Ohio State wide receiver Duron Carter withdrew from school and will enroll and play at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas this fall, reports ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. According to the story, Carter, the son of Buckeyes legend and ESPN analyst Cris Carter,  had been ruled academically ineligible for the Rose Bowl against Oregon and sat out all of spring practice because of academic...

Marvin Fong /The Plain DealerDuron Carter

Ohio State wide receiver Duron Carter withdrew from school and will enroll and play at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas this fall, reports ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

According to the story, Carter, the son of Buckeyes legend and ESPN analyst Cris Carter,  had been ruled academically ineligible for the Rose Bowl against Oregon and sat out all of spring practice because of academic reasons.

Duron Carter appeared in all 12 regular-season games for Ohio State as a true freshman in 2009 and recorded 13 receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown. The departures of Ray Small and Carter leave Ohio State with only two wide receivers who recorded more than 10 receptions last year (running backs Brandon Saine and Dan Herron combined for 30 receptions).

Expansion is good

John Mutka of Post-Trib.com writes how Big Ten expansion is so good for the league, especially since Nebraska has joined.

So many great matchups are enough to make Big Ten Network analyst Dan Dakich salivate.

"You've got four schools that are flat-out national brands in football," he said. "You don't get that in very many leagues."

It would be even better if the league is able to convince Notre Dame to join, writes Mutka, but Notre Dame values its independence, plus their huge contract with NBC.  Mutka also gives us his  two-division alignment break down.

East -- Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Indiana.

West -- Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Northwestern.

What's in a name?

Because of expansion, the Big 10 has 12 teams and the Big 12 has 10 teams. So many fans want to know if name changes are in store.  AJC.com reporter Steve Hummer says wait one second.

“Somebody is going to have to spend some time on [recalculating] these conference names,” chuckled former SEC commissioner Roy Kramer, himself quite an agent of change in his day.

“But at the rate of change, I don’t know if it would be worth it now.”

It's not worth it because more changes are probably in store, so there is no use in changing a conference's name based on numbers.

“You still have Notre Dame out there. And, if it were to join the Big Ten, that’s a major coup. And it remains to be seen how it will work in the new Big 12 with Texas being the dominant team, getting the lion’s share of the revenue. How well will that sit with everyone over a period of time?

“You can never sit back and say things won’t change.”

 

"Please give Laffey the shot he deserves in the rotation - the same kind of shot given Huff - he's earned it." - oldcamper

View full sizeAP Photo | Mark DuncanAaron Laffey was 0-1 with a 5.61 ERA in the Indians' bullpen this season.

In response to the story Cleveland Indians option David Huff to Columbus; replacement has yet to be named, cleveland.com reader oldcamper thinks it's time for Aaron Laffey to get another look in the rotation. This reader writes,

"Please give Laffey the shot he deserves in the rotation - the same kind of shot given Huff - he's earned it."

Chile broke through the formerly impenetrable Swiss defense, and Mark Gonzalez's goal might be enough to get the South Americans into the second round of the World Cup.

View full sizeAP Photo | Hassan AmmarChile's Mark Gonzalez heads the ball to score a goal during the World Cup group H soccer match between Chile and Switzerland at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AP) — Chile broke through the formerly impenetrable Swiss defense, and Mark Gonzalez's goal might be enough to get the South Americans into the second round of the World Cup.

Substitute Gonzalez scored on a header in the 75th minute Monday as Chile beat 10-man Switzerland 1-0 to move closer to a spot in the final 16. The Chileans could move on before they take the field again if Spain and Honduras draw Monday night.

Before Chile scored, Switzerland set a World Cup record in the 69th minute by going 551 minutes without allowing a goal, breaking the mark of 550 held by Italy at the 1986 and 1990 tournaments. Chile has won both its games in Group H.

"This is for my family and for all the people who have supported us in Chile," Gonzalez said. "This was a great moment for me and for our team."

Gonzalez headed home a pass from fellow sub Esteban Paredes, who had gotten around the staunch Swiss defense and crossed to Gonzalez at the back post. Gonzalez's downward header beat goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.

"We are in a good position, and we have one more game to prove ourselves even more," Gonzalez said of Friday's match against Spain at Pretoria.

Switzerland played a man down since the 31st minute when midfielder Valone Behrami was sent off with a straight red card for rough play against Arturo Vidal. That ejection irked the Swiss.

"For me, it was just an unbelievable decision," Behrami said. "There was small contact with my hands on his neck, and he went down like (he was hit with) an elbow. Everyone can make a mistake, but this mistake was very, very big for me because it's a dream to play in a World Cup."

Vidal admitted he was surprised by the red card.

"I felt his elbow on my neck," Vidal said. "It was a definite yellow card, but I wasn't expecting a send-off."

The last goal the Swiss allowed came on July 2, 1994 when they were eliminated 3-0 by Spain in the second round. Aitor Begiristain scored from a penalty kick in the 87th minute 16 years ago.

Swiss sub Eren Derdiyok nearly equalized in the 90th minute but drove his shot wide from in front of the net as Switzerland put on late pressure.

Chile had all the first-half pressure even before Behrami's ejection for hitting two Chileans in the face within seconds.

Alexis Sanchez appeared to give Chile the lead in the 49th minute, but was clearly offside. He nearly scored in the 55th minute on a break but was thwarted from the right side by Benaglio.

