It was a wild and surprising winter in Major League Baseball. Guess who started all the action? None other than the Indians.

View full sizeCurtis Compton, Atlanta Journal Constitution via APIt's hard to believe that the Indians' trade for Derek Lowe, above, a 38-year-old pitcher who lost 17 games in 2011, played a role in getting the free-agency train moving.

Yeah, that would be the starch-collared, buttoned-down Indians.

They started the winter wackiness on Oct. 31 with the first trade of the off-season. General Manager Chris Antonetti acquired 17-game loser Derek Lowe from Atlanta for minor-league left-hander Chris Jones. The Braves, in a hurry to send Lowe packing, picked up $10 million of the $15 million he was due to earn in 2012.

The Indians, who open spring training Monday, continued to make moves on the fringe of the frenzy. They were even caught with mouths agape when it was revealed in January that their own Fausto Carmona was really Roberto Hernandez Heredia. Still, the baseball drums of winter beat loudest in MLB's other outposts.

Surprise Team No. 1 lured St. Louis icon Albert Pujols from the banks of the Mississippi River to the bright lights of Hollywood. The Los Angeles Angels came out of the shadows at the winter meetings in December to sign Pujols to a 10-year, $254 million contract. Pujols had delivered two World Series titles to the Cardinals in the past six years, but it appears Stan Musial's statue will still be the focal point for the Redbird faithful outside new Busch Stadium.

The Angels, tired of watching Texas rule the American League West, then added left-hander C.J. Wilson for five years and $77.5 million. Wilson helped the Rangers reach the World Series the past two years, losing both.

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How did the Rangers respond? A few weeks before they hired a new sobriety coach to keep Josh Hamilton clean, they signed Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish. All it took was a cool $111 million -- $51.7 million to win the right to negotiate with Darvish and a six-year, $60 million deal to get him signed.

Mystery team No. 2 waited until late January to reveal itself. With the market stagnant for the big bat of the big-all-over Prince Fielder, agent Scott Boras proved when he says there's a mystery team involved in the bidding, there just might be. Boras turned to his favorite Motor City ATM, Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, to secure a nine-year, $214 million deal for Fielder.

Prince's father, Cecil, is one of four men to clear the left-field roof at old Tiger Stadium. Prince, a left-handed hitter as opposed to his father, will be working at Comerica Park. It is not a great place for a right-handed hitter -- even though they moved in the left-field fence -- but Prince should have no trouble clearing the right-field fence.

The arrival of Fielder means AL batting champ Miguel Cabrera could move to third base -- all 270 or so pounds of him. Cabrera has reportedly lost about 25 pounds over the winter, but even at 250, it seems like a stretch to put him at the hot corner when all he has to do is DH, since Victor Martinez is expected to miss the entire season following surgery on his left knee.

The Marlins weren't a mystery team, but what they did this winter was totally out of character. Still, it was easy to see they were up to something.

They changed their name from the Florida Marlins to the Miami Marlins. They changed their manager, hiring Ozzie Guillen after he left the White Sox right before the end of last season. Then they drastically changed their $57 million payroll by signing free agents shortstop Jose Reyes (six years, $106 million), left-hander Mark Buehrle (four years, $58 million) and closer Heath Bell (three years, $27 million).

The spending spree was fueled by the projected revenues of their new ballpark. The Marlins supposedly have so much money, they offered Pujols more money than the Angels.

In Milwaukee, the resurgent Brewers suffered a double-whammy. Not only did they lose Fielder to Detroit, but National League MVP Ryan Braun tested positive for an elevated level of testosterone and faces a 50-game suspension at the start of the season.

View full sizeAP fileThe Rangers dropped big bucks to get pitcher Yu Darvish.

Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin knew Fielder was gone and signed free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez to help steady the offense. Braun reportedly was informed about his positive test during the Brewers' playoff run.

Commissioner Bud Selig, who calls Milwaukee home, oversaw the signing of a new basic agreement in December that will give MLB 21 straight years of labor peace. In an otherwise unpredictable winter, the agreement was the safest bet going. The owners and players almost killed the sport back in 1994, and they have been making nice with each other ever since.

Selig, 76, helped provide the one other bit of off-season normalcy when he ignored his approaching retirement at the end of this season and accepted a two-year extension from the owners. No one really believes Selig will ever retire, especially his wife, Sue.

Jim Crane bought the last-place Houston Astros for $610 million. It would have been $680 million, but MLB gave him a discount for agreeing to move the team to the American League in 2013 to form two 15-team leagues. Selig says there's still a chance that an extra wild-card team will be added to each league this season. If not, it will be in place when the Astros debut in the junior circuit.

Crane had a tough time getting approval from MLB's owners, mostly because they did such a poor job of investigating Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. If not for a nasty divorce, McCourt would probably still be bilking the Dodgers of millions. As it is, billionaire buyers have lined up by the truckload to bleed Dodger Blue. McCourt is expected to leave the grand old game richer than when he entered.

The biggest news on the managerial front was the firing of Terry Francona in Boston and the protracted hiring of Bobby Valentine to replace him. On the heels of Francona's dismissal came GM Theo Epstein's exit to try to turn around another lost cause -- the Chicago Cubs. Two more things before we leave Boston -- the big-money Red Sox hardly spent a dime this winter and, if you have a spare moment, send a good thought to Rick Jameyson, former athletic trainer for the Indians.

Jameyson took the head athletic trainer's job with Boston, which undoubtedly involves cutting off the off-duty pitchers' in-game pipeline of fried chicken and beer to the clubhouse that helped push Francona out the door. Lots of luck, Rick.

Robin Ventura could use some luck as well. Ventura, GM Kenny Williams' surprise choice to succeed Guillen as manager of the White Sox, has never managed at any level. And he still has Adam Dunn and Alex Rios on the roster.

The Yankees spent much of the winter treading the same water as the Red Sox, until GM Brian Cashman turned a shaky rotation into a team strength on Friday the 13th (Jan. 13). He acquired impressive young right-hander Michael Pineda from Seattle and signed veteran Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year, $12 million deal.

It's nice to know some things always revert to form.

Which brings us to surprise team No. 3. GM Billy Beane spent most of the winter doing what he usually does -- tearing down the A's and starting over. He traded starters Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez and closer Andrew Bailey for a long line of prospects. Then he swept in, just days before spring training camps opened, and signed Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes to a four-year, $36 million contract.

It was speculated Cespedes might be the A's star attraction should they ever move to San Jose, Calif., and build a new ballpark. Owner Lewis Wolff said that probably wouldn't happen until at least 2016. Cespedes, however, will be a free agent after 2015. Maybe it will all be explained in Moneyball II.

One more thing. Orlando Cabrera and Jorge Posada, with 3,720 hits between them, announced their retirements. Omar Vizquel, with 2,841 hits of his own, will go to camp with Toronto on a minor-league deal at the age of 44.

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

On Twitter: @hoynsie

When the trade actually happened, though, Richmond said he still was caught off-guard.

View full sizeMonsters coach David Quinn

On one level, defenseman Danny Richmond saw a trade coming as the calendar flipped to February. His Hershey Bears had a logjam of veterans.

When the trade actually happened, though, Richmond said he was caught off-guard. Hershey's parent, the Washington Capitals, sent him to the Colorado Avalanche for Mike Carman on Feb. 2. Richmond immediately joined the Monsters; Carman, the Bears.

"We had just gotten back from the All-Star break," Richmond said. "I flew in from San Francisco that morning and was traded in the afternoon. I wasn't really sure what to think. Now that the dust has settled, I'm very happy about it."

Richmond, a pro since 2004 and a veteran of 49 NHL games, isn't the only one with a smile on his face. Monsters coach David Quinn couldn't believe his good fortune when Monsters assistant coach and General Manager David Oliver landed Richmond. Quinn had known of the defenseman for years and expected big things upon his arrival.

Richmond hasn't disappointed. His superb defense and intangibles, supplemented by two goals and five assists, have helped the Monsters go 5-0-0-1.

The Monsters (25-22-2-2) carry a season-high four-game winning streak into tonight's game at Rochester. Since a home loss to Toronto on Jan. 26, they are 6-0-0-1, enabling them to move up the standings in a hurry. They are a whisker outside a playoff spot, with 25 games remaining in their regular season.

