New NBA Development League team will be formally announced today at noon.

View full sizeLynn Ischay | The Plain DealerChristian Eyenga began last season on the Cavaliers' D-League team in Erie. Fans will get a chance to see players like Eyenga now that the team will play in Canton.

Canton will be the site of the Cavaliers new NBA Development League team. The Cavs have called a noon news conference today in Canton to formally announce the move.

While the selection of Canton is a bit of a surprise -- Youngstown had been the rumored site -- it was clear the Cavs were going to try their hand at running their own team in the D-League after the Erie BayHawks, the Cavs' D-League affiliate since 2008, recently signed an exclusive agreement with the New York Knicks. Such exclusive agreements have become popular recently, with a number of teams preferring a one-on-one partnership. The Cavs shared the BayHawks affiliation with the Toronto Raptors.

"This is a real smart move by Lighty. I wish him well. Maybe in a few years he can latch onto a championship-caliber team and be that guy who comes off the bench to knock down a few shots and do the dirty work. He's just not someone a team would draft. But that doesn't mean he can't make it in the future." - d10ballfan

View full sizeAssociated PressDavid Lighty may find himself in the NBA some day.

In response to the story Former Ohio State Buckeye David Lighty signs with pro basketball team in Italy, cleveland.com reader d10ballfan thinks Lighty could have a future in the NBA. This reader writes,

"This is a real smart move by Lighty. I wish him well. Maybe in a few years he can latch onto a championship-caliber team and be that guy who comes off the bench to knock down a few shots and do the dirty work. He's just not someone a team would draft. But that doesn't mean he can't make it in the future."

"You gotta love it! The Tribe takes two of three from the Yankees and maintains their hold on first place. And the fans - they have shown they will support a winner. Hint to the front office - do whatever it takes to keep the team in contention." - rocker56

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerLonnie Chisenhall and the Indians have fans excited about the possibilities for this team.

In response to the story Justin Masterson goes 8 scoreless innings in Cleveland Indians' 5-3 victory over Yankees, cleveland.com reader rocker56 thinks this team needs to do whatever it can to win now. This reader writes,

"You gotta love it! The Tribe takes two of three from the Yankees and maintains their hold on first place. And the fans - they have shown they will support a winner. Hint to the front office - do whatever it takes to keep the team in contention."

Who is the favorite to win national college player of the year?

Associated PressJared Sullinger

Some of the best college basketball players did not declare of the 2011 NBA Draft, so that means those players are among the favorites to win national college player of the year.

Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, UConn's Jeremy Lamb and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes are the frontrunners for the best player in college basketball.

Colt McCoy has gotten the offense together three times for lockout camps, and now he's getting the whole team together for a fullsquad session in Texas July 10-12. Linebacker Scott Fujita also helped organize the camp.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerColt McCoy will host his fouth Camp Colt in Texas starting this weekend.

CLEVELAND -- Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is hosting his fourth players-only lockout camp Sunday through Tuesday in Texas.

Organized by McCoy and linebacker Scott Fujita, it's also the first fullsquad camp of the offseason. About 40 offensive and defensive players are expected to attend.

Josh Cribbs has dubbed the sessions "Camp Colts."

McCoy said recently that the 5-11 record of 2010 was "not acceptable'' and that the players are doing everything they can during the lockout to turn that around.

Veteran players are even helping the rookies and younger players pay some or all of their travel expenses to attend.

In addition to on-field drills, players will watch film and do conditioning. McCoy has been teaching players the new West Coast offense and has the system down pat himself. Quarterback Seneca Wallace helped him instruct players on the scheme at the last session.

The camp will be the third hosted by McCoy in Texas. The second one was at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea. Browns coach Pat Shurmur has said he's thrilled the players are holding the workouts to get a jump on the season.

Plain Dealer reporter says Ohio State opponents will see a leaner and more chiseled Sullinger next season. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Branson Wright.

Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston had something come up last minute and was unable to come on as the guest on today's show. So coming off the bench is Plain Dealer sports writer Elton Alexander, who is covering the LeBron James Skills Academy this week in Akron. Elton says he barely recognized Ohio State sophomore-to-be Jared Sullinger when he saw him, because Sullinger has dropped weight and worked on toughening up his body during the offseason.

That brings us to today's Starting Blocks poll: Who will be the men's college basketball player of the year in 2011-12?

Elton talks about whether Sullinger's weight loss will affect his ability to post up opponents effectively; and talks about Akron Zips newcomer Demetrius Treadwell out of Euclid, who made a dramatic turnaround on and off the court after dropping out of high school before his junior year.

SBTV will return Friday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Tony Grossi answering fan questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature.

The Cavaliers have their own NBA Development league team in Canton. It's now up to fans to name it.

The Cavaliers have their own NBA Development League team in Canton. It's now up to you to name it.

The Cavs, along with the city of Canton, unveiled the new team at a news conference this afternoon.

