Perkins was assessed two technicals during Boston's 113-92 loss at Orlando on Wednesday night. That temporarily gave him seven technicals during the playoffs, which would trigger an automatic one-game suspension.

Reinhold Matay, Associated PressCeltics center Kendrick Perkins argues a second technical foul called against him with officials Tom Washington (left) and Eddie Rush (right). The Game 5 technical has been rescinded by the NBA.Boston -- Boston's Kendrick Perkins will be eligible to play in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Orlando Magic.

The NBA said Thursday that one of the two technical fouls Perkins received in Game 5 was rescinded. That means Perkins hasn't hit the mark of seven technicals in the playoffs that would lead to an automatic suspension.

Perkins was called for the first technical when he elbowed Marcin Gortat in the stomach. Replays showed Perkins' arm merely slipped as he tried to help teammate Rajon Rondo up.

But it was the second technical that was rescinded by the league. Perkins got that one when he complained about a foul call in the second quarter.

The league said a foul committed by Paul Pierce in the fourth quarter was upgraded to a flagrant.

The defense stormed back in the second week of Browns offseason practices, as the unit "won" the day of third-down installation. Also, running back Jerome Harrison, an unsigned restricted free agent, joined the team this week but was excused on Thursday.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerRookie safety T.J. Ward made an impression with an interception over the middle during the Browns workout today.BEREA -- Instant observations on Browns organized team activity practice today ...

• Most of the work was on third downs. Unlike the red zone drills from the previous week, the defense won the day. Quarterbacks and receivers struggled against Rob Ryan's frequent blitz calls. Rookie safety Larry Asante had a two-handed rejection of a Jake Delhomme pass on one play. There were a lot more balls hitting the ground than a week ago.

• Rookie safety T.J. Ward's coverage skills have been lowly-rated in the pre- and post-draft period. But he looked pretty good intercepting a Delhomme pass for tight end Benjamin Watson in the deep middle of the field.

• Still no sign of the five unsigned restricted free agents and kicker Phil Dawson skipping OTAs. Coach Eric Mangini reported, however, that running back Jerome Harrison joined his teammates in workouts earlier in the week, but was excused today for reasons unrelated to his contract status.

• At the start of his remarks to the media, Mangini singled-out receiver Brian Robiskie as having a good start to the OTA season. Afterwards, Robiskie expressed excitement about the coming season. Not necessarily because he expects a breakout year after suffering through a seven-catch rookie season, either. Robiskie, who is all about team, said he's excited for the 2010 season because of the team's four-game winning streak at the end of last year. He also admitted the addition of veteran QBs Delhomme and Seneca Wallace will benefit the young receiving corps.

• Wallace, by the way, continues to display a knack for creating throwing lanes by moving in the pocket. And his arm is a lot stronger than you'd expect from an under-six foot quarterback.

• Saw Colt McCoy wing a pass on one of those sideline out routes so prevalent in the NFL game. Might have been 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, but an additional 10 yards to the sideline. It's the kind of pass that may have kept him from being drafted in the first round. It was completed, but coverage would be a lot tighter in a regular game.

• It's dangerous to draw conclusions from lineups in OTAs in May. Coaches may be experimenting and there could be some randomness to lineup rotations at this time. That said, the offensive line with the No. 1 unit was Joe Thomas at left tackle, Scott Kooistra at left guard, Alex Mack at center, rookie Shawn Lauvao at right guard and Tony Pashos at right tackle. Eric Steinbach was with the second team at left guard.

• Kwaku Danso, the big defensive lineman from Ghana who played (rarely) at East Carolina and is trying out for the team, lined up at nose tackle with the second team defense. He's listed as 6-5 and 326 pounds.

• Josh Cribbs said there is still a "Flash" package of Wildcat formation plays expressly for him. But the playbook now also has a "Cyclone" package featuring him and Wallace together. Cyclones is the nickname of Iowa State, Wallace's alma mater.

• Fullback Peyton Hillis, the player acquired from Denver in the Brady Quinn trade, isn't necessarily physically imposing, except for his arms. They are huge. I don't know the circumference of his biceps, but they are so extraordinarily large that everyone in the media was talking about them.

Our country music critic says, "Joe West, you're outta here!"

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerFirst-base umpire Joe West winds up before throwing White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen out of Wednesday's game in the second inning at Progressive Field. Guillen was protesting West's call of a balk against White Sox starter Mark Buehrle, but he could have just as easily been protesting West's music.

My mama used to sing on the radio with Jimmy Dean long before he knew what breakfast sausage looked like. I have a tattered black-and-white picture of two impish-looking babies. On the back, in the elegant penmanship of pre-Prohibition schoolmarms, are two names: "Charles Arnett" -- my dad -- and "George Jones."

Beyond that, I've been reporting on country music for The Plain Dealer for about 20 years. I guess I've covered hundreds of concerts and reviewed thousands of albums. I've made a little money playing drums in country bands, even.

As a musician, I know just how hard this stuff is. So I've tried and usually been able to find some redeeming characteristic in every artist and his or her work. With the possible exception of Shania Twain, of course, who never met a key she couldn't miss.

I even covered a 1995 Billy Ray Cyrus concert here and found something good to say about both Billy Ray and his opening act, a TV talk show host named Jerry Springer.

