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If Irving's gone, Derrick Williams is a good choice - Cavaliers Comment of the Day

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"Given current roster commitments, Irving is the only small guard worthy of consideration with either of the Cavaliers' two first-rounders. Derrick Williams is the clear No. 2 pick and a reasonable option. If they don't like him, Valanciunas or Kanter is the way to go." - tidho

williams-dunk-arizona-ap.jpgView full sizeHow would Derrick Williams look in wine and gold?

In response to the story NBA Draft: Who is the number two player in the draft? Poll, cleveland.com reader tidho doesn't like the idea of small guards not named Kyrie Irving in this draft. This reader writes,

"Given current roster commitments, Irving is the only small guard worthy of consideration with either of the Cavaliers' two first-rounders. Derrick Williams is the clear No. 2 pick and a reasonable option. If they don't like him, Valanciunas or Kanter is the way to go."

To respond to tidho's comment, go here.

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


Byron Scott to the LA Lakers isn't likely, but anything can happen

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It's not likely Byron Scott will replace Phil Jackson as coach of the Lakers.

Cleveland Cavaliers beat Charlotte Bobcats, 87-72, in first preseason gameByron Scott yells direction to his team.

Phil Jackson hasn't officially retired from the Los Angeles Lakers but the rumors have already circulated on who will become the next Lakers coach.

The rumors have gone from the obvious in current assistant coach Brian Shaw, to the way out there in Mike Brown, Doc Rivers and even current Cavaliers coach Byron Scott.

Just because Scott is a former Lakers' player, some believe Scott will become the next coach.

But there's one problem, Scott is still under contract with the Cavaliers. And Sam Amico of FoxSportsOhio.com writes:

In order for the Lakers to hire Scott, they would have to provide some sort of compensation in return -- such as draft picks, cash and maybe players. Plus, Scott might be a tough sell since he's coming off a 19-63 season.

In other words, there would definitely be easier hires. Shaw is the first, most obvious name. Rick Adelman is also available after parting ways with Houston. Larry Brown, Jeff Van Gundy and Jerry Sloan are out there, too. And considering the Lakers' history of hiring stop-gap coaches to fill in for a year or two, don't be surprised if Minnesota's Kurt Rambis is mentioned.

Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times has Scott on his list of candidates to take over for Jackson.

It is not known whether Scott can get out of his contract with the Cavaliers. Even if he could, the Lakers probably would have to give the Cavaliers compensation in the form of a draft pick, or draft picks, and cash.

Brush defensive end Pharaoh Brown chooses Michigan over Ohio State, others

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LYNDHURST, Ohio - Brush junior tight end/defensive end Pharaoh Brown received scholarship offers from Oregon, Boston College, North Carolina State, Syracuse and Arizona State, just to name a few. The 6-7, 220-pounder wanted to stay fairly close to home so he narrowed his choices to Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Pittsburgh and West Virginia before deciding to give the...

Michigan plans to play Brush's Pharaoh Brown at defensive tackle. Brown registered over 50 tackles and seven sacks last season. - (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer)

LYNDHURST, Ohio - Brush junior tight end/defensive end Pharaoh Brown received scholarship offers from Oregon, Boston College, North Carolina State, Syracuse and Arizona State, just to name a few.

The 6-7, 220-pounder wanted to stay fairly close to home so he narrowed his choices to Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Pittsburgh and West Virginia before deciding to give the Wolverines his oral commitment.

"I like the academic support system Michigan has, its defensive scheme and I just like the campus overall," said Brown. "It's a good fit."

Brown, who registered over 50 tackles and seven sacks as a junior, will play defensive tackle in college.

"The schools that recruited me as a tight end were schools that played a spread offense, but I like playing defense," said Brown, who will major in criminal justice.

Michigan coaches expect Brown to arrive with more bulk, he said.

"They said they wouldn't be surprised if I come in at 245 or 250 pounds," Brown said, "and I think I could be that too since I don't have that much of a tough time gaining weight.

"I'm even contemplating graduating in January so I can get an early start."

Brown stood 6-7 entering his sophomore year but only weighed about 180 pounds.

McCoy's 'minicamps' have to help - Browns Comment of the Day

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"If the team adopts the work ethic of Colt McCoy, they can't help but get better. If the Browns are going to ever make the playoffs again, they better develop a much stronger work ethic. The West Coast Offense relies on timing passes and getting that timing down requires lots of reps, so there is No way these camps are a waste of time." - Vbev63

colt-mccoy.jpgView full sizeColt McCoy is getting Browns players together to learn the new offense.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns have second 'minicamp' today at Baldwin-Wallace College, source says, cleveland.com reader Vbev63 thinks these camps are valuable. This reader writes,

"If the team adopts the work ethic of Colt McCoy, they can't help but get better. If the Browns are going to ever make the playoffs again, they better develop a much stronger work ethic. The West Coast Offense relies on timing passes and getting that timing down requires lots of reps, so there is No way these camps are a waste of time."

To respond to Vbev63's comment, go here.

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

Tomlin settling in for Tribe - Indians Comment of the Day

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"Looks like Tomlin is settling in to what he is: a solid fourth or fifth starter. If he can keep giving us six allowing three, I'll be happy." - jcublue

Cleveland Indians beat Kansas City Royals, 7-3.View full sizeJosh Tomlin has been solid for the Tribe this season.

In response to the story Cleveland Indians defeat Tampa Bay, 5-4, on Michael Brantley's walk-off walk, cleveland.com reader jcublue is happy with what Josh Tomlin has given the Indians this season. This reader writes,

"Looks like Tomlin is settling in to what he is: a solid fourth or fifth starter. If he can keep giving us six allowing three, I'll be happy."

