Quantcast
Channel: Cleveland Sports News
Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live

Ohio State Buckeyes P.M. links: Terrelle Pryor might have a job; Joe Bauserman, Braxton Miller seek his old one

0
0

Pryor has been ruled eligible for the NFL supplemental draft, but that has no bearing on who his replacement will be.

joe-bauserman-braxton-miller.jpgJoe Bauserman (14) and Braxton Miller (5), the top candidates to be Ohio State's starting quarterback.

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com covers Ohio State football as the Buckeyes prepare to open their 2011 season on Sept. 3 against Akron's Zips at Ohio Stadium.

Thursday's coverage has included numerous reports about former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who has been ruled by the NFL as eligible for its supplemental draft next Monday. Among the stories is Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises' outlook on the NFL's ruling.  

Pryor will have to sit out the first five regular season games of whichever team selects him, a result of his involvement in the memorabilia for tattoos/cash scandal that led to the forced resignation of coach Jim Tressel, Pryor's early departure from the school, five-game suspensions for several Buckeyes and Ohio State's vacating of its 12 wins and 2010 Big Ten title.

The favorites to replace three-year starter Pryor at quarterback are senior Joe Bauserman and true freshman Braxton Miller. Brandon Castel writes about the quarterback competition for the-ozone.net.

Other links to Ohio State stories:

What's going on with Ohio State's really, really big guys -- defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins and offensive lineman Chris Carter.

Scout.com and CollegeFootballNews.com looks back at Ohio State's 31-24 two-overtime win over Miami (Fla.) in the national championship game (Fiesta Bowl) on Jan. 3, 2003. The current problems for Miami's program have taken the spotlight off Ohio State's scandal.

A report on Ohio State's defense by Tony Gerdeman for the-ozone.net. And, Brandon Castel reoirts for the-ozone.net on the Buckeyes offense.

The Bleacher Report looks at the 2012 recruiting classes for Ohio State and rival Michigan.

Buckeyes coach Luke Fickell has little to say about the quarterback derby. An Associated Press report on ESPN.com.


Kosuke Fukudome, Justin Masterson lead Cleveland Indians to victory over Chicago White Sox

0
0

Kosuke Fukudome has three hits, including an RBI triple, and Matt LaPorta hits a two-run homer as the Indians take two-of-three in Chicago.

Gallery preview CHICAGO, Ill. — Before the game, Tribe manager Manny Acta sat down on the dugout bench next to Kosuke Fukudome to hold his daily meeting with reporters. He put his arm around Fukudome and pulled him close.

"Do this interview with me," said Acta. "I'll answer the questions in Spanish, then you can translate them into Japanese."

Fukudome corrected his manager, saying, "No, I'll tell them to Hiro [Aoyama, Fukudome's interpreter], and he can say them in English."

Whatever the language, Fukudome is helping the Indians in their quest to win the American League Central. He had three hits Thursday night, including tripling home Shin-Soo Choo with the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, in the Indians' 4-2 victory over Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field.

Fukudome, acquired from the Cubs on July 27 for two minor-leaguers, went 5-for-8 combined Wednesday and Thursday to help the Indians take their first series from the White Sox this season. The victory moved them to 1 1/2 games behind the idle first-place Tigers.

It was the first time the Indians had won a series on the road since they took two out of three from the Reds in July. They are 3-7 against Chicago but have won seven of their past 11 games overall.

"After losing the first game in 14 innings, we came back with two well-pitched ball games to win a very important series for us," said Acta.

Justin Masterson (10-7, 2.71 ERA) threw 108 pitches in six innings for the victory. In four starts against Chicago this season, he's 2-2 with a 1.61 ERA (five earned runs in 28 innings).

Masterson allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings. He struck out two and walked three. He's 2-0 in August with a 3.74 ERA.

"This was a much-needed series. We wanted to take this final game," said Masterson. "That's been our motto -- win each series.

"I was able to keep it close enough. The guys played great defense. The offense was incredible and, again, the bullpen just shut it down."

Rafael Perez, Joe Smith, Vinnie Pestano and Chris Perez backed Masterson with three scoreless innings from there. Rafael Perez and Smith took care of the seventh. Vinnie Pestano pitched into and out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth. Chris Perez, working for the third straight game, retired the side in order in the ninth for his 27th save.

Fukudome, with his third hit of the night, tripled home Choo from first base in the sixth for a 3-2 lead. Choo opened the inning with a single off shortstop Alexei Ramirez's glove.

Will Ohman (0-3) retired Matt LaPorta on a fly ball to center but walked Jack Hannahan and hit Michael Brantley with a pitch to load the bases. Jason Frasor relieved and struck out Jason Donald, a last-minute replacement for second baseman Jason Kipnis, who was scratched from the lineup because of right oblique and hamstring injuries and is expected to be placed on the disabled list today.

Asdrubal Cabrera, however, worked Frasor for a walk to score Fukudome for a 4-2 lead.

"Fukudome has had some huge hits for us the last two nights . . . especially against left-handed pitching," said Acta. "He's been very clutch."

Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Paul Konerko's 28th homer. It was just the second homer Masterson had allowed this year to a right-handed batter.

"Two homers by right-handed hitters at this time of the season. . . . I'll take that," said Masterson.

LaPorta gave the Indians a 2-1 lead in the fourth with his 11th homer. He hit an 0-2 pitch from Zach Stewart with two out into the bleachers in right-center field. It was LaPorta's first homer since July 30 against Kansas City.

The White Sox tied the score, 2-2, in the fourth on a two-out single by Tyler Flowers. Alex Rios, who reached on a single and took second on a wild pitch, scored on Flowers' single to left.

Philip Humber started for the White Sox. In the second, Fukudome hit him above the right eye with a line drive. It knocked Humber flat on his back, but he immediately got to his feet. The White Sox, taking no chances, removed him from the game.

Humber walked off the field without assistance. The team announced later that Humber was alert and responsive and would be examined Friday.

"I asked one of the players [White Sox] if he was OK, and I intend to call over there to see how he's doing," said Fukudome, hitting .280 (21-for-75) since the trade.

Stewart relieved Humber.

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

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Louisville Slugger gets Jack Hannahan's newborn son ready for first at-bat: Cleveland Indians Chatter

0
0

Louisville Slugger and Tony Amato, the Indians clubhouse manager, work together to get a bat to Johnny Hannahan.

louisville slugger.JPGView full size

Clubhouse confidential: Bat manufacturer Louisville Slugger sent Johnny Hannahan a full-sized bat with his name, birthday and birth weight on it after reading about his premature birth. Indians third baseman Jack Hannahan is under contract by Louisville Slugger to use their bats and batting gloves.

Louisville Slugger and Tony Amato, the Indians clubhouse manager, worked together to get the bat to Jack and his family. Johnny Hannahan was born at 3:11 a.m. on Aug. 5. Hannahan's teammates paid for a private jet to make sure he could get from Boston to Cleveland in time for the birth.

Stat of the day: The Indians entered Thursday night's game 47-3 when they were leading after eight innings.

-- Paul Hoynes

Tension of a division race is impossible to avoid for Manny Acta: Cleveland Indians Insider

0
0

UPDATED: How do you look at the Indians' final 42 games? Are they all playoff games? Can you stand the suspension and pressure? Manager Manny Acta is just trying to take it a game at a time.

manny acta.JPGView full sizeIndians manager Manny Acta would prefer not to to be constantly reminded of the team's position in the AL Central as the regular season enters the final stretch, but he admits it's basically impossible to avoid.

CHICAGO, Ill. — They're all big. All 42 of them after Thursday night's game between the Indians and White Sox.

In a demented way, one could say that every one of the Indians' remaining games is a playoff game. But is that a smart way to look at them? Is it healthy?

"Every game means a lot when we play the White Sox, and after this, we're going to play Detroit," said Tribe manager Manny Acta. "With so many games left, if we go day by day paying attention to that, I'm going to get a heart attack.

"You can't get away from it. That's the fun part of it."

The Indians went into Thursday's game two games behind first place Detroit in the American League Central. The White Sox were 3 1/2 games behind the Tigers.

After Thursday's game, 30 of the Indians' final 42 games will be played in the Central. They will face Detroit nine times, Chicago eight times, Minnesota seven times and Kansas City six times.

Acta said the stretch run will be easier on the players than the coaching staff, front office and fans.

"It's a lot easier for them than us," said Acta. "I have nothing else to do but think about it. Try to come back the next day with a better plan. Or think ahead a week in advance.

"The players can put it behind them. Go out to dinner. Tweet. IPad and come to work the next day. Don't get me wrong, they do care . . . but it's not like us."

Don't get the wrong idea. Acta knows this is the time of year players and managers relish. He just thinks everyone should be allowed to take a deep breath now and then.

"This is the way it should be," he said. "Every game is important. But Jiminy Christmas, the top three teams right now could still finish 20 games out of first place with the amount of games left.

"You've seen it. All it takes is one good week by the two clubs playing here tonight to be three up. They lose seven in a row, we win seven in a row, bingo, we're three up. In a week."

Last year at this time, the Indians were 49-70 and 20 games out of first place.

"This is the time of year when you want to be scoreboard watching," said Acta. "You want to be playing meaningful games. What were we doing at this time last year? We had six guys out there who were getting their first opportunity to play in the big leagues. We were just sitting back, letting them play and teaching them."

