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Bunker Hill's par-4 fourth hole: Hole of the Week

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Medina course puts the golfer to the challenge early in the round.

16SGGOLF.jpgView full size

BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- Ask about a golfer's Kryptonite, and you'll often get the response "water."

There's just something about standing on a tee box and seeing that there's no bailout available ... that getting your ball over a water hazard is an inevitable part of successfully navigating a hole ... and realizing that the more water you cross, the better the second shot.

Bunker Hill director of golf Todd Ingraham points out that the narrowness of the par-4 fourth hole also punishes a drive that is too long, as well. And, of course, the fairway slopes toward the water.

That's why our Hole of the Week is Bunker Hill's fourth. Playing between 300 and 415 yards, there's woods, a narrow fairway, a demanding green ...

And water. Always water.


Concussion symptoms end football career for OSU's Andrew Sweat

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After missing games during his senior season with dizziness, a shower accident before the Browns minicamp prompts OSU linebacker's retirement.

sweat-osu-indiana-2011-horiz-mf.jpgView full size"Sometimes people get lost in the game of football," former OSU linebacker Andrew Sweat says of his decision to leave the game. "They don't think about injuries, and they ignore things. I enjoy too many things. I'm too well-rounded to have critical damage to my brain and body."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Andrew Sweat was depressed.

"I've never been depressed in my life. I'm the most positive person, and I was down. I knew it wasn't me. I couldn't control my thinking," the former Ohio State linebacker told The Plain Dealer on Tuesday. "I was not myself. My mind was not there. Some of the thoughts that were out there, I was getting worried about that."

Through January, February and March of this year, as he went through his classes at Ohio State and considered an NFL career, Sweat felt that way. Symptoms such as mental fogginess and dizziness from his three previous concussions at Ohio State, including his most serious concussion midway through his senior season, remained through those months. He also believes his depression was tied to his brain injuries as well.

But by April and May, Sweat started to feel better, so after he went undrafted, Sweat signed a free-agent contract with the Browns.

Then on the morning he was preparing to report to training camp last Friday, Sweat slipped and hit his head in the shower. Not that hard, he said. But hard enough to cause his concussion symptoms to return. So he took the final slip as a sign and decided to end his career as a football player, realizing that he'd been struggling with his decision to give football another chance all along.

"When I fell, it scared me," Sweat said. "Football is not worth my health. It's really important to me that I'm able to have a family and a life after football. Football is a great game, but when you have a concussion like that, it's not worth it."

At a time when concussions in football continue to be discussed, when former NFL players are suing the league claiming the NFL didn't protect them properly from concussions, when the recent suicide of former NFL linebacker Junior Seau shined another light on the potential link between football head injuries and depression, Sweat said none of that made him give up the game.

But he knew how he felt, and it wasn't right.

He knew his friend and former Ohio State teammate, linebacker Ross Homan, had similar experiences with concussion symptoms that led him to give up football last September after he'd been a sixth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, then suffered a concussion in a preseason game. Homan also had suffered concussions at Ohio State.

"Concussions are real," Sweat said. "Maybe we don't know everything about concussions, but they are definitely real. I just went off of how I felt. ... People think you just sit out a week and all of a sudden go back and play, and it's a lot more than that."

Sweat's most serious incident occurred at Purdue on Nov. 12, when he wobbled off the field after taking a relatively light hit during the game. He'd actually suffered a concussion in practice the Wednesday before the game and didn't tell anyone, and it got worse during the game.

"When I walked off the field at Purdue, I couldn't even stand up," Sweat said. "I couldn't feel my fingers or my hands, I was numb everywhere. It was really scary."

He missed the next game against Penn State but was cleared to play against Michigan. But he dislocated his elbow in a freak practice play and missed his last game against the Wolverines -- an injury, like the shower slip, that he now views as a blessing in disguise.

Sweat did return for the Gator Bowl, but he's not sure his brain would have been ready for Michigan just two weeks after the Purdue game.

Sweat has no regrets about his life in football, calling playing at Ohio State every kid's dream come true.

"I lived day in and day out with this game, and I loved every minute of it," Sweat said. "I loved to play it since I was 5 years old. It was amazing."

But Sweat said his parents, whom he consulted before giving up football, are relieved to not have to worry about another football concussion. Sweat, with acceptances to five law schools and also considering a career in medical sales, is grateful for his options beyond football. He also knows the choice he made to give up the game might not be the choice for everyone.

"Some people, football is the only thing they have, so it's hard," Sweat said. "So I can understand it. But I think there's a fine line between being smart and tough.

"Sometimes people get lost in the game of football. They don't think about injuries, and they ignore things. I enjoy too many things. I'm too well-rounded to have critical damage to my brain and body."

So he stopped -- stopped after a slip in the shower he'll always remember, stopped and made a decision he said in the end wasn't that difficult.

He hopes now for continued investigation into the effects of concussions, hoping for what he called a "revolutionary medical study" so players know just what is or isn't at risk.

But Sweat is done. And he feels good about it.

On Twitter: @PDBuckeyes

U.S. national team roster begins to take shape for World Cup qualifying

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Jurgen Klinsmann, who has a 5-4-1 record since replacing Bob Bradley last summer, said the players joining him for 'this very special four-week period represent our core.'

Juergen-Klinsmann.jpgJurgen Klinsmann
The countdown to World Cup qualification began Tuesday when U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann announced the names of 16 players, mostly from foreign clubs, who will begin gathering in Florida this week in preparation for three upcoming exhibitions and the first two qualifiers in early June.

Klinsmann, who has a 5-4-1 record since replacing Bob Bradley last summer, said the players joining him for “this very special four-week period represent our core.” He claimed that the period for evaluation and experimentation has concluded and that it’s “time to get down to business.”

On Sunday, Klinsmann will round out his roster with up to 13 additional players who compete in MLS or whose foreign clubs are still in action. On May 25, the day before the Americans face Scotland in Jacksonville, he’ll trim his roster to the final 23-man team that will contest the exhibitions and qualifiers.

After playing Scotland, the U.S. will meet Brazil in Landover, Md., (May 30) and Canada in Toronto (June 3). The games begin to count five days later, when the road to Brazil 2014 begins vs. Caribbean minnow Antigua and Barbuda in Tampa. On June 12, the U.S. will visit Guatemala in a second qualifier.

The most surprising omission Tuesday was defender Timmy Chandler, who earned his first international cap early last year under Bradley and appeared to blossom as the first-choice left back under Klinsmann. He started six of the seven games Klinsmann coached last year and missed out on the February match at Italy with a hamstring problem.

Now it appears his heart isn’t in it.

“I have had long conversations with Timmy about where he is in his professional career and his commitment to playing international football,” Klinsmann said Tuesday. “He has expressed his appreciation for all the opportunities we have given him, but he also feels at this point he needs to take a break.

"It’s disappointing not having him as a part of the team at this important juncture of building our team, but ultimately a player must decide what is best for him. The door is certainly not closed on Timmy, but in the moment we move on without him.”

Chandler, 22, is the Frankfurt-born son of an American serviceman and a regular starter at Bundesliga club FC Nürnberg. He never represented his native country at the junior level, and the German federation had indicated in the past that it wasn’t interested in bringing him in.

It’s a loss for the U.S. but not a devastating one. The fact Eric Lichaj wasn’t named Tuesday despite emerging as a regular starter at Aston Villa suggests Klinsmann is quite happy with his depth at outside back. Fabian Johnson did reasonably well there vs. Italy in February, and Edgar Castillo has had an outstanding season in Mexico with Club Tijuana.

Some foreign-based players — like Clarence Goodson and Michael Parkhurst in Denmark, Oguchi Onyewu in Portugal and Herculez Gomez in Mexico — have games this weekend and will be announced Sunday if they’re part of Klinsmann’s plans.

Jozy Altidore has finished up at AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands but should be among those named Sunday, and Tim Ream, who’s done well in England at Bolton Wanderers, is a somewhat surprising omission. DaMarcus Beasley, who plays for Puebla FC in Mexico, also appears to have missed the cut. Midfielder Sacha Kljestan told Sporting News last week that he didn’t expect to be called up despite his critical role in helping Anderlecht to the Belgian title.

