Ohio State coach Urban Meyer encourages high school spring football in Ohio.

Lynn Ischay, PDUrban Meyer

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer hopes to assist high school football coaches when it comes to prepsters playing spring football.

B.J. Bethel writes in The Dayton Daily News how Meyer met with the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association. He brought up the idea of adding some kind of spring practice to high school football.

Meyer said he would help to implement.

But how many players would that help in reality? The number of players actually recruited to play for a scholarship at college is remarkably low. According to the NCAA website, 1 in 17 high school football players will continue the sport at an NCAA institution in college. Adding another 10 days for run-of-the-mill student-athletes to bang around doesn’t do much to benefit them. It does benefit high school coaches and college programs, though.

 

Kickoffs were moved up five yards to the 35-yard line prior to the 2011 season, resulting in fewer returns.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerThe Browns' Josh Cribbs (with the football) ranked fifth in the NFL in 2011 in kickoff returns (39), sixth in yardage (974) and 12th in average return (25.0 yards).

PALM BEACH, Florida -- Concussions sustained on kickoffs were down 40 percent last season, exactly the kind of statistic the NFL had in mind by moving the kick up to the 35-yard line.

Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee that proposed the rule change last year, says Monday it "had an effect on the game." He is surprised that total kickoff returns dropped 53 percent, but encouraged that player safety improved.

McKay also says the committee believes quarterbacks are adequately protected, but the owners will vote this week to enhance that by outlawing horse-collar tackles on passers in the pocket.

He also believes players and coaches are more comfortable now about adopting the postseason overtime rule requiring a team losing the coin toss to get a possession if the opponent kicks a field goal on the first series.

"If Jamison wants to stay as a coach, MAYBE. But if he still wants to play, he should be shown the door along with Parker, Erden, Walton and Boobie. Time to clear the team of fading veterans, bad players and add young talent." - bluebengal

View full sizeSue Ogrocki, Associated PressMany cleveland.com readers would not like to see Antawn Jamison return to the Cavaliers next season.

"NO THANK YOU!!!!

If Jamison wants to stay as a coach, MAYBE. But if he still wants to play, he should be shown the door along with Parker, Erden, Walton and Boobie. Time to clear the team of fading veterans, bad players and add young talent.

Jamison's time has passed. Even with his scoring, NO ONE showed any serious interest in him before the trading deadline. That should tell you a LOT about his overall value to teams right now. He may provide some comfort for Byron Scott this season but it's time to move him on."

"Totally agree as well. Not sure what it is the Indians see sometimes, and perhaps i'm naive, but this kid has solid stuff and to think about using Slowey or Huff instead of Gomez seems ridiculous. Same with Canzler. Give the kid a chance. At least he has power." - nvafan

View full sizeChuck Crow/The Plain DealerMany cleveland.com readers believe Jeanmar Gomez deserves to be in the starting rotation when the season starts.

"Totally agree as well. Not sure what it is the Indians see sometimes, and perhaps i'm naive, but this kid has solid stuff and to think about using Slowey or Huff instead of Gomez seems ridiculous. Same with Canzler. Give the kid a chance. At least he has power.

Will say it again. When you sign a slew of very average players to minor league deals, why does the Indians brass expect anything but average spring training results from those players. Cut them all and learn your lesson. They should have signed Beltran and we'd be in good shape. Kotchman was a solid move. Hannahan will have a good year and Kipnis will learn. Get Fausto whatever his face is back in the country and start Gomez and we'll have a chance."

Paul Dolan rejects Forbes Magazine's claim that the Indians made $30 million in 2011 and says there have been "no serious buyers" for the Indians since his family purchased the team in 1999.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain Dealer"I want our fans to know that we do want to win and care about winning," Indians CEO Paul Dolan told Terry Pluto. "We know we have to keep getting better. We do want to win as much as the fans do and care about it as much as they do."

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- I sat down with Tribe CEO Paul Dolan for a long talk on the state of the franchise that his family has owned since the end of the 1999 season. This is their 13th year. In that span, they have had two playoff appearances (2001 and 2007). There have been four winning seasons.

Since the 2007 loss to Boston in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, the Indians are 295-353. They were 80-82 last season.

As I talked with Dolan, my goal was to allow him to explain his view of the franchise, not say, "Why don't you just sell the team?" OK, I did ask about a possible sale, and Dolan said that there have been no "serious buyers" during their ownership. He has been open to possible minority investors, and so far none have emerged.

In 2000, Major League Baseball approved the sale of the Tribe to the Dolans for $323 million. It was $3 million more than the Dodgers were sold for during that same time frame. Forbes Magazine recently estimated the worth of the franchise at $410 million. The Dodgers will soon be sold for about $1.4 billion.

Here is Dolan on several topics:

About Forbes' estimates of $30 million profit

According to Forbes Magazine, the Indians made $30 million last season -- the most in the majors.

According to Dolan, "No way we made that kind of money." He explained that Forbes "doesn't have access to the real data" on what teams make and lose, only Major League Baseball and the Players Association has it.

He said the Indians "made a little bit" of a profit last year. He added that the only time in their 13 years of ownership that "owners received a distribution" of profits was in the playoff season of 2007.

"Every other year, we put what we made back into the team," he said.

Dolan once again insisted Forbes wasn't accurate, then offered an interesting defense. He said during the labor negotiations between the owners and players, the Indians were brought in to discuss how to run a franchise and fairly use the money from revenue sharing.

"Both the union and MLB agreed we were doing it the right way," said Dolan. "That's why they had [President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Chris Antonetti] talk about how we operate. If we were just pocketing the money, the union would never agree to have us represented as the franchise doing it right. The union has called out other teams [for taking excess profits], but never us."

The Marlins were one of the franchises most criticized a few years ago.

About the Tigers

View full sizeCarlos Osorio, Associated Press"[The Tigers] operate much different than most franchises," says Dolan of Detroit owner Mike Ilitch. "Even the teams in major markets tend to operate as we do --- they spend what they take in and don't go way above that."

While the Indians will increase their payroll from about $50 million last season (ranked 25th) to about $70 million in 2012, the Tigers will be spending more than $140 million -- in the top five in baseball.

Tribe fans look at the Tigers' acquisition of free agent Prince Fielder ($214 million for nine years), and wonder why a team in Cleveland can't at least do something similar to what owner Mike Ilitch is doing across the interstate in Detroit.

"I understand that makes us look bad," said Dolan. "I don't understand the foundation of what they are doing ... OK, in the short term, I do understand it, but long term ..."

Ilitch is 82 years old. He is ranked No. 212 on the Forbes' top 400 richest people ... worth $2.4 billion. He owns Little Caesars pizza, the Detroit Red Wings and the Tigers, which he bought in 1992. The team has made the playoffs twice -- 2006 and 2011. He has been one of MLB's biggest spenders in the last few years, trying to bring a World Series title to Detroit during his lifetime.

"They [the Tigers] operate much different than most franchises," said Dolan. "Even the teams in major markets tend to operate as we do -- they spend what they take in and don't go way above that."

But he admits that as long as the Tigers spend freely, they will make it hard for everyone else in the Central Division.

