Glenville product Terrell Gausha returned to Cleveland one last time before embarking on his pursuit of Olympic gold in London.

View full sizeLonnie Timmons III, The Plain DealerBack in Ohio after qualifying for this summer's Olympic Games in London, middleweight boxer Terrell Gausha got some work in at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center in East Cleveland on Wednesday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two days after Terrell Gausha returned to Cleveland, which was two days after he captured the middleweight title of the AIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which came three days after he learned he'd qualified for the 2012 London Olympics, Gausha was back to work.

Back at Martin Luther King Recreation Center in East Cleveland. Back sparring against the guys he grew up with. Back listening to trainer Renard Safo instruct him on how to move and hit and adjust.

There's no rest for Gausha. Not now. Not with his dream so close.

The 24-year-old Glenville product didn't turn pro after he won the 2009 USA Boxing National Championships because he had dreams of earning an Olympic medal in 2012. He nearly lost his chance at the dream when he drifted away from the sport when troubled by life demands soon after he captured that national title.

But when Gausha sensed the smallest opening to earn a ticket to London a year ago, he renewed his work ethic and pounced.

"I felt like God had given me another chance, and I wanted to take full advantage of it," he said.

Gausha's non-traditional route to the Olympics came when the 165-pound Olympic Trials champ Jesse Hart faltered in last year's AIBA World Championships. That meant the 165-pound slot was up for grabs. In the 64-man tournament in March, Gausha won six bouts in seven days, including the final against Hart, on a double-tiebreaker.

That victory gave Gausha the invitation to the Americas qualifier, which is where he finally secured his Olympics slot.

On Wednesday, Gausha was sparring with longtime friend Prenice Brewer, a 16-1 pro who also was the 2005 National Golden Gloves featherweight champion. The two endured three rounds as a couple dozen spectators crowded around the ring to watch the Olympic representative land punch after punch on the professional fighter.

It was one last chance to see Gausha in his hometown before he embarks on his journey to fulfill his dream.

"He's got the skill, he's got the talent, he's got a nice jab," said Safo, the boxer's longtime trainer. "He's gonna get the gold."

He likes the current system, and worried about the workload in a four-team playoff, but Urban Meyer understands why the BCS is changing.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerOhio Stadium won't likely be hosting a national playoff game in the new playoff system, and Urban Meyer is fine with that.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Taking part in a playoff he doesn't particularly like is a problem Urban Meyer would take.

"I just hope we're one of the teams that has to deal with it," Meyer said Wednesday.

The current BCS model will change with the 2014 season, with a four-team playoff almost assured, but Meyer remains a playoff opponent and backer of the system that is on its last legs, around for just two more seasons.

"I'll probably get in trouble for saying this, but I think the ideal setup is what we've had the last decade of football," Meyer said. "I can understand why [the change] is happening, but I was not one of the screamers or yellers saying it was broke before."

Ohio State certainly could be a title contender in the last year of the current model in 2013 (quarterback Braxton Miller's junior year) or in the first year of the four-team playoff in 2014 (Miller's senior year).

Meyer is worried about the workload and turnaround for coaches and players in a four-team playoff, imagining a scenario after the regular season of preparing not just for a semifinal opponent but for both potential championship opponents as well.

"I have a shot, I'm in the top four, I kill my coaches now," Meyer said.

He admitted that as the coach of undefeated Utah in 2004, he was for a playoff because it was the only championship access that team would have had. Now, he's resigned to fans driving the desire for a playoff. He doesn't want campus home games in the semifinals, preferring neutral sites. Big Ten athletic directors adopted the same stance this week.

"I'm not sure about having a brisk December game in Columbus and having a southern team come up and play," Meyer said. "Southern teams I coached, that would have been a problem."

Recruiting react: By NCAA rule, Meyer can't speak about specific recruits until they sign with the Buckeyes. But he did generally address the loss of Pennsylvania linebacker Alex Anzalone, who rescinded his oral pledge to the Buckeyes two weeks ago after an OSU fan who is a registered sex offender took a photo with Anzalone during an unofficial visit.

Meyer said he found out about the situation after he got off a plane, and he was glad that Ohio State acted quickly, sending a warning e-mail to its athletes to avoid contact with the fan, who was also contacting players and coaches on Twitter.

"It's alarming," Meyer said. "The first thing you think about is the safety of the players and safety of the university."

Meyer said he can't spend time worrying about the lost recruit, but "it's the stories that you have no control over that are the most bothersome, and that, obviously, we had no control over."

