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High school football preview capsules for Week 8

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FRIDAY Benedictine at Walsh Jesuit













Lake Catholic quarterback Bryan Blondeaux hopes to lead the Cougars to another conference win Saturday against Padua, which is also 2-0 in the North Coast League Blue Division.



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(Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)









FRIDAY


Benedictine at Walsh Jesuit


What, when, where: Nonleague game, 7 p.m., Conway Memorial Field, 4550 Wyoga Lake Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Call 330-929-4205.


Records: Benedictine 1-6; Walsh Jesuit 5-2.


What to watch: The Warriors are coming off a rousing 17-10 victory over rival St. Vincent-St. Mary, which kept their playoff hopes alive in Division II, Region 5. It will mean little if they let this game slip away. Ranked 10th in The Plain Dealer Top 25, Walsh needs to win out in order to maintain or improve on its current hold on eighth place in the region. The offense, keyed by senior quarterback and Michigan State recruit Connor Cook, junior running back Ryan Jun, senior receiver Tyler Starkey and junior tight end Kevin Enright, needs to score early and put the game away. The Bengals have not come close to preseason expectations, mainly because their schedule is too brutal. Bryan Lacey and Marshall Howell have combined for 701 yards on the ground and quarterback Ty Wilcosky has thrown for 544 yards. Walsh Jesuit leads the all-time series, 10-6. Benedictine won last year, 14-3, to snap Walsh Jesuit's five-game winning streak.


PD pick: Walsh Jesuit.


Brecksville-Broadview Heights at Amherst


What, when, where: Southwestern Conference game, 7:30 p.m., Amherst Field, 450 Washington St., Amherst. Call 440-988-4433 ext. 226.


Records: Becksville 5-2, 3-1; Amherst 7-0, 4-0.


What to watch: The Bees bounced back from a loss to get past North Olmsted, but they needed a late touchdown by sophomore quarterback Tom Tupa to get it. Senior running back Matt Galland had another big game with three scores. This is their playoff run, with Avon Lake next on the schedule. The Comets built a 41-0 lead at halftime against Midview, prevailing 47-20. Junior quarterback Brennan Hosier passed for three scores. The defense has been solid. The Bees will have to take advantage of every opportunity in what should be a low-scoring affair.


PD pick: Amherst.


Brunswick at Strongsville


What, when, where: Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division game, 7 p.m., Pat Catan Stadium, 20025 Lunn Road, Strongsville. Call 440-572-7102.


Records: Brunswick 4-3, 1-1; Strongsville 5-2, 2-0.


What to watch: It doesn't get any easier for Brunswick, a 27-0 NOC Valley Division loser to Solon in Week 7. The Blue Devils have a nice 1-2 punch in their running game with Nick Roberts and Eric Fox, while their defensive standouts are LBs Mike Vrsansky, D.J. Osters, DL John Bruketa and CB Scott Suren. TB Tevin Jackson and DE Jake Maurer are still serving five-game suspensions for breaking a team rule. Strongsville, riding a five-game win streak, has prospered on the arm of QB Austin Pritchard, the running of TB Matt Bianco and capable receivers in two-way players Ryan Aske and Iowa recruit Ray Hamilton. Zach Sedivy leads a talented LB corps while DLs David Kaminski and Mike Rosado, along with LB/S Ryan Przeslica, are reasons the Mustangs' defense has given up an average of just nine points a game in the last five weeks.


PD pick: Strongsville.


Green at Copley


What, when, where: Suburban League game, 7 p.m., Copley Stadium, 3807 Ridgewood Dr., Copley. Call 330-664-4833.


Records: Green 4-3, 4-0; Copley 7-0, 4-0.


What to watch: Copley has put itself in position to accomplish two goals. It can take a major stride in making the playoffs for the first time since 2005 and it can win at least a share of the league title for the first time since 2004. The Indians, in fourth place in the Division II, Region 5 computer standings, have a diverse offense. Sophomore running back Aregeros Turner, junior quarterback Lou Gigliotti and wide receiver Shawn Taylor are capable of scoring from any spot on the field. Things looked bleak for Green a little more than a month ago. It had lost its first three games and had given up 107 points in the process. The Bulldogs still are giving up points -- about 19 per game over their last three outings -- but they are scoring more too. It's probably too late for the Bulldogs to make the playoffs, but they still can earn a share of the league title with undefeated Tallmadge up next week.


PD pick: Copley.


Mayfield at Medina


What, when, where: Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division game, 7 p.m., Ken Dukes Stadium, 777 E. Union St., Medina. Call 330-636-3228.


Records: Mayfield 4-3, 0-2; Medina 6-1, 1-1.


What to watch: Mayfield is playing without QB Caden Loew because of a season-ending knee injury so sophomore Alex Brooks has been put on the hot seat. RBs Carlos Cruzado and Nick Canganelli as well WRs Chuck Zavarella, Nick DiSanto and Harry Morgenstern are now expected to pull most of the load on an offense that mustered just 130 total yards in a Week 7 loss to Strongsville. Mayfield's secondary needs to be aware of WR Walter Bailey, who has stepped up in the place of suspended Justin Letts. If Medina QB Mason Schreck can't find anyone open, he'll turn to reliable TB Jason Suggs, who led the way as the offense totaled 505 yards in last week's victory at Nordonia. Medina's defense has been solid because Laterian Brown is a shutdown CB and defensive lineman Werner Ostmann has been a thorn for opposing teams.


PD pick: Medina.


Parma at Garfield Heights


What, when, where: Northeast Ohio Conference Lake Division game, 7 p.m., Blaugrund Field, 4900 Turney Road, Garfield Heights. Call 216-475-8075.


Records: Parma 6-1, 2-0; Garfield Heights 3-4, 1-1.


What to watch: Bring a snack because footballs will fill the air, making for a long game. Parma is known for its dangerous passing game thanks to QB Joe Pullman and WRs Romey Johnson, Amer Smith, Billy Pullman and Dylan Kurtz. But the athleticism of Joe Pullman, along with the recent emergence of FB Cameron Thompson and the blocking of 6-4, 290-pound tackle Jason Varwig has given the offense more versatility. Garfield Heights was committed to the running game the first six weeks but is back to passing the ball thanks to sophomore James Bennett, who had a successful starting debut in last week's NOC Lake Division win over Valley Forge.


PD pick: Parma.


Perry at Aurora


What, when, where: Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division game, 7 p.m., Inkstop Field at Veterans Stadium, Aurora High, 109 W. Pioneer Trail, Aurora. Call 330-954-2008.


Records: Perry 5-2, 2-2; Aurora 6-1, 4-0.


What to watch: Perry QB Mitchel Hokavar is out, probably for the season, with an illness. Converted split end Mickey Parker passed for 147 yards and a touchdown in a 28-14 loss to Kenston, and he might be asked to be a bigger part of the running game this week. Both teams have strong offensive and defensive ends, so there will be plenty of action in the trenches. Aurora's defense is allowing an average of 12 points thanks to a stellar front seven that flies into backfields. Greenmen junior QB Blake Calcei has been playing well and passed for 228 yards in the first half of a blowout of Wickliffe.


PD pick: Aurora.


St. Vincent-St. Mary at Youngstown Cardinal Mooney


What, when, where: Nonleague game, 7 p.m., Stambaugh Stadium, One University Plaza, Youngstown. Call 330-941-1978.


Records: SVSM 5-2; Mooney 4-2.


What to watch: If SVSM ever needed a victory it is now. With a demanding schedule taking a toll, the Irish simply cannot afford to lose another game if they intend on making a 15th appearance in the playoffs. Mooney might not be the best opponent the Irish need to be playing at this juncture. It has beaten SVSM 17 times in 18 games, including a 34-9 decision last year at Green Street. Undoubtedly, the game will have playoff ramifications. Mooney is fourth in Division III, Region 9 and SVSM is fifth. The Irish need to find some consistency on offense as it is averaging a little over two touchdowns a game and that's not enough with its schedule.


PD pick: SVSM.


Stow at Elyria


What, when, where: Northeast Ohio Conference River Division game, 7 p.m., Ely Stadium, 1915 Middle Ave., Elyria. Call 440-284-8300.


Records: Stow 2-5, 1-1; Elyria 3-4, 2-0.


What to watch: Stow will need the same kind of effort from TB Duane Mitchell, QB Mike Greenwell and receivers Mike Jones and Mike Garrison that it got during last week's 41-0 NOC River shutout over Lakewood because Elyria can put points on the board. The Pioneers, thanks to versatile QB Dustin Stolarski, RBs Keon Nealy, Jumarr Lewis and Jared Williams and standout receiver Demetrius Walton, could give the Bulldogs' defense fits. As if that's not enough, Elyria has one of Ohio's best two-way lineman in Ohio State recruit Chase Farris.


PD pick: Elyria.


West Geauga at Chagrin Falls


What, when, where: Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division game, 7 p.m., Harris Stadium, Chagrin Falls High, 400 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls. Call 440-247-2072.


Records: Both are 6-1, 3-1.


What to watch: This could be a high-scoring, high-charged affair. Chagrin Falls has owned the rivalry since 2006. West Geauga comes in with an offense that has been slowed by one team, Aurora. Chagrin has piled up more than 100 points and 1,000 yards in its past two games. West G option QB Joe Drenski has diversified this year, frequently passing for more yards than he runs. Chagrin Falls has been effectively alternating QBs Tim Porter and Tommy Iammarino and a stable of running backs to complement several talented wideouts, including Spencer Diedrich and Marc Geraci.


PD pick: West Geauga.


Westlake at Avon Lake


What, when, where: Southwestern Conference game, 7:30 p.m., Avon Lake Stadium, 175 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake. Call 440-933-5164.


Records: Westlake 5-2, 2-2; Avon Lake 6-1, 4-0.


What to watch: The Demons could not get anything going in a 10-0 loss to Olmsted Falls. They are still in the hunt for the Division II playoffs, as they are fifth in Region 6. Avon Lake is fourth. After an opening loss to Avon, the Shoremen have scored at least 40 points in four games. They have outscored their past two opponents, 91-7. Quarterback Trent Toy guides the balanced offense. The Demons will have to control the ball to keep the home club off the field.