The only newcomer to the senior national team named Tuesday is midfielder Joe Corona, who impressed during the Under-23 side’s failed Olympic qualifying effort in March.

"We are excited to start with this first group of players, and then welcome more at the beginning of next week," Klinsmann said.

Early U.S. roster

Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton) and Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake).

Defenders (4): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover) and Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin).

Midfielders (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca) and Danny Williams (Hoffenheim)

Forward (1): Clint Dempsey (Fulham).


Wednesday, May 16 television and radio sports listings for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

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Highlights include Seattle at Indians and NBA and NHL playoffs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

BASEBALL

11:05 a.m. AKRON AEROS at Erie, AM/1350

7 p.m. Boston at Tampa Bay, ESPN

7:05 p.m. LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS at South Bend, AM/1330

7:05 p.m. Seattle at INDIANS, SporstTime Ohio; AM/1100

CYCLING

5 p.m. Tour of California, stage 4, NBCSN

NBA PLAYOFFS

7 p.m. Boston at Philadelphia, TNT

9:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City, TNT

NHL PLAYOFFS

8 p.m. New Jersey at N.Y. Rangers, NBCSN

LeBron James falters late as Pacers even series with Heat

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NBA MVP LeBron James missed crucial free at the end of the game and the Heat turned to Mario Chalmers to take the last shot as Pacers win, 78-75, in Miami.


MIAMI — LeBron James and Dwyane Wade did almost everything for Miami — until the final minute.

And that has the Heat facing their first big problem of the postseason.

David West scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and the Indiana Pacers took home-court advantage away from Miami by beating the Heat 78-75 in Game 2 of the teams' Eastern Conference semifinal series Tuesday night — after James and Wade both came up short on key opportunities down the stretch.

"We never felt like we were the underdogs," Indiana's Danny Granger said.

The series is tied at a game apiece, with Game 3 in Indianapolis on Thursday night.

With Chris Bosh out indefinitely because of a strained abdominal muscle, James scored 28 points for Miami and Wade finished with 24, making them the only two Heat players to score more than five — the first time that happened in franchise history, according to STATS LLC. James missed two free throws with 54.3 seconds left and Miami down one, and Wade was short on a layup that would have tied the game with 16 seconds remaining.

Moments later, a few of the Pacers were leaping at midcourt of Miami's floor, something that Wade said was noticed afterward, though the Indiana side disputed that it was a celebration. Either way, the Heat have bigger issues to address.

"Chris was missed, no doubt about it," Wade said. "But that's not the reason we lost this ball game."

The Pacers kept giving Miami chances. Plenty of them.

Pacers Heat BasketballMiami Heat's LeBron James gestures during the second quarter of Game 2 in an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Tuesday, May 15, 2012, in Miami. The Pacers won 78-75. (AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, David Santiago) MAGS OUT

Indiana missed 24 of 29 shots in one stretch, on the road. The Pacers wasted an 11-point, second-half lead. They were outscored by Wade and James in the fourth quarter, 21-17.

Somehow, it worked.

"Defense and rebounding," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. "We built this team, we started talking about smash-mouth basketball, about winning the war in the trenches, and that's with defense and rebounding. That's what I grew up watching Eastern Conference basketball being like. We understand offense is going to come and go, especially like a great defensive team like these guys ... but we're pretty good, too."

Miami shot 35 percent and got outrebounded 50-40, yet still could easily be up 2-0.

"The game is not lost or won with two free throws," James said. "But I definitely want to come through for my teammates. So I'll get an opportunity again. I know I'll be at the line again in that situation. Just go up and make 'em."

After Wade missed the layup that would have tied the game, he remained on the court for a few extra seconds, looking exhausted until James — who said Wade would make that shot "10 out of 10 times" — pulled him up.

"Welcome to the playoffs, for us," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That's how we're viewing it. This series has started. They won on our home court. Now we have to collect ourselves, gather ourselves and get ready for Game 3. That's all that matters right now."

The Heat were outscored 28-14 in the third quarter, shooting 3 for 17 in that period. They didn't score in the final 2:41 of the game, and when Mario Chalmers missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it on the last play, Miami dropped to 1 for 16 from 3-point range on the night, 1 for 22 in the series.

George Hill had 15 points, Granger scored 11 and Paul George added 10 for Indiana, which made only 38 percent of its shots. The Pacers had been 2-9 this season when shooting that poorly, yet got a split in Miami anyway.

"I feel like we should be 2-0," George said.

James had a chance to give Miami the lead with 1:22 left, but his shot was blocked from behind by George, who was fouled two seconds later. He missed both free throws, keeping the Indiana lead at 76-75. And after Wade missed a jumper, James was fouled by Granger — his sixth — battling for the rebound with 54.3 seconds remaining.

James missed both shots, and Indiana held on from there.

"Their third-leading scorer had five points and that's what you want to do," Granger said. "If LeBron James gets 11 assists they are probably going to win. They scored a lot, but we stopped everyone else."

Emotions picked up considerably in the fourth.

Wade was steaming when he missed a shot after trying to create contact with Indiana's Dahntay Jones with 9:53 left. As Wade argued, Jones went the other way and set Leandro Barbosa up for a score that put the Pacers up 63-56.

Chalmers turned the ball over on the next possession, and as the Pacers took off for what set up as a 2-on-none break, Wade caught Darren Collison from behind and knocked him over. A flagrant-1 was called, Collison hit both free throws, the Indiana lead was nine and tensions were suddenly high.

It all seemed to spark Miami.

The Heat scored the next six points. James — who got hit in the head by Granger with 7:25 left, sparking a bit of shoving that led to double-technicals given to both players — added a putback off an offensive rebound and Wade did the same about a minute later, getting Miami within 69-66 with 5:57 left.

"Playoffs," George said, "are about grinding it out."

James missed a free throw that would have tied it with 4:30 remaining, but after George got the rebound, James dove in to create a jump ball situation. The MVP easily won the tap, sending it to Wade, whose bank shot over West put Miami back on top 72-71.

Barbosa scored on the next Indiana possession. The Pacers weren't rattled, and never trailed again.

NOTES: James' six steals were a Heat playoff record. ... Trying to exploit the size advantage with Bosh out, the Pacers got 7-foot-2 C Roy Hibbert three shots in the first 1:11 of the game. He got three the rest of the game. ... Wade is now 39-11 in home playoff games. ... James will play his 100th playoff game Thursday.


Big Ten prefers bowl games for playoff sites

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Big Ten officials came out in favor of keeping bowl games as sites for college football's planned playoff on Tuesday, preferring to keep the Rose Bowl as the conference's postseason tradition.

Jim DelanyFILE - In this July 28, 2011, file photo, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany speaks to reporters during Big Ten media day in Chicago. Big Ten officials came out in favor of keeping bowl games as sites for college football's planned playoff on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, preferring to keep the Rose Bowl as the conference's postseason tradition. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)

CHICAGO  — Big Ten officials came out in favor of keeping bowl games as sites for college football's planned playoff on Tuesday, preferring to keep the Rose Bowl as the conference's postseason tradition.

Conference athletic directors as well as commissioner Jim Delany said Tuesday that many details must be resolved before a national playoff is established. Big Ten presidents and chancellors will determine the conference's official position early next month.

"There was a pretty strong consensus among the ADs that we'd like to have the playoff within the bowl system," Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne said. "It would be a competitive advantage to have semifinal games at home fields ... But the bowls have been good to us. If you took them out of the playoff, it would pretty much destroy the bowl system."

A four-team Football Bowl Championship system debuts in the 2014 season, replacing a current No.1 vs. No. 2 BCS championship game that has rotated among the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta and Rose Bowl sites.

Delany and Big Ten administrators will continue meeting on Wednesday. The sessions at a downtown hotel include conference athletic directors, senior women administrations and faculty representatives.

