Much of the team arrives late after having difficulty finding a flight out of New York to Cleveland.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerTeammates from Uganda wave the national flag as the girls compete in the Continental Cup International Youth Sports Festival Saturday in Warrensville Heights. Because it took four days for some team members to get to the festival, some members of the John Hay High School team filled in during early rounds of play.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — It is more than a notion to go around the world in the name of sports. The Uganda girls basketball team is proof of that. It took two days for four members of the team to travel from Uganda to Cleveland for the Continental Cup International Youth Sports Festival.

It took four days for the remaining members to show up, just minutes before their 9:15 a.m. game at the Multiplex Events Center in Warrensville Heights.

"They come at last," a happy Gwom Robert, the team manager said.

Robert had arrived with the initial four who traveled two days from Uganda to Kenya to Turkey and then to the United States.

"Ten more are coming, but they took a connection through Dubai," Roberts said Thursday afternoon. By Friday afternoon, the rest of the team still had not made it.

The team of U-18 girls has been playing together for three years and, according to Roberts, finished second runner-up in the national championships in 2010 and 2011.

One of Uganda's better players is post player Lamunu Claire who said she is, "5-11, last time I checked," and averaged 10 rebounds per game. She proved it Friday afternoon. She and her three teammates were joined by some members of the John Hay High School team in their first game of cup action and fell behind by 15 points at halftime.

But a 12-0 run to start the second half got the Uganda girls back into the contest, with Claire hauling in more than her share of missed shots. Uganda closed within two with 2:30 to play before finally losing by six points. Later that evening, still without their teammates, the Uganda team pulled out a victory.

Off the court, by Friday evening, there was still no word on where the rest of the team was, or when they would arrive. And as of early Saturday morning, event officials still had not heard from the remaining members of the Uganda team. But shortly after the morning rains, word arrived that the team was not at the airport, but at the Cleveland bus station.

Just before tipoff, the rest of the team got off the bus, waiving the red, yellow and black flag of their country and blowing on their plastic horns.

"We could not get a plane out of New York, we had to catch the bus," a happy, yet weary, Uganda coach Nick Natuherza said as he swiftly switched from unloading his team from the bus to giving courtside game instructions. "It has been 28 hours since we have slept."

For Natuherza and his squad, their trip began to unravel when their flight from Uganda missed a morning connection in Nairobi. They did not leave until the following evening for Dubai. From there they flew to New York, where there was no flight to Cleveland available for the entire group. So the decision was made to catch the bus.

Natuherza had other bad news for his team as well. "One [teammate] didn't make it. Our starting point guard did not get her visa," he said. "But I got everyone else here."

As for the game, the combined exhaustion from the 10 who had traveled but not played, and the four who had already played too much was too much to overcome. But the double-digit loss was more than offset by the fact the team was finally back together again.

The challenge now will be the return trip home, which begins with a flight out of Cleveland on Monday.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

The Sports Fans Coalition says it is not going to take the NFL and NBA lockouts sitting down, especially since there might not be anything to sit and watch. Instead, it will take it on the chin.

View full sizeTony Dejak, Associated PressBrowns fans pride themselves for their loyalty, so there's little doubt they'll quickly fill the stadium once the NFL lockout ends.

Happy Fourth of July. Is this a great country or what?

The NFL is mired in a lockout. Now so is the NBA. No one knows how long either will last.

"Today marks a new low for how American sports leagues treat their fans," Sports Fans Coalition Executive Director Brian Frederick said in a statement following the start of the NBA lockout.

"For the first time in history, two major sports leagues have locked out the players, and in doing so, they've locked out their fans. It is totally unacceptable for the NFL and NBA to operate as though they can engage in this practice and the fans will return. It's time for the public to re-examine the generous exemptions and tax subsidies we offer these leagues."

Sports Fans Coalition is not going to take this sitting down, especially since there might not be anything to sit and watch.

They will instead take it on the chin.

The NFL and NBA operate as though they can engage in lockouts and that fans will return regardless, because they can engage in lockouts and fans will return.

In fact, NFL fans will return in a sprint, trampling other NFL fans on their way back.

Sports Fans Coalition means well. So this is not to minimize their efforts to give fans a voice on issues such as stadium construction, college football playoffs, high ticket prices and media blackouts.

Some day, owners will pay for their own stadiums. Or at least the stadium mustard in their loges.

We'll sit back and watch non-sellouts in the NFL. On tape.

Tickets will be cheaper than a tank of gas but only because gas will cost $125 a gallon.

God Bless America.

One Sports Fans Coalition effort -- Save Next Season -- featured a petition signed by thousands of fans. It asked the NFL and NFLPA to guarantee there will be a 2011 season. How's that going?

The NFL will settle its differences because everybody is making money, and neither side can stand the idea of not making more cash off an especially eager fan base.

The NBA? My guess is the NBA goes away for a long time. Not because it's less receptive to the protestations of their fans but because many owners aren't making money under the current agreement.

Some owners may even believe they've lost control after watching LeBron James and Chris Bosh join Dwyane Wade in Miami. I'm not saying owners will go out of their way to hold players' feet to the fire in negotiations because of it. They'd actually try to burn their shoe contracts first.

The NFL and NBA are coming off wildly entertaining seasons marked by terrific playoffs and high ratings. Like it or not, the Miami Heat was a big part of that.

But all that fan fervor has only given the leagues and their work forces reason to believe you'll be there when they're good and ready to get back to work. Pro sports in America.

Love it.

Or leave it.

They're daring you.

You'll get nothing, and like it!

There is a way to fill the void with something more American than football, baseball, basketball and even apple pie.

View full sizeAPTakeru Kobayashi

Wait a minute. There is and there isn't.

Not even Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest can deliver what its fans really want.

Legal issues with Major League Eating (yes, there's a Major League Eating) will keep the Babe Ruth of indigestion, Takeru Kobayashi, from competing live at the contest held at New York's Coney Island.

So Kobayashi will cram his face on television from a Manhattan hotel.

USA Today quoted Kobayashi saying, "At least they cannot erase history."

Some day that reference will be to his medical history of repeat angioplasties.

Any chance Sports Fan Coalition could petition for a blackout just this one time?

Grudenese

If he says it, take it with a truck of salt.

A former NFL head coach lists the positives of Terrelle Pryor.

"He was 31-4 [in college]," the coach told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "He played good football in the big arena and played well in big games like the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. He was also undefeated against Michigan."

"He's used to lining up underneath center and he played in plenty of two- back and one-back sets. He impressed me with his football attributes and dealing with checks and audibles at the line of scrimmage. He was asked to do a lot."

"Many wonder about arm strength but he had a tremendous throw [in 2009] in a two-minute drill against Iowa to DeVier Posey that [Posey] dropped. He just has to press on and improve his accuracy and fundamentals. That will come in time."

That's high praise, except it comes from Jon Gruden.

I don't want to say Gruden never has a critical thing to say about quarterbacks he joins in film review. He never has a critical thing to say about anybody in the NFL.

