LAKEWOOD, Ohio - School policy will cause St. Edward basketball player Myles Hamilton to miss two additional games. Hamilton, a 6-1 guard, will end up serving a four-game suspension for his actions Saturday in a game at Columbus Northland, which means he will miss the rest of the regular season.

St. Edward guard Myles Hamilton, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, will miss games against St. Ignatius, Collinwood, Benedictine and Shaker Heights after being ejected for two technical fouls against Columbus Northland.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - School policy will cause St. Edward basketball player Myles Hamilton to miss two additional games.

Hamilton, a 6-1 guard, will end up serving a four-game suspension for his actions Saturday in a game at Columbus Northland, which means he will miss the rest of the regular season.

Hamilton, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game, which St. Edward lost, 79-69, to the state's top-ranked team.

Ohio High School Athletic Association rules state a player ejected from a game must serve a two-game suspension. St. Edward has a policy in which it doubles the punishment handed out by the OHSAA.

Also, the description of the technical fouls that appeared in the game story in Sunday's Sports section was inaccurate. According to both head coaches, Hamilton received his first technical when he clapped his hands at an official after driving to the basket and no foul being called on the defender. A few seconds later Hamilton received a second technical for arguing with the official.

Hamilton, who will play for Kennesaw State next season, will miss games against St. Ignatius, Collinwood, Benedictine and Shaker Heights.

"There are consequences based on your behavior and your actions," said St. Edward coach Eric Flannery, whose team is 10-6. "Myles is very remorseful. It will be tough for him but you have to control your emotions. He has been close in the past, but now it has happened. Hopefully, he will learn from this and move on."

Flannery said Hamilton will be permitted to practice with the team, ranked fifth in The Plain Dealer Top 25, and will be permitted to sit on the bench during the final two games of the suspension.

The Browns want to use the nearly $6 million to refurbish seats and replace, repair and waterproof concrete inside and outside the 12-year-old building. Osborn Engineering's Jack Krebs, hired by the team, blamed Northeast Ohio's often severe winters for the damage.

Scott Shaw. Plain Dealer fileThe city will give the Cleveland Browns $5.8 million for repairs to the city-owned football stadium, shown at its opening in 1999.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The city has agreed to give the Cleveland Browns a $5.8 million lump sum for stadium repairs, but public officials worry about the source of such payments after a countywide tax for maintaining the building runs out in 2015.

City Council voted 16-2 Monday to let the team take the money from a city-administered tax on alcohol and tobacco sales. Cleveland, which leases the stadium to the football team, is required to provide only $850,000 a year for major improvements.

Browns general counsel Fred Nance, who represented the city when the lease was negotiated, said $850,000 was a compromise at the time the agreement was drawn up. He said the amount, equal to less than 1 percent of the building's $300 million construction cost, is not nearly enough to cover what he termed routine work.

The Browns want to use the nearly $6 million to refurbish seats and replace,  repair and waterproof concrete inside and outside the 12-year-old building. Osborn Engineering's Jack Krebs, hired by the team, blamed Northeast Ohio's often severe winters for the damage.

"It's the climate we're in," he told the council during an afternoon hearing. "What I see here is not uncommon."

The Browns, sensitive to criticism of the team's deal with the city, came to the hearing armed with a breakdown of money it has invested in the stadium and the community.

Included were $74 million contributed to the construction, another $50 million paid for features such as escalators, a restaurant and team shop and more than $30 million spent on cleaning and other everyday maintenance. The team also detailed more than $2.9 million donated to community programs and sports facilities.

Ken Silliman, chief of staff to Mayor Frank Jackson, said the city reviewed the repair plans and confirmed the need. The agreement approved Monday is supposed to free the city from its repair obligations for seven years, but Silliman would not rule out tapping sin-tax money again during that time if necessary.

"We own Cleveland Browns Stadium," he told the council. "When you own a building and a few years go by, it starts to develop needs. It's just like when you own a home."

The so-called sin tax took effect in 1990. Voters initially approved the tax to finance Progressive Field and The Q, then extended it for 10 years, starting in 2005, to build and repair Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The ballot issue required that the first $87 million from the extension pay a portion of the stadium construction costs.

After the cap is reached this year, the next $29 million must be applied to repairs previously paid for out of the city's general fund. Silliman estimates that the sin tax will raise about $31 million through 2014.

Cleveland's obligations for stadium repairs will spike from $850,000 to $5.9 million a year in 2021. The amount will continue to rise annually, reaching $7.1 million before the lease runs out in 2025.

City Council members called for working with Cuyahoga County leaders to renew the sin tax for a second time. The discussion may be complicated because there's been talk of renewing the tax for fixing The Q and Progressive Field, which opened in 1994.

