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Tribe gets back in the swing (and Shin-Soo Choo could be doing so soon): Indians Insider

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Shin-Soo Choo's right thumb is improving and that's good news for the Indians as the second half opens Friday against Detroit at Progressive Field.

Cleveland Indians beat White Sox, 7-4Shin-Soo Choo got in some soft-toss hitting as the Indians returned to Progressive Field on Thursday and is optimistic about a quick return to the team.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Shin-Soo Choo could start taking batting practice Saturday with the Indians if his right thumb cooperates.

He hit off a tee Wednesday and was in the batting cage Thursday before the Indians prepared for the second half with a late-afternoon workout at Progressive Field. Choo participated in the workout as well.

"I took soft toss [underhand tosses from a coach] and hit in the cage," said Choo, still sweating from the effort. "I was almost swinging at 100 percent."

If Choo gets through batting practice Saturday, he could travel to Minneapolis on Monday and continue working with the team during their three-game series against the Twins. Choo was placed on the disabled list July 4 with a strained ulna collateral ligament in his thumb. He could be activated sometime during the Twins series.

After Choo injured his thumb attempting a diving catch against Oakland on July 2, it was thought he'd need surgery and miss six to eight weeks.

"The MRI looked bad," said Choo. "It looked like the ligament was torn, but Dr. [Thomas] Graham tested my thumb and he said it was stable."

Choo kept the thumb immobilized for about a week, but now wears a splint only at night. He'll wear a protective device inside his glove to prevent the thumb from being bent backward.

"He's moving right along," said manager Manny Acta. "He's making a lot of progress."

Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, out since May 17 with a broken left forearm, was scheduled to continue his rehab assignment Thursday night with Class AA Akron. In two games with Class A Mahoning Valley, he had two hits in six at-bats. Acta said Cabrera will probably need about 30 at-bats before he's ready to be activated.

"The reports have been positive on Asdrubal so far," said Acta. "We'll make the decision when we feel he's ready."

Spot me: The Indians will need a spot starter Tuesday against the Twins. It will be a one and done deal for whoever gets called up from Class AAA Columbus.

"Unless he throws a perfect game," said Acta. "If that happens, then we'll have to change our mind."

Carlos Carrasco, Josh Tomlin and David Huff are options at Class AAA Columbus. Acta has already said Carrasco will get an extended look in the second half. Thursday he said Tomlin could get a chance as well. Huff opened the season in the Tribe's rotation, but was sent down after going 3-9.

Carrasco went 7-4 with a 4.38 ERA in the first half. He started Thursday for the Clippers and would be on schedule to start Tuesday.

Tomlin went 8-3 with a 2.58 ERA in the first half. He threw a scoreless inning Wednesday against the Pacific Coast in the Class AAA All-Star game.

Don't stop believing: Acta met with his players for several minutes down the left-field line before Thursday's workout.

"I hope everybody recharged their batteries," said Acta. "It was nice that we had a four-day break. There's a lot of baseball left.

"A month or so ago, we left Chicago and it didn't look like they were going anywhere. Now they're in first place. Let's just play the game ... you never know."

The White Sox, Twins and Tigers came out of the break within 3 1/2 games of each other in the AL Central.

"Until you have that X next to your name in the standings [meaning a team has been eliminated], you never know what can happen," said Acta. "That's why our division is so great. A month ago no one was envisioning what's going on today in the Central."

Finally: The Mariners acquired Jamey Wright from Oakland and brought him to the big leagues. Wright started the season with the Indians before being released.


Louis Oosthuizen takes lead as second day of British Open begins

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First-round leader Rory McIlroy tees off in the afternoon at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Paul Newberry / Associated Press

British Open GolfSouth Africa's Louis Oosthuizen plays a shot from the 14th tee during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday, July 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa has surged to the top of the British Open before first-round leader Rory McIlroy even tees off.

Oosthuizen bundled up in rain gear as he teed off early this morning at the Old Course. After four straight pars to start the round, he strung together three birdies in a row to push his score to 10 under.

The 21-year-old McIlroy will play this afternoon.

The Northern Irishman opened with a 9-under 63, tying the record for the lowest score in a major, and it was the fewest strokes needed to get through an Open round since 1993. All eyes will be on the weather. The morning started under a blue sky, but clouds moved in and it began raining harder than it ever did in the opening round.

Early, large algae blooms on Lake Erie a concern

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Outdoors Notebook: Lake Erie anglers and Ohio fisheries experts are concerned about massive blooms of blue-green algae all around Western Lake Erie in recent days.

