Team USA will play its third exhibition game in preparation for the 2016 Olympics on Tuesday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Team USA will play its third exhibition game in preparation for the 2016 Olympics on Tuesday night. 

After crushing China, 106-57, on Sunday in Los Angeles, the Americans are heading to Oakland, the Golden State Warriors' home arena. It's the second consecutive tuneup against China, the first Olympic opponent.

Tipoff is at 10 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on NBA TV. Team USA's Facebook page will have a live stream of the broadcast as well.

The atmosphere is expected to be electric, with Kevin Durant playing on his new home court for the first time since signing a massive two-year contract with the Warriors this summer. Durant, the team's leading scorer, will likely be in the starting lineup alongside teammates Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Former Warriors swingman Harrison Barnes, who joined the Dallas Mavericks following Durant's arrival in Golden State, is also part of the 12-man roster.

China is led by former NBA player Yao Jianlian, who scored 18 points on Sunday. 

Meyer was the final coach to speak at the podium at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. Watch video

CHICAGO -- Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer was the final coach to speak at the podium on the second day of Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. Watch Meyer's full remarks from the podium in the video above.

This won't be all from Meyer and the Buckeyes in Chicago. The coach and players will be available in breakout interviews later on Tuesday. Captains J.T. Barrett, Raekwon McMillan and Pat Elflein accompanied Meyer in Chicago.

Cleveland.com will have coverage of Ohio State at Big Ten Media Days throughout the day.

Josh Gordon was added to the roster and will report to training camp today for his physical. The All-Pro receiver is back after sitting out all of 2015.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Josh Gordon was added to the Browns roster Tuesday and will be in training camp today to take his physical and begin getting up to speed.

Gordon, who was reinstated from his drug ban on a conditional basis Monday, will join the rookies, injured veterans and quarterbacks, who all reported on Monday.

The rest of the veterans will report on Thursday and the first day of practice is Friday. To make room on the roster, the Browns waived undrafted rookie defensive back A.J. Stamps.

Gordon, suspended for the first four games, will be eligible to practice with the team as soon as his local treatment is set up and approved by the NFL, possibly by the first practice on Friday

Gordon's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on Pro Football Talk Live on Tuesday that Hue Jackson and the Browns are committed to giving Gordon every chance to succeed with the team.

"I do believe the Browns are a big part of Josh getting reinstated,'' Rosenhaus said on Pro Football Talk Live. "I do believe that Sashi Brown, who's the chief executive of the Browns, had a lot to do with this. I believe that Hue Jackson is very committed to working with Josh Gordon. I believe that Jim Brown, who's an integral part of this process who got to know Josh and has served as a mentor in some respects had a lot to do with this.

"I really do think that the Browns are committed to Josh and want to see him succeed.''

Hue Jackson 'very committed' to working with Josh Gordon, who knows it's last chance, agent says

Rosenhaus stressed that Gordon knows exactly where he stands right now.

"He knows his career is on the line and that in all likelihood it's his last chance at playing in the National Football League and I know in the bottom of my heart, that that means so much to him,'' said Rosenhaus. "And I also know all the steps that he's taken to get to this point and I have faith that he's going to continue to do the right things for his life and his future and not let anything get in the way of that.''

Gordon stressed Monday that he's taking the chance seriously.

"I'm blessed and grateful to be granted this opportunity,'' he tweeted. "I can't wait to get back out there and play the game I love in front of the great fans of Cleveland. I want to thank the NFLPA, Commissioner Goodell, the Haslam family and Browns organization, my agent Drew Rosenhaus, as well as my mentors for their continuous support along the way.

"I've heard only good things from my teammates about the positive direction the organization is heading and I want to do everything I can to be there to help further that process not only for the team but to better myself as well. Thank you.''

Former Cleveland Cavaliers center Sasha Kaun is going out on top.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Cleveland Cavaliers center Sasha Kaun is going out on top.

The 31-year-old who was part of Cleveland's title team is retiring after one NBA season, according to KUSports.com.

Kaun played 25 games for the Cavaliers this past year and didn't dress in the postseason, which made for a tough year after leaving CSKA Moscow in Russia. LeBron James, however, spoke fondly of the little-used center during the victory parade in June. 

"Sasha, everything you did this year that no one's seen, working out with Timo (Mozgov) every single day, committing to the game every single day," James said. "You worked out every single day with no vision of a coaching staff or us saying, 'Sasha, you're going to play. You're going to get minutes.' No entitlement. No entitlement all year, and you've got to be an unbelievable person and unbelievable professional to be able to take that and still come to work every day and give it your all."

The Cavs traded Kaun to Philadelphia this off-season. The 76ers then released him, making him an unrestricted free agent. The move paved the way for Cleveland to sign veteran Chris Andersen, who officially inked a one-year deal on Friday. It pushed Kaun into this decision.

He also cited ankle problems that have hindered him recently, preventing him from handling the intensity of the NBA game the way he would like. 

"I was very blessed and fortunate to play as long as I have," Kaun told the Journal-World. "I had a great experience for the (Russian) national team and professionally. Overall, it's been phenomenal.

"I want to say thank you to all the fans who have cheered for me in the years I was at KU and followed my career afterward as a professional. I'm happy to be a Jayhawk and look forward to seeing everybody once I'm back at the games (as fan). I'm just excited to be part of the (KU) family."

Kaun finishes his eight-year pro basketball career with an NCAA title, an NBA championship and an Olympic medal, helping Russia capture bronze in 2012. 

Plain Dealer columnist talks all things Cleveland sports with host Dan Labbe.

We're on iTunes. Subscribe to the cleveland.com Sports podcasts channel here (or search cleveland.com Sports podcasts).

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What can the Browns realistically expect from Josh Gordon? Should the Indians deal their top prospects?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast. Among other topics discussed:

Browns wide receivers.

How much the Indians should be willing to give up in a potential deal.

J.R. Smith's free agency.

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Where do the Browns rank now after being a punchline for many years? Have the champion Cavs and the contending Indians passed them?

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Everybody loves a winner, particularly after waiting over a half-century for one.

Does this mean the Breakthrough Boys, the Cavaliers, are the most popular team in the city for the first time?

Does it mean the Indians are No. 2?