PD pick: Avon Lake.


SATURDAY


Cincinnati St. Xavier vs. St. Edward


What, when, where: Nonleague game, 2 p.m., Lakewood Stadium, 14100 Franklin Blvd., Lakewood. Call 216-529-4034.


Records: St. Xavier 4-3; St. Edward 7-0.


What to watch: St. Edward, ranked third in The Plain Dealer Top 25 and fourth in the state poll, has allowed 12 points -- total -- in its past five games. Eagles QB Kevin Burke has been steady and has 14 combined touchdowns passing and rushing. Senior tailback Reggie Terrell has stepped in and played well for injured Terrell Bates (knee). Terrell has 542 yards on 60 carries (9-yard average) and seven TDs. Bates probably won't play, but should return in the next two weeks. The Eagles destroyed 2009 Division III state runner-up Columbus DeSales, 62-0, last week. St. Xavier has played a tough schedule and two of its losses were to state-ranked Moeller and LaSalle. St. Xavier junior TB Conor Hundley has 1,030 yards and 11 TDs rushing. LB Steven Daniels has 12 sacks.


PD pick: St. Edward.


Elyria Catholic at Cleveland Central Catholic


What, when, where: North Coast League White Division game, 1 p.m., Stefanski Stadium, 6550 Baxter Ave., Cleveland. Call 216-441-8373.


Records: Elyria Catholic 6-1, 1-1; CCC 6-1, 2-0.


What to watch: The Panthers had their perfect season scuttled by Padua, 41-23, as they were outscored in the second half, 21-6. Still, senior quarterback Danny Reaser passed for 397 yards and three scores. He has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,661 yards and 26 touchdowns. The Ironmen have won five straight since a loss to Field in Week 2. Senior quarterback Darius Richard has guided the passing offense, with senior defensive end Eshawn Dixon anchoring the defense. This is the biggest game in years for CCC, which is playing at its new home field. The Panthers look to have the playoffs locked up, while the Ironmen are on the bubble for their first postseason since 1982. This should be a high-scoring affair.


PD pick: Elyria Catholic.


Padua at Lake Catholic


What, when, where: North Coast League Blue Division game, 7 p.m., Osborne Stadium, 6477 Center St., Mentor. Call 440-951-0077.


Records: Padua 5-2, 2-0; Lake Catholic 6-1, 2-0.


What to watch: The Bruins knocked off Elyria Catholic with a strong second-half defensive effort. They will need two halves of that and more to get past the Cougars. Quarterback Jim Solano has produced points when needed. Still, the Cougars have been dominating in three straight shutouts, outscoring opponents 161-0. It's 272-52 overall. Senior running back Richie Sanders has 1,185 yards and 14 touchdowns. Keeping it close early is a must for the visitors.


PD pick: Lake Catholic.


Should the Ohio State Buckeyes honor an all-time great with a statue outside Ohio Stadium?

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Which Buckeye great would you honor with a statue outside Ohio Stadium?

woody.jpgIf Ohio State decided to honor someone with a statue outside Ohio Stadium, former coach Woody Hayes would be the people's choice.

Columbus -- When Ohio State reaches Madison on Saturday, the Buckeyes will find two statues guarding the entrance to Camp Randall Stadium -- current and former athletic directors Barry Alvarez and Pat Richter bronzed for eternity outside the home of the Badgers.

If the Buckeyes miss Alvarez and Richter there, they might run across them somewhere else. They're both still around, Alvarez, who is the winningest football coach in school history, as the current AD and Richter as a fairly recent retiree who hired Alvarez as football coach 20 years ago.

Those statues went up four years ago, and now college football is on a statue streak, with current-day notables like Florida Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and Alabama coach Nick Saban among those ready to be replicated. But in the Big Ten, for the most part, less has been more when it comes to building lifelike monuments to legends of the game.

In addition to the Wisconsin duo, only four other Big Ten sportsmen have been honored by full-sized statues -- Red Grange at Illinois, Nile Kinnick at Iowa, Magic Johnson at Michigan State and Joe Paterno at Penn State. And the two schools with the greatest athletic histories, Ohio State and Michigan, have no plans to join the crowd.

"Our place has never been overt in terms of publicity or adulation," Michigan spokesman Bruce Madej said. "We talk about the University of Michigan, and that it. It's always the team, the team, the team. We don't individualize. That's how we believe things should be done."

On this, the gridiron adversaries seem to be in lock step. Michigan just finished a $226 million stadium renovation, and while statues were discussed, Madej said they were never seriously considered. Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith said there are no serious current statue talks at Ohio State, and OSU senior vice president for administration and planning Jeff Kaplan said that part of the issue is the overwhelming number of candidates, mentioning off the top of his head two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin; Chic Harley, the football star who helped create the passion for OSU football a century ago; iconic coach Woody Hayes; and international track and field legend Jesse Owens.

archie.jpgTwo-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin would certainly deserve consideration to be honored with a statue. Here is running against Michigan during the 10-10 tie in 1973.

"Where do you start and where do you stop?" Kaplan said.

There is a life-size statue of golf legend Jack Nicklaus, but that's in the Nicklaus Museum at the edge of campus. It was commissioned by Golf Magazine when he was honored as the golfer of the century and really isn't directly associated with the university. The only statue of an individual on campus is of former university president William Oxley Thompson in front of the library that also bears his name. The abstract sculpture "Celebration of a Champion" was dedicated in 1984 and rests outside Ohio Stadium, but many fans who walk past on game day may not realize the four pyramids honor Owens and are inscribed with quotes and lists of his accomplishments.

A bronze Red Grange in a leather helmet with a football tucked under his arm, for instance, is a little more straight forward. Dedicated in 2009 outside Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois, it's the latest statue addition in the Big Ten.

"It was an easy decision for us," said Illinois associate athletics director Warren Hood. "Nobody else stood out like Red Grange."

That was because the stadium renovation project at Illinois was built around Grange, who was a star in the '20s when Memorial Stadium first opened. Hood said fans have welcomed the statue with open arms, "but the debate already started as soon as we put it up," Hood said. "It wasn't up half an hour and it was 'Who are we going to do next?' That's the world we live in."

Linebacking legend Dick Butkus is the next most obvious choice for Illinois, but Hood said nothing is in the works. As with Grange, Iowa had a similarly easy choice with its statue honoring Nile Kinnick, the school's only Heisman Trophy winner who died in flight training for World War II. Other schools, like Oklahoma, have erected statues for every one of their Heisman winners. Any Ohio State Heisman garden would be six strong, but Harley, the school's Grange equivalent as an early star who helped lay the foundation for the program, might be the most appropriate statue recipient. An outside push for Harley has existed to varying degrees over the years.

"There are always preliminary discussions about someone or something," Ohio State's Kaplan said. "But nothing that really has legs."

While a school like Ohio State will always have plenty of options, choosing to sit out the statue trend is always an option, too.

"First, it's not an inexpensive thing to do if you're going to do it right," Illinois' Hood said. The Grange statue cost around $350,000. "And I think it needs to be someone who stood alone."

Ohio State Buckeyes' freshman tackle Andrew Norwell could play key role on Saturday

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With Shugarts ailing, freshman Norwell occupies key role.

shugarts.jpgStarting right offensive tackle J.B. Shugarts, here getting helped off the field last year against Penn State, has suffered from a foot problem throughout his OSU career. If it flares up again Saturday in Wisconsin, freshman Andrew Norwell will get the call to replace the junior from Texas.

Columbus -- Freshman right tackle Andrew Norwell enters Saturday's game at Wisconsin in a role that hasn't changed yet is more critical to Ohio State than anyone may have known before last week.

Starting junior right tackle J.B. Shugarts has been battling a chronic foot problem his entire career at Ohio State, OSU coaches said this week, and it's not going away. Last week, it led Norwell to play nearly three quarters in relief in the win over Indiana, and though Shugarts practiced on Wednesday and Thursday after sitting out Tuesday and is expected to start, it's plain now that Norwell is the most important backup on the offensive line.

"He's a good football player and we thought he was a good football player when we recruited him," OSU offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Jim Bollman said of Norwell, "and he has done things so far this year that have not surprised us at all."

Last season, Marcus Hall typically replaced Shugarts for a few series a game, and Bollman admitted this week that was a nod to Shugarts' foot issues. Now, Hall is redshirting this season because of academic issues, so Norwell has been next in line. And Shugarts has been fighting through like he always has.

"There have been times it affected him a lot," Bollman said. "He played a lot of football, though, in these two-and-a-half years. He usually sucks it up and does a really good job in the game. Sometimes after the game, though, it's very rough."

Bollman said Shugarts is getting some new treatment this week, and the Buckeyes will try to help him as much as possible, with Norwell getting some playing time as part of that help. While few players are 100 percent at this point in the season, what Shugarts is battling is more difficult than many injuries. As a tackle he needs to slide and be mobile in pass protection and then push off and drive in run blocking.

"There are times he's had to fight through it," Bollman said. "That's all part of the deal. Hopefully you have a little bit of depth there and you can help each other out."

Buckeyes talk to Holmes: Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Thursday that receivers coach Darrell Hazell, who was in the room with Santonio Holmes as he interviewed agents five years ago, talked with Holmes this week about the allegations in a magazine story that Holmes took money from an agent while at Ohio State. Holmes has publicly denied the allegations.

"His statements to Darrell put your mind at ease," Tressel said. "[But] you're always concerned when anything is brought up. . . . You never like to be mentioned in any other way than glowing ones."

Brown moves: Tressel said that redshirt freshman Corey Brown, who has been the Buckeyes' No. 4 cornerback, has also started working at safety to give the Buckeyes more depth there. And Tressel believes Brown's future at Ohio State is as a safety.

"We're thin at both places, so he can be that versatile guy, that utility guy," Tressel said. "He can play corner if we need him and he can play safety if we need him."

Cliff Lee's amazing journey could end in the Bronx

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Everyone has an opinion on the transformation of former Indians left-hander Cliff Lee into one of the game's best pitchers. Here's a few of them with the American League Championship Series beginning tonight.

lee.jpgFor the second straight year, former Indian Cliff Lee is a dominant pitcher in the playoffs, this time for the Texas Rangers.