About the new labor agreement

"We achieved labor peace," said Dolan. "But we didn't address the fundamental problems [such as a lack of a salary cap]."

About Sports Time Ohio

The Indians started STO in 2006 to market their own games and sell the rights to various cable companies. There have been rumors that STO may be sold.

"I won't speak about those," said Dolan. "We are always looking to add revenue on the TV side of things."

He said the real money comes from the rights fees of the cable companies, not advertising, "which is a small part of it."

It seems Dolan is very open to some sort of different business arrangement with STO.

The lack of players under contract beyond two years

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerDolan is unconcerned about the lack of long-term contracts on the Indians' roster, choosing to focusing on the franchise's control of key players such as Carlos Santana prior to their ability to apply for free agency. "A lot of our key players are under control beyond two years."

Dolan said he didn't even realize that no Tribe player was signed to a contract beyond 2013, "until it came up when I did an interview with Les Levine." He then added that this wasn't significant.

"The real issue is how long do we have guys under control [before they reach free agency]," he said. "A lot of our key players are under control beyond two years."

His point is that key players such as Justin Masterson (2015 free agency), Jason Kipnis (2017), Chris Perez (2015), Michael Brantley (2017) and Carlos Santana (2017) are years away from becoming free agents.

About long-term contracts

During the Dolans' ownership, the Indians have given long lucrative deals to Travis Hafner, Jake Westbrook and Grady Sizemore. All three players then suffered significant injuries.

"If Chris [Antonetti] and Mark [Shapiro] comes to us with a long-term deal they want to make, we will seriously consider it," he said. "They have not done that [lately]."

Dolan didn't say the Indians would simply refuse to make major, multi-year financial commitments.

"We will remain open," he said. "But in totality, how successful have those kind of deals been? More often than not, they have been failures."

About the Jimenez deal

When Antonetti approached Dolan with the idea of trading Alex White and Drew Pomeranz to Colorado for Ubaldo Jimenez, Dolan admits, "I was surprised. Like most fans, I'm used to us trading for prospects -- not trading some of our best prospects."

So what about it?

"I was happy to see us take that approach and try to win," he said.

But now that Jimenez has struggled, how does he feel about the trade?

"I've been around long enough to know that it's way too early to know how this will play out," he said. "What will Ubaldo do for us? How will White and Pomeranz do for them? It could take years to know the answer."

About Roberto Hernandez

View full sizeAP fileDolan isn't obsessing about the off-season revelations surrounding the pitcher once known as Fausto Carmona. "These type of things [name changes, age changes] do happen," he said.

Dolan said he wasn't "shocked" when the Indians received word that pitcher Fausto Carmona really wasn't 28, but was actually 31-year-old Roberto Hernandez.

"About a year ago, there was a rumor that there was something with Fausto," he said. "These type of things [name changes, age changes] do happen."

Dolan said the Indians could never track it down. Now that Hernandez is awaiting clearance from the U.S. immigration department to return to the Indians, "I really can't say anything else."

About Grady Sizemore

"When we signed Grady [for $5 million], we knew there was some risk because of his knee problems," said Dolan. "It's disappointing that he got hurt again. But we thought it was worth the risk because no one else on the [free agent] market had even close to Grady's upside for that price."

About manager Manny Acta

"The fans love Manny and his passion for the game comes through," said Dolan. "He communicates well with the fans and players. I like the enthusiasm that the team shows under him."

About Chris Antonetti

"While he has been general manager for only a year, he has been involved in our decision-making process for a long time," said Dolan. "He has done a great job. On balance, he has made good decisions. I know his strengths. As I mentioned, both MLB and the union mentioned us as how a franchise should be run. Not every decision has worked out, but I like what Chris is doing."

Dolan then added: "I want our fans to know that we do want to win and care about winning. The franchise is in good shape. We know we have to keep getting better. We do want to win as much as the fans do and care about it as much as they do."

But the fact remains the Dolan family is not about to dramatically change how business has been done. To win, they have to draft better, develop young players faster, and trade wiser than most other teams. In other words, they have to do it the hard way -- much as Minnesota and Tampa Bay have done in recent years.

A week after coach Byron Scott said he didn't know the playbook yet, Omri Casspi has played well in his last two games for the Cavs

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain DealerOmri Casspi has improved his production in recent games, but Byron Scott still isn't satisfied in his reserve forward's knowledge of the Cavaliers playbook.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Omri Casspi had his own cheering section on Sunday.

"It was a school from Israel," Casspi said with a smile after Monday's practice. "I was surprised because I didn't know they were coming. I met with them after the game. I heard them."

As if inspired by their rhythmic clapping and chanting of his name, Casspi tied his season high with 14 points in 25 minutes off the bench, making five of 10 shots and grabbing five rebounds, a rare bright spot in an ugly season. In his last two games, Casspi is averaging 12.5 points and four rebounds in 20.5 minutes, shooting 52.9 percent (9 of 17). Those numbers are considerably above his season averages of 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 42.7 percent.

"I just felt more comfortable on the court," Casspi said before the team headed to Philadelphia for Tuesday night's game against the Sixers. "I'm just trying to help the team. Unfortunately, it hasn't gone real well for us. I have to keep doing it on a consistent basis."

Casspi's improvement is particularly noteworthy because last week coach Byron Scott said Casspi still didn't know the playbook, a somewhat surprising accusation two-thirds through the season.

"We've talked a couple of times about some things he needs to do," Scott said of Casspi. "I think the last couple of games he has tried to get back to that, and he has played better. No doubt about that.

"Most of our guys, the biggest problem is consistency. That's just something we have to get better at, just being very consistent on both ends of the floor. There's nights where we're really good on the defensive end and really good on the offensive end and there's nights where we seem like we just started, where we've never played defense together as a team. Those are the types of lapses we can't afford to have."

The two still don't see eye-to-eye on the offense.

"It's not that I disagree with him," Casspi said of Scott. "If he feels I need to get better with the playbook, then probably I do. I feel I know the plays pretty well for positions 2, 3 and 4. For the most part, I know all the positions. There are things I need to get better at. Coaches are showing me some of the things. I know the plays. From one point to another, I know all of them."

But, said Scott, "Since I'm the coach, and I know the offense, and I see when you don't know it, I think my opinion is a lot more important than his.

"He can disagree all he wants. I know what I see every day at practice. That's why he's out there ... going through the offense. It's pretty self-explanatory ... when I have to say, 'These five guys are going to go through the offense,' it's not because you know it. It's because you've got to know it better, or you've got to understand exactly what you need to do on every possession. He can disagree all he wants. I know the facts."

Scott also knows this hasn't been the easiest season for a newcomer to learn a new offense. Casspi was traded to the Cavs for J.J. Hickson the day before the lockout started.

"I don't think there's really a team in the NBA that has 12 or 14 guys that know exactly what they're supposed to do every single time, especially this year, with the lockout season, the shortened season and not as many opportunities to practice," he said. "So when you do get those practice times, you've got to take full advantage of it.

