Driven by David Miller and trained by Ron Potter, Big Bad John becomes the first Ohio-trained horse to win the race at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

View full sizeMark Hall, Associated PressCaretaker Lisa Warrren, left, holds Big Bad John in the winner's circle Thursday along with driver David Miller, center, and owner Ed Telle, right.

Driven by David Miller and trained by Ron Potter, Big Bad John was timed in 1:50.0 for the mile and became the first Ohio-trained horse to win the race at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, where Potter is stabled.

"I really thought he would be better in the second heat than the first," Potter said. "I told Dave I thought he would be really good in the second heat and he would be ready to roll. I was ready right after the first race to just go ahead and get it over with."

It was the third Little Brown Jug win for Miller, an Ohio native. Big Bad John is owned by Winchester Baye Acres Inc. of Ocala, Fla.

"I never thought there would be that much speed in the first turn," Miller said. "My horse got the job done and I was very confident at the three-quarters. This is always such a thrill to win this race. Most of all I'm so happy for the connections that are a part of this horse."

BetterThanCheddar, who won the Cane Pace -- the opening leg of the Triple Crown -- was third.

Big Bad John won the first heat in 1:50.2, a time matched by Roll With Joe in winning the second heat.

"I thought I could get him in the stretch," said Ron Pierce, the driver of Roll With Joe. "I sat in second as long as I could. When I pulled, I thought my horse was going to get him. But Dave's horse got a few steps of [breathing room] and I could not get around him. I worried with only 12 horses, but I thought we put on quite a show."

Big Bad John paid $4.00, $2.60 and $2.10; Roll With Joe gave back $2.80 and $2.40; and BetterThanCheddar paid $2.40 for finishing third. Tickets bearing the 1-2-3 trifecta earned their bearers $9.40.

High Noon, which went off at 68-to-1, finished fourth. Fifth was Something For Doc (27-to-1), followed by RollWithHarry (74-to-1) and Up The Credit (26-to-1). Foreclosure N was a scratch.

Big Bad John has won nine races in 12 starts this year with earnings of more than $600,000.

The final leg of the Triple Crown is the Messenger Stakes at Yonkers Raceway on Nov. 12.

The fall season has arrived, and the cool, rainy weather is already luring steelhead trout up Northeast Ohio's rivers and streams.

View full sizeD'Arcy Egan, The Plain DealerThe Rocky River, which winds through Cuyahoga County, is a good place for steelhead trout fishing.

Getting anglers in a steelheading mood is the upcoming 18th-annual Steelhead Expo at Rocky River Nature Center on Oct. 1, a combined effort of the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders and Cleveland Metroparks. The location is ideal, with the show perched on the banks of the Rocky River in the Cleveland Metroparks, one of the most accessible steelhead trout streams in the Midwest.

The Rocky River Nature Center is on Valley Parkway in North Olmsted, between Shepard Lane and Cedar Point Road.

Local experts will host sessions on fly tying and casting for trout with flies, spinning and center pin tackle. The seminar schedule ranges from beginning fishing to advanced techniques with spey rods. Local tackle shops have steelhead gear for sale. Ohio Division of Wildlife biologists will update Ohio's world-class steelhead trout fishery.

Most anglers wait for the first Arctic blast to lure spawning trout from Lake Erie, where they have been fattening up all summer. Aquatic biologist Mike Durkalec of Cleveland Metroparks reports that the chilly nights have enticed a few steelhead trout to the lower stretches of the Rocky River this week. Most have been smaller "skippers," the young 14- to 17-inch male trout getting a head start on the spawning season, but a few bigger trout have been hooked.

On the Grand River, steelhead trout are being caught as far upstream as Harpersfield Dam, a 23-mile swim from Lake Erie, says Don Moore of Harbor Bait and Tackle.

More trout talk: Chagrin River Outfitters in Chagrin Falls has its annual Shop Day on Oct. 8, with a list of local experts on tap. The seminar schedule at the free show includes guides Greg Senyo and Brett McCrae of Steelhead Alley Outfitters, Patagonia's Jerry Darkes and Jeff Liskay of Berkley. The seminars range from catching brown trout to swinging streamers with switch rods. They begin at 8 a.m. and run through 3:30 p.m. For a full listing of seminars and times, visit chagrinriveroutfitters.com.

Trout stockings cut: Castalia State Fish Hatchery renovations resulted in a 35 percent reduction in the number of yearling steelhead trout stocked in the Rocky, Chagrin, Grand and Vermilion rivers and Conneaut Creek in 2011. This week, state officials also announced a major reduction in catchable rainbow trout this fall, with stockings of foot-long trout slashed from 25,000 to just 4,000. The only Northeast Ohio waters to be stocked with state trout this fall are ponds at the Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation of Cleveland Metroparks, although some park systems will be releasing trout.

With the hatchery work to be completed soon, look for steelhead trout stockings to return to the traditional 400,000 6- to 9-inch fish in 2012, as well as stockings of about 80,000 catchable rainbow trout around the state next spring. Next year's fall stockings of catchable trout are still being discussed, said Ohio fisheries supervisor Ray Petering.

Bowhunting for deer: Ohio's four-month archery deer season kicks off Saturday, and Ohio wildlife officials predict about 345,000 bowhunters will be in the Buckeye woods this fall with longbows and crossbows. Last year, archery hunters killed 85,012 deer, a 7 percent decline. Crossbow hunters tagged 44,123 deer, while longbow hunters checked 40,889 bucks and does.

Bowhunters killed 35 percent of the 239,475 deer taken last season with bows, shotguns, pistols and black-powder rifles. Deer management supervisor Mike Tonkovich estimates Ohio's deer herd at 750,000 and has forecast a harvest of a quarter of a million deer. Deer hunters can check their deer this year on the Internet (wildohio.com or ohiogamecheck.com), by telephone (1-877-824-4864) or at a license agent.

Don Smith benefit: A benefit dinner in Wooster is being held Sunday for longtime firearms and hunting activist Don Smith, a field representative for the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and a former state official at the National Rifle Association. Smith is a candidate for heart and kidney transplants at the Cleveland Clinic. The dinner is being held at Church of the Saviour, 480 Fry Road, Wooster. Tickets are available at the door and at The Gun Shop, All Seasons Sport Center and The Ranch in Wooster.

Plentiful hawks: Trained hawk watchers were stationed at Michigan's Lake Erie Metropark and Pointe Mouillee State Game Area on the western Lake Erie shoreline Saturday. The area is a mid-September hot spot for migrating hawks, and the volunteers were busy. The one-day tally was an amazing 190,417 hawks, almost all the broad-winged variety, and it wasn't a record. In 1998, 517,000 migrating hawks were tallied as they soared past the two sites in a single day.

Donate some venison: Buckeye hunters are encouraged to donate venison to the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program this fall and winter. The ministry provides the venison to food banks and local food programs. Local shops accepting venison include Hall Brothers Inc., 27040 Cook Road, Olmsted Falls, and Geauga Farms Country Meats, 14320 Main Market Road, Hiram. To find a participating Ohio butcher, hunters can contact Pete Banks at 440-988-5495 and pete@fhfh.org, or visit fhfh.org.

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

Fishermen are keeping their fingers crossed the fluctuating weather patterns will provide windows of angling opportunity.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerKelleys Island on Lake Erie.

