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Thistledown drops announcer Ayers Ratliff: Horse Racing Insider

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Veteran race caller who has been the announcer at Thistledown during the afternoons and Northfield Park in the evenings over the past four years, was notified Wednesday that he's being replaced at Thistledown.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There will be a new voice at Thistledown when the thoroughbred track kicks off its live racing on May 4.

Ayers Ratliff, 35, the veteran race caller who has been the announcer at Thistledown during the afternoons and at Northfield Park in the evenings over the past four years, was notified Wednesday that he's being replaced at Thistledown.

"A Thistledown official in human resources called to tell me that being the face of racing at both tracks was a conflict of interest," said Ratliff, who is also a councilman in Marion, Ohio. Ratliff is a harness racing announcer at a variety of county fairs throughout the summer.

Thistledown General Manager Lee Dillard was not available for comment.

Courageous Lady news: Northfield Park is in the spotlight in April, and not just because of its new partner, Hard Rock Gaming & Entertainment.

The half-mile harness racing track is hosting the first national stakes race of 2012 when the three-year-old fillies make the scene on April 28 for the $90,000 Courageous Lady. A total of 22 distaff pacers have been nominated, including some of the young stars from around the country.

There should be a lot of interest in Frontierpan, a filly owned by the Peter Pan Stables of Pepper Pike and trained by Pennsylvania's Ron Burke. Frontierpan tuned up in an April 6 qualifier at Burke's home track, the 5/8-mile oval at The Meadows in Washington, Pa. The daughter of No Pan Intended won by more than 13 lengths in 1:54.4. She won five of 14 starts last year, earning $136,938 and clocking a top mile of 1:53.3.

Another Ohio-owned nominee is Sectionline Yankee, a Yankee Cruiser filly trained by Michael Conklin at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, where the sophomore pacer notched her career best 1:54.4 mile on the half-mile oval. Still to make her 2012 debut, Sectionline Yankee earned $86,345 as a two-year-old for owners Harold Lee Bauder and Harold L. Bauder of Delaware, and Michael Dixon of Hilliard.

Trainer Tye Loy and owner Bill Sanders, who have some Courageous Lady history, have nominated Sand Latte'. Loy and Sanders won the Courageous Lady in 2009 with Sand E Fiftyfive and in 2010 with Sand Windsor. Sand Latte' didn't do much in her freshman campaign, but has won four races this year and $25,760, with a mile best of 1:53.3 at The Meadows.

Trackside seats: Youngstown horse owner Bruce Zoldan will have some special friends in his box seats at the Kentucky Derby on May 5, and they paid a healthy price to watch Zoldan's Went the Day Well as the stallion makes a Run for the Roses. At the recent Power Of Love Gala for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Zoldan was asked to donate some of his Kentucky Derby box seats for a special auction.

The benefit coincided with Muhammad Ali's 70th birthday party, and Ali's boxing gloves from the Floyd Patterson fight went for $1.1 million. Zoldan's Kentucky Derby seats brought a rousing $170,000. The winning bidder for both was Las Vegas casino owner Lorenzo Fertitta.

Zoldan is a member of the Team Valor syndicate that owns Went the Day Well, who won $500,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., on March 24 to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. It was a repeat for Zoldan, owner of Phantom Fireworks and the Youngstown Phantoms of the U.S. Hockey League. Zoldan is a member of the Team Valor syndicate that owns Animal Kingdom, a winner of last year's Spiral Stakes and the Kentucky Derby.

Watch Animal Kingdom win the 2011 Kentucky Derby



Giss is smokin' again: Local horse racing expert Keith Gisser is back in the horse picking business. The long-time face of Northfield Park, where he was the track handicapper and part-time publicist, holding court trackside most nights, Gisser is debuting a new race selections column with the U.S. Trotting Association. The "Smoking with the Giss" column is now appearing on the ustrotting.com Web site.

Kaneoka gets an 'A': Harness racing driver Rachel Kaneoka has graduated at Northfield Park. After posting 11 wins and almost $25,000 in earnings, the reinswoman was upgraded from a provisional license to an "A" license. Presiding Judge Bud Teeters said she is only the second woman he has upgraded to "A" status in the 12 years he's been a race judge.


NFL: Is the game becoming too soft? Poll

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Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard sees a changing game.

flagfootball4.jpgWill the NFL turn into flag football?

We know it's difficult to agree with anyone who plays for the Steelers, Ravens or the Bengals, but is there some proof in Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard's claims about the NFL becoming too softt?

Pollard, Mr. Tough Guy, says in this article on ESPN.com how NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's punishment handed out in the Saints' bounty scandal will turn into players playing flag football in about seven years.

"It’s getting out of hand. I don’t know what he’s trying to prove, I don’t know what the NFL office is trying to prove. Guys are getting hit all the time. We get hit. This is a freaking violent sport."

 

 







Picking Brandon Weeden at No. 22 is not too high - Browns Comment of the Day

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"I was hoping they could get Weeden at 37, but I believe it very well could fly this way if they like Weeden enough. They would be banking on improvement from Little and Massaqoi and Norwood, however, because odds diminish on finding a receiver out ot the first or early 2nd round. But as they say, it's a quarterback driven league, and if you like Weeden, you draft him." - Garfield52

weeden.JPGView full sizeOne cleveland.com reader believes drafting quarterback Brandon Weeden at No. 22 isn't too high.
In response to the story Sporting News Mock Draft has Browns taking Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden: Video, cleveland.com reader Garfield52 says getting quarterback Brandon Weeden at No. 22 isn't too high. This reader writes,

"I was hoping they could get Weeden at 37, but I believe it very well could fly this way if they like Weeden enough. They would be banking on improvement from Little and Massaqoi and Norwood, however, because odds diminish on finding a receiver out ot the first or early 2nd round. But as they say, it's a quarterback driven league, and if you like Weeden, you draft him."

To respond to Garfield52's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Let's see what Lester Hudson can do against top NBA teams - Cavs Comment of the Day

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"I like Lester Hudson, I really do. The kid has guts, plays with heart, and really is fearless out there on the floor. However, its important to note that he has put up big numbers against Toronto, New Jersey, and Charlotte, all perennial bottomfeeders who have matador defenses. Its a bit of a stretch to consider him starting material at this point, especially since he is a below average on the ball defender." - drewpickles

lester hudson.JPGView full sizeOne cleveland.com reader would like to see Lester Hudson compete against the top teams of the NBA.
In response to the story Lester Hudson scores 25 to lead Cleveland Cavaliers to 103-90 victory over Bobcats, cleveland.com reader drewpickles wants to see Lester Hudson play against some of the top teams in the NBA. This reader writes,

"I like Lester Hudson, I really do. The kid has guts, plays with heart, and really is fearless out there on the floor. However, its important to note that he has put up big numbers against Toronto, New Jersey, and Charlotte, all perennial bottomfeeders who have matador defenses. Its a bit of a stretch to consider him starting material at this point, especially since he is a below average on the ball defender.

