Browns cornerback Joe Haden will display his hitting talents in his own celebrity softball tournament at Classic Park in Eastlake.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – In the NFL these days, you're somebody when you host a celebrity softball game. Add Browns All-Pro cornerback Joe Haden to the list of softball impresarios that includes Larry Fitzgerald, Richard Sherman, LeSean McCoy and Jeff Fisher.

The first Joe Haden and Friends Celebrity Softball Game will be July 17 at Classic Park in Eastlake, home of the Lake County Captains minor-league baseball team, the Captains announced this week.

View full sizeCleveland Browns defensive back Joe Haden.John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer 

Organizers said the game is to be divided into an offense vs. defense of mostly Browns players. A source said Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is among those invited, though none of the participants has been confirmed other than Haden. Manziel, a former high school baseball star, recently was drafted by the San Diego Padres.

Haden also has invited players from other teams. Similar events hosted by other players often include celebrities from other sports and entertainment.

The event is to include a pregame home run derby and is designed to be an interactive experience between players and fans. The event is being organized by a California marketing company and the Lake County Captains said a portion of the proceeds is to benefit Captains Charities, which is the team's non-profit organization that contributes to local youth sports and educational programs.

Advance tickets range between $15 and $40 and are available through the Lake County Captains.

Haden, 25, last month signed a five-year contract extension with the Browns worth $68 million, of which $22 million is guaranteed. He was a first-round draft pick in 2010.

Haden earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors last season. He was second on the Browns with four interceptions and had 60 tackles and 21 passes defensed.

Get the top stories from today.

Chris Fedor anchors the news for Wednesday, June 11.

A two-year-old boy was shot and killed early this morning when his father fired a gun into the apartment in which he lived with his mother. He is charged with aggravated murder.

Several Hilltop Elementary School administrators discovered a body on school grounds Wednesday morning in Beachwood.

UPDATE at 5:02 p.m.: The man has been identified as a 24-year-old.

Keith Olbermann, the sometimes sportscaster, sometimes liberal political commentator last week named Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson "The Worst Person in the Sports World" over Jackson's opposition to County Executive Ed FitzGerald's new 'win tax' proposal.

Plus, get weather and sports. Just click play.

After 28 years of riding, jockey Jane Magrell is closing in this week on her 1,000th victory.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Jane Magrell is a blue-collar jockey, a woman who has battled a bias against girls in the saddle and a laundry list of injuries to excel at her sport. After 28 years of riding, Magrell is closing in on her 1,000^th victory this week.

"Everyone seems to want to see me to get that 1,000^th win," said Magrell, 50. "The people at West Virginia's Mountaineer Racetrack told me they were hoping it would happen there, since that's where I won my maiden race back in 1986. So have the gang at ThistleDown Racino."

Magrell's 997^th winner was She's Got to Run on Tuesday at Mountaineer, so there is a chance it might happen this weekend. Magrell is planning to ride at three tracks on Sunday, starting with the early races at ThistleDown. She'll head to Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa., for the afternoon racing and wrap up the day at Mountaineer.

"I've got a reputation for winning with long shots, so it's hard to predict," she said. "If someone offered me five rides on five live horses, I'd take them. I'm my own agent and I've got to scrap for the horses I do get. It's a tough business. The horse I won with at Mountaineer got claimed, so I lost one of my rides."

Magrell says her mantra is: Ride Smart, Stay Safe. She has had her share of injuries, most recently a badly broken leg in 2010. She has broken both hips and her collarbone twice, a foot, has had a few concussions, and too many minor injuries and smaller broken bones to list.

"When you hit the ground at 35 miles an hour, it hurts a little bit," she said.

Magrell is the first woman to ride in the Ohio Derby and West Virginia Derby, up on Eagle Time in 2000. Her favorite horse is Money Card. She guided the mare to four stakes victories, including the Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial in 2008 and 2009 at Thistledown.

When not racing, Magrell gallops horses at ThistleDown most mornings, or helps her husband, Chuck, and daughter Chelsea run Magrell's Pizza near their Atwood, Ohio home. Chuck Magrell is a blacksmith at ThistleDown, while Chelsea is working on a degree in occupational therapy.

"Chuck injured himself in 2010 and finally needed surgery so he could go back to work," said Magrell. "He's a very good blacksmith, and was anxious to start shooing horses again."

To be a successful jockey, especially a "girl jockey," Magrell says that you've got to be tougher than the guys.

"I'm not a wimp," she said. "I've got six-pack arms that are bigger than the thighs of most male jockeys, and I don't take any crap. I don't hold anything back, and I don't candy coat anything.

"I start my day at 4 a.m. When I get home after a morning of galloping horses and an afternoon of races, all I want to do is jump in the pool, then hit the sack by 8:30 p.m. This is a difficult way to make a living, but I love horses and horse racing. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else."

Wagering tax unfair: With urging from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, congressmen are asking the Department of Treasury to give bettors a break. The NTRA wants a horseplayer's entire wager in a single betting pool to be considered when taxing the winnings.

If someone wagers $140 in $1 bets on a Pick 6 pool, only the $1 winning ticket is considered the total amount wagered, not the entire $140. The change, according to NTRA officials, would allow bettors to keep more of their earnings and increase wagering at tracks. Race fans are being asked to sign a Change.org petition at chn.ge/Sr8twk.

ThistleDown stays put: The horsemen at ThistleDown Racino were happy with the announcement Wednesday that the thoroughbred race track in North Randall won't be moving to the Akron-Canton area.

"It's beneficial to horse racing in Ohio, given that ThistleDown Racino has one of the best, if not the very best racing surfaces in the area," said Dave Basler, executive director of the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. "It would have been a difficult move for horsemen who live near ThistleDown."

Captain on course: Captaintreacherous, the two-time Pacer of the Year for Brecksville owner Joe Sbrocco, will start his four-year-old season on Friday. With regular reinsman Tim Tetrick in the sulky, Captaintreacherous will have the outside post in a field of 10 for the $100,000 Meadowlands Maturity at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Captain is scheduled to make his first Ohio appearance on Sept. 18, racing in The Winbak on Little Brown Jug Day at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

The Indians promoted Strongsville High and Kent State graduate Anthony Gallas from Class A Carolina to Class AA Akron.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Strongsville and Kent State grad Anthony Gallas is going to the Ducks, and the dogs.

Gallas was promoted today to the Class AA Akron, and is in the RubberDucks' lineup for the home game against Binghamton, which also is a "Bark in the Park" promotion where fans can bring dogs to the game.

