The New Orleans Saints were caught, but are they alone when it comes to the bounties in the NFL?

Bill Haber / Associated PressGregg Williams

Gregg Williams is suspended indefinitely for his admitted role overseeing a bounty system that offered New Orleans Saints players payment for painful hits.

Williams can be heard in this recording encouraging these type of acts before the Saints' game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Were the New Orleans Saints the only team in the NFL that had a bounty system? Or is it more common than imagined?

Your votes will determine the winners in 19 categories. And if you vote, you'll have a chance to win a dozen golf balls, free.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerDozens of area golf courses square off to be named best in 19 categories, in our 2012 Best of Northeast Ohio Golf awards.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When it comes to all things golf, opinions are like swing faults. Everybody has them.

Now is your chance to express your opinion in The Plain Dealer’s Best of Northeast Ohio Golf awards. Starting today, we invite you to vote (once per person, please) for your favorite public courses in 19 “Best of” categories.

Which golf course has the best putting greens? Which track has the best pace of play? The best senior rates? The best group of par-5s? Who serves up the best hot dog? And where’s the best 19th hole? Vote in these categories and 13 more online. You could win a dozen golf balls of your choice for participating. (See the full rules inside the voting entry form.)

Click the button to call up the voting form. (Can't see the button? Try this link.)

Whether you play frequently or a few times a month, we want to hear from you. And your friends and league partners. If you play in a traveling league, all the better.

This is your awards contest, your opportunity to voice your opinion. Consider The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com as your caddies. We will line you up and let you fire away.

The results -- the top 5 in each category -- will be announced May 6 in The Plain Dealer’s annual Golf Guide, which will include listings for more than 100 area courses.

Five people who complete the survey will be chosen at random to win a dozen golf balls -- their choice of brand.

Voting in the poll is open now. It closes on April 20 at noon.

So, tee off in the poll and then go back out and tee it up.

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

Expect GM Tom Heckert and the Cleveland Browns to make a few deals on draft day. Watch video

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

Is the NFL Draft here yet?

The NFL Draft starts on April 26th and until that team, expect plenty of questions and answers provided by Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. On this edition of Hey, Mary Kay, she answers questions about the draft, possible trades and today's poll --- Is the bounty system common or uncommon in the NFL.

SBTV will return on Monday.

Eric Steinbach may join the Baltimore Ravens. Watch video

Scott Shaw, The Plain DealerEric Steinbach

Say it isn't so.

The Baltimore Ravens are interested in former Browns free-agent guard Eric Steinbach. Jamison Hensley of ESPN writes how the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks have also made inquires about Steinbach.

It's unclear if Steinbach will make any visits before the NFL draft at the end of the month as he continues to recover from a back injury that forced the guard to miss the entire 2011 season.

Steinbach, 32, started 124 games for the Bengals and Browns over the span of eight years, before undergoing a procedure that removed a disc fragment from his spinal nerve in August of last summer. He was cut by the Browns on March 14 after refusing to take a pay reduction.

More Cleveland Browns 

Mary Kay Cabot talks about the Cleveland Browns (Cleveland.com).

More players visit Berea before the NFL Draft (Ohio.com).

Morris Clairborne visits the Cleveland Browns  (The News-Herald).

It helps the Browns win birds bicker (CantonRep.com).

LaMichael James is the best back for the Cleveland Browns (DawgsByNature).

 

Cavs have lost nine straight and 12 of their last 13 games

View full sizePD fileCavaliers shooting guard Anthony Parker is expected to miss the next two games with a bruised sternum.

Lester Hudson has stepped up in his brief stint with the Cavaliers.

APLester Hudson

Lester Hudson is getting a crash course in learning the Cleveland Cavaliers' offense. Hudson has come a long way in his pro basketball journey.

Bob Finnan of The News-Herald writes how Hudson thinking the lockout would last longer than it did signed with the Chinese Basketball Association's Qingdao DoubleStar. He averaged 33.6 points per game, second only to J.R. Smith for the scoring title.

When that season concluded, he joined the D-League's Austin Toros for six games. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder was then summoned to the Cavs on March 30, when he signed a 10-day contract.

Besides piling up frequent-flyer miles, his head has to be spinning.

Hudson is getting acclimated to Coach Byron Scott's offense. With injuries to Kyrie Irving (sprained shoulder) and Daniel Gibson (foot surgery), Hudson has been pressed into the role of backup point guard.

More Cleveland Cavaliers

Lester Hudson makes the jump from the minors to the majors (Cleveland.com).

The Canton Charge had their playoff hopes slowed (CantonRep.com).

Hudson escapes the past and looks toward the future (Ohio.com).

Preview of tonight's game between the Raptors and the Cavaliers (TheStar.com).

Cincinnati author and hunter Richard Combs knows the secret to bagging a big gobbler.

D'Arcy Egan, The Plain DealerWillard hunter Bryan Buurma enjoys talking turkey with the big gobblers of Huron County. He pinpointed the roosting area of this gobbler one evening last spring, and bagged it the next morning after luring the bird to his decoy with a turkey call.

Richard Combs has written the book on wild turkey hunting. The Cincinnati sportsman and author knows the primary tactic for bagging a big gobbler.

 It's not a sweet-sounding turkey call, an expensive shotgun or weeks of scouting.

"It's patience," said Combs. "Turkey hunting is 99 percent boredom and 1 percent sheer excitement."

Turkey calling has become a sport in itself, he said, and there are lots of Ohio hunters who are quite adroit at luring gobblers in with a variety of calls. Even the simplistic push button-style turkey calls, a $20 investment in the spring hunt, can easily do the job.

Combs said when his daughter, Hillary, wanted to tag along for a spring turkey adventure more than a decade ago, he encouraged her. At 8 years of age, the youngster was too young to handle a shotgun, so Combs gave her some quick lessons with a push-button call as he drove to the turkey woods.

 "I let Hillary do all of the talking with that simple push button call," said Combs. "She called in two gobblers for me that morning, and I bagged my bird."

A hunter may be reluctant to call a turkey, but the push button, slate and box calls are relatively simple to use. Don't forget that some turkeys are also mediocre at making sounds, as well.

"I've listened to hen yelps and purrs that were so off key I was sure they were being made by an inexperienced hunter," said Combs. "And then, to my surprise, a real hen turkey stepped out of the brush."

Combs admits he used to favor fishing more than turkey hunting in spring. His buddy, writer Tom Cross of Winchester, Ohio, urged him to give it a try and Combs was soon hooked. He's since written three books on turkey hunting, including "Guide to Advanced Turkey Hunting: How to Call and Decoy Even Wary Boss Gobblers" (Skyhorse Publishing, $20) in book stores this month.

 Many turkey hunters can't ignore a gobbler sounding off a half-mile away. They use the "run and gun" tactic to try to pin down the bird, and often end up spooking a wary turkey.

"It's not necessary," said Combs. "I take a lot of photos of wild turkeys. The best way is to set up a ground blind in an area where I know there are some birds, a location I've scouted and where I know the lay of the land."

When you're trying to capture a big gobbler with a camera lens, not a shotgun, you need the birds to be strutting and gobbling in an open area - and as close to the camera lens as possible.

"I quickly learned that to get the best photographs, I needed to stay put rather than walk my legs off," Combs said. "I want the hens and gobblers to hang around for a while, and a ground blind that keeps you hidden encourages the birds to stay within range. When the birds weren't coming to me, I learned to be patient and wait, rather than make a move and risk alerting birds.

"If you cover a lot of ground on a big property, either scouting or hunting birds, you'll have turkeys on the run," he said. "And if you're pushing birds, other hunters on that property could also be doing the same thing."

 For spring turkey hunting, Combs has three secrets for success:

Patience kills turkeys. If you watch the hunting shows on television, you can learn tactics and techniques, but realize gobblers don't come running when they hear a call or see a decoy. The TV hosts may invest a week in getting the few minutes of turkey action they need. Relax, and take your time.

Wild turkeys are just about everywhere in Ohio now, so finding gobblers is not the key. Learning the lay of the land is critical. If there is a fence, farm house or highway between you and the gobbler that sounds off at the crack of dawn, it can block the bird from coming to your call.