Chile included striker Humberto Suazo in its starting lineup, while Steven Von Bergen replaced injured defender Philippe Senderos for Switzerland. Senderos, who has an injured his right ankle, will also miss Switzerland's final match.

Suazo was replaced by Jorge Valdivia to start the second half.

"Suazo played the first half-hour where the space was very small and the ball rarely hit the area he was playing, hardly any possibility to move forward," Bielsa said. "It was very difficult for him to lead the attack in this kind of situation."

Chile's Carlos Carmona received one of nine yellow cards handed out by Saudi Arabian referee Khalilk Al Ghamdia. It was Carmona's second of the tournament, and he will miss Chile's match against Spain.

The game started in a sea of red — Chilean and Swiss fans in their predominant colors, and many empty seats, which are mostly red at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Costumes included a woman dressed in a full-length cow outfit and dozens of Chilean flags.

LeBron James showed up at the rally, but how many people were there to see him is in hot dispute.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerLeBron James counts the fans at Saturday's Appreciation Day rally: . . . 3,498, 3,499, 3,500, 8,000!

Twinsburg incoming junior post Malina Howard was bumped up to compete for USA Basketball's U-18 women's national team. Howard initially was among 36 players selected to try out for the U-17 team earlier this month at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado. During the tryout she was invited to workout with the U-18 squad and was selected to...

Howard

Twinsburg incoming junior post Malina Howard was bumped up to compete for USA Basketball's U-18 women's national team.

Howard initially was among 36 players selected to try out for the U-17 team earlier this month at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado. During the tryout she was invited to workout with the U-18 squad and was selected to that team.

The U-18 team is training for the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women, which starts Wednesday at the training center in Colorado Springs.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' updated logos will reflect their past.

View full sizeCleveland CavaliersThe new Cavs logo uses deeper wine color and brighter gold. Which means you'll need more gold to answer the whines of fans who want "new" jerseys, etc.

The "old" logo - by which we mean the new logo from the LeBron era that is being replaced now.

Cleveland CavaliersRefinements give the secondary Cavs logo an, um, refined look.

Just about everyone from Governor Ted Strickland to famous cooks to the average fan on the street, has sung a song or made some type of plea to LeBron James about remaining with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Except for one. Strickland's opponent, Republican gubernatorial hopeful John Kasich, was interviewed last week on Fox Radio. Kasich was asked if he would...

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerLeBron James

Just about everyone from Governor Ted Strickland to famous cooks to the average fan on the street, has sung a song or made some type of plea to LeBron James about remaining with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Except for one.

Strickland's opponent, Republican gubernatorial hopeful John Kasich, was interviewed last week on Fox Radio. Kasich was asked if he would join the chorus to keep James in Cleveland.

Part of the transcript of that interview is on Cleveland.com:

"I'm not singing in any chorus for LeBron James," Kasich said.

Colmes: "You're not?"

Kasich: "No, I'm not. Look, he's a great basketball player, he's a great guy. There's a lot of great people in Ohio."

Kasich said it would be great if LeBron stayed, but he won't do anything extra to convince him.

"We've lost 400,000 jobs out here and the last guy I worry about is LeBron James. You know I mean, we all hope he'll stay in Cleveland. We think we've got a great guy there that can turn everything around, but we got some serious problems," Kasich said.

 
 

The Indians get a day off. Or is the fans? Today's headline: NO TRIBE LOSS!

View full sizeAP FileRookie catcher Carlos Santana is one of the few Indians on the 2010 roster worth watching thus far. This was taking as he hit a two-run dinger for a short-lived lead over the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

The Indians don't play until Tuesday, when they visit Philadelphia and their old (World Series-winning) boss, Charlie Manuel and his Phillies.

The question, though, isn't whether dumping Manuel -- or rather, letting him walk -- was the best idea Indians management ever had. Nope, it's a lot simpler than that:

Given how poorly they've played, the question is whether today actually is a day off . . . or a flippin' timeout!

The Indians committed three errors and looked bad in doing so. So bad, in fact, that "fans" shouldn't be surprised if Sports Time Ohio, which normally airs the games, adds a player-piano soundtrack and subheads, a la the Keystone Kops -- to the broadcasts.

A release from the Indians' public relations office notes that this series will be the first regular-season tilt for the Indians at Citizens Bank Park. However, the Tribe did take two there in exhibition games before Philadelphia opened the park in 2004.

The Indians also won two in a row from the Geauga County Ladies Quilting Me Softly Guild, so it's possible that 2011 interleague play will see a rematch. Certainly, fans are sitting on pins and knitting needles waiting for one.

Except for David Huff, Rafael Perez and Tony Sipp, none of whom could retire a bottle of blue rinse, much less a quilter.

If the Yankees, who hardly need such shenanigans, are thinking of using Lady Gaga for a similar burst of inspiration, rest assured it won't be a long burst.

Espn.com is reporting that she showed up in the Yankee clubhouse after Friday night's 4-0 loss to the Mets clad only in a Yankee jersey, a black bra and black bikini bottoms:

The New York Post reported that Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner was furious at the display Lady Gaga put on in the clubhouse -- dressed in a half-buttoned Yankees jersey and a bikini bottom, she swilled whiskey and fondled her chest, the Post said, citing sources -- and that Steinbrenner had permanently banned Gaga from the team's clubhouse. (General Manager Howard) Cashman downplayed that, but added that the Yankees have other places in the Stadium where players can interact with celebrities.

