The Buckeyes are on display at the NFL Combine.

Associated PressDane Sanzenbacher

Toledo Blade reporter Matt Markey writes about the NFL Combine and all that is associated with the tryout of sorts for more than 300 of the top college players from around the country.

Markey calls is a job interview, a beauty pageant and even a tough man contest.

Former Buckeye Anthony Gonzalez, writes Markey, has provided some assistance to senior wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher and other players from the 2010 Ohio State team who will be here taking part in the Combine.

"Anthony's given me a pretty good idea what to expect on the field, but as far as the psychological tests and the interviews go, those aren't really things you can study for or prepare for," Sanzenbacher said.

"I think they want to find out what kind of person you are, how competitive you are, and how committed you are to working hard at this. You can't change who you are for a few days, just because you're going to the NFL Combine."

The Buckeyes have nine players from their 2010 Big Ten championship team at the Combine. Those players are defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, offensive lineman Justin Boren, defensive backs Chimdi Chekwa, Devon Torrence and Jermale Hines, linebackers Ross Homan and Brian Rolle, running back Brandon Saine, and Sanzenbacher.

Notebook

The Columbus Dispatch has an article on how coach Thad Matta has tried several things to help the Buckeyes rebound from their first loss back on Feb. 12. Matta has gone as far as bringing in football coach Jim Tressel for some inspiration.

Now looking ahead,  the Buckeyes play Indiana and at Penn State.

In the who is hot and who's not department, the Buckeyes are beginning to adjust to opponents' tactic of trying to take away their post and three-point offense. They made more free throws than field goals against Michigan State and Purdue and used defensive pressure on the perimeter against the Spartans, Boilermakers and Illini to try to create easy scores in transition.

Finally

Plain Dealer reporter Doug Lesmerises writes how the Buckeyes signed John F. Kennedy offensive lineman Chris Carter on Thursday to a National Letter of Intent.

Carter did not sign with the rest of Ohio State's class on National Signing Day on Feb. 2 after he was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor sexual imposition. On Feb. 7, Cleveland police said there was not enough evidence to charge Carter with any crime.

"We are excited Chris will be a Buckeye," OSU coach Jim Tressel said, looking forward to Carter's success "on and off the field" at Ohio State. "He has a great support system at home as well as at his high school."

Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert talk about returning players and touch lightly on draft plans.

Chuck Crow | The Plain DealerPat Shurmur and Tom Heckert are at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis this weekend.

Updated at 7:30 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- There should be no doubt now that the Browns are committing 100 percent to quarterback Colt McCoy as "the guy."  

 Echoing previously stated sentiments of President Mike Holmgren, new coach Pat Shurmur and General Manager Tom Heckert hopped on the McCoy bandwagon on Friday and christened him their undisputed field leader.  

 In a conversation with Cleveland-area reporters, the men pledged their faith in McCoy and denied any concern about arm strength or his ability to win consistently at the NFL level.  

 "I would say that based on what I know to this point, I'm extremely excited about working with Colt and him being our guy. I think that's where we're going," Shurmur said in his first extensive interview since being introduced as Browns coach on Jan. 13. 

 "I thoroughly evaluated Colt last year [as Rams offensive coordinator] when we went through the [draft] process with Sam [Bradford]. He's very talented, works extremely hard, football's important to him, he's an accurate passer, he understands timing, he's a good decision-maker. I think he has all the things you're looking for in a guy that can be your guy."  

 Does he have the arm strength to win in Cleveland in December?  

 "I don't have any question about Colt's arm," Shurmur said. "He has an NFL arm."  

 Heckert dismissed concerns about McCoy's throwing shoulder, which suffered nerve damage in the 2010 BCS Championship Game. He said too much was made about McCoy's comments at the Super Bowl that he never fully rehabbed the shoulder and it bothered him at times in his rookie season.  

 Heckert said his only question about McCoy was his lack of NFL experience. McCoy was 2-6 as a starter as a rookie and tossed six interceptions in his last two games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh.  

 "He's had some good days and some bad days," Heckert said. "We think he's going to be good." 

 Heckert said, philosophically, he would never pass a quarterback in the draft that he believed to be "great." But he sounded as if the Browns have no intention of using their No. 6 overall pick on top prospects Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton in this year's draft "unless something crazy happened."  

 "I think there are some teams saying we need to get a quarterback in free agency or the draft. We're definitely not at that point," Heckert said. "We have all the confidence in the world Colt's going to be good.  

 "If there was a guy completely separated [from players at other positions of need], then you'd do it in a heart beat. But I think at No. 6, I don't think we're going to be in that situation."  

 Heckert sounded lukewarm about taking receiver A.J. Green with the Browns' top pick. He couldn't disguise his high opinion of the top-rated defensive linemen available, along with cornerback Patrick Peterson. Heckert said he considered linebacker D'Qwell Jackson better suited for the 4-3 defensive scheme being implemented, denied the team needs a new right tackle in place of Tony Pashos and said he'd like to sign franchise kicker Phil Dawson long-term but hasn't heard from him or his agent.  

 Shurmur said his base offense starts with two running backs, both of whom must be able to catch the ball, and envisioned Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty in the backfield together. The coach said Benjamin Watson is an ideal tight end for his offense and conceded team speed has to be upgraded in all areas.  

 Excerpts of the one-hour conversation: 

Taking a receiver high in the first round.  

 Both men said no "great" player should be exempted. Heckert said the receiver depth in this draft is good and he will target groups of players with the Browns' top two picks and weigh which package would be better, as he did in the 2010 draft.  

 "You have to think about it that way. You're trying to get as many good players as you can," Heckert said. "The only good thing about picking [sixth and 37th] is in the second round, I know we're going to get a good player." 

Heckert feels a lot better about the linebackers on his roster than the defensive front.  

 He said he wants restricted free agent Jackson back and views him as the weakside outside linebacker. He considers Scott Fujita the prototypical strongside outside linebacker and projects Chris Gocong in the middle. He likes Marvin Benard as a situational pass rusher but doesn't know where he fits on early downs in the new scheme. 

Defensive end vs. defensive tackle depends on players available.  

 "Normally you'd say if a guy can rush the passer outside, you'd take him over the [inside] guy if [their ranking] is equal," Heckert said. "But if you really like a guy that's special as a defensive tackle, he's still going to get pressure on the quarterback and he'll help you. So I don't think it's a huge difference." 

The new regime will look for faster, if lighter, players.  