Rely on your own instincts and do what makes sense to you. The old tales about turkeys being reluctant to cross a small creek, or head up hill or down, don't apply. If that were true, a turkey in hill country where there are lots of creeks would end up living on a half-acre area. 

Make sure your turkey gun is on the mark for the Ohio spring season

 You’ll get a lot of hunt camp opinions when trying to pin down everyone's favorite shotgun choke and shotgun shell load for turkey hunting.

 Male turkeys are big, strong and have sturdy feathers to deflect a load of lead shot. All will agree it’s wise to target the head and neck of the stout birds, and pattern a shotgun to make sure a large number of shotgun pellets hit the heart of the target.

One of the best ways to test a variety of shotgun shells, and some of the premier choke tubes, is to attend the Northcoast Limbhangers annual NWTF Patterning Day at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton on April 21 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

For a fee, the National Wild Turkey Federation chapter has the targets, a wide selection of choke tubes to try with most shotguns, and various makes of ammunition designed for turkey hunting. There is a $1.50 to $3 charge for individual shotgun shells, a lot less expensive than buying a few full boxes of the latest turkey loads.

The Patterning Day is also featuring 3-D turkey targets for bowhunters.

Turkey hunters can also pattern shotguns at public shooting ranges, where the daily fee is $5 and a season permit is $24. Go online (wildohio.com) to buy the permits, which are not sold at the ranges. In northern Ohio, there is a 60-bench public range on Ohio 88 at Twp. Rd. 213 in the Grand River Wildlife Area, just east of West Farmington in Trumbull County.

From the Indianapolis at No. 1 overall through Miami at No. 8, the quarter of the league's teams that are selecting at top of the NFL Draft each face one key question. How they decide to answer it will set the tone for the entire first round.

AP PhotoWhere former Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon lands will help determine the look of the 2012 NFL Draft's first round.

From the Indianapolis at No. 1 overall through Miami at No. 8, the quarter of the league's teams that are selecting at top of the NFL Draft each face one key question. How they decide to answer it will set the tone for the entire first round:

The pick: No. 1

The team: Indianapolis Colts

The question: Are we are happily stuck on Andrew Luck?

Until owner Jim Irsay pulls out the checkbook to lock up the former Stanford quarterback, the door will remain ever-so-slightly ajar for a shocking last-minute change of heart. Although Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III continues to create buzz, it won't be enough to clip Luck at the tape.

While scouts are wowed at Griffin's all-around skills, Luck also has checked out with great athleticism to match his passing prowess. As he has looked the part of Peyton Manning's heir apparent for a long time, it's gotten to the point it's too difficult for the Colts to cast someone else in that role.

They'll draft Luck like it's been expected since the middle of last season and will be happy with him. The real trick will come in the next few drafts, building the right offensive supporting cast around him.

The pick: No. 2

The team: Washington Redskins

The question: Would we mind having Luck over RG3 in D.C.?

The Redskins no doubt targeted the selection of Griffin with their aggressive trade up with the St. Louis Rams. But really, it was to ensure they would get that elusive franchise quarterback, regardless if he's Griffin or Luck.

Mike Shanahan had Super Bowl success with another gifted passer out of Stanford, John Elway. His West Coast works best with athletic passers who are accurate on shorter routes. Although Shanahan and the Redskins have grown close to Griffin, if the Colts throw them a sharp curve, Washington will no have problems "settling" for Luck.

The pick: No. 3

The team: Minnesota Vikings

The question: Should we ponder someone other than Matt Kalil?

For the Vikings to put second-year quarterback Christian Ponder in the best possible position for his next stage of development, they must get him a sturdy blindside protector. For a team that tied for fifth in sacks allowed (49) last season, it would be hard to pass up on Kalil, who has that feel of a decade-long left tackle.

But right along with pass protection, pass defense was a problem for the Vikings last season. They finished 26th in the NFL, and their eight interceptions tied for last. So that should make adding a potential shutdown corner in LSU's Morris Claiborne equally tempting.

For the moment, Kalil and Claiborne are the leaders for the pick, but Texas A&M wide receiver Justin Blackmon needs stronger consideration. As much as Kalil would help Ponder, pairing Blackmon with Percy Harvin as the quarterback's two best receivers sounds good, too.

Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago each have exceptional No. 1 receiving talent, while the Vikings are short on dynamic playmakers. Offensive tackles of Kalil's ilk have been safer bets in the past, but Blackmon also fills a big need to help Minnesota catch up in the NFC North.

The pick: No. 4

The team: Cleveland Browns

The question: Can we go wrong if we go offense?

Look around mock drafts and three players are most associated with the first of the Browns' two first-round picks: Blackmon, Alabama running back Trent Richardson and Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. With the No. 22 pick also in hand, this feels a little like the Browns' 2007 draft.

In 2007, they aced their top offensive pick, left tackle Joe Thomas (No. 3) but whiffed later with quarterback Brady Quinn (No. 22). Instead of focusing on a potential Colt McCoy replacement here, if they are looking to keep backing McCoy as their current top QB, they must upgrade his supporting cast.

There are few issues up front with Thomas and center Alex Mack anchoring their line. But their rushing attack has a huge void for a workhorse, and the jury's still out on their current young receivers.

Richardson makes the most sense, with Blackmon a close second. Tannehill's athleticism will keep intriguing them, but it would be a mistake to take him this high. Taking Richardson here and then a big-play wide receiver later in Round 1 -- such as Baylor's Kendall Wright or LSU's Rueben Randle -- would be the ideal combination.

The pick: No. 5

The team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The question: What do we do if Morris Claiborne and Trent Richardson are gone?

Looking at Ronde Barber's age and Aqib Talib's off-field trouble, the Buccaneers are in the corner market, and hiring LSU's former defensive backs coach, Ron Cooper, gives them a closer insight to Claiborne's gifts. They also would like a more reliable, versatile running back who can either work well with—or be featured over—LeGarrette Blount.

The Bucs would be ecstatic if they stood pat and got either Claiborne or Richardson. If the Vikings and Browns throw off their plans, the Bucs should either a) trade down with a team itching to land Blackmon or a top pass rusher or b) simply take Blackmon.

The Bucs signed Vincent Jackson to be quarterback Josh Freeman's No. 1 receiver and should expect a rebound year from Mike Williams. Throw into that receiving mix Blackmon—who would be the "best player available" if Claiborne and Richardson are both gone—Freeman will finally be fully armed to duel to Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Matt Ryan.

The pick: No. 6

The team: St. Louis Rams

The question: Can we stay put and still get what we want?

The Rams have plenty of rebuilding to do under Jeff Fisher, which they've started nicely with the Redskins trade and good free-agent additions such as cornerback Cortland Finnegan. It's fair to assume Richardson, joining Luck and Griffin, will be gone before St. Louis is on the clock.

That leaves a win-win-win scenario with at least one of these players available: Kalil, Claiborne, Blackmon.

The Rams gave up a league-worst 55 sacks last season. They could completely make over their injury-riddled cornerback situation from a year ago by pairing Claiborne with Finnegan. With Brandon Lloyd leaving for New England, Sam Bradford has no legitimate No. 1 receiver.

Fisher has said they are listening to trade-down offers, but with special talents such as Kalil, Claiborne and Blackmon and how they can help in various ways, they can be very happy staying at No. 6.

The pick: No. 7

The team: Jacksonville Jaguars

The question: Can we afford to go defense over offense?

With six picks ahead of them, some of the Jaguars' decisions will be made for them. Two players who can fill big offensive needs, Kalil and Blackmon will be gone, but that doesn't mean Jacksonville should lock itself to defense.

So far, two pass rushers, South Carolina's Melvin Ingram and North Carolina's Quinton Coples, have been popular mock picks for the Jaguars. But they can't ignore the rising stock of Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd.

The Jags signed former Cowboys wideout Laurent Robinson to help Blaine Gabbert and/or Chad Henne at quarterback, but it takes more than one player to make their receiving corps respectable. The Jaguars don't have as many issues on defense overall, and a Robinson-Floyd combination can help resuscitate their dormant passing offense.