"We have to go back to voters for a conversation to extend that sin tax." Councilman Zack Reed said. "There's no other way around it,"

Silliman said Jackson is determined not to use more money from the city's general fund for stadium repairs. The chief of staff would not commit to a specific source of revenue to fund the work but said the sin tax is among the options.

Follow Thomas Ott on Twitter @thomasott1.

Ohio State is shooting fewer 3-pointers than in any season under Thad Matta, trying to prove an inside game and defense can make up for a lack of sure outside threats.

View full sizeTerry Gilliam, Associated PressOhio State's William Buford (44) is the Buckeyes' most frequent 3-point shooter, on pace for 58 made treys this season -- a far cry from the 2010-11 Buckeyes, who had three players with more than 100 made shots from beyond the three-point arc.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When an Ohio State jump shooter is preparing a 3-pointer, Buckeyes' coach Thad Matta can talk about all the things that he has to consider in the one second before he decides to shoot.

Who's the defender and where is he? Coach wants a great shot, is this only a good one? Are your feet set? Was the pass caught cleanly?

"It's such a fine line there," Matta said.

What that player does not think about is whether the act of shooting, or not shooting, from behind the arc is a sign of strength or weakness for the No. 3 team in the country.

But it's a valid question. Because when it comes to 3-pointers, the Buckeyes are unlike any team in Matta's eight seasons here. Going into Tuesday night's home game with Purdue, OSU is shooting fewer than 15 threes per game and making fewer than five, a far cry from the 8-for-22 average on 3-pointers in Matta's first season in Columbus.

"When I first started coaching, people said you took too many threes," Matta said Monday. "Maybe I'm trying to even it up."

What Matta is clearly doing is adjusting to his personnel after the graduation of Jon Diebler, the all-time leading 3-point shooter in Big Ten history. A year ago, 30 percent of Ohio State's scoring came on 3-pointers, and this season it's less than 19 percent. That ranks the Buckeyes 332nd in the nation, ahead of just 12 other teams, according to Statsheet.com.

Maybe that's a good thing.

Matta called the three "a great equalizer," and that's especially true for teams with a talent deficit. In the Big Ten this season, the Buckeyes are going to have a talent edge basically every night. So getting the ball inside to sophomore Jared Sullinger, one of the best post players in the nation, is the natural plan of attack.

Point guard Aaron Craft said the Buckeyes don't focus on the three because "when we've got a guy like Jared in the post, it's tough to not want to throw it in to him and play inside-out with him. It's the best offense we have."

When Sullinger does kick it out, the Buckeyes are as apt to fake a three and drive, or throw it back inside to Sullinger, as they are to put up a 3-pointer. That's unlike last year.

"Last year we could just stand there and knock down threes," Sullinger said of an offense that included Diebler, David Lighty and William Buford. "This year we're a little more athletic and we're slashing a little bit more. Having a guy like Jon Diebler was a really big help for my freshman season, but honestly, this offense, we kind of know what we've got to do to score the ball."

A year ago, Diebler made 227 3-pointers, shooting 50 percent; Buford made 138, shooting 44 percent; and Lighty made 119, shooting 43 percent. But Diebler also had his cold nights. As Matta said he was first told by All-American post player David West, whom he coached at Xavier, the closer you are to the basket, the easier it is to score. It's tougher for a player like Sullinger to go cold.

But aren't there times when a three is needed? Maybe this is a bad thing for Ohio State.

In dire straits, there was no doubt Diebler was capable of making a clutch three. He did it with 25 seconds left against Kentucky last season to tie the Buckeyes' Sweet 16 matchup. Brandon Knight then won the game for Kentucky.

This year, who takes the three when it matters? Saturday against Wisconsin, it was Buford, who made the Buckeyes' only 3-pointer with Ohio State up by just one and 2:27 to play. The Buckeyes were in danger of breaking a string of 284 games with a 3-pointer, which dates back eight years.

But Buford is making just 37 percent of his treys this season. He's on track to lead the Buckeyes with 58 threes a year after they had three guys make more than 100.

Yet Michigan coach John Beilein said it's no different guarding the Buckeyes this season. There is some threat still there on the outside.

"Diebler was incredible, we talk about him all the time, what an incredible shooter he was," Beilein said. "But 40 percent guys, 50 percent guys, I think you have to play the same type of defense. You're not going to let them get open."

Deshaun Thomas is second on the team, shooting 23 for 70 on treys (33 percent), but both Beilein and Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan also mentioned Lenzelle Smith, who is shooting 45 percent though he's just 17 of 38 out there.

"Sometimes he second-guesses himself, but when he shoots them, he makes them," Sullinger said of Smith.

Smith is a much better rebounder and defender than Diebler was. So though the Buckeyes are trading down in shooting, they're getting something else back.

