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City officials say JFK football player Chris Carter's case is still under investigation

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"The investigation is going forward, and Carter may be charged," city spokeswoman Maureen Harper said. Detectives could not interview the victims in the case because school was closed on Wednesday. "The investigation is not over."

jfk-carter-horiz-mug-li.jpgChris Carter

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A spokeswoman for the city prosecutor's office said accusations of sexual misconduct by John F. Kennedy High School offensive lineman Christopher Carter are still under investigation.

Carter's lawyer had said he was told that his client would not be charged. City officials said today that decision has not been made.

"The investigation is going forward, and Carter may be charged," city spokeswoman Maureen Harper said. "Detectives were unable to interview the victims in the case because school was closed on Wednesday. The investigation is not over."

Carter's lawyer, Harvey Bruner, said this morning he was told by a city detective that there would be no charges filed in the case.

Bruner also expected that Carter would be able to fulfill his life's dream and sign with Ohio State University today, since Carter was released from jail Wednesday night.

Bruner said he spoke with an OSU coach about the situation and that he gave the coach the telephone number of the police detective handling the case.

Carter was jailed Tuesday on suspicion of sexual imposition after several girls said he fondled them under the ruse of measuring them for Junior ROTC jackets.

Cleveland police spokesman Sgt. Sammy Morris said in an e-mail at 5:26 p.m. Wednesday that Carter was being released pending further investigation by the sex crimes unit.


Cleveland Cavaliers A.M Links: Mo Williams; Cavaliers vs. Ohio State; game stories

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Mo Williams is almost ready to return.

Mo WilliamsMo Williams.

Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer and Ohio.com reporter Jason Lloyd write about Mo Williams and his recovery from a strained hip flexor.

Williams has missed two weeks with the injury.

''We've been doing lot of exercises to build strength up,'' he said. ''Rehab is going great. I haven't had any [setbacks]. That's always positive when you're rehabbing and getting back. You want to stay on course.''

 

Who wins?

Rick Noland of the Chronicle-Telegram writes on who would win between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Ohio State Buckeyes. Noland even gives us his play-by-play of the game.

 

17:21: Moments after Diebler cans a pair of threes because the Cavs return to their season-long habit of not guarding shooters, Sessions has a second straight possession where he inexplicably decides to throw the ball to Brutus Buckeye.

17:11: With Cavs radio analyst Jim Chones still talking about Sessions’ turnovers, Sullinger steps out and hits a 16-footer to pull the Buckeyes within eight at 53-45.

17:09: Scott, unwilling to wait for the mandatory TV timeout at the 16-minute mark, angrily calls time and lays into his players. Hickson seems to be looking over his coach’s left shoulder as the Ohio State cheerleaders perform on the court.

16:58: Matta having left Lauderdale in because his team desperately needs the center’s size, Good J.J. surfaces, taking one dribble before spinning around his much-slower defender for a dunk.

16:51: Quickly in off the bench, Parker picks up Craft full-court, picks clean one of three true freshmen playing for OSU and goes in for a layup.

13:10: Sullinger drop-steps and goes up for a shot, only to be hammered by 6-9, 260-pound Samardo Samuels, who averaged 15.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in his second and final season at Louisville. Sullinger splits the pair.

Game Stories

Ohio.com: Cleveland falls again.

Cleveland.com: Cavaliers allow lead to slip away.

News-Herald: Streak continues.

Indianapolis Star: A win is a win for the Pacers.

Chronicle-Telegram: Another painful loss.

Ohio State Buckeyes coach Thad Matta doesn't get the recognition he deserves, says Clark Kellogg (SBTV)

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CBS analyst and former Buckeye says he doesn't think OSU can go undefeated. Watch video


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, our Web morning show about what's happening in Cleveland sports. Today's show is hosted by Chuck Yarborough and Branson Wright.


Our guest is Cleveland native Clark Kellogg, who was a high school star at St. Joseph High and went on to become a Big Ten Player of the Year at Ohio State. Kellogg, currently a TV commentator for the Indiana Pacers and CBS college basketball coverage, talks about this year's Buckeyes. He says they are a good team, not a great team, but one still deserving of the No. 1 ranking in the polls.


Clark also talks about why it's so hard to go undefeated; which four teams are his top seeds in the NCAA Tournament right now; Cleveland State's season so far; and what it will take to fix the Cavaliers.


How many more games do you think the Cavs will win this season? Cast your vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.


SBTV will return Friday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Tony Grossi talking about the Super Bowl and answering fan questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature.

Super Bowl XLV: Signing with a BCS school doesn't always equal NFL success

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The MAC has more players in the Super Bowl than the Big Ten, Pac 10 and the ACC.

harrison-steelers-vert-ap.jpgSure he plays for those Steelers, but James Harrison also represents Kent State and the MAC.

Some of the nation's top high school football players signed with some of the top college football factories in the nation on Wednesday.

But success in high school doesn't always mean success in college, or even in the NFL.

For example, the Southeastern Conference has 18 players on the roster of either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Green Bay Packers.

Guess which conference is No. 2 with 15 players in the Super Bowl?

Nope, not the Big Ten.

Nope, not the Pac-10.

How about the Mid-American Conference. That's right, the MAC, with schools like Kent State, Central Michigan and Miami of Ohio, are well represented in the Super Bowl, writes Yahoo.com reporter Dan Wetzel.

“We have the highest number of guys in the game except for the SEC, right?” said former Kent State standout James Harrison. “So they need to start showing a little bit more respect to the MAC.”

“We need to get the MAC in the BCS,” joked Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who played for Miami of Ohio.

That’s not happening. The MAC is still considered one of the lower-rated conferences in major college football. On signing day it rarely attracts players many bigger programs want – this year not one school ranked in the top 50 classes, according to Rivals.com.

None of that matters, however. Signing day is about promise, a testament to high school cool. A Super Bowl appearance is about a reality borne of years of perseverance, hard work and development. The proof is in the performance.

