The Columbus Clippers have enjoyed even more success than the Indians, who boast the best record in the majors. That's got to bode well for the future for Tribe fans.

View full sizeChuck Crow,
The Plain DealerSecond baseman Jason Kipnis, pictured during Spring Training with the Tribe in Arizona, has helped the Class AAA Columbus Clippers forge a 32-14 record.

Columbus defeated the Durham Bulls, 5-3, for its fifth straight win Tuesday. The victory raised the Clippers' International League-leading record to 32-14.

Second baseman Jason Kipnis delivered the big blow for the Clippers, drilling a two-run home run off the scoreboard in right-center to put Columbus up, 4-2, in the second inning.

"I was sitting fastball there," Kipnis said. "Fortunately, I was ready for it and was able to hit it out."

There are reports that the Portland Trail Blazers are eyeing Danny Ferry for their GM post.

Marvin Fong / PDFormer Cavs GM Danny Ferry.

It looks like another former employee of the Cleveland Cavaliers could find himself in a new gig.

There are several reports that former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown will become the coach of the Lakers.

And now reporter Mike Monroe of MySanAntonio.com writes that the Portland Trail Blazers are interested in Danny Ferry.

Ferry, former general manager of the Cavaliers, is now vice president of basketball operations of the Spurs. Ferry is at the top of Portland's list of candidates to replace recently fired general manager Rich Cho.

From the story:

Any team that wants to put together a championship-contending roster should consider Ferry, a smart executive whose experience as general manager of the Cavaliers makes him uniquely qualified.

During his five years in Cleveland, Ferry worked for a billionaire owner with a big ego, Dan Gilbert. He also dealt with a superstar, LeBron James, who had a team of sycophants behind the scenes second-guessing and undercutting the GM. Still, Ferry built a team that made it to one NBA Finals and posted the NBA’s best regular-season record in back-to-back seasons.

But the big question, writes Monroe, is why would Ferry want to work for multi- billionare and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen , who is the the NBA’s version of George Steinbrenner - without the championship rings?

"Good luck to Coach Brown and his family. Not until the Quitter took his talents to South Beach did the truth come out about the problems that Coach Brown put up with. He did a great job for Cleveland and, after the dust settled, he was thrown under the bus." - robert47

View full sizeAP Photo | Mark Duncan, FileMike Brown is expected to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

In response to the story Mike Brown, former Cleveland Cavaliers coach, may join the Los Angeles Lakers, cleveland.com reader robert47 thinks Brown got a raw deal in Cleveland. This reader writes,

"Good luck to Coach Brown and his family. Not until the Quitter took his talents to South Beach did the truth come out about the problems that Coach Brown put up with. He did a great job for Cleveland and, after the dust settled, he was thrown under the bus."

"Nearly 40 years ago, we were taught to put our helmets face up into the guys chest and wrap up. At no time was I taught to 'blow people up' with a hit like the ones being outlawed. That is spectacular to watch, agreed, but not necessary. You will find far more fumbles caused by stripping the ball. It is one thing to pay the price of playing the game with blown knees, dislocated fingers and cracked ribs. It is quite another to demand that a man's brain be turned to scrambled eggs just so the watcher can feel a false sense of macho." - Big

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerHits from James Harrison left Josh Cribbs and Mohammed Massaquoi on the ground in a game last season against the Steelers.

In response to the story NFL owners approve player safety rules amendments; extend definition of 'defenseless' receiver, cleveland.com reader Big thinks taking some of the violence out of the game is OK. This reader writes,

"Nearly 40 years ago, we were taught to put our helmets face up into the guys chest and wrap up. At no time was I taught to 'blow people up' with a hit like the ones being outlawed. That is spectacular to watch, agreed, but not necessary. You will find far more fumbles caused by stripping the ball. It is one thing to pay the price of playing the game with blown knees, dislocated fingers and cracked ribs. It is quite another to demand that a man's brain be turned to scrambled eggs just so the watcher can feel a false sense of macho."

CineSport's Noah Coslov asks Sporting News NBA writer Sean Deveney about the Lakers hiring Mike Brown, and what it means for the team going forward.

Cinesport video: Mike Brown to coach Lakers 

For more Cinesport video on cleveland.com, go here.

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio - Jason Popp will not return as Richmond Heights' boys basketball coach if superintendent Linda Hardwick has her way. Whether the school board agrees remains to be seen.

Jason Popp in February was relieved as Richmond Heights' boys basketball coach for the rest of the season following allegations of inappropriate language. Superintendent Linda Hardwick said she is not entertaining his application. Today, the school opened the position to outside candidates. - (Thomas Ondrey / The Plain Dealer)

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio - Jason Popp will not return as Richmond Heights' boys basketball coach if superintendent Linda Hardwick has her way.

Whether the school board agrees remains to be seen.

Hardwick said no action will be taken at a special board meeting tonight on coaching vacancies. The school also seeks a girls basketball coach.

"Those issues are not on the agenda," she said. "I will not bring those issues up. Nothing relating to athletics will be discussed tonight."

Hardwick said she intends to make recommendations to the school board for the coaching positions at the regularly-scheduled meeting on June 13.