DL, here he comes: Rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis, nursing a strained right oblique muscle, was scheduled to return to the lineup Thursday but strained his right hamstring while running in the outfield just before game time.

"I guess it was just destined that he wouldn't get to play in front of his family and friends here," said Acta. "With this injury and his other injury, it looks like he's going on the disabled list."

A move is expected to be made today. Luis Valbuena, who was already in the locker room after the Tribe's 4-2 victory Thursday, is expected to take Kipnis place. Kipnis had been idle for four games and five days with the oblique injury before getting the green light to start Thursday. Usually an oblique strain means a one-way ticket to the disabled list for four to six weeks.

Center of it all: Kosuke Fukudome started his fifth straight game in center field Thursday since Shin-Soo Choo came off the disabled list. In the process, he has put rookie center fielder Ezequiel Carrera on the bench.

"Fukudome is a sure thing," said Acta. "He's been there and done that. That's the difference between the two."

Finally: The Indians released outfielder Austin Kearns on Thursday after he cleared waivers. . . . The Tribe's Sept. 10 game against Chicago has been moved to a 4:10 p.m. start for Fox.

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

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Former Akron Zips football coaches use experiences for success at Division II

0
0

Lee Owens and Jim Dennison were both forced out at Akron, but they're doing well at the Division II level.

lee owens.JPGView full sizeLee Owens, left, shown in 2001, had a 40-61 record in nine seasons at Akron, but was fired after a 7-5 season in 2003. Now he's the coach at Division II Ashland, where he has a 49-28 record.
Lee Owens and Jim Dennison.

Both were football coaches at the University of Akron. Both coached their last games for the Zips at the age of 47. Both would have loved to have coached a game at the stunning InfoCision Stadium in downtown Akron. Both never dreamed the campus would look as good as it does today, or that the Zips would have such a superb facility.

But both also have learned another lesson.

"The big time is where you are at," said Dennison. "Don't spend time wondering 'What if?' or thinking about another job."

Now the coach at Walsh University, Dennison coached his final game for the Zips in 1985.

Owens' last Akron game was in 2003, when he was fired after a 7-5 record and before Charlie Frye's senior season.

"I was hurt," said Owens. "It bothered me on and off for a few years. But I also ended up with a great job."

Owens is in his ninth season at Ashland University. He's coming off an 8-3 season and is the first coach in school history to lead Ashland to back-to-back Division II playoff appearances.

"I look around, and we have our own new stadium," he said. "We have a lot of new facilities. Since I've been at Ashland, we have spent $55 million on academic buildings and $25 million on buildings for athletics. We hosted our first [Division II] playoff game [in 2009]. It's been a great experience."

Owens is now 55.

"When I was fired at Akron, I wasn't sure what I should do," he said.

"I had a chance to be an assistant at some Division I schools in other parts of the country, but I didn't want to move my family. Then Ashland called. I grew up eight miles from there. I had friends telling me to get another team, don't just sit around and feel sorry for yourself."

He also talked to Dennison, who had helped start the football program at Walsh, an NAIA school in North Canton.

"Coach Dennison encouraged me to seriously consider [Ashland]," said Owens. "He said it was a good level of football, a good move for me."

So Owens took it.

In the past few years, he has had some offers to be an assistant at some Division I schools -- but that would mean moving and leaving a program that he has been building.

Still coaching at 73

Dennison coached the Zips from 1973 to '85, when they played in Division I-AA. He had an 8-4 record in his final season with the Zips. They were ranked No. 10 in Division I-AA and made the playoffs. While he was respected and popular, the new school administration didn't deem him the man to take them into Division I football.

jim dennison.JPGView full sizeSince 1995, Jim Dennison has won 111 games as football coach at Walsh University. He was the head coach at Akron from 1973 to 1985, going 80-62-2.

When the school decided to move up to Division I, it wanted a "name" coach to attract attention. So Dennison was replaced by Gerry Faust, who had been fired at Notre Dame. Dennison was "reassigned" to a job in the athletic department.

But within a year, Dennison was named athletic director. You don't see that often: a football coach fired, then promoted to be the boss of the new coach.

"I'm proud that as AD, I was able to help Akron get into the MAC [Mid-American Conference]," said Dennison. "But I do admit, I missed coaching."

He was the athletic director from 1986 to '93. At 55, he received a lucrative buyout package, and Walsh came calling with the idea of starting a football team.

Like Owens, Dennison had no wish to drag his family across the country to follow his football dreams. But Walsh was right in his backyard. He was given full control of the athletic department and two years to put together a football team.

Nineteen years after stepping on a campus where they had no footballs, shoulder pads or any other basic equipment, Dennison is still coaching.

He has had only one losing season, and several of his teams have been nationally ranked.

"I'm really content," he said.

But wouldn't he have loved to be coaching Akron today?

"They have a great situation there now," he said. "But you won't hear me complain . . . PMA."

Any Dennison player will tell you that PMA is "Positive Mental Attitude." It has been his gospel for decades.

It's why he can sincerely say "the big time is where you are at."

Coming together

At one point, Ashland was the only Ohio school playing Division II football.

But now, NAIA schools are moving into Division II. Findlay, Ohio Dominican, Tiffin and Lake Erie College have joined and compete with Ashland in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Since 2003 when Owens was hired, Ashland has had the second-best record in the GLIAC.

"Our rival is Grand Valley," said Owens. "They are like Mount Union. We are 0-5 against them. That's our goal, to beat them."

Since 2000, Grand Valley is 102-7 with four national titles.

Next year, Walsh and Malone (in Canton) are expected to join the GLIAC.

"We give 22 scholarships," said Dennison. "But in the GLIAC, it goes up to 36. You divide them up among all your players. That means more opportunities for Ohio high school players -- because most of us recruit in our area."

Owens said: "Even though we can combine athletic scholarships with academic and other grants, every one of our kids has to pay something for school. I think that makes academics more important to most of these players because it does cost them something."

Owens added: "We are trying to go the Mount Union route in that we have about 150 kids and field a junior varsity team. There are a lot of opportunities in Division II for good players."

Owens was excited when Lake Erie College in Painesville joined the GLIAC, and adding Walsh along with Malone gives the league exposure in the Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Lake County markets.

Lake Erie coach Mark McNellie took the Dennison route, starting the program in 2007 with a club team. It moved into the GLIAC last season with a 3-8 overall record. Because of the football talent in Northeast Ohio and his aggressive approach to recruiting, McNellie could build Lake Erie into a GLIAC contender within a few years.

Former Akron offensive coordinator Paul Winters is another head coach in the GLIAC, at Wayne State in Detroit.

"Because we have been in Division I, I thought we'd come to Ashland and just be so much better in terms of X's and O's than a lot of teams," said Owens. "That turned out to be really wrong. There are some great coaches here."

The big time?

"Some coaches make the mistake of moving all over the country just to be at a major school," said Dennison. "I'm sure Lee and I would have loved for it to be different at Akron, but we also know we've been blessed to be at this level."

To reach Terry Pluto: terrypluto2003@yahoo.com, 216-999-4674

On Facebook: facebook.com/terrypluto


Beau Mills' grand slam gives Columbus Clippers victory over Pawtucket: Minor League Report

0
0

The Class A Kinston Indians cruise to a win, but the Akron Aeros, Lake County Captains and Mahoning Valley Scrappers all fall.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 7, Red Sox 5 Columbus 1B Beau Mills (.269) hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning to help the Clippers win the International League game in Pawtucket, R.I. It was Mills' fourth homer for Columbus.

Clippers 3B Jared Goedert (.253) hit his ninth homer of the season.

RH Zach McAllister (10-4, 3.37) started and went seven innings. He gave up four runs (all earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out five. LH Nick Hagadone (3.46) allowed a homer in between striking out the side in the eighth and RH Josh Judy (3.45) pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save.

AA Akron Aeros

Senators 4, Aeros 2 CF Ben Copeland (.285) had three hits but Akron lost the Eastern League game to visiting Harrisburg (Pa.).

Starter Austin Adams (9-10, 3.99) pitched seven innings for Akron. The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits. He struck out nine and walked none.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Indians 9, Pelicans 3 Kinston 1B Jeremie Tice (.274) had two hits, including his 10th homer of the season, RF Jordan Casas (.280) had three hits and the K-Tribe won the Carolina League game in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

A Lake County Captains

Silver Hawks 5, Captains 2 Lake County CF Luigi Rodriguez (.278) and LF Brian Heere (.266) each had two hits but the Captains committed four errors and lost the Midwest League game in South Bend, Ind.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Lake Monsters 7, Scrappers 6 Mahoning Valley 3B Jordan Smith (.344) had two hits, two walks and scored twice but the Scrappers dropped the New York-Penn League game in Winooski, Vt.

St. Edward grad Alex Lavisky (.207) doubled and drove in two runs for Mahoning Valley.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers 6, Beach Bums 2 LH Paul Fagan (6-9, 4.20) struck out 12 in eight innings to lead Lake Erie to the Frontier League win in Traverse City, Mich.