 "I think the NFL is a very fast league and I think the model we had in Philadelphia [is what we're] trying to employ," Shurmur said. "You don't want real small guys, but it really helps if you have team speed. I think that's an important thing, so you're always looking for guys that can move. I think that separates guys at every position." 

The running backs play a huge role in Shurmur's West Coast offense.  

 "It sounds trite, but we're going to hand it to them and throw it to them," Shurmur said. "The running backs in this system are key because they're going to touch the football [a lot]."  

 Shurmur said the fullback must be able to block, run and catch. He said free agent Lawrence Vickers shows he can catch on tape, but he added two halfbacks can share the backfield if one of them [Hillis] is big.  

"I just hope they give the kid a fair chance. They can say what they want, but they just don't seem to have much faith in him." - centerfield6

View full sizeIndians Prospect InsiderJared Goedert.

"I just hope they give the kid a fair chance. They can say what they want, but they just don't seem to have much faith in him."

The impressive antlers that Ohio's white-tailed deer have been wearing for many months are going away. Don't worry, they'll be back again.

 The impressive antlers that Ohio's white-tailed deer have been wearing for many months are going away. Don't worry, they'll be back again. 

DAVID DIBBELLPhotographer David Dibbell of Avon has chronicled the annual antler growth of a big buck close to his home. A broad main base began to emerge last spring from the forehead of a deer that Dibbell calls the Long Tine Buck, showing the promise of big antlers to be developed in the months ahead.

In the throes of winter, with the breeding season just a memory for barrel-chested, thick-necked male deer, it's time for Mother Nature to take away the impressive head gear that can be an obsession for hunters and a treat for wildlife watchers. The antlers simply fall off and, once on the forest floor, are consumed by chipmunks, field mice and other small creatures hungry to gnaw on the calcium-rich bone.

It's difficult to chronicle the cycle of antler growth, especially the antlers of a single, wild big buck. Photographer David Dibbell of Avon Lake has been at it for a decade. In the past year he's captured the development of the large, graceful antlers of a favorite, the Long Tine Buck, from start to finish. 

The eye-catching Long Tine Buck lives near Dibbell's home, a member of a herd numbering about 70 deer. The deer roam an area closed to hunting, and have become comfortable with Dibbell as he hikes their territory with a camera about three days each week. 

 "The deer get nervous at times," said Dibbell. "We recently had six inches of snow with a layer of ice on top, then more snow. It's difficult for deer to travel  through that stuff, so they wouldn't let anyone get close enough so that they'd risk having to run."

DAVID DIBBELLThe Long Tine Buck, with a another buck behind him, had large, rapidly-growing antlers covered in velvet late last summer.

Testosterone-fueled big bucks can be dangerous during the rut, or breeding season.

 "These bucks don't seem to get testy with me during the rut, but they do get pretty cranky with each other," said Dibbell.

Deer antlers are the fastest-growing tissue in the animal world, with a big buck able to add a as much as an inch of antler growth in a single day during peak development in late spring and summer.

 When Dibbell's Long Tine Buck began growing his 2010 antlers, the circumference of the main beam as it emerged left no doubt he'd produce another impressive set. For a change, the antlers were more symmetrical than in the previous two years. The Long Tine Buck again had nine vertical "tines," or points, but the long tines on the left side of his antlers were no longer a little shorter, matching the size of the tines on the right side.

 Yearling male deer begin sprouting antlers from what are called "pedicles" on their forehead at about 4 to 6 months of age. Antler growth begins in early April, triggered by an increase in the daylight period. The soft-growing antler is covered with a hairy skin called "velvet," which is full of thousands of blood vessels.

DAVID DIBBELLLast fall, the Long Tine Buck had removed the velvet from its antlers by rubbing them on trees and shrubs and was ready to be a dominant player in the fall breeding season.

As a male deer's testosterone levels rise in fall, approaching the breeding season, antlers harden through calcification. The velvet dries and deer dislodge it by rubbing antlers against trees and brush.

What remains is hard, polished bone and sharp tines, the perfect tool for a big buck to establish its dominance in the woods and a position of superiority in mating with female deer.

Antlers are heavy head gear. A man who prowls the woods searching for discarded antlers, or "sheds," found the antlers worn by the Long Tine Buck in 2009 and 2010. The 2010 antlers weighed a hefty 8 pounds. 

 Beginning in late December and January, a buck's testosterone levels decline and the connection between the pedicle and antler weakens. The antlers generally fall off in February, and skin grows over the wound left by the discarded antler. In spring, antler growth begins all over again.

DAVID DIBBELLThe impressive antlers of the Long Tine Buck were recently "shed," dropping off in early February. Once spring arrives, the big buck will again grow a new pair.

Deer generally grow larger antlers each season. At about 7 or 8 years old, when a deer is past its prime, antler size begins to shrink.

Dibbell has documented the Long Tine Buck heading into its seventh spring, and isn't sure how much longer he'll be around.

"I keep photos of all of the deer in my computer, printing out photos of the bucks for a special album," said Dibbell. "I like to take them to Vermont, where I grew up and still deer hunt, to show the hunters there what real deer look like.

"Oddly enough, I have yet to see a deer that's older than 7 years old, even though I only see about one dead deer in the woods each year."

 The most unusual deer in Dibbell's collection is a non-typical buck that wasn't always that way. Deer have either typical antlers, which are symmetrical, or non-typical antlers, with often bizarre growth patterns and sporting many points. 

 "There is a buck that had typical 9-point antlers as a 3-year-old," said Dibbell. "Two years ago the deer grew non-typical antlers with 23 points. Last year, he was a non-typical again, but down to 16 points with lots of drop tines. He's a monster, with an antler spread close to three feet."

 Dibbell has never seen a Vermont buck that could match his close-to-home collection of trophy deer. But they've become friends which he's more than happy to continue bagging with a camera. 

Dibbell hunts deer in Vermont with a gun, near his Avon Lake home with camera

 David Dibbell's photographic exploits with a deer herd close to his Avon Lake home are simply part of his exercise program, and it's earned him a fan club.

 "I've been taking photos for almost 10 years now with a point-and-shoot Olympus SP-5600Z with an 18x telephone lens," said Dibbell, 69, who retired from Energizer Battery Company in Westlake about 12 years ago. "I take about 500 photos a month, and shoot them all year round. I have an big email list of people who want to see the deer, and the photos are sent all over the world."

Dibbell runs three days a week, and hikes on three days with camera in hand. On Sunday, he takes a break.

 "I still hunt deer in Vermont each year, where I grew up, and enjoy eating venison," he said. He was also a partridge hunter, the Vermont description of a ruffed grouse, and likes to hike the Vermont mountains to fish clear-water streams for brook trout. He and wife, Sandy, enjoy traveling to the National Parks, having visited Denali, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier and Yosemite national parks. 

