you see in March. Or in September, when the rosters expand and losing teams are already playing for next year. In the case of Mark Reynolds, we now add April to the cruel deception.

In football, we all know it's August.

Yet after so many years of losing football, fans are once again happy to throw caution to the wind. This is not a criticism. Actually, the optimism on display and the resiliency from which it blossoms is admirable.

Only in a football town this rabid can we hear the Browns' praises so lustily sung after one preseason game against a Rams' team that a) played a base defense, b) pulled its starting defensive line after one series and c) last year lost its exhibition opener, 38-3.

Meanwhile, a see-you-next-year exasperation is voiced about an Indians team swept by the Tigers -- even though the Tribe is still in the wild-card hunt and even though no one gave them a serious chance of unseating Detroit for the division title.

Here's four things we can say after a first glimpse at the Browns in 2013:

• The important thing was Brandon Weeden didn't struggle. Inside and outside the organization, seeds of doubt about Weeden could've been fed with a poor game. He held off further criticism by leading two scoring drives.

• Barkevious Mingo didn't look too skinny. Nobody will care if he's sitting on quarterbacks at 230 pounds or 250 pounds, least of all the quarterback.

• Dion Lewis didn't look too small. Lewis looked quick and sturdy enough to be an intriguing complement to Trent Richardson.

• The Browns' offense didn't look as if they it was trying to decipher Advanced String Theory. Hesitation at the line of scrimmage in response to what the quarterback sees is one thing. Last year the Browns consistently arrived late from the huddle.

What does it all mean?

Only that it beats the alternative until September produces evidence that says we can trust our rose-tinted eyes.

SPINOFFS

View full sizeIt's not all bad for Alex Rodriguez, who appears to have some friends in the pro sports industry.Frank Franklin II, Associated Press 

• Mark Cuban told Jay Leno Major League Baseball's treatment of Alex Rodriguez is "horrible." Pointing out that a 100-game suspension for two-time offenders was collectively bargained, Cuban said, "(211 games), that's personal."

Cuban tried twice to buy into Major League Baseball -- once with the Cubs and once with the Rangers -- but his bid wasn't accepted either time. He was not happy, referring to the people who shut him out as "Bud Selig's Mafia."

You know what that sounds like? Like it's personal.

• Cuban makes a point, though. If you were Rodriguez, you'd probably appeal, too, given the oversized suspension.

"Of course, I've screwed up," Rodriguez told USA Today. "I'm still a good guy. Really I am. I'd like one day for people to know it."

Not sure that can happen without personality enhancing drugs.

• Former St. Louis slugger Jack Clark lost his sports talk radio job after saying Albert Pujols was a "juicer." Pujols is suing Clark, who apparently based his opinion on a 10-year-old conversation he had with Pujols' trainer, Chris Mihlfeld.

This is believed to be the first time rampant speculation and poorly vetted opinion has ever been voiced in sports talk radio.

• When Mark McGwire admitted in 2010 to using PEDs, Clark told the St. Louis Post Dispatch that the whole bunch of them -- Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa -- were "fake, phony."

"They're all creeps," he said. "All these guys have been liars."

We'll see where this Pujols thing goes. But at worst, Jack Clark seems to be batting .500 in accuracy.

• Ryan Raburn pitched the ninth inning of a Detroit rout over the Tribe.

That doesn't mean Terry Francona was making a mockery of being swept by the Tigers. The bullpen had been overtaxed in extra innings Wednesday and by a tough Detroit lineup throughout the series.

What it means is Raburn is one more good outing away from taking Ubaldo Jimenez's spot next time the Tribe faces the Tigers.

• Asdrubal Cabrera finally delivered a payoff in the cleanup spot Friday, a night after Francona used a casino reference to explain his decision to keep the struggling shortstop in the middle of the order.

"Anybody play blackjack?" Francona said. "You know you go through runs. If I move Cabrera to sixth or seventh (there will come a time when) he's going to get hot. I'd like to get the most out of it."

Translation: I'm not exactly rolling in choices here and Nick Swisher in the No. 4 spot was a remake of "The Cooler."

• The trade deadline is past and the Indians still need a bat. I don't pretend to have sources in high places but the ones I have tell me Mark Reynolds is available.

• After Jay Bilas searched the NCAA Team Shop online for names like "Manziel" and other college football stars and was immediately linked to jerseys for sale bearing their respective jersey numbers, the NCAA issued a statement saying it's getting out of merchandise sales.

So, NCAA hypocrisy? Gone. No longer exists.

View full sizeIt's entirely possible that this wasn't the worst moment in Tim Tebow's performance Friday against Philadelphia (he's the guy being ganged up on) ... which says a lot about how much the former Heisman Trophy winner struggled in his Patriots debut.Matt Rourke, Associated Press 

• Tim Tebow was 4-for-12 for the Patriots against Philadelphia, entering the game after backup quarterback Ryan Mallett left with a head injury.

Tebow said he has room for improvement. As understatements go, that's like me saying I have room for hair.

• Justin Blackmon, whom the Browns didn't take in the 2012 draft, was escorted from the sidelines after arguing with Dolphins' players and one of his own Jacksonville teammates.

Blackmon, already facing a four-game suspension, is out with a groin injury. Seems Jaguars' defensive end Jason Babin pointed out to him that talking trash wasn't a good look for an injured, suspended player.

Who knew?

• Quarterback Mark Sanchez threw a pick-6 on his team's first series of the preseason.

Among Jets' fans, that's known as mid-season form.

• Sanchez has committed 52 turnovers in the last two seasons. Or, as Michael Vick calls it, "extreme ball security."

• Attorneys for Lance Armstrong and his book publishers say he had a right to lie about his cycling career in his autobiographies.

"People don't always tell the truth," attorney Jonathan Herman said of book authors. Herman spoke in response to a class action suit filed by millions of readers seeking refunds and damages in excess of $5 million.

Don't get any ideas, Spin reader. You can't sue somebody for simply being hopelessly wrong in his opinions.

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Sunday Edition)

Hey Bud:

On August 8th, LeBron James posted a picture of himself going to jury duty in a Cleveland Indians' hat. Since the Tribe was 62-52 and the Yankees 57-56 at that time, was this just another example of his "front runner" worshiping? -- Pat

It was just evidence that he couldn't find his Tigers' hat.

