Mason takes a closer look at James' play, including why he's so difficult to defend in one-on-one situations. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With LeBron James leading the way, the Cavaliers are back in the NBA Finals. James has the team on his back, as he nearly averaged a triple-double in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Here to break down his game is Chet Mason, who won Mr. Basketball in Ohio in 2000. Mason, the boys basketball coach at Brush, played professionally for a decade in the United States and in Europe.

Mason has been a part of Cavaliers training camp and works out with members of the team during the summer. A graduate of South High, Mason has known James for close to 20 years.

In the above video, Mason talks about defending James, why he's so hard to stop on a screen play and why he always makes the best basketball play -- even if it means passing to a teammate.

Contact sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

The Family Day event had been held at First Energy Stadium in recent years.

BEREA, Ohio - The Browns are taking the Family Day event on the road for a second straight year and this time holding it in a city that could become their new training camp home.

The club announced Thursday that the "Orange and Brown Scrimmage" is set for Aug. 7 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. No time has been set for the event, which is free to fans, but it's expected to kick off in the late afternoon.

The general public can register for free tickets at the Browns' website starting June 20. Browns season-ticket holders can pre-register from June 16-19.

In past years, Family Day has been a glorified practice but this year it will follow a scrimmage format.

"The intra-squad scrimmage is an important element of our preparation for the 2015 season," coach Mike Pettine said in a release. "Ohio Stadium will provide a great atmosphere for our team to compete, and I'm confident our players and fans will enjoy the experience."

A year ago, Family Day was held at the University of Akron and drew 20,673 fans. Now, it comes to Columbus, a city believed to be the favorite to lure the Browns' training camp in 2016 should the club decided to move it from Berea.

Indians right-hander Corey Kluber has walked two and struck out 50 in 32 innings of his past four starts.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Corey Kluber struck out 13 in seven innings and hitting machine Jason Kipnis went 2-for-4 with two RBI as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Seattle Mariners, 5-3, Thursday night at Safeco Field in Seattle, Wash. Brandon Moss was 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs.

Here is a capsule look at the game after a DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:

Making some noise: The Indians (22-25) have won two in a row and 10 of 14.

Fun away from home: The Indians have won four straight on the road, where they are 12-11.

Cooled: The Mariners (23-24) were coming off a three-game sweep of the Rays at Tampa Bay and had won five of six.

Klubot puts on a show: Right-hander Kluber (3-5, 3.52 ERA) gave up three runs on seven hits -- but, as the strikeout total indicates, he was dominant. He walked one and threw 82 of 112 pitches for strikes. He was 24-of-30 on first-pitch strikes.

Seattle's runs came on a solo homer by Mike Zunino in the third and a two-run shot by Dustin Ackley in the sixth.

Against righty Zunino, Kluber got underneath a 1-2 breaking pitch, and it stayed up and drifted to the inner half. Zunino went deep to left to tie the score, 1-1. Kluber had made a mistake and paid for it.

Zunino entered the night batting .181 but with six homers.

Against lefty Ackley, Kluber fell behind, 3-0. Kluber threw a fastball on the inside corner for a called strike, then challenged with a fastball that veered to the outer half. Ackley put a good swing on the pitch and lined it over the left-field wall to pull Seattle within 5-3.

Ackley entered batting .179 and, in his first two at-bats, was 0-for-2 with a strikeout and pop out. Sometimes, a batter happens to run into a fastball, as happened with Detroit's Anthony Gose against Kluber earlier this season. In both cases, Kluber did not really make a mistake; he simply got beat.

Kluber's ability to handle Seattle's No. 3 batter, right-handed slugger Nelson Cruz, factored heavily in the outcome. Cruz went 1-for-4 with an infield single and two strikeouts. He entered batting .341 with 18 homers and 38 RBI.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the fifth, Cruz struck out swinging at a 2-2 breaking pitch down and away. The Indians remained in front, 4-1.

With a runner on first and two outs in the seventh, Cruz struck out swinging in three pitches -- 95-mph fastball foul, 91-mph cutter foul, 96-mph fastball. The Indians remained in front, 5-3.

(The final heater arrived on the outer third at the thighs, and Cruz was overmatched. Cruz anticipated cutter or breaking pitch on the outer third or outside, but Tribe catcher Yan Gomes and Kluber fooled him. It is one thing to contemplate crossing up a hitter the caliber of Cruz with an 0-2 fastball; it is quite another to actually have the intestinal fortitude -- and quality of fastball -- to try it. That Kluber dialed 96 on his 112th pitch made it all the more impressive.)

Ridiculous four-pack: Kluber is 3-0 with a 1.41 ERA in his past four starts. He has allowed five earned runs on 22 hits in 32 innings. He has struck out 50 and walked two.

Yes, it's true: Kluber has struck out 50 and walked two in his past four starts. Those numbers are cartoonish even for Kluber.

Klubot at work: Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of Kluber's start:

FIRST INNING

(R) Austin Jackson -- 93 fastball outside; 93 outside (barely); 94 fastball outside; 93 fastball called strike (outside corner); 95 fastball foul (inner half); 95 fastball, fly to center.

(L) Seth Smith -- 95 fastball, grounder to second (Jason Kipnis fields in short right).

(R) Nelson Cruz -- 94 fastball called strike (inner third); 95 fastball foul (inside); 85 breaking pitch; 97 fastball, grounder to short.

(11 pitches)

SECOND INNING

(L) Kyle Seager -- 93 fastball called strike; 94 fastball foul (inner half); 91 cutter, called strikeout.

(L) Logan Morrison -- 90 cutter called strike (outer third); 95 fastball outside; 87 changeup foul; 94 fastball inside; 91 cutter, single to center (off diving Kipnis's bare hand).

(L) Brad Miller -- 93 fastball foul; 90 cutter foul; 95 fastball low; 84 breaking pitch, fly to right.

(L) Dustin Ackley -- 94 fastball swinging strike; 90 cutter called strike; 95 fastball, swinging strikeout (high and away).

(15 pitches)

THIRD INNING

(R) Chris Taylor -- 94 fastball swinging strike; 91 cutter down and away; 90 cutter called strike (outer third); 94 fastball, swinging strikeout.

(R) Mike Zunino -- 93 fastball foul; 93 fastball foul; 92 cutter down and away; 84 breaking pitch, homer to left (hanger).

(R) Austin Jackson -- 91 cutter foul; 95 fastball swinging strike; 90 cutter outside; 91 cutter, grounder to short (off end of bat).

