In a sitdown Wednesday afternoon with Cleveland Browns beat reporters, team owner Jimmy Haslam answered questions about the team's recent off-the-field issues and where the franchise is headed in 2015.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said general manager Ray Farmer acknowledged to the Browns that he sent the texts improperly during games and that it was wrong, but Haslam will stick by him.

"He said he feels he made a mistake in sending those texts,'' said Haslam in a 50-minute interview with beat writers on Wednesday afternoon. "But it does not affect his standing with the club. I don't think Ray intended to gain an unfair advantage."

Haslam said he'll stick by his embattled his GM because he's smart and has done a good job in his first year. Haslam also said he hasn't yet heard from the NFL what the sanctions will be and doesn't know when they will be handed down. Northeast Ohio Media Group has reported that Farmer faces a possible suspension and the Browns face a potential fine and the loss of a draft pick.

The texts were one reason that former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan left the Browns with two years left on his contract.

Here are some other quick highlights from Haslam's session:

* He disputed a report by Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports that the organization is dysfunctional. "We work extremely well together,'' said Haslam.

* He said the recent three-day team building session resulted in the best week he had as owner, and the club is all pulling in the same direction.

* Haslam said the team applauds Johnny Manziel for checking himself into rehab and that they all feel he can still be a quality NFL starter. "It's way too early to give up on Johnny. We certainly haven't given up on him. Everybody's been too harsh.''

* On Josh Gordon: "We have the responsibility to get the most out of our players and take care of them. He's failed to accept responsibility.  At a certain point in time, an individual's got to do what's right.  We hope he can get his life together.'' He said there's no huge hurry to make a decision because Gordon is not on the roster for at least a year.

* On LaCanfora's report that tight end Jordan Cameron doesn't want to be back: "I don't think that's accurate. We're talking to all our (free agents) all the time.''

* On the report that team president Alec Scheiner is divisive in the building: "Absolutely not.''

* He said he wasn't involved in Farmer's texts in any way. "Ray's a big boy.'' He said they sit together at away games but not at home games.

* He said former quarterback coach Dowell Loggains' account of "wreck this league'' and the drafting of Johnny Manziel was inaccurate.

* He said training camp will be in Berea this year, but might move to Columbus at some point down the road.

* Haslam said he understands how some in the league might be dismayed that the Browns' soon-to-be-named quarterbacks coach Kevin O'Connell is preparing Marcus Mariota for the draft. "We didn't hire him because he's working with Mariota or because he worked with Johnny last year.'' He said O'Connell is expected to join the team in another week or so, sometime after the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

More to come soon on Haslam's interview.

Akron RubberDucks to hold 'Brian Williams' Pants-on-Fire Night' as a promotion during baseball season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Akron RubberDucks, whose public-relations staff is always on the lookout for a creative promotion, are capitalizing on the scandal surrounding NBC's Brian Williams. The Class AA baseball team has announced that Monday, April 27, will be "Brian Williams' Pants-on-Fire Night."

The date also is National Tell a Story Day.

"It was a brainstorm in the office with (General Manager) Jim Pfander and Christina Urycki, our promotions coordinator," Adam Liberman, director of public and media relations, told the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

On a scale of 0 to 10 in terms of creative promotions, Liberman ranks this one pretty high.

"You always have to give yourself room," he said. "This is an eight and a half or a nine. You always have to stay on the cutting edge. This is unique, and it's all in good fun."

That fun will include storytelling-related activities and lie-detector testing. Other highlights:

* The first 100 fans will receive a pair of suspenders upon entering Canal Park.

* On-field contests will include "To Tell the Truth" and "Two Truths & a Brian Williams," also known as "Two Truths and a Lie."

* In honor of National Tell a Story Day, a fan named Brian Williams will read tall tales.

* A between-inning chance will give fans an opportunity to audition to be a television news anchor on the video board, with the fan-voted winner's video sent to NBC.

* A pair of pants from Williams will be burned in a "pants-on-fire" ceremony.

* Any fan in attendance named Brian Williams will have a chance to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.

Liberman likened the promotion of capitalizing on a well-known name in the news with a promotion last year in honor of Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. The team introduced a "Johnny Footlong," an extreme-menu hot dog with sriracha sauce, cheese and chili.

"It was huge," Liberman said.

The RubberDucks' promotional schedule will be announced early next week, but the team decided to reveal the Brian Williams promotion in light of the NBC News anchor's suspension announced this week. Williams was suspended for six months after news surfaced that he embellished a story about a helicopter he was in reportedly getting hit by fire over Iraq.

The RubberDucks face the Altoona Curve at 6:35 p.m. on April 27. The Ducks begin play at home at 6:35 p.m. Thursday, April 9, against Binghamton.

Liberman said they wanted to hold the Brian Williams promo on National Liars Day, but it didn't fall during baseball season.

The Cavaliers host the Miami Heat tonight at 8 p.m., then fly to Chicago to take on the Bulls on Thursday, with James and Kyrie Irving then heading directly to New York for All-Star Weekend.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James continues to compliment the NBA for doing its part in keeping his schedule hectic.

The Cavaliers host the Miami Heat tonight at 8 p.m., then fly to Chicago to take on the Bulls on Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Following that back-to-back sequence, James heads to New York for All-Star Weekend, arriving at approximately 3 a.m. on Friday.

Let's also remember that James has been a Christmas Day fixture for the past several years. It's quite comical to him, but he understands. James equals big bucks.

"The NBA is smart once again," James said with a smile. "I looked on the schedule and us and Chicago are the only two teams playing on Thursday. Really?

I interrupted and asked if it was a coincidence.

"Yeah, I guess it is. That's the word of the year, so far. Coincidence," James said with a laugh. "But the schedule is the schedule and you just get ready for it."

This year the league has extended the All-Star break to give players participating in the festivities some much-needed time to recuperate. James and other stars urged NBA commissioner Adam Silver to consider prolonging the break and Silver obliged.

"I think it's going to benefit me, it's going to be benefit our team, it's going to benefit a lot of guys in our league," James said. "It's part of All-Star Weekend year-after-year and we'll have an opportunity to get those extra few days."

This year injuries have taken a toll on the game's biggest players. As a result, the All-Star game will be missing a couple of future Hall-of-Famers.

"It definitely sucks when you have a lot of guys that are out because of injuries, especially some of the marquee guys," James said. "You look at Kobe [Bryant] and D-Wade, two of the guys that have always been part of All-Star Sunday for the last decade. So to have those guys out of the game is definitely not good for our league."

