The Buckeyes shot 49 percent from the field to earn a shot at their third straight Big Ten tournament title.

View full sizeNeal C. Lauron, Columbus DispatchThe body language of Ohio State's Jared Sullinger and Michigan's Jordan Morgan pretty much told the tale of the Buckeyes' blistering start and easy romp in Saturday's Big Ten men's semifinal in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Jared Sullinger scored 24 points to help No. 7 Ohio State defeat No. 10 Michigan, 77-55, on Saturday in the Big Ten tournament semifinals.

Deshaun Thomas scored 22 points and William Buford added 10 for the third-seeded Buckeyes (27-6), who advanced to play No. 8 Michigan State in the final on Sunday. Michigan State defeated No. 14 Wisconsin, 65-52, in the other semifinal on Saturday.

The Buckeyes shot 49 percent from the field to earn a shot at their third straight Big Ten tournament title.

Tim Hardaway, Jr., led No. 2 seed Michigan with 13 points, but he made just 3 of 10 shots. Trey Burke, Michigan's other star player, scored five points on 1-for-11 shooting and had eight turnovers.

The Wolverines (24-9) shot 31 percent from the field, made just 4 of 25 3-pointers and committed 18 turnovers in one of their worst offensive performances of the season.

All Cleveland's Kyrie Irving did was beat Denver with another driving layup and record a career high 12 assists in upset at Oklahoma City.

View full sizeAmy Sancetta, Associated PressNBA defenses have had a tough time slowing down Kyrie Irving, but now his closest competitor for the top rookie award -- Minnesota's Ricky Rubio -- has out for the season with a knee injury.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- From now until the end of the regular season, these rankings will reflect the leaders for the Rookie of the Year award.

All Cleveland's Kyrie Irving did was beat Denver with another driving layup and record a career high 12 assists in upset at Oklahoma City. With Ricky Rubio's ACL tear, there seems little between Irving and the postseason trophy ceremony. (Statistics through Friday's games.)

1. Kyrie Irving, No. 1 pick by Cleveland, G

Stats: 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists

Rank last week: 1

2. Ricky Rubio, No. 5 pick by Minnesota in 2009, G

Stats: 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists

Rank last week: 2

3. MarShon Brooks, No. 25 pick by Boston, traded to New Jersey, G/F

Stats: 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists

Rank last week: Unranked

4. Kenneth Faried, No. 22 pick by Denver, F

Stats: 8.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, .4 assists

Rank last week: 4

5. Derrick Williams, No. 2 pick by Minnesota, F

Stats: 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, .5 assists

Rank last week: Unranked

The Browns had no public comment on Saturday after losing the RGIII sweepstakes, but are considering their draft options.

View full sizeAP fileWith the top two QBs in the NFL draft spoken for, will the Browns attempt to trade down and acquire more picks and Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns offered at least their No. 4 and No. 22 overall picks in this year's draft to trade up to No. 2, a report said, but now it's time to look at life without Robert Griffin III.

As of last week, the Browns were unwilling to include their No. 22, but they acquiesced, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Saturday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter, citing Cleveland sources, reported that the Browns offered a third first-round pick and were also prepared to throw in a second-rounder. Schefter said the Browns thought they had a deal, only to discover the Redskins had outbid them.

The Browns' offer of three first-rounders would seemingly trump the Redskins' offer by virtue of the Browns' No. 4 pick this year vs. the Redskins' No. 6. Washington also sent St. Louis its second-round pick this year -- No. 39 overall -- along with its first-rounders in 2013 and '14.

With the sixth pick, the Rams stand a chance of losing out on taking Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon, who could go as high as No. 4 to the Browns -- another reason the Browns' three first-rounders would seem more attractive.

Others have indicated the Browns didn't offer three first-rounders, including NFL Network's Mike Lombardi, who told the Washington Post on Saturday that Browns sources told him they weren't willing to invest that much.

For their part, the Browns aren't saying anything, declining comment through team spokesman Neal Gulkis. But it's time to explore some of their options.

1. Help Colt McCoy: Ever since the end of the season, the Browns have been saying they believe they can win with McCoy. The day before the NFL Combine, coach Pat Shurmur said McCoy can be much-improved this year, and General Manager Tom Heckert reiterated it Thursday. "If we catch more balls and protect him better, can Colt be a lot better? Yes. That's our goal. We still think Colt can play in this league, and it's our job to help him out."

A No. 1 receiver such as Blackmon, a starting running back and a right tackle would be three good places to start.

2. Draft Tannehill or Weeden: Heckert has praised both quarterbacks and the Browns could opt for either one. No. 4 might be high for Tannehill, but the price tag is still only about four years, $22 million. They might also be able to get him if they trade down. Weeden could be had at 22, or maybe even 37.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., on a conference call Thursday, said the drawback with Tannehill is that he's a former receiver who started only 19 games at quarterback. He cited his suspect performance against four ranked teams: a 59.6 completion percentage and nine picks. But he praised his spectacular performance in the red zone, including 18 touchdowns and only one interception, and the fact he's athletic enough to have played receiver, too.

"I think he'll go high," Kiper said.

He said Weeden "would've been a top-10 or 15 pick if he was 22 or 23. He turns 29 in October, and that's why he's going to be a late first or early-to-mid second."

He cited Weeden's "arm, his release, his intelligence, his leadership -- Brandon Weeden is a good football player and a heck of a quarterback. ... At the end of the day, I think he's a second-round pick and a real good second-round pick."

The Browns sent a contingent of eight, including Shurmur, to Oklahoma State's pro day on Friday to watch Weeden and Blackmon, and could emerge with one -- or both.

3. Pursue Flynn, Kolb: Green Bay backup quarterback Matt Flynn is set enter free agency Tuesday, but Heckert has twice said he doubts the Browns will find their starter in free agency. If that's true, they'll pass on a player who's started two NFL games and could command a $40 million to $50 million salary.

Kevin Kolb, the Cardinals' quarterback whom Heckert drafted in 2007, could be released next week before he's due a $7 million bonus, and he'll almost certainly be gone if the Cards sign Peyton Manning, who arrived in Arizona on Saturday night. Plagued by injuries last season, Kolb went 3-6 in Arizona after the Cards traded for him.

4. Keep the No. 4 pick: If the Browns stay at No. 4, they're likely to end up with Blackmon, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne or Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Blackmon dazzled Friday, running the 40 in an impressive 4.46.

"He ran the 40 he needed to run," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock told the Post-Dispatch. "It dispelled all the issues about what his long speed was."

Heckert said it wouldn't be ideal for the Browns to go defense at No. 4, but Claiborne has their interest. As for Richardson, he said: "He's a really good player. He's a big, tough, physical runner. He can pass protect, he's a smart kid. We really like him."

5. Trade down: Now that the Browns aren't trading up, it increases the likelihood they'll trade down and stockpile more picks. If the Browns can live without Blackmon, teams might be willing to trade up for him.

Last year, the Falcons gave the Browns a bundle of picks, including this year's No. 22, to move up to draft receiver Julio Jones. Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff said at the combine Blackmon also could draw interest. If the Browns trade down, they could land Tannehill and then still grab a receiver such as Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill with their No. 22 pick.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

The Griz has been trying to move Mayo for more than a season, which intrigues some of the Cavaliers' fans.

View full sizeAP fileO.J. Mayo has been shopped around by the Grizzlies for a couple of seasons, but so far continues to score points for Memphis.

Hey, Tom: Could you see a trade in which Cavs trade Ramon Sessions to the Grizzlies for O.J. Mayo? -- Zach Johnson, Cleveland

Hey, Zach: No. The Griz has been trying to move Mayo for more than a season. They clearly want a big return for Mayo and I don't see the Cavaliers making that kind of deal.

Hey, Tom: It appears Sacramento is unhappy with J.J. Hickson and will let him walk in free agency, (assuming they don't trade him first). If his value drops low enough, do you think the Cavs would have interest in re-signing him? What about the Heat? -- J T, San Diego

Hey, J T: No, I can't imagine the Cavaliers would bring back Hickson. He has regressed since he left Cleveland and looked lost in his lone appearance here this season.

Hey, Tom: I've seen rumors not long ago that the Timberwolves were willing to trade Michael Beasley. I know we don't have anything to trade, but if Beasley's contract is up couldn't he be a good fit for the Cavs at small forward? -- Cordell Walker, Cleveland

Hey, Cordell: It's believed the Wolves are willing to move Beasley, but the club still retains his rights for next season.

Hey, Tom: In the next few days it is possible the Cavs will trade Sessions and/or Antawn Jamison if they can get a first-round draft pick for each. If successful, would the Cavs want that first round pick for this year or in 2013 or 2014? -- Rich Smith, Columbus

Hey, Rich: I think they are hopeful of getting a first-rounder for Sessions. I don't see them getting such a return for Jamison.

-- Tom

Bobcats guard D.J. Cooper leads Ohio with 23 points and wins MVP honors.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerNick Harney has this first-half dunk attempt bounce off the rim during Saturday's MAC title game against Ohio at The Q.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the second time in three years, Ohio University is headed to the NCAA Tournament. Saturday, the Bobcats hung on for a 64-63 victory over Akron in Saturday's title game of the Mid-American Conference Tournament in The Q.