Lake Erie anglers and Ohio fisheries experts are concerned about massive blooms of blue-green  algae all around Western Lake Erie in recent days.

algae.jpgThe algae blooms have arrived earlier than usual and are covering more of Lake Erie than in decades. (D'Arcy Egan/The Plain Dealer)
While fishing last week on the east side of Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie’s waters were clear, and the fish were biting. We headed to a good walleye area west of North Bass Island, and caught a few walleye. When we returned just a couple of hours later, thousands of acres of surface water from the Bass Islands to Kelleys Island were coated with a thick soup of green algae.

The algae blooms have arrived earlier than usual and are covering more of Lake Erie than in decades. Most blame the algae blooms on phosphorous used to fertilize crops. It washes from farm fields into the Lake Erie tributaries and eventually Lake Erie, fueling the algae blooms. When algae dies, it consumes oxygen from the water as it sinks to the lake bottom.

This week, low oxygen levels were recorded off shallow Maumee Bay, a new development. The oxygen-starved waters caused by dying algae are usually found in deeper central Lake Erie, creating what is called a “dead zone.”

Unlike other forms of algae, blue-green algae, or microcystis, won’t nourish tiny zooplankton, vital nourishment for recently hatched walleye, yellow perch and smallmouth bass.

There is a difference in the phosphorous flowing into Lake Erie today.

“The total amount of phosphorous is not increasing,” said Jeff Tyson, head of Lake Erie fisheries management for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “The phosphorous we’re seeing today is highly bio-available, which means it is taken up immediately by algae.

“The bloom this year is amazing and disconcerting. There is nothing in the short term that can be done. It will take long-term management strategies and major changes in farming practices.”

The scary part, says Tyson, is that when algae blooms were this bad in the 1960s, Lake Erie walleye production was very poor.

Tyson’s crews have been finding fair numbers of 1- to 2-inch walleye from this year’s spring hatch around the Bass Islands, but few elsewhere. The fisheries biologists won’t have a handle on the overall quality of the 2010 hatch until August, when young-of-the-year walleye reach 3 to 4 inches in length and can be collected in trawl nets.

Walleye fishermen primarily are catching Lake Erie fish hatched in 2003 and 2007. The 2003 hatch was spectacular, while the 2007 hatch was average.

Early bird hunting: The Canada geese, mourning dove, teal and woodcock hunting seasons were approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council at its monthly meeting on Wednesday evening in Columbus.

The early goose season is Sept. 1-15; dove hunting is open Sept. 1-Oct. 24 and Dec. 6-21; early teal hunting is Sept. 4-19; and woodcock hunting is allowed Oct. 9-Nov. 22.
Seasons also were approved for lightly hunted rails and moorhens (Sept. 1-Nov. 9) and snipe (Sept. 1-Nov. 28 and Dec. 6-23).

Hunting seasons for other migratory birds should be approved at the Aug. 11 council meeting using U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines. It is expected the council will give duck hunters a 60-day duck season beginning in mid-October.

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

Kids sell lemonade to back Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert after fine

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Some young fans in Ohio are making lemonade out of the $100,000 fine slapped on Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert over his criticism of LeBron James.

Dan Gilbert lemonade standView full size Mark Avenue residents Liam Hagan, 15, and Molly Sponseller, 10, try to get cars to stop for the Dan Gilbert lemonade stand sale taken on July 15, 2010. The proceeds will be donated to the Cleveland Cavaliers Youth Fund. (Scott Shaw / The Plain Dealer)
ROCKY RIVER, Ohio - Some young fans in Ohio are making lemonade  out of the $100,000 fine slapped on Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert over his criticism of LeBron James.

Children in suburban Rocky River sold lemonade Thursday to raise money for Gilbert's cause. They charged 50 cents a cup.

Ten-year-old Molly Sponseller says she and her friends wanted to show support for the Cavs and Gilbert. She says he's "not a bad man."

After James announced last week that he would leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat, Gilbert wrote a searing letter calling the MVP "narcissistic" and "self-promotional." The NBA fined Gilbert.

Gilbert has said that instead of sending him money, fans should donate to the Cleveland Cavaliers Youth Fund. That's where proceeds from the lemonade sales will go.