Regardless, I look forward to seeing him show his stuff against better teams, and I really hope he is on the roster next year if he can keep this up. He will improve if he can have a home in the NBA and I can see him as an explosive scorer off the bench if he keeps on getting better."

To respond to drewpickles's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cavaliers vs. Pacers: Game preview and Twitter updates

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The Cavaliers look to make it two straight wins tonight as the Indiana Pacers come to town. Get Twitter updates from Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer @PDCavsInsider. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Cavaliers look to make it two straight wins tonight as the Indiana Pacers come to town. Get Twitter updates from Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer @PDCavsInsider in the box below. Check out the in-game box score here. Read on for a game preview. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.




dahntay jones.JPGView full sizeDahntay Jones and the Indiana Pacers come to Cleveland tonight to face the Cavaliers, who beat the Charlotte Bobcats last night.
(AP) -- Though the Indiana Pacers are firmly entrenched in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, they will not look ahead to the postseason.

The Pacers hope to continue their April success by trying for a third consecutive road victory Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Indiana (35-22) concluded March by losing two of three, but won four in a row to begin April and five of the last six. Winners in 10 of 14 overall, the Pacers are third in the Eastern Conference and focused solely on the matter at hand.

"We cannot take none of the games for granted," Indianapolis native George Hill said. "Third place through eighth place is so close, so every game has meaning."

Indiana maintained that approach Monday when it shot 50.7 percent in a 103-98 win over Toronto. Hill and Danny Granger each scored 18 points as the Pacers bounced back from an 86-72 home defeat to Boston two nights earlier.

Averaging 23.3 points on 52.3 percent shooting in the last eight games, Granger continues to pace the Pacers. However, the play of Hill in place of injured guard Darren Collison (groin) was likely more beneficial as Indiana looks to find other contributors aside from Granger and All-Star center Roy Hibbert.

"It's fun, you get to go out there and show what you can do as a starter," said Hill, who is averaging 8.9 points but coming off his first start of the season. "Have fun out there with the first unit, which I never have got a chance to play with."

Ankle injuries kept both Hill and Granger out when the Pacers' six-game winning streak versus Cleveland was snapped with a 98-87 road loss Feb. 15. The pair did combine for 37 points during Indiana's 98-91 overtime home win against the Cavaliers on Dec. 30.

Granger has averaged 28.2 points in his last six games versus Cleveland.

While the Pacers are hoping to maintain their position in the conference standings the Cavaliers (19-36) are set to miss the playoffs for the second straight season but have shown improvement from the 19-63 performance of 2010-11.

Reserve Lester Hudson had 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Cleveland matched its win total from last season with a 103-90 home win over Charlotte on Tuesday.

The Cavaliers have won two of three since a season-high nine-game losing streak that all but ended their hopes of reaching the playoffs. Prior to Tuesday's win, Cleveland had dropped its last two at Quicken Loans Arena by a combined 72 points - the first team in NBA history to lose back-to-back games at home by more than 36 points.

One bright spot of late has been Hudson.

The third-year guard is with his fourth team playing on a second 10-day contract and averaging 24.7 points in the last three games while star rookie Kyrie Irving remains out because of a shoulder injury.

"It's like I'm dreaming," said Hudson, who played in China during the lockout and for the Austin Toros of the NBA Developmental League before getting his shot with the Cavaliers. "I want to kept it going and never let up on working hard every day."

Cleveland last won consecutive games during a three-game run March 7-11.

A master of his emotions, Cleveland Indians' Justin Masterson wins even in defeat: Bill Livingston

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The easy conclusion would be that the Indians did not have the same Justin Masterson Wednesday as on Opening Day. But in many ways, they had just that.

masterson-pitch-wsox-2012-cc.jpgView full size"I do not like losing," says Justin Masterson after Wednesday loss to the White Sox. "But there are aspects of life, just as there are aspects of baseball, that you can't control. I'm not going to kill myself or beat myself up."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Judging by the results, the Indians didn't have the same Justin Masterson on the mound in the final game of the season-opening home stand that they did in the first.

But Tribe manager Manny Acta said they did so. "He threw groundballs again, they just found holes," said Acta.

"Maybe I should have thrown more fly balls, because they became outs," said Masterson wryly.

He pitched eight innings, surrendering only two hits and one run against Toronto as the staff's No. 1 pitcher in the opener, only to see closer Chris Perez give up the three-run lead and the Indians lose in 16 innings. Wednesday was the rough outing that came after the smooth debut. Masterson gave up eight hits in five innings for five runs, only three of them earned, as the Indians lost for the fourth time in five games, 10-6, to the Chicago White Sox.

On a cold, mostly gray afternoon with only 9,072 fans in Progressive Field, the Masterson who faced the media after such an ineffective, almost obscure outing, was no different than the pitcher who was cheated by the bullpen before a record Opening Day crowd last week. He made no mention of third baseman Jack Hannahan's throwing error in Chicago's four-run first inning, although Acta turned it into the nail that lost the shoe that lost the horse that lost the messenger that lost the battle.

"There's always more I could do, The sinker could start a little more inside [to tie up batters] or move a little more. I'm certainly not perfect," said Masterson. "It's not like [Hannahan] did it on purpose. It's not going to help anything if I said something."

Every sinkerballer has a game when the grounders simply dodge the infielders' gloves, the way the baseball dodged the bat after being doctored with the secret ingredient in the baseball movie "It Happens Every Spring."

Masterson is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a devout believer. While religious faith has become a part of this country's political discourse, it is usually manifested in sports only by players making the sign of the cross before shooting free throws, pointing to the sky after homering or after scoring touchdowns. Then came Tim Tebow, a helmeted soldier in the 21st Century culture wars. The open praise and withering scorn the NFL quarterback evoked with his "Tebowing" gesture, as he knelt in prayer after victories and big plays, became part of a national debate.

"It's great to see a man like Tebow who's actually living what he believes," Masterson said. "There will always be the commenters and cowards on Twitter and in the media. You can't pay attention to that."

Without making a public display of his faith, Masterson still possesses an equanimity that cannot entirely be conveyed by simply shrugging and saying, "That's baseball." He won only 12 games last season, losing 10, despite an excellent 3.21 ERA. Again, he offered no complaints about the poor run support when he pitched. Instead, he often speaks of a biblical verse in Phillippians: "I am content with what God has given me. I try to use my abilities, my talents, and my resources for His glory and honor."

