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Ohio State fans: How long will it take the Buckeyes to recover and contend for a title? Poll

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When will Ohio State escape the clouds of scandal and contend for a national title?

jim-tressel-terrelle-pryor-ap.JPGView full sizeCoach Jim Tressel and quarterback Terrelle Pryor have left Ohio State. Have they taken the chances of a national title with them?

Jim Tressel: Gone. Terrelle Pryor: Gone. Gene Smith: G-, wait, the athletic director's still in place at the Ohio State University.

Pryor's departure means four more players will miss at least five games next season, a year that will be coach Luke Fickell's trial-by-fire season. And more shoes are still likely to drop when the Buckeyes go before the NCAA for what amounts to sentencing for the players' violation of rules and Tressel's failure to report them.

Yesterday, some of the veterans on the Buckeye squad met with the media for the first time since Tressel's resignation and Pryor's exit. Quarterback Joe Bauserman, center Mike Brewster, safety Nate Oliver, all seniors, and junior defensive lineman John Simon acknowledged that the events of this spring and summer have been gut punches to the Buckeyes. But in Plain Dealer beat writer Doug Lesmerises' story in today's paper, they all said that the controversy is drawing the team closer. Kind of an us-against-the-world sort of thing.

These guys aren't ready to accept a 9-3 season. They want a seventh consecutive  Big Ten title.

It's going to be tough, though. The Buckeyes surely will lose scholarships and suffer other penalties when the school goes before the NCAA hearing in August.

Given that, plus the ripple effect of the Tressel and Pryor exits (which in the long run may turn out to be minor glitches), how long will it take Ohio State to return to prominence. IF the school can return to prominence (Can you say SMU?)



Ohio State Buckeyes should protect QB Braxton Miller, on and off the field, says Doug Lesmerises (SBTV)

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Plain Dealer Ohio State beat reporter says star freshman should be kept off the path Terrelle Pryor took as a Buckeye. Watch video




CLEVELAND, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Chuck Yarborough, who's going solo again today without partner Branson Wright.


The Ohio State football program has begun to move forward after the NCAA scandal of the last several months. On the field, how long will it take the Buckeyes to shake off the scandal and compete for a national title? That's the topic of today's Starting Blocks poll.


Today's guest, Plain Dealer Ohio State writer Doug Lesmerises, has a story posted today about how the Buckeye players are feeling about the state of the program. Doug says it could happen when top freshman quarterback recruit Braxton Miller is a junior.


Doug also talks about his impressions of head coach Luke Fickell so far; what, if anything, the Buckeyes can do to ease potential sanctions from the NCAA; and why basketball player David Lighty was not selected in last week's NBA Draft.


SBTV will return Thursday.

Paul Hoynes talks Indians baseball - Podcast

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Now that Lonnie Chisenhall has come up, who will be next for the Indians? What's going on with Grady Sizemore? Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

lonnie-chisenhall.JPGView full sizeLonnie Chisenhall's debut in Cleveland has gone well so far.

Now that Lonnie Chisenhall has come up, who will be next for the Indians? What's going on with Grady Sizemore?

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

Among other topics discussed:

• Will Travis Hafner returning to play every day boost this lineup once they're done with interleague play?

• With Sizemore and Fausto Carmona struggling, will the Indians seriously consider declining their options for next season?

• How important is this tough stretch of games before the All-Star break in determining what the Indians will do at the trading deadline?

• With Shin-Soo Choo struggling and now being out for most of the remainder of the season, does this improve the prospects of the Indians getting a longterm deal done with him?

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


P.M. Cleveland Indians links: Why was Tony Sipp still pitching, and other water-cooler topics

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Manny Acta's moves of late have led to a little noggin-scratching.

tony-sipp-ap.JPGView full sizeThis hasn't been a great road trip for Tribe reliever Tony Sipp. This shot was taken after he balked in the winning run in a 1-0 loss to San Francisco. Last night, he gave up a two-run walk-off homer to Arizona's Wily Mo Pena.
OK, it's water cooler time. You know what that is, right? It's when those of us who never played a down or an inning beyond Pop Warner or Little League -- maybe even high school -- slap our foreheads like we're having a collective V-8 moment and ask incredulously, "What was coach So-and-So THINKING?!?"

Today's installment concerns two non-moves by Indians manager Manny Acta that we, with all our vast experience and know-how, are convinced cost the Tribe last night's 6-4 game with the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

Specifically, why the HECK was lefty Tony Sipp still pitching when righty Wily Mo Pena came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth to wallop that walk-off two-run home run?

Here's what he told The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes, who dutifully asked about the decision post-game:

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."
The other one, and the one, frankly, we find even more perplexing, is not having right fielder Travis Buck bunt Grady Sizemore over to second after Sizemore singled to open the seventh inning. Buck, who went 1-for-4 with a ninth-inning double that was wasted by Lonnie Chisenhall's caught-looking K, grounded into a double play.

Early in the year -- like, when the Indians were winning -- Acta had 'em doing the "small ball" things like bunting runners over. In essence, he was using National League ball to beat American League opponents. Maybe he figured AL ball is what it will take to beat NL teams. That's the only reason we can think of for letting a career .247 hitter who's hitting .227 this year with only two dingers and 10 RBI, swing away in a game that was tied 2-2 at the time.

Speaking of Grady, perhaps its time for the Indians to invest in a new glove for him. Say one that looks like a spider's web. Maybe then he could catch a fly.

Around the horn
* -- Indians catcher Lou Marson is gettin' a little home-cookin' with the stop in Arizona. He's from Scottsdale and played his tee-ball there, says the Arizona Republic.

* -- Feel that breeze? It's from all the whiffs by Indians bats. The News-Herald's Jim Ingraham does a little analyzing.

* -- Wily Mo Pena says Tony Sipp went to the breaking ball one time too many, CBSSports.com reports.

* -- Cincinnati boy and Tribe reliever Joe Smith answers five quickie questions from Cincinnati.com.

From The Plain Dealer
We already told you about Hoynsie's game story. Also in today's paper, his Indians Insider column, in which trainer Lonnie Soloff says that Shin-Soo Choo will play with the big club, not the minors, when he's recovered from his surgically repaired broken thumb.