(L) Seth Smith -- 84 breaking pitch low; 90 cutter swinging strike (inside); 90 cutter swinging strike (down and in); 94 fastball outside; 91 cutter low; 90 cutter down and in, walk (barely).

(R) Nelson Cruz -- 93 fastball called strike (Cruz wanted timeout); 94 fastball foul (outer third); 95 fastball, single to short (Jose Ramirez fields in hole).

(L) Kyle Seager -- 95 fastball foul; 87 breaking pitch low; 91 cutter foul; 85 breaking pitch foul; 86 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout (down and in).

(26 pitches)

FOURTH INNING

(L) Logan Morrison  -- 93 fastball called strike; 85 changeup foul; 94 fastball foul; 85 breaking pitch foul; 94 fastball, swinging strikeout (up and away).

(L) Brad Miller -- 95 fastball called strike; 91 cutter foul; 96 fastball outside; 95 fastball, grounder to first (bang-bang after Brandon Moss bobble).

(L) Dustin Ackley -- 94 fastball swinging strike; 89 cutter outside; 87 changeup swinging strike; 95 fastball up and away; 86 breaking pitch, pop to second (inside).

(14 pitches)

FIFTH INNING

(R) Chris Taylor -- 88 cutter swinging strike; 94 fastball high; 94 fastball called strike (outside corner); 94 fastball outside; 90 cutter, swinging strikeout (down).

(R) Mike Zunino -- 95 fastball, single to center (liner).

(R) Austin Jackson -- 94 fastball, single to short (chop over third baseman and into hole; Zunino to second).

(L) Seth Smith -- 88 cutter low; 94 fastball called strike (inside corner at knees); 85 changeup swinging strike (down); 95 fastball, called strikeout (comeback action fools Smith).

(Catcher Yan Gomes goes to mound.)

(R) Nelson Cruz -- 91 cutter swinging strike (down and away); 95 fastball called strike (edge of inside corner, edge of knees); 93 fastball foul (inner third; too good of a pitch 0-2); (Gomes talks with Kluber); 96 fastball outside (overcooked); 92 cutter down and away (overcooked); 86 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout (down and away).

(17 pitches)

SIXTH INNING

(L) Kyle Seager -- 81 off-speed outside; 94 fastball foul; 86 changeup outside; 90 cutter swinging strike; 84 changeup foul; 95 fastball, swinging strikeout (above belt).

(L) Logan Morrison -- 86 changeup swinging strike; 95 fastball low; 93 fastball foul; 95 fastball, called strikeout (outside corner at knees; Morrison disagrees and might have had a point).

(L) Brad Miller -- 90 cutter, HBP (left knee).

(L) Dustin Ackley -- 94 fastball outside; 90 cutter low; 94 fastball low; 94 fastball called strike (inside corner); 94 fastball, homer to left.

(Pitching coach Mickey Callaway visits.)

(R) Chris Taylor -- 89 cutter called strike; 93 fastball, grounder to short.

(18 pitches)

SEVENTH INNING

(R) Mike Zunino -- 94 fastball foul; 84 breaking pitch swinging strike (outside); 91 cutter outside; 90 cutter, swinging strikeout (outside).

(R) Austin Jackson -- 83 breaking pitch called strike; 95 fastball called strike; 91 cutter, swinging strikeout (down and away).

(L) Seth Smith -- 90 cutter, bunt single (third base).

(R) Nelson Cruz -- 95 fastball foul (up and in); 91 cutter foul (outer third); 96 fastball, swinging strikeout (outer third at thighs).

(11 pitches)

Dirtbag chronicles: Leadoff batter Kipnis is must-see AB. Has been for a while.

Against the Mariners, Kipnis had an RBI single and RBI fielder's choice and was hit by a pitch.

Kipnis is batting .449 (48-for-107) in May.

Kipnis is batting .449 (48-for-107) in May.

One more time:

Kipnis is batting .449 (48-for-107) in May.

Here's what Terry Francona, Corey Kluber and Brandon Moss said about Thursday night's 5-3 victory over Seattle at Safeco Field.

SEATTLE - Here is what the Indians had to say Thursday after they beat Seattle, 5-3, at Safeco Field.

Manager Terry Francona.

On Corey Kluber, who struck out 13 in seven innings to win his third game in the last four starts.

"I thought he was really good. He worked ahead of just about every hitter. He threw a lot of first pitch strikes and got most of their hitters to two strikes all night.

On striking out AL home run leader Nelson Cruz with two out and a runner on first in the seventh with the Indians lead 5-3.

"It looked like he saved his best fastball for Cruz in a situation where you could tell Cruz was pretty locked in. . .He really threw good quality pitches because if you don't he's going to hurt you. Kluber did a good against Cruz and did a great job against Kyle Seager, too."

Explanation: Cruz went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts against Kluber. His hit was an infield single in the second inning. Seager, who came into the game hitting .394 (39-for-99) lifetime against the Indians, struck out three straight times against Kluber.

On Jason Kipnis hitting .449 (49-for-107) with 28 runs and 16 RBI in May.

"All winter I kept telling you guys that he was going to come out with a vengeance. And that's exactly what it looks like. He's attacking every game. He's in the middle of everything."

On Jose Ramirez scoring from third in the sixth inning on ground ball to second with the infield playing in.

"We were going on contact there and he did a good job. He's fearless. Sometimes it's probably to the point where he thinks he's invisible. He's probably the only guy that scores on that play."

Corey Kluber

On striking out Nelson Cruz in game-trying situations to end the fifth and seventh innings.

"I'm just trying to execute pitches against him. He's been swinging it really sell. I'm just trying not to give him too much credit. I want to attack him like any other hitter."

Brandon Moss

On what pitch he hit in the second inning for a home run and a 1-0 lead against Seattle starter James Paxton.

"I'm not sure. He throws 97 mph and the pitch I hit was 91. I looked like a fastball that he'd thrown me the previous pitch, but honestly, it didn't do anything. I don't know if he was trying to throw a cutter and it didn't move or whatever, but it definitely wasn't 97 mph."

On Kluber finally get more than two runs of run support

"When he gets a lead, he knows what to do with it. He knows how to keep guys off base. He knows how to keep the ball off their barrels. I feel he does a real good job of pitching to the score. Tonight he had a big lead so he was going after guys.

"He wasn't trying to strike everybody out, even though it seemed like he did. It was fun to watch him for sure."