"That was a big, big trade by Ollie, who just keeps finding guys we need," Quinn said. "Danny moves the puck so well. He makes our power play better. He's a presence in the back. It's no coincidence that when he got here, we went on a run."

Richmond, who had four assists in 24 games for Hershey, played 68 games for the Toronto Marlies last season. It gave him a good look at the Monsters' modus operandi: Be fast, relentless and physical.

"When I got here, I knew we didn't belong in the bottom of the division," Richmond said. "I knew from last year that this was a difficult team to play, and we're getting back to that. There's no reason it can't continue."

Richmond, 27, was born in Chicago and grew up in suburban Buffalo Grove. A member of the Chicago Blackhawks' AHL affiliate in Rockford late in the 2009-10 season, he was part of a group of skaters who traveled and practiced with the Blackhawks during their Stanley Cup title run.

"It was a great experience," he said.

Windy City power: Several weeks before Richmond was acquired, Oliver plucked Gerald Coleman from the ECHL's Alaska Aces to help an injury-depleted goalie corps. All Coleman has done is go 8-2-1 in 11 games. He will make his 10th straight start tonight.

Coleman, 26, is a product of Romeoville, Ill. He and Richmond were teammates with London of the OHL in 2003-04.

Roster moves: The Avalanche recalled goalie Cedrick Desjardins as coverage for Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who was injured Wednesday night against Vancouver. Desjardins had just been cleared to play for Lake Erie after missing extended time because of a lower-body injury. The Avs also recalled center Mark Olver and returned defenseman Tyson Barrie to Lake Erie.

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

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

Case Western Reserve's men's and women's teams both face Rochester today.

Case Western Reserve vs. Rochester

Tipoff: 8 p.m. at Horsburgh Gymnasium, Cleveland.

Notable: CWRU (9-13, 1-10 University Athletic Association) begins its final home weekend and will honor its lone senior, forward Tom Summers, before tip-off. Summers, averaging 18.5 ppg during the last four contests, is just 10 shy of joining the school's 1,000-point club. Junior F Austin Fowler has five double doubles during the last seven games and is averaging 15.4 ppg and 7.3 rpg. Summers at 7.9 rpg, Fowler at 7.3 rpg and sophomore center David Thompson at 7.2 rpg are the top three rebounders in the UAA. Three of CWRU's top six scorers are freshmen.

Next for CWRU: Sunday vs. Emory, noon.

Women

Case Western Reserve vs. Rochester

Tipoff: 6 p.m. at Horsburgh Gymnasium, Cleveland.

Notable: The Spartans (12-10, 5-6 UAA) conclude their second stretch this season of three consecutive games versus nationally ranked opponents. Senior F Erin Hollinger (Chardon), who will be one of three seniors honored on Sunday, enters her final home weekend with team-best averages of 13.0 ppg and 5.6 rpg. Hollinger is second all-time in CWRU history with 1,379 points. Junior G Evy Iacono is second on the team at 11.4 ppg. The Spartans will don pink uniforms as part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Play4Kay initiative, with all proceeds going to benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

Next for CWRU: Sunday vs. Emory, 2 p.m.

-- Compiled using information from the CWRU sports information department.

Miami rookie Norris Cole is heeding the advice of Cleveland State coach Gary Waters to work hard and play defense.

View full sizeMichael Conroy, Associated PressMiami coach Erik Spoelstra says former Cleveland State star Norris Cole, above, has been a spark off the bench for the Heat.

"He told me to keep working hard and doing what I did that got me here, keep putting in the extra work, keep playing defense, keep playing both sides of the ball and I'll be fine," Cole said upon returning to Cleveland with the Heat for tonight's game against the Cavaliers at The Q.

Cole has been more than fine for the Heat. The former Cleveland State star was drafted by Minnesota with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft and then traded to Miami, where the 23-year-old rookie became almost an immediate part of the rotation.

"He's given us a spark off the bench, and that's a new dynamic for us that we like," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra.

Cole, a native of Dayton who attended Dunbar High School, admitted he still can't quite believe he gets to practice with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh every day.

"It's great," he said. "They're great teammates. Obviously, they're very talented, so they make the game a lot easier when I'm out there on the court."

"They push me to get better. That's what our team is about -- getting better. It's a blast every day. I don't feel like I'm coming to work every day. I'm going to play basketball for the Miami Heat, and that's a great feeling."

View full sizePD file photoNorris Cole, left, is using the advice of CSU coach Gary Waters, right, to succeed in the NBA.

Cole, a 6-2 point guard, is averaging 8.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He will play in the NBA All-Star Challenge in Orlando, along with Knicks phenom Jeremy Lin. They were both added Thursday.

Cole is coming off a strong performance at Indiana on Tuesday night, when he tied his career high with 20 points in front of about 50 friends and family members who made the trip from Dayton. His scoring has been up and down, but his effort remains steady.

"We want him to be aggressive," Spoelstra said. "He's a young player. Even though he's mature beyond his years, played four years [in college and] carries himself as a veteran, you can't cheat experience. So he has to go through the fire with us and learn the system. There are going to be good days and there are going to be bad days. We'll have patience with him. In terms of his energy, his aggressiveness, his disposition, that's been consistent all year long."

Spoelstra was asked if the fact that Cole worked out with James during the NBA lockout helped his development.

"It always helps to be around greatness," the coach said. "But what really helped him was the fact that he was coached well in college. You could tell. He probably had some very good coaches in youth basketball and in high school. He played four years. He had a lot of responsibility on him at the college level, so he's ahead of the game from a lot of young players. It also doesn't hurt that he played at a small school and carries a hefty-sized chip on that shoulder. We tend to like those kind of players in Miami."

Of course, they liked him at Cleveland State, too, and Cole stopped at Waters' office on Wednesday. He said he has watched every one of the Vikings games this season and has remained in touch with most of his teammates. For that reason, Cole said he didn't need to address the team.

"I've talked to them already," he said, laughing.

Varejao update: The Cavaliers said center Anderson Varejao will miss four to six weeks with the fractured right wrist he suffered on Friday. The good news, coach Byron Scott said, is Varejao will not require surgery.

Gibson doubtful: Shooting guard Daniel Gibson likely will miss tonight's game with a sprained left ankle. X-rays were negative and no magnetic resonance imaging test will be required. Gibson was shooting a jump shot Wednesday night and landed on the foot of Paul George. Alonzo Gee will start in Gibson's place. Scott said point guard Ben Uzoh, whose 10-day contract expires Sunday, could be pressed into action. Empty seats: The attendance at The Q Wednesday was 12,712, the smallest in Cleveland since 12,684 watched the Cavs play the Knicks on April 12, 2003. The Cavs rank 20th in league attendance, averaging 15,771.

Choosing sides: Kyrie Irving was the second overall pick in the Rising Stars Challenge draft Thursday night televised on TNT. Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin was the top selection. TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal served as general managers and chose sides for the Feb. 24 game, which features many of the top first- and second-year players, which is part of NBA All-Star Weekend in Orlando. Cavaliers teammate Tristan Thompson was selected by Team Shaq.

No slam dunk: Meanwhile, Gee was left out of the All-Star slam dunk competition. The field announced Thursday includes New York's Iman Shumpert, Houston's Chase Budinger, Indiana's George and Minnesota's Derrick Williams.

"It's not a big deal," Gee said. "I need the rest anyway." The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., native still plans to the attend the Rising Stars Challenge game to support Irving and Thompson.

-- Tom Reed

No kneed: Wade was in the wrong place at the wrong time 10 days ago, when Irving fell in the lane at Miami and hit his head on Wade's knee, suffering a concussion that kept him out three games.

"I tried to move out of the way," Wade said Thursday. "Normally when you're down in the paint like that and guys fall, they go into your knee and it's bad for you. So I was trying to move out of the way. You never want anybody to get hurt. I didn't think he hit it that hard. But it doesn't take much. I watched him last night [against Indiana.] He's back. I'll tell you that."

Irving has impressed Wade.