The pick: No. 8

The team: Miami Dolphins

The question: Do we want to reach for a quarterback here?

They didn't get Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn, and are left with Matt Moore and David Garrard at quarterback. They should be wary, however, of using this pick on Tannehill.

There is a significant dropoff between the Luck-Griffin duo to Tannehill—more than six spots worth. There also is a natural fit, given Tannehill played under Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman at Texas A&M. But unless they are completely convinced the former Aggie—not nearly a polished product—is that long-awaited franchise guy, it's better for Dolphins to pass.

If other candidates such as Floyd and Iowa tackle Riley Reiff, don't seem to carry as much punch, the best way for the Dolphins to add a surefire impact player is Alabama safety Mark Barron. Miami would be better off targeting its top QB early next year—in the form of USC's Matt Barkley.

-- Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

Egan's Outdoor Calendar for April 6-13: The deadline is near for the Trout Club gala at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History; the Safari Club banquet on tap; trout stockings set for area,

 Hunting and trapping seasons listed at end of Outdoor Calendar

April 7: Boy Scout Icebreaker Bass Tournament, Mosquito Reservoir, 7:30-3 p.m., Mosquito Reservoir State Park, Cortland. Entry $80. For information visit troop127.us or call John Boychi, 330-825-3336.

April 11: Spring rainbow trout stocking, Hinckley Lake, Hinckley Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks, Hinckley.

April 14: Ohio Chapter of Safari Club International Banquet and Reverse Raffle, 5:30 p.m., American Legion Post 211, 31972 Walker Rd., Avon Lake. Tickets $50. Call Mike Samsel, 216-241-0333.

April 14: Goodyear Hunting & Fishing Club Trout Derby, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Little Turtle Pond, Firestone Metro Park, 2400 Harrington Rd., Akron. For anglers 15 years old and younger. Prizes and stocked trout. Call 330-865-8065 or visit summitmetroparks.org.

April 14: Spring rainbow trout stocking, Punderson Lake, Punderson State Park, Newbury. Youth only fishing from 9 a.m.-noon.

April 14: 45th annual Invitational Winners Trial of the All-Breed Hunter's Trial Circuit, hosted by the Fin Feather Fur Club at the Wayne Coon Hunters Association, 8 a.m., Honeytown Rd., Wooster. Entries closed. Season schedule at www.hunterstrial.com.

April 14: Annual banquet of the Ottawa County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, 4:430 p.m., Camp Perry Banquet Hall, Ohio 2, Port Clinton. Tickets $55, couples $75, youth $25. Contact Eric Zgodzinski, 419-265-2484 or eszgod@frontier.com.

April 15: Boy Scout Icebreaker Bass Tournament, Portage Lakes, 7:30-3 p.m., Portage Lakes State Park, Akron. Entry $80. For information visit troop127.us or call John Boychi, 330-825-3336.

April 15: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association 3-D Archery Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

April 18: Spring rainbow trout stocking, Veteran's Park Pond, Mentor.

April 20: Spring rainbow trout stocking, Forest Hill Pond, East Cleveland; Shadow Lake, South Chagrin Reservation, Solon; Silver Creek Lake, Silver Creek Metro Park, Norton.

April 21: The 34th annual banquet of The Trout Club of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 6 p.m., 1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland. Tickets $80, $150 couple. Dinner at 7:30 p.m., live auction at 8:30 p.m. Call Karen Menn, 216-231-4600, Ext. 3278. For list of auction and raffle items, visit Trout Club page at cmnhtc.org.

April 21: 3rd annual Northcoast Limbhangers Patterning Day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. McKenzie 3-D turkey targets, various shotgun shell loads available for $1.50 to $3 per round. Choke tubes for various makes of shotguns also available to try and buy. Call 330-220-7185 or email: northcoastlimbhangers@aol.com.

April 21: Grand River Canoe & Kayak Race, 8 a.m., Harpersfield Dam, Harpersfield, Ashtabula County. A 8½-mile canoe and kayak race from the Harpersfield Dam to Hidden Valley Park (in Madison) on the wild and scenic Grand River. Annual tradition features a “maddest hat” contest. Visit lakemetroparks.com, call 440-358-7275 or 800-669-9226. Pre-registration required, fee applies.High water date is April 28.

April 21: Fairport Harbor Yacht Club Marine Flea Market, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Fairport Harbor Yacht Club, 1177 High St., Fairport Harbor. Boating and supplies, antique and modern fishing gear. Free. Visit fhyc.com, call 440-339-4518.

April 21-22, 2012: Youth spring wild turkey hunting season for kids 17 and under. Call 1-800-WILDLIFE or visit www.wildohio.com.

April 22: Spring Fling Sporting Clays at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Public entry, $54. Lunch included. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

April 23: Opening day of the spring wild turkey hunting season through May 20. Call 1-800-WILDLIFE or visit www.wildohio.com.

April 27: Hunters Night Out with the Tinkers Creek Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited, Catered Elegance, 1160 Broadway Ave., Bedford. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. Raffles, exhibits and games. Tickets $50, $25 spouse, kids $25. Call Matt McCann (330-467-1729) or Dennis Malloy (1-866-WTU-DEER) or visit whitetailsunlimited.com.

April 28: Kids Fishing, 1 - 3 p.m., Firestone Metro Park / Little Turtle Pond, 2400 Harrington Rd., Akron. Kids ages 15 and under learn the basics of fishing. A few rods and reels available. Bait is provided. Adults are not permitted to fish. For information, call 330-865-8065 or visit summitmetroparks.org.

April 28: Waldo Pepper's Lakevue Tournament, Lake Erie Walleye Trail, Western Basin Sportfishing Association. For information visit westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com.

May 4: Spring rainbow trout stocking, Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation waters, Cuyahoga Heights.

May 4-6: Lake and Trails Organizaiton Youth Fishing Camp, FFA Camp Muskingum, Leesville Lake, Carroll County. For kids 9 years old, an up with adult supervisor. Reservations mandatory. Visit lakeandtrails.org.

May 4-6: Progressive Insurance Catawba Island Boat Show, Catawba Island Club, Catawba Island. Visit catawbaislandboatshow.com or call Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, 440-899-5009. Show hours: Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

May 4-6: Junior Anglers of Ohio youth outdoor education program, 4-H Camp Ohio, St. Louisville, Ohio. For information visit ohwf.org.

May 6: Lone Eagle Bowmen 3-D Target Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Crossbow events included. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

May 6-7: Medina Open Sporting Clays at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association and Hill 'n Dale Club. Registered shooters only, $20,000 in cash and prizes. Shooters compete at both South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp., and Hill 'n Dale Club, 3605 Poe Rd., Medina. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

May 10-12: National Guard FLW Walleye Tour, Lake Erie at Port Clinton, Ohio. Visit flwoutdoors.com/walleyefishing/walleyetour/.

May 12: Women in the Outdoors Workshop, National Wild Turkey Federation at the Crooked Creek Conservation Club, Ohio 534, Hartsgrove, Ohio. Contact Leesa Laffere-Thomas (440-968-0150, leesa@gotoadventure.com.

May 18-20: Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit tournament, Lake Erie at Huron, Ohio. For information visit www.masterswalleyecircuit.com or call 1-877-893-7947.

May 19: Kids Fishing at the Firestone Metro Park, Little Turtle Pond, 2400 Harrington Rd., Akron. Fishing from 10 a.m.-noon. Kids 15 and under learn the basics of fishing. A few rods and reels will be available. Bait is provided. Adults are not permitted to fish. For information, call 330-865-8065 or visit summitmetroparks.org.

May 20: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association 3-D Archery Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

May 25: 5th annual Western Reserve Friend of the NRA reverse raffle to benefit the local shooting sports, 6 p.m., LaMalfa Party Center, 5783 Heisley Rd., Mentor. Tickets $120. Call 1-888-752-9119 or westernreserveFNRA@gmail.com.

May 26-27: Medina County Iron Man 150 Registered Sporting Clays at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Public entry, $54. Lunch included. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973. Event benefits the Medina County Sharpshooters 4-H Club.