And what of the Browns, for so long No. 1, as beneficiaries of old men's memories of Paul Brown and almost as old men's memories of 1964? Are they third in the hearts of fans, as they have been in competence and competitiveness ever since their return in 1999?

Let's consider the four factors listed below before voting in the poll.

OWNERS

Cavs: Dan Gilbert is the only local owner who has brought home the bacon. It's the way Gilbert won -- and even the way he lost - that puts the red meat on the table for his fan base.

Gilbert got LeBron James back by promising to spare no expense to win it all. To that end, the Cavs' owner paid the luxury tax for exceeding the salary cap, exploding it like a blasting cap.

Even his, let us say, intemperate reaction to James' leaving played well with outraged fans. The proof was that attendance did not go to Stepien-era hell before bouncing back with James' return.

But Gilbert has also been extremely lucky in the No. 1 lottery picks that became Kyrie Irving and the bait for Kevin Love (Andrew Wiggins).

Indians - Unpopular ever since they didn't spend the way Richard Jacobs did in a very different 1990s economic environment, the Dolans have rebuilt the team both after the wallbangers' era of the 1990s had run its course and after almost reaching the World Series in 2007.

Some fans will never get over the trades of CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee in back-to-back years after Cy Young seasons. Those who are still bitter see the deep, talented starting rotation of today and hear a clock ticking somewhere.

Browns - It's truly hard to have a team more in disarray than Randy Lerner did, but Jimmy Haslam has managed not only that but also to flirt with legal problems that make trouble with Commissioner Roger Goodell seem like detention hall in high school.

The rebate scam at the Haslams' family-owned truck stop chain turned off fans because it had the exploitative feel of predators cheating the poorly educated.

FRONT OFFICE AND PLAYERS

Cavs -- No other team in town can rival their Big Three of James, Irving and Love.

General Manager David Griffin rescued the 2014-15 going nowhere 19-20 team with a mid-season makeover. Although Timofey Mozgov became expendable, Griffin netted 3-point specialist and surprisingly good defender J.R. Smith and defensive stopper Iman Shumpert.

Griffin's sack of coach David Blatt was unpopular last January but it also was a triumph with the cohesion the team achieved under Tyronn Lue.

Smaller moves in getting Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson paid off big, too.

Indians - That Terry Francona, one of the best managers in baseball, came here when the team was at one of its lower ebbs after the passive Manny Acta era was not by accident. Francona held the front office in high esteem after his year as a special assistant to Mark Shapiro in 2001.

The players will never rival the 1990s powerhouse, but Jason Kipnis became the real "Mr. May" -- and in a good way, not a not-"Mr. October" manner -- by putting up historic numbers in 2015.

Nick Swisher and Michael Bourne were big-moneyed busts, but one of the kids taking their place has hit homers as Swisher didn't (Tyler Naquin) and a newly acquired veteran, Rajai Davis, has disrupted the opposition on the bases as Bourne didn't.

Francisco Lindor at short might be the second coming of Omar Vizquel. There is no higher praise.

Browns -- Which front office do you want to vilify most?

Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi? Textin' Ray Farmer? The boys from Harvard, newly installed? As so many before them have done, they must hope that Josh Gordon can be trusted not to frolic again in the autumn mist with Puff, the Magic Dragon.

Which coach got no chance?

Pat Shurmur, the previous administration's guy? Rob Chudzinski, boyhood Browns fan, after only one injury-ravaged year? Mike Pettine, defensive specialist, with his Kleenex Curtain? (OK, Pettine got too many chances.)

Of the players, Johnny Manziel, Brian Hoyer, Jason Campbell, Josh McCown, Justin Gilbert, none of them made it work. Few draft picks panned out.

The best player remains tackle Joe Thomas. Second would probably be kicker Phil Dawson, who got of "jail" and went to the 49ers in 2013.

The best that can be said is that the Browns haven't lost a game yet this season.

FORESEEABLE FUTURE

Cavs - Competitively, they will be bigger underdogs against Golden State in 2017 than they were against the 73-9 Warriors of the past season, thanks to Golden State's signing of Kevin Durant as a free agent.

The Cavs are undeniably hurt by the lack of a major college power to provide synergy and create every-day hoops interest.

Indians - The team needs to be in the playoffs for more than one day, as was the case with the wild card game loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013. The game is slow, and the fan base is aging.

With small market economics and an attendance problem, the Indians need to make this their first serious run at the World Series since 2007.

Browns - It will probably be three years before the success or failure of the latest rebuild becomes evident.

Football is part of the DNA in Ohio at all levels -- from St. Ignatius and St. Edward to Ohio State to the Bengals and, especially, the Browns.

More broadly, however, the entire future of pro football is in question because of the concussions problem and the early retirements of more and more players because of it. In another 18 years, who knows what pro football will look like?

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor went 3-for-5 with one RBI in a 7-6 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night in Cleveland. Lindor drove in the winning run in the ninth inning.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor's MLB arrival in June of last season came with considerable hype. He lived up to it -- and then some.

Lindor had an .835 OPS and 4.6 WAR in 99 games. He finished second to Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

What will Lindor do next? Here is a week-by-week recap of his 2016 season:

Week 1: 4 G, 17 PA, 5-for-15 (five singles), four runs, two walks, three strikeouts. 10/17 Quality Plate Appearance (subjective).

Summary: Even though he had no extra-base hits, Lindor swung the bat well overall. He took what the pitchers gave him and totaled three hits against two good lefties (David Price, Chris Sale). Issues were with cutter under hands and splitters. Solid defensively.

Week 2: 6 G, 26 PA, 6-for-25 (three singles, two doubles, homer), four RBI, three runs, two steals, seven strikeouts. 9/26 QPA. One error.

Summary: Not one of Lindor's better six-game stretches. Uncomfortable too often against off-speed, particularly changeups. Seven strikeouts/zero walks was noticeable. OK defensively.

Week 3: 6 G, 27 PA, 9-for-22 (eight singles, double), five walks, RBI, five runs, steal, caught stealing. 16/27 QPA.

Summary: Once again, Lindor took what the pitchers gave him and settled for singles en route to a strong six-game block. Finished with one walk in four straight games. Excelled defensively.