Jason Kipnis is hitting .449 (48-for-107) with 23 runs, 13 doubles and 16 RBI in May. His 48 hits in May are the most by and Indians player since 1914.

SEATTLE - May madness continues to roar through Jason Kipnis' body.

He reached base three more times Thursday night as the Indians beat Seattle, 5-3, behind 13 strikeouts by Corey Kluber and a surging offense ignited one of the hottest hitters in baseball.

"All winter, I think I kept telling you guys that he was going to come out with a vengeance," said manager Terry Francona. "And that's exactly what it looks like. He's attacking every game. He's in the middle of everything."

Last year Kipnis strained his right oblique muscle at the end of April and never fully recovered. He grinded through 500 at-bats, but hit just .240 with .640 OPS.

Thursday night, Kipnis singled with two out in the second inning following a Brandon Moss homer that put the Tribe ahead, 1-0. In the third, he singled with the bases loaded to give the Indians a 2-1 lead that they never gave back. In the sixth, he pushed the lead to 5-1 with the help of Jose Ramirez's flying feet and belly-flopping dive at home plate.

Ramirez, on third with one out and the infield pulled in, scored on Kipnis' grounder to second. Brad Miller had a chance to throw Ramirez out, but he bounced his throw to catcher Mike Zunino, who never attempted a tag.

"He (Ramirez) is fearless," said Francona. "Sometimes, it's probably to the point where he thinks he's invisible. He's probably the only guy who scores on that play."

Kipnis is definitely not invisible. His statistics won't let him fade into the background.

He's hitting .449 (48-for-107) with 13 doubles, three triples, four homers and 16 RBI in May. He's scored 28 runs and drawn 14 walks. Kipnis' overall batting average has gone from .218 on April 30 to .345.

Now that's some May madness to talk about.

"We've all seen it before," said Kluber, who will end May with 60 strikeouts and six walks. "When he gets on these kind of rolls it seems like you can't get him out. Guys make good pitches and he still finds ways to get hits. I think he's into one of those hot streaks right now and I hope he rides it for as long as he can."

Kipnis hit .419 (39-for-93) with 12 doubles, four homers and 25 RBI in June of 2013. It earned him AL Player of the Month honors and propelled him to his first All-Star game. The same thing could happen this year.

Moss, unlike Kluber and Francona, didn't play for the Indians in 2013. He was not prepared for what Kipnis looks like on a hot streak.

"I have no words for it," said Moss, acquired from Oakland in December. "I'm surprised it's not being talked about more around baseball. I know he gets his credit, but I've never seen anything like it. I mean I really haven't."

Kipnis' 48 hits in May are the most by an Indians player in May since 1914. The two hits Thursday pushed him past Bobby Avila, who had 47 in May of 1954.

"I've seen guys on tears," said Moss. "I've played with a few guys who have had some good years, but I have never seen a guy consistently stay within himself and stay with the same approach and do the things he does."

Kipnis has hit in 23 of his 26 games in May. He's first in the AL in WAR at 2.81 and second in batting average at .345.

"I feel like I've seen 70 line drives to left field from him," said Moss. "And then, they'll hang an off-speed pitch and it's a double in the gap or a homer. It goes without saying how hard it is to do what he's doing. I've never seen anything like it - the amount of line drives."

Moss said he'd take Kipnis over any hitter in the big leagues at this moment with the game on the line.

"I know Prince Fielder is locked in, but I'd still take Kipnis," said Moss.

Tennis fans can get live updates, pictures and videos Friday as the first day of the OHSAA boys tennis state tournament is contested at Ohio State.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Get live updates, pictures and videos all day Friday from the first day of the OHSAA boys tennis state tournament at Ohio State.

Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter Nathaniel Cline will be posting updates, pictures and videos in this post live from Columbus.

The post also serves as a chat room for fans in the comments section below, which is a great place for fans to post their take and interact with other tennis fans. Sign up here to get a free cleveland.com account, which will enable you to post comments. Don’t worry, it’s an easy process that takes well under five minutes.

Have a question for Cline? Post it in the comments and look for his reply.

The Division II singles players begin at 9 a.m., followed by Division I singles players and then doubles teams. 

Check out statewide pairings.

And don’t miss a scouting report by Cline.

Here is a list of schools that are represented: Avon, Canfield, Cloverleaf, Copley, Dublin Coffman, Dublin Scioto, Findlay, Hilliard Bradley, Holland Springfield, Kenston, Lewis Center Olentangy, Mason, Massillon Jackson, New Albany, St. Edward, St. Ignatius, St. Xavier, Sycamore, Toledo St. John’s Jesuit, Upper Arlington, Vandalia Butler, Westlake, Willoughby South.

The first Buckeye on the top 50 list came to Ohio State when the program was down and may wind up as a four-year starter. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The running countdown of the Northeast Ohio Media Group's top 50 Big Ten football players for the 2015 season.

No. 48, Tyvis Powell, Ohio State

Junior safety, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds

* On Twitter: @1Tyvis

* What he's done: Is it fair to say that you can't imagine the Ohio State Buckeyes without Tyvis Powell? He isn't the heart or the soul or the star of the Buckeyes, but he's the laugh. And he's a two-year starter who burst on the scene as a redshirt freshman to take a job in 2013 and never looked back.

Powell's easy confidence and obvious camaraderie with his teammates has defined him, especially his friendship with his roommate - quarterback Cardale Jones, the new OSU hero that Powell refers to as his son.

But Powell also has made plays from the start, including the interception on a two-point conversion try that saved a one-point win over Michigan in 2013. In two seasons he has 124 tackles and five interceptions. His 76 tackles last season ranked fourth on the team and his four picks ranked third.

And he graduated early, too.

He's the first Ohio State name to appear on this list, and the first of many. That Powell is No. 48 shows some of the difficulty we had in trying to decide how many Buckeyes to put in the top 50. Powell is a pretty accomplished player, with a lot in his past and a lot of potential left for the next two years. But there are other Buckeyes who didn't make the list that you could argue maybe should have made it ahead of Powell, and there may be Buckeyes higher on the list that you could argue Powell should be ahead of.

We knew we had to get him in here somewhere in the top 50 - or he'd let us know about it. Powell always lets you know how he's feeling and what he's thinking.