The NFL is a pure meritocracy.

 

Hickson needs to be more consistent - Cavaliers Comment of the Day

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"That's the thing about Hickson - he'll show you glimpses of talent and then just disappear. He was outplayed by Eyenga Wednesday night. Seriously, ten points and 3 rebounds in 32 minutes? If Hickson played hard last night - and if he didn't fumble that pass - the Cavs could have won. I like J.J., but someone has to get it through his head that he's got to bring it every night." - Sorry, but you're wrong

jj-hickson-gooden.JPGView full sizeJ.J. Hickson has started to remind some fans of former Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden (right).

In response to the story Cleveland Cavaliers fritter away a late lead, absorb 22nd straight loss with all-time record nearing, cleveland.com reader Sorry, but you're wrong is frustrated with J.J. Hickson's inconsistency. This reader writes,

"That's the thing about Hickson - he'll show you glimpses of talent and then just disappear. He was outplayed by Eyenga Wednesday night. Seriously, ten points and 3 rebounds in 32 minutes? If Hickson played hard last night - and if he didn't fumble that pass - the Cavs could have won. I like J.J., but someone has to get it through his head that he's got to bring it every night."

To respond to Sorry, but you're wrong's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Dunk by St. Edward's Tom Pritchard for Hoosiers earns spot on ESPN plays of the night

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St. Ed alum Tom Pritchard makes ESPN highlight reel with dunk for Indiana in win over Minnesota.



St. Edward High School alum Tom Pritchard finds himself in the national spotlight today after his massive dunk  on a rebound off a missed three pointer was honored as ESPN's No. 3 play on its nightly Top 10 list. The play helped Pritchard and his Indiana teammates score a 60-57 win over Minnesota.

Here's how Midwestsportsfan.com, a Hoosier fan site, tells the tale:

tom-pritchard-kuntz.JPGView full sizeTom Pritchard
If you were to tell any Indiana basketball fan that  Tom Pritchard – Tom Pritchard – would deliver a positive highlight that would be passed around the Interwebs, most of us would have laughed at you. Of course we love Pritchard, and he’s our guy; but let’s just say that his career in Cream and Crimson has not been filled with highlight reel plays.

Last night though, in front of a raucous Assembly Hall crowd, Pritchard delivered one of the college basketball highlights of the year while leading his team to a big win over 20th-ranked Minnesota.
This is where the blogger inserted video of the dunk, just fyi. It's all about timing.

What a moment, and what a game for Pritchard. With Christian Watford sidelined along with Maurice Creek, and Verdell Jones only being able to play limited minutes, Indiana needed someone to step up and play big to win its second straight home game against a ranked opponent. The much maligned Pritchard was the guy. He scored 12 points on 5-5 shooting from the field and, incredibly, 2-2 from the free throw line. (Actually, for most IU fans, Pritchard’s back-to-back free throws were actually the most unexpected highlight of his great night). Tom also had 7 rebounds and, amazingly, zero personal fouls.
Did someone say "Hoosiers II?"




Indians could be fun to watch this summer - Comment of the Day

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"We've got some decent looking young kids - should be fun this summer watching them grow into Major League-caliber baseball players, along with Chisenhall, Kipnis and White coming up later." - psychdawg

michael-brantley.jpgView full sizeFans hope Michael Brantley will develop into an exciting young talent for the Indians.

In response to the story Cleveland Indians in 2011 will learn plenty about their young prospects from free-agent fire sales, cleveland.com reader psychdawg is excited about the Indians young players this season. This reader writes,

"We've got some decent looking young kids - should be fun this summer watching them grow into Major League-caliber baseball players, along with Chisenhall, Kipnis and White coming up later."

To respond to psychdawg's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

P.M. Cleveland Indians links: Robby Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Candy Maldonado in Caribbean HOF; Jake Westbrook settles in with Cards

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Robby Alomar and two other former Indians -- Carlos Baerga and Candy Maldonado -- among the inductees in baseball's Caribbean Hall of Fame.

robby-alomar-gunter.JPGView full sizeRobby Alomar (pictured), Carlos Baerga and Candy Maldonado are three former Indians who were inducted into the Caribbean Hall of Fame earlier this week.
Three more Indians are in the Hall of Fame. No, not the one in Cooperstown, the one a little further south, as in Puerto Rico.

Robby Alomar, Carlos Baerga and Candy Maldonado, all of whom spent sizable portions of their Major League careers with the Tribe, were inducted into the Caribbean Hall of Fame this week.

Of the three, only Alomar is in the "big" hall in New York; he was elected this time, with 90 percent of the voters casting ballots in favor of inducting one of the best second basemen of the modern era on his first year of eligibility.

An MLB.com story about their induction into the Caribbean hall notes the pride the three Puerto Rican natives have in their homeland, and in their inclusion in the hall. For the MLB.com video, click here.

Officially, only Bert Blyleven and Pat Gillick will accompany Roberto Alomar to Cooperstown when the newly crowned trio is inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer.

Unofficially, Alomar will take a nation of people with him.

On Wednesday, the Puerto Rican hero was honored again, this time as a member of the 2011 Caribbean Series Hall of Fame, and he made sure everyone in attendance knew that he was not going into baseball's hallowed hall alone.

Alomar is taking his island, its history and every player that ever suited up in Puerto Rico's professional baseball league with him to New York.

At least in spirit.

His first three words: "Viva, Puerto Rico!"

Alomar's close friends, former Major Leaguers Candy Maldonado and Carlos Baerga, along with Puerto Rican professional league star Luis de Leon, were also inducted into the Caribbean Series Hall of Fame as part of the annual tournament's events.

"If I made it [to Cooperstown], they all made it with me," Alomar said. "I am Puerto Rican and I did it. They did, too."
Muy bueno!

It's all jake with Westbrook
The league is papered with former Indians players and pitchers. One of 'em, venerable and effective Jake Westbrook, has found a home in St. Louis, where he was dealt just before the trading deadline last year.