Gallas, a right-handed corner outfielder, hit .276 with 31 RBI, 29 runs and eight home runs in 58 games at advanced-Class A Carolina. His 21 doubles lead the Carolina League. He had 52 strikeouts and 17 walks. After a hot start the first 35 games, he went into a slump, and was hitting .200 in his previous 10 games.

Gallas, 26, was the second-oldest position player in the Carolina League and was selected to the league's midseason All-Star Game.

Gallas (6-2, 210 pounds) has spent almost all of his five seasons in the Indians farm system in Class A after being signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Kent State in 2010. He was not drafted despite setting Kent State career records for career RBI and home runs.

His career nearly ended last year. He played just 14 games in 2013 because of surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip last June.

"I wanted to make a team out of spring training,'' he told The Plain Dealer in May. "When you're hurt, you realize how much you miss playing every day and getting a chance to go out and exhaust your talents on the field.

"I wanted a chance to be able to come back and play with that same mindset and pursue my goals of making it to the major leagues.''

Gallas' career minor league stats: .261 batting average, .724 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentages), 100 doubles, 27 home runs, 155 runs, 154 RBI, 270 strikeouts and 94 walks in 336 games.

He graduated from Strongsville High in 2006, and his family has since moved to California.

In a corresponding move, Carolina received catcher Ryan Battaglia from Mahoning Valley.

Jason Giambi's bunt attempt in the ninth inning Wednesday against Kansas City was all one needed to see to know that the Indians were in trouble.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Seen and heard Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium.

Clubhouse confidential: No scoreboard was needed to see that the Indians were in trouble. All a fan had to know is that it was late in Wednesday's game and Jason Giambi, author of 440 home runs, was trying to bunt for a hit.

The Royals, who swept the two-game series, were about to put the finishing touches on a 4-1 victory. Closer Greg Holland was on the mound with one out and the infield defense shifted far to the right against the left-handed hitting Giambi.

The shift left almost the entire left side of the infield unprotected.

"Yeah, I was trying to bunt," said Giambi. "I got ahead in the count and was just trying to put the ball in play and get on base."

Giambi made two attempts to bunt before fouling out to first baseman Eric Hosmer.

Eat your veggies: When reporters went into manager Terry Francona's office to talk to him before Wednesday's game, he had a plate of carrots, celery and broccoli sitting in front of him.

Francona told reporters he was trying to eat healthy, but added, "You should have seen what I ate last night – ice cream and M&Ms."

Stat of the day: The two-run double Jason Kipnis hit in the eighth inning Tuesday was his first extra base hit since he came off the disabled list on May 28. He added a single in the first inning Wednesday to give him hits in all nine games since he's come off the DL.

The Indians were held to single-digit hits Wednesday for the first time in eight games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians played the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a two-game series Wednesday afternoon. Here is a capsule look from The Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff:

Game: 66.

Opponent: Royals.

Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

Time of day: Afternoon.

Time elapsed: 2 hours, 53 minutes.

Attendance: 19,938.

Result: Royals 4, Indians 1.

Records: Royals 33-32, Indians 33-33.

Broom service: Kansas City swept the two-game series, outplaying the Indians in every aspect. The Indians are fortunate the series lasted just two games. 

Here they come: The Royals, perennially a popular pick to challenge the Tigers in the AL Central, have won four in a row and seven of nine.

Bats quieted: The Tribe finished with eight hits, snapping its streak of games with 10-plus at seven.

An out for a run: All of the Royals' runs scored on sacrifice flies (Jarrod Dyson to center, Omar Infante to shortstop, Alcides Escobar to left, Billy Butler to center.)

The bottom-four difference: Kansas City's Nos. 6-7-8-9 hitters combined to go 7-for-14 with two RBI and three runs. Cleveland's Nos. 6-7-8-9 combined to go  0-for-16 with four strikeouts.

The Tribe's No. 8, designated hitter Jason Giambi, went 0-for-4 in 11 pitches. Giambi's slash line is .128/.212/.277.

The Indians lost for the first time in the past seven games in which Giambi has played.

Moose on the loose: Indians pitchers must not be reading the scouting reports on Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, reports that can be summed up thusly: easy out.

Against every team except the Indians this season, Moustakas is 19-for-136 (.140) with two homers and 15 RBI. Against the Indians, he is 7-for-23 (.304) with three homers and seven RBI.

On Tuesday night, Moustakas went 1-for-3 with one homer, two RBI, two runs and one walk as the Royals prevailed, 9-5. On Wednesday, he was 2-for-4 with one run.

Three awful ABs: The Indians, trailing, 4-1, loaded the bases with none out in the eighth inning against righty reliever Wade Davis. What followed was ugly: Cleanup batter Jason Kipnis struck out looking (three pitches), Carlos Santana struck out swinging (four pitches) and David Murphy grounded out (six pitches).

Kipnis watched a cut-fastball shave the outside corner. Santana, refusing to shorten his swing, took a mighty hack and was tardy on a 1-2 fastball above the belt. Murphy fouled two 1-2 pitches before dribbling an off-speed pitch to second. 

Dynamic duo: Davis has not allowed a run in 16 consecutive appearances covering 19 innings. (The previous time he gave up a run was April 23 at Cleveland.) His ERA shrunk to 1.23.

Royals closer Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth for his 19th save. His ERA is 1.40.

Ventura cruises: Davis and Holland secured the victory for right-hander Yordano Ventura, who allowed one run on six hits in seven innings. Ventura, a hard-throwing youngster, walked none and struck out three.

Ventura (4-5, 3.20 ERA) pitched superbly, no question. He had excellent command of his fastball, changeup and breaking pitches. He consistently got ahead in the count, thereby putting the Indians on the defensive.

At the same time, the Indians made it too easy on Ventura, who needed just 85 pitches to get his 21 outs. The Indians can take comfort in praising Ventura and raving about his electric stuff, but the fact is, he entered Wednesday having given up 19 earned runs and 39 hits in 33 1/3 innings of his previous six starts.

Bauer so-so: Indians righty Trevor Bauer allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out one. He needed 93 pitches to get his 16 outs.

Bauer (1-3, 4.24 ERA) had decent stuff but struggled to put hitters away. He lacked command of his secondary pitches. The Royals, unlike the Indians against Ventura, did a good job with two strikes.

Lonnie Baseball continues to rake: Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, batting second, went 2-for-3 with one walk. His average increased from .388 to .393.

Chisenhall owns a nine-game hitting streak (18-for-35). The last five games have featured multiple hits.

