The Indians have six weeks to settle on an Opening Day roster, but much of the work has already been completed. Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians have six weeks to settle on an Opening Day roster, but much of the work has already been completed.

Injuries can alter any roster planning, but the Indians might have as few as three open spots. The only question with the starting rotation is whether Danny Salazar's bleached hair is a better look than Trevor Bauer's blue Duke Blue Devils wig.

The unsolved outfield alignment hinges on the health of Michael Brantley. The Indians might not find the final pieces to that puzzle for a few weeks. The bullpen is mostly settled, too, with Boone Logan in the fold as the club's second southpaw.

So, what's left? Let's take a look.

Outfield

Well, at least right field is settled. Lonnie Chisenhall and Brandon Guyer figure to share time, based on the handedness of the opposing pitcher, though both players could receive some additional playing time outside of their platoon. Guyer posted a .336/.464/.557 slash line against lefties last season.

Center field belongs, somewhat, to Tyler Naquin, who finished third in the balloting for American League Rookie of the Year. Manager Terry Francona shielded Naquin a bit from left-handed pitching last year. Will that continue in Naquin's sophomore season? If so, Abraham Almonte or Austin Jackson could share time with Naquin in center.

Then again, Almonte and Jackson might be needed in left if Brantley's shoulder barks. The Indians won't have a strong grasp of Brantley's outlook until he plays -- or can't play -- in some spring training games.

If Brantley is sidelined into the regular season, that could also create an opening for Yandy Diaz. The Cuba native has hit at every step of his minor-league journey. Where he fits best defensively remains a mystery, but he could factor into the mix in left field.

Bullpen

This is a free-for-all, a 12-man royal rumble with one -- and potentially two -- victors emerging toward the end of camp.

There are old-timers joining the fray in Steve Delabar and Chris Narveson. There are newcomers in Nick Goody, Carlos Frias, Hoby Milner and James Russell. There are young horses in Perci Garner, Joe Colon, Shawn Armstrong, Josh Martin, Tyler Olson and Kyle Crockett.

Cody Allen, Andrew Miller, Bryan Shaw, Dan Otero, Logan and Zach McAllister have already secured jobs. That leaves one vacancy, unless Francona opts to carry an eight-man bullpen.

Utility

This might not be as clear-cut as it would appear. The heavyweight -- OK, lightweight -- bout between Michael Martinez (the answer to a heck of a trivia question asking who made the final out of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series) and Erik Gonzalez might include a wrinkle.

Jose Ramirez is entrenched as the club's third baseman, but he'll also see time at shortstop during spring training. In theory, he could serve as the team's backup infielder, which would eliminate the need for a prototype utility guy.

Of course, the Indians would still need third base covered if Ramirez is playing middle infield.

Enter Diaz or Giovanny Urshela.

This is a multi-layered decision that could depend on Brantley's health and the composition of the outfield. Diaz might be needed there, too. Urshela was destined to start at third base for the Tribe last year before the club lured veteran Juan Uribe to Goodyear.

If it's just Martinez dueling with Gonzalez, the competition becomes simpler to gauge.

Whether Kluber pitches on April 3 in Texas or a few days later will depend on the right-hander's progress over the next six weeks. Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Terry Francona tabbed Corey Kluber as the Indians' Opening Day starter during the first week of March last year.

Cleveland's manager might delay the announcement this spring. Whether Kluber pitches on April 3 in Texas or a few days later will depend on the right-hander's progress over the next six weeks.

The Indians asked a lot out of their ace in 2016. Kluber logged 215 innings during the regular season and another 34 1/3 frames in the playoffs. He made three postseason starts on short rest.

So, the club is "slowing him down a little" during spring training, Francona said Sunday.

"If he's not ready for Game 1, we can adjust," Francona said. "We're more than willing to, because there's a lot at stake over the course of the year.

"We know Opening Day is a big deal, but we want him to position himself where he's ready to log as many innings as we need."

Kluber kept busy on Sunday, as he completed some leg stretches on an exercise machine, tossed a bullpen session and did some running on a soggy stretch of grass behind the Indians' complex.

He won't pitch in a spring game until March 6, a little more than a week after the Indians' Cactus League opener. Josh Tomlin, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen are also adhering to more deliberate throwing programs.

"They'll throw bullpens, sim games, things like that," Francona said.

Kluber has started on Opening Day for the Tribe each of the last two years. If he continues the trend this season, he'll join Justin Masterson, CC Sabathia, Bartolo Colon and Dennis Martinez as the only pitchers in the last 40 years to start three straight openers.

Who'll stop the rain? For the second straight day, Northeast Ohio weather bested the Arizona temperament. Intermittent showers washed away pitchers fielding practice. A little before noon, the skies cleared some and the Indians took ground balls and did some hitting and pitching.

Kluber, Shaw, Allen, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Cody Anderson all threw bullpen sessions, with a horde of coaches watching.

In the spotlight: ESPN placed its SportsCenter set outside of the Indians' complex on Sunday morning. The station will broadcast from Goodyear on Monday as well.

Endurance test: For the second straight year, the Indians will stretch out reliever Zach McAllister to about three innings during spring training. McAllister started a pair of bullpen games last season. He hasn't been a rotation regular since 2014.

The Cavs are trying to use a trade exception that expires Monday and also continue to explore the very slight possibility of acquiring Carmelo Anthony by Thursday's deadline.

NEW ORLEANS -- The Cavs are trying to use a trade exception that expires Monday and also continue to explore the very slight possibility of acquiring Carmelo Anthony by Thursday's deadline.

The trade exception, left over from trading Anderson Varejao last season, is worth about $4.4 million. Anthony is a 12-time All-Star with a $24.6 million salary. So obviously one move would not be related to the other, and the way, way outside shot (we're talking like, say a 93-footer) of acquiring Anthony in a deadline deal with the New York Knicks would be the much bigger transaction of the two. But it's also the least likely.

Cleveland actually has two exceptions that expire Monday, the $4.4 million hole from the Varejao deal and another worth $947,000 from trading Jared Cunningham last season.

The Cavs have discussed trading for Utah point guard Shelvin Mack, who makes $2.4 million this season and is averaging 7.3 points and 2.8 assists, among others. They need a backup point guard, not as much for the postseason but certainly for March, as they attempt to get All-Star starters LeBron James and Kyrie Irving some rest.