Westbrook was 4-4 with an ERA of 3.48 in 12 starts with the Cardinals last year. Before the deal, he was 6-7 with an ERA of 4.65 in 21 starts for the Tribe. But he was an innings eater for Cleveland last year. Before the deal on July 31, halfway through the season, he had already thrown 127.2 innings.

Westbrook is kind of reliving some of his American League days right now, as the Cards aren't about to ask him to swing a bat. He's recuperating from surgery on his left -- non-throwing -- shoulder. At least that's the sense you get reading the blog on foxsportsmidwest.com.
 
“I guess hitting is probably down on the list of what they want me to do this season,” Westbrook joked.

So with Westbrook likely out of commission at the plate for most of spring training, the Cardinals don’t seem too worried.  The right-hander had surgery on his non-throwing, left shoulder following the season to repair a torn labrum but expects to be able to swing by the time the regular season begins.

“I think they don’t want to push it too much because I think swinging is one of the last things they want me to do,” Westbrook said. “I think hopefully I’ll just master the art of bunting - at least get better at it, maybe not master it.

“The recovery process will be whatever my body allows it to be but they say it’s about a four to six month thing which would be right at the season so hopefully I’ll be healthy enough to get going and be doing what everybody else is doing by the time the season starts.”

The Cardinals signed the 33-year-old Westbrook to a two-year, $16.5 million contract with a mutual option for a third year in mid-November after he impressed them during a short two-month stint following a trade with the Cleveland Indians on July 31.
Pretty fancy pitching -- and $$ -- for a guy who missed all of 2009 with Tommy John surgery. Could he be the next ex-Indian to win a Cy Young?

From The Plain Dealer
Paul Hoynes is a trained professional baseball writer. Turns out, he's also a meteorologist, even he doesn't have one of those fancy numbers after his name like the local weather folks. This we can gather from his story about the Indians' equipment truck preparing to leave for training camp in Arizona (pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 15, btw).

One of the sure signs that the snow will eventually stop and the ice will melt takes place Friday when the Indians' equipment truck leaves Progressive Field for Goodyear, Ariz., to prepare for spring training.

Indians pitchers, catchers and injured players report to Goodyear on Feb. 15.

As recently as last week, at least a dozen players were already taking advantage of the Indians' pristine training facility in the Arizona desert. If they're escaping the kind of weather that's gripped the greater Cleveland area this winter, it's hard to blame them.
Got that right, Hoynsie!


Rooting for the Packers Sunday? Check out our Thursday roundup of Super Bowl XLV Packers news

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Ben Roethlisberger's late night singing can't be bad for the Packers; plus, a rapper gives them a ringing endorsement as do some cats in Oregon, and those cheeseheads aren't going to buy themselves.

ben-roethlisberger-press-conf.JPGView full sizeBen, would you mind singing a bit of "Piano Man" for us?

There might not be a more rabid fan base in the NFL than the cheeseheads in Wisconsin, but the brown-and-orange-clad residents of the Dawg Pound might compete for the title - and this week, many of those Browns fans are cheering for a Packers Super Bowl win.

Here's the latest news on your new "favorite NFL team."

We start today by taking a look in the enemy's camp. There might not be anything wrong with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger staying out late with his teammates, as reported by TMZ, but we'll take any distractions we can get for Big Ben.

"Sources inside the bar tell us Big Ben arrived with two massive teammates - and bought several rounds of drinks for himself and the entire bar. We're told Ben racked up an $800 tab - and tipped an additional $200.  People inside the bar tell us Ben was 'nice, fun and took care of everyone.' In the clip, Ben can be seen singing along to the Billy Joel classic 'Piano Man.'"

If you are with us this week in rooting for the Packers, you should know we have an ally in the music industry - none other than Lil Wayne. From the Los Angeles Times:

"Thursday morning he dropped his endorsement for the Super Bowl, and is gunning for the Green Bay Packers: 'This ain't a diss song, I just love my team. That's the team with the big G's on the helmets,' he explains in the track, which he freestyled and put up on YouTube."

Of course Clay Matthews' kid is even more reason to root for "the team with the big G's on the helmets."

Meanwhile, over in Oregon, our friens at OregonLive.com found some furry friends to pick the Super Bowl. They picked the Packers. And anyone who knows anything about cats knows it's a bad idea to disagree with a cat.

And we just can't remind you enough: you need to get yourself a cheesehead. The price has gone from $24.99 to $19.99 on Amazon, and it's been sitting there for three days now. Really, how much longer can you afford to wait?

That's it for today. Back tomorrow with more Packers news you can use.

Ohio State Buckeyes P.M. Links: Recruiting redux; LB Curtis Grant connects with coaches

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The Chicago Sun-Times gives Ohio State high marks.

jim-tressel-ap.JPGCoach Jim Tressel.

The Ohio State  Buckeyes, apparently, had a good day when it came to signing day. This article in The Chicago Sun-Times points out how OSU has benefited from the wealth of talent in the state of Ohio, but that's not the only reason.

“Jim Tressel is one of the more underrated coaches on the recruiting side,” said CBS College Sports recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.

This year, Tressel has landed another deep class that spotlights Ohio talent but also includes players from other hotbeds such as Florida.

Leading the class is Huber Heights Wayne’s Braxton Miller, who’s ranked as the No. 1 player in Ohio and the top dual-threat quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com.

 

Grant joins the Buckeyes

Here's a story from The Richmond Times-Dispatch on Ohio State recruit Curtis Grant. The 6-3, 222-pound linebacker, considered the top inside linebacker in the country, said Ohio State made him feel at home during the recruiting process.

"(The coaching staff) just wanted to get to know me more as a person, then we could talk about football as the time came around," Grant said.

He finalized his decision about a week ago. He told his family, which kept the decision secret.

Grant is the first local player to attend Ohio State since Trever Robinson, who graduated from Huguenot in 2003 and walked on with the Buckeyes.