When it's time, James is hopeful common ground can be reached on a reduced regular season between the NBA owners and the Players' Union. This appears to be a topic the players won't be dropping.

Matthew Dellavedova contributed and Andrew Wiggins dominated to get the World past the United States in the Rising Stars Challenge.

BROOKLYN - Cleveland Cavaliers' backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova assisted the World in defeating the United States 121-112 in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at Barclay Center on Friday night.

Dellavedova opted not to pick up full-court as he's known to do in the regular season, but he did keep his teammates happy by advancing the ball up the court to jumpstart the transition game.

The Australian registered four points on 2-of-6 shooting while also providing four rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes. Dellavedova was added on as a replacement on Wednesday, taking the place of an injured Kelly Olynyk (ankle) of the Boston Celtics.

Andrew Wiggins, who the Cavaliers drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and then traded him for Kevin Love, was named the MVP after leading the World with 22 points.

Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz had a monster night, finishing with of 18 points and game-highs of 12 rebounds and three blocks.

Orlando's Victor Oladipo and Minnesota's Zach Lavine had 22 points apiece.

Sloppy Play

Similar to an All-Star game, little to no defense was played and both teams tried to make the spectacular, jaw-dropping plays, which led to a whopping 51 turnovers combined.

What's on deck?

Kyrie Irving will participate in the Three-Point Contest on Saturday. The field will consist of Golden State's Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Portland's Wesley Matthews, Los Angeles' J.J. Redick, San Antonio's Marco Belinelli and Atlanta's Kyle Korver.

A look at the sports schedule for area high schools on Feb. 14, 2015.

A look at the sports schedule for area high schools on Feb. 14, 2015.

Get live updates all day today from the third annual OHSAA dual team state wrestling tournament at Ohio State.

Get live updates all day today from the third annual OHSAA dual team state wrestling tournament at Ohio State.

The Browns are an easy target for the media because of all the losing, but is a 7-9 team that made some progress truly toxic?

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam wants to support Johnny Manziel.John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In the middle of my recent interview with Jimmy Haslam, I realized there was not much he could say that would change anything.

He understands that fans don't trust the Browns because of all the losing and turmoil. He is correct to think that the departure of Kyle Shanahan is overblown in terms of being the final verdict on how the Browns do business.

But as Haslam said, "I know that until you begin to win consistently, you have no credibility -- but I really believe we are headed in the right direction."

The Browns finished 7-9, their best record since 2007. The tough part was finishing with five losses in a row.

I'm from the Bill Parcells school that "your record is your record." Sixteen games tells a story. Just as when the Browns finished the 2009 with four straight wins, they still were a 5-11 team.

I like the roster better now than after 2013. I say that knowing the same questions linger -- starting at quarterback. There also is a huge hole on the defensive line. Other than Desmond Bryant (and sometimes Billy Winn), no one stopped the run or delivered much pressure on the quarterback.

Once again they need receivers.

In the end, the Browns were 7-9. But they are "toxic," according to several media reports. "Toxic" is the new label, that no one would want to touch it.

You know when the Browns were last "toxic"? About 13 months ago when Rob Chudzinski was fired and they were searching for a replacement. Not only were the Browns "toxic," they were "radioactive."

That came from this tweet by Albert Breer of the NFL network: "You get the increasing feeling, talking to people around that league, that the Browns job is seen as radioactive."

Apparently Mike Pettine was willing to deal with the radiation. He was either the fourth choice, the sixth choice ... or the 864th choice. I can't remember. I do think he ended up a pretty good choice.

Former CEO Joe Banner was criticized for the coaching search, but he found a good man. Banner and General Manager Mike Lombardi were not fired until Feb. 11, with Ray Farmer promoted to general manager.

Remember how the Browns coaching search was being conducted "by the Three Stooges," according to one local television newsman?

That also was last year. Stooges. Toxic. Radioactive.

Sigh...

The name-calling wears me out because there often isn't much thought behind it.

I'm disturbed that a veteran NFL man such as Farmer did something so ridiculous as send texts during games to coaches in the press box. Regardless of the content, it's a violation of NFL rules and everyone in the league knows it. That embarrassed the franchise. But I'm pleased that Haslam is sticking with Farmer. Now is not the time to have a fourth GM in four years running the draft.

I didn't like the selection Manziel on draft day, and now he's in rehab for alcohol problems. No surprise that Josh Gordon submarined his own career ... again.

I thought Farmer was far too stubborn in a near disdain of receivers. But I'm also not willing to accept that the franchise is about to collapse. Truth is, Browns fans have seen much worse.

But the only thing that will change this storyline is a strong draft, some wise free agent signings, and a winning record at the end of the year.

ABOUT JOHNNY MANZIEL

If Haslam wants to say positive things about Manziel as the quarterback tries to put his life back together, that makes some sense. The stakes are huge for Manziel, who was destroying his life with one party to another. The most encouraging news is that I keep hearing that it was Manziel who made the decision to enter rehab.

The Browns owner said he recently asked his football people if Manziel can be a starter in the NFL -- and Haslam said, "The answer is consistently yes. I don't have the ability to judge that. I don't have that kind of technical expertise. Now, he's got to get himself straightened out and he has to do that on the field, but yes."

That's yes, as in Manziel can become a starter. That's Haslam's opinion, and that of some of his football people.

I'm not going to dwell on all the obvious problems that Manziel had on and off the field. Fans know the story. I will say the Browns are spending a lot of time studying free-agent quarterbacks, and some who may be available via trade. I don't believe Haslam or anyone else in Berea is counting on Manziel to start this season. They really don't know what -- if anything -- they can expect.

Haslam told me that it was "too early" to write off Manziel. He didn't say it, but he knows a key to success in rehab is for a person to have a future in mind -- a dream worth working towards. It's why he kept saying the Browns would support the troubled Gordon, until there was a third suspension in two years. The latest covers all of 2015.

I sense the Browns may bring in several quarterbacks. I'm sure they'll see what it would take to trade for Marcus Mariota.

But the first six teams in the draft are Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Oakland, Washington and the New York Jets. The Bucs, Titans and Jets definitely need a quarterback. Maybe Washington does, too, given the erratic Robert Griffin III. Hard to imagine the Browns having enough trade ammunition to jump over so many teams.

