As the world awaits LeBron James' decision, Cleveland's sports bloggers discuss what other teams have to offer and why Cleveland may still be his best choice.

View full sizeElise Amendola | Associated PressThe Cavaliers still seem to be the frontrunner in signing LeBron James.

LeBrowns Town: "So what you have is three organizations with grand plans but little or no idea as to how to make them a reality. They aren't selling much substance, instead asking LeBron to invest in the unknown and take a $30 million pay cut. The best situation for LeBron, he will soon see, if he hasn't already, is to stay in Cleveland, where a winning culture has been established, a loyal fan base exists and a coach with a winning pedigree has been acquired." » Read more

WaitingForNextYear: "When the Bulls met with LeBron James on Saturday afternoon, they were armed with only their story. There were no marketing presentations, no world-class rap stars and no championship ring displays. They opted to talk only basketball and what they can offer the 25-year-old free agent - a strong roster and plenty of salary cap space can go a long way, but can it go long enough?" » Read more

Stepien Rules: "The hot rumor [this weekend] was that Dwyane Wade had two meetings with the Chicago Bulls over the last few days and that the idea of LeBron joining D-Wade - if it were to happen - wouldn't be in Miami, but would be in Chicago. That's not happening, and I'll go one step further with that: I say the Bulls strike out completely. No sources, just a hunch. It would only make sense for this crazy, unprecedented frenzy to end in a way that nobody saw coming, and with the Bulls being everybody's 'sexy pick' to land these top-line free agents, I think they end up going Russell Branyan when the dust settles." » Read more

Cleveland Frowns: "Whether a self-indulgent free agency run ended up costing LeBron and the Cavaliers a championship or two or not, some 25-year-olds had to learn a few things in the process. And at least Team LeBron got them all to march right into the heart of Cleveland. Now who else can they get to come to Cleveland? What else?" » Read more

Cavs: the blog: "Too bad for New York - and Amar'e - that they never thought about how a complete team needed to be built around that pick-and-roll. Amar'e hasn't shown he can play any defense. In 2010, it's very hard to get by with a flat-out liability at the four or the five. Maybe Amar'e could be convinced to play some defense by the right coach, but it's not like Amar'e played good defense under D'Antoni in Phoenix. As for the Knicks, all they can offer LeBron is a good pick-and-roll partner. Danilo Gallinari plays LeBron's position and can't take any pressure off of LeBron defensively. The Knicks have nobody who can guard the rim. Toney Douglas is their point guard. They have no draft picks." » Read more

Wade's youth basketball camp began today, and part of the day's itinerary was a question-and-answer session. Just after midnight Tuesday, officials said the news conference would be rescheduled, leading to more questions for Miami Heat fans.

Alan Diaz, Associated PressDwyane Wade arrives at his youth basketball camp.

Miami, Florida -- Dwyane Wade isn't ready to give any answers. So he's not going to take any questions.

Not yet, anyway.

His appearance at a Tuesday morning news conference in South Florida was postponed, the latest chapter in a free-agency saga that has the Miami Heat on edge about the possibility of losing him to another team.

Wade's youth basketball camp for children was beginning Tuesday, and part of the day's itinerary was to include a question-and-answer session alongside Alonzo Mourning about the charity weekend they will headline in South Florida later this month.

Shortly after midnight Tuesday, officials for the charity event called the Summer Groove said the news conference would be rescheduled.

About 150 Heat employees showed up in a caravan of four buses at the camp at Nova Southeastern University.

They formed a semicircle around the front entrance, most wearing Wade shirts and jerseys.

When Wade came down the stairs and saw the group waiting for him, he broke into a wide smile, then walked through the front door with both hands raised as the employee chanted: "We want Wade! We want Wade!"

"I see I can't get rid of you all," Wade told the group. He went back inside less than a minute later without taking questions.

Wade's side had concerns that free agency would be the only matter discussed at the news conference, and there had been internal discussions for several days about canceling the event.

A free agent for the first time, Wade is torn between staying in Miami and playing elsewhere, most likely Chicago. He's had at least two conversations with the Bulls since free agency began last week. In addition, he has met with the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets.

Of course, he's also met with the Heat, first getting contacted just after the free-agent window opened at 12:01 a.m. ET last Thursday, then having an informal chat with team officials in Chicago. On Monday, Wade met with team owner Micky Arison, a few hours after arriving back in Miami for the first time since free agency began.

He's one of the three clear headliners of the free-agent crop, the others being LeBron James and Chris Bosh. 

Wade and Bosh, who are both represented by Chicago-based agent Henry Thomas, have been particularly close during free agency, holding some of their meetings in the same building in Chicago and dining together on occasion.

"They want to feel like they have evaluated everything about each situation," Thomas wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday. "It is fair to say, that the decision for both has been harder than either imagined."

If the Raptors are willing to send Chris Bosh our way, can LeBron say no?

Joshua Gunter |The Cleveland Plain DealerCould LeBron James and Chris Bosh become teammates -- in Cleveland? .

"CB4 not interested in being a 5. Cavs would have to guarantee a legit center will be in place before Bosh agrees to anything"

Like everyone else in Cleveland, we wonder what LeBron James will do when his contract is up this summer. Will he stay home, or team up with one of his buddies elsewhere? Until he decides to talk, we have to rely on hunches, instincts and educated guesswork. We'll report our findings, more or less daily, using the LeBron-O-Meter.

Do the Cavaliers really have a shot at Chris Bosh? Will the Browns start any rookies in their secondary? Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto was online, tackling those questions and more in his weekly chat on cleveland.com earlier today.

Terry Pluto tackles your questions live every Tuesday at noon.

Note: Terry will be speaking at the Brookpark Library [map] at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Do the Cavaliers really have a shot at Chris Bosh? Will the Browns start any rookies in their secondary?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto was online, tackling those questions and more in his weekly chat on cleveland.com earlier today.

Among the other topics discussed:

- What role will market size play in determining whether Chris Bosh will accept a sign-and-trade to Cleveland?

- Do Jerome Harrison and Montario Hardesty have a chance to be the best 1-2 running back combo the Browns have had since they returned?

- And much more!

Click on the play button below to listen or download the MP3 podcast here to listen on the go.

Atlanta, Dallas and Boston are believed to be interested in the Diesel. One report claims O'Neal would be interested in those teams, and maybe the Cavaliers, too, if LeBron James stays in Cleveland.

Scott Shaw, The Plain DealerThough not the dominant player he once was, Shaquille O'Neal is drawing interest from some top teams.

Observers rank the top free agents, usually with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade at the top of the list.