As for Anthony, there are myriad complications and the Cavs' expectations are basement-level low. But they haven't quite ruled him out yet.

Anthony holds a no-trade clause and it's unclear he would waive it (he has said he wants to stay in New York).  Also, his salary is so high the Cavs would need to part with several roster players and likely find a third team. They have said privately they do not intend to trade the injured Kevin Love to the Knicks for Anthony.

But the Knicks -- and more to the point, team president Phil Jackson -- may be so desperate to move him by Thursday (as an aside, the Cavs and Knicks play each other that night in Cleveland), there is a feeling inside the league that they would way offers for lesser players from teams, including potentially the Cavs.

"This wasn't one of those offseasons where you wanted to get away from baseball," Kipnis said. "Everyone here was thinking about Game 7 and thinking about what happened during the whole offseason and when we can start back up. I don't think anybody really needed that mental break because it was that fun of a run and guys just wanted to get started again." Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Throughout the week, Terry Francona scribbled down ideas like an aspiring screenplay writer in a trendy coffee shop.

The rapid motion of his eraser made words vanish in an instant. He'd add a few words. He'd subtract a sentence. Jot down a new thought. Ax an old one. Cut. Paste. Rinse. Repeat.

The task of composing the perfect message for his annual spring training speech stressed him out. And, really, he never needed to devote so much energy to the assignment in the first place.

"I saw him rehearsing in the mirror before," quipped Jason Kipnis. "He knows the points that he wants to get across and I think with most guys returning here, we even know which points he wants to get across.

"And not in a bad way. It was like, 'Hey, we know. Let's get this thing going.' It wasn't like we're too good for it, by any means. It was, 'We're right there with you. Let's get back to work right now.'"

Francona, the reigning American League Manager of the Year, covets the responsibility, even though he returns a familiar roster that reached the World Series. On a dreary Sunday morning, he preached to the players that they should be proud of their 2016 finish, but turn the page and instead fixate on how they can be the ones forming the dog pile on the infield at the end of the season.

"I owe it to them," Francona said. "It's how I feel. It's an honor to stand in front of them and I always feel that way. I don't take it lightly. That's our meeting where we talk about what we want to be as a team."

Related: This time, the Indians actually have 'unfinished business'

The wants and desires are simple. The Indians will take a repeat of 2016, just with a twist on the grand finale.

That wouldn't seem too far-fetched for a team that lost a pair of starting pitchers, its left fielder and its catcher to injuries along the journey to Game 7 of the Fall Classic, especially when the club upgraded its lineup and its bullpen during an abbreviated winter. Ah, but sports rarely follow the standard script. Last year's voyage has little bearing on what will transpire in 2017.

"If they said, 'Hey, you went to the World Series last year, you get five extra wins' -- we'd take them," Francona said. "But that's not how it's going to be."

Instead, the Indians will have to prove themselves again, with loftier expectations, more national attention and greater disappointment lurking if it doesn't materialize.

"[The front office has] invested in us. They believe in us," Kipnis said. "They believe that this is their window. They went out and made the right moves. They left is up to us, which is what, as a player, you want it to be."

This isn't akin to the 2015 Indians gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated. The expectations stem from actual accomplishment, not just a shot-in-the-dark prognostication. After all, there's an American League Champions banner resting above the entrance to the Indians' spring training facility.

The manager can tweak his speech as often as he wants. The players know the stakes.

"This wasn't one of those offseasons where you wanted to get away from baseball," Kipnis said. "Everyone here was thinking about Game 7 and thinking about what happened during the whole offseason and when we can start back up. I don't think anybody really needed that mental break because it was that fun of a run and guys just wanted to get started again."

Gaoteote is a five-star prospect rated the No. 1 outside linebacker in the Class of 2018.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State laid the groundwork for establishing a pipeline at Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman with its 2017 recruiting class, signing quarterback Tate Martell and defensive tackle Haskell Garrett.

The Buckeyes were hoping that pipeline would grow to include 2018 five-star linebacker Palaie Gaoteote. It won't.

Gaoteote announced on Sunday that he's committing to USC. He posted the news on his public Twitter account.

FIGHT ON[?] pic.twitter.com/KNKeQBH66T

-- PALAIE GAOTEOTE IV (@ie_2018) February 19, 2017

He chose the Trojans over offers from Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame and just about every other school you can think of. That's the kind of offer list you get when you're the No. 14 player in the country and the nation's top outside linebacker in the 247Sports composite ratings.

Ohio State currently has three players committed for 2018: five-star quarterback Emory Jones, five-star safety Jaiden Woodbey and four-star running back Brian Snead.

Kyle Thomas scored early in the third period as the Cleveland Monsters defeated the Iowa Wild, 2-0, Sunday afternoon in Iowa.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Winger Kyle Thomas scored his first career AHL goal to propel the Cleveland Monsters past the Iowa Wild, 2-0, Sunday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Monsters (24-20-2-4) snapped a three-game skid. They improved to 1-2-0-0 on a seven-game trip.

Monsters goalie Anton Forsberg made 28 saves in posting his second shutout of the season.

At 3:44 of the third period, Thomas cashed a sharp-angle feed from defenseman John Ramage to make it 1-0. Center T.J. Tynan scored an empty netter at 19:22.

In a physical first period, the Monsters led in shots, 10-6. Both clubs were 0-for-1 on the power play.

The Wild held a 14-9 advantage in shots in the second. Both clubs had eight shots in the third.

The Monsters and Wild next play Monday night in Iowa.

The Akron Zips are the best team in the conference, but three games in three nights is a great equalizer. So look for the Zips to be challanged in the upcoming MAC Tournament.

CLEVELAND,Ohio -- The first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament starts on March 6 at home sites. And the current standings are in their usual state of tie-breaking disarray.

The league still has four games of tiebreaker flux to work through. But don't look at the standings to see which teams have the best chance to topple Akron (22-4, 12-2), which is a near lock to win its second straight MAC regular-season title. Look on the court.

The Zips have been the cream of the league all season and will be the team to beat in the tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Until then there are sure to be changes. But right now here are the teams to watch down the stretch.