Chisenhall grounded to short in the first.

With none on and two outs in the third, Ventura, ahead in the count, 1-2, threw a 99-mph fastball away that Chisenhall fouled. Ventura followed with an 87-mph changeup that Chisenhall grounded up the middle. Shortstop Escobar fielded and threw the ball into the Kansas City dugout. Chisenhall would have been safe, regardless.

Michael Brantley rolled over a 1-1 changeup away and grounded to second.

After Michael Bourn led off the sixth with a bunt single, Chisenhall took five straight pitches that led to a full count. Ventura threw a 94-mph fastball down and with tailing action; Chisenhall went with the pitch and punched it through the left side for a single.

Ventura and catcher Salvador Perez, figuring that Brantley would be looking for a first-pitch fastball, opted for a changeup -- the same pitch that had gotten him out in the previous at-bat. Brantley was unable to keep the hands back and hit a looping liner to second.

Kipnis flied to center. Santana drove in Bourn with a single to right. Murphy popped to short.

With none out and Bourn on first in the eighth, Chisenhall fell behind Davis, 0-2. After a foul, Chisenhall took four balls for a walk.

Gift-wrapped: The Indians' notorious defense helped the Royals score twice in the third for a 2-0 lead.

No. 7 batter Moustakas, ahead in the count, 3-1, drilled a fastball off the right-field wall. Murphy pounced on the carom and was poised to erase the lumbering Moustakas at second -- until the throw floated. Even though Bauer had given up a loud hit, an out should have been recorded.

Moustakas no doubt had read the scouting reports. Murphy's substandard arm continues to hurt the Indians, especially given that he is playing right field.

Escobar singled to center. As Moustakas held at third, Bourn airmailed the cutoff man, enabling Escobar to take second and eliminate the force. Bourn hustles and puts everything he has into his throws, but they usually come with a loop.

Bauer got ahead of Dyson, 0-2. A pitcher of Bauer's potential needs to retire a hitter such as Dyson without a run scoring, but Dyson managed to send a 2-2 pitch to center for a sacrifice fly.

Aoki slapped an 0-1 single to left, Escobar stopping at third.

Infante popped to short for what should have been a routine second out. However, Mike Aviles, fighting the sun, fell down several yards onto the outfield grass as he made the catch. Escobar decided to challenge the Indians with a tag -- and it worked. Aviles's throw from the seated position was cut by Bauer, who threw wildly toward home. It is difficult to state for certain whether an accurate relay by Bauer would have gotten Escobar.

Bauer's error enabled Aoki to advance to third. After Eric Hosmer walked in five pitches, Butler grounded the first pitch to short for a force. 

Kipnis on a run: Indians second baseman Kipnis extended his hitting streak to nine games with an infield single in the first. The two-out single to second baseman Omar Infante pushed Brantley to second. Santana tapped to first.

Kipnis finished 1-for-4.

Outfield defense: Royals left fielder Alex Gordon made a diving catch to deny  Bourn in the third. ... Bourn dived to take away an RBI single from Gordon to end the fifth.

Ron Jaworski cautions the Cleveland Browns not to rush Johnny Manziel onto the field before he's ready, saying 'be careful.'

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski made headlines in February when he boldly declared that he wouldn't take Johnny Manziel in the first three rounds of the draft.

And even though Jaworski feels the Browns rookie has made tremendous strides since then thanks to his quarterback guru and Massillon, Ohio native George Whitfield, he still pumped the breaks on Johnny Mania after watching him practice in person Wednesday.

"There was a discernible difference between Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel,'' Jaworski, the former NFL MVP and Super Bowl quarterback, told cleveland.com after the second day of mandatory minicamp. "Brian was just really, really sharp. So while everyone's going to be in a rush to get Johnny Manziel on the field, be careful. It's pretty clear just watching one practice, a small sampling, that Brian Hoyer is a much more polished NFL-style quarterback.

Jaworski predicted that Hoyer is too far ahead for Manziel to catch up and beat him out for the starting job.

"Brian's only doing the shotgun stuff until his knee gets healthy but you could see the over-the-top release, the processing of information quicker,'' said Jaworski. "He's been around for four or five years. He's got experience. Maybe not the on-the-field experience although I thought he played really well last year in those three games. But you can tell Hoyer's an NFL quarterback. He's much farther along.''

Jaworski spent time talking to Hoyer before practice and sensed his resolve to stave off the rookie.

"He's got that little edge right now,'' Jaworski said. "He knows it's his opportunity. He's got that Tom Brady chip on his shoulder. I've always respected his talent, backing up Tom. I'm actually shocked he didn't stay in Pittsburgh and didn't stay in Arizona. This is your prototypical guy. He just seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time where I think this could be the right place at the right time.''

Still, Jaworski is realistic enough to know there will be immense pressure on the Browns to start Johnny Football, the wildly-famous boy wonder, right away.

"He might be forced on the field before his time because it's just the way it is,'' Jaworski said. "You see it, guys just because they're the drafted in the first round, the Tim Tebows, you put them on the field, but they're not ready.''

He said Manziel might even be behind some of the other young quarterbacks that have come out early.

"I think the learning curve is going to be a little bit longer for Johnny because he's only had those two years on the field,'' said Jaworski. "Those experiences on the field, those reading progressions, reading the defense. There were a lot of predetermined throws at Texas A&M whereas in the NFL pretty much nothing is predetermined. You have to read it and go.''

Despite that, Jaworski was impressed with Manziel's performance in minicamp Wednesday, one in which he was usually first up in team drills with Hoyer still limited.

"I was really looking forward to coming here, because I wanted to see the ball come out of his hand,'' said Jaworski. "I've looked at tape, I watched his pro day on TV and all of those things but I wanted to see the ball come out of his hand. Because when you play in Cleveland and the wind comes through that lake, you need to spin it, and there's a discernible difference between guys that don't spin and what the wind can do to it. I wanted to see it firsthand, and I actually thought he threw the ball very well.''

Jaworski watched Manziel complete some nice short and deep balls, both from the pocket and while on the run.

"I thought he had a real compact, quick delivery, and he's going to get good coaching,'' said Jaworski. "(Quarterbacks coach) Dowell Loggains and (offensive coordinator) Kyle Shanahan are going to coach him hard and well. Now, if he accepts that coaching, the future is bright for him, but the ball did come out with good velocity. I like some of his movement throws which is really his staple.''

He expressed concerned about Manziel's size -- 5-11 3/4, 210 -- and felt no better after seeing him in person.