 "We're not close to giving that up," he said. "The National Parks are our favorite destinations."

WFNY wonders just where the NBA is heading and how the latest e-mail to fans plays a role

Hey, Cavs fans! Come buy tickets to see other teams!

It is time to ask the question: Has the NBA as a whole completely lost sight of its fans? 

I knew at least one guy had lost sight of the fans when LeBron James executed “The Decision” this past summer. Now, it seems that James and Chris Bosh were just the first dominoes in a not-so-isolated case of fans being an absolute afterthought. Carmelo Anthony forcing his way out of Denver and to New York is just more proof of the Miami Heat’s off-putting concept.

LeBron truly is the king... in terms of burning the most fans. Give Carmelo Anthony some credit, I guess. In executing his exodus from Denver he only burned one fan base. LeBron was intent on trying to burn fans of the Cavs, Bulls, Knicks, and Nets simultaneously. To cap it all off, he ended up going to a place where the “fans” seemingly can’t muster the energy to “fan up” and jump on the bandwagon.

If you are keeping score at home, the Knicks and Heat are loaded while the Cavs, Raptors, and Nuggets suffer. If current trends continue, you can add the New Orleans Hornets fans to that list when Chris Paul points his compass toward NYC sooner rather than later.

Care not that there are only a few teams in the league with any real chance of winning in the playoffs. The NBA has some real premier match-ups for TNT, ESPN and the playoffs, right? In the end, it seems that great TV ratings are synonymous with league health and a sport’s quality. Except it really isn’t.

That’s the same backhanded dismissiveness that Yankees fans use when the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants are in the World Series. “Boy the networks must be ticked because they missed out on huge TV ratings!” they say. As sports fans, can someone remind me again why we care about TV ratings? It is nice to see big stars on the biggest stages, but no league can’t survive on exhibitions alone.

At least Dan Gilbert and the owners in the NBA still care about the fans right? I sure thought so. That was before I got my latest email from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Check out the image above.

Big names coming! The Knicks, Thunder, Magic and Heat! That’s right, the Cavs are now attempting to sell us on visiting teams. Big names who have found ways to consolidate talent in a city other than Cleveland! Catch them all! Live!

I always thought the Knicks were a horrible example for the way to do business in the NBA. They tanked for a number of years and failed miserably in their attempt to win “the summer of LeBron.”

Apparently I was wrong. They ended up getting Amar’e Stoudemire and then somehow became the desired landing spot for Carmelo Anthony, seemingly for no reason other than geography. Now the Knicks suddenly find themselves as the selling point for a Cavaliers marketing e-mail. Talk about failing to the top.

That isn’t even to mention the fact that the Cavs have the gall to include the Miami Heat in their sell job to Cavs fans. The team that represents absolutely everything wrong with the NBA in the majority of Cavs fans’ minds is now some kind of selling point to get people to The Q?

If you want to give the Cavs the benefit of the doubt, maybe they are just reminding the fans to come out and boo like crazy. Then again can you give them that benefit as they attempt to sell the Knicks, Magic, and Thunder to the once proud fans who used to have their own team a mere season ago?

I know Dan Gilbert is competitive and wants to win desperately. Then again, he also wants to win at business as well. Is it possible that he and the organization have been beaten into submission by the way the NBA is running?

I have supported Dan Gilbert, because of the resources he committed to winning over the last few years. Given the Cavs’ latest email, it appears this league’s problems surpass even Dan Gilbert’s deep pockets and willingness to compete. This is an entire league based on a set of principles (or lack thereof) that are tough if not impossible to stomach. Meanwhile, Cavs fans are expected to wait patiently to figure out if their team can ever climb the giant hill of relevancy ever again.

Some mountains are worth climbing because getting to the top is a proud achievement. The further and further this league devolves under the tutelage of people who seemingly couldn’t care less about NBA fans, the more and more it looks like a mountain that I don’t really feel like climbing anyway.

I thought maybe the NBA wasn’t as broken as I first suspected after LeBron and “The Decision.” I thought maybe it was just me being sensitive because Cleveland came out on the losing end. As more and more fans find themselves sitting on the sidelines for super-teams it becomes more and more apparent that I wasn’t wrong. Cleveland was just a leading indicator of the disease that is coursing deeper and deeper through the veins of the NBA.

Is there a doctor in the house? Anywhere?

Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward joined Greg Kozarik and Brian Fowler on 'Locked and Loaded' on the Digital Sports Network Friday. Ward talked about his rookie season with the Browns, the NFL cracking down on hard hits, and what defensive area the Browns should address the most in April.

Mark Duncan / Associated PressT.J. Ward was a guest on DSN Friday morning.

Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward joined Greg Kozarik and Brian Fowler on 'Locked and Loaded' on the Digital Sports Network Friday. Ward talked about his rookie season with the Browns, the NFL cracking down on hard hits, and what defensive area the Browns should address the most in April.

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

The following basketball schedule changes have been reported due to Friday's snowstorm. Boys basketball games originally scheduled for Friday:

The following basketball schedule changes have been reported due to Friday's snowstorm.

Boys basketball games originally scheduled for Friday:

Barberton at Cloverleaf moved to Saturday. Varsity at 7:30 p.m. The JV game has been canceled.

Benedictine at St. Ignatius moved to Saturday. JV at 11:30 a.m., varsity at 1 p.m.

Brecksville at Avon Lake moved to Saturday. JV at 1 p.m., varsity at 2:30 p.m.

Buckeye at Keystone moved to Saturday. JV at 1 p.m., varsity at 2:30 p.m.

Clearview at Oberlin moved to Monday. JV at 6 p.m., varsity at 7:30 p.m.

Columbia at Lutheran West moved to Saturday. JV at 6 p.m, varsity at 7 p.m.

Elyria at Brunswick moved to Saturday at 2:30 p.m. for varsity.

Elyria Catholic at Villa Angela-St. Joseph moved to Saturday. JV at 6 p.m., varsity to follow.

Firestone at Archbishop Hoban moved to Saturday. JV at 6 p.m., varsity at 7:30 p.m.

Garfield Heights at Strongsville moved to Saturday. JV at 5 p.m., varsity at 6:30 p.m.

Green at Revere moved to Saturday. JV at 10:30 a.m., varsity at noon.

Harvey at Riverside moved to Wednesday. JV at 6 p.m., varsity at 7:30.