Earlier this month the board opened the positions up to anyone currently employed by the district. Popp applied for both jobs. Hardwick said no suitable applications were received, so the positions were opened to people outside the district.

The district faxed a notice to several media outlets today that it is accepting applications and resumes for both positions with a May 31 deadline. Athletic Director George Smith did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Popp in February was removed as boys basketball coach for the remainder of the season after players and parents alleged he used vulgar and racially offensive language during a team meeting.

Hardwick, who last week told the board she would not entertain Popp's application for both positions, said nothing has changed.

"I have not entertained his application and that is my right as superintendent," she said.

When asked if Popp still had an opportunity to return as coach, she said, "Not as long as I am superintendent."

Hardwick and the five-member board have been at odds over the issue. School board president Joshua Kaye did not respond to an e-mail interview request.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

Browns second-round draft pick tired of sitting around, wants to get to know his new teammates.

Keith Srakocic / Associated PressJabaal Sheard

Jabaal Sheard, the Cleveland Browns' second-round selection in the draft, is just like everyone else when it comes to the NFL lockout --- when is this thing going to be over?

So all Sheard can do is wait, work out, wait some more and settle in as a statistic that many Clevelanders share with him.

Steve Doerschuk of CantonRep.com writes:

“I’m basically unemployed right now, with no income. Saving money is big ... not that I have any.”

With that, he laughed. He just turned 22 and exudes energy right through the cell phone. The money will be fine when it comes.

Sheard will probably start for the Browns this coming season. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Sheard is a sophisticated pass rusher for his age, writes Doerschuk.  Some of that goes to Sheard’s speed and makeup. 

Sheard was Big East defensive player of the year in 2010 after making nine sacks and 14 1/2 tackles for loss. That and $1.39 will get him a gas station coffee during the lockout.

“I want get to know my Browns coaches and teammates,” he said. “I want to get in a playbook.

“It gets a little frustrating. I’m tired of sitting around.”

Colt in the mix

Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren says Colt McCoy is in the mix with the rest of the quarterbacks on the team. He's the frontrunner, but the job won't be handed to him.

On NFL.com:

 "We have Seneca Wallace, too, and Jake Delhomme as well right now," Holmgren said at the NFL Spring Meeting. "But (McCoy) got his feet wet last year. I didn't necessarily want him to play that much last year, but we were injured, and so he had a chance to play. He showed us enough where he will go in, and we're hopeful that -- it'll be competitive -- but if he does what I think he can do, he'll probably be the guy, yeah."

Commissioner Roger Goodell

Not that many fans and players would miss them, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said today at the conclusion of the NFL spring meetings that if the lockout doesn't end relatively soon, the league is going to have to start canceling preseason games.

On USAToday.com:

“We don’t have a date, but obviously that time is coming,” Goodell said. “We canceled our rookie symposium, so we’re getting close enough where those will have to be considerations. Obviously we would prefer to get a negotiated agreement so we don’t have to make those decisions.”

Still, as he stood in Indianapolis, the site of next year’s Super Bowl, Goodell said the locals should feel confident that the game will, in fact, be played.

Boston's nine-hit, seven-run first inning ended any suspense in Talbot's return to the mound.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Red Sox hitters had a simple objective in the first inning Wednesday: Don't trip and jam a wrist while sprinting to get into the box.

The Red Sox went 9-for-11 and scored seven in a hurry as the foundation for a 14-2 pasting of the Indians at Progressive Field.

All of the first-inning pain, plus another run in the third, was inflicted on Tribe right-hander Mitch Talbot. Talbot made his first non-rehab start since April 11 after being sidelined because of an elbow strain.

"Rough day for Mitch," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "It's easy to describe: The average lineup at the major-league level does a lot of damage when pitchers are behind in the count -- and that's not an average lineup over there. Mitch doesn't have the overpowering stuff to pitch behind in the count."

The Red Sox piled on against reliever Frank Herrmann, scoring once in the fourth and five times in the sixth for a 14-0 cushion.

The Tribe (30-17 overall, 19-6 at home) lost the final two of a three-game series. The Red Sox joined the White Sox and Devil Rays as the only opponents to win series at Progressive Field.

Boston's second and last visit to Cleveland unfolded considerably better than the first. The Red Sox were swept April 5-7 and crawled out of town 0-6. Now they are 27-22 and sniffing around the penthouse of the AL East.

Wednesday marked the Indians' largest margin of defeat, by far, in any game. Even after falling behind the White Sox by 14 on Opening Day, they rallied to make it interesting before losing, 15-10.

Any hint of a comeback was out of the question against Red Sox lefty Jon Lester, daunting enough with a one-run lead. Lester (7-1, 3.36 ERA) gave up three hits, walked one and struck out seven in six shutout innings. He has not allowed a run in 13 innings of two starts against the Tribe this season.

"It's not a very good feeling when, before you get to the plate, you're trailing by seven runs against Jon Lester," Acta said. "I don't think even the '27 Yankees would have a good feeling trailing, 7-0, against this guy."

Acta hoped for five innings from Talbot. He was lucky to get one.

Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a single on a 1-0 pitch. Dustin Pedroia, ahead in the count, 3-1, ripped a homer to left. Adrian Gonzalez singled and moved to second on David Ortiz's single that caromed off Talbot. Jed Lowrie grounded to first baseman Matt LaPorta, who took too much time and essentially threw a change-up to second. Ortiz was forced out, but the Indians lost the opportunity for the double play.

Not that it mattered.

Carl Crawford singled to drive in Gonzalez. Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled to right, where Shin-Soo Choo fumbled the ball. Lowrie scored on the error; Saltalamacchia and Crawford scooted to second and third, respectively.

Pitching coach Tim Belcher visited Talbot, who had made just 13 pitches.

"They almost didn't give me a chance to get to my off-speed stuff," Talbot said.

Mike Cameron hit a sacrifice fly to left to make it 5-0. Former Indian Drew Sutton blooped an RBI single to center. After Ellsbury notched his second hit, a single, Pedroia notched his second, an RBI single.

Gonzalez popped to left to finally end it. A frustrated crowd offered a Bronx cheer.

"I wasn't making my pitches, I wasn't hitting my spots," Talbot said. "And it was almost like, even if I was, they were going to find a hole somewhere. Sometimes you've just got to tip your cap."

The previous time the Red Sox amassed nine hits in an inning was May 7, 2009, against Cleveland.

In the Boston third, Gonzalez drove in Sutton for an 8-0 advantage. Gonzalez entered as the major-league leader with 42 RBI.

Talbot, relieved by Herrmann to begin the fourth, gave up the eight runs on 12 hits. He threw 74 pitches. His ERA swelled from 1.46 to 5.87.

"Physically, I felt fine," he said. "I felt comfortable. It was just one of those days."

Herrmann allowed three homers, including a three-run shot by "Salty" -- the first three-run homer allowed by Indians pitching this year. The Tribe has not given up a grand slam.

Boston finished with 20 hits. Every starter except Lowrie had at least two. Sutton, subbing for injured Kevin Youkilis, went 3-for-5.

The Tribe scored two in the eighth. With two outs and a runner on first, right fielder Cameron misplayed a fly by Travis Buck into a double, then Shelley Duncan hit a two-run single.

Lakewood-based Fresh Green Tees is now producing "The Official Joe Haden Lockdown Shirt" featuring the cartooned visage of the popular Cleveland Browns cornerback.

View full sizeFresh Brewed TeesCleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden models one of "The Official Lockdown Joe Haden T-shirts" now being produced by Lakewood-based Fresh Brewed Tees.

"We've partnered with Cleveland's most beloved athlete, Joe Haden, for The Official Lockdown Joe Haden T-Shirt.  Joe was the No. 7 pick overall in 2010 and was a Rookie of the Year Finalist.  Cleveland has a new #23 in town.  Pick up your official tee now!"

Ten days ago, Mike Brown wasn't even sure he wanted to return to NBA coaching. Now he's the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Cinesport video

For more Cinesport video on cleveland.com, go here.

AP"He knows how to prepare veteran teams, when he's got guys up in age and needs their rest," former Cavaliers guard Mo Williams said of new Lakers coach Mike Brown. "And at the same time, even though you are a veteran, he still coaches you. He still teaches you."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ten days ago, Mike Brown wasn't even sure he wanted to return to NBA coaching.

Now he's about to become the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

"This is a special situation for me, and I'm extremely excited,'' Brown said during halftime of the ESPN broadcast of Game 5 of the Western finals between Dallas and Oklahoma City. "I'm here to continue to try to help this organization carve a championship path that has already been laid. I am excited to carve my own path with this team going forward.''

The former Cavaliers coach is expected to sign a four-year deal with worth about $18.25 million to succeed recently retired Phil Jackson. According to ESPN.com, there is a team option for a fourth year. If the Lakers don't pick that up, Brown is guaranteed $2.5 million.

Brown, the 2009 NBA coach of the year who was fired exactly one year ago after becoming the Cavaliers' all-time winningest coach with a 272-138 record in five seasons and an NBA Finals appearance in 2007, also was the frontrunner in Golden State. He took himself out of consideration for the Houston Rockets' coaching vacancy.

Brown, 41, has been working as an NBA analyst for ESPN and enjoying spending time in Cleveland with his wife, Carolyn, and sons, Elijah, a sophomore basketball player at St. Edward High School, and Cameron, an incoming freshman football player there.

Citing his family, Brown was hesitant to return to the rigors of NBA coaching unless he found a suitable situation that promised stability and success. Although the aging Lakers were swept from Western Conference semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks this spring, the team remains one of the league's most famous and glamorous franchises, a destination spot with a storied history and plenty of resources to guarantee success.

Even before Brown's hiring was official, former Cavs and Lakers took to Twitter to express their support for the personable coach.

After practice in Miami, LeBron James said, "The Lakers got them a great coach."

Tweeted former Cav Mo Williams, "Congrats to Mike Brown. Lakers won't be sorry for that hiring."

Tweeted former Laker great Magic Johnson, "If Mike Brown is the Lakers coach, there's a few reasons: he's a defensive coach, familiar w/the west, & has experience coaching a superstar."