"I think it's detriment, I really do,'' he said. "It's not going to stop him from potentially being a great quarterback, but I think you have a better chance if you're Tom Brady, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, Nick Foles, those 6-5, 6-6 that can see over guys. I look at a lot of tape at NFL Films, not only the coaches tape, but we have these cool end zone shots where I can actually see the Russell Wilsons having to move to see.

"It's easier to play the game when you can see over people and when you can't it forces you to sometimes move. So, can he become Drew Brees and learn how to find lanes as you move to see through and throw through? Time will tell.''

Jaworski also cautioned that Manziel must be careful about the image he's portraying because of the criticism it invites.

"He's a media star, so you've got to be careful,'' said Jaworski. "Being focused is critical, because that perception can become a reality in people's minds. If he has a bad game, people will be like, 'oh yea, well he was in Vegas.'''

He likes the idea of Hoyer starting and Manziel running a package of plays each game.

"I could definitely see that and I expect to see that: goal-line, short-yardage, there are going to be opportunities,'' said Jaworski. "But when you have two different skillsets, take advantage of it and it gives Manziel an opportunity to get on the field, get some snaps. I heard Mike (Pettine) say it's a little premature, but I'm sure it's something they're going to delve into.''

Jaworski said he made his "not in the first three rounds'' statement early on, after watching only two of Manziel's games in college, the LSU game and the Missouri game and that it was a "knee-jerk reaction. Then I finally got through the tape and he grew on me. He's an incredibly gifted athlete. I thought his mechanics needed incredible improvement, which I thought George Whitfield did a really good job with.''

He said Manziel "got measurably better from his last collegiate game to his pro day'' and by the time the draft rolled around, Jaworski predicted that he'd go at the top of the second round to Houston.

"But he went in the first round, and now the pressure will be on to play him,'' said Jaworski. "But the Blaine Gabberts and the Johnny Manziel's of the world, some of them come out too early and they're not mature enough mentally or physically to be able to handle the NFL. We'll see how it goes.''

Watch videos from the second day of a three-day mandatory minicamp for the Cleveland Browns, including a recap with Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed plus a highlight video from practice. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed recap what happened during the second day of their three-day mandatory minicamp.

Topics include: Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski thinks Johnny Manziel has improved since he was critical of him before the draft, but also thinks Brian Hoyer will win the starting job.  Josh Gordon not practicing today.  Nate Burleson gets some reps at wide receiver recovering from arm surgery.  Rookie running back Terrance West signing his contact today.  Justine Gilbert and Buster Skrine talking about the starting cornerback job opposite Joe Haden.

Twitter: @CLEvideos

Gilbert working with the second team, but expects to start come September.

BEREA, Ohio – Unlike the Browns' other first-round pick, Justin Gilbert prefers to avoid the spotlight whenever possible.

The Browns rookie cornerback will leave the inflatable swans, magnums of champagne, TMZ coverage and celebrity lifestyle to teammate Johnny Manziel.

"I always just stay to myself a lot and I really don't like big crowds or trying to make a scene," Gilbert said Wednesday.

On the field, however, he craves attention, especially from opposing quarterbacks. If he does start the season opposite All-Pro Joe Haden, as many suspect, Gilbert is likely to get all he can handle.

"Yeah, Buster told me that last week," Gilbert said. "He was like you're going to get a lot of balls thrown at you. They don't throw to Joe's side, so that's going to give me a lot of opportunities to make plays."

That's what the Browns likely envisioned when the selected the Oklahoma State product No. 8 overall -- 14 picks higher than Manziel. A year ago, the club ranked fifth against the league's No. 1 receivers -- those defended by Haden -- but 20th against the No. 2s, according to FootballOutsiders.com

Although hampered by a few minor injuries early in spring practice, the 6-foot, 202-pound Gilbert has shown flashes of his potential this week during a three-day mandatory minicamp.

He tracked receiver Kenny Shaw over the middle Wednesday and swatted away a pass thrown by Manziel. The rookie corner believed he should have intercepted the ball and let the quarterback hear it when they met on the sidelines.

"I was like, 'You're welcome,'" Gilbert said. "It should've been my first NFL interception, but I didn't make it."

Veteran receiver Nate Burleson's appreciates Gilbert's feistiness and says he's not afraid to verbally spar with opponents despite his youth.

"He wants to get his hands on the ball when it's in the air," Burleson said. "I like him a lot. I got to talk a little trash to him today, but that's just me being a vet. Rookies shouldn't talk too much. That's a personal thing.

"He gets a little hype, but I like it. He's supposed to act like that. He's talented."

Browns coach Mike Pettine notices the fleet-footed Gilbert experimenting in practice, allowing a receiver to get a step on him to test his closing speed.

That's what football in June, bereft of pads and much contact, should be about for rookies – a time to test limits and acclimate themselves to the pro level.

"I think a lot of corners, I don't want to say play scared, but they'll stay on top and they get beat underneath a lot," Pettine said. "I think the elite guys will let a guy get slightly past them but will make up speed and they can still make a play on the ball."

Gilbert is working mostly with the second unit, playing behind the veteran Skrine. He has no issues with earning his place, even as he says he expects to start on Sept. 7 in Pittsburgh.

Count the cornerback among those who don't put much stock in what happens on the practice fields until players are armored in full pads. The Browns drafted him in part because of his tenacity and desire to play press coverage.

"I can't wait to get the pads on," Gilbert said. "That's going to allow me to be more aggressive at the line and get my hands on (receivers) early, and I think it will stop all of the trash talk going on right now. ... That's something we emphasized early, getting hands on the receiver at the line early and destroying the route before it starts."

His flash and sass ends when he crosses the white lines. He takes after his father, Sherman, a man of few words who prefers to keep a low profile. Gilbert repeatedly has said he likes having Manziel in the Browns' draft class to deflect attention and pressure from him.

Secondary coach Jeff Hafley said Gilbert takes an understated approach to learning his craft.

"One of the best things about him is he's very humble," the assistant said. "He's confident but not cocky. He's eager to learn, he's not been outspoken. He's taking it all in stride, letting the older guys help him and bring him along."

Skrine made it clear Wednesday he still considers the corner opposite Haden "my job," but knows he'll see plenty of action either as a starter or -- as many assume – the nickel back.

Gilbert welcomes the competition and the opportunity to learn.

"We have a couple of good corners here now that (are) ahead of me and I take nothing from them," he said.

Sounds like a first-round pick not ready to pop any champagne corks yet.