Holy Name at Padua moved to Sunday. JV at 5 p.m., varsity at 6:30 p.m.

John F. Kennedy at Shaker Heights moved to Saturday. JV at 1 p.m., varsity at 3 p.m.

North Royalton at Parma moved to Saturday. JV at 6 p.m., varsity at 7:30 p.m.

Richmond Heights at Wickliffe moved to Saturday at 1 p.m.

Wadsworth at Medina Highland moved to Saturday. JV at 6 p.m., varsity at 7:30.

Boys basketball games originally scheduled for Saturday:

Keystone at Ellet moved to Monday. JV at 6 p.m., varsity at 7:30 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Notes and observations from the Cavs game against the New York Knicks Friday night at The Q: Final: Cavs 115, Knicks 109. It's going to take more than Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups for the New York Knicks to beat the Cavaliers at The Q. The Cavs beat the Knicks for the second time this season,...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Notes and observations from the Cavs game against the New York Knicks Friday night at The Q:

Final: Cavs 115, Knicks 109. It's going to take more than Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups for the New York Knicks to beat the Cavaliers at The Q.

The Cavs beat the Knicks for the second time this season, 115-109, before a raucous crowd on Friday night at The Q.

It was the first time the Cavs have seen the Knicks with Anthony and Billups, obtained in trades earlier this week. But it didn't make any difference.

Antawn Jamison had 28 points and 13 rebounds, J.J. Hickson had 24 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocked shots, Ramon Session added 22 points and 8 assists for the short-handed Cavs, who were without newcomers Baron Davis and rookies Semih Erden and Luke Harangody, all obtained in trades on Thursday.

Amar'e Stoudemire had 31 points and 11 rebounds, Anthony added 27 points and 8 rebounds and Chauncey Billups had 26 points and 8 assists for the Knicks, 29-27.

Billups stepped up with 20 points in the fourth quarter. Limited to just 8 minutes in the first half after picking up three fouls, He made four straight free throws and then hit a 3-pointer to get the Knicks within 96-93 with 5:03 left.

But Jamison hit back-to-back hook shots and then drew two straight fouls on Anthony, making three of four free throws to push Cleveland's lead back to 103-97 with 3:19 left.

Stoudemire made two baskets, blocked a layup by Ramon Sessions and grabbed a defensive rebound to set up a layup by Billups to bring New York within 103-101 with 2:05 left.

The Knicks were still within 107-105 before Daniel Gibson hit a 3-pointer with 30.6 seconds left. Anthony made a laup and was fouled by Hickson with 25.8 seconds left, but he missed the free throw. Sessions grabbed the rebound and Anthony committed his sixth foul with 24.3 second left. Sessions made one of two free throws, and the Cavs were up, 111-107.

Sessions added six more free throws in the final 15.1 seconds as the Cavs won for the third time in five games to improve to 11-47.

Third quarter update: Cavs 83, Knicks 75. The most memorable shots were a huge dunk and a late 3-pointer by little-used Alonzo Gee. Byron Scott may have to find some room for him at this rate. Anthony Parker left the court briefly after colliding with Chauncey Billups late in the quarter but was able to return before the end of the period.

Halftime update: Cavs 53, Knicks 53. Ramon Sessions hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the tie in a ragged affair that featured (?) 20 turnovers, 11 by the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony has 19 points for the Knicks, and Amar'e Stoudemire and Landry Fields have 11 each, but Chauncey Billups played just 8 minutes in the first half after picking up three fouls. After making just 4 of their first 15 shots, New York hit 16 of its next 28. J.J. Hickson has 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots, including a moster against Stoudemire.

First quarter update: Knicks 30, Cavs 28. Carmelo Anthony scored 16 points and his two free throws with 3.1 seconds left were the difference in the first quarter. At one point the Knicks had made 4 of 15 shots, but they finished by making 6 of last 9. J.J. Hickson had 10 points and 6 rebounds for short-handed Cavs, but late flurry of turnovers by rookies erased an eight-point lead.

Cavs starters: F Christian Eyenga, F Antawn Jamison, C J.J. Hickson, G Anthony Parker, G Ramon Sessions.

Knicks starters: F Carmelo Anthony, F Amar'e Stoudemire, C Ronny Turiaf, G Chauncey Billups, G Landry Fields.

Injuries: Anderson Varejao (torn tendon, right foot) is out for Cavs. Kelenna Azubuike (left knee surgery) is out for the Knicks.

Inactives: Baron Davis, Semih Erden and Luke Harangody for Cavs. Azubuike, Corey Brewer and Andy Rautins for Knicks.

Officials: Dick Bavetta, Derrick Collins and Brian Forte.

Three things to watch:

1. Which J.J. Hickson will show up _ the good Lakers Hickson or the bad Rockets Hickson?

2. Will the Knicks be able to avenge their overtime loss here on Dec. 18?

3. How do newcomers Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups mix with Amar'e Stoudemire?

PROSPECT WATCH Here's a glimpse at one of the Indians' prospects in big-league camp. A different player will be profiled daily until the start of Cactus League games Sunday. MARK DUNCAN/ASSOCIATED PRESSLONNIE CHISENHALL Lonnie Chisenhall Age: 21. Bats: Left. Throws: Right. Height/weight: 6-2, 190. Position: 3B. How acquired: The Indians drafted him in the first round in 2008. He...

PROSPECT WATCH

Here's a glimpse at one of the Indians' prospects in big-league camp. A different player will be profiled daily until the start of Cactus League games Sunday.

MARK DUNCAN/ASSOCIATED PRESSLONNIE CHISENHALL

Lonnie Chisenhall

Age: 21.

Bats: Left. Throws: Right.

Height/weight: 6-2, 190.

Position: 3B.

How acquired: The Indians drafted him in the first round in 2008. He was the 29th player taken.

2010 stats: He hit .278 (128-for-460) with 81 runs, 22 doubles, three triples, 17 homers, 84 RBI, 46 walks, 77 strikeouts and an .801 OPS at Class AA Akron.

2011: Expected to play at Class AAA Columbus.

The skinny: The Indians want Chisenhall to improve his defense at third. He's working on his pre-pitch setup, keeping his head still and getting a good break on the ball. This will be his third season at third since making the move from short and he says he feels comfortable. A right shoulder injury slowed him last season, but he's healthy now. He has a smooth, well-balanced swing with good plate coverage.