"He's way better than I thought, and I thought he was good to get drafted No. 1," Wade said. "We didn't get to see him play a lot in college. . . . but he has 'it.' That 'it' that everyone talks about that no one knows what 'it' is? He has 'it.' He's a star in the making. Fortunately for Cleveland, they've got another great one. Kudos to them for picking him."

-- Mary Schmitt Boyer

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Steelhead trout fishing has been very good, but Thursday's rain and snow melt could slow the fishing considerably this weekend.

View full sizeTony Dejak, APDave Schell, 57, tries his luck at fly fishing in Euclid Creek last month in Cleveland.

Local streams were free of ice this week and steelhead trout fishing has been very good, but Thursday's rain and snow melt could slow the fishing considerably today and this weekend. While the waters were slightly stained on Thursday and ideal for fooling a few big trout, the river levels were on the way up, and muddy waters could be just around the corner.

Expect spawn sacks with bright mesh and jig-maggot rigs worked through the deeper pools under a float to be the best technique for trout. Fly fishers will be casting bright egg patterns, nymphs and woolly buggers. Check local fly shops for the hot patterns this weekend.

Inland lakes: Fishing in local lakes and ponds continues to be slow. If there is open water on the Cleveland Metroparks lakes and ponds, expect some stocked rainbow trout to be biting at Wallace Lake, as well as Shadow, Ranger, Judges and Ledge lakes.

Lake Erie: When Lake Erie is flat and the trolling fishermen can get out, they're bringing in surprising catches of walleye. The top location has been the reefs west of Port Clinton and around the Bass islands. Fishermen are trolling plugs about 10 feet below the surface at slow speeds.

Dog trial results

Ferencak Memorial and Shamp/Weber Classic All-Breed Hunter's Trial

Columbia Game Club, Sullivan, Ohio

Dogs of the Day -- Flushing: Matt Jackson, Labrador retriever (Lab), Maize; Pointing: Gary Thozeski, Brittany (Brit), Chili.

All-Age -- Flushing: Will Collins, Lab, Jade; Sam Stazzone, English springer spaniel (ESS), Buddy; Dan Tuttle, ESS, Logan. Pointing: Gary Thozeski, Brit, Chili; Marc Toennies, English setter (ES), Hazel; Dick Motz, ES, Abby.

Open -- Flushing: Matt Jackson, Lab, Maize; Dave Rydzinski, Lab, Ambur; Ed Karban, Chesapeake Bay retriever. Pointing: Bill Keplar, English pointer (EP), Peaches; Dick Motz, ES, Amber; Mike Hearn, EP, Ace.

Derby -- Flushing: Fred Wright, Lab, Bars; Dave Wallace, ESS, Pepper; Justin Reznik, Lab, Lily. Pointing: Gary Thozeski, Brit, Ember; Bill Keplar, EP, Dot; John Zutavern, wirehaired pointing griffon, Lilly.

Puppy -- Flushing: John Denczak, ESS, Powder; Dave White, Lab, Joules; Chuck Weber, ESS, April. Pointing: Marc Toennies, ES, Daisy; Bill Keplar, EP, Willie.

Senior -- Flushing: Lori Tuttle, ESS, Kacee; John Masseria, ESS, Saffron; Allen Dudra, Lab, Violet. Pointing: John Costanio, German shorthaired pointer (GSP), Haley; Mike Hearn, GSP, Cassie.

Also, an ice fishing tournament near Akron will go on despite the lack of frozen lakes and ponds.

Ice-less tourney: A lack of good ice won't stop Carl Bachtel's benefit ice fishing tournament on Saturday at Wingfoot Lake, east of Akron, for the Akron/Canton Food Bank. There will be shore fishing, prizes and games from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Ohio hunt show: According to Glen Helgeland, his Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo has been sold to Bonnier Corp., which owns Field & Stream and Outdoor Life magazines. The Columbus show on March 16-18 is now the Field & Stream Deer & Turkey Expo, the same banner that will fly over Helgeland's shows in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin this year. Outdoor Life is hosting the main stages, while Remington is the headline sponsor.

Boat tags needed: Ohio boat registrations are valid for three years, and many will expire March 1. The Division of Watercraft says online renewal is available, but boaters have been slow to take advantage. To renew boat tags online, visit ohiodnr.com/watercraft. Boat registrations can also be renewed at license agents or by mail.

The Cavaliers' serene season was pierced Thursday by a familiar source of commotion and controversy.

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain DealerA rash of injuries means Antawn Jamison (4) will be the only Cavs player on the floor tonight who can call LeBron James a former teammate.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavaliers are busy rebuilding their franchise these days, winning enough games to demonstrate progress and nurturing a dynamic rookie point guard in Kyrie Irving who seems to say and do all the right things.

Privately, they are enjoying the drama-free environment that has enveloped the organization. No more worries about "The Decision." No more national media descending on them to examine the exit wounds.

The Cavaliers' serene season, however, was pierced Thursday by a familiar source of commotion and controversy.

Former Cavalier LeBron James told reporters at The Q that he could envision himself returning to the team he spurned in the summer of 2010. While maintaining he's happy with the Miami Heat, James did not rule out coming back to Cleveland after the 2013-14 season. James admitted he made a mistake in the way he left the franchise and left open the idea of mending his fractured relationship with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.

News of James' comments traveled from The Q -- where the Heat makes its only visit this season tonight -- to the Cavaliers training facility in Independence in a matter of minutes.

Veteran Antawn Jamison could not believe James went public with the remarks two-plus seasons away from when he can opt out of his Heat deal. Alonzo Gee also was caught off-guard.

"It surprises me that he's saying that now," said Jamison, who played 25 games with James in 2010. "Three years down the road, it wouldn't surprise me if he entertains the idea. But hey, after the first go-round, I don't think anything would surprise you as far as scenarios taking place."

How quickly has the roster been turned over since James' departure? With injuries to Daniel Gibson, Anthony Parker and Anderson Varejao, Jamison is the only Cavalier playing in tonight's game to call James a former teammate.

Per NBA rules, Gilbert cannot comment on another team's player without risk of fines and the possible loss of draft picks. Coach Byron Scott also declined comment on James. He did, however, react to how current players such as James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Brandon Jennings, etc., have openly discussed playing for franchises other than their own in recent years.

"It didn't happen in our day," said Scott, who played in the NBA from 1983 to '97. "You played where you played, period. If you got traded, that was a different story. If you left as a free agent, that was a different story. But you didn't publicize you wanted to play somewhere else or you wouldn't mind playing somewhere else or anything like that.

"We just didn't do those things. But I go back to this is a different day and time. We had a lot more respect for the organizations we played for, I thought, than a lot of guys do now. A lot of the stuff I don't understand because I'm old school."

Gibson told the Associated Press and Akron Beacon Journal on Wednesday night he cannot imagine Cavaliers fans embracing James again. "Not with the way that went down," he said.

Fans and pundits will fiercely debate the sincerity of James' comments Thursday.

Is he playing to his hometown audience that he wants to forgive him? Is he doing it to seek attention, of which Oklahoma City's Kendrick Perkins has accused him recently? Or, would he legitimately consider returning to the organization and joining rookies Irving and Tristan Thompson, whom James has befriended.

Thompson was asked Wednesday night about James' possible return to Cleveland.

"You can't put nothing past [anyone]," said Thompson, whose agent Rich Paul is a close friend of James. "You never know what the future has in store. I know his contract with the Heat isn't lifetime so after his contract is up, he can go to any team. We'll wait and see."

Some have worried James might try wooing Thompson and Irving out of Cleveland. What if the opposite were true?

"We have talked about playing with each other, but we played with each other in an All-Star [charity game during the lockout] . . . right now he's playing with the Heat and I'm playing for the Cavs," Thompson said. "That's the only thing we can think about."

After playing James and the Heat for the third time in 24 days tonight, the Cavs will not see them again until next season. Perhaps the serenity returns as James exits.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: treed@plaind.com, 216-999-4370

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Cleveland State and Lake Erie women's teams both fall on Thursday night.

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Prahalis, averaging 21.8 points in the conference, was battling the flu. She was on the bench at the outset but then went to the locker room.

Ohio State (23-3, 10-3), which has won the past nine meetings with Indiana, never trailed while keeping pace in the Big Ten standings. The Buckeyes, Penn State and Purdue all are bunched at the top with three losses.

