How did the Cavaliers do in last week's draft? What did Terry think of Lonnie Chisenhall's debut? Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeAP Photo | Matt YorkLonnie Chisenhall had a strong debut for the Indians Monday night.

How did the Cavaliers do in last week's draft? What did Terry think of Lonnie Chisenhall's debut? 

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• Was Tristan Thompson really a reach at No. 4?

• Now that Chisenhall's up, who can we expect to see next from Columbus?

• Is turning to prospects earlier a change in philosophy for the Indians or is it just a sign of better drafting?

• Could the Indians consider not picking up options on Fausto Carmona and Grady Sizemore?

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

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook.

BEDFORD, Ohio - Extending a relationship that began in 1996, Bernie Tarr has resigned as boys basketball coach at St. Peter Chanel to become Belize's national basketball program development officer. Tarr, 43 and a native of Niles, will be in charge of the Central American country's national program, from youth basketball through the national team.

Bernie Tarr, pictured in 2010, is leaving St. Peter Chanel to head Belize's basketball program, from youth levels through the national team. - (Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer)

BEDFORD, Ohio - Extending a relationship that began in 1996, Bernie Tarr has resigned as boys basketball coach at St. Peter Chanel to become Belize's national basketball program development officer.

Tarr, 43 and a native of Niles, will be in charge of the Central American country's national program, from youth basketball through the national team.

Belize has a population of about 330,000.

"It's a beautiful country," Tarr said. "I've been coaching the youth teams there, off and on, for the last 15 years. I just thought this was an opportunity too good to pass up."

Tarr said he was convinced to take the job after meeting with Paul Thompson, president of the Belize Basketball Federation.

"He said he wanted to make Belize the number one national program in Central America and he wants to do it by building from the bottom up," said Tarr. "That really got me interested. The challenge is incredible."

Tarr, who is not married, has coached 11 seasons at St. Peter Chanel. His teams compiled a 184-76 record and won three regional championships. He also coached one year at Badger and six at Hubbard. Overall, his teams were 258-154. The Firebirds were 18-4 last season, losing to Richmond Heights in the Division IV district semifinals.

"I have had a great time at St. Peter Chanel," he said. "The people there are tremendous and I am sure I will miss all of them. I can't say enough about the place."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169

Should the Cavaliers pick up a free agent this summer, or wait until after the 2011-12 season?

Associated PressJamal Crawford: Could the Cavaliers use some of his offense?

The selection of Kyrie Irving means the Cleveland Cavaliers are well-stocked at the point guard and shooting guard spots. Since Irving is the point guard of the immediate future, the Cavaliers don't need to pick up a free-agent point guard this summer.

And unless they make a deal to get rid of at least two power forwards, there's not much of a need to pick one up in free agency.

But the Cavaliers desperately need to make a deal for a shooting guard. Or at least pick up one via free agency. Or should the Cavaliers wait until after the 2012 season to pick up some help?

AURORA, Ohio - Two-way lineman Troy Watson, who is expected to be a key figure in Aurora's football season, has made an oral commitment to Ohio University. Watson (6-6, 285 pounds) earned All-Northeast Ohio Inland District first-team honors and was honorable mention on the All-Ohio team as a guard and defensive end. Coach Bob Mihalik said Watson will play...

Aurora two-way lineman Troy Watson was convinced he wanted to play for Ohio after a recent campus visit.

AURORA, Ohio - Two-way lineman Troy Watson, who is expected to be a key figure in Aurora's football season, has made an oral commitment to Ohio University.

Watson (6-6, 285 pounds) earned All-Northeast Ohio Inland District first-team honors and was honorable mention on the All-Ohio team as a guard and defensive end. Coach Bob Mihalik said Watson will play both positions this season.

"He had several Division I programs showing an interest but when OU made the offer and he made a visit he came home convinced that was where he wanted to play," said Mihalik.

"I am glad to have the [recruiting] process over with so I can focus on our season," said Watson, whose older brother, Ty, is in line to start at quarterback at Gannon. "It came down to Toledo and Ohio in the end."

Watson, who plans on majoring in theology, said his older brother did not try to persuade him to commit to Gannon.

"Once the first Division I offer came in he got the idea that I woudn't be attending Gannon," Watson said. "Not that it's not a good school, but I just liked OU better."

The tattoo parlor owner involved in the Ohio State football scandal pleaded guilty today to federal charges involving a drug raid where authorities seized memorabilia that players sold for cash or exchanged for tattoos. Watch video

Edward Rife

The tattoo parlor owner at the center of the Ohio State football scandal pleaded guilty today to federal charges involving a drug raid in which authorities seized memorabilia that players sold for cash or exchanged for tattoos.

