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Masters contender Lee Westwood's private jet forced to make emergency landing

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Golfer Lee Westwood's jet forced to make emergency landing after smoke fills cockpit and cabin.

lee-westwood-ap.JPGView full sizeLee Westwood is used to smoking golf courses, not so used to smoke in his private jet. His plane was forced to make an emergency landing after smoke filled the cockpit and cabin just after leaving Houston for Augusta, Ga., and the Masters.

Lee Westwood, the No. 2 golfer in the world, had just left Houston's George Bush Intercontinental aboard a private jet. He'd just finished at minus 6, 14 shots behind winner Phil Mickelson, and was headed to Augusta, Ga., for what's arguably the most celebrated golf tournament on U.S. soil: the Masters.

And then? Well, here's what cnn.com said:

Westwood, who was runner-up to Phil Mickelson in last year's tournament, was returning from the Houston Open on a private jet with Ryder Cup teammate Ross Fisher, when the cabin began to fill with smoke from the cockpit.

The pilot informed the passengers -- which also included Westwood's manager Chubby Chandler and both golfers' caddies -- that the plane had to immediately return to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

After a steep nose dive, the plane landed safely at the airport, where it was met by firefighters, who evacuated the passengers and extinguished a small fire in the plane's controls.

"It was a bit scary," Westwood told reporters. "It never looks good when you can smell smoke and you turn around to see the pilots have put their masks on."
Westwood and his fellow passengers got aboard another private jet and flew to Georgia, arriving late Sunday night. You want to know what golfer's nerves are like?

Apparently unfazed by the ordeal, Westwood played nine practice holes with Miguel Angel Jimenez, Henrik Stenson and Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal the following day.









P.M. Cleveland Indians Links: Grady Sizemore going back to college

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Grady Sizemore's rehab program takes him to Columbus, where the Clippers will play the Ohio State Buckeyes tonight.

grady-sizemore-crow.JPGView full sizeGrady Sizemore is scheduled to play for the Columbus Clippers in a special game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus tonight.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Wonder if Grady Sizemore has ever seen Rodney Dangerfield's really awful movie "Back to School." Seems unlikely, since Sizemore was born in 1982 and the movie came out in 1986.

You remember the flick, right? The how and why isn't that important. The gist of it is that Dangerfield goes back to college and naturally, as you'd expect with a body that closely resembles a pickle barrel, joins the swim team as a diver.

Greg Louganis, eat your heart out.

Anyway, this is relevant for one reason: Sizemore, who's been out with since last year after having microfracture surgery on his knee, was supposed to play in a minor league game between Akron and Columbus in Akron last night. Wet field conditions prompted the team to postpone that start.

Instead, he and reliever Joe Smith, who's recovering from strained abdominal muscles, are scheduled to play in a game between the Clippers and Ohio State in Columbus tonight. Be sure to stay tuned to cleveland.com; reporter Doug Lesmerises is going to have a pretty busy day. He's going to cover OSU spring football practice this afternoon and the baseball game tonight. You can always read his stuff online, and now you can follow Lesmerises on Twitter by clicking here.

Jim Massie of the Columbus Dispatch had this update about the game:

The Columbus staff will pitch for both teams in the exhibition. Columbus broke spring training early to play an exhibition game against the parent Indians last week, and its pitchers need the work heading into the International League season this week.

...Ohio State also will use wooden bats supplied by the Clippers. This is not as big a difference as it would have been last season. Colleges are using a new bat this season that has reduced the sweet spot and makes it function more like a wooden bat.

Tickets for the game are $5. The Clippers play host to the double-A Akron Aeros at 2:05p.m. Wednesday. Admission is free for that game. Sizemore and Smith are off Wednesday per their rehabilitation schedules.
Five bucks isn't a bad price. But it might've been more fitting to set 'em at "Back to School"-era levels. According to answers.com, that was $3.71 per ticket.

Around the horn
  • Gordon Edes, who writes for ESPNBoston.com, says Red Sox manager Terry Francona intentionally stacked his rotation so that Josh Beckett could make his first start against the Indians rather than the defending AL champion Rangers - who, btw, swept the Red Sox in the season-opening series.


  • Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon-Journal noted that even though the Indians lost two of the three games to Chicago, it's not for lack of hitting. The team is batting .318.


  • It's very early, but Travis Hafner looks more like the guy who hit 42 home runs in 2006 than the tentative and defensive hitter he was last year.

    Hafner is batting .385 (5-for-13) with one home run, two RBI and four runs. If not for a base-running mistake by Shin-Soo Choo, Hafner also would have a double. He even has a loud out, a long drive to the track.

    Santana is batting .462, Orlando Cabrera .417 and Michael Brantley .333. Jack Hannahan, who made the team because of his defense, is hitting .364. Obviously, he won't continue to hit at that pace, but maybe this will be a club whose players have a knack for picking one another up.

  • Cliff Corcoran's column for si.com doesn't have any Indians contending for rookie of the year this season, but he does note that third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, percolating at Class AAA Columbus right now, could have an impact before the year is done.


  • Waiting For Next Year blogger Jon laments the low fan turnout at "Jagressive Field," but says there's plenty of blame to share between the front office and the fan base. The reality, he says, is that Cleveland has three major sports franchises trying to operate in a shrinking market ... and that's a tough thing to do.


  • The Indians are going to be part of a major experiment on Friday night when they play the Mariners in Safeco Field. The consumerist.com says a beer vendor there is taking orders via Twitter. The reasoning? Fans are carrying smartphones now, and if they have smartphones, they probably have more disposable income. And besides, an "ordered" beer probably means a better tip. The account is @msbeervendor. And yeah, despite being MSbeervendor, it's a guy.


  • From The Plain Dealer
    Writer Bill Lubinger talked to the Tribe's Josh Tomlin, who pitched his way into the rotation with a strong second half last year and an outstanding spring. Tomlin, who goes against the Red Sox tonight at Progressive Field, isn't an overpowering pitcher; he's a finesse pitcher who hits his spots, according to Tribe pitching coach Tim Belcher:

    "To me, he's the poster child you want to show all your minor-league pitchers who are not big pedigree guys, high draft choices, guys that light up radar guns," Belcher said. "He's the perfect guy to emulate because he's proved that you don't have to throw mid-90s to get to the big leagues and pitch effectively."


    Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo has hit .300 for each of the past two years. He's not hitting right now -- 1-for-12 with six Ks. But Dennis Manoloff notes in his Indians Insider column that manager Manny Acta is doing his best Alfred E. Neuman, "what, me worry?"

    Today's Tribe Memories essay comes from Felix Smigel of South Euclid, who talks about seeing Babe Ruth play at League Park.

    Terry Pluto talks Browns, Indians and Cavaliers - Podcast

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    Should the Browns take a wide receiver at No. 6? Is there any chance the Indians can increase their attendance this season? Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto talked about that and more in his weekly podcast.

    Browns beat Jaguars, 23-17View full sizeThe Browns could use another big body in the middle of their defensive line to go with Ahtyba Rubin.