Bud:

Thursday's Spin said your column will be moving to Wednesday's home delivery paper. On behalf of the other five readers, thank you. -- Chas K, Cleveland Hts

It will remain the same column it's always been. So be careful not to run over the kids and the dog while sprinting to your doorstep.

Bud:

When Matt Albers comes in to pitch, do you say to yourself in a deep voice, "HEY, HEY, HEY." -- Eric T. Kiska, Lorain

I'll bet he's never heard that one before.

Bud:

With all of the Pro Bowl game changes, why doesn't the NFL make the winning conference in the game the host conference for the Super Bowl? Oh yeah, because Roger Goodell is not an idiot -- Tim, Canton

What do I have to do to get some of that high praise from you people?

Bud:

Have the Browns found a way to collect rent money from the fish in Lake Erie who use the old Municipal Stadium as a reef? -- Jim Corrigan, Fairview Park

No. Since 1999 it's been easier and more lucrative to collect money from the fish on the season ticket list.

Hey Bud:

How many "You Said It" readers think that MENSA is the brand of bike that their imaginary girlfriend owns? -- Nate J, Brunswick

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

Bud: It is certainly comforting to see Mr. H. doing his best to cover his asset -- Frank Bruno, Westlake

Repeat winners don't get a T-shirt. So sue me.

Bud:

Is this the first Browns' team since 1999 that will actually have to use a slow-mo feature when reviewing their plays? -- Michael Sarro

Repeat winners hurry up and wait for a T-shirt that never comes.

See results from the East Side and West Side brackets.

Whether or not that impacts his decision to bring his basketball talents back to these parts next year remains to be seen.

View full sizeLeBron James made no effort to hide his continuing affection for his hometown of Akron and the children who benefit by his charity efforts.AP file

AKRON, Ohio – It's been 10 years since LeBron James graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary, and three since he left the Cavaliers for Miami.

Saturday at his alma mater, there was a sense the bond he shares with his hometown and old school is gaining strength. Whether or not that impacts his decision to bring his basketball talents back to these parts next year remains to be seen.

In what has become a regular summer reunion of families participating in his foundation's “I Promise” educational program, James was on hand to encourage and celebrate Akron elementary school students who are part of his Wheels for Education. About 350 third-graders who will complete the program this week are to receive bicycles and helmets provided by the LeBron James Family Foundation. The program has grown to include tablets and e-books for Akron schools.

James said the foundation is finding a niche in educational outreach.

“I think we have something good going. Hopefully, we can possibly take it to other places. This is a start,'' he said.

The festive, well-orchestrated event attracted about 3,500 to SVSM's Cistone Field near downtown, as well as some national media. Many were eager to see James, wearing a black and red “Akron” hat, white T-shirt and red shorts. He arrived driving his sleek white BMW 760li with blacked-out windows and Florida plates, a reminder of his more permanent home away from home.

James, 28, and his family stayed for a couple hours, hugging and greeting old friends. James spoke on a stage in the middle of the football field, flanked by rows of red bicycles and cheering kids on the field.

Saturday night, he returned as the encore to a fashion-show unveiling of new uniforms he donated for SVSM athletes, band members and cheerleaders. James delighted in bouncing onto a runway stage dressed in the new SVSM football uniform, all black, in full pads and a helmet, which he ripped off after several poses. He immediately was mobbed on stage by students. He reveled in the moment, then accepted a piece of SVSM's old gym floor before posing for photos with other athletes dressed in their uniforms.

"It is awesome, man, to be able to go back,'' he said afterward. "I didn't have a college. This is my college atmosphere. I have fun with all kids, and to be in a position to give back, it means everything.''

The uniforms will go well with the gym renovations he's funding to the tune of $1 million, his first major donation to the school. LeBron James Arena is scheduled to open Oct. 1.

Foundation executive director Michele Campbell said James has matured as a philanthropist.

“It's time to give,'' she said. James agreed.

“I do it because I have passion,'' James said. “I do it because I want to do it. It's not that someone came to me and said you should do this because you owe it to them. It's been instilled in me to give back.

“This is my city, 190,000 of us. In the grand scheme of things, (giving back) wasn't hard at all.''

James being at SVSM hardly is news. He's been there almost every day working out since returning from a promotional trip to China in late June. James still has a home in Bath Township.

“I wish I could spend more time here,'' he said. “Anytime I get some down time and some free time, I come back home and it's an opportunity to do absolutely nothing besides working out.''

While a swirl of resentment over James departure to the Miami Heat still lingers among some in Northeast Ohio, SVSM is safe haven. Students and administrators say James appears at ease in the school's gym, weight room and hallways during almost daily visits. He is careful to arrange grueling workouts, some lasting close to three hours, around the schedule of fall sports teams' practices, so he doesn't disrupt their activities.

“I feel like he calls this place home. He's so comfortable here. He makes everyone else feel like it's a home to him,'' junior soccer player Allison Coughlin said.

James attended Akron public schools before enrolling at SVSM. Athletic Director Andy Jalwan spoke of James' important role in the school historically and presently, and his comments seemed to apply to Akron students as a whole.

“The kids never tire of seeing him,'' he said. “They're always in awe. They look up to him. They feel because they are at the place he came from, they can do big things, too. You can't teach that.''

Has Mike Brown's demeanor changed prior to his second time leading the Cavaliers?

Hey, Mary: Can you tell if Mike Brown's demeanor has changed since the first time he coached the Cavs? I always felt the players liked him, but never really respected him. -- Otis Taylor, Solon

Hey, Otis: I don't think Brown's even-handed demeanor has changed, but I disagree with your assessment of the players' reaction to him. I think, for the most part, they liked and respected him. How can you not respect a coach who had a .663 winning percentage? I think back to the day he was named NBA coach of the year in 2009 and the players gathered around to help him celebrate. I think that was genuine affection based on respect.

Hey, Mary: Is there any chance we get to see some of the head-to-head battles of Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Jarrett Jack in practice this year? I'd really like to watch these three get after and challenge each other. -- Johnny Wells, Cleveland

Hey, Johnny: If you get to see any of those, let me know how they go. Though NBA rules require the media to be admitted to watch part of practice, the part we see usually involves free-throw shooting and/or shooting games.