Finally, columnist Terry Pluto applauds the Tribe brain trust for bringing up third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, but warns that newbies to the bigs often have some stumbles. For this reason, Pluto advises Indians fans not to panic if Chisenhall ends up having to do a little remedial action in the minors.

Rickie Fowler: Jackson Pollock with a 9-iron?

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Golfer Rickie Fowler, who's known for his colorful garb as much as his game, takes a divot in a paint bucket.

Crayola boxes -- the big ones, with the sharpener on the side -- don't have as many colors as those sported by PGA golfer Rickie Fowler. His outfits sometimes more closely resemble those silly fake bouquets cheesy magicians use than real clothes.

But he and his trademark Puma colors are making a splash on tour. In this video for Puma, they're making a splash, too. Just in a different way.


P.M. Cleveland Browns links: 2011 should not be deadline for Colt McCoy to establish starter's credentials

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McCoy played eight games as a rookie, with less than ideal circumstances, and will encounter significant changes during a second season. And, more links.

colt-mccoy.jpgColt McCoy (12) will begin his second season playing for a new Cleveland Browns coaching staff, and trying to direct a new offensive system.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Stability would not be the word to describe the circumstances Colt McCoy has encountered during the early stages of his NFL career.

The Cleveland Browns abandoned their plan to let McCoy watch and learn during his 2010 rookie season, when they inserted him as the starting quarterback five games into the campaign.

After five starts, McCoy sprained an ankle, causing him to miss the next three games before he returned to start Cleveland's final three contests.

McCoy tried to direct an offense without the benefit of having an accomplished wide receiver. When/if the current lockout ends, the Browns' roster will still be void of any go-to wideout, unless one can be acquired via trade or free agency.

Besides, McCoy will begin his second season with a second head coach, a second offensive coordinator and a second system as the Browns begin to employ the West Coast offense.

Such circumstances make a National Football Authority headline arguable. Barring a performance that would be inexcusably below expectations, most fair-thinking observers would likely agree that given the circumstances, McCoy would deserve a chance to prove himself without a 2011 Game 16 deadline.

Yet, the headline above the story about McCoy reads: "For Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy, 2011 Will be Sink or Swim -- Safety Net Included."

The National Football Authority's Samuel Ingro lists some complimentary reviews on McCoy, then writes:

Despite the optimism, Cleveland is still not betting the farm solely on McCoy being the future of the Browns. In the 2011 NFL Draft, the Browns acquired an additional first round pick for the 2012 draft—a draft that is likely to be filled with quarterbacks should McCoy falter in 2011. Should the Browns learn McCoy is not the answer, they are sitting pretty to find that answer in the form of Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley or Landry Jones.

Having this safety net should be comforting to general manager Tom Heckert. If McCoy should regress this season, the Browns can get their quarterback in 2012. If McCoy succeeds, then they have their passer and a great opportunity to address bigger needs, such as the defensive line and/or cornerback position in the first round next year.

Check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for Browns coverage as the 2011 season, hopefully, approaches.

Browns banter

Sports Illustrated's SI.com features a photo gallery of potential free agent wide receivers (beginning with a familiar name).

Browns running backs Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty must stay healthy, Don Delco writes for Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.

A "fan's reaction" to Browns rookie wide receiver Greg Little, on Yahoo! Sports. 

Browns' players plan workouts, by Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

A respected San Francisco 49ers assistant coach from their championship era believes the Browns have a winner in team president Mike Holmgren. By Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

"Best of the AFC North players" in a few categories, by James Walker of ESPN.com.

Roger Federer falls to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Wimbledon shocker

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No. 3 seed Roger Federer falls to No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Updated at 2:13 p.m.

jo-wilfried-tsonga-wimbledon.JPGView full sizeJo-Wilfried Tsonga reacts to his stunning upset of Roger Federer in today's quarterfinals at Wimbledon.

Wimbledon, England -- Six-time champion Roger Federer was upset in the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the second straight year Wednesday, squandering a two-set lead for the first time at a Grand Slam tournament and losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Federer barely looked challenged while winning the first two sets against the 12th-seeded Frenchman. But the Swiss star, who had been 178-0 in matches in which he had won the opening two sets at a major tournament, was broken one time in each of the last three sets.

"It's kind of hard going out of the tournament that way, but unfortunately it does happen sometimes," said Federer, who was playing in his 29th straight major quarterfinal. "At least it took him sort of a special performance to beat me, which is somewhat nice."

Federer may be right. The 16-time Grand Slam champion finished the match with only 11 unforced errors, half as many as Tsonga, but it didn't help him get close to breaking Tsonga's serve when he needed it.

"I was two sets down and I break. I did a good game of return and after that it was just amazing," said Tsonga, who had 63 winners, five more than Federer. "I just played unbelievable, served unbelievable and now I'm here, I'm in semifinal and I can't believe it."

Tsonga will face second-seeded Novak Djokovic, who defeated 18-year-old Australian qualifier Bernard Tomic 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Fourth-seeded Andy Murray also advanced, defeating Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court. Murray will face either defending champion Rafael Nadal or Mardy Fish in the semifinals.

Federer was seeking to equal Pete Sampras' record of seven Wimbledon singles titles. He breezed through his opening four matches, losing only one set, and played his usual elegant game against Tsonga.

In the first set, Federer earned his one and only break point of the match in Tsonga's first service game, and converted it. He held the rest of the way, and then won the second set in the tiebreaker.

But Tsonga finally got his first break in the third set, and another in the fourth and another in the fifth.

"He can come up with some good stuff and some poor things at times," Federer said. "He had basically good return games along the way in the third, fourth, and fifth. I think especially the third set, the break I get is very unusual. He chips back a couple, they stay in."

Those were the Frenchman's only three breaks, and they were just enough to send Federer home early again.

Federer has won six titles at the All England Club, including five in a row from 2003-07. He lost to Nadal in the 2008 final in what is considered by many to be one of the greatest matches ever, and then beat Andy Roddick for the championship a year later, winning 16-14 in the fifth set.

Last year, he lost to eventual runner-up Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals.

"It's the biggest champion in my sport," Tsonga said. "He achieved a lot of things and he's just the best player in the world and I'm just so happy to win against him, especially on grass because it's maybe one of his favorite surface and I'm just so happy today."

On Court 1, Djokovic overcame a tough match against his protege, holding on to reach the semifinals for the third time in his career.