    If you're on Facebook, you can like Terry Pluto to get his latest articles and notes. Should the Browns take a wide receiver at No. 6? Is there any chance the Indians can increase their attendance this season?

    Should the Browns take a wide receiver at No. 6? Is there any chance the Indians can increase their attendance this season?

    Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto talked about that and more in his weekly podcast.

    Among other topics discussed:

    • Is it too early to be concerned about Matt LaPorta?
    • What needs to happen for the Indians to create a little buzz about the team?
    • Would the Browns be hesitant to use high draft picks in consecutive years on players in the secondary?
    • A little more than three weeks out, what's your gut feeling on the Browns pick?

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

















    Masters 2011: Caddy remembers 50 years at Augusta, 35 with Ben Crenshaw

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    Carl Jackson knows every nook and cranny of Augusta National because he's worn the ill-fitting white jumpsuit of a Masters caddy for 50 years.

    carl-jackson-ap.JPGView full sizeAugusta native Carl Jackson has spent 50 years traipsing the lush greens of the Masters. For the past 35 of them, the celebrated caddy has carried two-time winner Ben Crenshaw's bag.

    Those white jumpsuits the caddies have to wear at Augusta aren't the most flattering of garments. But Carl Jackson isn't there to make a fashion statement. Not this year. And not in April 1961, the first time he hefted a bag on the storied course for the Masters.

    Think about it: John F. Kennedy was a newly elected president the first time Jackson stepped into the ugly jumpsuit. He's caddied every year since then, except for 2000, when he was kicking colon cancer in the teeth.

    Ron Green Jr. of the Charlotte Observer spent some time with Jackson, who's become a bit of a celebrity himself, signing autographs and whatnot.

    For the past 35 years, he's carried (Ben) Crenshaw's bag, including 1984 when the Texan rolled in a 60-foot birdie putt at the 10th hole to win his first green jacket. It was Jackson who suggested Crenshaw adjust the ball position in his stance before the 1995 Masters. It led to Crenshaw's emotional victory the week his mentor, Harvey Penick, died.

    It was Jackson who was standing there holding Crenshaw as the golfer cried into his caddie's chest. Jackson said he felt like crying but his pride wouldn't let him.

    "This place means so much, to go through it with a friend like that, I would never have had it any other way," said Crenshaw.
    As you might expect, they come off as a little more than just golfer and caddy, boss and worker.

    It's a perfect marriage between player and caddie. Crenshaw is a golf romantic, a trait Jackson admires.

    "This club is about respect, integrity, love. Ben exudes love all the time," Jackson said.

    ... Standing nearby, Crenshaw looks at his friend.

    "We've had a nice run, a wonderful run," Crenshaw, 59, said.
    Crenshaw, a two-time winner of the green jacket, hasn't made the cut since 2007. Oh, and his first Masters was Jackson's 10th. Jackson told the Observer's Greene that as long as his health holds up, he'll come back to carry Crenshaw's bag.

    Somehow, these old friends just go together, like hope and nostalgia, like azaleas and springtime.








    NFL Lockout: The current feud between players and owners is only the latest one

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    A primer in pro football labor strife begins with a forward written in Cleveland.

    don-shula-cleveland-news.JPGView full sizeJohn Carroll alum and Ohio native Don Shula was one of the first "player reps" when the National Football League Players Association formed in 1956.


    The NFL owners and players get down in the three-point stances for the first time on Wednesday, when a judge in Minnesota will tackle lawsuits by several players and even a couple of potential draft picks to force the league to halt the lockout.

    What you may not know is that there's a pretty fair Northeast Ohio connection. For example, the judge who will hear those arguments tomorrow is a graduate of Oberlin. Susan Richard Nelson earned a bachelor of arts in 1974, and worked as a bank teller and waitress at a Stouffer's before earning a law degree from Pitt, according to her Wikipedia bio.

    Ah, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. A preview of the court case on newjerseynewsroom.com gives a primer on the history of labor relations between players and owners in pro football.

    And some of that may surprise you ... unless you were around when it happened:

    The NFLPA formed in 1956 with help from Creighton Miller, the first General Manager of the Cleveland Browns. Unhappy players in Cleveland and Green Bay assembled a network of "player reps" on each team. The players included Don Shula (Colts), Frank Gifford (Giants), and Norm Van Brocklin (Rams) to represent their teams. The Chicago Bears players did not have a representative. The players first meeting was held in New York in the fall of 1956, after the owners ignored the players' attempts to discuss their requests. The players asked for minimum salaries of $5,000 per season, injury pay, uniform per diems, and for teams to supply their own equipment.

    Nothing happened but the players got a big break in 1957 when, the first lawsuit involving professional football and antitrust was filed, Radovich v. NFL, which significantly altered player rights within the league. The case involved a player/coach, George Radovich, who sued the league because the NFL effectively prevented him from attaining employment in the NFL or affiliated leagues, such as the Pacific Coast League, which was in existence at the time. The case was dismissed on the grounds that the NFL was exempted from the antitrust laws, and was appealed to the Supreme Court, which reversed the decision of the trial court, holding professional football subject to the antitrust laws.
    That's right, it began in Cleveland. And one of the key players, so to speak, was Ohio native and John Carroll star Don Shula.

    The piece, written by Evan Weiner, gives a detailed history of the labor strife within the pro football ranks, the bidding war between the AFL and NFL that led to their merger, the NFLPA's inability to fight that merger (because having two leagues meant owners having to outbid each other), the lockout of 1970, the failed strike of 1972, the strike of 1982, and more. 

    It's a great history lesson. And you know the old saying: Those who don't learn from history are doomed to call Red Right 88 at the least opportune moment.

    UConn Huskies celebrate an improbable win in the NCAA men's basketball tourney

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    "Afterthought" UConn basks in NCAA title.

    connecticut-ap.JPGView full sizeConnecticut celebrates its victory over Butler in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on Monday night.

    Houston -- Seen as little more than a one-man novelty, Connecticut wasn't given much chance in the brutally tough Big East. A national title contender? Please.



    With a bruising finish to an improbable run, the Huskies have a message for all the doubters: Shhh!

    Connecticut wrapped up its third national championship Monday night, pushing Butler around for a 53-41 victory to secure a spot in history for coach Jim Calhoun and star Kemba Walker.

    "In the beginning of the season, we were hearing a lot of negativity: too young, all we have is Kemba Walker, no true post presence," sophomore forward Alex Oriakhi said. "With this team, we just worked hard. I'm happy the hard work has paid off and we were able to prove people wrong when they said we couldn't."

    The doubt started in the preseason, when Connecticut was picked 10th in the Big East and an afterthought in the polls. Calhoun wasn't even sure what he had in this group of mostly underclassmen, joking before the Maui Invitational he was still trying to learn everyone's name.

    Walker raised the Huskies' profile -- not to mention his -- with a carry-on-his-back performance in Maui and did it again in the Big East tournament after 9-9 run through conference nearly derailed their season.

    The Huskies (32-9) were a nearly unstoppable combination of star power and grit in the NCAA tournament, riding Walker's scoring bursts and body-bruising defense into the program's fourth Final Four.