"Having the ability to own and operate a D-League franchise in Canton once again illustrates our ownership's outstanding commitment to creating a culture of success," Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant said. "Player development is at the core of our process and being able to operate our own franchise so close to home will place us in the most strategic position to take an active part in the player development process."

The Cavaliers are the 5th NBA team to currently own and operate their own NBA D-League affiliate. The Cavaliers shared the Erie Bayhawks with the Toronto Raptors last season, but that team recently signed an exclusive agreement with the New York Knicks.

The new team, which will take the place of the New Mexico Thunderbirds in the 16-team D-League, will play in the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

"This is an incredible opportunity for the citizens of Canton to experience professional basketball in their hometown, and I am grateful that the Cavaliers recognized Canton as an ideal market for their next generation of basketball operations,” Canton Mayor William J. Healy II said.

The team does not have a nickname as of yet. Fans can submit their suggestions by going to www.CantonNBA.com. Fans can also follow the team on Twitter @NBACanton and on Facebook.

Tribe in first place, but there's no time for rest.

APAsdrubal Cabrera

The Cleveland Indians are in first place, but the players know the season has a long way to go, writes Marla Ridenour of Ohio.com.

Left fielder Shelley Duncan was asked Tuesday if he felt like the Indians had weathered the storm.

“Oh, I don’t. No. No. No. No. No. No,’’ Duncan said. “It’s still so early. In the whole grand scheme of things … the real stuff heats up in August and September.’’

Duncan wouldn’t even concede that the young Indians might have gained some confidence from the way they’d grittily hung on since their 30-15 start.

“If I was to say yes, it would be like we’ve exhaled and we haven’t,’’ Duncan insisted. “We’re still grinding it out. We still have that focus."

Manager Manny Acta has to be preaching that the Indians have no laurels on which to rest, writes Ridenour.

Feeling good

Asdrubal Cabrera twisted his ankle on Tuesday, and it didn't take him long to want to get back on the field, writes Zack Meisel on MLB.com.

"He was feeling so good that before I left the ballpark [Tuesday night], he was bombarding me with text messages about being able to play today," Indians manager Manny Acta said.

Cabrera's insistence made it easier for Acta to pencil his All-Star shortstop in the lineup for Wednesday's contest.

"He said he's fine," Acta said. "Why should we give him a day [off]? Cal Ripken Jr. played over 2,000 games in a row. He's only played 80-something games."

Game stories

MLB.com: Masterson masters the Yankees.

Cleveland.com: The Master.

New York Times: Jeter gets closer.

The News-Herald: Masterson too much for Yankees.

Ohio State AD Gene Smith is disappointed.

PD fileOhio State University Athletic Director Gene Smith.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith says he's disappointed with "where we are" in terms of NCAA violations by its football program and the sanctions that will come with it, though the university is on track to respond this week to charges that Buckeyes players received improper benefits and that ex-coach Jim Tressel covered it up.

"How can you not like what Colt McCoy is doing? Even if you don't want him to be the starter, admire that he has taken on a leadership role that you couldn't have seen someone like Derek Anderson in. I really like Colt McCoy and I think this should show any fan that this guy won't settle for mediocrity." - CancerDancer

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerNo one can say for sure that Colt McCoy is the future at quarterback for the Browns, but his leadership during the lockout has been a positive.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy to host fullsquad camp July 10-12, cleveland.com reader CancerDancer is happy to see McCoy embrace a leadership role. This reader writes,

"How can you not like what Colt McCoy is doing? Even if you don't want him to be the starter, admire that he has taken on a leadership role that you couldn't have seen someone like Derek Anderson in. I really like Colt McCoy and I think this should show any fan that this guy won't settle for mediocrity."

Deron Williams becomes first All-Star to sign to play overseas.

APDeron Williams

Maybe Deron Williams will begin a trend of NBA stars who will opt to play overseas while locked out by the owners.

Williams, an All-Star with the New Jersey Nets, signed an agreement to play in Turkey during the lockout, writes Howard Beck of The New York Times.

 “We confirm” the contract with Williams," said Ergin Ataman, the coach of the Turkish team Besiktas, in a telephone interview Thursday.

Ataman said that the deal should become official in the next 24 hours and that Besiktas’s president, Seref Yalcin, would join Williams for a news conference in the United States next week.

The news of Williams’s agreement was first reported by a Turkish television station, NTV Spor, and later confirmed by ESPN.com.

During All-Star weekend, Commissioner David Stern was asked about the possibility of players playing overseas.

“If there’s a lockout, the players are free; their contracts are suspended,” Stern said during All-Star weekend in February. “It’s that simple.”

In general, the N.B.A. and FIBA have an arrangement that precludes teams in either organization from signing players already under contract. That agreement became moot on July 1, when the N.B.A.’s labor deal expired, and the league locked out its players.