But if he were a political commentator and four of the past seven Illinois governors went to jail for corruption he'd say state voters were "undefeated in the other three instances."

He said what?

"Oh, yeah, there were plenty of guys on the Nationwide Tour who smoked in the middle of the round. We always talked about it. You could go in the Porta-John and take your drags." -- PGA Tour player Robert Garrigus on marijuana use in golf.

And you thought Cheech Marin only played a caddie in "Tin Cup."

You said it: The Holiday Weekend Special Edition

Hey, Bud: Since Charlie Sheen admitted using steroids during 'Major League,' does that mean he will be suspended for the next sequel? -- Jeff Paliwoda

Yes. He'll pay the price with a future suspension, just as Terrelle Pryor did.

Bud: I was in a coma for almost four years. When I woke up I heard the Indians were using a retread outfielder in his 30s who flirts with the Mendoza Line, lacks power, run production and speed. Hasn't Dave Dellucci retired yet? -- Adam, Columbia Station

I feel the need to re-state an old Surgeon General's warning. Reading Spin can produce comas.

Bud: Last week you suggested therapy. Well Doc, what does it mean if the first two words I thought of when I heard about the J.J. Hickson trade were Brandon Phillips? What's not to fear? -- Jim, Shaker Heights

Funny. The first two words I thought of were Omri Casspi?????

Bud: After reading the article last Sunday about Peyton Hillis pulling trucks around to stay in shape I got to wondering. Can you tell us what you pull to stay in shape? -- Kevin, Medina

All-nighters filled with shallow humor.

Bud: Are the Indians trying to package Grady Sizemore? -- Joe S

Yes. For a cup of coffee.

Bud: Now that Charlie Sheen admitted he took steroids for the movie 'Major League,' are they going to have to remake the movie and replay the entire season with Ashton Kutcher? -- Doug, Westlake

First-time "You said it" winners receive a T-shirt from the mental_floss collection.

Bud: Does the L.A. Dodgers team name have anything to do with their prowess in avoiding bill collectors? -- Bill T, Lakewood

Repeat winners receive a visit from the T-shirt repo man.

To reach Bud Shaw: bshaw@plaind.com, 216-999-5639

Tiant puts on a dominating display during a game in July 1968 against the Minnesota Twins.

View full sizePD fileLuis Tiant

This spring, we asked readers to tell us their best memory at an Indians game. More than 600 of you responded. The five finalists and winner were featured during the week leading up to Opening Day. All season long, The Plain Dealer will publish other fan memories -- one each day the Indians are scheduled to play. Here is today's essay by Jeffrey Hersh of Columbus:

In high school, I regularly attended games with my best friend Gerald (Jerry) Pelz (who later died serving his country defending the Persian Gulf). I believe this was when we could get discount tickets through Fisher Foods. I know one time a ticket seller saw two eager kids and placed us right behind home plate. That was a night to remember.

But my all-time favorite game was the evening of July 3, 1968. Luis Tiant, before he had arm trouble, was pitching against the Minnesota Twins. Tiant kept us on the edge of our seats. He was simply dominating. While the Twins pitcher was having a good night, nine innings of shutout ball with seven strikeouts, Tiant more than matched that. He pitched 10 shutout innings with 19 strikeouts.

The Indians scored in the bottom of the 10th to send us home happy. This is a night I have spoken of regularly and fondly over the years. That was the year Tiant should have won the Cy Young Award, as I believe he had the lowest ERA in the [AL] and 21 wins. Unfortunately for Tiant, that was Denny 'McLain's big year.

Last week, Edward Rife, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering in U.S. District Court in Columbus. He traded tattoos and cash for memorabilia from Ohio State University football players in transactions that ultimately led to one of the school's worst scandals.

Edward Rife

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Edward Rife ran a tattoo parlor that catered to Ohio State football players at a time when federal prosecutors say he was earning tens of thousands of dollars peddling marijuana.

Authorities said Rife and associates used trucks and warehouses to offload the drug as it came into Columbus. Some of what he doled out also is linked to a drug organization that supplied central Ohio for years with marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine, according to court records.

Rife owned Fine Line Ink, where he traded tattoos and cash for memorabilia from Ohio State University football players, a form of bartering that ultimately led to one of the school's worst scandals.

Last week, Rife, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering in U.S. District Court in Columbus. A sentencing date has not been set.

The federal investigation revealed no evidence that players were involved or had knowledge of Rife's drug dealings.

Not a major player

Rife was not a major marijuana dealer in central Ohio, but his case offers a window into the kinds of people he dealt with in the marijuana business. Court documents also reveal a clearer picture of Rife, the person whom some Ohio State players went to for tattoos.

Initially, authorities said, Rife obtained marijuana in 2008 from a group headed by Rigoberto "Choppa" Gomez-Gomez, who is accused of concealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits from the ring in cars, homes and businesses, according to court records.

A federal indictment accuses Gomez-Gomez of running a criminal enterprise that peddled methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana in central Ohio since 2004. Prosecutors are seeking to seize three homes, two luxury cars and more than $200,000 in cash from the ring.

"In the course of (the Gomez-Gomez) investigation, law enforcement became aware that Rife was distributing substantial amounts of marijuana, including quantities that others had obtained from the Choppa organization," IRS special agent Robert Bogner said in a statement of facts.

Federal drug agents said Rife, of suburban Columbus, received and distributed about 10 to 20 pounds of the drug per month in 2008 from associates of the Gomez-Gomez ring, according to interviews and court documents.

Suspect's lawyer insists he's small fry

Gomez-Gomez's attorney, Dennis Muchnicki, scoffed at the charges.

"They've tried to link (Gomez-Gomez) to everything in Columbus in the past 10 years," Muchnicki said. "They say he is a big-ring leader linked to different people, and Rife, apparently, is the latest."

Muchnicki said Gomez-Gomez was a gofer, not the drug kingpin federal prosecutors made him out to be. His case is pending in U.S. District Court in Columbus.

In 2009, Rife began obtaining hundreds of pounds of marijuana from another source, said assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin W. Kelley. That source has not been identified by investigators.

"Rife and the suppliers sometimes used trucks and warehouses to offload the marijuana as it came to the Columbus area, and loads were received until early 2010," Bogner said.

View full sizeFred Squillante, Columbus Dispatch via APFine Line Ink Tattoos and Piercing in Columbus.

Investigators estimate that Rife distributed between 880 pounds and 1,540 pounds from 2008 until April 1, 2010. Bogner said Rife typically made a profit of between $25 and $100 per pound he sold. Marijuana generally costs about $900 a pound.

Rife's lawyer, Stephen Palmer, could not be reached.

Rife earned at least $50,000, in illegal drug proceeds from the sales. Investigators corroborated that amount from assets, such as cars and real estate, purchased by Rife "primarily with cash," Bogner said. Investigators, however, said they were uncertain whether drug profits paid for the memorabilia.