Terrelle Pryor finds his way into supplemental draft, but rankles NFL in the process

0
0

The league clearly didn't like the way Pryor tried to twist his case, and emphasize his NCAA rule-breaking, to fit the supplemental draft rules.

terrelle pryor.JPGView full sizeTerelle Pryor can enter the NFL's supplemental draft, but he will begin his pro career with a five-game suspension.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Could the first interaction between former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have ended any other way?

Pryor got what he wanted, and Goodell handed out a punishment.

On Thursday, after more than three weeks of wrangling, the NFL finally declared Pryor eligible for the supplemental draft, which will take place Monday. But the league also added a five-game suspension to the start of Pryor's NFL career, an unusual caveat that seems appropriate for Pryor, who has spent his football career as the exception to the rules.

Pryor will hold a workout for NFL teams in Pittsburgh on Saturday. He is expected to be a midround selection Monday.

The ruling immediately sparked debate about whether the NFL should be suspending players for their college misdeeds, except that argument missed the point.

Goodell didn't suspend Pryor for his NCAA violations that led to a five-game college suspension and started a chain reaction that helped end the career of former OSU coach Jim Tressel and sent the Buckeyes before the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

Goodell suspended Pryor for messing with the NFL's system.

The supplemental draft is for players who lose their college eligibility after the January deadline to declare for the regular draft. Pryor was only suspended for five games when he left Ohio State in June. But in July, Ohio State issued a letter saying that when Pryor decided not to cooperate with the NCAA, he rendered himself ineligible for the entire year.

Pryor's lawyers spent the past several weeks trying to prove to the NFL various ways he would have been ineligible for all of 2011.

The league clearly didn't like the way Pryor tried to twist his case, and emphasize his NCAA rule-breaking, to fit the supplemental draft rules.

"Pryor made decisions that undermine the integrity of the eligibility rules for the NFL Draft," the league said in a statement.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello later wrote on Twitter, "You can't break rules that undermine the integrity of our eligibility rules and get a free pass into the NFL."

"We are not enforcing NCAA rules," Aiello Tweeted later. "We are upholding our own eligibility rules, which have never been based on the notion that a college player could choose to violate NCAA rules, obtain declaration that he is ineligible for college [football], then enter the NFL draft."

In the end, both sides seem satisfied.

"We accept that [suspension] voluntarily," Pryor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told The Associated Press. "It's a small price to pay for him to have a chance to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL."

And the NFL, which could have stuck by the letter of its own supplemental draft laws, bent a bit to the spirit of the rules. Pryor's situation at Ohio State had changed after the NFL Draft, especially with Tressel's resignation in May and the continued NCAA investigation.

Would Pryor have been suspended for five NFL games if he had merely declared for the regular draft, escaping that college suspension? No.

That shows this is a supplemental draft issue, not an NCAA rules issue, and Thursday's decision does not set precedent for the next college player who breaks NCAA rules.

This suspension applies to Pryor. As Ohio State fans know, everything with Pryor is always a little different.

State wildlife officer indicted five years after alleged crimes: Northeast Ohio Outdoors Notebook

0
0

Federal officials indicted Ohio Wildlife Officer Allan Wright, 45, of Russellville, almost five years after Wright reportedly allowed a friend who is a South Carolina wildlife officer to illegally buy a less expensive resident Ohio hunting license.

magee marsh.JPGView full sizeThe popular waterfowl hunts at the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, near Port Clinton, had been canceled because of marsh renovations but are on again.

Federal officials indicted Ohio Wildlife Officer Allan Wright, 45, of Russellville, almost five years after he reportedly allowed a friend -- who is a South Carolina wildlife officer -- to illegally buy a less expensive Ohio resident hunting license.

The Ohio charges against Wright in Brown County in April 2010 were dismissed, pending further investigation. Five administrative officers in the Division of Wildlife were also indicted at the time for obstruction of justice after they gave Wright only a verbal reprimand in the licensing case. That case is still winding its way through district courts in southern Ohio.

Wright was put on unpaid leave this week and was ordered to turn in his state equipment.

The law enforcement arm of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating Wright's case. Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury in Cincinnati on Wednesday on four counts, including two felony charges of violating the Lacey Act for knowingly transporting illegally-taken wildlife across state lines.

Each felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

Wright allowed South Carolina Wildlife Officer Eric Vaughn to use Wright's home address to buy a $19 Ohio resident hunting license, much less than a $125 non-resident hunting license. Vaughn also killed three Ohio deer in 2006 using deer permits with the false Ohio address. Wright personally checked in the deer. It is not known if federal charges will also be filed against Vaughn.

The wildlife agency administrators indicted in Brown County were Chief David Graham, Law Enforcement Administrator James Lehman, Human Re sources Administrator Michele Ward, District 5 Manager Todd Haines and Assistant Chief Randy Miller. Graham has since retired.

Wright is also being investigated for giving away deer antlers seized from a deer poacher in 2009. Wright had told wildlife officials the antlers were destroyed, according to agency procedures, but Wright reportedly sent the antlers to someone in Michigan.

Magee duck hunts: The popular waterfowl hunts at the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area that had been canceled because of marsh renovations are on again, but only for youth hunts, opening day and the October portion of the regular waterfowl season. Hunters will have different hoops to jump through, with no-fee postcard lotteries assigning the hunts and hunters required to bring small boats to take them to marsh hunting areas.

"The construction has been delayed, so we're trying to offer as many hunts as we can," said marsh manager Patrick Baranowski of the Division of Wildlife. "We'll have the regular drawing for the early teal hunts on Saturday at the Lake Erie Waterfowlers Festival at Magee Marsh. The deadline for the postcard drawings for the youth waterfowl season, opening day and the October hunts is Sept. 1."

Saturday's teal hunt registration at Magee Marsh is from noon to 1:45 p.m. For more information on the postcard lotteries, visit wildohio.com and access wildlife news, or call 1-800-WILDLIFE. There will also be daily drawings for available areas at Magee Marsh on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays starting in November.

There have been rumors the delays in construction this year could cause a closure of Magee Marsh to hunters in 2012. That is a possibility, said Baranowski, "but I'm keeping my fingers crossed the work will be finished in time."

Duck dates: The Ohio Wildlife Council will set the regular-season duck and goose hunting dates Wednesday at its monthly meeting at District One Headquarters, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus. It's expected Ohio waterfowlers will again get a 60-day duck season beginning in mid-October, with an early October two-day youth season. The daily bag limit should again be six ducks. The early seasons already approved by the council begin Sept. 1. The early seasons include Canada goose (Sept. 1-15); dove (Sept. 1-Oct. 23 and Dec. 17-Jan. 2); and teal (Sept. 3-18).

Kasich greets sportsmen: Ohio Gov. John Kasich will be the featured speaker at the 15th annual Save Our Heritage Rally held by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, the Columbus-based lobbying organization for fishing, hunting and firearms issues. The Aug. 27 banquet will be at Aladdin Shrine Temple, 3850 Stelzer Road, Columbus, with the fundraising raffles starting at 3 p.m. The USSA is giving away a 20-acre parcel of southern Ohio hunting land again. For tickets ($50), visit ussportsmen.org or call 614-888-4868.

Glub, glub: Ever wonder what would happen if you pulled the trigger while a gun was under water? An Outdoor Life magazine blog answers that question, including a video of a revolver and a semiautomatic pistol being fired while submerged. The video is among the blogs at outdoorlife.com.

Minnesota mussels: Zebra mussels and their bigger cousins, the quagga mussels, have been a disaster for Lake Erie. The invasive species arrived in the ballast of ocean freighters a couple of decades ago. The mussels now clog intake pipes and fuel the phosphorous overload of Lake Erie's massive algal bloom, helping to create low oxygen levels and dead zones.

Minnesota's sprawling Mille Lacs Lake is now suffering from an explosion of tiny zebra mussels. Fisheries experts say it could change the walleye factory forever. Last year, scuba divers counted an average of 14 mussels per square foot on the bottom of Lake Mille Lacs. This spring, the average is a little more than 1,000 mussels per square foot, 73 times more than in 2010.

When first discovered in 2005, only four zebra mussels were found during 60 exploratory dives.

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


Ohio State Buckeyes Andrew Norwell man of few words, but he's getting talked up by coaches

0
0

After some high-profile recruiting disappointments on the offensive line, Andrew Norwell is a success story the Buckeyes absolutely need.

andrew norwell.JPGView full sizeAndrew Norwell earned playing time as a true freshman and is now locked in as the starting left tackle for the first five games of the season while Mike Adams is suspended.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sweat dripping down his cheeks, ringlets of hair hanging in his face this week, Ohio State sophomore Andrew Norwell, in short sentences, was trying to explain his place on the roster and what he might mean to the Buckeyes.

But the Norwells aren't much for talk.

"He's a man of few words," said Norwell's older brother Chris, a former defensive lineman at Illinois. "He won't chat you up. That's just how he is. He's just the type of guy who does his job. He's blue-collar."

For the 2011 Buckeyes, as well as the 2012 and 2013 Buckeyes, Norwell's presence on the roster says enough. After some high-profile recruiting disappointments on the offensive line -- Seantrel Henderson and Matt James in 2010, Glenville's Aundrey Walker in 2011, St. Edward's Kyle Kalis in the Class of 2012 -- Norwell is a success story the Buckeyes absolutely need.