 

More Ohio State recruiting

Here's what Doug Lesmerises did for The Plain Dealer when it comes to Ohio State's recruiting.

 

Andy Pettitte, long-time New York Yankees pitching star, will announce retirement on Friday

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Left-hander pitched 13 of 16 seasons with Yankees. Has career 240-138 record, and is all-time postseason win leader with 19, against 10 losses.

andy-pettitte.jpgPitcher Andy Pettitte (photo) will retire, making the New York Yankees' starting rotation a big question mark.

NEW YORK, New York – Andy Pettitte will announce his retirement Friday morning at a Yankee Stadium news conference. A five-time World Series champion, Pettitte had been telling the New York Yankees since the end of the season that it was likely he wouldn't play in 2011. He became a free agent and has not attempted to negotiate a contract.

The 38-year-old left-hander is 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA n 16 major league seasons. He excelled in the postseason, setting a major league record for wins by going 19-10 with a 3.83 ERA.

Pettitte's departure leaving a huge hole in the Yankees' rotation, with no proven starters behind CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett.

Having failed to sign free agent Cliff Lee, New York has agreed to minor league contracts with Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in recent weeks, trying to find more options for a fourth and fifth starter in addition to youngster Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre.

Pettitte spent 13 seasons with the Yankees, interrupting his career in New York to play for his hometown Houston Astros from 2004-06. He was a three-time All-Star, earning the honor in 1996, 2001 and last year, and was a 20-game winner in 1996 and 2003 when he twice went 21-8.

He was 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 21 starts last season. His season was limited by a strained left groin that caused him to go on the disabled list from July 19 to Sept. 19.

Pettitte had said that he increasingly felt the tug to return to Texas and his family. Once the school year ended, his family traveled to New York where they could be together during homestands, but the distance from his loved ones now has trumped whatever desire he had to climb higher in the Yankees record book.

Pettitte's 203 wins with the Yankees are the third-most in franchise history, trailing only Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231).

He is expected to be a witness this summer at the trial of former teammate Roger Clemens, indicted on charges he lied to a congressional committee when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Pettitte admitted using human growth hormone and said Clemens told him he had used HGH. Clemens testified Pettitte didn't remember the conversation correctly.


 

Ohio State recruiting wrapup: Buckeyes bring in an entire defense

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With five linemen, four linebackers, two corners and two safeties, Ohio State has depth and balance among its highly rated defensive recruits.

doran-grant-mug.jpgDoran Grant


Ohio State may have signed its entire 2014 starting defense on Wednesday.


With Michael Bennett, Chase Farris, Steve Miller, Kenny Hayes and Joel Hale on the defensive line, Curtis Grant, Conner Crowell, Ejuan Price and Ryan Shazier at linebacker, Doran Grant and Derjuan Gambrell at corner and Ron Tanner and Jeremy Cash at safety, the Buckeyes signed a balanced, highly-rated group of 13 defenders.
 A recap:


* Ohio State's defensive line group is pretty exceptional, and defensive coordinator Jim Heacock thinks there are several players who can play both defensive end on first and second down and then slide inside and play defensive tackle on third down or other passing downs the way Cameron Heyward, among others, did for the Buckeyes in the past. He thinks all five of the linemen the Buckeyes signed have that type of versatility. He especially mentioned it when talking about Elyria High School's Farris.


When talking about Miller, there was one play that Heacock rewound several times on the screen that the coaches used to show highlights of each player Wednesday, and he said he watched the play probably 25 times in his office. On the play, Miller came off the edge and met the fullback so hard, he snapped the fullback's head back with the collision, the kind of play that Heacock thought football was all about.


Heacock said he didn't know if he ever saw Miller smile when he had him at football camp and he called him a no-nonsense player and said he expects Miller to be "dominant" at Ohio State.


On Bennett, who fits best inside as a tackle, Heacock pointed out his explosion off the ball and his ability to get up the field and apply pressure from inside.


All in all, this probably was Ohio State's strongest position in this recruiting class, though the linebackers were close.


* Among the linebackers, Luke Fickell pointed out that two of the four players signed by the Buckeyes - Ejuan Price and Ryan Shazier - played more as defensive ends in high school but he doesn't see any problems with them making an adjustment. Shazier, who enrolled at Ohio State in January, said he worked on his own in high school after practice at the linebacker position.


Fickell said that Price, from near Pittsburgh, did have some second thoughts about his choice and considered staying closer to home at Pitt but Fickell said it was important to give Price space as he considered his options and just remind him that everyone questions themselves when making a big decision.


As has been mentioned everywhere, gettiing Grant, a five-star player, on Signing Day was huge for the Buckeyes.


* Cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson said one of the things that impressed him most about Akron cornerback Doran Grant was watching Grant at a track meet and seeing his focus as he prepared for his hurdles race.


He was also excited about the height of Toledo's 6-foot-2 DerJuan Gambrell, a player Johnson said reminded him of former OSU starting cornerback Donald Washington. Johnson called Gambrell by his nickname "Peewee" whenever he mentioned him.


* Among the safeties, Jeremy Cash of Florida has already enrolled. He said he's working on his coverage skills, but he's a hitter first.


"My main focus is, I'll come and take your head off," Cash said.


Safeties coach Paul Haynes said both Casha and Ron Tanner are very smart, which should help them pick up the defense quickly and compete for playing time.

Super Bowl commercial marketers trying numerous ploys to make their huge investment pay off

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Gimmicks include online contests, a car "race" powered by Twitter mentions, and a secret new level of a hit iPhone game. Thirty-second ads sold for $3 million.

superbowl-ad2.jpgFrom video provided by General Motors, this photo shows a scene from one of five Chevrolet commercials, titled "Heros", that will air during the Super Bowl, along with two more sponsored during the pre-game show and one in the post-game show.

The Super Bowl commercial blitz is extending beyond the usual talking babies and office chimps to engage viewers online and get more for advertisers' $3 million-plus investment.