In Los Angeles, Lakers star Kobe Bryant had no comment when reached by the Los Angeles Times but Brown said the two had exchanged texts. The Times reported that Bryant said earlier this month he would be comfortable with assistant coach Brian Shaw getting the job.

Indeed, Brown's hiring seemed to come as a surprise to a fan base that expected the team to promote Shaw or hire former Portland and Houston coach Rick Adelman. But the L.A. Times reported Jim Buss, the team's executive vice president of player personnel and owner Jerry Buss' son, was impressed with Brown's emphasis on defense.

That defense enabled the Cavs to compile the best record in the league in 2008-09 (66-16) and 2009-10 (61-21) but was not good enough to get the Cavs back to the NBA Finals. The Cavs were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, when James seemed to clash with his coach and never offered the sort of supportive words he uttered on Wednesday.

But Williams, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in February, was critical of Brown's departure from the Cavs last season and supportive of his hiring.

"His departure was the biggest loss that we had outside of LeBron," Williams told the Los Angeles Times. "I thought he had his footprint on that organization and on our team. Defensively, I can't think of anyone better. I think it's a great hire. Mike Brown in my opinion is one of the top coaches in the NBA.

"With Mike Brown's mentality, with his approach to the game, he's going to be good for them. He knows how to prepare veteran teams, when he's got guys up in age and needs their rest. And at the same time, even though you are a veteran, he still coaches you. He still teaches you. With Mike I could go on and on about him. I was vocal about the departure in Cleveland because of one reason: He's a great coach."

Williams said Brown could handle the pressure that comes with such a high-profile position. He said the coach would stand up for his players, taking the heat -- or a bullet.

"Oh man. He'll take it," Williams told The Times. "Without a bulletproof vest on."

Brown will be returning to the West Coast, where he attended the University of San Diego, graduating with a degree in business. He played basketball there with current Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant.

Ferry to Portland? Former Cavs GM Danny Ferry reportedly is a candidate to take that position in Portland. Ferry, who resigned from the Cavs last summer in part because he did not agree with the firing of Brown, is the current vice president of basketball operations in San Antonio. The Trail Blazers have had three general managers, including one interim, since the 2010 draft and five since 2003.

Manny Acta says "We expect him to join us for the weekend, and the weekend stretches from Friday to Sunday."

View full sizeJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerGrady Sizemore's awkward slide into second base against the Rays earlier this month left Sizemore with a bruised right knee and a stay on the 15-day disabled list.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In the hoped-for final physical test on his right knee, Grady Sizemore ran the bases Wednesday morning at Progressive Field. He said "everything went well."

It does not guarantee, though, that the center fielder will be activated Friday when the Indians begin a three-game series at Tampa Bay.

Sizemore has been on the 15-day disabled list since May 16 (retroactive to May 11) because of a bruise around his right knee. Indians manager Manny Acta, asked after a 14-2 loss to Boston if Sizemore would be activated Friday, said: "I'm not going to give you a date. We expect him to join us for the weekend, and the weekend stretches from Friday to Sunday."

As of late Wednesday afternoon, Sizemore did not want to be pinned down on an activation date.

"I really haven't sat down and discussed that yet, so I don't have an answer for you," he said. "I'm really not sure what the game plan is. I don't have any expectations."

Sizemore said he was "good to go" but later added: "How I feel [Thursday] is going to be a big factor."

Sizemore injured the knee May 10 during a slide into second. Last May, he aggravated a left-knee injury during a dive back to first and underwent microfracture surgery the following month.

"No sliding the rest of the year," Sizemore said with a chuckle.

Shaking if off: Acta refused to allow the Red Sox beatdown to get him down. The Indians fell to 30-17 overall and 19-6 at home.

The Red Sox won the series, 2-1.

"I feel very good about my guys," he said. "We're just trying to keep it in perspective that, if you win 15 games a month, you're in pretty good shape. Right now, we've got the first two months covered, so we're just trying to accumulate a few extra wins."

The Indians have five games remaining in May.

Tomlin time: With each individual and team victory comes increased recognition for right-hander Josh Tomlin.

Getting to 6-1 with a 2.41 ERA on a first-place club earned Tomlin an appearance Tuesday on MLB Network. Tomlin, donning a headset, did the interview on the field before the Tribe's 4-2 loss. Mitch Williams and Hazel Mae asked the questions from MLB Network headquarters in New Jersey.

"I've done some radio interviews, but this was my first one on national TV, so I was pretty nervous," he said. "I was a lot more nervous than when I'm on the mound. It went OK, though."

Several out-of-town writers and broadcasters also spoke with Tomlin during the Indians' six-game homestand that wrapped Wednesday. They want to find out more about the sudden rise of a 19th-round pick in 2006. Tomlin debuted in late July last year and went 6-4 with a 4.56 ERA in 12 starts.

"It's nice to get noticed, but it's not going to change anything," Tomlin said. "I'm not going to let any outside stuff affect my pitching."

It is hard to imagine anyone in the game more amiable than Tomlin. He insists he will remain as such, regardless of the amount of attention paid to him.