Arlington, Texas -- Theories abound on how Cliff Lee went from a struggling left-hander to a pitcher who should be the toast of this winter's free agent market.

Try this one on for size from Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker.

In the spring of 2007, the Indians felt Lee was too predictable against right-handed hitters. Lee liked to challenge right-handers with inside fastballs.

The Indians suggested another approach -- throwing his fastball and change-up to the outside part of the plate. The change was never fully implemented because Lee strained an abdominal muscle early in camp and missed all of spring training.

Later in the season things continued to ferment after Lee watched Mariano Rivera save a couple of games for the Yankees. Rivera kept throwing cut fastball after cut fastball and no one could hit it.

Said Braunecker: "Cliff said, "Why in he world am I not throwing that pitch?'"

The 2007 season was the worst in Lee's career. He went 5-8, spent over a month at Class AAA Buffalo, lost his job in the starting rotation and didn't make the Indians' postseason roster. But the seeds of pitching to the outside part of the plate and using a cut fastball were planted.

They bloomed in 2008. Lee won 22 games and the Cy Young Award. The cost-cutting Indians traded Lee to Philadelphia in 2009. He went 7-4 down the stretch and 4-0 in the postseason as the Phillies reached the World Series for the second straight year. The Phillies traded Lee to Seattle during the off-season to make room for Roy Halladay. In July, Lee was traded again, this time to Texas.

He finished the season 12-9 and helped Texas win its first postseason series in franchise history with victories in Games 1 and 5 of the American League Division Series against Tampa Bay. He allowed two earned runs, struck out 21 and didn't walk a batter in 16 innings. Lee's 11 strikeouts in Game 5 were the most ever in a winner-take-all postseason game.

"Cliff had always been a fly-ball pitcher," said Braunecker. "But right-handers were starting to cheat on him because he kept throwing the fastball inside. By throwing his change-up and fastball away, and then jamming right-handers with the cutter, he was able to throw to both sides of the plate."

Texas opens the ALCS tonight against the Yankees at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. C.J. Wilson will face New York's CC Sabathia. Lee won't start until Game 3 on Monday at Yankee Stadium.

Here are some other theories on the transformation of Lee.

phillee.jpgIn 2009, Cliff Lee went 4-0 in the postseason with the Phillies, who lost to the Yankees in the World Series.

"Three or four years ago, I don't remember his control being so good," said Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira. "He can put the ball on every corner, throw any pitch in any count . . . he's almost unhittable."

Lee struck out 185 batters and walked 18 in 2121/3 innings.

Teammate Ian Kinsler says the biggest change he's noticed in Lee over the last several years is command -- the ability to throw the ball over certain parts of the plate.

"To me, he's what I imagined it would be like seeing Sandy Koufax pitch," said Kinsler. "His command is off the charts. When you can start eliminating pitches, it makes it easier on hitters.

"But right now you can't eliminate any of his pitches and he's got about six of them."

Tim Belcher wasn't the Indians pitching coach when the Indians sent Lee to Buffalo in 2007. He was a special assistant for the Tribe and saw Lee more than once as he tried to pull his game together in the minors.

"It's hard to put your finger on one thing, but I'd say it's the consistency of his pitches," said Belcher. "Cliff handled that whole thing great. He had a big-league contract and he could have moaned and groaned, but he just kept working to get better."

Yankee manager Joe Girardi pointed to Lee's strike-throwing ability.

"You can say be patient off Cliff Lee," said Girardi, "and all of a sudden you're 0-2 and he can do whatever he wants at that point."

This season Lee's strikeout to walk ratio was 10.28 -- for every walk, he struck out 10.28 batters. Lee led the big leagues by throwing first-pitch strikes 69.8 percent of the time.

Sabathia and Lee were teammates on the Indians from 2002 to 2008. They were almost reunited in July when the Yankees made a strong push for Lee only to have Seattle trade him to Texas.

"That deal was about as close as everyone says it was," said Braunecker.

This winter the reunion could happen for real. The Yankees reportedly have a strong interest in signing Lee as a free agent.

Sabathia doesn't think there has been a dramatic change in Lee's pitching.

"He's always been good," said Sabathia. "In 2005, he won 18 games. The biggest development I've seen has been his change-up."

In 2007 Sabathia won the Cy Young for the Indians and was traded to Milwaukee in 2008 before signing with the Yankees as a free agent. Lee repeated the process in 2008 and 2009 with two bonus rounds of trades. Would anyone be shocked if he completes the cycle and ends up in the Bronx this winter?

Cavs vs. Spurs: Mary Schmitt Boyer's post-game blog

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Keith Srak / Associated PressManny Harris drives to the basket against San Antonio's Garrett Temple during the Cavaliers' exhibition victory over the Spurs' in Pittsburgh Thursday night. Pittsburgh -- It's getting to the point where it would be great to actually see what Byron Scott has this season. He's not the least bit worried about the fact that he hasn't...

manny.jpgManny Harris drives to the basket against San Antonio's Garrett Temple during the Cavaliers' exhibition victory over the Spurs' in Pittsburgh Thursday night.

Pittsburgh -- It's getting to the point where it would be great to actually see what Byron Scott has this season. He's not the least bit worried about the fact that he hasn't been able to play Anderson Varejao or Mo Williams yet, and may be without Antawn Jamison or Anthony Parker for a bit.

Wouldn't it be great to see all five starters, whoever they are?

Under Mike Brown, the Cavs always said they were a no-excuses team, and that seems to be the case again.

Nobody needs to make excuses for a team that's 4-1 in the preseason with a new coach and a new system. I'm just anxious to see all the pieces together.

Cavs 106, Spurs 80

J.J. Hickson had 18 points and nine rebounds and the Cavaliers held the San Antonio Spurs to 37 percent shooting en route to a 106-80 victory before 5,121 fans on Thursday night in the Petersen Events Center.

It was a costly victory for the Cavs. Forward Antawn Jamison left with a sprained left knee with 7:22 left in the second quarter, although it is not believed to be serious. At halftime, Anthony Parker went out with a sprained right ring and middle finger. X-rays were negative. Manny Harris started for Parker in the second half and played the final 24 minutes, finishing with 11 points.

The Cavs improved to 4-1 in the preseason, while the Spurs are 2-2.

Third quarter: Cavs 79, Spurs 62.

J.J. Hickson has 21 points as the Cavs pulling away from San Antonio. Manny Harris started for Anthony Parker in the second half, and he and Gibson have had a stablizing influence.

Cavs guard Anthony Parker has a sprained right ring and middle finger. X-rays at halftime were negative, but he will not return. He appeared to hurt the hand early in the game, shaking it repeatedly and trying to play through it.

Halftime: Cavs 50, Spurs 41

Daniel Gibson had nine points to lead the Cavs charge, but with 7:22, Antawn Jamison went down under the Spurs basket and then limped off to the locker room. The Cavs say he has a sprained left knee and will not return, but it is not believed to be serious.

Just when it looked as if the Cavs were ready to get Anderson Varejao and Mo Williams back, losing Jamison for any length of time would hurt. The team still can tell exactly what it has.

First quarter: Cavs 23, Spurs 21

Ramon Sessions has eight points to lead the Cavs against what will be the Spurs bench when starters Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson return. Former Pitt star DeJuan Blair has six points and three rebounds to lead the Spurs.

In fact, there are more Blair jerseys than Cavs jerseys, in spite of the fact that this is a Cavs home game.

Cavs starters: F Jamario Moon, F J.J. Hickson, C Ryan Hollins, G Anthony Parker, G Ramon Sessions

Spurs starters: F James Anderson, F Antonio McDyess, C DeJuan Blair, G Gary Neal, G George Hill

Not playing: Anderson Varejao, Mo Williams for Cleveland; Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Richard Jefferson for San Antonio

Officials: Kevin Fehr, Kane Fitzgerald, Greg Willard

Three things to watch

1. Jamario Moon will make his second straight start at small forward with Antawn Jamison coming off the bench as coach Byron Scott tries to hone in on a starting lineup. Is this a hint, or just more experimentation?

2. Will Manny Jackson get another chance to show what he can do, as he did down the stretch in both games in Texas?

3. Will DeJuan Blair put on a show for the fans who came to watch the University of Pittsburgh alum?

Be sure to check back for updates.

Anderson Varejao and Mo Williams took part in this morning's practice at the Cleveland Clinic courts, but they will not play in tonight's preseason game against San Antonio in Pittsburgh, coach Byron Scott said.

"I'm really happy with their progress, but we're being a little more cautious.''

Varejao, still recovering from an ankle injury suffered in the world championships last summer, was gone almost two weeks after the death of his grandfather in Brazil. Williams is recovering from a groin injury.

Scott was not ready to announce his starters for tonight's game. Check back here for a pre-game update.

Cavaliers Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Tait remains hospitalized in Houston with pneumonia but is improving and hopes to return to Ohio in the near future. In his absence, Fred McLeod and Campy Russell will broadcast tonight's game against San Antonio in Pittsburgh.

Mike Snyder and Jim Chones will handle Saturday's radio broadcast against CSKA. Snyder and Russell will handle Tuesday's game against Philadelphia at Cincinnati, and McLeod and Austin Carr will handle the pre-season finale against Milwaukee at Columbus on Oct. 21.

 

Cuyahoga Heights' Gibson is scoring machine in soccer

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JOSHUA GUNTER/THE PLAIN DEALERMedina's Jillian Graff and Strongsville's Emily Ogle fight for a ball in the first half of Medina's 2-0 victory on Sept. 11. Cuyahoga Heights soccer player Erika Gibson is not sure where she will attend college. But the senior forward sure knows how to score goals. Entering Thursday's regular-season finale at Wickliffe, Gibson's 27 goals were...

soccergirls.jpgMedina's Jillian Graff and Strongsville's Emily Ogle fight for a ball in the first half of Medina's 2-0 victory on Sept. 11.

Cuyahoga Heights soccer player Erika Gibson is not sure where she will attend college. But the senior forward sure knows how to score goals.

