Manager Manny Acta feels it's critical that the Indians make a deal to help them in their attempt to win the AL Central.

View full sizeGenevieve Ross, Associated PressTravis Buck absorbed this pitch from Minnesota's Francisco Liriano in the side of the batting helmet in the fifth inning Tuesday night at Target Field. Buck left the game and was replaced by Luis Valbuena.

MINNEAPOLIS -- In case you missed the memo, yes, the first-place Indians are trying to make a trade.

Asked Tuesday if he felt the Indians needed some help, manager Manny Acta said, "That's an understatement. How can you substitute for Shin-Soo Choo and Grady Sizemore? I don't think that's a secret.

"We know that from top to bottom. We're working on it. People need to understand that it takes two to tango. You can have your Christmas list and your wishes, but you need someone else to engage with who is also going to work.

"It's very easy to say go grab such and such. Go grab such and such. But they belong to somebody. It's not like you're going to a grocery store and grabbing something."

Choo (left thumb), Sizemore (right knee) are on the disabled list. Matters got a little dicier Tuesday when Travis Buck suffered a bruised head after being hit by a pitch and Michael Brantley missed the game with a stomach virus.

The Tribe's focus is on a middle-of-the-order right-handed hitter. They could use a starting pitcher as well. Which would they take first? Whichever player can help them win the most games in the last 2 1/2 months of the season.

One of the problems is the Indians are holding tight to their top prospects. Starting pitchers Alex White and Drew Pomeranz and infielders Lonnie Chisenhall and Jason Kipnis aren't for sale. If the Indians are able to make a deal before the July 31st non-waiver deadline, it will probably bump into the deadline. The market is moving slowly.

They can also make a deal up until Aug. 31 to have a player eligible for the postseason. Waivers, however, must be obtained on any played dealt.

You're in: There was no formal announcement that David Huff made the rotation after his seven scoreless innings in a spot start Monday beat the Twins.

"[Pitching coach] Tim Belcher just came up to me and said I'm starting against Chicago on Saturday," said Huff. "That's fine with me."

There was a chance Huff could have been optioned to Class AAA Columbus after his start because Fausto Carmona had to be activated to pitch the second game. Instead, Jeanmar Gomez, who started Sunday's game against Baltimore as a replacement for injured Mitch Talbot, was returned to the Clippers.

Before Gomez's start on Sunday, Acta indicated to reporters that he expected him to stay in the rotation in Talbot's spot. Now it belongs to Huff. With off days Thursday and July 29, Acta said the rotation will be juggled to get favorable matchups. The Indians open a nine-game homestand Friday against Chicago, Los Angeles and Kansas City.

Some like it hot: It was 94 degrees at game time Tuesday night. It rained in the morning, but that only made things steamier.

On Monday six fans during the first game of the doubleheader were taken to the hospital for heat-related problems. For Orlando Cabrera, however, it was just perfect.

"I wish we played in this kind of weather for six months," he said. "I can't stand playing in the cold weather."

Cabrera is from Colombia and says it's like this all year.

"I can take three showers a day at home and change clothes all day," he said. "Men walk around with their shirts off and their stomachs sticking out."

Upset stomach: Michael Brantley, the Indians' hottest hitter, was a late scratch Tuesday night because of an upset stomach. Brantley had five hits in Monday's doubleheader. He's hitting .411 (21-for-51) in his last 11 games. On this eight-game trip, he's hitting .444 (12-for-27) with five runs and four RBI.

"Michael has had a very good road trip so far," said Acta. "He's been big for us because we've been able to put him in different spots in the lineup. His clutch hitting and ability to get on base allow him to fill more than one role for us."

Brantley is hitting .313 (21-for-67) with 34 RBI with runners in scoring position.

Finally: The Tribe's doubleheader sweep Monday was its first against the Twins since May 7, 1989 at Municipal Stadium. Their last doubleheader sweep was Detroit on Sept. 29 at Progressive Field.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Here is Wednesday's essay by Dave Palik of Walton Hills

View full sizePD file Satchel Paige offered a close-up brush with greatness for young fan Dave Palik in 1948.

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

In 1948, when I was 10 years old, my dad took me to the fifth game of the World Series against the Boston Braves.

My dad had played baseball with Bob Feller at old League Park and they had become friends. When we went to the Indians dugout to say hello to him, he left me in the hallway leading to the dugout.

There was a tall, thin man sitting in a chair, wearing a Cleveland Indians uniform. He called me over and picked me up and sat me on his lap. He asked me if I was an Indians fan. I said yes, and then he asked me who my favorite player was and I said Dale Mitchell because he was left-handed and played left field like my dad.