An injury by Williams, however, would change things. It would risk nullification of his Nets contract.

Colts great later became NFL Players Association president who fought for stronger benefits for retired players.

AP/Baltimore ColtsJohn Mackey averaged more than 16 yards a catch during his NFL career.

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- John Mackey, the rugged Hall of Fame tight end and union president who later fought for stronger health benefits of retired players and struggled with dementia, has died. He was 69.

Mackey's wife notified the team about her husband's death, Baltimore Ravens spokesman Chad Steele said Thursday. No official cause was given.

Mackey played for the Baltimore Colts from 1963-71, and helped the team beat the Dallas Cowboys in the 1971 Super Bowl by catching a pass from Johnny Unitas after it deflected off two other players for a 75-yard touchdown.

He also played for the San Diego Chargers in 1972, and finished his 10-year career with 331 catches for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Mackey's efforts after his playing days were just as important as his performance on the field. An NFL labor agreement ratified in 2006 includes the "88 Plan," named for Mackey's number, 88. It provides up to $88,000 a year for nursing care or day care for ex-players with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, or $50,000 for home care.

"John Mackey is still our leader. As the president of the NFLPA, he led the fight for fairness with a brilliance and with ferocious drive," union executive director DeMaurice Smith said. "His passion continues to define our organization and inspire our players. His unwavering loyalty to our mission and his exemplary courage will never be forgotten."

The health care of former players has become a prominent issue in the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. An NFL lockout has been going on since March.

"John Mackey was one of the great leaders in NFL history, on and off the field," Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "He was a Hall of Fame player who redefined the tight end position. He was a courageous advocate for his fellow NFL players as head of the NFL Players Association. He worked closely with our office on many issues through the years, including serving as the first president of the NFL Youth Football Fund. He never stopped fighting the good fight."

Mackey was drafted in 1963 out of Syracuse — by the NFL's Baltimore Colts in the second round, and the AFL's New York Jets in the fifth round.

He wound up playing for the Colts just as the passing game was taking on a major role in pro football. His size, speed and ability to catch the ball while also blocking in the running game made him the prototype for future generations of tight ends.

"John revolutionized the tight end position during his Hall of Fame career, and he laid the foundation on and off the field for modern NFL players," Ravens general manager and fellow Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome said.

He caught 35 passes for 726 yards as a rookie in 1963, when he was selected to the first of five Pro Bowls. He also was voted first-team All-Pro by The Associated Press in 1966, '67 and '68.

Mackey helped the Colts beat the Dallas Cowboys in the '71 Super Bowl. His touchdown on a 75-yard pass play helped set the stage for a 16-13 win on Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal in the closing seconds.

After he retired, Mackey joined Mike Ditka as the first tight ends selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The John Mackey Award was established to honor the nation's top college football tight end, and Syracuse retired his number in 2007.

"John was the perfect role model for Syracuse football student-athletes," Syracuse coach and former NFL player Doug Marrone said. "He was a larger-than-life man and he influenced so many people. Many consider him the greatest tight end in NFL history and he was a pioneer in the development in the NFL Players Association."

Mackey has become closely associated with the plight of many former players who helped build the NFL in the era before million-dollar contracts, safer equipment and better health care.

He suffered from frontotemporal dementia in later years that is believed to have been caused by the contact associated with playing football. Four years ago, the dementia forced Mackey into living in an assisted-living facility.

The costs associated with his care, which far outpaced Mackey's pension, led to the "88 Plan" for retired players. Now, former players are pushing for better pension plans and health benefits from the league.

"John Mackey has inspired me and will continue to inspire our players," Smith posted on Twitter. "He will be missed but never forgotten."

Zach McAllister will make his big league debut against Toronto tonight, but it could be a one-and-done for the big right-hander with the Indians thin in the infield.Jason Donald or Luis Valbuena could join the Indians as soon as Saturday.

AP photoZach McAllister makes big-league debut Thursday for Indians tonight.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians recalled right-hander Zach McAllister from Class AAA Columbus to start Thursday night against Toronto at Progressive Field. Infielder Cord Phelps was optioned to Columbus to make room.

Look for the Tribe to make another move after Thursday's game. This could be a one-and-done start for the 6-6, 240-pound McAllister as the Indians promote another infielder from Columbus to strengthen their middle-infield defense before the All-Star break.

Manager Manny Acta said Wednesday that he wants to give All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera a day off in this four-game series before the All-Star break. With Phelps being sent down, they need protection there. Donald and Valbuena have both played short in the big leagues for the Tribe.

"Why do you guys even ask that," said manager Manny Acta when asked if this could be a one-and-done start for McAllister. "You know we're not going to stay with just one extra infielder.

"You guys feel your way with one question over here and one question over there. We're not going to need a fifth starter until July 18th. Come on, put two and two together. Don't make me do your job."

Acta was told reporters need confirmation before they can make such statements.