Investigation led to leak about OSU players

The investigation culminated in the raid at Rife's home, where authorities found documents and the memorabilia. Rife has agreed to forfeit $50,000, an amount that will allow him to keep the OSU memorabilia.

After the raid April 1, 2010, Rife sought out an attorney and visited lawyer Christopher Cicero. In days after the raid, Rife told him of the drug investigation and the OSU memorabilia agents seized. Cicero emailed coach Jim Tressel about it, according to emails the school released.

Months later, as Rife's role in the scandal became clear, the football team faced large-scale controversy. Tressel resigned and quarterback Terrelle Pryor left for the NFL.

Now the question is who will take Fausto Carmona's spot in the rotation? There are plenty of candidates at Class AAA Columbus.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerThe Indians placed Fausto Carmona on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps muscle.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Fausto Carmona's nasty fall Saturday afternoon running to first base has landed him on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps muscle.

The Indians have activated closer Chris Perez from the bereavement list after he left
the team on Thursday following the death of his grandmother. Perez is scheduled to join the Indians before today's game against the Reds at Great American Ballpark.

Josh Judy, promoted from Class AAA Columbus to fill in for Perez, will stay on the roster.

In the third inning of Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Reds, Carmona was attempting to bunt Lou Marson to second base. Marson reached second on an error, but Carmona, in an effort to run his way out of a potential double play, stumbled a few feet in front of the bag and tumbled over it. He injured his quad in the process and left the game.

The Indians will need to replace Carmona in the rotation for one start before the All-Star break. There are plenty of candidates for the job at Class AAA Columbus. Jeanmar Gomez and Zack McAllister are among the candidates.

Carmona threw two scoreless innings against the Reds before he was injured. This season has been a struggle for the Tribe's No.1 starter. He's 4-10 with a 5.78 ERA in 18 starts. He's struck out 62, walked 33 and allowed 114 hits in 104 1/3 innings. The opposition is hitting .275 against him.

If Carmona needs only 15 days on the disabled list, he could be activated in time to face the Twins on July 18.

Djokovic assured himself of the top ranking just by reaching the final. He opened the season with 41 straight wins, including the Australian Open title, but his 43-match winning streak came to an end against Roger Federer in the French Open semifinals.

Associated PressSerbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates during the men's singles final against Spain's Rafael Nadal at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon today.

Chris Perez, Asdrubal Cabrera and manager Manny Acta are headed for All-Star game on July 12 in Phoenix, Ariz. It's first time Indians have had two All-Star players since 2008.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerIndians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera leads the team in home runs, RBI and web gems.

CINCINNATI,, Ohio -- The Indians will be represented at the All-Star game in Phoenix, Ariz. on July 12 by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, closer Chris Perez and manager Manny Acta.

Cabrera is having a career season. He's hitting .294 (98-for-333) with 14 homers and 49 RBI.

"He's been our most consistent player in the first half," said manager Manny Acta. "He's won many games for us in many different ways. . .from the squeeze, a single, double, triple, homer. . .you name it. And he's been really good defensively."

The fans voted Derek Jeter as the AL's starting shortstop. Cabrera, however, is having the best overall offensive season of any AL shortstop.

"Jeter is a great player, one of the best shortstop in the game," said Cabrera. "If I don't get to start, that's fine. I'm just happy to go."

Perez heads one of the best bullpens in baseball. He's 2-3 with a 2.37 ERA with 19 saves in 20 chances.

"He's perfect for this role," said Acta. "This year he looks calmer and under control. He's still aggressive with a short memory. He hasn't had to use that short memory much this year.

"The thing about Chris is that he's had a lot of one-run saves. We're not talking about three-run saves against the bottom of the order. He's got a lot of one-run saves with the heart of the order up. Those are legit."

Perez is 10-for-11 in one-run save situations this year and 19-for-20 going back to last season.

Bob Wickman was the last Indians closer to be named an All-Star in 2005. Before that it was Jose Mesa in 1996.

Perez, activated on Sunday from the bereavement list, wasn't available for comment. He was returning from his grandmother's funeral Florida and wasn't scheduled to land in Cincinnati until 1:15 p.m.

The last time the Indians had two All-Stars was 2008 when Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee went. Lee was the starting pitcher that game, the final All-Star game at old Yankee Stadium.

Acta was picked for the AL coaching staff by manager Ron Washington in spring training.

The will be the first All-Star game appearance for Cabrera, Perez and Acta.

American League All Stars

Starters

1B Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox

2B Robinson Cano, Yankees

3B Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

SS Derek Jeter, Yankees

C Alex Aliva, Tigers

OF Jose Bautista, Blue Jays

OF Curtis Granderson, Yankees

OF Josh Hamilton, Rangers

DH David Ortiz, Red Sox

Pitchers and reserves: Starters Josh Beckett (Red Sox), Gio Gonzalez (Athletics), Felix Hernandez (Mariners), David Price (Rays), James Shields (Rays), Justin Verlander (Tigers), Jered Weaver (Angels) and C.J. Wilson (Rangers); relievers Aaron Crow (Royals), Brandon League (Mariners), Chris Perez (Indians), Mariano Rivera (Yankees) and Jose Valverde (Tigers); catchers Martin and Matt Wieters (Orioles); infielders Adrian Beltre (Rangers), Asdrubal Cabrera (Indians), Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) and Howard Kendrick (Angels); outfielders Michael Cuddyer (Twins), Jacoby Ellsbury (Red Sox), Matt Joyce (Rays) and Carlos Quentin (White Sox); and DH Michael Young (Rangers).

National League All Stars

Starters

1B Prince Fielder, Brewers

2B Rickie Weeks, Brewers

3B Placido Polanco, Phillies

SS Jose Reyes, Mets

C Brian McCann, Braves

OF Ryan Braun, Brewers

OF Lance Berkman, Cardinals

OF Matt Kemp

Pitchers and reserves: Starters Matt Cain (Giants), Roy Halladay (Phillies), Cole Hamels (Phillies), Jair Jurrjens (Braves), Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), Cliff Lee (Phillies), Tim Lincecum (Giants) and Ryan Vogelsong (Giants); relievers Heath Bell (Padres), Tyler Clippard (Nationals), Joel Hanrahan (Pirates), Jonny Venters (Braves) and Brian Wilson (Giants); catcher Yadier Molina (Cardinals); infielders Starlin Castro (Cubs), Chipper Jones (Braves), Phillips, Gaby Sanchez (Marlins), Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies) and Joey Votto (Reds); outfielders Carlos Beltran (Mets), Jay Bruce (Reds), Matt Holliday (Cardinals), Hunter Pence (Astros) and Justin Upton (D-backs).

Djokovic's win over Nadal improves his 2011 record to 48-1, with five of the wins over Nadal in finals matches.

Associated PressNovak Djokovic after winning the Wimbledon men's singles championship over Rafael Nadal.

WIMBLEDON, England -- When Novak Djokovic realized he was the Wimbledon champion, he fell to the ground and covered the grass like a blanket.

It was a fitting celebration for a man whose court coverage was the biggest reason he was able to defeat defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in Sunday's final.