Fishing report: Walleye season in full swing

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The walleye  fishing is in full swing all along the Ohio shoreline of Lake Erie, with the yellow perch  fishing spotty. Cleveland Harbor and the other harbors along the big lake are giving up outstanding numbers of smallmouth and largemouth bass. Catfish are dominating angling interest on inland lakes, with largemouth bass and bluegills also biting. Cleveland area Fishermen...

walleyeThe walleye fishing is in full swing all along the Ohio shoreline of Lake Erie, with the yellow perch fishing spotty. (D'Arcy Egan/The Plain Dealer)
The walleye  fishing is in full swing all along the Ohio shoreline of Lake Erie, with the yellow perch  fishing spotty. Cleveland Harbor and the other harbors along the big lake are giving up outstanding numbers of smallmouth and largemouth bass. Catfish are dominating angling interest on inland lakes, with largemouth bass and bluegills also biting.

Cleveland area

Fishermen have to run about 20 miles off Cleveland for consistent walleye catches, but it has been worth the trip. Good numbers of walleye and some steelhead trout are being caught north of the city by anglers trolling larger spoons in the 3¾- to 4½-inch range colored in pink, purple and chartreuse. Some walleye also are being caught on spinner rigs tipped with nightcrawlers, with willow leaf blades needed for faster trolling speeds.

The walleye fishing around Lorain has been best in the sand bar area. Walleye are biting in the shallower water on the inside of the sand bar, northwest of Lorain, and in deeper, 54-foot depths on the outside of the bar.

A near-shore walleye bite has sparkled between Huron and Vermilion, in the Cranberry Creek area. Excellent numbers of walleye are being taken on diving plugs, especially Reef Runners, in 18 to 30 feet of water, as well as spinner rigs and some spoons.

The yellow perch fishing has been spotty around Cleveland. Some perch have been caught north of the Rocky River and off Bratenahl. The best catches have come off Wildwood Park and Euclid General Hospital in 25 to 35 feet of water.

The perch fishing has been very good in the shadow of the Lorain Lighthouse this week.
Cleveland fishermen have been doing well catching largemouth bass from shoreline structures around the harbor, including the rip-rap along the Burke Lakefront Airport and from the marinas. Crayfish have been the leader in live bait, with large emerald shiner minnows right behind. Top bass lures are small jigs tipped with a soft plastic trailer, as well as plastic lizards and worms.

Central Lake Erie

The deep-water walleye and steelhead trout fishing off Fairport Harbor, Geneva, Ashtabula and Conneaut has been good to outstanding in 70 to 75 feet of water. Most of the walleye are caught while suspended at 30 to 40 feet on diving planers and spoons or spinner rigs with nightcrawlers. Lure colors usually include pink, purple, green and black.

The perch fishing has been good in 45 to 55 feet of water northwest of Fairport Harbor and off Ashtabula.

Inland lakes, reservoirs

The dog days of summer are arriving, a hot-weather spell that has muskies biting at Pymatuning, Leesville and Clear Fork reservoirs. Anglers are casting large spinners and jerk baits and trolling large diving plugs. Muskies generally hang around the thermocline, looking to feed even in the heat of the day.

Largemouth bass are being caught on inland lakes, especially those with good weed beds, including Mosquito and Nimisila lakes and Lake Milton. Cast topwater frogs to the matted weeds and buzz baits and spinnerbaits to the sparse weed beds. Plastic worms and lizards will catch bass from the edges of the weed beds. LaDue is normally a top bass lake, but it will be dominated by a tournament on Saturday.

The walleye fishing continues to be good at Mosquito and Pymatuning reservoirs, with anglers casting jigs tipped with pieces of nightcrawler or trolling diving plugs. The catfish are biting everywhere on bottom baits that include nightcrawlers, leeches, shrimp, stink baits and processed catfish baits. Good catfish lakes include Turkeyfoot, Springfield, Tappan, Berlin, Mosquito, Spencer and Findley lakes.

Western Lake Erie

Decent walleye catches are coming from an open-water area west and northwest of North Bass Island and from drop-offs around the Bass Islands. Anglers are casting small spinner rigs with gold blades and weight-forward spinners, and trolling diving plugs and spinner rigs. Walleye also are being caught northwest of West Sister Island and off Crane Creek and B-can.

The schools of yellow perch have been scattered, with some decent-sized perch coming from the deeper water between Kelleys Island and the Marblehead Peninsula, off Ballast Island and northwest of Kelleys Island.

Fishing tournaments

Northern Open Anglers Association (Mosquito Reservoir)

1. Nick Prvonozac and George Prvonozac, 16.42 pounds, $6,000; 2. Brian Bickerton and Dino Rahas, 15.44 pounds, $2,400; 3. Jami Norman and Ed Huber, 13.39 pounds, $1,140; 4. John Painter and Dave Buckhanan, 12.97 pounds, $1,020. Big Bass: Bickerton and Rahas, 4.74 pounds.