May 27: Catch of the Day casting lessons with a naturalist, 1-3 p.m., Gorge Metro Park, 1160 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. A limited number of fishign rods available for use. Bait will be provided. For information, call 330-865-8065 or visit summitmetroparks.org.

June 1: Deadline for lottery applications for free Youth Fly-Fishing Clinic at Castalia State Fish Hatchery for kids 15, or younger. Visit wildohio.com or call 1-800-WILDLIFE for details.

June 2: City of Painesville Youth Fishing Derby, 9 a.m.-noon, Kiwanis Recreation Park, Painesville. Kids 15 and under can fish for bluegill, bass and catfish. Visit painesville.com or call 440-392-5912.

June 2: Hi-Way Bait Lake Erie Walleye Trail, Lake Erie at Sandusky City Ramp, Western Basin Sportfishing Association. For information visit westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com.

June 2: Lone Eagle Bowmen Senior Olympics Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Shoot for archers 50 and over starting at 9 a.m. Pre-registration needed at hofseniorolympics.org/2012 registration. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

June 3: Lone Eagle Bowmen 3-D Target Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Crossbow events included. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

June 9-10: North Coast Harbor Boating & Fishing Fest, Voinovich Park, Cleveland Harbor, Cleveland. Free. Visit boatingfest.com. Boating displays, boat rides, exhibits and kids boating and fishing events.

June 10: South Cuyahoga Bowmen 3-D Archery Shoot, 5370 Erhart Rd., Chatham Township. Open to the public. Registration 8-10:30 a.m. Entry $10, kids $5. Call Grant Brown, 440-371-4701 or Fred Eckhardt, 216-287-4547.

June 17: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association 3-D Archery Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

June 23-24: Erie Outfitteers Open, Lake Erie Walleye Trail,  Lake Erie at Huron City Ramp, Western Basin Sportfishing Association. For information visit westernbasinsportfishingassociation.com.

June 28-30: AIM Pro Walleye Series, Black River Landing and Black River Wharf, Lorain. Pro and co-angler event. For information or entry visit aimfishing.com.

July 1: South Cuyahoga Bowmen 3-D Archery Shoot, 5370 Erhart Rd., Chatham Township. Open to the public. Registration 8-10:30 a.m. Entry $10, kids $5. Call Grant Brown, 440-371-4701 or Fred Eckhardt, 216-287-4547.

July 1: Lone Eagle Bowmen Four Man Team Event/Marengo Warmup Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

July 3: 3rd annual Charity Sporting Clays Shoot, South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

July 14: Women on the River/Women in the Outdoors Event, National Wild Turkey Federation, NTR Canoe Livery, Interstate 77 at Bolivar, Ohio. Contact Donna Hutmacher, 330-821-6136.

July 15: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association 3-D Archery Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

July 21: Women in the Outdoors Event, National Wild Turkey Foundation at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, Chatham, Ohio. Contact Bill Suliks (330-635-0878, bsuliks@aol.com.

July 28: Ohio State Canoe & Kayak Marathon Championships, 9:30 a.m., Grand River Landing, 800 North St. Clair St., Fairport Harbor. Six-mile and a 12-mile race. Both begin and end at Grand River Landing. Registration 8 a.m.; first race 9:30 a.m,; 12-mile race begins at noon. Visit lakemetroparks.com or call 440-256-3821.

Aug. 4-5: Lone Eagle Bowmen 100 McKenzie Target Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Crossbow events included. Registration 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

Aug. 5: South Cuyahoga Bowmen 3-D Archery Shoot, 5370 Erhart Rd., Chatham Township. Open to the public. Registration 8-10:30 a.m. Entry $10, kids $5. Call Grant Brown, 440-371-4701 or Fred Eckhardt, 216-287-4547.

Aug. 18: Steak and Sporting Clays Shoot at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

Aug. 19: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association Archery Flea Market and 3-D Archery Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

Sept. 2: Lone Eagle Bowmen Whitetails Unlimited Fall Classic 3-D Target Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Crossbow events included. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

Sept. 12-16: Progressive Insurance North American In-Water Boat Show, Cedar Point Marina, Sandusky. Visit cedarpointboatshow.com or call Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, 440-899-5009.

Sept. 14-16: Ohio State Women in the Outdoors Event, National Wild Turkey Federation at FFA Cam p Muskingum, Carrollton, Ohio. Contact Cheryl Clevenger (740-877-9059, clevengerc@windstream.net.

Sept. 16: Class Sporting Clays at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Public entry, $54. Lunch included. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

Sept. 16: South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association Dan Whitney Memorial 3-D Deer Target Shoot, Ridge Road Grounds, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Open to the public with traditional and compound bows and crossbows. Registration 8-11 a.m. Fee $10, kids $5. Call Doug Davis (216-905-1153) or Patrick Martelon (330-324-2705).

Sept. 16: Lone Eagle Bowmen Bowhunter Warmup Target Shoot, 2276 Seeman Street SW, East Sparta. Test and Tune session for tuning bows for nominal fee. Crossbow events included. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open to the public. Contact Matt Williams, 330-575-0774 or visit loneeaglebowmen.com.

Oct. 4-7: May 4-6: Lake and Trails Organizaiton Youth Outdoor Camp, FFA Camp Muskingum, Leesville Lake, Carroll County. For kids 9 years old, an up with adult supervisor. Reservations mandatory. Visit lakeandtrails.org.

Oct. 13: Three-Bird Sporting Clays at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., south of W. Smith Rd., Chatham Twp. Open to the public, 100-target events. Public entry, $54. Lunch included. Reservations needed. Call Ed Coyne, 216-926-8138 or 330-667-2973.

Nov. 17-18: Dryland Sled Dog Races, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland. Held by the Trailbreakers Sled Dog Club. Teams of one to six dogs of various breeds pulling wheeled carts, bicycles, scooters or using the Canicross technique where the handler runs behind his dog(s).
Visit lakemetroparks.com or call 440-256-2122 or 800-366-3276.

2012 HUNTING SEASONS
Coyote, Woodchuck - No closed season
Youth Spring Wild Turkey Season - April 21-22
Spring Wild Turkey Season - April 23-May 20
END OUTDOOR CALENDAR

Dufner, who lived in Northeast Ohio until age 11, held the lead at the Masters briefly Friday afternoon.

View full sizeAssociated PressJason Dufner holds up his ball after a birdie on the 16th hole Friday during the second round of the Masters in Augusta, Ga. Dufner held the outright lead briefly after sinking the birdie putt.

AUGUSTA, Georgia -- Jason Dufner shot a 2-under 70 on Friday afternoon and is a co-leader at minus-5 overall on the second day of the Masters.

Dufner, who was born in Cleveland and lived in the area until he was 11, held the lead alone briefly late in his round when he birdied three of four holes. Dufner birdied the par-5 13th hole, the par-4 14th and the par-3 16th when he sank a short putt.  

He closed with a bogey on the 18th. In all, Friday's round included six birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey.

Lee Westwood, the first-day leader, remained at the top until closing with a double bogey on the par-4 18th. Joining Dufner as co-leaders are Fred Couples, Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy. Only Dufner and Westwood are in the clubhouse.

After three seasons, Isiah Thomas is out as coach at FIU.

Lynne Sladky / Associated PressIsiah Thomas

MIAMI -- Florida International has fired men's basketball coach Isiah Thomas, after the Hall of Fame player went 26-65 in three seasons.

Thomas took over at FIU in a surprising move in 2009, one that gave the former New York Knicks coach and president a chance to restore the reputation he tarnished through a series of embarrassments in New York.

Under Thomas, FIU never won more than 11 games in a season.

Thomas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement released by the university, FIU director of sports and entertainment Pete Garcia said the school has "decided to take the program in a different direction."

Thomas signed a five-year deal with FIU, taking nothing in base salary for his first season and agreeing to a deal where he would receive nearly half of any gross revenues from ticket sales, commissions collected on food and beverage concessions and sponsorships.

But FIU never generated the buzz that both it and Thomas envisioned. The Panthers averaged 1,071 fans at home this season, nearly four times that many on the road.