Such players overshadow the free agent who has had the most accomplished career, Shaquille O'Neal - arguably one of the five or so best centers in NBA history.

O'Neal, though, is 38 and in the twilight of his career. He played on the Cavaliers with James last season, averaging career-lows in minutes (23.4), points (12.0) and rebounds (6.7).

Still, it's no surprise that there is interest in the 7-1, 350-or-so-pound O'Neal. Tim Povtak writes for nba.fanhouse.com that the Atlanta Hawks have, maybe, turned their interest into something more tangible:

Free-agent center Shaquille O'Neal is seriously considering a two-year deal with the Hawks that starts at the mid-level exception of $5.8 million, according to NBA sources close to both the team and the future Hall of Fame player.

O'Neal, whose past season in Cleveland with LeBron James ended in disappointment, has been working out the past two weeks in Orlando, where he makes his offseason home.

(Joe) Johnson, over the weekend, agreed to sign with the Hawks for the six-year, $119 million maximum allowable contract with the Hawks. Free-agent signings can't begin until July 8. Johnson was told by management that the Hawks intended to make significant changes to their roster, including the possible addition of O'Neal.

"I think he wants to see how everything shakes out with all the free agents, but he's seriously considering Atlanta's offer,'' said the source who asked that his name not be used. "He wants to play two more years, and he wants it to be with a contender. He thinks he can help them become a serious one.''

Chris Broussard writes on ESPN.com that not only the Hawks, but the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks are interested in O'Neal. His report differs from NBA Fanhouse's, as he writes:

An AOL Fanhouse report on Monday said O'Neal has been offered a two-year deal starting at the mid-level exception by Atlanta and that O'Neal is seriously considering it. However, his agent, Perry Rogers, denied that an offer had been made.

"We have had no offers from the Hawks,'' Rogers said.

O'Neal would be interested in playing for each of the three teams, sources close to him said.

Like so many free agents, what O'Neal ultimately does could be affected by James' decision on what team to play for. Broussard writes:

If LeBron James re-signs with Cleveland, O'Neal, who has played 18 seasons, would also be open to returning to the Cavaliers, according to one of the sources. Cleveland is one of the few teams that could pay O'Neal more than the mid-level exception.

 

 

The 2010 Browns' training camp begins in 25 days. The defensive backfield could be one of the most-improved position groups.

Riddell

Cleveland, Ohio -- There are 25 days to go before training camp opens for the Cleveland Browns. It's almost time to get everyone ready to go, which is what safety Abe Elam says he will be.

Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot writes about Elam, who has his own website.

The Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com is tracking the Browns' AFC opponents. OBR chronicles the Pittsburgh Steelers' off-season problems, including:

"Willie Colon, considered by Steelers coaches to be one of the best right tackles in the league, had surgery Wednesday to repair a torn Achilles tendon that was injured during agility training. Rookie offensive tackle Chris Scott, a fifth-round draft choice from Tennessee, had surgery Wednesday to repair a broken foot, injured while he was working out at his alma mater.

"Colon will go on injured reserve for the 2010 season while Scott could be placed on the PUP list because he should heal by October.

"Colon is the second player to be lost for the season with a torn Achilles. Wide receiver Limas Sweed, a second-round draft choice in 2008, went on injured reserve after his injury on the final day of minicamp May 2."

Might be better

Bolstering the defensive backfield was one of the Browns' primary objectives during the off-season. Gary Wertman writes about the Cleveland secondary for NFLTouchdown.com:

"The Browns made it very clear they were not pleased with last year's play in the secondary by taking a corner and two safeties in this year’s draft. Cleveland also made a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for veteran corner back Sheldon Brown.

"Competition should be fierce between rookie first round pick Joe Haden and veterans Brown, (Eric) Wright and (Brandon) McDonald to see who will start at CB. Also in the picture is second-year player Coye Francies. Francies didn’t see much action last year but is very aggressive with nice size. Don’t count him out."

Speaking of positions, the Browns get a kick out of an individual player-ranking on CBSSports.com.

Gimme the ball

Veteran Jerome Harrison and rookie Montario Hardesty will compete for playing time at running back. John Clayton of ESPN.com is asked about that competition for his "mailbag." Clayton writes:

"This will be one of the key things to watch in training camp. Because he's been there longer, I would get the feeling Harrison would begin the season as the starter. Word is Hardesty has been looking good and the Browns do have a decent offensive line. Rookies have to learn how to pass protect to stay on the field, so the first half of the season could go to Harrison, but Hardesty could get the job by midseason if he does well. Can't wait to see him in training camp."

Encore, maybe?

The Browns open the regular season on Sept. 12 on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The first time the Browns played in Tampa was on Nov. 21, 1976. Cleveland routed the Bucs, 24-7, making Tampa 0-11 in its first season in the NFL. The Buccaneers finished 0-14 and lost their first 12 games the next season, setting a league record with the 26-game losing streak.

The Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns History and Archives Database includes The Plain Dealer stories on every regular season and playoff game the Browns have played.

The late Chuck Heaton, The Plain Dealer's longtime Browns beat writer, wrote in his game story:

"It was the 11th straight defeat for the Buccaneers, but the expansion club was very rugged defensively the first half. Tampa marched 80 yards to a second quarter touchdown and the Browns found themselves in a 7-7 tie at the intermission.

"A locker room message from (coach Forrest) Gregg, who had warned his players all week about the possibility of an upset, and then the presence of (running back Greg) Pruitt proved to be all that was needed. When the Browns didn't move for a score the first time they had the ball in the third quarter, the wave went to Pruitt.

"The ball was on the Cleveland 49, when Greg moved into the huddle. He was called on immediately by Brian Sipe and picked up seven yards off left tackle.

"Six plays later Sipe passes to Paul Warfield for 15 yards and a touchdown on second down."

 

 

A Dutch treat: The Netherlands is in the World Cup final. Long wasteful with its soccer talent, the Netherlands sure has has found the right touch in this tournament.

View full sizeAP Photo | Eugene HoshikoNetherlands' Giovanni van Bronckhorst, center, celebrates after scoring a goal with his teammates Joris Mathijsen, bottom left, , Wesley Sneijder, top and Demy de Zeeuw, right, during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Uruguay and the Netherlands at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A Dutch treat: The Netherlands is in the World Cup final.

Long wasteful with its soccer talent, the Netherlands sure has has found the right touch in this tournament.

Dutch stars Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scored three minutes apart in the second half as the Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2 Tuesday night to advance to their first championship match since losing in 1978 to Argentina.

