Brown begins his statement: "The past 5 years have been an exceptional experience. I have been very fortunate to lead a group of men who I respect and thoroughly enjoyed coaching on a daily basis."

Mike Krzyzewski's hiring as Cavs coach might keep LeBron James from leaving Cleveland. But if Coach K isn't interested in the job, does that mean LeBron is a bit further out the door?

Today's meter reading:

A man who spent a month in Cleveland ended up with Mike Brown's old cell phone number, and lives to rue the day.

John Kuntz,
The Plain DealerMike Brown calls for a time out. The guy who got the cell number Brown used to have probably also would like to call a timeout.Cleveland, Ohio -- A New Delhi, India, native who lived in Cleveland for a month in 2008 got a cell phone while he was here. Rajesh Kumar, who now lives in New York, still has the number.

Which, by the way, belonged to fired Cavs coach Mike Brown in 2007-2008, according to Chris Tomasson, writing for nba.fanhouse.com.

"I have gotten over 150 phone calls since (Monday),'' Kumar said Tuesday afternoon in an interview with FanHouse from New York. "I took a nap and I woke up and I had 37 voice mail messages. I thought Mike Brown must have lost a big match.''  (Kumar is a cricket fan, so he's not really up on basketball vernacular.)

After Kumar first got his number and started getting a few phone calls for Brown, he Googled his name and figured out who he is. Kumar would get calls from time to time for Brown and text messages after games, but it wasn't too much of a distraction.

Kumar doesn't know who most of the callers have been since he simply tells them they have the wrong number. As for the messages left on Kumar's voice mail, which has an automated recording rather than his voice or name, he has deleted them immediately.

But Kumar did say he got a call asking for Brown from somebody identified as being from the office of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The call ended after Kumar said it no longer is Brown's number.

So why would Bloomberg's office be calling Brown? Well, Bloomberg did speak on his weekly Friday show on WOR Radio on May 14 about believing Cleveland star guard LeBron James, who had played for Brown, would want to sign with New York or New Jersey when he can become a free agent this summer.

... But, considering all the recent distractions, one wonders if Kumar has any plans to get a different number.

"No,'' he said. "It will die down.''

Starting Blocks isn't sure that's true, at least not as long as the Brown/Where's LeBron saga continues.

But it's, ahem, your call.

Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez surprise in making the squad that begins play June 12.

Associated PressEdson Buddle

BRISTOL, Conn. -- Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez went from long shots to the U.S. World Cup roster, joining veterans Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Tim Howard on the American team headed to South Africa.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley cut seven players from his preliminary roster Wednesday to reach the 23-man FIFA limit. The Americans will play England on June 12 in their World Cup opener.

Let go were defenders Chad Marshall and Heath Pearce; midfielders Alejandro Bedoya, Sacha Kljestan and Robbie Rogers; and forwards Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson.

Midfielders Donovan and Beasley, and defender Steve Cherundolo earned their third World Cup trips. Beasley's selection capped a comeback from nine months of national team exile that ended in March.

Seventeen of the 23 players are based in Europe, with just four from Major League Soccer and two from Mexican clubs. Of the European group, eight play in England, three in Germany, two in Scotland, and one each in Denmark, France, Italy and Norway.

Both Buddle and Gomez are forwards, and Bradley said they "both have been in great form, scored a lot of goals this year."

Buddle was a nonenity for the U.S. during World Cup qualifying. But he's scored nine times this season for the Los Angeles Galaxy to lead the MLS, and he made his first start for the national team in Tuesday night's 4-2 loss to the Czech Republic.

The 29-year-old Buddle didn't quite believe it when Bradley congratulated him at 2 a.m. Wednesday.

"I thought he was messing around. I didn't know. It was too late," he said.

Gomez might have faced even longer odds to make the squad after his contract was not renewed last year by Kansas City in MLS. But he went to Puebla of the Mexican league and tied for the scoring lead with 10 goals in 14 appearances.

"I wasn't good enough for the Wizards last year, so to be where I am today is amazing," Gomez said.

Bradley praised Buddle, Gomez and Beasley for taking advantage of their opportunities.

"One player that I felt fits into that category is Herculez Gomez," Bradley said. "He's worked hard to get to this point.

"DaMarcus obviously had fallen out of it a bit and he needed to make a renewed commitment to the team and doing things as a player that makes his team better. And we've seen that.

"When you make tough decision you try to factor in everything," Bradley added. "You take into account where they are in their season and certainly to this point Edson is one of the best players in MLS. That type of form needed to really count."

A total of 92 players made at least one appearance under Bradley during the four-year World Cup cycle as the team went 35-19-6. He used 43 players during qualifying; 19 of them made the final roster. Those players accounted for 29 of 42 goals scored in qualifying, including Altidore's team-leading six goals.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan, Italy), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England)

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus, Denmark), Stuart Holden (Bolton, England), Jose Torres (Pachuca, Mexico)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Hull, England), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Pachuca, Mexico).

White Sox overcome ejections of starting pitcher Mark Buehrle and manager Ozzie Guillen to beat Indians, 5-4.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For a team in desperate need of victories, a gift does not come much bigger.

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerStarting pitcher Jake Westbrook gave up 5 runs in 7 innings in the Indians' loss on Wednesday at Progressive Field.

The Indians watched the opposing pitcher, White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle, leave in the third inning of a scoreless game -- and they had almost nothing to do with it.

Buehrle was ejected by first-base umpire Joe West, who called him for a second balk on a move to first. One inning earlier, West tossed Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen in the moments following Buehrle's first balk.

Buehrle, author of a perfect game and no-hitter in his career, had posted quality starts in each of his two previous outings against the Indians this season. 

The Indians showed their gratitude by performing sloppily until the ninth, when they scored three. But the tying and winning runs were left on base in a 5-4 loss.

With the bases loaded and one out in the ninth, Austin Kearns struck out against Bobby Jenks. Russell Branyan flied to left to end the game.

The Indians (17-28) committed four errors in losing for the eighth time in 10 games. They served up the clunker less than 24 hours after arguably their best all-around performance produced a 7-3 victory Saturday night.

The White Sox (20-26) won two of three in the series and improved to 3-6 against Cleveland.

Chicago scored three in the fourth for a 3-0 advantage.

Juan Pierre doubled to left-center and advanced to third on a grounder. After Alex Rios walked, Paul Konerko drove in Pierre with a single to left. Kearns made an errant throw attempting to get Rios at third, allowing Konerko to move to second.

Mark Kotsay was intentionally walked. Tribe righty Jake Westbrook struck out Carlos Quentin but gave up a two-run single to Mark Teahen.