Hey, Mary: Do you have any idea if the Cavs are going to don the yellow jerseys next season? And also, when do team practices start? -- Andy Cho, N.J.

Hey, Andy: At home, the Cavs will wear white or gold jerseys, so you'll see the gold jerseys often. Training camp will open Oct. 1.

Hey, Mary: When did Andrew Bynum have the Orthokine procedure and has he talked about it since he got to Cleveland?  Are the Cavs doctors following up with more injections and/or rehab treatment, or is that all being handled exclusively in Germany? Also same for Greg Oden, he must have done all that on his own dime? -- Rick Watts, Columbus

Hey, Rick: We have not talked to Bynum about the surgery he had last September in Germany, but the team doctors and athletic training staff have taken over his rehab. According to press reports, Oden had the surgery in May, 2012. I have no idea what kind of insurance he might have or how he paid for it.

Hey, Mary: Now that the schedule is set, do you think a 6th to 8th seed is possible? I know they haven't played a game yet I just want your expert opinion. -- Kevin Cooper, Cleveland

Hey, Kevin: I certainly think that's what the Cavs are shooting for, and I think it's well within reason, but it all depends on how healthy they are.

Hey, Mary: What specific renovations are the Cavs doing to the arena this year? Will there be new jerseys or a new arena or anything? -- Safwaan Brown, Cleveland

Hey, Safwaan: There are no specific additional renovations scheduled for The Q at this point, though they did complete an extensive (and expensive) upgrade of the WiFi and cell phone service at the end of last season. The Cavs jerseys will remain the same as last season -- white or gold at home and wine on the road.

Hey, Mary: Are the Cavs going to re-sign my man Daniel Gibson? He's got veteran leadership and can space the floor. What's not to like? -- Yanni S., Beachwood

Hey, Yanni: I think Gibson's time here is over. Injuries limited him to 35 and 46 games the past two seasons, and he shot 35 and 34 percent the last two years.

Hey, Mary: What team did the most to catch up to the Heat this off-season, and who seems most likely at this point to unseat them? -- J. Smith, Rocky River

Hey, J:  I'm not sure anyone is going to catch the Heat if LeBron James continues to play the way he has been. But I like what the Indiana Pacers did, especially since they took the Heat to seven games in the Eastern Finals last season. They traded for Luis Scola, signed Chris Copeland from New York and CJ Watson from Brooklyn. Plus they get Danny Granger back.

Hey, Mary: How is Anderson Varejao doing these days?  Haven't heard a detailed update in a while.  Will there be any lingering problems this season?  By all accounts, the blood clot was life threatening and we're very lucky he is still with us. -- James McKay, Cleveland

Hey, James: Varejao is doing great. He's off his blood thinners and is recovering from his quad injury and working his way back onto the court. While he has spent a lot of time at Cleveland Clinic Courts this summer, he's back in Brazil now getting ready for his wedding in September. All blood clots can be potentially life threatening if not caught and treated, so he's fortunate to have received great medical care.

Hey, Mary: Do you know how much Andrew Bynum weighs and if he will be fit for opening night? -- Zanati Williams, Edmonton, Calif.

Hey, Zanati: That is the $6 million question (the amount of money Bynum is guaranteed out of his his $12 million salary). Although I've been told he has been working out religiously here, there have been no updates since he told reporters he weighed 305 during his introductory press conference and wanted to lose 15 to 20 pounds. His goal is to be ready to go for training camp.

Excerpt: Carlos Carrasco will start for Scott Kazmir on Wednesday against the Twins so Kazmir can get a couple of extra day's rest because of a tired pitching arm. Watch video

Scott Kazmir won't make his next start on Wednesday to give his arm a couple extra day's rest. (Ted S. Warren, Associated Press)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lefty Scott Kazmir has a rest coming his way. Manager Terry Francona says the longest it could be four days, but at this time of the year there are no guarantees.

One thing is for certain, Kazmir won't start Wednesday against the Twins at Target Field because of a "dead arm." Carlos Carrasco, recalled before Friday's 5-2 loss to the Angels, will make Kazmir's start.

"Carrasco will start in Kaz's spot Wednesday," said Francona on Saturday. "The plan is we're trying to bump Kaz back a couple of days at the minimum. The most we could give him was four days because of days off.

"I think the rest would help him. I told him that's the plan, but if somebody gets knocked out early we'll have to revisit it."

Kazmir started Friday against the Angels and lasted three innings, allowing five runs on four hits, in his first loss in 10 starts. After the game, Kazmir told reporters his arm felt fatigued.

"I've felt it the last couple of starts," said Kazmir. "Just a little fatigue. After I got through those starts I felt like I wanted to just keep it going and get through these next couple of starts and then we have a lot of off days after that. That was the design.

"We'll see how it goes."

A lot of pitchers go through a "dead arm' period in spring training, but Kazmir says he's never had it before.

"Normally I get stronger as the year goes on," said Kazmir. "If I can just get past this, I'll be fine."

Francona attributed Kazmir's "dead arm' to his lack of innings over the last two seasons. Kazmir pitched 17 innings in 2011 and 64 for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League.

 "I definitely think that's why," said Francona. "It's so commendable on his end that he has, to this point, done what he's done. ... It's a testament to the work he's done. To answer the bell every five days all season is not easy for anybody."

Carrasco, who has repeatedly stubbed his toe in his big-league trials this season, worked the last five innings Friday. He held the Angels scoreless on one hit, three walks and four hits.

Francona liked what he saw, but had some reservations.

"It's a little difficult in a game like that," said Francona. "Sometimes a team gets a lead like that and they don't grind out their at-bats. It's human nature.

"But also, he came in throwing strikes, throwing 97 mph and throwing his breaking ball for strikes. If he does that against any lineup, he's going to be OK."

 The Rock remembers: Rocky Colavito, one of the most popular players in Indians history, was in town as a guest of the team to celebrate his 80th birthday. There was a sold-out luncheon in his honor at the Terrace Club on Saturday afternoon and he threw out the first pitch to a standing ovation before the Tribe played the Angels.