Then he told me he was Satchel Paige, and he might pitch in relief that day. I told him I heard about his double windup, and he said he would do it for me that day. He said the Indians were going to win the Series and they did (although they lost, 11-5, in Game 5). He did pitch that day and I got to see his double windup.

My father came out of the dugout with a baseball autographed by Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau, Joe Gordon and most of the rest of the team. Satchel Paige autographed it right there in the hallway for me. Can you imagine how I felt?

My father told me not to play with that baseball, but being a 10-year-old boy, I did. My father didn't know I was playing with the ball before I wore all the names off.

The memory of that day 63 years ago is still very vivid in my mind and the older I get, the more I cherish it.

Shaquille O’Neal’s debut as a full-fledged NBA analyst had him raving about LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. As for Chris Bosh? Apparently, Shaq’s not a big fan of his work.

AP File PhotoShaq is a fan of LeBron James, left, and Dwyane Wade, right. Chris Bosh? Not so much.

Shaquille O’Neal’s debut as a full-fledged NBA analyst had him raving about LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

As for Chris Bosh?

Apparently, Shaq’s not a big fan of his work.

During NBA TV’s show Tuesday to announce the league’s schedule for the 2011-12 season — one jeopardized by a lockout — O’Neal referred to the Heat as having a “Big 2.”

Since Bosh, Wade and James teamed up in Miami, they have been called the “Big 3” in many circles.

“The Miami Heat, they’ve got a lot of great players, the ‘Big 2.’ They will be back,” O’Neal said from Louisiana during the broadcast, when discussing the NBA Finals and how Dallas was able to defeat Miami for the title. “LeBron James is taking a lot of criticism, but I know LeBron very well.

“He hears everything that everyone is saying, so I think he’s going to come back and have an MVP year this year.”

O’Neal played with James on the Cavs and with Wade on the Heat. After the discussion turned to O’Neal’s health and his decision to retire, the talk was steered back to his “Big 2” comment.

O’Neal laughed off the notion that a controversy was already getting started.

“Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, you know, they’re great players, they’re probably the greatest backcourt ever assembled,” O’Neal said. “And you know, they’re going to get back.”

Yao set to retire today: Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is likely to make it official today, announcing what is expected to be his retirement from the NBA and a sport that made him a household name in China.

Labor update: Staff members from the NBA and players association will meet Friday, the first session related to collective bargaining since the lockout began July 1. The meeting won’t include Commissioner David Stern, union Executive Director Billy Hunter, or players or owners, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions. No new proposals are expected.

More layoffs: The Minnesota Timberwolves have laid off at least 11 business side employees as the effects of the NBA lockout start to sink in across the league.

Will 600 career home runs mean Jim Thome will get inducted into the baseball hall of fame?

AP Photo | Tony DejakMinnesota Twins' Jim Thome.

Jim Thome is four home runs away from 600 for his career. He will become only the eighth slugger to reach 600 or more home runs.

In the era of PED's, Thome was never accused of taking drugs. Starting with his time with the Tribe, Thome was a lock to hit at least 35 home runs and drive in 100 runs from the mid-90s up until about 2008.

In 2002, Thome had 52 home runs, despite being walked 122 times. His 13.57 at-bat per home run ratio that season ranks fifth on baseball's all-time list.

But when it comes to the hall of fame, Thome's critics point out how Thome has never been an MVP. How he is ranked No. 2 all time in strikeouts. And despite all of Thome's homers he's only been in the top ten in RBI and runs just three times each. He finished in the top ten in batting average only once in his career. Thome's batting average in the postseason is .217.

And is 600 homers what it used to be?   

Which free agents should the Browns go after?

PDAbe Elam

Whenever the NFL owners and players come to an agreement, which many expect to happen this week, and a wild free agency period will begin.

That means the Cleveland Browns and the other NFL teams will have a short window to sign undrafted free agents, veteran free agents and rookie draft picks.

So out of all of the free agents available on their roster, which one player would you like to see the Browns sign?

"A golden chance to keep burying the Twins and then that disastrous 9th inning. Let's not forget the wasted chances in the 5th inning. Bases loaded, nobody out, 2-3-4 hitters coming up and we get one run. A 3-run inning there would have all but buried the Twinkies. Just a terrible 9th inning by Perez and Valbuena. Perez flirts with trouble frequently. Tonight he got burned. This one hurts bad." - stlclevefan

View full sizeAP Photo | Genevieve RossChris Perez blew just his second save of the season Tuesday night in Minnesota.