Options for selecting the four teams include taking the top four teams in a poll, the four highest-ranked conference champions or a combination of both.

"I do think there's room for conference champions — and this is a personal observation — as well as highly-rated non-conference champions and independents," Delany said. "How that happens is to be determined."

Delany also doesn't want to water down the rest of the college football season.

"The regular season has been and will continue to be the bedrock of college football," he said. "I know that the postseason is important, I know that the championship game will be important and the model that leads to that game will be important.

"I don't want to adopt a model that discourages playing good opponents or any way belittles the regular season championship process," he said.

Several athletic directors who spoke Tuesday were adamant about preserving traditional bowls, particularly the Rose Bowl's matchup of the Big Ten and Pac-12 champion.

"For us it's critical to keep the Rose Bowl in the equation," Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said. "From kids' perspective, the bowl experience is the one thing they want to keep. Semifinals at bowl sites provide that, it's where fans can gather. With campus sites, it becomes (more) like a regular-season game."

Picking No. 1 vs. No. 2 for a national championship game has been complicated and with a four-team field controversies could multiply.

"Who are the teams?" Hollis said. "Who decides teams? Is there a committee? Are you strictly going by polls?

"It's very easy to determine 1 and 2 (but) 3 and 4 get complicated," he said. "Polls can do a good job with 1 and 2. I'm not so sure they can do a good job with 3 and 4."

In April, commissioners from 11 conferences and Notre Dame reached a consensus on a four-team playoff with two national semifinals followed by a championship game. The proposed format would schedule semifinals after Christmas and a national title game around Jan. 1.

Commissioners are scheduled to meet in late June and have a new format in place for approval by university presidents by July 4. BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock said last month that if no agreement was reached, an overhauled version of No. 1 vs. 2 championship game would be used.

Osborne, meanwhile, is uncertain whether the field would remain at four.

"There will be a push to make it eight or 16," he said. "When I started coaching, the regular season was nine games, and then 10, 11 and 12. Now with conference championship game (and a playoff) you're dealing with 15 games (and it could go) to 16 or 17."

Although the Big Ten sent 10 teams to bowl games following the 2011 season, Delany said he wants to end the practice of sending 6-6 teams to bowl games, opting for a 7-5 records a minimum requirement

"If there's not unanimity, there's a very strong consensus that 7-5 is a better standard than 6-6," Delany said. "Six and six is not as special."


Talk Tribe with Paul Hoynes today at noon

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Paul with chat with Cleveland.com's Glenn Moore about Tribe's sweep of the Minnesota Twins and preview their matchup against the Seattle Mariners.

hoynes-headshot.jpgPaul Hoynes answers your Indians questions on Wednesdays at noon.

Get your Indians questions ready and join Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes today at noon as he talks Indians baseball.

Paul with chat with Cleveland.com's Glenn Moore about Tribe's sweep of the Minnesota Twins and preview their matchup against the Seattle Mariners. They will also chat about Derek Lowe and the season he has had so far.

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


Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy: 'I'm working harder than ever'

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The Browns have consistently said that Brandon Weeden will have to compete for the starting job with McCoy and Wallace, but they're aiming for Weeden to be their starter this season.

coltt.jpgBrowns quarterback Colt McCoy spoke today for the first time since the Browns drafter quarterback Brandon Weeden.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is determined to stave off the challenge from rookie Brandon Weeden for his starting job.

"I'm a competitor and I'm working harder than ever,'' he told The Plain Dealer  in an email.

 They were his first public remarks since Weeden was drafted No. 22 overall to become the Browns starter.

McCoy declined further comment for now, because he's focusing on the Browns offseason program and the challenge he'll get from Weeden.

 McCoy might be available next week when the Browns open their organized team activities to the media for one of the three days.

 On Monday, Weeden joined McCoy and Seneca Wallace in Phase II of the offseason program, which includes about an hour of work on the field each day, meetings and conditioning.

 The Browns have consistently said that Weeden will have to compete for the starting job with McCoy and Wallace, but they're aiming for Weeden to be their starter this season.

 Browns coach Pat Shurmur told an audience at the Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon on Monday that Weeden is "headed in the right direction'' for the starting job, but that he believes McCoy can still win in the NFL.

 "Colt McCoy is a gritty guy,” he said. "I think Colt McCoy is a fine football player and can play quarterback in this league. They’re both guys (Weeden and McCoy) that I want on this team and I want to see them compete. The best one will play when we play Philadelphia in September.''

Shurmur said it's possible that Wallace will stick around too.

 "I think there’s a case to be made that Seneca, Colt and Brandon are all (here) together,” Shurmur said. “We’ll see. I think that’s yet to be determined. We're going to watch them all compete and interact, and we’ll see what happens.''

McCoy went 4-9 last season after the Browns ' top three running backs were injured for all or most of the season, and starting receiver Mohamed Massaquoi was slowed by a broken foot and concussion. Right tackle Tony Pashos also play injured all season.

The Browns also said all offseason that they expect McCoy to look better in his second year in the West Coast offense, especially now that he's got an offseason to learn it from the coaches. 


Should Browns upgrade defensive line with veterans, Derek Lowe on fire and Kyrie Irving's best to come : Blog Roundup

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Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Stepien Rules, Dawgs By Nature and Waiting For Next Year.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.


John Hughes Browns Rookie MinicampShould the Browns add veteran help for rookie John Hughes?
Cleveland Browns


Chris Pokorny over at Dawgs By Nature ponders whether the Browns should stick with their rookie defensive tackles or sign veteran help.
"If the Browns do decide that they would like to bring a veteran in, there isn't a very large field to choose from. You've got Albert Haynesworth, but I'd give a definite "no thanks" there. Former Broncos defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, 26, was looking for a multi-year deal from Denver but did not get it. Denver appeared to move on from him based on the way they drafted, but Cleveland seems more like a fit for a guy wanting a one-year deal. A veteran run-stuffer like Kelley Gregg is available, but has traditionally played in a 3-4 defense."

derek lowe.JPGDerek Lowe has been a pleasant surprise this season for the Tribe.
Cleveland Indians


Jon of Waiting For Next Year talks about how big of a surprise Derek Lowe has been this season for the Tribe.
"So back to Lowe: who cares if he’s not striking anyone out, as long as he’s not walking anyone either, right? But he is walking people—a lot of them, in fact. At least in relation to his strikeouts. Right now, Lowe’s K/BB ratio is 0.76, meaning that for every strikeout he records, he allows about 1.3 walks. Remember, you want that K/BB ratio to be above 2.00. Last season the worst AL K/BB rate belonged to Brad Penny at 1.19. No one else sustained a rate below 1.63. Right now the Indians have two starters below 1.00—with Ubaldo checking in at an execrable 0.80. For the record, Derek Lowe’s current K/BB ratio of 0.76 is the worst among MLB starters this year."

kyrie-irving4.jpgKyrie Irving gives the city of Cleveland new hope.
Cleveland Cavaliers


Brendan Bowers at Stepien Rules talks about how Kyrie Irving gives the city of Cleveland a new reason for hope.
"Rookie's of the Year are rare in the NBA, especially ones who's career promises to be as bright as Irving's does. It's even more rare that a talent like his could arrive at the time and place that he specifically did too. While we might not have ever seen it coming, the Kyrie Irving Era is upon us now, and he's helping us all to move forward. He'll never replace the Cavaliers' last Rookie of the Year, but he doesn't have to. As long as he continues to be Kyrie Irving, that's enough of a reason to believe that parade down Prospect might materialize one day still. As impossible as that might've sounded to us all just a couple summers ago."

Have a post that you think should be featured in our daily Blog Roundup? Email the link here.