Such comments often lead to the belief that athletes like Masterson are soft, that they are more willing to accept defeat than others by ascribing it to "God's will."

"I do not like losing," Masterson said. "I play a lot of games, and I usually win. And as for soft, I don't mind hitting people [in retaliation for a struck Indian]. But there are aspects of life, just as there are aspects of baseball, that you can't control. I'm not going to kill myself or beat myself up. I'm not going to cheat to win.

"I could throw something after losing or make a fool of myself by cursing on television, but I try to look at what happened, learn from it, move on and do better the next time. That's what you're supposed to do."

Players find assistance for the burdens they carry in sports in various ways -- some from the love of their family, some from the bond they have with their teammates and some from their belief in God. Once they have developed the set of responsibilities and commitments that come with leadership, even a world in which winning is said to be the only thing, defeat does not diminish them.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Hire loose coaching cannons, and you're likely to get blasted: Bud Shaw's Sports Spin

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Ozzie Guillen arrived in Miami the same way football coach Bobby Petrino arrived at the University of Arkansas -- with baggage, Bud Shaw writes in his Spin column.

guillen-presser-castro-mct-vert.jpgView full sizeOzzie Guillen is really, really sorry. Check. He didn't mean what he said. Check. He'll never do anything so thoughtless again. ... Um, well, maybe not.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Who didn't see major issues ahead with Ozzie Guillen and Bobby Petrino, except, apparently, the people who hired them...

It's a shame Guillen and Petrino aren't involved in the same sport, or their employers could swap them out in a sequel to "Trading Places" and feign surprise all over when things take another unsightly turn.

Guillen is suspended for five games by the Miami Marlins after professing his admiration for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in a Time Magazine story. Arkansas fired Petrino as football coach after he lied to the university about a motorcycle accident and was forced to admit an inappropriate relationship (and university hire) involving a 25-year-old female employee in the athletic department.

Arkansas looked past character issues to hire Petrino. The Marlins ignored any number of warning signs in hiring Guillen to represent them in the community, across Major League Baseball and internationally.

"We believe in him," Marlins' president David Samson told reporters Tuesday. "We believe in his apology. Politics are a conversation I don't think you're going to be hearing more about from Ozzie."

Except before politics, Guillen made homosexuality a conversation topic in Chicago when he used a gay slur against a Chicago columnist. He had to explain himself to women after another incident. Guillen did enough to embarrass the White Sox over the years. Winning a World Series made it all go down more easily.

Just a week before the unfathomable Guillen quotes in Time, he presented a public image that most any organization would've found worrisome, especially one that had done its homework before hiring him. Guillen was in Cincinnati with the Marlins when he was asked what he does to pass the time on the road.

"I go to the hotel bar, get drunk, sleep," Guillen said. "I don't do anything else.

"I get drunk because I'm happy we win or I get drunk because I'm very sad and disturbed because we lose. Same routine, it never changes. It's been the same routine for 25, 28 years. It doesn't change. I don't like to go out."

Was that Ozzie being funny? Or Ozzie at his honest and clueless best? Had he sat in front of cameras Tuesday in Miami and blamed his Castro take on full-blown inebriation, some hotel bartenders might've stepped forward to lend credibility to his explanation. Instead, he said he was really sorry (which is believable) and he said his words were misinterpreted because he was "thinking in Spanish and said the wrong thing in English" (which, um, is less believable).

Guillen now says he was trying to make the point that he couldn't believe Castro, who has hurt so many people, "is still in power" and that he doesn't share Castro's ideology. How anyone could be a 12-year resident of Miami and not carefully choose his words about Castro is hard to imagine. Guillen's reputation hurts him as much as his words about Castro do.

He's always been Ozzie Unplugged, Ozzie Raw. He always means what he says, right? It's your problem if you can't live with it. Now he comes hat in hand, sorry ... misinterpreted ... really, really sorry, OK? ... and did he mention something got lost in translation?

It's a hard sell in two languages.

Shocked, shocked Part II: Bobby Petrino

petrino-scars-accident-horiz-ap.jpgView full sizeScrapes, scratches and insincerity have been way too evident around Bobby Petrino for years.

When Arkansas hired Petrino in 2007, it didn't take a FBI-style background check to track down his detractors. "Google" is all. Petrino left the Atlanta Falcons with three games remaining that season. With a four-sentence goodbye note taped to player's lockers.

In fewer than 100 words, he undid the vow he made to Falcons' ownership 24 hours earlier that he wasn't leaving town. Seemed believable at the time. Who would leave during the season?

Answer: The same guy who secretly convened with Auburn officials during his first year at Louisville, then lied about it; the same guy who left Louisville for Atlanta less than a year after signing a 10-year contract.

Former Falcons defensive back Lawyer Milloy called what happened at Arkansas "karma" in a recent interview with the New York Times, adding, "Just because he knows Xs and Os, that doesn't mean he's a nice person."

When Petrino crashed his motorcycle on April 1, he chose not to tell school officials that his bike carried a passenger. Or that he was having an affair with her. School officials knew her -- as the person Petrino had just hired to a $55,000 a year job in the athletic department after a quicker-than-normal interview process. Imagine.

When he finally confessed the details of the accident and the inappropriate relationship, he did so to head off the release of the police report.

Arkansas AD Jeff Long fired Petrino for a "pattern of misleading manipulative behavior."

Who knew?

SPINOFFS

A 86-year-old German woman did a parallel bars and floor routine at the Cottbus World Cup gymnastics competition in her native land in late March. Her amazing performances included several handstands and cartwheels.

Gymnast Johanna Quaas in action at the Cottbus meet



Take that, 85-year-old Jamie Moyer...

An Arkansas fan showed up at the rally in support of Petrino. The fan carried a sign that read, "What's wrong with scoring in the off-season?"

Sometimes you're better off with no show of support at all...

Did Guillen say he loved Castro? Check that. He meant Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. No, make that Julio Cesar Chavez...

The Dallas Mavericks cut ties with Lamar Odom. Owner Mark Cuban confronted Odom at halftime of a game after another listless performance. Said Cuban, "The first 17 times I tried to help him and turn it into a positive."

You know what they say. The 18th time is the charm...

The four players advancing to the semifinals of the Madden 13 Cover Vote: Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Willis, Cam Newton, Calvin Johnson. Sorry, no Ben Roethlisberger as the hopeful beneficiary to the spoils Peyton Hillis enjoyed in 2011...