In talking to reporters, Colavito, who hit 190 homers in eight years for the Indians, touched on a number of subjects:

The day's festivities: "It's hard to put in words. So many people remembering you. They tell their kids about you, and they remember you. It's a wonderful feeling. "

Cleveland: "I've always felt like this is my town. I love Cleveland. It's my favorite town in the world. That's the God's honest truth. I'm not blowing smoke at anybody because I don't have to."

Four-homer game vs. Baltimore on June 10, 1959: "It wouldn't have been my best memory if I ever played on a pennant winner. But as a single game, that's the one I remember the most. I remember it vividly. How many guys hit four homers in one game?"

His approach at the plate: "I wasn't about hitting home runs. I just tried to hit the ball as hard as I could as far as I could."

Do you have an opinion on players who use steroids: "Yes, I do. I'm glad you asked me. They're cheaters. They cheat."

Do you believe in the Curse of Rocky Colavito: "That's one of the all-time fallacy's. Terry (Terry Pluto, Plain Dealer columnist who wrote the book of that name) did a great job with that. ... There's a lot of things they said I said that I never said."

Finally: Michael Brantley didn't start against lefty C.J. Wilson on Saturday night. He has appeared in 111 of the Tribe's first 116 games.

The departure of Mark Reynolds has created more playing time for Ryan Raburn and Yan Gomes. Reynolds was designated for assignment last week.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seen and heard at Progressive Field.

Yan Gomes' production at the plate and behind it have led to more playing time.(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

Clubhouse confidential: With Mark Reynolds being designated for assignment last week, utility man Ryan Raburn and catcher Yan Gomes are getting more playing time. That was the case before Reynolds was designated.

"What had happened is that we were looking to get Gomes more playing time because of the way he's played," said manager Terry Francona. "With Raburn, his production made it increasingly harder to get Reynolds in the lineup."

Testing, testing: Right-hander Brett Myers, who has been on the disabled list since April 20 with a sore right elbow, threw off the mound Saturday and said his elbow didn't hurt. Recently, he's been able to play catch, but as soon as he started throwing off the mound, his elbow would complain.

"For the last week or so I haven't felt it when I've thrown off the mound," he said. "But I haven't thrown any of my pitches except the fastball because that's the pitch I was feeling it on. I've been letting it go at about 80 to 85 percent."

Stat of the day: Jered Weaver of the Angels beat the Indians on Friday to improve to 6-0 at Progressive Field with a 1.64 ERA. Weaver's ERA, according to Elias Sports Bureau, is the fourth-lowest for any active pitcher as a visitor at any current ballpark with a minimum of 60 innings. Here are the top four: Clayton Kershaw at AT&T Park (0.78), Brett Myers at Wrigley Field (1.48) and Clay Buchholz at Rogers Centre (1.49).

Receivers coach Zach Smith said Spencer is the veteran receiver he has been most pleased with in camp so far.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The veteran Ohio State receivers didn't punch any reporters in the face over all the Dontre Wilson questions Saturday. Yet.

The freshman receiver from Texas and one-time Oregon recruit who flipped to the Buckeyes after Chip Kelly left for the NFL has been the talk of Ohio State's preseason camp. And for good reason. Everyone says the 5-10, 174-pound Wilson has the type of speed and wiggle that can help Ohio State right now.

“Man, I'm going to tell you, that little joker there is quick,” junior receiver Evan Spencer said Saturday. “He is so explosive, and you never know where he's going and what kind of move he's going to make. He's a real guy.”

Wilson made another move Saturday. He and linebacker Mike Mitchell, a fellow Texan, became the second and third freshmen to have their black helmet stripes removed, signifying that the coaches see them as players truly ready for college football.

But it's not only about the new guys. The Buckeyes are returning 109 catches, 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns from last year's receivers, mostly from Philly Brown and Devin Smith but with Spencer, Chris Fields and Michael Thomas adding in some numbers, too. One of the best things the four new receivers on the roster – freshmen Wilson, Jalin Marshall, James Clark and junior college transfer Corey Smith – can do is remind the veterans that there are other options.

Urban Meyer said the Buckeyes didn't have enough playmakers for parts of last season. So the receivers who were here last year have to prove they still deserve to stay as primary parts of the offense. Even if they know what they're doing in the offense, they can't take anything for granted. Spencer, who had 12 catches for 136 yards last year, got the message.

“Evan Spencer has really had a great eight practices,” receivers coach Zach Smith said. “What he's shown flashes of at times he's really done consistently (now). He's probably the one I'm most pleased with the step he took.”

Smith made it clear that it's not that he's displeased with Brown (60 catches, 669 yards) or Smith (30 catches, 618 yards), but that Spencer has come further. He also had further to come. But if wants a role, now is the time to prove it, with 10 receivers on the roster.

“I feel like I am developing a little bit more as a route runner,” Spencer said. “That's the main thing this year, to focus on making sure I get in and out of cuts, and every time the ball's up in the air, I go get it.”

Players like Spencer do have experience on their side. Meyer said before camp he wanted to get the entire offense installed and explained in the first five days, so the Buckeyes have done that. Now, Smith said, it's just refining and tweaking until the end of the camp. That gives the vets a chance to show what they know. Smith called it Football 201 as opposed to Football 101.

“The freshmen come in and they start at ground zero. You're teaching them how many yards are on the field,” Smith said.

Their speed has impressed. Not just Wilson. Of Clark, for example, Smith said, “he can fly,” and he called him functional in other areas as a receiver. But he also explained the realization that comes with not being the fastest guy on the field anymore.

“They're like, 'Whoa, I'm the guy. I'm really fast – and so is everyone else,” Smith said. “They've got to learn to combat that with fundamentals.”

That's where a guy like Spencer is at this point, in his third camp in his third season. The freshmen are coming, and he'll do anything he can to help them, wanting them “to feel like they've been at it as long as I have so they can be a little more comfortable,” Spencer said.

But they haven't. Yet.

“We've got a lot of young guys that are really good. We've got a lot of competition,” Spencer said. “That's what drives me and everyone else to continue to get better.”

The freshmen will get better, too. When that speed knows what it's doing, the competition will really be on.