Cavs have been lucky to have great point guards through the years - Comment of the Day

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"We've been blessed with strong PG play in Cleveland. Especially when you throw in the guys that had brief stays with Cavs such as Walt Frazier, KJ, and Andre Miller. Could you have imagined KJ and Mark Price in the same backcourt!? Wow!" - Meshugina

mark price.JPGView full sizeMark Price is on a long list of great point guards to play for the Cavaliers.
In response to the story Cleveland Cavaliers all-time best point guards, from Lenny Wilkens to Mark Price to Kyrie Irving: Poll, videos, history , cleveland.com reader Meshugina says the Cavs have been lucky to have great point guards through the years. This reader writes,

"We've been blessed with strong PG play in Cleveland. Especially when you throw in the guys that had brief stays with Cavs such as Walt Frazier, KJ, and Andre Miller. Could you have imagined KJ and Mark Price in the same backcourt!? Wow!

I know we traded Miller in order tank to put us in position to draft a certain former hometown hero, but it would have been cool to see a scenario play out that we built a team around him. We would be talking about hanging #24 in the rafters of the Q right now."

To respond to Meshugina's comment, go here.

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

Zach Boren carrying the ball, Taylor Decker fighting to start and thoughts on the Ohio State football depth chart

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Ohio State coach Urban Meyer released the depth chart after saying playing time for this fall would be determined by spring practice.

OSU Scarlet and Gray game 2012Ohio State receiver Michael Thomas, despite a big spring game, remained a second-teamer on the depth chart announced Wednesday.

COLUMBUS - Ohio State released its two-deep roster today, something first-year coach Urban Meyer had promised he'd do after telling his players that August is a time to get ready for the season, not win jobs. Meyer said all along that playing time was going to be determined in the spring.

Offense First team Second team

LT Jack Mewhort Daryl Baldwin

LG Andrew Norwell Tommy Brown

C Corey Linsley Jacoby Boren

RG Marcus Hall Antonio Underwood

RT Reid Fragel Taylor Decker

WR Devin Smith Michael Thomas

WR Evan Spencer Verlon Reed

Slot Philly Brown Chris Fields

TE Jake Stoneburner Jeff Heuerman/Nick Vannett

QB Braxton Miller Kenny Guiton

TB Jordan Hall Carlos Hyde

FB Zach Boren Adam Homan


Defense First team Second team

DE John Simon Steve Miller/ J.T. Moore

DE Adam Bellamy/Nathan Williams Chase Farris

DT Johnathan Hankins Michael Bennett

NT Garrett Goebel Joel Hale/Chris Carter

MLB Curtis Grant Storm Klein

OLB Ryan Shazier Luke Roberts/Connor Crowell

OLB Etienne Sabino Stewart Smith/Josh Perry

CB Bradley Roby Adam Griffin

CB Travis Howard/Doran Grant

S Christian Bryant Corey Brown

S C.J. Barnett Orhian Johnson


Special teams First team Second team

K Drew Basil Kyle Clinton

P Ben Buchanan Kenny Guiton

H Ben Buchanan Kenny Guiton

LS George Makridis/Bryce Haynes

Thoughts:

* The biggest surprises are Travis Howard and Doran Grant listed as co-starters at one cornerback spot, and Michael Thomas listed as a second-team wide receiver.

That represents a good spring for Grant. As for Thomas, he caught 12 passes in the spring game and earned praise throughout practice and though he's a true freshman, it seemed possible he'd be a first-teamer. However, Evan Spencer missed the last few weeks of spring with an injury and didn't get a chance to show what he can do, so he remains listed as a starter.

* Michael Bennett is a second-team defensive lineman after working with the starters much of the spring, but Meyer said Wednesday that Bennett very well may be one of the four best defensive linemen.

Those linemen will continue to rotate, and Bennett will play a lot.

* The Buckeyes are still looking for a true Leo rush end. John Simon played there last year, but injured Nathan Williams is the best guy on the current roster for that spot, and he was listed as a co-starter with Adam Bellamy pending his health. Meyer said Williams continues to come back from microfracture surgery by rehabbing in the pool. Another contender for that Leo spot is incoming freshman Noah Spence, and Meyer mentioned Spence among the incoming freshmen who could fight for playing time.

* Five freshmen who enrolled early for spring ball are listed on the second team: tackle Taylor Decker, center Jacoby Boren, Thomas at receiver and linebackers Luke Roberts and Josh Perry.

* Meyer said Decker's presence made the offensive line "functional," as line depth was one of Meyer's biggest concerns. Converted tight end Reid Fragel is still the starter at right tackle, but Meyer said Decker is putting a lot of pressure on Fragel for that spot. Meyer has praised Decker a lot since the first practice, so continue to watch him.

* Meyer said the receiver group was the most unprepared he had ever dealt with, and they still have a ways to go. But they did make progress. That has been a theme since Meyer arrived.

* Zach Boren is the starting fullback, but Meyer also said he will carry the ball in the fall. In the previous offense, Boren was entirely a blocking back who caught a few passes, but with less of a true fullback in this offense, Meyer wants to find ways to keep Boren involved. He said Boren has dropped 12 pounds and is a good runner between the tackles.


Ohio State Buckeyes P.M. links: Defensive end John Simon could be great this fall; new depth chart

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Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer has even referred to Tim Tebow when talking about some of the traits that make Simon a standout player. More Buckeyes sports story links.

john-simon.jpgOhio State's John Simon, already among the Big Ten's premier defensive linemen, could be among the best in the country this fall.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Florida's Gators won national championships in the 2006 and 2008 seasons with Urban Meyer as their coach.

Not only were the Gators' offenses dynamic, but the defenses were fast and aggressive. Meyer generally was happy to sacrifice some size for speed.

Now, Meyer is preparing for his first season as Ohio State's coach. And during his first spring practice season, the Buckeyes made strides toward playing the kind of defense that Meyer favored in Gainesville. 

Many observers consider end John Simon, about to begin his senior season, as OSU's premier defensive player.

Brandon Castel writes for the-Ozone.net about the Ohio State defensive players who excelled in spring practice, including the 6-2, 260-pound Simon:

This one doesn’t even seem right considering Simon was one of the top—if not the top—players on Ohio State’s defense a year ago. He had a starting position locked up before he ever stepped foot on the practice field this spring, but Simon has taken his game to another level since the Gator Bowl.

He has always been a dedicated worker and ultimate football junky, but Simon had his new head coach gushing all over the place this spring. Meyer even dropped the term “Tebow-ish” when talking about Simon, and it appears the senior from Youngstown could be on the verge of taking his game from good to great this fall.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes Doug Lesmerises' story on the release of the Buckeyes' new, two-deep depth chart; his story that Buckeyes linebacker Andrew Sweat decided to end his football career -- shortly after signing with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent -- because of concussion symptoms; Lesmerises' interview on Starting Blocks TV, during which he talked about concussions, the new Bowl Championship Series playoff discussions, and how the Big Ten is intent on protecting the Rose Bowl in the new format.

Buckeyes story links

The Buckeyes release their depth chart -- two deep. (Columbus Dispatch)

The two-deep chart in .PDF format. (Columbus Dispatch)

There are few surprises on Ohio State's post-spring game depth chart. (By Brandon Castel, the-Ozone.net)

Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes are building an elite defensive line. (By Luke Pashke, Bleacher Report)

Big Ten football notes. (By Phil Harrison, CollegeFootballNews.com)

A wrap-up of Big Ten football in the spring of 2012. (Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett, ESPN.com)

Former Buckeyes basketball player J.D. Weatherspoon says he will transfer to Toldeo. (Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State does not renew the contract of softball coach Linda Kalafatis, who has a 538-358 record in 16 seasons. (Columbus Dispatch)

Indians vs. Mariners: Twitter updates and game preview

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The Tribe returns home tonight to start a two-game series with the Seattle Mariners. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Paul Hoynes, @hoynsie.

The Tribe returns home tonight to start a two-game series with the Seattle Mariners. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Paul Hoynes @hoynsie or click here for a live game box score. You can also download our Cleveland Indians app for Android to get Tribe updates on your mobile device. Read on for a game preview.

Note: Hit reload for latest Tweets


felix hernandez.JPGView full sizeFelix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners to come to town tonight for a two-game set with the Tribe.
(AP) -- The Seattle Mariners' offense has been stagnant recently, much like the last time Felix Hernandez took the mound against the Cleveland Indians.