HE SAID IT

"In Christianity, it's the Pope and Tebow right now." -- Celebration Church Pastor Joe Champion, before Tim Tebow spoke to an Easter Sunday gathering.

Most NFL depth charts would have them in the same order at quarterback.

HE TWEETED IT

"Tannehill is a hidden gem in this draft, a quiet secret who was always sneaking up to #3." -- Colts' owner Jim Irsay, whose player evaluation had nothing to do with the Colts' long playoff run that ended last year.

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Midweek Edition)

"Bud:

"Do you respect Karl Marx?" -- Edward J. Aube, Broadview Heights

Please don't misinterpret this. I am thinking in English and speaking in Pig Latin when I say onay ayway.

"Dear Bud:

"The Bullpen Mafia is sleeping with the fishes." -- Luca Brasi, Cincinnati

I saw that joke coming a mile away, but every time I tried to leave it out, it got pulled back in.

"Hey Bud:

"I've hit a 'You Said It' dry spell. What's Braylon up to?" -- Pat

If I had to guess, I'd say planning to go barefoot at the Running of the Bulls.

"Bud:

"When a co-worker at the PD really irritates you, have you ever contemplated playing a little 'chin music' with that big ol' paperweight on your desk?" -- Dale, Medina

I've only been here 20 years, so when I get my own desk I'll let you know.

"Bud:

"As of the third round of the Masters, three of the top four leaders (Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen and Bubba Watson) were wearing the 'full Cleveland' (white belt and shoes). Is this the closest Cleveland will come to contention in 2012?" -- Sheila Epp, Cleveland Heights

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

"Hey Bud:

"I saw the new Browns jerseys when Nike unveiled the new uniforms (last week). I don't know if the jerseys will improve our winning percentage, but I do know that the mannequin could definitely start at wide receiver." -- Jeremy, Shaker Heights

Repeat winners are asked to have patience while "You Said It" management stays the course.

"Bud:

"If the Indians could have managed to keep CC Sabathia, do you think he would have batted fifth or sixth?" -- Jim Lefkowitz, Pepper Pike

Repeat winners also have to buy their own souvenirs.

"Bud:

"According to 'Title IX', is Baylor University required to sponsor a riot in Waco, Texas?" -- Joe S

Some have to settle for street cred.

On Twitter: @budshaw

Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao remain out until at least Sunday: Cavaliers Insider

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Varejao hasn't played since Feb. 10 and was supposed to miss just four to six weeks. But Byron Scott said the center has not suffered any setbacks.

erden-cavs-hurt-pacers-horiz-to.jpgView full sizeSemih Erden left the court in the second quarter Wednesday with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative, but he did not return to the bench.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyrie Irving participated in the pre-game shoot-around Wednesday night at The Q, taking shots and perhaps raising some hopes of fans seatedat courtside.

That's as close, however, as the presumptive NBA rookie of the year will likely get to the action for at least a few more days. Coach Byron Scott said Irving (sprained right shoulder) and Anderson Varejao (fractured right wrist) probably are out through Friday and Saturday's games. The coach said their status would be reassessed on Sunday as the Cavaliers host Orlando.

In a best-case scenario, both players would get a good practice in before returning to the lineup. But because of the frenetic schedule, the Cavs do not practice again until April 21 -- five days before the season ends.

Varejao hasn't played since Feb. 10 and was supposed to miss just four to six weeks. Scott said the center has suffered no setbacks.

"The only thing is it's just a very slow process," Scott said.

Irving sprained his shoulder on March 30, missed one game only to re-injure it on April 3. With the Cavs out of playoff contention, the team has no reason to rush back either player.

Erden injured: The Cavaliers lost another player to injury Wednesday night. Reserve center Semih Erden sprained his right ankle in the second quarteragainst Indiana. X-rays taken at The Q were negative.

Erden was attempting to finish a fast break when he turned the ankle before being touched by Pacers' A.J. Price. He was helped from the court by Varejao and Antawn Jamison and went directly to the locker room. He did not return.

Bench improving: Lester Hudson might be the club's best feel-good story and second-best scoring option, but he continues to come off the bench. Scott likes it that way.

For the first time in weeks, the Cavs are getting production and efficient play from their reserves. A club strength when it was contending for a playoff spot, the bench fell apart due to injury, trade and the promotion of Alonzo Gee to the starting lineup on March 3.

It got so bad two weeks ago, Scott was trying to find ways to have either Jamison or Irving on the court, otherwise the offense dried up.

Enter Hudson from the Development League. The combo guard is averaging 14.4 points and 4.1 assists in seven games. He has energized a second unit that is scoring at a 30.1-point clip since he was signed on March 30. They had a strong fourth quarter Tuesday against Charlotte.

While the point total isn't drastically improved since Gee was made a starter -- the bench had been averaging 33.8 points -- it has been more effective. The reserves had been struggling in the absence of Gee and Ramon Sessions, traded to the Lakers on March 15.

"[Hudson] has definitely helped the second unit," Scott said. "They are playing much more together now and he's obviously been a big part of that. ... I think that's pretty obvious right now."

Dribbles: Cavaliers play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod has added the title of executive producer of multimedia. ... Donald Sloan confirmed he plans to play for the Cavs' summer league team in July. ... The Pacers were without starting guard Darren Collison (groin) on Wednesday night.


Cleveland Cavaliers get more heroics from Lester Hudson, but fall in OT to Indiana

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Cavaliers are a league-worst 0-5 in overtime this season.

Gallery preview

CLEVELAND, Ohio --

Through injury and attrition, the Cavaliers are becoming the NBA's version of the Island of Misfit Toys.

With a few notable exceptions, coach Byron Scott's current lineup is a collection of castoffs and unwanted players, guards and forwards whom other teams have found defective.

But these trains with square wheels and elephants with spots are capturing the imagination of Cavs fans in recent games with how hard and competitively they play. And nobody is doing it quite like Lester Hudson.

For the second time in three games, the combo guard fresh from the NBA Development League hit a last-second shot to force overtime. But once again the depleted Cavaliers couldn't close the deal, falling to the Indiana Pacers, 104-98, before 14,307 fans Wednesday night at The Q.

The loss officially eliminated the Cavaliers (19-37) from the playoffs. That outcome has been a foregone conclusion for weeks as they lost key players such as Anderson Varejao (fractured wrist) and Kyrie Irving (sprained shoulder) to injury and moved Ramon Sessions in a trade.

How bad have things gotten? Team mascot Moondog suffered an eye injury before the game when he was play-fighting with Pacers forward David West. Moondog was taken to the hospital and later released, a team spokesman said. Such is life these days for the Cavs, who are tied with the New Jersey Nets for having the most former D-Leaguers (seven) in their lineup.