Marketers are using every trick in the playbook to dominate the buzz before the game and long afterward, too. The gimmicks include online contests, a car "race" powered by Twitter mentions, and a secret new level of a hit iPhone game.

The goal is to build buzz, not get lost in the 42 minutes of Super Bowl ad time, and get cheap or free exposure when viewers watch again on YouTube.

"Nowadays you've got to get more out of your investment than 110 million viewers watching a 60-second spot," said Steve Cannon, head of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA.

The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers play for the NFL championship in Sunday's Super Bowl.

As part of a tie-in to the automaker's first Super Bowl ad, which introduces five new vehicle models and celebrates the company's 125th anniversary, Mercedes developed a pre-game race among five teams headed for the Super Bowl in Arlington, Texas. The racers buy gas based on the number of times they are tweeted and retweeted.

Advertisers have bought up all the commercial time on Fox's broadcast. Last year, space was still available near game time, but for this year's contest, it was gone by October. Thirty seconds of air time is selling for $3 million, up slightly from last year's $2.97 million, according to Kantar Media. A typical 30-second prime-time commercial runs between $100,000 and $500,000.

Companies covet the Super Bowl audience because it is huge and because viewers are paying attention. As people spend more time on computers and smartphones and browse among 500 cable channels, it's perhaps the only broadcast that allows advertisers to reach such a broad audience.

"It's the most efficient media buy out there. Where do you pull such numbers consistently?" said Bob Horowitz, producer of the annual TV show "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials." "It also delivers a huge female audience."

The ad lineup features both familiar and new characters. Budweiser's classic Clydesdales return, E-Trade sticks with its talking babies, and Careerbuilder.com brings back its office chimps.

Following its hit ad last year with Betty White and Abe Vigoda on a football field, Mars Inc.'s Snickers brand will reprise its theme "You're Not You When You're Hungry," this time with comedians Roseanne Barr and Richard Lewis.

A musical odd couple, Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne, will star in Best Buy's first Super Bowl commercial, which is still under wraps.

Standing out in an increasingly crowded Super Bowl ad lineup takes more than a funny gag or celebrity of the moment.

"We're seeing social media embraced by Super Bowl advertisers like never before," said Tim Calkins, marketing professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He said advertisers can get a lot of traffic for a rather modest investment by capitalizing on social media.

Among the gimmicks advertisers are using to extends their ads' impact:

— Twentieth Century Fox will air an ad for the animated movie "Rio" that contains a code that will unlock a secret level in the popular smartphone game "Angry Birds." The level will let users enter a sweepstakes for a trip to Rio de Janeiro on March 22 for the film premiere.

— PepsiCo's six ads for Doritos and Pepsi Max were created by consumers and selected by popular vote at Pepsi's crashthesuperbowl.com. Ten finalists got $25,000 and a trip to the game. The creators of the seven commercials have a shot at prizes of up to $1 million if the spots rank at or near the top of USA Today's ad meter.

— Anheuser-Busch posted still images from three Bud Light ads on Facebook two weeks before the game. If people who "Like" Bud Light on Facebook correctly guess the plot of the ads, a fourth online-only ad will be unlocked.

"Before, everyone asked, `What was the best spot?' But now, people are broadening their idea of what that means," said Steve Slivka, chief creative officer of Colossal Squid Industries, a digital ad agency in Chicago.

For Mercedes, the social-media push seems to be working.

Since its Tweet race was announced, Mercedes' Facebook following has more than tripled to 85,000 fans. It started a Twitter account for the race, which now has 73,000 followers. And since the racers began posting YouTube videos when the race started Tuesday, they have been viewed 1.8 million times.

High school players of the week for February 4, 2011

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See thumbnail index of this week's players of the week.

See thumbnail index of this week's players of the week.

Brandon Stovall, Collinwood
Sport: Basketball
Class: Senior
Age: 17
Ht: 5-9
Wt: 160

What Brandon did last week: In a 72-71 win against No. 19 John Hay, point guard had 22 points, five rebounds and five assists. In a 92-86 double-overtime win against No. 25 John F. Kennedy, he had 31 points, four rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

About Brandon: Wants to major in civil engineering. Favorites include the Boston Celtics, LeBron James, "Hoop Dreams" movie, "South Park" TV show, music by Lil Wayne, "Only the Strong Survive" book, TGI Friday's restaurant and math class. Will always remember winning a 2010 district title.

Mike Fidel, Newbury
Sport: Basketball
Class: Senior
Age: 18
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 170

What Mike did last week: Guard helped key a 61-60 overtime upset of Cuyahoga Heights with 13 points, eight assists and five rebounds. His basket with 2.5 seconds left forced overtime. He made two free throws with six seconds left in overtime and his team trailing by one.

About Mike: Enjoys playing ping pong. Plans to go to Kent State and major in nursing. Favorites include the Los Angeles Clippers and Blake Griffin, "Eastbound & Down" TV show, ESPN.com, buffalo wings and Nike clothes. Favorite vacation spot was Alaska.

Erica Schultz, Strongsville
Sport: Basketball
Class: Senior
Age: 17
Ht: 5-11

What Erica did last week: In a 54-51 win against St. Joseph Academy, forward had 23 points, 15 rebounds, six steals, two assists and one block. In a 54-51 win against North Royalton, she had 14 points, 16 rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks.

About Erica: Member of DARE and Project Support. Plans to play for Wheeling Jesuit and major in early education. Favorites include the Cavaliers, "Home Alone" movie, "Full House" TV show, quesadillas and Olive Garden restaurant. Wants to vacation in Hawaii and go snorkeling.

Allison Howard, Aurora
Sport: Basketball
Class: Sophomore
Age: 15
Ht: 5-10

What Allison did last week: In a 65-56 win against Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, center had 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. In a 58-48 win against Perry, had 27 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Aurora is 15-1.

