Live updates and photos from the 2014 Boston Marathon.
Josh Gordon is one of a few top players Tom Heckert put in place for the Browns.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Cleveland Browns GM Tom Heckert didn't exactly leave the Browns empty-handed when it comes to the talent he drafted.
CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk writes how the talent left by Heckert may surprise some. Doerschuk ranks 16 players left from Heckert’s reign.
Wide receiver Josh Gordon is ranked No. 1. Heckert, writes Doerschuk, landed him with a Round 2 pick in the 2012 supplemental draft, costing a No. 39 overall pick in the 2013 regular draft.
Cornerback Joe Haden is ranked No. 2. The five players picked immediately after Haden (No. 7 overall, 2010) were Rolando McLain, C.J. Spiller, Tyson Alualu, Anthony Davis and Ryan Mathews, writes Doerschuk. And Heckert deserves credit for avoiding them and picking a fine No. 1 cornerback.
No. 3 is outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard.
Head coach Mike Pettine smiles when he calls the No. 37 overall pick of the 2011 draft “relentless and passionate.” Pettine adds, “He plays that position violently.” If a third defensive coordinator in four years doesn’t leave Sheard violently confused, the new coach has something.
And No. 4 is tight end Jordan Cameron.
One Pro Bowl season after two years in the shadows doesn’t make a career, but the guy has a chance to be one of the great fourth-round steals.
More Brown and NFL news
Mary Kay Cabot answers your questions about the Browns (Cleveland.com).
Plain Dealer Columnist Terry Pluto talks about a different approach to the draft (Cleveland.com).
Browns coach is impressed with Derek Carr's arm (Ohio.com).
A possible shake up in the draft could mean Blake Bortles for the Browns (The News-Herald).
Here are 10 reasons why a team should draft Johnny Manziel (Fox Sports Ohio).
Warren Moon is not impressed with Johnny Manziel (NFL.com).
A statistical look at the impact of the NFL kickoff rule (FootballOutsiders).
Draft needs for the Carolina Panthers (Yahoo Sports).
The Raiders will cut Terrelle Pryor if they can't trade him (NFL.com).
Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter Bill Landis answers three reader questions about high school football in Northeast Ohio.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Here’s another installment of Three-and-Out, where Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter Bill Landis will answer three questions about high school football in Northeast Ohio.
Have questions you want answered? Submit them in the comments section to have them answered in a future post. Register here for an account if you don’t have one already.
From commenter nordonia27: Do you think the state finals at Ohio State in 2014 will draw more fans than they did in Canton and Massillon?
Landis: I’m sure it won’t look like there are more fans due to the size of The Shoe, but I suspect we’ll see bigger attendance at the games this year. It’s a more central location and it’s a cheaper way for people to get inside Ohio Stadium and see some football. I am a big fan of having the games in Columbus. I know some people argue that it makes no sense to fill a 100,000-plus seat stadium to less than 25 percent capacity, but I like the idea of giving Ohio’s high school football players the chance to play in one of the country’s more iconic stadiums.
From commenter espn206: With all of the conference shuffle lately, who might be left out in the cold in football?
Landis: No doubt the high school football landscape in Northeast Ohio will look much different when the 2015 season rolls around. With half of the Northeast Ohio Conference slated to leave after this season, most of them to the new Greater Cleveland Conference, I look at a team like Hudson as one getting left out. Every team in its division will be gone, taking games against the likes of Brunswick, Solon and Mentor off the league schedule, which could force the Explorers into a situation where they’re scheduling tougher nonleague games to make sure they have enough computer points to qualify for the playoffs. With the Chagrin Valley Conference seeing a mass exodus as well, a team like Aurora could find itself in a similar situation if it can’t find a suitable home.
From commenter indiansfan43699: What do you expect out of the Avon Eagles for the 2014 football season?
Landis: I’m not going to pretend I know a lot about what Avon has coming back next season, but I know quarterback Jake Sopko is back, running back Gerrett Choat is back and receiver/defensive back Zack Torbert is back — and that’s a pretty good place to start. Linebacker Cory Ohradzansky will bring a lot of experience on the defensive side as well. There will be holes to fill for the Eagles, but coach Mike Elder will have his team in line for another West Shore Conference title, and I really like what Avon has at some of the skill positions. I was impressed with Sopko in last year’s playoff loss to Highland, and think he’s poised for a breakout year.