Winners of all six games in South Africa, the Oranje will face either Germany or Spain in Sunday's title game at Soccer City in Johannesburg. The Netherlands lost its other appearance in the final, to West Germany in 1974.

Both of those title-game defeats came during the golden period of Dutch soccer, and in the opposition's homeland. No such worries this time, and no country outside of Africa has had as much fan support as the Netherlands.

Indeed, Green Point Stadium looked like a Florida orange grove. Outside the stadium, a Netherlands fan in a blue and white bodysuit stood on stilts and played a vuvuzela — badly. It was about the only thing that didn't measure up for the Dutch.

And a tournament that looked like a South American fiesta early on will end in a European showdown for the second straight World Cup. Sneijder and Robben made sure of that.

Sneijder's goal came somewhat unexpectedly because Uruguay had shut down the Dutch offense for much of the second half. His left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area barely ticked the leg of defender Maximiliano Pereira and, with Robin van Persie almost deflecting it again, it skidded past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

Then Robben sent a cross from Dirk Kuyt past a flat-footed Muslera with a brilliant header as Robben was leaping away from the net. His teammates piled on in an Oranje Crush celebration, and Robben came up from it with mud on his forehead, a smile on his face — and the knowledge that Netherlands was ahead 3-1 and likely headed to the championship match.

For good measure, Robben blew kisses to the fans.

Pereira scored a late goal for Uruguay but the Netherlands' defense held up for the final few minutes and the party was on.

"I agree that CC, Lee and Martinez were not going to sign with the Indians. I also don't have an issue with moving Lee and Martinez a year early. My issue is the talent they got in return. In particular, the Lee trade was brutal. If you think a damaged 'A' ball pitcher, a backup catcher and a utility infielder were good value for a Cy Young award winner, I question your sanity." - bobbyjoe47

View full sizeThe Plain DealerMany fans continue to question the return on the Cliff Lee trade.

In response to the story Last-place Indians looking to trade, but demand is weak, cleveland.com reader bobbyjoe47 doesn't mind trading players the Indians can't afford, but is concerned about some of the value received in return. This reader writes,

"I agree that CC, Lee and Martinez were not going to sign with the Indians. I also don't have an issue with moving Lee and Martinez a year early. My issue is the talent they got in return. In particular, the Lee trade was brutal. If you think a damaged 'A' ball pitcher, a backup catcher and a utility infielder were good value for a Cy Young award winner, I question your sanity."

Got an Indians question? Send it in. Submit your question at cleveland.com/heyhoynsie, and Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes will choose at least one to answer each Sunday here in the Sports section. All of Paul's answers are archived online.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerWas Russell Branyan the worst fielding first baseman in Tribe history?

Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Isn't it time for the Tribe to start rebuilding and let their highly touted prospects get major-league experience? -- Sereka Williams, Cleveland

A: Hey, Sereka: The time is upon us. The Russell Branyan trade signaled its arrival.

Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Didn't Larry and Paul Dolan and GM Mark Shapiro assert during the first rebuild that instead of signing free agents the money would be spent on scouting and the farm system?-- Ricky Carter, Sandusky

A: Hey, Ricky: I've written about so many rebuilding projects I can't remember who said what. I do know that ownership has always spent liberally on scouting and the farm system. Their problem has been picking the right players to put in the farm system.

I never heard them say they would stay out of the free-agent market all together. I have heard them say it's a risky way to build a team.

Q: Hey, Hoynsie: I was just wondering if you had reached the same conclusion I had that Russell Branyan was the worst fielding first baseman I have ever seen. I'm just not talking about fielding, but for his poor choices when he had possession of the ball. -- Paul Welling, Rossford

A: Hey, Paul: Branyan had as bad a stretch at first base as I've ever seen just before he was traded. It was so bad that I have to believe his back was bothering him.

Q: Hey, Hoynsie: I understand, sort of, the Russell Branyan trade, but I don't get why the Indians are talking about trading Austin Kearns, one of the few players who can hit, and Mike Redmond, who appears to be the solution to keeping Fausto Carmona on track. What gives? Is there any hope that the Indians will again be a winning team? -- Jim Wensits, South Bend, Ind.

A: Hey, Jim: Redmond and Kearns are on one-year deals. They've performed well for the Indians, but they are temporary players. I'd be surprised if they're on next year's club.

As for the Indians fielding a winning team again, it will happen, but not in 2011.

Q: Hey, Hoynsie: With Jamey Wright, Mark Grudzielanek and Russell Branyan gone, why were they signed? Who will fill their veteran leadership void? -- Hal Vernon, Cleveland

A: Hey, Hal: They were signed to take pressure off younger players such as Matt LaPorta and Luis Valbuena and to absorb some innings in the bullpen. When the season turned bad so quickly, the front office made the decision to go with younger players, which made Wright, Grudzielanek and Branyan expendable.

Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Virtually everybody knows the way you fill seats at major-league ballparks is with a competitive team, one that can make the postseason and win a championship every few years. I'm sure the Dolans are well aware of that fact, given the outstanding season the Tribe had just three years ago. So I've got to ask, are the Dolans in serious financial trouble? -- Dale Brodt, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

A: Hey, Dale: You saw what happened when the Indians were faced with losing up to $20 million last year. Victor Martinez, Cliff Lee, Carl Pavano and others were traded.

That being said, I don't think the Dolans are in serious financial trouble, but they have been going through cost-saving measures since the start of the season. The economy in Cleveland, and throughout the country, hasn't helped.

They're last in the big leagues in attendance and the prospect for improvement next season is not good. They went into the year anticipating drawing about 1.6 million fans. Through 36 home dates, they were on pace to draw 1.3 million.

Does that mean the Dolans are looking to sell the club? From what I've heard the answer is no. I don't think there's a lot of people lining up to buy it. From a business point of view, to sell the club when it's at a low point is not the best strategy. Especially when they purchased the team at, or near, its peak in value.

Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Any chance that Austin Kearns could bring the same type of return as Casey Blake did a couple of years ago? Was the Tribe's willingness to pay Blake's remaining salary the key to getting Carlos Santana and would they do it again this year? -- Steve Cornelius, Avon Lake

A: Hey, Steve: I doubt it, but you never know what a team in need would give up.

One of the reasons the Indians were able to get Santana was their willingness to pay all of Blake's 2008 salary.

Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Any idea why Wyatt Toregas is playing at Class A Mahoning Valley? Here is a guy who batted decent at Akron and Columbus and was an all-star at almost every level. How in the world can a guy be sent to low, short-season A ball with that kind of experience? It does not make sense. -- Mark Tennant, Geneva

A: Hey, Mark: Let's just say, Toregas and the Indians haven't been on the same page since he didn't make the big-league club out of spring training and they were unable to find a team that would take him in a trade.