Woman says $10,000 LeBron James pendant was taken from her at Maverick Carter's house

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Vaneisha Robinson says she was lured to Maverick Carter's house after a claim by his mother that LeBron James was going to be there.

lebron-james-jeweled-pendant.jpgView full sizeThis yard sale treasure cost $5 and an Akron woman says it's been appraised for nearly $10,000. Now, it's the center of an investigation by Wadsworth police.
WADSWORTH, Ohio - An Akron woman who said she paid $5 at a yard sale for a LeBron James pendant worth nearly $10,000 says it's been taken from her.

Vaneisha Robinson had the basketball jersey-shaped white gold pendant appraised and put it for sale on eBay. She says she got a phone call Wednesday from the mother of Maverick O. Carter, the CEO for James' marketing company. She says the woman told her James wanted to buy the pendant but when she went to the woman's house she shares with Carter, James wasn't there and other people threatened her and took it.

Wadsworth police Sgt. James Elchlinger says he determined the pendant belongs to Carter, who said it was stolen from him.

The sergeant said Carter was not at the house during the incident.

Robinson tells WEWS-TV the pendant belongs to her and she wants it back.


Indians Comment of the Day: Move on from Jhonny

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"Who would you rather see at third, Peralta or Chisenahall? We already know what Peralta can't do." - rijo

jhonny-peralta.jpgView full sizeSome Indians fans are ready for the Jhonny Peralta era to end.

In response to the story Scouts certain third-base prospect Lonnie Chisenhall will be a hit with the Indians, cleveland.com reader rijo thinks Chisenhall is just one more reason to put Jhonny Peralta on the bench. This reader writes,

"Who would you rather see at third, Peralta or Chisenahall? We already know what Peralta can't do."

To respond to rijo's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cavaliers Comment of the Day: LeBron doesn't want pressure

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"LeBron doesn't want pressure on his shoulders. He said it himself - he doesn't want to be the one counted on to score. He wants to put up triple doubles every night, not be counted on to sink that winning basket." - mav1234

lebron-dwyane-horiz-jg.jpgView full sizeDwyane Wade came to LeBron James' defense, saying James didn't quit in the playoffs.

In response to the story LeBron James didn't quit in playoffs, says Dwyane Wade, cleveland.com reader mav1234 doesn't see LeBron James in the same class as Kobe or Wade. This reader writes,

"LeBron doesn't want pressure on his shoulders. He said it himself - he doesn't want to be the one counted on to score. He wants to put up triple doubles every night, not be counted on to sink that winning basket."

To respond to mav1234's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Browns Comment of the Day: No Terrell Owens in Cleveland

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"The only way I'd even consider taking T.O. is if the bottom fell out of our receiving corps due to injuries and/or other events. Why would you want a 36-year-old whose best days are clearly behind him? Especially a 36-year-old spoiled brat who's done nothing but cause trouble for every team on which he's been a member?" - theksukidd73

terrell-owens-100909.jpgView full sizeTerrell Owens is still looking for a team for 2010.

In response to the story P.M. Cleveland Browns links: Terrell Owens shops himself around; Browns sign Asante, cleveland.com reader theksukidd73 wants nothing to do with Terrell Owens. This reader writes,

"The only way I'd even consider taking T.O. is if the bottom fell out of our receiving corps due to injuries and/or other events. Why would you want a 36-year-old whose best days are clearly behind him? Especially a 36-year-old spoiled brat who's done nothing but cause trouble for every team on which he's been a member?"

To respond to theksukidd73's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Ohio State Comment of the Day: Tressel hasn't changed much

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"Tressel hasn't changed much since his YSU days - which, in my opinion, is way too conservative on offense. The playbook has usually been simple and predictable - open up the offense early and get a small lead, then play not to lose. It works well against the weaker teams and in the regular season, but it leaves them vulnerable to the teams with explosive offenses, who will turn your seven-point lead into a 21-point deficit before you have a chance to even catch your breath." - Contrarian

jim-tressel-national-title.jpgView full sizeJim Tressel's coaching style was good enough to win a national championship in 2002, but has come under some fire ever since.

In response to the story Ohio State Comment of the Day: Jim Tressel in big games, cleveland.com reader Contrarian think Jim Tressel is the same coach he was at YSU. This reader writes,

"Tressel hasn't changed much since his YSU days - which, in my opinion, is way too conservative on offense. The playbook has usually been simple and predictable - open up the offense early and get a small lead, then play not to lose. It works well against the weaker teams and in the regular season, but it leaves them vulnerable to the teams with explosive offenses, who will turn your seven-point lead into a 21-point deficit before you have a chance to even catch your breath."