Personal: Avid reader, especially mysteries. Likes authors James Patterson and Dan Brown. Finishes a book in close to a week. When he's not playing baseball or reading, he's probably golfing. Drafted by the Pirates in the first round in 2006, but did not sign. Hit .574 as a senior at West Carter High School (N.C.). He played his freshman year at the University of South Carolina in 2007, hitting .313. He was kicked off the team for theft. He spent the 2008 season at Pitt Junior College in Greenville, N.C., where he hit .410 (68-for-166) with 27 doubles, eight homers and 66 RBI.

-- Paul Hoynes

B.J. Penn takes on Jon Fitch in UFC 127 in Australia Saturday night in a welterweight battle. So naturally the conference call with UFC President Dana White to preview the fight was all about . . . UFC 129 two months from now in Toronto.  About the only connection: The current welterweight titleholder, the man who arguably is the...

B.J. Penn takes on Jon Fitch in UFC 127 in Australia Saturday night in a welterweight battle. So naturally the conference call with UFC President Dana White to preview the fight was all about . . . UFC 129 two months from now in Toronto. 

About the only connection: The current welterweight titleholder, the man who arguably is the best in the mixed martial arts world, Georges St. Pierre, fights No. 1 challenger Jake Shields that night. The winner of that eventually will square off against the Penn-Fitch winner. 

The big news in this conference call isn't really so much Penn (16-7-1) vs. Fitch (26-3-0). --'Instead, White and his interrogators focused on UFC selling out 55,000 seats in Toronto's Rogers Centre for the April bout. Granted, some of that is helped by St. Pierre -- a Canadian who might be the fight's most popular figure -- headlining. But White said it's more a case of the growing allure of the sport. 

"We sold 55,000 tickets with an $11 million gate," White told reporters. "We sell out arenas here [in North America] all the time."' 

"We're in a half-billion homes right now on television worldwide, and we're working on some deals right now -- and we'll get them done in the next few months -- that will put is in over a billion homes worldwide on television," White said. 

The $11 million gate just about doubles the largest gate in UFC history, UFC 100, in which then-heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar won a TKO victory over Frank Mir. But it doesn't begin to rival some of the bigger boxing gates, as one writer suggested to White, especially at places like Las Vegas, where many UFC bouts are staged. 

"We haven't hit those numbers because we don't want to do that," White said. "The reality is, we sold 55,000 tickets up at the Rogers Centre. Those are all fans. . . . Boxing doesn't sell tickets to regular fans. Regular fans can't afford those tickets. 

 "The boxing guys put these tickets out at ridiculous prices and all the casinos buy them up," he said. 

"What's truly impressive is that the UFC is undergoing this massive growth during a time when the economy is struggling. 

"No matter how bad the economy is and how bad life sucks right now, people still need to be entertained," he said. "And you don't just sit home alone and watch UFC. You get nine or 10 of your buddies together. Everybody kicks in for pizza, beer and a pay-per-view." 

The sport's growth really is expanding at an incredible rate. The $11 million gate in Toronto is alongside the $3.5 million for the fight this weekend in Australia. White said the numbers indicate a fight like the Toronto one will add $40 million to the local economy; the ticket tax alone is $1.5 million. 

With UFC expanding so quickly, there could be a drain on the talent level. But White said his company already has a plan to combat that. Currently, UFC stages a reality show in the United States called "The Ultimate Fighter." Similar shows are planned for the United Kingdom, Canada and the Philippines. 

"So what we're doing is cultivating new talent." 

There's no shortage of interest; even at local gyms, youngsters are learning the entire spectrum of fighting styles that go into MMA bouts -- wrestling, boxing and jiu-jitsu. 

It's something Fitch, who is taking on Penn in the UFC 127 headlining bout, endorses. 

"You should be training hardcore, developing your skill sets three to five years at least," Fitch said. 

"I think you should refrain from contact like head contact until you're in your late teens," Fitch said. "There's no reason to be 9 years old taking kicks and knees to the head." 

He's right, but the thing to focus on here is the growth of the sport's popularity in that demographic. 'Now, rear naked chokes, arm bars and jiu-jitsu are becoming part of the American youth lexicon. 

"I said it before and I say it all the time, and for a long time, people thought I was nuts," White said. "I'm telling you this is going to be the biggest sport in the world. It is. It really is." 

Cleveland, Ohio -- Although newcomer Baron Davis isn't expected to arrive in Cleveland until Saturday, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott welcomed him during a phone call Thursday night.  "My first thing I said to him was, 'Baron, this is Coach, and I'm very excited,' " Scott said Friday. 'I don't know how you feel right now, and I don't know...

Cleveland, Ohio -- Although newcomer Baron Davis isn't expected to arrive in Cleveland until Saturday, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott welcomed him during a phone call Thursday night. 

"My first thing I said to him was, 'Baron, this is Coach, and I'm very excited,' " Scott said Friday. 'I don't know how you feel right now, and I don't know how you are right now, just because of the fact when you get traded, it does take a day or two to get your thoughts together and realize what's going on.' . . . I understood that he had some thoughts, might have been disappointed." 

Scott said as he filled in Davis about the city and the organization -- and the leadership role he expects the veteran point guard to take -- he got the impression that all would be well once Davis reports. 

"At the end of the conversation, we were laughing about the fact that people say we can't stand each other, and we were laughing about the fact that he was so disappointed," Scott said. "He said, 'Coach, really, I'm looking forward to it. L.A.'s home, and when the season's over, I'll be back home. But right now I'm looking forward to a change.' " 

Davis, obtained along with a No. 1 draft choice in the trade that sent Mo Williams and Jamario Moon to the Clippers on Thursday, also posted the following message on his Facebook page: 

"First and foremost, I want to say thank you to the fans in LA and all of Clipper Nation. Not many guys get the chance to play at home in front of their family and friends the way I have been able to the past couple seasons, and I am grateful for that opportunity. My former teammates will always be my family, and I wish them and the organization nothing but the best. 

"I can't wait to join my new team, bring good energy and help us win games. I'm ready to call The Q home and bring some excitement!!! See you soon Ohio! The Beard is on its way! BD." 

Still here: Anthony Parker seemed relieved that the anxiety of his rumored trade was finally over, and he was not displeased with the outcome. 

"I was kind of hoping I'd still me here," he said, adding that he'd be open to re-signing with the team when his contract expires this summer. 

He admitted it was difficult when teammates and friends like Williams and Moon move on, but he's also excited about the possibilities of playing with Davis and rookies Semih Erden and Luke Harangody. 

"Those are good additions," Parker said. "If you listen to a lot of the pundits, they say it was a good day for the Cavaliers."

Numbers game: Davis will wear No. 85, Harangody will wear No. 44 and Erden will wear No. 9 with the Cavs. 