"We just needed a break here or a break there, and it's not happening for us," Thomas said last month, shortly after FIU's 8-21 season ended with a loss to eventual Sun Belt tournament champion Western Kentucky. "I know we're getting there. We've had so many close games. If we keep working, good things will happen."

A month later, FIU made the call to go another way. Garcia and Thomas met Friday morning, and the coach was told of the school's decision.

Thomas helped the Detroit Pistons win two NBA championships as one of the all-time great point guards, then coached the Indiana Pacers before taking over in New York, where he found hard times both on and off the court -- he endured legal and personal troubles off the court, and "Fire Isiah" chants were common at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks never won a playoff game in his tenure as president or coach, but he saw FIU as a chance to turn his fortunes around.

"I've had my ups and downs," Thomas said when FIU hired him in 2009. "But don't expect me to just stay down, because that's not happening."

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino is put on leave after not telling school officials about his passenger.

AP PhotoBobby Petrino is on administrative leave after not revealing all of the facts surrounding his motorcycle crash.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP)—Saying he was disappointed Bobby Petrino failed to tell school officials that he was riding with a 25-year-old woman when he crashed his motorcycle, Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long placed the football coach on paid leave pending a review.

“I don’t know what I’m going to find,” Long said at a news conference Thursday night, hours after a state police report revealed that the married, 51-year-old was riding Sunday with Jessica Dorrell, a former Arkansas volleyball player who now works for the football program.

“I am disappointed that coach Petrino did not share with me, when he had the opportunity to, the full extent of the accident and who was involved,” Long said.

 
Petrino broke four ribs and cracked a neck vertebra in the crash, which he blamed on the wind and having the sun in his eyes. He was forthcoming with police, but failed to tell school administrators—or reporters at a news conference on Tuesday—about his passenger.

“My concern was to protect my family and a previous inappropriate relationship from becoming public,” Petrino said in a statement released by the school. “In hindsight, I showed a serious mistake in judgment when I chose not to be more specific about those details.”

Through his agent, Petrino declined further comment Friday.

Long set no timetable for his investigation, which could conclude with penalties including suspension or firing for the highly successful coach.

“I hope to have a resolution soon,” Long said. “I certainly don’t have all the answers here tonight, as we meet. But again, I have an obligation and responsibility to obtain the information and then act appropriately on that information.”

The emerging scandal also could deal a severe blow to the Razorbacks on the field, who Petrino has coached to appearances in the Sugar Bowl (a loss to Ohio State) and the Cotton Bowl (a win over Kansas State) in the last two seasons.

Arkansas, which had spring practice scheduled Friday afternoon, is led by a pair of Heisman Trophy hopefuls in quarterback Tyler Wilson and running back Knile Davis.

“I will fully cooperate with the university throughout this process and my hope is to repair my relationships with my family, my athletic director, the Razorback Nation and remain the head coach of the Razorbacks,” Petrino said.

Petrino just completed his fourth season with the Razorbacks, who have developed into a national contender since he was hired away from the Atalanta Falcons during the 2007 season. He’s 34-17 at the school, 21-5 over the last two years, and the Hogs finished last season ranked No. 5 after losing only to national champion Alabama and runner-up LSU.

He’s in the midst of a seven-year contract under which his salary averages $3.53 million.

The coach has been criticized in the past for job hopping—first from Louisville to the Falcons, then for the in-season jump to Arkansas. He infamously met with Auburn officials in 2003 to talk about taking the Tigers’ head coaching job while Tommy Tuberville still had it.

But Petrino was greeted as a savior by Arkansas fans, and had given them no reason not to trust him.

Long said he didn’t hear about Dorrell being on the motorcycle until Petrino called him Thursday afternoon, minutes before a police report was released disclosing it. Dorrell, who did not return calls and messages from The Associated Press, does not appear to have been injured in the crash.

Dorrell was hired March 28 by Petrino as the student-athlete development coordinator after serving as a fundraiser with the Razorback Foundation. She is in charge of organizing the recruiting process for the football team, including initial eligibility for each incoming player.

Long said he had not decided whether to suspend Dorrell.

Petrino, who is married with four children, didn’t mention he had a passenger during a news conference two days after Sunday’s accident, and a school statement that day quoted Petrino’s family as saying “no other individuals” were involved. Petrino said then that he had spent Sunday with his wife, Becky, at a lake and was going for an evening ride. His only mention of Dorrell was vague, and without identification.

“When I came out of the ditch, there was a lady there that had flagged down a car,” Petrino said Tuesday. “The guy that was in the passenger’s seat said, `Get in, we’ll just take you right to the hospital instead of waiting,’ and so I got in the car and they headed toward Fayetteville.”

In Thursday’s statement, Petrino apologized and acknowledged that he had kept quiet about Dorrell.

“I have been in constant pain, medicated and the circumstances involving the wreck have come out in bits and pieces. That said, I certainly had a concern about Jessica Dorrell’s name being revealed,” he said.

“Today, I’ve acknowledged this previous inappropriate relationship with my family and those within the athletic department administration.”

The police report said Petrino was riding with Dorrell when he lost control of his motorcycle. Dorrell said in the report that she wasn’t sure what caused the accident, during which Petrino was unable to maneuver a turn and laid the motorcycle down on its left side while sliding off a rural, two-lane road about 20 miles southeast of Fayetteville.

Petrino said in the report that wind and sun caused the accident. The police report said Petrino and Dorrell were taken by a passer-by to an intersection in southeast Fayetteville, where a state police officer took Petrino to the hospital.

The police report said Dorrell wasn’t taken to a hospital, and that she was dropped off at her vehicle, which was parked at the intersection. State police spokesman Bill Sadler said Petrino didn’t try to hide Dorrell’s part in the accident when questioned.

“Coach Petrino was as cooperative as anybody that we could ever hope to encounter following the traffic crash,” Sadler said.

Petrino, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, was hospitalized but had since returned to practice.

Assistant head coach and linebackers coach Taver Johnson has been put in charge of the program in Petrino’s absence. The former Ohio State assistant coach was hired in January.

Forward decides to return after evaluating his draft prospects over the past week with family and the Buckeyes' coaching staff.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerOhio State forward Deshaun Thomas, left, announced today that we will return for his junior season. Thomas said today he will return for his junior season.

Columbus, Ohio - Deshaun Thomas will not be joining Ohio State teammate Jared Sullinger in the NBA -- yet.

Thomas said today he will return for his junior season. Two days earlier, Sullinger, also a sophomore and a two-time All-American, said he would give up his last two years of eligibility to enter the NBA draft.

Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said in a school statement that Thomas, his family and the coaching staff spent the last week evaluating his draft prospects.

The 6-foot-7 forward from Fort Wayne, Ind., averaged 15.9 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Buckeyes, who went 31-8 and lost in the national semifinals.

Woe betide the man who thinks for himself or the manager who plays a hunch. He'd better be right, because there is safety in numbers.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerIndians starter Justin Masterson, above, was dominant on Thursday, giving up just two hits in eight innings. But manager Manny Acta still went to closer Chris Perez in the ninth, and the Tribe paid with a 7-4 loss to the Blue Jays in 16 innings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — When you always manage by the book, the book might as well manage.

The numbers that once defined baseball immortality -- such as 500 career home runs or 60 homers in a season -- were cheapened by steroid cheats. In their place came "sabermetrics," new statistics devised by specialized analysis. Some of the concepts could probably be understood only by Bill James, the godfather of baseball figure filberts, and maybe Stephen Hawking.

All this fomented the information revolution in baseball that was popularized in the book and movie "Moneyball."

But when numbers rule the actual playing of the game, it becomes a kingdom of conformists. The stats enforce a safe orthodoxy. Woe betide the man who thinks for himself or the manager who plays a hunch. He'd better be right, because there is safety in numbers.

It is rare that someone goes with a gut feeling, or risks the second-guessing that comes with independent thought.

Take Indians manager Manny Acta's allegiance to pitch counts. The Indians were in the forefront of the numbers-crunching revolutions, but one must ask whether they have let guidelines harden into boundaries.

"Compulsory figures" used to be a term in figure skating, when numbers actually had to be carved into the ice. Perhaps the "compulsory figures" in baseball today are pitch counts.