With Manziel in rehab and Brian Hoyer entering free agency, Connor Shaw is the only viable QB on the roster. You will hear a lot of players connected to the Browns between now and free agency (March 10, when it opens) and then the draft in late April.

ABOUT KYLE SHANAHAN

I recently ran across an article in CBS Sports about Shanahan. It was written in December of 2013 during his final weeks as Washington's offensive coordinator. He was working for his father, head coach Mike Shanahan.

Here are some key points from the story written by Jason La Canfora. He's also the author of the recent rip on the Browns front office for how it handled Shanahan and other factors.

1. "Kyle Shanahan (is seen) as someone who was empowered and enabled by his father, spending an abundance of time in his father's office, given a wide swath of power, and rubbing many people -- players, fellow coaches and members of football operations -- the wrong way."

2. "Shanahan has been the most heavily rewarded of the team's assistant coaches, as team sources said the two-year extension Shanahan earned following the playoff run in 2012 will pay him $1.5M in 2014 alone. That's money he's almost certain to collect away from the team, with this regime widely expected to be fired after this season."

3. "Kyle is the head coach, it's just that no one knows he is," said one member of the organization. "He gets whatever he wants. And he has no relationship at all with (quarterback Robert Griffin III). So how could it work?"

4. "As a former member of the organization puts it: "Kyle bitches about everything, and then his father has to fix it. He bitches about the food in the cafeteria. He bitches about the field. He bitches about the equipment. He complains and then Mike takes care of it. Kyle is a big problem there. He is not well liked."

5. "Several members of the organization said Kyle Shanahan was a cause of internal strife, surrounding himself with young coaches with inferior experience, and allowing for no checks and balances of outside voices in the offensive coaching rooms."

Here's what La Canfora wrote in his recent article on the Browns:

1. "At season's end Shanahan, the lone bright spot on offense, perhaps, presented Mike Pettine with a 32-point presentation on why he wanted to get out of his contract, sources said."

2. "After much deliberation among lawyers and negotiation, in a bizarre precedent, a statement was crafted and Shanahan was a free man. He would end up in Atlanta, a coveted job."

3. "Allowing Shanahan to walk sent shockwaves through the building, with such a talented coach allowed to go at a time when the Browns desperately needed to develop a quarterback and with a quarter of the teams in the NFL needing a new offensive coordinator."

Quick thoughts:

1. The same author wrote both stories about the same Kyle Shanahan -- about 14 months apart.

2. I don't think Shanahan was a bad as portrayed by La Canfora in the first story, nor is he the tremendous loss as characterized in the second.

3. I do think all of us in the media are tempted to write for impact at times, and we can forget about consistency. As a reader, you can call up the links to both stories and draw your own conclusions.

Here's what I heard about Shanahan:

1. He is talented but difficult. He and Pettine agreed on the general offensive approach -- the strong running game and zone blocking schemes. But they really didn't know each other before Shanahan was hired last January.

2. Pettine was hired Jan. 23, 2014. By then, many of the top available assistants had been hired by other teams. He was scrambling to fill his staff, especially on offense. Shanahan's reputation took a big hit in Washington with the collapse of Griffin III in 2013. So he needed a job, and Pettine (a defensive coach) needed an experienced offensive coordinator.

3. A year ago, Pettine really liked John DeFilippo, Oakland's quarterback coach. He was tempted to hire DeFilippo as coordinator, but believed it was wiser to go with the more experienced Shanahan.

4. When Shanahan wanted out of his contract because he was reasonably sure that he could get a job in Atlanta as the coordinator for quarterback Matt Ryan, Pettine didn't push hard for him to stay. The head coach believes it's hard enough to win when coaches want to be with a team. When they want out, it makes no sense forcing them to stay.

5. Pettine also was sure he could hire DeFilippo, with whom he had a comfort level. They worked together on the Jets staff in 2009, and have stayed close ever since. Will it work? Who knows? But let's also not turn Shanahan into a saint in his departure. Like many of us, he saw a better opportunity and went after it.

• Terry's Talkin' Cavs.
• Terry's Talkin' Indians.

With a 33-22 record, the Cavs have already equaled their victory total of last season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the Cavs reach the All-Star break at 33-22, it's hard to remember that they were 19-20 at one point.

The NBA regular season is 82 games. Two contests short of the 41-game midpoint, they were 19-20. Since then they're 14-2.

Here's a breakdown of the season so far:

THE MVP: When LeBron James plays, the Cavs are 31-14; 2-8 when he sits. He's second in the NBA in scoring (25.9), seventh in assists (7.3) and has made the Cavs instant Eastern Conference contenders. They have equaled their win total of 2013-14, which ended 33-49.

HIDDEN JAMES STAT: He is fourth in free throws attempted (8.2). That's a big deal because they show James is driving to the rim, putting the opposing team in foul trouble and the Cavaliers in the bonus. This is his highest rate since 2009-10, his last season here before heading to Miami.

THE MOST IMPROVED: Kyrie Irving, whose defense has become a significant part of his game. He has adjusted to James starting the offense. Irving plays like a shooting guard, running off picks and catching passes from James to set up his shots. Irving is averaging 21.7 points, shooting .466 from the field (a career-high .414 on 3-pointers).

HIDDEN IRVING STAT: He has missed only three games due to injuries. In the previous three seasons, he missed an average of 15 games.

BIGGEST ADDITION: Yes, the 7-foot-1 Timofey Mozgov, a player only hardcore fans were aware of a year ago. The Russian plays gritty defense. He has bonded with James on the pick-and-rolls. He has a nice medium-range jumper. The Cavs are 14-5 when he plays.

HIDDEN PART OF MOZGOV'S GAME: He can really run down the court on the fast break, catch the ball and score. He's far more athletic than I expected.

David Blatt has learned the same lessons as everyone else who has coached LeBron James -- he gets the credit for the wins, you get the blame for losses. Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer 

MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER: Tristan Thompson will start. He'll come off the bench. He has not missed a game in three years. He always hustles, has a great attitude and leads all NBA non-starters in rebounding (7.7 per game).

HIDDEN THOMPSON STAT: He is shooting a career-high .534 from the field.

MOST SURPRISING CAVALIER: J.R. Smith, who has taken over at shooting guard and doesn't appear prepared to surrender the position. The Cavs are 14-5 when he starts. He has worked hard on defense. He is a streak shooter from outrageous distances. With the Cavs, seven of his 11 shots per game are from 3-point range, where he's making 36 percent.