But just as they were on the verge of becoming unwatchable, Hudson arrived March 30 to give them a spark.

Against the Pacers, he delivered 19 points on 8-of-20 shooting, including 1-of-9 from behind the 3-point arc. He sent the game to OT by hitting a floater in the lane with 1.2 seconds left over the outstretched arm of West to tie it at 94-94.

"I was just waiting on what the defense gave me," said Hudson, of the play which came after a timeout. "I played off what they gave me and the lane opened up. My teammates and coaches were telling me to stay aggressive and it'll come to you."

The Cavs are 2-6 in the games in which he has played, but theyare exhibiting more fight. They took one of the Eastern Conference's top teams to overtime Wednesday night before faltering.

In some ways, it's an acceptable tradeoff for Cavs fans. The team keeps gaining draft lottery pingpong balls for the defeats without embarrassing itself as had been the case in recent home losses to Milwaukee and San Antonio.

"Obviously, you don't want to lose a game to anybody, especially at home," Scott said. "[But] I have to give my guys a lot of credit. [I] issued a challenge to them about five games ago about continuing to come out here, compete and play hard and they've done that every game since then."

Antawn Jamison led the Cavs with 21 points and eight rebounds. But for the second straight night, it was the reserves who rallied them in the fourth quarter just as they did against Charlotte.. The unit of Hudson, Samardo Samuels, Manny Harris, Omri Casspi and Luke Walton went on a 18-1 run to give the Cavs a 86-79 lead with 6:02 left. Samuels registered 13 points and five rebounds. 

But the Cavaliers could not hold the lead, losing their shooting touch over the final five minutes of regulation, and fell behind by four points with 30 seconds left. Hudson's heroics got them to overtime.

In eight games, he is averaging 15 points and 3.9 assists.

"You can’t take away the guy’s courage," Scott said. "He’s not afraid to take big shots and be in that moment. Tonight was another example of it.”

In overtime however, the Cavaliers missed seven of their first eight shots. They are a league-worst 0-of-5 in OT.

Danny Granger led the Pacers with 23 points.


Cleveland Browns on the clock: Cleveland.com Fans NFL Mock Draft 2012

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With the fourth pick in the first round, the Cleveland Browns select....Who do you say? This is the fourth pick -- by voting in a poll -- made by you in Cleveland.com's fans' mock draft.

justin-blackmon2.jpgOklahoma State's Justin Blackmon is regarded by most talent evaluators as the premier wide receiver in the draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns and NFL fans, it's time for you to say who all of the teams should pick in the first round of the draft on April 26.


We started on Tuesday, and through April 22, via polls, we're asking you every day to make first-round picks for each of two teams. The polls go up on cleveland.com at approximate 12-hour intervals, around 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day. We list 10 prospects for you to pick from in each poll.


On April 23-24, you'll be asked to make the picks for each of three teams (at approximate eight-hour intervals) both days, completing the 32-pick first round.


You have already made the first three picks: the Indianapolis Colts selecting Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck; the Washington Redskins picking Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III; the Minnesota Vikings picking Southern Cal offensive tackle Matt Kalil.


The fourth pick in the first round of the draft belongs to, of course, the Cleveland Browns. The Browns finished the 2011 season with a 4-12 record. It is the first of their 13 picks, including another first-rounder at No. 22 overall.


The Browns' primary needs are at running back, wide receiver, outside linebacker and on the offensive line. And, maybe a defensive end and cornerback, and, some say, a quarterback.


Continue to check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for Browns and NFL coverage.




Cleveland Browns' draft interview process winding down: Now it's pick him, pick him not

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With just two weeks until the draft, the Browns are doing a great job of keeping the experts guessing, but their guests in Berea are largely known.

ryan tannehill.JPGView full sizeRyan Tannehill will be among the last draft candidates to interview with the Browns when he arrives this weekend.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns have spent the past two weeks hosting their who's who of NFL draft prospects, and they'll finish strong with a visit Sunday and Monday from Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Are they saving their best for last? Or is Tannehill just one of a handful of top candidates for their No. 4 pick? With just two weeks until the draft, the Browns are doing a great job of keeping the experts guessing, but signs indicate they're still seriously weighing four options at No. 4 -- if they don't trade down a few spots. They're Tannehill, Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon, Alabama running back Trent Richardson and LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

The Browns also brought in USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, just in case the Vikings pass on him at No. 3.

Of the 30 players the Browns are permitted to bring in for visits, 24 have been identified, and they've conducted private workouts with a few others. They've also sneaked a few players into town without their names leaking out, and they'll draft some players who weren't on the list. Last year, for instance, they kept Pittsburgh's Jabaal Sheard under wraps until draft day.

A look at the identified players the Browns have hosted and worked out:

Quarterback

Michigan State's Kirk Cousins

Comment: Compares to 49ers Alex Smith. Skills suited to the West Coast offense. Would be a developmental player behind Colt McCoy. A possible candidate at No. 37.

Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill

Comment: One of four players the Browns are considering with No. 4 pick. Some experts say he's a franchise quarterback. But has started only 19 college games at QB.

Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden

Comment: Is a possible candidate for the Browns at No. 22. ESPN analyst and Mike Holmgren pal Jon Gruden loves him. Because he'll soon be 29, would have to start right away.

Jon Gruden's ESPN QB camp with Brandon Weeden



Wide receiver

Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon

Comment: Candidate for No. 4 pick. Would provide a No. 1 receiver and red zone threat team sorely needs. Lacks blazing speed and great height, but is a difference-maker.

Notre Dame's Michael Floyd

Comment: Some experts rank Floyd right up there with Blackmon. Pro Football Weekly's Nolan Nawrocki says he'd be a better fit for Cleveland than Blackmon. The Browns would most likely consider him if they trade back a few spots from No. 4.

ESPN's SportScience feature on Michael Floyd



Baylor's Kendall Wright

Comment: Lacks ideal height, but is a dynamic playmaker and was extremely productive. Would complement Greg Little and provide a deep threat.

Running back

Boise State's Doug Martin

Comment: Can catch the ball out of the backfield, which is imperative in the West Coast offense. Can be an immediate starter and three-down back. Most likely a candidate at No. 37 or in the third round.

Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead (workout only)

Comment: Can return punts. The Browns would look to him in the third or fourth round. Had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Pro Football Weekly scouting report on Isaiah Pead



Alabama's Trent Richardson

Comment: Is being compared to Adrian Peterson. Plenty of experts, including Gruden, say he's a better pick than Blackmon. Triple threat as a runner, receiver, returner. Gaining steam nationally as the Browns' pick at No. 4.