So often in college basketball, teams live and die with 3-pointers. Wisconsin did it on Saturday against the Buckeyes, making just five of 27 threes. The Buckeyes may be trying to prove you can live without even shooting them.

Here's today's sports listings for TV and radio for the Cleveland area. Cavs at Miami and Purdue at Ohio State basketball highlight the television schedule.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerRookie point guard Kyrie Irving (left) and the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Miami Heat tonight at 7:30 in a game to be televised by Fox Sports Ohio and broadcast by WTAM/1100-AM.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today on the air

(Click on to links for more team or event information)

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. Florida at Kentucky, ESPN (preview)

7 p.m. Iowa State at Oklahoma State, ESPN2

7 p.m. Maryland at Clemson, ESPNU

9 p.m. Alabama at Auburn, ESPNU

9 p.m. Purdue at OHIO STATE, ESPN; WKNR/850-AM (preview)

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage)

NBA

7:30 p.m. CAVALIERS at Miami, Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM/1100-AM (preview)

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage)

NHL

7:30 p.m. Los Angeles at Tampa Bay, NBC Sports Network (preview)

Get news from around the NFL, including Tom Brady's wife criticizing New England's receivers and Indianapolis gets high marks for hosting the Super Bowl.

Todd Haley was fired as Kansas City Chiefs head coach last season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will hire former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley to be their offensive coordinator, according to an ESPN report Monday.

The move, first reported by 610 AM in Kansas City, has not yet been announced.

Haley will replace Bruce Arians, now with the Indianapolis Colts.

The 45-year-old Haley, fired by Kansas City on Dec. 13, went 19-26 in two-plus seasons with the Chiefs, leading them to the 2010 AFC West title.

He spent 10 seasons as an assistant before being hired by Kansas City. He was offensive coordinator for Arizona in 2007 and ’08, helping lead the Cardinals to their only Super Bowl appearance.

Super Bowl

Coughlin not retiring: Tom Coughlin is looking forward to today’s parade in lower Manhattan and a couple of weeks off to reflect on the New York Giants’ second championship in five seasons. Then he will begin preparations for defending the title.

The 65-year-old coach sees no reason to retire now.

“I mean, it’s what I do,” Coughlin said Monday morning, hours after New York beat the New England Patriots, 21-17, in Super Bowl XLVI. “So the alternative, I’ve never really given it a whole lot of consideration. [Just coach] as long as I can.”

AP"My husband cannot [expletive] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time," Giselle Bundchen said.

Brady’s wife is hot: The Patriots said there’s no finger-pointing after their Super Bowl loss, even if supermodel Gisele Bundchen won’t abide by that code.

The wife of New England quarterback Tom Brady complained that dropped passes doomed the team. Bundchen was caught on video by TheInsider.com responding to a pro-Giants heckler after the game by saying, “My husband cannot [expletive] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time.”

Brady was not available for comment on Monday, and the Patriots had no comment.

Most-watched TV show: For the third consecutive year, the Super Bowl set a record as the most-watched television show in U.S. history. The Nielsen Co. said an estimated 111.3 million people watched the Giants beat the Patriots on Sunday. That narrowly beat the 111 million who watched the Green Bay Packers’ win over the Steelers last year.

Indianapolis praised: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called Indianapolis’ Super Bowl hosting job “fantastic,” praising Colts owner Jim Irsay, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Mayor Greg Ballard for their efforts to bring the game to the city. Adam Schefter, ESPN’s NFL analyst, Tweeted: “Every NFL official and media person I spoke with agreed Indianapolis should become a regular part of Super Bowl rotation.”

Around the league

Chiefs: Kansas City officially hired former Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Patriots: New England coach Bill Belichick confirmed John Carroll graduate Josh McDaniels will be the team’s offensive coordinator next season. McDaniels was brought in during the playoffs to serve as an “offensive assistant.” He succeeds Bill O’Brien, who had been hired to replace Joe Paterno as head coach at Penn State. . . . Receiver Chad Ochocinco pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failure to display a valid driver’s license during a July 21 traffic stop in Cincinnati. The judge fined him $200 and ordered him to pay $104 in court costs.

Raiders: Oakland didn’t look far to find a defensive coordinator. The team hired Stanford’s Jason Tarver, who helped shape one of the Pac-12’s top defenses while serving as co-defensive coordinator and overseeing the linebackers last season.

The death last week of the legendary trainer at age 90 brought back memories for Don Myers, who has been a boxer, trainer, manager, promoter, official and writer, to name a few occupations.

Associated Press fileBoxing trainer Angelo Dundee helped groom Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard into world champions. He died last week at the age of 90.

Don Myers has been many and most things in the ring game. Along the way, the Parma resident became good friends with Angelo Dundee.