To respond to Contrarian's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cleveland Browns: Who will lead the Browns in pass receptions? Answer our poll

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The Browns' passing game was pathetic last season. For it to improve, the quarterback will have to find a reliable go-to receiver.

mohamed-massaquoi.jpgMohamed Massaquoi (left) tied Jerome Harrison for the Browns' team lead in receptions (34) last season.



Analysts are not convinced the Cleveland Browns have solved their quarterback problem. And, even if one of the QBs -- Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace or rookie Colt McCoy -- can get the job done, will he have a go-to receiver?



The Browns' most accomplished receiver is wideout Bobby Engram. He has caught 650 passes in his career, but just five last season. And, he's 37. Tight end Ben Watson has averaged 33 catches a season over the last five years.



Neither Engram nor Watson was on the Browns last season. Rookie wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and running back Jerome Harrison shared the team lead with 34 pass catches.



To put that in perspective, the Patriots' Wes Welker led the NFL with 123 receptions, despite playing just a few minutes in the final three games because of a knee injury.



The team-high 34 receptions in 2009 was the fewest for a Browns leader since running back Hugh McKinnis snagged 32 passes in the 14-game 1974 season, during a run-oriented era in the NFL.




Analyzing the Indians; a 'running back controversy'; and LeBron in need of leadership

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Cleveland's sports bloggers talk about the Tribe at the All-Star break, the Browns' running backs and defensive line and the Cavaliers' lack of leadership in regards to LeBron James.

Kerry WoodView full sizeKerry Wood has had an up-and-down season for the Indians.

Indians

WaitingForNextYear is analyzing the Tribe at the All-Star break. Check out analysis of the infield, the outfield, the rotation and the bullpen.

Browns

Cleveland Reboot: "Is there even such a thing as a running back controversy in a league where teams regularly employ a two or even three-back approach? In a league where running backs have become as disposable as athletic tape, this situation hardly registers as anything more than a sign of overall team progress. Or, in other words, depth is a good thing to have in a violent sport." » Read more

Land Loyalty takes an early look at the Browns' defensive line.

Cavaliers

Cleveland Frowns: "What, if any of it, would have gone differently? What if anyone could have said at any of a number of important times, 'LeBron, this really isn't a good look. We have an organization to run here.' A butterfly flaps its wings, and who knows? Stand for something or fall for nothing. It certainly couldn't have ended any worse than it did. Everything about the way this thing went down suggests that LeBron was badly in need of leadership, and that those in the position to provide it failed to do so." » Read more

'64 and Counting assures us that Cavaliers fans won't have to worry about having LeBron James being on their team when they pick up the new version of NBA Jam.

Art Modell's Hall of Fame fate is not in my hands, says Tony Grossi (Starting Blocks TV)

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PD Browns beat writer answers questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature.

art-modell.jpgArt Modell

Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, our Web video show about what's going on in Cleveland sports. Today's show is hosted by Bill Lubinger and Mike Peticca. Let's to to the highlights:

• Which Browns player will lead the team in receiving this season? Brian Robiskie? Mohamed Massaquoi? Cast your vote in the Starting Blocks poll posted now in the blog.

• Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi, today's guest, answers four fan-submitted questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature.

Tony talks about the Browns' signing of veteran receiver Bobby Engram; how many games he thinks Eric Mangini needs to win to keep his job; responds to a question about whether he will support Art Modell for the Pro Football Hall of Fame; and why the Browns' regular-season schedule features 16 games at 1 o'clock this season.

Starting Blocks TV will return Monday with Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises. Have a question about the Buckeyes you'd like to ask Doug? Post it in the comments below and we'll pick the best questions for Monday's show.



U.S. Olympic sprinters win back medals taken from them due to Marion Jones' doping

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Court of Arbitration for Sport said rules in 2000 did not allow teams to be affected by one member's doping. Seven relay sprinters get back gold and bronze medals.

marion-jones.jpgFormer Olympic champion Marion Jones leaving federal court on Jan. 11, 2008, following her sentencing for lying about steroid use. She was released from a halfway house in San Antonio that Sept. 5.

Lausanne, Switzerland – Seven U.S. sprinters have won back the Olympic relay medals that were stripped from them because teammate Marion Jones was doping at the time.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday ruled in favor of the women, who appealed the International Olympic Committee's decision to disqualify them from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The court said that athletics rules in 2000 did not allow teams to be affected by one member's doping.

In Sydney, Jearl Miles-Clark, Monique Hennagan, LaTasha Colander Clark and Andrea Anderson were part of the squad that won gold in the 4x400 relay.