Um, "Celebrity Rehab" with Dr. Drew?

Patagenia toaster features your team logo ... or the Tribe's, whichever.

We've known all along that the Indians are toast this year; might as well get some nutritional value out of it. The Pangea Cleveland Indians ProToast Toaster sells for $34.99. Which, coincidentally, is about the same as this year's Tribe payroll. Which, in turn, explains soooooo much about Cleveland's 26-42 record.

Lubinger's task definitely was happier than that of beat writer Paul Hoynes, who was in Pittsburgh to witness the debacle of losing two out of three to a Pirates team that had lost 12 straight and 18 of its last 22 games. His game story keys on one of the few bright spots for the Tribe, catcher Carlos Santana. And even that is tempered by a little worry:

The question is what is Carlos Santana doing here. This guy deserves better. All the rookie catcher did Sunday was drive in all three of the Indians' runs with a first-inning, two-run homer and an RBI double in the third. When he singled in the fifth, he'd reached base in eight straight plate appearances.

"I feel very comfortable since I was called up," said Santana, with interpreter/first base coach Sandy Alomar riding shotgun.

No one else on this bumbling team looks anywhere close to comfortable. What they do well is make errors -- all kinds of errors.

Hoynesie can usually find the bright side in plague outbreak, so that statement seems awfully telling.

And in his Indians Insider column, Hoynesie proved prophetic when he said roster moves are being contemplated to address the Tribe's struggles on the mound. Pitcher David Huff was sent down to Class AAA Columbus today.

Unclear is who will take his spot.

As Jake Delhomme goes, so will go the Browns ... at least that's the pre-camp consensus.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz,
The Plain DealerJake Delhomme's escape from Carolina and a dismal 2009 could be a reason to be hopeful in Cleveland, says one blogger.

But even with optimism from the season, Starting Blocks has to wonder a smidge what is in the drinking water in Stark County.

Steve Doerschuk, a writer for rep.com, has a nice little piece on 10 reasons he's convinced the Browns have a shot at making the playoffs.

We won't steal all of Doerschuk's thunder, but here's one example of his thinking:

2004

Brees bounced back from the worst year of his career, leading San Diego to a 12-4 record. In 2003, Brees posted a 67.5 passer rating -- Quinn's was 67.2 in 2009 -- and the Chargers went 4-12.

Browns application

Good quarterbacks have been known to come back from rotten years, which is what Delhomme is attempting to do.

We'll refrain from pointing out that Delhomme was coming back from a not-so-stellar 2008, as well.

Is everything jake with Jake
Chris Pokorny, writing for dawgsbynature.com, also took on the quarterback role in writing a little preview of what he's expecting during training camp – and hoping for during the year. Pokorny noted all the down sides of Delhomme's recent past -- the meltdown against the Cardinals in the playoffs two years ago, the awful season last year that led to his availability this year, and still finds reason to be hopeful.

Pokorny noted that a proven record as a leader is Delhomme's greatest asset. His worst? A lack of confidence.

. . .This is the biggest issue with Delhomme. Over the past season (plus the one playoff game), Delhomme has been a head case at the quarterback position. It's almost the same thing we saw with Derek Anderson last year -- he began thinking that the answer was to start slinging passes just for the sake of slinging them. He lost faith in his ability to make reads on the fly and adapt to what the defense was showing him.

Hopefully this is an attribute that can be wiped clean by coming to not only a new team, but a new conference. Expectations are low for him in Cleveland, whereas expectations were high for the Panthers. Perhaps not having that weight on his shoulders has allowed him to clear his head. Also, it has to help his confidence that amidst Holmgren's massive revamping of the Browns, he believed that Delhomme was the right player to lead the team this season. If Delhomme absorbs the confidence that Holmgren has shown in him, then maybe he can return to his roots and be a decent quarterback again.

When Holmgren is done resurrecting Delhomme's career, you think he might find time to figure out a way to cap that well spewing oil in the Gulf?

David Villa scored two goals as Spain got its World Cup pursuit back on track with a 2-0 victory over Honduras on Monday.

View full sizeAP Photo | Matt DunhamHonduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares, center, fails to block a shot by Spain's David Villa during the World Cup group H soccer match between Spain and Honduras at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — David Villa scored two goals as Spain got its World Cup pursuit back on track with a 2-0 victory over Honduras on Monday.

Villa beat three defenders in the 17th minute before goalkeeper Noel Valladares got a touch to the Spain striker's rising shot but not enough to keep it out.

Villa scored his 40th international goal in the 51st when his shot from the edge of the area deflected off a defender to go over Valladares. But Villa missed a penalty kick in the 62nd at Ellis Park, sending it wide right.

Spain has three points and can still win Group H with a victory over Chile, which earlier beat Switzerland 1-0 to lead with six points. Switzerland has three points and Honduras has zero.

Villa single-handedly took the pressure off Spain, a favorite coming to South Africa, with a superb individual effort that helped ease the frustration of a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland.

He dribbled between Honduras players before cutting past Osman Chavez to send a right-footed shot into the far corner of the net as he slipped to the ground.

Jesus Navas picked Villa out for the second goal, with the striker's shot glancing off Chavez into the top of the net.

Villa's fifth career goal tied him with four Spain players as the country's leading scorer in World Cup play and moved him within four goals of Raul Gonzalez's record 44. But he shot No. 41 wide on a penalty kick in the 62nd after Navas was tripped inside the area.