HIDDEN SMITH STAT: In 20 games, he has attempted only 12 free throws. The 6-foot-6 Smith is athletic, but doesn't drive to the basket. He should try it a few times a game.

MOST UNLOVED: That's right, Kevin Love. To listen to some in the media, you'd swear he's the second coming of anyone from Ryan Hollins to Milos Babic to Luther Rackley. Love's shooting is down (.429 from the field). But I'd hate to think where the Cavs would be without his 10.4 rebounds. Fans had a preview in Thursday's 113-99 loss to Chicago when the Cavs looked so small against the Bulls' tall front line.

HIDDEN LOVE STAT: He is eighth in the NBA with 28 double doubles. Next on the Cavs is James with 15.

MOST DISAPPOINTING: Last season, Mike Miller played in all 82 games for Memphis. He averaged 7.1 points, shooting .481 (.459 on 3-pointers). He was a very valuable long-range shooter. But this season, his shooting has been terrible (.333) and he doesn't play most nights. He's 34 with a history of back problems, although he has been healthy for most of the season with the exception of a concussion. He signed a two-year deal with the Cavs.

HIDDEN MILLER STAT: All but 13 of his 94 shots have been from 3-point range. He has attempted only two free throws.

MOST RIDICULED: Many fans love to pile on Matthew Dellavedova. Part of the problem is the coaches use the undrafted player from St. Mary's too much -- 20 minutes a game. He also missed five weeks with a knee injury. He's averaging 4.2 points, shooting .352. He should be the 10th man, but both former coach Mike Brown and current boss David Blatt like his defense and grit.

HIDDEN DELLY STAT: He's shooting only 29 percent from 2-point range, 40 percent on 3-pointers.

MOST IGNORED PLAYER: Not sure why, but Shawn Marion has drifted out of the rotation. He has played only 74 minutes in the last eight games. Even with Love injured in Chicago, Marion played only eight minutes. After starting the 36-year-old Marion at shooting guard early in the season, Blatt appears to have lost confidence in him. He is averaging 4.9 points in 20 minute, shooting .444 from the field.

HIDDEN MARION STAT: I have none, other than how his playing time is disappearing.

MOST EXPECTATIONS AFTER ALL-STAR BREAK: It's not that Iman Shumpert is a great player, but he's finally in basketball shape after missing nearly six weeks with a shoulder injury. In 12 games with the Cavs, he's shooting .508 and averaging 7.2 points in 20 minutes.

HIDDEN SHUMPERT STAT: He has never shot above 41 percent in his career. He is known for his defense, but the 6-6 guard has been a reliable outside shooter here.

MOST UNCOMFORTABLE SPOT: That belongs to Blatt. He is in the same position as Paul Silas, Mike Brown and Erik Spolestra. Anyone who coaches James soon learns that when the team wins, it's because of James and the players. When they lose, the coach doesn't know how to use James.

MOST MISSED PART OF BLATT'S SEASON: How he quickly incorporated Mozgov, Smith and Shumpert. Most teams need a period of adjustment (and lose) when adding new players to key roles. But Blatt adjusted his offense and defense to turn them into a quick and effective fit.

RETURN OF THE FRANCHISE

A paperback version of The Franchise is now available. I wrote the book in 2009 with Brian Windhorst. The Franchise tells the rise of James and how the Cavs franchise was evolving. In other words, it's a look the the first James Era with the Cavs.

You can check it out at terrypluto.com

• Terry's Talkin' Browns.
• Terry's Talkin' Indians.

The Indians need a major comeback from Jason Kipnis if they plan to prove ESPN right and win the Central Division.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jason Kipnis has already reported to Goodyear and the Indians are pleased with his physical condition.

Kipnis had surgery on his left ring finger to repair a tendon that was injured when he was working out with weights. The operation was on Dec. 17, and Kipnis is not expected to have any problems from the procedure.

The 5-foot-11 Kipnis was listed at 200 pounds, but appeared heavier last season. Perhaps that was due to his desire to add power with a weightlifting program adding upper body bulk.

Well, that was a bad idea. The Indians also believe that Kipnis changed his swing to try for more power. It may not have been deliberate, but it happened. At the end of April, an oblique (rib) injury cost him a month. When he returned, his swing looked longer and slower than ever before.

Kipnis ended 2014 missing two weeks with a hamstring injury.

His stats were dismal: .240 average (.640 OPS) with eight homers, 41 RBI and defensive issues at second base. While he was charged with only six errors in 129 games, it was clear his range was smaller and he had trouble turning double plays.

He was ranked 14th out of 15 AL second baseman defensively by fangraphs.com. Only Houston's Jose Altuve was worse. Kipnis ranked 14th in range, 13th in turning double plays.

When I asked Terry Francona about Kipnis at second base, he admitted that Kipnis needed to improve. But he also said, "When he's hitting, you don't talk about it much."

So true. In 2012-13, Kipnis batted .274 (.767 OPS) averaging 15 homers, 80 RBI, 81 walks and 31 stolen bases. He made the 2013 AL All-Star team. Perhaps the 17 homers and 84 RBI in 2013 made Kipnis believe that he could add even more power -- and led to a change in his conditioning program.

Now, the Indians say he is leaner. Francona talked to Kipnis about returning to his natural swing and hitting the ball to all fields.

For all the talk about Nick Swisher needing to bounce back from his miserable season and two knee operations, Kipnis may be even more important. He will turn 28 on April 3. He signed a seven-year, $55 million contract extension before last year's opening day.

From the moment Kipnis was the Tribe's second-round pick in 2009, he has always hit. His career average in the minors is .296 (.861 OPS). The Indians believe Kipnis was never quite healthy in 2014, and then developed some bad habits caused by injury.

It's spring training, and all of us will hear how players are in better shape and feeling upbeat. That's the Kipnis story right now, and the Indians desperately need it to continue.

ABOUT THE FORMER FAUSTO CARMONA

He's known as Roberto Hernandez, which was his given name back in the Dominican Republic before he signed with the Indians.

The former Fausto Carmona had one great year with the Tribe, winning 19 games in 2007.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer 

The name switch is a long story having to do with Dominican scouts suggesting he adopt another identity so he'd could take a few years off his age and be more attractive to big-league teams. He's probably not the only player engaging in this deception, but was caught in 2012. Often, players keep their original names and just doctor their birth certificates.

Anyway, Hernandez is now 34 and just signed a minor-league contract with Houston, where he has a good chance to make the starting rotation.