The death last week of the legendary trainer at age 90 brought back memories for Myers, who has been a boxer, trainer, manager, promoter, official and writer, to name a few occupations.

Myers, 68, said he had built an electronic training timer years ago called “The Pacer,” and Dundee learned of it and liked it.

“He endorsed the timer, and we became friends,” said Myers, who still has numerous letters from Dundee. “Angelo was quite the gentleman. He took care of me and took me all over.”

Myers said Dundee was special because he went about his business in a quiet way.

“He did not force himself on you,” said Myers. “A lot of guys in boxing are not like that.”

Myers recalled being in Las Vegas when the trainer went out of his way to help an apparent homeless person.

“The guy was down and out,” said Myers. “Angelo told the guy to come have lunch with him. He bought him a meal and then gave him two $50 bills. He was just a good guy.”

Rest in peace, Angelo.

Gone west: Former middleweight champion and Youngstown native Kelly Pavlik has taken up residence in Oxnard, Calif., where he is training under Robert Garcia.

Pavlik has been there since mid-January after severing ties with Youngstown trainer Jack Loew, the only coach under whom he had ever worked.

Time will tell if Pavlik can pull off this comeback. Since winning the 160-pound title in September 2007, he has been sidetracked by numerous issues, including an alcohol problem that put him in rehab.

In December, he was arrested in Canfield, Ohio, for operating an all-terrain vehicle while impaired, failure to control and leaving the scene of an accident.

Having fought on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s bout against Shane Mosley in Las Vegas last May 7, Pavlik is a logical choice to get on Pacman’s next card June 9. That would give him nearly six months under Garcia.

Pavlik will turn 30 on April 4, so getting back in the ring would be the best belated present he could give himself.

Good show: About 400 fans turned out for the Jan. 21 amateur card at the Slovenian National Ballroom on St. Clair Avenue. It helped raise funds for the West Side Boxing Club.

In features, heavyweight Jason Chisar from West Side B.C. decisioned Aaron White from Kent’s TNT Strength B.C. Cleveland Golden Gloves sub-novice and novice champion Greg Gilbert from West Side B.C. won on points against Jack Winterich from United B.C. at 130 pounds.

In a high school lightweight bout, Justin Aviles from Strongsville High (West Side B.C.) got the nod against Zi Stalnaker from Uniontown High (Terminator B.C.).

“It’s a great venue and was pretty close to a sellout,” said West Side trainer Bill Godhard. “It’s what keeps the gym going.”

Plans call for another card on May 11.

The West Side B.C. is at 3256 West 25th St. in Cleveland.

This date: John L. Sullivan knocked out Paddy Ryan to win the bare-knuckle heavyweight championship in 1882.

No go: Andre Berto suffered a left biceps injury in training on Jan. 30, so Saturday’s rematch against World Boxing Council welterweight champ Victor Ortiz has been postponed. The new date has not been set.

Friday: The ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” are in Connecticut, where 2008 Olympian Demetrius Andrade (15-0, 10 KOs) takes on Derek Ennis in a junior middleweight 10-rounder at 9 p.m.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

On Twitter: @JoeMaxse

Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at noon as he talks Cleveland sports.

Terry Pluto tackles your questions live every Tuesday at noon.

Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at noon as he talks Cleveland sports.

Will the Browns go defense with the fourth pick in the draft? What will the Indians ultimately do with Matt LaPorta? Is Anderson Varejao an untouchable when it comes to trade offers?

You can jump in the chat room and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Terry's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in mp3 format.

It didn't take long for many of us to take notice of rookie point guard Kyrie Irving.

APKyrie Irving shoots over Charlotte Bobcats' Byron Mullens.

There were a few doubts last summer on which player the Cleveland Cavaliers would draft first overall.

Remember?

It was between Kyrie Irving of Duke and Arizona forward Derrick Williams. Of course the Cavaliers drafted Irving and the rookie guard has probably exceeded many expectations.

Irving is shooting 50 percent from the field. He has five assists and is averaging 18.1 points per game.

What is your impression of Irving?

The Cleveland Cavaliers will visit South Beach tonight and play against old what's his name. Columnist Marla Ridenour writes on Ohio.com how LeBron James is presently having his best season ever. His field-goal percentage is up. His 3-point shooting percentage is up and so is his defensive rebounds per game average. But James says his senior year in high...

Andrew Mills /Newark (N.J.) Star-LedgerLeBron James

The Cleveland Cavaliers will visit South Beach tonight and play against old what's his name.

Columnist Marla Ridenour writes on Ohio.com how LeBron James is presently having his best season ever. His field-goal percentage is up. His 3-point shooting percentage is up and so is his defensive rebounds per game average.

But James says his senior year in high school was his best season in basketball.

Love him or hate him, Northeast Ohioans might concede one thing about James: He comes back with a vengeance.