At the time, I thought Springer's set may have been the worst attempt at country music I've ever heard. Jerry, who's become a friend over the years -- I even did a stint as a bouncer on his TV show for my On the Job Training series -- later admitted the same; he was able to laugh at himself, unlike Shania.

I have now heard the man who makes Jerry Springer sound like a redneck Placido Domingo, and Shania Twain as angelic as if someone had stuck a microphone in downtown Heaven:

Umpire Joe West.

Joe West's 'Blue Cowboy.'

Well, if I'm Nashville, I run West outta the game. The Hook. The Heave-Ho. The Thumb.

It's supposed to be western music, not really country, and that's OK. Good western music is as relaxing as a campfire under a starlit sky. Think something along the lines of Riders in the Sky or even Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. The problem is that in addition to carrying their riders, Roy's horse Trigger and Gene's Champion were probably better at carrying a tune than West.

The title cut, "Blue Cowboy," has the clippity-clop tempo of the typical western song, but West's vocals sadly also sound like horseshoes scraping along a rutted road.

"You Can't Run with the Big Dogs" mixes every inspirational clich and creates a few more: "You can't tighten that lug nut if you don't have the bolt." A better use for the lug wrench would be shattering this CD.

That's how I see it. Now? Now I guess I just sit back and wait for my fine.

Right after I take a plumber's snake to my ears.

"This worries me as much for the league as for the Cavs. If free agents start colluding to build instant super-teams, this whole thing is going to look like more of a sham than if they only hired officials named Tim Donaghy."

View full sizeAP Photo/Lynne SladkyWill a meeting between LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson play a role in where all three end up next season?

In response to the story LeBron James, Joe Johnson and Dwyane Wade will all talk before they sign, cleveland.com reader bupalos doesn't like the precedent this sets. This reader writes,

This worries me as much for the league as for the Cavs. If free agents start colluding to build instant super-teams, this whole thing is going to look like more of a sham than if they only hired officials named Tim Donaghy.

"Funny. I was going to send him a baseball later this season saying, 'Bye Bye Ozzie's job.'" - ctownblue

View full sizeMark Duncan | Associated PressOzzie Guillen has never been one unable to speak his mind.

In response to the story Ozzie Guillen taunts Cleveland with 'Bye-bye LeBron' message, cleveland.com reader ctownblue has a message for Ozzie. This reader writes,

Funny. I was going to send him a baseball later this season saying, "Bye Bye Ozzie's job."

"Odds are we lose either the Wisconsin or Iowa game and finish 7-1 in Big Ten (that wins or ties the conference) and 11-1 overall. That would be a very good season in my mind and could still get us in the national championship game."

View full sizeMarvin Fong | The Plain Dealer Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes could have a very good year in 2010.

In response to the story P.M. Ohio State Buckeyes links: Bucks vs. 'Bama in 2011 BCS title game?, cleveland.com reader mittymjs has high hopes for the Buckeyes. This reader writes,

Odds are we lose either the Wisconsin or Iowa game and finish 7-1 in the Big Ten (that wins or ties the conference) and 11-1 overall. That would be a very good season in my mind and could still get us in the national championship game.

"Very smart player. Hardesty and Hillis are going to be nipping at his playing time the more he doesn't show up. I, for one, hope that Harrison gets in to training camp and gets the opportunity to carry the ball early and often this year." - sec508row17

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain Dealer Browns fans are curious to see if Jerome Harrison can pick up in 2010 where he left off in 2009.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns RFA running back Jerome Harrison joins OTAs despite not signing tender, cleveland.com reader sec508row17 thinks Harrison is making a wise choice. This reader writes,

Very smart player. Hardesty and Hillis are going to be nipping at his playing time the more he doesn't show up. I, for one, hope that Harrison gets in to training camp and gets the opportunity to carry the ball early and often this year.

Former Buckeye says veteran QBs Delhomme and Seneca Wallace will benefit the young receiving corps.

VIDEO: Second-year wide receiver Brian Robiskie is impressing so far at Browns OTAs in Berea, writes Plain Dealer beat writer Tony Grossi.

Grossi writes:

At the start of his remarks to the media, Mangini singled-out receiver Brian Robiskie as having a good start to the OTA season. Afterwards, Robiskie expressed excitement about the coming season. Not necessarily because he expects a breakout year after suffering through a seven-catch rookie season, either. Robiskie, who is all about team, said he's excited for the 2010 season because of the team's four-game winning streak at the end of last year. He also admitted the addition of veteran QBs Delhomme and Seneca Wallace will benefit the young receiving corps.

We're 57 percent of the way through the 256 days that stand between the Browns' last 2009 game and their 2010 regular season opener. They're on a treadmill, though, in NFL.com's new "power rankings."

John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer Browns players, including Lawrence Vickers (47) and David Bowens (96), cheer Eric Mangini after the coach was doused by a bucket of Gatorade late in the team's 2009 season finale win over Jacksonville.Cleveland, Ohio - OK, so it's been just 109 days since the New Orleans Saints topped the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, in the Super Bowl; and just 105 days to go before the 2010 NFL season opens with a Thursday night, Sept. 9 Minnesota Vikings at Saints game.

For the Cleveland Browns, it's been a mere 144 days since their last game that supposedly mattered, that made them 5-11, that compelling 23-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on a balmy afternoon in Browns Stadium two days after New Year's.