To respond to jcublue's comment, go here.

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

L.A. Lakers should think outside the box, forget Cavaliers coach Byron Scott, says Mary Schmitt Boyer (SBTV)

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PD Cavaliers writer says Scott leaving Cleveland for L.A. is a scenario that doesn't make sense. Watch video



Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Branson Wright, as Chuck Yarborough is on assignment.


If the Cavaliers end up with the No. 2 pick in this year's NBA draft, which player do you think they should take? Cast your vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.


Today's guest, Plain Dealer Cavaliers beat writer Mary Schmitt Boyer, says she thinks the Cavs might go for Arizona forward Derrick Williams if they end up with the second pick.


Mary will be covering the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday, and she provides insight into how the process works. She also talks about the Celtics-Heat series and whether Boston can come back from a 3-1 deficit; and whether anyone can stop the Heat from winning the NBA title if Miami does eliminate Boston.


SBTV will return Thursday with two shows. First, MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds talks about whether the Tribe is for real. And in our second show, Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot provides updates on the Browns' workouts during the NFL lockout.




Paul Hoynes talks Indians baseball - Podcast

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Will Alex White remain in the rotation when Mitch Talbot is ready to come back? Are we destined for a summer full of nail biters like we've seen all season so far? Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

white-debut-vert-tribe-cc.jpgView full sizeAlex White has been impressive in his first two starts with the Indians.

Will Alex White remain in the rotation when Mitch Talbot is ready to come back? Are we destined for a summer full of nail biters like we've seen all season so far?

Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• Are you concerned about the number of home runs Josh Tomlin is giving up, even though they've been mostly solo shots?

• Is this team's ability to make pitchers work and be patient something Manny Acta has brought with him?

• If this team continues to win all summer, what do you think a realistic per game attendance figure might be?

• Approaching the 40-game mark of the season, do you feel like this is a team that can make the playoffs? Will all these close games help them in October if they do?

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


Robert 'Tractor' Traylor, former Cleveland Cavalier, found dead at age 34

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Forward who played Cavaliers in 2000-01 and 2004-05 seasons reportedly died of a massive heart attack.

tractor-traylor.jpgRobert "Tractor" Traylor as a Cleveland Cavaliers forward during the 2004-05 season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Robert "Tractor" Traylor, who spent two one-year stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers during his seven-year NBA career, has died at age 34, his Puerto Rican team confirms today.

According to www.elnuevodia.com, BAyamon Cowboys team attorney José Carlos Pérez said Traylor was in communication with his wife via Skype at about 7 p.m. Tuesday when communication was cut off. She tried to contact him several times, as well as Perez and some of the players but was unsuccessful.

Elnuevodia reported that the building maintenance staff at Traylor's apartment forced the door open and found Traylor lying on the floor. "Apparently, the center died of a massive heart attack," the website reported. Perez said there were no signs of violence in the room nor the player had any kind of wound or injury.

Traylor played four seasons in Puerto Rico's National Superior Basketball League (BSN). He played in 2007-08 with the Santurce Crabbers before joining the Cowboys. This season in 10 games, he scored 81 points and got 63 rebounds.

The Cowboys announced that today's game against Mayagüez was suspended

Traylor played with the Cavaliers in the 2000-01 and 2004-05 seasons.

In his first Cleveland season, he averaged 5.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes, playing 70 games.

During his next stay with the Cavs, Traylor played in 74 games, averaging 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.9 minutes.

Traylor was selected by the Dallas Mavericks out of Michigan as the sixth overall pick in the 1998 draft. He was then traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for the rights to Dirk Nowitzki, who had been selected by the Bucks.  


Cleveland Indians activate Carlos Carrasco for tonight's start; Frank Herrmann optioned to Columbus

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Carlos Carrasco will start against the Rays and left-hander David Price tonight at Progressive Field.

carlos.jpgCarlos Carrasco will make his first start tonight after coming of the disabled list.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As expected Carlos Carrasco was activated Wednesday in time to make his start tonight against Tampa Bay and David Price. Carrasco was on the disabled list with a sore right elbow.

Frank Herrmann, after a day trip to Cleveland on Tuesday, was optioned to Class AAA Columbus for the third time this year.  

Carrasco was removed from a start against the Twins on April 24 with a "tight' elbow after three innings. He made a rehab start Friday at Class AA Akron. In five starts with the Tribe, Carrasco is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA.

Thaddeus Gibson, former Ohio State football star, did pay for car, according to records

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Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles records show Gibson paid for car, contrary to a report that the purchase price had been listed as zero.

thaddeus-gibson.jpgThaddeus Gibson (90) playing linebacker for Ohio State against Michigan in 2009.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Ohio State linebacker and Euclid High School star Thaddeus Gibson paid for a car in 2007, records show, contrary to a report that the title to the car listed the purchase price as zero.

Ohio State and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles are both investigating whether OSU athletes and relatives were sold cars at less than the purchase price available to other people, which would be a violation of NCAA rules.

Gibson played in two games as a San Francisco 49ers rookie last season.

Jill Riepenhoff and Mike Wagner of the Columbus Dispatch write what has been learned about the car transaction:

BMV records show that former linebacker Thaddeus Gibson paid $13,700 for a 2007 Chrysler 300C that he bought from former Jack Maxton salesman Aaron Kniffin in June 2007.