Going into tonight’s game against the Cavs in Miami, James has scored 30 or more points in 13 games for the Heat (18-6). Wednesday, he poured in a franchise-record 24 first-quarter points against the Milwaukee Bucks, an effort that tied the team mark for any quarter.

Ridenour writes how James says some of those numbers have to do with the fact that he’s more “free” and “happy” in Miami this season.

More Cleveland Cavaliers

Boobie Gibson won't return against the Miami Heat tonight, writes Bob Finnan of The News-Herald.

Rookie Kyrie Irving vs. Rookie LeBron James, writes Bill Livingston of The News-Herald.

The Cavaliers are just one piece away from what?

Cavaliers coach Byron Scott hasn't named a starter at shooting guard for Tuesday's game at Miami, but his choices would seem to be between Alonzo Gee and Christian Eyenga. He could start Ramon Sessions, but that would leave the Cavs reserves without a point guard.

APAlonzo Gee is on the short-list to start at shooting guard for the Cavs in Miami tonight.

MIAMI, Fla. -- Who will start at shooting guard for the Cavaliers on Tuesday night against the Heat?

Good question. Cavs coach Byron Scott wouldn't say at the team's shootaround at AmericanAirlines Arena on Tuesday morning.

But he's running out of options. Starting shooting guard Anthony Parker is out with a bad back. His backup Daniel Gibson, still suffering from an infection in his neck, was unable to make the trip after a setback on Monday.

Expecting Gibson's return, the Cavs cut rookie free agent guard Mychel Thompson on Monday. Thompson had started the previous three games with Parker and Gibson out.

That would seem to leave Alonzo Gee as the most likely candidate to step into the starting lineup, although Christian Eyenga could be an option. Scott has been known to start players who seemingly have been out of his rotation. He could start Ramon Sessions, but that would leave the Cavs reserves without a point guard.

Gibson, who was hospitalized two days in Boston and missed the last four games, practiced Monday and was expecting to travel with the team. But between talking with reporters and leaving the facility, he experienced some swelling in his neck and the decision was made to hold him out another game. He isn't sure exactly how he got the infection, although he thinks he hurt it against New Jersey on Jan. 27 and then got a cold that settled in his glands that weekend.

When he met with reporters after practice, he said he felt fine.

"One he went in and showered up, he came out and said it was a little stiff,'' Scott said. "We just said, 'Hey, just stay at home. Let's wait until we get back. We'll see how you feel Wednesday morning and then we'll go from there.

"Hopefully it was just a minor setback.''

Scott was jokingly asked if he could activate himself.

"Ten years ago, maybe,'' he said, laughing. "But now, no.''

How about Austin Carr?

"Twenty years ago, maybe,'' Scott said, laughing harder.

As usual, the rest of the Cavs are undaunted at being so short-handed. Rookie power forward Tristan Thompson also is out with a sprained left ankle.

"We have to play with whoever we have here,'' Anderson Varejao said. "It's OK. We just need to play hard and try to win this game.

Plain Dealer reporter says the sky is the limit for Cavs' dynamic guard. Watch video

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

The Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving is off to a fast start in his rookie season, even drawing comparisons to the rookie campaign by LeBron James when he was in Cleveland. Irving's next major accomplishment will be . . . . We'd like you to fill in the blanks to that statement in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff, who projects what he thinks Irving will do. Dman also talks about whether Anderson Varejao of the Cavaliers deserves to be an NBA All-Star; whether the Indians will be better off or worse off without the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona; and whether the Tribe's strongly left-handed batting lineup will be an issue.

SBTV will return Wednesday with Plain Dealer Ohio State reporter Doug Lesmerises talking about whether a four-team college-football playoff might become a reality, and other topics Buckeye.

Audio: Terry Pluto podcast Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto talks Cleveland sports. What should the Indians do with Matt LaPorta? Do the Browns go after Morris Clairborne with the fourth pick? Do you keep Anderson Varejao? Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast. Among other topics discussed: • Reaction to the...

Joshua Gunter/The Plain DealerKyrie Irving was a big topic of discussion on this week's chat with Terry Pluto.

What should the Indians do with Matt LaPorta? Do the Browns go after Morris Clairborne with the fourth pick? Do you keep Anderson Varejao?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• Reaction to the Tribe signing Casey Kotchman

• Comparing rookie LeBron James to Kyrie Irving

• Should the Browns go defense with their fourth pick in the draft?

• Does Antawn Jamison have any trade value?

• Should Cleveland fans want their teams to win or get higher draft picks if team is in rebuilding mode?

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Former Cleveland Cavaliers' guard and fan favorite Delonte West made his return to Cleveland Saturday in a Dallas Mavericks' uniform. West touched on many subjects before his game against the Cavs.