Hernandez looks to bounce back from a rough outing when Seattle seeks its fifth victory in the last six road meetings with Cleveland in the opener of a two-game set Wednesday night.

Seattle has scored two runs or fewer in five of its last six games after falling 5-0 to Boston on Tuesday. The Mariners (16-22), whose .233 batting average is among the worst in the AL, have lost four of those contests.

Seattle has gone 6 for 72 (.083) with runners in scoring position while dropping 10 of its last 11 road games.

Ichiro Suzuki went 2 for 4 on Tuesday to raise his average to .296, but he's only hitting .206 with runners in scoring position.

"He's the one veteran guy we have in the lineup and we need him to help pick up these young kids," manager Eric Wedge told the team's official website.

Hernandez (3-2, 2.29 ERA) struck out a season-high 12 in eight scoreless innings April 19 against Cleveland, but he didn't earn a decision in a 2-1 loss. He's 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in his last three starts against the Indians.

The right-hander, though, allowed four runs and a season-high 11 hits in a 6-2 loss to New York on Friday after he had given up four runs in his previous five starts combined.

Hernandez will look to rebound against an Indians team that took two of three at Seattle from April 17-19.

Cleveland (20-16) finds itself atop the AL Central early in the season for the second straight year, and it's coming off a two-game sweep of Minnesota after a 5-0 victory Tuesday.

Asdrubal Cabrera homered and Shin-Soo Choo added a homer and a double for the Indians, who went 3-3 on their road trip.

After a slow start, Choo is batting .302 in his last 13 games.

"He's one of our key guys in our lineup," manager Manny Acta told the team's official website. "In order for us to go anywhere, he needs to produce. That's how important he is to our lineup."

Acta's also looking for better control from scheduled starter Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3, 5.18).

Jimenez is coming off his worst outing of the season, giving up seven runs and walking five in 4 1-3 innings of a 7-5 loss to Boston on Friday. He has walked 30 - most in the majors - compared to 24 strikeouts.

"We're just working on his mechanics so he can repeat his delivery and be more consistent in the strike zone," Acta said. "He still has pretty good stuff and he can get people out."

The right-hander pitched a complete game in a 6-4 victory June 12, 2009, while with Colorado in his only career starts versus Seattle.

Johnny Damon went 0 for 3 with a walk Tuesday and is hitting .149 in 12 games since joining the Indians. The veteran, though, is 11 for 22 with a homer and four doubles off Hernandez.

Derek Lowe provides a surprise ace to Cleveland Indians' rotation: Bud Shaw's Sports Spin

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The most promising aspect of Derek Lowe's 2012 start is that there's reason to believe it will continue, Bud Shaw writes in his Spin column.

lowe-pitch-2012-tribe-vert-cc.jpgView full sizeWhen chucking the old horsehide, Derek Lowe may not hum it with some of baseball's power arms, but his sinker ball is providing the results of an ace so far for the Indians.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians are getting a lot more than just innings from Derek Lowe ...

The Atlanta Braves were so anxious to trade Lowe they ate $10 million of his $15 million salary. Asked why he became so expendable, Lowe explained it as a numbers game.

"A combination of the six [bad] weeks I had, and they have five guys [who] are ready for the big leagues," he said during spring training. "It was just a timing thing of bad end of the year and a lot of good hum-chuckers."

Funny thing about Lowe's 2012 season so far. He's not only looked like a steal. Manager Manny Acta treated him like a good young hum-chucker, letting him throw 127 pitches in a complete-game shutout in Minnesota Tuesday. It was just the fourth of Lowe's long, durable career.

After that game, Lowe and the Indians returned from Minnesota to a city that just opened a new casino. You could make the case that after a 17-loss season, Lowe's 6-1 record already means he's playing with house money. That whatever the Indians get from here is a bonus.

Except the durability he's shown in his career -- he's never been on the disabled list -- suggests there's a lot more good to anticipate from him. Not to mention the Indians desperately need it.

There's good reason to feel most optimistic when Lowe is starting. The progression on the Feel Good Graph would go Lowe, Jeanmar Gomez, Josh Tomlin, Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez. It's almost the exact opposite of what we thought in spring training (though Jimenez has never really provided much reason for optimism).

When Masterson was named the Opening Day starter in March, Acta said he looked for Lowe to provide consistency and experience and thought he might benefit from not having to "come in and step up and be the guy."

Maybe that's worked on Lowe's behalf. But so far he's pitching like he was expected to come in, step up and, you know, be the guy.

It's an exaggeration to say the Lowe deal looks as good as the Jimenez deal looks bad. The Indians put their two best prospects in the Jimenez deal, and that hurts no matter how little Drew Pomeranz and Alex White are moving the needle in Colorado at present.

The most promising aspect of Lowe's 2012 start is it suggests he wasn't over the hill last September when he went 0-5 with a 8.75 ERA. That he was able to fix what was broken.

He wasn't throwing his fastball for strikes last year and became "breaking-ball happy." Lowe isn't going to beat you with his second or third best pitch, at least not consistently.

He'll have his bad nights when the sinker isn't sinking. But having that out pitch to rely on makes him more dependable and potentially important in a pennant race than your average hum-chucker.

SPINOFFS

Ricky Williams told ESPN's Dan Le Batard he doesn't buy the link between concussions and brain injuries. So, it's official then. No reason to worry ...

Then Dr. Williams (I presume?) will not be joining any concussion lawsuits against the NFL ...

Metta World Peace never called Oklahoma City's James Harden to apologize for that vicious elbow to his head. World Peace told reporters he had no intentions of shaking Harden's hand in the playoff series that began Sunday either, because he doesn't shake hands with subs.

In case you were wondering, the broad meaning of "Metta" is "goodwill and benevolence." ...

Kevin Na's waggle issues at The Players



Charles Barkley texted CBS' golf reporter Roger Maltbie after watching PGA Tour pro Kevin Na's incessant waggling and self-lecturing Saturday at The Players Championship. Barkley's message: "Kevin Na is my new hero. Welcome to my world."

Comparing Na's mental machinations and good shots to Barkley's tortured swing and worm burners is like comparing Mozart and a spastic spoons player ...

Trainer Brian McNamee told jurors he saved medical supplies used to inject Roger Clemens with steroids because his wife, Eileen, complained that he was going to be the fall guy.

"She kept saying, "You're going to go down. You're going to go down. You're going to go down."

Sadly, the real victims in this trial are wives everywhere. After that testimony, people might jump to the conclusion that wives tell their husbands the same thing over and over when once would suffice ...

According to the headlines, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid "tells other teams they should sign Donovan McNabb." How gracious of him to step aside and give other teams a chance ...

The Louisiana Senate voted 28-1 to urge the NFL to reconsider the Saints' suspensions over the bounty program. One legislator either thought it was a good day to try to get some real work done or recently decided not to run for re-election. Or both ...

Australian shooter Russell Mark has vowed to wear a Borat-style mankini at the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics after losing a bet on an Aussie Rules football game.

Mark is one of the Australian athletes being considered for flag bearer. Now there's an image ...

Detroit's Justin Verlander has a cereal -- Fastball Flakes -- that's selling briskly. That brings us to the interactive portion of Spin. What would Jimenez's cereal be called? ...

When Kyrie Irving won the MVP of the Rising Stars game and posed with the trophy, he told the photographer to make sure "Cleveland" was prominently shown on his jersey. Said Irving, "I just wanted to make sure they got the Cleveland uniform in it. We're not as publicized as everybody else."

Just a guess here, but I don't suspect we'll see Irving with a "Chosen One, Too" tattoo anytime soon ...

Pat Shurmur told a Pro Football Hall of Fame lunch crowd, "I think there's a case to be made that Seneca [Wallace], Colt [McCoy] and Brandon [Weeden] are all [here] together."

Similarly, there's a case to be made for Spin winning a Pulitzer, just not a believable one ...

HE SAID IT

wheeler-tribe-2012-cc-horiz.jpgView full sizeDan Wheeler may not have had much success with the Indians this spring, but at least he held onto his sense of humor.