The Dispatch reported last week that the title to Gibson's car listed the purchase price as zero. Jack Maxton owner Jeff Mauk said he couldn't explain the reason.

But a prior title on the vehicle obtained by The Dispatch yesterday shows that the car with 13,760 miles was purchased on June 27, 2007, and financed through Huntington National Bank. The title without a purchase price was issued on March 6, 2008, with Huntington still listed as the lender.

Gibson said last week that he still is making payments on the car.

Ohio State and the BMV launched investigations last week after The Dispatch found that eight athletes and several athletes' relatives had purchased used cars from the same salesman when he worked at two different dealerships.

OSU is looking for possible NCAA violations in which athletes received benefits not offered to the general public.

The BMV is investigating because Kniffin said the purchase prices listed on transactions with OSU athletes and relatives do not reflect accurate sales prices, as required by Ohio law.

 

As the NBA Playoffs press on, can we ignore the Miami Heat?

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WFNY explores its fan-related options as the NBA Playoffs continue.

9c920657c0efc6450cb2fd21a591a836-getty-113244021eg037_miami_heat_v.jpgWFNY knows that it's tough to ignore greatness, but is urging you to try

As we hit the one-year anniversary of what the PD's Bill Livingston has dubbed "Quitness Day," it seems more and more likely that our former friend LeBron James is going to have the last laugh.

And the whole thing is making me sick.

As I wrote last week on WFNY, what a difference a year makes. Monday night, because the Indians had an off-day, I made the ill-advised decision to watch Game 4 of the Heat-Celtics series from Boston. With Miami up 2-1, the Celtics really needed to grab this one to keep their hopes alive for winning the series. It was a close one throughout, but as the game grew longer, I found myself increasingly reacting as if I was watching one of my own teams. My hatred for the Heat has reached a peak level, even worse than the day LeBron came back in December to disgrace us, and I even uttered "this is more proof that there is no such thing as karma" after that night.

The worst part about the game? LeBron James was spectacular. We've seen this before, but it used to be fun when he was using his forces for (what we thought was) good and not for evil.  

So there I was, openly and loudly rooting for Kevin Garnett, my alltime LEAST favorite athlete until last summer. Did he come through for me, or for any of us for that matter? Of course not. Not only did he go 1-10 from the field in the most important game of the season, but he failed to set the pick on the final play in regulation which was set for Paul Pierce to get to his sweet spot for a game-winning, buzzer-beating shot attempt. Oh, and he was abused by noted softie Chris Bosh the entire second half and overtime. On top of all of that, KG looked old doing so. Monday Night's OT loss looked like the end of the road "The Big Three" in Boston.

A year too late of course.

This is the perfect storm for LeBron, and that is depressing as a Cleveland sports fan. His Heat team caught a tired and injured Celtics club that made questionable moves at the trade deadline that hurt their chances this year. The Chicago Bulls look a lot like the Cavs teams of previous few seasons – one great player surrounded by role players who have played tighter in the postseason. Need proof? They are having trouble with the Atlanta Hawks. In the West, the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers have flamed out in epic fashion. The top-seeded San Antonio Spurs were upset by the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies and like the Celtics, looked slow and old while doing so.

There is a clear changing of the guard in the NBA, and it's nauseating.

The fact that LeBron James may be vindicated just one season after he quit on the city of Cleveland is everything that is wrong with the NBA. He had a plan, long in place while we were all blindly loyal to him, defending his actions at every turn, and he executed it (and us in the process). As much as I loved the grit and fire of what Dan Gilbert said in the infamous Comic Sans note, imagine how ill he is going to be if the Heat finishes off this potentially easy walk to a title? LeBron will have played the ultimate "F you" card on him.

Can this really be happening to us? Can LeBron really have this easy of a path to a title in his first year in Miami? Is this going to be worse for Clevelanders than watching Art Modell hoist the Lombardi Trophy with a team that should have been ours?

I don't mean to depress all of you, I just want to properly prepare you for what could be happening. So what should we do?

I would advise completely tuning out the NBA (other than the lottery which comes up on May 17th) until the June draft. Concentrate on the best thing going in our town right now: the first place Cleveland Indians. Try to forget about that team down south with its three divas who may be cutting down some nets in the near future.  

Its either that, or turn yourself into a big time Dallas Mavericks fan.

 

Paul Silas, former Cleveland Cavaliers coach, reacts to Robert 'Tractor' Traylor's death

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Paul Silas and Ira Newble on the death of Robert "Tractor" Traylor.

robert-tractor-traylor.jpgView full sizeRobert "Tractor" Traylor makes a move during a 2005 game with the Cavs.

CLEVELAND - Today's news of Robert "Tractor" Traylor's death pained Charlotte Bobcats coach Paul Silas.

"It's just a shock and hard to believe," said Silas in an interview this afternoon with Starting Blocks.

Silas coached Traylor in Charlotte, New Orleans and with the Cavaliers.

"He was one of my special players that I really admired," Silas said. "We just texted each other about two weeks ago. I remember once how he stepped up for me in Cleveland when he told the other players they were wrong in the way they were going at me. It was a blessing to know him, to be around him and to be a close friend."

Traylor, 34, was found dead today in his apartment in Puerto Rico. Traylor was a member of the Bayamon Cowboys basketball team. He apparently died from a heart attack.

Ira Newble, a teammate of Traylor's with the Cavaliers, also said he was hurt by the news.

"This was totally unexpected," Newble said. "He was in good shape. He slimmed down. He was no longer overweight. He had that heart condition, but it's been five years since that surgery and you'd think he'd be past that... It's so sad to see a consummate teammate and a good brother leave this earth."