Djokovic has been practicing with Tomic on-and-off since the two became friends last year in Australia, but this was the first meeting between the two in a competitive match.

After Tomic put a forehand into the net on match point, the pair had a brief chat at the net. Then, with the crowd applauding, Djokovic did the same while motioning toward Tomic.

"It was a very even match. In the first set I felt I played quite well," said Djokovic, who finished the match with fewer winners than Tomic, 43-39. "Then I played one really bad service game and he got back into the match. And from that moment on, he was the better player."

At the start, Djokovic appeared to have little to worry about, rolling through the first set and on his way to a fifth straight major semifinal. But Tomic didn't quit, instead breaking Djokovic to take a 3-1 lead in the second set and eventually evening the match.

"He is such an unpredictable player. He's very young, and obviously, first quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for him means a lot," Djokovic said. "But he didn't have anything to lose, so he was hitting a lot of winners today."

Tomic again went up a break in the third, but that's when Djokovic got going. The two-time Grand Slam champion won five straight games to take the third set, and then won the first two games in the fourth. Although Tomic got back on serve at 2-2 and was two points from winning the set at 5-4, Djokovic soon broke to take a 6-5 lead and held for victory.

"It was really hard to predict where he's going to go. He was not making a lot of unforced errors from the baseline, and that made my life really difficult," Djokovic said. "I tried to change the pace, but he was better at that. We were playing cat and mouse, I think. But in the end, I'm just happy to get through."

Djokovic started the 2011 season by winning 41 straight matches, but that came to an end with a loss to Federer in the French Open semifinals. If the Serb reaches the final at the All England Club for the first time this year, he will guarantee himself the No. 1 ranking. He can also claim the top ranking if Nadal fails to defend his title.

Tomic was the youngest man to start in the men's draw this year, and is the youngest to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals since Boris Becker defended his title in 1986.

Murray is trying to become the first British man to win the Wimbledon title since Fred Perry in 1936. And against Lopez, he was never really bothered.

He saved the two break points he faced, both in the third set, and finished off the match by winning the final game at love.

"I want to go further," said Murray, who is in the semifinals for the third straight year.


Animal Kingdom, Kentucky Derby winner, out for rest of year with leg injury that requires surgery

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X-rays reveal Animal Kingdom has a slab fracture in his left hind leg just above the small fracture to the cannon bone found two weeks ago.

animal-kingdom.jpgAnimal Kingdom and jockey John Velazquez riding to their Kentucky Derby victory on May 7.

NEW YORK, New York -- Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom has a more serious leg injury that will require surgery, and the colt won't race again this year.

The colt's ownership, Team Valor International, said in a statement Wednesday that a second set of X-rays has revealed Animal Kingdom has a slab fracture in his left hind leg just above the small fracture to the cannon bone found two weeks ago.

Animal Kingdom will have a screw inserted to compress the fracture during surgery on Thursday at New Bolton Research Center in Kennett Square, Pa. The colt will then return to his home at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., for 90 days of rehab.

Team Valor says Animal Kingdom will be out of training for three months, with the goal of returning for the Dubai World Cup in late March.


Travis Hafner not enjoying life without DH: Cleveland Indians daily briefing

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Travis Hafner, in his preparation as a pinch-hitter because the DH is not allowed in the National League, says he's ready to hit from the fifth inning on.

Travis HafnerTravis Hafner isn't having a whole lot of fun as a pinch-hitter in interleague play.

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Ever try to eat just one brownie? Speaking from experience, it's an impossible task.

Travis Hafner is like that with at-bats. Give him one, no matter what the outcome, and he wants another one. So this nine-game jaunt through the NL can be summed up in two words by the Tribe's DH, "It stinks."

Five games into life without the DH and watching pitchers hit, Hafner is 1-for-4 with a walk as a pinch hitter entering today's game against Arizona.

"It's really tough to get used to having one at-bat and then you're done," said Hafner. "After you have your at-bat, you want another one and it's just not going to happen.

"Whether or not you get a hit or not, you want more at-bats. It just not going to happen. That stinks."

Hafner says he's ready to hit from the fifth inning on.

"You're always ready when the pitcher's spot comes around," he said. "You can always tell by the way the game is going that you may have a chance to get in there."

Manager Manny Acta has tried to pick spots in the game where Hafner can do the most damage. Hafner likes that part of the job.

"You want to hit in a big situation," he said. "It would be perfect if you could get up with runners on base in every at-bat. You have a chance to get a big hit."

Hafner says he spends the first three innings watching the game. Then he goes into the batting cage or clubhouse to stretch, do cardiovascular work and start taking some batting practice.

"From the fifth inning on I'm ready," he said.

Hafner is ready to do something else -- get this stretch of interleague play over so he can move back into the middle of the Tribe's lineup.

Today's lineup:

Indians (41-37): Michael Brantley (L), 2B Orlando Cabrera (R), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), 1B Carlos Santana (S), LF Shelley Duncan (R), RF Austin Kearns (R), C Lou Marson (R), 3B Jack Hannahan (L), RHP Carlos Carrasco (7-4, 3.62).

Diamondbacks (44-37): 2B Kelly Johnson (L), SS Stephen Drew (L), RF Justin Upton (R), CF Chris Young (R), 3B Ryan Roberts (R), 1B Juan Miranda (L), LF Gerardo Parra (L), LHP Zach Duke (1-2, 5.73).

Him vs. me: Willie Bloomquist is 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI against Carrasco. Kearns is 3-for-8 with two doubles against Duke.

Lefty righty: Lefties are hitting .307 (51-for-166) with three homers and righties are hitting .194 (31-for-160) with two homers against Carrasco. The Diamondbacks have six lefties in the lineup.

Lefties are hitting .115 (3-for-26) and righties are hitting .393 (46-for-117) with two homers against Duke. The Indians have five right-handers and two switch-hitters in the lineup.

Umpires: H Mike DiMuro, 1B Dave Rackley, 2B Tim Welke, 3B Jim Reynolds. Welke, crew chief.

Quote of the day: "I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did," Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra.

Next: Indians are off Thursday and open a three-game series against the Reds on Friday at Great American Ballpark.