Contact high school sports reporter Bill Landis by email (blandis@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@blandis25). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
As the NBA playoffs are in full swing, the Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to figure out where things went wrong this past season, and what they can do to fix them.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - As the NBA playoffs are in full swing, the Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to figure out where things went wrong this past season, and what they can do to fix them.
The Cavs came into the season with a bold statement from the owner: The days of going to the lottery are over. They were expected to make the playoffs, but it didn't work out that way. After finishing 33-49, Gilbert enters yet another critical off-season, with his franchise at the crossroads. He has already made one tough decision, firing Chris Grant as general manager during the season. Now he's faced with more tough choices.
Will the "interim" tag be removed from interim general manager David Griffin? Will Mike Brown remain head coach despite failing to make the playoffs? Which players on an underachieving roster will come back next season and which ones will move on either in trades or via free agency?
On Tuesday, Gilbert is expected to hold the end-of-season press conference and that will be just the start of an uncertain off-season in Cleveland.
What changes would you like to see the Cavs make this off-season? What do the Cavs have to do to turn things around? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, the boxer whose wrongful murder conviction became an international symbol of racial injustice, died Sunday. He was 76.
Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, the boxer whose wrongful murder conviction
became an international symbol of racial injustice, died Sunday. He was
76.
He had been stricken with prostate cancer in Toronto, the New Jersey native’s adopted home. John Artis, a longtime friend and caregiver, told The Canadian Press that Carter died in his sleep.
Carter spent 19 years in prison for three murders at a tavern in Paterson, N.J., in 1966. He was convicted alongside Artis in 1967 and again in a new trial in 1976.
Carter was freed in November 1985 when his convictions were set aside after years of appeals and public advocacy. His ordeal and the alleged racial motivations behind it were publicized in Bob Dylan’s 1975 song “Hurricane,” several books and a 1999 film starring Denzel Washington, who received an Academy Award nomination for playing the boxer turned prisoner.
Carter’s murder convictions abruptly ended the boxing career of a former petty criminal who became an undersized middleweight contender largely on ferocity and punching power.
Although never a world champion, Carter went 27-12-1 with 19 knockouts, memorably stopping two-division champ Emile Griffith in the first round in 1963. He also fought for a middleweight title in 1964, losing a unanimous decision to Joey Giardello.
In June 1966, three white people were shot by two black men at the Lafayette Bar and Grill in Paterson. Carter and Artis were convicted by an all-white jury largely on the testimony of two thieves who later recanted their stories.
Carter was granted a new trial and briefly freed in 1976, but sent back for nine more years after being convicted in a second trial.
Thom Kidrin, who became friends with Carter after visiting him several times in prison, told The Associated Press the boxer “didn’t have any bitterness or anger — he kind of got above it all. That was his great strength.”
“I wouldn’t give up,” Carter said in an interview on PBS in 2011. “No matter that they sentenced me to three life terms in prison. I wouldn’t give up. Just because a jury of 12 misinformed people ... found me guilty did not make me guilty. And because I was not guilty, I refused to act like a guilty person.”
Dylan became aware of Carter’s plight after reading the boxer’s autobiography. He met Carter and co-wrote “Hurricane,” which he performed on his Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1975. The song concludes: “That’s the story of the Hurricane/But it won’t be over till they clear his name/And give him back the time he’s done/Put him in a prison cell but one time he could-a been/The champion of the world.”
Muhammad Ali spoke out on Carter’s behalf. Advertising art director George Lois and other celebrities also worked toward Carter’s release.
With a network of friends and volunteers also advocating for him, Carter eventually won his release from U.S. District Judge H. Lee Sarokin, who wrote that Carter’s prosecution had been “predicated upon an appeal to racism rather than reason, and concealment rather than disclosure.”
Born on May 6, 1937, into a family of seven children, Carter struggled with a hereditary speech impediment and was sent to a juvenile reform center at 12 after an assault. He escaped and joined the Army in 1954, experiencing racial segregation and learning to box while in West Germany.