Buckeye notes: Meyer said senior fullback Zach Boren has dropped 12 pounds and will carry the ball as part of the offense, after serving as a blocking back for three years. Meyer wants to find ways to use Boren, who has one career carry, since his spread offense doesn't use a traditional fullback. "He will see the ball. He's a much better runner than I thought," Meyer said. ... Defensive lineman Chris Carter is on the two-deep as a space-eating nose tackle after arriving as an offensive lineman. The switch to defense, which occurred halfway through spring practice, will stick. "If he can get in shape, he'll play here," Meyer said. "If he can't, no chance." ... Ohio State basketball forward J.D. Weatherspoon, who announced after the season that he would transfer, has officially decided that he will attend Toledo.

On a journey of 26.2 miles, knowing what's ahead and how best to distribute your energy can make a world of difference.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerThe adrenaline will be pumping in the first mile, but don't get too aggressive if your goal is to finish this weekend's marathon or half-marathon with a smile on your face.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Just as you wouldn't start driving without knowing where you're going, you don't want to take on the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon without a plan.

Take it from someone who's had both good and bad races. On a journey of 26.2 miles, knowing what's ahead and how best to distribute your energy can make a world of difference.

One of the biggest mistakes new marathoners make is starting out too fast. Between adrenaline, tapering and crowd support, it's all too easy to gun it. But those energy sources are short-lived. Marathons get exponentially harder after mile 13, just where crowds in Cleveland start to fade. Be smart. Save up for a long, solitary haul.

• Check out Zachary Lewis' course assessment

Take comfort in the fact that Cleveland is basically a flat course. In terms of elevation, the race ends where it begins. Still, there are hills, and both full and half-marathon runners need to be ready for them. Hotspots include West Third Street, the West Shoreway entrance ramp, Willey Avenue in Tremont and the Hope Memorial Bridge.

Give these spans the respect they deserve. Take it easy on the ascents and make up time running faster downhill and taking the tangents, straight lines around corners and curves.

Another pitfall: racing. Unless you're elite, what other runners are doing is no concern of yours. Don't make the mistake of letting someone else set your tempo. That is, unless you want the help. In which case, find and stick with a pace group.

Don't try anything funny, either. Race day is not the time to sport a new shirt, break in a fresh pair of shoes or suddenly deprive yourself of music. Yes, headphones are legal these days. Same goes for food and drink. Only consume products your system is familiar with. You do want to eat and drink, though. After many years of running marathons, I've learned not to wait for pangs of hunger or thirst. By then, it's too late.

I would say remember to have fun. But that's too glib. Better, more practical advice is to keep your head in the moment and avoid thinking about how far you have left to run. Otherwise, you open the door to impatience and all its ugly companions.

Lastly, for everyone's sake, take your proper place at the start line. Unless you're running five- or low six-minute miles, you shouldn't stand at the front.

Forget being considerate. Think of it as race strategy. Getting mowed down the whole first mile may be the worst possible start to what should be the most glorious day of your life.

Matt LaPorta hits his 11th homer of the season to help lead the Columbus Clippers to an International League win over Syracuse.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 6, Chiefs 2 Matt LaPorta, Russ Canzler and Ezequiel Carrera each socked home runs, and Columbus beat visiting Syracuse in an International League game. LaPorta's solo shot in the fifth inning was his 11th of the season. Carrera had four RBI for the night. Starter Chris Seddon (4-2) struck out seven in 6-1/3 innings and picked up the win. Lefty Frank Herrmann, pitching in a non-save situation, struck out the side in the ninth, although he also walked a batter and gave up a hit.

Notes: After Herrmann walked a batter in the ninth to put runners on first and second with no one out, Columbus manager Mike Sarbaugh was ejected by home plate umpire Travis Carlson.

AA Akron Aeros

SeaWolves 2, Aeros 1 Right fielder Thomas Neal stroked a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning for Akron's only run in a loss at home to Erie (Pa.) in an Eastern League game. The SeaWolves slugged two solo home runs. TJ McFarland (4-3) was the hard-luck loser. The lefty starter gave up just three hits and no runs in seven innings.

Notes: Akron left fielder Jared Goedert followed up his 4-for-4 performance Tuesday with a 3-for-4 effort. Goedert had a triple in the sixth to go along with a pair of singles, and raised his average to a league-best .395.

Advanced A Carolina Mudcats

Red Sox 5, Mudcats 4 Carolina scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but its late rally wasn't enough in a loss to Salem (Va.) in the Carolina League game. Will Roberts (1-2), gave up three runs (two earned) and eight hits in 4-2/3 innings and was tagged with the loss.