Edward Rife, 31, admitted to charges of money laundering and conspiracy to distribute marijuana before U.S. District Judge Gregory Frost in Columbus.

The charges stem from a major marijuana investigation that included a raid at his home April 1, 2010. Once there, federal officials found a large stash of Ohio State memorabilia, officials said. Rife later admitted he obtained it through his business, Fine Line Ink, according to court records.

The raid set off a chain of events that led to Jim Tressel's resignation, star quarterback Terrelle Pryor's jump to the NFL and an NCAA investigation. Days after the raid, Rife went to an attorney, Christopher Cicero, for counsel.

After Rife left, Cicero emailed Tressel about the drug probe, the memorabilia and the players' links to Rife, according to state records and emails released by Ohio State.

The coach did not tell his bosses about the information, but Tressel sent an email to Ted Sarniak, Pryor's mentor, shortly after receiving Cicero's first message, according to Tressel's emails the school released.

The Ohio Disciplinary Counsel that investigates lawyers for allegations of misconduct accused Cicero of violating attorney-client privilege in giving Tressel the information. A message left at Cicero's office late Tuesday afternoon was not returned.

Rife later decided not to hire Cicero.

Federal prosecutors notified Ohio State of the memorabilia and the players' involvement in it in December, prompting the university to suspend five players for five games this season. A month later, the university's legal department, searching for unrelated information, found the Cicero emails.

On Tuesday, Rife's attorney, Stephen Palmer, told reporters that the scandal has been difficult for Rife.

"It has crushed his life,"' Palmer said. "His name has been in the media. His family has suffered. He has suffered. He is just hoping to move on at some point in the future."

A reporter asked him how his client felt about any role in the unraveling the Ohio State football program.

"I'm not sure he's responsible at all for bringing down the Ohio State football program," Palmer said. "I think he's an unfortunate cog in the wheel. He had no intention of causing any harm on anybody involved with Ohio State University, let alone its players or coach."

Palmer and federal prosecutors stressed that no Ohio State players were involved or had any knowledge of Rife's drug peddling.

Wearing a blue shirt, silver tie and dress pants, Rife spoke politely to Judge Frost during the 35-minute hearing, answering "Yes, sir" and "No, sir."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin W. Kelley said authorities learned in 2007 of a major narcotics organization doling out marijuana and cocaine in central Ohio. They later learned that Rife played a small part in the ring, selling about 10 or 20 pounds of marijuana a month in 2008, authorities said.

The following year, Rife began obtaining up to 500 pounds of the drug at a time from a second source, Kelley said. The prosecutor said Rife distributed between 880 pounds and 1,540 pounds of the drug. Rife earned about $50,000, in total, in illegal profits from the sales.

His sentencing date has not been set. He faces a mandatory-minimum sentence of five years, but there is a slight chance that he could avoid prison, depending upon the extent of his cooperation with federal officials and other factors.

Federal investigators said it is impossible to determine whether drug money was used to purchase some of the memorabilia. Rife has agreed to forfeit $50,000 to the government, and authorities will let him keep the Ohio State memorabilia officials seized from him in the raid.

"There was a lot of memorabilia," Kelley said. "Mr. Rife was obviously a big Ohio State fan."

Plain Dealer reporter Doug Lesmerises contributed to this report.

The Lonnie Chisenhall era begins with an Indians win.

View full sizeAssociated PressNo, Lonnie Chisenhall isn't preparing to take over behind the plate. The new Indians third basemen is taking a respite during a pitching change in his big league debut last night, a 5-4 win over Arizona.

Cleveland Indians manager Manny Acta freely admitted before Monday's game that his third baseman was "not a finished product by any means," and that if things "were going the way they were a few weeks ago" for the club, then the 22-year-old prospect would probably still be in the minors.

"Due to a combination of things, we felt it was the right time. Obviously, our offense is in a little funk right now," Acta said. "We think he can give us a little help."

Dr. Thomas Graham performed surgery on Shin-Soo Choo's left thumb Tuesday morning at Cleveland Clinic. He used a metal plate and screw to stabilize the fracture.

Shin-Soo Choo had surgery today on his injured left thumb.

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo had surgery on his left thumb this morning. He will be out eight to 10 weeks, which means if he is able to rejoin the Indians, it won't be until late August or September.