The Indians arrived to the Show Me State winners of nine of their last 10 games. They departed Missouri after two sluggish losses in 24 hours.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Indians arrived to the Show Me State winners of nine of their last 10 games. They departed Missouri after two sluggish losses in 24 hours.

On Wednesday, the Indians fell, 4-1, to Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium. Trevor Bauer (1-3, 4.24 ERA) took the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. The Indians managed only one run on six hits against Royals righty Yordano Ventura (4-5, 3.20 ERA).

Watch the video above to hear postgame reaction from Bauer and Tribe skipper Terry Francona.

The Indians begin a four-game set with the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday.

Browns receiver Josh Gordon is sitting out minicamp with a hamstring injury, and the rest has nothing to do with the fact he's about to be suspended.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns receiver Josh Gordon is sitting out this mandatory minicamp, but not because coach Mike Pettine is preparing for life without him.

Gordon has been struggling with a pulled hamstring, and the Browns shut him down after some individual drills on Tuesday. He rode the exercise bike Wednesday and then watched practice from the sidelines, and will repeat that schedule on Thursday.

By the time the Browns reconvene for minicamp at the end of July, Gordon will know if he's been banned for at least a year, or if he's won his appeal for a shorter suspension.

Pettine said his Gordon's time off has nothing to do with his looming suspension, even though he acknowledged this week that the ban is affecting the club's preparations for the season.

"I think that does put us a little bit behind with the uncertainty of what that lineup is going to look like, but we wanted to be prudent with (Browns wide receivers) Miles (Austin), and Earl's (Bennett) taken some quality reps; (Nate) Burleson's just working his way back in. We're hopeful that when we get to training camp –we get Travis Benjamin back; we get Charles Johnson, we get a chance to see what he can do – that hopefully we can settle on a lineup quickly and develop some chemistry with the quarterbacks."

Pettine re-iterated that Gordon hadn't always been finishing plays before the "minor ding' but that he's making progress.

"It wasn't just him,'' said Pettine. "That's one thing that we stress to our guys when we come in is that we want to finish. That's a big part of making sure, whether it's a receiver catching a ball, with the defensive line when the ball is thrown turning and running, the offensive line when the ball is thrown covering down the field, each position has its own little definition of what 'finish' is. That's something that he's improved on, but just like some other guys, there's some room for more improvement."

Burleson back: While Gordon fades to the background, veteran Nate Burleson is coming back into the focus. He got his cast off his arm this week and has been making some noise on the field again.

"I'm one of those guys who hates to sit on the sidelines, I have been trying to sneak in reps at practice,''  he said. "The head trainer Joe (Sheehan) is chasing me around telling me not to do stuff. I can appreciate it. I just like to talk, I like guys who play at a high level. I know how to get guys going, I know how to get under their skin. I can't do that when I'm on the sideline.

"I'm kind of muzzling myself, but today I was able to talk a little more because I caught some balls and I was out there running around. Expect to hear a lot more from me at training camp."

Burleson said he's prepared to step up in place of Gordon or compliment him.

"I just have to catch the ball when it's thrown to me,'' he said. "If he's on the field with me and I play at a high level who knows? Maybe I take the pressure off him and get more targets. Playing with Calvin (Johnson) for the last four years there were games I got targeted more and had more catches and yards.

"For me, I have to be ready regardless. If he goes off, as he's destined to do in just about every game -- it's Josh we're talking about -- then I'll play the backup role. But if there are games when they need me to do more I'll do more. That's what I'm brought here to do.''

Burleson thinks the receiving corps -- even without Gordon -- will prove some folks wrong.

"I'd say we've gotten guys on this team who have proven themselves,'' he said. "Most of them haven't been given the opportunity to shine. And, injuries have held (some) guys back. So, I don't really care what some think about the receiving corps. It's up to us to prove people who think we're good right and prove people who don't think we're good wrong. We're just going to go out and make plays and answer those questions when the season comes.''

A team leader who organized a receiver dinner last week, Burleson isn't worried in the slightest about Swanny Football.

"I just think he's a guy who's going out enjoying his free time,'' he said. "Now, if he came out here stumbling around, smelling like booze, we can have this conversation, that would be a legitimate conversation to have. But he's coming out here focused, very alert, locked in on what he's doing. Until that changes, I think everybody should let the young guy do what young guys do."

Pettine Sr. weighs in: Mike Pettine's father, Mike Sr., the legendary high school coach from Central Bucks West in Doylestown, Pa., watched practice Wednesday, and also reviewed practice tapes for his son and defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil, who both played for him in high school. Pettine Jr. admitted it was special to have his dad watching him in his first stint as an NFL head coach.

"He's been watching some of the practice tape so we had – I don't want to call it heated – but an Italian conversation this morning before practice, he, I and Coach O'Neil,'' Pettine said with a smile. "It's great to have him here. It's just another guy not necessarily who's immersed in the scheme, but I always say it's nice to get the 30,000-foot view sometimes, instead of when you're deep in it, where he can make some comments. A lot of times I tell him, it's sometimes how you say it, how you package it. Usually the content is accurate, but sometimes my defenses go up when he delivers the message the way he delivers it."

Pettine acknowledged that his dad was the original "blunt force trauma":

"I learned from the best (laughter),'' Pettine said.

Minnesota star Kevin Love tells USA Today blog, "The Big Lead'', that the Cavs "have a great young foundation.''

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kevin Love can't win.

Trying to answer a question about the wild speculation concerning his future, the Minnesota Timberwolves star only fueled more speculation.

Asked about an ESPN.com report that he had no interest in Cleveland, Love told the USA Today blog, "The Big Lead," "I don't think the Cleveland [trade rumors] are outlandish at all. They have a great young foundation.''

Love was in Los Angeles to promote the video game "Call of Duty'' and agreed to answer five questions from "The Big Lead.'' There was one stipulation: There couldn't be any questions about the Boston Celtics. A recent trip to Boston generated a flood of speculation that Love, who can be a free agent next summer and reportedly has informed the Wolves he doesn't plan to sign an extension with Minnesota, would try to force a trade to the Celtics.

But his answer to the fifth question will raise some eyebrows in Cleveland.

Q: I saw this actual sentence on ESPN over the weekend: "Cleveland has interest in Love, but the feeling isn't mutual." Did you see that and what do you make of reporting like that? How difficult is it not to pick up the phone and call your agent, or pick up your phone and tweet that it's BS?

Love: "I try not to read it. A lot of it is brought to my attention through outside sources, sometimes twitter. But like most people, I need to be conscious of my image and try to roll with the punches. I know that's a generic answer. I don't think the Cleveland [trade rumors] are outlandish at all. They have a great young foundation."