Whoever told you that you can be anything you want to be lied. You CAN be whatever you WORK to be

-- Tyvis Powell (@1Tyvis) May 27, 2015

* How he got here: The Bedford High grad was a Buckeye through and through. "It was Ohio State or bust," said Powell, who gave a pledge to Ohio State in June of 2011, two days after Jim Tressel was forced to resign and while Luke Fickell was the interim head coach. A three-star prospect according to the 247sports.com composite ratings, Powell was the No. 495 recruit in the Class of 2012 and the No. 29 player in the state of Ohio.

After a redshirt season in 2012, he should wind up as a four-year starter with at least one National Championship ring. At another time, he may have been the kind of under-the-radar recruit who wound up at a place like Michigan State. Circumstances helped, but Powell and the Buckeyes turned out to be perfect for each other.

* What's ahead: With a degree already in hand, Powell could think about leaving for the NFL after the 2015 season, when there should be a mass exodus of Buckeyes heading to the pros. But Powell could also stay for 2016 as a senior and clear leader and likely captain for an OSU team that may be retooling and in need of veteran stability. 

Powell has the size and smarts to take a run at an NFL career, but he should be most remembered for his Ohio State career. Committing to Ohio State in the midst of scandal and potentially winding up as not only a champion but a captain and starter for more than 50 games? He won't be forgotten. And he might make a heck of a TV analyst some day.

Honestly it doesn't matter what round I get drafted. Just to be able to do what I love everyday on the highest level is a blessing in itself

-- Tyvis Powell (@1Tyvis) May 19, 2015

Elsewhere

* Powell one of the Fickell Six

* Powell, Bell give Buckeyes veteran safety duo

* Powell, Jones define Ohio State's title as NE Ohio guys

* Powell takes our Sugar Bowl quiz

At least six area golfers will be selected to play in Solstice Challenge to see how many holes they can complete. Hurry, the application deadline is today at 5 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Today is the last day for golfers to apply for a spot in the fifth annual Summer Solstice Golf Challenge, which is free and will be held on June 19 at Hickory Nut Golf Course in Columbia Station.

We are seeking at least six area golfers to play in the sunup-to-sundown Challenge to see how many holes they can complete.

Hurry, the application deadline is today at 5 p.m.

Scroll down to access the short contest entry form.

The biggest criteria is telling us why we should select you. All greens fees and riding carts, food and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided free to the winners.

Hickory Nut Golf Course in Columbia Station is sponsoring the fifth annual Summer Solstice Golf Challenge on June 19. Scroll down to apply for the free contest.Hickory Nut 

Last year's foursomes played a combined 174 holes - 101 by one team and 73 by another team. Think you can top that? Tell us why in your application.

Also, we want to make this a golf event for many more people, not just the six players chosen to compete in the Challenge.

Hickory Nut will offer additional spots to play in the Challenge for a fee. The spots will be selected from the pool of applicants not chosen as one of six contest winners. Players chosen will be contacted in June.

Here are the full details on entering the free contest:

What, when, where: We are looking for six golfers from Northeast Ohio to play Friday, June 19 in the 16-hour Summer Solstice Golf Challenge at Hickory Nut Golf Course in Columbia Station. (We realize the summer solstice is June 21 but we wanted to avoid holding the contest on a weekend when courses are jammed).

Hours: Players will golf from sunup to sundown -- roughly 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

It's free for contest winners: All greens fees and riding carts will be covered, in addition to food and non-alcoholic drinks for the six contest winners.

How to enter contest: Fill out the form below. The most important factor is telling us why we should select you to participate. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 29 at 5 p.m. The six winners will be chosen in June.

Cleveland Indians prospect Bradley Zimmer is flashing plenty of power and speed at Class A Lynchburg while teammate Nellie Rodriguez also is getting hot.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A year ago, Bradley Zimmer was waiting to be drafted. A year later, Indians fans can start to wonder when he'll be in Cleveland.

Zimmer, 22, quickly has risen to near the top among Tribe prospects while tearing up the Carolina League for the Class A Lynchburg Hillcats. Zimmer (6-4, 185 pounds) hits for power and average, runs well and plays solid outfield defense.

His recent numbers are ridiculous.

Heading into Thursday, he was hitting .487 with a .592 on-base percentage in his last 11 games. During that span, he produced 19 hits, 19 runs, four doubles, three home runs, five stolen bases, seven walks, five strikeouts and he was hit by a pitch three times. He reached base at least twice in every game.

Zimmer raised his batting average to a league-best .319. His 40 runs scored were 10 more than anyone else. He was tied for the Carolina League lead in home runs (eight) and second in stolen bases (20 in 21 attempts). All eight of his homers have been solo shots. He also had 22 walks.

A left-handed batter, he was hitting lefties (.326, three homers) as well as righties (.317, five homers). Zimmer bats third for the Hillcats and splits center and right fields with 2013 first-round pick Clint Frazier. Zimmer had two errors and three outfield assists.

Zimmer was the 21^st pick overall in last year's draft, out of the University of San Francisco. He signed for $1.9 million.

Nellie heating up: Lynchburg first baseman Nellie Rodriguez had at least one RBI in nine straight games through Wednesday, and 18 RBI in his last 13 games. He owned a seven-game hitting streak during which he raised his batting average from .220 to .253.

On Wednesday, Rodriguez was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and an RBI double Wednesday to increase his league-leading RBI total to 36. He has six home runs on the season, as well as 49 strikeouts and seven errors at first base.

Papi struggles: Hillcats outfielder Mike Papi, who starred for Virginia in the College World Series last year, has yet to find any traction at the plate since being drafted 38^th overall. He is hitting .168 with no home runs this season, and .174 with three homers in 287 career minor-league at-bats.

LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS

Feyereisen promoted: Right-handed closer JP Feyereisen was promoted from Lake County to Lynchburg on Tuesday and was set to join the Hillcats during their current road trip. He was 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA (one run) and 10 saves in 16 games this season. He allowed the first run of his career last week.

Kivett clobbers Captains: Broadview Heights native Ross Kivett was 6-for-11 in the first two games of a three-game series against Lake County this week. Kivett is a West Michigan center fielder in the Tigers farm system. He was hitting .316 overall and led the Midwest League with 16 doubles and his 60 hits ranked second in the league.

Coming up: The Captains begin a four-game series Friday against South Bend at Classic Park. They hit the road Tuesday for six games and return June 10.

Rebounding and defense from Thompson have been exactly what the Cavaliers have needed this postseason. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When Kevin Love got hurt, many Cavaliers fans were in a panic. But the void that Love has left has been filled by Tristan Thompson, who has become a big factor on both ends of the floor this postseason.