In response to the story Tribe's Chris Antonetti says Grady Sizemore's injury doesn't change plans: Indians Insider, cleveland.com reader stlclevefan wishes the Indians could have finished off the Twins Tuesday night. This reader writes,

"A golden chance to keep burying the Twins and then that disastrous 9th inning. Let's not forget the wasted chances in the 5th inning. Bases loaded, nobody out, 2-3-4 hitters coming up and we get one run. A 3-run inning there would have all but buried the Twinkies. Just a terrible 9th inning by Perez and Valbuena. Perez flirts with trouble frequently. Tonight he got burned. This one hurts bad."

"Haven't people learned from the Tim Couch days what happens to young QBs when you don't immediately build a viable offensive line and running game for them? I was thrilled we didn't draft a WR with our first two picks. We need to build inside out. WR is a luxury for good teams with the foundations (OL,QBand defense in place). You can add RBs and WRs later." - bluebengal

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerThe Browns and their fans hope players like Phil Taylor can help form a solid foundation for the team.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns can't be shy in adding more talent when lockout ends: Terry Pluto, cleveland.com reader bluebengal thinks the focus for the Browns should remain on the lines. This reader writes,

"Haven't people learned from the Tim Couch days what happens to young QBs when you don't immediately build a viable offensive line and running game for them? I was thrilled we didn't draft a WR with our first two picks. We need to build inside out. WR is a luxury for good teams with the foundations (OL,QBand defense in place). You can add RBs and WRs later."

"I suppose it's prudent to be prepared in case the players capitulate quickly, but I think it's overly optimistic to assume there will be a full schedule played this year. I think there's a far better chance that the lockout will last all season rather than a full season being played, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see." - Sorry, but you're wrong

View full sizeMary Altaffer | Associated PressThe NBA released its 2011-2012 schedule yesterday, but David Stern and the owners have the players locked out for now.

In response to the story Cleveland Cavaliers will begin 2011-12 season at Boston Celtics; Miami Heat visit Nov. 18, cleveland.com reader Sorry, but you're wrong doesn't think there will be much of a season. This reader writes,

"I suppose it's prudent to be prepared in case the players capitulate quickly, but I think it's overly optimistic to assume there will be a full schedule played this year. I think there's a far better chance that the lockout will last all season rather than a full season being played, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

Lou Marson doesn't swing for the fences.

APLou Marson

Lou Marson needs only five more home runs to reach double figures. For his career, writes Ohio.com reporter Sheldon Ocker.

Ocker writes how Marson hit his first of the season Monday night.

“Should I be hitting more home runs, why not?” he said Tuesday. “Oh, I don’t know. It would be great if I had more homers. I think I should start going with the big leg kick and swing as hard as I can.”

Marson said all of this tongue-in-cheek. He isn’t counting on some day going for his 400th career long ball, maybe not even his 200th.

Marson has received some sound advice from hitting coach Bruce Fields.

“A lot of what Bruce has said has been good,” Marson said of new hitting coach Bruce Fields. “His big thing — which is refreshing to me — is to stick to my strength, which is driving the ball to right-center field.”

Game stories

Cleveland.com: Twins rally to defeat Tribe.

Ohio.com: Twins score two in the ninth.

MLB.com: Tribe can't hold on.

TwinsCities.com: Twins sweat out victory.

The Cleveland Indians' Chris Perez is a better than average, if atypical, closer, writer Paul Hoynes says. Watch video

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

The Indians dropped a heartbreaker last night in Minnesota when closer Chris Perez surrendered two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Perez has had a problem with walks, and one of the guys to whom he issued a free pass is current Twinkie and former Indian Jim Thome.

So, the guys want to know whether you think Thome, who was a key part of the Indians' World Series runs in 1995 and 1997, is a Hall of Famer. That's today's Starting Blocks poll. Branson and Chuck both think he's not a first-ballot entrant into the shrine, but that's where they split: Branson isn't sure he's a Hall of Famer at all, and Chuck is convinced that he's earned a spot in Cooperstown.

Plain Dealer baseball writer Paul Hoynes, who covered the Tribe during the awful years before and since those Series runs, says Thome gets HIS first-round ballot.

Hoynsie also wonders why Cleveland fans are after Perez's scalp following last night's blown save. Both of the saves Perez has blown have been one-run games. Hoynsie notes that Perez isn't a 1-2-3 kind of stereotypical closer, but he pointed out that the guy is just about as lights-out as the Yankees' Mariano Rivera.