About Allison: Plays softball and is a member of the band and Spanish club. Enjoys scrapbooking. Always wears black Nike socks in games. Favorites include UConn women's basketball team, "Jersey Shore" TV show, "Cooking Mama" video game, "Pretty Little Liars" book and Cheesecake Factory restaurant.

Craig Fishel, Cuyahoga Falls
Sport: Bowling
Class: Junior
Age: 17
Ht: 5-7
Wt: 170

What Craig did last week: Rolled games of 248 and 266 in a victory against Stow in which his team clinched the Northeast Ohio Conference championship. Tied a school record with tournament-high game of 278 at the G-Men Classic. He is averaging 225 for the 13-1 Black Tigers.

About Craig: Plans to attend Kent State and wants to be an air traffic controller. Favorites include bowler Norm Duke and golfer Phil Mickelson, "Family Guy" TV show, cars.com, "Call of Duty" video game, Chipotle restaurant and chemistry class. Wants to visit Italy.

Michaela Romito, Brecksville-Broadview Heights
Sport: Gymnastics
Class: Freshman
Age: 14
Ht: 5-4

What Michaela did last week: At the Rock and Roll Classic, placed third in the all-around with a season high 37.125. Had a season high 9.5 on vault and 9.3 on beam, with a 9.525 on floor.

About Michaela: Member of student council. Wants to study physical therapy in college. Favorites include the Cavaliers and Daniel Gibson, "The Proposal" movie, "Pretty Little Liars" TV show, "Solitaire" video game, "90 Minutes in Heaven" book, steak meal, Chipotle restaurant and Chinese class. Would like to swim with dolphins.

Lou Sawchik, Normandy
Sport: Hockey
Class: Senior
Age: 18
Ht: 6-4
Wt: 175

What Lou did last week: Center had four goals in a 6-3 win against Avon Lake. Had three goals in a 7-5 win against Olmsted Falls. He has had four games scoring four or more goals this season.

About Lou: Enjoys basketball, football and golf. Wants to play college hockey. Favorites include the Columbus Blue Jackets, "Miracle" movie, "SportsCenter" TV show, youtube.com, "NHL 11" video game, steak meal, Chipotle restaurant and math class. Enjoyed visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Wants to vacation in Alaska and would like to try lacrosse.

Megan Auzenbergs, Rocky River
Sport: Swimming
Class: Junior
Age: 17
Ht: 5-7

What Megan did last week: At West Shore Conference championship, set league records in winning the 50 free (24.85) and 100 free (54.08) and was on record-setting 200 free relay (1: 41.42) and 400 free relay (3: 45.25). She was named meet MVP.

About Megan: Also runs cross country. Plans to pursue a medical career. Favorites include "Inception" movie, buffalo chicken dip and chemistry class. Enjoys the Rocky River swim team parties. Likes to travel and favorite vacation was trip to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Del Vinas Jr., Twinsburg
Sport: Wrestling
Class: Senior
Age: 17
Ht: 5-5
Wt: 119

What Del did last week: At Cable Nine Twinsburg Triangular with Aurora and Nordonia, won the 119-pound division with a 31-second pin against Nordonia and a 7-3 decision against a 2010 state placer from Aurora. Named MVP of the event and is 21-4 this season.

About Del: Enjoys running and lifting weights. Interested in studying computer engineering. Favorites include Ohio State teams, "300" movie, "South Park" TV show, "Halo" video game, "Harry Potter" books, spaghetti, Fuji Japanese restaurant and math class. Would like to try skydiving.

Coaches' nominations for Players of the Week will be taken Mondays between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The toll-free number for coaches to call for the seven-county coverage area is 1-800-388-4370.

Super Bowl trivia continues amid hoopla surrounding Steelers-Packers game

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We came up with 45 trivial tidbits surrounding the Super Bowl. Then we found a few more. Read on...

dominos pizza.jpgSunday is a big day for pizza - and football.

Still want to know more trivia about the Super Bowl?

Now THAT's big: Associated Press did a nice job of putting the stadium's size into perspective: "The Statue of Liberty could stand on the 50-yard line and not touch the roof. From end to end, the football-shaped stadium is longer than the Empire State Building is tall. The arches that support the retractable roof are longer than the Gateway Arch in St. Louis -- twice as long, actually."

SRO prices: Standing-room-only tickets are going for $350, AP reports.

Big bucks: Bloomberg says legal wagers at Las Vegas sports books are expected to top $90 million.

Artistic bet: CNN reports this interesting wager between museums. Milwaukee Art Museum and Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh are betting on three-month loans of impressionist artworks. If the Packers win, Milwaukee gets Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Bathers with a Crab." And if the Steelers win, Carnegie gets Gustave Caillebotte's "Boating on the Yerres."

Cheers! If you're partial to mixed drinks, here's an appropriate one: the Lucid Fumble Roosky. Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Lucid Absinthe

• 1/2 oz. triple sec

• 2 oz. lemon-lime soda

• 2 orange slices (thick cut)

• 1 mint sprig

Directions: In a cocktail shaker, add ice, absinthe, triple sec and a squeeze of orange. Shake vigorously till ice cold. Pour into a tall glass, top with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with sprig and orange slice and don't drop it.

Now THAT'S a big screen: Cowboys Stadium has the world's largest video screen, 72 feet by 168 feet, according to PBS' Nightly Business Report with Rick Horrow.

Getting the munchies? Super Bowl Sunday is the No. 1 day of the year for snacks, and No. 2 is the day before, according to Horrow's show.

Bundle up: The 2014 game -- to be played in New Jersey's Meadowlands -- could be the first Super Bowl in the snow.

Bottoms up: Super Bowl Sunday is the year's seventh biggest day for U.S. beer consumption; 49 millon cases are sold in the two weeks prior to the game, the Horrow show reports, citing Nielsen.

Musical exposure: More from Horrow: Songs played during the halftime show (the "most watched musical event") in 2005 to 2009 had a 555 percent "average surge" in sales during the week after the game. Albums from those performers had a 478 percent spike in sales in the same week. Get this: Because of the massive media exposure, halftime artists are paid expenses only -- no fees.