Davis has worn No. 1 or No. 5 as a pro, but those numbers are worn here by Daniel Gibson and Ryan Hollins, respectively. He wore No. 5 at UCLA. Harangody wore No. 44 at Notre Dame, but wore No. 55 in Boston. Erden wore No. 9 in Turkey, but No. 86 in Boston.

The last word: From Charles Barkley on Williams and Moon being traded: "I've heard people say that Oklahoma City and the Knicks were the big winners [at the trade deadline]. The big winners are Mo Williams and Jamario Moon." 

"There is very little in Donald's minor league stats to show that he can hit at the MLB level, particularly at a power position like third. He looks more like a utility man. At 26, you don't usually make huge leaps in power and OPS." - ossievitt

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerJason Donald is the leading candidate for the Indians third-base position.

"There is very little in Donald's minor league stats to show that he can hit at the MLB level, particularly at a power position like third. He looks more like a utility man. At 26, you don't usually make huge leaps in power and OPS."

"Is it just me or is everyone forgetting about pass protection? By the end of last season we had injured all three quarterbacks and every team on the roster knew we couldn't handle the pass rush. I want a hard hitter on D too, but we've got to protect Colt next year." - nusuns

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerThe Browns are set with Joe Thomas anchoring the left side of the offensive line, but questions remain about the right side.

"Is it just me or is everyone forgetting about pass protection? By the end of last season we had injured all three quarterbacks and every team on the roster knew we couldn't handle the pass rush. I want a hard hitter on D too, but we've got to protect Colt next year."

"I'd use the first pick on Irving. We need someone to check the new, superfast point guards in today's NBA. Sessions can't do it consistently." - hannibal-lecter

View full sizeAP Photo | Bill KostrounDuke's Kyrie Irving.

"I'd use the first pick on Irving. We need someone to check the new, superfast point guards in today's NBA. Sessions can't do it consistently."

Cleveland, Ohio -- The third strike slipped past the Cleveland State men's basketball team Thursday night like a 3-2 slider from a fastball hurler.  All season long, CSU had won -- most often convincingly -- without much production from its bench or from its rebounders.  But down the stretch, as CSU's fullcourt pressure became less dominant, CSU's shortcomings became...

Cleveland, Ohio -- The third strike slipped past the Cleveland State men's basketball team Thursday night like a 3-2 slider from a fastball hurler. 

All season long, CSU had won -- most often convincingly -- without much production from its bench or from its rebounders. 

But down the stretch, as CSU's fullcourt pressure became less dominant, CSU's shortcomings became more evident, and reliance on point guard Norris Cole to deliver big games became paramount. 

Needing a home win over Milwaukee to put a firm grip on a Horizon League title, the Vikings (23-7, 12-5 HL) gave up more points than they had in any other game this season and lost. The defeat dimmed their regular-season title hopes and put their dreams of hosting the Horizon League Tournament in jeopardy. 

Milwaukee coach Rob Jeter said if his team could limit Cole to 30 points, it had a chance. Cole scored 27, and the Panthers won, 87-83. 

CSU is now in a three-way tie with Milwaukee and Butler for first place. 

Today's 2 p.m. game against Green Bay at the Wolstein Center is a must-win if the Vikings have have any chance at one of the top two seeds in the HL Tournament -- both of which earn byes into the semifinals. 

Also, it will take a loss by either Milwaukee or Butler. 

Chances are CSU will start the HL Tournament on Tuesday at home and have to play four games to win the tournament and earn the automatic NCAA Tournament bid that goes with it. 

Cole said if that's the road ahead, so be it. 

"We're going to keep fighting," he said after the Milwaukee setback. "If we have to win it the old-fashioned way, that's fine. Our goals are the same. We've worked too hard all season to give up right now." 

Still, CSU coach Gary Waters let his frustration show more than usual as he summed up both the season to date and the loss to the Panthers. 

"We have no bench, and you don't rebound the basketball," Waters said. "Those things will beat you every time you play. If you want me to say it's smoke and mirrors we got through this [season], I'll say that. It's reality. 

"But I will say this. There will be a bench here [next year]. It won't be no smoke and mirrors any more. I told a lot of people in the locker room that. This will change. 

"'I won't put myself in that position ever again where we are so fragile that we've got to count on one or two players. Norris had to work too hard. And he's too good of a basketball player to have to fight this hard to win a championship." 

True grit: Kent State first weathered a four-game road swing in 10 days covering 3,000 miles. Now, it has to follow that with three games in five days, albeit two at home. 

Like Cleveland State, the Golden Flashes (19-9, 10-3 Mid-American Conference) have a thin bench and are light on rebounding. But they have found a way to stand at the front of the Mid-American Conference pack, one game ahead of Miami and two ahead of Akron, with three games to play. 

Next for Kent State is today's 7 p.m. game in the M.A.C. Center against surging Ohio (15-13, 7-6). OU, the defending MAC Tournament champion, has won five of its past six. 

Home cooking: The Akron Zips (18-10, 8-5 MAC) climbed back into contention in the conference race, winning seven of their past eight. The most balanced and most veteran team in the league gets yet another chance at a homecourt triumph today with a 7 p.m. game against Buffalo (16-10, 7-6), which has lost three of its past four.

Akron then ends the season with back-to-back road games next week: at Ohio University and at Kent.

Canton, Ohio -- Move over, St. Edward wrestling. You've got company. Hawken School's indomitable Hawks won their 12th straight Division II girls state swimming title Friday night at the C.T. Branin Natatorium. Adding the Division I title Hawken won in 1999 when there was only one division, the Hawks equaled the 13 consecutive state championships won by the Eagles...

Hawken sophomore Sarah Koucheki won the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 butterfly at the state championships. - (Special to The Plain Dealer)

Canton, Ohio -- Move over, St. Edward wrestling. You've got company.

Hawken School's indomitable Hawks won their 12th straight Division II girls state swimming title Friday night at the C.T. Branin Natatorium. Adding the Division I title Hawken won in 1999 when there was only one division, the Hawks equaled the 13 consecutive state championships won by the Eagles (1997-2009) on the mat.

Hawken finished with 334 points, easily distancing runner-up Granville at 171 and Dayton Oakwood with 162.

"Each year it's a little different, but each year it's very special," said Hawken veteran coach Jerry Holtrey, notching the school's 22nd overall title. "I'm just happy for the girls because every event was involved, including diving. Everybody was involved in the victory."

No one wore a bigger smile than Hawken sophomore Sarah Koucheki, who proved her versatility by winning the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly, the latter in a state and meet record time of 55.22 seconds. Bay freshman Elizabeth Auckley was third in that event.