Fishermen are keeping their fingers crossed that the fluctuating weather patterns will provide windows of angling opportunity. Lake Erie's yellow perch are biting when the big waters calm down, the walleye fishing has been slow and steelhead trout are already running the rivers. Inland anglers are catching a few bass, walleye and crappie as they move shallow, while the catfish catches are still fair to good.

Cleveland area: Perch fishing has cooled off, with few limits reported and jumbos harder to find. The best perch fishing has been in 49 to 52 feet of water north of East 72nd Street and Bratenahl, with lots of white perch and white bass also being caught. Some fair catches of perch have been reported in 40 feet of water off Lakewood's Gold Coast. Emerald shiner minnows have been in short supply all around the area, but golden shiners are available for bait.

A few steelhead trout are being caught from Cleveland Harbor breakwalls by anglers casting Little Cleo and KO Wobbler spoons. The walleye fishing has been very slow.

Central Lake Erie: Most fishermen are chasing yellow perch, although fall walleye fishing should be gathering steam in the weeks to come. Perch are being caught in 40 feet of water off Lorain and Avon Lake and in excellent numbers in 50 feet of water two to three miles northwest of the mouth of the Grand River. Some perch are being taken in 60 feet of water northeast of Ashtabula.

Anglers are casting blue-silver Little Cleo spoons and Vibrax spinners from the breakwalls on both sides of the mouth of the Grand River and catching big steelhead trout, with the lighthouse pier a top location. Some walleye are also being caught from the piers, especially early and late in the day and after dark, casting fluorescent jigs tipped with leeches.

Inland lakes, reservoirs: The boathouse at Punderson Lake is open only on the weekends through Oct. 2, and they are open only on weekends through October at LaDue and Mogadore reservoirs.

Cooler nights have provided fair to good bass, crappie and bluegill fishing on local lakes and ponds, with fish moving to shallow-water structure. Bass are being caught near shoreline cover and the inside edges of weed beds on shallow-running diving plugs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and soft plastic jerk baits. Good bass waters have been Wingfoot, Mosquito and West Branch lakes.

Pymatuning Reservoir walleye are biting, hitting smaller, perch-colored Shad Raps being trolled in 18 feet of water on the south end of the lake. Crappie are biting along the causeway late in the day, catfish are still being caught and yellow perch are hitting around near-shore weed beds. Mosquito walleye fishing has been spotty, with a few caught in 15 feet of water on spinner rigs tipped with night crawlers.

East and Turkeyfoot reservoirs in Portage Lakes have been good for crappie and bluegill.

Rivers and streams: Steelhead trout fishing has been surprisingly good for the early season. Trout are already being caught in the lower stretches of the Chagrin, Grand and Rocky rivers, although rains had local water levels a bit elevated Thursday. Grand River anglers have caught trout as far upriver as Harpersfield Dam, working small jigs tipped with maggots under a float. The trout in the lower stretches of the rivers are taking jig-maggot rigs, as well as spoons and spinners. Fly anglers have been taking a few trout on brightly colored streamers.

Western Lake Erie: Walleye are moving to the tops of the Western Basin reefs, with fair fishing reported on small spinner rigs and weight-forward spinners tipped with night crawlers. Dingy water continues to be a problem. Fair walleye fishing spots have been Gull Shoal, Kelleys Island Shoal and the Niagara Reef complex. The number of walleye should build in the coming weeks, providing good fishing northeast of Kelleys Island.

Yellow perch are being caught around Green, Rattlesnake and Ballast islands and around the northwest corner of Kelleys Island. Look for perch fishing to heat up off Marblehead Peninsula in the Lakeside area and off Marblehead Lighthouse.

Fishing tournaments

LaDO Bass Series (LaDue Reservoir)

1. Ray Halter Sr. and Ray Halter Jr., 5 bass, 11.89 pounds, $256; 2. Rory Franks, five bass, 11.68 pounds, $165; 3. Pete Balishin and Correy Petz, four bass, 10.64 pounds, $75. Big Bass: John German and Bob Kravic, 5.06 pounds, $100.

Bad Bass Champs Tournament

(Berlin Reservoir)

1. Dave Galica and Ron Kotch (Canal Fulton), 5 bass, 10.25 pounds, $1,125; 2. Joe Bokar and Mike Fischbach (Akron), 5 bass, 8.08 pounds, $708; 3. Ron O'Farrel and John O'Farrel (Akron), 5 bass, 6.92 pounds, $607. Big Bass: Larry Farmer (Macedonia) and Art Martin (Orange), 3.91 pounds, $301.

Walmart Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division

(Ohio River)

Boater Division: 1. Kevin Spears (New Boston), 10 bass, 21 pounds, 5 ounces, $3,677; 2. Steve Keller Jr. (Bethel), seven bass, 12-14, $1,839; 3. Dan Fry (Marysville), 10 bass, 12-9, $1,226. Co-Angler Division: 1. Dave Palmer (Sandusky), six bass, 10-13, $1,839; 2. Robert Jordan (Hamilton), six bass, 8-13, $919; 3. Jordan Duke (Goshen), six bass, 7-13, $613.

-- D'Arcy Egan

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Even as a fourth-grader, Chawnte Johnson was playing with the boys. Football that is.

Lutheran East’s CJ Johnson not only plays football, she also plays on the line — both of them. The Falcons senior has 28 tackles this season, one sack and two forced fumbles — one for each torn ACL. - (Gus Chan, PD)

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Even as a fourth-grader, Chawnte Johnson was playing with the boys.

Football that is.

So when Johnson decided to give up volleyball to play for Lutheran East's football team as a sophomore, her mom, Sheila Johnson, and dad, Michael Felder, weren't surprised. But they had concerns.

Chawnte, better known as CJ, always welcomed contact but she was trying to be a 140-pound two-way lineman in a sport geared for boys. Plus, she was coming off surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which she suffered during basketball season.

CJ's dad wasn't thrilled and he balked at first.

"She already had an injured knee," Felder said. "There's even a greater chance for injury in football and this wasn't street ball anymore. These guys were older, physically matured and many of them were a lot bigger than her."

Felder eventually gave his approval after Falcons coach Donald Dawson promised Felder he wouldn't put CJ in a position to get seriously hurt.

Neither of CJ's parents are surprised their daughter chose to join the football team and she has become a tri-captain for the Division VI private school in Cleveland Heights. Now 5-7 and 160 pounds, she has registered 50 career tackles in the middle of her second season while drawing double- and triple-teams this year.

"CJ always played tackle football in the street with the neighborhood boys," said Sheila Johnson, a Collinwood resident. "One day she came home with her arm scraped up from the elbow to the wrist."

CJ didn't say a word because she lives by a "pain does not exist" motto.

It's a military type of attitude, punctuated by "yes, sir" and "no, sir" replies CJ picked up from family and friends. Her aunt, Dee Ware, would often play drill sergeant, barking out the number of pushups her niece had to do after misbehaving. CJ also faithfully wears a necklace given to her by her godbrother Alan Rice, an ex-Marine.

She still contemplates a military career but isn't sure she'd gain acceptance because of her knee, which she reinjured during her sophomore basketball season. Same knee, same tear.

"When CJ told me she was going to play football, I said 'Go for it,' " said Sheila Johnson. "CJ's positive attitude comes from the fact I've always been supportive, but don't get me wrong. I was a little nervous and still am. I pray a lot during games."