Pizza popularity: It's the busiest day of the year for Domino's Pizza, and the Michigan-based company is not even the official pizza sponsor.

El gran juego: Sirius XM Radio says it will broadcast the game in 10 languages.

Oh, baby: Associated Press reports that "in 1997, the baby name 'Brett' was the 39th most popular boys' name in Wisconsin following Green Bay's last Super Bowl victory. Favre's not around anymore, and neither is the name. It dropped out of the top 100 after 2005."

Secure game: Also from AP: The NFL "spends about $6 million a year on Super Bowl security, on top of what local and federal governments spend. More than 60 government agencies contribute to the security, and the league hired more than 1,200 employees from private companies.


Bob Griese, Hall of Fame Miami Dolphins quarterback, is retiring from broadcasting

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Griese spent 29 years in his second career after quarterbacking the Dolphins to Super Bowl wins following the 1972 and 1973 seasons.

morrall-shula-griese.jpgBob Griese (right), with fellow Dolphins QB Earl Morrall (left) and coach Don Shula (middle).

BRISTOL, Connecticut — Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese is retiring from broadcasting.

Griese spent 29 years in his second career after leading the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl titles. The last 24 were with ABC and ESPN.

ESPN made the announcement Thursday on Griese's 66th birthday.

Griese worked ESPN's Saturday noon college football telecasts the past two seasons. He started his TV career with NBC, serving as the top NFL analyst from 1982-86 and calling the Super Bowl.

Griese worked many top bowl games for ABC and ESPN, including the last of son Brian's career at the 1998 Rose Bowl, when Bob cried as Brian was honored as the MVP for undefeated Michigan.

Brian, who played 11 seasons in the NFL, is now also a college football commentator for ESPN, and father and son called the Minnesota-Purdue game together Oct. 16.


 

Sports psychologist has advice for Cleveland Cavaliers, who are one loss from record losing streak

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Cleveland - All of this might have ended just three games into it. Just a few contests into what is now a 22-game losing streak, the Cavaliers were 10.6 seconds from walking off the court with a victory. But the one-point lead over Minnesota on Dec. 26 evaporated at the buzzer, and the streak went on. They might have...

Cleveland - All of this might have ended just three games into it. Just a few contests into what is now a 22-game losing streak, the Cavaliers were 10.6 seconds from walking off the court with a victory. But the one-point lead over Minnesota on Dec. 26 evaporated at the buzzer, and the streak went on.

They might have ended it Jan. 24, too, when they held a 98-97 lead with 1:08 remaining against New Jersey. Or Wednesday, when the Cavaliers were up, 108-105, over Indiana with 3:32 on the clock.

Each time, the Cavaliers were oh-so close, oh-so late in the game. Each time, the Cavaliers fell.

On the verge of equaling the single-season NBA record for consecutive losses at 23 if they stumble against Memphis on Friday night, it's impossible not to wonder: Have they simply forgotten how to win?

The pressure of trying to end the misery was at the forefront of Ramon Sessions' mind at the end of the game against the Pacers, the point guard admitted Thursday. Nerves kicked in. He was rattled. His drive to the basket with 11.9 seconds left ended with a whipped pass to J.J. Hickson that bounced off the center's hands and became a turnover.

"That's when the streak comes into play," Sessions said. "We know we've lost 25 or something. We know it's tough, so we're trying to break that ice and get a win."

And that's precisely what Sessions and his teammates should not have been thinking, said Charlie Maher, a sports psychologist who has counseled athletes for 25 years and worked with Cleveland pro teams.

When trying to end a streak, the best course of action is to live in the present. Don't think of the past, with the very long list of losses. Don't think of the future and what might happen to finally, finally, finally secure a victory and find relief.

Think only of the next play. The next defensive stop. That's it.

"When you're going through a stretch with a lot of losses, it's not that easy," Maher said. "The pressures, the opinions. . . . It's easy to get out of the moment and get into the future. You start to beat yourself up, and your body tenses up, your mind starts to deal with things you don't have control over."

It's important to stick to the same routine you've always had, Maher said. Bounce the ball the same number of times at the free-throw line. Wear the same socks you always have. Take the shot you always would have taken. Don't let self-doubt alter what has gotten you to this level.

"Players have learned to play the game over time; they have not forgotten how to play the game," he said. "They can't think like that. They have to deal with their ability to pay attention to detail and keep the mind in the moment. That's what a routine does. It's not a superstition. It's something when the going gets tough, you go back to the routine, go back to the process."

The problem is, the routine for the Cavaliers of late has become losing. They have lost by 55 points to the L.A. Lakers, and they have lost by two points to the New Jersey Nets. Overall, they have lost by an average of 15 points, and been outshot by an average of 48.2 percent to 42.5 percent.

"I hope their minds aren't wandering that far away, and they're all of a sudden thinking about the losing streak," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "Or the last three or four games, we lost by this much, or we lost the game at this particular time. You can't think like that. If you think like that, you've lost, anyway. You've got to think about winning the game -- that's the bottom line."

All of this, of course, is easier said than done.

"Intellectually, you or I or any player can understand that and recognize that, but it's a matter of, "Can I commit to that?' " Maher said. "It's more of an emotional thing. They start to get attached to results."

Or about avoiding the result of one more loss.

Double trouble: If the Cavaliers lose to the Grizzlies, Scott will have the dubious distinction of having been both a player and a coach for teams that have lost 23 consecutive games. Scott played for the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies when they lost 23 straight games in 1995-96.

Still, the former Lakers guard's pride isn't wounded one bit if he earns the distinction.

"The three championship rings kind of takes care of that," he said.

Former Case QB Dan Whalen set to join Cleveland Gladiators of AFL

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Former Case Western Reserve QB Dan Whalen has been assigned to the Cleveland Gladiators by the Arena Football League.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quarterback Dan Whalen, former standout at Case Western Reserve University, has been assigned to the Cleveland Gladiators by the Arena Football League for the 2011 season.