He laughed and said, "Yes, you can. You've done more than in the past. We're probably have a move following the game. We're not going to stay with an extra pitcher when it wouldn't be useful."

McAllister, acquired from the Yankees last year for Austin Kearns, went 8-3 with a 2.97 ERA in 15 starts at Columbus. He struck out 71, walked 21 and allowed 86 hits in 97 innings. He had a 1.10 WHIP (walks plus hits divided by innings) and the opposition hit .241 against him.

Phelps was recalled on June 8 from Columbus to platoon at second with Orlando Cabrera. He struggled offensively and defensively, hitting .196 (9-for-46) with one homer and five RBI. He made five errors in 19 games.

Acta was pleased with the way Phelps swung the bat.

"It was a good experience for him," said Acta. "I don't think he was overmatched offensively. He did barrel a lot of balls and won a game for us with a walk-off (homer).

"He struggled a little defensively, but we know that's not the player we saw in the minor leagues."

Acta said Orlando Cabrera's improved play at second base drove the decision to option Phelps more than anything. That, of course, and the need for a starting pitcher to take injured Fausto Carmona's spot in the rotation. 

Valbuena, the Indians opening day second baseman in 2010, is hitting .314 (85-for-271) with 47 runs, 19 doubles, 12 homers and 54 RBI in 75 games. He's played five games at second, 10 at third, 45 at shortstop and 11 in the outfield.

Donald has been hampered by injuries, starting with a broken bone in his left hand during spring training. He's split time between Columbus and Class AA Akron. Donald is hitting .266 (25-for-94) with two homers and seven RBI at Columbus. He hit .241 (7-for-29) in nine games at Akron.

Carmona strained his right hamstring Saturday running to first base against the Reds. He was placed on the disabled list on Sunday.

Tonight's lineups:

Blue Jays (42-46): SS Yunel Escobar (R), RF Eric Thames (L), 3B Jose Bautista (R), 1B Adam Lind (L), 2B Aaron Hill (R), DH Edwin Encarnacion (R), LF Travis Snider (L), C J.P. Arencibia (R), CF Rajai Davis (R) and RHP Carlos Villanueva (5-1, 3.24).

Indians (46-39): LF Michael Brantley (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), DH Travis Hafner (L), C Carlos Santana (S), CF Grady Sizemore (L), 2B Orlando Cabrera (R), RF Travis Buck (L), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (L), RHP Zach McAllister (first big-league start).

Him vs. me: This being McAllister's big league debut, he has yet to face any of the Blue Jays at this level. Travis Hafner is 1-for-1 with a homer against Villanueva.

Lefty-righty: Lefties hit .296 (45-for-152) with three homers and righties hit .200 (41-for-205) with three homers against McAllister in the International League this year. The Blue Jays have three lefties in the lineup.

Lefties are hitting .201 (27-for-134) with three homers and righties are hitting .228 (29-for-127) with two homers against Villanueva this year. The Indians have five lefties in the lineup and four right-handers, including two switch-hitters.

Quote of the day: "All us Youngs could throw. I used to kill squirrels with a stone when I was a kid, and my granddad once killed a turkey buzzard on the fly with a rock," the late great Hall of Famer Cy Young, who won 511 games in his career.

Umpires: H Dana DeMuth, 1B Kerwin Danley, 2B Vic Carapazza, 3B Doug Eddings.

Next: Mitch Tablot will try to get back on the winning track when he faces Toronto's Jo Jo Reyes Friday night at 7:05. STO/WTAM will carry the game.

The Tribe has its own version of a Big Three with Josh Tomlin, Justin Masterson and Carlos Carrasco.

Justin Masterson kept the New York Yankees off balance Wednesday night to propel the Cleveland Indians to victory.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Tribe fans just watched their Big Three in the Yankees Series.

Josh Tomlin.

Justin Masterson.

Carlos Carrasco.

Yes, Carrasco had his first bad game in two months, giving up six runs in four innings in the 9-2 loss to New York. But the fact is Carrasco is 7-4 with a 3.51 ERA since coming off the disabled list on May 11.

Carrasco is still a work in progress, but you can really see the progress.

And you can look at the Tribe's Big Three and feel very good whenever they take the mound.

Just ask the Yankees, who lost two of three to the Tribe and managed a grand total of two runs in 16 innings off Tomlin and Masterson.

Talk about Fire and Ice, that's Masterson and Tomlin.

Masterson shut down the Yankees for eight innings, slinging 95 mph fastballs and 92 mph sinkers from a strange sidearm delivery that was the reason many believed Masterson could never be a starter. He's 6-foot-6, 250 pounds of arms and legs flying in different directions as if auditioning for a role as the world's largest pretzel before delivering a pitch.

Then there's Tomlin. Or as Manny Acta says of him: "That little cowboy from Texas is money in the bank for five innings."