The Favorite

• Akron (22-5,12-2) - The likely MAC Player of the Year in 6-10 senior Isaiah Johnson (16.7 points), strong perimeter shooting at every other position (10 3-pointers a game) and a still improving defense have offset poor free throw shooting the bulk of the season.

• Buffalo (15-12, 9-5) - Don't mind the record, the defending two-time MAC Tournament champs are currently on a roll. UB has won six straight games as multi-purpose 6-6 senior swingman Blake Hamilton (17.0 ppg, 4.1 apg, 6.5 rpg) has become the catalyst.

• Ohio University (17-8, 9-5) - With defending MAC POY Antonio Campbell (knee) out for the season OU stands behind guard Jaaron Simmons (14.8 ppg, 6.9 apg), and Freshman of the Year candidate Jason Carter (8.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg), winning four of their last five.

• Western Michigan (11-15, 7-7) - Elite junior guard Thomas Wilder (19.1 ppg) has nursed a young team around to the point the Broncos have won four straight. WMU is the complete package with size to go along with its perimeter firepower.

• Ball State (17-10, 8-6) - No stars, but collectively BSU has eight players getting 18 minutes or more and nine more seven points a game for the deepest bench in the league. The No. 2 scoring team in the MAC and fourth best field goal percentage defense.

• Central Michigan (16-11, 6-8) - CMU has the top scorer in the nation, Marcus Keene (29.8 ppg), and with guard Braylon Rayson (20.7 ppg) the highest scoring backcourt in the league. But defense and turnovers are a major hindrance to consistent success.

• Kent State (15-12, 7-7) - KSU has the MAC's top non-conference win at Texas and top MAC win at Akron. And three OT home losses. Even with a starting backcourt that doesn't average 10-points a game, Kent's still capable behind Jimmy Hall (18.0 ppg).

• Toledo (14-13, 7-7) - The Rockets are the top shooting team (50 percent) in the league overall and No. 2 in 3-point shooting behind senior guard Jon-Jon Williams (20 ppg). It's the defense (10th in the MAC) that will stall UT in the end.

Thomas is a three-star running back from Dayton Dunbar who recently received offers from Ohio State, Alabama and a slew of other programs.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Tavion Thomas' hands were sweating. He was so nervous that he forgot how to spell his own brother's name.

Nick Saban was just trying to make some small talk with the newest prospect to receive a scholarship offer from Alabama.

"He was like, 'What's your brother's name? Spell it.' I couldn't spell it. It was really crazy," Thomas recalled in a conversation with cleveland.com on Sunday evening.

His conversation with Saban happened on Thursday, right in the middle of what's been a life-changing couple of days for Ohio's hottest 2018 high school football prospect. On the same day he got the offer from Alabama, he also received 10 text messages from Ohio State with different members of the Buckeyes' staff introducing themselves. 

The press was on. Not long after getting the offer from Alabama, Thomas was on the phone with Urban Meyer. Two days later, while on a visit with the Buckeyes, he received an offer from Ohio State.

Things happen quickly for Ohio prospects once Alabama decides to get involved.

What makes Thomas' story a little crazy is that he wasn't a household name before Ohio State and Alabama offered. He's not like in-state blue-chippers Jaelen Gill and Jackson Carman, two 2018 players Ohio State has been on for awhile. The Dayton Dunbar running back is a three-star prospect in the 247Sports' composite ratings, the No. 487 player in the country.

On paper, Thomas is the kind of player Ohio State likes to slow play, see how he develops in his senior season and then make a late push to get him in the class if there's room. Meyer loves those kind of players. He likes seeing that process play out for aspiring in-state Buckeyes.

When Alabama, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Arizona State and others all come calling within the span of a month, Thomas' national profile changes and he's no longer a prospect Ohio State can afford to wait on.

He's up to 19 offers now, a whirlwind that started with an offer from Wisconsin on Jan. 19.

"It's overwhelming, but I try not to think about it," Thomas said. "I try to focus on next season, and my team right now ... I'm happy, don't get me wrong, it's really crazy."

And it's really difficult to not make a life-altering decision in the moment.

Truly truly blessed to receive my 18 offer from thee University of Ohio State#GoBuckeyes really amazing coaches [?] @CoachTonyAlford pic.twitter.com/Nd82YE8r0W

-- lackofworries[?] [?] (@tavionthomas937) February 18, 2017

Thomas was never expecting anything like this, at least not yet. So when you're on the phone with Saban, or in Meyer's posh office trying on national championship rings, it's hard to not make a snap decision.

"When I got that 'Bama offer I was ready to, ya know ... but that's why I want to wait," Thomas said. "To me, I don't care about the big name, I'm trying to go to the school that's best for me."

That puts the Buckeyes in a good spot.

Thomas said he loved his visit with Ohio State, that the Buckeyes struck a balance between football and life beyond the game in a way other school's haven't done yet. That's been a strong selling point for Ohio State lately. Members of the incoming 2017 class have said how impressive the "Real Life Wednesday" program is when being recruited by the Buckeyes.

"Ohio State kept it real," Thomas said. "We talked about school, and it's more than four years, it's about the next 40 years ... It was really great. That's why Ohio State is gonna be at the top of my list.

"They said I remind them of Carlos Hyde. They don't have those big backs. They said I'm the biggest back they're recruiting. They really love my size and my speed. But we mainly talked about school, a real deep conversation about life."

The Buckeyes have one running back committed already for 2018 in four-star Florida prospect Brian Snead, but they'll want at least two with depth concerns at that position. Thomas is on a short list of potential additions that includes Gill (who's more of an H-back/slot guy than pure running back), five-star prospect Zamir White and others.

Thomas said he's visiting Alabama next week, and he'll probably love that too. Maybe after seeing the two best programs on his offer list, he'll be ready to make a decision. But don't count on it.

Thomas put himself in this position by being a go-getter, by seeking out coaches and scouts across the country on Twitter and sending film of an intriguing 6-foot-2, 225-pound running back prospect who looks to have a lot of upside.

He's now seeing the benefits. So Thomas will enjoy it while looking to make the right decision.

"I'm kind of speechless," Thomas said. "It's just really a blessing. I never thought I would have any of these offers. At the beginning of the (2016) season, I didn't have any offers, then I had one. I've been reaching out to coaches and my whole life changed."