Honduras barely remains alive in the tournament after also losing to Chile 1-0 last week.

Spain got back to its classy style and attacked from the start in front of 54,586 fans. It created a handful of chances inside the seventh minute, when Villa's long-range shot beat the outstretched Valladares but went off the crossbar.

Ramos headed Joan Capdevila's cross over the net while free at the far post in the 11th.

Spain's defense provided goalkeeper Iker Casillas with some nervous moments soon after. Casillas rushed to catch a high ball before blocking Amado Guevara's shot just before Villa's first goal.

Navas' speed kept Honduras off-kilter, while Fernando Torres uncharacteristically missed three clear chances in the first half.

Torres, making his first start since right knee surgery in April, headed over the crossbar before sending a shot high in the 33rd. He then wasted Villa's fine pass from inside the area at the close of the half.

Unfortunately for the Cavs and Dan Gilbert, the historical record of activist team owners is not a good one.

UPDATED: 6:55 p.m.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerCavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has clearly taken the reins since the playoff season ended in disappointment for his franchise. History says his chances of ultimate success -- if he truly is the decision-maker in the front office -- is not that good, says Bill Livingston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dan Gilbert, the man who used to be in the background with the Cavaliers, wrote the big checks for five years and got a cigar that blew up in his face for his case of writer's cramp.

Now, predictably, he is Dan Gilbert, action owner.

It is the natural impulse of a wealthy, successful man to roll up his sleeves and decide he can do better. The method of choice is usually for such an owner to put himself into the decision-making process, front and center. Not just first among equals, but firstest with the mostest.

The usual result of putting an owner in the middle of sports decisions, however, is more like putting a migraine in the middle of the head.

It is possible to catch lightning in a bottle once. But the encore becomes a problem. The model that works so well in private business seldom is valid for long in sports.

An action owner is not dissuaded by the discouraging history, however. Ego is a function of every owner in every sport, but it is most evident in wealthy men who made their own fortunes.

A generation ago, the Philadelphia 76ers owner was Harold Katz, who made his money selling dietary products. Katz promised Julius Erving, after Erving's third losing trip to the NBA Finals, that the next one would be different. The owner was a driving force in acquiring Moses Malone, who, some basketball experts felt, could not play in a running game.

Laura Rauch / APMark Cuban has dominated the headlines since taking over the Mavericks, but his team's ability to succeed in the league has pretty much matched Gilbert's Cavaliers.

The Sixers won it all the next year, leading Katz to develop a doctrinal view of himself as infallible. A few years later, he set the Cavs up for years of contention by trading the No. 1 pick in the draft, which became Brad Daugherty, to Cleveland for Roy Hinson and assorted beads and trinkets. The same day he traded Malone for Jeff Ruland, ensuring that the Sixers would not return to The Finals for 15 years.

The contemporary analogy to the Cavs is the Dallas Mavericks. The link between the Dallas and Cleveland franchises is obvious in both their lack of results and the approaches of their owners, both of whom are self-made men.

The Mavericks' Mark Cuban became a billionaire through his Internet company. Gilbert made his money through his mortgage-lending company. Both took over franchises that had become irrelevant and helped lead them to their finest hours.

Both have lone superstar-driven teams, with the Cavs' LeBron James and the Mavs' Dirk Nowitzki. Both the Cavs and Mavs have been to one NBA Finals. Neither hoisted the trophy.

Their superstars have won three of the last four MVP awards. In Nowitzki's year, 2006-07, the Mavs went out in the first round in a huge upset. In James' reign, spanning the last two seasons, the Cavs have lost in the conference final in an upset and in the second round in a huge upset.

Gilbert does not sit next to the Cavs' bench or listen in on the huddles during games. He is not bombastic either. Cuban is all of those things. But both have written blank checks for talent acquisition in a fruitless search for the right satellites to surround each team's sun.

The Cavs have brought in aging stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Antawn Jamison. The Mavs have brought in aging stars like Jason Kidd and Antoine Walker.

The Cavs, under pressure as soon as Gilbert took over to prove to James they were serious about contending, have given bad contracts to players like Larry Hughes and, in the long term, Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The Mavs have given bad contracts to Keith Van Horn, Erick Dampier and Tariq Abdul-Wahad.

Former GM Danny Ferry managed the Cavs' salaries better than Dallas did and managed to shed some of the contracts. But Ferry is no longer here.

The Cavs have gone through coaches Paul Silas, whom Gilbert quickly fired, and Mike Brown. They are currently asking prospective coaches to buy a pig in a poke because no one knows if James will be back or not. The Mavs have run through Don Nelson and Avery Johnson and now have Rick Carlisle as their coach.

Both the Cavs and Mavs play before capacity home crowds, win 50, 60 or more games each season, and have little to show for it. So no one can say the road to hell in either city is paved with the owners' good intentions.

But neither is the road to the promised land.

A high-profile Knicks fan believes James belongs in Cleveland.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerRapper and Knicks fan Chuck D is a supporter of LeBron James returning to the Cavaliers: "I love LeBron James' attitude. I love his sense of history. And I love what he means to Ohio and Cleveland. My thing is, just try harder (to win a title)."