Junior guard D.J. Cooper delivered a tournament MVP performance with 23 points, even if at times he was doing as much bad for his team as good. Inside the final four minutes, as a 62-54 lead trickled away, Cooper would launch NBA threes, dribble into rush-hour traffic in the lane and throw up wild attempts at the hoop, all with no luck.

But that's part of the game plan for OU.

"That was getting to me early in the season," Cooper said. "But coach [John] Groce worked with me on that. I've got to take the best shots and the worst shots at the end, trying to make a play."

He would ultimately even miss the last two free throws he took with 1.2 seconds left. But the Zips' last desperation heave was no good, starting a celebration for the Bobcats (27-7). As for Akron (22-11), their next game will likely be in the NIT as the regular-season MAC champions.

"When you've got good players, and Cooper around good players, you have a chance," OU coach John Groce said. "Players make plays, and Cooper made plays the whole tournament."

The third-seeded Bobcats used a 10-0 run to eventually grab a 62-54 advantage with less than four minutes to play, then survived to advance. Akron had its chances, but a 12-footer from Brian Walsh for the lead with 6.2 seconds to play caromed high, and 7-0 Zeke Marshall, the 2011 MAC tournament MVP, couldn't get the rebound.

"The ball bounced a little better for them the second half than for us," Akron coach Keith Dambrot said. "They're good. They won 27 games for a reason."

Bedford's 6-8 Reggie Keely, who grabbed that last rebound, was fouled and made two at the line for a 64-61 lead that effectively closed out the game.

"There was some pressure," Keely said. "It's the MAC Championship. I'd be heartless not to say that. But I got it done."

After Keely's free throws, Alex Abreu was fouled before he could attempt a tying 3-pointer. After making his first free throw, his second bounced around before dropping through the rim while the clock incorrectly started, forcing officials to stop action to figure out the situation and make sure a Zip didn't touch the bouncing ball and actually tie the game.

The first half ended with Akron leading, 29-28, and with Marshall still on the floor. In the early minutes, the junior center lost his composure and flipped an elbow at the head of Ohio's John Smith. But unlike the quarterfinals, when Western Michigan's Matt Stainbrook was ejected for a flagrant elbow against Kent State, a monitor review by the officials showed the elbow did not make contact, so Marshall was not ejected, or given a technical foul.

The Zips got a pair of 3-pointers to start the second half with a 35-31 lead, but just as quickly went cold. The Bobcats responded with a 10-0 run capped by a T.J. Hall 3-pointer for a 41-35 advantage.

The Zips came close, but just could not get the final job done.

Some quick observations after the Buckeyes' impressive victory on Saturday.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Some quick observations after the Buckeyes' impressive victory on Saturday.

1. Jared Sullinger's energy was obvious again Saturday. He smacked the floor, smiled and dropped into a defensive crouch more than once to show he was ready for action. He even did it while on the bench once. His mental and emotional re-engagement since the Wisconsin loss on Feb. 26 is what has turned Ohio State around, because everyone else plays off Sullinger. When he's out of sync, it's easier for other players to force shots.

In his last four games, Sullinger is averaging 22.5 points and 11.5 rebounds and shooting 54 percent on 16 shots per game. In his four games before that, he was averaging 13.5 points and seven rebounds and shooting 48 percent on 11 shots per game.

2. Both Purdue and Michigan successfully attacked with ball screens during the regular season. The Buckeyes were confused a bit at first against the Boilermakers on Friday, but generally they did a much better job of not letting quick point guards Lewis Jackson and Trey Burke get paths off screens into the lane. That's a great lesson learned for the next few weeks.

3. After getting blown out in the first half at Michigan State last week, before coming back in the second half, the Buckeyes have focused on good starts in Indianapolis. They led 13-3 against Purdue on Friday and 16-3 on Saturday. They don't have to always do that, but it's good practice for Thad Matta to make his young team focus from tipoff.

"Coach always tells us we've got to punch a team early," sophomore Deshaun Thomas said.

4. William Buford has seven games in which he didn't score more than nine points. Thomas has just four, and since his 2-for-12, 8-point game in the home loss to Michigan State on Feb. 11, Thomas had scored in double digits in eight straight, averaging 19.3 points and shooting 58 percent from the field.

Knowing offense is a sure thing from Thomas is a great luxury for the Buckeyes.

Akron and Ohio, the two MAC schools most dedicated to aggressive achievement in basketball and football, play a tournament final to remember.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerThe Ohio players, fans and cheerleaders covered the floor at The Q after the final second ticked off the clock in the Bobcats' victory over Akron in the MAC men's final Saturday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Another frazzling and often dazzling Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game ended with jubilation, hugging and frenetic dancing by the Ohio Bobcats Saturday night. They were a single vital point better than Akron.

The Zips, devastated after the 64-63 defeat in a year in which they won the 18-game marathon that is the regular season, left the floor at The Q to the victors quickly. There was nothing special about this Saturday night to them. The memories would belong to Ohio and Most Valuable Player D.J. Cooper, who scored 23 points and was serenaded ("Coooooop!") during the awards ceremony.

Cooper's assist on a drive-and-kick to Ivo Baltic in the corner led to a 3-pointer -- Baltic waggling three fingers in kind of a Damon Jones gesture -- for a 62-54 lead in the last 3 1/2 minutes that barely held up. It was the biggest lead of a game played in a tight competitive window. Akron's largest lead was only four points.

But after Akron's last, proud surge, and after a replay review by officials confirmed that Zeke Marshall did not score on a tying tip-in in the last 3 seconds, and after Quincy Diggs' wild heave hit nothing as the red lights ending the game framed the backboards, the final judgment was that the MAC's current and future best had met and given us one for the memories.

In RPI, (Ratings Percentage Index) -- a quasi-official guide to NCAA Tournament fitness based on strength of schedule, quality wins and other factors -- Akron was rated 62nd and Ohio 70th. Buffalo, at 74th, eliminated by Ohio in Friday's semifinal, was the only other MAC school in the top 100.

The Athens school insists that Ohio U. and OU should be banned terms. The Bobcats' own fans pay that no mind, though. "O-H-I-O U" was spelled out in green paint on the chests of five male students in The Q's lower bowl. "OU, (Chew) the 'Roo" T-shirts (well, the verb sounds like "chew," anyway) taunted Akron's fans and their kangaroo mascot.

By any name, Ohio's Convocation Center is the MAC's biggest basketball arena at 14,000 seats. To put a worthy team in such a sprawling setting, the Bobcats hired John Groce off Thad Matta's Ohio State staff four years ago. Twice now, he has taken OU to the NCAA Tournament, and in 2010, his Bobcats gave the MAC its first Big Dance victory since 2003.

For six seasons now, Ohio also has had a top-flight football coach in 1960s Cleveland high school legend and former Nebraska coach Frank Solich, who has led the school to four bowls. That included its first-ever bowl victory last season over Utah State in Idaho's Potato Bowl. Ohio's last bowl game before Solich was in 1968.

However, the biggest noise in MAC sports these days, despite Saturday's result, is probably coming from 50 miles south of The Q. With six straight MAC Tournament finals under coach Keith Dambrot, Akron has become the MAC's yardstick for consistency and achievement.

The MAC has had no NBA lottery pick since Chris Kaman in 2003 and no players picked in the draft at all since Ohio's Brandon Hunter in the second round (No. 56 overall) the same year. Its highest profile former basketball player is Antonio Gates, the San Diego Chargers' All-Pro tight end from Kent State, who was an NFL free agent.

Without an ambidextrous 7-foot center like Kaman, or a late-bloomer with matinee idol looks like Miami's Wally Szczerbiak before him, with the MAC schools surrounded on all sides by the Big Ten and its voracious recruiters, the league must capitalize on excellent coaching and improved facilities.

Those qualities define the Akron Zips these days.

InfoCision Stadium is a glittering jewel of a football stadium. Terry Bowden, of the same Bowdens as patriarch Bobby and brothers Tommy and Jeff, takes over the downtrodden program next fall. "I looked for a place that was ready to be good," said Bowden, a former coach at Auburn. "Akron has a great stadium, and it's in the middle of the hotbed of Midwestern football in a 200-mile area from Columbus to Detroit."

He quickly renewed an old friendship with former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, who was hired as a fund-raiser, specifically tasked with the financing of a new basketball arena to replace antiquated James A. Rhodes Arena.

The moment to remember arrived for Ohio Saturday night. As for Akron, if they build it, they will come their way, too.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

With the opening of the free-agent season coming this week, the mailbag is full of ideas for beat writer Mary Kay Cabot.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerPeyton Hillis and the Browns may well be able to work out a new contract, but the team will likely wait to see what other offers the running back gets from NFL teams.

Hey, Mary Kay: How much money are the Browns willing to offer to Peyton Hillis and what could he possibly get in the free-agent market? -- Kevin Zoul, Sagamore Hills

Hey, Kevin: The Browns will let Hillis test the market and determine what he's worth. Then, they'll most likely offer an incentive-rich contract based on games started, yards gained, etc. I heard at one point they offered $16 million over the first three years of the contract. It will be interesting to see what teams are willing to pay him now.