Cleveland Cavaliers exercise option on Christian Eyenga, keeping him under contract through 2012-13 season

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Gaurd-forward averaged 6.9 points in 21.5 minutes per game as a rookie last season.

christian-eyenga2.jpgChristian Eyenga might have the ability to develop into a reliable scorer and strong defender for the Cavaliers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Christian Eyenga experienced the ups and downs of most rookies during the 2010-11 NBA season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, though, have seen enough potential in the 6-7 guard-forward from the Congo to exercise the third-year option on his contract.

The move, announced today by Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant, keeps Eyenga's contract under the Cavs' control through the 2012-13 season.

Eyenga, 22, played in 44 games with the Cavaliers last season. He averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocked shots in 21.5 minutes per game. Eyenga shot 42.5 percent from the field, including 27.5 percent on 3-point tries, and 64.3 percent on free throws.

In 18 games as a starter, Eyenga shot 40.5 percent from the field and averaged 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.0 block in 26.3 minutes per game.

The Cavaliers selected Eyenga with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2009 draft. He played in 29 games for DKV Joventut Badalona (Spain) during the 2009-10 season, averaging 3.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game.

P.M. Ohio State links: Archie Griffin, 2-time Heisman Trophy winner, again the ambassador for Buckeyes football

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Running back great from 1972-75 a respected voice as Buckeyes try to recover from football program scandal. Many more Buckeyes links.

archie-griffin2.jpgArchie Griffin running the football for Ohio State in 1974, the first of his two Heisman Trophy-winning seasons.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Archie Griffin secured his place in Ohio State football history as a peerless running back from 1972-75, becoming the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in his junior and senior seasons.

Now, in the wake of the scandal that has turned the Buckeyes football program upside-down, Griffin is a logical figure to become a face of and spokesman for Ohio State.

Griffin spoke at a College Football Hall of Fame luncheon on Tuesday in South Bend, Ind.

Eric Hansen writes for the South Bend Tribune:

He has long been an unofficial ambassador for the school and the football program, exuding class at every turn. Officially, Griffin wears the job title of president and CEO for the Ohio State Alumni Association, and he must realize a large chunk of the roughly half million living alums aren’t exactly in a mood to find their checkbooks when the university calls.

But he wants to be more, which is fortunate for the school, given the few appealing options for a feel-good spokesperson. University president E. Gordon Gee, for instance, became a national punch line when he uttered “I hope he (Tressel) doesn’t fire me” when asked about the coach’s job security earlier in the timeline.

Athletic director Gene Smith doesn’t realistically have the credibility to shift opinions. Interim coach Luke Fickell, who worked for Tressel, was way more rhetoric than substance at his introductory press conference.

“Our position right now is we made mistakes, we’ve got to pay for those mistakes,” Griffin offered, “and we need to move forward. And that’s what it’s all about - moving forward.”

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes Doug Lesmerises' story that OSU seniors are using the program's problems for motivation; Lesmerises' Starting Blocks TV interview on the Buckeyes and freshman quarterback Braxton Miller; a Starting Blocks poll asking how long it will take for Ohio State to return to national title contention; John Caniglia's story (with video) that the tattoo parlor owner linked to the Ohio State scandal pleads guilty to federal charges; Lesmerises' report that former Buckeyes basketball star Chris Jent has left his job as a Cavaliers assistant to join OSU's basketball coaching staff.

More Buckeyes

Rob Oller's Columbus Dispatch column on Joe Bauserman getting his one chance to be Ohio State's quarterback.

Buckeyes football players say they're as focused as ever, despite the distractions. By Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch.

New Big Ten member Nebraska is starting to establish a recruiting presence in Ohio, Brian Christopherson writes for the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star.

Buckeyes coach Luke Fickell's visit on the Dan Patrick radio show is reported on by Marcus Hartman of BuckeyeSports.com, on FoxSportsOhio.com.

The Big Ten mailblog, by Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com.

On BleacherReport.com, a look back at the 2006 Ohio State-Michigan game that "shaped the decade."

The WNDU/Channel 16 television report on Archie Griffin's talk at the College Football Hall of Fame luncheon.

On BleacherReport.com, a slideshow of some incoming Ohio State freshmen.

Former Ohio State basketball star Jon Diebler introduced to Portland after the Trail Blazers picked him in the second round of the NBA draft (with video). By Joel Odom for OregonLive.com.

Charlie Sheen says he took steroids while playing Cleveland Indians reliever in film 'Major League'

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Actor tells Sports Illustrated the steroids helped his fastball go from 79 mph to 85 mph.

charlie-sheen-major-league.jpgIn this 1989 image provided by Paramount Pictures, Tom Berenger, right, plays Cleveland Indians catcher Jake Taylor, Charlie Sheen, below, is Ricky Vaughn, and Corbin Bernsen, above, plays third baseman Roger Dorn in the Paramount comedy "Major League."

NEW YORK -- Turns out Wild Thing's fastball had a little extra juice.

Actor Charlie Sheen tells Sports Illustrated in its latest issue that he took steroids "for like six or eight weeks" while filming the 1989 movie "Major League."

He adds that the performance-enhancing drugs helped his fastball go from 79 mph to 85 mph.

Sheen played fireballing relief pitcher Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn, whose wayward pitches were often "jussst a bit outside," as Bob Uecker's character, radio broadcaster Harry Doyle, sarcastically announced during the hit comedy.

Sheen, who has made recent headlines for erratic behavior and his firing from the show "Two and a Half Men," says it was the only time he took steroids and they made him a bit more irritable than normal.

Continental Cup youth sports festival opens Thursday

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John Carroll University's Don Shula Stadium will again host the opening ceremonies for the weekend-long competition.

contcup-2010-opening-horiz-to.jpgView full sizeYouth sports teams from around the world will participate in Thursday evening's opening ceremonies at John Carroll University's Don Shula Stadium.

What: Sixth annual Continental Cup, an international youth sports festival featuring baseball, basketball and soccer.

When: Thursday-Sunday.

Where: Greater Cleveland athletic venues.

Who: Boys and girls ages 9-18 from local, domestic and international teams.

Cost: Events and games are free and open to the public.

Did you know? In 2010 the event featured over 3,000 athletes from 16 countries. This year there are over 3,500 athletes, with 106 local teams, 80 domestic squads and 33 international teams. ... Over 375 soccer games will be played at three sites ... Ever see an Australian baseball team, or one from Pakistan? One of each will be in Cleveland.