Entering Thursday's regular-season finale at Wickliffe, Gibson's 27 goals were tops in the area. Nicole Mikolcic has 26 goals for St. Joseph Academy, according to the Greater Cleveland Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association.

A year ago, Gibson had 14 goals and 11 assists for the Redskins, who stand 12-1-2 this season.

"I am actually surprised," said Gibson, who is considering a couple of offers from NAIA colleges. "I'm not focusing [on goals], but they are popping up like crazy."

Gibson, who intends to major in physical education and enter the coaching ranks, has two four-goal games and five hat tricks. She is the Redskins' career (64 goals) and season (27) scoring leader.

Cuyahoga Heights opens the Division II postseason tournament Monday when it hosts Independence.

Big dip After going 1-1-3, Medina dropped from the top spot in the ESPN Rise Fab 50 national poll to No. 22. The Bees (11-1-3) righted themselves with a 1-0 win against Hudson on Wednesday to claim their first outright Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division title since 2006. The defending Division I state champs conclude their regular season Saturday against Massillon Jackson.

Conference rival Strongsville stands 14-1-1, the lone loss to Medina, heading into postseason play.

Boys soccer

Numbers game There were a lot of coaching victories on display at last Saturday's Strongsville-St. Ignatius contest.

In 21 seasons at Strongsville and two at Lake Ridge Academy, Tobey Cook was at 313-79-64. St. Ignatius' Mike McLaughlin was at 256-38-33 in his 16th season with the Wildcats.

Both coaches stand out in the playoffs, with Cook at 70-25 and McLaughlin at 62-12. St. Ignatius won state titles in 2004, 2005 and 2008.

McLaughlin got to add one to the victory column after the 4-1 win.

Moving up: The Wildcats (14-0) passed Gahanna Lincoln (14-0-1) for the top spot in the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association state poll this week. It's nothing new since they were in that top spot all last season before losing the Division I title game on a shootout.

Senior Yianni Sarris said his club has become used to dealing with its lofty status.

"You know it's there," said Sarris, who had a goal against Strongsville. "The target is on our back. But we keep bouncing back."

Seton Hall Prep from Orange, N.J., has the top spot in the ESPN Rise Fab 50 national poll, with St. Ignatius second and Gahanna sixth.

Volleyball

Back in the swing: When Dawn Moses returned to coach Olmsted Falls after a one-year hiatus, her immediate goal was to get her team back in contention for the Southwestern Conference title. Thanks to last week's victory over previously-unbeaten Amherst, the Bulldogs entered the week 15-4, 11-1 and tied for first place with the Comets with two SWC matches remaining.

"Anytime you can keep up with Amherst, your program is headed in the right direction," said Moses, who led the Bulldogs to an unbeaten 2008 season en route to the Division I state title. "Amherst has five conference championships and we have nine since 2000."

Falls, ranked 18th in the recent Division I coaches state poll, avenged an earlier loss to the No. 4-ranked Comets with better passing and serving.

"Deme Morales is a great, great player for Amherst," said Moses, "but the girls needed to go into that match with the goal of beating the entire team and not Deme. Our girls bought into it." To the rescue: When Keystone found itself without a coach at the end of June, a familiar face stepped in. Dave Cross, who coached the Wildcats for 22 seasons, returned to the helm after being away for two seasons and they haven't missed a beat. They're 14-5, 9-2 and in second place in the Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division behind Buckeye, which is 11th in the Division II coaches state poll.

"It was just the right thing to do," said Cross, "because this is such a talented and good group of kids."

If anything, his return has made him feel older since senior defensive specialist Karen Schaffer, senior setter Jessica Jewitt, junior rightside hitter Becca Conrad and senior outside hitter Megan Johnson are all younger siblings of ex-Keystone players who played under Cross.

"Our senior outside hitter Casidy Gregory played for me when she was a freshman but it's [junior libero] Kiki Williams who really makes me feel old," said Cross. "I coached her mom." Fit to be tied: Waterloo and defending champ Streetsboro entered the week tied for first place in the Portage Trail Conference County Division after Waterloo's 25-17, 25-18, 22-25, 25-18 victory over the Rockets, avenging an earlier-season loss. Emily Plajer (10 kills), Bryce Wiley (18 digs) and Megan Forney (five kills) led the way as the trio also combined for 24 blocks. Magic in the middle: Stow pulled a minor Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division upset with a five-game match win over Strongsville.

"We served tough to get [Strongsville] out of their system and we played great defense but the difference were our middle hitters," said first-year Bulldogs coach Miguel Ramirez, whose team lost to the Mustangs in three games earlier this season. "They were running all over the place and running different sets."

Jackie Close finished with 18 kills, 20 digs, four block assists and two solo blocks and Lexi Stefanov added 14 kills and 14 blocks, but both teams weren't at full strength.

Stow was without Jenna Chilinski, whose knee was scoped three weeks ago. She was expected to play in Thursday's match against Solon. Strongsville was without Maryland-Baltimore County recruit Alexis Plagens, whosesprained ankle will sideline her until the postseason.

"It didn't matter because Stow played well and we did nothing to help our cause," said Strongsville coach Erick Sopata. "We lost the battle of serving and serve receiving." Turning it around: Mayfield stood 11-8 as of Monday after once being 4-7. Second-year coach Rosella Glodkowski cited two reasons for her team's slow start: youth and strength of schedule.

"Our back row players are young and we had to improve our serve receive," said Glodkowski, citing the improved play of junior libero Kayli Canganelli and senior defensive specialists Jen Hengst and Emily Johns. "We also opened the season against Gilmour Academy and Beaumont."

The Wildcats seasoned front line is headed by 5-11 junior kill leader Amy Kole, senior outside hitter Erin Citraro and 5-8 junior outside hitter Morgan McGrath.

However, it all starts with junior setter Mikayla Zernic. "Mikayla never loses her cool and because she doesn't, she's the key," said Glodkowski. Knights fall short: Newbury felt it could challenge for the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division tile but will most likely fall short by two games to defending champion Berkshire.

"We needed to beat [Berkshire] the first time we played because it was at our place," said Knights coach Carla Richardson, referring the Badgers' 26-24, 25-27, 21-25, 25-18, 15-5 victory. "The first game of that match was crucial and it might have had a different outcome if we had won the first game."

Newbury, a Division IV regional qualifier a year ago, will be led into the postseason by senior outside hitter Katie Barton and senior setter Lindsey Knight.

"Katie's defense gets overlooked but she plays the left back very well," said Richardson, "and Lindsey's been solid running our 5-1 attack the last three years."

Wake up please For the second consecutive week, Lake Catholic is ranked No. 1 and Kenston is No. 2 in the Division II coaches state poll, despite the fact Kenston defeated Lake Catholic three weeks ago the first time they met. The Bombers beat the Cougars again on Monday.

"I know a lot of coaches say they don't pay attention to the polls and we really don't," said Kenston coach Dan Coughlin, "because the coaches in the southern part of Ohio don't know what's going on up here."

Dan Coughlin then reverted back to when his brother, Kelly Coughlin (now Gilmour's coach), was an assistant at Olmsted Falls when the Bulldogs went unbeaten and won the Division I state title in 2008.

"Falls was ranked No. 6 in the final state poll that year so you really can't put much stock in the rankings," said Dan Coughlin.

Cross country

Conference weekend: Most area league meets will be Saturday as the regular season draws to a close. District, regional and state weekends follow.

The Northeast Ohio Conference meet at Strongsville at 3 p.m. features five teams ranked in this week's Division I state coaches poll: Medina boys (second), Hudson boys (21st), Hudson girls (third), Brunswick girls (fourth) and Strongsville girls (14th). For the first time, all three NOC divisions will race together, and be scored separately.

Defending Division III state champion and fourth-ranked Independence boys are one of four ranked teams at the Chagrin Valley Conference meet at the Perry Outdoor YMCA. The others are Chagrin Falls girls (18th, Div. II), Berkshire girls (14th, Div. III), and Berkshire boys (seventh, Div. III).

A pair of third-ranked boys teams, Elyria Catholic (Div. II) and Trinity (Div. III), headline the North Coast League meet at Squire Valleevue Farm in Hunting Valley at 10 a.m. Trinity is led by state 3,200-meter track champ Nick Gliha. Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin's boys are ranked eighth in Division II.

No. 1-ranked and defending state champ Woodridge boys (Div. II) are among four ranked teams at the Portage County Fairgrounds for the Portage Trail Conference meet at 9 a.m. The Bulldogs girls are ranked eighth, and Crestwood's girls and Field's boys are both 17th in Division II.

There should be a good boys battle between No. 5 Avon and No. 6 Bay at the West Shore Conference meet at Cahoon Park in Bay Village at 10 a.m. Rocky River girls are No. 2 and Bay's girls are 13th, all in Division II.

No. 16 Avon Lake boys (Div. I) are the top-ranked team at the Southwestern Conference Championships at Lorain County Community College at 10 a.m.

The Suburban League meet at Akron's Goodyear Park at 9 a.m. will feature boys standout Josh Sabo of Revere, as well as Wadsworth's 22nd-ranked boys team.

The Patriot Athletic Conference meet is at the LaGrange Equestrian Center at 8:15 a.m.

Boys golf

Game planning Seldom do you hear of teams making a game plan for a golf tournament, other than the usual credo of "keep it in play, weigh the risk versus the reward and try not to three-putt."

That was not the case for the Lake Ridge Academy Lions, who became the first team in school history to qualify for a state tournament when they finished second to Gilmour Academy in the Division III district tournament at Seven Hills last week with a score of 322. Lake Ridge opened in 1963.

With only the top two teams advancing to today's state tournament, the Lions were in fourth place at the turn, two shots behind Warren JFK and Hillsdale. But, they were paired with Gilmour and that helped make a difference.

"Our overall plan was to maintain a 'match play' mentality playing with Gilmour," said third-year coach Andrew Edgar. "We felt coming in that we were the second-best team at district and by shifting our focus away from individual scores and staying as close as possible to the Gilmour players on a hole-by-hole basis, it would give us the best chance at qualifying for state. We stayed patient, focused on the game plan and kept our composure on the back nine."