Hand specialist Dr. Thomas Graham performed the surgery at Cleveland Clinic. He stabilized the fracture with a screw and metal plate and aligned it.

Choo was hit by a Jonathan Sanchez pitch Friday in the fourth inning against San Francisco. Sanchez was placed on the disabled list the next day with biceps tendinitis in his left shoulder.

Choo escaped a serious injury to his right thumb last year when he strained it attempting a diving catch. He was not so fortunate this season.

Manager Manny Acta is rotating Austin Kearns, Travis Buck and Shelley Duncan in right field to try and replace Choo.

Choo was hitting .244 (65-for-266) with 30 runs, 10 doubles, five homers and 28 RBI in 72 games at the time of the injury. It was a slow start for the left-handed hitting Choo after being the Indians' best player in 2009 and 2010.

Before Choo flew back to Cleveland on Sunday he said, "I'm being tested. I'll play again this year. Even if it's just for one game. I don't want my year to end like this."

College athletes, like Terrelle Pryor, should be able to sell their jerseys, says Channing Crowder.

APChanning Crowder.

MIAMI, Fla. - Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder says college players should be able to sell their game jerseys - something he ''hypothetically'' did when he played for the Florida Gators.

Crowder discussed the subject during the debut of his new two-hour weekly talk show on WQAM radio in Miami.

''I'll say hypothetically I don't have any more of my Florida jerseys,'' Crowder said Sunday. ''There were some Jacksonville businessmen that really hypothetically liked my play.''

Crowder expressed support for quarterback Terrelle Pryor in connection with the scandal at Ohio State. Pryor left the program and coach Jim Tressel resigned amid an NCAA investigation into players' trading of signed equipment, championship rings and other memorabilia to a tattoo-parlor owner for cash and discounted tattoos.

The University of Florida declined comment. Crowder's agent, Joel Segal, didn't return calls seeking comment.

Blogger has some ideas to prevent an NBA lockout.

APPlayers Association Executive Director Billy Hunter and NBA Commissioner David Stern.

It looks like the NBA owners will lock the players out once the Collective Bargaining Agreement ends after Thursday.

But Tim Donahue, of Eight Points, Nine Seconds of the ESPN TrueHoop Network blog, has come up with some solutions that could settle the issues.

For example, Donahue is in favor of a hard salary cap. He wants to get rid of maximum contracts, which means teams are free to pay a player as much as they can fit into their cap space. 

Here are more of his examples:

• Time Line
  The actual hard cap will not be fully in place until the 2014-2015 season.  During the interim period, the calculation will be used to establish the luxury tax threshold.  The old soft salary cap will be abolished entirely.  Using a $4.0 billion example, teams would be able to spend up to $64.7 million without having to use exceptions.  Any thing above that will be subject to a luxury tax.

• Exceptions
  The Larry Bird exception will remain in place until the hard cap is fully implemented, then be abolished entirely.  The Mid-Level & Bi-Annual Exceptions will be available for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, and abolished entirely starting with the 2013-14 season.  All MLE & BAE signings must expire by the end of the 2013-14 season.

Terrell Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, insists the free agent wide receiver will recover from surgery to repair his torn ACL in time to start "for somebody" when the NFL season begins.

View full sizeAP FileTerrell Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, says the free agent wide receiver had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in early April, and will be ready to play "for somebody" when the NFL season starts.

Terrell Owens is recovering from left knee surgery and plans to be ready to play when the NFL season starts.

Owens' agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed Tuesday that the 37-year-old star receiver tore his anterior cruciate ligament, had surgery in early April and "will be playing at the start of the NFL season."

In an interview with ESPN, Rosenhaus called speculation that Owens was considering retirement "nonsense" and said the 15-year veteran is doing "fantastic" and could be recovered as early as August.

Rosenhaus said Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery to the same knee in which Owens tore his meniscus late last year.

"The old injury has been repaired," Rosenhaus said. "He is many months into recovery and doing fantastic. No predictions on training camp, but he comes back fast from injuries. I won't rule him out of anything. He will be a starting receiver for someone this year."

As for Owens mulling retirement, Rosenhaus said "all the retirement talk is nonsense. There's been no discussion about that and this injury is not a big deal."

Two of Terrell Owens' former teammates also said the star wide receiver plans to return. Both players spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because Owens hasn't publicly discussed the surgery.

Rosenhaus declined to say how the injury occurred.

Last season, Owens had 72 catches for 983 yards and nine touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Dec. 21, a day after surgery for his torn meniscus.

With Lonnie Chisenhall comes hope, but also a word of warning for Tribe fans.