Virginia Tech's David Wilson

Comment: Is most likely on the radar at No. 37. Can run, catch and return. Very elusive. Has the potential to be the starter right away. Good speed, burst and vision.

Tight end

Louisiana-Lafayette tight end Ladarius Green (workout only)

Comment: A possible fifth- or sixth-round option. Caught 15 TD passes over two seasons. A developmental player.

Offensive tackles

Georgia's Cordy Glenn (workout only)

Comment: Could start right away for the Browns at right tackle. There's a good chance he'll be gone by No. 22. Has tremendous size and versatility.

USC's Matt Kalil

Comment: He'll most likely be taken third by the Vikings, but the Browns brought him in just in case. The consensus top left tackle in the draft, he would go to the right side with Browns. Could draw trade interest at No. 4.

Stanford's Jonathan Martin

Comment: Would be considered by the Browns at No. 22, although some experts, such as Pro Football Weekly's Nawrocki, think Martin needs a year to develop.

Fox Sports draft highlights of Jonathan Martin



California's Mitchell Schwartz

Comment: Probably a second- or- third-round candidate. Can most likely be plugged in right away at right tackle. Started at left tackle in college.

Oklahoma's Donald Stephenson

Comment: Mid-draft possibility. Extremely athletic. Started all 13 games at left tackle in 2011.

Defensive line

LSU's Michael Brockers

Comment: A first-round prospect, Brockers will be considered at No. 22 or if Browns trade back up in the round. Can play inside or outside. Good upside as a pass rusher.

Syracuse's Chandler Jones

Comment: Missed five games with a knee injury in '11, but showed great promise in his seven starts at right end. 4.5 sacks, one pick, two forced fumbles. It'd probably take the No. 22 to get him.

Illinois' Whitney Mercilus

Comment: The Browns have shown strong interest in Mercilus, who grew up in Akron. Led the nation with 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles. Would the Browns have to trade up from No. 22?

Fox Sports highlights package on Whitney Mercilus



USC's Nick Perry

Comment: A pass-rush specialist, Perry broke out with 9.5 sacks in '11. Would be a great compliment to Jabaal Sheard. On the radar at No. 22.

Linebacker

Nebraska's Lavonte David

Comment: Projects as a weakside linebacker, where Scott Fujita is the current starter. Extremely active and productive, with 285 tackles and 11.5 sacks in the past two season. Might be targeted at No. 37.

West Virginia's Bruce Irvin

Comment: Also an edge-rush specialist, Irvin had 21.5 sacks the past two seasons. Had a recent brush with the law, but overcame a tough background and character concerns aren't expected to be an issue. A second- or third-round candidate.

Fox Sports highlights package on Bruce Irvin



Utah State's Bobby Wagner

Comment: A mid-draft pick, he missed the combine with pneumonia, but plenty of teams are on his trail. Has the kind of toughness Tom Heckert loves and is an aggressive tackler. Can play inside or out.

Cornerback

LSU's Morris Claiborne

Comment: Don't be surprised if the Browns take him at No. 4. Despite a learning disability, he's interviewed well. The Browns love him.

SB Nation draft preview of Morris Claiborne



South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore

Comment: Will be in the Browns' sights at No. 22. Had seven picks over the past two seasons.

Virginia Tech Jayron Hosley

Comment: Probably a fourth- or fifth-round possibility. Wouldn't likely start right away, but a good development corner and punt returner.

Punter

San Diego State's Brian Stahovich (workout only)

Comment: Either a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent. Some competition for Reggie Hodges.

Ohio State has its best practice of the spring in the eyes of coach Urban Meyer, and other football notes and video

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Meyer called the practice "A1A" with the highlight a 75-yard touchdown pass from Braxton Miller to Carlos Hyde. Watch video

Updates from Wednesday's Ohio State football practice, the ninth of 15 this spring

* Urban Meyer was upbeat after what he called the best practice of his tenure at Ohio State.

"That was AIA. That's our best practice of the spring, one of the best practices I've seen," Meyer said. "The intensity level was an A. Competitiveness was an A. Coaching was an A by our assistant coaches. Execution is obviously not an A, but it doesn't have to be right now.

"If you want to see a ball practice, that was a ball practice."

* Meyer was most excited by the offense, which beat the defense in a practice scrimmage for the first time. This scrimmage focused on third-down execution, with third-and-five situations repeated. Meyer said the offense had a 70 or 80 percent success rate before the defense battled back.

"Snaps are hitting the quarterback right between the numbers. It's not a clown show out there like at a couple points. Guys are competing. That's why I'm going to leave here tonight impressed with the Ohio State Buckeyes," Meyer said.

"It's huge. It's not about execution. I'm not worried about that right now. But I want to see guys go and I want to see an offense resemble an offense and the defense come back with its back against the wall," Meyer said. "It is a big moment for me and for our staff."

* The highlight of practice was a 75-yard touchdown pass from Braxton Miller to running back Carlos Hyde. Miller scrambled to the right, and with the Buckeyes teaching their passcatchers to break off their deep routes short and run their short routes long in scramble situations, Hyde took off, caught the ball behind the defense, and took off.

I asked Meyer about Miller's ability to throw on the move after keeping plays alive, and Meyer said, "Having a quarterback that makes something out of nothing is every coach's dream and we've got one, and we might have two.

That was praise for backup Kenny Guiton as well as Miller.

He also said Hyde had an excellent practice.

"He's drinking the Kool-Aid right now," Meyer said.

* Miller's reward for the touchdown pass? He got tackled pretty hard by defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins on the next play. The quarterbacks wear black jerseys that are supposed to limit their ability to get hit, but that didn't seem to apply on every snap Wednesday.

* Defensive lineman John Simon continues to show a new level of quickness firing off the ball. Watch the video and you'll see just one example of how he routinely beats the first-team tackles in head-to-head drills. Jack Mewhort and Reid Fragel will get better each time they face Simon.

Simon is still working at Leo a lot, the pass-rushing end spot which also drops into coverage at times. But that is not his best position and every time he's dropping into coverage instead of attacking the line of scrimmage, that's a big loss for the defense. The Buckeyes need a Leo to emerge - it could be incoming freshman Noah Spence in August - but Simon looks ready right now wherever he plays.

* Sophomore defensive lineman Michael Bennett, also in the video, continues to improve as well. He moved onto the first team early in camp and there seems to be no way that he won't be a starter in the fall.