Djokovic, who was already guaranteed to take over the No. 1 ranking from the Spaniard on Monday, won his first Wimbledon title and extended his mastery over Nadal this season with a fifth straight head-to-head victory.

After shaking hands with Nadal at the net, Djokovic walked back out on court and crouched down. He pulled a blade or two of grass out of the manicured lawn and put it in his mouth.

"It's really hard to describe this with any words except the best day of my life, most special day of my life," said Djokovic, who tossed three of his rackets into the crowd before accepting the championship trophy. "This is my favorite tournament, the tournament I always dreamed of winning. The first tennis tournament I ever watched in my life."

Djokovic assured himself of the top ranking just by reaching the final. He opened the season with 41 straight wins, including the Australian Open title, but his 43-match winning streak came to an end against Roger Federer in the French Open semifinals.

The victory over Nadal improved Djokovic's record in 2011 to 48-1, with five of the wins coming against the Spaniard in finals -- two on hard courts, two on clay and now one on grass. Sunday's win was the first grass-court title of his career.

"He played better than me," said Nadal, the 2008 and '10 Wimbledon champion. "For that reason, he is the champion here."

Serbian president Boris Tadic was in the Royal Box along with several former champions to watch the match on Centre Court, and when Nadal sent a backhand long on match point, Djokovic turned to face them and dropped to the turf, lying on his back with his arms spread wide.

"When you're playing the best player in the world, Rafael Nadal, who has won two out of the last three Wimbledons, and he's always been winning the big matches against me in the Grand Slams, I had to be on the top of my game. I had to play my best and I think I played, really, probably my best match on the grass courts ever," Djokovic said. "I want to congratulate him again for having a great tournament."

During the match, it was Djokovic's incredible movement and precise shot placement that gave him the first two sets. His play dipped in the third, but it returned in the fourth to secure him a third Grand Slam title.

Associated PressRafael Nadal with the runner-up trophy after his Wimbledon loss to Novak Djokovic.

Nadal had won 20 straight matches at the All England Club. The 10-time Grand Slam champion missed the 2009 tournament because of injury, but was playing in his fifth Wimbledon final in six years.

Nadal injured his left foot in a fourth-round win, but painkilling injections helped him roll through the next two rounds and into the final.

"Seriously, I lose because I am playing against the best player of the moment, the best player of the world tomorrow, and I am the second," Nadal said. "And when you play against these players and they are playing unbelievable, the normal thing is (to) lose."

Djokovic consistently landed shots while taking advantage of any slight miscue from Nadal. The first and biggest of the opening set came in the final game, when Djokovic hit a forehand winner down the line.

Nadal followed that with a pair of unforced errors, and the second-seeded Serb won the set on the first break point of the match.

Djokovic dominated the second set, breaking Nadal twice while holding serve easily. It wasn't until the second game of the third set that Nadal finally managed to do something with Djokovic's serve, breaking for a 2-0 lead when the Serb dumped a backhand into the net.

Nadal broke again and eventually won the set, and the two traded service breaks early in the fourth. But after Djokovic held to 4-3 in the final set with four straight points, Nadal double-faulted for the first time. He lost the next two points and soon was broken again when he sent a backhand long.

"He's doing great. He's doing a few things fantastic," Nadal said. "But I had to play better to win, and I didn't today. I played little bit less aggressive."

The loss to Djokovic on Sunday was Nadal's first in a major final to a player other than Federer.

"When I won in 2008 for the first time, the emotions was very high so I can imagine how (Novak feels) today," said Nadal, who lost to Federer in the 2006 and '07 finals. "It's a special day and another time I congratulate him."

The Reds reached Mitch Talbot for six runs on 10 hits in four innings on Sunday.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Reds reached Mitch Talbot in the early going Sunday to prevent the Indians from completing a three-game sweep of their Ohio rivals.

Talbot gave up six runs on 10 hits in four innings in the Reds 7-5 victory at Great American Ballpark. The Indians, who won the first two games of the series, finished 5-1 against the Reds and 11-7 in interleague play.

The Indians, whose three-game winning streak was ended, went 4-5 on this nine-game interleague trip. It could have been better, but it could have been a lot worse considering they started it by getting swept in a three-game series in San Francisco.

Shelley Duncan gave Talbot and the Tribe a 2-0 lead in the second with a two-run homer to left. After that Cincinnati took control.

Talbot (2-5, 5.60) didn't make it past the fourth inning as Cincinnati peppered him with 10 hits and six runs.

Chris Heisey started the charge with a one-out homer in the second. Three singles later the Reds had a 3-2 lead. Edgar Renteria singled and took second on Talbot's wild pitch. He scored on Miguel Cairo's single. Cairo took second on Mike Leake's sac-bunt and scored on a single by Fred Lewis.

The Reds went to work again in the fourth as they opened with four straight singles by Cairo, Leake (8-4, 4.03), Lewis and Brandon Phillips. Lewis drove in Cairo. Joey Votto's bases-loaded drive to the warning track in center delivered Leake and Ramon Hernandez's sac-fly scored Lewis to make it 6-2.

Renteria, the man who broke Cleveland's heart so long ago in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, made it 7-2 with homer off Josh Judy in the fifth.

After Duncan's homer, Leake retired 11 straight before Michael Brantley and Cord Phelps walked in the sixth. After they advanced on a ground out by Carlos Santana, Grady Sizemore delivered them with a single to left to make it 7-4.

Travis Hafner, reduced to a pinch-hitter on this trip, made it 7-5 with an RBI single in the in the seventh. He was pinch-hitting for reliever Josh Judy. Hafner went 2-for-5 with an RBI, walk and hit by pitch on mini-vacation through the land of no DH.

Aroldis Chapman and Francisco Cordero retired six of the seven batters the Indians sent to the plate in the last two innings. Cordero earned his 17th save. 

Indians' three right-handed starters all have the credentials of a worthy all-star.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerCarlos Carrasco (photo), Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin all have pitched superb baseball for the Indians this season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and closer Chris Perez have, deservedly, been named as the Cleveland Indians' representatives on the American League all-star team.

Cabrera, for sure, was the only Indians' position player who deserved all-star consideration. In fact, he's having a far superior season to the fans' automatic pick at short, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees.

Three Indians' right-handed starters -- Justin Masterson, Josh Tomlin and Carlos Carrasco -- have pitched for much of the first half of the season like all-stars. Simply because they weren't named to the team by Texas Rangers and AL all-star manager Ron Washington doesn't mean they weren't discussed as candidates by Washington and anyone he asked for advice.

Masterson is 6-6 with a 2.85 ERA. He, of course, could have several more wins but the Indians' offense has provided him with an alarming lack of support.

Tomlin is 9-4 with a 3.86 ERA. He has been one of baseball's most reliable starters since joining the Indians last July, having pitched at least five innings in all of his 28 career starts, including 16 this season.

Carrasco, despite an early stay on the disabled list, is 8-4 with a 3.54 ERA, and has been among baseball's best starters the last several weeks.