Venues

Baseball -- Euclid Memorial Park, Euclid; Richmond Heights Community Park, Richmond Heights; and Progressive Field, Cleveland.

Basketball -- Multiplex Event Center, Warrensville Heights.

Soccer -- Lost Nation Sports Park, Willoughby; Krueger Park, Mentor; and Blossom Fields, Brecksville.

Schedule

Baseball -- Thursday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.

Basketball -- Thursday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.

Soccer -- Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Other activities open to public:

• Opening Ceremony and Cultural Festival, Thursday at 6 p.m., John Carroll University Quad (20700 North Park Blvd.) in University Heights. Will include a parade of athletes, live music, interactive exhibits and "Foods of the World" area.

• AC Milan Coaches Clinic, Friday from 6-8 p.m., Lost Nation Sports Park (8630 Jet Center Place) in Willoughby. Limited space. Call 216-363-1513 to reserve a spot.

More information: Visit continental-cup.com.

Inside the Continental Cup with Jenny Popis, communications manager for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission:

Q: How are the teams selected?

A: [Our] main objectives are to research and recruit teams throughout the year. The caliber of the event continues to enhance and it's at the point where we are attracting skilled teams from all across the globe.

We also work with key sports people in the local community who then introduce us to other credible coaches/teams locally, domestically and internationally. The teams register and then become a part of the Continental Cup.

Part of the mission of the Continental Cup is to provide athletes with good competition and an opportunity to play against their peers from across the globe for cultural interaction. So it's important for us to recruit international teams but we also want to ensure good, quality competition.

Q: What happened to plans to add lacrosse to the event this year?

A: The Continental Cup Lacrosse Tournament was put on hold until we receive a greater interest from regional and local teams. Our plan is to continue growing the Continental Cup by evaluating new sports and to see which ones make sense to add.

Some things we consider when researching the addition of sports are the ease of getting international teams to participate, the season and time of year for that particular sport, the right local partners to provide sport expertise and to assist with recruitment, etc. Some sports we are considering to add in the future include volleyball, field hockey and lacrosse.

Q: John Carroll is home base for the event?

A: John Carroll University is the host for some of the international teams as well as the site of the ancillary events and social activities. There are over 450 international athletes/coaches that are scheduled to stay on campus at the dorms.

Midpark's Kaila Barber tops Plain Dealer's Girls Track All-Stars

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kaila Barber aimed to please. The Midpark senior knew all eyes would be on her this track and field season after winning two events at last year's Division I state tournament for the Meteors.

Midpark's Kaila Barber successfully defended her state titles in the long jump and 300-hurdles this season. - (Allison Carey, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kaila Barber aimed to please.

The Midpark senior knew all eyes would be on her this track and field season after winning two events at last year's Division I state tournament for the Meteors.

So what did Barber do for her encore? She won the long jump and 300-meter hurdles once again and added the anchor leg on the winning 4x400 relay as the Meteors finished third in the team standings for the second straight season. Her efforts earned her The Plain Dealer's Girls Track Athlete of the Year award for the second straight year.

"I knew people wanted me to do what I did last year, plus more," said Barber, who was also honored as the Ohio Gatorade Girls Track Athlete of the Year. "I tried not to think about it."

She turned in the state's top times in the 300 hurdles (41.01) and long jump (19-8.75) this year. If she has one regret, it would be finishing ninth in the 100 dash after coming in third as a junior.

"I would have liked to have done better in that one," said Barber, who will run track and pursue a veterinary career at Notre Dame. She will be joined in South Bend, Ind., by her twin sister, Jade.

Having her older -- by 20 minutes -- sister with her this season also made the year one to remember, said Kaila. Injury as a junior and disqualification two years ago kept Jade from competing at the state meet, where she ran on this year's winning relay.

"We are happy about how things worked out," said Kaila. "I will remember just the joy we had this season with the team as a family. I will remember the happiness everyone had all the time."

She did her part in bringing out the smiles.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

 

 

Girls Track All-Stars

Athlete Of The Year

Kaila Barber

Midpark, senior long jump

College: Notre Dame.

Notable: Won the Division I state long jump and 300-meter hurdles for the second straight year. Anchored the winning 4x400 relay and finished ninth in the 100 as the Meteors finished third for the second straight year. Involved in 30 of her team's 33 points. Named The Plain Dealer's Girl Track Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Other All-Stars

Jade Barber

Midpark, senior relays

College: Notre Dame.

Notable: Ran the second leg on the winning 4x400 relay at the Division I state meet. Finished sixth in the 100 hurdles in 14.74 seconds to score three team points. Missed the past two state meets because of an injury and disqualification.

Christina Blair

Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, senior 3,200

College: U.S. Naval Academy.

Notable: Won the Division II state 3,200 race in 11:04.55 after finishing third as a junior. Ran the second leg on the sixth-place 4x800 relay. Won the 1,600 a year ago.

Taylor Burke

Medina, senior high jump

College: Florida.

Notable: Won the Division I state high jump for the third straight year, setting a state mark with a jump of 6 feet, 1.25 inches. She won at 5-11 as a junior and 5-9 as a sophomore. She will also play soccer as a goalkeeper for the Gators.

Emily Cunningham

Vermilion, junior 200

College: Undecided.

Notable: Finished third in the Division II state 200 in 24.97. Finished fifth in the 100 in 12.61. Anchor on fifth-place 4x100 and 11th-place 4x200 relays. Placed second in 200 and fifth in 100 as a sophomore.

Amber Davis

Shaker Heights, junior 800

College: Undecided.

Notable: Finished third in the Division I state 800 in 2:11.94. Was a member of the eighth-place 4x400 and 13th-place 4x800 relays. Finished sixth in the 800 as a sophomore.

Bridget Doughty

Bay, senior 300 hurdles

College: Central Michigan.

Notable: Won the Division II state 300 hurdles for the second time in three years, covering the distance in 42.93. She was second a year ago and won it in 43.53 in 2009. Second in the 100 hurdles to rival JeRica Sanders of Lake Catholic. Set regional marks in both the 100 and 300 hurdles this season.

Beckie Famurewa

Brecksville, senior discus

College: Kentucky.

Notable: Finished second in the Division I state discus with a throw of 138-09. She was third a year ago at 136-4. Finished fifth in the shot put at 42-11.25 after coming in second in that event as a junior.