Brush, Clearview and Lutheran East also joined this week’s rankings of the Cleveland area’s best boys basketball teams.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A week is left in the regular season of the high school boys basketball season, which means one Top 25 is remaining.

St. Ignatius is on top, while Villa Angela-St. Joseph makes a leap with its road win at St. Vincent-St. Mary. Brush, Clearview and Lutheran East also join the cleveland.com boys basketball rankings. The Arcs and Clippers wrapped up conference titles last week.

Read how the area stacks up.

1. St. Ignatius (15-5)

Where they stand: A one-point loss in overtime to the defending Division I state champions on the road is not enough to bump the Wildcats from the top spot.

Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat Massillon Washington 82-55 on Feb. 17, lost to Westerville South 84-83 in OT on Feb. 18.

This week: Tuesday vs. No. 9 Benedictine, Friday vs. Kenston.

2. St. Vincent-St. Mary (15-5)

Where they stand: One night, the Fighting Irish fall to Villa Angela-St. Joseph on Will Butler’s buzzer-beater. Two nights later, they shock state-ranked Massillon Jackson on a last-second shot by Jayvon Graves. Difficult to move STVM after a split with two of the state’s best in Divisions I and III.

Last week: Ranked No. 2, beat Walsh Jesuit 72-43 on Feb. 14, lost to VASJ 57-56 on Feb. 15, beat Massillon Jackson 74-72 on Feb. 17.

This week: Tuesday vs. North Canton Hoover, Friday vs. Canton McKinley.

3. St. Edward (15-5)

Where they stand: Perhaps the most encouraging part of St. Edward’s road win Saturday is the production it got from freshmen Grant Huffman and Devontae Blanton. Huffman has been a steady force all season, but Blanton — back from a knee injury — had nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Last week: Ranked No. 3, beat Cleveland JFK 82-26 on Feb. 17, beat Central Catholic 65-60 on Feb. 18.

This week: Tuesday vs. East English Village Prep, Saturday at Euclid.

4. Lorain (18-2)

Where they stand: The Titans have been the area’s most consistent programs with their only setbacks coming against North Canton Hoover and St. Edward.

Last week: Ranked No. 4, beat Bedford 74-34 on Feb. 17, beat North Ridgeville 78-62 on Feb. 18.

This week: Tuesday vs. No. 15 Central Catholic, Friday vs. No. 20 Cleveland Heights.

5. Archbishop Hoban (18-2)

Where they stand: With the North Coast League Blue Division sealed, Hoban can tune up for the Division I Copley District. The Knights are the top seed.

Last week: Ranked No. 5, beat Canton Central Catholic 55-46, beat Padua 62-53 on Friday.

This week: Tuesday vs. Youngstown Ursuline, Friday at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin.

6. Garfield Heights (16-4)

Where they stand: The Bulldogs are riding a four-game win streak that includes double-digit wins at Medina, against Division IV power Lutheran East and MLK, one of the Senate League’s top teams this season.

Last week: Ranked No. 6, beat MLK 91-62 on Feb. 14.

This week: Tuesday vs. Akron North, Friday vs. North Canton Hoover.

7. Copley (20-0)

Where they stand: The Indians will put their perfect record on the line against a one-loss Wooster squad that recently climbed up The Associated Press state poll.

Last week: Ranked No. 7, beat Aurora 102-57 on Feb. 14, beat Kent Roosevelt 89-38 on Feb. 17.

This week: Tuesday vs. Wooster, Friday at Green.

8. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (15-5)

Where they stand: Is VASJ the hottest team in Cleveland? They are riding a six-game win streak, capped by Wednesday’s win at STVM.

Last week: Ranked No. 12, beat STVM 57-56 on Feb. 15, beat Trinity 69-42 on Feb. 17.

This week: Friday at Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas, Saturday at Warren JFK.

9. Benedictine (16-4)

Where they stand: The Bengals won’t cut down the nets for an NCL title, but they still can do it at Stow. Benedictine will be the top seed there and enters the final week of the regular season with a four-game win streak.

Last week: Ranked No. 10, beat Lake Catholic 77-55 on Feb. 17.

This week: Tuesday at No. 1 St. Ignatius, Friday vs. Walsh Jesuit.

10. Maple Heights (16-3)

Where they stand: Friday’s win at Shaw might have allowed the Maple Heights coaching staff to catch its collective breath. The previous three games included comebacks from double-digit deficits.

Last week: Ranked No. 11, beat Lutheran East 92-83 in OT on Feb. 14, beat Shaw 78-47 on Feb. 17.

This week: Tuesday at Warren Harding, Wednesday at Warrensville Heights, Friday vs. Bedford.

11. Elyria (16-4)

Where they stand: Four teams — the Pioneers, Mentor, Medina and Brunswick — are separated by a game in the Greater Cleveland Conference. Elyria controls its destiny for a share and will be the No. 2 seed at the Division I Elyria Catholic District behind Lorain.

Last week: Ranked No. 8, beat Strongsville 78-75 on Feb. 14, lost to Mentor 61-49 on Feb. 17.

This week: Tuesday vs. Shaker Heights, Friday at No. 12 Solon.

12. Solon (15-6)

Where they stand: The Comets can spoil the GCC title picture when they play host to Elyria in Friday’s regular-season finale. From there, they await Willoughby South or Riverside as the top seed in the Division I Euclid District.

Last week: Ranked No. 15, beat Strongsville 93-63 on Feb. 17.

This week: Friday vs. No. 11 Elyria.

13. Cornerstone Christian (16-5)

Where they stand: The Patriots slip a few spots this week for a Jan. 28 loss vs. Lincoln West, which had been disputed as a JV game.

Last week: Ranked No. 9, beat Ashtabula Edgewood 83-60 on Feb. 14.

This week: Monday at No. 14 Mentor.

14. Mentor (14-5)

Where they stand: The Cardinals salvaged a split of their two games against Elyria, and it could net them at least a share of the GCC. A busy week serves as an appetizer before district play.

Last week: Ranked No. 16, beat Elyria 61-49 on Feb. 17.

This week: Monday vs. No. 13 Cornerstone Christian, Friday at No. 18 Medina, vs. SPIRE Institute.