Every major league team must be represented by at least one player at the all-star game. Last season, the lone Indian was right-handed starting pitcher Fausto Carmona, who was 8-7 with a 3.64 ERA at the all-star break.

Credentials necessary to be named an all-star or win other awards have changed in recent years. For instance, Seattle Mariners' starting pitcher Felix Hernandez won the Cy Young Award last season despite having a 13-12 win-loss record. Voters took into his consideration his 2.27 ERA and other factors.

Watney cards 66 to earn his second win of the year.

Associated PressNick Watney waves to the crowd after making a putt during the fourth round of the AT&T National.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pennsylvania -- Nick Watney has won for the second time this year on the PGA Tour. He made big par putts early and enough birdies to pull away for a two-shot victory in the AT&T National.

Watney, who won a World Golf Championship at Doral in March, closed with a 4-under 66 on Sunday. He goes to No. 10 in the world and leads the FedEx Cup standings and PGA Tour money list for the first time.

K.J. Choi made a charge on the back nine and caught Watney with a 35-foot birdie putt on the 14th. But on the next hole, Choi made double bogey from a terrible spot in a bunker.

Rickie Fowler, who shared the lead with Watney, shot 74 and finished nine shots behind.

The PBS show appraises memorabilia from Cleveland Browns legend Lou "The Toe" Groza.

Judd GrozaLou Groza wears his championship ring holdest his youngest child, Judd.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Antiques Roadshow on PBS last week featured memorabilia from former Cleveland Browns great Lou "The Toe" Groza.

Judd Groza of Columbus, a Berea native and the youngest, at 49, of the late hall of famer's four children, told appraiser Leila Dunbar, "I might add that if there was a Hall of Fame for fathers, he'd be in it as well; he was a great dad."

Groza told Tipoff that he applied to be on Antiques Roadshow, aired local on WVIZ/PBS, because he had several pieces of his dad's memorabilia, but never had it appraised.

"I would never sell any of my dad's items," he said.

"But I was wearing his sideline jacket to my daughter's sporting events and I never got insurance on his 1950 NFL championship ring."

On first try, Groza said he was awarded two tickets to an appraisal, held last year, in Washington, D.C.

"Some lady in line behind me says, "I've been trying to get tickets to this thing for 10 years. I had no idea," he said.

Antiques RoadshowLoug Groza's jersey, sideline jacket and ring, awaiting appraisal on Antiques Roadshow

He brought the sideline jacket, a game jersey and the ring.

"The story behind that: When my dad died, my mom put his four rings -- three championship rings and an NFL Hall of Fame ring -- into a bag and we (siblings) drew cards to determine the pecking order," he said.

Judd drew last, but he got the ring he wanted because it was the first NFL championship for the Browns, and the game against the Los Angeles Rams was won on a late 16-yeard field goal by his dad.

Dunbar put the jersey's value at $10,000, the jacket at $5,000 and the ring at "at least $45,000."

"I took the ring and put it into a safe deposit box," Groza said.

The jersey and jacket now hang in the Lou Groza locker as part of a display honoring Browns legends at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Groza said he planned to spend the holiday weekend with his sister in Medina going through more of their father's possessions. Anything of value, he said, would be donated to the NFL Hall of Fame.

Sound of Ideas: We had a spirited discussion about Ohio's plan to develop standards to judge teacher merit, basing pay on performance rather than seniority or academic credentials.

While almost everyone agrees it makes sense to reward top performers, it became clear during the program that a lot of details have yet to be worked out. What criteria will be used to judge merit? How will that vary district to district? Where will money come from to implement evaluations that will be used to determine teacher performance? Clearly, an issue that we'll be following.

On Wednesday, join us to talk about the recent wave of movies – and jobs, albeit temporary ones – in Northeast Ohio thanks to Hollywood.

The Sound of Ideas, hosted by Tipoff's Mike McIntyre, airs weekdays at 9 a.m. on WCPN FM/90.3.

Going into July 4 play, Indians hold smallest edge over the Tigers, and Yankees barely lead the Red Sox.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerThe Indians' Josh Tomlin goes against the Yankees on Monday night, trying to become the first pitcher, according to available records, to begin his major league career with 29 straight starts of at least five innings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees begin a three-game series on Monday night at Progressive Field, with both teams leading their divisions -- barely.

The Indians, 44-38 after Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Reds in Cincinnati -- as described by The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes in his game story -- were expected to be in rebuilding mode this season.

The Tribe has lost 23 of its last 37 games, but has been respectable of late, splitting their last 18 contests going into the July 4 contest against the Yankees. With a one-half game lead over the Detroit Tigers and 3 1/2 over the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central Division, Cleveland is hoping to make the postseason for the first time since 2007.

The free-spending Yankees are 50-32 with wins in 17 of their last 22 games. They hold a 1 1/2 game lead over the Boston Red Sox and a four-game edge on the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Eastern Division. New York seeks to make the playoffs for the 16th time in the last 17 years, and to win a sixth World Series during that stretch.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage includes Hoynes' report that Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and closer Chris Perez have been named to the American League all-star team; and, much more.

Tom Singer of MLB.com previews Monday night's Indians-Yankees game, which will match right-handed starters Josh Tomlin (9-4, 3.68) of the Indians and A.J. Burnett (8-6, 4.05) of the Yankees.

It could be a big night for Tomlin. He will try to become -- according to available records -- the first player to pitch at least five innings in each of his first 29 major league starts. 

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is expected to return to the lineup after a stay on the disabled list with a strained calf. Jeter needs six hits to give him 3,000 for his career.

Indians links

Indians manager Manny Acta, like Asdrubal Cabrera and Chris Perez, is a deserving all-star, too, Jim Ingraham writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

The Indians' overall situation at the midpoint of the season, by tony Lastoria of Indians Prospect Insider.

Indians notebook, by Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Baseball notes by Jim Ingraham for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

After again watching the Indians in interleague play at National League parks, Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal makes the case that the NL should use the designated hitter, too. 

Reds 7, Indians 5 game story by John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Derek Jeter on pace to join the Yankees in Cleveland, by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post earlier today.

The Yankees are in town today. Progressive Field is sold out. The fireworks are ready. The Tribe is in first place.

The Yankees are in town Monday. Progressive Field is sold out. The fireworks are ready. The Tribe is in first place.

Growing up in the 1960s, I would have loved this as a kid.

Tribe fans who first came to the team in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s would say the same thing.

Fourth of July, Indians vs. Yankees . . . and the games really mean something.

I think of my father, born on Feb. 11, 1920. He never claimed to remember being in the World Series, but I do recall him telling his young son about having fought in the Civil War. More than once. In some stories, he knew Gen. Robert E. Lee. In others, he was buddies with U.S. Grant.

But he was born a Tribe fan on the East Side of Cleveland, and watching a winning team was no joking matter.