Candace Longino-Thomas

Gilmour, senior 100

College: Texas Christian.

Notable: Set Division III state mark in the 100 with time of 11.75 at regional. Won state preliminary heats in the 100, 200 and 400, along with anchoring top 4x200 relay. Missed finals after suffering hamstring injury at end of 200 qualifier.

Brianna Neitzel

Brunswick, junior 400

College: Undecided.

Notable: Won the Division I state 400 in 54.70 after finishing fourth as a sophomore. Finished fourth in the 100, where she was fifth a year ago, and 13th in the 200.

Shaniqua Ogle

Lorain, senior shot put

College: Bowling Green.

Notable: Finished third in the Division I state shot put with a throw of 44-06. Finished sixth last year as a junior at Southview. Will also play basketball for the Falcons.

JeRica Sanders

Lake Catholic, senior 100 hurdles

College: Cincinnati.

Notable: Won the Division II state 100 hurdles for the third straight year, covering the distance in 14.25. She ran it in 14.29 as a junior and 14.48 as a sophomore. Second in the 300 hurdles to rival Bridget Doughty of Bay this year and fourth a year ago.

Alex Wasik

Medina, senior pole vault

College: Villanova.

Notable: Won the Division I state pole vault with a 12-02, besting Cloverleaf senior Jennifer Foster on fewer misses. Finished second with an 11-08 last year.

Morgan Willis

Woodridge, senior 1,600

College: Akron.

Notable: Won the dramatic Division II state 1,600 race in 5:01.25 to edge her senior teammate Maria Moore, who clocked a 5:01.56. Finished fourth a year ago. Anchored the second-place 4x800 and placed 13th in the 3,200.

Coach Of The Year

Rick Mack

Midpark

Notable: For the second straight year, Mack guided the girls team to a third-place finish in the Division I state meet. He has coached the boys team for eight seasons. An Independence and Cleveland State graduate, he has a master's degree in education and has taught in the Berea school system for nearly 30 years. He has been at Midpark for 25 years and currently is the head of the special needs department.

Berea's Donovan Robertson heads Plain Dealer's Boys Track and Field All-Stars

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Berea hurdler and sprinter Donovan Robertson won one state track medal as a freshman, two as a sophomore and three this month as a junior. "Next year, I want to get four," he said.

Donovan Robertson won one state track medal as a freshman, two as a sophomore and three this month as a junior. - (Allison Carey, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Berea hurdler and sprinter Donovan Robertson won one state track medal as a freshman, two as a sophomore and three this month as a junior.

"Next year, I want to get four," he said.

It's not boasting when you can do it. Robertson is as humble as he is gifted, and he states the goal quietly, but firmly. His medal count is just one measurement of a career on a steady rise.

Robertson was the Division I state champion in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles and he placed second in the 200 dash. He scored all 28 of Berea's points, good enough for the Braves to finish third in the team standings.

Robertson is The Plain Dealer's Boys Track Athlete of the Year.

He is one of the nation's fastest hurdlers and next year promises to be among the top college recruits. In addition to flat-out speed, Robertson is known for sharp self-analysis and quick adjustments during and after races. His 19 steps to the first hurdle and 13 steps between hurdles in the 300 is a rare approach among high school runners.

Despite his elite form, Robertson is quick to note: "I've never run a perfect race. It's both a blessing and a curse."

In a season of many accomplishments, Robertson said his most memorable was winning the 110 hurdles a year after falling and failing to place in the 2010 finals.

"It ate at me the entire year," he said. "I could have placed really high in that race, and I trained so hard. When I crossed the line [this month], it was a huge relief and satisfaction."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

Boys Track All-Stars

Athlete Of The Year

Donovan Robertson

Berea, junior 110-meter hurdles

College: Undecided.

Notable: Robertson scored all of Berea's 28 points at the state meet, which placed the Braves third in Division I. He was the 110 hurdles state champ in 13.70 seconds, the fastest time in Ohio this season and fourth-best in state meet history. He also was state champion in the 300 hurdles for the second year in a row and ran a career-best time of 36.90. Both hurdles times rank among the 10 fastest in the nation this season. About 20 minutes after the 300 hurdles final, he placed second in the 200 (21.63), losing by .04. He won a semifinal heat in a career-best 21.53.

Other All-Stars

Michael Brajdic

Bay, senior 3,200

College: Ohio State.

Notable: Brajdic won Division II state 3,200 title in 9:25.07, running the final 1,500 meters wearing one shoe after his heel was stepped on by another runner. He won by 6.15 seconds. He led off fourth-place 4x400 relay.

Jesse Braun

Brunswick, senior shot put

College: Cornell.

Notable: Braun placed third in Division I state shot put with a career-best 58-5 on his final attempt. At 5-10 and 180 pounds, Braun was by far the smallest competitor. He had five throws of at least 55 feet at state.

Roosevelt Dotson

Copley, senior high jump

College: Undecided.

Notable: Dotson was the Division I runner-up after clearing a career-best 6-11 at the state meet. It was the fourth-best effort in Ohio this season. He improved throughout the season, jumping 6-6 at the district and 6-9 at the regional.

Quincy Downing

Glenville, senior 400

College: Louisiana State.

Notable: Downing won the Division I 400 state title in a career-best 47.46, the fastest time in Ohio this season. He anchored the winning 4x400 relay to a 3:14.87 finish, also an Ohio season-best time.

Nathaniel Harris

Buchtel, senior 100

College: Indiana.

Notable: For the second year in a row, Harris was the Division II state champion in the 100 (10.88) and 200 (21.90). He also ran on the ninth-place 4x400 relay. At the Lexington regional, he won the 100 in 10.63 and the 200 in 21.66, both among the fastest times in Ohio this season.

A.J. Hicks

Solon, senior discus

College: North Carolina.

Notable: Hicks broke the Jesse Owens Stadium record with a throw of 200-7 on his final attempt, winning the Division I state discus title. He was just the third thrower in state meet history to top 200 feet. He also topped his previous personal best by 14 feet and the winning throw was the sixth-best in the nation this year.

Josh Sabo

Revere, senior 1,600

College: Ohio State.

Notable: Sabo was the Division I 1,600 state runner-up (4:12.48) for the second straight year, and also ran Ohio's second-fastest time of the season at state for the second year in a row. He was a state qualifier in 4x800.