    Connecticut capped it off with two eye-of-the-beholder defensive gems, swarming Kentucky in the national semifinals, followed by a body-blow takedown of Butler in the title game, holding the Bulldogs to a championship-game low 18.8 percent shooting.

    "We were unstoppable. That's why we're national champions," said Walker, who fought through a tough shooting night to lead UConn with 16 points in the final. "We're the best team in the country."

    UConn's run rejuvenated Calhoun after one of his most difficult seasons in 39 years as a coach.

    Coming off a trip to the Final Four the year before, Calhoun looked worn down in the 2009-10 season, the toll of an NCAA investigation and the death of his sister-in-law and college roommate exacerbating the difficulties his team had on the court.

    But, after missing the NCAA tournament for one of the few times in his career, Calhoun seemed to have the bounce back in his step this season, pulling off one of the best coaching jobs of his career.

    Relying on his entrenched basketball wisdom, Calhoun always seemed to know what move to make and precisely when to make it. He handed the reins of the offense over to Walker, his coaching extension on the floor, and brought the young players along with his own brand of tough-love nurturing.

    When it was over, Calhoun had won his third title since 1999, joining John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski and Bob Knight as the only coaches to cut the final nets of the season three times.

    "I've been fortunate to have some great teams at UConn, to win a couple of tournaments," Calhoun said. "Very honestly, this group to me will all be incredibly special. They're all special in their own way, but I needed this team."

    None was more special than Walker.

    The lanky 6-foot-1 junior proved to have broad shoulders, lifting up a young team with one of the best individual seasons in college basketball history.

    Walker averaged 23.7 points and 4.6 assists, accounting for a hard-to-believe 45 percent of his team's points. More than that, though, he was a lead-by-example moral center for a young team, playing with all-out abandon on the court and keeping his focus in the right place off it.

    Walker capped it by cutting down the nets inside Reliant Stadium, ensuring his place among UConn's long list off all-time greats.

    "It can't get any better than this," Walker said. "You see the tears on my face. I have so much joy in me, it's unreal. It's surreal. I'm so happy right now."

    There's no doubting the Huskies now.


    UConn won the 2011 tournament; Ohio State could be No. 2 when 2012 opens

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    The 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Tournament is history. Who's up for 2012? Looks like North Carolina, Ohio State, Duke and Syracuse could be the early favorites.

    jared-sullinger-ap.JPGView full sizeA Jared Sullinger-led Ohio State team likely would be No. 2 in the 2012 Division I basketball polls ... at least to start the season, says si.com.

    In a way, it's like the old saw about eating certain ethnic foods: Ten minutes after you're done, you're hungry again.

    So, here we are, mere hours after UConn defeated Butler in what arguably was the ugliest NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Finals in history, and the thoughts of a grateful nation turn to ...

    The 2012 season.

    Sports Illustrated used its online arm -- si.com -- to launch the pre-est of preseason polls. North Carolina is tapped at No. 1 and -- drum roll, please -- Jared Sullinger and his Ohio State teammates are No. 2.

    While Kemba (Walker) won’t be here, the Huskies still have a solid core coming back in Oriakhi and their three freshmen starters from the title run, Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier and Roscoe Smith. They’re worthy of being ranked in preseason polls, and not just to make up for the fact they were ignored in those polls last October. While Kemba won’t be here, the college basketball nation could be retaining a surprising amount of talent. First-team All-America freshman Jared Sullinger has already vowed to be back at Ohio State, and junior shooting guard William Buford may pass on the draft as well. Thomas Robinson could stick out another year at Kansas to be a featured big man and raise his draft stock. Projected lottery pick Harrison Barnes is rumored to be staying at North Carolina, to fulfill unmet goals — particularly winning a national title. He may convince other key Tar Heels to stick with him, and if so, they could be making an appearance on the season’s last Monday night in 2012.

    Here's SI.com's top 25:

    1. North Carolina

    2. Ohio State

    3. Duke

    4. Syracuse

    5. Kentucky

    6. Kansas

    7. Florida

    8. Butler

    9. Pittsburgh

    10. Wisconsin

    11. Louisville

    12. Cincinnati

    13. Michigan

    14. Arizona

    15. UConn

    16. Belmont

    17. Vanderbilt

    18. Wichita State

    19. Marquette

    20. UCLA

    21. Memphis

    22. Temple

    23. Florida State

    24. Texas

    25. Purdue

    Let the debates begin.




    Shaquille O'Neal wins award for learning to tie square knot, participating in Pinewood Derby

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    Shaquille O'Neal honored by Massachusetts Boy Scouts.

    shaquille-oneal-ap.JPGView full sizeShaquille O'Neal is a good Scout. A Massachusetts Boy Scouts Council awarded him a Distinguished Citizen Award for learning to tie a square knot and participating in a Pinewood Derby race.


    Shaquille O'Neal's ankle injury isn't keeping him from winning young hearts and minds. The Boston Celtics center, who could be back from the injury as soon as this weekend, last night was honored with a Distinguished Citizen Award by the Weston (Mass.) Boy Scouts for learning to tie a square knot and participating in the Pinewood Derby.


    We would LOVE to see the size of THAT car.

    The Knox Trail Council bestowed the honor on O'Neal at a gathering in Framingham, Mass. last night, according to a Weston Patch.com report.

    One young Scout had the audacity to ask O'Neal which was more painful: his injured ankle or losing a Pinewood Derby to a bunch of Scouts. O'Neal called the youngster out -- jokingly -- and insisted that it would cost him a box of Girl Scout Thin Mints to find out.





    Just need the Cavaliers to play hard for now - Comment of the Day

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    "A couple of weeks ago I said, after that sham of an effort that I witnessed in Portland, that I was very close to turning off the Cavs for good. I will say they have responded. They are competing and that is all I ask of a team that I know is rebuilding from ground level. They may not win much, but they are still fun to watch as long as they compete." - NWBuckeye

    12.26 Byron Scott.jpgView full sizeSome Cavaliers fans are fine with the team losing for now, just as long as they show a little effort in doing so.

    In response to the story Lottery chances can't dim Byron Scott's drive for more victories: Cavaliers Insider, cleveland.com reader NWBuckeye just wants to see the Cavaliers play hard for now. This reader writes,

    "A couple of weeks ago I said, after that sham of an effort that I witnessed in Portland, that I was very close to turning off the Cavs for good. I will say they have responded. They are competing and that is all I ask of a team that I know is rebuilding from ground level. They may not win much, but they are still fun to watch as long as they compete."

    To respond to NWBuckeye's comment, go here.

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

    End of the season is far from the end of the NBA education for Christian Eyenga: Cavaliers Insider

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    Christian Eyenga stars in the Cavaliers' film sessions daily, but that's not a good thing.

    eyenga-defense-kings-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeChristian Eyenga (left) is learning as his rookie season winds down that there's still plenty to learn about being an NBA player -- including improving his defense against players such as Sacramento's Francisco Garcia.

    CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When Byron Scott shows short snippets of play to his Cavaliers during film sessions, the goal is for players to not make many appearances. Because if you're the star of the film session, that means you're not doing things right on the court.

    So it was not the best sign that Christian Eyenga had 3-4 clips devoted entirely to his play in a film session of about 15 plays Tuesday, Scott said.

    "You don't want that many clips when it's that short," Scott said.

    The rookie swingman from the Congo started the season for the NBA Development League's Erie BayHawks, started 18 games once he joined the Cavaliers, and now has slipped to a reserve role while another unknown, Alonzo Gee, starts at small forward.

    Eyenga's up-and-down play is a product of the 21-year-old still learning how to play the game, particularly defensively.

    "He just has a long way to go," Scott said. "He has a lot to learn, still. We all know he has incredible athleticism, but again, that's not going to get it done in this league.

    "There's a lot of guys in this league who are very athletic. He still has to learn our schemes and he still has to learn our offense. He has to do a much better job on both ends of the floor. He's made progress, but I expect much more from him."

    In his own defense, Eyenga says he learns something new every day. Working on his weak-side defense has been a season-long affair, but at Tuesday's shootaround he learned he was drifting to the side when he shoots during games. He also discovered a new wrinkle in attacking a zone defense. Little things, but they are important.

    "I think every day I need to learn," Eyenga said. "The biggest thing is that I learn. I try to learn every day I'm in practice."

    One thing in particular is that Eyenga needs to attack the basket more often, and cut down the outside jumpers. Eyenga is hitting 42 percent of his field goals, only 27 percent from 3-point distance.

    "That's where we have a disagreement," Scott said. "He thinks he's a good shooter. I don't. ... I would rather him take the ball to the basket a lot more and use that athleticism he has."

    Erden to play? Semih Erden reported significant soreness Tuesday after participating in his first 5-on-5 drills in Monday's practice. Scott was happy about that.

    It wasn't Erden's right strained adductor that was sore, it was all of him. Every last muscle that the 6-11 center hasn't been working since he's sat out games since March 6.

    "He had a good soreness today," Scott said.

    Erden won't travel to Toronto for Wednesday's game against the Raptors, in hopes he can play in a couple of the Cavaliers' last four games.

    "I got a good feeling about Semih just watching the workouts and the first game he played," Scott said, "but I want to see more of him. With him, just getting on the floor would be a positive."

    The last word: Scott, a native Californian, said he's heard this Cleveland winter has been one of the more difficult ones the city has endured.

    "I think the weather has been like we have been -- it's been tough," he said.

    Ohio State trinkets still golden in value ... to TV pawn shop operator

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    History Channel show finds two more Gold Pants being sold ... this time to a pawn shop operator.

    pawnstars2.jpgView full sizeA quick-thinking Michigan fan captured a TV image from Monday's "Pawn Stars" TV show that depicted a couple of Gold Pants from 2008 and 2002 Ohio State victories over Michigan put up for sale.

    COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The scope of Ohio State football has spread to the History Channel.

    On Monday night's episode of "Pawn Stars," a popular reality show series about a Las Vegas pawn shop, two pairs of Gold Pants, the trinket given to Ohio State players for a victory over Michigan, were sold to the pawn shop for $1,000 each. Given what happened in December, the sale raised a few eyebrows.

    Just before Christmas, Ohio State announced that five players were suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for selling memorabilia. Among the memorabilia sold were the Gold Pants of Terrelle Pryor and Solomon Thomas for the 2008 OSU victory over Michigan.

    Players selling that memorabilia as undergrads violates NCAA rules. Players selling that memorabilia after they've graduated, or after their eligibility is up, is fine. So there's no way to know whether the pants matter or not.

    The seller on the show, who was identified only by his first name, said he bought the pants from a private collector. They were marked with initials and with the year of the game. One was from 2008, the other from 2002.

    On the show, the seller said he believed the 2008 pants stamped with "DW" belonged to former defensive lineman Doug Worthington, who played with the Buckeyes through the 2009 season. But Worthington called into Columbus radio station 97.1 WBNS-FM on Tuesday to say that he'd given all five of his gold pants, for beating Michigan five times, to family members and they were all accounted for.

    "They're super rare. I definitely want them," Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars before buying the pants.

    A spokesperson for the production company that produces Pawn Stars was unable to provide any more information about the sale when contacted on Tuesday.

    Thanks to a hitch, wrestling comeback is going smooth for Akron native Harry Lester

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    Harry Lester joined the Army and he'll be back in Cleveland this weekend competing at the U.S. Open wrestling championships.

    lester-07-vert-panams-ap.jpgView full sizeIn 2007, Harry Lester upended the Dominican Republic's Anyelo Mota on his way to a gold medal at the Pan-American Games and expected Olympic glory in 2008. It didn't work out that way, but the 27-year-old Akron native is excited about his recent comeback efforts. "I've got a whole different outlook on life and wrestling now," he says.

    CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Akron native Harry Lester's comeback is coming back home.

    Lester's return to wrestling makes a key stop in Cleveland this weekend for the U.S. Open championships at Public Hall, which begin Thursday and conclude Sunday. Lester and several other 2012 Olympic hopefuls, including Cleveland native Andy Hrovat and former Ohio State national champion Tommy Rowlands, will wrestle Friday and Saturday.

    Lester's Greco-Roman wrestling career was soaring in 2008 when it took a shocking U-turn. He was the Olympic gold-medal favorite at 66 kilograms/145.5 pounds, but never made it to Beijing. Lester was upset at the U.S. Olympic trials. His spirit broken and his body a wreck, Lester placed his wrestling shoes on the mat and walked away, the symbolic gesture of a retiring wrestler.

    Lester was 24.

    To no one's surprise, he was on the comeback trail within two years. Lester, a 2006 and 2007 World bronze medalist, wasn't quite ready to compete at last year's U.S. Open in Cleveland, but he is now.

    "[The time off] has given me time to recover mentally and physically. I've got a whole different outlook on life and wrestling now," said Lester, a four-time state champion at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy between 1998 and 2001.

    Lester, 27, is more mature, dedicated and in better shape than in 2008. He is engaged and has a 19-month-old daughter, Zuriana, and recently purchased a home in Colorado Springs, Colo., near the U.S. Olympic Training Center and Fort Carson.

    Why is the fort worth mentioning? Because this is not a typical comeback story.

    Lester joined the Army last year. He is part of WCAP -- the Army's World Class Athlete Program, which sponsors athletes and teams in 12 Olympic and Paralympic sports. The athletes compete around the world while being paid, trained and coached by the Army. The athletes also promote the Army and assist in recruiting.

    It wasn't a matter just of signing up and wrestling. Lester also had to complete basic training in Fort Jackson, S.C., and Advanced Individual Training in Fort Sill, Okla. Lester is a artillery directional specialist.

    "It was exciting," he said. "It was kind of weird at first. I wasn't sure if I'd be building missiles or launching them. Then it turned out I'm the middle guy, the guy who gets the orders from above and send them to the missile launchers."

    Lester probably won't be launching too many more missiles.