I assume Tom Pluto came of age as a Tribe fan in about 1927, at the age of 7. Those Indians finished 43 games out of first place! From 1927-39, the Indians were never closer than 12 games out of first place. They had eight winning records, but they also had to contend with eight teams in one American League. . . . and the Yankees winning nearly every year.

That's why my father hated the Yankees. And yes, he took the streetcar down Lexington Avenue to watch those ill-fated games at old League Park -- sometimes peeking through holes in the fence as part of what he called "the knothole gang."

It seemed New York had all the money back then to buy the best amateur players -- this was before the amateur draft. There was no free agency, but the Yankees had the cash to kick into deals with financially struggling teams to pick up even more talent.

The Yankees won seven pennants in that 13-year span. They had seasons of 110, 107, 106, 102 (twice) and 101 victories. In 1939, the Indians were 87-67 and still finished 20 games out of first place. Remember, this was a 154-game season.

It still doesn't seem fair back then, and it's the same story now as baseball refuses to have a salary cap.

There is no need to dwell on the obvious, other than to say that the Yankees' payroll this season is $201,689,000. Next are the Phillies ($172,975,000) and Red Sox ($161,407,000). The Indians ($49,188,000) are 26th of 30 teams.

But it's also why this series is fun, just like it was so enjoyable when the Tribe booted New York out of the playoffs in 2007 and 1997. For all the obvious advantages the Yankees have, they still don't win every year. They still can mess up a series. Games with the Yankees still can be fun, like when former Cleveland talk show star Pete Franklin used to give away "I hate the Yankee Hankies" to wave at games when New York came to town.

And yes, the Indians can make life miserable for them this week -- assuming the Tribe continues to pitch well.

This has been a strange season for many Tribe fans, including me. I picked them to be 74-88 and building toward possible contention in 2012.

The Tribe season ticket base dropped from 15,100 in 2008 (after the playoff appearance) to 11,900 in 2009 . . . to 8,100 in 2010.

They opened the season with about 7,000 -- it's up to about 8,500 now. But that means to draw 20,000, they need to sell 11,500 tickets for that game.

While Monday night's game is a sellout, the next two nights appear to be in the 30,000-35,000 range. It is the Yankee's only visit to Cleveland this season. For the weekend series with Toronto, ticket sales are about 15,000 per game right now.

The Indians rank No. 26 in attendance (19,832 average) -- ahead of Kansas City, Oakland, Tampa Bay and Florida. The rise in interest is reflected more in television ratings, which doubled from a year ago.

The Indians also have lived out of a suitcase for nearly a month.

Since June 10, they have been home for only six games -- and did draw more than 100,000 for the weekend series with the Pirates (June 17-19). The Tribe was 10-13 in that span -- including nine road games with no designated hitter.

Now, the Indians are home. They are one of baseball's surprise teams. Here come the Yankees. It's a series that I know my father would have loved to watch -- in person.

The final day of the sixth annual Continental Cup International Youth Sports Festival, held at venues throughout Greater Cleveland, ended with mostly smiling faces and a few parental attitudes.

By Elton Alexander Plain Dealer Reporter

The final day of the sixth annual Continental Cup International Youth Sports Festival, held at venues throughout Greater Cleveland, ended with mostly smiling faces and a few parental attitudes.

The international stories included two youths who traveled from Greater Cleveland to Italy for a sports soccer camp, the traveling trials of the Uganda girls basketball team that was split up, with one contingent arriving two days late by bus from New York, and the 20-member boys basketball team from Guam.

Young Mike Sakazi, 16, called the "parade of nations" during the opening ceremonies a highlight for the team on its journey. Understand, the Guam team, composed of players from five of the 10 high schools on the small island, have been on the mainland for several weeks, after flying from Guam to Tokyo and then to the United States, more than 7,600 miles.

Head coach Tony Thompson played at Coastal Carolina, but has lived on Guam for 20 years and coaches at Father Duenas High on the Pacific island. Before arriving for the Continental Cup, the team attended camps at Coastal Carolina, Duke and Maryland.

"But this was the best," said the beaming, 6-4 Sakazi.

The women's team from Uganda advanced to Sunday's championship round, but was an early exit, ending a trip for 10 of the 14 players who arrived only Saturday by bus from New York, and now must make a return trip starting today. One group member, team manager Gwom Robert, is anxious for the return as he and his fianc e, Elizabeth, will be married on the 14th.

One downside to the weekend was a lost opportunity for the U-14 championship baseball game to be played at Progressive Field. Bad weather Saturday night led to a wet field and forced the Indians to cancel the game, and free admission to see it, early Sunday morning.

This did not sit well with parents who were already at the stadium waiting to get in, and then could not understand why a professional field was so unplayable while amateur fields at Euclid Memorial Park were in dry dust-blowing shape. The game was played, at its scheduled 12:30 p.m. time slot, in Euclid.

After the game, won by Wadsworth's Ohio Stixx over New York's Frozen Ropes, it was announced that the teams and their fans could return to Progressive Field for a free tour of the facility. The possibility of a return game between the two teams in the future is also being discussed.

At the soccer venue in Lost Nation, Eddie Marles, program director for AC Milan's North American and Latin America Soccer, spent the weekend scouting talent for both AC Milan's International Camp Program and International Academy Program.

"When they are talented, it is not hard to observe and recruit players," Marles said. "When you see 10-year-olds and 11-year-olds who are gifted, they naturally find their place."

Thor Hushovd of Norway captured the overall lead at the Tour de France on Sunday after his Garmin-Cervelo team won the time trial in the second stage of the race.

Associated PressCadel Evans of Australia, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, Philippe Gilbert of Belgium, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey, Thor Hushovd of Norway, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Geraint Thomas of Britain, wearing the best young rider's white jersey, from left to right, wait to take the start of the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 198 kilometers (123 miles) starting in Olonne sur Mer, Vendee region, and finishing in Redon, Brittany, western France, Monday July 4, 2011.

Les Essarts, France — Thor Hushovd of Norway captured the overall lead at the Tour de France on Sunday after his Garmin-Cervelo team won the time trial in the second stage of the race.

Hushovd took the yellow jersey from Philippe Gilbert of Belgium, the winner of Saturday’s opening stage, as defending champion Alberto Contador lost more time to his main rivals.

World champion Hushovd seized the coveted yellow shirt for the third time of his career ahead of his teammate David Millar, with whom he shares the same time in the overall standings. Cadel Evans of Australia is third, one second behind.

The Garmin-Cervelo team finished in 24 minutes, 48 seconds around the 14.3-mile flat stage in the Vendee region of western France, at an average speed of 35 miles per hour.

It was Garmin-Cervelo’s first stage win on the Tour after the American-registered outfit finished second in the 2009 team time trial. The team, one of the most powerful in the race against the clock, looked good from the start and produced an impressive display to win a very close contest as five teams finished within five seconds.

“This is an extraordinary dream, I’m very proud, I’m very happy to take the jersey and that the team won the stage,” Hushovd said after crossing the finish line. “This is a great day. We did a really good team effort, everything worked perfectly.”