Here to break down his game is Chet Mason, who won Mr. Basketball in Ohio in 2000. Mason, the boys basketball coach at Brush, played professionally for a decade in the United States and in Europe.

Mason has been a part of Cavaliers training camp and works out with members of the team during the summer. A graduate of South High, Mason has been active in growing and developing the Northeast Ohio basketball community.

In the above video, Mason talks about why Thompson is such a good offensive rebounder, and how that comes down to boxing out. He also breaks down why Thompson is effective shot blocker.

On Thursday, Mason put the focus on LeBron James, and why he has been so dominant in the postseason.

Contact sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

The Golden State Warriors may not have an answer for LeBron James when the NBA Finals begin next Thursday, but then again not many teams do -- Bud Shaw's Spinoffs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Golden State's Draymond Green tells the San Jose Mercury News he was motivated by a comment LeBron James made to him in 2012.

Seems James failed to score on Green on consecutive possessions, then backed him down and drew a foul, saying, "You too little."

"I hate when people say that to me," said Green, who is listed at 6-7. "So I said something back to him. I think that's where I gained respect. And it's mutual."

You'd think James can't possibly continue to shoot 42 percent from the field and 17.6 percent from three point range.

But if he does, he's shown he's comfortable in the post in these playoffs.

 And when James gets the ball down there, Green probably won't appreciate the humor if James tells him, "Too little, too late."

* LeBron James loves to quote from Teddy Roosevelt's 1910 speech made in Paris. The speech is popularly known as "The Man in the Arena."

"It's basically about if you've never sweat or bled or been in an arena and having that dust go up in your face and never battled, you have no idea what it takes to be in an arena," James said.

What Roosevelt actually said in that part of the speech:

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming."

After which he sang "Down by the Old Mill Stream" with his boys in a hot tub music video.

* Since January 15, the Cavs are 46-11. The Warriors are 44-13.

I get that the Western Conference is tougher (though you might not instantly grasp that based on how well the Cavs played against the West this season).

The Warriors should be favored in part because they have better depth and better health.

But prohibitive favorites?

You don't need to see James as Teddy Roosevelt to bet the underdog.

* Former Detroit Pistons' bad boy Bill Laimbeer told Dan Patrick that LeBron James has it over Michael Jordan, saying LeBron is more versatile.

"He can do more (than Jordan)," Laimbeer said..."Jordan couldn't have led this team to the finals."

Well, not back when Jordan had to go through Detroit and a much tougher conference to reach the finals. But now? You'd have to be a fool to take that bet.

Or a former Pistons player with an axe to grind.

* The Bulls fired head coach Tom Thibodeau, citing the need for a "new culture" where "everybody is pulling in the same direction."

They issued a press release outlining how successful organizations strive for open communication, the insinuating being that Thibodeau didn't play well with others.

But VP of Basketball Operations John Paxson also made it clear if the Bulls were playing for a NBA title, Thibodeau would probably be returning next season.

So in other words he didn't win enough to justify the vibe he gave off.

That vibe being that he had all the answers.

Except for how to get past LeBron James.

* When Mike Fratello replaced Lenny Wilkens way back when, the Cavs decided they needed a new voice.

When what they really meant was they needed Michael Jordan to either go to the Western Conference or learn to hit the curve.

* FIFA, soccer's international governing body, is fighting charges of wrongdoing brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Meanhile, FIFA head Sepp Blatter faces an election challenge from Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.

Blatter says he shouldn't be expected to know everything that's happening on his watch.

And especially on his non-watch.

* Tim Tebow is loving football again in OTAs with the Philadelphia Eagles where he is their fourth quarterback.

"You can't play it forever, so I'm going to enjoy it," Tebow told reporters.

Head coach Chip Kelly says Tebow is there as a quarterback and that he won't be asked to switch positions.

Tebow worked a lot in the offseason with quarterback tutor Tom House, a former major league pitcher.

The problem with fixing Tebow's mechanics is that it's like golf. On the practice tee, changes work. On the course, not so much.

On the field in a real game, no one should be surprised if Tebow still has the windup of a major league pitcher.

* In Tampa, Bucs' head coach Lovie Smith is raving about Jameis Winston's work ethic.
"We have to kind of tell him when to leave," Smith told reporters.

That's high praise when a head coach says it.

Something else when it's a bouncer.

* Dwight Howard isn't bowed by another playoff exit, this time in Houston where the Rockets lost in five games to the Warriors.

"I'm going to continue to push myself to the limit and remember that, no matter how the season ends, I'm still a champion," said Howard. "And I won't let anyone tell me anything different."

Howard has made one NBA Finals appearance in 11 seasons.

So, actually, no one should have to tell him he's not a champion.

Talk all things Cleveland sports with Dennis Manoloff today at 12:30.

Talk Cleveland sports with Dennis Manoloff during his weekly podcast today at 12:30 p.m.Allison Carey/The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get your questions ready and join Dennis Manoloff today at 12:30 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports.

DMan will talk with me about the upcoming NBA Finals, the Indians turnaround and Browns OTAs. You can jump in the comments section and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to DMan's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in MP3 format.

These two coaches both played at West Geauga.

BEDFORD, Ohio -- This quarterfinal has the most history to it as Lake Catholic coach Matt Moran and Bedford coach Pete Priola grew up together and both played at West Geauga. Now bragging rights were on the line for the HORSE tournament.

Here's the tale of the tape:

Matt Moran

Head coach: Lake Catholic

Played basketball at West Geauga and John Carroll University

First round result: Win over Benedictine coach Rob Stircula

Fan vote: 61 percent

Pete Priola

Head coach: Bedford

Played basketball at West Geauga

First round result: Win over Shaker Heights coach Danny Young

Fan vote: 39 percent

Check out a video of some of the key shots in their meeting, and scroll down below the video to find out who won the matchup between these rival coaches.

And now the results...

Moran: H-O-R-S-E

Priola: H-O

Winner: Pete Priola.

Priola had the hot hand in the quarterfinals and was able to knock off Moran. See what he had to say about advancing to the next round:

Contact high school sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Tickets for the NBA Finals will be in high demand and will likely cost much more than in previous rounds.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Now that the Cleveland Cavaliers are in the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history, tickets for the games against the Golden State Warriors will be in high demand.

The Cavs will be at home for Game 3 on June 9, Game 4 on June 11 and (if necessary) Game 6 on June 16. All three home games will start at 9 p.m.