Can Cord Phelps pull off the rare feat of making it to the Majors for the first time, and staying there?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's great news that the Indians have promoted Lonnie Chisenhall to take over third base.

But here's the warning: Most young players don't just hit a bump in the road to the majors, they often drive right into a ditch. Consider that the last significant Tribe prospect to come to Cleveland and stay without a return to the minors is C.C. Sabathia. That's all the way back to 2001.

"Going to the majors is never a walk in the park for any young player," said Tribe minor league director Ross Atkins. "The same will be true for Lonnie."

So the odds are against Chisenhall avoiding a refresher course at Columbus at some point. The good news is Josh Tomlin and Vinnie Pestano are in their first exposure to Wahoo baseball, and they look like keepers.

In 2007, the Indians had Josh Barfield sinking at second base when they recalled Asdrubal Cabrera. Over the final seven weeks of the season, Cabrera hit .283 and was sensational at second. The next spring, Cabrera showed up heavy and spent part of 2008 in the minors, before starting the real path to the mature All-Star we see today.

The Tribe's last playoff appearance was 2007. Cabrera wasn't the only impact player to come from the minors. So did Raffy Perez (1-2, 1.78 ERA), Jensen Lewis (1-1, 2.15 ERA) and Franklin Gutierrez (.266, 13 HR, 36 RBI in 100 games).

Perez had a refresher course in Columbus in 2009. Lewis went up and down and then was cut last week by the Clippers. Gutierrez was traded to Seattle.

But the point is they all helped that 2007 team win the Central Division.

Immediate help

So there is reason for at least short-term optimism with Chisenhall and Cord Phelps -- tempered with a healthy respect for how hard it is for players to stay in the majors.

"Lonnie got off to a slow start this year because he faced a lot of lefties early and he was a 22-year-old adjusting to Class AAA," said Atkins. "But he has made a lot of progress, especially on defense. He has a short, simple swing that should serve him well. I think he's ready for the challenge."

Most 22-year-olds are in Class AA Akron or below, so Chisenhall is already on the interstate to Cleveland. He batted .247 in April, .278 in May and then had a very strange June. He started the month 2-for-21. He then missed 11 days with a concussion, and came back sizzling -- 9-of-21 with 14 RBI in six games.

At Columbus, Chisenhall batted .265 (.779 OPS) with seven homers, 44 RBI. He was 27-of-75 (.360) with runners in scoring position.

"We didn't bring Lonnie up just because he had a good week," said General Manager Chris Antonetti. "He's made real strides since the start of the season."

Chisenhall slumps when he tries to pull most pitches, very tempting in Columbus where the right-field wall is short and inviting from home plate.

Antonetti admitted that the Indians' lack of hitting is an issue. Jack Hannahan opened the season at third, batting .273 in April. Since then, he's a .181 hitter.

If the Indians weren't contending for a playoff spot, they might have left Chisenhall in the minors longer, especially as he batted only .200 against left-handed pitching. The Indians may rest him against some tough lefties, but as Antonetti said, "Lonnie is here to play."

In addition to two hits Monday night in Arizona, Chisenhall had several nice plays at third -- and displayed a flamethrower for an arm. Atkins said Chisenhall has really improved on making that long, accurate throw on the backhand near the third-base line, which he did Monday.

Settling in

Antonetti said the plan also is for Phelps "to play quite a bit." The 24-year-old second baseman was 1-for-16 after his promotion, and is 8-for-25 (.320) since, heading into Tuesday night's game. But he has made five errors in 10 games at second base.

"That's just not Cord," said Atkins. "He always has been a solid second baseman. I think he'll work through this."

Since 2009, Phelps has only 20 errors in 240 games at second base. This season, he had no errors in 13 games at second, four in 23 games at shortstop -- a position he hadn't played since high school.

Atkins is convinced the switch-hitting Phelps will play well. He also has 521 Class AAA at-bats, hitting .308 (.886 OPS). So he should be prepared for the majors.

The key is for Manny Acta to make sure that Phelps and Chisenhall play at least five times a week. Orlando Cabrera can play second and third to relieve the two rookies. The 36-year-old infielder also is more productive with some rest, as has been evident lately.

Chisenhall is the Tribe's first-round pick in 2008; Phelps went in the third round (2008). Injured pitcher Alex White (first round, 2009) was impressive in his brief Cleveland trial. Jason Kipnis (second round, 2009) could be the next player promoted as he is "showing power, speed and really improving at second base," said Atkins.