The Indians pulled within 3-1 in their half of the third.

Kearns led off with a single and moved to third on Branyan's double to right. Tony Pena replaced Randy Williams and gave up a sacrifice fly to Jhonny Peralta.

Matt LaPorta grounded to shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who cut down Branyan at third. Branyan took off as the ball was hit, stopped and restarted.

Luis Valbuena struck out looking for the third out.

Pena gave up two hits in four innings.

The White Sox made it 5-1 on Kotsay's two-run homer in the sixth.

The Tribe put runners on first and second in the sixth. Nothing else happened because of a flyout, flyout and groundout.

West called a balk on Buehrle in the second for breaking the plane on his stride toward first, where Matt LaPorta stood after a single. Buehrle apparently squawked at West, who began moving toward Buehrle. Guillen came out to keep the peace but became enraged when West dismissively waved him back to the dugout.

In the third, West called another balk on Buehrle for the same reason. Jason Donald was on first. Buehrle's first reaction was to drop his glove, which West viewed as showing him up. West immediately tossed him.

Buehrle, who threw 36 pitches in his 2 1/3 innings, was relieved by lefty Randy Williams.

With runners on first and third, Williams got Shin-Soo Choo to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to keep the game scoreless.

Tribe right-hander Jake Westbrook allowed one hit -- a bunt single by Alexei Ramirez with one out in the third. Westbrook reached the ball along the third-base side but had not play. Moments later, Ramirez was erased on a 4-3-6 double play.

Sporting News preseason poll puts Alabama at No. 1, Ohio State at No. 2.

Marvin Fong,
The Plain DealerTwo Sporting News writers put the Ohio State Band's "Dotting the i" as one of the top five traditions in college football.

Y'all jus' might want to work on y'all's southern accent to prepare for the BCS title game.

The Sporting News today issued its rankings for college football's best teams, and Alabama, which finished last season at No. 1, is back in the top slot.

No. 2 is Ohio State. The Buckeyes' only chance to roll over the Tide would be in the BCS championship game in Glendale, Ariz., on Monday, Jan. 10, 2011.

In case you're curious, current airfare prices from Cleveland to Phoenix, the nearest airport, range from $389 to $591.

Y'all hurry.

Schlabach picks the SEC -- led by Alabama -- as the best conference of the upcoming season and the Big Ten -- led by Ohio State -- to be the second-best conference of the upcoming season.

If quarterback Terrelle Pryor plays the way he did against Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Ohio State might be an overwhelming favorite to win the Big Ten championship. And if the Buckeyes can navigate their way through home games against Miami and Penn State and road games at Wisconsin and Iowa, they also might be a legitimate BCS title threat. Meanwhile, the Badgers, Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions might be Ohio State's biggest threats in the Big Ten race. But unless Michigan can pull off a complete turnaround in coach Rich Rodriguez's third season, the rest of the conference figures to be mediocre or worse.

That Michigan turnaround is unlikely. But maybe if the Wolverines practiced more, or considered hiring more graduate assistants . . .

A little tradition, please
Ohio State's "Dotting the I" and TBDBITL make the top 10 of two sportingnews.com writers' lists of best traditions in college sports.

But neither topped those lists.

Dave Curtis and Matt Hayes both put the Mardi Gras-style tailgating at an LSU home game ("It's Saturday night in Death Valley," is the way it's known) at No. 1 on their lists. Ohio State falls at No. 5 on Curtis' tally and No. 4 on Hayes.

Here's what Curtis had to say about Ohio State:

Dotting the "I", Ohio State: Anything that prompts a sousaphone player to want to attend a specific school gets automatic entry into the top five. Bonus: For postseason games, fourth- and fifth-year OSU band members compete in a "dot-off" to see who draws the assignment.

And this from Hayes:

Ohio State's band: I challenge any true college football fan to go to Ohio Stadium, watch the spectacle that is TBDBITL, see Script Ohio and not get utterly jacked. End of story.

Team president has gone out of his way to squelch any talk of a return to coaching.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerMike Holmgren Not only was Mike Holmgren hired to lead the Cleveland Browns out of the wasteland, but also many figured it was only a matter of time before Holmgren would leave the front office, fire coach Eric Mangini, and return to coaching and lead the Browns to glory.

There was that same thought after last season, and that same thought will linger going into this fall. But Yahoo.com reporter Les Carpenter writes that the thought of that bothers Holmgren.

So many times in his time with the Seahawks he felt he was fending off some kind of assault from the men above him on the organizational ladder, who were believed to be plotting to have him removed. It is not the kind of atmosphere he wants to create in Cleveland.

As a result, Holmgren tries to squelch any longings he might have to coach again, beating them down – if not for the sake of his own stomach, which did not handle defeats well at the end in Seattle – then for Mangini’s sake. He owes his coach the comfort that the boss does not desire his job.

Carpenter writes that Mangini comes off as if he believes Holmgren on his side. Mangini says:

  “Even though you didn’t share the experiences on the same team, a lot of times there’s carry-over between the type of experiences you have.”

Cleveland, Ohio -- UFC President Dana White told Dan Patrick's radio audience earlier this week that Shaquille O'Neal has expressed interest in entering the Ultimate Fighter octagon. But White noted that his size and strength wouldn't be enough to carry the 7-foot-1, 325-pound (at last count) O'Neal. A more skilled mixed martial arts fighter, such as Chuck Liddell or...

Shaquille O'Neal's character had some of the best moves on the Sega game Shaq Fu. As a tribute to that, he is now a playable character in the Xbox and Playstation versions of the game UFC 2010. A free code lets gamers find the character.

Cleveland, Ohio -- UFC President Dana White told Dan Patrick's radio audience earlier this week that Shaquille O'Neal has expressed interest in entering the Ultimate Fighter octagon.

But White noted that his size and strength wouldn't be enough to carry the 7-foot-1, 325-pound (at last count) O'Neal. A more skilled mixed martial arts fighter, such as Chuck Liddell or Rashad Evans, probably would wipe the floor (or, ceiling, whichever) with him.

Right now, that's all speculation. But gamers know Shaq is already in the octagon. He is a playable character on Playstation and Xbox versions of "UFC 2010," writes Mihail Cernea, games editor for softpedia.com.

MiddleEasy.com revealed the (free) codes that needed to be entered in the main menu for both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 versions of the title. The Xbox 360 code is: Down, Up, Left, Down, Down, Left, Up, Down, Down, Left, X,Y, X, Start. The PlayStation 3 code is: Down, Up, Left, Down, Down, Left, Up, Down, Down, Left, Square, Triangle, Triangle, Square, Start. The website also posted a screenshot confirming that the codes did work and that Shaq was a real, playable character in the game.