A five-star recruit from Cincinnati in 2010, Norwell earned playing time as a true freshman and is now locked in as the starting left tackle for the first five games of the season while Mike Adams is suspended. When Adams returns, Norwell is a good bet to remain a starter somewhere on the line. And in the future, he will have to anchor a line that is already leaning on true freshmen and walk-ons on the second team this season.

An Ohio kid who knew he would be a Buckeye the minute he was offered a scholarship looks to be living up to his potential and should be a three-year starter? Invaluable.

Plus, he's a tough guy, the words OSU coach Luke Fickell used to describe him.

"He's a guy that's probably a lot of what we talk about being," Fickell said. "That's pretty normal for him. That's what excites us the most about him. I really think we're expecting big things from him this year."

Friend and OSU senior right tackle J.B. Shugarts and: "He's a pretty laid-back guy. But you don't want to make him mad, because he can get pretty rough on you."

The Norwell edge seems to have been inherited, passed through the seven kids in the family. The youngest of the three boys, Andrew, saw his older brother Adam play basketball at Northern Kentucky, while Chris played for the Illini after not getting a scholarship offer from Ohio State. Their father, Ivar, likes to tell a story about former OSU coach Jim Tressel telling him he wouldn't let another Norwell out of Ohio when it came to recruiting Andrew.

It was never in doubt. Andrew followed the Illini while his brother played but knew he wanted to be a Buckeye. Andrew learned the college game from his brother and was taught a nasty edge would be expected by college coaches. Andrew also saw Chris battle a form of cancer, Burkitt's lymphoma, that he was diagnosed with just when he should have been attempting to make an NFL roster as a free agent.

Now in remission and in his third-year as a football assistant at Division III Thomas More College in Kentucky, Chris was home in Cincinnati and at the game when Andrew broke his leg in the fourth game of his senior year in 2009, ending his high school career. Chris drove Andrew home from that game in Columbus.

"I think he has a high tolerance for pain," Chris said. "We didn't know how serious it was until later on.

"But something like that, you can't dwell on it or feel sorry for yourself. You just go out every day and try to get better. With both Andrew's injury and what I had to deal with, we took care of our own business."

That's basically how Andrew would encapsulate all he's trying to do as a Buckeye.

"Every play is a personal challenge for him," said Jeff Giesting, Norwell's coach at Cincinnati's Anderson High School. "He's not afraid to make his opponent look bad. He feels that guy is out there against him trying to make him look bad, and mentally and physically Andrew decides that's not going to happen. He's not going to back off anybody."

When Norwell knew the left tackle job would be open for the start of this season, he wasn't sure what it meant for the Buckeyes. He knew how he would approach it. "I wanted it," Norwell said. "I'm ready for it."

The Buckeyes can't have it any other way.

Lake Erie Monsters open fifth season at home Oct. 7

0
0

The AHL schedules were announced Thursday. The schedule features 76 games per team, down four from previous seasons.

lake erie monsters.JPGView full sizeThe Monsters will play 23 of their 38 home games on the weekend.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Lake Erie Monsters open their fifth AHL season Oct. 7 against the Abbottsford Heat at The Q, and end April 14 against Rochester at home.

The AHL schedules were announced Thursday. The schedule features 76 games per team, down four from previous seasons. The season has been lengthened by one week, eliminating scenarios of four games in five days.

The Monsters will play 23 of their 38 home games on the weekend (nine on Fridays, 11 on Saturdays and three on Sundays). Single-game tickets go on sale Aug. 23.

-- Staff reports

Home games in CAPS

OCTOBER

Friday, Oct. 7: ABBOTSFORD, 7:30; Saturday, Oct. 8: ABBOTSFORD, 6:00; Friday, Oct. 14: ROCHESTER, 7:30; Saturday, Oct. 15: at Toronto, 3:00; Sunday, Oct. 16: at Toronto, 1:00; Friday, Oct. 21: at Syracuse, 7:30; Saturday, Oct. 22: at Syracuse, 7:30; Sunday, Oct. 23: at Toronto, 5:00; Wednesday, Oct. 26: SYRACUSE, 7:00; Friday, Oct. 28: TORONTO, 7:30; Sunday, Oct. 30: TORONTO, 2:00.

NOVEMBER

Wednesday, Nov. 2: at Grand Rapids, 7:00; Thursday, Nov. 3: HOUSTON, 7:00; Saturday, Nov. 5: at Hamilton, 7:00; Thursday, Nov. 10: SAN ANTONIO, 7:00; Friday, Nov. 11: SAN ANTONIO, 7:30; Thursday, Nov. 17: PEORIA, 7:00; Saturday, Nov. 19: PEORIA, 7:30; Friday, Nov. 25: HAMILTON, 7:30; Saturday, Nov. 26: at Hershey, 7:00; Wednesday, Nov. 30: HOUSTON, 7:00.

DECEMBER

Friday, Dec. 2: at Rockford, 8:05; Sunday, Dec. 4: at Charlotte, 5:00; Monday, Dec. 5: at Charlotte, 7:00; Friday, Dec. 9: at Abbotsford, 10:00; Saturday, Dec. 10: at Abbotsford, 10:00; Wednesday, Dec. 14: at Hamilton, 7:30; Friday, Dec. 16: GRAND RAPIDS, 7:30; Saturday, Dec. 17: GRAND RAPIDS, 7:30; Wednesday, Dec. 21: at Rochester, 7:05; Wednesday, Dec. 28: GRAND RAPIDS, 7:00; Thursday, Dec. 29: TORONTO, 7:00; Saturday, Dec. 31: at Hamilton, 7:00.

JANUARY

Wednesday, Jan. 4: OKLAHOMA CITY, 7:00; Friday, Dec. 6: at Milwaukee, 8:00; Saturday, Dec. 7: at Chicago, 8:00; Thursday, Dec. 12: at Peoria, 8:00; Saturday, Dec. 14: at Chicago, 8:00; Sunday, Dec. 15: at Milwaukee, 4:00; Thursday, Dec. 19: MILWAUKEE, 7:00; Friday, Dec. 20: at Grand Rapids, 7:00; Saturday, Dec. 21: OKLAHOMA CITY, 7:30; Tuesday, Dec. 24: HAMILTON, 7:00; Thursday, Dec. 26: TORONTO, 7:00; Saturday, Dec. 28: HAMILTON, 1:30.

FEBRUARY

Friday, Feb. 3: at San Antonio, 8:00; Saturday, Feb. 4: at Houston, 8:35; Wednesday, Feb. 8: at Rockford, 8:05; Friday, Feb. 10: at Peoria, 8:00; Sunday, Feb. 12: SYRACUSE, 3:00; Wednesday, Feb. 15: TEXAS, 10:45 a.m.; Friday, Feb. 17: at Rochester, 7:35; Saturday, Feb. 18: ROCHESTER, 7:30; Monday, Feb. 20: at Toronto, 1:00; Thursday, Feb. 23: HERSHEY, 7:00; Friday, Feb. 24: at Grand Rapids, 7:00; Saturday, Feb. 25: at Rochester, 7:35.

MARCH

Friday, March 2: at Hamilton, 7:30; Saturday, March 3: CHARLOTTE, 7:30; Sunday, March 4: CHARLOTTE, 3:00; Friday, March 9: at Oklahoma City, 8:00; Saturday, March 10: at Oklahoma City, 8:00; Sunday, March 11: at San Antonio, 5:00; Friday, March 16: MILWAUKEE, 7:30; Saturday, March 17: CHICAGO, 7:30; Wednesday, March 21: at Toronto, 11:00 a.m.; Thursday, March 22: CHICAGO, 7:00; Saturday, March 24: TORONTO, 7:30; Tuesday, March 27: TEXAS, 7:00; Thursday, March 29: at Houston, 8:05; Saturday, March 31: at Texas, 8:00.

APRIL

Sunday, April 1: at Texas, 6:00; Friday, April 6: ROCKFORD, 7:30; Saturday, April 7: ROCKFORD, 7:30; Friday, April 13: HAMILTON, 7:30; Saturday, March 14: ROCHESTER, 7:30.

Catlaunch back at Thistledown at Honey Jay Stakes: Horse Racing Insider

0
0

The old-timer is surprisingly versatile, winning a couple of six-furlong dashes this year, and the 1 1/8-mile Lewis Memorial on July 16 at Thistledown.

The senior citizen of Ohio thoroughbred stakes racing, Catlaunch returns to Thistledown on Saturday to give the Ohio-breds another chance to beat the 10-year-old in the $50,000 Honey Jay Stakes.

No horse has been able to do it so far this year. Catlaunch has made four starts and won four stakes races for Scioto Farm owner Ron Fields of Chillicothe, Ohio.

The old-timer is surprisingly versatile, winning a couple of six-furlong dashes this year, and the 1 1/8-mile Lewis Memorial on July 16 at Thistledown. The Honey Jay is another six-furlong test of speed. Judging by Catlaunch's performance in the Lewis, which included a hot opening quarter and a lot of dazzle in the stretch for a wire-to-wire victory, the dark brown gelding still enjoys racing.

Trainer Ivan Vazquez and jockey Luis Gonzalez both say Catlaunch marches to his own drummer and likes to be in front. The horse's perfect racing attitude has resulted in $1,011,844 in career earnings, a phenomenal amount when you consider he has gathered most of the cash in stakes for Ohio-bred horses.