Q: Hey, Hoynsie: I wish I was joking when I ask this, but: How long do the Indians have Carlos Santana under contract for? I'm assuming he'll be on the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox or Angels within 3 1/2 years. -- Mark Cesarik, Chicago

A: Hey, Mark: Come on, you know the rules as well as I do. Santana belongs to the Indians for at least the next six years.

Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Kerry Wood went 3-for-3 in save opportunities last week. Do you think he now becomes tradeable? He is still owed a large sum of money. I was just curious to see if you thought his performance would be enough for some teams in the hunt to look past the dollars. -- Mark Lasher, Bangor, Pa.

A: Hey, Mark: I think he has to show more consistency and there's still time to do that. The Indians, actually, have until Aug. 31 to trade Wood.

If he continues to pitch well, perhaps a contender would take a chance on him. If not as a closer, then as another power arm late in the game. What remains of Wood's $10.5 million contract would be a key factor in the negotiations as well.

-- Hoynsie

Read which college football program Washington will play for on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz/The Plain DealerWashington

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Maple Heights quarterback Shaq Washington, The Plain Dealer's 2009 Offensive Player of the Year, will announce which college football program he will play for on Wednesday during a noon news conference.

Washington, who has been writing a blog about his recruiting experiences for The Plain Dealer, will share the news with readers today at 11:30 a.m. Go to cleveland.com/shaq-washington for the news and to read his previous blog entries.

Washington's finalists are Cincinnati, UCLA, Colorado and Duke.

AKRON, Ohio - A bit of news, a bit of recruiting movement, but no dunks. On the news side James Price, the 6-11 center ranked No. 66 in the nation by Scouthoops.com and No. 72 by Rivals.com, said Tuesday he is packing his bags, leaving St. Edward High for the city of horses and cardinals, Louisville, where he orally...

Price



-

(Special to The Plain Dealer)

AKRON, Ohio - A bit of news, a bit of recruiting movement, but no dunks.

On the news side James Price, the 6-11 center ranked No. 66 in the nation by Scouthoops.com and No. 72 by Rivals.com, said Tuesday he is packing his bags, leaving St. Edward High for the city of horses and cardinals, Louisville, where he orally committed prior to his junior season.

"I'm moving there," he said following a hard 90-minute session of drills at the LeBron James Skills Academy at Akron's Rhodes Arena. "I'll be moving by the end of this month."

Price said he does not know what high school he will be attending, but is excited about the change.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Price, who averaged 11.2 points and seven rebounds. "I don't feel I was able to develop much at St. Edward. I don't feel, if I stayed there, I would be getting any better. When I get into the AAU circuit, or I get into these camps, I'm able to feel free. I don't feel hindered by anything.

"The word's gotten around [in Louisville]. It's crazy to see how much love is down there."

Said St. Edward coach Eric Flannery, "We haven't seen Price all summer. Talking to his family [last week], they told me they wanted to move closer to prepare him for Louisville. We have moved on without him since the summer.

"Obviously we have our history with big guys and we've developed quite a few. The last 15 years we've sent 8-9 big guys to Division I [colleges]. That's their own personal issue."

Movin' on up: It is not unusual for players to make a jump in the national recruiting rankings going into their senior season. JaKarr Sampson, the 6-7 forward from Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary's High, is the latest.

If he was ranked at all in the spring, it was as a power forward and low on the Top 100 lists for the major recruiting services, Rivals.com and Scouthoops.com. But the latest rankings posted this month by both to coincide with the start of college recruiting find Sampson in the Top 50, now as a small forward.

Rivals ranks Sampson at No. 37 while Scouthoops has him at No. 22.

The rise, according to Sampson, has come from visibility through the summer circuit and improvement in his perimeter skills. "Everybody thought all I had was an inside game," he said following a morning of drills. "I worked on my dribble, and my outside shot, so now I can play a bit of both."

According to Sampson already this summer he has camped in Los Angeles, Houston, West Virginia, Chicago twice and this week Akron and Cleveland.

"I still have to go to Orlando for (AAU) nationals, back to Chicago for an AAU tournament and Milwaukee for an AAU tournament," he said. "And I still have some (college) visits I want to get in. I haven't narrowed that list down yet."

Among the schools Sampson said he is considering are St. John's in New York, USC in California, and regional teams Xavier, Dayton, Louisville, Michigan State, Cincinnati and Ohio State.

"I already (unofficially) visited Michigan State, O-State, Xavier, Cincinnati, Dayton," he said. "I'm going to visit Louisville sometime this summer. And USC and St. John's, those will be official (visits)."

Sampson said he hopes to make a college decision sooner rather than later.

"I'll do something before the high school season, and after AAU season," he said.

No dunk, here: Last summer the buzz coming out of the LeBron James camp at Akron was the dunk by Xavier's Jordan Crawford during a pick-up game between college campers, James and others. In Monday's opening evening James showed up for a light workout again, but this time, there were no dunks by anyone James was guarding, or anyone guarding James.

In fact, twice when James settled in the mid-post -- a rare happening -- he blew his own whistle against 6-7 Chris Wright from the University of Dayton. Wright, laughing, said it was no big deal.

"It's his camp, he can call "em like he wants," Wright said. "I've known him for a couple of years, and some of his teammates in high school, Romeo Travis. It was fun. I think he just wanted us to keep playing defense. I know I didn't foul him. He's too strong to feel a foul. You can't stop him. If he gets one or two buckets, that's shutting him down, to me. He got me for three, so I was one bucket away from shutting him down."

Miami, which plays at Ohio State on Sept. 11, is probably the most likely destination for Henderson.

The big man is free.

Offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, ranked by some recruiting ratings as the No. 2 recruit in the Class of 2010, has been released from his National Letter of Intent by USC in light of the recent NCAA sanctions placed on the Trojans. 

"We are releasing Seantrel Henderson out of his national letter of intent with zero penalties and no restrictions," USC coach Lane Kiffin said in a statement. "Seantrel has been great through the whole process and we wish him the best of luck with his decision."

APSeantrel Henderson

Henderson also strongly considered Miami and Ohio State during his recruitment but chose USC while believing that the Trojans would not be hit that hard by the NCAA. But when USC was banned from bowl games for two years, which will cost players valuable postseason practice time as well as bowl trips, and assessed scholarships reductions that will reduce the overall talent depth at USC for a few years, Henderson wanted out.