The Tribe manager meant Tomlin's first 29 major-league starts, all being at least five innings -- the most since 1919, when people began counting these things.

But this season, Tomlin has pitched at least six innings in 16 of 17 starts. His record is 10-4 with a 3.78 ERA -- walking 13 . . . in 17 starts.

"If he walks one, I'm surprised," said Acta. "If he walks two, I want to blame the umpire."

No sweat from Tomlin

Tomlin's typical fastball (88 mph) is about the same speed as Masterson's changeup.

Tomlin is averaging the fewest walks per nine innings of any American League starter; Masterson gives up the fewest homers per nine innings. Between them, they have record quality starts (three or fewer runs in at least six innings) in 27 of 35 outings.

While Masterson's body appears headed for an appointment with a chiropractor, Tomlin's motion is compact, smooth with a minimum of effort. No doubt, he's sweated when on the mound -- but it's hard to remember when.

Masterson's stuff sizzles and burns up bats; Tomlin's takes its time, hugging the corners and baffling batters.

Where Masterson displays his cool is in terms of patience with his teammates. He went 11 starts without a victory this season -- his record 0-6 with a 3.34 ERA in that span. In four of those 11 games, the Tribe was shut out.

He never complained, he just vowed to pitch better.

His 7-6 record is deceiving, because his 2.66 ERA sparkles, eighth-best in the American League.

As for Carrasco, he has it all -- the 94 mph fastball, the sharp slider, the sinker, the changeup and the control.

Young arms available

Keep in mind that Tomlin and Masterson are 26, Carrasco is 24.

Since being promoted to Cleveland in September 2010, Carrasco is 10-7 with a 3.86 ERA in 23 starts. He is putting all those pitches together.

Yes, the Indians need to either fix or replace the remaining two spots in their rotation.

Fausto Carmona (4-10, 5.78) has the highest ERA of any regular AL starting pitcher. He is on the disabled list with a thigh injury, and will make at least one rehabilitation start before returning. It could be a good chance for the Indians to figure out what is wrong with the man who was their only All-Star in 2010.

Friday, Mitch Talbot starts. Since July 2010, he is 4-12 with a 5.40 ERA. He has been on the disabled list twice in the past 12 months. This is an important start for his future, as the Indians are expected to review the last two spots in the rotation during next week's All-Star break.

That's because the Tribe has serious alternatives at Class AAA Columbus.

Zach McAllister makes his major-league debut Thursday. The 23-year-old was 8-3 with a 2.97 ERA for the Clippers. Jeanmar Gomez, 23, is a prime candidate to grab a spot in the rotation, as he's 9-2 with a 2.26 ERA for the Clippers.

The hope is 22-year-old phenom Alex White can come back from his finger injury before the end of the season. Lefty Scott Barnes (7-3, 3.61 ERA) has emerged as a prospect at the age of 24. David Huff (8-2, 3.84) has been pitching better lately.

All four starters -- Barnes, Gomez, McAllister and Huff -- have been in Columbus, knocking on the big league door.

At Class A Kinston, Drew Pomeranz (top pick in 2010) is 3-2 with a 1.87 ERA in his first pro season. He will be at Class AA Akron soon.

The key to a strong starting rotation is a wealth of talented starters who are in their 20s -- and that's exactly what the Indians have this season.

"I have to say, Kearns is starting to look a little better. Playing him in consecutive games may be helping him. I really would like to see him do well." - junebug1233

View full sizeAustin Kearns has a hit in 5 of his last 6 games.

In response to the story Justin Masterson goes 8 scoreless innings in Cleveland Indians' 5-3 victory over Yankees, cleveland.com reader junebug1233 hopes regular playing time will help Austin Kearns. This reader writes,

"I have to say, Kearns is starting to look a little better. Playing him in consecutive games may be helping him. I really would like to see him do well."

Potential sanctions could mean the Buckeyes won't have a Big Ten title game or a bowl game to play for.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerFullback Zach Boren (44) and other Ohio State players say the team has to concentrate on preparing for the season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State will make its response to the NCAA on Friday about charges that OSU football players received improper benefts and that former coach Jim Tressel didn't tell the school or the NCAA what he knew about the alleged violations.

Ohio State representatives will attend a hearing before the NCAA Committee on Infractions on Aug. 12. Sanctions could be levied against the football program within a few weeks after the hearing.

Ohio State opens its season on Sept. 3 with a home game against Akron's Zips. The circumstances, certainly, are less than ideal for the Buckeyes to prepare for the campaign.

Ken Gordon of the Columbus Dispatch writes about how Ohio State players are trying to handle the situation: 

Penalties could include a postseason ban, which probably would prevent the Buckeyes from competing in the Big Ten's inaugural championship game. The Big Ten office has not confirmed that, but it seems unlikely that a team banned from a bowl game would be allowed to compete for the conference's automatic bid.

One would think that prospect could put a damper on players' enthusiasm.