In the season opener Thursday, Acta used closer Chris Perez in the ninth inning, and Perez ignited the fireball that consumed a 4-1 lead. The manager basically said Perez is the closer, so why deviate from the normal practice?

All sorts of objections could have been made, including Perez's rehab time in spring training after hurting himself by overthrowing, and the skimpy three appearances he made against big-league hitters after recovering.

But Acta also argued that starter Justin Masterson already had thrown 99 pitches.

The pitch-count tyranny seems to have quashed any thought of sticking with Masterson, who had not been pressured often during a dominant outing. Masterson had only 12 hard-luck victories last season despite an excellent 3.21 ERA. Often nonexistent run support was the usual culprit. But not in the opener, which the Indians lost in a record-setting 16-inning marathon, 7-4.

The opener was played on a cool, 40-degree day, which can make it hard for starters to keep their arms warm. The Indians also like to ease their pitchers into the stress of the long season by rationing starters to between 100 and 110 pitches.

When Mike Hargrove's staff lost track of the young Bartolo Colon's pitches and let him throw 120, former General Manager John Hart stomped down to the clubhouse upon the conclusion of the game, demanding an explanation.

But if Acta was not going to use Masterson in the ninth, he could have brought set-up man Vinnie Pestano in while the lead was only dwindling and not gone with Perez. There were enough concerns about Perez's game readiness and velocity to justify the precaution.

The irony is Acta was willing to intentionally walk Jose Bautista in the 12th inning, loading the bases with two outs. That was a decision that came from his gut and went against the book. The Indians got out of the inning on a fly ball.

The manager didn't flout the pitch count, though. It is an inviolable concept around baseball these days. Except where it's not.

Texas Rangers President Nolan Ryan flushed the pitch-count doctrine when he took over the team. Texas has been in two straight World Series. Could Ryan's heresy have become the new orthodoxy with a World Series victory? Success breeds copycats in all sports.

However, in last year's World Series, the Rangers suffered a sixth-game loss that was nothing less Indians-like in depth and breadth, and then lost the series in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals of Tony La Russa. He was the first manager to pamper closers by reserving the ninth inning for their use alone.

Ryan is almost literally a throwback. He is from the old days of hardball, when a starter was expected to clean up his own messes. It is a strange concept for a litigious era outside the lines, and one largely ignored inside them in the specialized game of today. More's the pity.

UPDATED: Coach Byron Scott gets ejected at the end of the first half and the Cavs trail by 13 in the fourth quarter, but they rally for their first victory since March 19.

TORONTO — Cavaliers coach Byron Scott could have picked countless games in the past month from which to get himself ejected.

He could have begged for an early exit Tuesday when it appeared the San Antonio Spurs had violated NBA rules by playing 10 guys simultaneously on the way to 125 points.

He could have gone Mount St. Helens any number of nights his team began competing around 7:30 p.m. after a 7 p.m. tipoff.

But Scott certainly wasn't looking to get run Friday night in Air Canada Centre as he watched his patchwork lineup supply one of its best efforts in weeks against the Toronto Raptors. In the final seconds of the first half, however, the coach was being escorted from the court by Marvin Cross, the team's security chief, after getting tagged with two quick technicals from referee Kane Fitzgerald.

What Scott missed was one of the more improbable and satisfying wins of the season given the circumstance and nettlesome opponent. They ended a season-long, nine-game losing streak with an 84-80 victory.

Trailing by 13 points early in the fourth quarter and relying on a rotation of Development League guards, the Cavaliers rallied furiously for their first win since March 19 in New Jersey. They won with Kyrie Irving (sprained shoulder) and Anthony Parker (bruised sternum) out of the lineup.

Cavs power forward Antawn Jamison scored 25 points -- including 16 in the fourth quarter -- to pace the visitors. Meanwhile, reserve shooting guard Lester Hudson all but guaranteed himself another 10-day contract or better with a career-high 23 points on 6-of-14 shooting.

Show of hands from those who saw this one coming? Especially against the Raptors, who always seem to play like a hybrid of the 1965 Boston Celtics and the 1987 Los Angeles Lakers against the Cavaliers. The Cavs beat them for the first time this season in four tries despite shooting 34.2 percent from the field and having their coach watch the game alone from inside the locker room. Assistant Paul Pressey ran the bench in the second half.

"I was hitting the table sometimes and clapping my hands at others," Scott said. "I was definitely alone. Believe me, nobody wanted to be around me."

The Cavaliers outscored the Raptors, 33-17, in the fourth quarter.

"I'm really proud of the team," said Scott, whose team held an opponent to a season-low in points. "The one thing we talked about . . . was that the order of business was to get back to competing. I thought we did that [Wednesday] in Milwaukee and obviously I thought we did tonight down 13 points in the fourth quarter."

Scott was ejected for the first time this season with less than a minute left before intermission. He was unhappy with the way the game was being officiated and glared at Fitzgerald all the way down the court after he thought the officials missed a call.

Fitzgerald hit him with a technical and as Scott walked onto the floor and yelled, the coach got nailed with another one. The coach was livid as he left the court, Cross ensuring Scott did not go back for a second helping.

"I thought both techs were extremely quick," Scott said. "I didn't complain outrageously. I said, 'If you are going to make those calls down there, you got to make those calls up here.' I got a tech for that and I thought that was ridiculous. It is what it is."

Reserve forward Samardo Samuels, who played his best game in weeks with 10 points and seven rebounds, said the club rallied around the ejection and Pressey.

"[Scott] was going to bat for us because he thought the refs were making calls against us," Samuels said. "We had to have his back."

The Cavaliers trailed, 42-39, at halftime, but fell apart offensively in the third quarter, converting just 3 of 19 field-goal attempts and scoring 12 points.

Early in the fourth quarter they were down, 64-51, and it appeared like a typical Raptors-Cavs game. But Jamison caught fire to score 14 of his team's next 18 points. He hit 5 of 7 field goals in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, the Cavs held Andrea Bargnani to one fourth-quarter point after he scored 18 through the first 36 minutes.

But while Jamison and Bargnani are expected to be factors, no one anticipated this type of performance from Hudson, who's career high had been 13 points in 40 NBA games. The 27-year-old was terrific throughout, chipping in seven assists and going 11-of-13 from the foul line by taking the ball to the rim.

"Teammates told me to keep attacking and I knew if they stopped me I could pass it," Hudson said ". . . It was a great opportunity and I thought I played great."

The Cavs built their lead to seven points in the final minute before the Raptors cut it to 82-80 with 4.6 seconds left. Hudson calmly stepped to the line and hit two free throws to ice it.

"The 10-day [contract] is almost up so I said, 'If you want to stay you better make these," he said. "Do not worry about the crowd, make these.

"I got a lot of texts and [Twitter feedback]. Everybody is happy for me and I'm happy for myself and my family."

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

For a team that struggles to score runs, the bullpen may have to be as good or better as last season. But how are they supposed to top 2011?

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerTribe reliever Vinnie Pestano allowed one hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings in Thursday's season opener.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — It didn't look like the bullpen was going to have to much more than shift from one cheek to the other with Opening Day starter Justin Masterson cruising through eight innings.

But when closer Chris Perez blew a ninth-inning save in Thursday's 16-inning marathon and Tribe bats went silent, the bullpen spit out relievers like they were tube-sliding down the Batterhorn -- Vinnie Pestano to Joe Smith to Tony Sipp to newcomer Jairo Asencio, who took the loss.

Perez got pounded. Asencio, after throwing two scoreless innings, was rocked with a game-winning three-run homer. But Pestano, Smith and Sipp continued where they left off last season.

Tribe relievers, the "Bullpen Mafia" as they call themselves, were the strength of last year's club. Near flawless is an exaggeration, but not by much.

Perez closed all but four of 40 chances.

The bullpen's ERA (3.71) was fifth in the American League and an AL Central best.

The side-arming Smith was fourth among relievers in ERA (2.01), just behind the New York Yankees' future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera.

And the flame-throwing Pestano, who finished 55 of his 67 appearances without allowing a run, finished among the league's top relief strikeout leaders as a rookie.