Traylor was the sixth overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft out of Michigan. He played seven years in the NBA, including two stints with the Cavaliers.

After his final season with the Cavaliers in 2004-05, Traylor became a free agent and was prepared to sign with the New Jersey Nets, but the Nets' doctors discovered Traylor had an enlarged aortic valve.

Traylor had corrective heart surgery in November of 2006. He sat out nearly a year and half before playing again in Spain before joining the Puerto Rican league.

Traylor got a tryout of sorts with the Cavaliers in 2008 when he played for the Cavs' summer league team in Las Vegas. He failed in his NBA comeback attempt. 

“We were all very saddened to hear this news," Cavaliers senior vice-president of communications Tad Carper told the Plain Dealer via e-mail. "Trac was a really great guy to be around and work with, not only as a team mate, but for our entire staff. He played with great passion on the court, and was always positive and fun to interact with off the court as well. He will surely be missed by many, many people.”

Miami Heat forward LeBron James tweeted: "R.I.P "Tractor". Another one of my former teammates found dead at such a young age. SMH!!"

Traylor and James played together with the Cavaliers in the 2004-05 season.

Cavaliers guard Baron Davis and Traylor were together for three seasons with the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, from 2001-04 -- the first two of those seasons with Silas as their coach.

Davis tweeted: "Sad day today just found out Tractor died. Great teammate. Pls send your prayers out to his family."

Cavaliers guard Manny Harris, who, like Traylor, played at Michigan, tweeted: "R.I.P. TO ROBERT "TRACTOR" TRAYLOR"

Cinesport video

 

Indians go for 15th straight win at home tonight

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Cleveland will now try to win 15 in a row at home for the first time since May 13-June 19, 1994.

carlos_carrasco.jpgCarlos Carrasco returns to the mound tonight vs. the Rays.

CLEVELAND -- In his last start at Progressive Field, David Price helped the Tampa Bay Rays snap an 18-game losing streak visiting the Cleveland Indians.

When he gets the ball Wednesday night, Price will try to prevent the major league-best Indians from winning 15 in a row at home for the first time in 17 years.

The Indians (23-11), who were coming off a 3-3 trip, were 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position Tuesday but recorded their fourth straight home win in their final at-bat, beating the Rays (20-15) 5-4 when Tampa Bay's Kyle Farnsworth walked Michael Brantley with the bases loaded. Brantley also homered in the fourth inning.

"We continued to go hard," said manager Manny Acta, whose team is off to its best home start in franchise history at 14-2. "You can feel it in the dugout. They just keep saying it's our game."

Cleveland will now try to win 15 in a row at home for the first time since May 13-June 19, 1994.

Price (4-3, 3.26 ERA) allowed three hits in seven-plus innings of a 6-3 win July 24 that ended the Rays' 18-game skid in Cleveland dating to 2005. It was also manager Joe Maddon's first career victory at Progressive Field in 22 chances, including three losses with Angels.

Maddon is hoping the left-hander can help deliver another win after the Rays (20-15) saw their franchise-record eight-game road winning streak snapped Tuesday.

Price may well be up to the task, as he's 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA in his last five starts. The left-hander struck out a season-high 10 and threw 8 2-3 innings of four-hit ball in Thursday's 3-1 win over Toronto.

If Price doesn't have good stuff, the Rays will need a better performance out of their bullpen than Tuesday, when it walked a season-high six.

Second baseman Orlando Cabrera, batting .309 with 12 RBIs and 11 runs scored during the Indians' home streak, will face Price for the first time.

Cleveland will give the ball to Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 4.97) for his first start since April 24 following a stint on the disabled list with a strained elbow.

In a rehab start at Akron on Friday, the right-hander went 3 2-3 innings, striking out three and walking three.

The last time Carrasco pitched at Progressive Field was also the last time the Indians lost there. He gave up a career-high seven runs and 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings of an 8-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on April 2.

He has never faced the Rays.

Tampa Bay right-fielder Matt Joyce will try to record his fourth straight multihit game after going 2 for 4 with a double and a homer in the series opener. Joyce is batting .474 with four doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs in his last 11 contests.


Remembering Robert "Tractor" Traylor: Family always came first

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Reprint of 2005 story on Robert "Tractor" Traylor.

tt.jpgRobert Traylor

Editors note: Reprint of 2005 story on Robert "Tractor" Traylor, who was found dead today.

CLEVELAND ----- Jessie Carter was the most influential person in Robert “Tractor” Traylor’s life. Carter, Traylor’s grandmother, taught him all the valuable lessons that he would utilize later in life.

Learning how to duplicate Carter’s masterful recipes like macaroni and cheese, stuffing or sweet potato pie was at the top of the list but Carter, who died a year ago, taught her grandson a more valuable lesson.

“My grandmother had a three-bedroom house but there were always about 12 to 13 people living there,” said Traylor, the Cavaliers forward. “When things weren’t going well at the homes for some of the guys, they could stay at my grandmother’s house. She never turned anyone away. She’d feed anyone that was hungry. Those are traits that I picked up from her.”

Carter taught Traylor well.

Before her death, Carter was raising Traylor’s younger brother Walter Glover. The two brothers are 13 years apart but they have always had a close relationship, which routinely included visits by Glover during the off-season. So without hesitation, Traylor decided to bring Glover, 14, now a sophomore at Westlake, with him to Cleveland.

“He’s always stayed with me,” Traylor said.