Injury adds to determination

CJ left an unforgettable impression during her first workout three seasons ago, plowing over two defenders as a scout team tailback.

"I thought I was seeing things," said Daysean Scott, a senior center/defensive tackle. "I was shocked."

Said her father, "I saw CJ at the first practice and I knew she'd be able to handle herself."

Coach Dawson was also impressed and was tempted to put CJ in the offensive backfield, but then remembered his promise to Felder and nixed the idea.

"I was afraid I would be rushing CJ back too quickly so I played her a lot on special teams that year," Dawson said.

Johnson suffered her second ACL tear a few months later and though fully recovered in 10 months, didn't play football her junior season.

"My orthopedic surgeon, Dr. [Brian N.] Victoroff, told me I wouldn't have to wear a [knee] brace if I sat out the season and I did what I was told," she said. "He was right."

The second knee injury was tough to accept, but CJ knew she had a lot of work ahead so she spent much of the time playing basketball and following a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

"I just knew I'd be back because I love football so much," she said.

Respect of teammates and opponents

CJ said she feels stronger than ever and stats back her claim.

Heading into Saturday afternoon's home game against Fostoria St. Wendelin, Johnson has 28 tackles for the Falcons (0-4) this season, including 13 solo. She also has a sack and two forced fumbles despite often being double- and triple-teamed and barely leaving the field -- there's just 23 players on the team.

CJ has nine pancake blocks and is most effective on offense because her blocking technique helps provide room for the ball carriers.

"She comes at you hard," said Richmond Heights sophomore Jimmy Leanza, a 5-8, 190-pound two-way lineman. "I finally figured out she was a girl midway through the third quarter of our game because her hair started coming out of her helmet."

CJ's three recovered fumbles in a season-opening loss to Oberlin left opposing coach Fred Howery offering the most flattering compliment to Johnson.

"We didn't even know a girl was on the field until somebody told us after the game," Howery said.

CJ has always had the respect of her teammates.

"She's works very hard and she's stronger than a lot of the guys, including me," said Falcons junior tailback/linebacker Austin Woodall, a tri-captain.

CJ's had her mettle tested by experiencing some cheap shots from opposing players, something senior tri-captain and fullback/linebacker Darien Hambrick witnessed.

"Somebody pushed her after the play was over in one of our games," Hambrick said. "It happened right in front of me so I pushed the dude back and told him knock it off.

"CJ just got up and trotted back to the huddle."

Basketball used to be CJ's favorite, but her infatuation with football has grown and is now part of her future plans.

It's no coincidence she's applied to Duke, Ohio University and Regent (Va.) because all three colleges are located in or near cities that have women's professional or semi-professional football teams.

"I don't know who I'll play for or what position I'll play," CJ said. "I just know I'm going to keep playing."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4665

On Twitter:@BobFortuna

Getting to know Chawnte Johnson

School: Lutheran East.

Sport: Football.

Position: Offensive and defensive tackle. She is one of three team captains.

Age: 17.

Height, weight: 5-7, 160 pounds.

Bench presses: 185 pounds. Says her upper body is strongest area.

Stats: In four games she has 28 tackles, including 13 solo, a sack and two forced fumbles despite often being double- and triple-teamed.

Other sports: Also plays basketball. Used to play soccer and slow-pitch softball.

Favorite athlete: Professional wrestler Randy Orton.

Would like to attend: A Super Bowl and WrestleMania.

Favorite class: Physical education.

Favorite music: Hip-hop and R&B.

Favorite music artist: Lil' Wayne.

Last good book read: "The Woods," by Harlan Coben.

Up next: She's in the process of applying to colleges and would like to study mechanical engineering or psychology. She hopes to play women's professional or semi-professional football.

-- Bob Fortuna

As Tom DeLeone comes to town to be honored by the Browns, the former center is trying to overcome brain cancer.

View full sizePlain Dealer file photoTom DeLeone, shown above in 2001, was a two-time All-Pro for the Browns during the Kardiac Kids era.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The subject never came up during the first half-hour of conversation.

Tom DeLeone talked about how he was "in shock" to learn that he had been selected to join the Browns Legends Club. He said he "hyperventilated" when he heard the news.

He talked about being cut, rejected and written off by other NFL teams before signing with the Browns in 1974, and yet he had a 14-year career.

He talked about that game of Jan. 4, 1981 . . . Browns vs. Oakland . . . Red Right 88: "Driving up to the old stadium, the lake was not just frozen, the waves were frozen. We'd played in cold weather before, but nothing like that."

He talked about being a special agent with the U.S. Treasury Department and later working in the anti-terrorism unit -- 22 years in law enforcement after football.

He talked about being "retired" in Park City, Utah, where he still does some substitute teaching: "Anything from kindergarten to high school. If I don't understand the lesson plan they leave me, I get the smartest kid in the class to read it."

But he didn't talk about this until asked: "Tom, aren't you dealing with cancer?"

First, a long pause, then he says, "Yes. Brain cancer."

It came from nowhere

There were no severe headaches, no hints of what was to come on Feb. 2, 2011.

DeLeone was driving his son home from school. It was just like any other day.

"Suddenly, I didn't know how to get home," he said. "I took a wrong turn, and my son asked me what I was doing. I felt completely disoriented. I pulled over and had my son drive me to the hospital."

It didn't take long for tests to reveal brain cancer -- a tumor "the size of an avocado" pushing his brain into a different part of his skull.

"They said it was Stage 4 cancer," DeLeone said. "I have a great surgeon, Dr. Randy Jensen. He said he would put no limits on me and my recovery. He said he did these operations about every day, and he said a lot depends on a person's attitude."

DeLeone was told some people last 18 months with this cancer, others two years, some five years. He has met a few who have survived for 10 years.

"I just had my first MRI after the surgery, and it looks pretty good," he said. "I ride my bike 25 miles a few days each week. I'm not giving in to this."

DeLeone turned 62 on Aug. 13. He has been down a road with cancer before. His first wife, Susie, died of cancer in 1976. It was a year after they were married. So DeLeone knows the dangers. He is not in denial.

"But I also know that a passion for life and living can mean so much," he said. "And it makes me appreciate things like this [Browns legends weekend] even more."

He doesn't quit

DeLeone grew up in Kent and attended Roosevelt High, then played for Woody Hayes at Ohio State.

"Woody never had a son who played for him," said Doug Dieken, DeLeone's former Browns teammate. "But Tom is as close as it comes. He's like Woody. He's stubborn. He's tough. He sees things in black and white. And he always has your back."

Then Dieken told a story in which the Steelers' Mean Joe Greene had knocked down Bob McKay on what the Browns thought was a dirty move. The first guy to get to Greene was DeLeone.

"So damn tough," Dieken said. "Nothing scared him. Even when he told me about the cancer, I could hear it in his voice. No feeling sorry for himself. He's just determined."

Look at DeLeone's career. He was an All-America center at Ohio State, a fifth-round pick by Cincinnati in 1972.

"To this day, I don't know why they took me," he said. "They already had a center. They tried me at guard, but that wasn't my position."

He mostly was a long snapper in 1972-73. Then he was traded to Atlanta, was injured and eventually put on waivers. He was claimed by Houston but cut a week later. He was signed by the Browns in the middle of the 1974 season and soon took over as the starting center. Two years later, cancer first entered his life and took his wife.

"This guy has been through so much," Dieken said. "It's tough to swallow."

DeLeone sees it differently. He can't change it, so he plans to deal with it.