Week 4: 6 G, 27 PA, 5-for-23 (four singles, one double), three walks, three RBI, steal, sacrifice fly. 12/27 QPA. Good defensively.

Summary: Lindor did not swing well. Too eager/anxious numerous times. Missed plenty of pitches to hit.

Week 5: 6 G, 25 PA, 10-for-23 (eight singles, double, homer), walk, hit-by-pitch, three RBI, seven runs, steal. 13/25 QPA.

Summary: Good bounce-back from Week 5. Turned decent pitches into hits. Plus-defense.

Week 6: 6 G, 27 PA, 5-for-26 (five singles), walk, two RBI, three runs, steal. 10/27 QPA.

Summary: Rarely seemed comfortable during rough week, the nadir being 0-for-7 in a 16-inning loss at Houston.

Week 7: 7 G, 35 PA, 14-for-32 (10 singles, three doubles, homer), three walks, five RBI, six runs, two steals. 19/35 QPA.

Summary: Outstanding. One of his best weeks offensively as an MLB player.

Week 8: 6 G, 27 PA, 6-for-24 (four singles, double, homer), two walks, three RBI, five runs, two steals. 10/27 QPA.

Summary: Good for most second-year players, so-so for Lindor.

Week 9/Summary: Closed with excellent series against Royals.

Week 10: 7G, 25 PA, 5-for-23 (three singles, double, homer), four RBI, two runs, two walks. 8/25 QPA.

Summary: Subpar. Lindor appeared tired enough that Tribe manager Terry Francona did not start him Saturday at Angels.

Week 11: 6 G, 25 PA, 7-for-20 (six singles, double), two RBI, two runs, five walks, steal. 13-of-25 QPA.

Summary: Good offensively and defensively.

Week 12: 6 G, 8-for-23 (three homers, three singles, double, triple), four RBI, seven runs, walk, steal.

Summary: Highly productive offensively, good defensively.

Week 13: 7 G, 6-for-30 (five singles, double), three runs, walk, steal.

Summary: Mediocre-to-poor. Swing showed signs of fatigue. Struck out seven times.

Week 14: 7 G, 9-for-24 (four singles, five doubles), six RBI, eight runs, five walks.

Summary: Excellent bounce-back from previous week.

Week 15: 3 G, 2-for-12, RBI, two runs, two walks.

Summary: Not much happening.

Week 16: 6 G, 8-for-24, two homers, three RBI. six runs, seven strikeouts, zero walks.

Summary: Solid.

Week 17 (ongoing):

Season Game No. 98: July 26 vs. Washington Nationals (W, 7-6)

First inning vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (runners on second and third, none out) -- fastball low (passed ball; Rajai Davis scores, Jason Kipnis to third); 92 fastball, pop to second.

Quality plate appearance (subjective): No.

Third inning vs. Gonzalez (none on, two outs) -- 93 fastball low; 92 fastball called strike; 78 breaking pitch foul; 92 fastball, single to right.

Quality plate appearance: Yes. Pitch was letter-high and outside.

Fifth inning vs. Gonzalez (none on, two outs) -- 92 fastball, grounder to short.

Quality plate appearance: No.

Eighth inning vs. LHP Felipe Rivero (runner on second, none out) -- foul; 97 fastball, single to left.

Quality plate appearance: Yes. Kipnis to third.

Ninth inning vs. LHP Oliver Perez (bases loaded, one out) -- 80 breaking pitch foul; 94 fastball, RBI single to right.

Quality plate appearance: Yes. Lindor fought off a pitch up and in for game-winning hit.

Totals: 3-for-5. 3/5 QPA.

Akron (54-50) is now four games out of first place in the Western Division of the Class AA Eastern League.

AKRON, Ohio -- Richmond scored six times in the seventh inning, erasing a 4-2 RubberDucks lead and sending Akron to a 10-4 defeat on Tuesday, its fifth straight.

The Flying Squirrels piled up 17 hits, with four Richmond batters getting three hits each.

Akron trailed, 2-0, before scoring four runs in the sixth inning, thanks mainly to a three-run double from third baseman Joe Sever. Sever later scored on a wild pitch by Richmond reliever Christian Jones (2-4, 4.43 ERA).

Akron left-handed starter Rob Kaminsky (5-7, 3.94 ERA) was replaced in the seventh by right-handed reliever Cole Sulser after giving up three straight singles with no outs to make the score 4-3.

Sulser was unable to slow the Squirrels, giving up a four straight singles before getting an out. After giving up another RBI single, Sulser was replaced by right-hander Will Roberts, who managed to get the final out with the RubberDucks trailing, 8-4.

Richmond continued the onslaught in the eighth, getting two more runs on four hits to squelch any chance of an Akron comeback.

Squirrels infielder Ryder Jones was 3-for-5 with four RBI.

Akron (54-50) is now four games out of first place in the Western Division of the Class AA Eastern League.

Go here to see a box score from the game.

The Cleveland Indians scored three in the ninth inning to defeat the Washington Nationals, 7-6, Tuesday night in Cleveland. Francisco Lindor's one-out RBI single ended it.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Francisco Lindor singled to drive in Chris Gimenez with one out in the ninth inning as the Cleveland Indians shocked the Washington Nationals, 7-6, Tuesday night at Progressive Field. The Tribe scored three in the ninth to notch its fifth walkoff of the season, all since June 1.

Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Time Ohio:

High impact: While all victories are important, some come with enormous psychological value.

The Indians (57-41) appeared on their way to a fourth consecutive loss. They trailed, 2-0, 4-2, 5-2 and 6-4 against a quality opponent that features a terrific pitching staff. The Nationals (58-42) lead the NL East.

The Indians avoided lugging the four-game skid, which would have been a season-high, into a 12:10 p.m. start Wednesday against Nationals righty Stephen Strasburg (13-1, 2.83 ERA).

They maintained a 5 1/2-game lead on the Detroit Tigers, who defeated the Red Sox, 9-8, at Fenway Park. The Tigers (53-48) have won the first two of a three-game series.

Overcoming themselves: The Tribe prevailed despite:

*Subpar outing from right-hander Danny Salazar (4 IP, 4 R, 3 ER).