"It would definitely be something that you hope you could have," safety Orhian Johnson said of a postseason appearance, "just because it's something you're used to, something you look forward to during the season. But there's nothing we can do about it. It's out of our hands."

The three players available for interviews yesterday - joining Johnson were linebacker Andrew Sweat and fullback Zach Boren - sounded a similar tone. They can't control what will happen, so why worry about it?

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com cover Ohio State sports, including, of course, Buckeyes basketball. Elton Alexander writes that Buckeyes basketball star Jared Sullinger has worked to get in better basketball condition; Alexander's basketball talk during his interview with Starting Blocks TV; Mary Schmitt Boyer's story on former Buckeyes basketball star David Lighty signing with a professional team in Italy.

Buckeyes banter

Brian Bennett writes for ESPN.com about Ohio State's planned response to the big Ten.

On TheWolverine.com and Rivals.com, a debate: Who is Michigan's biggest rival, Ohio State or Michigan State?

Whichever NFL team signs former Buckeye Dane Sanzenbacher is going to get a fine receiver, Sayre Bedinger writes for nflmocks.com.

Oregon is apparently joining Ohio State and other major programs in trouble with the NCAA, writes Gene Wojciechowski for ESPN.com.

An AP report that the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League have added former Buckeyes star tailback Maurice Clarett to their roster.

Masterson has been superb going back to late last season. He proved he could pitch under pressure as a rookie three years ago.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJustin Masterson has a 2.47 ERA in his last 22 starts, spanning 149 1/3 innings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Justin Masterson has emerged as a first-rate starting pitcher this season for the Cleveland Indians.

The right-hander's latest gem was on Wednesday night against the New York Yankees, when he pitched eight shutout innings, holding New York to three hits in a 5-3 Indians victory.

Masterson's 2.66 ERA ranks eighth (going into Thursday night's games) in the American League. His win-loss record is just 7-6, because during his stretch of 11 straight starts without a win, the Indians scored just eight total runs with him on the mound.

Masterson, 26, has even prior to this season given glimpses of how good he can be.

Last season, Masterson pitched a career-high 180 innings. The final seven innings, over five appearances, were in relief, as the Indians chose to protect his arm from wear in meaningless games.

Masterson had been dominant in his final four starts, going 2-0 with a 1.63 ERA.

Including those games, Masterson is 9-6 with a 2.47 ERA in his last 22 starts. He has held opponents to 138 hits -- including just five home runs -- in 149 1/3 innings, and has struck out 107 and walked 44.

The Indians traded star catcher-first baseman Victor Martinez to the Boston Red Sox for Masterson, left-handed pitcher Nick Hagadone and right-handed pitcher Bryan Price on July 31, 2009.

Martinez is now with the Detroit Tigers, while Hagadone and Price are at Class AAA Columbus and AA Akron, respectively.

The Red Sox were not looking to trade Masterson. How much confidence did they have in him?

Boston played in 11 postseason games in 2008, when Masterson was a 23-year-old rookie. He pitched in nine of the games in relief, going 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA in 9 2/3 innings.

Check this game for Masterson last June 9, when he pitched against his ex-Boston teammates.

As the NBA lockout enters its second week, the Cavaliers are keeping themselves busy with their new, as yet unnamed NBA Development League team that will play in the Memorial Civic Center here.

BOB ROSSITER/CANTON REPOSITORYDan Reed, president of the NBA Development League, talks at a press conference Thursday in Canton, Ohio.

CANTON -- As the NBA lockout enters its second week, the Cavaliers are keeping themselves busy with their new, as yet unnamed NBA Development League team that will play in the Memorial Civic Center here.

The team acquired the former New Mexico Thunderbirds franchise, which folded, and moved it here, about 45 minutes south of the Cavs' practice facility in Independence.

Scott Woodruff, who spent the past two seasons as the Lake Erie Monsters vice president of ticket and corporate sales, will act as the senior vice president and chief operating officer of the team, which will feature the same sorts of in-game entertainment as the Cavs and Monsters.

The Cavs became the fifth NBA franchise to own and operate their own D-League team, joining the Golden State Warriors (Dakota Wizards), Los Angeles Lakers (Los Angeles D-Fenders), Oklahoma City Thunder (Tulsa 66ers) and San Antonio Spurs (Austin Toros.) As owner-operators, the Cavaliers will have exclusive control over all basketball and business elements for the franchise.

Three other teams -- the Houston Rockets (Rio Grande Valley Vipers), New Jersey Nets (Springfield, Mass., Armor) and New York Knicks (Erie BayHawks) -- have one-on-one partnerships. In addition, the Dallas Mavericks are solely affiliated with the Texas Legends, which are owned by Mavericks General Manager Donnie Nelson.

According to Cavs General Manager Chris Grant, it makes perfect sense for an NBA team to control its D-League affiliate, similar to the situation in major- and minor-league baseball. Since 2008, the Cavs shared their D-League team in Erie with the Toronto Raptors.