AP Photo/Tony GutierrezFormer Cleveland Cavaliers' guard Delonte West is enjoying a nice season with the Dallas Mavericks. He made his first visit to Cleveland since 2010 on Saturday when the Cavs took on the Mavs.

Former Cleveland Cavaliers' guard and fan favorite Delonte West made his return to Cleveland Saturday in a Dallas Mavericks' uniform.

His last game in Cleveland was two years ago during the 2010 NBA playoffs, where the Cavs were bounced by the Boston Celtics.

The 6-3 guard is having a nice season in Dallas, averaging 8.3 points and 3.5 assists per game.

West touched on many subjects before his game against the Cavs.

"Last year i played in Boston and I was out with a wrist injury the two times we came here to Cleveland, so I didn't make the trip. We two years out. I'm really familiar with these courts. I don't even consider them fans, I consider my friends. We had such a close bond and it's good to see the same faces. That speaks to what Cleveland sports is about. Even with the things that went out. You still see the same fans here. Supporting the new movement. With the owner here and the young talent that they have, this organization is headed in the right direction. I can see them back contending in a few years."

"We ran into a fierce Boston team. Rondo was playing the best basketball of his career. Shaq went down with the injury. And we had no answer for them. That's all it was. You can't take credit away from a great Boston team. I see the defensive schemes that they had. We can't take that away from them."

"Everything is great. I'm enjoying Dallas, a beautiful city. The Big D. They have embraced me as one of their own already. It's just a great atmosphere. Mark Cuban is another one of those owners that just gets it. He is about the right things. He's about winning basketball games. And bringing in guys that's about doing the same things. The fans have embraced me."

"I forgot how deadly Twitter is. It circluated really fast. I said earlier on in my tweets they were going to catch on to me. There is hold on my Twitter account right now. Maybe in the off-season I'll get things running back up."

"Once I started putting it out there on Twitter, which was real. I wasn't doing those things as joke or for laughter. I actually really had to do those things. Once you put it on Twitter, everyone was offering jobs. From small companies asking to me to come out and do advertising for them. My only question was you paying for travel costs. I couldn't afford that either. It was a humbling experience. I embraced it. People thought it was funny me working at Home Depot, but my answer to that was Jesus was a carpenter."

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Ricky Williams, who retired from the NFL in 2004, retires again.

APRicky Williams

Ricky Williams is retiring from the NFL.

Again.

This time, however, it appears to be for good.

The 34-year-old Williams told the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday that he won't be back to fulfill the second year of a contract he signed in August. Playing as a backup to Ray Rice this year, Williams ran for 444 yards and scored two touchdowns.

He also became the 26th player in NFL history to reach 10,000 yards rushing, reaching the plateau in the season finale at Cincinnati.

Williams retired previously before the 2004 season when facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy. He returned in 2005, then left to spend the 2006 season with Toronto of the Canadian Football League.

On his Twitter account, Williams said he intends to "do something really special" in the next phase of his life.

He told the University of Texas, where he won the Heisman Trophy, "I have to thank coach (John) Harbaugh and the Ravens organization for the opportunity they gave me this year. I had so much fun and really appreciated the chance to finish on such a great note."

After his college career at Texas, Williams broke into the NFL in 1999 with the New Orleans Saints. Mike Ditka, then coach of the Saints, traded all the team's draft and first- and third-round picks in 2000 to pick Williams fifth overall.

Williams spent only three years with New Orleans, but during over 11 years in the league he had five 1,000-yard rushing seasons and finished with 10,009 yards on the ground.

Williams led the NFL in 2002 with 1,853 yards rushing for the Miami Dolphins and received his lone Pro Bowl invitation that season. He backed that up with 1,372 yards in 2003, giving him what remains the two most productive rushing seasons in Dolphins history.

Although Williams' last start was in 2009, he enjoyed coming off the bench for the Ravens.

"It's been interesting," he said in November. "It's been an adjustment for me, but I love the organization and I love my teammates so I'm having a good time. I'm enjoying myself. Anytime you play a team sport, the success of the team really makes everything better. It's nice."

Baltimore went 12-4 this season and lost to New England in the AFC championship game.

During that November interview, Williams was asked whether playing as a backup could possibly extend his career.

"At this point, my focus is just to finish my career strong," he said. "I'm not even thinking two or three years down the line. But one positive about not carrying the ball is my body does feel good."

Williams scored 73 touchdowns over his career, all but eight of them on the ground.

"Despite their poor performance on the field, we have a professional football team that belongs in Cleveland and I think the city should definitely contribute to the maintenance of the stadium. For far too long the city ignored Municipal Stadium, and we all remember what a rat hole it became." - 1olrocker

View full sizePD Larry Hamel-LambertOne cleveland.com reader states Browns' fans shouldn't be upset the city is giving money for stadium repairs.