"Practice is a totally different thing than the game. Five-on-zero is totally different than five-on-five. When the light comes on at 7 o'clock, sometimes that's a big difference. He's not the first. Won't be the last. We really rely on repetition, going through it every single day. What you do with it afterwards is up to you. That time of being able to go home and look at the playbook and look at the video and things like that, that's on you. That's your job. Your job is to know it after we put it in there."

Practice makes perfect: Scott, disappointed with his team's effort in their last two losses, took it out on his players during Monday's practice.

"Today was more of, 'OK, we're going to practice and I'm going to get it out of you one way or another,'" Scott said. "We probably did more running today than we did since training camp. At least if you're going to play like you're sluggish and you're tired, at least now tomorrow I'll know why.

"The last game, I just thought our guys maybe thought the game was at 7 instead of 3. They just didn't come out ready to play. I didn't have a clue the last two games why. So we had a real good, spirited, lot of running practice today."

The Cavs, 17-29, have lost three straight and six of seven. They are 1-4 since trading point guard Ramon Sessions to the Lakers, but Scott doesn't think that has anything to do with his team's troubles.

"Obviously, [Sessions] was very good for us, especially for our second unit, did a lot of great things for us. But I think that's just a little bit of why I felt we haven't played the way we're capable of playing."

It wasn't pretty, but Justin Masterson threw 98 pitches in six innings in a loss to Milwaukee.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJustin Masterson, after his second-to-last start of the Cactus League season, says he's ready for his Opening Day assignment April 5.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Right-hander Vinnie Pestano gave up a two-out, run-scoring triple to Norichika Aoki in the ninth inning Monday as Milwaukee beat the Indians, 6-5, at Goodyear Ballpark.

The Indians tied the game, 5-5, on Felix Pie's RBI single in the eighth. Ryan Spilborghs scored the tying run. The Tribe has lost four straight Cactus League games and five of the last six.

Justin Masterson, in his second-to-last start of the spring, went six innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. He struck out four, walked one and hit two batters. Masterson allowed one run in the first four innings before giving up three in the fifth and one in the sixth.

"I started getting underneath the sinker in the fifth inning," said Masterson.

It was not a great outing, but manager Manny Acta announced that Masterson was ready to start the season opener April 5 against Toronto at Progressive Field.

"Masterson got stretched out and he's ready to go," said Acta. "He threw 98 pitches. He threw some good sliders today and he's ready to throw 100-plus pitches on Opening Day."

The big right-hander will make one more spring training start, but he won't throw as many pitches as he did Monday.

"I'm ready for the season," said Masterson. "We know what we're doing out there, we just started rushing in the fifth inning. My arm was dragging. . .that's why I got underneath the ball. It's an easy adjustment to make. I think we're right where we need to be."

The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the first on Nyjer Morgan's triple past first and Ryan Braun's ground out to short. Asdrubal Cabrera's two-out single in the third made it 1-1 following Jack Hannahan's double.

Braun's RBI single and Travis Ishikawa's two-run double made it 4-1 in the fifth. The Indians answered with a run in the fifth against Chris Narveson on Jason Kipnis' RBI grounder. Aaron Cunningham opened the fifth with an infield single and Hannahan doubled him to third.

Taylor Green pushed Milwaukee's lead to 5-2 in the sixth off Masterson with a RBI double, but Carlos Santana closed the gap with a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 5-4.

Edwin Maysonet started the winning rally in the ninth with a single. He scored easily on Aoki's long tripe to center.

Can Shelley Duncan or someone else in spring training with the Tribe be productive as an everyday player? A poll, and links to more Indians stories.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerShelley Duncan, whether he wins the left field job or gets his at bats in a part-time role, gives the Indians some right-handed punch.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Opening Day for the Cleveland Indians -- at home on April 5 against the Toronto Blue Jays -- is 10 days away.

Yet, it's not clear who the team's left fielder will be.

Veteran Shelley Duncan was one of the Indians' most productive hitters the last few weeks of the 2011 season and he has enjoyed a solid spring training.

The experts have never considered Duncan as an ideal everyday player, though, given the holes in his swing and his un-even fielding.

Yet, Duncan must be considered as one of the most credible options the Indians have to open the campaign in left.

Other players are in the left field mix -- to one degree or another -- such as Russ Canzler, Aaron Cunningham, Ryan Spilborghs, Matt LaPorta, Felix Pie, etc.

Or, the Indians could make a trade -- almost certainly not a major one -- or pick up someone off the waiver wire.

Michael Brantley, the Indians' regular left fielder, will play center field in the absence of Grady Sizemore, who will continue to be sidelined for some time following back surgery.

The "Weekly Wroundtable" for the blog, "Wahoo's on First," poses the question: "Should Cleveland Acquire A Left Fielder?" 

Among the Wroundtable participants was Lewie Pollis, who commented:

But while the Tribe’s outfield depth is more about quantity than quality, there is at least one solid option to fill the left field spot: Shelley Duncan. He might not be an ideal everyday player and you’d rather his bat be available off the bench, but assuming he maintains some semblance of the power he showed last year he should be at least an average player in 2012. So any move the Indians make—be it a free agent signing or a trade—would have to net them a truly above-average player for it to be worth their while.

Also on the Wroundtable was Steve Kinsella, who said:

I do believe that the Indians will be on high alert for a left fielder on the trade/waiver wire between now and Opening Day. We never know what key player may come available as spring training winds down. Seems like just yesterday that spring training was coming to an end and the Indians were desperate for a first baseman and on March 28, 1992 they acquired Paul Sorrento from the Minnesota Twins for Curt Leskanik and Oscar Munoz.

The Indians would probably settle for the kind of left-field help that Paul Sorrento gave the Indians at first base. From 1992-95 with the Indians, playing about two-thirds of the time, Sorrento hit .261, averaging 19 home runs and 67 RBI in 392 at bats per season, while playing acceptably in the field.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage includes Terry Pluto's report on what Indians CEO Paul Dolan has to say about the team; Paul Hoynes' story on the Indians' 6-5 exhibition game loss today to the Milwaukee Brewers; his report that, like last season, the Indians' offense has struggled during spring training exhibition games; Hoynes' Indians Insider, highlighting third baseman Jack Hannahan; Pluto's column that it's time for the Indians to give a spot in the starting rotation to pitcher Jeanmar Gomez; Terry Pluto's observations on the Indians; and more.

Around the horn

The competition for the fifth spot in the Indians' starting pitching rotation. On the blog "WaitingForNextYear."

Should shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera get a contract extension? By Will McIlroy for the blog "It's pronounced 'Lajaway.' "

Relief pitcher Vinnie Pestano is motivated to improve on his superb rookie season. By Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal.

The Indians restructure the contract of right-handed pitcher Roberto Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona. An Associated Press report carried on the News-Herald.

Indians' right-handed starter Derek Lowe may be getting his sinker back. By Jordan Bastian for MLB.com.

What the Indians' 25-man roster to begin the season might look like. By Susan Petrone for the blog "It's pronounced 'Lajaway.' "

Commenting on the Indians' 2011 financial report. By Brian Heise for the blog "Wahoo's on First." 

Right-handed pitcher Cody Allen could be one of the Indians' minor leaguers making a climb through the Cleveland organization. By Tony Lastoria for Indians Prospect Insider.