"I don't ever want to be known as a guy who's standoffish or anything like that," he said.

Tomlin has pitched five-plus innings in each of his first 21 career starts, tied for the third-longest such streak since 1920. He and two others trail only Daisuke Matsuzaka of Boston (28 in 2007) and Steve Rogers of Montreal (24 in 1973-74).

As impressive as the run might sound, Tomlin said he only pays it mind when someone brings it up.

"I don't know why that's even something to keep track of, to be honest," he said. "Just getting to five innings doesn't mean much. That's not a goal for me at all."

Tomlin has notched a quality start (six-plus innings, three or fewer earned runs) in each of his nine outings this season. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it is the longest streak of quality starts to begin a season by an Indian since earned runs became official in 1913.

"I definitely take pride in that streak," Tomlin said. "It means you're giving your team a chance to win, eating innings, saving the bullpen."

The idea of increasing scholarship money for college athletes is supported by Ohio State, Kent State and Akron, but only Ohio State can afford to do it. And that could be a problem.

View full sizeMarvin Fong / The Plain DealerWhen it comes to a "level playing field", Kent State and Ohio State may find that only on the gridiron at Ohio Stadium, but certainly not in the size of their athletic programs. If Gene Smith and the Big Ten begin providing additional funds to student-athletes to cover their true "cost of education," schools in smaller conferences (such as the Mid-American) could be at a permanent disadvantage.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State wants to increase the money it provides in its athletic scholarships, and it doesn't want, for instance, Kent State to prevent that from happening. But creating a situation where some Division I colleges could provide thousands of dollars in spending money to athletes, and others could not, might crack open the level playing field of major college sports.

Kent State athletic director Joel Nielsen and Akron AD Tom Wistrcill see that as a problem. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith is OK with it. That's why the proposal dropped out of the sky by Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany last week to possibly increase scholarships up to the "cost of education," giving athletes somewhere between $2,000 and $5,000 for out-of-pocket expenses, is so intriguing and potentially controversial.

"At the end of the day, we need to change," Smith said Wednesday. "We need some piece of legislation aimed toward fairness for the student-athlete's welfare as opposed to trying to have a level playing field. That's a misnomer."

The playing field is already tilted by the size of the stadiums and weight rooms, the coaching salaries, the amount of donations, the television deals and everything else in which a conference like the Big Ten dwarfs the MAC.

"The stakes at our levels are different. This may be one of those issues that the top number of schools who can afford it can go and do it," Smith said, "and those schools who can't, choose not to. The reality is that they're not competing with us anyway.

"The problem that we have is trying to create a level playing field and we need to break away from that and look at the reality of the diversity of our situations and the challenges that we face."

Even MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher can admit the obvious; that when it comes to recruiting in a sport like football, a high school prospect with a Big Ten offer and a MAC offer is almost always going to take the former. The fact that he might also get an extra $4,000 a year because of that choice probably won't be what seals the deal.

"We want as level a playing field as possible, though there's never a level playing field," Steinbrecher said.

But despite all the differences in place already, with Ohio State's $123 million athletic budget compared to Kent State's $20 million, what the MAC doesn't want is one model for the Big Ten and a different one for them. Extra money in a student-athlete's pocket is a little different than a fancier locker room, and the last thing smaller conferences are looking for is another wedge between them and the big guys.

"I would see it furthering the gap between us, and there's already a huge gap," Akron's Wistrcill said. "I just don't know if that's healthy for Division I athletics, because we desperately need them and we hope that they need us."

Nielsen made the point that it extends beyond just football. The general consensus is that the increased scholarships may apply only to athletes receiving full scholarships, which according to NCAA rules are required to be granted in only six sports: football, men's and women's basketball, women's tennis, women's gymnastics and women's volleyball. They can also be granted in other sports, and a rule certainly could apply to every other sport, where scholarships are typically divided among players in pieces.

Nielsen said Kent State does compete and recruit against BCS schools in many Olympic sports, such as in women's gymnastics, where Kent State beat Ohio State in a regional this year to advance to the NCAA Championships. He thinks Ohio State offering a women's gymnastics scholarship that includes spending money, while Kent State's scholarship may not include those thousands of dollars, would make a difference and shift a tumbling surface that is pretty equal.

Right now, Kent State and Akron couldn't provide those extra thousands, at least not without a lot of problems and making cuts in other areas. Estimates at what it would cost for an athletic department, depending on which athletes it would cover, range between $600,000 up to more than $1 million.

The specifics of any potential NCAA legislation need to be worked out. Ohio State or the Big Ten couldn't just decide to start giving athletes this extra money without an NCAA vote. But Smith, a longtime backer of this idea, said he helped push the discussion at the Big Ten meetings last week, and Delany put what Steinbrecher called a "laser focus" on the issue with his comments, because most conferences are meeting in May and the Big Ten wanted the talk to get out there.

Smith does believe the talk will lead to an NCAA legislation sooner than later.

"I think we'll see legislation," Smith said. "I just don't know how it will go."

"I think it would be safe to say that the non-BCS schools would attempt to vote it down," Nielsen said.