Garmin riders celebrated their win by lifting manager Jonathan Vaughters on their shoulders at the podium ceremony.

Vaughters and Hushovd were part of the Credit Agricole team that won the 2001 Tour team time trial.

“I would love to keep this jersey on my shoulders for as long as possible,” Hushovd said. “I know it will be hard in stage four when we go up to Mur de Bretagne. If a rider like Cadel Evans is attacking me, it will be hard to stay on his wheel.”

Vaughters, a former teammate of Lance Armstrong, has developed a strong time trial culture within his team.

“They didn’t make any mistakes,” Vaughters said. “They did everything perfectly.”

On the short and mainly flat course, Contador’s Saxo-Bank team posted a time of 25:16. The three-time Tour champion had already lost more than a minute to his rivals during the first stage after being slowed by a crash and stands 75th, 1:42 behind Hushovd.

Nick Watney capped off an amazing weekend at Aronimink to win the AT&T National on Sunday, moving him to No. 10 in the world and atop the PGA Tour money list for the first time in his career.

Associated PressNick Watney celebrates winning the AT&T National golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Sunday, on July 3, 2011.

Nick Watney capped off an amazing weekend at Aronimink to win the AT&T National on Sunday, moving him to No. 10 in the world and atop the PGA Tour money list for the first time in his career.

Watney closed with a 4-under 66 on a steamy afternoon in the Philadelphia suburbs, making three big par saves and three birdies on the front nine to seize control, then holding off a late charge by K.J. Choi for a two-shot victory.

And to think that with only 27 holes left in the tournament, Watney was trying to keep from getting left behind. Ten birdies, an eagle and no bogeys later, he was posing with the silver trophy of a Liberty Bell and wondering how much better he could get.

“It’s a very addictive feeling to be out there and under the gun,” said Watney, who had a 62-66 weekend at Aronimink. “To be able to hit good shots and putts is why I play, really.”

Watney finished at 13-under 267, tying the tournament record by Tiger Woods in 2009 when it was played at Congressional. The tournament is scheduled to return to Congressional next year.

Charles Howell III earned quite a consolation prize. He played bogey-free in the final round for a 6-under 66 to tie for third with Adam Scott (68) and Jeff Overton (67). That made him eligible for the British Open in two weeks as the top finisher from the top five who wasn’t already exempt.

Rickie Fowler, who shared the lead with Watney going into the final round, had another learning experience. He fell out of the hunt early with a double bogey on the second hole and closed with a 74 to tie for 13th.

“I just couldn’t get anything going today,” Fowler said.

Watney didn’t give anyone much of a chance. He took the outright lead with a wedge into 10 feet for birdie on No. 2, and holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-5 fifth. Despite leaving himself in a tough spot in the bunker on the par-5 ninth, he blasted out to 2 feet for another birdie.

Even so, his biggest putts were for par.

Watney saved par from bunkers on No. 4 with a 20-foot putt, and from No. 7 with a putt from about 12 feet. His biggest par save might have been the par-3 eighth, which yielded only two birdies in the final round.

Overton had reached 9 under and was making a move, and Choi had birdied the previous hole to also reach 9 under. Watney’s shot went over the green, and he putted up the slope to 18 feet. He made the par putt to keep his cushion.

“That was big not to drop a shot after hitting a good shot, and keep momentum heading to the back nine,” Watney said.

Watney earned $1.116 million and became the first player this year to top $4 million on tour.

“I’m overjoyed to be in here as the winner,” Watney said. “It was a very difficult, long day. K.J. played great golf and he kept coming and coming. And that makes it even more rewarding.”

Champions Tour

John Cook won the Montreal Championship for his third Champions Tour title of the year, closing with a 6-under 66 for a tournament-record 21-under 195 total.

Cook, the runner-up last year at Fontainebleau Golf Club, beat Taiwan’s Lu Chien-soon (70) by three strokes.

“I thought 20 would have a good chance,” Cook said. “I got off to a great start and that kind of let me then relax a little bit and go ahead and free swing it because 20 was my number that I thought was going to be close, have a chance, maybe a playoff, so all day I was thinking that. Once I got to 20, I wanted to get to 21.”

French Open

France’s Thomas Levet won the French Open, closing with a 1-under 70 in windy conditions for a one-stroke victory over Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and England’s Mark Foster.

There will be fewer people competing in the World Series of Poker Main Event this year because of the U.S. government's crackdown on online gambling.

Associated PressThere will be fewer people competing in the World Series of Poker Main Event this year because of the U.S. government's crackdown on online gambling.

For its next trick, the U.S. government will throw a massive burlap over the Grand Canyon while handing up indictments to 11 red-spotted toads suspected of illegal uranium mining.

So what happened?

The feds seized the websites of online poker's three biggest companies – Full Tilt Poker, Poker Stars and Absolute Poker – and charged a bunch of people with bank fraud and money laundering. They were applying the draconian Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, which bars financial institutions from processing illegal online gambling transactions.

That's all well and good, but people just want to play poker, and people will play poker – at home, in card rooms and, yes, online – in one way or another. But more on that later.

Anyway, I'm not a lawyer – on TV, I barely play a poker analyst – so I had a lawyer friend of mine look at the UIGEA for me. This lawyer, incidentally, does not want to be identified, partly because he's embarrassed that he's a lawyer and partly because he's embarrassed that he's a friend of mine.

Here is what he determined:

The UIGEA doesn't say online poker is illegal. Actually, nowhere within the UIGEA is poker even mentioned; if Congress were so hell-bent against online poker, wouldn't you think the word “poker” would show up in the UIGEA? Rather, the UIGEA seems to be targeting sports-betting operations.

In fact, there's no federal law on the books criminalizing poker and there has never been a federal court ruling that online poker is illegal.

So, frankly, if there were any justice within the Department of Justice, we would all be sitting in front of our laptops drawing to an inside straight by the end of business today.

(At this point, I feel obligated to remind folks of the dangers of online poker. First of all, we cannot forget that, for some, gambling is an addiction; it is easier to hide that addiction within the privacy of your office or home. So I would urge a caring, vigilant eye if you know a friend or family member who likes to go online to play.)

(Second of all, online poker is ripe for unspeakable deeds. Poker is pretty good at policing itself, and the online sites are fairly transparent, but when you have that much money at stake, someone's always going to try to get an edge. The cheats need to be rooted out. Online sites already have been touched by scandal, and bigger improprieties could break the back of the industry once the industry is up-and-running again in the United States.)

Quite simply, people in America should be allowed to play whatever game they want with their own money in their own homes. Yet, at the moment, in the land of the free, the government is stopping that freedom.

The U.S. stance here is amazingly dumb. We are a nation trillions of dollars in debt; even more than that if you include what Donald Trump owes. And, yet, rather than legalizing, regulating and taxing online poker – which would provide a civic windfall – we are spending too much taxpayer money prosecuting a handful of alleged scoundrels who tried to manipulate the system.

How many times must we go down this road?