“We have a great relationship. I’ve always been there for him. Having him live with me gives me a chance to show him the right way how to be successful in life. It’s a responsibility that I’m willing to take on. I want him to be a productive citizen and to learn how to become a man.”

Traylor decided to raise his brother although the brother’s mother, Lenora Traylor, could have easily raised him in Detroit. Traylor wouldn’t have it any other way. The two brothers have different fathers and neither father participated in his son’s life.

“My mom has always been there for us but it’s a lot easier for me to step up and take care of him than it is for her to try to raise a young man on her own,” Traylor said. “What really motivates me is to be there for him. When you grow up without a father in the home, you want more for the next person. I always told myself that when I have kids, I would always be there for them. Every male kid needs a male figure in their lives, some type of father figure and someone who can be there for them and get on them if need be.”

Raising his younger brother is especially a challenge because of the dynamics of knowing when to be a father and when to be a big brother. That often makes discipline difficult.

“He respects me and he understands that I’m not going to do things to steer him in the wrong direction,” Traylor said. “As a father figure, sometimes I have to be the one to come down on him and let him know when he’s doing wrong. As a brother, I want to be a guy he can talk to about certain things and certain situations. I want him to know that he can always talk to me.”

Glover said dual roles in their relationship have caused some minor conflicts. “Sometimes he acts like he’s my dad but he’s still my brother,” Glover said. “I have no problem with Robert raising me. Sometimes we’ll get into it and I’ll go to my room but after awhile we both make up and say we’re sorry. I try to always listen to my brother. He wants the best for me.”

The best for Traylor’s household includes not only raising his younger brother but Traylor and his fiancee, Raye Coleman, have two small children of their own. The couple added a fourth child to the household when Shanta Savage, now a senior at Westlake, joined the Traylor home.

“My fiancee took her in to help raise her,” Traylor said. “She’s like my daughter. I’m in a great situation to do things for other people and I’m making the best out of my situation to help these kids to become productive citizens and when you can be there for a kid and show them that someone cares, it makes them strive to become better.”

Cavaliers coach Paul Silas has known Traylor for several years. Traylor played for Silas when he was the coach of the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets. Silas said he was aware of Traylor raising his brother but he did not know Savage.

“ ‘Tractor’ is one of the best human beings I’ve ever known,” Silas said. “He has a sense of wanting to do what is right and it doesn’t surprise me that he has taken his brother and another teenager into his home. He has a big heart. He gives to his family, he gives to the team, he gives to whoever is around him and he’s just a joy to be around.”

Cinesport video

 

NBA Draft 2011: Mock drafts; another Brazilian mop-top for the Cleveland Cavaliers?

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Predictions of who the Cavaliers and other NBA teams will draft. A player similar to Anderson Varejao is among the draft candidates. And, more links.

anderson-varejao-wigs.jpgThe Cavaliers' Anderson Varejao -- the tall one wearing his real hair -- and fans. Could another wild-haired wonder be a Cavalier?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers finished the 2010-11 season with the NBA's second-worst record.

The Los Angeles Clippers had the eighth-worst mark.

Those standings matter regarding the NBA draft, because the worse a team's record is, the more ping pong balls it has in the league's draft lottery hopper.

The draft lottery is on May 17; the draft, June 23.

The Cavs own the Clippers' first-round pick as part of the trade that sent guard Mo Williams and forward Jamario Moon to L.A. in exchange for point guard Baron Davis.

It's the season for mock drafts. None that we've seen mentions Lucas Nogueira as the Cavaliers' second-round pick. BleacherReport.com, though, claims Nogueira could be picked late in the first round or early in the second, and notes that the Cavs own the second pick in the second round.

BleacherReport.com also explains that Nogueira bears some similarities -- including hairstyle and being Brazilian -- to a seven-year Cav veteran, Anderson Varejao.

Writes Greg Swartz for Bleacher Report: 

The similarities to Varejao are strikingly obvious.

Nogueria is very raw, but has already shown signs of being a great rebounder and shot blocker. Like Varejao who came into the league at around 230 pounds, Nogueria's 220 pound frame will have to add a lot of muscle. His weight and wingspan are already greater than that of Andy's though, measuring in at 7' tall with a 7'6" wingspan.

Nogueria began to make a name for himself at last years U-18 FIBA Americas tournament in San Antonio, where he led the tournament in rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage. Last winter while playing for Asefa Estudiantes in the Spanish EBA, Nogueira averaged a double-double at 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds in just 25 minutes per-game.

Mock drafts, and...

Mock drafts on:

TheHoopReports.com

HoopsHype.com

NBADraft.net

MyNBADraft.com

DraftExpress.com

WaitingForNextYear.com asks whether the Cavaliers should re-sign veteran guard Anthony Parker.

Reports on talks between the NBA and the players' association, in hopes of reaching agreement on a new contract and averting a work stoppage: by Henrhy Abbott on ESPN.com; by Zach Lowe on Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

 

 


Northfield Park officials happy with simulcast experiment on Kentucky Derby Day

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Northfield Park's experiment on Kentucky Derby Day to forego live racing and instead beam the Churchill Downs program - and racing from 39 other tracks - was a good one, said Vice-President Dave Bianconi.

 Northfield Park's experiment on Kentucky Derby Day to forego live racing and instead beam the Churchill Downs program - and racing from 39 other tracks - was a good one, said Vice-President Dave Bianconi.

The move to simulcast racing only on Saturdays at Northfield will continue through the Triple Crown races and into June.