Fans should be prepared to spend quite a bit to get tickets for an NBA Finals game. According to ticket aggregation website TiqIQ, the average price for a ticket to Cavaliers' home playoff games is about $1,324.79, with tickets in Golden State costing an average of $1,486.92.

By comparison, the average to get a ticket for the 2014 NBA Finals between Miami and San Antonio cost $920.94 for a game in Miami, and $751.06 for a game in San Antonio.

Those are early numbers with the series starting on June 4, but that means tickets will be very expensive to come by.

Here are some of the ways to try and get tickets to get into the NBA Finals:

Become a full or partial season-ticket holder

Fans can sign up for season tickets and Wine and Gold United membership through the Cavaliers' website. Most seats are already purchased by season ticket holders and then resold through the Cavaliers' secondary ticket market, Flash Seats.

Signing up for Wine and Gold United guarantees fans a chance at priority access tickets for all Cavaliers home games with the agreement to purchase tickets to at least 10 games for the 2015-16 season.

Doing so will cost an initial $200 per seat deposit.

Cavaliers Corporate Communications Coordinator Zack Yohman confirmed that signing up for Wine and Gold United membership will give season ticket holders, both full and partial, an earlier chance at buying playoff tickets.

Sign up for the Cavaliers' playoff ticket lottery

Throughout the season, fans have had to create an account and participate in a lottery system for a chance to purchase single-game tickets for the regular season and playoffs.

Select fans are given a passcode and time where tickets for games will become available. But for the playoffs, the amount of tickets is fewer and they have come off the market quickly.

Rely on the secondary ticket market

Cavaliers season-ticket holders have been able to sell tickets to games throughout the year through Flash Seats at prices of their choosing.

The process is all done electronically, and upon purchase, tickets are transferred to the buyer that can be accessed at the gates of Quicken Loans Arena through their credit card, driver's license or the Flash Seats app.

Once tickets for games appear on Flash Seats, buyers should do some due diligence to find seats at a price that may have a better value than other seats at the same price.

Fans can also bid on seats by offering less than what a seller is offering them for. The important thing with that is sellers don't have to accept a bid just because it is there. But that is dependent on the seller's decision.

Also note that there is a buyer convenience fee that will add to the overall cost.

There also numerous ticket brokers not directly affiliated with the team that will be selling tickets for the Finals. Here are some of the sellers already selling tickets:

Amazing Tickets

Barry's Tickets

SeatGeek

StubHub

TiqIQ

VIP Seats

Vivid Seats

As far as what fans should expect to pay for tickets on the secondary market, Amazing Tickets owner Mark Klang said the least expensive tickets he has available for the NBA Finals are about $450.

"You couldn't even compare it to the previous round," Klang said. "It's just a totally different ballgame. I'd say probably four to five times the price of the conference finals, roughly."

He added that the demand for tickets is on par with when the Indians made it to the World Series in 1995.

Wait until game day

Due to league rules, the home team has to hold onto a certain amount of tickets for visiting fans to purchase seats. The team can sell what's left 24 hours before the game.

On secondary ticket markets like Flash Seats, prices can also drop a fair amount depending on how many ticket holders are willing to drop their asking prices in order to sell their tickets.

Here are the 16 statewide, division-by-division baseball regional brackets for the 2015 OHSAA tournament updated heading into Friday's action.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Regional baseball action continues for some Northeast Ohio teams on Friday as they look to move one step closer to the state tournament in Columbus.

Here are the 16 statewide, division-by-division baseball regional brackets for the 2015 OHSAA tournament.

Click the links below to access cleveland.com's brackets, which are printable and include all of the information that you need.

The brackets also are interactive. Click on the game to see more about the matchup, particularly after the game has been played.

These brackets will be updated daily from all the playoff games across the state. Come back each day to follow all the postseason action, including new brackets at the regional and state final four levels.  

Click each link below to see a cleveland.com bracket of that sectional/district tournament.

DIVISION I

Dublin Regional

Cincinnati Regional

Canton Regional (Aurora)

Bowling Green Regional (St. Ignatius)

DIVISION II

Fairborn Regional

Zanesville Regional

Bowling Green Regional

Hudson Regional

DIVISION III

Massillon Regional (Akron Manchester)

Xenia Regional 

Elida Regional

Chillicothe Regional

DIVISION IV

Springfield Regional

Hamler Regional

Lorain Regional

Lancaster Regional

Tyler Naquin missed the last two months of the 2014 RubberDucks season with a broken hand, but has recovered nicely so far in 2015.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Outfielder Tyler Naquin for the Akron RubberDucks is being noticed once again. The 2012 first-round pick for the Indians looks to be back strong from a broken hand injury that knocked him out of the final two months of the 2014 season, and the early days of 2015.

A recent 4-for-4 effort, including a home run, is the latest highlight in what is now a .315 average in 25 games.

The 6-2, 190-pound former Texas A&M star is 15-for-42 in his last 10 games (.357) including four multi-hit games in that stretch. Naquin recently told MiLB.com he is just trying to keep improving, and make up for the two months of development he missed at the end of last season.

"Just mainly picked up right where I left off," Naquin said. "Picked up a few little timing things that I just have to tinker with. Never really changed anything in the stance. Just small things to stay consistent and give myself the best chance to put the ball in play.

"The lost two months set me back a little bit, but it's something you have to fight through. "I've never been an injury guy. When I broke my hand, that was nothing I could control. My hand still stiffens up, but it hasn't even been a year. As of now, it's just one of those things you have to battle through."

King of the Hill I: Pitcher Cody Anderson continues to dominate Eastern League competition as he enters Saturday's start with an impressive 1.69 ERA holding a 3-2 record. That includes 39 strikeouts and just nine walks in 48.0 innings pitched. His only bad outing was May 14 vs. Altoona when he allowed three earned runs. Other than that, in nine games started this season he has given up one run or less seven times.

The 24-year-old projects as a solid major league starter with his 6-4, 235-pound frame. His name has already popped up in trade speculation should the Indians need bait to land a player for the 2015 pennant chase.

King of the Hill II: Equal in performance to Anderson is Josh Martin. The 10th-round pick in 2012 out of Samford has been a near perfect relief pitcher for the Ducks. Like Anderson, he is big at 6-5, 230-pounds.

In 29.1 innings going into Fridays games Martin, 25, was 5-0 with one save. He has registered a 0.92 ERA, allowing just three earned runs off 15 hits. Equally impressive, he had 34 strikeouts vs. just eight walks and had given up only one home run.

• Akron RubberDucks stats, schedule and more.