Hey, Mary Kay: With the Steelers most likely unable to keep Mike Wallace, do you see him coming to Cleveland now that DeSean Jackson has been tagged? -- Matt Jaffe, New York, N.Y.

Hey, Matt: Wallace is a restricted free agent and will most likely receive the first-round tender on Monday, which means the Browns would have to surrender their No. 4 pick -- not the No. 22 -- if they signed him. I do not see them doing that.

Hey, Mary Kay: It is widely believed that Kamerion Wimbley will be a cap casualty of the Oakland Raiders. Should the Browns look to re-sign him? He would finally be playing his natural position and would meet Tom Heckert's criteria of fast defensive ends. Is he a worthwhile option, or should the Browns look elsewhere? -- John Finney, North Bend, Ore.

Hey, John: I do think Wimbley could help the Browns and he loved his time in Cleveland. He led the Raiders with nine sacks in 2010 and was second last season with seven. But one source doesn't think he'll be on the Browns' radar if he's cut.

Hey, Mary Kay: What about this scenario? Browns enter the Manning sweepstakes and make the following pitch. Sign Manning and Garcon from Colts, sign Hillis and draft Richardson for our RB threats, draft best tackle available at 22. That would restore our offense and we aren't even out of the first round yet. Then we draft a DE and CB in the second and third. Suddenly we are not only a playoff team but one that can make a deep run. What do you think? -- Ronnie Rickabaugh, Madison, Ala.

Hey, Ronnie: Browns GM Tom Heckert said Thursday the Browns won't pursue Manning, and he's apparently on his way to either Denver, K.C., Arizona or Miami. However, I could see the Browns pursuing Garcon, and making at least some kind of attempt to re-sign Hillis.

Hey, Mary Kay: Based on news reports, sounds like the Arizona Cardinals are very interested in Manning. Any chance Heckert goes after his boy Kevin Kolb in a trade with the Cardinals? -- Kyle Abernathy, Kansas City, Kan.

Hey, Kyle: If the Cardinals land Manning, Kolb would most likely be released, because he's due a $7 million bonus next Saturday. But I think the Browns would just as soon develop Colt McCoy as sign Kolb. They weren't as interested in Kolb last year as folks thought.

Hey, Mary Kay: Now the dust have settled down and before free agency begins, how much cap space do Browns have left, compared to others like Washington, Seattle, Miami? -- Shawn Kapadia, Stow

Hey, Shawn: Cap numbers are expected to come out Monday, but the Browns are expected to be in the $21 million range. They might also cut some players with high salaries or try to restructure them. One possibility is guard Eric Steinbach, who's coming off back surgery and set to make $6 million in 2012.

Hey, Mary Kay: I am concerned about the Browns being able to use 1-TE sets, as Ben Watson and Alex Smith are the best, yet questionable, options moving forward. Do you see the Browns using more 3-WR sets, 2-TE sets, or possibly adding a legitimate inline TE to the roster? To some extent, I would expect some level of commitment to Jordan Cameron and Evan Moore, but neither are sufficient for 1-TE sets. -- Mike Kao, Saint Paul, Minn.

Hey, Mike: Watson fully intends to play in 2012 despite concussions last season, and can play in one- or two-tight end sets. Smith, who can also play in either set, is underrated and should be used more. The tight ends are a strength and can be used in a variety of ways, including Moore split wide.

Hey, Mary Kay: Any chance the Browns have Cortland Finnegan on their radar for free agency? I'd like to see someone like him aggressive at corner or safety to push around the receivers in our division. -- Sherri Macik, Dublin

Hey, Sherri: Although Finnegan could certainly help the Browns, he falls under the category of "big-name, high-priced free agent" and the Browns aren't likely to go after many of those.

Hey, Mary Kay: In all the years Mike Holmgren has been in the NFL he's never drafted a QB in the first two rounds. Why do you think it would be any different this year? -- Steve Bohnenkamp, Geneva, Ill.

Hey, Steve: Holmgren was set to pay a king's ransom to move up to No. 1 for Sam Bradford in 2010, and reportedly was prepared to surrender three No. 1s to move up to No. 2 for RG3 this year. Holmgren knows he needs a QB to win and he'll do what it takes.

Hey, Mary Kay: I read enough mock drafts that it gives me heartburn to think about it anymore. So who do you think the Browns will get? -- Jeremy Cohen, Dallas, Texas

Hey, Jeremy: With RG3 set to go to Washington at No. 2, I'd explore a trade down from No. 4 and perhaps pick up Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with a later pick. Some teams might love Justin Blackmon enough to make the Browns a blockbuster offer like the Falcons did last year. They can still come back at No. 22 and grab a receiver such as a Michael Floyd or Stephen Hill.

Hey, Mary Kay: In your opinion, are the Browns seriously considering Ryan Tannehill? And as a follow-up: Would the Browns still consider him a first-round talent had Matt Barkley and Landry Jones declared for the draft? -- Zach Zollars, Toledo

Hey, Zach: I do think the Browns are seriously considering Tannehill, but probably not at No. 4 if they can move back a little and still get him. They're also saying they love Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden. I think Tannehill would probably be a second-rounder if Barkley and Jones had come out.

-- Mary Kay

Late in the third period, the Monsters pulled their goalie and with 1:35 left, Evan Brophey tied the game at 2 to set up overtime.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Brad Malone scored with 90 seconds left in overtime and goalie Gerald Coleman made 34 saves as the Lake Erie Monsters beat the Oklahoma City Barons, 3-2, in an American Hockey League game Saturday.

David van der Gulik's power-play goal at 9:07 of the first period gave the Monsters a 1-0 lead. Malone and Luke Walker earned assists on van der Gulik's eighth goal of the season.

The Barons scored twice in the second period and were seemingly on their way to their second win in as many nights against the Monsters.

But late in the third period, the Monsters pulled Coleman for an extra skater and with 1:35 left, Evan Brophey tied the game at 2.

Why are Browns fans angry? Sure, there are legitimate reasons. Which just reflects the off-season stakes facing Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert.

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain DealerTwo decades of frustration that have encircled the Cleveland Browns have fostered a feeling of fan unrest that team president Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert must deal with --- especially after the draft deal between the Rams and Redskins, says Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NFL Draft remains nearly seven weeks away, and yet I'm ...

Talking to myself about the Browns ...

Question: Why are Browns fans so angry?

Answer: Because they are hurting and they want someone to stop the pain -- preferably Robert Griffin III. They want their team to make a bold move. They want a quarterback to cheer for. They don't care about the cost, they want a reason to be excited.

Q: So why were you against the deal with the Rams for RG3?

A: Because I'm not trading three first rounders, a second rounder and who knows what else it would have required to out-bid Washington's three first-rounders and a second-round pick to the Rams for his draft rights.

Q: What about the Eli Manning deal?

A: New York sent two first-rounders (2004 and 2005) along with a third rounder and fifth rounder to San Diego for Eli Manning. In 1985, the Browns traded a first-rounder (No. 7) in 1985, a first in 1986 and a third to Buffalo for Bernie Kosar. As far as I can determined, no one has ever made a draft deal including three firsts for one pick -- until now.

Q: Why not do it?

A: I'm not making the biggest deal in NFL history for a guy who isn't even the top QB in the draft. That's Andrew Luck, going to the Colts. The Rams apparently like Sam Bradford as much as RG3, or they would have kept RG3 and traded Bradford for picks. This is not a knock on RG3, it's a statement of how the top two teams view their quarterback situations.

Q: So now what? General Manager Tom Heckert said he had no plans to "go crazy" for big name free agents?

A: Some media people think Heckert's remarks eliminated Flynn, I don't. I expect them to watch the market on the Green Bay quarterback. No matter what they say, I believe they are intrigued. But they don't want to pay him as if he were the next Aaron Rodgers.

Q: Didn't Heckert say something about Rodgers?

A: He talked about how Green Bay was "killed" by media and fans when drafting him. He said no one was excited when the Bengals took Andy Dalton, who was supposed to be too small.

Q: His point?

A: That there are good quarterbacks lower in the draft. It's also why he raised Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden.

Q: Reader Mike Merritt wondered what Heckert meant when he said: "I really like [Weeden]. I really like him a lot ... That's the million-dollar question. You go, 'Wow, he's 28 years old.' But I don't know. If he can play six years, I might not be here, so who cares? If he can play, he can play. He's mature, and he's telling you it's a positive. And it is. He's been through a lot."

A: Based on Mettitt's tweet, the "who cares" part bothered him and some other fans. It was a throw-away line, meaning Heckert may not be here six years from now. Guess what? The odds support him. No Browns president, general manager or coach has lasted more than four years since the Lerner family took over in 1999. I'm hoping Heckert breaks the trend, because they need a stable leader in the front office. Clearly, Mike Holmgren is grooming Heckert to be the long-term leader.

Q: So you don't think Heckert figures he's out?