Aulani Sinclair had 23 points for the Hoosiers (5-21, 0-13).

No. 11 Green Bay 90, Cleveland State 59 Julie Wojta scored 23 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out five assists as the Phoenix (22-1, 12-1 Horizon League) beat the Vikings at the Wolstein Center.

Wojta grabbed eight offensive rebounds as Green Bay scored 18 second-chance points and outscored Cleveland State, 42-26, in the paint.

Cleveland State (9-16, 4-10) shot just 38.9 percent (21-of-54) from the field and committed 17 turnovers. The Phoenix scored 24 points off those errors.

Cori Coleman led the Vikings with 21 points.

Northern Michigan 59, Lake Erie 57 Chelsea Lyons hit a short jumper with 15 seconds to go and the Wildcats (11-12, 7-9 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference) defeated the Storm (16-7, 10-6) in Painesville. It was the sixth straight game decided by three points or less for Lake Erie.

Men

Lake Erie, 74, Northern Michigan 62 Redshirt freshman Jamil Dudley scored a career-high 24 points, as the host Storm (9-14, 4-12 GLIAC) defeated the Wildcats (8-15, 4-12).

Richmond is predicting the New York Rangers will win the Stanley Cup this season.

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Born: Aug. 1, 1984, Chicago.

Ht/Wt: 6-0, 194.

Shoots: Left.

How acquired: Trade from Hershey in February.

PD: Favorite activities off the ice?

DR: Playing with my dog and watching movies.

PD: Type of dog?

DR: Boxer.

PD: Favorite team/player growing up?

DR: The Blackhawks/Chris Chelios.

PD: Favorite hockey venue?

DR: United Center in Chicago.

PD: Chicago, then, would be your favorite hockey city?

DR: Chicago's pretty cool, but so is Toronto. I played there with the Marlies last season.

PD: Who will win the Stanley Cup?

DR: The Rangers.

PD: Smartest person you've ever met?

DR: My dad.

PD: If you could be one active athlete, who would you be?

DR: Usain Bolt.

PD: Because of the speed or the fame?

DR: The speed. I run like I'm stuck in molasses.

PD: Monsters coach David Quinn in 15 words or fewer?

DR: Intense. Easy to play for. Good personality.

PD: Pregame rituals/superstitions?

DR: My day is pretty much the same, but it's more out of habit. I don't get too much into pregame routines because it's tough to keep up that act for a full season.

PD: You have played 49 games in the NHL, most recently seven with the Rangers in 2007-08. What do you need to do to get back?

DR: Keep playing with confidence, keep improving my shooting and don't worry about stuff I can't control.

PD: Wildest thing you've ever seen in a rink?

DR: My rookie year with Lowell (2004-05), we had a bench-clearing brawl against Norfolk. The linesman broke his leg. Probably about six legitimate heavyweights were on the ice. Just a melee.

PD: Were you one of the heavyweights?

DR: No, I was not. I tried to avoid the heavyweights.

PD: Who has been your toughest opponent in a fight?

DR: Once, when I was playing for the Blackhawks against Anaheim, I kind of went at it with Ryan Getzlaf. I was just trying to make a name for myself and be a pest on the ice. The next time we played Anaheim, I lined up for a faceoff and Brad May was next to me. May started chirping and asked if I wanted to go. I said, "Yes," but there was some hesitation.

PD: Result?

DR: It was quick, thankfully. It happened to be where my best friend's season tickets were. He got a front-row view. My mom also was pretty close. It was a scary experience for them, too.

PD: Key to winning a fight?

DR: Keep your guard up. When you have an opening, throw as many punches as you can.

PD: Best part of being a defenseman?

DR: You play a lot more. You see plays develop. It's a lot more of a thinking game than it is for forwards.

-- Dennis Manoloff

As the Zips wind down the season, they head into BracketBusters weekend as the only Northeast Ohio team that appears capable of busting a bracket.

View full sizeKaren Schiely, Akron Beacon JournalChauncey Gilliam and the Akron Zips currently are on an eight-game winning streak.

In 2004, when Akron men's basketball coach Keith Dambrot was hired to take over the Zips, at the debut news conference he said he wanted to "think bigger than the MAC."

Now eight years later, that has not changed. As the Zips (19-7) wind down the 2011-12 season, they head into BracketBusters weekend as the only Northeast Ohio team that appears capable of busting a bracket. Of the 13 matchups ESPN selected as part of its BracketBusters TV weekend package, Akron vs. Oral Roberts is one of several that could have postseason tournament implications.

Cleveland State (20-7), in the midst of a three-game losing streak, will host Drexel (22-5), in its BracketBusters game, 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPNU.

While CSU's at-large chances now look slim, topping a Drexel team on a 14-game winning streak would go a long way toward getting the Vikings back on track.

The Zips, on an eight-game winning streak, will be next, 2 p.m. on ESPN2 against ORU (24-5) in a game that puts the winner much closer to a possible at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Kent State (19-7), on a seven-game winning streak, plays College of Charleston (16-11), at 6 p.m. on SportsTime Ohio, putting all three local teams on TV on Saturday.

There will also be a ceremony at Kent honoring the 2002 Elite Eight NCAA Tournament team, with many of the players on that team, including Antonio Gates, back for the game.

Kent is not in the postseason tournament conversation right now, but is still on the fringe of the regular-season conference race. But it remains viable for the NCAA Tournament by winning out, or for another postseason tournament with a strong finish.

The team that can explode onto the national scene via BracketBusters, and bolster its case as a possible NCAA Tournament at-large team, is Akron. And Dambrot knows it. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA Tournament two of the past three seasons, although they lost both first-round games. But this may be the Zips' best team to date.

"We're close to that next level," Dambrot said following their most recent victory.

Yet he tries to keep the pressure off his team on one hand, while clearly calculating the possibilities on the other.

"I'm just trying to have fun with them, and let them have fun," Dambrot said. "Cleveland State is going through that a little bit now, where everybody tightens up, and you're not having any fun. The point of it is, we want to play our best basketball. It's all on us."

To get a road win at Oral Roberts, with the best RPI (47) of any team the Zips (RPI 62) will play the rest of the regular season, would be big. And when coupled with Akron's early season victory over Mississippi State (19-7-RPI 49), the NCAA Tournament selection committee could start to take notice.

"How do I view it?" Dambrot asked. "Well, you got to think big, right? So it's a big game. Is it the biggest of the five left? Probably not. But it does matter. Can we get an at-large? We're probably a long shot because nobody really understands Akron. And we had those losses early in the year. But if we win out, our RPI is going to be pretty high. And our strength of schedule is pretty good.

"Do we have enough? That's going to be the question. But four of the last five games are Top 100 games. If we win those, and win in the [Mid-American Conference Tournament] semis, which will probably be a Top 100 game, we'll probably have an RPI of what, 38?"

But it all starts with Akron winning its BracketBusters game at Oral Roberts.

As for Cleveland State, the Vikings just need a victory, as getting back on track, in coach Gary Waters' eyes, reopens CSU's postseason opportunities.

"Win this game and it can really help you," he said. "That will prepare us for the next three [Horizon League] games, and those three games are vital. It's still on us."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexand@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

CLEVELAND, Ohio — It is hard to label a late-season victory over a formidable opponent as hollow, but that was the feeling around the Cleveland Heights locker room on Thursday. Star guard Tyree Gaiter, whose 20 points helped the Tigers to a tough, 63-58, boys basketball victory over host St. Ignatius, suffered a dislocated right wrist on a drive...

Tyree Gaiter of Cleveland Heights.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — It is hard to label a late-season victory over a formidable opponent as hollow, but that was the feeling around the Cleveland Heights locker room on Thursday.

Star guard Tyree Gaiter, whose 20 points helped the Tigers to a tough, 63-58, boys basketball victory over host St. Ignatius, suffered a dislocated right wrist on a drive to the basket with 59 seconds to go and his team holding a 58-51 lead.

Gaiter, who leads the Tigers in practically every offensive category and is the team's undisputed leader, was rushed to MetroHealth Medical Center while his teammates were closing out the victory that raised their record to 15-2.