"Despite their poor performance on the field, we have a professional football team that belongs in Cleveland and I think the city should definitely contribute to the maintenance of the stadium. For far too long the city ignored Municipal Stadium, and we all remember what a rat hole it became. As much as we loved it for it's nostalgia, it was a complete mess electrically, plumbing, foundation, seats, field, and scoreboard because it was only SLIGHTLY renovated twice between 1932-1995, and NEVER maintained because the city never wanted to spend the money.

So I am glad to see the city stepping up to keep CBS maintained. Sure you can say since Randy Lerner is a billionaire that he should just pay for everything, whats $6mil when you're worth billions, right? Well it doesn't work like that, especially when there is an iron clad lease involved. The iron clad lease prevents the Browns from moving until AT LEAST 2029, but it also MANDATES the city assist in maintenance of the stadium as the Browns see fit.

Don't cry over this. It was in the middle of emotional outrage and a fit of anger we were in when we all demanded this contract be drawn up between 1996-99 to get our Browns back.

Make your bed, better sleep in it."

CHARDON, Ohio - Fearing another incident with fans attending basketball games at Lakeside High in Ashtabula, administrators from Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin asked tournament officials to reassign their boys basketball team to a different sectional-district site. The Northeast District Athletic Board agreed with the request and reassigned the Lions from the Division II tournament at Lakeside to the one at...

The Northeast District Athletic Board, with support from the Ohio High School Athletic Association, reassigned Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin's boys basketball team from the Division II sectional/district tournament at Lakeside to the one at Stow.

CHARDON, Ohio - Fearing another incident with fans attending basketball games at Lakeside High in Ashtabula, administrators from Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin asked tournament officials to reassign their boys basketball team to a different sectional-district site.

The Northeast District Athletic Board agreed with the request and reassigned the Lions from the Division II tournament at Lakeside to the one at Stow. It has replaced NDCL at Lakeside with University School.

The request came following a Dec. 3 incident when NDCL played host to Lakeside. Lakeside won, 76-75. A fight began during post-game handshakes and several fans rushed onto the floor. Two people from Lakeside were arrested and are awaiting trial.

NDCL Athletic Director Frank Platzar said the request to move to another site was made for safety's sake.

"We just felt that it would be a good idea to put some time and distance between the two schools," said Platzar. "Going into the playoffs is tough enough. We felt the kids didn't need any additional distractions."

The move did not sit well with Lakeside officials, who sent a letter expressing their dissatisfaction to the NEDAB and the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

"We simply felt that the move was not warranted," said Lakeside Athletic Director Robert McGruder. "It is very disappointing but we didn't want to lose the tournament. It will be held here and it will run smoothly."

Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland sent a letter to the board advising NDCL be reassigned for safety of players and fans. McClelland said he was one of the officers that responded to the Dec. 3 disturbance.

Lakeside is a Division I school and will play its tournament games at Brush.

University School Athletic Director Ron Grant said he had no objections moving from Stow to Lakeside.

"It's about the same distance between the two schools for us," he said. "We are familiar with Lakeside because we're in the same league and we've played over there. It's a good facility. Both tournaments will be difficult to get through."

NEDAB spokesman Jim Borchik said the decision to reassign NDCL was made with the support of the OHSAA.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

The first Super Bowl, between the Packers and Chiefs, was played following the 1966 season. The Browns, of course, have never played in one. Links to more Browns stories.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerBrowns fans turn out year after year, decade after decade, with the same ending: No Super Bowl to watch their team play in.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns fans -- at least those old enough -- have now been through 46 Super Bowls without their favorite team in any of them.

In all fairness to the Browns, they've been eligible for just 43 Super Bowls. Cleveland didn't have a team from 1996-98, after then-Browns owner Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore.

Five times the Browns have been within one win of reaching the Super Bowl. In the 1968 and 1969 seasons, they lost National Football League championship games to the Baltimore Colts and Minnesota Vikings, respectively. That was just before the full completion of the merger between the NFL and the American Football League, after which the Browns (with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Colts) moved from which is now called the National Football Conference to what is now the American Football Conference -- which was comprised mostly of the old AFL teams.

Cleveland advanced to within a game of the Super Bowl in the 1986, 1987 and 1989 seasons, losing the AFC title game each time, of course, to the Denver Broncos.

Following a few Browns links below, we ask, in a poll, when you think the Browns will be good enough to be legitimate contenders for a Super Bowl appearance. We don't ask when you think they'll get there, because there are too many variables outside a team's control: injuries, fluke plays, a bad/missed referee's call, etc.