Finally, some good news

DeLeone said he loved football because it really was more than a game. It's where he found some deep friendships.

"It's also where you have a mission each week -- to win the game," he said.

When he retired at 34, he remembered how he seriously considered joining the FBI while in college. But football carried him to the NFL. With football gone, he talked to a friend with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

"He told me what to do, how to apply -- and I got accepted by the Treasury Department," he said. "The guy said I was the only one who actually listened to his advice."

For 22 years, he dealt with a variety of cases from fraud to drugs to checking out terrorist suspects. He had to retire at 57, the mandatory age. It was a lot like football. Friendships were formed under fire. The mission was clear, the stakes even higher because this wasn't a game -- it sometimes was life and death.

He also coached the offensive line and special teams for a local high school for 12 years. When retirement was boring, he became a substitute teacher. He has been married to Mindy for 33 years, and they have three children.

Then his world turned upside down with brain cancer.

"That's why this call from the Browns means so much to me," he said. "I really could use the good news, and it's going to be great to see some of guys and the fans again. Being from Kent, playing for the Browns was always so special to me."

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

On Facebook: facebook.com/terrypluto

Thome will end his career, perhaps at the end of this season, ranked among the game's greatest sluggers. He sits down with The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff to talk about his long career.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerThe mighty cut of Jim Thome was a familiar sight for Indians fans for many years and has resulted in more than 600 homers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Those who think Jim Thome derived his greatest pleasure in baseball from circling the bases 600-plus times nonstop never will have understood him fully.

Yes, the homers were important. Each and every one. But they did not drive him.

The endless hours in the cages did.

Session after session, often in the dank bowels of venues across the country, when no more than one other person was looking.

In search of the perfect power swing.

Thome knew there is no such thing as the perfect swing, but he lived for the chase.

The results Thome got from the callused hands were not too shabby. He will end his career, perhaps at the end of this season, ranked among the game's greatest sluggers.

The Indians, Thome's team from 1991 to 2002 and again this year, will honor his home-run prowess tonight at Progressive Field.

Thome recently sat down for a chat.

Q: What do 600-plus homers mean to you?

A: Longevity. When you speak of 600, you speak of longevity. It's a long journey to get there, with a lot of ups and downs along the way. There's a sense of accomplishment. The process is so worth it.

Q: In which of your all-time stats do you take the most pride?

A: Honestly, it's not the homers. I would say the on-base percentage before anything else. [Career .403 entering last Tuesday.]

Q: You are known as one of the nicest people in the game, a "Gentleman Jim." Does anything get you angry on a ball field?

A: I don't like when people show up the opponent, or even their teammates. I don't have any tolerance for that. It's about competing and respecting the game.

Q: Back in the day as a member of the Indians, you charged Boston pitcher and former teammate Rheal Cormier in Fenway Park. Is that your only career charge of the mound?

A: Yes. It was a situation where I needed to do it. I got hit, I had to go. I respected what he was doing. I knew him, but when you put on the other uniform, you're competing. It's not about friendship, it's about doing what's best for your team.

Q: I read somewhere that you got in a fight with Chipper Jones in the minors. True?

A: [Laughter] No. No, no, no. Our teams were in a brawl, but, no.

View full sizeAPThome considers former Tribe manager Charlie Manuel a father figure and mentor.

Q: Word association -- Phillies manager Charlie Manuel?

A: Mentor and father.

Q: Former Indians manager Mike Hargrove?

A: A man who commanded respect.

Q: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen?

A: Entertaining.

Q: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire?

A: [Long pause] I want to make sure I use the right term here, because he's so special. The best word for him is respect. Guys truly respect him and enjoy playing for him.

Q: You and Manuel made quite a baseball pair, beginning with your days in the minors, when he was your manager.

A: For a long time, I think people looked at the outer half of him and didn't give him the credit he was due. But what happened is, he proved over time that he was such a legendary baseball man, and you're seeing it now. The stories from other players, from me, make you realize that Charlie Manuel is one of the greatest baseball men to ever put on a uniform. He's passionate, he's legendary and he cares about the game and his players.

Q: Best baseball advice you ever received?

A: Don't believe the hype.

Q: Where did it come from?

A: My father.

Q: You have said you never would take performance-enhancing drugs for any number of reasons, foremost among them, you couldn't look your dad in the eye. Has Chuck Thome ever asked you if you've been at least tempted to do it?

View full sizePD fileThome says he's not concerned that some people are suspicious of his numbers even though he's never tested positive for use of PEDs.

A: No.

Q: Has the subject of PEDs ever come up between you two?

A: No. Never.

Q: Does it bother you when select critics opine that your accomplishments might be tainted because of the Steroid Era, even while you are clean?

A: I've had to answer these types of questions a lot. Look, I was in a time where steroids happened. There's no denying it. But I don't think you can go through life and worry every day about what other people say or think. You go about your business, you do what you do, you believe in what you believe in. Having said that, I don't see why 600 homers -- or 400 or 500 -- ever need to have an asterisk when you did it the right way.

Q: Are you rankled, though, by the cheaters who muddied the waters for the clean ones?

A: It's not for me to judge people, it's not for me to say this or that. People make decisions and have to live by those decisions. I made my decision to play by the rules and I can feel good about it.

Q: What was the best life lesson your late mother, Joyce, taught you?

A: Be kind.

Q: Is your son, Landon, going to be a ballplayer?

A: I have no clue. I really don't. He's 3 years old.

Q: When you think of Jim Thome, Cleveland Indian, what pops into your head?

A: Great times. Where it all started.

Q: When will you decide whether to play in 2012?

A: At the end of the year, when we get home.

View full sizePDThome remains popular with young Indians fans.

Q: You hear it said often that baseball is a kids' game, that it's fun to play. But there's also an incredible amount of work needed to perform at this level, let alone excel. How much of the game has been work for you, and how much has been fun?

A: Obviously, there's been a lot of work. The bottom line is, you're not going to have fun if you don't put the work in. You're going to struggle in this game, and struggling is not fun, but enjoyment comes from getting out of the struggle. That's where "Don't believe the hype" becomes so important: The best way I know of to deal with the ups and downs is to work hard and stay grounded.

Q: On an average day at the ballpark, at any point in your career, what have been the most enjoyable aspects?

A: Being in the clubhouse with the guys. Talking hitting with your teammates and coaches. The laughter. The dinners on the road.

Q: What is the first lesson you would want a youngster entering the majors to master?

A: Respect the game. You don't need to add anything to that.

Q: When it comes time to retire, have you thought about what comes next?

A: Not really. I know this: I want to be the best father and husband I can be. Baseball has taken me on a great journey, but I look forward to being at home.

Q: What do you want your legacy to be?

A: It's hard for a player to pick his legacy; that's up to others. But I hope I'm remembered, more than anything, as a good teammate, as someone my teammates wanted to play with.

Q: Does one regular-season homer stand out?

A: That's tough. There's been a few. They're all special. I remember some good ones at the old ballpark [Municipal Stadium], when my parents were there. The 500th -- a walk-off. The 600th was great. The 511-footer against Kansas City at Jacobs Field. The flagpole in Minnesota. The Skydome crouton.

Q: The Skydome crouton?

A: You know, the one in the old Skydome in Toronto. I was with the Indians.

Q: What happened?

A: [Laughter] The ball went into the restaurant and landed on the croutons of a salad. That's what they told me.