For a team that struggles to score runs, the pen may have to be as good or better. But how are they supposed to top 2011?

"I think every one of us had room to improve last year, and I think we know where those areas are," Pestano said.

"Last year was last year, none of that carries over."

Pestano, who allowed one hit in 11/3 innings after replacing Perez, is trying to tweak his approach to left-handed batters.

"There's a pretty big discrepancy there," he said. "Lefties hit far better off me than righties did last year, so this spring I was really working on mixing up my pitch counts with certain pitches, back-dooring my slider more and trying to be a more effective weapon against them."

This season also brings a change in whose voice is in their ears.

Pestano said the transition from pitching coach Tim Belcher, who resigned after last season, to former bullpen coach Scott Radinsky has been seamless, although the approach is slightly different.

"He's a lot less technical," Pestano said. "I think he'll be great for us more mentally than mechanically. He's going to make sure our head's in the right place, [that] we're not thinking too much, not trying to get in our own way."

Next up: Ubaldo Jimenez takes the mound today against Toronto right-hander Brandon Morrow (11-11, 4.72 in 2011) with the dangling unknown of an appealed fine and five-game suspension for plunking Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki in an exhibition game.

Jimenez said the issue won't be a distraction.

"I'm just going to relax and go out there and try to give my team a chance to win. That's pretty much what I'm going to try to do," he said.

"I'm not going to be thinking of anything else but pitching a good game."

Jimenez, whose only appearance against the Blue Jays was a rain-shortened 5-3 win in 2010 while with Colorado, has no idea how long it might take for a ruling.

"I'm just worrying about pitching [today]," he said, "and we'll see what happens."

Ironman: You try crouching for five hours and 14 minutes. OK, so Tribe catcher Carlos Santana's knees are just 25 years old. (Actually, 26 on Sunday.) OK, so Santana wasn't behind the plate that whole time, but 16 innings is 16 innings.

Plus, he had to shake off a nasty foul tip to his armorless upper left arm.

"We're fine," he said smiling, his right shoulder wrapped in ice per his normal postgame routine.

Santana said the longest he had previously caught was 10 or 11 innings.

Remember when? Reports that the Indians and Blue Jays had just played the longest season opener in Major League history had some Indians fans recalling the home opener of 1992 as if they had survived a record February blizzard.

That game, on April 11 at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, lasted 19 innings and 61/2 hours -- with a similar result. The Indians had rallied with two runs in the seventh to tie Boston before blowing it 12 innings later, 7-5. The loss dropped the Tribe to 1-3.

But that's where the similarities to Thursday's frigid loss end. It was cloudy but 73 degrees. And the Indians slugged 20 hits, not seven, as second baseman Carlos Baerga went 6-for-9.

Numbers game: After finishing dead last in attendance in 2010 with 1.4 million, the Indians had projected about 200,000 less heading into last season. Instead, they pulled in 1.84 million, with the highest percentage increase (nearly 33 percent) in Major League Baseball.

Expected attendance plays a vital role in team spending.

Indians Chairman and CEO Paul Dolan wouldn't discuss the team's 2012 attendance projections, but the number is believed to be around 2 million. The most recent season the Tribe drew at least 2 million fans was in 2008 (2.17 million), on expectations of a team that fell one game short of the World Series the previous year.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: blubinger@plaind.com, 216-999-5531

Lonnie Chisenhall and first baseman Matt LaPorta homer as Columbus beats Louisville, 3-2. The Aeros and Mudcats also are victorious Friday night.

View full sizeAPMatt LaPorta

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 3, Bats 2 Kevin Slowey pitched two-hit ball over seven innings and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall and first baseman Matt LaPorta homered as the Clippers won the International League game in Columbus.

Slowey struck out six and walked one. Nick Hagadone pitched a scoreless inning and Jeremy Accardo earned his first save, giving up an unearned run.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 2, Mets 1 Shortstop Juan Diaz knocked in two runs and T.J. McFarland tossed five strong innings to lead Akron to an Eastern League victory in Binghamton, N.Y.

Preston Guilmet threw a perfect ninth inning for the save.

Advanced A Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats 11, Dash 2 Carolina scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to cap a rout of visiting Winston-Salem in a Carolina League game in Zebulon, N.C.

Outfielder Tyler Holt had three hits and three RBI for the Mudcats, and first baseman Jesus Aguilar went 4-for-5.

Clayton Cook got the victory, going five innings while striking out two and walking five.

A Lake County Captains

Tin Caps 9, Captains 3 Fort Wayne scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning en route to a victory over Lake County in a Midwest League game in Indiana.

Captains' starter Elvis Araujo got the loss, working four innings allowing just two runs on only three hits, walking one while striking out seven. Captains pitchers totaled 14 strikeouts.

Outfielder Jordan Smith had two hits and two RBI for Lake County.

The Monsters' Brad Malone scores at 10:45 of the third period to secure a 2-1 victory over Rockford on Friday night at The Q. All goals were scored in the third.

View full sizeGus Chan, The Plain DealerMonsters defenseman Duncan Siemens, right, works to clear the puck Friday night as IceHogs left winger Jeremy Morin looks on at The Q. Lake Erie beat Rockford for the third time this season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Monsters' four-game sprint to the finish couldn't have started any better.

Brad Malone scored at 10:45 of the third period to secure a 2-1 victory over Rockford on Friday night at The Q. All goals were scored in the third.

The Monsters (35-28-3-7) have won two straight and three of four. The IceHogs (34-30-2-6) hadn't lost in regulation in their previous six games.

Entering the night, the Monsters were tied for ninth in the Western Conference, one point out of the eighth and final playoff spot. The IceHogs were 12th, three points out. There was a mere seven-point spread from fifth place to 13th.

At the time the game ended, the Monsters were inside the top eight with three games remaining in their regular season. But some teams in close proximity on either side were still playing and/or had games in hand.

"Every game is a playoff game -- not just for us, but for about seven or eight teams in our conference," said Monsters coach David Quinn. "We're all going to be checking who's winning and who's losing, but really, you can only control the game you're playing. You have to do everything in your power to win that one, and the rest will take care of itself."

For the Monsters and IceHogs, the next game is against each other tonight at The Q. It will conclude a four-game season series that Lake Erie leads, 3-0.

After the Monsters closed a three-game Texas trip with a victory last Sunday, Quinn viewed the four-game homestand finale as an opportunity, not pressure.

He hammered the point home again Friday night, speaking with a smile as big as he's had all season.

"This is why you coach, this is why you play," he said. "If you don't enjoy doing this, you should be doing something else. It's a great time of year."

The Monsters improved to 18-12-2-3 at The Q because of quality performances from numerous players, beginning with goalie Cedrick Desjardins. He made 24 of his 34 saves in the first two periods to buy time while the offense found its groove.

The Monsters took a 1-0 lead at 1:56 of the third and have a penalty, in part, to thank. Winger Ryan Stoa came out of the box, grabbed the puck in the neutral zone and got a half-step on his man. He faked left and came back right before stuffing the puck through goalie Carter Hutton's pads. Credit Desjardins with the assist.

Rockford answered at 5:50 when Brian Fahey scored.

Five minutes later, Malone worked his magic. He went top shelf off a pinpoint feed from Dean Strong.

"It all started with speed through the neutral zone," Quinn said. "We made a couple of 5-foot passes, and good things happened."

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

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

Parker misses Friday night's game with a bruised sternum. He's already been ruled out for Sunday's game in New Jersey, as well.

Jeffrey Phelps, Associated Press Cavs shooting guard Anthony Parker scored a season-high 27 points against the Bucks on Wednesday, but he bruised his sternum during the game and sat out Friday's game in Toronto and will miss Sunday's game in New Jersey.

TORONTO — After scoring a season-high 27 points Wednesday night, Cavaliers shooting guard Anthony Parker couldn't sleep.

It was hardly because of the excitement of his best offensive output in five years.

The 36-year-old Parker missed Friday night's game with a bruised sternum. He's already been ruled out for Sunday's game in New Jersey, as well.

What makes the injury curious is he doesn't recall any single hit that could have created such pain. He remembers taking a charge and absorbing a few solid screens.