The guys also discuss the beaning of Travis Buck and the odd alignment of a universe that has the Indians AND the Pirates in first place in the dwindling days of July. Also on the docket: Hoynsie's take on what the Tribe would be willing to surrender (hint: not Drew Pomeranz) to get the pitching or a right-handed bat for a run at this year's post-season.

Tune in tomorrow for another edition of SBTV

Bay High School middle hitter Rachel Vick has given the Eastern Kentucky volleyball program  her oral commitment. "I found no faults with Eastern Kentucky,'' said Vick, who also visited Youngstown State, Cleveland State and Kent State. "It's not that the other three schools had any faults, it's just that I fell in love with EKU more than the other...

Bay High School middle hitter Rachel Vick has given the Eastern Kentucky volleyball program  her oral commitment.

"I found no faults with Eastern Kentucky,'' said Vick, who also visited Youngstown State, Cleveland State and Kent State. "It's not that the other three schools had any faults, it's just that I fell in love with EKU more than the other places.

"I feel it's going to be the perfect place for me.''

Wednesday afternoon's top entertainment and celebrity fare includes the origin of Captain America and the favorite snack of Angelina Jolie's boys (the answer might bug you).

View full sizeMarvel Comics/APIn the comics world, a successful hero needs a villain. For Captain America, that was Adolf Hitler, says the co-creator of the man with the shield.

Wednesday afternoon's top arts, entertainment and celebrity news:

Captain America's co-creator says Adolf Hitler was the genesis for the comic book hero who comes to life on the big screen this weekend. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Eric Dane, the McSteamy of "Grey's Anatomy," checks into rehab to battle painkiller addiction. (People)

British judge orders cops to disclose info in News of the World hacking case involving Hugh Grant and Jemima Khan. (BBC)

Yum-o! Angelina Jolie says her boys are hooked on cooked crickets, and scarf 'em down 'like Doritos.' (ABCNews.com)

R. Kelley has emergency throat surgery. (USA Today)

Paris Hilton storms off set during interview for "Good Morning America." No one notices. (twirlit.com)

Actress Kristin Cavallari and NFL quarterback Jay Cutler put cookie tins and muffin pans on their wedding gift wish list. (yahoo.com)

Gwen Stefani reportedly set to launch children's clothing line at Target. (OnTheRedCarpet.com)

Michael Brantley and Travis Buck still sidelined. Luis Valbuena makes his first big-league start in left field in series finale against the Twins.

So Luis Valbuena, a second baseman by trade, made his first big league start in left field against Nick Blackburn. Starter Michael Brantley is still suffering from heat exhaustion and an intestinal ailment following Monday's day-night doubleheader.

Brantley didn't play Tuesday and he was still ill Wednesday.

"He's unplayable," said manager Manny Acta.

Travis Buck, hit in the head by a Nelson Liriano pitch in the fifth inning Tuesday, was unable to play as well. Buck, who replaced Brantley in the starting lineup Tuesday, still had a headache Wednesday morning. He has a history of concussions and the Indians decided to play it safe.

Buck was examined Tuesday night and showed no signs of a concussion. Valbuena replaced Buck on Tuesday as a pinch-runner and finished the game in left field. Wednesday was his third appearance in the outfield in the big leagues.

When the Indians arrived in Minneapolis on Monday, they put center fielder Grady Sizemore on the disabled list and sent him back to Cleveland to have his right knee examined. Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo went on the disabled in June.

Acta said they may have to make a roster move before opening a nine-game homestand Friday with a series against Chicago.

Brantley has been treated with IVs, but has been able to eat solid food.

Acta said several Indians received IVs before and after Monday's doubleheader to keep them hydrated during the extreme heat. Brantley played both ends of the day-night doubleheader and went 5-for-8.

"We targeted the players who were playing both guys in the doubleheader," he said.

Here are the gametime temperatures during the four-game series: Monday (first game) 90 degrees; Monday (second game) 93 degrees; Tuesday 94 degrees and Wednesday 93 degrees.

Acta said he's hopeful Brantley will be able to play Friday with Wednesday and Thursday off.

Today's lineups:

Indians (51-45): CF Ezequiel Carrera (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), DH Travis Hafner (L), C Carlos Santana (S), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 2B Orlando Cabrera (R), 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (L), RF Austin Kearns (R), LF Luis Valbuena (L), RHP Josh Tomlin (11-4, 4.03).