The transaction will be made official Friday.

Whalen and Kurt Rocco (Mount Union) are expected to compete for the No. 2 QB behind John Dutton, who returns for his second season in Cleveland. Dutton is one of the AFL's all-time greatest quarterbacks.    

Whalen, a native of Willoughby, attended Willoughby South High School. He was a four-year starter at Case (2006-2009), amassing 9,720 yards on 742-of-1,229 passing and 87 touchdowns. Whalen exited as the school’s all-time leader in pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdown passes.
 
“I’m pretty excited to be able to come home and play here,” Whalen said.  “To have the chance to be in training camp and compete to make the team, it’s a great opportunity. I have a lot of friends and family that are thrilled for me.”
 
During his tenure with the Spartans, Whalen compiled a 34-8 record as a starter.  He led Case to 31 consecutive regular season victories, three straight perfect seasons (10-0, 3-0 UAA), three consecutive UAA titles and three straight NCAA postseasons. 
 
“Dan’s college career was very impressive and he has all of the tools to make it as a professional quarterback,” Gladiators coach Steve Thonn said.  “The Cleveland area is rich in football talent, and we are fortunate to be able to bring on a young man who has had local success at the high school and collegiate level.”
 
The Gladiators' season kicks off on the road March 19 against the defending ArenaBowl XXIII champion Spokane Shock.  The Gladiators' home opener is April 2 against the Chicago Rush; kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena.

log on to www.clevelandgladiators.com or call 216.685.9000 

P.M. Cleveland Browns links: Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson defensive end, to the Browns in a mock draft

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Browns going to a 4-3 defense could influence who they pick in the first round. And, more links.

daquan-bowers.jpgClemson junior defensive end Da'Quan Bowers at a press conference when he declared he was entering the NFL draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The three-day NFL draft begins 12 weeks from today, on April 28.

That means 12 weeks of mock drafts ahead.

The SB Nation Cleveland blog predicts that the Cleveland Browns will select, with the sixth pick in the first round:

Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. Dick Jauron is Cleveland’s new defensive coordinator, and early signs are that the Browns will be moving back to the 4-3. If Bowers is available to them, he’d have to be the pick, as Cleveland isn’t equipped with personnel that could handle end in that system, aside from free agent Matt Roth.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot's report that quarterback Colt McCoy said on a national radio show that his right (throwing) shoulder was not 100 percent during he 2010 season; Tony Grossi's story on former Browns who have been in the Super Bowl.

Post patterns

The 1986 Browns are No. 15 in Sports Illustrated SI.com's photo gallery of "Top 15 Teams To Not Win The Super Bowl."

The National Football Post's mock draft has the Browns picking Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green.

Gil Haskell, senior advisor to Browns president Mike Holmgren, has been to three Super Bowls as an assistant coach for Holmgren. By Matt Florjancic on clevelandbrowns.com.

The Browns, partly because they're going to a 4-3 defense, should pick Texas defensive end Sam Acho in the third round. On the Dawgs By Nature blog.

Some players at the "Texas vs. the Nation" college all-star game who have drawn the attention of NFL scouts, on SportingNews.com.

 

NBA All-Star Game reserves named; Celtics' Kevin Garnett ties record with his 14th straight selection

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Garnett, one of four Celtics all-stars, ties Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal and Karl Malone. Tony Parker, Kevin Love, Zach Randolph and Steve Nash among those left out.

allen-pierce-garnett.jpgCeltics Ray Allen (left), Paul Pierce (center) and Kevin Garnett (right) were named to the Eastern Conference all-star team, and will be joined by teammate Rajon Rondo.

NEW YORK, New York -- Blake Griffin is going to his first All-Star game, and Kevin Garnett matched an NBA record with his 14th straight selection as one of a record-tying four Boston Celtics headed for the midseason event.

Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen will accompany Garnett, who equaled Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal and Karl Malone for the most consecutive selections. The Celtics joined the 2006 Detroit Pistons as the only teams to have four players picked as reserves by the coaches.

Griffin, the Rookie of the Year favorite of the Clippers, will be playing on his home floor in the Feb. 20 game at Staples Center. Joining him on the Western Conference team were Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili of the NBA-leading Spurs; forwards Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and Pau Gasol of the Lakers; and guards Deron Williams of Utah and Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, who joins Griffin as the lone first-time selections.

Chris Bosh will go to Los Angeles with Miami teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, who were elected as starters. The other East reserves picked Thursday were Atlanta's Joe Johnson and Al Horford.

The reserves were selected in voting by the head coaches in each conference, who had to vote for two forwards, two guards, a center and two players regardless of position.

They went for the winning teams in the East, whose reserves are represented by just three teams.

The voting was much more difficult in the West, where coaches bypassed the likes of Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph and Lamar Odom at the forward spot.

Tony Parker missed out despite being the second-leading scorer on the Spurs, who entered play Thursday with a 40-8 record. Veteran Steve Nash of the Suns and the Warriors' Monta Ellis, the league's sixth-leading scorer, all fell short.

The starters were chosen by fan voting and announced last week. Orlando's Dwight Howard, Chicago's Derrick Rose and Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire are the other East starters, while the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Hornets guard Chris Paul, forwards Carmelo Anthony of Denver and Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City, and Houston center Yao Ming were the winners from the West.

Yao is injured and Commissioner David Stern will choose a replacement. That gives another chance to Love, who is averaging 21.4 points and a league-best 15.5 rebounds, and shooting 43.9 percent from 3-point range. He has 34 straight double-doubles, but was undoubtedly hurt by his Minnesota Timberwolves' 11-37 record.

But the coaches couldn't overlook Griffin, even though the Clippers are also below .500. The No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft has been spectacular after sitting out last season following knee surgery, averaging 23 points and 12.7 rebounds while compiling a half season of highlights with his array of dunks.

 

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