Love starred with Cavs All-Star Kyrie Irving in one of Irving's popular Uncle Drew videos for Pepsi Max.

He has long been on the franchise's radar. Last year, the Cavaliers offered the No. 1 pick in the draft, along with Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson, for Love. This year, the Cavs again have the No. 1 pick in a much-deeper draft and general manager David Griffin has made it clear he would consider trading the pick to acquire a player the caliber of Love.

Missed opportunities cost the Tribe twice in a span of 24 hours, as Cleveland dropped both games of its mini-series in Kansas City. The Royals claimed Wednesday's matinee, 4-1.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- At least Trevor Bauer was succinct.

The Indians dropped their second consecutive game on Wednesday, with a 4-1 loss to the Royals. How the affair unfolded, how Bauer fared, how the Indians' recently sizzling bats and sufficient defense wilted in the Kansas City sun -- none of it mattered to the terse right-hander.

When asked by a reporter what bothered him most about the loss, Bauer replied: "That we lost."

When asked for his perspective on the loss, Bauer answered: "The team lost."

"Can you elaborate?" the reporter inquired.

"We lost, 4-1," Bauer responded.

"Further?" the reporter pushed. "Next question," Bauer said.

There are, in fact, other ways to elaborate on how the Indians' stretch of nine wins in 10 games has segued into a pair of sluggish defeats. The plays the Indians aren't making are hurting them the most. Two particular moments from Wednesday's matinee -- a third-inning miscue and an eight-inning missed opportunity -- paint the portrait.

Mike Aviles sat on his backside, helpless, in a sea of green isolation in short-left field.

The Kansas City sun has caused the Indians problems in the past. Grady Sizemore lost a fly ball at Kauffman Stadium in late September in 2005 as the Tribe dropped a critical contest en route to coming up two games shy of a playoff spot. The clear skies plagued the club again in the third inning on Wednesday.

With runners on the corners and Kansas City gripping a 1-0 lead, Omar Infante lifted a pop-up just beyond the left side of the infield dirt. Aviles camped under the baseball, but as he shielded his eyes, he stumbled as the ball nestled into his glove.

"I put my glove where I thought the ball would be," Aviles said, "because I didn't really see it until I felt it go in my glove."

As a result, he fell down and Alcides Escobar took off from third. Without proper positioning, Aviles could only muster a throw to Bauer, who caught the relay near the mound, but airmailed a throw over catcher Yan Gomes' reach.

"I had to go down, because if I stayed standing up, that ball was going to drop," Aviles said. "So I just kept going down, down, down and then onto the ground. It was a heads-up play on their part to take off, so I just threw it in the direction of home plate and hoped it would get there. It just didn't pan out right."

It marked the second consecutive day in which a defensive miscue in the third inning was decisive. On Tuesday night, a foiled double play resulted in a traffic jam on the basepaths that the Royals eventually relieved by scoring four times.

The Indians struggled to mount much against Royals righty Yordano Ventura, who routinely touched the upper 90s on his fastball. Ventura departed after seven innings, having yielded only a sixth-inning RBI single to Carlos Santana.

"He has a pretty special arm and he can mix in off-speed that you have to respect," said manager Terry Francona. "That makes it really difficult. We got some hits. We weren't able to really string anything together."

Kansas City, meanwhile, mustered a franchise record-tying four sacrifice flies. The first three came against Bauer, who labored through 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk. He tossed 93 pitches.

"I didn't do my job," Bauer said.

The Indians loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, but Wade Davis fanned Jason Kipnis and Santana and induced a groundout from David Murphy to escape unharmed. Davis has held the opposition scoreless over his last 19 innings. Over 29 1/3 innings this season, the right-hander has allowed 13 hits and has tallied 48 strikeouts.

"I liked where we were and who we had up," Francona said, "but there's a reason the guy's given up [13] hits and has [48] strikeouts."

The Indians (33-33) have endured plenty of ebbs and flows through the first 10 weeks of the season.

Over the last month, the Tribe has compiled two four-game losing streaks, a three-game win streak and a six-game win streak. They'll next venture to Boston for a four-game set against the Red Sox in the final leg of their three-city tour, as they attempt to prevent another skid.

To put it succinctly, this team is streaky. There's no need to elaborate.

"Just being down at South Carolina, it just gave me a great feel," Clark said on WSLS-NBC TV in Roanoke while announcing his decision. "Just the comfortablility down there ... And I'll have a chance to go down there and contribute right away."

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State's recruiting roll didn't continue Thursday. 

Four-star offensive tackle Austin Clark of Lexington (Va.) Rockbridge announced his commitment to South Carolina, choosing the Gamecocks over Ohio State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. 

Rated by Rivals.com the No. 9 offensive tackle in the class, Clark also had offers from Clemson, Miami (Fla.), Penn State, Virginia and others. He eliminated Clemson, Virginia and Penn State last week. 

"Just being down at South Carolina, it just gave me a great feel," Clark said on WSLS-NBC TV in Roanoke while announcing his decision. "Just the comfortablility down there ... And I'll have a chance to go down there and contribute right away." 

Ohio State did, however, pick up a commitment from four-star offensive tackle Grant Schmidt of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Roosevelt. He told cleveland.com that he's dreamt about being a Buckeye since he was a freshman in high school. 

Schmidt chose the Buckeyes over Minnesota and Iowa State, the other two programs in his top three. Rated by Rivals.com the No. 22 offensive tackle in the 2015 class, Schmidt also had offers from North Carolina, Rutgers, Utah and others.

"I don't know - I am not even sure," Gibson told cleveland.com in a phone interview Thursday evening. "They are just dropping right now because a lot of coaches have been in contact with me, and I haven't been in contact with any of their coaches since I don't know when."

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Four-star quarterback Torrance Gibson recently rearranged his top seven after taking a visit to Tennessee this week. 

But the visit has nothing to do with Ohio State's new spot. 

Here's the new list, in order: Tennesse, Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Central Florida, Miami (Fla.) and Ohio State. 

So why are the Buckeyes, once one of Gibson's top schools, at the bottom of his list all of a sudden? 

"I don't know - I am not even sure," Gibson told cleveland.com in a phone interview Thursday evening. "They are just dropping right now because a lot of coaches have been in contact with me, and I haven't been in contact with any of their coaches since I don't know when." 

Gibson said multiple times in previous interviews that he was definitely going to officially visit Ohio State, but now that's also in question. 