Senior Spencer Scheeler led the Lions with a 79 and was followed by senior Nick Nemetz (82), junior Mitchell Rice (83) and freshman Ryan McCarthy (88).

"I credit our top three with sticking to the plan and doing what they needed to do," said Edgar. "The Seven Hills greens were pretty tough and I know each of them weren't overly thrilled with their individual scores, but when they could see how it played out in the end, they knew the actual score didn't matter."

What made the runner-up finish additionally sweet is the team missed the cut of advancing to the state tournament by two shots last year.

-- Bob Fortuna, Joe Maxse, Tim Warsinskey

Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger is Buckeyes' latest impressive big man

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Ohio State freshman big man Jared Sullinger isn't Greg Oden, but he is expected to help Ohio State remain one of the best teams in the country.

jared.jpgThad Matta talks to freshman big man Jared Sullinger at media day on Thursday. The Buckeyes are counting on Sullinger to keep them among the elite teams in college basketball.

Columbus --Thad Matta still can't avoid hyperbole when he talks about recruiting Greg Oden, describing Oden hitting his head on the roof of high school gyms when he blocked shots and looking down through the rim after he threw down dunks. The 7-footer's brief Ohio State career included a trip to the NCAA title game in 2007, and now four years later, the Buckeyes' coach again has one of the best freshmen big guys in the country.

"That's not who Jared is," Matta said. "But he's productive in a lot of other ways of getting numbers."

Jared Sullinger is 3 inches shorter than Oden, and while Oden was the consensus No. 1 recruit in the class of 2006, Sullinger was ranked No. 4 by Scout.com and No. 5 by Rivals.com. But for an Ohio State team that lost national player of the year Evan Turner to the NBA and is still ranked in the top five of some preseason projections, Sullinger has a lot of Oden in him.

He's big, and with the Buckeyes starting practice today, everyone thinks he'll be good right away.

Sullinger leads a six-man freshman class that is expected to help veterans David Lighty, Jon Diebler, William Buford and Dallas Lauderdale keep Ohio State among the best teams in the country.

"Physically, he's already like a college senior," OSU assistant coach Jeff Boals said Thursday. "Jared has always had a great feel for the game. He's one of those guys that sees stuff happening before it happens."

Sullinger's father, Satch, was his coach at Columbus Northland High School and his older brother, J.J., was a senior starter on Matta's first Big Ten championship team in 2005. So as Matta said, Sullinger has seen a lot of big men come through Ohio State, from Terence Dials to Oden to Kosta Koufos to B.J. Mullens. He may be as savvy and versatile as any of them.

"In the paint, he's unbelievable, he's just so powerful down low," Diebler said. "He has a knack for the ball."

sully.jpgIn high school at Northland High in Columbus, Jared Sullinger dominated the paint, and Ohio State will need him to do it as a collegian, too.

Matta said Sullinger should help answer a lot of the Buckeyes' rebounding issues of the recent past. Lighty pointed out that the Buckeyes were out-rebounded in their last game of last season, a Sweet 16 loss to Tennessee, and "that probably wouldn't have happened with him down there," Lighty said. "He's just a presence on the defensive end and offensive end and a big body to hold down the block for us."

Sullinger will sometimes play power forward alongside Lauderdale at center and other times will serve as the focus of Ohio State's inside game. But Lauderdale became slightly incredulous when talk turned to Oden and Sullinger comparisons, because Sullinger will also float outside and shoot jumpers, while Oden was all about inside play and was an absolute defensive stopper.

"Greg was just so big and the things he could do at his size were unheard of," Lauderdale said. "They're two totally different players. I'm just excited to see what Jared wants to be."

One thing he wants to be is smaller. Boals said Sullinger lost between 15 to 20 pounds during summer workouts as he slimmed down and lowered his body fat. The Buckeyes expect him to be more explosive and to lose even more weight as practice starts.

But he's still a big man, and a big part of why the Buckeyes could lose the best player in the country and maybe get better.

"Jared is so physical," Lighty said, "and pretty much ready for the Big Ten."

Yankees' Kearns, Wood owe Tribe a thank-you

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Kerry Wood pitched for the Tribe this year, before he was traded to the Yankees. By Paul Hoynes  Plain Dealer Reporter Arlington, Texas -- Thanks to the Indians, Kerry Wood and Austin Kearns are in the postseason. It's the sixth time Wood has been in the playoffs and the first time for Kearns. The Indians traded Kearns and Wood...

wood.jpgKerry Wood pitched for the Tribe this year, before he was traded to the Yankees.

By Paul Hoynes

 Plain Dealer Reporter

Arlington, Texas -- Thanks to the Indians, Kerry Wood and Austin Kearns are in the postseason. It's the sixth time Wood has been in the playoffs and the first time for Kearns.

The Indians traded Kearns and Wood to the Yankees just before the July 31 trading deadline.

Wood is the Yankees' eighth-inning set-up man for closer Mariano Rivera. Kearns helped out initially in the outfield because of injuries to Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner until hand and elbow injuries limited his playing time.

"Kerry has done a great job for us in the bullpen," Rivera said.

nukerans.jpgAustin Kearns is playing in the ALCS and wearing pinstripes now. Earlier this year, he played outfield for Cleveland.

Wood went 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA (two runs in 26 innings) for the Yankees after the trade. He struck out 31, walked 18 and allowed 14 hits. The opposition batted .161 against him.

"He's given us a presence back there," manager Joe Girardi said.

In the Yankees' sweep of the Twins in the American League Division Series, Wood appeared in three games and gave up one run in two innings.

"This is probably the best stretch I've had out of the pen as far as zeroes are concerned," Wood said. "It's fun. It's gone too fast, but it's been fun."

The Indians signed Wood to a two-year, $20.5 million deal before the 2009 season to be their closer. It will not be remembered as one of departed GM Mark Shapiro's finest moments.

The Indians not only failed to produce an adequate number of save opportunities for Wood, but he struggled with his consistency and was on the disabled list twice this season.

"I've had more opportunities in the set-up role and that's made a difference," Wood said. "I pitched four and sometimes five days a week and I responded well."

As for his time with the Indians, Wood said: "From a player's standpoint, we didn't live up to expectations. I think the front office did a good job of making the key moves it had to make.

"But we didn't do it. We didn't get it done. Business is business and they had to start to rebuild. . . . I look at it like we let the ownership down."

Kearns hit .235 (24-for-102) with two homers and seven RBI for the Yankees. He did not bat in the ALDS.

"They have a lot of good guys on this team and they made it easy for me after the trade," Kearns said.

Kearns says he still talks to the Indians' Matt LaPorta, Travis Hafner, Shin-Soo Choo and Shelley Duncan.

"I liked Cleveland," Kearns said. "They've got a lot of hard working young players. When I talked to LaPorta, I always make sure to ask how Jason Donald, Michael Brantley and those guys are doing."

Swing and a miss: Texas pitchers struck out 55 batters in the five-game division series victory over Tampa Bay. It's the most strikeouts ever in a division series in either league. Finally: Left-hander C.J. Wilson will face New York left-hander CC Sabathia tonight in Game 1 of the ALCS. Wilson, a converted closer, was asked how he'd been influenced by fellow Ranger lefty Cliff Lee.

"Well, actually before he was here, I was a right-handed second baseman," Wilson joked.

When asked what he throws, Wilson said: "I throw everything. The only pitch I have not thrown in a major-league game is a knuckleball."

Wilson says he even knows how to throw the gyroball, the mysterious pitch brought to the big leagues by Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka.

"It's a funny-spinning fastball," he said. "To be fair, I don't think it's good for your elbow."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158


Cleveland Cavaliers Antawn Jamison, Anthony Parker hurt in win over Spurs

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Cavs win an exhibition game but two key players suffer injuries.



jamison.jpgThe Cavaliers' Antawn Jamison sprained his knee in the second quarter Thursday night, adding his name to a growing list of injured players.

 


Pittsburgh -- In an ideal world, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott was hoping to decide on a starting lineup by the sixth pre-season game, which would be Saturday's home game against CSKA Moscow.

That's not going to happen now -- not after losing forward Antawn Jamison and guard Anthony Parker in the Cavs' 106-80 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night before 5,121 fans in Petersen Events Center.

Jamison left with a sprained left knee after hyperextending it with 7:22 left in the second quarter, and Parker left with a sprained right

ring and middle finger at halftime. Neither injury is believed to be serious.

"It's part of the game," Scott said. "We'll deal with it."

Scott still hasn't seen Anderson Varejao (ankle) or Mo Williams (groin) play a game, and it remains to be seen how long Jamison and Parker will be out -- if at all.

But the coach took this latest setback in stride.

"The last couple of preseason games would be good if we could have them," he said after the Cavs improved to 4-1 in the pre-season. "If not, we'll make an adjustment. The biggest thing is to make sure those guys are healthy when Oct. 27 rolls around."

Isn't it difficult to assess what kind of team he has?

"It messes up the continuity a little bit of those guys all playing together, but it doesn't bother me that much," Scott said. "We're still all in a learning process as a team. Some guys learn at a quicker pace than others. We're still learning. We're getting better each day. But it's a process, and we're just going to keep plugging at it."

Jamison did have tendinitis in the knee and missed some time earlier in training camp.

"They're different type of injuries," he said. "That was a bad case of tendinitis. We got that calmed down, and that wasn't a problem. Right now it's just sore in a different part of the knee.

"It's sore now, but if it was a regular season game I probably would have come back and played. It was painful initially, but after that it calmed down and I was able to walk around pretty normal."

Though Jamison wasn't looking forward to the two-hour bus ride back to Cleveland after the game, it sounded as if he didn't want to miss any more time than necessary, although the Cavs surely will take a cautious approach.

"We're getting close to the season," Jamison said." I want to start trying to get into a rhythm, keep my legs the way they feel now. I might give it a go Saturday."

Parker actually hit his right hand on someone's heel early in the game. He shook it repeatedly and tried to play through it. But he had an X-ray at halftime and did not return.

"It's just swollen and sore,"' he said.