*Three errors. The total easily could have been four.

*Two late-inning GIDPs.

Fantastic finish: The Tribe rallied in the ninth against Washington closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Jose Ramirez led off with a seven-pitch walk. He spoiled a 3-2 pitch before Papelbon threw a fastball high.

Lefty Tyler Naquin, pinch-hitting for Juan Uribe, was down in the count, 0-2 (looking, swinging). After a ball, Naquin dropped the barrel on a splitter and shot it to left-center for an RBI double. Papelbon should have known better than to feed Naquin an off-speed pitch below the thighs when in control of the count.

Gimenez sacrifice-bunted near the first-base line. The bunt was good enough that first baseman Ryan Zimmerman felt compelled to hurry a bit. Zimmerman's throw eluded second baseman Daniel Murphy and rolled into foul territory, sending Naquin home with the tying run and Gimenez to second.

Lonnie Chisenhall was intentionally walked.

Rajai Davis beat the wheel play by popping a sacrifice-bunt attempt over charging third baseman Anthony Rendon for a single. Bases loaded, still none out.

Lefty Oliver Perez replaced Papelbon and got Jason Kipnis to pop to left on the first pitch. The Nationals nearly caught Gimenez off third after Gimenez bluffed the tag.

Lindor fouled a breaking pitch, then fought off a fastball up and in and sent it into right field for a single. Lindor benefitted from Murphy having been pulled in.

Lindor secured his first career walkoff hit. He finished 3-for-5 -- his 17th three-hit game of the season (tied with Boston's Xander Bogaerts for MLB lead).

Dan The Man: Tribe righty reliever Dan Otero helped make the walkoff possible with two hitless innings.

Otero inherited Jeff Manship's runners on first and third with none out in the sixth. Otero caught a liner by Zimmerman and doubled off the runner at first, Rendon. Danny Espinosa grounded out.

Otero pitched a perfect seventh, capped by Bryce Harper's fly to center. Harper went 0-for-5.

In his past eight appearances, Otero has allowed three hits and zero runs in eight innings. For the season, his ERA is 1.13.

Salazar rarely appeared comfortable. He struggled with fastball control and command throughout. His changeup was decent-to-good until a bad one cost him dearly.

Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of Salazar's start:   

First inning

Trea Turner -- 93 fastball called strike; fastball ball; 94 fastball outside; 93 fastball low; 94 fastball foul; 96 fastball in dirt, walk.

(L) Bryce Harper -- 94 fastball outside (Turner steals); 94 fastball foul; 94 fastball, fly to center (Turner to third).

Skinny: Harper just missed it. Rajai Davis made catch on track.

(L) Daniel Murphy -- 94 fastball inside; 85 changeup down and in; 85 changeup swinging strike; 95 fastball foul; 97 fastball foul; 88 changeup ripped foul; 86 changeup in dirt; 96 fastball, error/third baseman.

Skinny: Murphy slashed a pitch running down and away. It was a professional AB by National League's leader in average at .355. At the same time, Tribe third baseman Juan Uribe should have been able to field a ball for which he barely needed to move.

Wilson Ramos -- 93 fastball outside; 95 fastball swinging strike; 94 fastball swinging strike; 94 fastball foul; 94 fastball foul; 95 fastball, swinging strikeout.

Skinny: Elevated and inside.

Jayson Werth -- 93 fastball low; 93 fastball outside; 95 fastball called strike; 94 fastball, RBI double to center.

Skinny: Werth saw back-to-back fastballs over the plate at the thighs.

Anthony Rendon -- 94 fastball foul; 84 changeup swinging strike; 94 fastball high; 85 changeup, swinging strikeout.

Skinny: Two decent changeups.

Second inning

Ryan Zimmerman -- 93 fastball called strike; 92 fastball ball; 84 changeup ball; 94 fastball foul; 84 changeup, grounder to third.

Skinny: Uribe had plenty of time, one-hopped the throw.

(L) Danny Espinosa -- 92 fastball called strike; 94 fastball down and in; 85 changeup swinging strike; 86 changeup foul; 96 fastball high; 85 changeup, swinging strikeout.

(L) Ben Revere -- 93 fastball high; 85 changeup called strike; 83 off-speed high and inside; 95 fastball, liner to first.

Third inning

Trea Turner -- 84 changeup high; 93 fastball foul; 85 changeup swinging strike; 84 changeup foul; 86 changeup foul (good spoil); 94 fastball foul; 85 changeup, swinging strikeout.

(L) Bryce Harper -- 93 fastball inside; 94 fastball inside; 85 changeup low (supposedly); 86 changeup called strike; 87 changeup, liner to right.

Skinny: Abraham Almonte, moving to his left, made running catch on track.

(L) Daniel Murphy -- 94 fastball, fly to right.

Skinny: Salazar jammed him just enough.

Fourth inning

Wilson Ramos -- 92 fastball, double to right-center.

Skinny: Pitch had too much plate. Wilson had no choice but to attack.

Jayson Werth -- 93 fastball in dirt; 83 changeup called strike; 83 changeup foul; 84 changeup foul; 83 changeup inside; 81 curve, called strikeout.

Anthony Rendon -- 92 fastball foul; 85 changeup swinging strike; 86 changeup foul; 95 fastball foul; 84 changeup, two-run homer to left-center.

Skinny: Hanger. An 0-2 hanger at that.

Ryan Zimmerman -- fastball called strike; 85 changeup, grounder to short.

(L) Danny Espinosa-- 92 fastball inside; 94 fastball ball; 83 changeup swinging strike; 80 curve high; 92 fastball foul; 96 fastball inside, walk.

(L) Ben Revere -- 91 fastball inside; 94 fastball, liner to left.

Fifth inning

Trea Turner -- ball; 91 fastball high; fastball foul; single to second.

Skinny: Second baseman Jason Kipnis fielded in hole, but his throw pulled first baseman Mike Napoli off the bag. Could have been ruled an error.

(Lefty Kyle Crockett relieves Salazar.)

The script couldn't have been written any better.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The script couldn't have been written any better.

The first part of it was actually penned on Monday, as Team USA arrived in Oakland for its third showcase game. 