(Chasing down rumors about LeBron James' basketball future could be a full-time job. Now it's my full-time job. Just call me The Rumor Monger. Every day we'll compile a list of the rumors we're hearing about James and his next contract. Just remember these are just rumors, not necessarily facts. It's going to be a long and rough ride, Cavs fans. Buckle up. -- Mary Schmitt Boyer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Public Enemy's Chuck D tells The Plain Dealer's John Soeder he thinks LeBron James should stay in Cleveland -- even though the outspoken rapper is a Knicks fan.

"If he comes to the black hole of New York, he'll never win," Chuck D told Soeder in an interview to promote Sunday's 8 p.m. concert at the House of Blues. "It ain't an easy thing, winning a championship, so ... don't think it's going to come any easier.

"What, he's 25? Come on, now! Who says he has to win a championship? Whatever happened to try harder, the old Avis slogan? Try harder!

"I think LeBron James is the best thing to ever happen to basketball. Not because of his game. Because of his attitude. We need more dudes in rap who really care about the history.

"I love LeBron James' attitude. I love his sense of history. And I love what he means to Ohio and Cleveland. My thing is, just try harder.

"At the end of the day, it's only going be one champion. Everybody [else] is going to lose, so he shouldn't be down on himself. Kobe [Bryant] had to get over a hump. The Lakers had to get over a hump, all that you-don't-have-Shaq stuff. That's the way it goes.

"When LeBron James is at the hot twilight of his career, like a Kevin Garnett, maybe it'll be warranted to leave Ohio and Cleveland, because he gave it all he got. But when you start off playing at 18, you can't say, 'I gave it all I got.' Those first few years really don't count.

"Now you're 25. Give it five or six more years, and make it happen, dude!"

'Watch for Soeder's story on Chuck D and Public Enemy in Friday magazine.

• Fredrick Peters, founder and president of Pizza Pan Inc., the largest independent pizza chain in Cleveland, is offering James as many Pizza Pan franchises as he'd like for free as an enticement to stay with the Cavs.

"Pizza Pan is committed to the success of Cleveland, and we know that you are as well," Peters wrote in an email to The Plain Dealer.

• The defending Frontier League champion Lake Erie Crushers will offer James a max contract -- of $1,600 a month -- on Keep LBJ in the C-L-E Night on June 30 at All Pro Freight Stadium. The team will also supply James a host family to eliminate the stress of the commute from the Akron area to Avon.

On Keep LBJ in the C-L-E night, the Crushers also will offer James a luxury suite in which he and other pending NBA free agents can hold a summit. The Crushers have the ability to offer up to three max contracts to free agents at this juncture.

The team will don special Cavaliers-themed Crushers jerseys, and all Crushers players will wear No. 6 to honor James' upcoming switch. The jerseys will be auctioned following the game. If James is in attendance -- not likely -- the money will be donated to the LeBron James Family Foundation.

The Crushers also will rename the playing surface LeBron James Field at All Pro Freight Stadium to commemorate the evening. The first 1,000 fans to arrive at the stadium will receive free T-shirts with the replica Cavaliers/Crushers logo on the front. The Crushers will offer $6 home box tickets to fans sporting Cavs gear and free tickets to anyone with the first name LeBron.

• Hockey star Mark Messier left his hometown of Edmonton, went to New York and became a Rangers legend, helping the team break its championship curse. He tells New York Post reporter Marc Berman James can do the same thing.

"It will be up to him what kind of challenge he needs at this point of his career," said Messier, who left Edmonton at age 30 in 1991. "I know he will be disappointed he hasn't brought a championship to Cleveland, that will weigh heavily on him. But the opportunity to play in New York City and being a champion for a storied franchise is also going to be tremendously appealing. There'll be other great offers from all the teams when he goes on tour, but in the end, I can't imagine it being better than New York."

• In what could be the most far-fetched idea I've heard so far -- and that's saying something -- Sam Smith of bulls.com writes about a scenario that could take James to Minnesota. For real.

"The talk is the Timberwolves intend to be very aggressive with their cap space and not accept some veteran or modest talent under the assumption no free agent would go there. As it was pointed out to me, Brett Favre went there because it was a better chance to win. And Favre left New York to go to Minnesota, whose sports teams, including the Twins, have a successful track record and supportive fan base.

"The thinking goes like this: The Timberwolves have three firsts and seem willing to part with Al Jefferson, a post-up inside player, or Kevin Love. Say Jefferson is in greater demand because he is a bigger scorer. They offer Jefferson and their three firsts, including No. 4, to Denver for Carmelo Anthony. Denver has an aging group with Kenyon Martin and Chauncey Billups and likely is headed down. Here's a chance to recoup fast at a time they easily could lose Anthony in a year. So they get a potential star center and a top five pick to build a better core. And maybe pick up something for their veterans as they seem to have peaked.

"And Minnesota has Jonny Flynn, Love, Darko Milicic and Corey Brewer and goes for LeBron and even maybe works a sign and trade by getting Ricky Rubio to the Cavs and also LeBron out of the conference.

"Far fetched? Sure, but you never say never in the NBA, and perhaps more significantly, it suggests the bidding for James is hardly going to be among just the four or five teams who gutted their rosters for cap room."

Managing and coaching interleague games under National League rules is a rush, even if teams such as the Indians have started slowly in the land that does not recognize the designated hitter.

Gene J. Puskar / Associated PressThe results weren't very good over the weekend, but Manny Acta made it clear he enjoys the constant deliberations involved in managing under National League rules. "To me it's fun," said Acta. "It keeps you on your toes the whole time."