Fortunately, as far as Starting Blocks has been able to determine, no Celtics are part of the game.

Former Browns QB Ken Dorsey looks to play football in Canada, eh?

Joshua Gunter,
The Plain DealerKen Dorsey had no touchdowns and seven interceptions in his stint with the Browns from 2006 to 2008. The former University of Miami quarterback has signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Ken Dorsey, one of the quarterbacks who've gone through the Browns' swinging doors since their 1999 reincarnation, has a new gig.

He's playing in Canada, eh?

Dorsey, 29, has signed with the Toronto Argonauts. Dorsey, who had zero touchdowns and seven interceptions in his three seasons with the Browns from 2006 to 2008, is the fifth quarterback on the Argos. None of them has ever played a CFL game, according to writer Daniel Girard of thestar.com.

He joins Gibran Hamdan, Cleo Lemon, Dalton Bell and Danny Brannagan competing to be the starting pivot on a team that has won seven games over the past two seasons.

"He just brings a lot to the table that we're going to take a look at," head coach Jim Barker said of Dorsey on a conference call with reporters.

Reuben Droughs heads to Europe to coach in the CEFL.

John Kuntz,
The Plain DealerReuben Droughs, the punishing running back who rushed for more than 1,200 yards for the Browns in 2005, is headed to Belgrade to coach in the Central European Football League.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Another former Brown has found work.

Reuben Droughs, who gained 1,232 yards for the Browns in 2005 and built a reputation for toughness in his short NFL career, is moving to Belgrade to coach in the Central European Football League, according to the CEFL's online arm.

Although he hasn't played in the NFL since the 2009 season with the New York Giants and he won't play with the Vukovi, the addition of Droughns to the CEFL is one of the biggest transfers in European football history, as players of his caliber rarely go overseas.

"It was my first opportunity. Me and Goran (Nišavić, the Vukovi president) we talked about it for a while through a website. He asked what i was interested in and it seemed like a great situtation. Obviously a couple of American guys were already on the team, I already met them, coach Harper is great. He was familiar with who I was and it was a great opportunity for me to get into coaching", said Droughns upon arriving to Belgrade.

"Everybody coming from the NFL is basically like a professor. He’ll automatically help especially with the offense and help me with running backs. I’m willing to take anybody that’s willing to work. What’s for sure is that he’ll give some knowledge. That’s the minimal," said Belgrade coach John Harper.

Obama says he would enjoy seeing James as a Chicago Bull, prompting columnist Joe Posnanski to tell the president he should realize Cleveland's emotional attachment to James.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket between the Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah and Luol Deng.Joe Posnanski of Sports Illustrated's SI.com is a former Northeast Ohio resident.

Remembering what it was like to be a Cleveland Browns fan in 1995, he begins an SI.com column writing:

I got a letter once from a football fan in Baltimore who wanted me to know he hated -- HATED -- the fact that his city had stolen away the Cleveland Browns. He hated it because he remembered what it felt like to lose the Baltimore Colts. He hated it because he knew how much the Browns meant to Cleveland. He hated it because it was wrong, and he knew it was wrong, and if he could have somehow voted against it he would have voted against it.
 
Most of all, he wrote that he hated it -- and this is what separated this letter from some of the others -- because he knew in his heart that his hate was going to fade quickly and he was going to become a huge Baltimore Ravens fan anyway. He felt guilty about it, but such is life. The Ravens were in his town.

Posnanski is concerned that Cavaliers star LeBron James will leave Cleveland after July 1, when he can choose to become an unrestricted free agent. Thus, Posnanski is a bit perturbed that President Obama told TNT's Marv Albert that James would look good in the red and black of the Chicago Bulls. Posnanski finishes his column:   

LeBron staying or going is not like a team staying or going, but it has many of the same emotions. And maybe it's not too much to ask the President of the United States to sense the emotions, to feel what's right. I think of that letter: I don't blame the guy in Baltimore for becoming a huge Ravens fan. And hey, if LeBron James goes to Chicago, celebrate all you want. Throw an all-night party in Lincoln's Bedroom. Have them shoot fireworks over the Washington Monument. Party like it's 1776.
 
But in the meantime, maybe you can think for a moment about how many emotions his hometown has invested in him, how much he means to a Great American City that has had to endure a lot, how great a story it would be if LeBron James could stay in town and bring a championship to a hometown after all these years.
In other words:

Dear Mr. President:
 
I say this with the deepest respect for you and the Office: Boo!

Cavs coverage

Keep track of LeBron James and the Cavaliers in The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com/cavs.

On board

Plain Dealer Cavaliers beat writer Brian Windhorst writes that despite the firing of coach Mike Brown (Windhorst's report of the firing here), the team is, at least for now, keeping some of Brown's assistant coaches (Windhorst's report here).

Following Windhorst's lead, ESPN.com reports on the status of the Cavaliers' assistants. So too, does Jim O'Donnell, who writes for the Chicago Sun-Times about the Cavs assistants, including personal LeBron James favorite Chris Jent:

The 40-year-old Ohio State alumnus has been James' personal shooting coach since 2006. If James stays with the Cavs, an even higher profile for Jent might be a primary demand.

''If LeBron stays,'' a source familiar with James said, ''Jent could wind up as the team's new head coach.''

Undrafted out of Ohio State, Jent checkerboarded through a five-year professional playing career that included stays with the Houston Rockets (1993-94) and New York Knicks (1996-97). He also played in Australia, Italy, Spain and Greece.

The 6-7 California native then began an NBA sidelines odyssey that crescendoed when he succeeded Johhny Davis as interim coach of the Orlando Magic for the final 18 games of the 2004-05 season. Under Jent's direction, the Magic finished 5-13.

More James chatter

Other stories about LeBron James include:

The Chicago Tribune comments that the Bulls - considered among the contenders to land James - won't hire a coach based on any demand by James.

ESPN.com features several polls regarding James.

Amidst speculation that teams considered in the running for James - such as the Cavaliers, Bulls and New Jersey Nets - would pursue Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson to fill their vacancies and thus lure James, too, we find reports by Dave D'Alessandro of the Newark Star-Ledger and Howard Beck of the New York Times.

Mike Lopresti writes for USAToday.com that the NBA playoffs continue, even without James.

Tim MacMahon wonders if Cowboys owner Jerry Jones can help Mavericks owner Mark Cuban convince Cowboys fan James to play for Dallas' NBA team.   

Former Cavs coach Mike Brown issues classy, if bland, statement on his way out of town. He'll likely be back with another team soon.