Vibushan Sivakumaran

Woodridge, senior relays

College: North Carolina State.

Notable: Sivakumaran anchored the Division II state champion 4x800 relay in 7:37.43, which broke the Ohio all-time record of 7:39.72 set last year by Wadsworth. Matched on the final leg against 800-meter All-Star Jacob Swords of SVSM, Sivakumaran ran a 1:51.0 split to maintain a lead built by Jimmy Charles, Drake Sulzer and Jacob Onifer. The time was the second-fastest in the nation this season. Also placed second to Swords in the 800 (1:53.45).

Jacob Swords

St. Vincent-St. Mary, senior, 800

College: Loyola-Chicago.

Notable: Swords was the Division II state 800 champion. His winning time of 1:51.44 was the fastest at state regardless of division and the second-best in Ohio this spring. He also anchored the second-place 4x800 and fifth-place 4x400 relays. The 4x800 team set a state record at the district meet.

Elliott Tedquist

Cuyahoga Falls, senior pole vault

College: Undecided.

Notable: Competing in perhaps the deepest field in state meet history, he placed fourth in Division I with a personal-best 15-6. He improved on his previous personal best, a 14-8 winning regional performance.

Sean Weems

Maple Heights, senior 300 hurdles

College: Undecided.

Notable: Weems was the Division I state 300 hurdles runner-up in 38.07. In a state semifinal, he ran a school-record time of 37.25. He was a state qualifier in four events. He ran on the seventh-place 4x400, which also set a school record, and competed in the 4x200 and long jump.

Jalen Yancy

Brush, junior long jump

College: Undecided.

Notable: Yancy jumped a personal-best 22-6 1/4 and placed fourth at the state meet in Division I. He was third at the district (20-11 3/4) and was a regional runner-up (22-2 1/4).

Anthony Young

St. Edward, sophomore 200

College: Undecided.

Notable: Young won the Division I state 200 race in 21.59, which was the fourth-fastest time in Ohio this season. He placed fourth in the 100 (10.94).

Coach Of The Year

Dan Lancianese

St. Vincent-St. Mary

Notable: St. Vincent-St. Mary won its first boys track state title, scoring 51 points in Division II. The Irish had nine state qualifiers, all of whom scored in four relays and three individual events. They had two first-place finishes (4x100, 800), two seconds (4x800, 110 hurdles), two fourths (4x200, 800), a fifth (4x400) and an eighth (200). Lancianese also coaches the girls track team, which placed third at state. He has been SVSM's track coach for 17 years and has coached 12 individual state champs. The Akron native teaches special education at SVSM. He was The Plain Dealer's coach of the year for boys cross country in 2005 and girls cross country in 2009.


Cleveland Indians strike early to beat Arizona, 6-2, behind strong pitching by Carlos Carrasco

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Indians offense, led by four hits from Orlando Cabrera, finishes Wednesday's victory with 15 hits.

carrasco-dbacks-horiz-ap.jpgView full sizeCarlos Carrasco delivered another strong start Wednesday, holding Arizona to four hit over seven innings while picking up his eighth win of the season.

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Carlos Carrasco won his seventh game in his last 10 starts Wednesday
as the Indians struck early for a 6-2 victory over Arizona at Chase Field.

Carrasco (8-4, 3.54) allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and didn't walk a batter to improve to 7-3 with a 2.91 ERA since coming off the disabled list on May 11.

The Indians, 10-17 in June, have slumped because of a bad offense since late May. In the heat of the Arizona desert, however, they managed to take two out of three from the Diamondbacks after getting swept by the Giants in a three-game weekend series.

They knocked around left-hander Zach Duke (1-3, 5.92) for four runs on eight hits in the first three innings. That must have seemed like an offensive avalanche to manager Manny Acta, who has watched his club average just over three runs per game in June.

The Tribe took a 1-0 lead in the first on three straight singles by Orlando Cabrera, Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana, with Orlando scoring on Santana's single to right.

Shelley Duncan sent a long drive to the base of the 407-foot mark in center field, but Chris Young made the catch.

Michael Brantley ended a 0-for-13 slump with a two-out single in the second for a 2-0 lead. Lou Marson opened with a single, but was erased on Jack Hannahan's fielder's choice. Hannahan moved to second on Carlos Carrasco's sacrifice bunt and scored on Brantley's single to right.

Brantley, who took second on a bad throw home by right fielder Justin Upton, came around to score on singles by the Cabreras.

The Tribe stretched the lead to 4-0 when Duncan scored from third on Hannahan's groundout to first. With Marson on first, Juan Miranda gloved Hannahan's grounder and stepped on first. On his throw to second to complete the double play, he hit Marson in the back and Duncan scored.

Duncan started the inning with walk, took second on Austin Kearns' single off the face of Roberts at third and moved up to third on Marson's fielder's choice.

Carrasco, coming off a complete-game loss to the Giants, didn't allow a hit through the first three innings, but that came to an end in the fourth. Upton hit his 13th homer with one out to make it 4-1. Carrasco hit Chris Young after the homer, but retired the next two batters.

The Indians, who stranded 15 runners, missed a scoring chance when Hannahan started the sixth with a double off lefty Joe Patterson. He should have been on third, but he thought his drive down the left-field line was going foul.

Carrasco bunted him to third, but Aaron Heilman relieved and retired the Cabreras to strand Hannahan.

The run loomed larger when Stephen Drew narrowed the Tribe's lead with a leadoff homer in the sixth. Drew hit a 2-0 pitch into the Indians' bullpen in right for his fifth homer of the season. It was the seventh homer Carrasco has allowed, four by left-handed hitters.

Duke allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Acta used some interesting strategy in the seventh. The Indians loaded the bases with two out and Carrasco due to hit. Acta had Travis Hafner on the bench for just such a situation, but he let Carrasco strikeout to end the inning.

The Tribe's bullpen had worked hard in first two games of the series. Acta was probably looking to get at least seven innings out of Carrasco.

The strategy worked as Carrasco pitched through the seventh without incident. He ended the inning by striking out Wily Mo Pena, who had pinch hits in the first two games of the series. Pena won Tuesday's game with a pinch-hit walkoff homer against Tony Sipp.

The Tribe's hitters made their presence felt again late in the game. Travis Buck added a key insurance run in the eighth with a two-out single for a 5-2 lead. The single gave Buck his first multi-hit game since June 1.