Oak Hill finally had enough elements for a strong test Saturday in the PGA Championship, and Jim Furyk was up for the fight.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Oak Hill finally had enough elements for a strong test Saturday in the PGA Championship, and Jim Furyk was up for the fight.

Grinding to the end in swirling wind that cast doubt on so many shots, Furyk closed with two big putts -- one for birdie to regain the lead, one for par to keep it -- that gave him a 2-under 68 and a one-shot lead over Jason Dufner going into the final round.

Coming off an 18-foot birdie putt on the 17th, Furyk hit his 3-wood so badly on the 472-yard closing hole that he couldn't have reached the green even if he had been in the fairway. He hit a solid shot over the bunkers and back into the fairway, watched his third shot spin off the green onto the fringe, and he gave an emphatic fist pump when his 15-foot par putt curled in the left side of the cup for par.

"Obviously, I made a bad swing," Furyk said. "This week, I haven't let too much bother me. It was a nice way to finish the day."

Sunday doesn't figure to be any easier -- not the course, and not with the guys chasing him.

Dufner thought he had missed another putt on the 18th hole until gravity pulled the ball into the side of the cup for a par that gave him a 71. Sure, it was eight shots worse than his record-tying 63 on a soft course Friday, but at least he got into the final group at the PGA Championship for the second time in three years.

Henrik Stenson, a runner-up at the British Open three weeks ago, dropped only one shot over the last 16 holes and ran in a pair of 12-foot birdie putts for a 69 and was two shots behind. Sweden's odds of winning a major have never been this high. Stenson will play in the penultimate group with Jonas Blixt, who had a 66.

The surprise was Masters champion Adam Scott, who was poised to seize control at any moment.

Scott blasted a driver on the uphill, 318-yard 14th hole that was so pure he snatched his tee from the ground as the ball was still rising. It stopped 25 feet below the cup, and he had an eagle putt to tie for the lead. The Australian two-putted for birdie, and two holes later fell back with a double bogey on the 16th. Scott escaped further damage with a 15-foot par save on the 17th and managed a 72. He was four shots behind, along with Steve Stricker, who had a 70.

Those were the only five players within five shots of the lead. Whether more join the chase depends on Furyk, who was at 9-under 201.

Still with an outside chance was Rory McIlroy, who came to life with three birdies over his last six holes for a 67. McIlroy, trying to join Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington as the only repeat winners of the PGA in the stroke-play era, knocked in a 40-foot birdie putt on the 17th and then showed more emotion than he has all year when he chipped in for birdie on the 18th.

"It was good to feel the sort of rush again," McIlroy said.

He was at 207, still six shots behind.

Woods, meanwhile, will have to wait eight more months to end his drought in the majors. He opened with two bogeys in three holes and shot a 73 to fall 13 shots behind. It was a shocking performance from the world's No. 1 player, mainly because he was coming off an eight-shot win at Firestone that included a 61.

Woods has made only seven birdies in 54 holes -- four of them on par 3s.

British Open champion Phil Mickelson was even worse. He sprayed the ball all over Oak Hill on his way to a 78, matching his highest score ever in the PGA Championship.

Furyk wasn't overly excited when he opened this championship with a 65 to share the lead with Scott, and he has kept his eyes in front of him since then. He wasn't even sure what the leaderboard looked like, except that his name was at the top.

"I'm comfortable with where I'm at," Furyk said. "There's a crowded leaderboard at the top, and instead of really viewing it as who is leading and who is not, I'm really viewing it as I need to go out there tomorrow and put together a good, solid round of golf. Fire a good number and hope it stacks up well."

No one looked terribly comfortable at the start, not with the swirling wind and water hazard that winds its way along the front nine.

U.S. Open champion Justin Rose fell apart early with back-to-back double bogeys that sent him to a 42. He wound up with a 77. Scott opened with a 20-foot birdie putt, only to follow with back-to-back bogeys. And when Dufner ended his string of pars by driving into the creek on No. 5 for double bogey, it appeared that this tournament was wide open.

The leaders steadied themselves, leaving the Sunday still up for grabs but likely among fewer players.

Furyk spoke earlier in the week about the sting of losing in the big events, and he's had a share of them, such as his runner-up finish in the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont near where he grew up, and last year at Olympic Club when he lost the lead on the 70th hole by snap-hooking his tee shot on a par 5.

Scott knows as well as anyone how unpredictable a final round can be.

He was four shots up with four holes to play at the British Open last year and watched Ernie Els win the claret jug. At Muirfield last month, Mickelson came from five shots behind on the final day and won by three.

"I would like to be leading," Scott said. "Four back is well within reach. Anything can happen in a major. We just saw the pin spots get tough today, and scoring in the final groups was very difficult. With so much danger around, it's hard to be completely free where major pressure is on the line. Tomorrow is going to be similar."

Rocky Colavito talks everything from being traded, to steroids, to how the game is played today.

The Indians haven't won the World Series since 1948. Some people blame Jose Mesa. Others blame Rocky Colavito -- or, more accurately, the man who traded him.

Browns receiver Josh Gordon defended himself against criticism of poor work habits.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns receiver Josh Gordon, who's come under fire the past few months for everything from his suspension to being a Heat groupie to loafing in drills, defended his work ethic Saturday after practice.

During the June minicamp, he was ripped by Sports Illustrated writer Greg Bedard for his lack of hustle, and others have questioned why he's not working overtime after practice with Brandon Weeden like Greg Little's been doing.

"(As for) loafing, I mean certain people see different things when they look at me run or look at me move,'' said Gordon. "It might look slow ‘cause I’m a little bit larger to play at my position. So it might be a little bit deceptive, hard to look at it. It looks like, compared to everybody else, a little bit shorter strides, shorter movements, but I go out here 100 percent every day I come out here.”

As for why he's not seen running extra routes with Weeden after practice the way Little does, Gordon said lately he's been receiving treatment after practice, presumably for the patellar tendinitis in his knee that's been bothering him most of camp and cost him two practices at the end of last month.

"The past few days I've just been going inside to the doctor, getting treatment and stuff like that, taking care of my body for my needs,'' he said. "I do other things as well, like looking at film, and then other times I might not be out here, but I'll be inside catching JUGS or doing different things, stretching and stuff like that.''