Twins (45-51): CF Ben Revere (L), 2B Alexi Casilla (S), 1B Joe Mauer (L), RF Michael Cuddyer (R), DH Jim Thome (L), 3B Danny Valencia (R), LF Delmon Young (R), SS Tsuyoshi Nishioka (S), C Drew Butera (R), RHP Nick Blackburn (7-6, 3.99).

Him vs. me: Cuddyer is 2-for-3 with a double against Tomlin. Asdrubal Cabrera is hitting .333 (9-for-27) with five doubles against Blackburn.

Lefty-righty: Lefties are hitting .263 (64-for-243) with nine homes and righties are hitting .212 (46-for-217) with nine homers off Tomlin. The Twins have three lefties and two switch-hitters in the lineup.

Lefties are hitting .298 (70-for-298) with seven homers and righties are hitting .276 (63-for-228) with eight homers against Blackburn. The Indians have four lefties and two switch-hitters in the lineup.

Umpires: H Rob Drake, 1B Gary Darling, 2B Bruce Dreckman, 3B Alan Porter. Darling, crew chief.

Quote of the day: "We're proud of Venezuela and Venezuelan baseball. People in America don't realize it, but we've got 25, 30 million people here, and so many of us love baseball. This is a great place to look for talent," former Twins pitcher and two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana

Next: Thursday is an off day for the Indians.

The Twins scored two runs in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead against the Indians.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Twins lead the Indians, 2-0, Wednesday afternoon at Target Field after three innings.

Minnesota, trying to split the four-game series, struck quickly against Josh Tomlin. Ben Revere singled to start the first. It broke a 0-for-13 slump for Revere. Alexi Casilla, the No.2 hitter, scored Revere with a double to right.

Joe Mauer, with seven hits in 11 at-bats in the first three games of the series, singled to right to score the fleet Casilla for a 2-0 lead.

The Twins beat up Tomlin on June 6, scoring six runs on nine hits against him in six innings. It was Tomlin's first career start against Minnesota.

Nick Blackburn, who entered the game with a 6-3 record against the Tribe, gave up a leadoff single to Ezequiel Carrera. After Carrera was thrown out on an attempted steal of second, Blackburn retired eight straight.

Robbie Alomar

Gus Chan/The Plain DealerAfter 11 years in the majors, Roberto Alomar signed with the Indians in 1998. Alomar, pictured above after the signing was announced.

Fox Sports columnist Tracy Ringolsby writes about Roberto Alomar's early life, and how Sandy Johnson, a scouting director with the Padres, noticed his potential. Johnson spent time at the Alomar home in Puerto Rico, working out Alomar's older brother, Sandy Jr., who eventually signed with the Padres in October 1983.

"We'd be working out Sandy and some other kids we were looking at, hitting grounders and throwing them batting practice, and Robbie was always there," Johnson said. "We'd start a drill and he'd start yelling, 'I want to do that, too.' He wanted to hit. He wanted to run the 60-yard dash. He wanted to take grounders and shag in the outfield.

Now that same kid from the dirt fields in Puerto Rico will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ringolsby writes how Alomar became the youngest player elected to the Hall of Fame.

He joins Roberto Clemente and Orlando Cepeda as the only Puerto Rican-born Hall of Famers.

At the time of the announcement of Alomar's election, his mother recalled those challenging mornings in her son's youth when she would have to work at waking him up to go to school.

"I don't need to go to school,’’ she said he would explain. "I'm going to be a big league baseball player."

Alomar would eventually get up. He would go to school.

Bill Lubinger of Cleveland.com also writes about Alomar's time with the Cleveland Indians. 

But as frustrating as his seasons in Cleveland may have ended, they remain among his most special.

"I always believed no matter where you are, as long as you're doing what you love doing, you're going to be happy," he said in a recent phone interview. "I was happy everywhere, but I was real, real happy when I played with my brother Sandy."

Aaron Shea will rejoin the Browns organization as director of player development.

 

PD fileAaron Shea

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Browns tight end Aaron Shea has been hired by the club to be its new director of player development, according to a NFL source.

Shea replaces Jerry Butler, who was let go following last season after 12 years with the Browns.

In his new job, Shea will help players transition into and out of their careers and help prepare them for life after football.

Shea was drafted out of Michigan by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2000 draft and caught 97 passes for 851 yards and seven touchdowns in six seasons. He spent his final NFL season on the injured list with the San Diego Chargers.

Cautioning not to assume the lockout will be over by the weekend, NFL Players Association president Kevin Mawae said his group is "not tied" to a deadline for getting a deal done in the next 24 hours.