John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer“We have a deep appreciation for Northeast Ohio, the Cleveland Cavaliers organization, and the people in this community,” former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said in a prepared release on Wednesday. “We have enjoyed making this our home.”CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Brown made his formal exit from Cleveland on Wednesday by issuing a classy, if less than revealing, statement.

But Brown won't be gone for long. Expect him to be back as the head coach of another NBA team -- perhaps as early as next season. Brown did not elaborate on the circumstances that led to his dismissal as Cavaliers coach last Sunday, as many fans probably wanted, or address his future.

According to those close to Brown, however, he is interested in taking another job next season if he likes the fit. They said he has already been contacted by at least one team with an opening.

At first, Brown told friends that he may want to take a year off. With $2 million coming to him from the Cavs, he has the opportunity. Over the last several days, however, Brown may have changed his mind.

Rod Thorn, the president and general manager of the New Jersey Nets, has already publicly praised the job Brown did with the Cavs. Nets new owner Mikhail Prokhorov has said the team is looking for a coach with NBA coaching experience. The Nets are one of five teams with openings other than the Cavs.

As for his parting words for Cleveland, they fit the profile established over the last five seasons. They were concise and non-controversial, underscored by the fact that Brown released the statement through the Cavs' communications office.

"The past five years have been an exceptional experience," Brown said. "I have been very fortunate to lead a group of men who I respect and thoroughly enjoyed coaching on a daily basis. At the same time, I was able to work alongside a terrific coaching staff and with Danny Ferry and a basketball operations team, all of whom I have a profound respect for."

Brown also thanked owner team owner Dan Gilbert.

"We partnered in creating a culture and a standard that I am, and will continue to be, very proud of," Brown said. "None of which would be possible without the dedication and support of Dan Gilbert. I am thankful for the opportunity that he gave to me and my family."

Brown apparently decided to stop short of directly thanking any players, including LeBron James. Repeatedly during his tenure Brown said he was thankful that James "allows me to coach him," a reference to the professional relationship the two enjoyed for many years.

However, that relationship seemed to erode during the playoffs, when James publicly disagreed with his coach's motivation methods and in-game decisions. Behind the scenes, sources said James and Brown differed on game plan choices against both the Bulls and Celtics.

No matter what, Brown will be moving away from Cleveland's west side, where he became a part of the community and formed many friendships.

"We have a deep appreciation for Northeast Ohio, the Cleveland Cavaliers organization, and the people in this community," Brown said. "We have enjoyed making this our home."

Fans identify with great players, but even more so with great players who take great joy in the game. Every Indians fan who saw Omar Vizquel play would say he qualifies both ways.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerOmar Vizquel saw the field only in the ninth inning on Wednesday as a defensive replacement for the White Sox in Chicago' 5-4 victory over the Indians. But that didn't mean he wasn't recognized and cheered by fans who will long remember his exploits with the Tribe.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Omar Vizquel took the last bus Wednesday morning to the field where so many dreams came true.

He was one of the last Chicago White Sox players to enter the visitors' clubhouse at Progressive Field. Out shaking hands, kissing babies, and threatening to become mayor by acclamation, probably.

"Actually, it was just like when I am in any city on the road," said the most popular Indians player on the great teams of the 1990s and one of the most beloved men ever to wear the Tribe uniform. "Ate at my favorite restaurants, saw some good friends."

Vizquel turned 43 in April. He is a part-time player with the White Sox in his 22nd big-league season. He wears No. 11 now. All the previous years, he disproved the superstitions about 13.

How could there be bad luck for the Little O, when he never let himself have a bad day? But White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen wears 13, and the team had retired No. 11 in honor of Vizquel's idol and fellow Venezuelan, Luis Aparicio. Then Aparicio said who better to unretire it for than Vizquel?

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerHis unquestioned flair for the athletically dramatic wasn't just for effect, said Omar Vizquel. “I played the game the right way. Sometimes, it was just the way to make the play.”Almost anybody would do well to be associated with Omar Vizquel.

Monday against the Tribe, in a rare start, Vizquel equaled Aparicio's record for the second-most career hits as a shortstop, behind only the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter.

When former Houston and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jose Lima died over the weekend, all the testimonials mentioned the joy he brought to the mound and the smiles he brought to fans. That was Vizquel, too. He made infield practice a don't-miss experience, fielding grounders with his feet as a former soccer player and making hocus-pocus out of glove-to-hand transfers.

In the game itself, he played with what can only be termed inventive efficiency. "You don't have to be a flashy player to have fun," said Vizquel. "I played the game the right way. Sometimes, it was just the way to make the play."

Veteran Vizquel watchers remember pop-ups during day games that he gloved with his back to the plate so his cap's bill would shield the sun. And there was his bare-handed putout on a grounder in the American League Championship Series in Seattle, when he knew the bounce would be true on artificial turf.

It is tougher, he said, to keep his same enthusiasm as a part-time player. A ninth-inning defensive replacement at third base Wednesday, Vizquel appeared in only his 15th game of the season.

"I don't feel the same happiness, but that is natural," he said. "If I was playing every day, I would be the same as I always was."

Vizquel won eight of his 11 Gold Gloves with the Indians. The two he won with the Giants provided enough National League exposure that his eventual election to the Hall of Fame should be a foregone conclusion. With Vizquel, however, even great numbers characterize only a part of what he did.

He so clearly and unapologetically was having fun playing the game, even in the presence of stormy Albert Belle, that the fans had fun too.

Too often, "Just win, baby" is the watchword. (How did that work out for the man who coined the phrase, Al Davis? Just asking.) It was as if fun were only incidental to the grim process of grinding out another victory.

Opposed to such drudges were several unforgettable players -- Brett Favre, before he became a diva; Pele, taking the Beautiful Game to the world; back-flipping Ozzie Smith, the only shortstop with more Gold Gloves than Vizquel; Chi Chi Rodriguez, doing the sword dance; Magic Johnson and "Pistol" Pete Maravich, mesmerizing us; and Ernie Banks, wanting to play two.

Fans might name others. But the point is, in Cleveland, almost everybody would name Omar.

"Growing up, I remember watching Dave Concepcion," said Vizquel of the fellow Venezuelan who won five Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers in Cincinnati. "He always had a smile on his face and seemed to be enjoying the game. It just always seemed to be a way to play better if you're having fun."

Just like Concepcion, Vizquel could make all the plays. When it came to fans' hearts, it was touch 'em all time.

The tournament officially announced that Woods will return from a neck injury that has sidelined him for almost three weeks.

Rob Griffith / Associated PressBy the time he tees off next week at the Memorial, Tiger Woods might have dropped out of the No. 1 world ranking.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Memorial Tournament officially announced Wednesday that defending champion Tiger Woods will return from a neck injury that has sidelined him for almost three weeks to join the 120-player field at Jack Nicklaus' tournament outside Columbus next week.