Evidence exists of Kiffin expressing confidence during his recruiting pitch to Henderson that USC would not be hit very harshly by the NCAA. That perhaps could have come in handy if the Henderson family had pushed USC, or appealed to the NCAA, for Henderson to be released if the school had denied that request.

If he had not been released, Henderson would have been treated like any transfer. He could have gone to another school but would have been forced to sit out a season.

Now, Henderson is back on the recruiting market.

And he spent the weekend in Miami, according to a source. The Hurricanes finished second in the original recruiting race, so don't get your hopes up Ohio State fans. But maybe the Buckeyes will get to see Henderson - when Miami plays in Columbus on Sept. 11.

Miami is looking to replace three starters on the offensive line, and if Henderson makes a decision and gets in for preseason camp, you'd have to imagine it's at least possible that he's making a contribution by the second week of the season.

As for whether the Buckeyes SHOULD take Henderson if he was still interested, I think it's a no-brainer. It's easy to give up on a kid who turns his recruitment into a saga. But all Henderson has done is make an original questionable decision, choosing USC when sanctions were looming. If his choice the second time around was Ohio State, he'd be worth the wait and any risk.

This week, PGA pro Scott Pollack of Grantwood Golf Course in Solon discusses the proper release of a club.

Local pros solve your swing problems in a weekly instruction video at cleveland.com/golf with Plain Dealer columnist Bud Shaw.

This week, PGA pro Scott Pollack of Grantwood Golf Course in Solon discusses the proper release of a club.

Need help with your game? Explain your problem to golf@plaind.com in an e-mail. We will select one e-mail each week. All videos are archived.

LeBron James and Chris Bosh together with the Cavs? It may be up to Bosh to make it happen.

Now you are getting a peek at some of the ideas the Cavaliers discussed with LeBron James.

Starting with, "LeBron, you want to play with Chris Bosh? How about doing it at home?"

I'm not sure if the reports of James actively recruiting you are true. I do know that Toronto (your team) and the Cavs have had significant talks about a sign-and-trade deal that would bring you to Cleveland.

Yes, I've heard you don't want to play for the Cavs.

Chris, do you want $30 million more than any other team can pay you -- except if you stay in Toronto? Other teams may try for a sign-and-trade deal, but the Cavs are best equipped to make it happen.

So if you like the idea of that extra $30 million, you need to warm up to Cleveland in the wintertime.

Do you want to play with a two-time MVP in front of sellout crowds?

Then you want Cleveland.

Do you want to play on a team where you won't be the focal point of opposing defenses?

Then you want Cleveland.

Yes, Cleveland, even more than Chicago, New York or any of the other teams with salary cap room. That's because none of those teams -- not even Miami with Dwyane Wade -- has a star that demands so much defensive attention as James.

And Chris, do you want to win?

Think about it. It's James. It's you. It's an owner willing to outspend anyone in the NBA. It's Byron Scott, who has been to The Finals twice as a coach. Since 2000, the only other active coaches who can make that claim are Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich, Larry Brown and Doc Rivers.

But in the end, it usually comes down to money.

You are 26 years old. Only once in the past five years have you appeared in more than 70 games (77 in 2008-09). You're not falling apart. You usually play 65 to 70 games. But you've had to carry a huge load in Toronto, and there are days when your body feels it.

There is relief in Cleveland.

And that extra $30 million at age 32, if you sign with Toronto.

Then the Raptors ship you to Cleveland for a package built around Anderson Varejao and some expiring contracts belonging to Jamario Moon, Delonte West or Anthony Parker. Both teams will be fighting over J.J. Hickson, so it's hard to know where he'll end up. While ESPN has reported the trade is in place, all waiting for your approval -- I'm not sure they are that far along.

But Chris, if you give the Cavs and James a signal that you are open to teaming up in Cleveland, the deal will get done.

You could end up on a team where Antawn Jamison comes off the bench. It could be a team with a front line of James, yourself, Jamison, Leon Powe and perhaps a center such as Brendan Haywood added in another deal.

Chris, think about your career. Seven years in the NBA, a grand total of 11 playoff games.

Never out of the first round. Think about Wade. Since he won that 2006 title with Shaquille O'Neal -- well, Miami has not made it out of the first round in the past four years.

You know how you averaged career highs in points (24.0) and rebounds (10.8) and missed the playoffs? Seven years in the NBA, and only one regular season with a winning record?

In the past five years, the Cavs have never lost in the first round, and made the NBA Finals once. Their average record is 54-28 in that span.

So Chris, it will be a whole new ballgame for you in Cleveland, and you will really like it if you give it a chance.

Constanza and promotions from Akron such as Jared Goedert, Josh Rodriguez and Cord Phelps have helped the Clippers offset the departure of players called up to the Indians.

Will Bentzel, minorleaguebaseball.comJose Constanza has been a key to the Clippers' offense with his ability to get on base and his base-running.

FARM REPORT

AAA Columbus Clippers

Tonight: Toledo (41-44) at Clippers (53-32), 7:05. Mud Hens RHP Alfredo Figaro (6-6, 4.59) vs. Clippers RHP Jeanmar Gomez (6-7, 5.26).

Notes: Clippers OF Jose Constanza has been named to the International League all-star team, which will play the Pacific Coast League team on July 14 in Allentown, Pa. Constanza, who will be a reserve, replaces OF Michael Brantley, who was called up by the Indians from Columbus on Sunday. Constanza went into Tuesday night's game batting .315 with 41 runs and 21 stolen bases in 23 attempts....The Clippers went into Tuesday night's game on a seven-game winning streak....3B Jared Goedert was batting .321 with eight doubles, 11 home runs and 26 RBI in just 106 at bats since being promoted from Akron. Combining his time with the Clippers and Aeros, Goedert was batting .323 with 22 doubles, 18 homers and 58 RBI....IF Josh Rodriguez was batting .339 (38-for-112) with six doubles, six homers, 27 runs and 21 RBI for Columbus, after batting .317 (20-for-63) with seven doubles, a homer, 11 RBI and 11 runs at Akron....2B Cord Phelps was batting .366 (26-for-71) for the Clippers, with nine doubles, two triples, a homer and 11 RBI. Combined with his time this season in Akron, Phelps was batting .315 with 17 doubles, five triples, three homers and 34 RBI....RHP Josh Tomlin (8-2, 2.45) has allowed two runs or less in 12 of his 14 starts. Including his three relief outings early in the season, Tomlin has allowed just 64 hits -- and just seven homers -- in 88 1/3 innings, striking out 60 and walking 28.