Carter then committed a series of muggings after returning home, spending four years in various state prisons. He began his pro boxing career in 1961 after his release, winning 20 of his first 24 fights mostly by stoppage.
Carter was fairly short for a middleweight at 5-foot-8, but he was aggressive and threw a lot of punches. His shaved head and menacing glower gave him an imposing ring presence, but also contributed to a menacing aura outside the ring. He was quoted as joking about killing police officers in a 1964 story in the Saturday Evening Post, which was later cited by Carter as a cause of his troubles with police.
Carter boxed regularly on television at Madison Square Garden and overseas in London, Paris and Johannesburg. Although his career appeared to be on a downswing before he was implicated in the murders, Carter was hoping for a second middleweight title shot.
Carter and Artis were questioned after being spotted in the area of the murders in Carter’s white car, which vaguely matched witnesses’ descriptions.
Both cited alibis and were released, but were arrested months later. A case relying largely on the testimony of thieves Alfred Bello and Arthur Bradley resulted in a conviction in June 1967.
Carter defied his prison guards from the first day of his incarceration, spending time in solitary confinement because of it.
“When I walked into prison, I refused to wear their stripes,” Carter said. “I refused to eat their food. I refused to work their jobs, and I would have refused to breathe the prison’s air if I could have done so.”
Carter eventually wrote and spoke eloquently about his plight, publishing his autobiography, “The Sixteenth Round,” in 1974. Benefit concerts were held for his legal defense.
After his release, Carter moved to Toronto, where he served as the executive director of the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted from 1993 to 2005. He received two honorary doctorates for his work.
Carter’s papers will be sent to the Rubin Carter/John Artiz Innocen-ce International Project at Tufts University outside Boston, Kidrin said.
Director Norman Jewison made Carter’s story into a well-reviewed biographical film, with Washington working closely alongside Carter to capture the boxer’s transformation and redemption. Washington won a Golden Globe for the role.
“He’s all love,” Washing-ton said while onstage with Carter at the Golden Globes ceremony in 2000. “He lost about 7,300 days of his life, and he’s love. He’s all love.”
On Sunday, when told of Carter’s death, Washington said in a statement: “God bless Rubin Carter and his tireless fight to ensure justice for all.”
The makers of “The Hurricane,” however, were widely criticized for factual inaccuracies and glossing over other parts of Carter’s story, including his criminal past and a reputation for a violent temper. Giardello sued the film’s producers for its depiction of a racist fix in his victory over Carter, who acknowledged Giardello deserved the win.
Carter’s weight and activity dwindled during his final months, but he still advocated for prisoners he believed to be wrongfully convicted.
Carter wrote an opinion essay for the New York Daily News in February, arguing vehemently for the release of David McCal-lum, convicted of a kidnapping and murder in 1985.
Kidrin said Carter would be cremated, with some of the ashes given to his family. Two sisters are among Carter’s survivors, though Kidrin said Carter was alienated from many relatives.
Kidrin planned to sprinkle Carter’s remains in the ocean off Cape Cod, where they spent the last three summers together. Artis planned to bring some of the ashes to a horse farm in Kentucky the boxer loved.
Kidrin spoke with Carter on Wednesday.
“He said, ‘You know, look, death’s coming. I’m ready for it. But it’s really going to have to take me because I’m positive to the end.”’
A successful spring camp ended with Akron Zips head coach Terry Bowden happy with both his offense and his defense.
AKRON, Ohio -- The focus since head coach Terry Bowden arrived with the Akron Zips has been on building an explosive offense. That has not changed.
But the bromide, 'defense wins championships' has taken hold as well with the immediate 2014 future holding visions of bowl eligibility at the least, and contention for a championship at best. And down the road, maybe the Zips can be the next Mid-American Conference program to run off a string of championship seasons.
After years of gridiron futility, now looks like the time for the Akron Zips to shine.
"If you look at spring ball, in the balance, we saw enough on both sides. But if you evaluate the day, in the final quarter, in the final stretch, the defense won the day," Bowden said after the spring game ended in a 3-3 tie.