"Did they really have to?" -- reliever Dan Wheeler when asked if the Indians gave a reason for waiving him after he allowed six runs in one inning against Boston. Still, technically he'll never know whether it was the hits, the runs or the fielders chipping in to keep Tim Misny on retainer.

HE SAID WHAT?

"He asked me if I could help him out with a booty shot." -- McNamee, retelling how Clemens first asked for a steroids injection.

Booty shot? What did Clemens watch when he wasn't watching tape of hitters?

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Midweek Edition)

"Hey Bud:

"How many super hot celebrity chicks requested that you escort them to opening night of The Shoe?" -- Dan Coughlin

Depends on how you'd describe Phyllis Diller.

"Bud:

"The Patriots are often called a dynasty. If the recent Browns draft doesn't work out, can we call them an Errorstocracy?" -- Jerry Heckler, Chardon

It's an honor to get an email from the most appropriately named sports fan in Cleveland history.

"Bud:

"Would San Diego State's entrance into the Big East disrupt the time-space continuum, and would Marty McFly never be born?" -- Wayne Kuznar

What if.

"Bud:

"Do your columns look better when you type in shorts and no pads?" -- Joe S

My shoulder pad phase ended in the 1980s. I still wear shorts, but only with leg warmers.

"Hey Bud:

"Last week, you proclaimed Ubaldo had turned the corner and put the worst behind him. What are you thinking about writing this week -- Johnny Damon is excelling in all facets of his game?" -- Vince G, Cincinnati

I said he might have turned the corner. What I feel more strongly about is that Dan Wheeler is here to stay.

"Bud:

"Should Derek Lowe worry about losing a Cleveland Indians World Series ring?" -- Harvey, Solon

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

"Bud:

"Are you planning a 'You Said It' tournament of champions? P.S.: My mom's basement is open for the reunion." -- Rick Good

Repeat winners get stood up.

On Twitter: @budshaw

Urban Meyer's intensity, not his creativity, will be the fuel of 2012 Ohio State football: Bill Livingston

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Urban Meyer says there are no gurus on offense or in general in football. There is only the urgent will to win he seeks to transfer to his Ohio State players.

meyer-miller-horiz-spring-2012-ap.jpgView full sizeBraxton Miller's talent wasn't the primary ingredient that Urban Meyer is looking for in a football player, so spring drills focused on boosting the competitiveness of the entire Buckeyes squad.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No gurus around here. "They don't exist," said Urban Meyer.

While some might think of the new Ohio State coach as the man who has run one of the deadliest versions of the spread option attack in college football history, Meyer's strengths are assimilation, not innovation, motivation instead of experimentation. Those who played his teams, whether at Bowling Green, Utah or Florida, regretted the fanatical effort Meyer's players made, as much or more than they would rue the guru.

Meyer took a bit from John L. Smith's staff at Louisville, another piece from Joe Tiller's at Purdue, a wrinkle from the late Randy Walker's at Northwestern. What he pieced together was the most dangerous thing assembled out of parts since the monster lurched out of the lab in "Frankenstein."

Ask Ohio State, chomped, as big favorites, by Meyer's Gators in the national championship game five years ago.

"Never say guru," Meyer said. "It's all about getting the players to perform."

Ohio State obviously has a serious set of athletic criteria before it looks at a player to be recruited, but there has always been room for a Joe Germaine or Troy Smith to emerge as the last man in from a recruiting class. Such growth is theoretically possible with Meyer's players, too.

Wednesday, he unveiled the two-deep chart for the coming season, although it should probably be written in pencil once Meyer's nationally top-five ranked recruiting class hits the practice field in August. Until then, however, asked if there's a guy not on the two-deep who could make an impact, Meyer said, bluntly, "No. I would have put him on there."

Meyer almost sneered when he recalled his first impression of Kenny Guiton, the backup quarterback. "His reputation wasn't sterling and his performance certainly wasn't either," the coach said, before lavishing praise on the new, shiny, less-tarnished Guiton of today.

Maybe the revisionism included the way Guiton flattened starting quarterback Braxton Miller when the two took three-point stances and went head to head, smashing and battering, before over 81,000 fans in the "circle drill" before the Scarlet and Gray Game. It frankly seemed foolhardy.

"Every coach has a moment when he thinks, 'Just get to the next drill,'" a coach at the NFL level said.

But Meyer seems to get that way -- intense even when he vows to be more reserved. He is so susceptible to the Darwinian culture of football that somebody better pop somebody else soon, even if it's one quarterback laying out another, or he'll find a guy who will.

Meyer's mentor at Ohio State was Earle Bruce, who still gets called on to whip the Buckeyes into a froth the week of the Michigan game. Meyer loves that kind of talk. On a board displaying next season's schedule in the players' meeting room at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the opponent for the last game of the coming season is simply called, "That Team Up North."

Meyer said talent can win seven or eight games, discipline can take a team to nine, but the "rings" and "magic" come down to leadership.

Last season's seniors scuttled coach Jim Tressel first, bowl and conference championship possibilities for the coming season second and finally their own potential in the NFL Draft. The ringleader of the biggest scandal was quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who led several players to the tattoo parlor, anyway. It would have been very interesting to see Pryor and Meyer interact, but Pryor left for the NFL rather than pay the full tab for the damage he had done.

In his place is Miller. Meyer curtly said Miller was kind of the "cool guy" before, a great high school player who didn't always push himself. That has changed dramatically.

Meyer probably looks closer at 40-yard dash times than he lets on, but vertical jump and most of the things scouts love to talk about aren't his biggest concern. "Number one is competitiveness," he said, again.

He needs Miller and Guiton to improve even more as leaders. If they don't, the recruiting net he casts is a wide one.

"The toughest team, the team that is most committed, is the team that wins the game," he said.

Meyer quit at Florida, unable to control emotions he seeks to stoke in his players now. He might not be a guru, but he is a compelling study in the cost and consequences of success, and the irresistibility of striving for it all over again.

On Twitter: @LivyPD


NBA mock draft links: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Andre Drummond and Bradley Beal among popular first picks for Cleveland Cavaliers

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Cavs will own one of the first few picks -- which one to be determined by the draft lottery -- and the 24th, 33rd and 34th overall picks.

michael-kidd-gilchrist.jpgMichael Kidd-Gilchrist, playing 31.1 minutes per game as a freshman, averaged 11.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists to help Kentucky win the national championship.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NBA draft lottery will be held on May 30, and the 2012 NBA draft will be on June 28.

The re-building Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished the lockout-shortened 2012 season with a 21-45 record, will be among the teams in the spotlight for both events.

Continue to check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for Cavaliers coverage, such as Mary Schmitt Boyer's story that Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has been named to the NBA's new competition committee; a Starting Blocks report including a poll, videos and history on the Cavs' all-time best point guards; and all of the recent stories and reports on Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving winning the Rookie of the Year award.

The Cavs won the lottery (with the pick acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers) for the No. 1 pick in the draft last year, and used it to select Irving, who had played one college season at Duke.

Cleveland is in the lottery again this year, having tied the New Orleans Hornets for the third worst record in the league. The Cavs won a tiebreaker drawing with the Hornets, and have 138 chances in 1,000 to again win the lottery for the first pick -- the third-best odds for pick No. 1, behind the Charlotte Bobcats (250 in 1,000) and Washington Wizards (199 in 1,000) and just ahead of New Orleans (137 in 1,000).

The Cavs' first pick will be no worse than sixth overall, and the chances of them dropping that far in the order are small. Cleveland owns another first-round selection, at No. 24 overall, acquired in the trade deadline deal that sent point guard Ramon Sessions to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Cavaliers also are scheduled for two second-round picks. at Nos. 33 and 34 overall.

With the draft six weeks away, the mock draft business is at full-go.

Among the most popular mock draft first picks for the Cavs are Connecticut center Andre Drummond, Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal and Kentucky small forward Michael-Kidd Gilchrist.

The mock drafts have the Cavaliers' first pick as the third overall selection.