"It gives us another step in our player development," Grant said. "It gives us an opportunity to run the same system, have the same type of defensive principles, use the same vocabulary, have the same type of culture. From a proximity standpoint, this is fantastic. A player could practice with us in the morning and play [in Canton] that night. It doesn't disrupt what's going on.

"Sometimes when you do that with another team, where it's not your coach, you feel bad. You're sending a guy down and expect him to play. That puts the coach in a difficult position, particularly if they're trying to make the playoffs. It streamlines everything for us. It's very strategic. It's very methodical. It's part of our process in player development, which we think really helps."

In spite of the lockout and the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming NBA season, NBA D-League President Dan Reed said there would be a 50-game D-League season, starting with an eight-round draft in early November.

The Cavs will be in charge of the player acquisition, although no current NBA players or draft choices can play in the D-League during the lockout. According to information provided by the D-League, 23 percent of the players on NBA rosters at the end of last season spent some time in the D-League.

Fans can find season-ticket information or submit their suggestions for team names at CantonNBA.com.

Fans also can follow the new franchise on Twitter (@NBACanton) or Facebook (facebook.com/CantonNBA). The team also is hiring for select sales and marketing positions. Applicants can apply online at CantonNBA.com.

The constantly-evolving strategies for managing invasive Asian carp, and preventing them from entering the Great Lakes, brought some good news and a lot of frustration to a small crowd attending a public forum of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee at the Sutton Center in Port Clinton on Thursday morning.

 PORT CLINTON, OHIO

 The constantly-evolving strategies for managing invasive Asian carp, and preventing them from entering the Great Lakes, brought some good news and a lot of frustration to a small crowd attending a public forum of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee at the Sutton Center here on Thursday morning.

 While independent studies and fishing and conservation groups continue to call for permanently closing off the Chicago River lock and dam from Lake Michigan - the main route for the frightful invasive carp to enter the Great Lakes - federal officials again turned down that option. They said management plans are working, praising efforts that seem to keep the carp at bay in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

 "We don't have a generation to study this," said Rick Unger, head of the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association. "We built the electric barrier too late to stop the round goby from getting into the Mississippi River. We need permanent separation, then we can study (Asian carp). We stand to lose Lake Erie, and Ohio can not afford that."

Major General John Peabody of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers said there is no present plan for separation. Peabody said separating the Chicago River from Lake Michigan will be evaluated, but said it was a waste of tax dollars and not the answer to an incredibly complex problem.

 Peabody said USACE's specialty is engineering, not biological organisms, and a solution will take a federal team effort. Peabody thought people would feel a lot better with facts on the success of Asian carp management, with the carp are now clearly contained below the electric fish barriers.

 "Permanent long-term solutions will take a generation or two," said Peabody. "We're not an independent agency. We can't do things without authority and appropriations from Congress."

Dr. Leon M. Carl, Midwest regional executive of the U.S. Geological Survey, believes Asian carp can be driven back down the Mississippi and away from the Great Lakes. The agencies have been stock-piling rotenone, a chemical that kills all fish in an area, in case Asian carp break through barriers. But Carl said there has been progress in using biocides, a chemical agent that could kill filter-feeding Asian carp, as well as invasive mussels and round gobies.

The biocides lodge in the gut of Asian carp, said Carl, and release a toxin. Each species of Asian carp - silver, bighead and black - would need a specific biocide, but there have been good results with silver carp.

There was bad news. Carl said Asian carp could thrive in Lake Erie, that bighead carp will not only eat plentiful blue-green algae plaguing Lake Erie, but the toxic algae will pass through the fish and multiply. Silver carp feed on Cladophora, a green algae Carl spotted in abundance while visiting Put-In-Bay this week in Western Lake Erie. 

It was thought Asian carp needed 100 kilometers of flowing stream in order to spawn. It has been discovered newly-hatched Asian carp can swim vertically, allowing them to successfully spawn in much shorter stretches of Lake Erie tributaries. 

 "The Maumee River is very good for spawning Asian carp," said Carl. "When the Ballville Dam comes down on the Sandusky River, it will have a lot of good (Asian carp) spawning habitat, too."

Quacking and honking: It's not too early for Ohio sportsmen to start talking about ducks - and Canada geese, too. A promising forecast for the fall waterfowl hunting seasons by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should mean a maximum number of hunting days and the largest bag limits allowed this fall.

 The Waterfowlers Boot Camp and Outdoor Festival on July 16-17 will get hunters in the mood. The Ohio Waterfowl Association camp takes over the Cardinal Center Campground in Marengo, on Ohio 61 at I-71, about 30 miles north of Columbus. The grounds will be filled with hunting exhibitors, duck and goose calling contests, shooting events, retrieving dogs and hunting seminars.