Q: Describe the feeling of hitting a walk-off homer, which you've done 12 times.

A: It's indescribable. That's the ultimate in a regular-season game -- to hit a home run and win a game. To have your teammates waiting on you. It really doesn't get any better than that. And you can't script it, you can't try to do it. You have a good at-bat, and if it happens, it happens.

Q: You've always talked about the ultimate goal -- to win a World Series ring. It has not happened. How do you summarize that void?

A: I won't look at my career and say, "If I don't win a World Series, it hasn't been complete." Man, I've been given so much. The game has given me so much, so many opportunities. I've been very fortunate. So there's no regret about not winning a ring. Do you understand that?

Q: Yes.

A: Would I love to do it? Absolutely. If it never happens, it would still eat at me every day. I've been close, and I can't imagine what it would be like to actually get there. But again, it's not regret as much as it is disappointment.

Q: Who joins you at your dream power hitters' roundtable?

A: Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle. It would be pretty cool to talk hitting with those guys, wouldn't it?

Q: What is the highlight of your career? One snapshot that continues to give you goosebumps?

A: No question: Catching the ball at third base for the last out against the Orioles to clinch the division in 1995. It's my favorite because of what it meant to the city.

Q: Why did you wear No. 25 for all these years?

A: It was my grandfather's number, a family number. But I only wore it in Cleveland after Buddy Bell left. In my mind, that was Buddy Bell's number in Cleveland.

Q: According to baseball-reference.com, the only other number you've worn is No. 6, when you broke in.

A: And No. 59.

Q: Fifty-nine? You wore that number in your first spring training?

A: No, no -- that was my number when I debuted. I got my first hit as No. 59. Can you believe that? I was No. 59. I made my debut on the road and got my first hit. Then when we came back to Cleveland from that trip, No. 6 was available. It was a smaller number, so I took it.

Q: Do you realize that, in 1996, you led the Indians with five triples?

A: Wow. That's awesome. That's a good trivia question.

Q: Even more amazing: Kenny Lofton was among those on that team. You broke his four-year run as triples leader.

A: [Laughter] I'll have to harass him over that one.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com, 216-999-4664

See a thumbnail gallery of this week's Players of the Week.

See a thumbnail gallery of this week's Players of the Week.

Dwayne Allen, St. Edward
Sport: Football
Class: Junior
Age: 16
Ht: 5-7
Wt: 160

What Dwayne did last week: Running back totaled 207 yards on 29 carries in a 30-10 win against Cincinnati Elder. Had a long run of 63 yards and scored a 29-yard touchdown.

About Dwayne: Also runs track and plays basketball. Wants to study sports management. Favorites include "The Game" TV show, music by Drake, Olive Garden restaurant, Nike clothes and history class. Wants to try anything but skydiving.

Aaron Horak, Parma
Sport: Football
Class: Junior
Age: 17
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 170

What Aaron did last week: Running back had 30 carries for 260 yards and three touchdowns in 28-14 win against Lakewood. At cornerback, had four tackles.

About Aaron: Enjoys running. Wants to become a paralegal and play college football. Favorites include the Browns, "Friday Night Lights" movie, youtube.com, Winking Lizard restaurant and math class. Would like to take a vacation to Italy.

Ally Markovich, Hawken
Sport: Cross country
Class: Junior
Age: 16
Ht: 5-3

What Ally did last week: Defended her 2010 victory at the Spartan Invitational in a Division III meet record 18:41.20, which also is a school record.

About Ally: Member of Amnesty International and works on school newspaper staff. Favorites include "Glee" TV show, "Walk on Water" song by David Byrne, "Little Bee" book, macaroni and cheese and English class. Wants to learn how to juggle.

Emily Weinberg, Hathaway Brown
Sport: Field Hockey
Class: Senior
Age: 17
Ht: 5-5

What Emily did last week: Center-midfielder had the overtime, game-winning goals in a 1-0 victory against Hawken and a 2-1 win against Northern Allegheny (Pa.).

About Emily: Enjoys skiing and snowboarding. Will play field hockey at Georgetown. Favorites include "Lion King" movie, "Modern Family" TV show, stumbleupon.com, "Harry Potter" book series, Melt restaurant and science class.

Sean Sherman, Medina
Sport: Golf
Class: Junior
Age: 16
Ht: 5-9
Wt: 138

What Sean did last week: Finished third with a 73 at Kiely Cup at Canterbury G.C. Shot 1-under 35 at Weymouth C.C. and 1-under 34 at Medina C.C. in dual matches.

About Sean: Pre-match ritual includes handshake with teammate Mike Bishop. Enjoys snowboarding. Favorites include pro golfer Rory McIlroy, "The Hangover" movie, Chipotle restaurant and chemistry class. Wants to play golf in Scotland.

Ali Nageotte, Magnificat
Sport: Golf
Class: Sophomore
Age: 15
Ht: 5-5

What Ali did last week: Shot a 76 with a hole in one on the 170-yard 16th hole at Tamer Win G.C. in Cortland. Shot a 77 at the Turkeyfoot Invitational.

About Ali: Also plays basketball. Favorites include the Cavaliers, pro golfer Rickie Fowler, "The Last Song" movie, "Keeping up with the Kardashians" TV show, math class, "To Kill a Mockingbird" book, Italian food and math class. Wants to visit Fiji.

Drew Teller, Mayfield
Sport: Soccer
Class: Senior
Age: 17
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 180

What Drew did last week: Goalkeeper helped Wildcats go 2-0-1. Had four saves in 4-0 win against Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 11 in 2-1 win against Brecksville and seven in 2-2 tie against Stow.

About Drew: Also plays basketball and baseball. Favorites include the Cubs, "The Shawshank Redemption" movie, "And Then There Were None" book and AP government class. Wants to visit every Major League Baseball stadium.

Madison Ross, Lutheran West
Sport: Soccer
Class: Junior
Age: 16
Ht: 5-2

What Madison did last week: In 4-0 win against Columbia, forward had two goals and two assists. Also had two saves in second half. In 7-3 win against Keystone, had a goal and two assists.

About Madison: Member of National Honor Society. Also plays basketball. Favorites include "Inception" movie, pac-12.org website, "The Hunger Games" book, Mexican food and math class. Wants to try out for the football team.

Kelly Vitt, Stow
Sport: Volleyball
Class: Senior
Age: 17
Ht: 5-6

What Kelly did last week: Setter helped team go 5-0 with 183 assists (11.44 per game), nine aces and 34 digs. Was 424 for 424 on set attempts.

About Kelly: Member of National Honor Society. Wants to study pharmacy. Favorites include Ohio State and Browns, "Mean Girls" movie, "Wipeout" TV show, facebook.com, "The Lost Boy" book, Cheesecake Factory restaurant, Forever 21 clothes and chemistry class.

Coaches' nominations for Players of the Week will be taken Mondays between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The toll-free number for coaches to call for the seven-county coverage area is 1-800-388-4370.

Autumn officially arrived today, which should bring the first runs of steelhead trout up the local rivers and streams. Chalk one up for the recent cool nights and rainy weather, which have the trout cooperating this year. Fair catches are already being reported around Northeast Ohio.

The Plain DealerFair catches of steelhead trout are already being reported in rivers and streams around Northeast Ohio.