Hernandez was 8-11 with a 4.10 ERA in 2014, splitting the season between Philadelphia and the Dodgers. I'm surprised he didn't secure more than a minor-league deal, given how teams throw money at starting pitchers who even approach mediocrity.

In 2013, Hernandez was 6-13 with a 4.89 ERA for Tampa Bay. His last year with the Tribe was 2012, when he was 0-3 with a 7.53 ERA. He missed much of that season as he was suspended for the identity mess.

I still remember Hernandez (then Carmona) pitching so well against the Yankees in the playoffs at Progressive Field in 2007. That was the infamous "Bug Game," in which midges swarmed the field for a few innings. He held the Yankees to one run in nine innings that night.

In that magical 2007 season, he was 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA. For the rest of his career, Hernandez has a 46-81 record.

ABOUT THE TRIBE IN THE PLAYOFFS

ESPN's David Schoenfield ranked all 30 teams, and coming in at No. 4 is ... the Tribe?

Yes, the Tribe. He picks the Indians to finish 90-72 and win the Central Division. He predicts a bounce-back year for Kipnis. He thinks Michael Brantley will be good, but not quite at his 2014 form of .327, 20 HR, 97 RBI.

He wrote: "Picking the Indians to win the Central isn't really a radical pick -- they won 85 games last season and 92 in 2013. The offense should be above average, especially if Kipnis and Brandon Moss are healthy. And while the defense is questionable (last in the majors in overall DRS), it's the young rotation that has come together. ... Second-half stats aren't always predictive, but the Indians had the best rotation ERA in the AL after the All-Star break."

ABOUT THE TRIBE

1. The Tribe checked out former Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito, but I heard they are not interested in signing him. Zito was out of baseball in 2014, after a 5-11 record with a 5.74 ERA in 2013. Also at a workout was Matt Albers, and the Tribe did have an interest. He was with the Tribe in 2013. But Albers signed a minor-league deal with the White Sox.

2. The Indians have a lot of relievers, including veterans Scott Downs and Anthony Swarzak, on minor-league contracts. Albers believed he had a better shot with the White Sox. Supposedly, five teams wanted Albers on a minor-league deal. He pitched only 10 innings last season in Houston because of arm problems.

3. Brantley keeps himself in outstanding physical condition. So when he started calling Lonnie Chisenhall "Cross Fit," that's high praise. The Indians have wanted Chisenhall to follow the Brantley model. Weight has never been a problem for Brantley, but he realized that the proper strength and flexibility training could make a huge difference. Chisenhall is supposed to be following the same type of program.

4. Gavin Floyd has already thrown three bullpen sessions in Goodyear. Pitchers and catchers don't officially report until Tuesday. Floyd had elbow surgery in 2013. In 2014, he made eight starts (1-2, 2.98 ERA) for the Braves before suffering a fracture in his right elbow -- missing the rest of the season. In bullpen sessions, pitchers throw off the mound and simulate game conditions. So he is off to a good start.

5. Danny Salazar also has thrown several bullpen sessions. The Tribe's goal was for Salazar's arm to be strong by the end of spring. Last year, he dealt with soreness and really never had his arm in good shape until after the All-Star break. He was 1-4 with a 5.53 ERA (then sent to the minors) in the first half. He was 5-4 with a 3.50 ERA after the All-Star game.

• Terry's Talkin' Browns.
• Terry's Talkin' Cavs.

Dominique Wilkins would still like to see a 30-year-old LeBron James partake in the Slam Dunk Contest.

NEW YORK -- The Human Highlight Film, Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins, said if he could pick one player to join the field who has never participated in the Slam Dunk Contest, it would be a no-brainer.

"That's easy. LeBron James," he told Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Tonight's Slam Dunk participants will include Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, Orlando's Victor Oladipo, Minnesota's Zach Lavine and Brooklyn's Mason Plumlee.

Wilkins, a two-time dunk champion, is one of the most prolific and ferocious dunkers of all time. He did some things in mid-air that didn't seem possible. His creativity and the way he contorted his body so gracefully was a treat to watch.

Over the years the best athletes have all participated in what was once the main event during All-Star Weekend. Back in the day if you had to choose between watching the All-Star Game or the dunk contest, viewing Michael Jordan and Wilkins going blow-for-blow was the logical choice.

"We were very competitive," Wilkins said. "We wanted to go head-up with one another and we went head-up with the greatest athletes in the league at that time."

Wilkins said it has always puzzled him as to why James and others refuse to compete in the event at least once. Before, if you were a young athletic player on the cusp of potentially being special, the dunk contest was a prerequisite.

It was a coming-out party.

When James was drafted No. 1 overall in 2003, it was seen as a forgone conclusion that he would one day dominate the competition with an assortment of high-flying acts in a few Februarys.

James thought so, too.

"I did, for sure," James said. "It just never happened. I don't know. There were times where I wanted to do it and didn't do it. It was times I just didn't really care about it too much, but it's definitely been something that's been pretty cool for our league."

At 30 years old, James is still getting high and easily throwing down acrobatic dunks that make you wonder "what if?" It's not too late for the Cavaliers forward to join the fraternity, according to Wilkins.

He was asked what current three players he would like to see go at it in a dunking showdown, and he named the Clippers' Blake Griffin, Washington's John Wall and James.

"If you had those three guys in it alone, it would be a great dunk contest," he said.

However, that's never going to happen. At this point in James' career, there's no benefit in competing. How would he have fared? It will remain a mystery.

"I think he would have won a few, Wilkins said.

Guard Chet Mason is among the all-time quickest high school players from this area. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The nickname would not be born for several more years, but Chet Mason saw the light and unfortunately for his opponents, they were forced to experience the sensation.

"As a young kid I was so quick on the court that opponents said there was no way I could move and dribble without traveling," said Mason, who is in a shoe commercial with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving. "And when I'd use my quickness to crash the boards, they'd tell me to slow down because it was hard for them to box me out."

Mason was so fast that years later he was tagged with the nickname "The Jet" by an AAU coach. He tried to live up to his reputation.

"I grew up watching Ruben Patterson and Earl Boykins at [Luke Easter Park], so I thought that's how the game was supposed to be played -- really fast," Mason said. "I had only one speed, but I learned later that basketball isn't about going fast all of the time. It's about a change of pace."

That change of tempo helped boost Mason as not only one of the quickest players in the area, but into one of the state's better players. In 2000 as a member of South High School, he was co-Mr. Basketball Player of the Year in Ohio. It was the first time a player from the Cleveland Senate won the award.