"They've got him coming out of the No. 9 hole this time," said Fields. "Catlaunch is a front-runner, so the jockey will have to wake him up early. He's spotting the other horses six pounds, and most of them are only half his age."

Catlaunch faded in last year's Honey Jay Stakes, won by Sneak A Cold Treat. Fields said the jockey told him after the race that he wanted to save Catlaunch, since he was so far behind the pack.

"Catlaunch really digs in coming down the stretch, like he did in the Lewis Memorial," said Fields. "Jockeys are used to horses getting tired in the stretch, so I always tell them not to give up with Catlaunch. It may be a bit much, asking him to go 5-for-5 this year, but I think he can do it."

Stakes at Northfield: The 3-year-old filly pacers and trotters will race tonight at Northfield Park in Ohio Sires Stakes action, with the 3-year-old colt pacers and trotters to match strides on Saturday night.

A field of nine filly trotters are chasing $34,600 today, with Jim Arledge Jr.-trained Rose Run Marci and stablemate Jessie Ann the sophomores to watch.

Rose Run Marci has the rail and is looking to improve on her 1:57.4 victory in her last start at Scioto Downs. Driver Corey Callahan, who competed in the World Driving Championships won by Canada's Jody Jamieson, is flying in from Harrah's Chester Downs to drive trotter Charleigh's Angel, as well as Sparkling Yankee in the filly pace.

The filly pace has been split into a pair of $18,200 divisions, with trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.'s Caris True looking tough after winning six of eight starts this year. Caris True is coming off a 1:53.3 win in the Ohio State Fair Stakes at Scioto Downs.

In Saturday's $37,900 trot for the sophomore colts, Shining Ember is the horse to beat after setting the Northfield standard in his class with a 1:55.2 win on July 9. The pacing colts will race in a pair of $17,900 divisions. Included is Hare Craft, who tied the Northfield record for 3-year-old geldings with a 1:52 win here on July 9.

Dashes and distance races: It's a given when you settle in trackside at Northfield Park that you're going to get to see the horses go round and round -- twice. The trotters and pacers are racing on a half-mile track, and every race is contested at one mile, or two laps around the half-mile oval.

Racing a mile is a harness racing tradition, unlike the varied distances raced in thoroughbred races.

Except for Indiana Downs.

Last Saturday, six of the 14 races at Indiana Downs in Shelbyville, Ind., were contested at a distance other than a mile. There was a surprisingly short one-eighth mile pace, a thriller won by Papa Jack in a world record 9.4 seconds. The longest was a 15/8-mile distance trot, which took 3:13.1 for winner Super Star Ranger to complete.

"It's a fascinating concept, but it isn't going to revolutionize harness racing," said Northfield Park Racing Secretary Dave Bianconi. "Our fans like traditional mile races. It's unlikely the odd distances will catch on around the country."

Blasts from the past as former Cleveland Indians star Jim Thome joins the 600 club

0
0

A retrospective of Jim Thome's stellar career, which began with the Indians drafting him in 1989 and bringing him to Cleveland two years later.

jim thome.JPGView full sizeJim Thome holds the Indians' single-season record for home runs with 52.

Thome by the numbers

Jim Thome's stats at a glance through Wednesday:

MAJOR-LEAGUE CAREER RANKINGS

Strikeouts: Second, 2,455

At-bats per home run: Fifth, 13.6

Home runs: Eighth, 601

Walks: Eighth, 1,711

*OPS: 17th, .962

Slugging pct.: 19th, .558

Extra-base hits: 23rd, 1,067

RBI: 27th, 1,664

Total bases: 39th, 4,560

Times on base: 42nd, 4,044

On-base pct.: 49th, .403

Runs: 52nd, 1,554

INDIANS SINGLE-SEASON

RECORDS

Home runs: 52, 2002

At-bats per home run: 9.2, 2002

Walks: 127, 1999

Strikeouts: 185, 2001

INDIANS CAREER RANKINGS

Home runs: First, 334

At-bats per home run: First, 13.9

Walks: First, 997

Strikeouts: First, 1,377

RBI: Second, 927

Slugging pct.: Third, .567

On-base pct.: Third, .414

*OPS: Third, .982

Extra-base hits: Third, 613

Total bases: Fourth, 2,633

Runs: Fifth, 917

Times on base: Seventh, 2,371

Doubles: 10th, 259

*On-base percentage plus slugging percentage

Thome timeline

Aug, 27, 1970: Born in Peoria, Ill.

June 5, 1989: Selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 13th round of the amateur draft.

June 18, 1989: Signed by the Indians.

Sept. 4, 1991: Makes his major-league debut, playing third base and going 2-for-4 during the Indians' 8-4 win at Minnesota.

Aug. 13, 1993: Promoted to the Indians for good and becomes their regular third baseman, after missing much of the 1992 season with injuries and splitting time between the Indians and the minor leagues. His play at Class AAA Charlotte before the call-up earned him his second (also 1990) Lou Boudreau Award as the Indians' Minor League Player of the Year.

1996: Hits at least 30 home runs (38), drives in at least 100 runs (116), scores at least 100 runs (122) and draws at least 100 walks (123) for the first time in his career in each category, while batting .311.

Oct. 30, 1996: Has the broken hamate bone in his right hand removed by surgery, after playing the final three games of the AL Division Series with the injury.

1997: Moved to first base after the Indians' Nov. 13, 1996, trade for San Francisco Giants All-Star third baseman Matt Williams.

May 20, 1997: Signs a contract extension with the Indians for a $3.5 million signing bonus, a four-year, $24.6 million deal from 1998 to 2001 and a $7.5 million club option for 2002.

July 8, 1997: Plays in the first of his five All-Star Games (1997 to '99 as an Indian, including '98 and '99 as the starting first baseman; 2004 as a Phillie; 2006 as a White Sox). Grounded out as a pinch hitter during the American League's 3-1 win at Cleveland's Jacobs Field.

1997: Leads the American League for the first of three times in walks, with 120.

Aug. 7, 1998: Breaks a bone in his right hand when hit by a pitch, causing him to miss six weeks during a season in which he finished with 30 homers and 85 RBI.

May 29, 2001: Slugs his 243rd career home run, passing Albert Belle to become the Indians' all-time leader, during a 6-4 Cleveland win at Detroit.

Sept. 27, 2002: Hits his 51st homer of the season, passing Albert Belle for the Indians' single-season record, during an 8-3 Indians win over the Royals at Jacobs Field.

Sept. 29, 2002: Plays his last game as an Indian, going 1-for-3 as the designated hitter in Cleveland's 7-3 win over the Royals before 32,018 fans at Jacobs Field. Final at-bat was a sixth-inning, run-scoring single off Scott Mullen. Ben Broussard then pinch- ran for Thome.

2002: Leads the American League with a .677 slugging percentage. Sets Indians' single-season record with 52 homers and finishes as the team's all-time career home run leader, with 334.

2002: Given the Roberto Clemente Award, which, according to Major League Baseball's website, is "given annually to a player who demonstrates the values Clemente displayed in his commitment to community and understanding the value of helping others."

Dec. 3, 2002: Signs a six-year, $85 million free-agent contract (including a seventh-year, $13 million club option) with the Philadelphia Phillies, turning down a five-year, $60 million deal from the Indians.

2003: Leads the National League with 47 home runs.

2004: Has his fourth straight season of at least 40 home runs, his ninth straight of at least 30 and his 11th straight of at least 20.

2004: Given the Lou Gehrig Award, an annual award to a player who exemplifies the character Gehrig displayed and the integrity he had both on and off the field.

Nov. 25, 2005: With three years and $43.5 million left on his contract, traded by Philadelphia with $22 million to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Aaron Rowand, minor-league pitcher Daniel Haigwood and a player to be named later (minor-league pitcher Gio Gonzalez).

May 1, 2006: Returns to Cleveland for the first time in a visitors' uniform, drawing loud boos from a crowd of 17,845. Goes 1-for-5 with an RBI, one walk and two strikeouts in an 8-6 White Sox win.

2006: Becomes the second player (Alex Rodriguez) to hit at least 40 homers in a season for three different teams (Indians, Phillies, White Sox).

2006: Wins the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award for batting .288 with 42 homers and 109 RBI with the White Sox after an injury-riddled 2005 season with the Phillies. It's his sixth season with at least 40 homers and his 10th with at least 100 RBI.

Aug. 7, 2007: Becomes the fourth player to strike out 2,000 times, as the Indians' Jake Westbrook fans him during a 2-1 Indians win over the White Sox in Chicago.

Sept. 16, 2007: Belts his 500th career home run during a 9-7 White Sox win over the Angels in Chicago.

July 20, 2008: Gets his 2,000th career hit during an 8-7 White Sox loss to the Royals in Chicago.

2008: White Sox pick up the 2009 option year on his contract, which calls for $13 million.

Aug. 31, 2009: Traded by the White Sox, with cash, to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor-league infielder Justin Fuller.

Jan. 26, 2010: Signs a one-year, $1.5 million contract as a free agent with the Minnesota Twins.

June 28, 2010: Scores his 1,500th career run during the Twins' 7-5 loss to the Tigers in Minnesota, joining Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt and Barry Bonds as the only players with at least 500 home runs, 1,500 RBI, 1,500 runs and 1,500 walks.