OUTDOORS NOTEBOOK

Autumn officially arrived today, which should bring the first runs of steelhead trout up the local rivers and streams. Chalk one up for the recent cool nights and rainy weather, which have the trout cooperating this year. Fair catches are already being reported around Northeast Ohio.

Getting anglers in a steelheading mood is the upcoming 18th-annual Steelhead Expo at Rocky River Nature Center on Oct. 1, a combined effort of the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders and Cleveland Metroparks. The location is ideal, with the show perched on the banks of the Rocky River in the Cleveland Metroparks, one of the most accessible steelhead trout streams in the Midwest.

The Rocky River Nature Center is on Valley Parkway in North Olmsted, between Shepard Lane and Cedar Point Road.

Local experts will host sessions on fly tying and casting for trout with flies, spinning and center pin tackle. The seminar schedule ranges from beginning fishing to advanced techniques with spey rods. Local tackle shops have steelhead gear for sale. Ohio Division of Wildlife biologists will update Ohio’s world-class steelhead trout fishery.

Most anglers wait for the first Arctic blast to lure spawning trout from Lake Erie, where they have been fattening up all summer. Aquatic biologist Mike Durkalec of Cleveland Metroparks reports that the chilly nights have enticed a few steelhead trout to the lower stretches of the Rocky River this week. Most have been smaller “skippers,” the young 14- to 17-inch male trout getting a head start on the spawning season, but a few bigger trout have been hooked.

On the Grand River, steelhead trout are being caught as far upstream as Harpersfield Dam, a 23-mile swim from Lake Erie, says Don Moore of Harbor Bait and Tackle.

More trout talk: Chagrin River Outfitters in Chagrin Falls has its annual Shop Day on Oct. 8, with a list of local experts on tap. The seminar schedule at the free show includes guides Greg Senyo and Brett McCrae of Steelhead Alley Outfitters, Patagonia’s Jerry Darkes and Jeff Liskay of Berkley. The seminars range from catching brown trout to swinging streamers with switch rods. They begin at 8 a.m. and run through 3:30 p.m. For a full listing of seminars and times, visit chagrinriveroutfitters.com.

Trout stockings cut: Castalia State Fish Hatchery renovations resulted in a 35 percent reduction in the number of yearling steelhead trout stocked in the Rocky, Chagrin, Grand and Vermilion rivers and Conneaut Creek in 2011. This week, state officials also announced a major reduction in catchable rainbow trout this fall, with stockings of foot-long trout slashed from 25,000 to just 4,000. The only Northeast Ohio waters to be stocked with state trout this fall are ponds at the Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation of Cleveland Metroparks, although some park systems will be releasing trout.

With the hatchery work to be completed soon, look for steelhead trout stockings to return to the traditional 400,000 6- to 9-inch fish in 2012, as well as stockings of about 80,000 catchable rainbow trout around the state next spring. Next year’s fall stockings of catchable trout are still being discussed, said Ohio fisheries supervisor Ray Petering.

Bowhunting for deer: Ohio’s four-month archery deer season kicks off Saturday, and Ohio wildlife officials predict about 345,000 bowhunters will be in the Buckeye woods this fall with longbows and crossbows. Last year, archery hunters killed 85,012 deer, a 7 percent decline. Crossbow hunters tagged 44,123 deer, while longbow hunters checked 40,889 bucks and does.

Bowhunters killed 35 percent of the 239,475 deer taken last season with bows, shotguns, pistols and black-powder rifles. Deer management supervisor Mike Tonkovich estimates Ohio’s deer herd at 750,000 and has forecast a harvest of a quarter of a million deer. Deer hunters can check their deer this year on the Internet (wildohio.com or ohiogamecheck.com), by telephone (1-877-824-4864) or at a license agent.

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

ake Erie’s yellow perch are biting when the big waters calm down, the walleye fishing has been slow and steelhead trout are already running the rivers. Inland anglers are catching a few bass, walleye and crappie as they move shallow, while the catfish catches are still fair to good.

D'Arcy Egan, the Plain DealerPerch fishing around Cleveland has cooled off, with few limits reported and jumbos harder to find.

Fishermen are keeping their fingers crossed that the fluctuating weather patterns will provide windows of angling opportunity. Lake Erie’s yellow perch are biting when the big waters calm down, the walleye fishing has been slow and steelhead trout are already running the rivers. Inland anglers are catching a few bass, walleye and crappie as they move shallow, while the catfish catches are still fair to good.

Cleveland area

Perch fishing has cooled off, with few limits reported and jumbos harder to find. The best perch fishing has been in 49 to 52 feet of water north of East 72nd Street and Bratenahl, with lots of white perch and white bass also being caught. Some fair catches of perch have been reported in 40 feet of water off Lakewood’s Gold Coast. Emerald shiner minnows have been in short supply all around the area, but golden shiners are available for bait.

A few steelhead trout are being caught from Cleveland Harbor breakwalls by anglers casting Little Cleo and KO Wobbler spoons. The walleye fishing has been very slow.

Central Lake Erie

Most fishermen are chasing yellow perch, although fall walleye fishing should be gathering steam in the weeks to come. Perch are being caught in 40 feet of water off Lorain and Avon Lake and in excellent numbers in 50 feet of water two to three miles northwest of the mouth of the Grand River. Some perch are being taken in 60 feet of water northeast of Ashtabula.

Anglers are casting blue-silver Little Cleo spoons and Vibrax spinners from the breakwalls on both sides of the mouth of the Grand River and catching big steelhead trout, with the lighthouse pier a top location. Some walleye are also being caught from the piers, especially early and late in the day and after dark, casting fluorescent jigs tipped with leeches.

Inland lakes, reservoirs

The boathouse at Punderson Lake is open only on the weekends through Oct. 2, and they are open only on weekends through October at LaDue and Mogadore reservoirs.

Cooler nights have provided fair to good bass, crappie and bluegill fishing on local lakes and ponds, with fish moving to shallow-water structure. Bass are being caught near shoreline cover and the inside edges of weed beds on shallow-running diving plugs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and soft plastic jerk baits. Good bass waters have been Wingfoot, Mosquito and West Branch lakes.

Pymatuning Reservoir walleye are biting, hitting smaller, perch-colored Shad Raps being trolled in 18 feet of water on the south end of the lake. Crappie are biting along the causeway late in the day, catfish are still being caught and yellow perch are hitting around near-shore weed beds. Mosquito walleye fishing has been spotty, with a few caught in 15 feet of water on spinner rigs tipped with night crawlers.

East and Turkeyfoot reservoirs in Portage Lakes have been good for crappie and bluegill.

Rivers and streams

Steelhead trout fishing has been surprisingly good for the early season. Trout are already being caught in the lower stretches of the Chagrin, Grand and Rocky rivers, although rains had local water levels a bit elevated Thursday. Grand River anglers have caught trout as far upriver as Harpersfield Dam, working small jigs tipped with maggots under a float. The trout in the lower stretches of the rivers are taking jig-maggot rigs, as well as spoons and spinners. Fly anglers have been taking a few trout on brightly colored streamers.

Western Lake Erie

Walleye are moving to the tops of the Western Basin reefs, with fair fishing reported on small spinner rigs and weight-forward spinners tipped with night crawlers. Dingy water continues to be a problem. Fair walleye fishing spots have been Gull Shoal, Kelleys Island Shoal and the Niagara Reef complex. The number of walleye should build in the coming weeks, providing good fishing northeast of Kelleys Island.