Mason played at such a high level that he finished No. 2 in the PD All-Decade teams for the span of 2000-10.

"Chet was the truth," said Jamin Birch, a 2000 graduate and forward for Bedford High School. You couldn't contain him. He did any and every thing he wanted. His first step wasn't that quick, but once he got going, you weren't going to catch him."

Unlike most point guards, Mason was also a proficient rebounder. He averaged a triple double (25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists) as a senior. He led the Flyers to a Senate championship and a Division I regional final appearance. It was the Flyers' first Sweet 16 appearance in 40 years.

Before the showdown with Bedford, Mason scored 27 points in the regional semifinals against St. Ignatius, setting up a memorable showdown against Bedford in a near sell-out at the University of Akron's JAR Arena.

It was Mason's last prep game.

"I try to forget that game because it was a game we should've won," said former South coach Miguel Curl. "I can still see the player from Bedford who was a football player making baskets we didn't count on...  It was a heck of a game."

The hype before the game grew at a frantic pace. The tickets allotted to South were gone in hours once put on sale. Communities throughout the Senate showed South support as the representative of the conference. Media attention increased. School spirit was high.

"It was the best feeling in the world," remembered Mason. "The support added to the confidence we already had."

South needed that confidence after trailing by eight at the half, and by 12 late in the third quarter. But South roared back. On one sequence, Mason blocked a shot, grabbed the rebound and drove the court for a three-point play to cut the deficit to three.

"He always made shots that left you shaking your head, like 'how did he do that?'" Curl said. "He was the kind of player I could always count on. He was amazing to watch."

The Bearcats answered and led 61-48 with 7:10 left, but Mason and his teammates had another run in them.

"I had in my mind that I wasn't going to let my team lose," said Mason, who finished with a game-high 35 points, 21 in the second half, 10 rebounds and seven assists. "I'm scoring, rebounding and making assists. I'm trying to put my team on my back and get out of the hole we dug ourselves into."

The Flyers would eventually run out of gas. The Bearcats regrouped, took the lead and the Flyers never recovered. The Flyers' season and Mason's high school career were over.

"When I think of of my last high school game, I think of what could have been," Mason said.

Fast forward 14 years to last year's Senate boys and girls city championship. Mason's jersey had previously been retired by South, but now the Cleveland Public Schools would recognize Mason and retire his Flyers jersey No. 32.

"I'm glad my children got to see the result of something I worked so hard for," said Mason, who is married with five girls. "Cleveland is one of the top cities when it comes to basketball, so to get recognized for your basketball achievements here means so much to me."

The night also included coach Curl, who now lives in Chicago. He wouldn't miss Mason's night.

"I drove those six hours and I was right there and it was awesome for the city to recognize Chet's efforts on the court and in the community," Curl said. "I've told him time and time again that if I had a son, I'd want him to be just like Chet. He's a great man."

Share your thoughts with us in the poll and in comments.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are the players named to The Plain Dealer's All-Decade boys basketball team for 2000-2010, as voted on by a selection committee comprised of former coaches, writers and contributors. 

After musing over hundreds of candidates and conducting interviews with former players, coaches, reporters and fans, they had the task, with assistance from a moderator, to select the top 10 players in each decade -- starting with the 1960s -- and putting them in order from 1-10.

Only players from The Plain Dealer's seven-county coverage area were eligible. The seven counties are Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit. The sole criteria was the player's achievements in high school; his college and/or pro career was not a factor.

Share your thoughts with us in the poll below and in comments on this post.

The players are listed here, ranked in order of points. There were eight polled panelists. First-place votes in parentheses:

1. LeBron James -- 80 (8)
School: St. Vincent-St. Mary
Graduated: 2003
Position: Guard/forward
Notable: James became the first junior to win national player of the year (he also won in his senior year) and the first Ohio native to win Mr. Basketball three times. James led his team to three state titles. He averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists his senior season.

2. Chet Mason -- 51
School: Cleveland South
Graduated: 2000
Position: Point guard
Notable: Averaged a triple-double (25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists) his senior year. Mason was the co-Mr. Basketball which made him the first Cleveland public school player to win the award. Played at Miami of Ohio.

3. Mike Gansey -- 48
School: Olmsted Falls
Graduated: 2001
Position: Guard
Notable: Was a three-time All-Ohio selection, including first team his junior and senior years. Was named Division II Player of the Year and finished second to LeBron James in Mr. Basketball voting. Is school's all-time leading scorer with 1,909 points. Averaged 27.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.3 steals as a senior.

4. Delvon Roe -- 43
School: St. Edward
Graduated: 2008
Position: Forward
Notable: Senior season ended after one game by a knee injury. Was named Sporting News First Team All-American and EA Sports National Junior of the Year in 2007. Averaged 22.5 points and 11.5 rebounds that season, leading the Eagles to the state semifinals and a 25-1 record. Played in the 2007 USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival, averaging 30.3 points (tournament best) and 10.3 rebounds.

5. David Lighty -- 39
School: Villa Angela-St. Joseph
Graduated: 2006
Position: Forward
Notable: An All-Ohio selection his junior and senior seasons. Averaged 22 points a game as a senior, leading VASJ to state runner-up finish in Division III. Averaged 24.5 points and 11.8 rebounds as a junior and 19.4 points as a sophomore.

6. Tony Stockman -- 29
School: Medina
Graduated: 2000
Position: Guard
Notable: Named Co-Mr. Basketball in Ohio with Chet Mason after averaging 25.5 points in his senior season. Finished as the school's all-time leading scorer, leading Medina to a 58-9 record in his three seasons.

7. Jawad Williams -- 26
School: St. Edward
Graduated: 2001
Position: Forward
Notable: Named to Parade All-America second team and All-Ohio first team as a senior. Played on school's state championship team as a freshman.

8. Raishawn Norwood -- 25
School: Buchtel
Graduated: 2003
Position: Guard/Forward
Notable: Norwood was All-Ohio third team his senior year, averaging 24.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He shot 52 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range.

9. Brian Swift -- 24
School: St. Peter Chanel/Warrensville Heights
Graduated: 2001
Position: Point guard
Notable: Swift led St. Peter Chanel to a state title as a sophomore and was Division III Player of the Year. Swift made a second trip to the state finals but lost in the championship game. A three-time All-Ohio selection. He was all-district all four years. Swift averaged 18 points, 10 assists and 5.1 steals as a senior.