Throughout the course of human history, public officials tried to outlaw alcohol, prostitution and gambling. Yet, no matter how many laws are passed, people always find a way to get liquor, a way to have sex and a way to bet. Why? Because – best I can tell – people want to drink, have sex and gamble.

Me? One day I just want to be able to sit in the basin of the Grand Canyon on an iPad with a six-pack of PBR, kicking Phil Hellmuth's butt in no-limit Texas hold 'em.

Ask The Slouc!

Q.Charlie Sheen (above) took steroids for his role in “Major League.” Should he have to give up his salary and any awards he received for using PEDs? — Daniela Brown, Chagrin Falls

A.If that’s the case, you’re throwing out Robert Downey Jr.’s entire career.

Q.If any of your conjugal unions lasted more than six years, did you get credit for a “quality marriage”? — Gerry Kubiak, Greenfield, Wis.

A.I’ll let you know when I get there.

Q.Does the NBA lockout affect any of your summer plans? — Tim Horton, Oakland, Calif.

A.I’m canceling my trip to Spike Lee’s home to heckle him.

Q.What is a more impressive eating feat — Joey Chestnut (above) shoveling down Coney Island hot dogs or Dan Snyder swallowing gazillion-dollar contracts whole? — Paul Martinchich, Pittsburgh

A.Pay the man, Shirley.

You, too, can enter the $1.25 Ask The Slouch Cash Giveaway. Just email asktheslouch@aol.com and, if your question is used, you win $1.25 in cash!

Norman Chad is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

Tim Fedroff's two-RBI single highlighted a three-run eighth inning, and Columbus defeated visiting Louisville, Ky., in an International League game.

MINOR- LEAGUE REPORT

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 4, Bats 2

Tim Fedroff’s two-RBI single highlighted a three-run eighth inning, and Columbus defeated visiting Louisville, Ky., in an International League game. The first run of the inning scored on a throwing error by pitcher Jerry Gil. Jeanmar Gomez (9-2) went eight innings for the Clippers. Justin Germano pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.

AA Akron Aeros

SeaWolves 6, Aeros 2

Right-handed pitcher Austin Adams (5-8) allowed five Erie, Pa., runs in the first inning and Akron lost an Eastern League game. In 4 2/3 innings, Adams surrendered six runs on 10 hits, walking four and striking out three. Chen-Chang Lee hit his ninth homer of the year for Akron, a two-run shot in the seventh.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Keys 4, Indians 1

Kinston, N.C., starter Clayton Cook (6-5) yielded a lead-off walk and home run in the top of the first, and was removed from the game between innings with a sore elbow. Knuckleballer Steve Wright saved the K-Tribe bullpen, pitching the final eight innings. Kinston’s lone run came home on a single by Adam Abraham in the fourth. It was his team-leading 42nd RBI.

A Lake County Captains

Lugnuts 5, Captains 4

Lansing, Mich., scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Lake County in a Midwest League game. The Lugnuts’ Lance Durham led off the ninth with a single and wound up on third after two wild pitches. He came home on a single by Garis Pena. Jesus Aguilar’s two-run homer for the Captains was his 16th of the year. He has 53 RBI.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Scrappers 12, Muckdogs 11

KC Serna singled to left field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Mahoning Valley defeated Batavia, N.Y., in a New York-Penn League game. A walk, single and hit-batsman preceded Serna’s hit. Enosil Tejada (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth and picked up the win.

Notes: Both teams collected 14 hits. Batavia batters hit a home run and four doubles, but Mahoning Valley had only one extra base hit, a double by Cody Elliott.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Rascals 3, Crushers 1

Lake Erie stranded 12 base runners and lost a Frontier League game to River City. They had at least one runner on base in every inning except the fifth.

Thanks to the three-day All-Star break next week, Fausto Carmona should be ready to face the Twins on July 18.

Plain Dealer file photoIf his rehab goes well, Fausto Carmona will miss just one start. Thanks to the three-day All-Star break next week, Carmona should be ready to face the Twins on July 18.

Cincinnati – Fausto Carmona didn't look at the replay of his nasty tumble Saturday at first base that put him on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps muscle.

“I didn't watch [the replay],” he said Sunday morning. “I didn't want to see it.”

The Indians won't need a starter to replace Carmona until Thursday against Toronto at Progressive Field. Zach McAllister or Jeanmar Gomez could get the call from Class AAA Columbus.

Carmona, if his rehab goes well, will miss just one start. Thanks to the three-day All-Star break next week, Carmona should be ready to face the Twins on July 18.

“We're anticipating that Fausto will just miss one outing,” said manager Manny Acta.

In the third inning of Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Reds, Carmona was attempting to bunt Lou Marson to second base. Marson reached second on an error, but Carmona, in an effort to run his way out of a potential double play, stumbled a few feet in front of the bag and tumbled over it. He injured his quad and left the game.

Carmona will have an MRI exam today in Cleveland.

“I told them I felt much better today,” said Carmona, “but they said that the three days we have at the All-Star break will help me.”

This is only the second time Carmona has been on the disabled list. He missed two months in 2008 with a strained left hip.

“I'm not happy. I don't like the DL,” said Carmona.

Carmona, between stays on the disabled list, made 87 straight starts.

Carmona was nursing another injury as well. He ended the second inning by fielding a Homer Bailey grounder back to the mound. The ball split the webbing between the index and middle finger on his right hand.

“That wouldn't have stopped me from pitching,” said Carmona.

The Indians activated closer Chris Perez from the bereavement list to take Carmona's spot on the 25-man roster. Josh Judy, promoted from Columbus when Perez left the team to attend his grandmother's funeral, will remain with the club until a starter is needed.

Is eight enough?

Judy gives the Indians an eight-man bullpen. The Indians may need them all with the Yankees coming to town.

The Yankees, according to Elias, have four players with 50 or more runs and 50 or more RBI. No other team has more than one.

The four are Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira.

Tough trip: The Indians lost Shin-Soo Choo (broken left thumb) and Carmona to injury on this nine-game trip. Choo is out for eight to 10 weeks.

Travis Buck (left hamstring) said he might be able to play Wednesday.

In the pen: Perez is going to the All-Star game for the Indians and he doesn't even have the lowest ERA in the bullpen.

Set-up man Joe Smith reduced his ERA to 0.95 (three earned runs in 28 1/3 innings) with a scoreless inning in Sunday's 7-5 loss. Smith has not allowed an earned run in his past 20 1/3 innings, which covers 20 appearances.

Smith is joined by Vinnie Pestano (1.47) and Rafael Perez (1.60).

A case could be made for any of them, along with nine-game winner Josh Tomlin, making the All-Star team.

“You're going to be hearing that complaint from everywhere,” said Acta. “Bigger names with bigger numbers have been left off in the past. Our guys in the pen have done a tremendous job, but that's the way it is.”

Finally: Acta complimented the scouts and front office personnel who found and acquired All-Stars Perez and Asdrubal Cabrera. Perez was acquired from St. Louis in 2009, and Cabrera from Seattle in 2006.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

On Twitter: @hoynsie