For the most, he said, he and Little have been doing the same things after practice.

"It's something I’ve been doing actually,'' he said. "We actually take some of the same regimens and routines from each other. Different days are different things. We pretty much have some of the same work ethics, but he’s doing a great job.''

Gordon, who caught two passes from Weeden for 27 yards in Thursday night's 27-19 victory over the Rams, said he practices as hard as the coaches want him to.

"I believe I do,'' he said. "It's definitely just trying to learn the offense (that) was a big deal, learning exactly where to go. The verbiage was totally different, a little bit more confusing, almost the opposite of (what it was) and a lot to grasp. But I’m pretty good at it now. You think a lot less, you move a lot faster, so that’s what I’m working on right now.''

He said the vibe is the same behind closed doors.

"They seem pretty happy,'' he said. "They make it known not just for me but for the team as well. We just want a sense of urgency out there for everybody to go out there and feel like we have something to play for and go as hard as we can, no matter what.”

Gordon said the tendinitis is something that's bothered him for a while, including last season, but that he doesn't expect it to hinder him this year.

"It's fine,'' he said. "It's pretty much from a heavy workload, just moving a lot off the right foot, planting and stuff like that. But really, it's nothing more than just maintenance work, just stretching, taking care of it when I need to, just ice and stuff. Nothing more than what I can handle though.''

He said it was there last season, "but I definitely fought through it, so it wasn't a big deal for me.''

He said he may have aggravated it that first day in practice when he came down hard on his leg and sat out the rest of the session with a calf issue.

Gordon said he's putting a premium on these four preseason games to help deal with his two-game suspension for a positive codeine test.

"Each game is just as valuable as the next, but for me, considering my circumstances, I just want to take it as a learning curve.

"I just get out here and get as many reps as I can, mental reps, and stay in shape. To me, these are my games.''

He said his chemistry with Weeden is "right where we want it to be. We’re always going to work on it, getting it better and it’s step by step each week."

Gordon said the new vertical system is much better for him.

"I actually think it is easier than it was even last year to learn this offense,'' he said. "Learning something new is always going to be difficult, but now I definitely like it. It seems a lot easier to run the number system for me. I’m definitely grasping it a lot better.”

Gordon's improvement hasn't been lost on his teammates.

"Josh is coming along really well,'' said quarterback Jason Campbell. "He's picking up the offense. This offense is good for big guys like himself. As long as he continues to put his best foot forward and continues to try to get better and better, the sky's the limit for him.''

Laria Softball claimed the West Side Tournament title with an 18-15 eight-inning win over American Metal Recycling in the inaugural Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com Softball Tournament at Victory Sports Park.

View full sizeLaria Softball claimed the West Side championship in the Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com softball tournament on Saturday. Laria did not lose a game in the tournament.Joe Noga, cleveland.com

NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio - With the West Side championship of the inaugural Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com Softball Tournament hanging in the balance, perhaps the biggest hit of the ballgame was one that ended up counting as an out.

American Metal Recycling had battled Laria Softball to a 15-15 tie on Saturday with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning at Victory Sports Park.

With the bases loaded, American Metal's Caleb Hill hit what would have been a walk-off grand slam to win the game.

The only problem was, American Metal had already hit its limit of six home runs. When the ball carried over the fence, Hill was called out, breathing new life into Laria and helping them to an 18-15 win.  In the East Side title game, the Ohio Lawmen held off the Unknowns, 21-18. Laria and the Lawmen will play for the tournament title next Saturday evening at Classic Park in Eastlake.

"That was a just a bad spot for him to hit a ball that well," said Laria pitcher Adam Young. "He just got under it and put it out. All they really needed was a fly ball there."

Laria settled down, got the final out of the seventh, and went to work in extra innings.

Pinch hitter Brian Williamson smacked an RBI single to center, and shortstop Ryan Cavanaugh followed with a 2-run double to give Laria a 18-15 lead.

Young and the Laria defense shut down American Metal in the bottom of the eighth to seal the win.

Cavanaugh said afterward that the "grand slam that wasn't" really lifted Laria when its back was against the wall.

"As soon as that happened, you could see their side deflate a little. It gave us life," Cavanaugh said.

View full sizeLaria Softball's Mike Bailey clubs a 3-run home run to left field in the championship final against American Metal Recycling.Joe Noga, cleveland.com

Young had a big game at the plate with four RBI including a 3-run homer in the fourth inning. Cavanaugh added two doubles and four RBI and Josh Underwood added an RBI double.

Laria Softball, which is also sponsored by Dave Nager Attorney, SPC Sports and Monarch Interiors, also got a lift from cleanup hitter Mike Bailey Jr.

Bailey crushed a three-run homer to left in the sixth inning and received hearty congratulations from his teammates for his effort.

"Mike's been doing it for us all year. He's our power hitter," said Laria manager Joe Garrett. "The guy is going through a tough spot. His dad is fighting ALS, but he's never let it get him down. He's been a great teammate."

Bailey said the West Side tournament win represents to him what it means to play for Laria Softball.

"We're all team players," he said. "When my father was diagnosed earlier this year, the team really rallied around the idea that one of us was broken. We dedicated the season to playing and honoring him."

NOTES: American Metal's Buddy Wolf had a big game at the plate in the final, including a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth that ignited his team's initial rally... American Metal's Mark Morgano clubbed a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth and Shaun Green added a 3-run blast in the bottom of the seventh. 

Lawmen earn the right to take on Laria Softball next Saturday for the tournament championship at Classic Park in Eastlake.

NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio - Heading into the first ever Plain Dealer-Cleveland.com Softball Championship, Ohio Lawmen manager Brad Borowy expressed some anxiety.

The Lawmen had never competed in a civilian softball tournament and worried about how difficult transition would be. The team’s concerns would turn out to be unfounded, as it came back to defeat Unknowns-Farasey Steel-Faces Lounge in the East Side title game, 21-18.

Next Saturday at Classic Park in Eastlake, the Lawmen will take on Laria Softball for the overall tournament title. Laria won the West Side title over American Metal Recycling, 18-15 in eight innings this evening.