* OSU redshirt freshman lineman Chris Carter from John F. Kennedy High has moved from offense to defense. Meyer said the plan was to try Carter at both this spring and he made the switch at the halfway point. Wednesday's practice was number nine of 15.

He worked in with the second team defensive line at times, joining Steve Miller, Adam Bellamy, Joel Hale and Chase Farris. The first team defensive line is Simon, Hankins, Bennett and Garrett Goebel.

* Farris made a big interception in the scrimmage at the end of practice and was praised by Meyer for making a play, but Meyer had to be reminded of his last name.

* True freshman center Jacoby Boren is out for the rest of spring after having surgery on a torn labrum he suffered at the end of his senior football season. His older brother, senior fullback Zach, said the original plan was for his brother to wait until after the end of the season in November, but he moved into the No. 2 center role this spring and the coaches wanted him at full strength for September, so the surgery was done now.

Meyer confirmed the surgery and his affinity for the youngest Boren, once again calling him a "tough nut." Boren sliding past Brian Bobek as the No. 2 center, when it seemed like Bobek had a shot to be the starting center before the spring, has to be one of the surprises of practice. Corey Linsley is the starting center.

* Meyer mentioned running back Jordan Hall and tight end Jake Stoneburner as the top playmakers on offense, but the receivers showed some signs Wednesday. Corey "Philly" Brown had a nice catch twisting his body over the middle, and Tyrone Williams used his 6-6 frame on a touchdown catch in the corner of the endzone off a Miller lob. Williams has shown progress all spring after showing little as a redshirt freshman last year.


Cleveland Cavaliers mascot Moondog treated and released from hospital after a play fight gone bad with Indiana's David West

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Cavaliers mascot expected to make a complete recovery; status for Sunday's game unknown

moondog.jpgView full sizeCavaliers team mascot Moondog suffered an eye injury on Wednesday night at The Q.
CLEVELAND – The Cavaliers’ growing injury list will now include its team mascot.

Moondog needed to be taken to a local hospital after suffering an eye injury during a pre-game play fight with Indiana Pacers forward David West at The Q on Wednesday night. The Cavalier canine was later released and a team spokesman said he should be fine.

The club did not update his status for Sunday’s game against Orlando.     

“He jumped at me so I thought we were playing around and then the next thing I know he went down,” West told reporters after the game. “It was definitely an accident.”

Moondog was spotted running through the hall, his dog head removed, clutching a towel to his eye. The mascot occasionally has fun sparring with opposing players before the game or during a timeout. Moondog and West exchanged some playful punches and apparently one caught him hard enough to do damage.

It might be the most memorable Cleveland mascot mishap since the Indians' Slider suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament when he fell off the outfield wall at Progressive Field during the 1995 American League Championship Series against Seattle.   

As for Moondog, his recovery time should be much quicker. Not that it made West feel any better. While some Pacers teammates chuckled about the incident, West was quite apologetic.
  
“I feel terrible about that, I really do,” West said. “We were just having fun right before the game. We were just messing around. I really hope he's OK. Make sure he knows I'm sorry.”

Beachwood beats Wickliffe in pitcher's duel: High school roundup

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  It was a pitching duel to the very end on a chilly Wednesday afternoon in Wickliffe. 

 

It was a pitching duel to the very end on a chilly Wednesday afternoon in Wickliffe. 

   Beachwood senior Ryan Moss (2-1) struck out 11 and fired a four-hitter to beat the Blue Devils, 1-0, in a Chagrin Valley Conference Metro Division baseball game. 

   Wickliffe junior Anthony Janosky (2-1) took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before surrendering the first hit with one out. Beachwood (3-4, 2-1) won on an error and Jeff Murtaugh's RBI single. Wickliffe fell to 4-4, 1-2. 


North Royalton 6-13, Mentor 4-4 The Bears' nine-run fifth inning broke a 4-4 tie to cap a doubleheader sweep against previously unbeaten Mentor. Mark Hren was 4-for-4 with three doubles, three runs scored and two RBI for North Royalton (7-2, 2-2 Northeast Ohio Conference), and Adam Vasil homered in both games. 

Softball 


 Olmsted Falls 5, Brecksville-Broadview Heights 0 In a key Southwestern Conference game, Bulldogs senior Lauren Franklin (3-1) threw her first no-hitter, struck out nine and walked two. Catcher Mary Gorski drove in three runs on two hits, including a triple, for Olmsted Falls (4-1, 2-1). Brecksville dropped to 5-2, 2-1.  

Amherst 4, Avon Lake 1 Katie Hoerig hit a three-run double in the third and Jennifer Sutton (4-1) struck out six and allowed five hits for the Comets (7-3, 2-0 SWC). Abby Rogers' solo homer in the fourth produced the lone run for Avon Lake (5-3, 1-2).  

Medina 2, North Royalton 1 The Bees and pitcher Bobbi Langlois are both 10-0. Langlois allowed five hits and Maria Tata was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Medina took a 2-0 lead in the second and the host Bears (5-2) scored in the third.  

Wickliffe 15, Beachwood 0 Blue Devils junior Sarah Hopton (4-3) threw a five-inning no-hitter and had two RBI.  

Cloverleaf 4, Green 3 Colts pitcher Kristen Kilzer (8-2) tossed a complete game, struck out six and cut short Green's two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh. 

 

Boys track 

  Solon 89, Brunswick 47 Comets junior Khoury Crenshaw was hand-timed in 10.56 seconds winning the 100-meter dash, and he ran on the winning 4x100 and 4x200 relays. Solon thrower Reggie Jagers swept the discus (167-4) and shot put (46-11). 

Girls track 

  Solon 95, Brunswick 42 Solon's Therese Haiss swept the 800 and 1,600 and Brunswick's Brianna Neitzel won the 100 (12.22 hand-timed) and 200 (24.87). 

Indians close to signing Johnny Damon, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reports

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Indians on verge of signing OF Johnny Damon, FOXSports.com senior baseball writer Ken Rosenthal reports.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians are on the verge of signing free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to MLB on FOX reporter and FOXSports.com senior baseball writer Ken Rosenthal.

Damon hit .261 with 16 homers and 73 RBI for Tampa Bay last season. He has 2,723 hits in 17 major-league seasons.

Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti could not be reached for comment. But a source in the organization who was reached after midnight did not deny that the signing is going to happen.

Rosenthal reported that the Damon deal will include a clause that will allow him to exit on a specified date after Grady Sizemore returns.

Damon would be reunited with one of his teammates on the 2004 Red Sox, right-hander Derek Lowe. The Red Sox won the World Series that season -- the franchise's first in 86 years.