Notes: First baseman Jesus Aguilar was 3-for-5 and is hitting .312 in 125 at-bats.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 5, Silver Hawks 2 Zach MacPhee cleared the bases with a triple and Lake County scored four times in the fourth inning, and won a Midwest League game at South Bend, Ind. Left-handed starter Shawn Morimando (1-0) pitched five innings, scattered four hits and allowed one earned run. He walked one and struck out six.

Notes: The Captains won their fifth straight and are over .500 (20-19) for the first time since April 10. . . . Shortstop Francisco Lindor was 2-for-5 with a double and is hitting .322 in 149 at-bats. Lindor was the Indians' first-round draft choice in 2011.

     Jake Lark enjoyed one of those days.      The North Royalton senior pitcher was in control all the way, as the Bears knocked off Strongsville, 2-0, in a Division I district semifinal in Strongsville on Wednesday. The Bears (19-8) will meet St. Ignatius today at 4:30 p.m. 

     Jake Lark enjoyed one of those days. 

    The North Royalton senior pitcher was in control all the way, as the Bears knocked off Strongsville, 2-0, in a Division I district semifinal in Strongsville on Wednesday. The Bears (19-8) will meet St. Ignatius today at 4:30 p.m. 

    Lark limited the Mustangs (20-4) to six hits. He pitched out of a two-on, no-out situation in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the shutout. 

    North Royalton, which had lost twice to Northeast Ohio Conference rival Strongsville during the regular season, scored both runs in the third inning. Senior Nolan Burger opened with a single, moved to second on a bunt and scored on a double by senior Brandon Garnet. Senior Mark Hren singled home the second run. 

  Mayfield 4, Willoughby South 2 Pitcher Matt Iosue had a perfect game through six innings, as the Tigers (22-4) won the Division I district semifinal in Euclid. Iosue finished with a two-hitter. 

    Mayfield will play Mentor for the district title. 

Softball 

  Lake Catholic 4, Conneaut 0 Senior Bonnie Zappitelli threw her fourth no-hitter of the season, striking out 14, and the Cougars (23-4) won the Division II district final in Jefferson. She helped her cause by singling in the game's first run in the third inning. 

    Nikki Highey drove in two runs, while Katlyn Stahar had the other RBI. 

    Alexis Zappitelli, Bonnie's cousin, pitched a complete game for the Spartans.  

Columbia 3, Independence 2 Sarah Viccarone doubled with two outs and Heather Wallaszewski singled her home in the bottom of the ninth to give the Raiders (15-9) the Division III district semifinal win in North Ridgeville.  

Archbishop Hoban 4, Springfield 1 Kate Boylan pitched a two-hitter, as the Knights won the Division II district final in Navarre. 

Kirtland 10, Berkshire 0 The top-seeded Hornets (19-4) scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning on their way to winning the Division III district semifinal in Jefferson. They will play Champion for the district title. 

Track 

 Lakewood District After four events, St. Ignatius leads the boys division with 48 points. The Wildcats posted wins by senior Keith Carmichael in the pole vault (13-3) and the 4x800 relay. 

    After three girls events, Normandy has 32 points after senior Marissa Hellisz won the high jump (4-11) and senior Grace Rapnicki took the shot put (36-10). Magnificat won the 4x800 relay and has 27 points. 

    The meet continues Friday at 4 p.m. 

Mentor District Mentor and West Geauga are tied at 18 points after three girls events. Euclid is second with 17. 

    Through four events, Riverside leads with 22 points, followed by Chardon at 18 and Eastlake North with 16. The meet continues Friday. 

Austintown District Aurora leads the girls side after three events with 22 points, as senior Jessica Baker won the high jump at 5-2. Kent Roosevelt won the 4x800 relay to stand fifth, with 10 points. 

    Host Austintown has 30 points in the boys division. Kenston won the 4x800 relay and is in third place with 18 points.The meet continues Friday.  

Independence District Through four events, Gilmour Academy leads the Division III girls meet with 27 points, Trinity is next at 23.5. Cuyahoga Heights has 33 points for the boys' lead, with Trinity holding second place at 28 points. 

  HUDSON, Ohio -- Brunswick pitcher Brandon Kutrubs hit it right on the mark after the Blue Devils' 2-1 win against Highland in the District I semifinals at the Ballpark at Hudson on Wednesday night. 