This will be Woods' 11th appearance in the event, which he has won a record four times. He will also join Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and several other players in a nine-hole Skins Game on Wednesday. The four-round tournament begins Thursday, with weekly badges available through thememorialtournament.com or by calling 877-MT BADGE.

Woods is the No. 1-ranked player in the world, a ranking that will be on the line at Muirfield Village. Mickelson could pass Woods with a win this week at the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas.

Other top 10 players committed to the Memorial include Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy.

A capsule look at the Division III national championship meet this week at Baldwin-Wallace.

Where: Baldwin-Wallace College, The George Finnie Stadium, 141 E. Bagley Road, Berea, call 440-826-2184 or 2140

When: Thursday at noon; Friday at 11 a.m.; Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Who: 688 men and women competing in 42 events.

Returning champions: 12 men's individuals and two relays; six women's individuals and two relays.

Returning team champions: Wisconsin-LaCrosse men; Wartburg (Iowa) women.

Admission: Single sessions are $8 for adults, $5 for students; all-session tickets are $15 and $10.

Web site: bw.edu/athletics/10tracknationals

Local competitors (men and women): Baldwin-Wallace (6): Kim Chinn (women's 3,000 steeplechase), D'Arcy Hlavin (women's 1,500), Greg Patrick (men's shot put), Kevin Phipps (men's discus and hammer), Steve Price (men's decathlon) and Mitch Supan (men's discus); Case Western Reserve (3): Erin Hollinger (women's high jump), Obinna Nwanna (women's decathlon) and Elaine Simpson (women's 5,000); Mount Union (4): Aubrey Jones (women's discus), Jason Lutz (men's shot put and discus), Sean Denard (men's discus) and Mary Mahoney (women's 200 and 400).

Other Ohio schools: Men: Demetrius Bailey, Muskingum (triple jump); Alan Bowsher, Ohio Northern (10,000 run) and Jacob Weyrauch (pole vault); Steve Brown, Ohio Wesleyan (110 high hurdles); Kyle Faris, Ohio Wesleyan (shot put); Julius Higginbotham, Heidelberg (long jump) and Nathan Davis (high jump); Brandon McMonigle, Wilmington (high jump); Michael Pankowski, Marietta (javelin); Joshua Woods, Capital (100). Women: Emily Amburgey, Ohio Wesleyan (high jump); Marian Bevington, Heidelberg (long jump); Samie Corbin, Otterbein (100 hurdles); Emily Goerig, Capital (shot put); Nicole Hope, Ohio Northern (javelin); Kim Kessler, Marietta (javelin); Callen Martin, Wilmington (100); Sharon Rymut, Ohio Wesleyan (discus and hammer); Kwesi Seabrook, Capital (400); Brittany Sims, Marietta (110 hurdles); Jessica Starks, Capital (100 and 200); Kat Zimmerly, Ohio Wesleyan (3000 steeplechase)

Other Ohio high school products: Cory Beebe, Salisbury (Md.), Cloverleaf H.S. (110 high hurdles and 400 hurdles); Elise Johnson, Williams (Mass.), Trinity H.S. (4x400 relay)

So, Chicago, do you want him or not?

UPDATED: 8:47 p.m.

(Chasing down rumors about LeBron James' basketball future could be a full-time job. Now it's my full-time job. Just call me The Rumor Monger. Every day we'll compile a list of the rumors we're hearing about James and his next contract. Just remember these are just rumors, not necessarily facts.

It's going to be a long and rough ride, Cavs fans. Buckle up. -- Mary Schmitt Boyer)

Ted S. Warren / Associated PressSure, Chicago fans (and media) would love to have a reason to someday erect a LeBron statue next to Michael Jordan's, but on Wednesday a couple of writers were trying to tamp down the expectations.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- So, Chicago, do you want him or not?

Supposedly LeBron James' arrival in the Windy City is a foregone conclusion. Unless it's not.

Writing in the Chicago Tribune's In the Wake of the News feature, David Haugh says the city will survive a snub by James.

"But unlike losing the Olympics to Rio De Janeiro last October crushed people at Daley Plaza, losing James to New York or Cleveland wouldn't have the same devastating impact at the Berto Center," Haugh writes. "The 2016 Olympics were an all-or-nothing proposition for Chicago. Despite the nights of sleep already lost locally over the future of James, the 2010 summer of LeBron is not. ... He may want things other teams can offer in the way of home comforts (Cleveland) or famous rapper friends who are part-owners (New Jersey). But James needs the Bulls if he wants to, I don't know, actually win something one day."

Then, in spite of warning Bulls fans not to get too caught up in waiting for James, Haugh suggests exactly how the Bulls should woo him -- and what others are doing wrong.

"The point is, Chicago doesn't have to seem so needy whenever the idea of James coming to town comes up," Haugh writes. "We don't want another LeBron-themed Web site, theme song or prayer chain. We don't need to be, say, Cleveland. ... We don't have to be New York either, where they're rumored to be lining up Donald Trump, Mayor Bloomberg and the Yankees for a glitzy presentation.

"The Bulls' best counter to all this silliness would be to leave Oprah or Vince Vaughn or even the well-intentioned but over-the-top Bulls fan living at the White House out of it. (Can an NBA commissioner fine a sitting President for tampering?)

"Keep any pitch simple and direct. ... At 12:01 a.m. July 1, hand-deliver James a roster of Bulls players under contract, a videotape of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah highlights and an invitation to 1901 W. Madison to make history where his idol, Michael Jordan, once soared.

"If James RSVPs, it will be for the right reasons and not because of some silly PR pitch that wastes time and money. If he declines, then the Bulls will have maintained their dignity as well as a realistic shot at another superstar motivated by the chance to be the guy who put a franchise back on top.

"It will be groundbreaking if that guy is LeBron James. But it doesn't have to be earth-shattering for the Bulls if it isn't."

In a similar vein, from Dan Cahill of the Chicago Sun-Times, "As exciting as it would be for LBJ to ply his trade on the West Side, we all need to curb our enthusiasm and not set our expectations so high. History tells us the Bulls will not get LeBron."

Cahill points out that superstars rarely change teams and that in order to attract James, the Bulls also are going to have to pay to get other players around him and, historically, the Bulls have avoided going over the salary cap and paying the luxury tax.

Like Haugh in the Chicago Tribune, Cahill urges caution.

"Let's not forget about giving away Elton Brand," he wrote. "Let's not forget about when we wined and dined Tracy McGrady and returned home with Ron Mercer in our doggy bag. Let's not set ourselves up for a huge letdown."