Orlando Cabrera, who won Monday's game with a ninth-inning homer, made it 6-2 with an RBI single in the ninth. Cabrera went 4-for-6 Wednesday. He's 8-for-20 on this nine-game interleague trip.

 

Happy to be wrong about Carrasco - Indians Comment of the Day

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"Carlos, feel free to continue making me look dumb for buying into the stories out of Philly questioning your fortitude. You still have lots to prove, but you are making it look more and more possible." - centerfield6

carlos-carrasco.jpgView full sizeCarlos Carrasco is starting to justify his inclusion in the Cliff Lee trade.

In response to the story Cleveland Indians strike early to beat Arizona, 6-2, behind strong pitching by Carlos Carrasco, cleveland.com reader centerfield6 is fine with begin wrong about Carrasco. This reader writes,

"Carlos, feel free to continue making me look dumb for buying into the stories out of Philly questioning your fortitude. You still have lots to prove, but you are making it look more and more possible."

To respond to centerfield6's comment, go here.

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

Right side of the line needs to be fixed - Browns Comment of the Day

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"McCoy's success - and Hillis' success - are dependent on the Browns filling in the right side of the offensive line. The three main backups are street free agents. Then they have the oft-injured Pashos, a second-year guard whose one start was said to be disappointing and a fifth-round draft choice who is a better pass blocker than run blocker." - Bamaray

cleveland-browns-offensive-line.JPGView full sizeThe offensive line has been a work in progress since the Browns returned in 1999.

In response to the story P.M. Cleveland Browns links: 2011 should not be deadline for Colt McCoy to establish starter's credentials, cleveland.com reader Bamaray is worried about the right side of the line. This reader writes,

"McCoy's success - and Hillis' success - are dependent on the Browns filling in the right side of the offensive line. The three main backups are street free agents. Then they have the oft-injured Pashos, a second-year guard whose one start was said to be disappointing and a fifth-round draft choice who is a better pass blocker than run blocker."

To respond to Bamaray's comment, go here.

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

Tristan Thompson's defense will make him a solid NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, says Bill Livingston (SBTV)

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Plain Dealer columnist says Thompson's defense, rebounding will make No. 4 overall pick a valuable addition. Watch video

Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Chuck Yarborough and Branson Wright.


The NBA's labor agreement ends today, sending the second major pro sports league into a lockout. Do you think a lockout would cost the NBA fans? That's the topic of today's Starting Blocks poll.


Today's guest, Plain Dealer columnist Bill "Birthday Boy" Livingston, says he thinks an extended stoppage has the potential to do some damage to the NBA, but he also said fixes need to be made to the bargaining agreement.


Livy also talks about his column today, in which he defends the Cavaliers' selection of Texas forward Tristan Thompson in last week's NBA draft. He also discusses whether teams need a center in the NBA anymore; whether the league should adopt the trapezoid-shaped lane; and if the Cavs should pursue free-agent forward Nene.


SBTV will return Friday with Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes talking Tribe.

Cleveland Cavaliers trade J.J. Hickson to Sacramento Kings for Omri Casspi, 1st-round pick

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In a move to clear the logjam at power forward and address the void at small forward, the Cavaliers traded Hickson for Casspi and a 2012 first-round draft choice that is lottery-protected.

casspi.jpgView full sizeSacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi pushes in front of Ramon Sessions during a game last October. The Cavaliers are in discussions with the Kings to acquire Casspi and a first-round draft selection for power forward J.J. Hickson.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - In a move to clear out the logjam at power forward and address the void at small forward, the Cavaliers traded power forward J.J. Hickson to the Sacramento Kings today for small forward Omri Casspi and a 2012 first-round draft choice.

"We want to thank J.J. for his hard work and contributions to the Cavaliers, both on the court and off the court in the community,'' Cavs general manager Chris Grant said in a press release issued by the team.

"This is another step in our on-going process to shape and position our team and roster for future growth and a platform for sustained success.

"We’re excited to add a young, talented, tough-minded player like Omri, that we feel is a good fit for our team and can help improve our perimeter group, while also being able to obtain another important asset with the additional first round draft pick.''

The deal was completed hours before the collective bargaining agreement is set to expire. The NBA has announced it will lock out its players beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

Hickson, 22, was the 19th pick in the 2008 draft and has been the Cavs starting power forward for the better part of two seasons in spite of a maddening tendency to disappear during games, especially on the boards. He did rebound better after moving to center in the middle of this past season when Anderson Varejao went out with an ankle injury and wound up averaging 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last season while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 67.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Casspi, 23, became the first Israeli-born athlete in the NBA when the Kings made him the 23rd pick in 2009. The 6-6, 225-pound forward has been mostly a backup for the Kings, shooting 41 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range, ranking 30th in the league last season.

After the trade was finalized, Casspi tweeted @Casspi18, "Starting a new path in my journey and I'm so excited to be a Cavalier. I'm ready for the challenge and can't wait to get to know my teammates and my new home. Great things are ahead, Cavs Fans!!! Thank you everyone for the support. Omri.''

The Cavs have had an eye on Casspi since 2009 but he was gone by the time the Cavs picked 30th in that draft. They took forward/guard Christian Eyenga instead.

Now they have a chance to develop first-round draft choice Tristan Thompson, bolster the weakest part of their roster and avoid a sticky contract situation as well. Hickson was scheduled to make $2.35 million next season, which would have been his fourth with the team. Then the team would have been forced to decide whether to offer him just a qualifying offer for 2012-13, making him a restricted free agent, or to sign him to a longer contract for much more money in spite of his often uneven performances.

To some extent, they will face the same situation with Casspi, who will make $1.34 million next season and $2.28 million the following year. But they will have two more years to judge his performances and will get a first-round pick in addition, although the pick is lottery-protected in 2012. The pick is then protected in 2013 (1-13), 2014 (1-12) and 2015-2017 (1-10). If the pick is not conveyed by 2017, then Sacramento will convey its 2017 second-round draft pick to the Cavaliers protected (56-60.)

No word: In an unrelated matter, Grant said the Cavs have not heard whether they will get an extension of the trade exception acquired in the LeBron James trade last summer. It is set to expire on July 11, but with the lockout freezing all business operations, it will expire at midnight if there's no extension.





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