Kipnis is batting .292 (.877 OPS) with nine homers, 44 RBI and nine triples for the Clippers. He also is 10-of-10 in steals.

Finally, the next wave of Tribe prospects is appearing, and that will be fun to watch.

"Ezequiel Carrera had 2 RBI in 8 at bats while up here and gave the team much needed speed. Kearns has the same amount of RBI in 93 at bats. While we do need an outfielder, it shouldn't be Kearns. He brings nothing to the table." - Scott Player

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerAustin Kearns has been unable to get his bat going this season.

In response to the story Columbus hot streak proves timely for new Indians 3B Lonnie Chisenhall: Indians Insider, cleveland.com reader Scott Player thinks it's time to part ways with Austin Kearns. This reader writes,

"Ezequiel Carrera had 2 RBI in 8 at bats while up here and gave the team much needed speed. Kearns has the same amount of RBI in 93 at bats. While we do need an outfielder, it shouldn't be Kearns. He brings nothing to the table."

This week, PGA/LPGA professional Kathy Cassese of Airport Greens explains what types of wedges beginners should keep in their bag. Watch video

Local pros solve your golf problems in a weekly instruction video with Plain Dealer columnist Bud Shaw and videographer David I. Andersen.

This week, PGA/LPGA professional Kathy Cassese of Airport Greens in Willoughby Hills explains what types of wedges beginners should keep in their bag.

Need help with your game? Explain your problem to golf@plaind.com. We will select one each week. All the videos dating back to 2010 are archived.

Misheff, a senior at Ashland , won the biggest tournament of her career -- the Women's Ohio State Amateur championship

View full sizeAllison Carey / PDA state champion with Walsh Jesuit in 2007, Erin Misheff claimed the Women's Ohio State Amateur title last week.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The golfing education of Erin Misheff took a major step last week.

Misheff, a senior at Ashland University, won the biggest tournament of her career when she won the Women's Ohio State Amateur championship on the Devlin Course at Quail Hollow Resort and Country Club.

Misheff, who played on Walsh Jesuit's state championship team in 2007 and was sixth in last year's NAIA national tournament, won five times in the match-play competition, defeating Perrysburg's Alyssa Shimel, 3-and-2, in the finals.

The victory was another step in Misheff's late start in the game. A prospective volleyball and basketball player entering high school, she had little interest in golf. This despite the talents of her father, Don, who has been a fine amateur for years.

It wasn't until she was cut from volleyball for missing preseason training in her freshman year did she turn to golf.

"My dad never pushed me into golf and I am grateful for that," said Misheff, who leaves next week for a one-month training session in Scottsdale, Ariz., with trainer/coach Brian Hepler. "He was very cool about it. I know he would have loved me and my older sister to play, but he never pushed us into it. I'm glad because I'd probably be burned out by now but I have no signs of burnout. I love playing."

Her father was her caddy during the state am.

"He was a big help, but he let me play my game," she said. "I felt I was capable of winning. I prepared for the tournament and was able to take it one match at a time. I thought that was a key."

Closing in: Deadline for entering the 88th annual MinuteMenJobs.com Ohio Open Championship is July 13. The tournament will be held July 18-20 at Weymouth Country Club and Fox Meadow Country Club in Medina, with the final round being played at Weymouth. The Northern Ohio PGA moved the event because both courses are more centrally located within the state and minutes from I-71.

The NOPGA signed a two-year agreement with Eagle Golf Co., owner of the two courses.

The championship is open to all golfers who have been Ohio residents for at least 120 days prior to the event or any PGA Section member in good standing and employed for no less than 120 days at a recognized golf facility. Entrants must be able to provide three documents to prove residency. Amateurs must show proof of a USGA handicap index of 4.0 or less to be eligible.

Teams are also being accepted for The Ohio Open Sponsor Recognition Pro-Am on July 17 at Fox Meadow. Go to NorthernOhio.PGA.com or call 216-765-1214.

First-time winner: Former Kent State player Danny Sahl, who caddied for Ben Curtis during his British Open victory in 2003, won his first tournament on the Canadian Tour last week when he finished at 16-under 272 in the Syncrude Boreal Open at the Fort McMurray Golf Club in Alberta.

The victory was worth $24,000 for Sahl, who climbed into fifth place on the Order of Merit and puts him closer to earning a spot into the 2011 RBC Canadian Open in July. If he finishes in the top two in the Order of Merit, he'd earn an exemption into the final stage of PGA Tour Q-School.