Wistrcill, formerly part of the administration at Wisconsin and Minnesota, doesn't think they'd be the only ones. He believes BCS schools such as Minnesota, Northwestern and Indiana might have issues with the idea as well.

"I don't think every BCS school would be for this," he said. "We can't keep up with Ohio State, but we're not trying to. Minnesota is."

That leads to the ultimate question. Some could see a step like this eventually leading to a break, with the BCS schools competing at a different level than conferences like the MAC. The idea of super conferences has been around for decades, but neither Smith nor Nielsen nor Wistrcill said they want that.

But Smith also very much wants this idea for his athletes, both because he thinks it's fair in this age of big-business college sports, and because he thinks it could help Ohio State perhaps avoid trouble like the NCAA violations facing the school that started with five football players selling memorabilia.

"I'd like to stay together," said Smith, who started his AD career in the MAC at Eastern Michigan and praised the MAC for what it did then and does now. "But at the same time, I'm one of the guys that understands that we have to realize our differences.

"If we can't come together and recognize those differences, then we've got to look at the next opportunity. I'm not a proponent of going into a different structure, but if that's what has to be done for schools like ourselves and Michigan and USC and UCLA, then it would be time to have further discussions."

New Lakers' head coach Mike Brown outdid Dan Gilbert by winning the lottery a second time, Bud Shaw writes in his Spin column.

View full sizeScott Shaw / The Plain DealerMike Brown's reputation as a defensive coach may not immediately impress Lakers fans, but it has clearly won over the Los Angeles front office, says Bud Shaw.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- So when does Eric Mangini take over for Bill Belichick?

Reactions on the West Coast of Twitter-verse to Mike Brown's hiring as Lakers' head coach vary from:

"This is like putting BBQ sauce on lobster."

To:

"If Mike Brown becomes the coach of the Lakers I'm gonna put my head in a microwave and jump off a curb head first."

If you needed proof that Californians are wimps, there you have it. A curb? Wow. Scary stuff, Wallenda.

They are also wrong, wrong, wrong about what will happen to the Lakers under Mike Brown. We know better here.

He'll win. He'll win a lot.

Two words: Charlie Manuel.

The way people had it figured, ol' Charlie might get another job as a hitting coach. But he had a better chance of getting Geoffrey Rush's tutor role in "The King's Speech" than he did landing another manager's job.

After two World Series appearances in Philly -- one a victory -- Manuel is a fixture in a place as jaded and hard-bitten as any sports town in America.

As happily transplanted world champions go, there was Bill Belichick before Manuel (Just don't get any ideas, Eric Wedge.).And after Manuel there is LeBron James. Don't kid yourself. In the minutes after James departed Cleveland in July, fate's cruel hand began etching his name on the NBA Finals MVP award. You know it's coming.

James was a big reason why Dan Gilbert fired Brown. He stopped paying much attention to Brown over the final months of the season and shut him out completely in the Boston series, when he all but idled away his rest time on the bench by reading travel guides to South Beach.

Gilbert might've wanted to keep Brown. But he needed to keep James. And so a change was made.

I'm not sure any coach "deserves" to get handed James and Kobe Bryant in his first two NBA jobs, but it's good to see Brown get another coaching job with even better talent on the roster. He's a solid coach and a good guy.

Bryant reportedly backed the candidacy of Lakers' assistant Brian Shaw while also supporting Rick Adelman if the Lakers decided to make a clean break from the Phil Jackson lineage.

But Bryant said this after Dallas swept the Lakers in the playoffs: "If you're building a championship team, your DNA always has to start with the defensive end of the floor. Always. I'm a firm believer in that. I don't believe in building a championship team on offense. It has to be built on defense and rebounding. Period."

Bryant will find Brown believes firmly in both. Brown's shortcoming was allowing James to dominate the ball too much, as he delegated offense to his staff.

Anybody think Bryant will balk at being asked to direct the Lakers' offense? If you're Bryant -- as someone smart beyond his years once said -- what's not to like?

SPINOFFS

View full sizeABC TV / AP photoHines Ward and Kim Johnson took the trophy --- is that better than seeing the Steelers with Vince Lombardi's football?

The NFL not holding its annual rookie symposium in Canton has angered some agents, who apparently believe it's possible to cancel an event that wasn't scheduled anyway because of the lockout. If so, I am announcing right here and right now I will not be dating Mila Kunis this summer...

The NFL could possibly take draft picks away from teams whose players commit multiple flagrant hits resulting in fines. Really? Draft picks? Please, do not make me agree with James Harrison...

What would you rather see happen? James win a NBA title and Hines Ward win "Dancing with the Stars?" Or the Steelers win another Super Bowl and James win "Dancing with the Stars"?...

Ray Lewis' comment to ESPN that "evil" and "crime" would increase if there's no NFL this season seems perfectly reasonable to me if, you know, he were only kidding or auditioning for a part in a Batman sequel. Lewis does realize, doesn't he, that Commissioner Goodell doesn't have the same duties as Commissioner Gordon?...

With 24 teams within five games of first place or the wild-card lead through Monday, Commissioner Bud Selig says this is the competitive balance he's been talking about. "You look at the standings, it's absolutely amazing," Selig said. While you're at it, look at the calendar. It's absolutely something else, too. It's absolutely still May...