Chryste Gaines, Torri Edwards, Nanceen Perry and Passion Richardson were on the 4x100 bronze medal squad. All but Perry joined the appeal.

Mo Williams tweets Dwyane Wade (about LeBron James?): '...watch your mouth. I read your article.'

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Could Cavaliers point guard Williams be upset that Wade this week said, "LeBron's teammates didn't help him out," referring to the playoffs?

mo-williams.jpgMo Williams (photo) may not be pleased with something said by Dwyane Wade.

Mo Williams, as MoGotti2 on Twitter, has tweeted Dwayne Wade:

Come on d wade, watch your mouth. I read your article.

Williams, of course, is the Cleveland Cavaliers point guard. July 8, the Cavaliers lost their two-time NBA MVP and lifelong Akron resident LeBron James to the Miami Heat. James has been ridiculed for announcing "The Decision" to leave Cleveland for Miami as a free agent on an hour-long special on ESPN.

James' new point guard teammate in Miami is Wade. We can't be certain of what Williams means in his tweet to Wade, but maybe it has something to do with the Associated Press report from Miami (which appears at the bottom of this post); something to do with how Wade referred to James' woeful performance when the Cavaliers were routed by the Boston Celtics, 120-88, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series. James was 3-of-14 in the game and worse, seemed disinterested through much of it.

Wade was quoted in the AP report:

"LeBron’s teammates didn’t help him out that game and it made the way he played even worse. But he’s not a quitter. He didn’t quit.”

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert claimed in a statement just after James' announcement that James "quit" on the Cavaliers during the Boston series.

Also in the AP story, James' comment on July 9 -- one day after "The Decision" -- was referenced. James mentioned how the Los Angeles Lakers defeated Boston in the decisive Game 7 of the NBA Finals, despite the shooting struggles of star Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.

James said: “He knew he had help and guys came through for him.” Was James implying that the other Cavaliers didn't "help" and "come through" for him?

AP mentions that James put up some big stats in his final game as a Cavalier, the 94-85 series-clinching win for the Celtics in conference semifinals Game 6. Not mentioned are James' nine turnovers and 8-of-21 shooting. 

From the Associated Press:

Miami, Florida -- They’ve been teammates for only a week, and Dwyane Wade is already standing up for LeBron James.

Wade defended the NBA’s two-time reigning MVP on Thursday, telling The Associated Press that James “didn’t quit” on Cleveland during the playoffs. That was the accusation made by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert last week, not long after James went on television to reveal he was leaving Cleveland for Miami.

“He’s not a quitter,” Wade said. “He didn’t quit.”

In an interview with The AP on July 8, Gilbert not only levied the quitting charge, but said James got “a free pass” for too long. The NBA fined Gilbert $100,000 earlier this week for some of his comments, with commissioner David Stern saying they were too extreme for the league’s liking.

Wade said he watched every game in Cleveland’s second-round series against Boston, the team that eliminated the Heat in the opening round of the postseason. The Celtics used a similar defensive scheme against James as they did against Wade to open the playoffs, throwing a slew of challenges in the way of both.

“LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, guys like that understand what Boston’s defense was about,” Wade said. “Their defense was built on not letting one player beat them. You either settle for the outside shot or you pass to your teammates. LeBron had one bad game in the playoffs. Other than that, he did what he could do with the defense all watching him.”

The Cavs lost to the Celtics in six games, but Wade pointed out that in the series finale, James finished with 27 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.

Nonetheless, Gilbert told The AP, “watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar.”

The Cavaliers were beaten by 32 points in Game 5, a stunning loss at home. During the game, James appeared distracted and disinterested, often glaring at Cleveland’s coaches as the Cavs tried to foul to get back into the game in the second half. James also made some puzzling postgame comments, saying he had “spoiled” people with his play over seven seasons.

In that Game 5 loss to Boston, James scored 15 points on 3 of 14 shooting.

In Game 6 against Boston, even as now-former Cavs coach Mike Brown tried to get his players to foul as time was winding down, James appeared to wave him off, almost resigned that the season was ending and there was nothing Cleveland could do at that point. Gilbert also said he believes James quit on the Cavs in Game 6 of their series in 2009 against Orlando.

“I don’t see where you can get where he quit,” Wade said. “He just had one bad game. It happens. Kobe had a bad game in the finals. They won. It didn’t matter. LeBron’s teammates didn’t help him out that game and it made the way he played even worse. But he’s not a quitter. He didn’t quit.”