15. Central Catholic (13-7)

Where they stand: Senior forward Miryne Thomas flirted with another double-double Saturday in a five-point home loss to No. 3 St. Edward. Another tough test awaits Tuesday for the No. 3 seed at the Division II Stow District.

Last week: Ranked No. 13, beat Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas 85-62 on Feb. 17, lost to St. Edward 65-60 on Feb. 18.

This week: Tuesday at No. 4 Lorain, Friday vs. Youngstown Valley Christian.

16. Holy Name (17-3)

Where they stand: The Green Wave bounced back from their setback at Central Catholic by clinching a share of the Great Lakes Conference with Elyria Catholic.

Last week: Ranked No. 14, beat Normandy 90-66 on Feb. 17.

This week: Tuesday vs. Lake Catholic, Friday vs. Rhodes.

17. Ellet (18-3)

Where they stand: The Orangemen won the Akron City Series postseason championship. Like STVM, they now get their shot at Massillon Jackson in a Summitt County vs. Stark County matchup.

Last week: Ranked No. 17, beat Buchtel 61-44 on Feb. 17, beat Green 46-31 on Feb. 18.

This week: Friday vs. Massillon Jackson.

18. Medina (15-6)

Where they stand: The Bees have suffered a three-game skid. However, they still are not out of the GCC title picture before taking to the Division I Copley District.

Last week: Ranked No. 19, lost to Shaker Heights 72-66 on Feb. 17.

This week: Friday vs. No. 14 Mentor.

19. Brunswick (15-6)

Where they stand: The Blue Devils have won eight of nine. That one loss came against Medina, which keeps them from overtaking the Bees.

Last week: Ranked No. 20, beat Euclid 66-59 on Feb. 17.

This week: Friday at Shaker Heights.

20. Cleveland Heights (11-8)

Where they stand: The Tigers are reeling with a three-game losing streak. The last two came at the buzzer vs. Maple Heights and Warrensville Heights.

Last week: Ranked No. 18, lost to Warrensville Heights 48-46 on Feb. 17.

This week: Tuesday at Bedford, Friday at No. 4 Lorain.

21. Wadsworth (15-5)

Where they stand: The Grizzlies are the hottest team in the Suburban League’s National Division with 10 wins in their last 11. That one loss came to unbeaten Copley.

Last week: Ranked No. 22, beat Brecksville 53-39 on Feb. 14, beat Hudson 57-48 on Feb. 17.

This week: Tuesday at Kent Roosevelt, Friday at Nordonia.

22. Stow (15-4)

Where they stand: The Bulldogs control their destiny in the National Division with a half-game lead on Wadsworth while needing a win Friday at North Royalton to seal it.

Last week: Ranked No. 23, beat Cuyahoga Falls 68-54 on Feb. 14, beat Brecksville 51-39 on Feb. 17.

This week: Friday at North Royalton, Saturday at Green.

23. Brush (18-3)

Where they stand: A second win this season against Madison sealed the Arcs’ Western Reserve Conference title Friday at home. They have won six straight.

Last week: Not ranked, beat Eastlake North 71-32 on Feb. 14, beat Madison 63-55 on Feb. 17.

This week: Tuesday at Gilmour.

24. Clearview (17-3)

Where they stand: John Szalay’s Clippers reach the Top 25 for the first time this season after an overtime win against Oberlin to seal the Patriot Athletic Conference Stripes Division title. They have won eight straight, including big ones this month against Vermilion, PAC Stars champ Buckeye and Oberlin. Deuce Martin had 33 points in the title clincher Friday.

Last week: Not ranked, beat Buckeye 76-67 on Feb. 14, beat Oberlin 75-63 in OT on Feb. 17.

This week: Tuesday vs. Elyria Catholic.

25. Lutheran East (13-9)

Where they stand: The Falcons’ brutal schedule, coupled with their win against Senate League champion East Tech, has them back at No. 25. They are off until opening the Orwell Grand Valley District as its top seed in Division IV.

Last week: Not ranked, lost to Maple Heights 92-83 in OT on Feb. 14, beat East Tech 67-61 on Feb. 17.

This week: Idle.

DROPPED OUT

Elyria Catholic (15-6, was No. 21), East Tech (16-6, was No. 24), Brecksville (14-6, was No. 25).

IN CONTENTION

Avon (15-5), Avon Lake (15-6), Oberlin (15-5), Woodridge (20-1).

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.

In the latest Takes by The Lake podcast, CBSSports.com NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler joins Doug Lesmerises and Zack Meisel to talk everything about the Browns and what they could and should do in the 2017 NFL Draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Is Myles Garrett a franchise changing defensive end? Is he even as good as Joey Bosa, the Ohio State All-American and No. 3 pick a year ago who went on to be the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?

And if Garrett isn't the choice for the Cleveland Browns with the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, which quarterback might they fall in love with?

In this episode of Takes by the Lake, our cleveland.com sports podcast, Zack Meisel and I spent the entire show talking with CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler. He has a quarterback in mind that he thinks could catch the eye of the Browns at the NFL Combine, and it might not be the prospect you expect.

But Brugler, a Warren, Ohio, native and one of the best draft analysts around, also likes Jimmy Garoppolo. So what would he be willing to give up for him?

You can find Brugler on Twitter @dpbrugler and you can find his mock drafts each week at CBSSports.com. But rarely will you hear any draft analyst go so in-depth on a single team. 

From Garrett to Garoppolo, Sashi Brown to the quarterback options, we talked about every angle of the Browns future with Brugler. If you haven't listened to Takes by The Lake before, jump in here. It's a podcast covering everything in Cleveland sports and comes out twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. You can find it here on cleveland.com or subscribe on iTunes or SoundCloud.

The NFL Combine begins next week, and cleveland.com will be there to cover the college players who will help shape the future of the Browns. This is a great preview from someone who studies the draft year-round.

Miss the last Takes by The Lake? We covered the Kevin Love injury, fought over proposed rule changes for Major League Baseball extra innings and talked with cleveland.com news columnist Mark Naymik about his Browns boycott and what might ever make him come around on the city's football franchise.

In Prepare for List off, Bud Shaw and Doug Lesmerises agreed on two of the top three spots, but the debate over the third spot got heated. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Francisco Lindor and Andrew Miller we agree on. But when it comes to ranking the other Cleveland Indian who should make the list of the top three players on this team, I'm so right this time, Bud had to start yelling from the get-go to plead his losing case.