With all the focus on tanking at this time of season, Parker's injury probably sent some eyeballs rolling. Parker, who desperately wanted to play against his former team, can assure conspiracy theorists the pain is quite real.

"I couldn't sleep that night and I was exhausted," Parker said. "I couldn't get comfortable. I couldn't lay on my back, my side or stomach. My breathing was really shallow."

Parker visited the Cleveland Clinic Canada in Toronto on Thursday and physicians diagnosed the sternum injury. He felt much better Friday, Parker said, and hoped he could return to the lineup next week.

Harris gets a shot: Manny Harris said he needs to get back to playing "my Detroit style of basketball."

A definition, you ask?

"It means playing more gritty than pretty," he said.

Harris made his first start of the season and the 16th of his career against the Raptors in place of Parker. He believes he's played "nervous" at times and it's reflected in his shooting percentage (35) from the field and from behind the 3-point arc (11).

When Harris signed for the remainder of the season, he also agreed to a non-guaranteed deal for next season. (So did point guard Donald Sloan.) Probably not a bad decision on Harris' part given the lack of depth at shooting guard.

Perhaps a few starts might help him relax. Last season, he averaged 11.1 points in 15 starts. He entered the Toronto game averaging just 4.7 points in 11 games this season.

Dribbles: Anderson Varejao (broken wrist) is on the trip and could practice as early as Monday. He hasn't played since Feb. 10. . . . Tristan Thompson, from suburban Toronto, supplied 31 tickets for family and friends for Friday's game.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods struggles with his putting and is eight shots back of the leaders. Rory McIlroy is just one shot off the lead, and Phil Mickelson moves up the board.

View full sizeCurtis Compton, Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionCleveland native Jason Dufner, teeing off on the ninth hole, shot a 2-under-par 70 on Friday and shares the lead of the Masters after two rounds with Fred Couples.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — All signs pointed to this being a Masters for the ages.

This wasn't what anyone had in mind -- 52-year-old Fred Couples, silver hair and still cool as ever, drawing the loudest cheers Friday on his way to becoming the oldest player atop the leaderboard going into the weekend at Augusta National.

"Very shocking, and it was a great day," Couples said after a 5-under 67, which gave him a share of the lead with Cleveland native Jason Dufner. "There was a lot going on there, and for me to be a part of it, it's really amazing."

Dufner overcame a double bogey on the par-3 fourth hole with birdies on two other par 3s. It's the second straight major where he has been tied for the lead going into the weekend, and he can only hope the outcome is a little different from the PGA Championship last August. Dufner had a five-shot lead with four holes to play and wound up losing in a playoff to Keegan Bradley.

"Didn't quite work out, but carried over into this year," said Dufner, playing the Masters for only the second time. "It gave me confidence that I can compete and play at a high level out here and do really nice things."

Dufner, who was born in Cleveland and lived in the area until he was 11, held the lead alone briefly late in his round when he birdied three of four holes. Dufner birdied the par-5 13th hole, the par-4 14th and the par-3 16th when he sank a short putt.  

He closed with a bogey on the 18th. In all, Friday's round included six birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey.

The buzz going into the Masters was built around all the best players on top of their games, and that element was very much in place. Rory McIlroy charged up the leaderboard. Lee Westwood is right there. So is Sergio Garcia and even Phil Mickelson.

Missing from the mix -- another surprise -- was club-kicking Tiger Woods.

Just two weeks after Woods won Bay Hill by five shots and became an instant favorite for a fifth green jacket, he couldn't make a putt and then hit only two greens on the back nine. He kept dropping the club out of his hands in disgust, and it reached a boiling point on the par-3 16th when he turned and kicked his 9-iron some 15 yards.

Woods didn't make a birdie after the third hole and shot 75, his highest score at Augusta since 2004.

View full sizeAPFred Couples celebrates after shooting a 5-under 67 on Friday.

"I can do this," Woods said. "I've just got to be patient."

The eight-shot deficit was not nearly as daunting as the 39 players ahead of him -- especially McIlroy, who was only one shot back.

The 22-year-old U.S. Open champion started this tournament with a double bogey and has been trending upward ever since. McIlroy made two early birdies and was on his way. He drove the ball with authority, allowing him to take on the flags. With a tough par save on the 18th, he shot a 69.

"I wouldn't say I'm in a position to win yet, but we'll see what happens tomorrow," McIlroy said. "I feel like I've played solid golf the last two days -- could have been a couple shots better, like probably everyone in the field is thinking. But I'm in a nice position, and I definitely would have taken it after the start yesterday."

Couples won the Masters in 1992 -- McIlroy was not quite 3 back then -- for his only green jacket, though he seems to give himself a chance whenever he shows up at Augusta. His back has been ailing him for close to two decades. It was so chilly when he teed off Friday that he had every reason to believe he was at the British Open.

But he loves this course more than any other. He knows his way around. He knows how to score. No one -- not even Jack Nicklaus -- has a lower scoring average at the Masters of those who have played at least 100 rounds.

"Can I win?" Couples said, repeating the question. "I believe I can. Yes."

View full sizeThe State via MCTTiger Woods reacts to missing a 4-foot putt on the 14th green.

Couples and Dufner were at 5-under 139.

Cold, cloudy conditions gave way to pleasant sunshine about the time Couples revved up the gallery with three straight birdies to close out the front nine. He knocked down a pitching wedge from 105 yards to tap-in range, then rolled in a 35-foot putt up the hill on the ninth. The loudest cheer came on the par-3 16th, when his 18-foot birdie putt eased down a slope and disappeared.

"A great roar," Couples said.

As much as he believes he can win, reality sets in when Couples looks down the list of players behind him -- a lot of them.

Westwood got nothing out of another good day with his iron, and a three-putt from short range on the 18th gave him a double bogey and cost him the lead. He had to settle for a 73, yet had few complaints just one shot behind.

"It you get out of position slightly on this golf course, it can punish you," Westwood said. "And even if you don't get out of position, it can punish you. But I'm right in there for the weekend."

The Masters is the one major where Garcia has struggled, and it didn't look good for him when he developed an infection in the nail of his middle finger on the right hand. Maybe that was enough to take his mind off the course. He made six birdies in his round of 68.

"I don't know if I'm ready to win," Garcia said. "I'm just going to give it my best try. Hopefully, that will be good."

Also at 4-under 140 were Bubba Watson, who had a 71, and former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who rallied from a miserable start with three birdies late in his round to salvage a 72. The group two shots behind included another British Open champ, Paul Lawrie (72), Matt Kuchar (70) and Miguel Angel Jimenez, the 48-year-old from Spain who played with Woods the first two rounds.

"The two old guys could be there on Sunday, no?" he said.

Mickelson was on the verge of shooting himself out of the tournament until his short game magic allowed him to salvage a 74. He came back strong for a 68, and was just three shots out of the lead.

And yes, he knew exactly where he stood.

"Are you kidding me? After yesterday's round, I love it," Mickelson said. "To be only three back with 36 to go, there's a lot of time left and there's a lot of birdies out there and I get to slide off before the leaders. If I make a move, they get to see those numbers being posted ahead of them, and that's not always easy."

Woods, a four-time champion, didn't look like he enjoyed anything. It was startling to see him struggle, especially just two weeks after he appeared back to normal when he won at Bay Hill.

Woods didn't birdie any of the par 5s -- only the third time that has happened in 68 rounds at the Masters. He tried a wild hook around the trees on the par-5 13th and paid for a risky shot. The ball plugged in a steep bank, and he had no choice but to take his third penalty shot of the tournament. Then, from the middle of the 15th fairway, his 4-iron sailed into the gallery, leading to another burst of swearing and another par.

"I didn't quite have it today with my swing," he said.

Couples remains the favorite, though. He is one of the most popular figures at Augusta, if not all of golf. Even as he was making his move up the leaderboard, he looked as if nothing could bother him. He twists his back and stretches out his arms to stay nimble; no one else on the course looks so relaxed.

"He's just cool," McIlroy said. "I hope I'm that cool when I'm 52."

Doug Ferguson, Associated Press reporter