Yellow perch are being caught around Green, Rattlesnake and Ballast islands and around the northwest corner of Kelleys Island. Look for perch fishing to heat up off Marblehead Peninsula in the Lakeside area and off Marblehead Lighthouse.

Fishing tournaments

LaDO Bass Series (LaDue Reservoir)

1. Ray Halter Sr. and Ray Halter Jr., 5 bass, 11.89 pounds, $256; 2. Rory Franks, five bass, 11.68 pounds, $165; 3. Pete Balishin and Correy Petz, four bass, 10.64 pounds, $75. Big Bass: John German and Bob Kravic, 5.06 pounds, $100.

Bad Bass Champs Tournament (Berlin Reservoir)

1. Dave Galica and Ron Kotch (Canal Fulton), 5 bass, 10.25 pounds, $1,125; 2. Joe Bokar and Mike Fischbach (Akron), 5 bass, 8.08 pounds, $708; 3. Ron O’Farrel and John O’Farrel (Akron), 5 bass, 6.92 pounds, $607. Big Bass: Larry Farmer (Macedonia) and Art Martin (Orange), 3.91 pounds, $301.

Walmart Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division (Ohio River)

Boater Division: 1. Kevin Spears (New Boston), 10 bass, 21 pounds, 5 ounces, $3,677; 2. Steve Keller Jr. (Bethel), seven bass, 12-14, $1,839; 3. Dan Fry (Marysville), 10 bass, 12-9, $1,226. Co-Angler Division: 1. Dave Palmer (Sandusky), six bass, 10-13, $1,839; 2. Robert Jordan (Hamilton), six bass, 8-13, $919; 3. Jordan Duke (Goshen), six bass, 7-13, $613.

How much should the Cleveland Browns pay Peyton Hillis in base salary?

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerPeyton Hillis

Cleveland.com reporter Jodie Valade writes today how the Cleveland Browns want to build around running back Peyton Hillis, but unlike other players, the Browns have not signed Hillis to a new deal.

That means Hillis, who rushed for 1,177 yards last season, is scheduled to earn the NFL four-year minimum of $555,000.

If Hillis is among the top running backs in the league, he at least needs to get paid like one, right?

Or are the Browns taking their time because of Hillis' issues with holding onto the ball. He had eight fumbles last season, and one in two games this season.

So put on your GM hat, and when you look at what some of the top running backs are earning in base salary, what does Hillis deserve?

Former Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll returns to Cleveland.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerFormer Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

Jason Lloyd of Ohio.com writes about the return of former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who will enter Browns Stadium as a member of the Miami Dolphins.

Daboll was often accused of running a stagnant, unimaginative offense under former coach Eric Mangini.

It was the first time he had been given total control of an offense after previously serving as a position coach with the Patriots. The Browns ranked near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories under Daboll.

“You can’t put it on one coach. It’s definitely a group effort,” Watson said. “He tried his hardest and we tried our hardest to win football games and to play well on offense. Obviously we didn’t do a good enough job, so he’s gone, some players are gone, we remixed it this year and we’re trying something new.”

Daboll did not speak with the Cleveland media this week. Lloyd writes that Daboll did address Miami reporters.

He called it “an educational experience, a good experience” while acknowledging his work was often scrutinized.

“I’ve got real thick skin,” he said with a laugh. “My wife feeds me good.”

More Browns

Back-ups like Montario Hardesty must prepare mentally while waiting for an opportunity.

Steve Doerschuk of CantonRep.com writes how Sunday's game will be a battle between Miami offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron.

Colt McCoy will face a Dolphins's team without starting cornerback Vontae Davis.

Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving won over young fans duirng assemblies on Friday at Green Primary School, where he told students he would not leave like LeBron James.

APKyrie Irving, the Cavs top draft pick, told grade school students Friday that he could never leave them the way LeBron James did.

GREEN, Ohio -- The music was blaring in the darkened Green Primary School gym, and when principal Kevin Finefrock - the former Canton Central Catholic star who was channeling his best public address announcer - introduced Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving, the screaming went to decibles not reached in The Q last season.

"You guys look beautiful today,'' Irving shouted into the microphone in order to be heard over the noise and wiggling of 500 students from kindergarten through second grade.

Finefrock, who'd never met Irving before, invited him to the school ahead of the basketball camp the rookie will conduct this weekend at the Westlake Recreation Center.

Showing a natural affinity for working with kids, Irving met with the Green boys and girls basketball teams, spoke to two assemblies, sat in a rocking chair to read "Chimps Don't Wear Glasses,'' and then took questions from the audience.

One youngster, Nick, a blond with a crewcut, asked the question that probably was on everybody's minds:

"Are you going to leave us like LeBron left us?'' he asked quietly.

The room went silent.

"No,'' Irving shouted into the mike. "How could I leave you guys?''

The room erupted in cheers, and the only louder ones came when Finnefrock hit a halfcourt shot to end the proceedings and win Cavs tickets for eight lucky students as the students chanted ''Fin-e-frock, Fin-e-frock.''

The only question is how long it will be before the students can use them.

Irving, who has been studying and working out at Duke during the lockout, seemed confident it wouldn't be long.

"I'm really optimistic,'' he said. He also mentioned the possibility that the Cavs players might organize off-season workouts at Ohio State.

Rookies Lonnie Chisenhall and Jason Kipnis have not set off fireworks since they've been in the bigs, but each player has made some type of contribution.

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerLonnie Chisenhall

Sheldon Ocker of Ohio.com writes how rookies Lonnie Chisenhall and Jason Kipnis have not set off fireworks since they've been in the bigs, but each player has made some type of contribution.

“Much has been made of Kipnis’ ability to hit, and he does that,” manager Manny Acta said. “But he also runs well and he has the ability to bunt. That’s a pretty good weapon.”

Nobody told Acta about these attributes, but twice in the past two weeks Kipnis laid perfect bunt singles down the third-base line. Since coming up from Columbus, he also has stolen four bases without getting thrown out.

“What I saw before was his ability to drive the ball for a guy his size,” Acta said. “I didn’t hear anything about bunting. But he’s not afraid or ashamed of doing it.

“All I heard is that he can hit and that I was going to be amazed at how far he hit the ball to left-center or right.”

Ocker wonders what kind of run producer does Acta think Chisenhall will be?

“I can tell you this or that, I can expect things and give you numbers, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be right,” Acta said. “I would project him as a guy who hits 20-25 home runs and gets 80-85 RBI, but who knows?”

Around the horn

Indians 11, White Sox 2 in explosive night.

Asdrubal sets franchise mark for homers by a shortstop.

White Sox pitcher Sergio Santos looks ahead.

Jim Thome chases perfection with passion.

Tonight's football game between Euclid (0-4) and Cleveland Heights (4-0) is postponed because Mario Houston, assistant coach at Cleveland Heights, suffered a stroke on Thursday night. Houston served as an assistant coach for Euclid last season. Euclid athletic representatives said this morning that the game will be played Saturday at Euclid, but the time has yet to be determined.        

Tonight's football game between Euclid (0-4) and Cleveland Heights (4-0) is postponed because Mario Houston, assistant coach at Cleveland Heights, suffered a stroke on Thursday night. Houston served as an assistant coach for Euclid last season.

Euclid athletic representatives said this morning that the game will be played Saturday at Euclid, but the time has yet to be determined.