• A weird take from TNT's Chris Webber: "The one job I'm not intrigued about is the Cleveland Cavaliers job. When a team climbs a certain ladder and they try to reach that certain point you have to have people there you trust and that have experienced the same hardships with. If LeBron comes back, I don't know who you could get unless you could get a Hall of Fame player that has won a bunch of championships or a Hall of Fame coach. Who do you get to instill trust?

"I think owners have to remember the city that they are in. I really don't look at those jobs as being as attractive as the owners or fans express. I think it will be a different kind of year this year."

• Sorry, Cavs fans. Here's a note involving two guys you could do without. But Utah's Carlos Boozer thinks following in Michael Jordan's footsteps in Chicago would be a positive for free agents such as James.

"A lot of people in my era, in my age group, we watched MJ do what he did: win championships, be the face of the NBA and continue to dominate the game," Boozer said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on Chicago's ESPN 1000. "I think most of the free agents this summer [think it's] probably an attractive thing to have that history, where MJ played, where [Scottie] Pippen played for those six championships. I can remember being a kid and watching that.

"I think everybody, whoever it is this summer, can remember watching MJ do his thing in Chicago, so I think that will be more of a positive thing than a negative thing."

Harrah's president Gary Loveman issued a statement on Wednesday after Tuesday's purchase at a New York auction.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Harrah's Entertainment CEO and President Gary Loveman issued a statement on Wednesday confirming the casino conglomerate is the high bidder for Thistledown Race Track in North Randall.

"I'm pleased to announce that Harrah's Entertainment has entered into an agreement to acquire Thistledown Race Track," said Loveman in a statement to The Plain Dealer. "We have thousands of loyal customers who live in Ohio, and we're glad to have the opportunity to bring our unique entertainment options closer to them and others in the area."

Thistledown was sold at a New York auction on Tuesday morning, and for the second time to Harrah's Entertainment. The first sale last September was in bankruptcy court, with a purchase price of $89.5 million. The sale was contingent on Thistledown being awarded video lottery terminals (VLTs), or slots, which did not happen.

Tuesday's sale price is $43 million, and not contingent on Thistledown getting slots gambling. A successful statewide vote in November would allow Ohio's seven horse racing tracks to offer slots. It is considered a necessary form of gambling if horse racing is to survive in Ohio.

Most Ohio race tracks have reported losing money in the past year. General Manager Stacy Cahill of Scioto Downs said this week that without video lottery terminals, Scioto Downs may have no choice but to close after the 2010 season.

The entertainment options of Harrah's Entertainment are primarily casino gambling. It owns 38 casinos and two combination race track/casinos, Harrah's Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., and Harrah's Chester Racetrack near Philadelphia. Four casinos have been approved in Ohio, including Cleveland and Cincinnati operations awarded to Cleveland Cavaliers' owner Dan Gilbert.

Gilbert has yet to confirm a downtown Cleveland casino site, or a company to operate his casinos. Sources report Gilbert has met with Harrah's Entertainment officials.

Jason Donald has experienced an interesting two weeks at the plate as a rookie shortstop with the Indians.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerJason Donald's first big-league home run on Tuesday night came at the expense of a former Cy Young Award winner, the White Sox's Jake Peavy.

INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: Pinch-hitter Shelley Duncan had a two-run single in the ninth Wednesday to pull the Indians within 5-4 of the White Sox. Duncan is 2-for-3 as a pinch-hitter since being promoted from Columbus on May 19.
The other Tribe pinch-hitters are 0-for-10 this season.
Duncan has started once, going 1-for-2. He has three RBI and two walks in four games.
“Shelley's had some good at-bats since he's been up here,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “What I like about him is, he lets it go.”

Long time coming: In the eighth inning Tuesday night, Tribe second baseman Luis Valbuena's squeeze bunt drove in Austin Kearns. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was Cleveland's first successful squeeze since May 17, 2003, when Omar Vizquel bunted and Matt Lawton scored against the Athletics.

Talbot rules: Rookie right-hander Mitch Talbot beat the White Sox on Tuesday night to improve to 6-3 with a 3.73 ERA in 60 1/3 innings of nine starts. He ranks among American League rookie leaders in several categories, including victories and innings.
According to Elias, Talbot is the first Cleveland rookie to win six starts in the team's first 50 games since Herb Score did so in his legendary 1955 season. The Indians are 17-28.
The Indians acquired Talbot from Tampa Bay in December as the player to be named in the Kelly Shoppach trade.

Russ Bus heating up: Russell Branyan, 2-for-5 Wednesday, is 7-for-19 with two doubles in his last five games. Branyan made a mistake on the bases in the fourth inning, getting thrown out trying to go from second to third on a one-out grounder to short.
“I didn't have to tell Russell what he did,” Acta said. “He told me he got a little antsy. No excuse for it, and he knows it.”

Stat line of the day: Tribe right-hander Jake Westbrook, who started and lost Wednesday, is 8-13 with a 5.06 ERA in 30 games (24 starts) against the White Sox.
— Dennis ManoloffCLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jason Donald has experienced an interesting two weeks at the plate.

On May 18, Donald went 2-for-3 in his first major-league game after being promoted from Class AAA Columbus. The shortstop was then hitless in 12 at-bats the next three games.

Donald has rebounded to go 6-for-15 in his past five, including a 2-for-3 in Wednesday's loss to the White Sox.

"After the debut, I started thinking too much," he said. "I started analyzing and trying to be too perfect. I can't do that. I've gotten back to a simple, basic approach. I'm up there competing, looking for a good pitch to hit."

Donald has been solid defensively, although he did commit his first error Wednesday.

"We're excited about the kid," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "We like his energy, the way he plays the game. He's about going hard all the time."

Wednesday morning, Donald was humble when discussing his first major-league homer. The previous night, he went deep off White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy in a 7-3 victory.

Donald's shot off Peavy, a former NL Cy Young Award winner, led off the third inning. The ball sailed into the left-field bleachers.

"I closed my eyes and swung," he said with a chuckle. "I felt like I made good contact, and I knew it had a chance. But I don't hit many homers, so I needed to see the ball clear the wall before I believed it."

The homer was Donald's third of the season. He hit the first two with the Clippers, for whom he played 37 games until being promoted May 18. Entering this season, Donald had 29 homers in 359 minor-league games since his pro debut in 2006.

Donald said he spoke by phone with his father and former coach, Tom, late Tuesday night. Tom Donald was coaching Buchanan (Calif.) High School in the playoffs when he heard the news.

"The athletic director told him in the middle of the game," Donald said. "My dad told him, 'I'll check it out later.'"