Way to go: Congratulations to Painesville's Nick Popely, whose 1-under 143 earned the top spot in the U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier at Legend Lake on Wednesday.

Popely, a four-year letter winner at Riverside who will attend Mount Union, advances to the 63rd annual Junior Am at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash., July 18-23. Daniel Maier, of Irwin, Pa., was the only other qualifier at 145.

While past Junior Am winners include Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan, Johnny Miller and David Duval, the runners-up include Ryan Moore (2000), Camillo Villegas (1999 to Mahan), Aaron Baddeley (1998), Trevor Immelman (1997), Charles Howell (1996), Andy North (1967), Al Geiberger (1954) and Ken Venturi (1948). It's also the tournament in which former Walsh Jesuit and Ohio State star Ryan Armour pushed Woods to 19 holes before losing in 1993.

More time: The deadline for entering the 74th annual Good Park Junior has been extended to Friday. Entry fee for the longest-running junior tournament in the country, to be played July 6-8, is $60 and includes three rounds of golf, lunch and prizes. Call 330-864-0020.

Luth, who will be a junior at Medina, does not turn 16 until late next month and takes a one-shot lead into Wednesday's final 18 holes.

View full sizeEd Matthews / Columbus Dispatch file photoMedina's Patrick Luth (pictured during last fall's state high school tournament in Columbus) has a one-shot lead at the Ohio Junior entering Wednesday's final round at Windmill Lakes.

RAVENNA, Ohio -- Rarely does the Ohio Junior golf tournament produce a surprise winner.

All that could come to an end Wednesday when the 71st annual event concludes at Windmill Lakes Golf Club.

Medina's Patrick Luth, who did not tee off until 2:30 p.m., emerged as the overall leader on Tuesday after a 1-under 69 over Windmill's 6,542 yards. Luth, who will be a junior at Medina, does not turn 16 until late next month. He will take a one-shot lead into Wednesday's final 18 holes.

While the event is split into two age groups -- 15-and-under and 16-18 -- a player from the younger group can win the overall title as both groups play from the same tees. The last 15-year-old to win was Cincinnati's Smith Brinker, who won the title in 2008 and is in the field this year.

"It would be awesome to win this," said Luth, who had three birdies and two bogeys. "I've won some smaller, local tournaments but never anything this big. But, I'll have to go low."

If any other local player is to win he will have to come from behind. Luth's teammate Mike Bishop, Hunting Valley's John Coughlin and Pepper Pike's Scott Smith are in the best position.

Brooks Curry, who will be a senior at Middletown Christian, and Daniel Schwarz, who will be a senior at Cincinnati Elder, shared second place at even-par 70.

Bishop, Medina's best player in last year's state tournament, is at 2-over 72 and shares fifth with five others. Smith, the Division II state champion from University School who is bound for Northwestern, and his former teammate Coughlin were two of seven players in at 73.

Speaking Tuesday for the first time since Jim Tressel's resignation, Ohio State players said things are normal, but with an edge. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After losing a coach and a quarterback, and while waiting to face an NCAA hearing, at the very least, you figure no one around the Ohio State football program is complacent.

"I think people think we're just sitting around here crying, but if anything we got more [ticked] off and we're more ready to go than ever," senior center Mike Brewster said Tuesday. "You can get content after being so successful for so long -- maybe it came at a good time to get punched in the stomach."

After a record-tying six straight Big Ten titles, few are viewing the Buckeyes as favorites these days, though any suggestion that 9-3 might be viewed as a successful season, given the circumstances, was quickly shot down.

"We still want to be Big Ten champs, we want to be in Indy playing for the Big Ten championship, we want everything we've always had," senior safety Nate Oliver said.

Players spoke to reporters Tuesday for the first time since coach Jim Tressel resigned on May 30 and starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor left the program eight days later. Contact between coaches, including new boss Luke Fickell, and players is limited during the summer, but the four leaders trotted out Tuesday -- Brewster, Oliver, senior quarterback Joe Bauserman and junior defensive lineman John Simon -- preached what certainly had been passed on by Fickell -- a sense of normalcy with an undercurrent of attitude.

"I didn't picture it this way, but it is what it is and you have to adapt and move on," Bauserman said of his senior season. "It's been an emotional roller coaster, but I feel like the guys have moved on and kind of figured it out."

They mean understanding that this season won't be like any other they've played in Columbus.

"I'm glad I did come back," said Brewster, who briefly considered entering the NFL Draft, "because I can help keep things together and move things forward. That may be the most important thing I do here in my four years."