    "As long as I'm winning, I hope not. It's the Army, if they need you, they're going to take you," said Lester, who signed up for three years of active duty. "Right now, I'm serving the Army by wrestling."

    The WCAP Greco-Roman team trains at Fort Carson and is coached by Shon Lewis, a longtime mentor of Lester's. He said the chance to work with Lewis was a factor in joining WCAP, as well as the steady salary.

    Lester battled weight problems before his retirement. Early in his comeback, he wrestled up at 74 kilos/163 pounds. He went to basic training weighing 184 pounds and came out at about 160. He's back wrestling at 145.5 pounds, and in February, he won the Granma Cup in Cuba and the Dave Schultz Memorial Tournament in Colorado Springs. Among his rivals this weekend will be another former Ohio four-time state champion, Massillon native C.P. Schlatter.

    "It's still a hard cut," he said. "But being in a different atmosphere and different mind set, it's easier. My natural weight is lighter now. I'm a little more disciplined about cutting weight."

    No longer living a bachelor's lifestyle helps. Family responsibilities and Army discipline also contribute to a re-invigorated approach.

    "I've got a family to think about now. It's a little different on trips," he said. "It's not just about you. You miss your daughter and loved ones. You capitalize on that time, and it makes you wan to win even more."

    Cavaliers-Charlotte in-game blog: Final -- Cavs 99, Bobcats 89

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    J.J. Hickson scores 16 points and added 19 rebounds in the Cavaliers' 16th win of the season.

    davis-jumper-cats-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeBaron Davis and the Cavaliers' offense got off to a quick start in Tuesday's game against Charlotte.

    CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In-game observations as the Bobcats' playoff hopes took a beating at The Q.

    Final: Cavs 99, Bobcats 89

    Fans were furious when Daniel Gibson dribbled out the final 7.2 seconds of the game without trying to score one last time. Not only did the crowd at The Q miss out on chalupas when Cleveland failed to score 100 points, but they also watched the Cavs' hold on the NBA's worst record grow more tenuous as they improved to 16-61.

    J.J. Hickson led with 16 points and 19 rebounds, Ryan Hollins had 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting.

    Third quarter update: Cavaliers 74, Bobcats 66

    What was once a 21-point lead was cut to four points before Cleveland inched its advantage back up.

    The blown lead is thanks to a 6:27 stretch without a field goal to start the quarter in which the Cavaliers missed nine shots and turned the ball over three times. Gerald Henderson scored nine points for Charlotte, and DJ Augustin has 17 points and 7 assists for the Bobcats. JJ Hickson leads the Cavaliers with 14 points and 17 rebounds.

    First quarter update: Cavaliers 34, Bobcats 16

    It's hard to believe Charlotte is two games out of the playoffs and fighting for a spot. Then again, the Bobcats also have six players out injured, so maybe it makes sense that their lifeless performance in the first quarter in front of a sparse crowd resulted in an early deficit.

    J.J. Hickson led the Cavs with nine points and nine rebounds, while Alonzo Gee and Baron Davis both had seven points apiece. Dante Cunningham led Charlotte with six points, but the Bobcats hit just 29.2 percent of their field goals in the first quarter.

    Cavs starters: F Alonzo Gee, F J.J. Hickson, C Ryan Hollins, G Anthony Parker, G Ramon Sessions.

    Bobcats starters: F Boris Diaw, F Dante Cunningham, C Kwame Brown, G Gerald Henderson, G D.J. Augustin.

    Injuries: Samardo Samuels (left groin strain), Antawn Jamison (fractured left little finger), Anderson Varejao (torn tendon, right foot) and Semih Erden (strained right adductor) are out for the Cavs. DeSagana Diop (ruptured Achilles tendon),Stephen Jackson (left hamstring), Shaun Livingston (bruised tailbone), Eduardo Najera (lower back spasms), Joel Przybilla (right knee soreness), Tyrus Thomas (left knee soreness) are out for the Bobcats.

    Inactives: Jamison, Erden, Varejao for Cavs. Przybilla, Livingston and Diop for the Bobcats.

    Officials: David Guthrie, Tom Washington, Mark Lindsay.

    Three things to watch

    1. The Bobcats are fighting for a playoff spot. Can the Cavaliers play the upset role?

    2. Can the Cavaliers slow the Charlotte interior, in particular, Boris Diaw?

    3. Will it be better than Butler-UConn? It has to be. But let's make sure.

    Tribe's Shelley Duncan getting the hang of being in the pinch: Indians Insider

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    Pinch hitting is not an easy thing to do, but since joining the Indians last year, Shelley Duncan has become adept at it. Watch video

    

    CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Shelley Duncan has one at-bat in the Indians' first three games this season. It was a pinch-hit two-run single off Chicago's Matt Thornton in the eighth inning Sunday in a 7-1 victory.

    Pinch hitting was an acquired taste for Duncan. "I used to stink at it," he said. "I hated it. Now I kind of like it. It's a big-time adrenaline rush."

    Before he came to Cleveland, Duncan was 0-for-12 as a pinch-hitter with the Yankees. In the past two seasons with the Indians, he's 7-for-22 with seven RBI. Last year, Duncan hit .286 (6-for-21) as a pinch hitter, tying him for fourth in the AL.

    "Preparation is a huge thing," said manager Manny Acta, when asked what make a successful hitter in the pinch. "Shelley prepares himself very well. He's accepted the role and knows the situations he might hit in.

    "He comes in early and prepares himself like he's going to be playing every day. That's a key. If you prepare yourself and the opportunity comes up, you won't be caught off guard."

    To Duncan, pinch-hitting is about all the "what ifs" that can come his way during a game. Starting in the fifth inning, he's hitting in the cage or stretching in the locker room every half inning. He's already looked at video and knows what relievers pitched the day before and what matchups the opponents like in late-inning situations.

    "You've got all these what ifs in your head and you're ready for every single what if," said Duncan.

    There's on good thing about pinch hitting, especially in the chill of the early season. "When you get thrown in there, the adrenaline gets you so much that you warm up instantly," said Duncan. "The big spots are easier than the not-so big spots. It really gets the adrenaline going."

    Nice weather: It was 42 degrees with a 14 mph wind blowing from left to right at game time Tuesday night. Snow and rain were in the forecast.

    "You just don't think about it," said first baseman Matt LaPorta. "The more you think about it, the colder you get. You just have to play your game."

    Michael Brantley, who lives in Florida, laughed when asked about the weather.

    "We don't get this kind of weather in Florida," he said. "It's not snowing in April. We have wind, but it's usually with a lot of heat. So this is different for me."

    Said Acta, "The cold has been there for over 100 years in baseball at this time of the year. It's never easy, but you figure it's equal [for both teams]. You just have to deal with until summertime shows up."

    Good cause: Starting with Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, the Indians and other non-profit service agencies will begin their "fill the house for charity" promotion. Wednesday's charity is the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland. It receives $5 from every ticket sold by a charity and $1 from every ticket paid for Wednesday's game. For more information go to indians.com/fillthehouse.