DeMarcus Cousins won the tip and Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving immediately tossed the ball to Kevin Durant. The newest member of the Golden State Warriors lined up a 3-pointer and buried it, scoring his first points inside his new home -- Oracle Arena -- since announcing his decision to join the Warriors this summer. 

"Yeah, I knew yesterday I was shooting that one," Durant told NBA TV following Team USA's 107-57 rout against China, the third straight blowout during the five-game Olympic tuneup. 

Durant scored the next two buckets as well -- both dunks.

In all, the player fans showered with the loudest cheers prior to tipoff scored the first 10 points. China was helpless to slow him down. It was Irving who first crashed Durant's party, ending Durant's personal scoring binge when Irving leaked out for a layup and scored the first points from a player other than Durant.

That was Irving's only basket during a quiet night. He finished with two points on 1-of-6 shooting in his return to Oracle, the site where he helped the Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA championship.

But Tuesday was about Durant -- at least in the first half. The second belonged to Carmelo Anthony, DeMarcus Cousins and Klay Thompson.

"It was amazing," Durant said after scoring 13 points in 19 minutes. "They came out and supported us. Was a great basketball atmosphere." 

Anthony, the team's elder statesman scored 16 of his 20 points during a scintillating third quarter. Cousins recorded his second double-double, finishing with a game-high 21 points while pounding China on the glass, as he collected 11 rebounds, including five on the offensive end. 

Thompson put an exclamation point on Team USA's 50-point blowout, hitting five of his final seven shots, including a long-distance pull-up triple that brought Stephen Curry, who was sitting courtside next to Andre Iguodala, to his feet. 

Thompson finished with 15 points to go with a team-high five assists. 

China played without Yi Jianlian, the team's leading scorer on Sunday, because of passport issues. Still, his presence wouldn't have made much of a difference. 

For the second straight game, the Americans' first Olympic opponent looked overwhelmed, struggling to keep up with the athletic and versatile U.S squad. 

The talent gap was visible early, as Team USA led by 16 after the first quarter. It became even more evident in the fourth quarter when swingman DeMar DeRozan attempted a 360 dunk over a defender in transition. DeRozan couldn't complete the play, as he was fouled. 

The exciting miss led to a Durant technical foul, as he jumped off the bench and onto the court. Even LeBron James took notice. 

Man if @DeMar_DeRozan would have made that dunk, would have been top 5 All Time! #USABMNT

-- LeBron James (@KingJames) July 27, 2016

Team USA heads to Chicago next. It will play Venezuela on Friday night. 

Many Indians fans don't think manager Terry Francona uses the bunt enough. Tiuesday night, however, the Indians used two unique bunts in the ninth inning to rally for a 7-6 win over the Nationals. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A lot of fans don't think manager Terry Francona bunts enough. If Francona bunted more, it's unclear if the Indians' lead in the AL Central would be bigger, but it is clear that more fans would be happy.

Well, the Indians bunted twice in the ninth inning Tuesday night and the only thing that didn't follow in their path was a thunderclap and a flock of doves landing on the pitcher's mound.

The Indians entered the ninth down 6-4 against Washington closer Jonathan Papelbon. He committed the closer's mortal sin by walking the leadoff hitter, Jose Ramirez. Tyler Naquin pinch-hitting for Juan Uribe, who had a game to forget, doubled to the gap in left center field to score Ramirez from first.

"That hit really changed the game," said Francona. "We're trying to extend the inning any way we can, maybe the tying run to second base, whatever. It looked like he hit a split, and really stayed on it.

"That changed everything. Now they've got to play the infield in. All kind of things get turned around."

In other words, Naquin's double begat, not one, but two bunts.

Catcher Chris Gimenez, who entered the game in the eighth, looked into the dugout right after Ramirez scored and saw Francona give him the bunt sign. Third base coach Mike Sarbaugh did the same thing.

Gimenez bunted a high fastball to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who came off the disabled list before the game. Zimmerman, charging on the play, made a wide throw to first where second baseman Daniel Murphy was covering. When the ball got past Murhpy, Naquin scored the tying run and Gimenez went to second.

"I was watching Murphy's eyes get this big around," said Gimenez. "I saw the throw go by me and by him, so I immediately was going to second."

After Lonnie Chisenhall was intentionally walked, Rajai Davis became the second bunter. A heartbeat before Papelbon's first pitch to Davis, the Nationals' defense sprung into the wheel play. The first and third basemen charged Davis, the shortstop sprinted to third and the second baseman dashed to first.

Rajai Davis still burning rubber at 35

Davis saw the movement, saw the pitch and reacted.

Most people would call it a bunt, but Davis called it a slash. Whatever it was, he popped the ball into the air with a half swing and it fell in no man's land between short and third for a single to load the bases.

'I was taught when the defense crashes, you slash the ball into the middle of the field," said Davis. "It's the first opportunity I've gotten to do that in a game. Fortunately, it worked out for us because it could have gone either way.

"I was able to find some green where the defense wasn't."

The debate in the clubhouse was whether Davis knew what he was doing or was just lucky.

Gimenez said Davis knew exactly what he was doing.

"I don't think anyone thinks he did that on purpose," said Gimenez. "But I know he did it on purpose. That's a savvy veteran move right there."

Except for the part when Davis bunted the ball and it hung above the infield forever, leaving Gimenez, with a catcher's speed, wondering if he should scramble back to second base.

"He just scared me to death because he bunted it up in the air," said Gimenez. "My first reaction was to run back to second base."

Davis laughed and said, "Hey, we had to get G to third base somehow."

Manager Terry Francona would have preferred Davis swing away in that situation. The Nationals' aggressive defense was moving so fast they created holes all over the diamond. A base hit through the infield might have even scored Gimenez and ended the game right then.

But it was hard to argue with the results. The end came two batters later when Francisco Lindor singled to right for his first walk-off hit. It was the Tribe's fifth walk-off win compared to seven walk-off losses.

"The bunts were huge," said Lindor. "We had guys working on bunting before the game."

After Danny Salazar turned in his shortest start of the season, Francona used five relievers to close the game: Kyle Crockett, Jeff Manship, Dan Otero, Austin Adams and Byran Shaw (2-4), the winner. Otero was especially effective, bailing Manship out of trouble and pitching two scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.13.