On that afternoon the offense obviously did little, but there has been enough fireworks from sophomore quarterback Kyle Pohl and Co., both last year and in the spring, to prove the Zips will not have a problem putting points on the board.
But the defensive effort is what will be the difference between being just an above .500 team, or a 10-win team or better. Going into his third season, Bowden made it clear to his team after the game, what happens in 2014 rests with them. They are the cavalry because no immediate impact players are expected in the fall.
"Right now, what we do on the recruiting road, you are not going to see it next (season),'' he said. "Right now it's what the players decide to do themselves between today and the first day of September, opening game. What they decide to make of themselves is the key right now.
"That's the key right now. Almost all of our team that's going to play is right here on this football field today. What are they going to do to become a great team. Offensively, do you see yourself making those plays to get us in the end zone.
"Defense, can you see yourself projecting yourself with the kind of performance you had today?"
Depth, as always, will be a defensive issue for the Zips, particularly along the defensive line and in the secondary. Linebacker seems to be a team strength both in personnel and depth. Offensively, wide receiver is loaded with talent, although consistency from the unity can improve. Tailback is solid and offensive line adequate although thin in numbers.
The one area Bowden pointed to that could use a recruiting upgrade is in the kicking game.
"We missed field goals (in spring),'' he said. "Punts were not live (in the spring game). I would have thought we'd have a booming punt every time. But our punt team was No. 2 in the conference last season and one of the top punt teams in the country last year so that's not a problem.
"We're about a 50-50 field goal team, right now I would say that is one area we have to go out and bring somebody in and offer them a chance to earn a starting position by the time the season rolls around.''
Bowling Green will be the clear favorite to win the MAC East Division, but Ohio University is rebuilding, Miami is floundering and Kent State is expected to be a mid-pack team. That leaves Buffalo and Akron as potential contenders.
Akron turned the corner last season finishing 5-7, 4-4 and winning four of their last five games. If they are headed for a championship run, this season will a clear signal of the future to come.
The Cavaliers could've gained valuable experience just making the playoffs. And maybe even more now that we've seen the vulnerability of the higher seeds in the Eastern Conference.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – For most of the season we saw the NBA’s Eastern Conference as a collection of bad teams staging a pen-knife fight for the final few playoff spots.
And we wondered how the Cavaliers, who are not without some serious weapons, could manage to miss the postseason.
Now that the playoff series are underway without Dan Gilbert’s team (yet again), the lost opportunity hurts even worse.
Why?
Well, despite the fact that the Eastern Conference was much improved over the final two months of the regular season, the playoffs – however small the sample size – confirm there’s really only one dominant team in the postseason.
Miami is it.
And the Heat are the No. 2 seed.
Not many postseasons kick off with the No. 1 seed also doubling as the biggest enigma in the league.
Here’s three reasons the Cavs should be kicking themselves even harder for missing the playoffs:
All three wins by road teams.
We thought the Cavs would benefit from just making the playoffs, even if their appearance led to a sweep.
What we’ve seen from the first weekend suggests they could’ve reaped even more. Maybe not just find out what it takes to make the playoffs but find out what it takes to be competitive in a playoff series.
Nobody is betting on the No. 8 seed Hawks, though they match up better with the Pacers than many other teams do.
But now, nobody is betting against them either.
Let’s just say their odds are a whole lot better than the 1.7 percent chance the Cavs have of their only possible postseason success – winning the NBA lottery.
The Indians went 10-9 against the Royals last season, including 6-3 at Progressive Field. The teams begin a four-game series Monday night at Progressive Field.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians play the Royals in the opener of a four-game series Monday.
Game: 19.
Opponent: Kansas City Royals.
Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland.
Scheduled first pitch: 7:05 p.m.
TV/Radio: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM/AM 1100, WMMS/FM 100.7.
Pitching matchup: Indians RHP Zach McAllister (2-0, 2.04 ERA) vs. Royals RHP Jeremy Guthrie (2-0, 4.34).
Season series: First meeting. (Indians won, 10-9, last season.)