Manny Harris started the third quarter for Parker and played the entire second half, finishing with 11 points -- the third straight game he has hit double digits.

"He's 21 years old," Scott said with a smile. "He can play 24 minutes."

The injuries overshadowed a strong performance, even if it did come against what likely will be most of the Spurs bench during the regular season. After playing in Mexico City earlier this week, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich sent Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson home to rest.

J.J. Hickson led the Cavs with 18 points and nine rebounds, Ramon Sessions had 14 points and six assists and Daniel Gibson added 13 points and six assists. Cleveland's defense limited San Antonio to 37 percent shooting (30 of 81.)

Clveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott was right choice, Spurs' Popovich says

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San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich likes the hiring of coach Byron Scott.

Pittsburgh -- San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had nothing but good words for former Cavs coach Mike Brown and General Manager Danny Ferry, as well as new coach Byron Scott.

Popovich hired Brown as an assistant in San Antonio in 2000.

"He's a good friend," Popovich said. "Mike did a fantastic job while he was in Cleveland. But in this business, circumstances often dictate what happens. Sometimes the circumstances have more to do with a coach's dismissal than anything he did as far as being a coach is concerned.

"He'll land some place if he decides to get back in because he is a very good coach and a very good man, and he knows how to handle people."

Asked whether he thought Scott was the right coach for the Cavaliers now, Popovich said: "Yeah, I really do. He's got the kind of experience I think is probably necessary considering the situation where some things have to be put back together again, confidence has to be built. You have to have somebody who's got the experience to know what is necessary to put that together again, and he has that kind of experience."

Ferry, who played for the Cavs and Spurs and started his front-office career in San Antonio, has rejoined the Spurs as vice president of basketball operations, and Popovich said it was "fantastic" to have him back, although he thinks Ferry likely will get another job soon.

"The humor level rises," Popovich said with a smile. "The sarcasm level rises. The fun, the enjoyment of the game rises. The only sad part is he's not going to be there long. I try not to think about that because it's so much fun to have him back."

Welcome home: Popovich also had great things to say about former Pittsburgh star DeJuan Blair, who started at center for the Spurs on Thursday. After playing in Mexico City earlier this week, Popovich sent Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson back to San Antonio to rest.

"He's doing very well," Popovich said of Blair. "He's a hard worker, quick learner, very passionate about the game, wants to be a great player. What more can I ask? He has really worked hard to reduce his body fat, a significant difference from last year. It was a necessary thing, part of the process of being as good as he could possibly be. He deserves a lot of credit for the discipline he employed to get to where he is now."

Tait healing: Cavaliers Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Tait remains hospitalized in Houston with pneumonia but is improving and hopes to return to Ohio soon. Trainer Max Benton returned to the team after spending several days with Tait. Scott Zurilla of the team's broadcasting department flew to Houston to stay with Tait.

In Tait's absence, Fred McLeod and Campy Russell were broadcasters for Thursday's game.

Mike Snyder and Jim Chones will handle Saturday's radio broadcast against CSKA Moscow. Snyder and Russell will handle Tuesday's game against Philadelphia in Cincinnati, and McLeod and Austin Carr will handle the preseason finale against Milwaukee in Columbus on Oct. 21.

The last word: From Scott, admitting he likes the Steelers, "Don't say that too loud."

Pittsburgh Steelers A.M. Links: Behind enemy lines

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The Cleveland Browns have had issues with giving up the deep ball to several receivers so far this season. There's a threat that they may give up even more, especially when they face Steelers' wide receiver Mike Wallace on Sunday. Wallace has caught passes of 52, 46 and 41 yards this season. His average of 23.4 yards a catch is No....

Browns lose to Steelers, 27-14Cleveland Browns' Abram Elam gets a hand on Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Wallace in a game last year.

The Cleveland Browns have had issues with giving up the deep ball to several receivers so far this season. There's a threat that they may give up even more, especially when they face Steelers' wide receiver Mike Wallace on Sunday.

Wallace has caught passes of 52, 46 and 41 yards this season. His average of 23.4 yards a catch is No. 1 among NFL starting wide receivers.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Scott Brown writes:

"I've never seen anybody that fast that guys know he's going deep and still can't cover him," Steelers free safety Ryan Clark said of Wallace.

What the Steelers want is for the 6-foot, 199-pounder to become as hard to cover on short and intermediate routes.

Wallace will especially be motivated against the Browns because Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie were taken ahead of him in the draft.

And Wallace is having the better year.

"I always take it to heart, all those guys that went before me," Wallace said. "I think I'm better than all of them pretty much. (Teams) were sleeping on me like I was playing in my jammies."

 

 

Most improved

Steelers cornerback William Gay is the most improved player on the team, writes Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Ron Cook.

Gay was a key player on the Steelers' Super Bowl team in 2008 as a reserve, but he was a weak link on the defense last season when he started in place of Bryant McFadden.

Now McFadden is back, and Gay is in his better suited role as a reserve.

Cook is really impressed with Gay's story.

So does coach Tomlin.

"He's been a consummate professional, a team player," Tomlin said. "He's fallen back to a sub-package role and he hasn't muttered a peep. He works extremely hard, always is ready and is into the game. He's making plays. I'm happy for him. I'm excited for him."

 



No kick

Hopefully the Browns and Steelers game will come down to field goals. If it does, the Browns are in a good position, especially since Steelers' kicker Jeff Reed has been off the mark.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Scott Brown writes how Reed has missed four field goals this season, including two in the Steelers' loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Reed said his early misses have nothing to do with the unhappiness he voiced over his contract situation during training camp.

Reed said at the time that the Steelers didn't negotiate with him in good faith on a long-term deal.

"Everyone's thinking that I'm sandbagging, but that's not the case at all," said Reed, who signed a one-year, $2.81 million contract in July. "There's one thing I can't stand and that's not being perfect and losing."

 

Hudson's Alex Bastock rallies to earn first state girls tennis berth

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Intensity. Anger. Intimidation. The looks on Hudson senior Alex Bastock's face, and some occasional verbal outbursts, during her district quarterfinal tennis match Thursday reflected numerous emotions, none of them happy. This was a girl whose game face shouldn't be messed with. When it was over, however, she was happy, happy, happy.













Hudson's Alex Bastock overcame a 1-5, first-set deficit set to beat Magnificat's Noelle Kaufmann, 7-5, 6-2, in the singles match of the day at the Oberlin Division I district tournament.










Intensity. Anger. Intimidation. The looks on Hudson senior Alex Bastock's face, and some occasional verbal outbursts, during her district quarterfinal tennis match Thursday reflected numerous emotions, none of them happy. This was a girl whose game face shouldn't be messed with.


When it was over, however, she was happy, happy, happy.


"Now that I'm here, it's really great," a beaming Bastock said.


Bastock overcame a 1-5, first-set deficit set to beat Magnificat's Noelle Kaufmann, 7-5, 6-2, in the singles match of the day at the Oberlin Division I district tournament.


Thursday's singles and doubles quarterfinal winners will play in Saturday's semifinals beginning at 9 a.m., and, more importantly, they are guaranteed berths in next week's state tournament. Bastock is one of the area's premier players and has verbally accepted a full scholarship to Wright State, but the state tournament somehow has eluded her until now.


Falling behind 1-5 in previous years might have wilted Bastock, but she was determined not to let this opportunity go. Bastock's outbursts, directed at herself, seemed to spur her on, and she grew stronger as the match progressed, blasting serves and spraying baseline winners.


"The first set, she really came out swinging and she got up, 5-1, pretty fast," Bastock said of Kaufmann. "It took me completely off guard, and then I just sort of dug in and played the best I could, got to five-all and said, 'This is the moment to break.' "


Bastock broke Kaufmann's serve at 5-5 and didn't look back. She won the set and went up, 3-1, in the second set.


"I trained over the summer almost every day for this," Bastock said. "It was my goal as a senior to get to state. I don't care what I had to do."


Revere senior Natalie Robson, a state doubles qualifier last year, beat Massillon Jackson's Trisha Conlan, 6-0, 6-4, in a quarterfinal and will play Westlake's Lauren Golick, who won both her matches Thursday, 6-0, 6-0.


The sunny, breezy afternoon at Oberlin College produced some drama on the doubles courts, as well. Beaumont sisters Erin and Caitlin Lawless rallied to beat 2009 state qualifiers Mitsuki Fukamachi and Joy Walker of Mayfield, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3. The Lawlesses will play an all-sister semifinal against Kenston's Victoria and Mandy Marchant.


"I think we were going for too much and were way too aggressive early," Caitlin Lawless said. "We just tried to breathe and take our time the second set."


The Marchants, who beat the Lawlesses at last week's sectional, are making a return trip to state.


"This is the best thing in the world for me," Mandy Marchant said. "We're like best friends, so to go back to state with [Victoria] is great."


Westlake's Michelle Djohan and Kelsey Wanhainen will play Canfield's Allison Pavlansky and Kaitlin Kaleel in the other semifinal.


The top six singles and doubles players will earn state berths.


To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

Ray Russ' 3 TD tosses lead Willoughby South to win: High School Roundup

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Ray Russ threw three touchdown passes and Kareem Hunt ran for a pair of 2-yard touchdowns as Willoughby South defeated Eastlake North, 34-21, in a Premier Athletic Conference football game Thursday night. Russ fired scoring passes of 25 yards to Aaron Lindgren, 19 yards to Josh Federico and 15 yards to Tyler Lindgren for the Rebels (7-1, 3-0), ranked...




Ray Russ threw three touchdown passes and Kareem Hunt ran for a pair of 2-yard touchdowns as Willoughby South defeated Eastlake North, 34-21, in a Premier Athletic Conference football game Thursday night.


Russ fired scoring passes of 25 yards to Aaron Lindgren, 19 yards to Josh Federico and 15 yards to Tyler Lindgren for the Rebels (7-1, 3-0), ranked eighth in The Plain Dealer Top 25. South is scoring 48.8 points per game. George Gresko threw two TD passes for North (4-4, 1-2).