Gaiter's loss would be devastating to the Tigers, the second-ranked team in The Plain Dealer Top 25 and the top-seeded team in the talent-laden Division I sectional tournament at Solon. Gaiter, 5-6, is the glue that holds the Tigers together.

"It doesn't look good," said Cleveland Heights coach Andy Suttell. "They just said for sure a dislocation. The guys are in the locker room and they're upset. They love Tyree and he is clearly our leader, the kid who puts us on his back. It is difficult. The kids are confused."

Gaiter, averaging about 19 points, four assists and four steals, had just stolen the ball and was on his way to the basket on a breakaway. It appeared he tried to dunk the ball, but didn't get high enough and the ball hit the underside of the rim. St. Ignatius guard Francisco Santiago, who led the Wildcats with 18 points, was called for an intentional foul on the play, but it did not appear the foul caused Gaiter to crash to the floor.

It was unclear if Gaiter suffered the injury when the ball failed to clear the rim or when he hit the floor.

The injury cast a pall over what was an entertaining back-and-forth game between teams that will figure prominently in the postseason and are coached by two best friends.

"You hate to see anyone get hurt," said St. Ignatius coach Sean O'Toole. "Obviously, we hope he's OK. He is a great player. We love competing against him. I hated to see him go down."

Sophomore Marcus Bagley had 12 points and five rebounds for Heights, which made 23-of-49 field-goal attempts and 14-of-25 free throws. Junior Antonio Harper had 6 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Derek Sloan backed Santiago with 11 points and led everyone with 12 rebounds. Senior Jack Tupa had 11 points, five rebounds and three steals. The Wildcats (12-5) made 18-of-49 free throws.

St. Ignatius had a 48-47 lead with a little less than six minutes to go when Najeeb Johnson hit a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Tigers the lead. Kojo Lockhart followed with an underhand layup and Kevin Clark made a free throw to extend the lead to 53-48.

Bagley had only one basket in the fourth quarter, but it was a clutch, baseline jumper that gave the Tigers a 55-50 lead with 2:44 to play. Gaiter followed with a free throw and fast-break basket that made it 58-51 with 1:15 left.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio — The slogan on T-shirts worn by Midpark's girls basketball team reads, "Hate it or Love it, There's No in Between," but the phrase, "Now or Never," sounds more appropriate. "There's a real urgency to win state, and we have a great opportunity to do that because of this year's talent," said Meteors junior guard Sam...

Midpark's Korie Maryo wears pink Nike shoes in honor of her grandmother, who died of breast cancer. - (Lynn Ischay, PD)

MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio — The slogan on T-shirts worn by Midpark's girls basketball team reads, "Hate it or Love it, There's No in Between," but the phrase, "Now or Never," sounds more appropriate.

"There's a real urgency to win state, and we have a great opportunity to do that because of this year's talent," said Meteors junior guard Sam Neric.

With its best team in years, Midpark is stacked for a long tournament run and what it hopes is the program's first final-four berth.

The urgency is serious.

Midpark soon will dissolve, with students transferring to Berea's building.

Midpark will be converted into a junior high school in the 2013-14 school year when it merges with Berea. That means sophomore varsity players Stasha Carey and Kyla Johnson will be playing for a new school their senior year.

"I just didn't envision that as a senior, and I'm not looking forward to it at all," said Johnson.

There's lots of uncertainty, including particulars of the new high school.

"The school colors will be orange and blue, but we don't yet have a name or mascot for the new school," said Superintendent Mike Sheppard.

The future of Meteors coach Stephanie Mentz is the biggest unknown. She's not a fulltime teacher in the district. She works as a substitute teacher, in addition to working in the service department at a local car dealership.

"I want to be the coach at the new school, but I don't worry about things I can't control," said Mentz, who is also planning an August 2013 wedding to assistant coach Brian Bruce. "All I can do is continue working at turning the program around and winning at the highest level."

Mentz has an 81-50 record in six seasons, and the Meteors have the credentials to reach the state final four this year.

They are ranked sixth in The Plain Dealer Top 25, and eighth in the Associated Press Division I state poll. They received the top seed in the sectional/district tournament at Valley Forge, which gets under way Saturday. Midpark's first game is Thursday.

A work in progress

Mentz's first team went 4-17 in 2006-07. The biggest challenge was keeping varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams afloat with only 21 players.

Her second year resulted in more players, a 9-12 record and plenty of hope because the Meteors seldom got blown out.

Midpark broke even at 11-11 in Mentz's third season before going 17-5 and winning the Southwestern Conference the following year. Then came last season, when the Meteors went 22-3, won another conference crown and reached the regional finals.

This year, the Meteors stand 18-2. They have lost just one conference game the past three seasons.

The stands began filling up during the Meteors' 2009-10 season. They sold out their ticket allotment for last year's district and regional games and are now winning back the older fans.

"They want to savor every moment remaining in the school's existence," said Mentz, who was head coach at now-closed St. Augustine and an assistant at Hathaway Brown.

The Meteors have given their fans plenty to cheer about, whether playing a halfcourt game or transition.

Senior point guard and Nebraska signee Rachel Theriot and 6-3 Carey are each averaging 16.5 points and 1.7 blocked shots.

Theriot adds 6.2 rebounds, 10.9 assists and 3.6 steals a game. Carey, who recently made an unofficial visit to Maryland, has a team-best 8.3 rebounds per game. Theriot, senior Brittany Smith and junior Korie Maryo have combined for 78 3-pointers.

Playing through adversity

All has not been bright while the team got better and better each season under Mentz.

Maryo lost her grandmother to breast cancer two years ago, and she has 8-27-10 written on her pink basketball shoes. That signifies the day Donna Gerrity passed away, leaving grandpa Bill Gerrity to carry on the tradition.

"He never misses a game," Maryo said.

Sophomore guard Kyla Johnson lost two grandparents within the past nine months. Shelia Johnson passed away suddenly in June, and John "JC" Johnson died Feb. 5 of cancer.

"My teammates came to [my grandpa's] wake the day before the Westlake game, dressed in our orange and gray sweats," said Johnson. "It really meant a lot."

Neric's cousin and close friend, Nick Neric, was killed in a hunting accident last month.

Nick Neric, 26, and married in October, was a doctorate candidate in clinical/bioanalytical chemistry at Cleveland State.

"He's the smartest person I've ever known," said Sam Neric. "My teammates were great. They were texting me and calling me to make sure I knew they were thinking of me and my family."

The team is spending much more time together off the court to help in the mourning process. Sleepovers, team meals and games of whirlyball have been frequent.

On the court, the increasing excitement and intensity as the regular season winds down have helped as well.

And while the team is determined to focus on the upcoming tournament run, players acknowledge it's also difficult to avoid thinking about the school's future.

"Hopefully, all the conference trophies we won will be somewhere in the new school so we're remembered," said senior Lexi Hassing.

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

On Twitter:@BobFortuna

McShay says if he were the Browns, he wouldn't hesitate to send the No. 4 and No. 22 overall picks to the St. Louis Rams for the No. 2 pick and use it to select Griffin.

Associated PressSome analysts believe teams will try to outbid each other to make a deal with the St. Louis Rams for the No. 2 overall draft pick, to then be used to select Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay thinks the Browns will have to win a bidding war with the Washington Redskins to trade up to No. 2 with the St. Louis Rams to select Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

And if it were him, he wouldn’t hesitate to surrender the No. 4 and No. 22 picks to pull off the deal. The Redskins own the No. 6 and No. 39 overall picks.

“I would do it,” McShay said of the Browns trading their two first-round picks. “I wouldn’t do it for any other position, but I would do it for quarterback.”

McShay said the Heisman Trophy winner doesn’t have much to prove physically at the NFL Combine next week, but he must sell himself in interviews to the Browns and Redskins.

“I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t floor both of those teams with his intelligence and his understanding of the game,” McShay said. “I think it’s going to be a competition between the two to see who can get up there when it’s all said and done,” he said. 

McShay ventured to say that if not for Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck — who’s expected to go No.1 to the Colts — Griffin would be competing for the top spot on the board.