"We're pretty pleased with the results," Bianconi said. "It was the first year, but fan response was positive. It's hard to fit everyone in one place for the Kentucky Derby. Cedar Downs, Northfield and Thistledown gave racing fans plenty of options.

"The Kentucky Derby is the biggest event in horse racing. There's no reason it shouldn't have the biggest attendance. To go with 20-horse fields was ingenious. It does a great job of growing the race."

Thistledown officials reported wagering was down on Saturday, in part because of nearby Northfield Park offering the Kentucky Derby simulcast, but attendance was up significantly. Thistledown had a 17 percent increase in food and beverage sales and a 15 percent jump in program sales.

 The evenly-matched field and the special lure of the derby lured a record crowd of 164,858 to Churchill Downs. With free admission, there are no attendance figures from the local tracks.

Thistledown fans wagered $1,218,051 on live and simulcast races on Saturday, a decline from $1.5 million last year and a large drop from a high of $1.94 million in 2007. Northfield Park bettors wagered $581,355 on the all-simulcast, day-and-night event, a jump from last year's $206,000 wagered on live racing. Saturday's statewide Kentucky Derby Day handle at six Ohio race tracks and the Cedar Downs betting parlor was $4.9 million, down almost 10 percent.

Cribbs picks No. 16: The Cleveland Browns' Josh Cribbs was on site at the Kentucky Derby. It was a natural Cribbs would be a fan of 20-1 winner Animal Kingdom. Cribbs wears No. 16 on his uniform, and Animal Kingdom wore No. 16 in the big race. Cribbs wagered a couple of hundred bucks on No. 16, according to a tweet by ESPN's Cindy Brunson, a nice bonus during a lockout. 

Derby payoffs: Drawing names of race fans from a barrel to assign them the 19 Kentucky Derby horses, Northfield Park put $5,000 on the line on Saturday. Long-time harness fan Louie Brown of Bedford Heights took home the jackpot after Animal Kingdom's big win.

Pamela Pietromica of North Olmsted won Thistledown's Road to the Derby contest. For her winning picks in the Kentucky Derby prep races she collected $1,000.

Happily married: Michael and Laura Sivo of Willoughby Hills were married in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs on May 3, then watched their horse, Mucho Macho Man, finish third in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. The couple owns a small slice of the horse as part of the Dream Team syndicate.

"There was a split second of disappointment with not winning, then a lot of jubilation for finishing third in the Kentucky Derby," said Michael Sivo. "The wedding was wonderful. It rained most of the day, but the sun came out about a half-hour before the ceremony. Someone was watching over us. It was a terrific experience, and we're so proud of our horse."

Catlaunch scores: The "Cat" is back, and the 10-year-old thoroughbred is racing like a youngster.

 Most likely one of the oldest stakes winners in the history of the sport, Catlaunch has been tearing up its rivals in the Ohio-bred stakes for a long time. On Saturday's closing card at Beulah Park, Catlaunch and jockey Ivan Gonzalez grabbed the early lead in the $50,000 Babst/Palacios Memorial Handicap and dominated a field of six in the six furlong test. In its first start of the year, the brown gelding won by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:10 for owner Scioto Farms and trainer Ivan Vasquez.

Thistledown fans are familiar with the old-timer. He won the Rowland Memorial and Lewis Memorial at Thistle in 2010, as well as the $75,000 Best of Ohio Endurance, a lengthy, 1 1/4-mile race. Catlaunch also won the Gendelman Memorial at River Downs.

Saturday's win pushed his win total to 35 in 84 outings with earnings of $923,944.

After winning the Endurance by an impressive four lengths last year at Thistledown, owner-breeder Ron Fields said he couldn't believe how much Catlaunch races like a youngster. When asked if Catlaunch would be racing in 2011, Fields said he had to let the son of Noble Cat enjoy himself on the race track for at least another season.

Sigh of relief: Horse racing officials were breathing a sigh of relief that Archarcharch's condylar fracture of his left front leg suffered in the Kentucky Derby was not a life-threatening injury. Surgery was performed on the three-year-old to place pins in its ankle, a common procedure. Trainer Jinks Fires was told Monday his three-year-old, and first Kentucky Derby entrant after 50 years of training, would have to retire.

Around the tracks:  Saturday Night at the Races, the satellite radio show featuring harness racing action on Sirius Channel 93 and XM Channel 209, returns May 28 with 10 consecutive Saturday night broadcasts covering the major races . . . Horsemen were stunned Thursday when jockey Michael Baze, who had ridden Nehro to a second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, was found dead in his car in a Churchill Downs parking lot. Louisville police do not suspect foul play . . . The Preakness field of 14 on May 21 could have seven Kentucky Derby starters, including Animal Kingdom, Nehro, Mucho Macho Man, Shackleford, Santiva, Dialed In and Midnight Interlude . . . The winner of Saturday’s $495,000 George Morton Levy Series Final at New York's Yonkers Raceway, Real Nice has been named April's Horse of the Month by the U.S. Trotting Association. 
 

Hudson relieves football coach Tom Narducci

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HUDSON, Ohio - Tom Narducci, the winningest football coach in Hudson's history and one of the most popular men in area coaching ranks, will not have his supplemental contract renewed. The only reason he received is administrators want to go in a different direction. None of the school administrators were available for comment.

Tom Narducci, pictured in 2003, leaves as the winningest football coach in Hudson's history with a 96-70 record in 16 seasons. - (Plain Dealer file)

HUDSON, Ohio - Tom Narducci, the winningest football coach in Hudson's history and one of the most popular men in area coaching ranks, will not have his supplemental contract renewed.