Coach Luke Fickell's decision to start Braxton Miller should not have been a tough decision.

APQuarterback Braxton Miller.

 John Kampf of The News-Herald writes how coach Luke Fickell's decision to name Braxton Miller as the starter is a no-brainer.

Or in a word --- Duh!

If Ohio State is going to realize any of its potential moving forward, it needs to start the electric Miller running the offense, not the enigmatic Joe Bauserman.

Actually, Bauserman isn't much of an enigma. You know what you're going to get out of him. It's just not very much.

Ohio State's offense needs more, and Bauserman isn't wasn't the QB to provide that spark.

Bauserman, like Boeckman, is a nice guy and a hard worker. But "nice" doesn't avoid blitzes and win games.

Ohio State's staff realized back in 2008, "Hey, we can't survive like this," and made the move to Pryor. The same epiphany must have smacked this year's staff between the eyes after Bauserman's 2-for-14 passing performance last Saturday in Miami.

Around the Horse Shoe

A different player but the circumstances are nearly the same for Braxton Miller, writes Cleveland.com's Doug Lesmerises.

Say what you will about the Buckeyes, but Dayton Daily News reporter Marc Katz still supports OSU.

In this Denver Post article, reporter John Henderson writes about who is responsible for OSU's troubles.

Fox Sports has this preview of Saturday's game between the Buckeyes and Colorado.

Despite a new starting quarterback, Columbus Dispatch columnist Rob Oller writes about the importance of the running game.

Plain Dealer Browns reporter also answers your questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature. Watch video

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

The Browns will try to stop the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in a 1 p.m. game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, and Browns running back Peyton Hillis is still trying to land a new contract? What kind of deal do you think he deserves? That's our question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer Browns reporter Tony Grossi, who talks about that and other topics as he answers fan questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature.

Tony says he is picking the Browns to beat Miami in a sloppy game on Sunday. He also answers questions about Browns receiver Brian Robiskie; Colt McCoy's ability to succeed on broken plays; and the future of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

SBTV will return Monday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot breaking down Sunday's Browns-Dolphins game.

"Although Jimmy has gotten old, you still sense that the boy who just enjoyed playing baseball as a kid never quite left him. Looking back at a Hall of Fame career, it's pretty impressive that, with those legendary numbers, he always remained humble enough to sign for his fans and respect the game he loves. We may be in the midst of a championship drought, but as Cleveland sports fans we've been blessed to watch a class act so many times." - Clementetribe27

View full sizeDavid I. Andersen | The Plain DealerJim Thome may be playing the final games of his career as the 2011 season winds down.

In response to the story Cleveland Indians' Jim Thome chased perfection with practice, respect and pride, cleveland.com reader Clementetribe27 is glad to have seen so much of Jim Thome over the years. This reader writes,

"Although Jimmy has gotten old, you still sense that the boy who just enjoyed playing baseball as a kid never quite left him. Looking back at a Hall of Fame career, it's pretty impressive that, with those legendary numbers, he always remained humble enough to sign for his fans and respect the game he loves. We may be in the midst of a championship drought, but as Cleveland sports fans we've been blessed to watch a class act so many times."

Browns running back Peyton Hillis was not at practice today. No reason has been provided by the team yet.

Joshua Gunter | The Plain DealerPeyton Hillis was a surprise no-show at practice today.

BEREA -- Browns running back Peyton Hillis was absent from practice with an illness today, but the team expects him to play Sunday against Miami. 

Coach Pat Shurmur said Hillis arrived for practice Friday morning, but was sent home to get fluids and rest.

Shurmur added that he expected Hillis would play against the Dolphins.

During Thursday's practice, Hillis appeared to slip during a drill and spiked the ball afterwards. He held his side for a minute, but then went back in and looked fine on the next drill. The slip is not believed to be related to his absence.

Montario Hardesty took all the first-team reps in practice today.

Hillis is coming off a two-touchdown, 94-yard rushing effort against the Colts and is gearing up for the 0-2 Dolphins on Sunday. He rushed for 57 yards against Miami last season.

"I don't want a team that is all about one single star. I'd rather the Cavs build a team like the great Cavaliers' teams of Larry Nance, Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Ron Harper, etc. Kyrie Irving seems like a reallytalentedd point guard with All Star potential. He's ideal to build a team around." - beachwood_bob

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerCavaliers' fans hope they have strong building blocks in Tristan Thompson and Kyrie Irving.

In response to the story Cleveland Cavs top pick Kyrie Irving a winner to young students in Green, cleveland.com reader beachwood_bob hopes the Cavaliers follow the model they used in the late '80s and early '90s. This reader writes,

"I don't want a team that is all about one single star. I'd rather the Cavs build a team like the great Cavaliers' teams of Larry Nance, Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Ron Harper, etc. Kyrie Irving seems like a reallytalentedd point guard with All Star potential. He's ideal to build a team around."

Kobe Bryant is made a huge offer to play in Italy.

Associated PressKobe Bryant

 ROME -- Kobe Bryant has been offered a $6.7 million, one-season contract to play for the Italian team Virtus Bologna, appealing to his childhood memories of growing up in the country.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar spent part of his youth in Italy while his father played there. He speaks Italian, prompting Bologna to hope he might return if there's an NBA lockout.

Virtus Bologna general manager Massimo Faraoni tells The Associated Press he's been on conference calls with Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, Bologna president Claudio Sabatini and main sponsor Canadian Solar, which would provide the cash for such a deal.

"I think the fact that he's lived in Italy makes this appealing to him," Faraoni said.

Virtus has given Bryant four contract options, stretching from the one-year deal to two-month and one-month options, and a per-game deal that would come out to $739,640 per home game.

All of the offers are pretax and would allow Bryant to return to the Lakers immediately if the lockout ends.

Turkish club Besiktas and at least one team in China have expressed interest in the 33-year-old Bryant, who has won five NBA championships.

Faraoni watched the 13-time All-Star when he played in Pistoia's youth system in the late 1980s.

"He already had a lot of passion for the game then," Faraoni said.

Bryant's father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, played in Italy with Rieti, Reggio Calabria, Pistoia and Reggiana from 1984 to 1991. The elder Bryant now coaches the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA.

Virtus also reached out to Manu Ginobili, who played with Bologna before joining the San Antonio Spurs in 2002. Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari rejoined his former Italian club, Olimpia Milano, on Tuesday.

Other NBA players are committing to play in leagues outside the United States.

Nuggets free agents Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith plan to play in China; Denver's Ty Lawson will play in Lithuania; and New Jersey Nets All-Star Deron Williams signed with Besiktas.

Virtus has won 15 Italian league titles but none since 2001, when it also won the Euroleague for the second time.

Virtus has asked fans to send messages supporting the recruitment of Bryant to a "Bologna for Bryant" email address, which will be published on the team's website.

Bologna opens the Italian league Oct. 9 against Roma. It did not qualify for this season's Euroleague, although the team has big ambitions after signing former Clemson point guard Terrell McIntyre, who led Siena to four consecutive Italian titles before transferring to Malaga in Spain last season.

"I think we already have a competitive squad for Serie A, but Kobe is obviously a great champion and he would make a great addition to the team," Faraoni said. "I would put us just behind Milano and Siena."

The NBA season usually begins in late October, but owners and players have failed to agree on a new labor deal. The two sides are at odds over how to divide the league's revenue, a salary-cap structure and the length of guaranteed contracts.