And it's a mere 108 days left from now to Sept. 12, when the Browns open their season at Tampa Bay against those pesky Buccaneers (3-13 last season).

But, the more things stay the same, the more they change, right? This prompts NFL.com to bring us some new power rankings.

Pat Kirwan writes the report, admitting that, "(t)rying to rank NFL teams from 1-32 is close to impossible in September, let alone in May"...

Instead, NFL.com ranks the teams in categories from Tier 1 (among the best) to Tier 5 (among the worst). Kirwan writes about the Browns:

If Jake Delhomme has something left, then Cleveland is a solid Tier-4 team. Keep in mind they won four straight to end the season last year and there is positive energy coming out of the combination of Mike Holmgren and Eric Mangini. There's just too much work to be done in this rebuild to think 2010 is the year.

Browns banter

Plain Dealer Browns coverage includes beat writer Mary Kay Cabot's report on running back James Harrison; Bill Lubinger's story on how Browns players and other athletes had to work off-season and sometimes in-season jobs in vocations such as teaching and insurance. 

Same kind of gig

Mike Brown was fired by the Cavaliers as their coach over last weekend. Marla Ridenour writes for the Akron Beacon Journal that Browns coach Eric Mangini - who was fired by the New York Jets after the 2008 season - empathizes with Brown:

Browns coach Eric Mangini feels for Cavs coach Mike Brown, who was fired Sunday night despite winning 143 games (counting playoffs) in the past two years.

"I like Mike Brown," Mangini said Thursday. "I sent him a text the other day. I can relate to things he's going through. It's difficult.

"I hope things work out for him, I hope things work out for the Cavs as well. I like Danny Ferry a lot. This sometimes happens, you just ideally want to see everybody move foward in a positive way."

Your 53, my 53

On Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report, John Taylor responds to a fellow staffer's Browns roster projections with his own analysis, including at wide receiver:

Mohamed Massaquoi

Brian Robiskie

Carlton Mitchell

Chansi Stuckey

Josh Cribbs

COMMENT: Like most everyone, I fully expect a veteran to be added between now and the start of the regular season. Look at that group listed above; how can an addition not happen?

Plum of a passer

Milt Plum was the starting quarterback for most of the first five years of legendary back Jim Brown's career (1957-65) with the Browns. Mike Beacom writes about Plum for ProFootballWeekly.com:

There was no passer rating at the time, but football historians revealed long ago that Plum's 1960 season produced one of the greatest ratings of his or any era — a 110.4 (sixth-best all time, and one of only two all-time top-10 passer ratings posted before 1984). That year he threw 21 touchdowns and just five interceptions, completing 60.4 percent of his passes. The next highest passer rating of 1960 belonged to Philadelphia's Norm Van Brocklin (86.5).

Teams of that era threw when they had to, and most of the time passing was saved for third down and long. But the Browns were different because Paul Brown was different, and, as Plum points out, because the offense was limited in its number of downfield weapons.

"I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but in Cleveland we only had one deep threat — Ray Renfro," Plum says. At one point, Plum petitioned the coaching staff to move Mitchell to flanker and put Preston Carpenter back in the backfield, but the coaching staff would have none of it. Everyone wanted two backs, he says, not a fleet of receivers or a balanced attack. "Green Bay had (Paul) Hornung and (Jim) Taylor … that was the way to go back then. You're not going to throw the ball with two big backs."
 

 

"Once Joe West finally figures out that he is just ancillary to the game of baseball and not the game, MLB will be much better for it." - SolonMoreCynical

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerFirst-base umpire Joe West winds up before throwing White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen out of Wednesday's game.

In response to the story Joe West, ump, and White Sox's Mark Buehrle and Ozzie Guillen will be investigated by MLB - report, cleveland.com reader SolonMoreCynical has little respect for umpire Joe West. This reader writes,

Once Joe West finally figures out that he is just ancillary to the game of baseball and not the game, MLB will be much better for it.

"They did what they should have done. Actually, both technicals should have been rescinded. And Dwight Howard's hit on Davis during his follow through should have been a flagrant foul." - rawdawg

View full sizeAP Photo | Winslow TownsonKendrick Perkins will be available to play in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals after having one of his two technical fouls from Game 5 rescinded.

In response to the story NBA rescinds technical foul on Boston Celtics' Kendrick Perkins, preventing a one-game suspension, cleveland.com reader rawdawg thinks the NBA didn't go far enough. This reader writes,

They did what they should have done. Actually, both technicals should have been rescinded. And Dwight Howard's hit on Davis during his follow through should have been a flagrant foul.

"It's going to be fun watching what Colt does in the preseason. I remember when he staged that comeback to beat our Buckeyes in the Bowl game. Killed my night." - Teemstro

View full sizeAP Photo | Ross D. FranklinBrowns fans have memories of Colt McCoy leading Texas to a win over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl and hope he can duplicate successes like that in the NFL.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns defense catches up in second week of OTAs, cleveland.com reader Teemstro is curious to see what Colt McCoy can do this August. This reader writes,

It's going to be fun watching what Colt does in the preseason. I remember when he staged that comeback to beat our Buckeyes in the Bowl game. Killed my night.

No one would have guessed it a year ago when Mack was a struggling rookie, but the center should anchor the line for the Browns for a long time.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerCenter Alex Mack (55) wasn't a glamorous draft pick like quarterback Brady Quinn (10), but Mack's career in Cleveland should last a lot longer than Quinn's did.