Pondering some of the 'hidden issues' in high school sports.

View full sizeTerry Gilliam, Associated PressWayne County has been the location of champions in Ohio high school sports, as Berlin Hiland's (from left) Dylan Kaufman, Neil Gingerich and Seger Bonifant would endorse.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tiny Takes from the big world of high school sports:

• Pay attention. I have the perfect solution for the competitive balance issue in Ohio high school sports.

Kick Wayne County out of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Since 2009, Wayne County superintendents have been calling for a referendum vote to separate public and private schools in the state playoffs, saying private schools have an unfair advantage.

So what has happened in 2011-12? Wayne County public schools have won state championships in football (Norwayne), wrestling (Waynedale) and boys basketball (Berlin Hiland), and they produced a girls basketball state runner-up (Hiland).

Clearly, living in Wayne County is an unfair advantage and the OHSAA's competitive balance committee needs to develop a "Wayne County Factor."

Oh, they try to fool us into thinking they're a bunch of sweethearts with their postcard-perfect Amish farms and their Ohio Light Opera. Somewhere in a barn between Mt. Eaton and Pleasant Home there must be a secret sports factory.

Separation? We'll give them separation!

• In 2013, The Plain Dealer can't pay me enough to choose the Wrestler of the Year between five guys who potentially could own 17 state titles. (The laughter you hear is coming from the sports editor's office.)

St. Edward's Dean Heil and Cuyahoga Valley's Nathan Tomasello will wrestle for their fourth state titles, while St. Edward's Domenic Abounader and Solon's Anthony Collica and Brandon Thompson will go for their third. All could be ranked No. 1 or 2 in the country at their weights.

Here's my tiebreaker system. If Tomasello's twin, Troy, wins a national figure skating title, Nathan is our Wrestler of the Year. If either Solon wrestler is named homecoming king, he gets the award. If either St. Edward kid can name all 100 state wrestling champions, he wins.

And I still get that raise.

• Turns out, Mentor is a bowling and gymnastics school.

Who knew?

People constantly ask why the Cardinals haven't won a state team championship in almost 20 years. Since then, they have finished second in football (twice), baseball (twice) and volleyball. The boys basketball team reached the 2010 state semifinals. The community expends massive energy in those sports.

Then this winter, Mentor went to state in gymnastics and boys bowling. The gymnastics team was the state runner-up by fewer than five points, and Kayla Kosmerl won the all-around championship. The bowling team placed third and senior Kevin Oravecz was the state runner-up.

The bottom line is and always has been this: Winning a state championship is vastly more difficult than it looks.

• How's your sports bucket list? In the year of London 2012, may I suggest a destination to put you in the Olympic mood?

If there's any way you can get to a track meet featuring St. Edward junior Anthony Young, Cleveland Heights junior Shelton Gibson or Berea senior Donovan Robertson, just do it.

Even if you're not a track fan, or even if you don't care much for sports, everyone appreciates speed, grace and agility. Robertson combines them in rare quantity. Add this measure, as well: Joy. You can see his love for running when he competes, and it is genuine. He is the fastest high school hurdler in the nation and the best we've seen since Ted Ginn Jr. Robertson has the potential to win four individual events at the state meet this spring.

The exciting prospect of Robertson, Young -- the defending state 200-meter champion -- and the highly recruited football prospect Gibson flying down the stretch, elbow-to-elbow, in the 200-meter state finals could be historic. All three could break 21 seconds. Only one person, Chris Nelloms in 1989-90, has ever run faster than 21 seconds at the Ohio state meet. At the state indoor meet this month, Young edged Gibson, 21.34 to 21.35. Both times were under the state indoor record.

It's not Tyson Gay vs. Usain Bolt, but in high school sports, that is as good as it gets.

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

"We're most likely going to stay at No. 4 and we know we'll get a really good player there,'' he said.

Chuck Crow, Plain Dealer file photoBrowns General Manager Tom Heckert says the Browns will probably stay at No. 4, but would consider trading back just a few spots.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Browns General Manager Tom Heckert ruled out a trade up to No. 3 in the draft, but will consider trading back as far as No. 8, he told the Plain Dealer Monday.

There's been speculation some teams might try to trade with Minnesota to get the man they really want, especially if they think the Browns will take him at No. 4.

"We're not trading up, I guarantee that," Heckert said. "There's going to be five guys that we really like and we're going to get a really good player at number four. But we could still get a really good player at five, six, seven, eight too."

He stressed that the Browns won't make the same kind of blockbuster deal they did with Atlanta last season. The Browns moved from No. 6 to No. 27 and netted an extra first-round pick, two fourths and a second. The Falcons, in turn, selected wide receiver Julio Jones.

"We're not going to go way down and make the trade we did last year," he said. "When [president] Mike Holmgren said he'd discourage a trade down, I believe he meant one that far down."

He said the Browns have identified five players they like, and that they could stay at No. 4. "But if you can go back a few spots and still get the player we want, then we'll do it." The Fab Five is believed to be largely from this group: Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, Alabama running back Trent Richardson, Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill and USC tackle Matt Kalil.

He said teams at the NFL owners meetings have already put out feelers about the fourth pick. The Rams at No. 6 are believed to like Blackmon and the Dolphins at No. 8 might like Tannehill, but it's unknown if those teams have made contact.

"We've talked to a few people, but it's still way early," he said.

Heckert said he believes the Browns' phone will ring on draft day for teams wanting to trade up. But that doesn't mean the Browns will deal.

"It's still early," he said. "When we bring all of those guys in, we might fall in love with one of them and say 'hey, we've got to have this guy.' If there's somebody that's head and shoulders [the best], we're going to stay there and take him no matter what. If there's not, there's really no reason not to [accept a trade]."

Is there anyone head and shoulders above the rest right now?

"Right now, no," he said. "They're all pretty good. It's going to be a good choice."

If the Browns stay at No. 4, they're likely to end up with Blackmon or Claiborne. Despite the Browns' overwhelming need for offensive weapons, Heckert said Claiborne has to be on their radar.

"We don't think we're going to take a defensive guy, but it would tough to pass on him," said Heckert. "He's really, really good."

He said Claiborne's surgery on Friday to repair a torn ligament wasn't an issue.

"No, we knew all about it and he waited until after his workouts to do it," he said. "It's not a big deal. He'll be fine."

Likewise, he said the fact the Browns passed on Jones at No. 6 last year wouldn't stop them from taking Blackmon this year.

"That had nothing to do with the player," said Heckert. "We loved Julio Jones. It had everything to do with the deal we were able to make."

He said the Browns might also have to give serious thought to Kalil if the Vikings don't take him -- or if a team trades up No. 3 and takes someone else.

"We really don't know what Minnesota's going to do," he said. "If they don't take him, we'd have to think about drafting him too."

As for Tannehill, Heckert said the Browns really like him, "but we've got Colt. That's kind of our deal. That doesn't mean we're not going to take somebody, but we're fine with Colt as our quarterback."

He said ideally he'd like to draft at least two offensive playmakers with the first three picks (the fourth, 22nd and 37th overall) but "you never know who's going to be there at 22 or 37. We'll add offensive players, we're just not sure where."