"I'm not sure if I am going to now," he said. 

Rated by Rivals.com the No. 4 athlete in the 2015 class, Gibson was once considered one of the Buckeyes' top quarterback targets. 

But the recent lack of contact makes you wonder whether Urban Meyer and his staff are still trying to recruit the 6-foot-4, 195-pound prospect. 

Ohio State recently picked up a commitment from three-star quarterback Joey Burrow of Athens, Ohio, but other quarterback prospects, including Gibson, said the Buckeyes have been clear that they want two in their 2015 class. 

Gibson said the Buckeyes aren't dead in his recruitment, but that they'll have to start reaching out to him more. 

"They'd have a shot, but I'm not even sure why (we lost touch)," Gibson said. "I don't know the last time I have seen an Ohio State coach. And they don't call anymore." 

Zach McAllister isn't quite ready to rejoin the Tribe's rotation.

BOSTON, Mass. -- Quick hits from manager Terry Francona's pre-game press conference Thursday at Fenway Park.

Zach McAllister update: McAllister threw a rehab start Tuesday and was in Boston on Thursday, but will not immediately be added to the rotation.

Francona said McAllister, who went on the DL with a strained lower back, will throw another rehab game Saturday for Class AAA Columbus. He'll be held to 65 pitches and will be in line to go head-to-head with T.J. House for Thursday's start against the Angels at Progressive Field.

House, who replaced McAllister in the rotation, will start Saturday against the Red Sox. Francona said House pitched well enough to earn Saturday's start and it didn't sound as if he'd made up his mind on who would start Thursday.

"We have some things to think about moving forward," said Francona. "There's T.J. There's Zach. There's Zach's development. We have multiple off days coming up, which doesn't happen very often.

"We have a road trip coming up where we have a day off, play two against Arizona, and then have another day off. We don't want guys sitting for a week. We told Zach all that and told him, "Just go pitch like you can pitch and let us worry about everything else."

Three's company: By activating Nick Swisher and putting Jason Giambi on the disabled list Thursday, the Indians continue to carry three catchers -- Yan Gomes, George Kottaras and Carlos Santana. Kottaras was the most likely candidate to be optioned to Class AAA Columbus to make room for Swisher until Giambi was conveniently placed on the DL for the third time this season.

Francona, while mindful that Santana has had two concussions since 2012 while catching, said he has no qualms about putting him behind the plate.

"While George is still on our roster, it seems to make sense to catch him," said Francona. "But rosters change with injuries. There's no fear (about catching Santana). We've talked about it out of concern in order to keep him healthy and productive.

"But he's assured us that he'll do whatever we ask. We want to do the right thing. When he's able to be our backup catcher, it gives you another roster spot. We've talked about what makes us better and what is in his best interest, too."

Browns rookie running back Terrance West responds to Ben Tate saying there's no one here that can "touch me or that's close to what I do.'' He won't back down and wants the starting job.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns running back Terrance West held his ground Thursday when informed that fellow back Ben Tate doesn't consider him much of a threat.

Specifically, Tate said of the challenge from West that "there's nobody in that (running back) room that scares me'' and described the running back competition here 'really not anything.'

Tate, the fifth-year pro signed away from Houston as an unrestricted free agent, also said that when he's on his game 'there's no one that can touch me or that's close to what I do.''
 
But West, the third-round pick from Towson, hopes to prove the veteran wrong.

"Yeah, that's our job out here, to come out here and compete, push each and everyone forward to bring the best out of each other,'' said West. "That's what I'm here to do. I want to play. I want to be the starter, and I'm going to practice like a starter."
 
West, who rushed for 2,509 yards and 41 touchdowns last year, knows he has to pay his dues.

"Everybody had to be a rookie before they became a vet,'' he said. "I'm learning the playbook fast, and I'm feeling very good about it."
 
West signed his contract on Wednesday, a four-year deal worth $2.796 million, including a $527,400 signing bonus.

"When you play Pop Warner, when you play high school ball, when you play college, you're playing for free,'' he said. "Now it's a business and getting a check for it is amazing. But that's not going to change nothing. I've still got to take care of business on the field to get the next check."
 
Fans coming out to training camp next month will notice West going hard every play and high-stepping in the open field.

 "Yeah, that's my signature move,'' he said. "I don't know, my body just takes over and does it. I don't even think about doing it. That's something I've been doing for a long time."
 
He said the coaches haven't yet cautioned him about it.

"They don't have a problem with it,'' he said. "As long as I make a person miss, they don't care. As long as I take care of that one-on-one and make them miss or run through them, they don't care. I've got my own thing.''

He admitted, "I'm not the fastest guy. I'm not the slowest guy. But I've got some good speed. Once I get past you, once I make a person miss, it's going to be hard for them to catch me. On the football field, it's all about angles, and I've been very good at taking angles."
 
He predicted he'll separate from the pack once the pads come on next month.

"Yeah, that's when you can see more out of me,'' he said. "That's when you can see the true players, when the pads come on. I break a lot of tackles, I make people miss, I can catch the ball and I can pass protect. They can see that now and it can push me forward to playing more."
 
Despite the competition with Tate, the veteran has been helping the eager rookie.

"Most of the backs, we help each other out,'' he said. "We push each other and we compete, but we also want to see each other succeed."

It's not the quarterback competition, but it should provide some training camp sparks.

Browns coach Mike Pettine sent his troops off for the summer break with a message: stay in shape, stay in the playbook and stay out of trouble.

BEREA, Ohio -- Mike Pettine warned his entire team -- and not just fun-loving Johnny Manziel -- to be careful during the time off before training camp.

"I think it's nervous anytime your entire team is dismissed,'' Pettine said at the conclusion of mandatory minicamp Thursday. "As a coach, you hear your phone ring and you kind of look at it with one eye, hoping it's not an issue coming up. We talk to them about it, that we wanted to make sure they handle themselves well. The advice was learn the system, stay in shape and stay out of trouble.''

While the veterans are now on their own until they have to report for camp around July 25th, the rookies will remain in Cleveland for another week of work with the coaches and then the NFL rookie symposium which takes place in Aurora, Ohio June 22-28, half for the AFC rookies and half for the NFC.

"We built a good foundation, but the key thing for a mature team is to take this break and keep on a rise,'' he said. "We can't afford to take a step back and really be back at the beginning when we get to training camp. It was a challenge for the guys to stay in shape. Their playbooks will be available to them throughout this break, as well. We should be able to get ahead mentally for training camp, as well."

But even Pettine, who's been working night and day, will get away once the rookies disperse.