BEREA, Ohio — We'll never know if things would have worked out had the Browns kept the No. 5 pick in the 2009 draft and called the name of quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Despite being the quarterback on the Jets' team that went to the playoffs, there remains some doubt about Sanchez as a passer. Is he a solid quarterback on a very good, experienced running team? Or will he be an impact player?

This much is certain, the Browns did the right thing when they made Alex Mack their first-round pick at No. 21 after a series of draft-day deals that started with shipping No. 5 to the Jets. As for the rest of the trade -- Abe Elam, Kenyon Coleman, Brett Ratliff and David Veikune -- you can debate whether the Browns received enough.

Mack played all 16 games, every down for the 5-11 Browns. By the end of the season, he had established himself as a durable center giving hints that he can be much more than that. That happened in the final four games of the season, when the Browns went 4-0 and ran for 900 yards.

Mack had plenty of help from left tackle Joe Thomas, guards Eric Steinbach and Rex Hadnot and right tackle Floyd Womack, who was more effective at that spot than he was most of the season at right guard.

But Mack was at the heart of the line, making the calls, learning to lead as a rookie.

While Eric Mangini hesitates comparing Mack to the Jets' star center Nick Mangold, you can sense the Browns' coach sees Mack heading in that direction. Mangold was one of Mangini's signature picks with the Jets.

The website profootballfocus.com rated Mack the No. 6 center in the NFL last season. Who knows how close that is to accurate, because people who evaluate linemen for those sites don't know the blocking schemes or what a center is supposed to do in various offenses.

But this much is clear, Mack can anchor this line for a long time.

You'd never have guessed that a year ago when Mack seemed to spend the summer running laps for blown assignments and lousy snaps.

"Snaps to the left, to the right," said Mangini. "Snaps early, snaps late . . . snaps all over the place."

Mangini was putting pressure on Mack to learn a new offense, to deal with crowd noise as music blared during drills. He wanted his rookie from the University of California mentally and physically exhausted, so that he could handle the demands of the regular season.

It was the same system that developed Mangold.

"This summer, I feel much more comfortable," said Mack, who credited veteran center Hank Fraley with speeding his development.

According to Profootballoutsiders, 63 percent of the Browns' runs were between one of their guards and the center. That is the third most in football. Since the Browns ranked No. 8 in rushing with the NFL's worst passing attack, it shows someone was blocking with authority.

All of this may sound a little technical, especially in May. But Browns fans care about this stuff. Most were thrilled when left tackle Thomas was the team's No. 3 pick in the 2007 draft. They know that spending money on veteran guard Eric Steinbach in 2007 made sense.

While some fans would have preferred the Browns take a chance on Sanchez, most agreed the team needed a good center. Fans still e-mail about wanting another lineman for the right side, to compete with newcomer Tony Pashos, rookie Shawn Lauvao, Womack and John St. Clair.

Mangini believes you build a line with two terrific tackles and a star center, with veterans filling the guard spots. Former GM Phil Savage had the same philosophy. That's why he picked Thomas and made free agent LeCharles Bentley the game's highest paid center in 2006 -- but Bentley never played for the Browns because of knee problems.

Now, Mack has the job, and so far, he's done it extremely well.

How do we know?

"I don't want to [jinx] him," said Mangini. "But he's yet to run a lap or have a bad snap."

UPDATED, with photo gallery: Browns coach Eric Mangini doesn't get specific about how he'd divvy up the playing time, but undoubtedly will try to keep defenses guessing.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz / PDBrowns backup Seneca Wallace, front, and Jake Delhomme could share some of the quarterbacking duties next season.

Updated at 11:55 p.m., with photo gallery

BEREA, Ohio — Browns coach Eric Mangini is contemplating using both Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace at quarterback in some fashion in 2010.

"I don't think you could rule out the possibility of having them both play," said Mangini after organized team activities Thursday. "I think Seneca has had a really nice camp. It's a different style than Jake's, which is good because it puts some different pressures on the defense.

"Seneca gives you some flexibility to do some things, just like Jake has certain things that he does. If you can incorporate them both in a plan that makes sense, that works, then that could be a good thing. Then you have a guy like Josh Cribbs, he presents different problems. Now you put Josh Cribbs and Seneca in the game together, they can present different problems."

Wallace is more of a running quarterback who can operate the regular offense as well as the wildcat. The Browns have already installed some of the cyclone package, which features Wallace and Cribbs together and is the nickname of Wallace's alma mater, Iowa State. Delhomme is more of a traditional passer with good accuracy and above average mobility.

Mangini was not specific about how he'd divvy up the playing time between the two quarterbacks, and will undoubtedly try to keep defenses guessing whenever possible.

Harrison joins OTAs: Running back Jerome Harrison became the only restricted free agent to end his boycott of voluntary organized team activities this week despite not having signed his tender yet.

Harrison, who skipped the opening three-day session last week, practiced for the first two days this week before missing Thursday for reasons unrelated to his contract, Mangini said.

The Browns have yet to start negotiating a long-term deal for Harrison, but it was clear the team was moving forward without him. They traded up to draft Tennessee's Montario Hardesty in the second round, and he's been working with the first-team offense in Harrison's absence. They also acquired Peyton Hillis in the trade with Denver for Brady Quinn and have James Davis back from a shoulder injury that cost him all but the first two games last season. The Browns also have second-year back Chris Jennings.