A: I think the man just had heart surgery and deserves a little grace, rather than having every word weighed as if the future of the Western World rested upon it. The point on Weeden is if he can play, the Browns will ignore his age. But I sense they will go after Flynn, or wait until next year for a quarterback and use their picks to keep building a team.

Q: So why not go for Peyton Manning, if age doesn't matter?

A: Not that again. Manning is 35 with four neck surgeries, sat out last season and has a huge price tag. Weeden is a former pro baseball player who turned to football later. His body is not beat up. He also won't chew up the salary cap.

Q: Patrick Wishart tweeted he'd be more upbeat if "the team didn't have a recent history of trading down and missing playmakers."

A: Heckert did talk more about trading down than trading up. It could happen again. But I believe there are so many good options at No. 4 -- Matt Kalil, Justin Blackmon, Mo Claiborne and others -- that he will stay there.

Q: Vic Baxter posted this on Facebook: "This franchise is the laughing stock of the NFL ... I watch the sports networks. If our name is even mentioned, it's followed by ... a little crack, or chuckle, because they don't take us seriously. ... I've poured time and money into this team that has repeatedly given me nothing but heartache! Cleveland better hit on these picks this year."

A: Yes, fans are fed up. But I don't see how making a big splash now changes that. Washington is the star of almost every off-season, and that franchise has been nearly as pathetic as the Browns since 1999. It comes down to getting it right on draft day and winning some games.

Q: What would you have written if the Browns made that deal instead of Washington?

A: I would written 1) RG3 will be fun to watch. 2) He brings sizzle to a fan base that needs it. 3) The price was too high. 4) I hope they can figure out how to surround him with talent, because I don't see how they will be able to do that after giving up all the picks.

Q: What do you think of Y.A. Yorkovich, who wrote: "Fans are tired of losing and all the long-term plans. Why can't we try to win now? No excuses."

A: That tweet represented the frustrations of the fans. But in football where 22 different players start and injuries are such a huge factor, there are no quick fixes. There is nothing wrong with a long-term plan if it shows progress. That's what the fans really want, progress and a reason to watch the games on Sunday. It's why even those who are critical of Heckert are pulling hard for him to get this draft and free agency right.

About the Indians ...

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerFor the Indians to challenge in the AL Central, players such as Michael Brantley must take a major-league step forward in 2012.

1. After Ubaldo Jimenez, who may be the key to the Tribe's season? I submit the name of Michael Brantley. With the Tribe rolling the dice on Grady Sizemore and ending up with back surgery, it's critical that Brantley do three things: A) Prove critics wrong by showing he's at least average in center field. B) Stay healthy. C) Be the kind of player who hits around .280 with a .340 on-base percentage as a leadoff hitter.

2. What the Tribe has seen so far in spring training is all three -- solid in the field, confident at bat and no physical problems after having surgery to repair the hamate bone in his right hand. Brantley has battled some ankle problems in the past, and that's part of the reason why he doesn't steal as many bases as you'd expect despite above-average speed.

3. Brantley had 46 steals at Class AAA Columbus in 2009. But in 214 big-league games, he's 27 of 38. In his career, he's hit .265 (.675 OPS) with 10 homers, 37 doubles and 79 RBI in 860 big-league at-bats. Nothing exciting about those numbers.

4. Brantley will be 25 on May 15. Most players don't reach their prime until their middle 20s. It feels as if he has been around forever after arriving in the majors at 22. But consider that phenom Jason Kipnis is six weeks older than Brantley, turning 25 on April 3. Brantley also has been tossed into the same bag of disappointment as Matt LaPorta, because they were both in the CC Sabathia deal. But LaPorta is 27.

5. The point is the Tribe may find out about the real Brantley this season. Can he be the Brantley who was a .303 hitter in the minors, considered a prime prospect with the Brewers? Last season, the Indians used six players in center. They combined to hit .248 (.685 OPS) with 13 homers. A healthy Brantley should be an improvement, but that standard is so low -- the question is if Brantley can establish himself as a viable outfielder.

6. The Tribe has been extremely pleased with Kipnis, who has looked strong at the bat and is making progress at second. He won't make anyone forget Robbie Alomar, but there is progress. If Kipnis should falter (I doubt he will), the Indians do have Jason Donald and Cord Phelps as options. But if Brantley collapses in center, it's back to Zeke Carrera or hoping career corner outfielders Aaron Cunningham or Ryan Spilborghs can handle center. Or perhaps Felix Pie. I really don't want to think about that.

7. I hear good things about Zach McAllister and Jeanmar Gomez, both have been impressive. McAllister's fastball has been as high as 96 mph, and averaging 92-93, a little quicker than a year ago. Keep in mind that he's only 24, and coming off a 12-3 (3.32 ERA) season at Class AAA. Gomez is like Brantley, in that it seems he's been around forever. But he turned 24 on Feb. 10. He was 5-3 with a 4.47 ERA after being 10-7 (2.55 ERA) at Class AAA.

8. When it comes to Jimenez, I will be in spring training for the final nine days. I'm reserving judgment until then because he is trying to make alterations to his windup and that often leads to ugly early spring results.

9. No one with the Tribe is saying this directly, but I sense they are leaning in the direction of Jack Hannahan opening at third base with Lonnie Chisenhall returning to the Class AAA -- the idea being that the defense provided by Hannahan at third and newcomer Casey Kotchman at first (where he's been outstanding) is critical with this ground-ball starting staff.

10. The Plain Dealer will have another Opening Day Breakfast on April 5 at 7:30 a.m. The speakers will be Paul Hoynes, Dennis Manoloff and yours truly. You can get more info right here.

About the Cavaliers ...

View full sizeAP fileIn an NBA where even the biggest stars can appear indecisive in the big moments, Kyrie Irving has been anything but.

1. Watching games tells you Kyrie Irving is a clutch player. According to 82games.com, Irving ranks third in clutch scoring -- points in the final five minutes of a game where the score is within five points. They do it on a per 48-minute basis. The leaders are Kevin Durant (55.2), Carmelo Anthony (49.7), Irving (43.4), Chris Paul (41.5) and Joe Johnson (39.7). LeBron James ranks 13th.

2. Mike Brown's Lakers are averaging 94.4 points per game, the lowest for the franchise since 1954-55. That was before the shot clock. He's discovering the magic of Phil Jackson's triangle offense was simply that it demanded ball movement. Brown is running a lot of isolations to Kobe Bryant, and that leads to lots of dribbling by one guy and four guys watching. Cavs fans know the drill.

3. That's why it's nice to watch Irving be decisive with the ball. He shoots, he drives, he passes. He rarely just chews up the clock. Byron Scott's offense does have some decent spacing, and it will look even better when Anderson Varejao returns. He brings movement, sets picks and inspires teammates to be active.

4. I watched Damian Lillard of Weber State in the Big Sky tournament and fell in love with the 6-foot-3 guard as a possible Cavalier. He is the Norris Cole of this draft, a mid-major player who can help right away. Lillard is averaging 24.5 points, shooting 47 percent, 43 percent on 3-pointers.

5. The Cavs are looking for scorers, small forwards and shooting guards. UConn's Jeremy Lamb is attracting a lot of interest, and the Cavs have to be among them. When Antawn Jamison leaves at the end of the season (assuming he's not traded), they will really need to find a scorer somewhere.

Washington Redskins' owner Dan Snyder's history of over-spending gets the Browns off the hook over losing Robert Griffin III, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin.

View full sizeAP fileIf Daniel Snyder was going to meet any price in order to acquire Robert Griffin III, then it's hard to criticize the Browns for not being as desperate, says Bud Shaw.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Spending in Washington has always been an issue on Main Street, now trading is, too?...

So the Browns aren't getting Robert Griffin III. They're not interested in Peyton Manning. They're not expecting to make a big splash in free agency either, so maybe it's best to scratch Matt Flynn, too. But in having the opposition right where they want them -- overconfident -- name me another NFL team that is further along.

Take as long as you need.

In the meantime, there is some comfort in not landing RG3, as losing a player to a Dan Snyder-owned team is like being out-crazied by Mike Tyson. Not only do deals under his wild-eyed watch tend to underwhelm -- Jeff George, Bruce Smith, Albert Haynesworth, Deion Sanders, Donovan McNabb, Mark Brunell, Antwaan Randle El, Laveranues Coles -- but the price he pays is often so exorbitant it's hard to criticize the suitor who finishes second in the running.

The Haynesworth signing supposedly was the one that chased Snyder into the background. But he had to sign off on a deal of the magnitude reportedly cut for the Rams' No. 2 overall pick. The Redskins give up their No. 1 this year (sixth overall), their No. 2 this year and No. 1s in 2013 and 2014.

So the Browns are out of the RG3 race, causing radio talk show program directors to scramble for an alternate topic between now and the April draft. The Browns got the PR bump of chasing a franchise quarterback but falling short. Not because of a smart, bold deal struck by the Rooneys in Pittsburgh or Bill Belichick in New England. You'd feel worse about that as a Browns fan.

They lost out because the Redskins struck a deal that stopped just short of sending the Washington Monument to St. Louis, too.