Indians acquire Dan Otero from Philles

Zimmerman was the first man Otero faced. There were no outs, runners on first and third and the Nationals were leading, 5-2. Zimmerman sent a liner back to the mound that Otero stabbed it and threw to first for a double play.

"I didn't snab it," said Otero, good-naturedly. "I calmly move my glove down and it entered my glove. It's a great feeling. I come in and it's first and third and no outs. You're just trying to minimize damage."

A crowd of 23,711 watched the Indians in their return from a 10-day, nine-game trip. Otero appreciated the noise they created in the ninth when the Tribe rallied.

"It's fun playing in front of these fans," Otero said. "You saw how raucous the atmosphere was in the ninth inning. They get into it. It was fun giving them a win. Hopefully they drive home safely and come back tomorrow and support us."

The Aug. 1 trade deadline is approaching and the Indians' needs are glaring.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Rajai Davis never planned to swing. When he watched the Nationals charge toward him in the bottom of the ninth, he reacted accordingly.

"When everybody's crashing," Davis said, "you slash."

Davis learned the technique in the minor leagues. He bunted the ball on Tuesday toward a newfound Bermuda Triangle on the left side of the infield grass and he sprinted to first to load the bases.

"We've got [catcher Chris Gimenez] over there at second," Davis said, "so you've got to do something."

No, Gimenez is not exactly fleet of foot. He overheard Davis' remark to reporters and he quipped: "That's messed up, man."

In an ideal scenario, a team doesn't have its backup catcher as its lead runner when attempting to scratch across the winning run in the ninth. The Indians' roster doesn't always allow for ideal scenarios.

The Aug. 1 trade deadline is approaching and the Indians' needs are glaring. Of course, many teams would envy the Tribe's place in the standings, as the team holds a 5 1/2-game lead in the American League Central. It's not as though the Indians need a few starting pitchers and a middle infield. There are imperfections, however.

Despite the team's public stance, the Indians could use an offensive boost from its backstops.

Gimenez entered the game after Lonnie Chisenhall supplied an RBI single while pinch-hitting for Roberto Perez in the seventh. Perez has one base hit in 21 at-bats this season. Gimenez is hitting .207 with a .528 OPS in 100 plate appearances. Yan Gomes, who couldn't unearth any sort of offensive rhythm when healthy, isn't expected to return from a separated shoulder for at least another month.

The catchers certainly have fashioned a valuable rapport with the Indians' starting pitchers -- the pulse of the club -- but the liability at the plate is magnified when there are other holes in the lineup.

Juan Uribe has represented one of those holes. The veteran -- who totes a .209 average and .598 OPS -- committed a pair of errors on Tuesday. Each gaffe contributed to a Nationals run.

"The two balls at third were tough plays," said manager Terry Francona, "but normally I think we make those plays."

Thanks to Jose Ramirez's versatility, the Indians could target an outfielder and slide Ramirez to the hot corner on a more regular basis. An outfielder who can hit lefties -- so Francona isn't resigned to start Erik Gonzalez or Abraham Almonte against southpaws -- would provide a lift. Francona still often shies away from starting Lonnie Chisenhall and Tyler Naquin against certain lefties.

The Indians' trade deadline decisions, possibilities

The bullpen isn't exempt from examination, either. Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Dan Otero and Jeff Manship comprise the back end of the Tribe's 'pen. After that, it's essentially a minefield.

Kyle Crockett is the latest reliever to take his turn as the team's token lefty. It's his second go-around this season, in fact. Since being recalled on the Tribe's road trip, Crockett has retired all 10 batters he has faced. In his first stint with the Indians, Crockett posted a 14.73 ERA over 11 appearances.

Manship served up a home run, double and single to the three batters he faced on Tuesday. Who knows where the Indians would be without Otero? The right-hander has logged a 1.13 ERA this season. He rescued Manship from further disaster and proceeded to toss two scoreless frames.

"Our starters have picked us up all year," Otero said. "Any time they don't have their best stuff or can't get through seven or eight innings like they usually do, it's nice to go in there and keep the other team at bay."

How the Indians' rotation came together

It should come as no surprise that the Indians have been linked to Yankees stalwarts Aroldis Chapman -- who was shipped to the Cubs on Monday -- and Andrew Miller. The club could benefit from multiple battle-tested reinforcements.

The roster deficiencies -- and every roster has them, to some degree -- were glaring on Tuesday. Fortunately for the Indians, some slashing and crashing secured a victory and overshadowed those shortcomings for a night.

Indians' deadline moves in past years

Here's a look at Cleveland Heights and Upper Arlington in cleveland.com's statewide Ohio Super 25 watch list.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland.com’s high school football coverage is expanding in 2016, and a highlight of that expansion will be a weekly statewide Ohio Super 25 ranking.

The preseason Ohio Super 25 countdown will begin Aug. 1, with a new team profiled each day through Aug. 25. To get you ready, we’re presenting 50 contenders for the Super 25 throughout July.

RELATED: Check out all the Ohio Super 25 candidates so far.

Each day through July 29 we will provide a brief look at two of the 50 contenders. Today’s teams: Cleveland Heights and Upper Arlington.

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS

2015 record: 4-6 (Division I, Region 1 qualifier).

About the Tigers: Cleveland Heights won four of five games to sneak into the playoffs, and the Tigers pushed St. Edward before a 20-12 loss. The eight-point setback proved to be the Eagles’ closest playoff win in their march to the state crown. At Cleveland Heights, second-year coach Mac Stephens will have a talented squad. Topping the list is four-star receiver Jaylen Harris, whose interested colleges include Ohio State, Michigan State and Alabama. The Tigers added former West Geauga quarterback Cameron Searight, whom Stephens said will allow former QB Reggie Harris to thrive on defense. Speaking of the defense, the Tigers added junior Tyreke Smith from the basketball team. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound defensive end will play football for the first time since seventh grade, but already received offers from Michigan State, Penn State and Iowa State this spring.

UPPER ARLINGTON

2015 record: 8-4 (Division I, Region 2 semifinalist).