Harrison, who rushed for 561 yards in the final three games of last season and led the team with 862 yards and five touchdowns, was given a one-year tender worth $1.759 million. It's a substantial raise over his previous 2010 base of about $534,000.

Dawson still absent: Browns kicker Phil Dawson is still sitting out OTAs in an apparent contract stand. Dawson, who is set to make $1 million in the final year of his deal, is one of the lowest-paid veteran kickers in the NFL. His agent, Neil Cornrich, declined to comment on why Dawson is missing.

Singled out: Mangini singled out several players for praise after OTAs, including tight end Ben Watson, and the quarterbacks. . . . Two rookie safeties both made big plays Thursday, with T.J. Ward picking off a deep Delhomme pass over the middle intended for Watson, and Larry Asante storming in and swatting down a Delhomme pass. Also knocking down passes were linebackers David Veikune and Marcus Bernard. . . . Running back Peyton Hillis caught a few nice passes out of the backfield, and sure-handed tight end Evan Moore had two uncharacteristic drops.

Scout hired: The Browns hired scout Johnathan Stigall, who worked under Browns GM Tom Heckert in Philadelphia, a league source said. Stigall, from Oxford, Ohio, scouted the midwest for the Eagles the previous four seasons. He also spent six seasons as a college scout for the Miami Dolphins.

Extra points: Several players will miss most or all of OTAs with injuries. They include Eric Barton, Shaun Rogers, C.J. Mosley and Dave Zastudil. Some will be idle until training camp in late July.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry has described Sampson as at the top of the team's coaching candidate list, a source says.

Jacob Kriese, AP via The Daily StudentWill former Indiana University and University of Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson be the Cavs' next coach?

CLEVELAND -- Let the games begin.

The Cavaliers' coaching search will likely be long and have plenty of twists and turns especially with much nationwide scrutiny as it relates to the future of LeBron James. There will likely be plenty of information and even some misinformation, and retaining perspective on the process will have value for fans.

With that disclaimer out of the way, the first bit of the team's succession plan came to light Thursday. The Cavs have been doing some background research about Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Kelvin Sampson, according to a source.

Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry, the source said, has described Sampson to people as at the top of the team's candidate list when it comes to current league assistant coaches.

Yahoo! Sports reported that Sampson is on the Los Angeles Clippers' list for their coaching vacancy in addition to the Cavs'.

The Cavs are believed to be chasing a big name to replace Mike Brown, who was fired Sunday. But they are preparing in case they cannot.

One of those big names is Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who is the dream target of several teams because his coaching contract is up at the end of the playoffs and the Lakers want him to take a large pay cut to return.

Jackson made his first comments on the Cavs' coaching vacancy Thursday in an interview with Fanhouse.com before the Lakers took on the Phoenix Suns in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. He said the uncertainty over James' future colors the entire process.

"It's an extremely odd situation," Jackson said. "Anybody who's in control of the decision making knows that you have to consult with LeBron, and consulting with him is kind of odd because July 1 he's a free agent. So there are no guarantees to that. He obviously wants to look at free agency."

Though Jackson returned to the Lakers five years ago at the request of star Kobe Bryant, he said it would be hard to be hired at the behest of a superstar and retain authority. But Jackson admitted that probably would be the case with the Cavs if James re-signs.

"As a coach, you really question whether you want to be a handpicked guy and then have to discipline and take care of somebody, the stuff you have to do," Jackson told Fanhouse. "You have to coach players regardless of who they are. So that always makes some things issues. But I know my organization probably won't do it that way. But in [Cleveland's] situation, it's almost impossible not to."

Jackson also repeated his recent statements that he was 90 percent sure he would be back with the Lakers next season.

As for Sampson, he's known mostly for his 12-year tenure as the coach at the University of Oklahoma, where he twice was named national coach of the year and led the Sooners to the 2001 Final Four. Sampson's reputation took a hit, however, when with NCAA found recruiting violations both at Oklahoma and later at Indiana, where he was fired two years ago.

In the wake of those scandals, which landed both schools on probation, Sampson joined Scott Skiles' staff with Milwaukee in an attempt to rehab his career.

As a coach, Sampson is known for being a solid defensive coach and a motivator. Like with Brown, the Cavs have a desire for their coach to instill a certain culture within the team. This college-type approach is how the San Antonio Spurs have done business for years and Sampson has done similar things during his collegiate career.

With the Bucks, Sampson has already established a reputation for relating well to players. He was given credit for helping Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings.

Sampson's link to the Cavs starts in San Antonio. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and General Manager R.C. Buford are close with Sampson and Ferry. Sampson and Popovich have coached together with USA Basketball and when Sampson left Indiana in 2008 he spent time with the Spurs.

The Cavs are likely conducting background research on several candidates.

Another LeBron tampering fine: The NBA fined Atlanta Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. $25,000 Thursday for violating the league's anti-tampering rules. In an interview last week with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Gearon said: "If somebody came to us tomorrow and said you can have LeBron for max money and it puts you in the luxury tax, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But am I going to do that for [Zydrunas] Ilgauskas? Am I going to do it for Jermaine O'Neal? I don't think so."