As James pointed out in his welcome-to-Miami event on July 9, Bryant made only 6 of his 24 shots in Game 7 of the finals against Boston, which his Los Angeles Lakers won anyway for their second straight NBA title.

“He knew he had help and guys came through for him,” James said last week of Bryant’s Game 7 showing in the finals.

James was the subject of countless jokes during Wednesday’s ESPY awards, and Wade saw the humor in some of them. Others, however, had him bristling.

“You get defensive with things like that,” Wade said. “He’s a good friend. You understand people say it because it’s a hot topic. They wanted people to react in a positive way or a negative way, just because it’s a hot topic to talk about. It’s a punch line. They just wanted to have something to do with it. They wanted to feel involved in some way.”


Akron woman now a suspect in stolen LeBron pendant case

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Police in Wadsworth say a woman who tried to sell a $10,000 pendant stolen from LeBron James' business partner Maverick Carter is a suspect in the case.

lebron-james-jeweled-pendant.jpgView full sizeThis yard sale treasure cost $5 and an Akron woman says it's been appraised for nearly $10,000. Now, it's the center of an investigation by Wadsworth police.
WADSWORTH, Ohio - A woman who tried to sell a $10,000 pendant stolen from a LeBron James business partner is a suspect in the case, police said.

The police incident report obtained Friday identified Vaneisha Robinson, 19, of Akron, as a suspect in the receiving stolen property investigation but didn't elaborate. No immediate arrests were made and police didn't immediately return calls Friday.

The white gold diamond-studded pendant is in the shape of James' basketball jersey. Maverick O. Carter, the CEO for James' marketing company, says it was stolen from him three years ago.

Robinson, an amateur boxer, said she bought it four years ago for $5 at a yard sale, recently got it appraised and put it for sale on eBay. She was on TV in Cleveland on Tuesday discussing her surprise at its value.

One day later, she received a call and was invited to the Carter house and was told James would be there to make a pendant offer she couldn't refuse.

But James wasn't there and a crowd of eight or nine people forced her to give up the pendant, she said. "I was scared for my life," Robinson told WEWS-TV.

"They pretty much accused me, they threatened me," Robinson said. "They told us that we weren't going anywhere until they got that pendant."

A woman called police about the commotion. In a call posted on WEWS-TV, the caller told the 911 operator, "She was pretty upset. I just kept walking just in case something was about to happen."

Police Sgt. James Elchlinger said he was able to determine that the item was one-of-a-kind and belonged to Carter. Police were checking for a theft/loss report.

Robinson has an unlisted phone and could not be reached for comment Friday on the initial findings by police in Wadsworth, located west of Akron and about 30 miles south of Cleveland.

Carter, who wasn't home at the time of the incident Wednesday, cited the ongoing investigation and declined comment Friday through James' spokesman, Keith Estabrook.

Last week, James upset many Cleveland fans with his decision to take advantage of his free-agent status to leave the Cavaliers and sign with the Miami Heat.

LeBron James mural keeps re-appearing, except when Art Modell, John Elway or Michael Jordan show up instead, reports The Onion

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The LeBron James mural is gone, or is it? Is this a big, bad dream?

lebron-james-mural.jpgAs hundreds of onlookers hooted and hollered, work began on dissembling the LeBron James mural last Saturday.

Cleveland, Ohio -- No one is going to let us forget The Betrayal. But, when there's no mercy, a little comic relief helps. Even when funny gets confused with painful.

TheOnion.com takes a light look, heavy in satire, at the dissembling of the giant LeBron James mural that was on a downtown building.

The Onion claims that no matter what workers do, the mural keeps re-appearing:

On Tuesday city officials removed it panel by panel, only to find an identical mural hanging directly behind it. On Wednesday, not only did the banner reappear after being loaded onto a chartered one-way flight to Siberia, but the LeBron James depicted in the new banner was wearing a Heat jersey and holding two NBA Championship trophies in his outstretched hands.

Talk about depth. That describes the roster of Cleveland sports tormentors. The Onion reports that tangible evidence of them remains, not just nightmares:

Though the hated billboard is said to typically reappear as James' haunting likeness, some have seen other disturbing images. Last Thursday when the mural was attached to four 1,000-pound weights and forcibly sunk in the Cuyahoga River, commuters driving into the city reported seeing in its place a 10-story-tall photograph of John Elway leading Denver to victory over the Browns in the 1987 AFC Championship game. Others saw a still image of Michael Jordan jumping into the air and pumping his fist after his game-winning shot over Craig Ehlo. Many pedestrians, meanwhile, reported seeing a 100-foot banner of Earnest Byner's 1988 fumble on the three-yard line.