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Indians haven't played well under National League rules in the first third of this nine-game trip through Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. Losing two out of three games in a series between last-place teams over the weekend probably said more about the Indians than it did the Pirates.

Still, there's no denying it's a different game when the designated hitter sits and the pitcher has to bat. The Pirates series produced situations manager Manny Acta wouldn't have faced, or may have handled differently, in the American League.

In the Indians' 4-3 victory Friday, they went into the seventh inning with a scoreless game. The Indians took a 1-0 lead with one out on Jason Donald's single. Starting pitcher Fausto Carmona was due to hit next and Acta let him, even though there were runners on first and second and idled DH Travis Hafner was available to pinch hit.

Carmona struck out, but the Indians went on to score three two-out runs that inning for a 4-0 lead.

Acta said it was a "no-brainer" to let Carmona bat. "He was pitching well and we had the lead," he said. Carmona needed only 69 pitches to throw six scoreless innings. He already had six strikeouts.

Part of the Indians' strategy going into this stretch of interleague games was to find the best spots possible to use Hafner as a pinch-hitter.

"We're always trying to figure out a way to get Pronk to the plate with runners in scoring position," said bench coach Tim Tolman. "When you have a full-time DH, who is a big part of our offense and we're not able to use him, we want to make sure we use him right."

Seth Wenig / Associated PressJamie Moyer has a personal seven-game win streak against the Indians entering Tuesday's start in Philadelphia.

CLEVELAND INDIANS VS. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park.
When: Tuesday through Thursday.
TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.
Pitching matchups: RHP Mitch Talbot (7-5, 4.21) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (7-6, 4.76) Tuesday at 7:05; Jake Westbrook (4-4, 4.76) vs. RHP Kyle Kendrick (4-2, 4.48) Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. and RHP Fausto Carmona (6-5, 3.31) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (2-5, 6.96) Thursday at 1:05 p.m.
All-time series: The Indians and Phillies have split six interleague games.
Indians update: They’re 4-8 in interleague play and look overmatched by the National League’s emphasis on speed and little ball. They lost two out of three to the Pirates, making three errors Sunday. Twice in the last six games an opposing runner has scored from second on an infield hit because of their slow and inattentive fielding.
Phillies update: Manager Charlie Manuel’s team is only 5-7 in interleague play. The Twins beat them Saturday and Sunday. Moyer, 47, renews acquaintances with the Indians Tuesday. Moyer is 10-7 overall against the Tribe, winning his last seven decisions against them.
Injuries: Indians — RHP Anthony Reyes (right elbow), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (broken left forearm) and CF Grady Sizemore (left knee) are on the disabled list. Phillies — LHP Antonio Bastardo (left elbow), LHP J.A. Happ (left forearm), SS Jimmy Rollins (right calf) and RHP Ryan Madson (right big toe) are on the DL. C Carlos Ruiz (head injury) is day to day.
Next: The Indians complete this nine-game interleague trip by opening a three-game series in Cincinnati on Friday.
— Paul Hoynes

In Saturday's 6-4 loss, that spot arrived in the sixth inning. Russell Branyan's three-run homer had cut the Pirates' lead to 5-4. There were two outs, but the bases were loaded. That's when Acta pinch-hit Hafner for losing pitcher David Huff.

"I thought it was perfect for Haf," said Acta. "They had to pitch to him. They had nowhere to put him. We didn't have to double switch. It was just perfect."

In 2006, while playing against the Reds in Cincinnati, Hafner hit a pinch-hit grand slam. That did not happen Saturday as Evan Meek retired Hafner on a bouncer to the mound.

"You've got to give credit to Meek," said Acta. "He did his job and got him out."

In the eighth, with the Indians still trailing, 5-4, Jhonny Peralta doubled with one out. Acta, with rookie catcher Carlos Santana available to pinch-hit, kept him on the bench. Instead Anderson Hernandez pinch-hit for Luis Valbuena and struck out. Mike Redmond, who started at catcher, lined out to right to end the inning.

Acta said he didn't want to take a chance of the Pirates walking Santana with first base open to face the eighth and ninth hitters in the lineup.

Added Tolman, "At that point, Carlos is the ultimate weapon. We don't know what they would have done, but walking him was one of the logical things they would have done to take the bat out of his hands."

Santana pinch-hit with one out in the ninth and walked.

Against the Pirates, Hafner was used as pinch hitter three times. He was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning Friday, grounded out Saturday and did the same in the ninth inning Sunday.

Acta complained last week that it was unfair to have AL teams play nine straight interleague games under NL rules because the DH is a big part of those teams. The complaint does not mean he doesn't enjoy interleague play.

"To me it's fun," said Acta. "It keeps you on your toes the whole time. It does the same thing to your bench coach and everybody around you, including the bullpen coach."

Bullpen coach Scott Radinsky made 557 relief appearances in the big leagues, 318 in the AL, 239 in the NL.

"I love it," said Radinsky of NL rules. "It's action. If they have an option of bringing a left- or right-handed hitter off the bench, we get a left- and right-hander up in the bullpen. You don't know who's running a deke."

After playing 64 games under AL rules, where the biggest decisions for a manager are when to remove his starter and how to use the bullpen, managing and coaching in the NL is a kick.

"I'd go as far as to say it's exhilarating," said Tolman.