RG3 may turn out to be a great quarterback. But until that happens there's some residual benefit -- even beyond keeping all their picks -- to the Browns not outbidding Snyder for a player.

They look reasonable by comparison.

When dancing with who brung you isn't very exciting anymore...

Pay no attention to the effort the Browns reportedly made to land a franchise quarterback and invigorate an entire city. They are thrilled with Colt McCoy.

Really? OK, then, let's see. Ladies, what's it going to be? Jon Hamm or Jonah Hill? I know. Too tough to call.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain Dealer"Psst ... I've got a fortune cookie right here that says you're going to pitch a no-hitter."

Unfortunately for the Indians, this is the Year of the Dragon, not the Dragon Slayer...

Manny Acta went to dinner at P.F. Chang's restaurant down the street from the spring training home of the Indians and the Cincinnati Reds. His fortune cookie read, "Your sports team will be very successful."

"Unbelievable," Acta said. "I've never gotten a fortune cookie talking about sports in my life ... I kept it. We're going to frame it."

Acta says he's normally not a believer in such things. But maybe there's something to it. Last year, the Indians were off and running to a 30-15 start, then lost the division by 15 games to a Detroit team that has since signed Prince Fielder to make up for the loss of Victor Martinez.

No fortune cookie predicted that quick start or Detroit's slow-and-steady route to the postseason. But it was the Year of the Rabbit.

SPINOFFS

The night after Acta got his fortune cookie, I went to P.F. Chang's and got this one: "Participation in sports may lead you to a lucrative career."

Unbelievable. Lucrative career. I hate to break it to Acta, that not only do some fortune cookies mention sports, some of the predictions could be dead wrong...

Ubaldo Jimenez says being with the Indians makes him feel like he's in "heaven." That makes him the first millionaire I'd feel comfortable showing around my 1,500-square foot West Park mansion...

Reds' manager Dusty Baker is denying reports his fortune cookie read, "Don't count on winning the Ohio Cup this season."...

Lions' DT Ndamukong Suh was ticketed for speeding in Portland, Ore., his hometown. He was driving 91 in a 55. Police also ticketed him for improperly signaling.

In his defense, it's not easy to properly signal when you're going that fast...

When Suh was suspended for stomping an opposing player during the 2011 season, he tried to tell us he didn't do it on purpose. Maybe now NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will believe him when he says he just has a heavy foot...

In an otherwise exemplary year for big-time college sports -- minus academic impropriety, sex scandals and revelations about drug use -- Yahoo! Sports is reporting that suspended Auburn University point guard Varez Ward is under investigation by federal authorities for point-shaving.

How long before Vegas puts out odds on whether Auburn shaved points?...

Yankees' setup man David Robertson is in a walking boot, claiming he sprained his foot while moving empty boxes down the stairs.

Even William Green thinks that sounds bogus...

View full sizeAP photoHe said goodbye to one of the greatest arms in sports this week.

Injuries involving moving things around? That's what former Indians pitcher Neil Allen claimed. He said he was moving a trunk when, in fact, the story went that he broke his hand trying to occupy Ricky Henderson's face with his fist...

My favorite Dan Snyder story: After a loss he left cartons of melting ice cream in the office of former defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, whom Snyder apparently thought coached a bland scheme. One came attached to a note that read, "I do not like vanilla"...

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Actor Bradley Cooper and Los Angeles Galaxy player Mike Magee -- Greg Mankis

Colts Owner Jim Irsay and Mariners Manager Eric Wedge -- Steve Frohwerk, Broadview Heights

View full sizeAP fileHe's looking for a few more good arms in the Pacific Northwest.

HE SAID IT

"He's one of the greatest players in the history of the league. He's also an incredible person. ... We'll look for any opportunity to improve and, of course, that includes Peyton Manning." -- Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt to NBC Sports Network.

But other than that, what could possibly be the attraction for any team that doesn't already have a franchise quarterback?

HE SAID WHAT?

"I've had a guy take off his prosthetic leg and throw it in the bullpen in Boston and want me to sign it." -- Philadelphia Phillies' closer Jonathan Papelbon, on the crazed environment at Fenway Park during his days with the Red Sox.

That could easily happen in Philadelphia, too, but it would be the prosthetic leg of a Mets fan and he wouldn't be the one throwing it.

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Hey Bud:

"What do you think of the newest evolution in extreme sports called Taser Ball? It consists of a giant football and eight 300,000-volt stun guns. Some fun, huh?" -- Doug, Westlake

The giant football is a novelty. As for the tasers, the Saints are suing for copyright infringement.

"Bud:

"I see that a lot of pro athletes have catchy, abbreviated nicknames. Chris Paul is CP3, Robert Griffin is RG3, etc. Shouldn't we then be calling Cavs' center Semih Erden DNP?" -- Dave Graskemper, North Olmsted

Who am I to say? Mine is BS24-7.

"Hey Bud:

"Seriously, how many times after you're done writing your Hemingwayesque Spin column did you feel like rolling into your boss's office and going on a wild rant like Pete Weber did after winning the U.S Open PBA Title?" -- Devin, Concord

I knew this column attracted shut-ins but, but I didn't think you people could afford cable.

"Hey Bud:

"Scott Fujita has nothing to worry about. Because he plays for the Browns, he will be credited for time already served." -- Lance, Middleburg

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

"Bud:

"With allegations of sexual abuse by a coach and illegal drug use by students, it's a good thing none of their players were trading personal property for tattoos or the folks at Syracuse could be in serious trouble." -- Chuck Levin

Repeat winners are ruled ineligible.

"Hey Bud:

"Did Josh Cribbs say that Jimmy Dimora is almost always almost not guilty?" -- Bob H., Medina

Some repeat winners enjoy a moral victory.

"Bud:

"Will Brad Childress be at Pat Shurmur's house this morning to make sure he sets his clocks right?" -- Michael Sarro

All repeat winners stand the test of time.

On Twitter: @budshaw

Through hard work and the willingness to wait his turn, Alonzo Gee is developing into a reliable two-way player for Cavaliers coach Byron Scott.

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain Dealer"If you asked him to tell you 10 things about himself, he wouldn't get past three or four," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott says of small forward Alonzo Gee, who has blossomed in his second season with the team. "I've gotten to know him really well, and I love what I know about him. I love the type of person he is. I love the attitude he brings to the game."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tucked inside the Bible that Alonzo Gee reads almost daily is a sheet of paper his mother handed him in the summer of 2009, the year all 30 teams passed on the Cavaliers swingman in the NBA Draft.

Darlene Gee raised her youngest child in the church, the one constant for a single-parent family that frequently changed addresses in the most hardscrabble neighborhoods of West Palm Beach, Fla. Sometimes after working 12-hour days, she copied passages from Scripture and gave them to the son who she says never cursed, smoked or drank in her presence.

Among his favorites is Psalm 37, which deals with a virtue that helped transform Gee from a skinny high-school benchwarmer to one of the NBA's most improved players.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him ...

"My mother is the one who taught me the value of patience," Gee said. "She is the one who told me that night after I didn't get drafted that my chance would come and I would have to be ready for it."

At critical junctures in his basketball career, the 24-year-old Gee has eschewed temptation and short cuts. He has allowed himself to be coached on and off the court, seeking counsel from family members, mentors and educators.

He stuck it out at Dwyer High School to become a two-time Florida state champion. He declined a lucrative offer from European teams out of college to earn $1,250 a week in the D-League. He never grew frustrated as the Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs offered chances, but not commitments.

"There are lots of kids in our society today who want immediate gratification, but Zo is not wired that way," Dwyer basketball coach Fred Ross said.

Through hard work and the willingness to wait his turn, Gee is developing into a reliable two-way player for Cavaliers coach Byron Scott. It might be the season of Jeremy Lin, but few have made greater strides in the past year. The versatile Gee, promoted to the starting small forward, is averaging 10.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and a team-leading 1.42 steals little more than a year after needing to beat out a half-dozen tryouts for a spot on the Cavaliers' roster.

His powerful dunks, like the one that sent Denver's Chris Andersen tumbling backward Wednesday, make Gee a contributor to SportsCenter's Top 10 plays. His dedication on defense enables him to draw assignments against LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant.

Despite the breakthrough season, the Cavaliers would need a CSI unit to find a trace of attitude. Gee is quiet, boarding on shy. It takes time for people to learn of his affinity for art and bowling. He's not one to make his feelings a matter of public record.

"If you asked him to tell you 10 things about himself, he wouldn't get past three or four," Scott said. "He doesn't want to talk about himself.

"I've gotten to know him really well, and I love what I know about him. I love the type of person he is. I love the attitude he brings to the game."

Fighting through adversity

Darlene Gee still has the letter her son wrote after he graduated from Dwyer, a 30-minute commute from West Palm Beach. He thanked her for the unconditional love, for the guidance, even for the "pops" or smacks on the bottom.

Gee doesn't know how many apartments the family occupied and vacated over the years. Darlene estimates the family moved at least six or seven times, occasionally into cramped three-room dwellings where she, Alonzo and her grandson resided. It mattered little to Gee. He learned his work ethic and perseverance from Darlene, who at age 42 earned her high school degree and enrolled in nursing school.