But it was in the medley that Koucheki came through as she knocked off freshman challenger Andrea Cottrell from Columbus Bishop Hartley and defending sophomore champion MacKenzie Stewart from Port Clinton.

"I'm not going to lie, I was incredibly nervous," said Koucheki, who was seeded fourth in the event and had to swim out of the sixth lane. "Sometimes I get so nervous it gets the best of me. I am just so happy I did what I wanted to do."

Koucheki was Hawken's lone individual champ a year ago when she won the butterfly. She had plenty of company this time around as the Hawks won all three relays and had four individual winners.

They wasted little time putting 40 points on the board as they won the opening medley relay in state and meet record time. The quartet of sophomore Marissa Cominelli (back), junior Lizzie Aronoff (breast), sophomore Carrie Bencic (fly) and sophomore Caroline Vexler (free) put up a 1:45.72 to hold off challenging Dayton Oakwood (1:46.15).

Pulling away in the last 50 yards, junior Morgan Cohara won the 200 free with a clocking of 1:51.36. Teammate Bencic was third. For a second straight year, Bencic finished second in the 500 free when freshman Sydney King from Granville put up a 4:56.37 to Bencic's 4:56.45.

Hawken sophomore Marissa Cominelli won the 100 backstroke in a record 55.49 seconds, with senior Meghan Shroyer from Chagrin Falls third. The Hawks put the finishing touches on the night by winning the 200- and 400-yard relays, both in record times.

There was one other area winner and near misses in two other events.

Walsh Jesuit sophomore Danielle Margheret capped her season by winning the 100 breaststroke in a record 1:02.74. It earned her outstanding girls swimmer of the meet honors.

Continuing their seasonlong duel, senior Jordan Moxley from Cortland Maplewood edged Gilmour Academy freshman Macie McNichols in the 50 free. Moxley covered the distance in 23.51 to McNichols' 23.74. Moxley was second in the event a year ago.

In the 100 free, another senior deprived McNichols of a title when McDonald's Katie Joseph touched the wall in 51.45. McNichols was second in 51.54.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

Canton -- It was only fitting that University School go out with perfection. Capping a year in which it did not lose a relay race, the Preppers put the finishing touch on their third straight state swimming championship season by winning the 400-yard freestyle event Friday night at the C.T. Branin Natatorium.

University School senior Andrew Malone was named outstanding boys swimmer of the state meet. - (Special to The Plain Dealer)

Canton -- It was only fitting that University School go out with perfection.

Capping a year in which it did not lose a relay race, the Preppers put the finishing touch on their third straight state swimming championship season by winning the 400-yard freestyle event Friday night at the C.T. Branin Natatorium.

It gave University School 377 points, more than enough to claim the Division II boys state title. Cincinnati Wyoming, second in the finishing race, had to settle for the runner-up spot with 191 points. Dayton Oakwood was third with 171.

"It's just hitting me right now," said US senior Andrew Malone, who was named the outstanding boys swimmer of the meet. "It's just great. Getting four first places is just crazy."

Malone did his part by winning both the 50-yard freestyle, a race he had not lost all season, and the 100-yard breaststroke. He completed both tasks in state and meet record times.

The victory in the 50 free was especially sweet since he defeated defending state champion and record holder Cooper Staton from Columbus St. Francis DeSales in an exciting duel. Both broke the existing mark, but Malone's 20.50 bested Staton's 20.75.

Malone was also in the water for winning efforts in the 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay, with the latter the race of the night. With its relay streak in serious jeopardy, US had to rally against determined Lima Shawnee.

The Preppers got a stirring finish from junior Nicholas Crane to win by the slimmest of margins -- 0.01 seconds. They finished in a state and tournament record 1:24.64 to Lima's 1:24.65.

"Nicholas Crane is the hero of that relay," said Malone, who swam the opening leg.""

The Preppers were home free after that as Malone defended his butterfly title with a record 55.54 and finishing 400 free squad was equal to the task.

"They keep getting faster," said US coach Brian Perry, whose team won three relays and three individual titles. "We've had a great group of seniors and they've had a great run. I'm sad to see them go, but they are ready for the next level."

US senior Mike Gaudiani repeated as champion in the 500 free with a time of 4:33.40 to hold off sophomore Josh Quallen of Wilmington at 4:33.45.

It was a measure of revenge because for the second straight year Gaudiani had to settle for the runner-up spot in the 200 free. It was Quallen denying him that title with a 1:40.78 to Gaudiani's 1:41.12. US senior Ben Stewart-Bates was third.

"I was disappointed," said Gaudiani, headed to Harvard. "It was a great race and I did the best I could. I talked to my coach and I just had to come back in the 500. It was incredible we pulled off that [200 relay]."

The Preppers left nothing to chance as they started off by shattering their own medley relay record by more than two seconds. The team of junior Kevin Stang (back), senior Korey Schneider (breast), junior Russell Stack (fly) and Malone (free) came through in 1:31.67, bettering the mark of 1:34.36 they had set in Thursday's preliminaries.

Chagrin Falls junior Davis Staley produced another area title when he won the 100 backstroke in a state and meet record time of 50.32 seconds. He had to hold off a pair of US swimmers in Crane and Stang. Staley was fourth in the 100 butterfly. The Tigers finished tied for fifth in the team standings.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

CANTON, Ohio — It's time for Joe Craven to catch up on his sleep. The Westlake senior turned in the top qualifying time in the 100-yard butterfly at Friday's Division I swimming preliminaries at C.T. Branin Natatorium. He will go for the championship tonight after getting some much-needed sleep.

Strongsville swimmer Michael Meldon. - (PD file)

CANTON, Ohio — It's time for Joe Craven to catch up on his sleep.

The Westlake senior turned in the top qualifying time in the 100-yard butterfly at Friday's Division I swimming preliminaries at C.T. Branin Natatorium. He will go for the championship tonight after getting some much-needed sleep.

"I've had a bit of a cold going," said Craven, who was sixth in the event a year ago. "I had a real relaxed sectional and a good district time, so I was shooting for a 50.4."

Craven bettered that goal with a time of 50.37 seconds, holding off junior Christian Josephson from Cincinnati Moeller and sophomore Ryan Bailey from Boardman, who tied for second with a 51.02.

"I made a couple of mistakes," said Craven, who had to settle for today's B Final with a ninth-place finish in the backstroke. "I hit the lane line at the start and took a breath at the finish. Those are little things you are not supposed to do."