Sept. 11, 2010: Hits home run No. 587, passing Frank Robinson for eighth place on the all-time list, and giving the Twins a 1-0, 12-inning win over the Indians in Cleveland.

Jan. 14, 2011: Signs a one-year, $3 million contract as a free agent with the Twins.

Aug. 15, 2011: Becomes the eighth player to hit 600 home runs, belting No. 599 in the sixth inning and No. 600 in the seventh inning of the Twins' 9-6 win over the Tigers in Detroit.

Milestone home runs

(List includes career home run number, date, where, pitcher, opponent; score)

WITH THE INDIANS

No. 1: Oct. 4, 1991, New York, Steve Farr, Yankees. After trailing, 2-1, a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning; Indians win, 3-2.

No. 2: June 29, 1992, Cleveland, Jack McDowell, White Sox. His first home run in Cleveland; Indians lose, 9-6.

No. 18: June 15, 1994, Cleveland, Scott Brow, Blue Jays. His first walk-off home run, in the bottom of the 13th inning; Indians win, 4-3.

No. 50: July 26, 1995, California, Mike Harkey, Angels; Indians lose, 6-3.

No. 100: May 14, 1997, Texas, Bobby Witt, Rangers; Indians lose, 4-3.

No. 150: June 9, 1998, Cleveland, Jon Lieber, Pirates; Indians lose, 7-4.

No. 175: July 3, 1999, Cleveland, Don Wengert, Royals. Hits a 511-foot blast to center field, which remains the longest home run in Jacobs/Progressive Field history; Indians win, 9-5.

No. 200: April 15, 2000, Cleveland, Mark Clark, Rangers; Indians lose, 6-4.

No. 243: May 29, 2001, Detroit, Victor Santos, Tigers. Becomes the Indians' all-time home run leader, passing Albert Belle; Indians win, 6-4.

No. 250: June 12, 2001, Cleveland, Jimmy Haynes, Brewers; Indians lose, 4-2.

No. 300: June 5, 2002, Minnesota, Eric Milton, Twins; Indians win, 6-4.

No. 332: Sept. 25, 2002, Minnesota, Rick Reed, Twins. His 50th home run, tying Albert Belle's single-season team record; Indians lose, 7-5.

No. 333: Sept. 27, 2002, Cleveland, Wes Obermueller, Royals. His 51st home run breaks Indians' single-season record; Indians win, 8-3.

No. 334: Sept. 28, 2002, Cleveland, Jeremy Affeldt, Royals. His 52nd home run of the season and last of his Indians career. He remains Indians' all-time leader in career and single-season home runs; Indians win, 6-5.

WITH THE PHILLIES:

No. 350: June 21, 2003, Philadelphia, Mike Timlin, Red Sox; Phillies win, 6-5.

No. 400: June 14, 2004, Philadelphia. Joe Acevedo, Reds; Phillies win, 10-7.

WITH THE WHITE SOX:

No. 449: May 29, 2006, Cleveland, Cliff Lee, Indians. His first home run in Cleveland as an opponent; White Sox win, 11-0.

No. 450: May 29, 2006, Cleveland, Guillermo Mota, Indians; White Sox win, 11-0.

No. 500: Sept. 16, 2007, Chicago, Dustin Moseley, Angels. Becomes the 23rd player with 500 home runs on the ninth-inning, walk-off homer; White Sox win, 9-7.

No. 541: Sept. 30, 2008, Chicago, Nick Blackburn, Twins. His seventh-inning home run is the game-winner in the AL Central Division first-place tiebreaker game; White Sox win, 1-0.

No. 550: June 1, 2009, Chicago, Santiago Casilla, Athletics; White Sox win, 6-2.

WITH THE TWINS:

No. 581: Aug. 17, 2010, Minnesota, Matt Thornton, White Sox. Trailing, 6-5, a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning -- his 12th career walk-off homer, tying five Hall of Famers for the all-time record; Twins win, 7-6.

No. 587: Sept. 11, 2010, Cleveland, Justin Germano, Indians. Becomes eighth -- the position he still holds -- on the all-time career home run list, passing Frank Robinson, with a 12th-inning homer; Twins win, 1-0.

No. 600: Aug. 15, 2011, Detroit, Daniel Schlereth, Tigers. Becomes eighth player to hit 600 home runs with a seventh-inning blast. Had hit No. 599 in the sixth inning off Rick Porcello; Twins win, 9-6.

Postseason prowess

• Jim Thome has 17 postseason home runs in his career, all with the Indians. He hit eight homers in American League Division Series games, six in AL Championship Series games and three in World Series games.

•Twice Thome hit two home runs in a postseason game. On Oct. 9, 1998, in Cleveland, he homered twice off Andy Pettitte as the Indians defeated the Yankees, 6-1, in Game 3 of the ALCS eventually won by New York, 4-2. On Oct. 11, 1999, in Cleveland, he homered off Brett Saberhagen and Derek Lowe, but the Indians lost to the Red Sox, 12-8, in Game 5 of the ALDS, losing the series, 3-2.

• Also, on Oct. 13, 1998, in New York, Thome hit a grand slam off David Cone to become the first player to hit four homers in an ALCS, but the Indians lost to the Yankees, 9-5, in Game 6 of the ALCS, losing the series, 4-2.

• On Oct. 7, 1999, in Cleveland, he hit a grand slam off John Wasdin to become the first player ever with two career grand slams in postseason play, as the Indians defeated the Red Sox, 11-1, in Game 2 of the ALDS eventually won by Boston, 3-2.

SOURCE: baseball-reference.com

St. Edward graduate Haruki Nakamura donating time and money to help Japan

0
0

Nakamura has never been to Japan, but when the earthquake and tsunami hit in March, he felt compelled to help.

Haruki Nakamura.JPGView full sizeJapanese-American Haruki Nakamura, a safety for the Baltimore Ravens and a former standout at St. Edward High School, led an effort that raised $61,000 for a Red Cross emergency relief fund to help Japan in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and leaking radiation disaster in March. Nakamura is also planning to hold a youth football camp in Japan next year.

Haruki Nakamura has never been to Japan.

Aside from some friends and a half brother, he knows no one there.

But when an earthquake, tsunami and radiation seeping from damaged nuclear power plants devastated the country in March, his heritage kicked in.

"Being a Japanese-American," he said, "it's in my blood."

Nakamura, 25, a former standout at St. Edward High School and the University of Cincinnati, is a safety with the Baltimore Ravens.

He was bound for Las Vegas to watch Ravens teammate Tom Zbikowski's second professional boxing match when the disaster struck. A flurry of text messages and voicemails sent him rushing to the nearest airport television. The latest estimates put the number of dead or missing at more than 20,400.

His friends and half brother were fine, but, with the rest of the world, he was stunned.

After returning to Baltimore, Nakamura rallied some of his teammates to join him for a day of autograph-signing and raffles that raised about $61,000 for a Red Cross emergency relief fund.

"It was just so meaningful to me in the fact that my friends, my teammates, they came," he said by phone recently. "Ed Reed showed up. Joe Flacco showed up. Ray Rice showed up. Super Bowl-winning receiver Qadry Ismail showed up. Just the fact that these guys were willing to take time out of their day to come and be part of that was great and spoke a lot to me."

And there may be more to come.

After Nakamura's Japanese-born father, Ryozo, an Olympic-level judo coach, died when he was 5, the family couldn't really afford to visit the country whose culture of discipline and humility was so ingrained in their lives.

Nakamura, whose mother, sister and many friends still live in Northeast Ohio, was supposed to visit Japan last year, but he broke his ankle.

But if all goes as planned, the goal is to organize a youth football camp there next year -- another way to contribute.

"It's probably out of respect for his father," said Greg Urbas, a longtime St. Edward football and wrestling coach, who attended Nakamura's wedding this summer in Ocean City, Md.

Nakamura said he wouldn't even be in the NFL if not for Urbas.

At St. Edward, he was a backup quarterback for two years behind future Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and Shaun Carney, who went on to play at Air Force.

"I was in a situation," Nakamura said, "where I saw football as a dead end for me."

He told Urbas he was quitting football to focus on wrestling and baseball. But Urbas knew Nakamura wasn't as passionate for wrestling as he was for football. And the coach once saw him miss a fly ball because he was daydreaming in the outfield.

st. ed nakamura.JPGView full sizeHaruki Nakamura (13) at St. Edward in 2003.

"I said, 'Haruki, you stink at baseball,' " he said.

Urbas encouraged him to stick with football, where he was switched to wide receiver, defensive back, a punt and kick returner and became a team captain.

"Jeez," Urbas said, "he made an immediate impact on both sides of the ball. Sometimes it clicks and sometimes it doesn't. This worked."

The Ravens drafted him in the sixth round of the 2008 draft. Now Nakamura, a special teams ace, is on the field with Reed, one of his favorite players through high school and college -- and using his NFL platform to help out a little.

"The whole attitude of shooting for the stars, trying to reach any goal that you ever set for yourself and push yourself past that, it's just something that my father always taught us," he said. "Just to be able to give back, especially at a critical moment, I didn't have to think twice about it."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: blubinger@plaind.com, 216-999-5531

Cleveland Browns' defense making strides despite contending with injuries

0
0

As the Browns reach the halfway point of their exhibition schedule, the offense isn't the only unit making strides.

scottfujita.JPGView full sizeBrowns linebacker Scott Fujita is impressed with how quickly the defense has come together.
BEREA, Ohio — "There's a defense?"