Dennis Manoloff talked all things Cleveland sports in his weekly podcast.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Does winning or losing this Finals impact LeBron James' legacy? Is this Indians turnaround for real?

The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff talked all things Cleveland sports in his weekly podcast on Friday.

Among the other topics discussed:

- Who will in between Golden State and Cleveland?

- The month that Jason Kipnis and Corey Kluber have had.

- The Browns approach with Johnny Manziel.

You can download the MP3 or listen with the player above.

Want more DMan? Check out his Game Report from Game 3 of Cavs-Celtics.

Be sure to follow DMan on Twitter.

The Indians overwhelmed Corey Kluber with offensive support and he overwhelmed the Mariners on the way to a 5-3 victory on Thursday night at Safeco Field.

SEATTLE -- It's not true that Corey Kluber was revived in the dugout after the Indians scored three runs in the fourth inning Thursday night at Safeco Field. But it had to take him a little bit by surprise.

The Indians supported Kluber on an offensive diet of bread and water in his first 10 starts this season. They scored 17 runs when he was on the mound, but Thursday they finally broke out the steak and baked potatoes.

In the fourth, with the scored tied, 1-1, the Indians scored three runs on the way to a 5-3 victory over Seattle. It was their eighth win in the past 10 games.

Now three runs might not sound like much, but to Kluber it was an avalanche of support. In his first 10 starts, the Indians averaged 2.20 runs. He'd never had more than a two-run lead.

Brandon Moss gave Kluber an early 1-0 lead with a homer in the second off lefty James Paxton. Moss leads the Indians with eight homers.

No. 9 hitter Mike Zunino tied the score, 1-1, with a homer off Kluber in the third. Seattle's catcher came into the game hitting .181 with six homers.

Then came the avalanche.

Moss started the rally with a one-out single in the fourth. Jose Ramirez singled to left and Michael Bourn walked to load the bases.

Jason Kipnis singled sharply to left for a 2-1 lead. Mike Aviles followed with a squibber past Paxton as he came off the mound in a futile attempt to make a play. The ball continued on its way and handcuffed shortstop Chris Taylor for an error. Ramirez scored to make it 3-1 and the bases remained loaded.

Michael Brantley's bouncer to first delivered Bourn for a 4-1 lead.

The Indians made it 5-1 in the sixth as Ramirez hit a leadoff double, took third on Bourn's sacrifice bunt and scored on Kipnis' grounder to second. Brad Miller had a chance to throw Ramirez out at plate, but he bounced his throw to Zunino, who never attempted a tag as the belly-flopping Ramirez skidded past.

Paxton (3-3, 3.70), facing the Indians for the first time, allowed four runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked one on 83 pitches.

Kluber (3-5, 3.52), making his first start ever at Safeco Field, continued his roll. In his last four starts he's 3-0 and has allowed five earned runs in 37 innings with 50 strikeouts and two walks.

In beating Seattle, Kluber allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out 13 and walked one, while throwing 73 percent (82-for-112) of his pitches for strikes.

Kluber, perhaps a bit heady with a 5-1 lead, allowed a two-run homer to Dustin Ackley in the sixth to make it a ballgame again.

It was a good night for the Tribe's beleaguered bullpen. Marc Rzepczynski retired the Mariners in order in the eighth, while Cody Allen did the same in the ninth for his 10th save.

What it means

The Indians (22-25) improved to 8-11 when they face a left-handed starter. It's a good thing because they'll be facing two more of them in this four-game series.

Kluber finished May with 60 strikeouts and six walks.

Seattle (23-24) saw its three-game winning streak end.

Medical update

Paxton left the game in the fifth inning with a 3-0 count on Moss because of discomfort in his left middle finger.

First time for everything

Moss' homer in the second inning was the first by a left-hander against Paxton this season. Lefties came into the game hitting .375 (12-for-32) against Paxton.

It was the second homer against a lefty by Moss this season.

Big moments

In the fifth inning, with the Tribe leading, 4-1, Kluber ended the inning by striking out AL home run leader Nelson Cruz with two on.

Kluber and Cruz met again in the seventh with the Tribe leading, 5-3. There were two out and a man on and Cruz struck out again.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Mariners drew 19,449 to Safeco Field on Thursday night.

What happens next?

RHP Trevor Bauer (4-1, 3.02) will face Seattle right-hander Taijuan Walker (1-5, 7.33) at 10:10 p.m. ET Friday at Safeco Field. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM AM/1100 and WMMS FM/100.7 will carry the game.

Bauer, making his 10th start, has gone 2-0 in his past three starts. The opposition has hit .165 against him in those games. This will be his third start against the Mariners. He went 0-2 with a 6.74 ERA in his first two starts.

Walker, 22, is making his 10th start of the season and his first ever against the Indians. In his previous start, he allowed four runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings against Toronto.

Kyrie Irving couldn't fully appreciate James' genius until they came together in July and he learned what was required to build a foundation of greatness. Watch video

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Before joining as teammates this summer, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James knew plenty about each other. James was in Miami winning championships and collecting accolades. Irving was in Cleveland, playing for James' old team, dazzling the basketball world with a unique offensive wizardry.

When they weren't admiring each other from afar, they were sharing the same All-Star stage or playing against each other.

But Irving couldn't fully appreciate James' genius until they came together in July and he learned what was required to build a foundation of greatness. 

"I was just speechless," Irving admitted. "I became a fan to be honest with you. It's a different feeling when you're on a team with someone you've watched for so long."

In their first season together, Irving and James averaged 47.0 points per game as a tandem -- more than the 45.5 points by Golden State's Splash Brothers, or anyone else in the NBA. James' uncanny talent has been on display for years. However, his rare combination of strength and athleticism, jaw-dropping talent, offensive prowess, stifling defense and on-target passes aren't the only qualities that wowed Irving.

"When you get to see them up close, with the work he puts in, the dedication he has and the drive and will he has, I don't want to say we jumped on his back, but we were all there for him," Irving said of James. "He was doing his thing, but I think a true testament of him is that he embodies a leader. The true testament and the word team is embodied with the guys we have here. We have so many different personalities and so many guys, when you have a leader like him that brings you up and lifts you up in every situation, there's never going to be a time where you look at him and he's going to look frazzled or doesn't know what he's doing."

Irving became a fascinated spectator for two games during the playoff run. While Irving rested his sore left knee against the Hawks, James tossed the team on his broad shoulders, averaging 33.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 12.0 assists and 1.5 steals, winning both games.