10. Juby Johnson -- 18
School: Warrensville Heights
Graduated: 2000
Position: Guard/forward
Notable: Led Tigers to Division II championship in first state final appearance. Averaged 25 points and 14 rebounds in leading school to a 25-2 record. Was an All-Ohio selection and named Outstanding Player of the state tournament. His brother, Sonny Johnson, was named to the PD All-Decade team for the 1990s.

Perry defeated West Geauga to earn a share of the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division championship.

Perry defeated West Geauga to earn a share of the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division championship.

LeBron James filmed a Kia commercial in a matter of seconds in New York Friday night.

NEW YORK -- LeBron James filmed a Kia car commercial in the middle of Manhattan Friday night, according to TMZ.

James, a Kia ambassador who is in New York for the All-Star Game Sunday, ripped through filming in seconds. TMZ has the video, which you can watch here.

"Ninety seconds. You know it don't take me long to knock out a commercial. It's how I do," James said Saturday, following the East's practice for Sunday's game.

Saturday will be a busy day for James with his sponsors. He has multiple appearances planned for Nike, and Sprite is expected at the LeBron James Family Foundation's dedication of a renovated Boys and Girls Club in Harlem later this afternoon.

On Friday, James appeared at a New York school along with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, union executive director Michele Roberts, and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.

Later, James was elected first vice president for the players' union.

This story was updated.

Ohio State erased the nine-point halftime deficit and traded baskets with the Spartans up until the game's final seconds.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Ohio State chipped away at a nine-point halftime deficit and gave itself a shot at an impressive win at Michigan State on Saturday, but it wasn't the Buckeyes' day. It was Valentine's Day. 

Literally. 

Michigan State's Denzel Valentine knocked down a three-pointer with 3.2 seconds left to lift the Spartans to a 59-56 victory over the Buckeyes in the Breslin Center.

Ohio State was led by Shannon Scott, who scored 15 points. Three other players, D'Angelo Russell, Jae'Sean Tate and Sam Thompson, scored 10 for the Buckeyes. 

When it was over: When Ohio State couldn't advance the ball past midcourt for a final shot. 

Crucial run: Ohio State got off to a solid start, but Michigan State really took control with a 15-2 run during the last 5:58 of the first half. That helped the Spartans take a 33-24 lead into halftime. Ohio State made eight of its first 14 field goal attempts, but only two of its final 12 shots of the first half. During the run, Ohio State's only two points were Shannon Scott free throws. 

That run didn't decide the game. Ohio State erased the nine-point halftime deficit and traded baskets with the Spartans up until the game's final seconds. In that case, no run really decided the game, unless you count Valentine's three as the game-deciding 3-0 run. 

Loving's return: Though Ohio State got back the sophomore from a three-game suspension for an undisclosed off-the-court incident, Matta didn't use him much. Loving played only five minutes and didn't score. It could be a combination of Ohio State finding some rhythm in his absence and Loving still having some punishment to serve for his mistake. 

No Anthony Lee: The senior big man missed his second consecutive game with a groin injury. Matta said before the Michigan State game that he wasn't sure if Lee would play, so even though he didn't, it doesn't seem like the injury is too serious. Lee traveled with the team but wore a black Ohio State jumpsuit on the bench. 

What it means: Ohio State came in winners of five of its last six, but the Buckeyes haven't proven they can beat a quality team on the road. They had losses at Louisville, Indiana, Iowa and Purdue, but hoped that Michigan State would be a turning point. The Buckeyes played tough, but they're still searching for that elusive quality road win. 

The loss to the Spartans all but knocks out Ohio State from a chance at the regular season Big Ten title. 

What's next: Ohio State has eight days off before it travels to Michigan on Feb. 22 for its second-to-last road game. After that, three of the final four games are at home - vs. Nebraska (Feb. 26), vs. Purdue (March 1), at Penn State (March 4) and vs. Wisconsin (March 8). 

LeBron James aims to be a part of a "very important negotiation" with owners as new NBPA vice president.

NEW YORK -- LeBron James made clear Saturday what new colleagues in union leadership tried to dance around the day before.

His new role as vice president has everything to do with upcoming negotiations over how to share revenues from the NBA's new $24 billion TV contract.

"Well it's very important. It's going to be a very important negotiation, and I think I'm a big part of the process," James said Saturday, following the East's practice at Madison Square Garden for Sunday's NBA All-Star Game. "It's good to be vice president of the players' association, CP (Chris Paul) is the president and Michele (Roberts) is obviously the commander-in-chief, and we look forward to doing some good things."

On Friday, the National Basketball Players Association unanimously elected James as vice president, pairing him with his good friend Paul and Roberts, who is the union's executive director.

Roberts said James' election had "nothing to do" with the likely fight over revenue sharing with the owners, crediting it instead to simply having a player with the prowess of James in leadership strengthens the union in general.

"It means a lot," Paul said on Saturday, following the West's practice at the Garden. "LeBron is the face of our league and his opinion matters."

James chose not to run for union president in 2013, citing time constraints. Paul suggested it took little if any convincing of James to seek the vice presidency. "He wanted to do it. I ain't got no money to give him."

The NBA's nine-year TV deal starts in 2016 and could be worth nearly $2 billion in added revenue each year. The players rejected the owners' offer for how to distribute the money Friday, and the players can opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement following the 2016-17 season.

Before he was in leadership, James praised the TV deal in October when it was announced, in no small part because of the earning potential it will give to him as a "max" player.

James has structured his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers to be in position to sign a long-term deal when the salary cap goes up in 2016. The players rejected the owners' proposal related to the TV deal on Friday because, essentially, the owners wanted to suppress the cap's growth in the first few years.

James said in October that he would be active in helping players maximize their earning potential. But when pressed for a union agenda Saturday, James said "we'll have a game plan when it's time to discuss it. Today is not the time."

The union has other concerns, including the length of the regular season.

League commissioner Adam Silver will hold his annual NBA All-Star press conference later on Saturday.

St. Vincent-St. Mary, Padua and Kirtland were eliminated in the quarterfinal round.

St. Vincent-St. Mary, Padua and Kirtland were eliminated in the quarterfinal round.

"You look and say we've had a two-point loss, a three-point loss and this is a three-point loss, I think it says something about our guys," Matta said. "It's not that far away in terms of where we are. I don't hang my head too far on a three-point loss at Michigan State in this day. I think we have to keep finding ways." Watch video

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Ohio State erased a nine-point halftime deficit, a senior buried a clutch three in the game's final minute to tie it, the intense Breslin Center crowd became merely background noise.