“I wasn’t surprised by our play, because we play hard all the time,” Borowy explained, “But it was nice to know that we ventured out into the civilian world and we made a pretty nice statement.”

After three games in a row to advance to the East Side Tournament final, the Lawmen prepared for a showdown with the Unknowns, a name suited for a team that few in the tournament had heard of. But the Unknowns, having won three of their four games, would prove to be worthy adversaries for the Lawmen.

The Unknowns stormed out to a 12-0 lead after only two innings of play. The Lawmen did not record a base hit until the third inning, but once the Lawmen’s offense gets in gear, it never stops.

The Lawmen responded to the deficit by scoring in each of the next four frames. Each member of the squad contributed to the rally, as ten of the team’s 11 batters notched a hit.

But the majority of the comeback occurred in the fifth, when the Lawmen exploded for 13 runs, stringing together seven consecutive hits before the Unknowns could record an out. Dusty Bowling, Butch Castor, Eric Fisher and Rob Pajestka powered the offensive surge, as each blasted a two-run home run in short succession. When the dust settled, the Unknowns were trailing, 18-13.

“We do that a lot: We come out sluggish,” Borowy said. “These guys never give up. They keep fighting.”

Suddenly on the verge of elimination, the Unknowns responded with a rally of their own. Sparked by their premier power hitter Avery Rucker, the visitors managed a five-run response in the sixth. Thanks to some stellar fielding plays, the Unknowns held the Lawmen to only one run in the bottom half of the inning.

With pitcher Eric Fisher on the mound for the critical seventh frame, the Lawmen held onto a tenuous 21-18 lead. As the top of the Unknowns’ order stepped up the plate, many of the Lawmen faithful waited to see if the undefeated favorites could hold off the dangerous Unknowns. The Lawmen retired the side before Rucker (4-for-4 with three round-trippers and nine RBI in the game) could step to the plate.

All in all, the Lawmen’s first foray into civilian softball could not have gone much better. With the victory, the Lawmen clinched the trip to Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains. Castor was 3-for-4 on the game with two homers and four RBI. Fisher batted 4-for-4 with a double, home run and five RBI.

“I’m very pleased with how the guys performed,” Borowy said. “And the competition was good as well.”

- By Joe Ginley, Special to The Plain Dealer

The Indians committed a season-high four errors Saturday night in a 7-2 loss to the Angels. It was their sixth straight loss.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's August and suddenly the 2013 Indians look a lot like the 2012 Indians.

Remember last August? The Indians went 5-24, the worst month ever for a franchise that has been playing American League baseball since 1901. It spawned Zombie Baseball and cost manager Manny Acta his job.

The Indians, who committed a season-high four errors in Saturday night's 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at Progressive Field, look a lot like they did then. They've lost six straight and are 3-7 in August.

"Anyone who went through that last year is going to start thinking about it when we start losing five or six in a row," said Ubaldo Jimenez, who took Saturday's loss. "But this is a different team. We show up every day trying to do our thing."

Perhaps they are still concussed from their four-game beating by the Tigers. If this were the sweet science, the boxing commission would probably order a battery of tests and ban the Indians from stepping in the ring for the next sixth months. But this is baseball and there's always another game to play.

"Well, we had a team meeting and made a point for that not to happen," said right fielder Drew Stubbs. "We're definitely aware of the carry over and the potential for that. It's hard to say.

The thing is that the Angels aren't playing much better. They came into this series with a four-game losing streak and 10 losses in their last 13. But they've beaten the Tribe two straight and go for the sweep on Sunday.

• Angels-Indians boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

The Indians trailed 3-2 entering the eighth when the Angels scored four times. Errors by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and second baseman Kipnis helped the Angels' cause.

Josh Hamilton opened with a single off Bryan Shaw. Mike Trumbo sent a double-play ball to Cabrera, but he bobbled it not once but twice for his seventh error. After the runners advanced on a wild pitch, Erick Aybar sent a bouncer over the mound. Kipnis grabbed the ball and made a wild throw home as Hamilton and Trumbo scored for a 5-2 lead.

It was Kipnis' 10th error of the season.

Cody Allen relieved Shaw and gave up an RBI single to Chris Nelson. Chris Iannetta, who came into the game hitting .216 but reached base four straight times, walked and Grant Green singled to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by J.B. Shuck made it 7-2.

The loss dropped the Indians eight games behind Detroit in the AL Central. It is their largest deficit of the season.

"If we're frustrated we can't let that happen," said manager Terry Francona. "It really comes down to the game being kind of even ... they executed and we didn't. They made plays we didn't on offense and defense.

"So much of your season is defined by how you handle frustration. We're going to find that out."

Jimenez (8-7, 4.11) allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He's 0-4 lifetime against the Angels. Jimenez, pitching on seven day's rest, hurt himself and the team with a throwing error in the fifth.

With the score tied, 1-1, Jimenez walked Iannetta to start the inning. Green followed with a bunt single near the third-base line. Jimenez came off the mound, grabbed the ball, wheeled and threw to first. His throw sailed about 10 feet over Nick Swisher's head and into the seats along the grandstand.

Iannetta stopped at third and Green went to second on Jimenez's second error of the season. The Angels took advantage with consecutive sacrifice flies by Shuck, the former Ohio State Buckeye, and Kole Calhoun for a 3-1 lead. Shuck, from Galion High School, ranks first among AL rookies in hits and doubles.

"He's got to let the third baseman (Mike Aviles) take that ball," said Francona. "When they're giving you an out, we need to take as many as we can get. That set up two of their runs."

Jimenez said he would have let Aviles handle the ball, but he couldn't hear if he was calling for it or not.

The Indians tried to work their way back into the game in the sixth. Yan Gomes hit a leadoff single and took second on Drew Stubbs' one-out single. Michael Bourn singled to make it 3-2 and knock C.J. Wilson out of the game.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia called for right-hander Mike Kohn to face Swisher with runners on the corners and one out. Swisher, who entered the game hitting .222 with runners in scoring position, popped up to second with Bourn running on the pitch. As he jogged back to the dugout, Swisher squeezed his batting helmet with both hands in frustration.

Lefty Buddy Boshers, making his big-league debut, came on to face Kipnis. Boshers struck out Kipnis to end the threat. Kipnis came into the game hitting .296 with runners in scoring position.