An attempt to demolish the building altogether proved futile, as it was mysteriously replaced the following day by the completely new 15-story Art Modell Public Library.

Here's part of the real story (we think), a Plain Dealer report as the mural was in the process of being torn down:

Workers on scaffolding and ropes Saturday began dissembling the 10-story mural of LeBron James that looms over downtown at Ontario Street and Prospect Avenue. Once a symbol of hometown pride, the colossal image is now merely an ugly reminder to many of a city's squandered dreams. Dozens of former fans stopped to watch the destruction. After James told the world he was headed to the Miami Heat, the Cavaliers asked Nike to remove the billboard. Workers from Utah-based Fusion Imaging said Saturday that could take days. The process is complicated because someone bought James' image separate from the mural. Workers must cut the black background away from the picture of James before they can take the mural down in long strips. By Saturday evening, only James' hands were gone.

 

LeBron the recruiter sets his sights on Cavs' Jawad Williams

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After recruiting Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Mike Miller to the Heat, LeBron James has another target: Cavaliers swingman and St. Edward graduate Jawad Williams.

jawadshotss.jpgLeBron James wants Jawad Williams to join him in Miami, but the Cavaliers are interested in bringing the St. Edward grad back.
After recruiting Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Mike Miller to the Heat, LeBron James has set his sights on another target: Cavaliers swingman and St. Edward graduate Jawad Williams.

The Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst broke the story on his Twitter page earlier this morning.
"LeBron the recruiter has new target, sources say: Jawad Williams. He's a restricted free agent though & Cavs interested in bringing him back."
Williams is coming off his best season in the NBA,  averaging 4.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 54 games.

What do you think? Can you take another Cavalier joining James in Miami? Post your comments below.

British Open 2010 second round a windy one; Louis Oosthuizen leader in the clubhouse at 12-under

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Stiff winds delayed play for about an hour and bumped the projected cut. Oosthuizen leads by five strokes. Tiger is seven back through 10 holes today. Phil will likely make the cut.

louis-oosthuizen.jpgAt 12-under and in the clubhouse, Louis Oosthuizen is almost certain to be the leader after two rounds of the British Open.

Playing much of his round before the strongest winds hit, South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen shot a 5-under 67 today at St. Andrews to stand at 12-under after two rounds and hold a significant lead as British Open play continues.

Play was delayed for nearly an hour at 2:40 p.m. in Scotland (9:40 a.m. ET) because of the stiff winds that made conditions unplayable.

First-round leader Rory McIlroy is six-over through 12 holes today, dropping him to 3-under for the tournament after his 63 on Thursday. Mark Calcavecchia has finished his first two rounds at 7-under, carding a 67 today. Lee Westwood and Paul Casey are in the clubhouse at 6-under for the Open.

Tiger Woods, through 10 holes today, is even par and 5-under for the tournament. Phil Mickelson shot a 1-under 71 today, and at even par for the tournament, is all but certain to make the cut, which is now projected at +1.

John Daly shot a 66 in the first round, but is now at 2-under for the tournament through 16 holes of his second round.

Players on the cut bubble include Zach Johnson at 2-over, with his second round complete; Ernie Els at 2-over for the tourney through 11 holes today; Tom Watson at 3-over, with nine holes left today.

In big trouble is Padraig Harrington, 5-over for the tourney after nine holes today. Players who won't make the cut include Ben Curtis and Angel Cabrera, their two-round scores at 5-over; Jim Furyk, K.J. Choi, Justin Leonard and Geoff Ogilvy at 6-over.   

LeBron James should have stayed in Cleveland, will never be 'the guy,' says Charles Barkley

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"I think it would be more important and significant to win a championship in Cleveland than it would be in Miami," he said.

charles_barkley.jpgCharles Barkley

TNT basketball commentator Charles Barkley has had many a run-in with Cleveland through the years - dissing the city, saying the Cavs didn't push the ball enough. But in this video from NBA TV, Barkley talks with former Clevelander Vince Cellini and former Cav Eric Snow (plus Chris Webber) about LeBron's decision to leave Says the former 76ers and Suns star:

I was disappointed. I wanted LeBron to stay in Cleveland, to be honest with you. . . . I think it would be more important and significant to win a championship in Cleveland than it would be in Miami, if he wins it.

If I was 25, I would try to win it by myself . . . not technically, by myself, but being "the guy." . . . LeBron is never going to be "the guy."
. . . Cleveland to me, they were still one of the five or six best teams in the NBA. . . . It wasn't like he was playing on a bad team. I wish he would have tried to win it by himself as "the guy."



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