Imagine how it would feel if the Indians managed to win a few of the six remaining games before they return home?

Norton Brick has survived a variety of health-related issues that can cause a man's golf game to head south. But he was on his game Monday at Quail Hollow.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Over the last eight years, Norton Brick has survived two heart attacks, had his appendix removed, his left hip replaced and endured several other health-related issues that can cause a man's golf game to head south.

On Monday, the Elyria resident had 15 pars, two birdies and one bogey and his golf game was just fine during the opening round of the 80th annual Northeast Ohio Amateur Invitational on the Weiskopf Course at Quail Hollow Country Club.

"They keep putting holes in me and no one's apologizing," deadpanned Brick, 57, whose 1-under 70 gave him a four-shot lead over Solon's Jeff Knox in the Senior Division heading into Wednesday's second round at Aurora Country Club.

Brick, who sells the mowing equipment most courses use, is attempting to become the first to win both the Championship Division, which he won in 2004, and the Senior Division, which has been in existence since 1995.

Windham's Rob Schustrich is trying to win for the first time. His opening 69 gave him a one-shot lead over Medina's John Furlong and Lyndhurst's Jonathan Riemer in the Championship Division.

Schustrich, 44, said he has played in the last 14 Amateurs but is hoping to put together three solid rounds.

"It's always been one bad round that has killed me," he said after overcoming a ragged start in which he was 3 over after five holes but played the final 13 holes in 5 under.

No one in the field of 61 had a round quite like Furlong, whose 1-under 70 was an adventure. The Kent State junior was 2 over after three holes, thanks to a double-bogey 7 on the 581-yard first. After two pars, he went birdie, bogey, birdie, par, eagle, birdie to make the turn in 32.

The final 36 holes are next Monday at the Country Club of Hudson.

While LeBron James and the NBA's other free agents are all certain to sign rich new deals, the simple act of becoming a free agent will affect their bottom lines.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerWhile neither LeBron James or Dwyane Wade are going to need the help of a telethon to make ends meet following free agency, the facts are both players will have their short-term income reduced by a decision to enter the marketplace.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When asked about it before the start of the NBA Finals, NBA Commissioner David Stern was adamant there would be no "free agent summit" with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, among others, after July 1.

Considering what this free agency might cost them, who could afford such a convention?

It is widely believed that James, Wade and Bosh will skip their contract options for next season and become unrestricted free agents next month. But while they're all certain to sign rich new deals, the simple act of becoming a free agent will affect their bottom lines.

If James goes ahead and becomes a free agent it will cost him more than $2 million in salary over the next three years alone -- even if he re-signs with the Cavs. It could cost him up to $4 million over the next three seasons if he decides to sign with another team.

Perhaps that's one reason why James may plan to enjoy his free-agent process so much, it's a huge purchase.

"We don't know what it is going to look like over the long run yet, but in the short run opting out of their contracts is going to cost," said one prominent player agent. "They're essentially going to have to write seven-figure checks just for the right to be free."

The reason is that next month the salary cap is going to be reduced for the second consecutive season. In the 26-year history of the cap, this is a first. The size of maximum contracts, which James is expected to sign, is tied to the salary cap.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerIf LeBron James' main goal is simply getting the best short-term financial deal, picking up his option season of 2010-11 with the Cavaliers would be the best choice.

FOLLOW THE MONEY
Breaking down LeBron James’ options when he contemplates the salaries available in free agency:

1) OPTION PLAY
If James extends his current contract by June 30, can pick up his one-year option and add four years:
2010-11: $17.1 million
2011-12: $18.9M
2012-13: $20.7M
2013-14: $22.5M
2014-15: $24.3M
Annual raises: $1.8 million. Total: Five years, $103.5 million

2) STAYING HOME
If James signs a new contract with the Cavs after July 1 for up to six years:
2010-11: $16.5M
2011-12: $18.2M
2012-13: $19.9M
2013-14: $21.6M
2014-15: $23.3M
2015-16: $25.0M
Annual raises: $1.7 million. Total: $124.5 million

3) HITTING THE ROAD
If James signs a new contract with another team after July 1, with a maximum length of five years:
2010-11: $16.5M
2011-12: $17.8M
2012-13: $19.1M
2013-14: $20.4M
2014-15: $21.7M
Annual raises: $1.3 million. Total: $95.5 million
— Brian Windhorst

The shrinking cap has shrunk what maximum salaries will be to the point that the number is expected to be significantly below the current contracts enjoyed by James, Bosh and Wade.

If James were to pick up his option with the Cavs for next season, the deadline for which is June 30, he would earn $17.1 million. If he lets that contract end and re-starts after July 1, he's likely to make about $16.5 million.

Over the long term, this gulf only widens when the yearly salaries are compared. If James were sign an extension to his current contract June 30, he would make nearly $19 million in the 2011-12 season. If he lets it expire and then signs a new contract with the Cavs, he'd make about $800,000 less that season.

If he signs with another team, because of rules that limit raises when changing teams, he'd make about $1 million less in just the 2011-12 season alone. Even to millionaires that is significant money, especially as it piles up over the life of contracts.

However, they may consider those unexpected losses as the cost of doing business.

"LeBron will lose some salary money even if he re-signs with Cleveland and that isn't something we usually see," said one league executive. "But it still may not be a bad business move. He's going to lose half of that money in taxes anyway, having to pay a couple million for all the hype and publicity he's getting is probably a good investment, the way he looks at it."