There is a Kids Boot Camp on Saturday, with young hunters building a duck call with world champ Buck Gardner and taking shotgun and archery safety lessons. A Kids Fishing Derby is at the Cardinal Campground pond. For events, visit ohiowaterfowl.org. 

 Kids gobbling: A National Wild Turkey Federation Jake's Day for young sportsmen is July 16 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., hosted by the NWTF Maple Country Chapter at the Weslaco Sportsmen's Club, Ohio 608, Hambden. Pre-registration is needed. There are clinics ranging from turkey calling to fishing and archery for ages 17 and under. Lunch and refreshments are provided. Visit www.maplecountrynwtf.org.

Associated PressDick Williams with the A's in spring training 1972, a season in which he managed Oakland to a World Series championship. Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams, who won two World Series titles with Oakland and led two other franchises to pennants, has died. He was 82. Williams died from a ruptured aortic aneurysm at a hospital near his...

Associated PressDick Williams with the A's in spring training 1972, a season in which he managed Oakland to a World Series championship.

Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams, who won two World Series titles with Oakland and led two other franchises to pennants, has died. He was 82.

Williams died from a ruptured aortic aneurysm at a hospital near his home in Henderson, Nev., the Hall of Fame said.

"I admired the man," said Athletics broadcaster Ray Fosse, who was Williams' starting catcher in Oakland. "I played for a lot of managers, and I can't say there was one I respected more than Dick Williams, as a person and a manager. He was a good man."

Williams played for five teams over 13 major league seasons as an infielder-outfielder. He spent part of the 1957 season with the Cleveland Indians, playing in 67 games and hitting .283 with six home runs in 205 at bats. 

Williams won pennants with Boston and San Diego as well as the championships in Oakland, joining Hall of Famer Bill McKechnie as the only managers ever to take three franchises to the World Series.

He also took the Montreal Expos to their only playoff berth in the strike-shortened 1981 season as he had much success turning around struggling franchises with his hard-nosed disciplinarian style.

"I owe Dick a lot," said Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who played for Williams in San Diego. "The city and the Padres owe him a lot. I think a lot of fans bought right into it like the players did, like in '82, when he first took over, then '84 when we went to the World Series. I think the fans realized that his style of play, the way he wanted us to play, could be successful if we bought in, and we did."

But he had his biggest success during three tumultuous seasons in Oakland in the 1970s. Williams led the Athletics to 101 wins and a division title his first year in 1971 before being swept by Baltimore in the AL championship series.

He then won World Series titles the next two years with Charley Finley's brash team led by Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, Catfish Hunter as the A's became the first team to repeat since the 1961-62 Yankees.

But fed up with Finley's meddling style of ownership, Williams resigned after the 1973 title instead of sticking around for what turned out to be a third straight championship season.

"He was a brilliant and feisty leader, and universally recognized as one of the greatest managers in Major League history," A's owner Lew Wolff said. "Beyond his status as a Hall of Famer, Dick's name will forever be associated with the Oakland Athletics, as he led the team to back-to-back World Series titles in 1972 and 1973, and played a key role in bringing the Bay Area its first ever team World Championship."

Before coming to Oakland, Williams was part of Boston's memorable "Impossible Dream" team in 1967 that won the pennant for the first time since 1946 before losing the World Series in seven games to St. Louis.

The Red Sox had finished ninth in the 10-team American League the previous year, helping form Williams' reputation as a master of the turnaround.

Williams also took the Expos to the NL championship series in 1981 and led the Padres to their first playoff berth and first NL pennant in 1984. San Diego lost to Detroit in five games in the Series that year.

"He knew how to win," said Rangers pitching coach Andy Hawkins, who pitched for Williams on the Padres. "He got the most out of his people, he demanded the most out of his people and he got it. He handled his pitching staff real well, I ended up throwing real well for him. I liked him as a manager, I sure did. He was a tough man to break in for, but as a veteran, he was great to play for."

Williams had an overall record of 1,571-1,451 in 21 seasons, also spending time with the Angels and Seattle Mariners. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008 after being elected by the Veterans Committee.

"Well, he wasn't like they are today. He could raise some hell," said baseball lifer Don Zimmer, who played with Williams in Brooklyn in the 1950s. "Great manager. He really knew what he was doing."

Williams was back in Cooperstown, N.Y., last month when he managed both teams at the Hall of Fame Classic at Doubleday Field in a legends contest featuring six Hall of Famers and 20 former major league stars.

"Dick Williams' lasting legacy will be his innate ability to lead, turning franchises into winners wherever he managed," Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson said. "No one wore the mantle of 'Hall of Famer' more proudly than Dick. We will miss him in Cooperstown."

Williams played 13 years in the majors for the Dodgers, Orioles, Indians, A's and Red Sox. He had a .260 career average with 70 homers and 331 RBIs as mostly a part-time player. He retired after the 1964 season and soon began his career as a manager. There will be no funeral services held.