To secure the home-run ball, the Indians traded a Shin-Soo Choo-autographed baseball and four tickets.

"Choo picked me up," Donald said. "That's a good teammate. I very much appreciate it."

Asked if he was hurt that the fan did not ask for a Donald-autographed item, the shortstop said: "Not at all. I'd be asking for something from Choo, too."

Choo was more than happy to help.

"I know how special the first home-run ball is," Choo said. "I will never forget my first homer. I can't forget that game."

On July 26, 2006, the Indians acquired Choo from the Seattle Mariners. Two days later, he made his Tribe debut -- against the Mariners. He homered off Felix Hernandez in the Indians' 1-0 victory.

Pronk confused: In the ninth inning Wednesday, pinch-hitter Travis Hafner walked with the bases loaded to cut the Tribe's deficit to 5-2. The pitch was close. After taking several steps toward first, Hafner turned and walked back toward plate umpire Rob Drake.

Hafner feared the worst.

"I saw runners going back to bases, and the reaction of the crowd seemed to be a groan, so I thought maybe I got rung up," he said. "I wondered if he rung me up without saying anything. It was my fault. I should have just kept going to first."

The Columbus Clippers' Herrmann gets a lot of groundballs with a hard sinker. The Kinston Indians' Gardner fires his fastball past batters.

Indians Prospect Insider Frank Herrmann has been one of the minor leagues' most effective relief pitchers.FARM REPORT

AAA Columbus Clippers

Wednesday: The Clippers were off Wednesday.

Notes: Right-handed relief pitcher Frank Herrmann was 2-0 with two saves and an 0.37 ERA in 16 games spanning 24 1/3 innings, allowing 15 hits, seven walks and no home runs with 17 strikeouts....OF Jose Constanza was batting .346 in 107 at bats, but didn't have enough plate appearances to qualify among the league leaders. He had stolen seven bases in seven attempts....OF-1B-C Chris Giminez (.289) was 8-for-40 (.200) with no homers in his last 10 games, after batting .333 with six homers in his first 81 at bats....SS Brian Bixler (.286) was 12-for-33 (.364) in his last seven games, despite going 0-for-4 in Tuesday's 5-3 loss at Charlotte....Clippers pitchers led the International League with 352 strikeouts but had allowed 47 homers, second-most in the league.

AA Akron Aeros

Curve 5, Aeros 2: Akron starter Kelvin De La Cruz (1-3, 4.58) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and five walks in 4.2 innings of the Eastern League loss to visiting Altoona (Pa.).

The left-hander struck out seven and gave up one home run. Aeros RF Jerad Head (.222) had two hits, including his first home run of the season.

Notes: Going into Wednesday night's game, 3B Jared Goedert was on a 14-game hitting streak and was second in the Eastern League with a .338 batting average. His 13 doubles, despite just 130 at bats, ranked fourth....LF John Drennen was on an eight-game hitting streak, going 13-for-26 (.500) to lift his batting average from .241 to .301....Right-handed relief pitcher Steven Wright had five straight scoreless appearances, totaling eight innings and allowing five hits and six walks with eight strikeouts....The Aeros were 6-17 at home and 12-10 on the road. In the past five seasons, the Aeros were a combined 207-136 (.603) at their Canal Park home.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Indians 7, Nationals 0: Nick Hagadone, acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the Victor Martinez trade last season, threw five innings of one-hit ball to lead Kinston past Potomac for the Carolina League win in Woodbridge, Va.

The southpaw (1-3, 2.39) struck out six and walked three. Right-hander Travis Turek (4.06) allowed one hit in three innings of relief and right-hander Cory Burns pitched a hitless ninth.

2B Jason Kipnis (.302) led the K-Tribe with two hits, including a triple, and two RBI.

Notes: 3B Kyle Bellows (.274) was 15-for-38 (.395) in his last nine games, with two doubles, one triple, two homers and nine RBI....CF Jordan Henry was batting .330 in 94 at bats, but didn't have enough plate appearances to qualify among the league leaders, thanks to a finger injury which landed him on the disabled list for most of April. He had stolen 10 bases in 11 tries....Right-hander Joseph Gardner was 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA in four starts for the Indians, allowing 10 hits, 12 walks and no homers, with 20 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings. Combining his numbers with Lake County, Gardner was 3-0 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 starts spanning 46 2/3 innings, fanning 58 while giving up 27 hits, 23 walks and two homers....Righty reliever Matthew Langwell was 3-1 with two saves and a 1.66 ERA in 18 games, with 23 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings, while allowing 14 hits and seven walks.

A Lake County Captains

Dragons 5, Captains 3: Lake County DH Chun-Hsiu Chen (.328) had two hits and two RBI in the Midwest League loss to visiting Dayton.

Clayton Cook (1-4, 5.00) started and took the loss. The right-hander allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits. He walked none and fanned two.

Notes: Going into Wednesday night's game, catcher-DH Chun-Hsiu Chen (.322) ranked 11th in the league in batting and third in the league in slugging percentage (.551)....The Captains were 9-7 with Chen catching and 22-8 with Roberto Perez behind the plate....Perez had thrown out 18 of 31 baserunners (58.1 percent) attempting to steal....Sometimes the DH when Chen catches, Perez is batting .227 but has drawn 34 walks, fourth-most in the Midwest League....2B Casey Frawley (.296) had reached base in his last 12 games....LF Bo Greenwell was fourth in the league in RBI (32) and sixth in batting (.329)....3B Jeremie Tice (.272), who was leading the league in RBI a week ago, had dropped to third with 34.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Cruisers 3, Crushers 2 The host Crushers (2-3) managed just five hits, scoring on an RBI double by catcher Julio Rivera (.286) and an RBI single by LF Travis Vetters (.222) before 4,629 for the 10:30 a.m. start at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon. Lake Erie right-handed starter Matthew Smith (0-1, 9.00) took the loss, yielding three runs on three hits and four walks in three innings. Right-handed relievers Jeff Cinadr and Jesse Orosco, Jr. pitched two and three scoreless innings, respectively.

Notes: 2B Andrew Saylor (.263) tripled and scored and 1B Lee Huggins (.250) singled and scored....Lake Erie hosts Oakland County Thursday night at 7:05.

Long before NFL players were multi-million-dollar men, off-season meant working a "real" job.

Plain Dealer Historical CollectionIn the winter of 1961, future Hall of Fame defensive end Willie Davis spent his off-season hard at work teaching students (Dennis Kovach, left, and Demetrius Berry) about mechanical drawing at the Audubon School. “All of our guys worked,” said former Browns guard John Wooten, who also taught. “Nobody just sat around and ‘worked out.’”CLEVELAND, Ohio -- At the Browns' Berea headquarters and elsewhere around the NFL, the players are back on the field for off-season training.