The only reason he received is administrators want to go in a different direction. None of the school administrators were available for comment.

"They are ripping my heart out," Narducci said, shortly after hearing the news from superintendent Steve Farnsworth, assistant superintendent Phillip Herman, principal Brian Wilch and athletic director Ray Ebersole.

The 2010 season was Narducci's 16th at Hudson. His teams have compiled a 96-70 record.

With a 4-1 record in league play, Hudson tied playoff-qualifier Twinsburg for the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division championship in 2010. It finished 4-6 overall. Four of the losses were to teams that made the playoffs, three in Division I. Narducci was named coach of the year by league colleagues.

For the past four seasons, Hudson has been a member of the Northeast Ohio Conference, which includes perennial playoff schools Strongsville, Solon and Brunswick, as well as Twinsburg and Mayfield. Prior to that it was a longtime member of the Suburban League.

"As far as I'm concerned, they just got rid of one of the finest high school football coaches in Ohio," said Kent Roosevelt coach John Nemec. "Tom is highly thought of in our [coaching] association. He is an honorable man, a very respected man."

Narducci, 60, was shaken after the meeting.

"Hudson football has been my life for the last 16 years and I pride myself on the fact that I have spent my entire teaching and coaching career trying to make kids better people," he said. "I didn't come here 16 years ago because of the football. I came here for the academic environment. I've poured my heart into this school and in things way beyond football. I have done everything I could have done, teaching-wise and coaching-wise."

Narducci, who has also coached at Padua, Fremont St. Joseph and Ohio University, said the district was under no obligation to explain its decision because supplemental contracts do not come under union protection.

Narducci will remain at the school as a history teacher. He said he was first told a change might take place was last Friday during a meeting with Farnsworth, Herman and Wilch.

"That was the first and only time I heard of any possible problems," he said.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169

 

Ohio State football game at Miami (Fla.) on Sept. 17 will be played in prime time

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Kickoff time will be 7:30 or 8 p.m., with game on ABC or ESPN. No other OSU kickoff times have been announced.

ohio-state-miami.jpgAction from the 2010 Ohio State-Miami (Fla.) game, won by OSU, 36-24.

Ohio State's football game at Miami of Florida on Sept. 17 will be played in prime time, at either 7:30 or 8 p.m., and be shown on ABC or ESPN, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday.

The Buckeyes handled the Hurricanes, 36-24, in Ohio Stadium last season. This year, OSU will play the Canes without coach Jim Tressel, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, receiver DeVier Posey, defensive end Solomon Thomas and offensive lineman Mike Adams. All have been suspended for the first five games of the season because of pending NCAA violations.

OSU opens its season with home games against Akron on Sept. 3 and Toledo on Sept. 10.

The Buckeyes close the nonleague portion of their schedule with a Sept. 24 home game at Colorado. They begin their Big Ten schedule on Oct. 1 at home against Michigan State.

Other than the Miami game, no OSU kickoff times have been announced.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl fined $1 million for wrongful contributions, spending; remains part of BCS

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Bowl remains part of system for deciding college football's national champion. Bowl made political contributions and paid for personal activities of employees.

fiesta-bowl-office.jpgFiesta Bowl offices in Scottsdale, Ariz., were temporarily closed Wednesday when a ruling was made by the BCS to penalize the Fiesta Bowl but let it remain part of the system for deciding college football's national champion.

WASHINGTON -- The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will be allowed to remain part of the Bowl Championship Series, though it must pay a $1 million fine for apparent illegal campaign contributions and inappropriate spending.

The BCS presidential oversight committee, which made the decision Wednesday, also attached several other conditions as it let the Fiesta Bowl remain part of the system for deciding college football's national champion. They included steps to strengthen the Fiesta Bowl's board along with greater supervision of executives to make sure the problems are not repeated, according to materials obtained by The Associated Press.

"The message is they had cleaned house and addressed their problems, but our group doesn't believe they went far enough," said Bill Hancock, executive director of the BCS, in a telephone interview with the AP. He added that the $1 million fine was meant to reflect the "serious nature of the matter."

The BCS called for the $1 million to be donated to charities serving Arizona youth.

In a statement, Fiesta Bowl chairman Duane Woods said: "The Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors understands and accepts the sanctions imposed by the BCS. We think that these tough but fair measures are consistent with our commitment to reform the Fiesta Bowl's governance and rebuild trust. The fine is substantial, but we are pleased that the BCS has directed that the funds benefit the youth of Arizona."

A recent internal report by the Fiesta Bowl detailed about $45,000 in reimbursements to employees for political donations, an apparent violation of federal and state laws. It also revealed lavish and inappropriate spending, such as $33,000 for a Pebble Beach, Calif., birthday bash for then-CEO and president John Junker; $13,000 for the wedding and honeymoon of an aide; and a $1,200 strip club tab for Junker and two others. Junker has been fired.

The oversight committee Wednesday accepted recommendations made in a report by a BCS task force that was "deeply troubled" by the Fiesta Bowl's actions. Those actions, the task force said, "strongly suggests that the bowl's executive staff frequently acted with scant regard for ethics and proper conduct. Further, it is the opinion of the task force that the bowl's board of directors over the years was negligent in its oversight responsibilities."

Both the task force and the oversight committee are chaired by Penn State president Graham Spanier.

The Fiesta Bowl, played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., is one of four bowls that rotate hosting the BCS National Title Game.