Mentor 49, Shaker Heights 14


Mitch Trubisky completed 9 of 11 passes for 207 yards and scored the game's first touchdown on a 2-yard run as the host Cardinals (5-3, 2-0), ranked seventh in The Plain Dealer Top 25, romped to a 42-7 halftime lead and a Lake Erie League Lake Division win.


Colton Wallace caught four passes for 129 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky, and Mike Korecz rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns in 13 carries. Mentor's offense totaled 525 yards.


Madison 55, Lakeside 6


All of the game's points were scored in the first half, as the host Blue Streaks improved to 5-3, 2-1 in the Premier Athletic Conference.


Josh March gained 146 yards in 18 carries, and scored on 24- and 3-yard runs, and on a fumble return. Billy Skerkavich returned the opening kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown, and also scored on runs of 12 yards and 1 yard.


Girls tennis


Division II district


Lydia Colvin of Orange (6-3, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-2 wins) and Emily Mazzola of Chagrin Falls (6-0, 6-1; 6-4, 6-2) were among the singles players at Canton's Weis Park Courts to win two matches and advance to Saturday's semifinal and final rounds.


Doubles teams that advanced to Saturday were Hathaway Brown's Maya Ahuji and Pauline Martig (6-4, 6-1; 6-3, 6-3); Walsh Jesuit's Cristen Reed and Katelyn Hissong (6-0, 6-0; 6-2, 6-3); Hawken School's Taylor Johnson and Surya Khadlikar (6-0, 6-2; 6-2, 6-2); Laurel Academy's Alison Biltz and Allison Dorogi (6-2, 6-2; 6-2, 6-0).


Volleyball


Olmsted Falls 3, Westlake 1


Senior setter Dayna Roberts upped her school record for career assists to 2,500 as the host Bulldogs (17-4, 13-1) clinched a share of the Southwestern Conference championship with a 25-21, 29-31, 25-20, 25-15 decision. Roberts tallied 36 assists, 16 kills and seven blocks. Teammates Michaela Hawkins and Kelsey Snider had 15 and 13 kills, respectively.


Amherst 3, North Olmsted 0


The Comets (21-1, 13-1) share the SWC title with Olmsted Falls after their 25-9, 25-15, 25-10 win at home. Deme Morales had 17 kills.


Bay 3, Avon 0


Bridget Doughty (64-of-65 setting, 24 assists, 18-of-18 serving) and Rachel Vick (11 kills) led the West Shore Conference champion Rockets (20-2, 14-0) to a 25-15, 25-20, 25-12 win.


Boys soccer


Chagrin Falls 3, Walsh Jesuit 1


The host Tigers (9-0-5), the state's fourth-ranked Division II team, topped the second-ranked Warriors (13-3) as Quinn Malone scored the game's final two goals in a two-minute span of the second half. Matt Simon netted the first Tigers' goal.


Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 3, Western Reserve Academy 0


Jack Thompson scored two goals and Sachem Wilson netted one, and goalkeeper Nick Ciraldo (three saves) was supported by a strong defense as the Royals (11-3-1), ranked fifth in the state in Division III, won at WRA (11-4-1).


Mayfield 1, Shaker Heights 0


Nathan Shultz scored from the top of the box off a crossing pass with about seven minutes to go for the Wildcats (11-3-1), who got sparkling goalkeeping from Ryan Kristoff (six saves) and Drew Teller (seven saves) against the Raiders (8-4-3).

Duck hunt gets better as weather gets worse: Outdoors Notebook

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Duck and goose seasons swing into action all over Ohio on Saturday, and waterfowl hunters again will be hoping for nasty weather.

duck huntingDuck and goose seasons swing into action all over Ohio on Saturday, and waterfowl hunters again will be hoping for nasty weather.

Duck and goose seasons swing into action all over Ohio on Saturday, and waterfowl hunters again will be hoping for nasty weather.

“When you have a strong northerly front coming in with big winds and cold weather, think about duck hunting,” said Dave Sherman, Ohio’s head of waterfowl management at the Division of Wildlife’s Crane Creek Wildlife Station. “That is the type of weather needed to push migrating waterfowl through Ohio from their northern nesting grounds.”

When Ohio experiences unusually balmy weather during duck season, as happened during the 2009 season, duck hunting is mediocre at best.

“We usually get a week or two of warm weather during the duck season to slow the hunting,” Sherman said. “Last fall, we had a couple of months of mild weather.”

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service surveys report Ohio hunters bagged about 115,000 ducks last year, well below the 170,000 in 2007. Here are the Ohio dates for the 2010-11 seasons:

Duck

• North Zone Duck Season: Saturday-Nov. 14 and Nov. 20-Dec. 19.

• South Zone Duck Season: Saturday-Oct. 31 and Dec. 11-Jan. 23.

Canada Geese

• Lake Erie Zone Goose Season: Saturday-Nov. 14 and Nov. 20-Jan. 2.

• North Zone Goose Season: Saturday-Nov. 28 and Dec. 18-Jan. 16.

• South Zone Goose Season: Saturday-Nov. 7 and Dec. 11-Jan. 30

The top two ducks in a Buckeye waterfowler’s bag are mallards and wood ducks. Sherman said surveys predict a good season for mallards, with good nesting success in Ohio and Ontario. Wood duck numbers are slightly lower this year because of dry conditions in late summer.

To help hunters connect with migrating waterfowl, the Division of Wildlife is posting weekly waterfowl movement reports on its wildohio.com website. Waterfowl managers are expanding the surveys to include all of Ohio, not just the north, by adding waterfowl surveys of many wildlife areas.

“We want to improve our reporting system,” Sherman said. “We might need some time to get all of the bugs out, but feel it will give hunters an advantage.”

Black powder hunt: The special early primitive weapons deer hunt in three Southeastern Ohio areas kicks off a six-day season Monday. Last year, hunters killed 474 deer during the short season at the Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Shawnee State Forest and Wildcat Hollow. Hunters must adhere to Ohio’s blaze-orange requirements.

Out and about: The Lorain County Beagle Club will hold its annual fall turkey shoots starting Sunday and running through Dec. 19. The shoots will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Gore Orphanage Road, two miles south of Ohio 18 in Brighton. For more information, call 440-984-2125. . . . The German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Ohio has an AKC hunter’s trial Oct. 23-24 at Monigold’s Pheasant and Quail Ranch in Newcomerstown, with entries still open, reports Cindi Chilbert (440-285-8931). . .. The All- Breed Hunter’s Trial at the Huron Township Conservation Club has been moved up a week to Oct. 24.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: degan@plaind.com, 216-999-5158


Rainbow trout released around area: Fishing report

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Nasty north winds are plaguing Lake Erie fishermen, who had been reporting very good catches of yellow perch off Cleveland and Lorain, and trophy walleye between Vermilion and Huron.

Rainbow troutRainbow trout are being released today at Kiwanis Recreation Park in Painesville and Granger Pond in Mentor’s Veterans Park.

Nasty north winds are plaguing Lake Erie fishermen, who had been reporting very good catches of yellow perch off Cleveland and Lorain, and trophy walleye between Vermilion and Huron. Rainbow trout are being released today at Kiwanis Recreation Park in Painesville and Granger Pond in Mentor’s Veterans Park. Trout and catfish were released last week at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights.

Cleveland area

Northerly winds are a big problem for Cleveland Harbor and Lake Erie fishermen. When the lakes settles, yellow perch are being caught off the Rocky River, downtown Cleveland, East 72nd Street, Bratenahl and Euclid General Hospital in 36 to 50 feet of water. The night walleye bite has been spotty.

Rain is luring some steelhead trout to Lake Erie tributaries, including the lower stretches of the Rocky River and Euclid Creek.

Lake Erie

Walleye fishing has been very good in 30 to 45 feet of water between Huron and Vermilion. Anglers are trolling minnow-style plugs, especially Reef Runners, and finding success with a wide range of color patterns. Spoons are also catching walleye, with trophy fish very common when the wind and waves allow trolling fishermen to get out.

Fishermen have been using inline weights to target walleye suspending at 30-foot depths.

Yellow perch fishing off Beaver Park in the Lorain area has been very good in 36 feet of water, with jumbo perch reported. Yellow perch fishing has been very good off Ashtabula in 54 feet of water.

Western Basin walleye fishing has been slow, with most anglers heading to Canadian waters for both walleye and jumbo yellow perch. Some anglers have caught walleye east of Kelleys Island, a traditional late-season hot spot. Western Lake Erie perch fishing has been good northwest of North Bass Island, northeast of Ballast Island and along the east side of Kelleys Island. Perch are also moving in around the Marblehead Lighthouse.

Rivers and streams

Rain has kicked up local steelhead rivers and streams, especially the Rocky and Vermilion rivers. The fresh flow and cooler nights should bring some steelhead trout into the rivers. The best fishing will be in the lower stretches of the tributaries as the waters begin to go down and clear a bit.

Anglers are working spawn bags close to the river bottom, and casting spinners and spoons. Fly fishermen are tempting trout with minnow imitations and darkcolored stone fly nymphs.

Inland lakes, reservoirs

Water levels are on the way down on Northeast Ohio lakes, including draw downs for shoreline work around the Portage Lakes.

The Division of Wildlife’s stockings of foot-long rainbow trout will wrap up with today’s release of trout at Kiwanis Recreation Park in Painesville and Granger Pond in Mentor’s Veterans Park. Trout and catfish were cut loose a week ago at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights. Other Northern Ohio waters getting trout last week included Norwalk Reservoir No. 1 and Petros Park in Canton.

LaDue Reservoir has been good for bluegills—with some gathering under the bridges—and fairsized crappies. Anglers are catching schooling bass on spinner baits and Rat-L-Traps. Channel catfish are still biting on nightcrawlers and traditional catfish baits. Walleye fishing has been spotty.

Some perch, crappies and a few walleye are being caught off the Pymatuning Lake causeway on minnows and while jigging blade baits. Boat fishermen are still trolling spinner rigs and nightcrawlers.

Look for the fall muskie bite to improve at Pymatuning, West Branch, Leesville and Clear Fork lakes. Anglers are trolling smaller diving plugs and casting in-line spinners, diving plugs and jerk baits.