AA Akron Aeros

Tonight: Trenton (51-32) at Aeros (41-42), 7:05. Thunder LHP Wilkin de la Rosa (2-3, 5.68) vs. Aeros LHP Scott Barnes (4-7, 5.55).

Notes: OF Matt McBride is the Eastern League Player of the Week for last week. McBride slugged six home runs, including three last Thursday, and was 10-for-27 (.370) with two doubles and nine RBI. McBride went into Tuesday night's game batting .266 with 16 doubles, 10 homers and 41 RBI....Aeros RHP Paolo Espino will replace RH Bryce Stowell on the Western Division roster for the Eastern League All-Star Game on July 14 in Harrisburg, Pa. Stowell was promoted to Columbus on Sunday. Espino went into Tuesday night's game 7-3 with a 4.16 ERA in 17 games, including 11 starts. In 80 innings, he had struck out 69 while allowing 71 hits and 29 walks. Aeros 3B Lonnie Chisenhall and OF John Drennen are also all-stars....Drennen (.313) was hitting .459 (17-for-37) in his last 10 games, with three doubles, a triple and seven RBI....OF Jerad Head (.275) was batting .324 (24-for-74) with eight doubles, five homers, 11 RBI and 15 runs in his last 20 games.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Tonight: Salem (47-35) at Indians (42-39), 7:00. Red Sox RHP Michael Lee (5-3, 4.41) vs. Indians LHP T.J. House (2-5, 3.66).

Notes: Going into Tuesday night's game, RH reliever Travis Turek (3-2, one save, 2.85) had allowed one earned run in 20 2/3 innings (0.44 ERA) in his last 10 games....RH reliever Brian Grening (3-2, 3.20) had struck out 31 in 25 1/3 innings....Outfielders Bo Greenwell and Justin Toole are off to solid starts since joining Kinston. Greenwell was 11-for-32 (.344) with two doubles, three stolen bases and five walks, and O'Toole was 8-for-25 (.320) with four walks.

A Lake County Captains

Tonight: Captains (50-30) at Lansing (43-37), 7:05. Captains LHP Matt Packer (6-4, 1.86) vs. RHP Ryan Tepera (7-3, 3.14).

Notes: Going into Tuesday night's game, RH reliever Tyler Sturdevant was 3-0 with two saves, an 0.83 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings over 15 appearances. He had allowed just 17 hits and eight walks....CF Delvi Cid and IF Adam Abraham were emerging from season-long slumps. Cid (.236) was 15-for-41 (.366) in his last 11 games. His 35 stolen bases (in 40 attempts) ranked second in the Midwest League. Abraham (.219) was 14-for-37 (.378) in his last 10 games, with two doubles, two homers and seven RBI.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Tonight: Scrappers (9-9) at Connecticut (10-8), 7:05. Scrappers RHP Owen Dew (1-0, 0.00) vs. Tigers RHP Josue Carreno (1-2, 4.05).

Notes: RH starter Alex Kaminsky is 3-1 with a 2.14 ERA in his four outings, striking out 15 and walking five in 21 innings....Going into Tuesday night's game, 1B Jonathan Burnette was batting .308 (20-for-65) with five doubles, four homers and 12 RBI....LH reliever Nick Kirk had picked up three saves, striking out 13 in 6 2/3 innings. He had allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Tonight: Crushers (23-19) at Florence (17-25), 7:05. Crushers RHP Phil Rummel (2-3, 5.80) vs. Freedom RHP Andy Clark (3-2, 4.93).

Notes: Crushers RH starters Josh Roberts (4-0, 2.29) and Travis Risser (5-2, 3.23), 3B Andrew Davis and SS Jodam Rivera have been voted to the East Division team to play in the Frontier League All-Star Game on July 14 at Rent One Park in Marion, Ill. Davis went into Tuesday night's game batting .325 with three homers and 27 RBI. Rivera was batting .316 with 19 RBI and seven stolen bases. Davis and Rivera will both be in the starting lineup.

A New York Post reporter who was in Cleveland last weekend describes fans here as apathetic and undeserving of a star like LeBron James.

Thomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerNew York Post writer Marc Berman thinks the turnout in downtown Cleveland for LeBron James on his first day of free agency was weak.

Chasing down rumors about LeBron James' basketball future could be a full-time job. 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.

•Marc Berman of the New York Post thinks Cleveland doesn't deserve James.

At least that's the headline on his story Tuesday.

Berman was in Cleveland a couple of days last week for LeBron-A-Palooza and apparently was not impressed. Writes Berman:

"The Cleveland 'Fan Tunnel' orchestrated by the Cavs on Saturday did not have a significant turnout. The goal was to have crowds lining St. Clair Avenue as James drove in for his final two meetings with the Cavs and Bulls.

"One or two thousand fans were needed to make any impact. A couple of hundred showed up -- many of them employed by Quicken Loans Arena. They encircled the parking garage entrance when James drove in at 11 a.m. and they didn't even realize it was him as he drove in.

"By the time James drove off in his silver Audi at 4:30 p.m., there were about 100 left. Considering the magnitude of this story, it was an underwhelming gathering.

"James talks about loving Akron, not Cleveland. He makes a distinction between the two cities which are 40 minutes apart, according to a source connected to his camp. He often has talked about 'putting Akron on the map.' "

"James should realize playing in New York raises his profile and will bring more attention to Akron. Cleveland fans did not embrace the moment Saturday or in May when James left the Quicken Loans Arena court for perhaps the final time as a Cavalier. He received scattered boos instead of a standing ovation.

"It never was a great basketball town before James -- ruled by the Browns and Indians. Other than 'The Dawg Pound,' there lacks a sports passion found in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Detroit."

If you want to read more: bit.ly/96SpRM

Remember, don't shoot the messenger.

•Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz tells Fred Kerber of the New York Post that James should sign with the Nets, who are expected to move to Brooklyn in a couple of years.

Said Markowitz to Kerber: "He can have it all. The Knicks on the exotic island of Manhattan will love him, but they have a thousand celebrities. He would be one of many. If he comes to Brooklyn, he will be instantly our No. 1 son. And in Brooklyn, we stick with you, good times and bad. You'll find no more passionate, enthusiastic, crazy fans anywhere. In Brooklyn, we're family. Come here, you're family, too.

"In Brooklyn, everything will be brand new. He can shape the team. He can make an imprint on the NBA. [Nets owner] Mikhail Prokhorov has a sense of the future, and it can do so much for LeBron."