NFL football quarterback Charlie Batch arrive at the NFL Players Association offices in Washington, Tuesday, July 19, 2011, as talks to end the NFL lockout continued. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON — Cautioning not to assume the lockout will be over by the weekend, NFL Players Association president Kevin Mawae said his group is "not tied" to a deadline for getting a deal done in the next 24 hours.

"We want to go back to work," Mawae said Wednesday outside NFLPA headquarters, "but we will not agree to a deal unless it's the best deal for the players."

If the four-month lockout — the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 — is going to end in time to keep the preseason completely intact, the players and owners almost certainly must ratify the deal by Thursday. The St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears are scheduled to open the preseason Aug. 7 in the Hall of Fame game.

The NFLPA's executive committee and representatives of all 32 teams were meeting in Washington, prepared to review and vote on a full agreement — if they received it later Wednesday. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and nine of the 10 members of the owners' labor committee arrived at a hotel near the Atlanta airport on Wednesday, so they could decide whether to recommend a finalized proposal to all club owners, who are due to be there Thursday

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who is on the labor committee, wasn't expected to participate because his wife died Wednesday, at age 68, after a battle with cancer.

If owners do vote Thursday, at least 24 would need to OK the deal. If it's passed by both sides, team executives would be schooled later that day and Friday in Atlanta in the guidelines and how to apply them; topics would include the 2011 NFL calendar, rookie salary system and new free agency rules.

"Our goal today is to see what is on the table and discuss outlying issues," Mawae said. "The players are not tied to a July 21 timeline. Our timeline is that which gives us the best deal for the players — today, tomorrow or whatever it might be."

Two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that players and owners were expected to review a potential agreement by midday Wednesday. Another person, however, said there still were issues to be resolved.

All three people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the process was supposed to remain confidential.

The NFLPA's executive committee reviewed only portions of a potential agreement Tuesday, with not enough information to warrant a vote yet.

There still were unresolved issues Tuesday, including what it would take to get the 10 plaintiffs — including quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson and Patriots guard Logan Mankins — to sign off on a settlement to their antitrust lawsuit against the NFL that is pending in federal court in Minnesota.

Late Tuesday, Jackson tweeted: "I have made no demands, I wanna play ball like the rest of my peers!"

"Obviously, there's the litigation with the named plaintiffs, and I am not familiar with the whole legal part of it. ... But at the end of the day," Mawae said, "the deal we are working on is the deal that's best for all the players in the NFL, and not just four guys."

Another pending dispute has been the TV networks case, in which players accused owners of setting up $4 billion in "lockout insurance."

The country's most popular professional sports league has been in limbo since the old collective bargaining agreement expired March 11. The lockout began hours later. The regular-season opener is scheduled for Sept. 8, when the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers are to host the New Orleans Saints.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Game status remains in limbo.

View full sizeScott Heckel, Canton RepositoryThe Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 posed with their busts after being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Aug. 7, 2010. From left are: Emmitt Smith, Dick LeBeau, Russ Grimm, John Randle, Rickey Jackson, Jerry Rice and Floyd Little.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- NFL owners are meeting in Atlanta Thursday to vote on ratification of a global settlement of the sport's labor dispute, which would end their lockout of players and resume the sport's business after a four-month shutdown.

And nobody in the NFL is hanging more nervously on the outcome than officials of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

"We're sitting here with our fingers crossed," Joe Horrigan, the Hall's vice president of communications, said Wednesday.

The fate of the annual Hall of Fame Game, scheduled for Sunday night, Aug. 7, hinges on the dispute being resolved immediately, freeing the Chicago Bears and St. Louis to report to training camp next week.

Horrigan said the Hall is prepared to stage the game in Fawcett Stadium practically at a moment's notice. But the competing teams have to get into training camp in enough time to prepare to perform in a game. The time crunch might have expedited the bargaining process of late, but there's no time for a setback. The game also means millions of dollars in network TV revenue to the league.

In Atlanta on Wednesday, NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash said saving the Hall of Fame Game was still possible.

“I hope so. We’ll see," Pash said. "It’s getting tight. It’s getting pretty tight. It would be pretty challenging, so that is one of the things we’ll have to focus on.”

A report this week in the Chicago Sun-Times that the game had been canceled was called erroneous by the NFL. But as of Wednesday, Hall officials had not been assured that the game was saved.

"Literally, I don't know if anybody does [know if the game is still on]," Horrigan said. "That's kind of the response I get when I inquire."