Indians update: They are 8-10 overall, 4-5 at home. … Won finale of a three-game series against Toronto, 6-4, Sunday at Progressive Field. Snapped three-game losing streak overall with fourth comeback victory. LF Michael Brantley went 2-for-3 with a double and homer and RF David Murphy hit a three-run double. … Brantley leads team in hits (19), homers (three), RBI (16) and total bases (32). 3B-C Carlos Santana is hitting .145 but leads team with 17 walks. ... McAllister has given up one run in 13 2/3 innings of his past two starts (vs. San Diego, at Detroit). Indians have won six straight games started by McAllister dating to last September. ... Bullpen owns a 2.76 ERA. … DH Jason Giambi is likely to be activated from disabled list Monday.
Royals update: They are 9-8 overall, 3-5 on road. … Coming off 8-3 loss to Twins at home, which snapped a five-game winning streak. … 1B Eric Hosmer is hitting .292 and LF Alex Gordon .281. … Guthrie is a former first-round pick by Cleveland. … Royals expect OF Jarrod Dyson (bereavement leave) to rejoin team Monday.
Injuries: Indians – DH Jason Giambi (right rib) is on disabled list. Royals – RHP Luke Hochevar (elbow) is out for season. LHP Tim Collins (elbow), LHP Francisley Bueno (finger) and CF Lorenzo Cain (groin) are on DL.
Next for Indians: Series continues Tuesday night.
The conference races heated up a big week in softball.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The season is in full swing right now and conference races are heating up. This past week was full of dominant pitching performances and walk-off heroes.
Here's are some things you might have missed from last week's softball action:
Hawken uses late rally to beat Wickliffe
With five runs in its final two innings, Hawken got the late rally it needed to beat Wickliffe on Wednesday and even its record at 3-3. They key to the victories has been defense.
"I stress on a daily basis minimizing mistakes," said Hawken coach Pat McKinley. "If you keep errors to a minimum and play solid defense, you should be in every game."
Emma Whiting was key in the win over Wickliffe, picking up two hits, including an RBI and a double.
Amherst's fast start continues with big week
Amherst picked up three wins this week by knocking off Berea-Midpark, Avon Lake and Medina. The key to win over Berea-Midpark was Zoe Beetler, who hit a grand slam in the victory. She also picked up the victory in the mound.
"Not only is she pitching very well, but she’s hitting the ball," said Amherst coach Lacey Reichert. "For a pitcher of her caliber to be hitting the ball as well as she has, it’s just an added bonus."
Even with an early loss to Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Amherst is a top contender for the Southwestern Conference title.
Westlake grabs thrilling walk-off win
On Thursday, Westlake entered the final inning of play down 8-5 to Berea-Midpark. The Demons then loaded the bases and a walk cut the deficit to two runs. Then Lainey McCue hit a walk-off triple to grab the win.
"I think it’s a big win not only because it’s a conference win because it shows our girls no matter how much we’re down, we can come back," said Westlake coach Tom Shiban.
The win gives Westlake a 3-0 start in conference play.
Miranda Coble throws no-hitter for Cleveland Heights
In a 14-2 win over Warrensville Heights on Wednesday, Miranda Coble threw a no-hitter for Cleveland Heights. It was the first win of the season for Coble. In the win, Simone Sollisch had three hits and four runs.
Medina uses late run to beat Stow
A 3-for-4 day for Vanessa Scoarste, including a run and an RBI, paced Medina in a 4-3 win over Stow. The Bulldogs had tied the game in the sixth inning before Medina won the game in the seventh inning.
Contact high school sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Keflezighi is a former New York City Marathon champion and Olympic medalist.
BOSTON -- American Meb Keflezighi has won the Boston Marathon, a year after a bombing at the finish line left three dead and more than 260 people injured.
Keflezighi is a former New York City Marathon champion and Olympic medalist. He ran the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to the finish on Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay on Monday in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 37 seconds.
Keflezighi held off Wilson Chebet of Kenya who finished 11 seconds behind. The 38-year-old from San Diego looked over his shoulder several times over the final mile. After realizing he wouldn't be caught, he raised his sunglasses, began pumping his right fist and made the sign of the cross.
No U.S. runner had won the race since Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach took the women's title in 1985; the last American man to win was Greg Meyer in 1983.
The Indians have partnered with Verizon Wireless to bring enhanced wi-fi and cell phone service to Progressive Field.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians have partnered with Verizon Wireless to bring enhanced wi-fi and cell phone service to Progressive Field.