Mock draft links

Cavs draft a center and a big guard in the first round. (ProBasketballDraft.com)

The Cavaliers select a small forward and a big guard with their first-round picks. (Drafttek.com)

Two big men are headed to Cleveland as first-round picks. (NBADraft.net)

With the third and 24th picks, the Cavaliers select a shooting guard and a center. (mynbadraft.com)

Cavaliers pick a center and a shooting guard in the first round. (NBA Draft Room)

The Cavs pick a shooting guard and a center with picks No. 3 and 24. (WalterFootball.com)

Tribe pitcher Josh Tomlin to have second MRI scan on ailing wrist: Indians Insider

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Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin (right wrist) will undergo a second MRI scan on Thursday in Cleveland.

sizemore-workout-2012-vert-cc.jpgView full sizeGrady Sizemore had an extended workout Wednesday at Progressive Field before the Indians' game with the Mariners.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Josh Tomlin will undergo a second MRI scan of his right wrist on Thursday. It will take place at Cleveland Clinic under the observation of hand specialist Dr. Tom Graham.

Tomlin has been wearing an immobilizer since last Saturday, the day he was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 8.

Results of the first MRI were inconclusive, Tomlin said. One reading had the problem as muscle-based; the other, as inflammation in the tendon area.

Tomlin thinks he suffered the injury May 7 against the White Sox in Cleveland. Dealing with rain in the last couple of innings, he was forced to grip the ball hard and had some pitches slip out of his hand.

"I didn't feel it on one particular pitch, but I felt it later that night and it never went away," he said. "I honestly don't know if it's gotten any better because I've been wearing the brace. I haven't been able to test it or anything. Hopefully, we'll have a better understanding."

While Tomlin said he is uncertain as to when he might return, he does not want to hear the word surgery. "That's not even in the question for right now -- at all," he said.

The discomfort is on the top of the wrist. "I've never had any kind of wrist issues whatsoever, which is why this is so frustrating," he said.

Holding pattern: As of late Wednesday afternoon, the Indians were awaiting results of an MRI scan on third baseman Jack Hannahan's lower back. Hannahan did not start for a third straight game.

Raffy throws: Lefty reliever Rafael Perez, who was placed on the 15-day DL on April 26 because of a strained left lat muscle, threw a bullpen session Wednesday.

"He did fine," manager Manny Acta said. Head trainer Lonnie Soloff will provide updates on injured players soon, likely Thursday or Friday.

The Lowe down: Right-hander Derek Lowe threw a career-high 127 pitches in a six-hit 5-0 victory over the Twins on Tuesday afternoon in Minnesota. Lowe's shutout featured 22 outs by ground balls: 18 grounders, four double plays.

According to MLB Network, Lowe and the Cardinals' Joel Pineiro are the only two pitchers since 2004 with 22 outs by ground balls in one start.

At 38 years, 349 days, Lowe became the fourth-oldest Indians pitcher since at least 1918 to throw a shutout. He followed Satchel Paige, Joe Heving and Dennis Martinez. Paige (two) and Martinez (six) had multiple shutouts after the age of 38.

Lowe walked four and struck out none, becoming the first Indian to throw a shutout without a strikeout since Dick "Dirt" Tidrow on July 14, 1973, at Minnesota. According to Elias, Lowe snapped a string of 214 starts without a shutout, which had been the fourth-longest active streak behind Freddy Garcia (247), Kevin Millwood (238) and Jeff Suppan (218).

Big-league Choo: Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo started his third straight game in the leadoff spot Wednesday against the Mariners and right-hander Felix Hernandez. In the first two, in Minnesota, Choo went 3-for-8 with a HBP and walk.

"I was expecting it because he's a natural on-base guy," Acta said.

Finally: Seattle left fielder and No. 8 hitter Mike Carp was a late scratch. Chone Figgins replaced him in both spots.

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

Derby runner-up Bodemeister retains favorite's role in Saturday's Preakness

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Kentucky Derby champion I'll Have Another is the second-favorite in the Preakness at 5-2.

baffert-preakness-2012-draw-mct.jpgView full sizeBob Baffert, trainer of Bodemeister, talks with reporters after post position drawing on Wednesday for Saturday's Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

BALTIMORE -- Just like in the Kentucky Derby, Bodemeister is the favorite in the Preakness.

This time, Bob Baffert intends to justify the odds.

Despite finishing second in the Derby, Bodemeister was installed as the 8-5 favorite for Saturday's second leg of the Triple Crown. The colt, trained by Bob Baffert, set the pace at Churchill Downs before being overtaken in the stretch by I'll Have Another, who won by 11/2 lengths.

I'll Have Another is the second-favorite in the Preakness at 5-2.

Baffert, a five-time Preakness winner, was delighted to receive the No. 7 post in the 11-horse field.

"With [Bodemeister], anything in the middle would be fine," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "With the Preakness, you just don't want to be stuck on the inside where you have to use your horse a little bit. The Derby winner drew really well, also."

I'll Have Another will start from the No. 9 post. The colt won the Derby out of the No. 19 post and will again be ridden by Mario Gutierrez.

"Anything with a nine in it, we feel very good about. We're cool with it," trainer Doug O'Neill said. "We talked about the possibility of being inside Bodemeister and really forcing our hand to push him early. Now it's in Mario's hands to still kind of push Bode, but we'll be on the outside of him."

Funny Cide was last to win from No. 9 in 2003, and Baffert's Lookin At Lucky was last to win from No. 7 in 2010.

Asked about having the second-favorite in the field despite winning the Derby, O'Neill said, "Bob Baffert has won five of these. I've never run a horse here. I totally respect that. I just hope anyone who bets Bodemeister is regretting it Saturday night."

A victory would give I'll Have Another the chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

"I'm confident," O'Neill said. "You never know. But as long as we continue to train like our horse is training, we won't be that far off Bodemeister. If anything Bodemeister might be behind us early."

The odds were set by Pimlico Race Course handicapper Frank Carulli. The field is the smallest since 2007, when Curlin beat Derby winner Street Sense in a nine-horse field.

Also entered are Tiger Walk (30-1), Teeth of the Dog (15-1), Pretension (30-1), Zetterholm (20-1), Went the Day Well (6-1), Creative Cause (6-1), Daddy Nose Best (12-1), Optimizer (30-1) and Cozzetti (30-1).

Creative Cause trainer Mike Harrington, whose horse finished fifth in the Derby, was delighted with the No. 6 post.

"I don't think it affects our running style," Harrington said. "With 11 in there, post position is not nearly as important as the Derby. The middle is great. You couldn't ask for anything better."

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has a long shot with Optimizer, but spoke optimistically after getting the No. 10 post.

"I love it. I love the horses inside of me," Lukas said. "I love the whole thing. If they gave me a pick, I would have picked that one. It turned out great. Every time they drew another one, it looked better."

Cleveland Indians drill Felix Hernandez, roll past Mariners, 9-3

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Ubaldo Jimenez scatters five hits over six innings and Choo, Hafner shine in rout of Seattle.

santana-airborne-tribe-mariners-cc.jpgView full sizeCarlos Santana goes airborne to score following a stolen base and throwing errors from Seattle's Jesus Montero and Chone Figgins on the same play to cap a four-run first inning Wednesday against Seattle at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For a second straight home start Wednesday night, Ubaldo Jimenez was the heavy on-paper underdog against his counterpart. For a second straight home start, Jimenez crumpled the paper and fired a four-seamer into the trash can.

Jimenez gave up three runs in six innings and the Tribe's offense pounded Felix Hernandez en route to a 9-3 victory at Progressive Field. Paid attendance: 12,092. New leadoff batter Shin-Soo Choo went 3-for-5 and Travis Hafner homered as the Indians won their third in a row. They are 21-16, first place in the AL Central.

Eric Wedge's Mariners (16-23, last in AL West) have lost three in a row and five of six.

On May 6, Jimenez lugged a 2-2 record and 5.02 ERA into a start against Rangers rookie sensation Yu Darvish, who was 4-0 with a 2.18 ERA. Jimenez threw seven shutout innings and defeated Darvish, 4-2.