Horrigan hopes one of the first orders of business after a ratification vote will be a call from the NFL officially saving the game.

"I would imagine they'd go to the teams first because they're the ones that have to make the biggest adjustment," he said. "But I would assume [saving the game] would be fairly high on the list of things to do [after an agreement]. It's a big kickoff to the preseason. We're ready and waiting."

At stake is millions of dollars in revenue already included in the Hall's yearly operating budget. While the annual Hall of Fame Game is only one of many events surrounding the annual induction ceremony -- scheduled for Saturday night, Aug. 6 -- it has a tremendous financial impact on the Hall.

Horrigan said canceling the game would be felt in four ways.

"Our ticket sales are substantial income for us," he said. "So we would have a financial loss without the game. We also do a lot of retail sales around the game as well. That too would be impacted."

Horrigan said a popular-selling ticket package to the Hall's events, which include tickets to the game, has stalled because of the uncertainty. So attendance at some of the other events would suffer from a cancellation.

Also, the loss of prime-time exposure on NBC, which televises the Sunday game, would impact the Hall of Fame significantly, Horrigan said.

"The nationally televised event brings us a lot of exposure and puts us in the mind of folks for a very long time," he said. "It's a reason we appreciate having the game for that alone. It's a great springboard for the rest of our year.

"And from a community perspective, what community would not want to be in three hours of prime-time, where they're constantly referring to the people of Canton, Ohio? It's a great opportunity there."

Horrigan said rescheduling the game has never been proposed as an option by the NFL because of logistical problems with the teams and NBC.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

High school football coaches should reconsider their plans to pay tribute to former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel on the opening weekend of the season.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerWith Ohio State placing all of the blame for its current NCAA predicament at the feet of former head coach Jim Tressel, it seems an odd time for high school coaches to be offering an opening-game tribute to him, says Bill Livingston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If Ohio high school football coaches plan to go through with their idea of saluting former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel by wearing ties on the likely sweltering opening weekend of the season in late August, they better drink plenty of fluids.

If any are inclined to go for a "full Tressel," sweater vest and all, frequent Gatorade showers might help.

"A white shirt and red tie is what I'm going to wear. It's going to be too hot for a sweater vest," said St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle, whose teams have won 10 big-school state championships.

A better move might be to rethink the whole proposition.

Tressel, who won seven Big Ten championships and a national championship in 10 years in Columbus, resigned under fire on Memorial Day, the biggest victim of the memorabilia sale scandal by his players and his own cover-up of the wrongdoing. Tressel was the sole agent of the cover-up, according to Ohio State officials.

Because Tressel knowingly played ineligible players last season, OSU has vacated all of its victories in a 12-1 season, including the controversial one over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, in which the five most prominent culprits in the scandal all played after intense lobbying by OSU, Big Ten and bowl officials.

On Aug. 12 in Indianapolis, Tressel, athletic director Gene Smith and other Ohio State officials will face the NCAA's Infractions Committee, which will determine the full punishment the school will receive.

As Tressel's admirers argue, he was part of the all-time coaching triumvirate in this state, well behind Paul Brown and Woody Hayes, to be sure, but deserving of mention with them, both for his great success and for his appreciation of and loyalty to Ohio high schools. Tressel put an invisible fence around the state when it came to recruiting, both because of the connection he made with its high school coaches and the high values he espoused.

"Jim Tressel was a friend to every high school coach in this state, and he went well out of his way to help high school coaches," said Kyle. "He brought back the feeling that Ohio and Ohio State were tied closely together. We knew that Ohio State would be fair in its evaluation process of players and in recruiting them. He tied high school coaches closely to Ohio State."

It is easy to understand the admiration and gratitude Kyle and many others hold for Tressel. "This is just saying, despite what happened, 'C'mon, he's a good guy,'" Kyle said.

As for the violations that led to Tressel's downfall, Kyle said, "Does it happen at other schools? Most assuredly it does. It seems to me that the NCAA is afraid it has lost control of basketball [because players can jump to the NBA after only one college season]. So they are determined not to lose football, too."

Kyle is a good coach and a good man. But high school coaches planning to pay tribute to Tressel this way are letting their hearts, not their heads, make the call.

Kyle's implication that the NCAA is cracking down extra hard is not really true in the Tressel case. In the NCAA rules manual, failure to report known violations is the second example given in the passage devoted to defining unethical behavior by coaches.