But "off-season" once meant players slipped out of their helmets and pads and into the uniforms of teachers, preachers, farmers and salesmen, not to return for at least six months. Players had to find "real" jobs to help pay the bills and prepare for their football after-lives -- including many Browns who wound up in the Hall of Fame.

Lou "The Toe" Groza sold insurance. Guard Chuck Noll was a salesman for Trojan Freight Lines in Dayton. Paul Warfield co-owned a Firestone tire outlet.

Even fullback Jim Brown, the league's marquee name and one of the Browns' highest-paid players at $85,000 his last year, worked as a marketing rep for Pepsi-Cola between seasons.

"All of our guys worked," said former Browns guard John Wooten, who spent several off-seasons teaching math at Cleveland's Addison Junior High. "Nobody just sat around and 'worked out.'"

View full sizeCourtesy Cleveland BrownsAs Browns fans perused their gameday programs at the stadium, it wasn't hard to figure out what many players -- in this case linebacker Jim Houston -- did when football wasn't in season.The average NFL salary is about $2 million. The rookie minimum for 2010 is $305,000. Players can afford to spend the first chunk of the off-season to mend and decompress before heading back to the gym. Some run side businesses, but not necessarily because they have to.

"You've got to remember," said former Browns flanker Gary Collins, the three-touchdown hero of the city's last sports championship in 1964, "some of the guys are making more than [Art] Modell paid for the franchise." Modell bought the team for about $4 million in 1961.

But when the Browns made Ohio State linebacker Jim Houston their first-round selection and eighth overall in the 1960 NFL draft, they signed him for $10,000, plus a $1,000 bonus. With inflation, that's about $80,000 today -- roughly the average NFL salary 30 years ago.

Houston, now 72 and living in Sagamore Hills, remembers when head coach Paul Brown first addressed the rookies at old League Park.

"Gentlemen," Brown said, "you're going to be off Mondays and Tuesdays. Get a job."

"So I did," said Houston, who opened an insurance and financial planning company that he still runs from his basement office. "All of us tried to get jobs that would help sustain the off-season. You needed money, you had to go to work."

Staying close to the community, to make ends meet

Houston, who retired after the 1972 season, said he earned considerably more in insurance than football. That wasn't unusual. The NFL was decidedly different. It was before multi-billion-dollar TV contracts meant players could be set for life if they played long enough and managed their money right. It was before the roster carousel of free agency, so players often spent their whole careers with one team, in one city. Many stayed to work in the community.

View full sizeCourtesy Cleveland BrownsHungry after a big game between the Browns and Rams? Dick Modzelewski hoped to serve your appetite at a local Beef Corral.Browns teammates Ed Modzelewski and Junior Wren ran a Cleveland Heights restaurant, called Mo and Juniors.

Defensive back Ernie Kellerman, who played at St. Peter Chanel High School and Miami University, taught science and gym at Beachwood High for a few off-seasons before making a career of industrial sales.

Quarterback Frank Ryan earned a Ph.D. in mathematics, then taught classes at Case Western Reserve University, where the Browns practiced. He even taught during the season for a while, rushing from 8 a.m. class to 10 a.m. practice.

It wasn't just in Cleveland. Steve Sabol of NFL Films remembers that when he interviewed star receiver Raymond Berry of the Baltimore Colts in the early 1960s, the great Johnny Unitas was laying the linoleum on Berry's floor.

It was also a time when the NFL schedule was more conducive to squeezing in a second job. Teams played no more than 14 regular-season games. Once the season ended, coaches didn't expect to see the players for another seven months. Players would clean out their lockers and not return until summer training camp.

Now, the regular season is 16 games long. Team activities, while defined as mostly voluntary in the NFL's union contract, have shrunk how long the off-season actually lasts.

Teams start conditioning programs in March. Then there are "quarterback schools" or "organized team activities" in April and May, minicamps in June and summer training, which begins for the Browns the last week in July.

"They started doing the off-season weight program," said former linebacker Dick Ambrose, now a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge. "Then all of a sudden the coaches were coming and wanting the guys to watch film with them in the off-season. And then we'd almost have little mini-organized workouts, all in the off-season. So, at some point, I'd say the early to mid-'80s, it started to become a year-round job with about a month, month-and-a-half off in between, depending on when your season ended."

The players' contract also requires teams to pay them $130 per day during off-season workouts and cover their meals, housing and travel.

Keep in shape? Deliver the mail

View full sizeCourtesy Cleveland BrownsBrowns linebacker Mike Lucci made sure fans seeking some European adventure would consider buying a ticket on Alitalia.Players are expensive commodities. The average NFL career lasts less than four years. Specialized nutrition and conditioning are required year-round.

But back when players juggled two jobs, they were on their own to stay in shape.

"Did sit ups and pushups, jogged a lot," said Kellerman, who lives in Aurora. "That's how we did it."

In 1956, Browns running back Maurice Bassett spent the off-season walking four to five miles a day as a substitute mail carrier in Cleveland Heights.

"I had some leg trouble last season and decided this daily walking would be good for me," he told a reporter at the time.

Ryan would ask whoever was running the Case Western track at the moment to run pass patterns for him.

Linebacker Billy Andrews, a 13th-round draft choice who signed for $12,000 and a $3,500 bonus, stayed in shape by working his family's dairy farm in Louisiana, where he still grows and bales hay for a living.

Ace pass-rusher Jack Gregory farmed as well, raising cotton, soybeans and cattle in Mississippi, where he still lives.

And many of the Browns played on an exhibition basketball team that traveled Ohio and nearby states, playing about 50 to 60 games. Players could pick up an extra $50 to $70 per game.

"It was good income and it was good conditioning," said former middle linebacker Vince Costello. In 1957, Costello was signed as a free agent for $6,000 and earned another $2,700 -- the loser's share from the NFL title game. For extra money, he also worked as a substitute teacher at Canton McKinley for two off-seasons and later opened a boys camp in Millersburg.

These days, an NFL star dropping in at a kids' summer camp would be an orchestrated public relations event. But there was a time when a 14-year-old middle-school boy might look up from his desk and see an actual Cleveland Brown teaching his class.

Dennis Kovach remembers when Browns defensive end Willie Davis, who was eventually dealt to Green Bay and landed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, taught his mechanical drawing class at Cleveland's Audubon Junior High in the off-season of 1961.

"He was like one of the guys," said Kovach, of Aurora, still kind of awestruck after all these years. "We were pretty honored to have him."