About the Golden Bears: Coach Joe Cutler’s squad improved in Year 2 after a 5-5 run in 2014 and returned to the playoffs. He will rely heavily on an experienced defense that brings back eight starters. EJ Caldwell leads the way after helping the Golden Bears’ lacrosse team to a state title. The strong safety, who doubles as a running back, received special mention All-Central District last season. Senior linebacker Mason Myers also received special mention. Offensively, three starters are back: senior tackle Ben Furash, receiver Michael Smith and guard Slade Morley. The Bears finished last year in the middle of a loaded Ohio Capital Conference Central Division, won by Hilliard Davidson. That OCC division will be smaller this year with UA, Central Crossing, Dublin Coffman, Davidson, Marysville and Westland.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

A quick look at the differences in the four-game suspensions of the Cleveland Browns' Josh Gordon and the New England Patriots' Tom Brady.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If everything goes as planned, Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon will join New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in their season debut in the fifth game of the 2016 regular season. They will both be coming off of two very different four-game suspensions.

Gordon was just conditionally reinstated to the NFL only to be immediately suspended as part of his penance for violating the league's drug policy. But, he is allowed to work out with the team during training camp and play in the preseason. Also, he can hang out at the team facility during his four-game suspension.

Brady, on the other hand, is suspended for four games because of his role in Deflategate. He cannot work out with the team or hang around the team's facility during his suspension. He cannot even play catch with a teammate in his own backyard.

Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week on cleveland.com.

Mary Kay Cabot and Dan Labbe tell us which battles they'll be watching. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns open training camp this week and that means training camp battles. As usual, there are plenty to keep an eye on throughout camp and the preseason.

Mary Kay Cabot and I talked about which battles we're most interested in watching. We also talk about how those battles could shake out.

The full Browns squad reports to training camp on Thursday. The first open practice of camp is on Friday. We'll have full coverage at cleveland.com/browns.

Barrett talked about the mental hurdles he was going through last year at Big Ten Media Days. Watch video

CHICAGO -- J.T. Barrett's mind is one of his biggest weapons as Ohio State's quarterback, and last season that got the best of him.

Stuck in a quarterback battle with Cardale Jones that he initially lost and eventually won back, Barrett was bogged down by mental issues that he didn't face during a breakout 2014 season.

If you noticed that Barrett didn't look like his old self when he got into games at the beginning of last season, don't worry. Barrett noticed it too. He felt it. He was reverting back to things he had trained himself not to do.

"I was thinking too much and I don't play very good when I think a lot," Barrett said Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.

Don't think, react. That's nothing new. Most athletes will tell you they're playing better while operating in that mind space.

At some point from spring ball, through camp and into the regular season, Barrett lost that. It created a slight edge in the quarterback battle with Jones. Barrett could have won the job if not for that mental hurdle.

"He didn't take it," Urban Meyer said Tuesday, reiterating what he's said all along about the competition between Barrett and Jones.

It was a slim margin, but Jones had it. It wasn't until midway through the season that Barrett got it back with better play in the red zone and on third down.

Even back in the starting job, Barrett still wasn't close to as sharp as he was in 2014.

"I got to the point where I was thinking a lot, and it slowed my play down," Barrett said. "I like to play fast, reacting to certain things. I wasn't doing that. I was sitting there thinking and trying to break down every situation. I hindered myself in that way."

Entering a 2016 season with no quarterback competition and a clearly-defined role, Barrett said he's over that problem now. He and Meyer had a discussion about Barrett's mindset entering camp on the drive to the airport on Monday.

Quarterback and coach are on the same page, and Barrett feels he's in the right place mentally -- back to 2014 Barrett.

"The crazy thing about it, as a quarterback you have to train yourself to not care about certain things," Barrett said. "You get a play, and I care about only certain things that would make this play a bad play. Outside of that, throw the rest out. Stop caring about it, because those things don't matter. Those were things I had to learn, which I definitely did before, to not care about certain things. Then I went backwards."

Here are the lineups and the pitching matchup for Wednesday's matinee between the Indians and Nationals.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are the lineups and the pitching matchup for Wednesday's matinee between the Indians and Nationals.

Pitching matchup: RHP Carlos Carrasco (7-3, 2.31 ERA) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (13-1, 2.83 ERA)

Lineups

Indians

1. 1B Carlos Santana

2. 2B Jason Kipnis

3. SS Francisco Lindor

4. DH Mike Napoli

5. 3B Jose Ramirez

6. RF Lonnie Chisenhall

7. LF Rajai Davis

8. CF Tyler Naquin

9. C Chris Gimenez

Nationals

1. CF Trea Turner

2. RF Bryce Harper

3. 2B Daniel Murphy

4. C Wilson Ramos

5. DH Jayson Werth

6. 3B Anthony Rendon

7. 1B Ryan Zimmerman

8. SS Danny Espinosa

9. LF Ben Revere

The Indians and Nationals will conclude their quick two-game set at Progressive Field on Wednesday afternoon. Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat as the clubs square off.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians and Nationals will conclude their quick two-game set at Progressive Field on Wednesday afternoon. Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat as the clubs square off.

Game 99: Indians (57-41) vs. Nationals (58-42)

First pitch: 12:10 p.m.

Broadcast info: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100, Indians Radio Network

Pitching matchup: RHP Carlos Carrasco (7-3, 2.31 ERA) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (13-1, 2.83 ERA)

Fact du jour: With Tuesday's walk-off win, the Indians improved to 3-35 when trailing after eight innings.

We wrap up Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. Watch video

CHICAGO, Ill. -- For a guy who loves to recruit stars, Urban Meyer loves to talk about no names.

He has the Ohio State Buckeyes talking about no names a lot heading into the 2016 season.

The reason is Meyer's comparison to the 2014 OSU team that lost in week two and went on to win the National Championship. Meyer will rattle off the guys who became stars who, going into 2014, were far from it.

They hadn't done anything.

J.T. Barrett, Ezekiel Elliott, Eli Apple, Michael Thomas, Darron Lee ...

Nearly every Buckeye who emerged as a star in 2014 started that season as a virtual unknown.

Do you buy that comparison for this year?

The Buckeyes are replacing 16 starters and have more than half the players on the 85-man roster who have never played.

Are the stars, and mayeb that type of season, coming, and it's just that no one knows them yet?