That was the joke Pat Shurmur made at the news conference introducing him as the new Browns coach. The perception was that this Mike Holmgren hire was all about offense.

Offense dominated Shurmur's introduction and it has dominated the early stages of his first training camp.

The surprisingly efficient performance in the debut of Colt McCoy's direction of the West Coast offense dominated discussion following the Browns' opening preseason win over Green Bay last week.

But as the Browns prepared for tonight's second practice game against the Detroit Lions, the defense was gaining notice, too.

"It's coming together, probably quicker than I imagined," linebacker Scott Fujita said. "But what really matters is the first week of the season. We have to get on the same page as quickly as possible for that game."

The defense has to overcome more injuries than the offense to take its next step. Fujita (thigh bruise) is one of at least three starters expected to miss tonight's game. The others are linebacker Chris Gocong (neck) and free safety Usama Young (hamstring). Strong safety T.J. Ward (hamstring) also may be held out.

The injuries give precious playing-time opportunities with the first unit to undrafted rookie Brian Smith (for Fujita), third-year backup Kaluka Maiava (Gocong) and undrafted rookie James Dockery -- possibly -- for Young, if Ward is out.

Speaking mostly of the young linebackers -- five undrafted free agents are scrambling to back up the starters -- Fujita said: "Some of the young guys who came in undrafted, some of them are really sharp guys like Brian Smith. These are good young players who I think are going to turn out well in this league.

"Obviously, experience-wise, it doesn't appear there is a lot of depth, but these guys are coming along fast and that's without an off-season program and really just two weeks of work with these coaches."

The same applies to rookie defensive line starters Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard.

Taylor was credited with no tackles in three series against Green Bay, but he influenced a holding penalty on Packers center Scott Wells. Sheard assisted on one tackle and should have been credited with a half-sack of Matt Flynn that went entirely to Jayme Mitchell.

"The game was kind of fast. It was a different tempo. I kind of got the jitters out," Sheard said.

The Browns' defense limited the Packers to 78 yards rushing, sacked backup QBs Flynn and Graham Harrell five times, and forced a fumble that linebacker Titus Brown returned for a touchdown.

"There was a lot of good physical play," Shurmur said. "We played a lot of man-coverage and you didn't see guys running wide open. I thought the coverage was tight. For the most part, the receivers were challenged and we did create some pressure and disrupt the quarterback. Those were all good things. I'm pleased with where they've come in less than three weeks."

The credit has to go to new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron and his staff, which includes only one holdover from the Eric Mangini staff, defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson.

Even though the defense is switching systems -- from the 3-4 to the 4-3 -- it gets largely overshadowed by the offense. This is true even at practice, where the offense has a built-in advantage.

"In the West Coast system, in practice, it's all timing," cornerback Sheldon Brown said. "The ball comes out fast. So as a defensive back or a linebacker, in 7-on-7s, the offense is going to win. They should look good . . . should look smooth. That's the way the practice should go, if you've been around a West Coast system. If the ball's on the ground [incomplete], then you know the timing's not there.

"For us on defense, it's the game time [that is important]. The team things in the game. Get balls on the ground, get people around the ball. When they catch the ball, you have to get the ball from them -- force fumbles, make turnovers."

Unlike the offense, whose personality Bill Walsh blueprinted decades ago, the complexion of the new Browns defense has yet to establish itself. Fujita and Brown both say it's too early to tell.

But Brown, for one, has an inkling of what Jauron desires it to be.

"I would imagine he wants to be a defense that's physical, creates pressure through schemes and systems, week to week change up game plans," Brown said. "He just probably wants to be the most physical team on that day. That's probably going to be his mentality."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

Cleveland Indians legend Larry Doby given stamp of approval by U.S. Postal Service

0
0

Doby, who died in 2003, is the second of four major-league All-Stars being immortalized on stamps for the impression they left on the game. The first one, of Joe DiMaggio, was previewed Aug. 8.

larry doby.JPGView full sizeThe Indians' Larry Doby was the first black baseball player in the American League.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Man, could the Indians use another Larry Doby right about now.

Unfortunately, they will have to settle for a new Forever stamp of the late Indians Hall of Fame center fielder and civil-rights pioneer. The Postal Service revealed the image Thursday on its Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Doby was a seven-time All-Star, two-time American League home run champ and, in 1947, became the first black player in the American League -- just 11 weeks after Brooklyn's Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier.

"Anytime that people see fit to honor him, it's very gratifying," said Larry Doby Jr., now 53 and living in Montclair, N.J. "He was one of those people who didn't really seek the limelight, didn't talk about what he did so much, but he was very proud of what he achieved."

Doby, who died in 2003, is the second of four major-league All-Stars being immortalized on stamps for the impression they left on the game. The first one, of Joe DiMaggio, was previewed Aug. 8.

The other two, undisclosed for now, will be shown later this summer, a Postal Service spokesman said.

The Doby stamp, to be issued next July, depicts the young left-handed hitter primed and choking up on the bat slightly, ready to cut loose at the plate.

larry_doby_stamp

Los Angeles artist Kadir Nelson, who illustrated and wrote a book about baseball's Negro Leagues, called "We Are the Ship," based his artwork of Doby and the other three players on old photos.

"I wanted to capture his strength and determination," said Nelson, 37, who has cousins in Cleveland. "It's written all over the way he's holding the bat and the look in his eye."

Strong and determined. That about says it all.

Doby endured the taunts, ridicule and racism that Robinson weathered, only with less acknowledgement historically because he wasn't first. (Although he was the first black player to stroke a World Series homer, in 1948 in Game 4 against the Boston Braves.)

Doby was also baseball's second black manager -- in 1978 with the Chicago White Sox -- following the Indians' Frank Robinson.

In Cleveland, where Doby returned to coach in 1974, fans still revere the man. The feeling was apparently mutual. Doby Jr. said his father always told him the city embraced him from day one.

"With Cleveland," he said, "it was a love affair."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: blubinger@plaind.com, 216-999-5531


State wildlife officer indicted five years after alleged crimes: Outdoors Notebook

0
0

Federal officials indicted Ohio Wildlife Officer Allan Wright, 45, of Russellville, almost five years after he reportedly allowed a friend — who is a South Carolina wildlife officer — to illegally buy a less expensive Ohio resident hunting license.

Federal officials indicted Ohio Wildlife Officer Allan Wright, 45, of Russellville, almost five years after he reportedly allowed a friend — who is a South Carolina wildlife officer — to illegally buy a less expensive Ohio resident hunting license.

The Ohio charges against Wright in Brown County in April 2010 were dismissed, pending further investigation. Five administrative officers in the Division of Wildlife were also indicted at the time for obstruction of justice after they gave Wright only a verbal reprimand in the licensing case. That case is still winding its way through district courts in southern Ohio.

Wright was put on unpaid leave this week and was ordered to turn in his state equipment.

The law enforcement arm of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating Wright’s case. Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury in Cincinnati on Wednesday on four counts, including two felony charges of violating the Lacey Act for knowingly transporting illegally-taken wildlife across state lines.

Each felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

Wright allowed South Carolina Wildlife Officer Eric Vaughn to use Wright’s home address to buy a $19 Ohio resident hunting license, much less than a $125 non-resident hunting license. Vaughn also killed three Ohio deer in 2006 using deer permits with the false Ohio address. Wright personally checked in the deer. It is not known if federal charges will also be filed against Vaughn.

The wildlife agency administrators indicted in Brown County were Chief David Graham, Law Enforcement Administrator James Lehman, Human Re sources Administrator Michele Ward, District 5 Manager Todd Haines and Assistant Chief Randy Miller. Graham has since retired.

Wright is also being investigated for giving away deer antlers seized from a deer poacher in 2009. Wright had told wildlife officials the antlers were destroyed, according to agency procedures, but Wright reportedly sent the antlers to someone in Michigan.

duck huntingIt's expected Ohio waterfowlers will again get a 60-day duck season beginning in mid-October, with an early October two-day youth season. The daily bag limit should again be six ducks.

Magee duck hunts: The popular waterfowl hunts at the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area that had been canceled because of marsh renovations are on again, but only for youth hunts, opening day and the October portion of the regular waterfowl season. Hunters will have different hoops to jump through, with no-fee postcard lotteries assigning the hunts and hunters required to bring small boats to take them to marsh hunting areas.

“The construction has been delayed, so we’re trying to offer as many hunts as we can,” said marsh manager Patrick Baranowski of the Division of Wildlife. “We’ll have the regular drawing for the early teal hunts on Saturday at the Lake Erie Waterfowlers Festival at Magee Marsh. The deadline for the postcard drawings for the youth waterfowl season, opening day and the October hunts is Sept. 1.”

Saturday’s teal hunt registration at Magee Marsh is from noon to 1:45 p.m. For more information on the postcard lotteries, visit wildohio.com and access wildlife news, or call 1-800-WILDLIFE. There will also be daily drawings for available areas at Magee Marsh on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays starting in November.