Paul Hoynes previously ranked the Indians roster from No. 40 to No. 1, and that's a full list you need to read right now if you haven't. His list differed from the three that Bud Shaw and I offered in our latest Prepare for List Off.

Maybe my list isn't as good as Hoynes' list.

But it's better than Bud's list.

Be sure to read everything on the Indians this week from Zack Meisel, who's currently at spring training for us. And make sure you watch this video and then vote for the best top three list.

Because Bud is wrong.

Cleveland sports fans wonder about what comes next after the Browns overhaul, Nick Swisher's retirement announcement and Kyrie Irving's future as The Science Guy.

Several format changes could help restore the competitiveness or at least the novelty to the NBA All-Star Game. So could more money for the players. So could more pride.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The NBA All-Star Game is broken. The way to fix it is to change the format and introduce nationalism, grudges, the elements, defense or more money.

Almost anything will improve that 192-182 waste of an evening that was foisted on the national basketball audience Sunday night by TNT. Fans knew it wasn't exactly a competition, but they expected more than what they got. The winners (the West, if anybody cares) came up two dunks short of the 196 points it scored last year.

Mr. February and the local guy

It was a playground game in which no one even tried to go beyond the self-aggrandizement of ridiculously easy scoring and an emphasis on the individual that made a travesty of the fiction that the best players in the world were playing actual basketball

Fans almost saw Russell Westbrook, "Mr. February,"  win his third straight All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award with 41 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Instead the MVP was Anthony Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans' lone representative and thus the favorite son in the game played there, who had 52 points.

It smashed Wilt Chamberlain's 55-year-old record of 42.

No fourth letter of the alphabet

The East put up 137 shots, 59 of them 3-pointers and made 56.9 percent overall. The West put up 143 shots, 63 of them triples, and made 58.7 percent. The teams tried 122 threes.

There were eight (8) free throws tried and two (2) blocked shots. No one took a charge. Don't be ridiculous.

Assists were off the charts, which is easy to do when you have guys playing defense the way El Cordobes and Manolete played the bull ring.

I counted 36 dunks, seven by Giannis Antetokounmpo, hereafter referred to as Gianni A., six by Davis, five by LeBron James. But it might have been 46, as if anybody cared.

All the suspects were out there, playing no "D" at all.

The West only missed 200 points because too many guys missed showboat dunks.

Dunk contest tedium

At that, any number of dunks were better than the sorry exhibition of stunt-dunking, leap-froggers of teammates in the Saturday night slam dunk contest.

Please. Stop. This.

At the very least, put the 3-point shootout as the final event on Saturday. In the 3-point era, it's got the juice, not dunks.

The funniest moment in the alleged game itself was when Golden State's Steph Curry simply lay down in the lane when confronted with a four-on-himself fast break, rather than get posterized.

How to fix this mess?

You make the call:

1. Make it USA vs. the World. Players from 41 countries were on opening night rosters in the NBA this season. Nationalism, border walls and nativism are big these days. Pander to it. Nothing like a little faux patriotism to perk up a tired event.

2. Have a player draft. It wouldn't guarantee that Kevin Durant and Westbrook would not be on the same team, but at least their potential Hatfield vs. McCoy thing would not be prevented strictly by geography.

3. Play it outside in a warm weather city in a football stadium. Why should hockey be the only winter sport that goes back to its outdoor roots?

4. No more alternating possessions. The old schoolyard rule of "Make it, Take it" applies. A team keeps the ball as long as it keeps scoring. Force-feed defense to the players.

5. Double the payoff to $100,000 per player for winners, $50,000 for losers.

6. If all this fails, dump this bad joke of a game.

Someone please compete

It might simply come down, as TNT analyst Reggie Miller said, "to what's in you," meaning the desire to compete.

Twenty years ago, the All-Star Game was played at what was then called Gund Arena.

Michael Jordan stood behind the foul circle, seemingly idly chatting with Sacramento's Mitch Richmond as East teammate Grant Hill tried a free throw.

Suddenly, Jordan burst past the startled, ineffectually reaching Richmond, flew down the lane, and dunked Hill's miss.

Jordan laughed uproariously as he ran back on defense.

The final score was 132-120, in favor of the East.

Those were the days.

Unbeaten Gonzaga remains atop the Associated Press Top 25 men's basketball poll, announced Monday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Gonzaga remains No. 1 in the weekly release of the Associated Press Top 25 men's basketball poll announced Monday, and at this point in the season there is little debate about it as the only undefeated Division I team in the nation.

The Bulldogs (28-0) received 59 of 65 first place votes and 1,618 points with two weeks remaining in the regular season, and pointing toward NCAA Tournament play.

Villanova, the defending NCAA national champion, remains No. 2 with five first-place votes and 1,556 points. And Kansas stays at No. 3 with the last first-place vote and 1,503 points.

The shift in the top five has Arizona moving up to No. 4 and UCLA up to No. 5 rounding out the top five. Baylor, No. 4 last week, fell nine spots to No. 9 after losing at home to Kansas.

New this week to the Top 25 is No. 25 Wichita State over ousted South Carolina. Amazingly, even after losing three straight, Virginia remains in the Top 25 and only dropped four spots to No. 18.

Top 25 update: It was not long ago when almost every team in the Top 25 failed to go two weeks straight without at least one loss. Things are starting to settle in now as 11 teams on the list have since gone a fortnight without a stumble. One of those teams is the Kansas Jayhawks, who have been living on the edge all season, but rarely taken a tumble.

Going into analytics mode, Kenpom, one of the statistical services that rates every Division I basketball team in the nation, has a category called 'luck.' Interestingly, Kansas is the only Top 25 team ranked among the top 25 luckiest teams in the nation.

On the other hand, according to Kenpom's offensive standards, seven of the top 10 and 15 of the top 20 offensive teams in the nation are in the top 25, and 14 of the top defensive teams in the country are in the top 25.

No. 1 Gonzaga, by the way, is the only AP Top 25 team ranked in Kenpom's top five offensively and defensively.

If you have a favorite team or conference, it is something to keep an eye on two weeks before the start of post season play.

ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Feb. 19, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week's ranking:

Others receiving votes: VCU 39, Northwestern 25, Iowa State 22, South Carolina 12, Southern Cal 10, Dayton 9, Middle Tennessee 8, Oklahoma State 7, Minnesota 5, Miami 2, Monmouth (N.J.) 2, Michigan 1, Vermont 1, Virginia Tech 1.

ELTON ALEXANDER'S BALLOT
1. Gonzaga
2. Villanova
3. Kansas
4. Arizona
5. UCLA
6. Oregon
7. Baylor
8. Louisville
9. North Carolina
10. West Virginia
11. Duke
12. Kentucky
13. Wisconsin
14. Florida
15. Purdue
16. Cincinnati
17. SMU
18. Florida State
19. Saint Mary's
20. Butler
21. Notre Dame
22. Maryland
23. Dayton
24. Monmouth
25. Virginia

The left fielder, still working his way back from his second major surgery, stood in as Joe Colon tossed a sampling of pitches. Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Michael Brantley stepped into the batter's box and placed his piece of lumber on his back shoulder.

"[The trainer] isn't here. Let it rip!" yelled one of his teammates from just outside of the dugout on the Indians' practice field.

Brantley didn't take any swings -- Lonnie Chisenhall was the only one to do that on Monday morning -- but he did participate in the team's live batting practice session. The left fielder, still working his way back from his second major surgery, stood in as Joe Colon tossed a sampling of pitches.

Brantley has progressed to the soft toss portion of his rehab schedule. Eventually, he'll advance to actual batting practice, provided he avoids any unwelcome fatigue or soreness.

The Indians aren't sure what to anticipate from the former All-Star. Brantley played in only 11 games last season, as he suffered setback after setback in his journey back from November 2015 shoulder surgery.

Best-case scenario for Brantley

Worst-case scenario for Brantley

Ramirez didn't have to utter a single word. His facial expression conveyed the message: He's relieved he doesn't have to face Andrew Miller when it matters. Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jose Ramirez walked through the opening of the fence, looked up and shook his head.

Ramirez didn't have to utter a single word. His facial expression conveyed the message: He's relieved he doesn't have to face Andrew Miller when it matters.

Other teammates aren't so fortunate. Carlos Santana might have to step in against the 6-foot-7 southpaw during the World Baseball Classic.

"I laugh," Santana said. "I've faced him before. But now it's a little different, because he's my teammate."

Santana asked an Indians clubhouse staffer about his chances of besting Miller.

"He said [Miller] will strike me out," Santana said.

Miller has ramped up his activity a bit earlier than normal so he isn't rolling out of bed and attempting to unleash his full arsenal when the tournament begins in two weeks. That meant the left-hander was the first to take the hill during live batting practice on a sun-splashed Monday morning at the Indians' complex.

Brandon Guyer stepped into the batter's box and watched fastballs and sliders whiz past. Hitters had the option of swinging, but Guyer declined.

"I probably had as good of a chance of hitting him if I was tracking or swinging, so I went the tracking route," Guyer said. "He looked dirty as he always does."

Said Miller: "None of them even pretended to swing."

Related: Francona to chat with Leyland about Miller's usage in WBC

When Guyer joined the Indians last summer, he introduced himself to Miller and told him, "I'm glad I don't have to face you again." The two squared off 11 times during their days in the American League East. Guyer tallied one hit and five strikeouts in those encounters.

"I don't know anyone who does feel comfortable [facing him]," Guyer said. "If they do, I need to go talk to them and figure out what it is if I do ever face him again."

Miller elevated the performance of the Indians' bullpen over the final few months of the 2016 campaign. He walked two and struck out 46 with the Tribe during the regular season. He logged more than one inning in all 10 of his postseason appearances.

That's why Terry Francona keeps saying his heart will be lodged in his throat every time Miller takes the mound during the WBC. Miller understands the concern. He said he spent a lot of time conversing with trainers and with pitching coach Mickey Callaway about how other hurlers have prepared for the enhanced spring workload.

"The most important thing for me is to help the Indians win games this year," Miller said. "That's who is signing my paychecks. That's where my loyalty lies. But at the same time, I think it's a great opportunity and I think [there's] actually a chance that it's something I can get better from."

Miller joked that if he can survive the Dominican Republic's lineup -- which will feature Santana, Jose Bautista, Adrian Beltre, Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, Manny Machado, Starling Marte and Hanley Ramirez -- he can survive anything.

"It'll be nice to have that level of competition right out of the gate and spice up spring training," Miller said.

Andrew Miller attempting to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. pic.twitter.com/9aHgoQyHa0

-- Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) February 20, 2017

Read the final Associated Press state boys basketball rankings for Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, plus how cleveland.com voted.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Associated Press released Monday its final state boys basketball rankings for the 2016-17 season, just ahead of sectional and district play.

For Northeast Ohio, three teams remain in the four top 10s — Lorain (Division I), Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Division III) and defending state champion Cornerstone Christian (Division IV). Read below for the rankings, which include first-place votes, records and point totals from the voters for all four divisions in the OHSAA.

State rankings are voted by newspaper writers across the state. Ballots submitted by cleveland.com are included at the end of each division.

Others receiving 12 or more points: N. Can. Hoover 23. Mason 21. Cin. La Salle 19. Cle. St. Ignatius 17.

How cleveland.com voted: 1. Cincinnati Moeller, 2. Massillon Jackson, 3. Pickerington Central, 4. Newark, 5. Toledo St. John’s, 6. Hilliard Bradley, 7. Upper Arlington, 8. Springfield (19-3), 9. Westerville South, 10. St. Ignatius.

Others receiving 12 or more points: Akr. SVSM 30. Wapakoneta 22. Sandusky 18. Byesville Meadowbrook 17. Cin. Hughes 16.

How cleveland.com voted: 1. Trotwood-Madison, 2. Upper Sandusky, 3. STVM, 4. Columbus South, 5. Dayton Dunbar, 6. Ottawa-Glandorf, 7. Kettering Alter, 8. Cincinnati Wyoming, 9. Cincinnati Hughes, 10. Benedictine.

Others receiving 12 or more points: Genoa Area 24. Findlay Liberty-Benton 22. Brookville 17. Martins Ferry 15.