“I think he’s every bit worth the [No. 2] pick,” McShay said. “I’ve got him as the third prospect overall in this class, and I think that if the Browns want him, they need to move up and get him. I’ll be surprised if he lasts until four, and I’ll be even surprised if he gets to No. 3 because I think that No. 2 pick is up for public auction. I think the
Rams are going to get a good deal to move back and can still get a player they want at tackle or wide receiver.

“And if it’s not Cleveland, then it’s probably going to be Washington [at No. 6] right behind them leapfrogging Cleveland to get up to No. 2.”

According to the NFL’s draft value chart, the Browns’ No. 4 and No. 22 picks would be almost equal to the value of the No. 2 pick, which is worth 2,600 points. The No. 4 is worth 1,800 and the No. 22 is worth 780 for a total of 2,580. Throw in a sixth-round pick worth about 20 points, and the Browns are right there.

The Redskins, on the other hand, total 2,110 points with their first two picks. The No. 6 pick is worth 1,600 and the No. 39 overall pick is worth 510. In order to top the Browns’ offer, they’d likely have to throw in a third-rounder this year or a second-rounder next year. But the Browns’ offer guarantees the Rams will still be able to get either Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon or USC tackle Matt Kalil at No. 4.

“It may seem like you’re giving up too much, but I’d much rather nail it at the quarterback position than sit there at four, miss out on the quarterback, get [Alabama’s] Trent Richardson at running back, Michael Floyd or someone at receiver and still not have anyone to get them the football that you feel great about,” McShay said.

That’s not to say he thinks that Colt McCoy will never be a good starting quarterback in the NFL.

“I think we’ve seen enough flashes, but I think we’ve also seen teams adjust to his inability to consistently throw the ball down the field with velocity and accuracy,” he said. “Those were the concerns. That’s why he was a third-round pick coming out. Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick and is one of the greatest of all time, so you never really know, but there’s a reason that guys end up going where they go in terms of what they can do at the next level.

“I think with McCoy, we’ve kind of seen in the last couple of years that he has the intangibles — the toughness, the competitiveness, the ability to move and keep plays alive and accuracy underneath — but the limitations are there.”

Therefore, the Browns should grab the brass ring when they have the chance, McShay said.

“When you have an opportunity at the one position that just seems to change the franchise — it’s really the only correlation between all of the good teams is really good quarterback play,” he said. “There’s a reason the vast majority of teams drafting in the top 15 need a quarterback and the vast majority of the teams drafting in the bottom 15 don’t.”

McShay said he wasn’t that impressed with Griffin’s 2010 season. In fact, he had a third-round grade on him then and wasn’t sure he’d work out as a pro quarterback. But he saw the light in 2011.

“He really grew on me,” McShay said. “I got coach’s copy tape from this year and saw the improvement with his accuracy, with his anticipation, specifically with his accuracy down the field, too. I thought he showed a lot more touch and was able to drop the ball in and make accurate throws vertically. Can he still improve in that area? Of course he can. I think, sometimes, he’s got to learn to take a little bit of heat off his fastball and throw more catchable throws in the short to intermediate [range], but he has really made huge strides as a passer in terms of that accuracy, and it’s so important.”

What impressed McShay even more than Griffin’s world-class speed was his terrific arm and football acumen.

“You look at the athleticism, which is through the roof, his speed, which is exceptional, and it leads to a lot of potential big plays when he does decide to take off and run,” McShay said.

“But what I like about him is he is a true passer first, and he’s not an impatient guy that’s always looking to get outside the pocket. He will sit in there, he’ll hang tough, he can throw from a lot of different launch points, he can snap the ball off and has a strong arm and I love his mental makeup. He’s a leader, he’s tough and, most importantly, he’s smart. He picks things up quickly, and I haven’t found a person I’ve
talked to that says anything but great things about him in the classroom and understanding offensive concepts and just his natural intelligence.”

Roberto Hernandez Heredia is telling young baseball players in the Dominican Republic not to lie about their age and identity. Hernandez, the Indians pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona, knows first hand what problems that can cause.

View full sizePlain Dealer file photoIndians pitcher Fausto Carmona, actually Roberto Hernandez, remains in the Dominican Republic.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Roberto Hernandez Heredia, the pitcher Indians fans knew as Fausto Carmona, is telling young baseball players in the Dominican Republic to tell the truth about their age and identity.

Hernandez has been visiting independent baseball camps on the island since Feb. 7. After he speaks, he hands out T-shirts to the players. On the front is printed this message in Spanish: "In Truth, There is Triumph." Hernandez's name is on the back with his number (55).

Who better to listen to than Hernandez? He was arrested Jan. 19 outside the U.S. Consulate in Santo Domingo, D.R., for using false identification to try to obtain a visa to join the Indians in spring training in Goodyear, Ariz. He has been ordered not to leave the country and was placed on the restricted list by the Indians.

"Roberto is telling the young players about what he's experienced and gone through," said agent Jorge Brito.

"He's telling them that if you're 18 or 19, not to let anyone convince you that you have to change your identity or age so that you can realize your dream of becoming a major-league player.

"He tells them you don't have to lie. He's telling them not to listen to the people who are trying to convince you to do that. Those people are trying to take advantage of you."

Brito would not say if this is part of a process Hernandez must go through to receive a waiver that would allow him to join the Indians sometime this year in the United States. Indians pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., Monday and start workouts Wednesday. Brito said there is no timetable on when Carmona might be able to rejoin the Indians, but he will not be there for the start of camp.

"This is Roberto's campaign," said Brito. "He tells the kids about the dangers of being victimized twice by this process. First, you have to change your name and your age to sign. Then you can get caught. Roberto has paid a large and costly price for that. I would think all parties involved in this would welcome that message with open arms."

After his arrest, Dominican authorities said Carmona was Hernandez and that he was 31 years old instead of 28.

The Indians were officially informed Carmona is really Hernandez. Last week, General Manager Chris Antonetti said he wants Hernandez back on the team, if and when he is allowed by the U.S. Consulate.

"Roberto makes it clear to the kids that the door is open," said Brito. "He's willing to help any one of them who want it if they want to talk about this."

Hernandez, meanwhile, has been working out daily at the academies he speaks at. He has not used the Indians baseball academy in the Dominican.

"He's throwing a bullpen right now," said Brito, as he talked to The Plain Dealer on Thursday morning.

When the Indians signed Hernandez on Dec. 28, 2000, they believed he was 17. He was actually 20.

In five years with the Indians, he is 53-66 with a 4.59 ERA. His best season was 2007 when he went 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA.

The Indians do not have to pay Carmona's $7 million salary as long as he is on the restricted list.

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

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Here's today's and tonight's sports listings for TV and radio for the Cleveland area.

Scott Shaw, The Plain DealerThe Cavs' Ryan Hollins (right) guards Miami's Chris Bosh during Cleveland's 102-90 homecourt win over the Heat last March 29. Miami plays at Cleveland tonight at 7:30 in a game televised by Fox Sports Ohio and broadcast on WTAM/1100-AM.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today on the air

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

AUTO RACING

5 p.m. Budweiser Shootout practice, Speed

6:30 p.m. Budweiser Shootout practice, Speed

8:30 p.m. Selection Show for Budweiser Shootout (tape), Speed

BOXING

9 p.m. Miguel Gonzalez vs. Mike Dallas Jr., ESPN2

11 p.m. Jonathan Gonzalez vs. Billy Lyell;

Thomas Dulorme vs. Jose Reynoso, Showtime

GOLF

9 a.m. Avantha Masters (tape), Golf Channel

12:30 p.m. LPGA Thailand (tape), Golf Channel

3 p.m. Northern Trust Open, Golf Channel

6:30 p.m. ACE Group Classic (tape), Golf Channel

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

7:30 p.m. Vermilion at Avon, WDLW/1380-AM

11 p.m. North Olmsted at Avon Lake (tape), NEON

HOCKEY

7:30 p.m. NCAA, Dartmouth at Yale, NBC Sports Network

7:30 p.m. NCAA, Northern Michigan at Michigan, Big Ten Network

7:30 p.m. NCAA, Notre Dame at Miami (Ohio), CBS Sports Network

7:35 p.m. AHL, MONSTERS at Rochester, WHKW/1220-AM

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Monsters coverage)

10 p.m. NCAA, Nebraska-Omaha at Colorado College, CBS Sports Network

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. Columbia at Princeton, ESPNU

7 p.m. Northern Iowa at VCU, ESPN2

9 p.m. Valparaiso at Loyola Marymount, ESPNU

NBA

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

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage)

8 p.m. Dallas at Philadelphia, ESPN (preview)

10:30 p.m. Phoenix at L.A. Lakers. ESPN (preview)

The Knicks point guard was added Thursday to the roster of players for the Feb. 24 game, just before Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley began drafting for their teams.

Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIREKnicks rising star Jeremy Lin will participate in NBA All-Star weekend after all.

NEW YORK— Jeremy Lin will play in the Rising Stars Challenge after all.

The Knicks point guard was added Thursday to the roster of players for the Feb. 24 game, just before Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley began drafting for their teams.

Lin's breakout came after the pool of 18 players was selected, and the NBA was pressured to add him after he scored 136 points in his first five starts, most by an NBA player since the merger with the ABA in 1976-77.

Beyond his strong play, there has been enormous interest in Lin because he was undrafted out of Harvard and is the first American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Other NBA players have praised his feats on Twitter, and even President Barack Obama is a fan.

But Commissioner David Stern had told USA Today that Lin would not receive a special invite to play in the game involving rookies and second-year players.

Barkley praised the addition, saying it was "really stupid the NBA denied him in the beginning."

O'Neal took Lin with his third pick after starting with the Clippers' Blake Griffin. Barkley took Cleveland's Kyrie Irving at No. 2.

Miami's Norris Cole also was added to make 20 eligible players.

The game formerly matched rookies against second-year players, but the NBA changed the format this season so the teams would be mixed. O'Neal and Barkley served as general managers.

The other second-year players are Griffin, John Wall (Washington), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Landry Fields (New York), Paul George (Indiana), Gordon Hayward (Utah), Greg Monroe (Detroit), Tiago Splitter (San Antonio) and Evan Turner (Philadelphia).

The other rookies include Irving, Ricky Rubio (Minnesota), Kemba Walker (Charlotte), MarShon Brooks (New Jersey), Brandon Knight (Detroit), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), Markieff Morris (Phoenix), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland) and Derrick Williams (Minnesota).

They're outraged in Miami about LeBron James saying he would play for the Cavaliers again, right? Mildly peeved? They heard about it, didn't they?

AP PhotoIs LeBron James plotting a return to the Cavs or is he just playing with the hearts and minds of Northeast Ohio fans again?

Upon hearing LeBron James' comments about possibly returning to play for the Cavaliers, one of the first things I said was, "Man, they must be outraged in Miami right about now."

Nearly 24 hours later, I'm still searching for that outrage. While some Heat fans (yes, they do exist) took to Twitter to express their displeasure with James, a cursory review of Miami's newspaper sites show that city is more interested in Linsanity's looming visit to South Beach than LeBron basically admitting he's already thinking about his next 'Decision.'

Make no mistake about it, Miami, LeBron just gave you the 'It's not me, it's you' speech. You're reaction? "Meh."

Miami Herald: No reaction posted as of 8 a.m. Friday

Ira Winderman, Florida Sun-Sentinel

"[LeBron] is trying to please everybody. It's who he is. And generally when you do that you please no one. To be honest, I thought his comments were relatively benign until I heard about the reaction in South Florida and then sorted through these emails."

Ethan J. Skolnick, Palm Beach Post

"He tried to appease his former fans, without alienating his current ones. That will always be a delicate balance for him, at least until he wins a championship, and cements his legacy in Miami, securing a permanent spot in South Florida's fickle hearts. Still, Heat fans should attempt to understand the complicated nature of his breakup with his old team."

Meanwhile, some national sites gave LeBron some heat for what he said.

Michael Wallace, ESPN.com

[LeBron's comments] border on both innocent sincerity and a complete lack of self awareness. This was the basketball equivalent of rejecting Dwight Howard at the rim on one end, and seconds later blowing an uncontested dunk on the other. Part patronizing, part putrid. Completely baffling.

Kelly Dwyer, Ball Don't Lie (Yahoo! Sports Blog)

This is just a goofball bit of "look at me!" from a guy trying to be tactful and nice in the face of media that report to a place he called home for 98 percent of his life. James might not be completely happy in Miami, now that things haven't come as easily as he'd hoped, but there's nothing to see here in mid-February of 2012.

How would you react if you were a Miami Heat fan? Post your comments below.

Statistically, the trade that brought Omri Casspi and a No. 1 draft choice from Sacramento for J.J. Hickson has been a push. But the Cavs are happy with Casspi and the way things worked out.

AP PhotoOmri Casspi has struggled offensively for the Cavaliers this season.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- From a purely statistical viewpoint, the trade that brought Omri Casspi from the Sacramento Kings for J.J. Hickson has been a push. Casspi is scoring a bit more, while Hickson is rebounding a bit more, both of which were to be expected.

Of course, the fact that the Cavs also got the promise of a much-protected first-round draft choice and avoided a possibly messy contract negotiation with Hickson, who will be a free agent this summer, tips the scales in their favor.

This is not to say the Cavs are unhappy with Casspi. Quite the contrary, which is why he has started all 28 games and will start again Sunday when Hickson and the Kings visit The Q.

"I think Omri's doing a pretty good job," coach Byron Scott said after practice on Saturday at the Cleveland Clinic Courts. "I think in a lot of situations like this, when you get a new player and he's in a new system, sometimes it takes six months to a year before he finally adjusts.

"I think that's still where Omri is with us. He's still adjusting, but he's getting better. He understands what he needs to do every single night, which I think is a plus. Plus he's a kid who just wants to work hard and wants to get better."

Scott rejected the notion that he didn't get along with Hickson, who has been primarily a bench player for the Kings. Although the two had a rough start, and he benched Hickson early in the year for missing a mandatory practice, when Anderson Varejao was lost for the season and Scott was forced to move Hickson to center, Hickson responded and the two got along fine.

"I think especially toward the latter part of the season, the relationship was pretty good," Scott said. "I don't base trades on my feelings for a certain individual. My feelings are always based on how can we get better as a basketball team."

The Cavs are 11-17 heading into Sunday's matchup, while the Kings are 10-20. While Casspi is averaging a career-low 7.8 points, he's working hard to contribute in other ways.

"Coach Scott just told me to focus on other stuff -- defense and rebounding," he said. "They're looking to make me more involved in the offense as well. I'm trying to defensive rebound a lot more and take pride in my defense. The offense will come eventually.

"I'm getting the shots I want. Now it's time to knock 'em down and be a little bit more involved on offense. But I'm not really concerned about that. I'm taking pride in my defense and defensive rebounding and what I need to do."

Injury updates: Unless he suffers a setback overnight, Semih Erden is expected to start against the Kings in spite of a sore left wrist, Scott said. Ryan Hollins has a sore knee, and Scott didn't qualify his availability. Daniel Gibson is questionable with a sprained ankle. Anthony Parker is still out with a bad back.

The last word: From Scott, on Kings rookie Jimmer Fredette, "He can flat-out light it up if you give him room."

What lessons could the Browns learn from the Aston Villa soccer team, Randy Lerner's other "football" team, after Pat Shurmur and the soccer team manager exchanged ideas in Berea?

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerWhat did Browns head coach Pat Shurmur learn from his meeting with Aston Villa counterpart Alex McLeish? That's a really good question, says Bill Livingston. After all, both teams have been losing a lot lately.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- To most of the world, "football" is what Americans call soccer. It is the sport in which "nil-nil" ties are common.

Against that background of nothingness, the coach and manager of Randy Lerner's two football teams -- the Browns of the NFL and Aston Villa of the English Premier League -- met in Berea this week, presumably looking to find something good.

Is the Browns' Pat Shurmur going to teach Villa manager Alex McLeish the West Coast offense? Of course not. I'm not sure what Aston Villa gets out of the deal, except possibly the idea of holding the feet of the city fathers in Birmingham, England, to the fire for future stadium repairs.

But the Browns can certainly learn a thing or two. To exchange useful pointers and develop critical marketing savvy, the coach and manager needed to broaden their discussion to include the entire Premier League.