Gearon is the third league official to be slapped with a tampering fine involving James over the past week. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $100,000 for saying the Mavericks hope to have a chance with James in a sign-and-trade deal. Also, Phoenix Suns General Manager Steve Kerr was fined $10,000 for joking on a radio show that he'd be glad to sign James if he took the $5.5 million mid-level exception.

The recent crackdown seems to be an effort from the league office to temper all the James' free agency talk. In some cases, it has gotten more publicity than the NBA playoffs.

NBA Nation tour: The NBA Nation Tour will be in Cleveland today through Monday at the Great American Rib Cook-Off at Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City. Former NBA star Darryl Dawkins will make appearances each day and Cavs forward J.J. Hickson will appear Saturday from 2-3 p.m. There will be a slam dunk contest, a skills contest and various other NBA-theme attractions and events.

Jim Brown is no longer a Browns executive adviser and Paul Warfield may no longer be a special assignment scout.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain DealerJim Brown, left, talks with Mike Holmgren, the team's new president, in January. Brown reportedly met with Holmgren recently and it was decided he no longer would have an official role with the team.

Jim Brown is out as executive adviser with the Browns, and Paul Warfield's status as special assignment scout and adviser to the general manager could soon change.

View full sizeChuck Crow / PDPaul Warfield.Brown will no longer have an official title but will remain "available to the club," said Neal Gulkis, Browns vice president of public relations.

Gulkis said that Brown and new President Mike Holmgren discussed Brown's role with the club and it was decided moving forward he would have no title. Brown remains a part of the Browns family and recently addressed the 2010 rookie class.

Warfield, who has worked for the club in various capacities since 1981, was given his most recent role by former General Manager Phil Savage. Warfield doesn't have an office in Browns headquarters but contributed to the scouting process and attended all scouting meetings under Savage.

New GM Tom Heckert said Warfield "doesn't know" if he wants to continue in the role.

"If he wants to continue, we want him," Heckert said.

UPDATED: The independent Lake Erie Crushers get the first triple play in team history but still fall to the Oakland County, Mich., Cruisers.

Updated at 12:30 a.m.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 3, IronPigs 2 Nick Weglarz (.105) singled in Brian Bixler (.282) in the bottom of the 11th to beat visiting Lehigh Valley (Pa.).

Josh Tomlin (2.23) started for Columbus and pitched six innings. He allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 5, Curve 2 A season-high crowd of 8,774 at Akron's Canal Park saw Aeros CF John Drennen (.325) line into a triple play, but also go 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Drennen extended his hitting streak to 10 games and teammate and 3B Jared Goedert (.336) singled to build his streak to 16 games. Aeros right-handed starter Paolo Espino (5-2, 3.78) limited the Curve to two runs (one earned) on three hits in 5 innings, striking out five.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

The Indians were off Thursday.

Notes: RF Abner Abreu is 14-for-37 (.378) with two doubles, one triple, one homer and 11 RBI in his past 10 games, boosting his average from .206 to .252.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 7, Dragons 6 SS Kyle Smith's (.294) suicide squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 10th inning scored Casey Frawley (.278) and capped the Captains' rally from a 6-4 ninth-inning deficit. Lake County 3B Jeremie Tice (.275) slugged his fourth and fifth homers, both solo blasts, then singled in a ninth-inning run before scoring on Jason Smits' single that tied the game, 6-6.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Cruisers 1, Crushers 0 Lake Erie turned in the first triple play in team history in the loss to visiting Oakland County (Mich.)

Carmona's performance in spring training and the first two months of the season does not guarantee a sustained revival. But it does indicate he is moving closer to the pitcher of 2007 and further away from the pitcher of 2009.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerIndians starter Fausto Carmona is 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA in nine starts this season, an indication that maybe he's turned the corner since struggling in 2008 and 2009.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — To truly appreciate where Indians right-hander Fausto Carmona is professionally -- entering a start tonight against the New York Yankees in the Bronx -- it is necessary to remember where he was one year ago.

Lost.

On May 30, 2009, Carmona pitched poorly against the Yankees in Cleveland and lost. He gave up four earned runs on eight hits in four innings -- the ninth time in 11 starts he had given up at least four earned runs.

Five days later, it got even worse. Carmona gave up seven runs in two innings of a lopsided loss at Minnesota. He fell to 2-6 with a 7.42 ERA.

The next day, June 5, Carmona -- a 19-game winner in 2007 -- was demoted.

The Indians did not merely send him to Class AAA or Class AA or Class A. They banished him to the Arizona Rookie League for an overhaul of mechanics and pre-pitch routine, as well as to do plenty of soul-searching.

Carmona worked in various minor-league levels until resurfacing in Cleveland on July 31 for a start against Detroit.

He was 3-6 with a 5.29 ERA in 12 post-banishment starts to close the nightmarish season.

As the calendar flipped to 2010, Carmona's career was hanging in the balance at age 26.

Carmona's performance in spring training and the first two months of the season does not guarantee a sustained revival. But it does indicate he is moving closer to the pitcher of 2007 and further away from the pitcher of 2009 and, for that matter, 2008.

Carmona is 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA in nine starts this season. He has given up more than three earned runs just once.

"If Fausto continues doing what he's doing, he definitely will be back," said Mike Redmond, his personal catcher with the Tribe this season. "He's been able to take what he's learned and continue with his career. He's gaining more and more confidence each time out. He's got great stuff, he's a great kid and he works hard. I don't see why he can't get back to being among the best pitchers in the game."