Buckeye bits: Fickell said the starting quarterback race is "wide open" entering the fall. Fickell told Bauserman in a meeting that during spring practice he was focusing on his job as linebackers coach, not on evaluating quarterbacks, so they're going to give everyone a chance. ... Oliver said many players are in regular contact with Tressel. He said he calls or sends a text message to his former coach every week. "I'm sure if it was me, I'd be feeling kind of down, so I just call him and let him know we're still here and we still love him," Oliver said. "He always encourages us and tells us whenever we need anything, he'll be there for us." ...

Named in a Sports Illustrated story as potentially receiving extra benefits from a tattoo parlor, an accusation his father already denied, Simon said, "It was a rough time, especially for my family. It was a misunderstanding and there's nothing we can do about it. We have to move forward." ... Fickell expects to announce his coaching hire, filling his own assistant spot, in a week or two.

The Diamondbacks won it the hard way Tuesday night, against the Indians' excellent bullpen.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Manager Manny Acta, in watching his pitchers take batting practice before the start of this nine-game interleague trip, said Josh Tomlin looked the most comfortable with a bat in his hand. 

Tomlin proved his manager right Tuesday night as he went 2-for-2 with an RBI in the first big-league swings of his career. It's too bad Tomlin's teammates, the guys who get paid to hit, didn't follow his example until it was too late. 

Carlos Santana's two-run homer in the ninth off closer J.J. Putz pulled the Indians into a 4-4 tie, but it wasn't enough. Wily Mo Pena retaliated with a two-run walk-off homer against left-hander Tony Sipp in the bottom of the inning for a 6-4 victory.

"Give them credit, they scored four runs against our strength -- the bullpen," said Indians manager Manny Acta.

The Diamondbacks broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth and a 4-4 tie in the ninth against a bullpen that entered the game with the lowest ERA in the American League at 2.99. Indians relievers allowed just two earned runs in their previous 39 2/3 innings. 

Rafael Perez started the eighth by giving up a leadoff single to Gerardo Parra. Starter Daniel Hudson advanced him with a sacrifice bunt and Kelly Johnson scored him with a single to right for a 3-2 lead. Joe Smith relieved with two out and gave up an RBI single to Justin Upton for a 4-2 lead. 

Sipp (3-1), who got the last out of the eighth, walked Ryan Roberts to start the ninth. He struck out Xavier Nady, but not before Roberts stole second and third base. Willie Bloomquist flied out to shallow right field for the second out, but Pena ended it with his two-out homer to left on a 0-1 pitch. 

Acta didn't want to use right-hander Vinnie Pestano against the right-handed hitting Pena because he'd thrown 32 pitches in Monday's 5-4 victory. He said he didn't want to walk Pena, pinch-hitting for winning pitcher Alberto Castillo (1-0), because the next hitter, Kelly Johnson, is "batting over .300 against lefties over the last three years."

Johnson had already homered and singled in the game.

"That was a the matchup we liked right there," said Acta. "Tony is a guy who gets righties and lefties out. Right-handers are hitting .200 against him over the last two years. Unfortunately, it didn't pay off."

Sipp was on his way out of the locker room before reporters were let in. It has not been a good trip for him. On Saturday he balked home the only run in the game in a 1-0 loss to the Giants.

"Swinging the bat was a lot of fun," said Tomlin. "I wasn't trying to do too much. I just tried to go out there and not look like an idiot." It's the first time a Tribe pitcher has had two hits in a game since Sabathia went 2-for-3 against the Reds on June 10, 2007.

Arizona started to work its way back into the game in the fifth. With two out, Parra tripled off the glove of Grady Sizemore in deep center field. Sizemore collided with the wall. He was checked by Acta and a trainer, but stayed in the game.

"It was one of those bang-bang plays," said Sizemore. "I think I should have caught it, but I knew I was going to hit the wall one way or the other. I took a good shot, but I'm OK."

Hudson doubled home Parra to make it 2-1. Tomlin ended the inning by picking off Hudson at second. Hudson's double was no surprise. He came into the game hitting .281 (9-for-32) with six RBI.

Tomlin allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out four and didn't walk a batter in 88 pitches. In the first 28 appearances of his big-league career, the right-hander has pitched at least five innings, tying the major-league record set by Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2007.

"It means I'm doing my job," said Talbot. "I feel as a starting pitcher you're supposed to go as deep into the game as much as you can. Being the fourth or fifth guy, my job, is to try and save the bullpen as much as I can. All that tells me is that I was able to do my job for 28 days."