    Fire down below: Here are the Indians' minor-league rotations:

    • Class AAA Columbus: LHP David Huff, RHP Jeanmar Gomez, RHP Alex White, RHP Zach McAllister and RHP Corey Kluber.

    • Class AA Akron: LHP Kelvin De La Cruz, RHP Joe Gardner, LHP Scott Barnes, RHP Austin Adams and LHP Matt Packer.

    • Class A Kinston: LHP Drew Pomeranz, RHP T.J. McFarland, RHP Clayton Cook, LHP Giovanni Soto, LHP T.J. House.

    • Class A Lake County: RHP Michael Goodnight, LHP Mike Rayl, RHP Kyle Blair, RHP Cole Cook/RHP Tony Dischler and RHP Trey Haley.

    Good hands: The ball that Anne Feller, widow of Hall of Famer Bob Feller, placed on the pitching rubber before the season opener on Friday is in the Indians' possession.

    It will be shown as part of a display honoring Feller later this year at Progressive Field. This message was written on the ball, "Bobby keep pitching, Anne."

    Grady Sizemore 0-for-4 (but healthy) in exhibition effort with Columbus Clippers

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    Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore went 0 for 4 in a Triple A exhibition game, but looked more like his old self. Watch video

    COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Grady Sizemore is getting closer.

    Tuesday, he played a baseball game in Ohio for the first time in nearly 11 months, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout and a run scored for the Class AAA Columbus Clippers in their 4-3, seven-inning exhibition victory over Ohio State.

    "It's been so long since I've been able to go out and play," said Sizemore, whose only previous game action came in spring training. "So every game there's a little bit of excitement. ... Every step takes it a little bit further."

    Returning from microfracture surgery on his left knee that ended his 2010 season last May, Sizemore still isn't playing on consecutive days yet, so he'll take Wednesday off. He said he plans to be in the lineup with Class AA Akron when the Aeros host Binghamton to open their season on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.

    "I'm just trying to get my innings up and trying to get in as many games as I can in the next couple weeks. Obviously my next step is playing back-to-back and then getting up to four or five games a week," Sizemore said.

    His personal target for a return to the Indians is somewhere in the next 10 days to three weeks.

    "Right now we're shooting for mid-April to late April," Sizemore said, "but it depends on how the knee responds with the extra load of more games. There's definitely going to be some discomfort to work through. It's just a different feeling overall."

    "It's not a certain amount of at-bats that we have," Indians manager Manny Acta said Tuesday. "We don't have a written rule or anything like that. ... It's building up his stamina [so] when he comes up here, we won't have to deal with that."

    Facing Columbus pitcher Zach McAllister three times and rehabbing Indians reliever Joe Smith once, with both of them pitching for Ohio State, Sizemore faced 15 pitches in four at-bats, twice batting out of order to make sure he got in the swings he wanted. He took one ball; took four strikes; fouled off five pitches; swung and missed twice, including on a third strike in his third at-bat; and pulled three ground balls, two that were outs to the second baseman and one that went under the first baseman's glove for a clear error.

    He also ran on a 3-2 count after he reached on the error, sliding in feet-first on ball four to the batter, and later scored from third on a Lonnie Chisenhall single.

    "I've been around Grady for seven or eight years and I thought he looked like the normal Grady," Columbus manager Mike Sarbaugh said after the game. "I thought it was a great sign. He's just getting his timing at the plate."

    Sizemore said he'll eventually get back to the player he was before the knee injury. "I don't see why not. I feel good, I feel strong," he said.

    But he won't really be normal Grady until he gets back to Cleveland.

    "I'm sure [the fans] wanted everybody on the team healthy. I just want to get out there and play good and hopefully stay healthy and win some games," Sizemore said. "We look to a lot of guys on our team, but I want to be the guy out there leading the team and doing a lot of good things. I want to be in that top of the order making things happen, playing solid defense. So when I get back to that, I think I'll make a big difference."

    Smith, also on the disabled list while recovering from an abdominal injury, pitched one inning, getting that Sizemore groundout and striking out one batter.


    Josh Tomlin in total control as Cleveland Indians defeat Boston Red Sox, 3-1

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    Who knows, maybe Charlie Sheen, channeling his inner Ricky Vaughn, sent some good vibes the Indians' way.

    Gallery previewCLEVELAND, Ohio -- Coincidence? Yeah, right.

    Charlie Sheen was in town Tuesday night doing a turn in his "My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat Is Not an Option Tour." It just so happens that the Indians beat the Red Sox, 3-1, at Progressive Field for their second straight win of the season.

    This victory was no accident.

    Josh Tomlin is a long way from Ricky Vaughn, the hard-throwing right-hander Sheen played in the movie "Major League" about the downtrodden Indians. But there is such a thing as mojo, and perhaps a bit of it found its way from the PlayhouseSquare State Theatre to the mound at Progressive Field -- Tomlin proved to be as hard to hit as Sheen was in the movie.

    Tomlin held a powerful, but stagnant, Boston lineup to one run on three hits in seven innings. Tomlin, who won the last spot in the rotation with a strong spring, struck out three and walked three in 91 pitches.

    "Josh Tomlin was fantastic," said manager Manny Acta. "He kept their left-handers off balance the whole night."

    The highly-touted Red Sox, off to a 0-4 start, had six lefties or switch-hitters in their lineup, including Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz and J.D. Drew. They went 1-for-15 against Tomlin.

    "Those guys can hurt you in a hurry," said Tomlin. "I just tried to keep the ball down and away from them. I didn't want them to hurt me to right field."

    Said Acta, "Josh used his change-up to keep the lefties off balance. When they were looking for the change, he sneaked his fastball and cutter in there. He doesn't throw in the mid-90s, but when his off-speed pitches are working, his fastball is effective."

    Tomlin (1-0, 1.29) said he didn't know he was out of the game until Acta shook his hand after the seventh.

    "He did a fantastic job," said Acta. "He'd been through the lineup three or four times and Ortiz and Drew had just missed a couple of pitches."

    Tony Sipp retired the Red Sox in order in the eighth and Chris Perez walked a tightrope in the ninth before recording his first save of the season. After retiring Crawford to start the inning, Perez gave up a single to Dustin Pedroia and walked Kevin Youkilis with two out.

    He then engaged in a wrestling match with the dangerous Ortiz. With the count 2-0, Acta paid a visit to his version of the Wild Thing.

    "I just wanted to give him a breather," said Acta. "I told him to be aggressive and challenge him."

    Said Perez, "I thought when I got to 2-0 I'd just walk him and face Drew. But Manny said challenge him."

    The count went to 3-1 before Ortiz sent a fly ball to left for the final out.

    "Give an assist to Manny," said Perez. "This was a big team win for us. Tomlin pitched great and we had some good at-bats against a very tough pitcher [Josh Beckett]. Now we have a chance to win the homestand."

    Beckett (0-1, 5.40) held the Indians scoreless for the first three innings as he nursed a 1-0 lead. The Indians caught him in the fourth. Travis Hafner doubled off the right-field wall with one out. Orlando Cabrera singled to left to score Hafner.