The veteran Redmond played with the Twins last year. He was in the lineup June 4 of last year, going 0-for-4 while his teammates knocked around Carmona. Redmond could not believe what he was seeing, or what happened the next day.

"I wondered, 'How does a guy with that stuff end up going to the minor leagues?' " Redmond said. "Part of the answer, I guess, is that sometimes you get off-track. You get confused.

"When you start struggling, everybody's in your ear. Everybody's got their two cents about what you should be doing. I've seen it happen to other pitchers."

As part of the rebuild, Carmona moved to the left side of the rubber at the suggestion of winter-ball teammate and former All-Star Jose Lima. Lima died last week of a heart attack at 37; Carmona understandably was shaken by the news.

Carmona also has done a much better job with the tempo of his delivery. By not rushing to the plate, he cuts down the chances of flying open with the lead leg.

Flying open was a huge problem the past two years, especially when working from the stretch. The more open he got, the more command suffered. Plenty of hits and walks resulted.

Then the psyche came into play. Runners increasingly rattled Carmona. The longer a jam lasted, the more frustrated he became. His body language made him easy to read. The opposition knew when they had him.

View full sizeChuck Crow / PDCatcher Mike Redmond, left, is credited with helping Fausto Carmona with the mental game of pitching."From what I'd heard, he would have that one bad inning where things would go wrong and he'd just lose it," Redmond said. "At times this year I've seen him get frustrated, but he's been able to get it back and keep us in games."

Redmond credits Carmona's maturation. An American League scout said Redmond also deserves kudos.

"He knows how to rein in pitchers and make sure they stay under control in tight spots," the scout said.

Redmond said: "That's my job. In my mind, I've had certain things I wanted to do and accomplish with Fausto, and they're working. It's a process."

Better control, more pitches

Where the repertoire is concerned, Redmond and pitching coach Tim Belcher have gotten Carmona to mix in more sliders and changeups lately. Those two pitches complement the money ball, a two-seam fastball with late action that more than a few right-handed hitters have said can be one of the nastiest pitches they face.

"Everything works off the two-seamer, of course," Redmond said. "But hitters can't sit on it. The change is getting better, and he's throwing sliders to lefties, which he really hasn't been able to do up until now."

Carmona rarely shakes off Redmond, who, along with Belcher, has emphasized the importance of keeping things simple.

"We've limited the amount of scouting information he sees," Redmond said. "Let me worry about who's hitting and what sequences to use. He's been able to go up and just concentrate on throwing his pitches."

As the success has returned, Carmona has remained his typical humble and quiet self. Still, teammates have noticed more smiles returning.

"He's getting back to the guy from 2007, the pitcher who was confident and having fun," third baseman Jhonny Peralta said.

Carmona and the Yankees have had their moments. In the division series in 2007, Carmona was sensational, ignoring bugs on his face and allowing three hits and one run in nine innings. The Indians won, 2-1, in 11 in part because Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain could not handle those very same bugs in the eighth.

In Carmona's other start against New York last year, April 18 in Yankee Stadium, he gave up four runs in six innings. But he cruised to victory thanks to the Tribe's 14-run second inning en route to a 22-4 demolition.

Sizemore update: Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, in an e-mail said the Indians are in the "end stages" of their investigative process to find out the best way to treat center fielder Grady Sizemore's left knee. Sizemore went on the disabled list May 19 with a bruised knee and spent this week visiting doctors in New York and Vail, Colo., to get opinions.

Plain Dealer reporter Paul Hoynes contributed to this story.

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

Apparently LeBron, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson will have a chat before deciding where they want to play next season.

View full sizeAPDwyane Wade

•The Heat's Dwyane Wade tells Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune that he, LeBron James and the Hawks' Joe Johnson will sit down and discuss their futures before making any moves. ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports Chris Bosh also will be part of those discussions.

"[Free agency] has been three years coming," Wade said. "We've discussed it prematurely, at different times. [But] you don't know what guys are thinking and where they're going. I think we'll all sit down, and before one of us makes a decision, all of us will have spoken to each other and [listened to the] thinking. A lot of decisions [will be based on] what other players are willing to do and what other guys want to do. So it's not just a 'me' situation here. We all have to look and see what each other is thinking."

Wade said he was impressed with the loyalty of the Heat organization, but wasn't so sure about the loyalty of the Bulls. He said that would impact his decision more than who is coaching for the organization.

Wade also said he'd love to play with another great player.

"I understand that you have to have a great team, a great supporting cast around you," Wade told the Tribune. "That's all I want. My ego is not that big. . . . I just want to win."

•As if James isn't busy enough trying to hire his next coach, apparently now he's got to worry about his next general manager, too.

The Knicks have a coach in Mike D'Antoni, but according to the New York Post, Knicks team President Donnie Walsh is compiling a list of GM candidates, and the Post headline says, "LeBron could play a role in Knicks' hunt for GM."

The story by Marc Berman says possible candidates include former Warriors GM Chris Mullin and Knicks assistant to the president Allan Houston, who is pals with James associate William Wesley.

•Nets free agent Jarvis Hayes thinks LeBron James is most likely headed for New York and that Chris Bosh might follow him, he tells the netsdaily.com website. He also thinks Shaquille O'Neal could end up with New Jersey.