Read more: bit.ly/at11ud

•Prokhorov has been an owner for a couple of months now, and he's got everything all figured out. According to Chris Broussard of ESPN The Magazine, Prokohorov thinks if James joins Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, he'll win two or three titles but diminish the LeBron brand because of the power-packed lineup. He thinks the Bulls, Knicks and Clippers are similar from a basketball standpoint but lack a clear-cut strategy for winning championships. Surprisingly -- not -- he thinks the Nets give James the best opportunity to build a dynasty, become a champion and emerge as a global icon. He's willing to pursue a trade for James' buddy Chris Paul and thinks if he can pull that off the Nets can win an NBA title in two years.

For the whole story: es.pn/bHNe78

•In its second poll of a variety of its personnel, five of six ESPN staffers listed Cleveland as the favorite to retain James, with Marc Stein's 75 percent leading the way. Chris Sheridan is the only one to select New York, saying there's a 45 percent chance James lands with the Knicks and a 25 percent chance he stays with the Cavs.

To see it: es.pn/aQNCOX

•The Cavs' odds of retaining James have increased with reports of a sign-and-trade for Bosh, according to sbrforum.com

To see them, go to bit.ly/alk7dp

-- Mary Schmitt Boyer

Seventh-round pick Robbie Aviles could be back on the mound in the Arizona Instructional League at the end of the 2011 season.

View full sizeAl Behrman / Associated PressBoston might have some interest in trading for Indians closer Kerry Wood.

Clubhouse confidential: The Indians signed seventh-round pick Robbie Aviles, a high-school right-hander from Suffern, N.Y., for $150,000, and an additional $200,000 for college. Aviles will undergo Tommy John surgery within the week.

Projected to be a compensation pick (between the first and second round), Aviles injured his right elbow a couple of days before the draft. "We're taking a calculated risk," said Brad Grant, Indians director of amateur scouting.

Aviles could be back on the mound for the Arizona Instructional League at the end of the 2011 season. The Indians did something similar with right-hander Vinnie Pestano, a 20th round pick in 2006 who had Tommy John surgery before they drafted him. Now he has put himself in line for a big-league look from Class AAA Columbus sometime in the second half of the season.

Talk, talk: The Boston Globe is reporting the Red Sox are talking "internally" about going after Tribe closer Kerry Wood.

Stat of the day: Indians pitchers have allowed one homer in their past 74 innings entering Tuesday night's game against Texas.

It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's Travis Hafner on a delayed steal. In other news, Indians receive encouraging news on Shin-Soo Choo and Matt LaPorta.

View full sizeTony Gutierrez / Associated PressRescue workers wheel away a fan who fell out of the second deck into the seating area below while leaning to catch a foul ball during Tuesday's game in Arlington, Texas.

 Updated: 10:36 p.m.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians 2010 regular season. The Indians play Texas tonight in the second game of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

 Rangers Ballpark's dimensions: left field line 332 feet, left center field 390, center field 400, right center 377 to 381, straightaway right center 407, right field line 325.

In-game notes:

Score: Rangers 8, Indians 1 after seven innings.

Big inning: Texas took control of the game with a five-run sixth. Joaquin Arias hit a three-run double off Justin Masterson for a 6-1 lead. Hector Ambriz relieved and gave up a two-run homer to Vlad Guerrero. Guerrero drove the ball 433-feet to left center field.

Tiebreaker: Texas broke a 1-1 tie on Andres Blanco's two-run double in the fourth off Masterson. There were two out, but Masterson couldn't retire the No.9 hitter.

The line: Masterson allowed seven runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked three in 94 pitches. Lefty C.J. Wilson stopped the Tribe on two hits and one run over six innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Bad fall: An unidentified man fell out of the club level seats in the fifth inning while trying to catch a foul ball. He fell an estimated 30 feet into the seats behind the Rangers dugout. A Rangers spokesman said the man injured four people in the fall.

The man was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Ft. Worth, Tex. The Rangers spokesman said the man could move his extremities and responded to the paramedics who treated him and carried him out of the ballpark on a stretcher.

Play was stopped 16 minutes and both teams left the field while the man was being treated.

The four people injured in the accident were treated at the ballpark.      

He did it again: Jayson Nix hit his third homer in the last two days to give the Indians a 1-0 lead in the first inning.  Nix's three homers came in the span of five at-bats.

Claimed on waivers from the White Sox on June 24, Nix has four homers and seven RBI in 11 games with the Tribe.

Tied up: Josh Hamilton made it 1-1 with a leadoff homer against Justin Masterson in the second. It was only the second homer the Indians have allowed in the last 75 innings.

Hit it to me: Masterson, who entered the game with five errors, had four assists in the first three innings.

In-game notes:

 Game 83: Shuffle, shuffle, go. That's the strategy 240-pound Travis Hafner used to steal second base in the sixth inning Monday night. It was Hafner's first steal since May 15, 2008 and the ninth of his career.

 "It's shuffle, shuffle, go," said Hafner.

 Added Shelley Duncan, "It was textbook."

 Not to mention, it was a delayed steal, called from the bench by manager Manny Acta.

 "You wait until the ball is almost in the catcher's glove," said Hafner, with a trace of a smile on his face.

 Trevor Crowe didn't believe the call came from the bench.

 "I just thought that was rogue assignment," said Crowe with a laugh. "No wonder Manny was so pumped up on the bench."

 Said Acta, "I would like to just sit back and let these guys swing away, but that's not the type of club we have. Travis executed it perfectly. Jhonny Peralta was the main ingredient at the end with his huge two-out double."

 Hafner scored on Peralta's double for a 7-2 lead. The Indians beat Texas, 9-3.

Lineups:

Indians (33-49): CF Michael Brantley (L), 2B Jayson Nix (R), C Carlos Santana (S), RF Austin Kearns (R), 3B Jhonny Peralta (R), DH Shelley Duncan (R), 1B Andy Marte (R), LF Trevor Crowe (S), SS Jason Donald (R) and RHP Justin Masterson (1-2, 5.55).

 Rangers (48-34): CF Julio Borbon (L), SS Joaquin Arias (R), 2B Ian Kinsler (R), DH Vladimir Guerrero (R), LF Josh Hamilton (L), RF Nelson Cruz (R), 1B Justin Smoak (S), C Matt Treanor (R), 3B Andres Blanco (S) and LHP C.J. Wilson (6-4, 3.34).

 Lineup note: Matt LaPorta showed no signs of a concussion today, but was not in the lineup as he underwent a battery of tests at the ballpark. LaPorta, playing first base, was temporarily knocked out in a collision with Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus in the third inning Monday night. He was removed from the game an inning later.