You Pick the Winners for Week 5 won by Shannon Threat of Cleveland

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Shannon Threat wins Week Five of "You Pick the Winners" football pick-'em contest.

you-pick-the-winners.jpgView full size
Shannon Threat of Cleveland finished 10-4 last week in the You Pick the Winners weekly contest and won the second half of our tie-breaker (a random drawing after Shannon and others who went 10-14 predicted the Browns score): a random drawing. Shannon's missed games? Well, let's put it this way: One host of "You Pick the Winners" missed 'em all, too ... and that's why Chuck Yarborough maintains his one-game lead over Branson Wright. But we'll get to that later.

As the winner of this week's show, Shannon gets a $25 gas card and is now a finalist for a $250 gift card.

Chuck and Branson clearly could use some expert advice. Each went 7-7 this week (an undrafted rookie quarterback leading the Cardinals over the defending Super Bowl champion Saints? Really?). Going into Week Six, Chuck leads Branson, 37-39 vs. 36-40.

Each week, fans can go online to cleveland.com/football picks and make their predictions. The winning prognosticator will win a $25 gas card and be the guest of SBTV hosts Wright and Yarborough on You Pick the Winners streaming on cleveland.com every Friday morning.

In the event of a tie, we'll use the total score of the Browns game as a tiebreaker. Whoever comes closest to the total without going over will prevail. If there's still a tie after that, we'll do a random drawing. See official contest rules for further details. Whoever makes the most correct picks will become a finalist for a $250 gift card to be awarded at the end of the season. (OK, it's not much; this is mostly for fun.)

So get out your stat sheets and start picking.

You Pick the Winners Video for Friday, Oct. 15, 2010












Colt McCoy gets his first start: What will make his debut a success? Poll

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What will make Colt McCoy's debut as Browns quarterback feel like a success to fans?

colt-mccoy-joshua-gunter.JPGView full sizeColt McCoy picked a tough opponent for his debut as quarterback of the Browns: Cleveland's rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Does he have to win for his coming out party to be successful?
Colt McCoy is going to make his pro debut as quarterback of the Cleveland Browns this Sunday. Statistically, historically, he's got all the stuff you think would set the foundation for a successful professional career. Check out his Wikipedia bio:

McCoy won the 2008 Walter Camp Award and was the 2008 Heisman Trophy runner-up.  McCoy won more games (45) than any quarterback in NCAA Division I history. In his senior year, he won 13 of the top 15 major college player awards including quarterback of the year, offensive player of the year and outstanding football player of the year.

And yet the plan under Browns President Mike Holmgren, an acknowledged "quarterback guru," and head coach Eric Mangini essentially was to "redshirt" McCoy for a year while he learned the pro game. Injuries to rental quarterback Jake Delhomme and career backup Seneca Wallace stuffed that plan quicker than Metcalf-up-the-middle.

In some quarters, the question is why the kid (who, for the record, is 24, and definitely NOT a kid) has been treated so gingerly. The easy answer is, the companyspeak answer, is that the pro game is totally different than the college game. The defensive lines are bigger, meaner and faster; the secondaries feature guys who were stars on their teams. Look at it this way: There are fewer than 1,700 men on active NFL rosters. Take away the kickers and the guys who play offense and you have the 900 best defensive players in the world coalesced into one league. Of COURSE it's tough.

Can he handle it? Who knows? The sports books are littered with great college quarterbacks who failed in the NFL - Ryan Leaf, Matt Leinart, Andre Ware, David Klingler and yes, Tim Couch.

But it takes failure to build success. In Troy Aikman's rookie season, the Hall of Famer went 1-15 and saw more stars in the sky than downfield. But that one win meant the year was a success because it was against the Cowboys' rival, the Washington Redskins. Would a lone win against the Browns' rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, mean success? That's up to Browns fans ... and history.

But it all begins with a first game. Realistically, given the talent levels of the two teams, nobody expects him to win the game. So we have to ask: What will make Colt McCoy's debut a successful one?

Cleveland Browns A.M. Links: Running game; worries; new guy Mike Bell

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It's simple for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at the Pittsburgh Steelers --- run, and run some more. Morning-Journal reporter Jeff Schudel writes this type of ground and pound offense is what led the Browns to victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. And there's only one way the Browns can help rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, and that's to establish a running game....

peyton.jpgPeyton Hillis

It's simple for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at the Pittsburgh Steelers --- run, and run some more.

Morning-Journal reporter Jeff Schudel writes this type of ground and pound offense is what led the Browns to victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

And there's only one way the Browns can help rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, and that's to establish a running game.

But that will be difficult against the Steelers.

“The Steelers have seven guys up front that really know how to play the scheme,” left tackle Joe Thomas said in the locker room Thursday. “They know how to play their gap. They’re very fundamentally sound.

“They’re not going to beat themselves. We have to beat them. We’re an offense built on running the ball. We’re not always going to run the ball more than we pass the ball, but for us to win we need to be efficient in the running game. We need to do well on first and second down so we’re not in hard third down situations where we have to a make a play downfield.”

Peyton Hillis has been the workhorse for the Browns, but he missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. Newcomer Mike Bell is ready to play, but will he have enough time to learn the offense?

 

 

 

Worries

The odds are stacked against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, especially since they will start a rookie quarterback against the top defense in the league.

That's not all.

Reporter Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram writes how the Browns' running game (the strength of the team), is in trouble because Peyton Hillis is injured and several offensive linemen are not 100 percent.

The Steelers have allowed one 100-yard rusher in the last 38 games and limited Tennessee’s Chris Johnson to 34 yards on 16 carries in Week 2.

“They’re good because they tackle, they get penetration, they have a great blitz game, they cause some confusion,” tight end Benjamin Watson said. “A lot of what they do is based on the blockers getting confused. The biggest thing for us is identifying who’s who and then put a hat on a hat. Simple as that.”

 



 

Bell

New Browns running back Mike Bell says this is his fifth team in four years, so he's ready to find a place to stay.

And if he plays well on Sunday against the Steelers, the Browns and fans hope he stays here for a long time.

On Ohio.com:

Browns fans will begin to find out Sunday as Bell, who also went to camp with the Houston Texans, could get a few — or even plenty — of carries as Peyton Hillis' backup Sunday at Heinz Field, pending the condition of Hillis' injured quadriceps.

''I played with Peyton in Denver,'' Bell said. ''He did a great job in Denver, and he did a great job in college. He's a good athlete, he's got great hands and he's a smart player.''

  

 

 

Dominant

There are no undefeated teams in the NFL, but that doesn't mean there are no dominant teams, writes ESPN's James Walker.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the most dominant team, writes Walker.

Here is why the Steelers are the NFL's most dominant team:

Roethlisberger is back: This has been a huge story this week, but it cannot be overstated. Roethlisberger is a top-five quarterback and a two-time Super Bowl champion. It's like acquiring a $100 million free agent in Week 6 to boost an already strong team. The Steelers' passing game is last in the NFL (136 ypg.), but it will improve dramatically with Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh won with defense and special teams, and now the team can beat opponents with all three phases.

"We're truly a 53-man roster, instead of a 52-man roster," Steelers left tackle Max Starks said. "It makes things more comfortable. It allows us the opportunity to do whatever, because we have [Roethlisberger] ... Now we have that full family."

 

Ohio State Buckeyes basketball great Larry Siegfried dies at 71

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Ohio State basketball great Larry Siegfried, who won a national title with the Buckeyes in 1960 and lost in the 1961 title game, has died.

larry-siegfried-columbus-dispatch.JPGView full sizeLarry Siegfried, left, was a guard on the Ohio State national championship team team in 1960. He's pictured with coach Fred Taylor and teammate Jerry Lucas. Siegfried died last night, according to his daughter, Erin Siegfried.
The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Larry Siegfried, who won an NCAA championship with the Buckeyes in 1960 and lost in the title game in 1961, has died of complications from a heart attack he suffered on Oct. 5, according to his daughter, Erin Siegfried. Siegfried, 71, died last night, Dispatch reporter Bob Baptist said in an item posted on the paper's website.

Siegfried, was captain of the 1960-61 team and a second-team All-American. He led Ohio State in scoring as a sophomore in 1958-59 with a 19.6-point average and still ranks among the Buckeyes' best free throw shooters with an .819 career percentage.

He was the No.3 pick in the 1961 NBA draft, by the Cincinnati Royals, but played two seasons in the American Basketball Association with the Cleveland Pipers before joining former Ohio State teammate John Havlicek with the NBA's Boston Celtics.

Siegfried played seven seasons in Boston and won five NBA championships.

Arrangements for the funeral, which will be held in his native Shelby, Ohio, are pending, according to Baptist's post.


Korean reporter apologizes to Cleveland Indians for story about Shin-Soo Choo

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Korean Times reporter says editing problems omitted information and caused confusion about Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo wanting a "transfer' from the Indians.

 Indians lose to the Royals, 6-4Shin-Soo Choo was apparently misquoted about wanting a "transfer" from the Indians.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Korean Times reporter who wrote a story quoting  Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo as saying he preferred to "transfer' to a winning team has apologized to the Indians for mistakes in the story.

 Yoon Chul wrote the Indians and said editing problems, which omitted information, caused the confusion.

 Chul said Choo had "no idea' about the author's use of the word "transfer."

 Another Korean journalist Tweeted the Indians giving his version of what Choo said Sunday at the Los Angeles Airport before leaving for South Korea to prepare for the Asian Games in November.

 Jeeho Yoo told the Indians, "Choo said, purely out of envy, he wanted to play on a winning team after watching other guys pop champagne for clinching playoff berths. But he didn't say the word 'transfer,' as far as I know. But he also said he wants to stay with one club for a long time and Cleveland would be his first choice. Then he said his agent would take care of his contract situation and that he hadn't heard anything special from the agent."

 Choo, who hit .300 (165-for-550) with 22 homers, 90 RBI and 22 steals this year, is eligible for arbitration this winter. The Indians control his contract for three more years until he's eligible for free agency.

 If South Korea wins the gold medal in baseball at the Asian Games, the South Korean government may excuse Choo from his two years of required military service.

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