•In his blog on hoopshype.com, Roland Lazenby reminds potential suitors that Phil Jackson elected to leave the Bulls in 1998 after a messy ending with then-GM Jerry Krause, who tried to force him out and then asked him to stay.

"Jackson has let it be known that he wants to coach next year, that he might consider another team. In so doing, he has spread hope across the NBA for those who crave what he has to offer. But that 1998 disappointment serves as fair warning for James, for Bryant, for the fans, for Jeanie Buss, for anyone who places their hopes in Phil Jackson," Lazenby wrote.

"Be very, very careful. He just might walk away with your heart in his pocket."

To see the whole story, tinyurl.com/2vw75xb

•Sorry, Cavs fans. Here's a note involving two guys you could do without. But Utah's Carlos Boozer thinks following in Michael Jordan's footsteps in Chicago would be a positive for free agents such as James.

"A lot of people in my era, in my age group, we watched MJ do what he did: Win championships, be the face of the NBA and continue to dominate the game," Boozer said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN radio. "I think most of the free agents this summer [think it's] probably an attractive thing to have that history, where MJ played, where [Scottie] Pippen played for those six championships. I can remember being a kid and watching that. I think everybody, whoever it is this summer, can remember watching MJ do his thing in Chicago, so I think that will be more of a positive thing than a negative thing."

-- Mary Schmitt Boyer

Perfection. Not many teams or individuals get a shot at it.

Vicki Dunbar, a professional tennis player for 10 years, says she never has to tell her son Ethan to practice.



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(John Kuntz / PD)

Perfection.

Not many teams or individuals get a shot at it.

Cloverleaf senior tennis player Ethan Dunbar knows just how difficult a feat it is to perform. So does his family.

A year ago, Dunbar was 31-0 before losing his only match of the year in the quarterfinals of the Division I state tournament. Today, he enters the state tournament in Columbus with a 33-0 mark, needing four victories to cap a perfect season.

"Entering the season, I just wanted to do the best I could," said Dunbar, who will play college tennis for Richmond in the fall. "I didn't think about winning the sectional or winning the district. I just wanted to see how far I could go."

Dunbar added a second straight Oberlin District title to his r sum a week ago. While he may appear a bit philosophical about his winning ways, losing to Ryan Bandy from Cincinnati St. Xavier last year was not a good memory.

But if Dunbar needed some inspiration, the previously-undefeated Bandy provided it when he was upset and failed to make the final state field of 16. Dunbar said the tournament is wide open after the favorite was eliminated.

"I knew Ryan was real good and we had played before and I lost," said Dunbar, Cloverleaf's first sectional and district champion. "Obviously, I was a little upset. He was definitely one of the favorites. But the kid that beat him must be good. You can't overlook anyone."

You can't look past Dunbar's tennis-rooted family, either.

His mother, Vicki, was a member of the professional women's tour for 10 years. Keith Dunbar, an Olmsted Falls native, was a professional coach before going into the advertising and publishing business. Younger brother, Jacob, and sister, Emily, are playing the game, often on the Medina family's home tennis court.

While Mike McGee is the Cloverleaf coach, it doesn't hurt to have a former professional and three-time state champion from Wooster High teaching you the game at home. In one of the great bits of history, Vicki Nelson-Dunbar won the longest point on record -- 29 minutes, 643 strokes -- against Jean Hepner in a Virginia Slims match in September 1984.

She would rather talk about her son's abilities.

"He works very hard and is very good mentally," said Vicki Dunbar, who knows a bit about perfection after winning her first 136 high school matches before losing in the state semifinals as a senior. "It also helps he loves the game. He doesn't go out and do it for someone else. I don't have to tell him to go out and practice."

Playing on the summer circuit away from school, Dunbar said he knows nearly all of the players in the Division I field. He especially knows juniors Nolan Marks of Kenston and Tommy Marx of Shaker Heights.

He defeated Marx in the district semifinals, 6-3, 6-2, and took care of Westlake sophomore Colton Buffington in the finals, 6-1, 7-6 (3).

"I played well, but they weren't easy," said Dunbar, who meets freshman Miguel Cepeda of Mason in today's opener. "They stepped up and made it difficult. I'm happy how I played, but I think all of those guys from our district have a shot.

"I kind of like knowing everyone. You can prepare. But just because you beat them before doesn't mean you can beat them again."

Buffington, who plays Centerville junior Ruben Geearaet in his opening match, recalled losing to a 14-year-old Dunbar when he was 12.

"It's his consistency," said Buffington. "He does not miss the ball and his first-serve percentage is high. Our whole match was offense-defense. I would hit it in a corner and he was hitting it right back on offense."

McGee said Dunbar's mental makeup has made him all the better.

"He plays a match and then he goes home and plays some more," said McGee, who is also the school's swimming coach. "With his experience and determination, he thinks he can play with anyone. I think our district had four of the top eight players in the state and I could see all four of them in the finals."

Dunbar recalled making his first trip to state as a freshman. He lost to four-time champion Matt Allare, now playing at Ohio State.

"I was excited to play that match," said Dunbar, who has seen his freshman opponent, Cepeda, play his younger brother. "There was no pressure. I won a game, which was better than some people.

"I like a little pressure. Obviously, there is a little more pressure than when I was a freshman."

Going up against perfection doesn't seem to faze him.

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