There have been rumors the delays in construction this year could cause a closure of Magee Marsh to hunters in 2012. That is a possibility, said Baranowski, “but I’m keeping my fingers crossed the work will be finished in time.”

Duck dates: The Ohio Wildlife Council will set the regular-season duck and goose hunting dates Wednesday at its monthly meeting at District One Headquarters, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus. It’s expected Ohio waterfowlers will again get a 60-day duck season beginning in mid-October, with an early October two-day youth season. The daily bag limit should again be six ducks. The early seasons already approved by the council begin Sept. 1. The early seasons include Canada goose (Sept. 1-15); dove (Sept. 1-Oct. 23 and Dec. 17-Jan. 2); and teal (Sept. 3-18).

Kasich greets sportsmen: Ohio Gov. John Kasich will be the featured speaker at the 15th annual Save Our Heritage Rally held by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the Columbus-based lobbying organization for fishing, hunting and firearms issues. The Aug. 27 banquet will be at Aladdin Shrine Temple, 3850 Stelzer Road, Columbus, with the fundraising raffles starting at 3 p.m. The USSA is giving away a 20-acre parcel of southern Ohio hunting land again. For tickets ($50), visit ussportsmen.org or call 614-888-4868.



Fall yellow perch fishing starting to wake up: Fishing Report

0
0

Perch fishing is good off Avon Lake, Lorain, Vermilion and Huron in 40 to 50 feet of water, as well as in 50 to 54 feet of water off the hump northwest of Fairport Harbor, and in 40 to 50 feet of water off Geneva and Conneaut.

Jim Colleen Cook yellow perch.jpgPerch fishing is good off Avon Lake, Lorain, Vermilion and Huron in 40 to 50 feet of water, as well as in 50 to 54 feet of water off the hump northwest of Fairport Harbor, and in 40 to 50 feet of water off Geneva and Conneaut.

Fall yellow perch fishing is beginning to wake up around Cleveland after big winds and waves, but good catches have been reported off Lorain, Huron and around the Bass islands. Some walleye are being caught in deep water off Vermilion and Ashtabula. Catfish are biting at inland lakes, and bluegills are moving to shallow water.

Cleveland area

Big waves and muddy near-shore water slowed perch fishing, but some catches are being reported in 46 to 52 feet of water in the Cleveland Crib area. Walleye have been caught north of the Cleveland Crib in 65 feet of water on a mixed bag of diving plugs, spoons and spinner rigs tipped with nightcrawlers. Pink and purple lure color patterns are still most popular.

The white bass bite has slowed around the East 72nd Street area. Shoreline anglers are catching some catfish on nightcrawlers and processed catfish baits.

Central Lake Erie

Walleye fishing has been very good around the weather buoy on the Ohio-Ontario border north of Vermilion. Walleye are also being caught in near-shore areas from Lorain to Huron in 28 feet of water, and in 44 feet of water around the north side of the Lorain Sand Bar.

Walleye fishing has been best in 70 to 75 feet of water north of Conneaut and Ashtabula for fishermen using Jet Divers, wire line and Dipsy Divers to get lures deep enough to hook suspended walleye. Spoons, spinner rigs and nightcrawlers and diving plugs, especially on wire line, have all been catching fish.

Perch fishing is good off Avon Lake, Lorain, Vermilion and Huron in 40 to 50 feet of water, as well as in 50 to 54 feet of water off the hump northwest of Fairport Harbor, and in 40 to 50 feet of water off Geneva and Conneaut.

A crowd of bass anglers will be on Lake Erie this week to prepare for the B.A.S.S. Northern Open based out of Sandusky.

Lake Erie smallmouth bass fishing has been good around reefs, rock piles and drop-offs in 15 to 25 feet of water around major Ohio harbors, and around the Pelee Island reefs. Drop-shot rigs, jigging spoons and blade baits have caught bass.

Inland lakes, reservoirs

Largemouth bass fishing has been difficult, with Turkeyfoot and Nimisila in the Portage Lakes the best locations. Cast topwater lures early and late in the day, and work shoreline structures with jigs and trailers, small soft plastics and plastic worms. Mogadore Reservoir will be crowded this weekend with a bass tournament.

Cooler nights are bringing bluegills to shallow water, where they're taking tiny jigs tipped with maggots or waxworms. For chunky redear sunfish, try East and West reservoirs in the Portage Lakes and Mogadore Reservoir.

The catfish bite is still strong at Pymatuning, Mosquito, Berlin and most other good catfish lakes. Work nightcrawlers, shrimp, chicken livers on the shallow flats early and late in the day and after dark.

The muskie bite has been fair to good on medium-sized plugs worked around weed beds and humps at West Branch, Pymatuning and Leesville reservoirs. Some muskies are suspending in deeper water. Afternoon and early evening muskie fishing has been most productive.

Some crappies are reported biting early and late along the Pymatuning causeway. Schooling white bass are in the spotlight at Atwood Lake, with anglers casting small diving plugs, spoons and in-line spinners to white bass feeding on the surface.

Western Lake Erie

Walleye are being caught at the Niagara Reef complex on small spinners tipped with pieces of nightcrawler, and while trolling plugs, spoons and spinners just off the reefs in deeper water. Other good areas include near West Sister Island, southwest of Middle Island, around Gull Reef and on Wagon Wheel Reef on the west side of Pelee Island. Catches of yellow perch have been reported around Green and Ballast islands, off Lakeside Pier on the Marblehead Peninsula and southwest and southeast of Kelleys Island.

Fishing tournaments

Northern Open Anglers Association (Berlin Reservoir)

How they finished: 1. Jeff Welker and Matt Robbins, five bass, 12.64 pounds, $4,300; 2. Nick Prvonozac and George Prvonozac, five, 11.40, $1,292; 3. Ed Hanknins and Bret Hanknins, five, 10.77, $950. Big Bass: Ed Hanknins and Bret Hanknins, 3.87 pounds.

Bad Bass Champs Tournament Trail

(Mosquito Reservoir)

How they finished: 1. Corey Kiefer and Tom Ullum (Massillon), five bass, 13.75 pounds, $1,433; 2. Art Knight (Cuyahoga Falls) and Tony Maglovsky (Uniontown), five, 13.29, $902.00; 3. Dan Adkins (Navarre) and Jim Adkins (Louisville), five, 12.67, $773. Big Bass: Bob Quesberry (North Benton) and Josh Wood (Deerfield), 3.46 pounds, $364.


Drivers, beware -- road work closing I-77 North, I-90 West downtown starting tonight as Cleveland Browns take field

0
0

Road work on Interstate 77 and the Inner Belt will affect traffic to the Cleveland Browns game tonight.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Major road work will affect drivers on Interstate 77 North and

traffic.jpgConstruction on the Inner Belt bridge has caused traffic tie ups.

the Inner Belt tonight.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is scheduled to close I-77 North between Interstate 480 and Interstate 490 in Cuyahoga Heights, Newburgh Heights and Cleveland at 7:30 tonight through 10 p.m. Saturday for paving.

Motorists attending the Cleveland Browns pre-season game are advised to leave early and allow plenty of travel time. 

A final surface course of asphalt will be placed on the five-mile stretch of I-77 in 27 hours.  The contractor will use 100 trucks to haul in more than 11,000 tons of asphalt.

Crews will close I-77 North at I-480 and all entrance ramps to I-77 North between I-480 and I-490.  Motorists will be detoured via I-480 West to OHo 176 north to I-490 East to I-77.  Detours will be posted and police will help direct motorists.

Meanwhile, Interstate 90 West is scheduled to close from 8 p.m. tonight until 6 a.m. Monday between I-77 and Ontario Street.

 Crews working on the new Inner Belt Bridge will be shifting work zones so that starting Monday, traffic will no longer be maintained through the "cattle chutes'' on I-90 West downtown. Traffic will continue to be restricted to two lanes in each direction.

I-90 West traffic wll be detoured via I-77 South to Interstate 490 West.

 

 

 

Cleveland Browns: Which team will win the division? Poll

0
0

Will the Cleveland Browns win the AFC North?

Josh CribbsJosh Cribbs

This will certainly change as we get closer to the start of the season, but which team will win the AFC North?

The Cincinnati Bengals can certainly be counted out, but what about the Browns? Can the Browns be the surprise team this season, or will the Pittsburgh Steelers continue their dominance?

This could also be the year for the Baltimore Ravens, but does quarterback Joe Flacco have the moxie to lead his team to the top?

 













Browns vs. Lions: Live chat and Twitter updates

0
0

Join cleveland.com for live chat, game updates and analysis from the press box starting at 7:30 p.m. You can also follow Plain Dealer Browns beat writers @TonyGrossi and @MaryKayCabot on Twitter.

cleveland browns stadium nightJoin us for Browns vs. Lions tonight at 7:30 p.m.
After an impressive preseason debut last week, the Browns look to make more progress on both sides of the ball tonight against the Detroit Lions in the 10th annual Great Lakes Classic at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns lead the preseason series between the two teams, 5-4.

Join cleveland.com for live chat, game updates and analysis from the press box starting at 7:30 p.m. You can also follow Plain Dealer Browns beat writers @TonyGrossi and @MaryKayCabot on Twitter.

Click here for the game box score. Stay tuned afterwards for video of post-game interviews and analysis.

Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images