Meanwhile, Steve DiMatteo, writing for Dawg Pound Daily, wonders when the Browns will reach football's biggest game:

There is a certain level of disconnect for Cleveland Browns fans when they watch the Super Bowl. It's like watching another league,with teams full of talent that will perpetually be out of reach.

And, every year, fans are stuck asking themselves: When will the Browns finally make it to the Super Bowl?

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage and NFL coverage includes Terry Pluto's podcast and Mary Kay Cabot's interview on Starting Blocks TV on Monday; Tom Ott's story that Cleveland City Council has agreed to give the Browns $5.8 million for stadium repairs.

The Browns -- barring a trade -- own two first-round picks in the April 26-28 draft, the fourth and 22nd overall selections.

Last April, we published a ranking of the top 100 Browns' draft picks of all-time, accompanied with numerous videos. Only players who were Browns for at least three seasons were considered.

About the Browns

A feature story on Browns owner Randy Lerner by Vince Grzegorek for Cleveland Scene Magazine.

The Browns didn't make big news in free agency in 2011, and it could be that way again this year. By Craig Lyndall for the blog "WaitingForNextYear."

Quarterbacks the Browns might consider in free agency. On the blog "Dawgs By Nature."

A new National Football Authority mock draft has the Browns trading down in the first round.

For now, before the NFL scouting combine, an all-underrated team of offensive players who will be in the draft. By Wes Bunting for the National Football Post.

Linebackers who could be available in free agency this offseason. On the blog "WaitingForNextYear."

Ohio native Matt Rutherford has set a sailing record.

AP

Matt Rutherford is on a journey.

Dave Sheinin of The Washington Post writes how Rutherford, an Ohio native, is on a sailing tour. He's already about 20,000 miles into his journey.

It is difficult to convey fully the audacity of what Rutherford is attempting to do: sailing some 25,000 miles, through some of the Earth’s most treacherous ocean, on a 36-year-old Albin Vega boat (which he christened the Saint Brendan, in honor of a sixth-century explorer) best suited to weekend sailors who never venture beyond Tilghman Island on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake. Already, the Scott Polar Institute in Cambridge, England, has recognized him as the first person in recorded history to make it through the fabled Northwest Passage alone and non-stop on such a small sailboat.

 

"If the Indians want a good field-soft hit 1B, so be it. (Mike Hargrove was a fair good 'D' - no-power guy as I remember - maybe Kotchman can coach us with the same results as Grover did someday.) But. HEY, let's get some power at the other positions and get it when we need it, not like last year when we needed a right-handed bat and did absolutely nothing." - fritz1910

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerOne cleveland.com reader compares Casey Kotchman to Mike Hargrove, a sure-handed first baseman with little power.

"If the Indians want a good field-soft hit 1B, so be it. (Mike Hargrove was a fair good 'D' - no-power guy as I remember - maybe Kotchman can coach us with the same results as Grover did someday.) But. HEY, let's get some power at the other positions and get it when we need it, not like last year when we needed a right-handed bat and did absolutely nothing."

Former Celtics great says "It would have probably been more fun to play with LeBron, but if you want to win and win and win, it's Kobe."

Associated PressLarry Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists, and won three MVP awards during his 13-year NBA career.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Pick an all-time basketball team of players with the "will to win," and former Boston Celtics great Larry Bird would make the cut.

(Not that he was lacking in physical ability, either)

Bird's Celtics won three NBA championships and lost in the Finals two other times, during an era when the league arguably had its best depth of outstanding teams.

It remains one of college basketball's most improbable stories that Bird led Indiana State to the 1979 national championship game, where the Sycamores lost to Magic Johnson's Michigan State team.

Bird, as reported by ESPN.com, visited "The B.S. Report" with Bill Simmons of Grantland.com and said that former Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James, now in his second season with the Miami Heat, is among the sport's greatest players, maybe today's best.

(The Cavaliers play in Miami tonight against James and the Heat)

Bird's absolute priority on the basketball court was always winning. Given that, Bird picked Los Angeles Lakers' veteran Kobe Bryant when he was asked to choose which current NBA player he'd most like to play a season with.

From ESPN Los Angeles, Bird's reply to which of today's players he'd most want to play with:

"Well, probably Kobe, because of the fact that ... well, of course he wouldn't have been shooting as much as he does now ... but his desire to win, his dedication, to always get better, uh, and he's just, he's just tough," Bird said. "He's just a tough cat.

"But, if you want to have fun, like I did with Bill Walton, play with LeBron. It would have probably been more fun to play with LeBron, but if you want to win and win and win, it's Kobe. Not that LeBron's not a winner, just that [Kobe's] mindset is to go into every practice, every game, to get better."

Bryant has won five championships with the Lakers, one short of the legend he's most often compared to, Michael Jordan. James joined the Miami Heat last season and fell short in the NBA Finals, leaving him searching for his first title.