How cleveland.com voted: 1. Cincinnati Summit Country Day, 2. Versailles,, 3. Oak Hill, 4. VASJ, 5. Cincinnati St. Bernard Roger Bacon, 6. Leavittsburg LaBrae, 7. Haviland Wayne Trace, 8. Worthington Christian, 9. Berlin Hiland, 10. Columbus Grandview Heights.

Others receiving 12 or more points: Grove City Christian 28. Sidney Fairlawn 26. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep 26. Old Fort 19. Ft. Loramie 18. Holgate 16. Russia 16.

How cleveland.com voted: 1. Cornerstone Christian, 2. Mansfield St. Peter’s, 3. McDonald, 4. Defiance Ayersville, 5. Grove City Christian, 6. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep, 7. Columbus Wellington, 8. Bristol, 9. S. Charleston SE (20-1), 10. Lutheran East.

Lindor checked manager Terry Francona in the right side after infield drills on Monday morning. Francona yelled at the shortstop to mess with his left side instead. The skipper underwent hip replacement surgery four days after the end of the World Series. Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Francisco Lindor slapped at Mike Clevinger's offering and sent a harmless pop fly into foul territory, over the practice field fence.

The All-Star shortstop pumped both of his fists, turned toward a few of his teammates and yelled, "I'm ready, boys. I'm ready."

"Oh, yeah!" Jason Kipnis yelled back, light-heartedly encouraging his double-play partner.

Clevinger delivered another pitch. Lindor stood at the plate, motionless. No swing. He threw up his arms. Maybe he isn't quite ready for Opening Day.

Here are a handful of thoughts and observations from Indians camp.

1. Slow start: Kipnis had a lighter workload on Monday, part of the team's plan for him this spring as he progresses through a shoulder strengthening program. He stood in during live batting practice, but didn't swing. He and Michael Martinez manned second base during pitchers fielding practice, but Martinez handled all of the action. Francona downplayed the significance of Kipnis' Monday schedule.

2. Familiar face: Brandon Guyer still wears an armband that displays Rajai Davis' face and a bible verse.

"When I got traded over here, I started wearing it and we were winning a lot," Guyer said. "I don't have one with my face on it yet, so I'm going to ride with Raj for now. Even when I get my own, I'm going to have to still wear it."

3. Center stage: Guyer is expected to play some center field this spring. He has primarily covered the corner outfield spots during his career, though he has appeared in 52 games in center over the last three years.

"I love it. I played there a little in Tampa," Guyer said. "For me, I feel like that's where you get the truest routes, the truest read off the bat. I love it out there."

4. Hip check: Lindor checked manager Terry Francona in the right side after infield drills on Monday morning. Francona yelled at the shortstop to mess with his left side instead. The skipper underwent hip replacement surgery four days after the end of the World Series.

5. Got a new attitude: Francona has stressed that each team has a new identity each year, even with a large contingent of returning players.

"I don't want the new guys to always be thinking, 'God, they're always talking about 2016,'" Francona said. "They're good memories, but they're memories."

6. The Patriot: Chris Colabello, a veteran first baseman in camp on a minor-league deal, sported a T-shirt on Monday that read: "Free Brady," a nod to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who served as four-game suspension at the start of the NFL regular season for the deflated football scandal. Colabello hails from Massachusetts. He attended Assumption College in Worcester. Brady got the last laugh this season, as he captured his fifth Super Bowl title.

The WWE is definitely entertaining to watch, but sports fans have long debated if pro wrestling is a "fake" sport.

The WWE is definitely entertaining to watch, but sports fans have long debated if pro wrestling is a "fake" sport. On one hand, fans argue that wrestlers are extremely athletic and like boxing, it's a fighting sport. Detractors say wrestling is choreographed, pre-determined for the winner; some would even say it's completely fake. Is it time to just acknowledge that pro wrestling is a fake sport?

PERSPECTIVES

Is pro wrestling a fake? Is pro wrestling a sport? These polarizing questions have long been asked, and super interconnected.

What people are really asking is wrestling a "fake sport." Many argue wrestling isn't a sport because it's fake. Others are wrestling is a sport because while the winners are staged, and parts of the WWE shows are scripted, wrestlers must be in peak physical condition and athletic ability.

Who will finally win this debate?

Bleacher Report writer Joe Burgett writes that wrestling is a placebo for sports:

See as a sports writer I have seen many sports such as MMA, boxing, and others. That are sort of the same as wrestling, yes you have differences in them, but still they are all fighting sports.

I think wrestling is the placebo to sports, its just like a sport in every way, like a placebo is to medicine. It looks like a pill acts like a pill, and you take it and you believe it works, just like wrestling. We watch it, and it is just like any other sport, when it seems different.

While Burgett mentioned how not fake wrestling is -- Jacob Waring elaborated on the unfair assessment. He wrote:

I'm going to give you the bottom line on why pro-wrestling is without a Shadow of a doubt not fake[...] There is no room for error, as many complex wrestling moves can result in serous injuries or death.

thetylt.com 

thetylt.com 

Wrestling shares similarities with boxing and mixed martial arts -- many consider them all real sports.

Wishing @WWERollins a speedy recovery! Wrestling is just as dangerous as any other professional sport! #WWE pic.twitter.com/jG74HDDZgk

-- Break The Barricade (@Break_Barricade) February 1, 2017

Wrestling is a way of life for fans.

Wrestling not just a sport , It's our world [?] #WWE pic.twitter.com/v3Oi5P49hw

-- (@bdxulla) February 2, 2017

@WWE @teddyplayalong Pro Wrestling is NOT a sport, never was, never will be. WHY did you even pick up on this @FOXSports ?

-- The Only (@This_A_Trick) February 13, 2017

Other debatable competitive sports are still labeled sports. And since professional wrestling is competitive, fans believe it should be considered a sport by everyone -- whether or not you like wrestling.

Pro Wrestling should be considered a sport from SquaredCircle

Critics argue wrestling is pre-determined, unlike other "debatable" sports. Cheerleading, golfing, gaming, gymnastics and so on are also debatable "real" sports. However, all require athletic prowess and involve judged competition -- unlike wrestling. 

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

The Browns will try to trade for Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo, but will Bill Belichick part with him? What will it take to get him? These questions and more answered here.