The advent of a new distributed antenna system and wi-fi network will provide fans with more reliable wireless and 4G LTE network access.
“This implementation will significantly enhance fans’ digital experience at the ballpark by making social media and their favorite apps more easily accessible, as well as completing common functions like making a call or sending an email or text,” said Neil Weiss, the Indians senior vice president of technology and chief information officer, in a statement.
The Indians have 72 of their 81 regular-season home games remaining.
“The new DAS and Wi-Fi provide the platform for which technology can enhance the experience at the ballpark," said Indians president Mark Shapiro, "and can help to further create memories for our fans."
The Ohio To Erie Trail is a collection of connected bike paths, all-purpose trails and occasional roads linking Lake Erie in the north with the Ohio River to the south. It's popular with birders, horseback riders, runners and bikers – but until recently, it wasn't always easy to follow the entire route from start to finish.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It'll be easier than ever to bike the length of the Buckeye state this summer, thanks to a new map that outlines and illustrates the 300-mile route from Cleveland to Cincinnati.
The Ohio To Erie Trail is a collection of connected bike paths, all-purpose trails and occasional roads linking Lake Erie in the north with the Ohio River to the south.
It's popular with birders, horseback riders, runners and bikers – but until recently, it wasn't always easy to follow the entire route from start to finish.
Cleveland graphic designer Carolyn Lewis Cocchiarale was hired to develop a map detailing the course – down the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Northeast Ohio, along the Kokosing River in Knox County, past the campus of Ohio State in Columbus and south toward Cincinnati.
The map points out where trailheads are located, whether facilities are available, and where the route shifts from bike path to city street (bikers must share the pavement with cars on about 10 percent of the trail, though that percentage is shrinking).
The map, segmented into four parts (northern, north-central, south-central and southern) is available from the Ohio to Erie Trail for the cost of postage ($3.25). The map also can be ordered from the website IGotABike.com, developed by Cocchiarale and her husband, Guy, as a travel guide for bikers along the route.
Bikers can download the guide ($14.99) onto their smartphones and consult its recommendations as they ride, from places to stop for lunch to where to get a flat tire fixed.
Cocchiarale said the trail is attracting bikers from across the country. "Word of mouth is really getting out there," she said. "It's one of the longest trails. And it's a really great trail."
The magazine Rails to Trails featured the route last fall. "Since then, people have been emailing me with questions from all over the country."
In other Ohio bike news: The deadline to receive a discount to ride the 26th annual Great Ohio Bike Adventure is approaching.
This year's GOBA ride takes place in Northern Ohio, starting in Mansfield, with stops in Orrville, Coshocton, Mount Vernon and Bucyrus.
The seven-day tour includes five days of biking (plus two more that are optional), camping and community activities. Every year, more than 3,000 bikers participate.
The cost to ride is $235 through April 30, and $260 after (deadline to register is May 14). For information: goba.com
Join the conversation by posting in the comments below.
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Cavaliers acting general manager David Griffin will held his season-ending press conference earlier this morning and cleveland.com and blogged about his comments live.
Will coach Mike Brown return? Will the Cavaliers offer point guard Kyrie Irving a maximum contract extension? And what will the future hold for Griffin, himself?
Read reporter Jodie Valade's comments and join the conversation by posting in the comments section below.
Weston Noall joins fourth edition of Net Post boys tennis podcast.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Net Post boys tennis podcast led by Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter Nathaniel Cline returns this week with Mayfield senior Shouta Fukamachi and Gilmour Academy senior Weston Noall.
Noall and Fukamachi, both of whom have reached the state tournament at least once in the past few years, spoke about the first few weeks of the season and their preparation for postseason.
The Net Post boys tennis podcast for April 22:
0:00-0:17: Welcome to podcast.
0:18-4:33: Mayfield senior Shouta Fukamachi.
4:34-9:37: Gilmour Academy senior Weston Noall.
9:38-9:54: Cline wraps up podcast.
Have any story ideas you would like to submit? Please leave them in the comments section below.
Guests next week for the podcast will be Hawken's Dhruv Yadav and Dominic Prolifrone of Hudson.