 


Cleveland Cavaliers patchwork lineup big on hustle, short on established talent: Days of Wine-n-Gold

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Cavaliers have gone 2-3 in their last five game, including a pair of overtimes losses

Cleveland Cavaliers lose to Indiana Pacers, 104-98View full sizeLester Hudson sends the game to overtime with a jumper over Pacers David West.
CLEVELAND – Here is the state of the Cavaliers: No NBA team has fewer first-round picks (five) on its roster or more players (seven) with Development League experience.

So when coach Byron Scott gives his club credit for the performance in the 104-98 overtime loss to Indiana on Wednesday night at The Q he isn’t just attempting to cover his behind.

Look at his lineup minus Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao, Ramon Sessions, Daniel Gibson, etc. There’s a reason the club has lost 14 of its last 17 games.

But at least fans are receiving credible efforts in the past five contests in which the Cavs went 2-3 with a pair of OT defeats. They also are enjoying a chance to watch Irving impersonator Lester Hudson, who’s delivering fourth-quarter drama and last-second shots.

For the second time in three games, Hudson forced OT with a big bucket. He drove the lane and popped a floater over the outstretched arm of forward and notorious mascot abuser David West. The ball fell through the cylinder with 1.2 seconds left and crowd of 14,307 fans roared with pleasure.

Here is the state of the Cavaliers: They rallied in the fourth quarter with a unit of Hudson, Manny Harris, Luke Walton, Omri Casspi and Samardo Samuels. They played without the services of center Semih Erden or mascot Moondog, lost to injuries. Against one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams, the reserves went on an 18-1 run to take an 86-79 lead. Many of the same characters led a fourth-quarter charge a night earlier to beat Charlotte.

“They’ve been playing well,” Scott said of the second unit. “It seems like if they have a little bit of an off quarter (they come back strong). If it’s the second quarter, they come back strong in the fourth quarter. First of all, they have a lot of pride in what they’re doing right now. We’ve been putting in extra time as far as making sure they understand offensively what we want and they’ve been doing a good job of focusing in on those aspects of the game and they’ve allowed us to be in all these games that we’ve been in.”

The 27-year-old Hudson has become the leader of the second group and the team’s second-most reliable offensive threat behind Antawn Jamison. After scoring a combined 74 points in the previous three games against non-playoff qualifiers, many were interested to see how Hudson would fare against quality opposition. He committed six turnovers and shot 1-of-9 from behind the 3-point arc. He finished the night 8-of-20 from the floor.

In the fourth quarter, however, he hit 4-of-9 shots and registered 10 points. And when the Pacers left the door open with a few missed free throws in the closing seconds there was little question who would take the last shot.   

Here is the state of the Cavaliers: Their closer is an undersized guard who spent most of the season playing in China and the minors. Hudson tossed the ball in bounds to Jamison and got it right back before driving through the heart of the key. His four-footer was true.

“The one thing you know about (Hudson) in a short period of time is (that) he’s been through the ringer as far as being in this league and being out of this league and being back in this league,” Scott said. “So I think he’s trying to make sure that he gets an opportunity where he can stay here for a while.”

Who knows how many of the Lester Hudsons and Donald Sloans and Manny Harrises will be here next season after the Cavs add a pair of first-round picks to their roster. Depending on what other moves are made that could raise their total to seven first-rounders – or seven fewer than the Oklahoma City Thunder.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Cavs have the fewest and the Thunder the most.

The Cavaliers motley collection could help the final weeks seem more tolerable with its hustle and energy and last-second hysteria from Lester. Only the New Jersey Nets have as many D-Leaguers on their roster as the Cavs.

It is a combination that figures to produce a few more losses. And, maybe a few more nights like Wednesday when the difference between one of the conference’s top and bottom teams was not as great as their disparity in talent.


Manny Acta, Justin Masterson, Travis Hafner on loss to White Sox: Post-game video

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The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff reports from Progressive Field. Video includes post-game interviews with Indians manager Manny Acta, Masterson and DH Travis Hafner.

dennis-manoloff-cinesport.jpg
Justin Masterson allowed three earned runs in five innings pitched as the Cleveland Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox, 10-6, to end their homestand at 1-4. The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff reports from Progressive Field. Video includes post-game interviews with Indians manager Manny Acta, Masterson and DH Travis Hafner.

Talk Cavs basketball with Tom Reed today at 10:30 a.m.

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Does the play of Lester Hudson mean he deserves a shot next season? Should the Cavaliers bring back Anderson Varejao and Kyrie Irving before the season ends and risk further injury? We'll ask those questions and more.

tomreed.JPGTom Reed takes your questions today at 10:30 A.M.
Get your questions ready and join Cavaliers beat writer Tom Reed today at 10:30 a.m. as he talks Cavs basketball.

Does the play of Lester Hudson mean he deserves a shot next season? Should the Cavaliers bring back Anderson Varejao and Kyrie Irving before the season ends and risk further injury?

You can jump in the chat room and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Reed's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in mp3 format.

NFL Draft: The biggest bust --- Poll

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Was Tim Couch the biggest NFL Draft bust since 1989?

One of the best things about the NFL Draft is finding a gem in the later rounds. Drafting that player in the later rounds and watching him develop into an All-Pro, like Jared Allen (fourth-round pick) of the Kansas City Chiefs and Donald Driver (seventh-round pick) of the Green Bay Packers.


But what about those can't miss players that miss? We're talking about an NFL bust. Which first-round pick in the NFL Draft since 1989 was the biggest bust?


 











Tim Couch QB Tim Couch was drafted first overall in 1999.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the clock: Cleveland.com Fans NFL Mock Draft 2012

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With the fifth pick in the first round, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select....Who do you say? This is the fifth pick -- by voting in a poll -- made by you in Cleveland.com's fans' mock draft.

morris-claiborne2.jpgMorris Claiborne of Louisiana State is considered a superb coverage cornerback.



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns and NFL fans, it's time for you to say who all of the teams should pick in the first round of the draft on April 26.

We started on Tuesday, and through April 22, via polls, we're asking you every day to make first-round picks for each of two teams. The polls go up on cleveland.com at approximate 12-hour intervals, around 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day. We list 10 prospects for you to pick from in each poll.

On April 23-24, you'll be asked to make the picks for each of three teams (at approximate eight-hour intervals) both days, completing the 32-pick first round.

Here's who the fans have selected so far:

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3: Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, Southern Cal

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama.

The fifth pick in the first round of the draft belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs finished the 2011 season with a 4-12 record.

The Buccaneers' primary needs include running back, offensive tackle, cornerback and outside linebacker.

Continue to check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for Browns and NFL coverage.




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