He said the Browns have the chance to transform their team with those first three picks.

"We think we'll do that," he said. "We're looking forward to it."

Other Heckert tidbits

• He re-iterated that the Browns "are fine with Colt McCoy as our quarterback. We think he's going to be much better this season.'' He said questions about McCoy's arm strength are unfounded.

• He did not rule out the Browns signing former Bengals running back Cedric Benson at some point this off-season. Not on the front burner, but possible.

• He said the Browns are at least contemplating the possibility of being without linebacker Scott Fujita for a few games if he gets penalized for paying teammates for big plays while with the Saints in 2009. "Of course, we hope nothing happens,'' he said.

• He said talk that players don't want to come here is "crazy. We had great talks with a lot of people and people think we are going in the right direction. It's really the exact opposite. The people we've talked to, it has nothing do with Cleveland. They want to play here. There's a reason why D'Qwell Jackson wanted to come back here. We signed Joe Thomas. Joe told us he wouldn't have signed back here if he didn't think we were going in the right direction. So I think there's a lot of positive things.''

• He said he hasn't closed the door on re-signing guard Eric Steinbach, but nothing is imminent.

• He said defensive end Marcus Benard is recovered from his broken hand and ready to participate in off-season practices.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

There may be similarities in the big man and point guard, but in the end the 2007 and 2012 Ohio State Final Four teams are quite different.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerGreg Oden and the Buckeyes soared above most opponents -- including Georgetown's DaJuan Summers in a national semifinal -- and Ohio State still rides that momentum as the 2012 team looks for a title this weekend in New Orleans. "Everybody wants to win, everybody wants to compete for a national championship," says coach Thad Matta, "and we're there, we're doing that."

COLUMBUS -- When Greg Oden soared through the air like a pterodactyl and tried to throw down a dunk against Georgetown in the Final Four five years ago, high school freshman Jared Sullinger reacted in his Columbus home just as everyone in Atlanta's Georgia Dome did.

"I'm in my living room and have my two hands over my head like, 'Oh my God,'" Sullinger said Tuesday. "I remember that."

It's hard to forget. And it's impossible to replicate that stage. OSU coach Thad Matta said Tuesday that his two Final Four teams from 2007 and 2012 are nothing like each other, so don't count on Sullinger flying through the air in a similar pose against Kansas on Saturday. But just the fact that the Buckeyes were there five years ago helped at least in some small way in assembling this team. Now the 2012 Buckeyes should play a role in putting the 2017 team together.

"I think it helps recruiting, it kind of puts the spotlight on the program because we're [among] the last four teams playing," Sullinger said. "I know recruits want to win, and I know that was the biggest thing for me, I wanted to win when I was a recruit, so that's why I chose Ohio State."

"It definitely helps in terms of your brand, your image as a program," Matta said. "Does it get you A, B or C? It doesn't. You still have to do the work, but I think that you have validity in what you're talking about, in terms of everybody wants to win, everybody wants to compete for a national championship, and we're there, we're doing that."

In the last 10 years, 11 programs have reached multiple Final Fours, with the three trips of Kansas, North Carolina, Connecticut, Michigan State and UCLA the most for any school. The Jayhawks are in New Orleans with the Buckeyes, Kentucky and Louisville, all of whom are making return trips within the last decade.

Ohio State is doing it again with a point guard and big man who played on the same team in AAU, with Aaron Craft and Sullinger following Oden and Mike Conley, Jr., who were also high-school teammates. There's a shooter unafraid to take the big shot, for good and bad, with Ron Lewis then and William Buford now. The power forward is also an outside shooter, though Deshaun Thomas is a much bigger part of the 2012 offense than Ivan Harris was in '07.

That team played four freshmen on a regular basis, with Daequan Cook and David Lighty off the bench joining Conley and Cook, but also started three veterans in seniors Lewis and Harris and junior Jamar Butler. This starting lineup features four sophomores and has just Buford, a senior, with as many as three years in the program.

"They're completely different teams," Matta said. "It's not even close in my mind."

But in their own way, Craft and Sullinger have been this team's version of Conley and Oden. Though the current pairing doesn't match up athletically, the point guard-big man connection does connect these Final Four teams.

"I understand I can yell at Jared when I need to and he'll respond and he can do the same thing to me," Craft said, admitting the connection made more of a difference when they were getting used to the college game as freshmen. "I understand when he's not doing what he's supposed to be doing I can tell him and he'll respond and I'm not afraid of him going into a shell."

So who's up for a two-on-two game between Sullinger and Craft vs. Oden and Conley?

"It would depend on how hard they would play, because Mike plays at 60 percent in open gym and destroys our defense," Craft said. "I would like to think it would be a good battle. ... It's an honor to be in the same conversation with Mike and Greg."

They are in that conversation because their teams have reached the same point.

"That's kind of how you gauge where your program is," Craft said. "It is a lot about winning, but a lot of it is based on how many Final Fours you can get to. Hopefully some younger kids like we were can watch us and see us having fun and playing basketball like it's supposed to be played and just enjoying our time."

Pre-game features on the 2007 Buckeyes, with Final Four starting lineup

Golfweek magazine declared Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport as the best public course in Ohio for the 11th consecutive year.

View full sizePD fileNashport's Longaberger Golf Club has dominated the Golfweek ratings for Ohio courses for 11 years.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Four local courses and another just a short drive away were included in the latest rankings of the best public courses in Ohio by Golfweek magazine.

The magazine declared Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport as the best public course in Ohio for the 11th consecutive year.

Hawthorne Valley (Solon), Sleepy Hollow (Brecksville), Boulder Creek (Streetsboro) and Little Mountain (Concord) claimed the next four spots, and The Quarry (Canton) was ranked eighth. Other courses in the rankings are Stonelick Hills (Bavaria), Shaker Run (Lebanon), Black Diamond (Millersburg) and Eagle Sticks (Zanesville).

Longaberger, a 7,243-yard, par-72 course designed by Arthur Hills, opened in 1999.

Forever giving: The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and Northern Ohio Golf Charities have awarded more than $870,000 in donations to 37 charities throughout Northeast Ohio from the 2011 tournament at Firestone Country Club.

The total also includes funds raised from Tickets Fore Charity ($36,000) and Birdies Fore Charity ($9,500). Tickets Fore Charity is a program that gives charities an opportunity to promote ticket sales and receive 75 percent off the ticket price. Birdies Fore Charity is a fundraising program promoted by Akron's Children Hospital.

For the fourth year, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. awarded an additional $5,000 and its Bridgestone Award to a charitable organization facing a significant challenge. That went to Crown Point Ecology Center, which demonstrates practical application of ecology.

Juniors lose prized senior: Junior golf lost a friend Sunday when Jim Dawson died at age 77.

Dawson, who had had heart problems the past two years, was regarded as one of the area's most prominent figures in junior golf, spending 19 years as the executive director of the popular North Coast Junior Golf Tour.