Look for a new tennis podcast every Tuesday. To suggest guests for future podcasts go to the comments section below. You need a community account in order to comment. Click here to sign up for an account if you don't have one already.
Contact high school sports reporter Nathaniel Cline by email (ncline@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@nathanielcline). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Breaking down the North Division IV-VII roster for the OHSFCA North-South Classic.
DAYTON, Ohio — Here is a closer look at the North Division IV-VII team for Saturday’s North-South Classic football game in Dayton.
The Division IV-VII game kicks off at 11 a.m. at Welcome Stadium. See a scouting report on the Division IV-VII South team here. Check back Wednesday and Thursday for previews for the Division I-III game.
Quarterbacks
The Division IV-VII North team is the only team in the North-South Classic carrying three quarterbacks on its roster, and it was a simple case of coach Andy Hake not being able to justify dropping any of them.
Navarre Fairless’ Hunter Wells, a Youngstown State signee, leads the group. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound signal caller threw for 3,558 yards and 33 touchdowns during his senior season.
Columbia’s Jay Banyasz can get it done with his arm and his legs. He threw for 2,189 yards and 29 touchdowns, while rushing for 651 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Berlin Center Western Reserve’s Nick Allison is another option at quarterback, as he earned Division VII Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors after throwing 20 touchdowns in 2013.
Running backs
There are a lot of options here for the North, including three players from Northeast Ohio.
Black River’s Andrew Vaughn racked up 2,342 yards this season, finishing his career as Medina County’s all-time leading rusher with 6,097 yards. Kirtland’s Sam Kukura, who will go to Kent State as a preferred walk-on, rushed for 1,765 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2013.
Gilmour Academy’s Rodell Golphin adds some speed to the backfield, while Brookfield’s Joe Clark and Genoa’s David Nutter are a couple of bruising runners.
Receivers and tight ends
Huron’s Cody Thompson, who played quarterback for the Tigers, will line up at wide receiver for the North. The 6-2, 195-pound target has signed to play receiver for Toledo. Rittman’s Blake Dennis is a speedster who has signed to play for Akron.
At the tight end spot, the North has Doylestown Chippewa’s Stoney Epling, and Columbiana Crestview’s Josh McDade, who moves well for his size at 6-2, 240 pounds.
Offensive line
The lone Division I-bound player is Elyria Catholic tackle Dakota Tallman, a 3-star tackle who is signed with Eastern Michigan. Other local players on the offensive line include Kirtland’s Mike Cymbal, Beachwood’s Josh Goode and Manchester’s Jake Hanzel. There’s some good size on the line with the smallest player going 6-3, 230 pounds.
Defensive line
Colt Pettit is a Division-I bound guard from Hamler Patrick Henry, but the Virginia Tech signee will play on the defensive side for the North in this game. He’ll be joined there by Hillsdale defensive end Ryan Bee, who has signed with Marshall.
Kirtland’s Canon Schroeder will also see some time on the defensive line.
Linebackers
Gilmour Academy’s Ishmael Hargrove was an athletic safety for the Lancers. The Buffalo signee will line up at linebacker for the North team. Crestwood’s Kenny Jackson (6-2, 215) and Huron’s Zach Souter (6-4, 215) add some good size to the linebacker corps.
Secondary
Kirtland free safety Ryan Loncar is a ball hawk who is in the top 10 for career interceptions in Ohio. Creston Norwayne’s Trevahn Beery is a 6-2 shutdown corner who is signed with Bowling Green.
Contact high school sports reporter Bill Landis by email (blandis@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@blandis25). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
It's quick and easy to sign up and participate in the live video chat. You can also leave questions for Logan Paul in the comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Want to talk with Westlake grad Logan Paul about his Vine and social media success? Or some of his videos, which have attracted millions of hits? Now is your chance.
Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter Scott Patsko will conduct a live video chat with Paul right here in this post. And we want you to be part of it.
Getting involved is easy. The video chat will look like this, and it takes under 30 seconds to sign up so that you can ask questions. Even if you don't sign up, you can still watch the video chat. You can also leave your questions for Paul in the comments section of this post, and we will ask him during the live video chat.