    Beckett walked Austin Kearns, but struck out Matt LaPorta for the second out. Jack Hannahan put the Tribe ahead, 2-1, with a single through the middle.

    Hafner, who had 50 RBI in 118 games last season, is off to a hot start, hitting .375 (6-for-16).

    "It looked like he hit that double with a two-iron," said Acta. "That's one of the hardest balls I've seen hit since the start of spring training. We need Haf. It's no secret. Fifty RBI isn't going to cut it. We need him to be one of the guys that hits in the middle of the lineup for us."

    The Indians kept pushing in the fifth. Asdrubal Cabrera hit a leadoff double to the gap in left center. Shin-Soo Choo moved him to third with a grounder to second and Carlos Santana delivered him on a short sacrifice fly to left for a 3-1 lead.

    Boston took a 1-0 lead in the second on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's two-out single to right. Tomlin retired the first two Boston batters, but walked Ortiz. Drew doubled to right as Ortiz stopped at third. Ortiz scored on Saltalamacchia's single, but Choo threw out Drew at the plate as he tried to score behind Ortiz.

    Cleveland Cavaliers start fast, put a hurt on Charlotte's playoff hopes, 99-89

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    The Cavaliers improve to 16-61 and edge closer to not having the worst record in the NBA.

    Gallery previewCLEVELAND, Ohio -- With just five games left before the Cavaliers head home for good, they still are struggling to find an identity -- at least when it comes to the remainder of this season of record-setting lows.

    Do they play spitefully, trying to knock off as many contenders for playoff slots and higher post-season seedings as possible? Or do they count down every last second until the 82nd game, targeting the worst record in the league so they'll have the best chance at high draft picks?

    On Tuesday, they ignored all the records, playing hard, seeking improvement in all the little aspects of the game and in the process stomping playoff hopeful Charlotte, 99-89, at The Q. The Bobcats were without six injured players and were just two games out of the final playoff slot in the East, but the Cavaliers focused on slowing the Charlotte big men who dominated Cleveland in a victory last week.

    With center Ryan Hollins returning to the unexpected form he displayed in a victory over Miami last week in totaling 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting, and power forward J.J. Hickson continuing his steady play with 16 points and 19 rebounds, the Cavaliers' big men were the ones securing the victory.

    It came after coach Byron Scott challenged Hickson and Hollins to slow Charlotte's Boris Diaw and Kwame Brown, who combined for 42 points and 15 rebounds when the teams met six games ago.

    "I told them, 'These two guys kicked our butts, and it's up to you two guys to take the challenge,'" Scott said. "I thought those guys reacted extremely well."

    Hollins has had an up-and-down existence with the Cavaliers, but blossomed in a 13-point, three-block performance against Miami last week. In the next game, Hollins had just four points, all off free throws.

    "I think after the Miami game, his agent probably called [General Manager] Chris [Grant] to see if he could get a max deal," Scott joked. "I think he's shown signs he can definitely help us. Then he's had those lapses where he hasn't played as well. ... He's just a young guy that's still trying to figure it all out."

    After falling behind by 21 in the first half, the Bobcats sliced the deficit to four points twice after Cleveland failed to score a field goal for 6:27 in the third quarter.

    But in the fourth, Hollins scored 11 points, the Cavaliers held Charlotte to 35-percent shooting and Cleveland held on.

    "We understand that our future is ahead of us," Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson said. "We're going to play all 82 games as hard as we can because we're trying to build something."

    Even if it means battling Minnesota for the worst record in the NBA. The Cavaliers victory over Charlotte bumped them to 16-61, while the Timberwolves fell to 17-61 with a loss to New Jersey. In the race for the most ping-pong balls in the draft lottery, Minnesota might have the edge, with two of their last four games against teams with winning records.

    Of the Cavaliers' final five games, only Chicago has won more games than it has lost.

    "I don't even know what our record is," said Ramon Sessions, who scored 18 points and had four assists. "It's out of our control. We can't even think about that."

    Relentless Texas A&M outlasts Notre Dame for NCAA women's basketball title, 76-70

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    The Aggies are a national championship newcomer and bullied their way through the tournament to get to the top.

    texasam-adams-nd-horiz-ap.jpgView full sizeDanielle Adams (23) overpowered Notre Dame's Natalie Achonwa and the rest of the Irish defense to score 30 points and lead the Aggies to the NCAA women's national title, 76-70, on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.

    INDIANAPOLIS -- Scoring, rebounding, even making a key steal, Danielle Adams saved her best game for the biggest stage and brought Texas A&M its first national championship.

    Adams scored 22 of her 30 points in a dominating second half and answered the Fighting Irish basket for basket Tuesday night to help Texas A&M bring a title to the former all-male military academy with a thrilling 76-70 victory in front of a pro-Notre Dame crowd.

    "I knew they couldn't stop me inside so that's what I did, I took it inside," Adams said.

    No one was happier than Gary Blair, the outspoken A&M coach who hadn't been in the Final Four since 1998 when he was with Arkansas. Blair bluntly said it was a good thing that top powers like Connecticut, Tennessee and Stanford weren't in the title game.

    "We don't give up," Blair said. "We might not play the prettiest game in the world but it's good for women's basketball to see a Texas A&M and a Notre Dame in this game."

    Then his Aggies went out and proved him right.

    Tyra White added 18 points for A&M, including a huge 3-pointer as the shot clock buzzer sounded to put A&M up, 73-68, with 1:07 left.

    The Aggies are a national championship newcomer and bullied their way through the tournament to get to the top. Like Notre Dame, the Aggies vanquished their conference rival on the way, beating Baylor in the Dallas regional final after losing to the Lady Bears three times during the season.

    Adams, who had a history of vanishing in big games, did no such thing on Tuesday night, scoring the second-most points ever in a championship game (Sheryl Swoopes 47, 1993).

    "Glad we came back," Blair said. "We had a bad 10 minutes in the first half. We found a way to come back, and Danielle got the ball inside."

    Both teams reached the championship game by knocking off two No. 1 seeds. Notre Dame eliminated Tennessee in the regional final, then swept past Connecticut in Sunday night's national semifinals, the first time one team has taken down those two women's basketball icons in the same tournament.

    A&M also had two impressive wins to get here. After beating Baylor in the regional final, the Aggies edged Stanford on Sunday night.

    It was the first title game without a No. 1 seed since 1994 and only the second overall. It also was the first final without either Connecticut or Tennessee since Maryland beat Duke in overtime for the 2006 championship.

    It turned out to be a good one. After a back-and-forth first half, and with the Aggies trailing, 48-43, early in the second half, Adams simply took over. The 6-foot-1 center scored 10 of the next 13 points for the Aggies to give them a 56-53 lead midway through the second half. Texas A&M then extended the advantage to 64-57 behind the two Sydneys -- Carter and Colson.

    But Notre Dame wouldn't give up, battling back behind its sensational sophomore guard Skylar Diggins. The Irish scored nine of the next 11 points to tie the game at 66 on Diggins' jumper with 3:56 left.

    Blair went right to Adams on the next two possessions and she delivered, hitting back-to-back layups. Adams hit nine of her first 10 shots in the second half.