 In another encouraging note from the trainer's room, surgery is not in the immediate future of outfielder Shin-Soo Choo. Dr. Thomas Graham examined Choo's thumb Tuesday at Cleveland Clinic and instead of surgery, recommended that the thumb be immobilized for seven to 10 days.

 If the thumb responds, Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said surgery may not be needed and that Choo could return to the lineup sooner than expected. When Choo was placed on the disabled list on Sunday, it was speculated that he'd miss six to eight weeks.

 Soloff cautioned that surgery on the sprained ulna collateral ligament in the thumb is still a possibility.

 Quote of the day: "By the time you know what to do, you're too old to do it," Hall of Famer Ted Williams from Baseball Almanac.

 Next: RHP Mitch Talbot (8-7, 3.86) vs. RHP Colby Lewis (7-5, 3.35) Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. EDT.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Indians have not been fortunate when it comes to injuries this season. Their top three players, Grady Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo, are on the disabled list. On Monday night, hot-hitting Matt LaPorta was knocked out of the game after a collision at first base. He temporarily lost consciousness and left the game shortly...

Thomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerShin-Soo Choo's injured thumb might not need surgery, which would make his stay on the disabled list considerably shorter.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Indians have not been fortunate when it comes to injuries this season. Their top three players, Grady Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo, are on the disabled list.

On Monday night, hot-hitting Matt LaPorta was knocked out of the game after a collision at first base. He temporarily lost consciousness and left the game shortly afterward.

LaPorta had a CT scan at a nearby hospital and results were negative. LaPorta, however, did not play Tuesday night against Texas.

Perhaps fortune is ready to give the Indians a break.

Dr. Thomas Graham informed them Tuesday that Choo might not need surgery on his sprained right thumb after examining the Indians' right fielder at Cleveland Clinic. It was speculated that Choo, placed on the disabled list Sunday, could miss six to eight weeks, but if he doesn't need surgery, he might be able to rejoin the Indians sooner.

Choo, who sprained the ulna collateral ligament in the thumb, must wear a splint for the next seven to 10 days to keep the thumb immobile. If the thumb shows improvement, Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said Choo will go on an "aggressive" return program.

"Dr. Graham said the clinical examination of Choo's thumb does not display any instability," said Soloff. "If you compare the stability of his left thumb and right thumb, there's no significant difference.

"That, and the fact that Choo's symptoms are decreasing daily, leads Dr. Graham to believe that there's a good chance that he can work through this [without surgery]."

Soloff said surgery could still take place if the thumb doesn't respond the right way after it has been immobilized. If he needs surgery, Choo could miss six to eight weeks.

LaPorta will go through a battery of tests similar to the ones David Huff went through after he was hit in the head by a line drive hit by Alex Rodriguez in May. Concussions do not always present immediately.

"Matt is symptom-free, other than having a sore neck," said Soloff. "We will assess him at intervals.

The collision took place in the third inning. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus appeared to hit LaPorta in the head with his elbow as he crossed the base on an infield single.

"I'm not sure if I was knocked out," said LaPorta. "For a couple of seconds, I wasn't normal."

LaPorta left the game the next inning. He suffered a concussion after getting hit in the head with a pitch during the 2008 Olympics in China.

"That was a lot worse," he said. "I felt the effects of that for a couple of weeks."

Soloff did not know when LaPorta would be back in the lineup. Andy Marte started at first base Tuesday.

LaPorta did not think Andrus hit him intentionally.

"I know Elvis," he said. "I like him. The ball short-hopped me and I backed up into the baserunner."

Slow motion: Travis Hafner stole his first base since May 15, 2008, Monday night in the sixth inning. It was a delayed steal, no less.

The call came from manager Manny Acta.

"I would like to just sit back and let these guys swing away, but that's not the type of club we have," said Acta. "Travis executed it perfectly. Jhonny Peralta was the main ingredient at the end with his huge two-out double."

Hafner scored on Peralta's double for a 7-2 lead. The Indians beat Texas, 9-3.

It was the ninth steal of Hafner's career.

Tragedy: According to witnesses, a man fell out of the upper deck at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in the fifth inning Tuesday while trying to catch a foul ball. He landed behind the Rangers' dugout and was carried out of the ballpark on a stretcher.

Both teams left the field. The game was delayed for 16 minutes.

There was no word on the man's condition.

SECOND UPDATE: There is no indication on where James will make his announcement on Thursday.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerLeBron James reportedly will announced his decision on which team will sign with Thursday during a special on ESPN.

UPDATED at 12:20 a.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James has tightened his inner circle and stonewalled the teams recruiting him and the media stalking him during the week in which his free agency has raged.

But whether he intends to or not, he seems to be sending out signals that something is changing, with a series of decisions being made leading up to the biggest decision of his career.

It all seems to be part of a controversial marketing strategy that has been rolled out over the past week.

It culminated, at least for the moment, on Tuesday when ESPN announced it had made a deal with James to air his free-agent choice during a prime-time special from an as-yet-undisclosed location starting at 9 p.m. Thursday.

But that is only a part of some moves James has made that suddenly seem to be coordinated to increase his already large profile. They also cry out that James is changing, though the extent is not yet clear. But there is no stopping in sight.

First, James released a website at LeBronJames.com, a domain he's owned since 2002 but had not maintained on his own since 2007. The site promises big news in the future, a departure from the past when James' site was used for minor marketing and not to announce news.

Last week, James' manager, Maverick Carter, gave a rare on-the-record interview to the New York Times to get out the message that the influential back-channel operator William Wesley was no longer involved in James' decision-making process. Wesley had been a confidant of James in various capacities since his high school days.

Then on Tuesday, James announced that he was going to start using Twitter and issued his first Tweet in the afternoon. It is a departure from James' long-standing policy of not opening himself up via social media. In the past he said he wanted to guard his privacy and, in part because he never went to college, was not interested in entities like Facebook.

That changed suddenly, nearly as suddenly as he got more than 200,000 followers to join his Twitter feed on his first day.

It was followed by the revelation that James has been in talks with ESPN to broadcast the decision. It was a plot that seemed to catch the entire NBA off-guard, including the teams that have been recruiting James to sign.

James' plans were in the works in some form for months, according to sources, having talked with ESPN about filming his entire free-agency process for a documentary. For a while, this included some plans to take a tour across the country and visit interested teams.

When the Cavs lost in the playoffs to the Boston Celtics and James played several of the worst playoff games of his career, those plans were scrapped. But it ultimately seems to have led to the strategy to capture the basketball world's attention with a never-before-seen television special.

Where the changes will stop is still unclear, but there doesn't seem to be an end in sight.