"The game goes from a 3-2 game where we've got Bournie in motion, runners on first and third and Swish up," said Francona, "to all of a sudden we're getting blown out just because we didn't play the game the way we need to."

The Indians drew four walks and had seven hits against Wilson. They squeezed him for 117 pitches in 5 1/3 innings, but managed only two runs. Wilson (12-6, 3.48) improved to 4-0 in his last six starts. In his last 11 starts, he's 9-1. The left-hander is 3-2 lifetime against the Indians.

The Tribe took a 1-0 lead in the second. Gomes doubled, took third on a single by Aviles and scored on an infield single to third by Stubbs.

The Angels tied the score, 1-1, in the third on a bases-loaded fielder's choice by Mike Trout. Iannetta opened with a single and took third on Shuck's one-out double to right center.

After Calhoun walked to load the bases, Trout followed with a grounder to third. Aviles threw to second for the force, but Trout easily ran his way out of the potential double play as Iannetta scored.

"Tonight we just played pretty lackluster," said Stubbs. "It's getting to the point of the season where everybody is tired. You're going to have some lapses here and there, but we have to be better, a little more upbeat and on top of our game."

Browns cornerback Joe Haden was camper of the day today in Berea, picking off Brandon Weeden twice in practice. And Rob Chudzinski sets up a little competition to see who has to eat peanut butter sandwiches for dinner.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cornerback Joe Haden was All-Berea today, picking off Brandon Weeden twice in practice, once on a deep ball to Josh Gordon inside the 5 and once on a short out route to Davone Bess.

“Being a corner you know it’s hard sometimes to be able to get your hands on balls a lot,'' said Haden. "I’m in practice now and my coach, he just lets me see what I can get away with, just trying to just jump routes and just playing what I see. I like the way our coaches are coaching me and letting me see what I can get away with in practice to move it along to the games.”

Haden bolted out of nowhere to snatch the ball in front of Bess.

"It was a combo between me and Buster [Skrine],'' said Haden. "I took the short route, he takes the long route and Greg [Little] goes deep and Bess ended up going short. "He ran an option route so I was heavy inside and if I’m heavy inside, he’s not going to run the option route into me so as soon as he patted his feet, I knew he was going out so I just broke on it.”

Is there anything Weeden can do on that play?

"No. Just maybe not throw it,'' he said.

Haden said Weeden comes to him every time he gets an interception, which has been quite often this camp.

"He’ll come right up to me and ask me 'Joe, what did you see? What could I do differently? What did you see in the route?.''' said Haden. "Like, I saw it as the option route and he wasn’t going to run into me ... Just letting him know stuff like that. And then the same thing, I go up to Weeden, 'Did you see me, did you know I was going to jump this route, how did you beat me, was I looking at you?'"

Haden said Weeden's come a long way since he was locking onto receivers on his shorter drop-backs.

"Sometimes now, with him, with Weeden, I wouldn’t say it’s really his fault,'' said Haden. "Sometime it’s good coverage, good pass breakups. A lot of times it’s receivers getting open. Some things, he can’t control.

"Like I said before, Joe’s approach has been outstanding. He is hungry to become the kind of player he can and reach his potential. He continues to work at it and he’s making plays out here every day. Those things and what I have been pleased with is the guy’s ability to take things from the meeting room to the practice field and then from the practice field to the games.”

Coach Rob Chudzinski has been impressed with Haden all camp.

"Like I said before, Joe’s approach has been outstanding,'' he said. "He's hungry to become the kind of player he can and reach his potential. He continues to work at it and he’s making plays out here every day.''

LET THEM EAT PEANUT BUTTER: Coach Rob Chudzinski set up a scenario at the end of practice whereby the losers of a goal-line drill would have to eat peanut butter sandwiches for dinner.

On first and goal from the 2, Weeden hit Dion Lewis with a touchdown pass, but Chudzinski ruled that Weeden had been "sacked" by D'Qwell Jackson on the play. On the second-team's try, Jason Campbell was picked off by cornerback Abdul Kennah.

Weeden was convinced he got the TD.

"Brandon came right over and said there was no way [a sack], but we will see and check it out on film,'' Chudzinski said. "There's no replay out here.''

So, it was PB for the offense last night, and Chudzinski never even said anything about jelly.

RICHARDSON, WARD BACK: Running back Trent Richardson (shin) and safety T.J. Ward (hamstring) returned to some team drills Saturday. Rookie safety Jamoris Slaughter also saw action in 11-on-11s.

"We were able to get a couple guys back that we haven’t seen in a while,'' said Chudzinski. "We're excited about having those guys back.''

Neither Richardson nor Ward participated in the two-minute drills, but took reps in other team periods. Chudzinski said he'll know later in the week who will face Detroit. He added that the plan is to get Richardson ready for opening day and that they're following a pre-determined plan.

SKRINE FLASHING: Cornerback Buster Skrine, who's getting all the first-team reps at right corner with Chris Owens (strained arch) still idle, broke up about four passes in practice today and is coming on strong. He also recovered a fumble in the game and had a breakup.

"He has really improved from the spring,'' said Chudzinski. "He’s a young guy and a guy that just works every single day. He’s one of the hardest workers on the team and is a super-competitive guy. He takes a lot of pride in what he does. You can see it show on the field. He had a number of times where he got his hands on the ball today.”

Said Haden: "He’s quick, he’s fast, and now he’s calming down. He’s not just making quick movements. He knows that he’s fast, knows that he can get out of his breaks a lot faster than the receiver. Buster plays off technique sometimes, slow backpedals, reads the 3-step, stays on the receiver, turns into him and when the receiver comes out of his breaks, he’s right on him because he’s so quick. If the receiver’s running a comeback, and Buster’s under control, he’s gonna get out of his break before the receiver. He’s being a lot more patient.

INJURIES: Receiver Jordan Norwood suffered a pulled hamstring in the Rams game and sat out today. He should be back in a few days. ... Others still idle include Montario Hardesty (hamstring tendon), receiver David Nelson (ACL), tight end Brad Smelley (hamstring) and rookie cornerback Leon McFadden (groin).