"He always knows four steps ahead," Irving said. "And it's like, 'I wasn't even thinking about that. What the heck? He saw that coming?' It's a learning experience and you're constantly on your P's and Q's because he expects you to be at your best and he wants you to be at your best. If you have a guy like that the basketball stuff will take care of itself. He does amazing things. I appreciate seeing that. I don't take that for granted, but the nuances of the game that go unnoticed sometimes and not everyone can see or experience, it's just a different feeling."

The feeling is mutual. James, who announced his return this summer in a heartfelt letter, singled out Irving. If not for the talented young point guard signing his maximum contract extension this off-season, James' homecoming might have been delayed. 

"Part of the reason I decided to come back from the beginning was how special he was. I noticed that," James said. "To see him grow and see him learn what it means to truly be a professional every day since I've been here is a been a huge reward and it's great to see it. To see his mind process so many different things over the course of these months and be able to translate that not only on the court but off it as well, has been a treat to watch."

Like any relationship, it took time to get on the same page. Following an early-season loss in Utah when Irving failed to record a single assist, James admonished him, pointing to bad habits developed while playing for a lottery team. But they worked through their differences, became close and helped lead the Cavs to a 53-win season.

Then came another obstacle. After Irving first sustained a right foot injury in the first round against Boston, he developed tendinitis in his left knee, taking away some of his explosiveness. Irving's frustration grew. The playoffs were expected to provide Irving the platform to shine, to give James the running mate he desperately lacked his first go around in Cleveland.

Clearly less than 100 percent, Irving labored before missing Game 2 and Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

James has spoken about the steps required for greatness. Seeing Irving return for Tuesday's closeout game, one that clinched a spot in the NBA Finals, was one.

"Absolutely," James said. "Kyrie at 50 percent, 60 percent is better than Kyrie (not) at all. For him to come back and give us that boost in front of our home fans, it was all the more why we were able to close that series out."

James and Irving have shared a mutual admiration for years, but the last 10 months -- the good times and bad, the celebrations and hardships -- have forged a stronger bond.

The NBA Finals begin on June 4, and the dangerous Golden State Warriors are waiting. James and Irving have an opportunity to take the next step, the biggest step -- together.

"We're going into the biggest stage and I wouldn't want to go with any other guys than these guys and a leader like him." Irving said. 

"Coming here, everyone's goal is to play at the next level," Joey Bosa said. "But that's not going to happen with everyone. It's just amazing that we do things like this. It just gives everyone an opportunity to get themselves out there and get themselves known." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer has plenty of convincing selling points to pitch high school prospects during the recruiting process, but what do you think is the most attractive thing? 

The NFL. 

And Meyer will never stop embracing that or selling that. He's proud of the talent he's coached and turned into NFL millionaires, and the top goal for every player he brings to Ohio State should be making it in the NFL. 

"There used to be a stigma and I get kind of upset when I hear it - 'Don't just think about the NFL,' " Meyer said Friday. "That's like telling a great artist, 'Don't just think about being an artist.' A great musician, 'Don't just think about becoming a musician.' Absolutely think about it."

However ...

"Don't let it get in the way of your Plan B," Meyer said. "Your Plan B is if something happens that you can't live the rest of your life because of what you earned in football, which is the majority of the people who play the game."

For as proud Meyer is to lead an Ohio State program that's an NFL talent factory -- the Buckeyes could set draft records in 2016 -- he's just as enthusiastic about using the Buckeyes football program as a tool to set his team up for life after football. 

Which is why the majority of Ohio State's roster attended the program's third-annual job fair in the Huntington Room at Ohio Stadium on Friday afternoon, an event that hosted representatives from 57 different companies.

Meyer wanted his team to properly meet Corporate America, to use their ties as Ohio State football players to network with influential business people.

"You come to Ohio State to go to the NFL," Ohio State H-Back Dontre Wilson told Northeast Ohio Media Group. "That's the ultimate goal. But you have to have something to fall back on. And having this here, it's just a big eye-opener that lets you know that football is not everything. You can also get a great job with the degree you have from Ohio State. That's basically why we're here." 

It's why everyone was there. 

Joey Bosa, a player who is in the conversation for being the top overall pick in next year's NFL Draft, was there. So was Braxton Miller. Cardale Jones. Ezekiel Elliott. Darron Lee. The list goes on. 

All those players want to play in the NFL. Most, if not all, will.

But Ohio State's players have really gotten behind Meyer's push to integrate his team with realistic career goals. 

Bosa, who was there on a scooter because he suffered a strain in his right foot, used his recent minor injury as an example for why it was important for him to show up. 

"You know, anything can happen," Bosa said. "Tomorrow could be the day -- I'm on this scooter right now -- that something horrible could happen and I could hurt myself and my career could be over just like that. It's always important to know people and get to know new people every day and have those ties and take advantage of the opportunity of being at Ohio State."

It was interesting to be in that room, one filled with some of the most influential people in the corporate world of Columbus. Most of them were Ohio State fans who relished the opportunity to meet the players for which they rooted during last year's national championship run. 

That's an incredible advantage for Ohio State players, to play for the team that most invited to the career fair love.

"It's huge that we're national champions," Lee said. "I have talked to a couple guys from the '02 national championship team and they said a lot of people recognize that and that will set us up for when football is over. I guess it's a leg up on some other people, but it is what it is. That's what hard work gets you."

Urban Meyer knows the NFL should be the goal for all of his players, but he has made great strides in helping his players network with companies for life after football. Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

But playing football does have it's disadvantages. Unlike regular students, Ohio State football players don't have the free time for internships that typically require a 12- to 16-month commitment. They don't have the ability to gain much work experience.

So Meyer went to work in changing that. JPMorgan Chase hopes to implement three- to four-week internships for Ohio State football players next year. Other companies may participate in that as well. 

And Ohio State brought in a handful of very successful businessmen for "Real Life Wednesdays," a program that brought speakers in to address the team about the world ahead. 

A few of those speakers included Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase; Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and chairman of Rock Ventures; Cameron Mitchell, president and founder of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants; and others. 

The Ohio State Career Fair was the culmination of all of Meyer's efforts.

It was a success. 

"Coming here, everyone's goal is to play at the next level," Bosa said. "But that's not going to happen with everyone. It's just amazing that we do things like this. It just gives everyone an opportunity to get themselves out there and get themselves known. With Coach Meyer running things like this, of course all the biggest companies want to be here and want to get to know you and the Buckeyes."