"Jim single-handedly did more for junior golf in Northeast Ohio than anyone in the history of the region," said Tony Milam, NCJGT founder, chairman and tour director, whose organization proclaimed Dawson as Mr. Junior Golf of Greater Cleveland in 2006. "He really loved helping junior golfers learn tournament golf. He knew the value of running top-notch tournaments and loved to see good scores from the players. He enjoyed seeing his players do well on their school teams and even got to see some of them flourish in the professional ranks."

Milam estimated more than 2,400 junior golfers played in events conducted by Dawson over the years. About 275 will participate in the Jim Dawson match play championship at the end of the season. Dawson, who lived in Concord Township, is survived by a son, Bob, also of Concord, and daughter, Sue Gunn, of Columbus.

Playing at Pinehurst: Medina resident Mal Brooker was part of a foursome that placed 12th out of 50 teams in the Liberty Mutual Insurance Invitational national finals at Pinehurst Resort. The team represented the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and competed in the four-day event regarded as one of the top charity events in the country.

For the ladies: Renee Powell, regarded as one of the top women golf teachers in America and head professional at historic Clearview Golf Club in Canton, will host "Ladies, Let's Talk Golf" at noon Saturday at the Canton Club, 101 Central Plaza South. The cost is $30.

On Sunday, Powell's veterans group, Clearview H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), will be featured by the PGA in a television special on CBS.

Clearview H.O.P.E. features a host of female veterans, ranging from the Vietnam era to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The women represent various branches of service.

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

Lake Erie (32-27-3-7) is 10th in the Western Conference with 74 points, one point out of the eighth and final playoff spot

View full sizeGus Chan, The Plain DealerMonsters goalie Cedrick Desjardins lunges to collect a loose puck in the second period of Tuesday night's game against Texas at The Q.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Monsters remain very much alive in the Calder Cup playoff chase. But they cannot afford many more performances resembling Tuesday night's and expect to be around for the postseason.

The Monsters committed costly turnovers in regulation and eventually lost to the Texas Stars, 4-3, in a shootout at The Q.

Lake Erie (32-27-3-7) is 10th in the Western Conference with 74 points. It is one point out of the eighth and final playoff spot, but four teams have 75, and all four have at least one game in hand on Lake Erie.

The Monsters, who are 0-2-1-3 since March 16, have seven games remaining in their regular season: three on the road beginning Thursday, then four straight at home.

Texas (29-34-2-2) is in last place in the Western Conference.

The Monsters have played in 13 consecutive one-goal games (5-2-1-5). Seven have been decided by shootout (2-5).

"Those shootout points are valuable ones, and you hope they don't end up costing you," Monsters coach David Quinn said. "We're disappointed, but we're still hanging around."

The latest shootout lasted seven rounds. Lake Erie needed a conversion by its fifth and final shooter of the regulation phase, Mike Connolly, to extend. Stars center Taylor Vause beat goalie Cedrick Desjardins in the seventh round.

The game started well enough for the Monsters. At 13:15 of the first, they took a 1-0 lead when Brad Malone and Ryan Stoa created an opportunity and defenseman Cameron Gaunce finished for his fifth.

Early in the second period, Lake Erie's penalty kill was terrific against the AHL's eighth-ranked power play. Texas failed to take advantage of a hooking penalty against defenseman Dean Strong (3:02) and a double-minor for high-sticking against David Liffiton (5:29).

The Stars committed a tripping penalty at 15:15, but instead of feeling pain, they turned it into a positive. Travis Morin stole the puck, carried it in and beat Desjardins. The unassisted shorty came at 16:26.

Two-plus minutes later, the Monsters became unglued in multiple ways. After ice gremlins forced a Lake Erie turnover near the top of the crease, Stars winger Francis Wathier tapped the puck in the direction of winger Mike Hedden, who was credited with his 14th. A Monster actually knocked it in.

A disgusted Desjardins did not take the goal standing up. He flung his stick back and forth and eventually knocked the cage off its moorings.

"Our second period was as bad of a period as we've played in a long time," Quinn said. "It really was abysmal in a lot of areas. They took it to us."

The Monsters caught a break early in the third. After Texas defenseman Brad Lukowich failed to clear, Greg Mauldin pounced and easily converted to tie the score, 2-2.

The Stars regained the advantage at 7:12, again in odd fashion. Defenseman Danny Richmond was poke-checked by Wathier in Lake Erie's end, and the puck worked its way under the pads of Desjardins.

Texas essentially attempted to play prevent defense the rest of the way. It worked for a while. But the Monsters applied pressure with two minutes left, opening the door for Connolly to punch in a rebound at 18:01.

Connolly notched his first point in six games as a Monster. He had been playing for Worcester.

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

The agreement, announced five hours after Major League Baseball owners approved three finalists, is to lead to a transfer of the team by the end of April.

View full sizeAP fileMagic Johnson and former MLB executive Stan Kasten head a group of investors who reportedly have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.

NEW YORK -- Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has announced an agreement Monday night to sell the bankrupt team for $2 billion to a group that includes former Lakers star Magic Johnson and former Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals President Stan Kasten.

The agreement, revealed about five hours after Major League Baseball owners approved three finalists for the auction, is to lead to a transfer of the team by the end of April. It is subject to approval in federal bankruptcy court.

Mark Walter, chief executive officer of the financial services firm Guggenheim Partners would become the controlling owner. The price would be easily a record for a North American sports franchise.

As part of the agreement, the Dodgers said McCourt and "certain affiliates of the purchasers" would acquire the land surrounding Dodger Stadium for $150 million.

The acquiring group, called Guggenheim Baseball Management, includes Mandalay Entertainment chief executive Peter Guber.

"This agreement with Guggenheim reflects both the strength and future potential of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and assures that the Dodgers will have new ownership with deep local roots, which bodes well for the Dodgers, its fans and the Los Angeles community," McCourt said.

McCourt paid $430 million in 2004 to buy the team, Dodger Stadium and 250 acres of land that include the parking lots, from the Fox division of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., a sale that left the team with about $50 million in cash at the time. The team's debt stood at $579 million as of January, according to a court filing, so even after the divorce payment, taxes and legal and banking fees, he stands to make several hundred million dollars.

Kasten is expected to wind up as the team's top day-to-day executive.

The other two finalists were:

• Stan Kroenke, whose family properties own the NFL's St. Louis Rams, the NBA's Denver Nuggets, the NHL's Colorado Avalanche and Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids, and who is majority shareholder of Arsenal in the English Premier League.

• Steven Cohen, founder of the hedge fund SAC Capital Advisors and a new limited partner of the New York Mets; biotechnology entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong; and agent Arn Tellem of Wasserman Media Group.

"I am thrilled to be part of the historic Dodger franchise and intend to build on the fantastic foundation laid by Frank McCourt as we drive the Dodgers back to the front page of the sports section in our wonderful community of Los Angeles," Johnson said in a statement.

A history of great Final Fours in New Orleans has the CBS broadcasting crew excited for this weekend.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain Dealer"I think ultimately the biggest key for me is Aaron Craft," CBS analyst Greg Anthony says of the Buckeyes and their sophomore point guard. "Defensively I think he's the best guard in the country. I haven't seen one as good as him this millennium, to be honest with you."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For CBS announcer Jim Nantz, the trip to New Orleans for the men's Final Four this weekend is special, as it marks a return to where CBS first started broadcasting the Final Four in 1982.