    After Devereaux Peters' putback cut it to 70-68, White hit the huge 3. Diggins had two free throws with 40.7 seconds left, and the Irish had one last chance after a turnover by the Aggies with 29 seconds remaining.

    Muffet McGraw called her final timeout, but Diggins turned it over in front of the bench. White hit two free throws to seal the win.

    Interim no longer, John Parry remains the right choice to lead Cleveland State athletics: Terry Pluto

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    Cleveland State makes the right call with athletic director John Parry.

    csu-parryclean-mug.jpgView full sizeHis success at Butler and his performance in an interim year with Cleveland State makes John Parry a good choice for the Vikings, says Terry Pluto.

    CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Sometimes, the obvious choice is the best choice -- even if it's barely mentioned in the media.

    But that's what Cleveland State president Ronald Berkman did when taking the "interim" tag away from John Parry on Tuesday. Now, he's CSU athletic director with a new 3-year contract.

    Parry has been in the job for a year as the school searched for a full-time replacement for Lee Reed, who did an excellent job before he took the same position at Georgetown.

    "John has the combination of a real depth of experience and passion and energy," said Berkman. "He also brings the emphasis on academics that comes from his being at Butler."

    Parry spent 16 years as Butler's athletic director, helping that school become a Horizon League power. Before Parry arrived, Butler's men's basketball team had a 6-22 record and had been to only one NCAA tournament in school history.

    When Parry retired in 2006, Butler had five NCAA tournament appearances, five more with the NIT.

    "John has done a great job and I'm glad we are keeping him," said Gary Waters, the school's successful basketball coach.

    Parry has more jobs than keeping Waters happy. But the relationship between the athletic director and the men's basketball coach at a school with no football such as CSU is critical. Waters was hired by Reed, but it didn't take long to realize he had an ally in Parry. "We're both old school," said Waters. "We know things don't happen overnight. We know how to win at this [mid-major] level."

    CSU finished the season 27-9. Three losses were to Butler, which reached the NCAA championship game for the second year in a row.

    Waters revived CSU

    Five years ago, Waters took over a program that had not been to a postseason tournament since the 1988 NIT. It hadn't won 20 games since 1992-93. Waters has three 20-victory seasons, one NCAA tournament appearance (2009) and twice made it to the NIT (2008, 2011).

    At 13-5, CSU was in a 3-way tie with Butler and Wisconsin-Green Bay for the Horizon League regular-season title.

    "Gary is a tremendous coach, and what I need to do is give him what he needs to keep this going," said Parry. "He stands for the right things. He is a defensive-oriented coach, which wins in our conference. This is where he wants to climb the mountain."

    At 59, Waters is much like Parry -- he's not looking for the next job. It's Waters who took Kent State to its first NCAA tournament berth and did it twice in his five seasons at the Mid-American Conference school.

    Cleveland State beats Valaparaiso, 76-65View full sizeA growing relationship between Parry and basketball coach Gary Waters is a positive sign for the long-term health of the Vikings' most visible athletic program.

    "Gary did a very good job with the material that he had," said Berkman. "He is an excellent basketball coach, and an excellent human being. I think he's a great role model for our players."

    Both Parry and Berkman mentioned how they appreciate Waters teaching a leadership class to his players during the season -- something not common in most major college basketball programs. Berkman believes it makes sense to keep these two veterans with successful track records at the mid-major basketball level together. Berkman said he had a year to watch Parry run the department and also see if he was truly committed to CSU.

    "John wants to be here and is happy here," said Berkman. "That's important."

    Drawing more fans

    "I know that this is a pro city, but we are Cleveland's Division I basketball team," said Parry. "We have a good product. We have to get the word out."

    The Vikings averaged 3,112 fans last season. That was up from 2,278 and 2,245 the previous two seasons. After Jan. 1, they averaged nearly 4,000 a game.

    "It was really special to walk into the building and see fans to the rafters when we played Butler," said Berkman. "Any time we can bring people downtown to see our campus, it's a real plus. They can see how the campus has been transformed."

    The Vikings drew 8,490 fans for that game, the sixth largest crowd in school history.But the overall attendance was the most since 2000-01. Selling mid-major basketball from a primarily commuter school that doesn't inspire much alumni loyalty in a pro town is a tough task.

    Mid-majors generally don't draw well. Yes, Butler averaged 7,178 fans this season. But the only other Horizon schools averaging more than 4,000 were Wright State (4,792) and Wisconsin-Milwaukee (4,145). Valparaiso (3,362) was fourth, then came CSU (3,112) in the 10-team conference.

    In the MAC, Ohio (7,096) was the leader. Toledo (4,648) was the only other MAC school over 4,000. The next three were Kent State (3,847), Ball State (3,400) and Akron (3,338). Seven of the MAC's 12 schools failed to average 3,000 fans -- four were under 2,000.

    The worst Horizon League draw was Youngstown State (2,261).

    "We can do better," said Berkman. "That's one of our goals, to put an exceptional team on the floor and then have people come down and watch it. We can do that here."

    Lake Erie Monsters clinch Calder Cup playoff berth

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     CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dan Gilbert has a playoff team post-LeBron James.  The American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters clinched a postseason berth late Tuesday night/early Wednesday when the Abbotsford Heat lost to Hamilton, 2-1, in Abbotsford, British Columbia.    Gilbert owns the Cavaliers and Monsters, both of whom play at The Q.    Lake Erie won at Toronto on...

     CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dan Gilbert has a playoff team post-LeBron James.

     The American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters clinched a postseason berth late Tuesday night/early Wednesday when the Abbotsford Heat lost to Hamilton, 2-1, in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
     
     Gilbert owns the Cavaliers and Monsters, both of whom play at The Q.
     
     Lake Erie won at Toronto on Saturday, then waited for Abbotsford to lose in regulation. The Heat won Saturday and Monday.

     The Monsters qualified for the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time in the four-season history of the franchise. They did so despite a relatively high number of injuries and call-ups.

     Lake Erie coach David Quinn is in his second season with the club. He took over for Joe Sacco, who coached the first two in Lake Erie before being promoted to the same position with the parent Colorado Avalanche.

     The Monsters are 41-27-3-5, third place in the Western Conference North Division. With four games remaining in their regular season, they remain alive for the division title.

     Center and captain Ben Walter leads Lake Erie with 65 points and 43 assists and is tied for first among players on the roster in goals (22, with Matt Ford). Mark Olver, currently with the Avalanche, has 23 goals with Lake Erie.

     Walter has recorded points in 18 of the last 20 games, posting six goals and 22 assists in that span.

     Right winger David van der Gulik has points in 10 of the last 11 games (5g, 10a).

     The Monsters have relied heavily on the quality goaltending of veterans Jason Bacashihua and John Grahame. Bacashihua is 21-16-3 with three shutouts, a 2.35 goals-against average and .914 save percentage; Grahame is 18-11-2 with one shutout, a 2.29 GAA and .913 save percentage.
     
     The Monsters play host to Toronto tonight. Faceoff is 7.
     

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