HE SAID IT

"Seven. It's huge, and I think we need an even playing field, where nobody has that advantage over the next person." -- Bulls' guard Derrick Rose, to ESPN the Magazine, when asked how big a problem performance-enhancing drugs are in the NBA on a scale of 1-10.

Good to hear somebody voicing a strong opinion on the subject.

HE DENIED IT

"I do not recall making the statement, nor do I recall the question being asked. If that was my response to any question, I clearly misunderstood what was asked of me. But let me be clear, I do not believe there is a performance-enhancing drug problem." -- Bulls' guard Derrick Rose.

He thought he was asked how many rapper friends James had at courtside during the playoff games in Miami.

HE TWEETED IT

View full sizeAP photoHe's the spark plug of the revitalized Indians in 2011.

"I'm absolutely sure now after this last rule change that the people making the rules at the NFL are idiots." -- Steelers' linebacker Harrison, after a league executive said the NFL would fine teams if their players commit multiple flagrant hits and that the NFL had not ruled out taking draft picks away from organizations.

At least you don't have to be an idiot to know who receives the first flagrant hit fine in 2011.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

(The Baseball Edition)

Christian Bale and Homer Bailey -- Jeff Kooyman

Josh Hamilton and Will Ferrell -- Les Moore

View full sizeMCT photoHe's the point guard for an NBA title contender ... at least at the start of the game.

Asdrubal Cabrera and Mike Bibby -- Tim Scott

YOU SAID IT

"Bud:

"I was told that only the process starts [now], and the world will actually end sometime in November. If this were true, I would have no doubt the Indians would win the World Series." -- Aaron

A process? Who's in charge of this end-of-times thing anyway, Eric Wedge?

"Bud:

"Is there any truth to the rumor that Andre Ethier will be overseeing the rehab of Alex White's middle finger?" -- Stan Seltzer

Former Indians pitcher Jack McDowell, aka The Yankee Flipper, would apply for the job first.

"Bud:

"What will Brett Favre do if the NFL cancels next season?" -- Tom Hoffner

With no chance of training camp happening, he will announce his comeback earlier.

"Bud:

"Do you think Asdrubal Cabrera has any shot at being named Derek Jeter's back-up for the All-Star Game, or will they just give it to whoever's playing shortstop for Boston?" -- Moldo

I do believe Nomar Garciaparra is currently second in the voting.

"Bud:

"What do you think Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's next move will be to stop LeBron James from winning a championship now that his plan to end the world didn't work?" -- Tim, Twinsburg

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

"Bud:

"If you [hit] a shot, and it caromed off a tree and onto the green and right into the cup, would that be A Shaw Shank Redemption?" -- Michael Sarro

Repeat winners receive a mulligan.

Northeast Ohio's stormy evening washes out games for Aeros and Captains.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Indians 13, Nationals 7: Kinston completed its first series sweep of the season with a win over Potomac at Woodbridge, Va. Tyler Cannon had a three-run triple in the first inning, and the Indians batted around in the second, scoring five runs. Giovanni Soto (4-3) picked up the win.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros vs. Senators: Wednesday's game was suspended by rain in the top of the second inning with the score tied, 1-1, at Canal Park. The game will be completed beginning at 10:35 a.m. Thursday, followed by a seven-inning game.

A Lake County Captains

Captains vs. Silver Hawks: Lake County's game at South Bend, Ind., was postponed. The game will be made up Thursday as part of a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

Donovan will take a leave of absence to have the procedure done in the coming weeks. He made the announcement on his 11 p.m. sportscast on Channel 3 Wednesday.

View full sizeWKYC photo"From the time I got diagnosed, the transplant option was always laid out to me," WKYC sportscaster Jim Donovan said of his upcoming bone marrow transplant to battle chronic lymphocytic leukemia. "The waiting has been kind of torturous. I think we're as ready as we can be."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Unbeknownst to viewers and even co-workers, WKYC TV 3 sports director and "radio voice of the Browns" Jim Donovan has been receiving treatment for leukemia for 11 years.

The disease is now causing him to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Donovan will take a leave of absence to have the procedure done in the coming weeks. He made the announcement on his 11 p.m. sportscast on Channel 3 tonight.

Donovan, 54, was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the summer of 2000. The disease was treated by chemotherapy and other therapies over the years. A flare-up of the disease in January resulted in the decision to have the bone marrow procedure.

He was put on a waiting list for a donor and learned in April that a match was found.

"From the time I got diagnosed, the transplant option was always laid out to me," Donovan said in an interview prior to his sportscast. "The waiting has been kind of torturous. I think we're as ready as we can be."

A native of Boston, Donovan joined Channel 3 in 1985. In that time he's called play-by-play at the network level for NBC on NFL games, the Olympic Games and World Cup Soccer, and won numerous broadcast awards. He was named the Browns' radio voice in 1999. Calling those games has been his favorite assignment.

Donovan's trademark energy and enthusiasm never waned while the team floundered and he coped with various treatment periods. He never missed a Browns game, though he had to give up calling Indians games on Channel 3 because of a rough period in 2008.