"She is a tough woman," Gee said. "She was hard on me through middle school and high school. She stayed on me and kept me focused. She is a beautiful person."

Gee also benefited from having siblings, Lorenzo, 41, and Angela, 38, old enough to be parents. He will tell any kid who listens the importance of having a good support system in your life.

"I had friends who were really good in basketball but they went down a different path because they didn't have the proper guidance," Gee said. "They are either dead right now or doing stuff they had no business doing."

His brother, Lorenzo Hatten, convinced him to attend Dwyer and play for Ross, a coach who could make Scott seem like a pushover. His practices could last five hours. One mistake into a 30-minute defensive drill could be cause enough to start it over again.

Gee arrived on campus standing 6-5 and weighing 185 pounds. Ross said the most imposing thing about the freshman was his "scary afro."

"He doesn't look anything like he does today," Ross said. "He could barely fill out his uniform."

Gee rarely received playing time his first two seasons in the powerhouse program. He was ready to transfer to a Catholic school where a starting spot awaited him. Ross and then-assistant coach Bill Palagonia met with Gee at the end of his sophomore season and guaranteed him nothing. What they saw was a raw athlete who lacked ball-handling skills and a dedication to defense. If he committed to improving, however, they believed Gee had the potential to leave Dwyer as its greatest player.

The teenager thought it over and gave the program another shot. Within two years, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, West Virginia and Miami were among the colleges offering him scholarships.

Working on, off court

View full sizeAP file"You can't always say this about every kid, but never once during his four years did I ever have a question about what Alonzo might be doing away from the court," former Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried says of Gee.

It didn't take Palagonia long to make a crucial assessment about Gee.

"The kid's head has been on right since he was 15," he said.

Palagonia watched Gee's immersion into off-season training and conditioning. The youngster began to build the sculpted frame that many Cavs fans cannot believe only carries 219 pounds.

Gee went from off the recruiting radar to a top-50 prospect in two years. Gee committed to Alabama and Palagonia committed to Gee. At the time, he owned a company that sold flavored ingredients which allowed him to work away from the office. Palagonia rented an apartment in Tuscaloosa for a year to help Gee prepare for a transition to the pro game, which he believed was better suited for Gee's athleticism and ability to play in space.

Former Crimson Tide coach Mark Gottfried, now at North Carolina State, marveled at how Gee would finish practice and head right to the gym with Palagonia.

Gottfried offers another nugget that Gee rarely volunteers: He graduated with a degree in human environmental sciences in 3-1/2 years. In typical Gee fashion, he made use of available resources, seeking the help of tutors and student academic services.

"You can't always say this about every kid, but never once during his four years did I ever have a question about what Alonzo might be doing away from the court," Gottfried said. "Some guys get chances and never capitalize on them."

Gee, who averaged 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in four seasons at Alabama, envisioned himself as a mid-second round selection. Instead, he sat in his mother's living room surrounded by family on June 25, 2009 and didn't hear his name called.

Darlene comforted her son, trying to hug away the disappointment.

"I just told him God has a plan for you," the mother said. "Just believe you are NBA material."

Finding a home

Quin Snyder sat with Gee on several occasions in the Austin Toros coaches' office and weighed the offers coming from Europe. Gee was playing for the San Antonio Spurs' minor-league team in 2009 on the way to becoming the NBA Development League's rookie of the year.

Should he jump at the chance to play overseas and make $75,000 or $80,000 a season, the kind of money that could ease his family's financial burden? Darlene left the decision to him. Gee listened to the advice of Snyder, then the Toros' coach, Palagonia and agent Andre Buck. He remained in the D-League and waited for an NBA team to call.

In March 7, 2010, the Wizards offered Gee his first 10-day contract.

"It's hard to describe how important it is to players in Alonzo's position to know an NBA team thinks you're good enough, even if only for 10 days," said Snyder, now a Los Angeles Lakers assistant.

He played 27 games for the Wizards and Spurs during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons and never got discouraged when the organizations released him. He kept returning to the D-League to work on his defense and perimeter game without complaint, Snyder said.

"If you believe in Alonzo he will find a way to reward you," Snyder said. "He just needed a coach and general manager to see something in him and he found that in Cleveland."

Gee joined the rebuilding Cavaliers in December 2010 and averaged 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 40 games. Scott made the unassuming small forward a pet project, asking him to use the off-season to improve ball-handling and footwork. He went to Poland during the lockout to earn some money and hone his game. He returned a different player, one confident not only in his ability to get to the rim, but to hit a jump shot.

In this season's first half, Gee excelled as an energy-supplying reserve at forward and guard. He rarely started games, but often finished them because of his defensive prowess. On Jan. 13, Snyder sat on the Lakers' bench in the Staples Center and watched his former D-League player guard Bryant.

Cavaliers teammates are trying to get Gee to punctuate his monster dunks with some attitude. On Wednesday, he glared at Denver's Andersen after the nasty right-handed slam, but the next day admitted he didn't feel comfortable with the rare show of bravado.

Scott appreciates Gee's humility and how he still approaches the game like a player on a 10-day contract.

"It has happened so fast," Gee said. "I feels like I was just sitting at my mother's house, not getting drafted, wondering what's going to happen ... It's a blessing."

It's a blessing he shares with his family. In August, Gee bought his mother a four-bedroom home in the suburbs. The days of moving from one apartment to another appear over. While Darlene still logs 12-hour shifts as a nurse tech at Jupiter Medical Center, those times probably are coming to an end, too.

Gee is an unrestricted free agent in July and figures to earn a substantial bump from the $854,389 salary he's making this season. As he discusses his mother's pending retirement, Psalm 37 comes to mind and a broad smile unfurls across his face.

"She just has to have a little more patience, like she always told me."

For every player with a guaranteed contract at spring training, there's 10 others simply trying to make the club. Here's a look at life on the bubble.

View full sizeMark Duncan, Associated PressMatt LaPorta couldn't quite grab this foul pop during Saturday's loss to San Diego in Goodyear, Ariz., nearly colliding with catcher Lou Marson. If LaPorta doesn't make the big-league roster for Opening Day, he is at least maintaining a even-tempered public face -- much like other Indians on the roster bubble.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Life on the bubble is fueled by cliches. The players trying to stay atop of that thin orb know the truth, but they would prefer not to hear about it every day. Especially when the words are coming from their own mouths.

It's not like they'll be blindsided by bad news in the coming weeks. Manager Manny Acta and GM Chris Antonetti met with every player before spring training started to tell them where they stand in terms of making the final 25-man roster. Still, what player is going to say he has no chance in the first 10 days of March?

"There's always an opportunity wherever you're at," said Matt LaPorta. "It's just a matter of that door opening up."

The door closed on LaPorta when the Indians signed free agent Casey Kotchman on Feb. 3 to play first base. LaPorta has tried to win that position for the last two years, but he's never hit well enough to hold it. Now he almost certainly will open the year at Class AAA Columbus even though he had more homers and RBI in fewer at-bats last year than Kotchman.

LaPorta visited Haiti with a church group in October after hitting .247 (87-for-352) with 11 homers and 53 RBI. When he left, he knew that the Indians were looking for someone to replace him. It just took them a while to find one.

How to explain the situation? Drum roll, please. Here come the cliches.

"I didn't have any thoughts on it as to whether it was good or whatever," said LaPorta, concerning Kotchman's arrival. "I can't control that. My goal is to get better every day and help the ball club out anyway I can."

What about coming to spring training and knowing your chances of making the club are almost nil?

"I'm just going out every day trying to get better and help the ballclub out anyway I can," said LaPorta, who started at first base Saturday in a 5-2 Cactus League loss to San Diego.

First base might be a dead end, but what about the wide open race for left field? Could LaPorta slip in the back door?

"I can't think about that or want this or that," he said. "I just have to go out and try to get better every day."

Trevor Crowe, the Indians' No.1 pick in 2005, barely played last year because of shoulder and elbow injuries. He's one of 10 outfielders, not counting starters Michael Brantley and Shin-Soo Choo and injured Grady Sizemore, in camp. But to say he's a legitimate threat to win the job is probably a stretch.

Crowe seems to have a good grip on the situation. He used his own supply of cliches in explanation.

"To be honest with you, I'm not really concerned about the competition," he said. "I'm concerned with getting my work in every day and taking a step in the right direction every day.

"If I do that, it may not be tomorrow, it may not be in April or June, but by the end of the year, I'm going to be where I want to be."

Felix Pie probably has a better chance of making the club than LaPorta or Crowe, but the job won't come gift-wrapped. Pie's best position is center, but Brantley will play there in place of the injured Sizemore. Pie has played left field before, but so has just about everyone else in camp. The list includes Shelley Duncan, Ryan Spilborghs, Fred Lewis, Chad Huffman, Ezequiel Carrera and Aaron Cunningham.

Neal Thomas and Nick Weglarz are in camp as well, but they're both coming off injuries and will open the season in the minors. Swing-man Russ Canzler, however, made his first start in left field Saturday and doubled home a run.