Johnson pulled the Diamondbacks into a 2-2 tie in the sixth with a leadoff homer. It was the 14th homer Tomlin has allowed this year.

"This kid is a good athlete," said Acta, referring to Tomlin. "He does a lot of things to help himself. Tonight he helped himself with the bat."

Tomlin said it's the first time he's hit in a game since he was a junior at Texas Tech, where he pitched and played shortstop and third base.

"I got a bunt down and the ball found the barrel of my bat," said Tomlin.

Hudson and Tomlin were each trying to win their 10th game, but had to settle for well-pitched no-decisions.

"We could see in batting practice that he could be one of those guys who could allow us to do something like bunting and hit-and-run," said Acta.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in third as Shelley Duncan hit a leadoff double to left. Parra assisted by falling down before fielding the ball. Tomlin advanced Duncan to third with a bunt and in the process recorded his first big-league hit as the ball slithered past Hudson, who came off the mound to field the ball. Duncan scored as Michael Brantley, who entered the game in a 10-for-54 slump, hit into a 4-6-3 double play. It was the first of two double plays Brantley hit into Tuesday.

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Here is Wednesday's essay by Phil Seidel of Bedford Heights.

View full sizePD historical collectionLarry Doby's homer in Game 4 of the 1948 World Series thrilled Indians teammate Steve Gromek, and the thousands of fans who packed Municipal Stadium that day.

This spring, we asked readers to tell us their best memory at an Indians game. More than 600 of you responded. All season, The Plain Dealer will publish fan memories -- one each day the Indians are scheduled to play. Here is Wednesday's essay by Phil Seidel of Bedford Heights:

You can believe me or not when I tell you that there was a time when Clevelanders could hold their heads high and take pride in their baseball team.

It was the year of 1948, and I was a 14-year-old kid living on the city's East Side. Like so many others, I was caught up in the madness known as "Indians Fever." Never before, and perhaps never since, had the town gone so completely bonkers over a sports team. Attendance figures were being shattered, and the fact that it had been 20 years since the city had a championship may have been a factor. On baseball weekends, it was not unusual to see trainloads of fans from all over the state lined up on the railroad tracks south of the stadium.

The Indians had defeated the Boston Red Sox for the right to represent the American League in the World Series against the Boston Braves. The fourth game of the series would be played on Saturday, Oct. 9th, in front of a crowd of over 80,000. I intended to be one of them. As it happened, I had no one to take me to the game, and, worse yet, I had no ticket. The one thing I did have was a plan.

About 2 a.m. the night before the game, I caught a Kinsman streetcar downtown. I walked over to the stadium's bleacher gate and joined about 300 other fans also hoping to buy tickets. Many stood around steel barrels lit with firewood, trying to stay warm against the cold wind whipping in off Lake Erie. A few men took me under their wing, making sure I had a place in the ticket line and a seat for the game.

As I sat among the crowd, I recall wishing the day would never end. Larry Doby's home run was the deciding factor in the victory. As for me, I was bursting with happiness. What a glorious feeling being a Tribe fan that day. When I look back, I think how fortunate I was to witness that great event in Cleveland sports history.

"I hope Matt McBride, the first baseman who was just promoted to AAA, tears it up down there and gets an early call up to the Tribe this summer. Sure could use a right-handed bat with some power. Dude can hit." - lbj4glory

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerCould Matt McBride be a surprise answer to bolster the Tribe's lineup?

In response to the story Cleveland Indians' comeback short-circuited by Wily Mo Pena's walk-off homer for Arizona, 6-4, cleveland.com reader lbj4glory hopes Matt McBride can turn in to a power bat the Indians lack. This reader writes,

"I hope Matt McBride, the first baseman who was just promoted to AAA, tears it up down there and gets an early call up to the Tribe this summer. Sure could use a right-handed bat with some power. Dude can hit."

"There will almost always be a Jerry Jones or Dan Snyder out there that will think he has one more good year left in him, and that's okay as long as Lerner and Holmgren aren't in that group." - gandolph

View full sizeDavid I. Andersen | The Plain DealerTerrell Owens rips down a sign at Cleveland Browns Stadium after scoring a touchdown against the Browns.

In response to the story Terrell Owens' ACL surgery was in April; he'll be ready by start of season, says agent Drew Rosenhaus, cleveland.com reader gandolph has no desire to see T.O. in brown and orange. This reader writes,

"There will almost always be a Jerry Jones or Dan Snyder out there that will think he has one more good year left in him, and that's okay as long as Lerner and Holmgren aren't in that group."