Wednesday, Jimenez was 3-3, 5.18 entering a matchup with Hernandez, who was 3-2, 2.29. Jimenez rose to the occasion again with a performance even better than the numbers indicated.

"This was the best Ubaldo has thrown the ball so far [this year]," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "He was in command the whole time. He looked very confident out there."

Jimenez gave up five hits, walked two and struck out four in rebounding from a bad start in Boston.

"Ubaldo kept up his velocity and was able to use all his pitches," Acta said. "He looked relaxed and fluid with his delivery."

Jimenez got ahead of hitters and had good speed variance from his fastball to his breaking pitches. He threw 69 of 107 pitches for strikes.

"It's all about the mechanics," Jimenez said. "We've been working on them every single day. [Wednesday] I was able to use the adjustments more than I was the last outing. We're moving in a good way."

Indians hitters were comfortable, too. They tagged Hernandez for eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. In his previous start against the Indians, April 19 in Seattle, Hernandez gave up five hits, walked one and fanned 12 in eight innings of a no-decision.

Hernandez's streak of quality starts -- at least six runs, three or fewer earned runs -- against Cleveland ended at 10. It dated to July 2006.

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"Our offense had a very good approach against Felix," Acta said. "We wanted to be aggressive early in the count, and we were aggressive early."

The Indians led, 4-1, after one inning. The teams combined for four hits, two walks, two errors, a hit batsman, wild pitch, passed ball and stolen base.

Dustin Ackley led off the game with single to center. He eventually scored on a groundout.

Choo singled to right on Hernandez's first pitch. Jason Kipnis singled to right two pitches later, Choo stopping at second. Asdrubal Cabrera, in a 2-2 count, was hit in the right calf by a breaking pitch. During Hafner's at-bat, everybody moved up on a passed ball by Jesus Montero.

Hafner, in a protracted slump with runners in scoring position, ripped a grounder into the hole at second that Ackley snared. Even though the play went in the books as a 4-3, Hafner not only drove in a run but pushed Cabrera to third.

Carlos Santana walked. After Michael Brantley struck out, Johnny Damon came to the plate. With Damon in a 2-2 count, Progressive Field turned into a playground.

As Hernandez's pitch missed the zone, Santana took off on a delayed steal. Montero looked toward second, then third, where Cabrera was well off the bag. Montero double-clutched before firing the ball into left field.

Chone Figgins scooped cleanly, but his attempt to erase Cabrera at home eluded Montero. Santana, who had been hanging near second, channeled Kenny Lofton in the Kingdome in 1995 and never stopped running as Montero tracked the ball. Santana barely beat Hernandez's tag with a head-first slide for the 4-1 advantage.

Official scorer Bob Maver sorted it out thusly: SB, E-2, Cabrera scores; E-7, Santana scores. The Mariners entered with a 10-game errorless streak.

Seattle pulled within 4-3 in the third on Ackley's two-run homer to right.

The Tribe scored four more in the fourth, knocking out Hernandez in the process. Choo singled with one out, cruised to second on a wild pitch and scored on Kipnis's double to left-center. Kipnis went to third on a grounder and trotted home on Hafner's double. The Tribe's designated hitter snapped an 0-for-25 with RISP by belting a full-count off-speed pitch into right-center.

Santana doubled in Hafner and Brantley singled in Santana. Shawn Kelley relieved Hernandez and got the final out of the inning.

"When you get opportunities against a guy like [Hernandez], you've got to take advantage of them," Hafner said.

Hafner made it 9-3 with a homer on the first pitch from Hisashi Iwakuma to open the sixth. He moved past Al Rosen into eighth place on the club's all-time list with 193.

Jimenez gave way to Jeremy Accardo to begin the seventh. Accardo pitched a perfect seventh in his Tribe debut.

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

Urban Meyer doesn't hold back his concerns in releasing Ohio State football depth chart

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The Buckeyes unveiled their depth chart Wednesday, and Ohio State looks like about a 9-3 team for now, unless some magic happens.

OSU Scarlet and Gray game 2012View full size"They probably were the most unprepared group I'd ever dealt with as far as practice," OSU head coach Urban Meyer said of the Buckeyes wide receiving corps during spring drills.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer unveiled Ohio State's depth chart Wednesday, the guys he'll rely upon most come Sept. 1. He was reminded that, even in his first year, and after a 6-7 season in 2011 for the Buckeyes, some fans are talking 12-0.

Meyer scoffed. Then he smiled.

"Have a good day guys," he said to a room full of reporters, having answered the last question of a half-hour news conference. Then he walked away.

There's always the chance that Meyer's sly grin was masking a you-never-know attitude, but the more reasonable interpretation, especially when coupled with a look at a two-deep that brought few surprises, is that 12-0 talk is, obviously, nuts. But you probably can't throw a Buckeye in a crowded room in this state without hitting a fan who believes it.

But what we saw Wednesday was a 9-3 two-deep.

"Talent will get you about seven, eight wins," Meyer said. "Discipline pushes it to nine wins, maybe. Then when you get leadership, that's when magic starts happening."

The non-conference schedule -- four home games with Miami University, Central Florida, Cal and Alabama-Birmingham -- is pretty light. But between road trips to Michigan State, Penn State and Wisconsin, and home games with Nebraska, Purdue and Wisconsin, bumps will appear.

Spring practice brought some glimpses of that magic, with Meyer citing improvements on the offensive line and quarterback depth, but that is like pulling a quarter from behind an ear. No one is sawing the woman in half yet.

For instance, the line. The emergence of early-enrolled true freshman Taylor Decker at right tackle, where Meyer said Decker is pushing converted tight end Reid Fragel hard for the starting spot "makes your offensive line functional. I would put them as non-functional in January, and then functional after spring practice."

He also called starting center Corey Linsley's improvement the biggest offensive surprise of the spring.

The receivers had Devin Smith, Philly Brown and the injured Evan Spencer as the starters, with spring game star Michael Thomas (12 catches, 131 yards) on the second team when it seemed starting was possible. But the receivers as a group, "they're not functional," Meyer said. "The good things is I think we have enough talent to make some improvements and be very functional by the fall."

But then Meyer did what he does so often, putting a coda of praise on a slight, or ending a compliment with a reminder of the problems. If someone did saw a woman in half, he might tell everyone about the secret compartment.

"They probably were the most unprepared group I'd ever dealt with as far as practice," Meyer said of those receivers. He has found different ways to question that position all spring, but this was a new one, part of a campaign so far of sometimes brutally honest assessments that most are still getting used to.

There's no coaching until August, so Meyer said the onus is on his leaders, like quarterbacks Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton, to get their teammates ready.

"[They] have to get our passing game in order for August," Meyer said. "That's a tall task, because it's not very good right now. If they do that, and I understand they are doing that, we have a chance. It not, no chance."

The defense should give the Buckeyes their best chance, with two potential first-round draft choices on the line in John Simon and Johnathan Hankins. Sophomore Michael Bennett worked with the first team most of spring, but is listed as a second-teamer. Meyer, though, singled out Bennett as his defensive surprise and said he very likely is one of the best four defensive linemen. So Bennett will play a lot.

So, too, may defensive end Nathan Williams, who is rehabbing from microfracture knee surgery, running in the pool for now. He's listed as a co-starter with Adam Bellamy, but if he's anywhere close to his old self, Williams will make a difference. Meyer said he may be one of the team's best defenders, "so we need to get him back."

Another winner on defense was sophomore cornerback Doran Grant, who earned a co-starter spot with Travis Howard. That's a move up for Grant, and worth watching. Because while there are incoming freshmen -- defensive end Noah Spence especially, though Meyer also mentioned linebackers David Perkins and Jamal Marcus and offensive lineman Kyle Dodson -- who could earn playing time, this depth chart is real.

"Our focus in August is not developing a depth chart," Meyer said. "It's trying to go win a game."

With this depth chart, the Buckeyes should win their fair share of them. But not at all. Unless that magic wand works overtime.

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