For more background on Paul's incredible rise to social media fame, check out Patsko's profile on the Ohio University freshman, which includes several of his popular videos.
Paul is one of the most-followed users on Vine, the popular website/app that allows users to create and share six-second looping videos. Paul has worked on videos for such companies as Pepsi, HBO, Virgin Mobil, Ubisoft and Ritz.
At Westlake, Paul was a standout athlete. As a running back and linebacker in 2012, he helped the Demons reach the playoffs for the first time since 1989. Later that school year he placed fifth at the state wrestling tournament.
Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@ScottPatsko). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at 1 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore.
Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at 1 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports.
Pluto will talk with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore about the Indians' rough month of April, what should happen with the Cavaliers and the lastest Browns news.
You can jump in the comments section below and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Pluto's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in MP3 format.
After the Big Ten released its primetime schedule Thursday with Ohio State facing Cincinnati at 6:00 p.m., the Buckeyes now have four night games in 2014.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten Network announced its primetime schedule Thursday morning, and on it was Ohio State's fourth night game on the 2014 schedule.
Ohio State is scheduled to play Cincinnati at 6:00 p.m. on the Big Ten Network on Sept. 27, and that game joins other night games against Virginia Tech (Sept. 6, 8:00 p.m.), Penn State (Oct. 25, 8:00 p.m.) and Illinois (Nov. 1, 8:00 p.m.)
Ohio State and Nebraska have the most night games of any Big Ten team with four apiece. This is the first time in the history of Ohio Stadium that it will host three night games.
OSU's schedule as of today:
Sat. Aug. 30 vs. Navy in Baltimore, noon
Sat. Sep. 6 vs. Virginia Tech, 8
Sat. Sep. 13 vs. Kent State TBA
Sat. Sep. 27 vs. Cincinnati, 6
Sat. Oct. 4 at Maryland TBA
Sat. Oct. 18 vs. Rutgers TBA
Sat. Oct. 25 at Penn State, 8
Sat. Nov. 1 vs. Illinois, 8
Sat. Nov. 8 at 3 Michigan State TBA
Sat. Nov. 15 at Minnesota TBA
Sat. Nov. 22 vs. Indiana TBA
Sat. Nov. 29 vs. Michigan
Sin tax calculator: Plug in how much you drink and/or smoke in a typical week, and find out how much the Cuyahoga County sin tax costs you over the course of the year.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County's so-called sin tax to pay for the upkeep of downtown Cleveland's pro sports facilities is up for renewal on the May ballot. But how many people really know how much they spend on the tax each year?
The pennies for every drink or cigarette can add up to a lot, or maybe not, depending on how much you smoke or drink. Use our calculator to find out what the sin tax costs you.
Sin tax calculator
The tax amounts to:
The cost for any one person can vary greatly.
Someone who has two beers a week would pay $1.56 a year. But someone who drinks a case a beer a week would pay $18.72 a year. A pack of cigarettes every day would cost $16.43 a year.
If approved, the tax would be renewed for 20 years from 2015 through 2035.
The tax originally was for construction of the Gateway complex. It was approved in 1990, with 52 percent of the vote. An extension, involving money for the football stadium on the lakefront, won approval from 72 percent of the voters in 1995.
Also:
Reporters Stephanie Kuzydym and Lexi Pluym talk about the local baseball scene in their second live video chat.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Want to immerse yourself in all things Northeast Ohio baseball? Want to talk about how there are only a few weeks left until the postseason?
Watch the live video from our second baseball video chat. Northeast Ohio Media Group baseball reporters Stephanie Kuzydym and Lexi Pluym will chat high school baseball with fans tonight at 8 p.m..
Getting involved in the live video chat is easy. It will look like this, and it takes under 30 seconds to sign up so that you can ask us questions. Even if you don't sign up, you can still watch the video chat.
We'll be talking what happened in the local baseball scene this weekend and players to watch, like Independence's Mike Martin, leading up to the Player of the Year award.
Join the conversation and have your voice heard about the baseball scene. We'll be doing this every Tuesday for the remainder of the season.
Contact high school sports reporter Lexi Pluym by email (apluym@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@LexiPluym). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