"What I've found is when you have time off to take it and to get out of town -- so don't look here for me,'' he said. "I will be out and about."

On Gordon's status: Pettine said he expects to hear about Gordon's suspension before training camp begins.

"I think that's reasonable to say,'' he said. "We haven't been given a date. I think, in fairness to us, the league would let us know. There's no information as far as what the plans are to release it, but I think we're all comfortable thinking that we should know before training camp starts."

Haden on Gordon: Joe Haden hopes that if Gordon is suspended, it has the same impact on him that Haden's four-game suspension for Adderall had on him in 2012.

"When you're away from it, it makes you want it more,'' said Haden. "It makes you miss it. It makes you appreciate it. That's how I kind of took it when I was gone. I wanted to be back and I came back with a more hungry, more wanting to be here feel.''

He acknowledged it would be a shame for the team to be without him.

"He's a baller,'' said Haden. "With somebody like that, I hope for the best. I don't really like to talk about the situation, but JG is what he is. He's a really good player, solid and a great player and he'll help out the team and it'll definitely be a big loss but that's why we have depth right now and people have to step up.''

Soccer fever broke out across Greater Cleveland as the World Cup commenced, but it's hard to match the spirit and intensity local Brazilians bring to the game. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio--That was indeed samba dancing breaking out on West Sixth Street in downtown Cleveland Thursday afternoon.

Local Brazilians were arriving at a Warehouse District club to watch the start of the 2014 World Cup, dancing off some energy, and offering a taste of what soccer means back home.

Football fever swept Northeast Ohio Thursday as the World Cup began in Sao Paulo, Brazil. While soccer fans across the region displayed their passion for the game in sports bars and clubs, few can match the spirit and emotion that Brazilians bring to the sport.

Fans of "jogo bonito," the beautiful game, streamed into the Barley House wearing the bright lemon and lime colors of Brazil's national team, talking football but anticipating a celebration.

They spread themselves before big screen televisions and piled into a back room where Spanish play-by-play was beamed from Spain, the Portuguese network connection having failed.

Brazilian jazz guitarist Moises Borges and his trio warmed up the crowd. Moms and Dads chatted in English and Portuguese as they sipped tropical drinks. Their children joined the cheerful sing-a-longs that commenced when optimism was high.

"O---le, ole, ole, ole," they sang.

Croatia scored first and although Brazil quickly countered, dejection fell upon a crowd that could not bear the thought of a tie. Only when team Brazil scored the decisive third goal, on its way to a 3 to 1 win, did smiles, hugs and singing break out anew.

"Now you see how we really are," said Adriana Matos, who grew up in Sao Paulo and came to Cleveland 15 years ago. "It's almost like Brazilians find their comfort and their love in soccer."

Former Maccabi Tel Aviv coach David Blatt, who will interview for the Cavaliers head coaching position next week, was a godsend for Tamir Goodman.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- David Blatt came along at just the right time for Tamir Goodman.

"He gave me a shot,'' Goodman said of Blatt, the heralded coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv who resigned that position on Thursday and will interview for the Cavaliers head coaching position next week. "For that, I will be forever grateful.''

Goodman, 32, was dubbed "The Jewish Jordan'' as a young basketball phenom growing up in Baltimore in the 1990s. But his college basketball career was cut short after a serious conflict with coach Mike Hunt at Towson University during his sophomore year in 2001-02.

Goodman, who now lives in Cleveland, said the coach insulted him and assaulted him. Media reports said Hunt held a chair over Goodman's head in a threatening manner and kicked a stool that hit Goodman's leg.

"It was the worst experience of my life,'' Goodman said. "I was broken.''

View full sizeCould Maccabi Tel Aviv's David Blatt bring trophies to the Cavaliers? One player who knows Blatt well is a big believer.AP 

Goodman left the team. With his basketball career teetering on the brink, Blatt invited him to try out for Maccabi Tel Aviv and signed him to a contract in 2002. Almost before he knew it, Goodman was in training camp in Israel about to begin the pro career he'd dreamed of -- if not exactly where he'd planned.

Unfortunately, right before the season started, he was loaned to another team, so he never actually got to play for Blatt. Still, the two remained close and Blatt continued to be supportive when knee and hand injuries cut short Goodman's career after only a few seasons.

"My career ended very negatively,'' Goodman said. "There was so much hype around my career and it never really panned out. But I remember someone interviewing David Blatt about me and he said, 'You know what? Tamir has already been successful.'

"For me, David Blatt is unbelievable. He gave me a shot when my career wasn't exactly in the best spot. A lot of negative things were written about me. He was able to see through all that. Because of him, I got my first contract.''

Now Goodman is delighted to hear that the Cavs are considering hiring Blatt, although he has not spoken to the coach about the possibility.

"I think here in Cleveland we need something fresh and new and positive, and this could potentially be a great way to do it,'' said Goodman, who created and promotes the basketball training aid Zone190. "I'm really excited about it. This could be awesome.

"Right now the timing is so perfect. He won three championships this year. He won the Israeli League, the Israeli Cup and the Euroleague. Maybe he's feeling the timing now is right.''

Blatt, 55, has been on the Cavs radar from the beginning. A Massachusetts native who played for Pete Carril at Princeton, he is widely viewed as an offensive genius after playing and coaching overseas for more than 30 years. He just led Maccabi Tel Aviv to a come-from-behind victory over CSKA Moscow in the Euroleague semifinals and an upset victory over Real Madrid for the championship. He also coached Russia to a bronze medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The Cavs' Sergey Karasev played on that team.

"He's very, very good at making game-time decisions, never getting flustered or letting the pressure break him,'' Goodman said. "He's been in so many intense situations coaching over there for so many years, and he's always been able to stay calm and make the right decisions in the game, after the game, before the game. He's a proven winner with an incredible basketball IQ who has coached all over the world.

"He's got everything it takes to be very successful. He's already proven that. He's been successful everywhere he's been.''

Blatt elicits strong reactions from people -- good and bad. One agent referred to him as an egomaniac. Another thinks he could be the next Larry Brown.

Goodman, though, has only great things to say, especially after watching him succeed in Israel and Russia with rosters full of players of all ages and many nationalities.

"He's great at helping players reach their potential,'' Goodman said. "A lot of times confidence needs to come from players, but sometimes the coach is there to help players reach their potential on and off the court. He did that for me.

"As a fan in Cleveland, i just feel like he could be a great fit for us. We're looking for someone to unite us, to help us reach our potential. He definitely has the ability to do that.''