Watch Ari, Bill and I discuss that to close Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, then tell us if you buy the comparison.

Our other stories from Big Ten Media Days:

Inside the mind of J.T. Barrett: The mental block that held back Ohio State's QB

Urban Meyer says there's no chance Bri'onte Dunn will return to Ohio State

Ohio State football did punish J.T. Barrett for drunken-driving charge with scholarship reduction

How did Ohio State recruit Torrance Gibson, who wanted to play QB, and make him a WR?

Dylan Thompson ruled academically ineligible for 2016, Ohio State gives scholarships to Joe Burger, Craig Fada

Terrelle Pryor's five-year ban from Ohio State is over

Our Facebook Live chat on Ohio State and the playoff 

James Franklin, Urban Meyer and negative recruiting accusations that never existed

The new exhibit is a down payment on a much larger investment – the $500-million Pro Football Hall of Fame Village in Canton.

CANTON, Ohio - Joe Namath stands before the packed locker room and offers this advice: Don't let the hard times define you. Don't let the naysayers defeat you. Don't let others hold you back.

"Sometimes, you just gotta go for it," says an energetic, 73-year-old Namath, in hologram form, the centerpiece of a new, high-tech exhibit at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

The exhibit, "A Game for Life," uses the stories of a half-dozen NFL greats to offer a message more powerful than any 60-minute game. Even the most cynical observers of the sport are bound to be touched by the personal testimonies of:

* Warren Moon, the Houston Oilers quarterback who was discouraged from playing quarterback because he is black;

* Curtis Martin, the New York Jets and New England Patriots running back who overcame a troubled childhood in Pittsburgh to achieve success on the field and beyond;

* And Jim Kelly, the Buffalo Bills quarterback who twice has battled cancer.

The new exhibit is a down payment, of sorts, on a much larger investment in the works - the $500-million Pro Football Hall of Fame Village that is taking shape along a stretch of I-77 about 60 miles south of Cleveland.

The museum on Tuesday offered members of the media a tour of what's new and what's to come in Canton. The tour took place alongside ongoing preparations for the enshrinement next weekend of eight new members to the Hall of Fame: Brett Favre, Marvin Harrison, Kevin Greene, Sandusky native Orlando Pace, Tony Dungy, Ken Stabler, Dick Stanfel, and Eddie DeBartolo Jr.

The Hall of Fame opened in 1963, 43 years after the founding of the National Football League in Canton. The league will celebrate its 100^th season in 2019 and 2020.

The upcoming centennial, in part, has motivated museum officials to dream big, said David Baker, the hall's charismatic president. The museum is hoping to host the NFL draft in 2019, and has set that year as the target to complete the ambitious 90-acre Hall of Fame Village development that officials have become fond of calling "the Disney World of football."

"If Walt Disney had the happiest place on earth, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has the most inspiring place on earth," Baker said.

Hall of Fame Village expanding

Among the development's many components:

* A rebuilding of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (formerly Fawcett Stadium). The stadium is about half finished and includes a permanent stage. It will be the site of the Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend festival -- a Tim McGraw concert Aug. 5, the induction ceremony Aug. 6, and the Hall of Fame Game between the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 7. Construction is to resume after the festival.

* The National Football and Youth Sports Complex, with up to 11 turf fields available for tournaments, camps and other events; three are finished and already in use.

* A 243-room, football-themed hotel. According to officials, the hotel - yet to be named - will be the only four-star hotel between Cleveland and Columbus.

* A Center for Excellence, with programs for coaches, officials and corporate executives.

* Legends Landing, a retirement/assisted living complex with a football theme.

* Main Street Hall of Fame, with 150,000 square feet of restaurants and retail space, including a Shula's Steak House and what Baker says will be the world's best sports bar ("if we can't have it, who can?")

* Hall of Fame Experience, with a half-dozen high-tech, interactive, sports-themed attractions, developed by Immersive Artistry, the California group that created "A Game for Life."

Construction on the hotel and the Center of Excellence will begin in September; completion dates are staggered from 2017 through 2019. Several dozen nearby homes will have to be purchased to make room for the development.

Project funding varied

Hall officials have identified a variety of funding sources for the project, including private, public and philanthropic. A tax-increment financing plan, approved late last year by Canton City Council and others, allows for the diversion of up to $200 million in new property tax revenue into the development.

Baker said the NFL has not been asked to contribute, though Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, contributed $11 million toward the rebuilding of the stadium.

Fans who plan to visit the Hall of Fame before the expansion is complete will find an active construction zone, plus several new attractions.

Namath headlines new exhibits

A new exhibit opened this week showcasing the Hunt/Casterline Pro Football Hall of Fame Card Collection, the most valuable in the world. The collection includes 300,000 cards, 700 of which are on display, and was acquired over six years by friends Dan Hunt, son of the late Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, and art dealer Robert Casterline. Among the collection: the highest-graded rookie cards of every Hall of Famer.

"This is the first time I've seen my cards outside my living room," said Casterline, who traveled to Canton on Tuesday.

The other new exhibit is "A Game for Life," the multi-sensory show narrated by Namath, aka "Broadway Joe," the former quarterback for the New York Jets. Namath uses a "magic chalkboard" to bring the stories of several other Hall of Famers to life.

Jack Giarraputo, chief creative officer for Immersive Artistry, and others came up with the locker-room concept after attending a Hall of Fame luncheon at the Super Bowl in San Francisco in February. "These former players told these stories, and we were really inspired. We thought, wouldn't it be great if everyone could hear this?"

He and his team spent the next several months videotaping players telling their tales. ("It was a little intimidating directing Jim Brown," conceded Giarraputo.)

The goal, he said, is to advance the theme that football is a metaphor for life.

"For those of us who played sports, some of the greatest lessons we learned in life were in the locker room," said Baker. Those lessons weren't always about the game, he said, but rather how to handle adversity or tackle a problem.

Kerri Wile, among the first to experience the new attraction at the hall on Tuesday, said she was moved by the experience.

"It was actually quite emotional," said Wile, of Steubenville. "My son is getting ready to play football in middle school. This is something I hope he takes with him - to persevere through hardship, and to keep trying no matter what you're going through. It's a great message, a life message."