Strongsville senior Michael Meldon did every thing right in clocking the top times in both the 50 free (20.60) and the 100 free (44.98.). He also helped the Mustangs qualify first in the 200 free relay and third in the 400 free relay.

Defending breaststroke champion Andrew Bartley from Firestone qualified second in the event, with St. Ignatius sophomore Derek Hren fourth.

Going for the double on the girls side, Firestone sophomore Katie Miller set herself up with top times in both the 200 individual medley and the 500 free.

"The hard part is getting to the finals," said Miller, who helped the Falcons finish third in the opening 200 medley relay. "Time doesn't matter in the finals. You just want to get your hand to the wall first."

Mayfield senior Alana Arnold had the best time in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:03.63. She also helped the Wildcats qualify sixth in the medley relay and third in the 200 free relay.

Cloverleaf junior Addy Ferguson, her school's lone swimmer, qualified for the finals in both of her events. She finished fourth in the 100 butterfly and seventh in the 100 backstroke.

Area teams were involved in two relay swim-offs. The Firestone boys edged Columbus St. Charles by 0.01 to take the eighth and final place in the 200 medley relay championship final and Solon bested St. Ignatius for the final slot in the 200 free relay.

No records were set during the preliminaries. Today's finals begin at 4 p.m.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

The Monsters remain in a tie for first place in the AHL's North Division with Manitoba, which lost to Rochester.

The Lake Erie Monsters outshot Grand Rapids, 37-27, but Griffins goalie Jordan Pearce came up with 34 saves and the Monsters lost, 5-3, in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Grand Rapids held a two-goal lead after the first period.

The Monsters tied it in the second on goals by Mark Olver, with Chad Costello and Julien Brouillette assisting, and Matthew Ford, who had help from Julian Talbot and Travis Gawryletz.

But the Griffins controlled the third period with three goals including an empty-netter with 20 seconds remaining. Greg Mauldin scored for Lake Erie in the third.

John Grahame was in goal for the Monsters.

Despite the loss, the Monsters remain in a tie for first place in the AHL's North Division with Manitoba, which lost to Rochester. Hamilton made it a three-way tie by beating Adirondack on Friday.

The Monsters will get another chance at the Griffins tonight when they return to The Q for a 7:30 start.

The Cavaliers beat the New York Knicks, one of the golden cities to which free agents flock in the NBA, in an uplifting game.

View full sizeGus Chan l The Plain DealerCavaliers guard Daniel Gibson raises his arms Friday after burying a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to give the Cavaliers a 110-105 lead.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The New York Knicks are not that good after their extreme makeover, but they are one of the NBA's golden destinations for free agents. In Cleveland, a city spurned last summer by LeBron James, a player whom the fans considered one of their own, that made the 11-and-47 Cavaliers' 115-109 victory Friday night over New York very important.

It was a vicarious comeuppance to all the sunshine boys and fair-weather superstars.

Not that "Little LeBron," Carmelo Anthony, sulked on the court in the final days or quit on the Denver Nuggets before actually walking out the door. While Anthony still has the world on a string, he is hardly the biggest yo-yo in the NBA.

In the two weeks before Anthony's trade from Denver to the Knicks, he averaged 33.8 points on 52.8 percent shooting. He also averaged 8.7 rebounds per game. Distracted by the Melodrama, the Nuggets went 2-4. Clearly, however, in terms of being a physical force, Anthony did his part.

Just as James overshadowed Anthony after both entered the NBA eight years ago in MVP awards won and NBA Finals reached, so the former Cavalier also dwarfed Carmelo in his infamous manner of defection. James enraged fans of four teams (Cavs, Knicks, Bulls, Nets) when he bolted to Miami to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who is the "oh yeah, that guy" in the mix. Anthony dissed only the Nuggets.

Toronto management also blistered Bosh for refusing to return to the lineup after a late-season injury to try to put the Raptors in the playoffs.

Predictably, Cavs fans greeted Anthony with a storm of boos. In the end he and Amar'e Stoudemire, the other glamour defector who debuted on Broadway at the start of the season, scored 58 points, but it required a staggering 49 shots for them to do it. The rest of the Knicks' roster, eviscerated in the Quest for Melo, scored 51 points on 44 shots.

The antipathy toward the Knicks is easy to understand. Everybody always hated the kid who stacked the teams on the playground. Stoudemire and Anthony might have acquitted themselves better in leaving Phoenix and Denver, respectively, than James did in bolting Cleveland. But who didn't? Art Modell?

Chris Paul is already planning to leave New Orleans next season for the Knicks, too. David Stern remarkably praised James' "integrity" after the latter threw off his Cavs jersey on elimination night in Boston and preceded that by throwing in the towel in Game 5. As Commissioner of Slapstick, Stern has done little but make excuses for the players his marketing people lionized, all this while they became engines of competitive disparity and fan contempt. He must become a commissioner for the fans again soon, by insisting that an NFL-style "franchise player" rule is non-negotiable in the NBA's likely contentious labor discussions this summer. It is the only way to protect the paying customers and the owners in "flyover" cities.

The league today is like some twisted version of the reality show "Survivor," in which the bad guys get to vote themselves off the island, then upgrade to a mansion in South Beach or a condo on Central Park West. Such players' concerns are fraternal, not communitarian. They care about getting theirs, not about the values and interests of a city or a league as a whole. Forget sneaker contracts. These guys ought to be paid to rock back and forth in oversized clown shoes.

There is some thought that the Knicks gave up too much for Anthony and that his style will not be complementary with Stoudemire. It cannot be the best sign that Anthony took 25 shots in the first game the two played together to Stoudemire's 13, although the Knicks did beat Milwaukee.

Said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni: "The only good thing is Amar'e is 28. Now, 21 or 22 I'd worry about it. Now 28, he's been an All-Star, he's won everything except a championship. And Carmelo's the same thing. They are who they are. No matter what happens, you're Carmelo. Now can we get to the other level of being champions? That's up to you guys."

Right now, the Knicks expect 33-year-old point guard Chauncey Billups, an NBA champion in 2004 in Detroit and a Coloradoan who never wanted to be included in the Melo trade, to figure out ball distribution. "The biggest thing is he has the stature of 'Look, this is how it's done, I've done it.' It makes a big difference," D'Antoni said.

So who defers with the Knicks? Other than the jilted fans in Denver and Phoenix, I mean. In Cleveland, where fans were told on national television that their hoop dreams were on hold indefinitely, we know the feeling. That's why this win was for the soul.

To reach Bill Livingston: blivingston@plaind.com, 216-999-4672