In it, there is a team called West Brom Albion. It is located in West Bromwich in the English Midlands, which is sort of like the Midwest. It has the nickname of the "Baggies." If Shurmur and McLeish were looking for some synergy, there they have it.

The Baggies were named for the loose-fitting trousers worn by West Brom's early supporters. Cleveland's varsity could be called the "Brown Baggies," similar to the grocery bags that are replacing Dawgmasks as game day headgear in Cleveland.

There are also things each executive could urge the other not to do. I don't just mean not handing off to a tight end for his first carry of the season in the red zone. Things are different Over There. The Everton team, based in Liverpool, has the nickname of the "Toffees" or "Toffee Men" because of the popular Everton Mints made there.

Any NFL team with that nickname would invite rude comments. Someone (probably James Harrison) would call them a derogatory name that is a combination of "candy" and a crude term for the players' posteriors.

View full sizeAP photoThe sound of unhappy fans has rained down on Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish this season. So he has that in common with Pat Shurmur.

Villa's colors are claret and sky blue. Carmen Policy, who had all the impact of a hurled plastic bottle inside a bag when he was the Browns president, is now growing grapes in California. Even as a proposed "alternate" uniform, however, claret should not be considered here.

Policy might be drinking the wine, but the rivals of the Browns, 0-6 in the division last season, are stomping the grapes.

McLeish used to be the manager for Birmingham City, Aston Villa's biggest rival. He is the first to go directly from one arch rival to the other in the "Second City Derby." The lesson for the Browns is to look to their biggest rival, which is, purportedly, Pittsburgh, although that might be news to the Steelers. If former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, a one-time Browns assistant, wanted to jump from the television studio to Berea, Lerner should provide the bungee cord.

The crest of the Aston Villa team shows a rampant (rearing) lion and looks sort of like the Detroit Lions' symbol. The Browns and Lions had the NFL's best rivalry. In the 1950s. The Lions were a playoff team last season; the Browns, not real close.

McLeish could tell the befuddled Shurmur to pay more attention to Aston Villa's official motto: "Prepared." Its significance here seems obvious after Shurmur's overmatched rookie season

All teams are looking to spark the interest of casual fans and turn them into zealots. The entire sport of soccer got a boost from a movie a decade ago called "Bend It Like Beckham." "Bend It Like Pontbriand," however, doesn't work. Although maybe that's just me.

It only seems like 100 years since the Browns came back and simultaneously renounced competitiveness. But it is really only 13 seasons, two of them actual winning ones. Aston Villa is teetering on the brink of "relegation," which means being sent to the minors for poor performance. It has never happened in its 100 seasons of football.

No matter what Shurmur and McLeish were talking about this week, they should have been breaking new ground. These two guys already know how to lose.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Mark Price, Larry Nance, Wayne Embry are all bullish on the Cavaliers' two young centerpieces.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer"These guys are just so young," said former Cavaliers forward Larry Nance on rookies Kyrie Irving (left) and Tristan Thompson. "I think with (them), the Cavs are on the right track."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It has been a rough few days for Cavs fans. First, LeBron James flirted with his former team, and that was followed by the Cavs' total meltdown to the Heat Friday night.

Before the opening tap, doom really did hang over the game with center Anderson Varejao along with guards Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker injured. When facing the NBA's most talented team, you need every veteran on the court. Instead, the Cavs were under-manned and overwhelmed. Coach Byron Scott was right in that they were not mentally prepared to handle the moment of a big home game against the NBA's most gifted player, who wanted to make a statement with one slam after another.

Yes, the Cavs are still sorting through the rubble of James' departure, and it can be disheartening. A franchise doesn't go from an NBA-worst 19-63 in one year to a winning record the next. The Cavs were 17-65 before James, then were 35-47 in his rookie season. No one claims even most of the pieces are in place to become a playoff team, but they do have a foundation in point guard Kyrie Irving.

That's not just my opinion.

"I like Kyrie -- a lot," said former Cavs star Mark Price. "You look at most young point guards, and they are going 100 miles an hour. He is under control. He has a feel for he game. He changes speeds and direction with ease."

I called some former Cavs for their reading on the franchise, starting with Price. Now an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, he has a hard time believing Irving is only 19.

"I was a rookie at 22 and it was really hard," said Price, who backed up John Bagley in his first season of 1986-87. "To come in and do what Kyrie is dong at 19 is amazing. He's not a physical talent like LeBron who can carry a team by himself, but he's someone to build around."

Other than James, Price is the only Cavalier to be named first team All-NBA. That was in 1992-93. James made it four times with the Cavs.

A rebuilding model

View full sizePD historical collection"The Cavs are doing the right things," says Larry Nance. "I love Irving. I love how he has the right coach in Byron. ... The more Kyrie attacks, the better he plays."

When Cavs General Manager Chris Grant and his staff were studying how to build a team, they looked at what Oklahoma City has done with Kevin Durant. But they also studied the Cavs of the late 1980s under GM Wayne Embry and coach Lenny Wilkens. They liked the accent on character, on team play and on building through the draft, followed by adding the right type of veterans, such as Larry Nance.

"The Cavs are doing the right things," said Nance. "I love Irving. I love how he has the right coach in Byron. Byron was a very good guard who knows how to help Kyrie become a star."

Nance added, "the more Kyrie attacks, the better he plays."

A Cavaliers power forward from 1987-94, Nance sees the Cavs adding more speed in the next few years so that they can become a high-octane team with Irving as the engine. Irving is putting up Price-type stats: 18.2 points, 5.0 assists, 49 percent shooting, 41 percent on 3-pointers.

"He is like Mark in that he's a point guard who also can shoot and score," said Embry. "But he first looks to deliver the ball to the right person at the right time. His outside shot sets up his penetration. The game really comes easy to him."

Embry said he wanted to build a team around a point guard and a big man. He had Brad Daugherty at center and Price was his first excellent point guard. After that, he drafted Kevin Johnson (traded for Nance), Terrell Brandon and Andre Miller. Those four were terrific point guards.

"A point guard has such a dramatic impact on winning because he handles the ball so much," said Embry. "But I like how Kyrie doesn't dominate the ball. Some guys dribble so much, they bring the offense to a halt."

Now a consultant with Toronto, Embry believes even one season and 11 games at Duke had a huge impact on Irving.

"He played for one of the greatest coaches [Mike Krzyzewski] in history," said Embry. "He was put in a winning program that stressed team play. That means a lot."

A big man needs time

Embry said Cavs fans should be patient with forward Tristan Thompson, last year's No. 4 pick.

"It takes big guys time to develop," he said. "He has talent."

Nance sees a little of himself in Thompson. Not the Larry Nance who arrived in Cleveland at the age of 28, but the Larry Nance of his early 20s. That Nance was a leaper who had yet to develop a jump shot.

As a 22-year-old rookie with Phoenix, Nance averaged 6.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15 minutes a game. But the next season, he exploded to 16.7 points and 8.7 rebounds.

It's doubtful Thompson will become another Nance. Thompson is averaging 6.8 points, 5.2 rebounds in 18 minutes a game. His field-goal percentage (43) matches his free-throw mark (46 percent).

Irving's instant success disguises how most rookies are struggling this season. Only six are averaging more than 10 points. Among rookies, only Kenneth Faried (5.8) has more boards per game than Thompson.

"I like [Thompson's] aggressiveness and shot-blocking," said Nance. "He can become really good as a rebounder and on defense. He's athletic and has a good motor."

Nance then talked about his son, Larry Nance Jr., who is a 19-year-old freshman at Wyoming. The younger Nance is the sixth man on an 18-7 team coached by Larry Shyatt, a Cleveland Heights native and former Cleveland State assistant.

Nance said his son "is having growing pains," days where his knees hurt as his body continues to adjust to its 6-8 frame.

"I was the same way as a freshman, I didn't start at Clemson," he said. "Coaches were on me because they thought I wasn't playing hard, but my body was aching."

Nance then thinks about Thompson, a 20-year-old who could be in his sophomore season at Texas.

"These guys are just so young," said Nance. "I think with [Irving and Thompson], the Cavs are on the right track."