That season, Michael Jordan hit a late shot to lead North Carolina over Georgetown in one of the best finishes in title-game history.

The next time the Final Four was in New Orleans was 1987, Indiana's Keith Smart scored from nearly the same spot on the floor to beat Syracuse.

In 1993, New Orleans again was the host, and Michigan's Chris Webber called a late timeout -- which the Wolverines did not have. The ensuing technical foul helped North Carolina to the win.

"Then we returned in 2003," Nantz said, "with Kansas setting up the winning shot from the corner with just seconds to go and Hakeem Warrick [of Syracuse] blocked it."

During a conference call Tuesday, Nantz and CBS analysts Clark Kellogg (a Cleveland native), Greg Anthony and Steve Kerr and production personnel discussed returning to The Big Easy, and the matchups between Kansas and Ohio State and Kentucky and Louisville.

• Greg Anthony on Ohio State-Kansas: "The one advantage Ohio State will have is they have faced [Thomas] Robinson. At least they have a sense of how he is going to attack. One thing I will say about Thomas Robinson is, he's the best player in the country in establishing post position. There is nobody in the country even remotely close to him with his ability to seal.

"In Ohio State's case, they don't have what Kansas has in a weak-side shot blocker [7-0 Jeff Withey], so if [Robinson] is able to catch in the low post position, he will be very effective. The other thing, when you look at it from Ohio State's standpoint, Kansas is a unique team. Only two guys take the majority of their shots: Tyshawn Taylor and Robinson are going to get the bulk of their shots. That, often times, can be easier to defend if you have the personnel, which I think Ohio State does.

"What's been most impressive to me about Ohio State, since they lost at home to Michigan State, is how the complimentary players have really elevated their game. ... I think ultimately the biggest key for me is Aaron Craft. Defensively I think he's the best guard in the country. I haven't seen one as good as him this millennium, to be honest with you. Offensively, at times, he has been more assertive, which I think it critical."

• Clark Kellogg, former St. Joseph High standout, on Ohio State-Kansas: "The two guys for Kansas that have to raise their level are Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson, and you saw that in the game against [North] Carolina. When Taylor is really good, Kansas goes to another level.

"Ohio State has really come together in terms of attention to detail, commitment to the defensive end of the floor, and better unselfishness offensively. Now they're really free-moving it, and playing with great confidence."

"I think it's going to be about the perimeter guys. The guards, will dictate what transpires in that game. The other thing is the matchup with [OSU's Deshaun] Thomas. Kansas does not have a natural matchup with him. It will be interesting to see how they try to defend him."

• Steve Kerr on Ohio State-Kansas: "I agree with Clark. I think Thomas is the key to the game, matchup-wise. Kansas almost lost to Purdue because they couldn't match up with Robbie Hummel. ... dealing with Thomas is going to be interesting because it pulls either Withey or Robinson away from the basket.

"I agree with Greg. I think Craft is the best defender in the country at his position. If he is able to keep Taylor out of the lane, Taylor is 0-for-17 from the 3-point line in this tournament. If he can't get easy baskets, Robinson is their easiest bet to score."

• Kerr on attacking Kentucky's Anthony Davis: "The best way to attack him is to go right at him at the rim. I think [North Carolina's] Tyler Zeller had some success with him, ran hard to the rim, got deep post position, and just beat Davis to the rim with his strength. Knocked him off-balance. That's the best way to attack him. That's the only weakness to his game. He doesn't have a lot of lower-body strength and leverage. I'm not sure Louisville can do that."

Video highlights package on Kentucky center Anthony Davis

• Anthony on attacking Davis: "I would have a totally different approach. First, his greatest strength is as a weak-side, off-ball shotblocker. I agree if you have the personnel who can go right at him, you can have some success. Louisville doesn't possess that, and I'm not sure Ohio State or Kansas does either. I think the way to attack him is to put him in a lot of pick-and-rolls. What you want to do with a big is get him on the move laterally. Get him out of the lane. If you put him in pick-and-rolls, it takes him away from the basket. Get him out of the paint as much as possible."

• Nantz on New Orleans: "This is one of the better all-time, quartets we have ever had. In 1993 in New Orleans we had Michigan and North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas, and it was similar to the same kind of vibe I'm feeling right now. And I'll say this: Everybody wants to say this is going to be a coronation of Kentucky. The odds are it will be.

"But I've been around enough championship games ... we were saying the same thing before North Carolina State and Houston [in 1983], the same thing before Villanova and Georgetown [in 1985]. We were saying the same thing before, you name it, Arizona and Kentucky in 1997. There is no foregone conclusion until Monday night.

"We've been here four times, and all four times have come down to some kind of memorable, last-second highlight. Hopefully we'll have that again."

• Coordinating producer Bob Dekas on the use of above-court camera angles: "We're using an angle that has been used on NBA telecasts. We've used it in previous years. We try not to overuse it. It does get some reaction, a lot of it positive. Some of it negative. It's a different view. It shows how the players are spaced in a better way. But I don't think we have overused it. It will be used sparingly as it has been in the past."

A couple of scheduling quirks brought the principals of The Shot to Ohio last week.

View full sizeCharles Rex Arbogast, AP file"I tend to not watch myself as much as I watch my teammates' reactions," Christian Laettner says, "and when the ball goes through the hoop how all of them jump really high on the sidelines."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Christian Laettner insists that he doesn't watch himself in the endless replays of The Shot that sent Duke to the 1992 Final Four 20 years ago today.

Even though it's impossible to watch television this time of year without seeing the play in NCAA tournament promos or commercials, Laettner swears he's not looking at himself run to the foul line, catch a perfect 80-foot pass from Grant Hill with 2.1 seconds left, turn right for one dribble, then spin back left to drain a fallaway jumper at the buzzer that produced a 104-103 overtime victory over Kentucky in what many consider the greatest college basketball game ever.

"I tend to not watch myself as much as I watch my teammates' reactions and when the ball goes through the hoop how all of them jump really high on the sidelines," said Laettner, who made all 10 of his field goals and all 10 of his free throws in the game. "I've seen myself enough in that situation that I don't really need to watch me any more.

"I always watch Marty Clark's reaction and Ron Burt's reaction and Cherokee Parks and my coaches like coach [Pete] Gaudet and [Mike] Brey and [Tommy] Amaker. It's more fun for me than just watching me run around. ... I always try to look between the players and see how everyone else reacted -- like the manager and the cheerleaders.

"I have a great picture of the Spectrum where, when I'm catching the ball, you see the entire half of the Spectrum and everyone's hands are down, they're all seated, and then the next photo is the ball through the net and the whole side of the arena is up. That's the stuff that gives me goosebumps, those type of things, not looking at myself."

Hill smiles when he hears about Laettner's response.

"I don't believe that for a second," he says, laughing.

A couple of scheduling quirks brought the principals of The Shot to Ohio last week. Laettner, now an assistant coach to Olmsted Falls native Steve Gansey with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, was in Canton for an NBA D-League game against the Charge. Hill, now with the Phoenix Suns, was in Cleveland to face the Cavaliers.