Being a free agent after two years of shrinking salary caps isn't most desirable situation for a star. Yet signing a long-term contract this summer is imperative because of an uncertain future linked to next year's expiration of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement.

There is a chance that owners will look to reduce the value and length of long-term contracts -- meaning that getting new deals under the current rules is likely the best option. There is also a chance of a lockout next season and a halt to new contracts.

That is why several stars besides James, Wade and Bosh who have opt-out clauses in their deals this summer are likely headed for free agency. This includes veterans Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce. Lakers stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol already signed extensions so they can be grandfathered in under the current system.

"The last time around, LeBron, DWade and Bosh all signed three-year deals so they could be free agents this summer and doing that ended up being a little unlucky because of what happened with the cap. So they're going to maybe lose some money," a league general manager said.

"But this time around with the CBA coming up they'll probably want to sign the longer deals to protect themselves. If they do that, there's a chance they'll make up whatever they lost in the later years of their contracts after the rules change."

Coaching search update: According to sources, the Cavs are making progress in their coaching search. They have had a second round of discussions with multiple candidates. However, the team does not appear to be planning to offer the job to anyone until after Thursday's NBA Draft. With no draft picks, having a coach in place isn't as important.

Sources indicate Byron Scott is still the frontrunner -- the team has compiled significant research on his tenures with the Nets and Hornets. It is possible both Scott, who long has had interest in coaching the Lakers, and the Cavs will wait until after Phil Jackson makes up his mind about whether to re-sign with Los Angeles.

Jackson has indicated he'll have an answer by this weekend. There's a chance the Cavs will as well.

Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto for a live chat.

Terry Pluto tackles your questions live every Tuesday at noon.

Yahoo.com reporter Adrian Wojnarowski writes that powerbroker William Wesley has been pitching teams with salary-cap space that trading for New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul will dramatically increase their chances of signing LeBron James. But New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower has no intention of trading Paul, writes Wojnarowski, and multiple league executives believe that until owner George Shinn closes on the...

APNew Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul, left, passes over the reach of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mo Williams.

Yahoo.com reporter Adrian Wojnarowski writes that powerbroker William Wesley has been pitching teams with salary-cap space that trading for New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul will dramatically increase their chances of signing LeBron James.

But New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower has no intention of trading Paul, writes Wojnarowski, and multiple league executives believe that until owner George Shinn closes on the team’s sale with billionaire oilman Gary Chouest, there is a price with which Paul could be pried away.

“He can be had with Shinn in there, but once the new guy takes over, he’s off the market,” one senior front-office executive told Y! Sports.

Can Wesley deliver Paul? Extremely doubtful, but that hasn’t stopped his sales pitch to teams, league sources said. First of all, Paul hasn’t requested a trade out of New Orleans, so the franchise isn’t under pressure to move him. He has two years and $31.3 million left on his contract until he can opt out before the 2012-13 season.

James is close friends with Paul.

You be the GM. How do you answer the phone when other baseball bosses call looking for help?

View full sizeChuck Crow,
The Plain DealerPut yourself in Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro's polo shirt. What would YOU do with the Tribe when trade time comes?

Cleveland, Ohio -- Every fan thinks he or she could do a better job than the current general manager. OK, this is your chance. Pretend you're Mark Shapiro. The Indians are awful. You lose two out of three to the last-place team in the National League ... and looked bad in doing so.

You're going nowhere quickly, so what you do is sit by the phone and wait for a call from "Dialing for Dollars'' ... or an opposing general manager in need of help. Who are they after and what can you get for 'im? Especially knowing that you're already disenfranchised from the fans for dumping back-to-back Cy Young winners two years in a row. Oh, and you work for an owner whose grip on a penny is so tight that Lincoln's beard is worn off by the time he lets one go.

Use the comments section below to explain your trades, or offer other suggestions.

"Glad to hear that our manager is having fun. Doesn't that make you want to go out and buy tickets? Manny Acta is a joke. The guy is way too upbeat after losses and is too positive. I would rather have a manager that hates losing and seems burned by it." - tribefan1984

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerManny Acta has not won often during his brief managerial career.

In response to the story Losses aside, managing under National League rules 'fun' for Indians' Manny Acta, cleveland.com reader tribefan1984 would like to see more fire from the Tribe's skipper. This reader writes,

"Glad to hear that our manager is having fun. Doesn't that make you want to go out and buy tickets? Manny Acta is a joke. The guy is way too upbeat after losses and is too positive. I would rather have a manager that hates losing and seems burned by it."

"Why does it seem so many fans feel the Browns will be 'successful' if they win six games? Are you all saying a coach that wins five games one year then six games the next deserves another year? Personally I expect an 8-8 season. I am not saying they will do it, but that should be the barometer of success." - rovingbrown

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain Dealer How many games does Eric Mangini need to win in 2010 for the season to be considered a success?

In response to the story P.M. Cleveland Browns links: 2010 rests on Delhomme's shoulders - no pressure, dude, cleveland.com reader rovingbrown thinks fans need to raise their expectations. This reader writes,

"Why does it seem so many fans feel the Browns will be 'successful' if they win six games? Are you all saying a coach that wins five games one year then six games the next deserves another year? Personally I expect an 8-8 season. I am not saying they will do it, but that should be the barometer of success."