The high school coaches are certainly right that the scandal alone should not define Tressel. Everyone makes mistakes. Tressel made a whopper. He also did a lot of good for a lot of people. Some of those who got to know Tressel over their 10 years of covering him felt overwhelming sadness and regret at his downfall.

At the same time, reporters had to confront what he did. It was a fireable offense. It amounted to a repudiation of the honorable behavior he championed. He had to go because Ohio State's reputation was on the line.

As critics have pointed out many times, Tressel could have reported the players as soon as he found out about the violations in March 2010 and did not. He could have told the truth on the preseason rules compliance form he signed in September and did not. He could have come clean at the December news conference and did not. He could have benched the guilty players for the Sugar Bowl and did not.

High school coaches will be the grownups on the sidelines on the first weekend of the season. They should realize that a personal message of support and appreciation for Tressel, maybe even an OHSFCA proclamation to that effect, is one thing.

But they are role models in the eyes of their players and their communities. A public show, complete with Tressel disguises, of solidarity with a coach who stepped down because of cheating and lying is another thing entirely. It sends the wrong message to high school players and students.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

In the 20 months since Woods was caught having multiple extramarital affairs, he has lost four major sponsors, changed swing coaches, was divorced from his wife and now has cut loose his caddie.

View full sizeAP fileFor more than a decade, Steve Williams (left) had been caddie and trusted friend to Tiger Woods -- a relationship that officially ended on Wednesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Tiger Woods and Steve Williams were together for 12 years and some 250 tournaments, a player-caddie relationship that produced 72 wins, 13 majors and a friendship so strong that each served in the other's wedding.

It ended Wednesday with a stock line from Woods that players use when firing a caddie -- "It's time for a change."

The announcement on his Web site only deepened the mystery around Woods, who has fallen to No. 20 in the world and hasn't played since May because of injuries to his left leg that first were described as "minor."

In the 20 months since Woods was caught having multiple extramarital affairs, he has lost four major sponsors, changed swing coaches, was divorced from his wife and now has cut loose his caddie.

"I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it's time for a change," Woods said. "Stevie is an outstanding caddie and a friend and has been instrumental in many of my accomplishments. I wish him great success in the future."

Woods did not say who would replace Williams -- one of only two caddies he has employed on a regular basis -- or when he might return to golf.

"Needless to say, this came as a shock," Williams said in a statement posted on his own Web site.

Williams, who previously worked for Greg Norman and Raymond Floyd, worked the last three tournaments for Adam Scott. That included the U.S. Open and British Open, which Woods skipped while trying to let his left leg heal.

"A player has the right to fire a caddie at any given time," Williams told The Associated Press from his summer home in Oregon. "And for a player when he's not playing at his best for extended period of time, it's not uncommon to change caddies, coaches, psychologists or bring on a psychologist. We all know the business. I have no problem being fired. But I'm disappointed in the timing of it."

When asked over the weekend at the British Open if he was still working for Woods, Williams grinned and said, "Why would you ask a question like that?" He never answered the question, but gave no indication that he would not caddie for Woods when he did return.

Turns out he had known for two weeks, and kept quiet out of respect for Scott.

Williams said he met with Woods in a board room at Aronimink after the final round of the AT&T National on July 3, and Woods told him they would no longer work together. Williams said they agreed not to say anything until after the British Open, to keep from being a distraction to Scott.

More than a caddie, Woods and Williams had been close friends. Both got engaged while on safari after The Presidents Cup in South Africa, and they were in each other's weddings. Woods played the New Zealand Open in 2002 as a favor to Williams (he also received a $2 million appearance fee), and he took an interest in Williams' race car driving by taking part in a celebrity race on the dirt tracks of New Zealand.

The relationship began showing signs of strain after Woods crashed his car on Thanksgiving night, followed by stunning revelations of serial adultery.

Despite their friendship, Williams went months without hearing anything from Woods. And it became awkward at times because Woods' ex-wife and Williams' wife were close friends. On the golf course, their body language looked different, and Williams wondered aloud in the spring if the player-caddie relationship was getting stale.

Williams has been labeled a bully over the years while working for Woods amid a constant circus. At the 2002 Skins Game, he put a camera into the pond when a photographer snapped a picture in the middle of Woods' swing on the final hole. At the 2004 U.S. Open, he kicked the lens of a New York Daily News photographer, and took the camera away from a fan who turned out to be an off-duty policeman.

He also brought Woods undue attention toward the end of 2008 by making disparaging remarks about Phil Mickelson during a charity dinner in New Zealand, then repeating them when a reporter called for comment the following day. Woods intervened and told Williams to apologize.

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