The two, listed as executive producers for a Turner Sports documentary entitled "Duke '91 & '92", admit they get asked about The Shot almost every day this time of year. To their credit, both seem more than willing to talk about it again and again.

Hill is thrilled that the pass, now featured in a UPS commercial, seems to be getting more attention these days.

"And it should," he says, laughing again. "If there's no pass, there's no shot."

Asked if it feels like 20 years have gone by, Hill said, "Yes and no. A lot has happened to me personally since then -- marriage, kids, the highs and lows of my career. When I get around my [Phoenix] teammates they remind me because they just look so young. When I see my former teammates, they remind me because they look so old."

Indeed, Laettner's blond hair is much shorter now and shot with gray. He says the Fort Wayne players joke about the play -- "with enough respect, but tongue in cheek."

"They don't do the shot, and they don't ask me to do the shot," he said. "They tease me about it. It's more like 'I could do that.' Or 'that wasn't really that good.' Or 'Grant Hill's pass was better than your shot.' Or it's so long ago they don't remember it."

But almost everybody remembers it this time of year. Sports fans. Duke fans, still celebrating. Kentucky fans, still mourning.

Perhaps they can take some solace in the fact that Laettner doesn't think The Shot was the high point of his career.

"It might have been the best game I was ever involved in at the college level, but it's not my crowning moment," said Laettner, who won back-to-back NCAA titles with Duke in 1991-92 and a gold medal as the only collegiate player on the original Dream Team in 1992. "I would say my first championship and then my second championship are my most proud moments. You play sports to win championships, not to have a good game or hit a game-winning shot. So I'm most proud of the championships that we won."

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Irving has averaged just 13.6 points in the last three games

View full sizeKyrie Irving had one of those nights against the stingy Philadelphia 76ers, who held him to 12 points.

PHILADELPHIA – It was bound to happen. Kyrie Irving wasn’t going to cross-over dribble and spin-move his way through every lane from Boston to Portland.

In the past few games opponents are starting to clog the key and force Irving and his Cavaliers teammates to beat them from the perimeter.

The athletic Sixers did a masterful job of it Tuesday night in a 103-85 victory in the Wells Fargo Center. Irving finished 4-of-13 from the field for 12 points to go along with seven assists and five turnovers. He has averaged 13.6 points in the past three games, all losses, all contests in which the club failed to score more than 85 points.

Philadelphia turned the lane into a no-fly zone for Irving.  

“I don’t think I had one uncontested layup tonight . . . ,” said Irving, who's averaging 18.6 points. “The last three games have been tough to find my rhythm. Teams are giving me different looks every game, too . . . I have played a few games in the league now, so teams have enough film on me to know my strengths and weaknesses.”

Now, it’s up to Irving and the coaching staff to find ways to counter it. Here’s one suggestion: Get a few defensive stops to allow him to operate in the space where he’s at his best. The Cavs were outscored 22-9 in fastbreak points and 54-24 in points in the paint versus the Sixers.

Irving, a 46.8 percent shooter, has shown he's more than capable of hitting a jump shot. He converted three of his first four 3-pointers attempts on Tuesday night against the league’s most penurious defense. But opponents are starting to design game plans around corralling the point guard. That’s what comes with too many SportCenter top-10 appearances.

The league’s adjustment to Irving’s dribble penetration is just the latest challenge for the rookie who has handled most on them with aplomb. There will be plenty more, especially as the club remains offensively challenged.

It’s part of growing up in a man’s league.

Highlights include Cavaliers' home game against Detroit.

Scott Shaw, The Plain DealerCoach Byron Scott will be looking for improved play tonight from the Cavaliers, as they host the Detroit Pistons. The game will be televised at 7 by Fox Sports Ohio, and broadcast on WTAM/1100-AM.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's sports TV and radio listings

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

9:30 p.m. McDonald’s All-American Game, ESPN

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL

7 p.m. McDonald’s All-American Game, ESPN

HOCKEY

7:30 p.m. NHL, Detroit at COLUMBUS, NBC Sports Network (preview)

10 p.m. NHL, San Jose at Anaheim, NBC Sports Network

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

9 a.m. Regular season, Oakland vs. Seattle, in Japan (tape), MLB Network

1 p.m. Exhibition, New York Yankees vs. Atlanta, ESPN

NBA

7 p.m. Detroit at CAVALIERS, Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM/1100-AM

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage)

7 p.m. Orlando at New York, ESPN

10 p.m. San Antonio at Sacramento, NBATV

SOCCER

2:30 p.m. Bayern Munich at Marseille, Fox Sports Ohio

TENNIS

1 p.m. Sony Ericsson Open, quarterfinals, ESPN2

7 p.m. Sony Ericsson Open, quarterfinals, ESPN2

The Cleveland Indians are hoping for Shin Soo-Choo and Travis Hafner to stay healthy and Grady Sizemore and Chris Perez to bounce back from spring training injuries to make a run at the AL Central title. Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer reports from Goodyear, Arizona. Story includes interviews with pitcher Justin Masterson and catcher Lou Marson.

Paul Hoynes reports from Indians spring training.

The Cleveland Indians are hoping for Shin Soo-Choo and  Travis Hafner to stay healthy and Grady Sizemore and Chris Perez to bounce back from spring training injuries to make a run at the AL Central title. Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer reports from Goodyear, Arizona. Story includes interviews with pitcher Justin Masterson and catcher Lou Marson.

For more Cinesport video, go here.

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Mark Rypien is the lead plaintiff of a class-action lawsuit filed against the NFL, the Washington Times reports.

AP File Photo/Joe MahoneyCleveland Browns quarterback Mark Rypien, left, throws a pass as Denver Broncos defensive end Willie Oshodin closes in from the side during the Broncos' 26-14 victory in Denver's Mile High Stadium Sunday, Oct. 30, 1994.

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Mark Rypien is the lead plaintiff of a class-action lawsuit filed against the NFL. Rypien, along with 125 other former players, are all suing the league over "repeated traumatic injuries to the head" suffered during their careers, The Washington Times reports.

The suit, which was filed U.S. district court in Pennsylvania last Friday, alleges the NFL misinformed and misled the players in regards to the consequences of head injuries, including significant brain damage. More specifically, Rypien and his fellow plaintiffs are seeking reparations as they still battle “various neurological conditions and symptoms related to the multiple head traumas.”

Rypien was quarterback for the Redskins' Super Bowl XXII victory. He played for the Browns in 1994, starting 3 games.

The other notable names in the lawsuit, per the Times, are two former first-round picks in the NFL Draft—quarterback Todd Marinovich, by the Oakland Raiders; and lineman Tony Mandarich, by the Green Bay Packers.

Although there have been numerous suits filed against the NFL over head injuries, this latest class-action motion comes on the heels of the league's latest crackdown on hard hits.

The league came down hard with its harsh penalties delivered to the New Orleans Saints, who went far over the line with their pay-to-injure bounty policy under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Rypien led the Redskins to a victory in the January 1992 NFL championship game, receiving MVP honors in a 37-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills. He played with five NFL teams from 1988-2001, playing his final game in the league in the 2001 season.