"He gets that adrenaline rush just like a player," said Doug Dieken, the former Browns tackle and Donovan's partner on radio broadcasts. "On game day, he wakes up and he's ready to go. He puts everything he's got into it. After a game he's drained as if he played.

"He's a true professional. He's always been able to turn it up, regardless. I'm sure there's some suffering I don't see and people don't hear. It's got to take its toll. But he's a gamer."

Brooke Spectorsky, WKYC president and general manager, said that Donovan's ability to keep his battle private while performing his job at the highest level "is what makes him so exceptional."

"He's tackling this just like he's tackled every job, every project, he's ever done for us," Spectorsky said. "He puts every ounce of effort into overcoming this disease, just like he does his homework for a broadcast."

Donovan said he felt lucky that on most occasions the disease has not been debilitating physically. But "mentally, there isn't a day that goes by that you don't think about it," he said.

He said he dealt best with the disease by plunging himself into his job and staying as busy as possible. Besides calling Browns games and his duties at Channel 3, Donovan anchors Browns coverage on cable partner SportsTime Ohio. He also has served as spokesperson for several charities and frequently emcees events for the Browns.

The Browns have assured Donovan that his play-by-play job will be reserved for him when he's healthy.

"On behalf of everyone here at the Cleveland Browns, I'd like to wish Jim a speedy recovery," Browns President Mike Holmgren said in a statement. "Jim has been a respected voice in the Cleveland sports scene for many years, and his association with our organization is held in high esteem. His name has become synonymous with the Browns and we consider him a part of our family. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this process."

When not doing the games, Donovan has found peace in walking his two beloved dogs and spending time with wife Cheryl and daughter Meghan, 20.

Recovery from the bone marrow transplant is expected to be about five months. Donovan said he hopes to be back behind the microphone for the coming Browns season.

"My goal is to get healthy and be back covering Cleveland sports as soon as possible. I'm going to really miss my job. I love what I do," he said.

Another fourth-quarter surge carries the veteran Mavericks past the Thunder.

View full sizePaul Moseley / Fort Worth Star-TelegramHustling on defense against Oklahoma City's Kendrick Perkins, Dirk Nowitzki shared team-high scoring honors with Shawn Marion as each player scored 26 points in the Mavericks' 100-96 victory in the clinching Game 5 of the Western finals Wednesday night.

DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks are going back to the NBA finals.

Nowitzki swished a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:14 left and Shawn Marion followed with a three-point play off a steal, the pivotal plays in yet another fourth-quarter comeback, this one sending the Mavericks to a 100-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night that closed out the Western Conference finals in five games.

After clawing back from down 15 with 5:04 left in Game 4, the Mavericks were down by six with 4:37 left in this one when they rallied again, outscoring the Thunder, 14-4, the rest of the way.

Dallas has never won a championship, and neither has any of its players. Nowitzki and Jason Terry were part of the only Mavericks team to make the finals, in 2006. They were up 2-0 and leading late in Game 3, but lost the series to the Miami Heat in six games.

Dallas could get another crack at the Heat.

LeBron James and Miami lead the Chicago Bulls, 3-1, in the Eastern Conference finals. If the Heat win Thursday night, the finals will begin Tuesday in Miami. If the Bulls win Thursday night, the finals will begin next Thursday in the East winner’s city.

Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell each scored twice, resilient goalie Dwayne Roloson weathered a hat trick by Boston’s David Krejci, and the Tampa Bay Lightning stayed alive in the Eastern Conference finals.

Cinesport video: Tampa Bay 5, Boston 4 

For more Cinesport video on cleveland.com, go here.

View full sizeAP Photo | Chris O'MearaAfter scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning's Martin St. Louis (26) celebrates with teammates Steven Stamkos, center, and Vincent Lecavalier (4).

Cinesport video: Lightning-Bruins postgame 

For more Cinesport video on cleveland.com, go here.

UFC 130 at the MGM Grand will be headlined by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson fighting Matt “The Hammer” Hamill. Frankly, the replacement fight has few other than Loveland, Ohio, native Hamill excited.

View full sizeGray Maynard, a graduate of St. Edward high school, was supposed to fight Frankie Edgar this weekend. Injuries will prevent both fighters from participating.

Djokovic was credited with his 41st consecutive victory — matching the best streak of Federer’s career — when second-round opponent Victor Hanescu of Romania quit at the French Open because of a left leg injury.

View full sizeAP Photo | Lionel CironneauSerbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Romania's Victor Hanescu during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament.

Ray Lewis says crime will increase if there's no football this fall.

APRay Lewis predicts an increase in "evil" if the NFL doesn't fix labor strife.

The NFL lockout continues and there is a chance the league will not play any football this fall.

If that's the case, and according to Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, no NFL season means civilization will not be the same.

In an interview on ESPN with Sal Paolantonio, Lewis says:

"Do this research if we don’t have a season — watch how much evil, which we call crime, watch how much crime picks up if you take away our game. There’s nothing else to do."

Do you believe Ray-Ray? Or will no football not change anything at all?