Said manager Manny Acta, "We're looking for a guy who can play left field every day, or at least contribute in a platoon, until Grady comes back. We're not looking for versatility. We're looking for someone who can hold down the fort."

Pie started in center field Saturday. He singled in three at-bats.

"I just want to work hard," said Pie. "If I do that I think I have a good chance of making the team."

In closing, another cliche. And so it goes.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

The physical status of the Indians centerfielder dominate this week's mailbag.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerGrady Sizemore's spring of more physical discontent keeps Indians fans wondering about the best alternatives for the Indians.

Hey, Hoynsie: Since the season has not started, does that mean the Indians do not have to pay Sizemore's salary until he actually returns? Could we void the salary altogether and save $5 million and trade/pay for someone now who could help the Tribe? I like Sizemore and feel bad for him, but by the time he returns (if at all) the season may be lost. If we can cut him now without paying him, we will save $5 million and have some money to get a healthy player. -- Joe Eversole, Pelham, Ala.

Hey, Joe: Sizemore's $5 million is guaranteed.

Hey, Hoynsie: With Grady Sizemore out because of injury, what's next? Any trade possibilities or maybe Jorge Soler? -- Jeremy Cronig, Shaker Heights

Hey, Jeremy: GM Chris Antonetti said the Indians are looking for another outfielder even though they have a cast of thousands already in camp. Regarding Soler, the Cuban defector who is working out in the Dominican Republic, the Indians have watched him several times in workouts at their academy. However, he has yet to be declared a free agent and his price is going to be way out of their range.

Soler, from all indications, will need at least a couple of years in the minors. It's not like he'd offer immediate help to a big-league team.

Hey, Hoynsie: If Sizemore gets healthy, why wouldn't the Indians play him in left and leave Michael Brantley in center since he's going to be the future center fielder? Also who is the No.1 prospect in the minors for the Indians? Can he help soon? -- Kyle Erford, Perrysburg

Hey, Kyle: Perhaps they will, but I think if and when Sizemore comes off the disabled list, he'll be in center. Brantley is more than capable of playing left. Sizemore has been strictly a center fielder his whole career.

Baseball America said Francisco Lindor, the Indians' No.1 pick in last year's draft, is their top prospect. He's 18 and at least three to four years away from the big leagues.

Hey, Hoynsie: I guess I'm an old timer. I read your story on Jason Kipnis and he didn't mention honing his second-base skills in the off-season. Is that a lost practice among today's players and the reason why the Indians never seem to improve defensively? -- Brett Greene, Cleveland

Hey, Brett: If the Indians wanted Kipnis to play winter ball, he would have. He suffered two injuries late in the season and I'm sure they wanted him to make sure he was fully recovered for 2012. But if you think he went the whole winter without picking up a glove or fielding a grounder, you'd be wrong. He came to Goodyear in January to work on his defense.

Hey, Hoynsie: It seems like Shelley Duncan is showing that he can provide some real power from the right side. I know it's early in spring training, but do you see him as the front runner for the left field spot? I've always felt he deserves the chance to play consistently in the big leagues. -- Matt Otter, Westlake

Hey, Matt: Duncan has had a hot start to camp following a great September. He's confident and he's out of options, which means the Indians have to keep him in the big leagues or risk losing him to a waiver claim. I think he'll make the team, but I don't know if he'll start.

There are 10 other outfielders in camp besides starters Michael Brantley and Shin-Soo Choo. There are at least three guys who can swing between the outfield and infield. They're not here by accident.

Manager Manny Acta has said several times that the Indians "know what Duncan can do." I've heard that expression several times before in various professional sports. It usually means that particular organization is looking for an upgrade.

-- Hoynsie

The Cavaliers return tonight to an arena that has given them fits and double-digit losses on multiple occasions this season -- their own.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerThe Cavaliers (from left, Ramon Sessions, Tristan Thompson, Daniel Gibson, Antawn Jamison and Alonzo Gee) have too often had to contemplate home defeats that have been difficult to explain this season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers snapped a six-game losing streak with a gritty last-minute triumph in Denver on Wednesday. They followed that with a victory Friday in Oklahoma City, a place where only one other opponent has won this season.

Now the Cavaliers must play in an arena that has given them fits and double-digit losses on multiple occasions this season -- their own.

If coach Byron Scott's team is going to make a legitimate run at the playoffs, he knows its efforts and results most improve at The Q. The Cavs, who host the Houston Rockets Sunday, are 8-12 at home and 7-11 on the road.

The victories against the Nuggets and Western Conference-leading Thunder give the Cavaliers as many away wins as they had all last season. Their intensity, attention to detail and starts to games seem significantly better outside The Q. Scott said the subject would be broached before the Rockets game.

"It's definitely something we have been a little concerned about," Scott said.

Rookie Kyrie Irving has supplied lots of answers this season, but why his club struggles on its home court baffles him, too. The majority of the Cavaliers' worst losses -- Miami, Philadelphia and Chicago (twice) -- have come at home, where they often fall way behind early.

"I have no explanation for why we can't have the same attitude and effort at home," Irving said. "We have to go out and make it better."

Scott said teams sometimes get too comfortable at home. The Cavaliers went 4-5 on their recent nine-game homestand.

"You have so many other things going on. You might have family in," he said. "When you are on the road, you are just around your teammates, and you seem to be together a lot more because it's just you guys.

"We have to figure out how to bring that at home as well."

Rubio done: Irving was well on his way to winning NBA Rookie of the Year honors already. But his odds increased Saturday with the news of Ricky Rubio's season-ending injury. The Minnesota Timberwolves guard tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the team's 105-102 loss Friday to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rubio was averaging 10.6 points, 8.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 34 minutes a game.

Thinking small: Scott said he will use the small lineup that was successful at the ends of the past two games only when situations dictate it.

The coach switched power forward Antawn Jamison to center late in both games and played him with Irving and others such as Alonzo Gee, Anthony Parker and Daniel Gibson.

Trying times: At some point, Scott said he will probably watch "The Announcement," the ESPN documentary chronicling Magic Johnson's acknowledgement on Nov. 7, 1991, that he was HIV-positive. It debuts Sunday night.

Scott and Johnson were Los Angles Lakers teammates, and the Cavaliers' coach remembers that time vividly and poignantly. He cried in Johnson's presence not long after hearing the news and remembered getting a hug and a promise from the legendary point guard.

"He told me, 'I'm going to beat this thing,' and 20 years later, he's still here and doing unbelievable things," the coach said.

Scott said he recalls some players being afraid to shake Johnson's hand and the ignorance that was associated with HIV and AIDS two decades ago.

"We looked at it as a death sentence," Scott said. "We weren't very well-educated on it at the time. ... I looked at [Magic] as a friend I would not have in the next five years."

What should the Browns do in the draft? Tune in, get in on the debate, post your comments and questions for our panel of Browns experts for one full hour tonight starting at 8 p.m.

APGoodbye, RG3. Hello, QB to be named later.

Robert Griffin III will not be the Browns quarterback in 2012.

Now that has sunk in, it's time to move forward and talk about what the Browns do from here. Do they pursue Matt Flynn? Do they take Ryan Tannehill? Do they go defense with LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne? Do they trade down and get more picks? Are we in for another season of Colt McCoy behind center?

One thing is clear: everything is on table. Tonight at 8 p.m., in a special live audio chat, join The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot and Dennis Manoloff, along with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore as they talk about all the possibilities. What do you think the Browns should do? Tune in, get in on the debate, post your comments and questions for our panel of Browns experts for one full hour tonight starting at 8 p.m.

In the meantime, read what Mary Kay (@marykaycabot), D-Man (@dmansworldpd) and G-Mo (@GlennMooreCLE) have to say about the draft on Twitter. We'll see you at 8 p.m.

Note: To turn off audio alerts, click on round button on bottom left of chat room and click on preferences.

NCAA men's basketball tournament selection show starts at 6 p.m. on WOIO Ch. 19.

PD fileMembers of the NCAA men's basketball tournament selection committee sat in this room in Indianapolis this weekend as they put the finishing touches on the 2012 field.

Auto racing

NASCAR: Sprint Cup -- Kobalt Tools 400, 2:30, WJW Channel 8

NHRA: Gatornationals, 6 (tape), ESPN2

Baseball

Chicago Cubs vs. L.A. Dodgers, 3, WGN

Cycling

Paris-Nice: Final stage, Nice to Col d'Eze, France, 11 (tape), NBC Sports Network

Golf

PGA Tour-WGC: Cadillac Championship, final round, 1, Golf Channel; 3, WKYC Channel 3

PGA Tour: Puerto Rico Open, final round, 7:30 (tape), Golf Channel

Hockey

NHL: Boston at Pittsburgh, 12:30, WKYC Channel 3

Los Angeles at Chicago, 8, NBC Sports Network

High school state final: St. Edward/University School vs. Sylvania Northview/Olentangy Orange, 5 (tape), SportsTime Ohio

Men's college basketball

Southeastern Conference final, 1, WEWS Channel 5

Atlantic 10 Conference final, 1, WOIO Channel 19

Atlantic Coast Conference final, 1, ESPN

Big Ten Conference final, 3:30, WOIO Channel 19

NCAA Division I Tournament Selection Show, 6, WOIO Channel 19

NBA

Boston at L.A. Lakers, 3:30, WEWS Channel 5

Cavs vs. Houston, 6, Fox Sports Ohio

Memphis at Denver, 8, NBA TV

Soccer

Major League Soccer: New York at Dallas, 3, NBC Sports Network

 Columbus - Sylvania Northview won its first state hockey championship with a 5-2 victory against St. Edward on Sunday at Nationwide Arena.  The Wildcats (31-1-3) got two first-period goals from sophomore wing Cody Estrel, the second coming with 21 seconds left in the period. They added another when junior Drew Crandall stuffed the puck past St. Edward senior goaltender...