The stage was perfectly set for Ohio State to fill the void on its resume: The obvious lack of a quality win over a solid opponent on the road. 

Now was the time.

Winners of five of its previous six; sophomore Marc Loving in returning from a three-game suspension; coach Thad Matta feeling better than ever about the No. 23 Buckeyes' depth; Evan Turner, the former National Player of the Year, sitting directly behind Ohio State's bench; A classic Big Ten venue. It was all lining up. 

But after more than 39 minutes of hard-fought basketball that never fails to make Ohio State-Michigan State games classics, Denzel Valentine broke free from Sam Thompson on a screen and buried a cold-blooded three-pointer with 3.2 seconds remaining. Game over. 

"You can literally start your own classics channel from the last few years of Ohio State vs. Michigan State - the endings have been incredible," Matta said. "I thought our guys competed. I thought our guys played. ... But they made the final play they needed to." 

Call it a trend. Louisville. Indiana. Iowa. Purdue. North Carolina on a neutral site. Ohio State has played with some very talented teams away from Value City Arena, but the Buckeyes haven't gotten it done. 

The three road wins Ohio State (19-7, 8-5 Big Ten) does claim? Minnesota, Northwestern and Rutgers - teams who combine for eight total wins in conference play. With March roughly two weeks away, the Buckeyes, a team that was seemingly hitting its stride, still has a lot to prove. 

"You look and say we've had a two-point loss, a three-point loss and this is a three-point loss, I think it says something about our guys," Matta said. "It's not that far away in terms of where we are. I don't hang my head too far on a three-point loss at Michigan State in this day. I think we have to keep finding ways."

Ohio State is close, yes. But not there. Here's what's holding the back: 

* D'Angelo Russell is crucial: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo joked late in the week that he was going to defend Ohio State by doing a box-and-one to contain the talented freshman. Izzo was joking, but the Spartans did a good job of keeping Russell - who scored only 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting - off balance.

The Buckeyes need more than one player to step up, but it's hard for them to beat a team like Michigan State on the road without Russell getting into the 15- to 17-point range. 

* Getting Loving going. Though the sophomore returned from his suspension for an unspecified off-the-floor incident, he only played five minutes. Matta said his lack of playing time wasn't further discipline, but more because he was comfortable with Ohio State's lineup.

"We kind of rode with a certain lineup," Matta said. "We though they had a really good understanding. Those guys had a really good feel for what was going on."

View full sizeOhio State's Shannon Scott (3) blocks a shot by Michigan State's Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 59-56. Al Goldis, AP 

* Hitting free throws: Ohio State lost by three, but Matta saw one clear reason the Buckeyes couldn't get it done - poor shooting from the charity stripe. 

"I know this," Matta said, "we can't, in this environment, this caliber of game, go 5-for-13 from the free throw line. We missed some front ends on one-and-ones. I wish I had an answer for what's going on, but we've got to make our free throws. I am not asking for 100 percent, but that was part of it." 

* Using the freshmen: Matta was very excited about the growth of freshmen like Kam Williams, Keita Bates-Diop and Jae'Sean Tate, who has stepped into Ohio State's starting lineup because of his energy. He scored 10 points for the Buckeyes. 

But the other two - Williams and Bates-Diop, who has scored a career-high 14 at Rutgers last weekend - both only played five minutes.

Only six Buckeyes played more than five minutes. Depth? 

Now let's wrap it all together. 

The final question of Matta's press conference was whether he felt that both Ohio State and Michigan State were NCAA Tournament teams. Matta responded firmly. 

"I would say that 98 percent of college basketball who watched this game today, coaches would say 'I wouldn't want to play either one of those teams.' If us and Michigan State aren't NCAA Tournament teams, I am not sure who is." 

Yes. Ohio State is an NCAA Tournament team. 

But it's far from a complete product. Especially on the road. 

Kyrie Irving refused to sit out the Three-Point contest knowing the excellent group that committed.

NEW YORK -- If it hasn't been made public yet, now you're aware that Cleveland Cavaliers' guard Kyrie Irving is a competitor.

Tonight's NBA Foot Locker Three-Point Contest is ridiculously loaded with long-range bombers and it's already a debate on whether it's the greatest collection of talent ever assembled to participate in the event.

Golden State's Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Atlanta's Kyle Korver, Portland's Wesley Matthews, San Antonio's Marco Belinelli, Los Angeles' J.J. Redick, Houston's James Harden and Irving are the specialists vying for long-range supremacy.

It doesn't get much better than that.

"It's the best field I've seen, for sure," teammate LeBron James said.

Here's a little known tidbit: Before Irving -- the 2013 three-point champion -- committed to perform in his third consecutive three-point shootout, he knew exactly which players had pledged to enter the contest.

It would have been easy to sit out and no one would have known that he was a consideration. After all, he's been there, done that. But that competitive nature wouldn't allow him to wait until Sunday's All-Star Game to make an appearance.

If the very best shooters were going to be on court on Saturday night, then so would he.

"Just to go out there and competing," Irving said. "It is a competition with all these great players but obviously a little bit of bragging rights, a little bit of a fire inside of me to go out there and put on a show. And the confidence I have in myself to go out there and compete against those guys."

The destination of All-Star Weekend played a part in his decision, as well. He was brought up approximately 20 miles from downtown New York. The allure of reigning victorious amongst friends and family was too tempting to pass up.

As for his odds, he is being passed up. Not one major betting site has Irving as the last contestant standing. The favorites are any member of the Splash Brothers or Korver. He does however have the support of Cavaliers teammate LeBron James, who will be sitting courtside rooting his point guard on.

"I love his chances," James said. "He's been working on it at practice. Going through the competition with the whole rundown of the shot clock and everything. It's definitely the best field that I've ever seen."

It's should be a memorable occasion, one that many will talk about for years.

"I'm just going to go out there and do my best and let the chips falls here they may," Irving said. "I'm looking forward to it."

--

Arguably the greatest three-point shootout occurred with Larry Bird and Dale Ellis in 1988.

Read about St. Ignatius hockey's victory against Lake Catholic, 5-1, on Saturday in the Cleveland Cup semifinals.

Read about St. Ignatius hockey's victory against Lake Catholic, 5-1, on Saturday in the Cleveland Cup semifinals.