Even with Wednesday's ruling, the Fiesta Bowl is not entirely in the clear yet. An NCAA panel will decide whether to continue licensing the bowl. That panel recently delayed the decision, saying it wanted to gather more information and review the BCS task force findings. The NCAA also said it will re-examine its role in licensing bowls more generally and has put a three-year hold on any new postseason games in the wake of the Fiesta Bowl's problems.

The BCS task force said that the Fiesta Bowl had taken several steps in the right direction since the internal report came out, such as changing expense reimbursement processes for senior staff and establishing criteria to serve on the board.

"Indeed, were it not persuaded of the sincerity of the Fiesta Bowl's commitment to these reforms, the task force would almost certainly not be recommending that the BCS Group continue its relationship with the Fiesta Bowl through the duration of the current agreement," the BCS said.

Among other things, the BCS said the Fiesta Bowl must also remove board members who were found to have engaged in inappropriate conduct; include at least two members from the "collegiate community" on the board, such as faculty members or athletic directors; conduct an annual internal audit and share the results with the BCS executive director; replace its auditing firm (PriceWaterhouseCoopers) or bring in a new supervisory partner; and consult with the BCS on the hiring of a new executive director.

As to whether the moves will satisfy critics, executive director Hancock said, "These are strong actions in keeping with the nature of what was revealed in their report. These actions were not taken to satisfy or not satisfy any critics. They were taken because they were the appropriate actions, in light of the findings."

 

Playing games with gamesmanship was just Seve Ballesteros' way: Bill Livingston

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Seve Ballesteros was a bold, imaginative golfer. He was also an aggressive practitioner of gamesmanship. Like it or not, that is part of his legacy too.

seve-97-ryder-spain-ap.jpgView full sizeNo modern-day golfer loved the Ryder Cup and the heat of competition any more than Seve Ballesteros -- which leaves plenty of good and not-so-good memories at the Spanish golf great's passing.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When Seve Ballesteros burst on the world golf scene, making "dashing" a go-to word in almost every story that was written about him, the green-jacketed moderators of interviews at the Masters had no idea how to pronounce the Spaniard's name.

At first, they called him, not "SEV-ee", but "Seeve." Like Steve, without the t.

Eventually everyone learned his name, although some spoke it, at least before his death, with something bordering on distaste.

Ballesteros' ashes were buried Wednesday after he died over the weekend following a long fight with brain cancer. What golf fans will remember most is that he played a different course than the rest of the plodders in the field. "He saw a different reality," said his biographer, Lauren St. John.

For the way Ballesteros scrambled, he was called the European Arnold Palmer. But he was also their answer to Lee Trevino. Ballesteros was a great "feel" player with a poor boy's past. Seve started in golf in Pedrena, Spain, as a ragamuffin in ill-fitting, raggedy caddy clothes, who was mocked by the rich businessmen whose bags he carried. He always had a chip on his shoulder, even after he had won five majors and developed such a magical touch that other players said he should have played in a cloak.

Like Trevino, Ballesteros was far more the outsider, at least economically and socially, than Tiger Woods. Tiger never hit rocks with sticks while deciding his "destino" was to become a golf champion, like Ballesteros.

The greatest shot of Seve's career was a calculated risk, when he made birdie on 16 from a parking lot as he won the 1979 British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes at age 22. Ballesteros aimed for the lot off the fairway because it gave him a better angle to the green. It was a "miracle" that was the residue of design -- and a favorable ruling that gave him line-of-sight relief from a lie almost beneath a car's rear bumper.

It is ironic that he profited so from that ruling because he often pushed gamesmanship, the irritating habits that get under the skin of a competitor, to the limit of the rules.

Nibbling on a piece of fruitcake at the World Match Play Championship in 1991, Ballesteros suddenly made a choking sound in the middle of opponent Nick Price's backswing. The pair were good friends.

He was even more aggressive toward others. Ballesteros revitalized European golf. He was almost the sole reason the Ryder Cup became golf's greatest spectacle. In it, he tried to intimidate rivals. He probably sensed that few of the country club boys on the American Ryder Cup team had ever hit rocks with sticks.

To the Europeans, he was a great teammate. David Feherty, the CBS golf analyst, then a Ryder Cup rookie, defeated reigning U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart in singles at Kiawah Island in 1991. "He treated me as an equal. He made me feel 10 feet tall. He was the heart, soul and lungs of the European team," said Feherty.

In 1997, Ballesteros, as European captain for the Ryder Cup in Valderrama, Spain, met the American team plane. "Where's your wife?" he said to Brad Faxon, who was undergoing a very public divorce. Faxon was convinced Ballesteros knew about it and was trying to get into his head.

"He apologized, but the damage was done. He'd put the dagger in," Faxon said.

Partnered with Jose Maria Olazabal, Ballesteros tried to get an official to call a penalty on the American team of Paul Azinger and Chip Beck at Kiawah. The dispute with the combative Azinger raged on during the live telecast, but the ruling went against Ballesteros.

Seve always seemed to suffer from a "nagging cough" during the Ryder Cup, timing the hacking sound to disrupt opponents' rhythm. Some American players carried cough drops to offer him, in mockery of his supposed ailment.

Many writers, both in Europe and America, criticized the American team for premature celebration during a whirlwind comeback on the final day to win the 1999 Ryder Cup at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. It was abhorrent and uncivilized, they wailed.

These defenders of golf etiquette denied the natural human inclination to celebrate an achievement.

They also overlooked that it was, in part, payback.

Follow Bill Livingston on Facebook and on Twitter @LivyPD

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