(ohsaa)

 Columbus - Sylvania Northview won its first state hockey championship with a 5-2 victory against St. Edward on Sunday at Nationwide Arena.

 The Wildcats (31-1-3) got two first-period goals from sophomore wing Cody Estrel, the second coming with 21 seconds left in the period. They added another when junior Drew Crandall stuffed the puck past St. Edward senior goaltender Logan Galati 2:22 into the second.

 Northview upped its advantage to 4-0 on a power-play score by Dalton Carter.

 The Eagles got on the board when senior Gabe Lampron beat Northview goaltender Austin Gryca with 11 minutes remaining. Lampron added another with 49 seconds left.

The Eagles added an empty score with seven seconds to go.

 The Eagles (20-13-3) were looking to add a 12th championship to their state record titles. It was the second straight year St. Edward was denied, Toledo St. Francis De Sales winning last year in overtime.

 Northview defeated St. Edward when the teams met during the regular season, 4-2. Northview won its final 18 games of the season.

The Cavaliers look to make it three in a row on their road trip as they head into Houston to face the Rockets. Get a preview and follow in-game updates from @pdcavsinsider on Twitter. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The Cavaliers look to make it three in a row on their road trip as they
head into Houston to face the Rockets. Get Twitter updates from Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer @PDCavsInsider in the box below. Check out the in-game box score here. Read on for a game preview. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Tony Dejak, Associated PressKyrie Irving and the Cavs hope to build on their recent momentum during this West Coast trip.

(AP) -- With their leading scorer struggling and their starting point guard possibly missing a second straight game, the Houston Rockets may rely even more heavily on their bench.

The Rockets hope to build off one of their best offensive performances of the season Sunday night when they visit a Cleveland Cavaliers team coming off an impressive upset.

Houston ended a season-high five-game losing streak Saturday with a 112-106 win at New Jersey. The Nets inadvertently tipped in the go-ahead shot for the Rockets (22-19) with 63 seconds remaining.

Despite playing without Kyle Lowry, who was being monitored at a New York hospital for a high fever, the Rockets shot a season-best 56.1 percent. They posted their second-highest point total and had six players finish in double figures, led by Goran Dragic, who started in place of Lowry and scored a season-high 23 points.

"It was a tough game for us," Dragic said. "We knew we had lost five games in a row, so this game was especially important for us."

Houston averaged 96.2 points and shot 41.8 percent during its losing streak, but received a better effort from its reserves Saturday. Not including Dragic's big game, the Rockets reserves finished with 41 points - led by 17 from Courtney Lee - after averaging 27.0 during the losing streak.

With Lowry, who is averaging 15.9 points and 7.2 assists, uncertain for Sunday and Kevin Martin struggling, Houston's supporting cast is key.

Martin leads the Rockets with 17.4 points per game, but he's played just 37 total minutes in the last two games. He scored five points Saturday, attempting five shots.

Martin's woes seem to be isolated to the road. He is averaging 7.3 points and shooting 27.3 percent in his last 10 road games compared to scoring 22.2 points per game at home this season.

With two games remaining on his team's five-game road trip, Martin will try to turn things around personally in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers (15-23), though, are looking to win a season-high third straight after a pair of road victories over Denver and Oklahoma City.

Kyrie Irving had 12 assists with just one turnover Friday and Antawn Jamison finished with 21 points and eight rebounds in a 96-90 victory that ended the Thunder's 14-game home win streak. Cleveland had a 51-40 rebounding advantage and grabbed 21 offensive boards.

"Obviously that's a pretty good win, any time you can beat a team this good in their building," coach Byron Scott said. "It says a lot about the way our guys came and competed, the way we played."

The Cavaliers have used a three-guard lineup to close each of the last two wins. The 6-foot-9 Jamison was the only player taller than 6-6 on the court at the end Friday.

"It allows the lane to open up that much more," Irving said. "I'm able to attack. The basket just seems that much more open than when we have our bigs in."

While Cleveland has found an effective use for a smaller lineup, Jamison has come up big over the last week, averaging 26.3 points and 7.5 rebounds the last four games. He scored 33 against the Nuggets.

The Cavaliers hope the momentum from the surprising trip can help them end a four-game losing streak at home. They'll try to avoid a three-game skid versus Houston, which has won four of five and 12 of 16 in the series.

"Basketball games might seem to be apolitical, innocuous events" Yardley writes, "but they contained worrisome ingredients to a Communist Party that places tight restrictions on freedom of assembly." The games provided a rare venue in China where citizens could yell at authorities.

View full sizeBrave Dragons, Knopf, 304 pp., $26.95

Forbes magazine has estimated that Wang Xingjiang, a peasant turned steel tycoon, has amassed close to $300 million in personal wealth, making him the 236th richest person in China.

At 61, "Boss Wang" was "a little rough, unfinished" and rarely smiled. But he was crazy for American basketball and determined to lift his last-place Shanxi Brave Dragons into respectability.

So, sight unseen, he offered ex-Seattle Sonics coach Bob Weiss $250,000 to consult for eight months, starting in 2008. Boss Wang was looking for a "technology transfer" from the NBA -- and Weiss, he decided, was it.

Journalist Jim Yardley recognized Boss Wang's rash experiment as potential storytelling gold. He took a leave from The New York Times and spent a season taking notes. The result is "Brave Dragon: A Chinese Basketball Team, an American Coach and Two Cultures Clashing." The book is a winner -- informative and conversational,  occasionally funny and frequently suspenseful.

Weiss was 66 in 2008 and had never applied for a passport. But when Sonics owner Howard Schultz, founder of Starbucks, canned him, Weiss had children in college and a house he couldn't sell in a gated Seattle community.

The former Chicago Bull caught a flight to Taiyuan, "the boiler room of China" and one of the most polluted cities in the world. Weiss found himself in an unheated gym in landlocked Shanxi province, where laborers earned $5 a day and "died by the thousands in unsafe mines."

One of the nifty surprises of "Brave Dragons" is that Weiss and his wife, Tracy, fell in love with China. Courtside, however, could be Kafka-esque.

Boss Wang and his mistress sat on the bench during every game. The owner met privately with players, made impetuous substitutions during games and screamed like a toddler. Weiss' inability to speak or understand Mandarin was a grave handicap in coaching but a saving grace during Boss Wang's tirades.

Former Cleveland Cavalier Robert Traylor flew to Taiyuan in 2008, took one incredulous look and left to spend the year playing in Turkey.

"Basketball games might seem to be apolitical, innocuous events" to Westerners, Yardley writes, "but they contained worrisome ingredients to a Communist Party that places tight restrictions on freedom of assembly." The nation's most popular sport provided one of the rare venues where citizens could yell at authorities.

A common taunt was "Hei Shao!" or "Black Whistle!" -- meaning that the referee was throwing the game. Boss Wang's son tells Yardley that rigged games fit into the broader problem of the old guard in the Chinese league clinging to power and control.

A few of Yardley's 20 chapters digress and wander, but "Red Soldier," about the music and sound programmer for the Brave Dragons' games, is splendid. Named patriotically at the end of the disastrous Cultural Revolution, Ren Hongbing confused his parents by wandering China, following his musical muse.  He is a key component when the Brave Dragons surge:

With 50 seconds left, "Ren Hongbing seized his moment and pushed a button on his sound-board: Beethoven's Fifth. The Wave. Bedlam. Coal country ecstasy. A roiling water bed of brown jackets."

A gifted writer, Yardley also has a strong grasp of basketball, and a sophisticated sense of cultural fault lines.

His timing also fascinates, capturing a "transition in which basketball was changing from a sport organized to project national glory to a sport that appealed to a new generation partly because of its subversive and individualistic edges."

Cue Jeremy Lin. The ascendancy of the NBA's newest star is all the more poignant set against the inferiority complex Yardley documents here, with many of the Chinese athletes seeing themselves as "genetically deficient" and physically weaker than other nationalities. Boss Wang and his peers counter with heedless, run-until-they-vomit drills, an approach that arguably shorted Yao Ming's playing career.

Things improve for the Brave Dragons during their experimental year, but anyone longing for a "Hoosiers" finale hasn't been paying attention. Yardley, who shared a Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for his coverage of China, certainly has, rewarding us with his close eye and felicitous prose. His new book amounts to cultural catnip.

Karen R. Long is book editor of The Plain Dealer.