Brunswick's Brandon Kutrubs (3) slides into Highland catcher Grant Loeding (2) at home to score the first run in the second inning as the Brunswick Blue Devils play Highland High School Hornets in the Division I district semifinal baseball game, Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at Hudson High School ballpark in Hudson, Ohio. Brunswick beat Highland 2-1 - (Peggy Turbett, The Plain Dealer)

HUDSON, Ohio -- Brunswick pitcher Brandon Kutrubs hit it right on the mark after the Blue Devils' 2-1 win against Highland in the District I semifinals at the Ballpark at Hudson on Wednesday night. 

    "Coach told us before the game, 'This is playoff baseball, and runs don't come easy,' " he said. 

    The Blue Devils, 23-4, had just four hits against Highland ace Jacob Pries, and although they won and advance to tonight's final against Hudson, a 6-3 winner against Twinsburg, it was anything but pretty. 

    Pries loaded the bases with no outs. Gerry Salisbury hit a fly ball to right field that was caught for an out. The throw to home wasn't bad, but the ball was dropped and Kutrubs scored the Blue Devils' first run. It seemed to rattle Pries -- his next pitch was wild and the Blue Devils got another run. 

    "I expected a good baseball game, and it is exactly what we got," Kutrubs said. "It's been the story of our senior year. It's been a special season. We caught some breaks tonight." 

    Kutrubs, who is now 9-0, said he gained confidence with each pitch thanks to his catcher, Tyler Greiner. 

     "We have a lot of fun out there," Kutrubs said. "We have been together so long that he makes my pitching special. We work well with each other." 

    Highland ends its season at 22-6. 

    Top-seeded host Hudson continued its trek toward a goal of getting head coach Chuck Shilling to regional action for the first time since 2001, when it downed crosstown rival and sixth seed Twinsburg, 6-3. 

    And while they just smile when asked about it, the team seems to be on a mission since Shilling is retiring after 37 years of coaching. 

    The Explorers, 22-4, found themselves down, 2-0, after an inning, but they got the boost they needed with a six-run second. Jimmy Kennedy provided the clutch runs Hudson needed with his two hits and RBI. 

    "That inning exemplified the way we have played all year," Shilling said. 

    The real key to Hudson's win was Brian Malerick, now 10-0, and his mastery on the mound. Malerick was all over the place and gave up seven walks, but in 4  innings, he allowed just two hits and proved he was a gamer. 

    "I want to credit the offense for picking me up and scoring the runs," Malerick said. 

    Twinsburg made a game of it in the sixth inning, but Hudson reliever Chris Andrus was able to fend off the rally. 

    "When you are in the district semifinals, you can't make mistakes. They were the better team today," said Twinsburg coach Don Jones. 

Matt Pawlikowski is a freelance writer in Cleveland. 

The U.S. Open Cup, which bears the name of the Crew's late owner, Lamar Hunt, is one of the oldest continuously running cup competitions in the world and is open to any team under the U.S. Soccer umbrella, from amateur beer league teams to the very best of Major League Soccer.

Columbus CrewThe Columbus Crew won their first major trophy in 2002 when they helped Lamar Hunt win the tournament that bares his name.

For over a decade, the Fire's PDL team has been one of the best amateur teams in the country. They regularly send players to the next level to compete in MLS, overseas and in some cases, the US National Team. 

The Dutch Lions are a relatively new third division pro team. They began play in 2010 and have yet to win an Open Cup game in their two appearances. A win by the Lions on Tuesday would mark the first time that two teams from Ohio will play each other in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present). 

The U.S. Open Cup, which bears the name of the Crew's late owner, Lamar Hunt, is one of the oldest continuously running cup competitions in the world and is open to any team under the U.S. Soccer umbrella. Teams can be anything from amateur beer league teams to the very best of Major League Soccer. The tournament is a single-elimination, March Madness-style tournament and Columbus is one of eight MLS teams to lift the trophy when they defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 at Crew Stadium back in 2002. Most recently, they reached the championship game in 2010, but lost to the Seattle Sounders, 2-1, in front of a record crowd of 31,311 in Seattle. 

With the tournament open to any team, fans would be surprised to know that there are only three amateur teams from Ohio who have even attempted to qualify for the competition since 1995. This year, the Cincy Saints became the first Ohio South team to enter, but they lost badly in the USASA Region II qualifying tournament. Prior to that, only Ohio North clubs Cleveland Kickers (1999) and Irish American SC (2005) have ever signed up.

2012 U.S. Open Cup Second Round schedule (Tuesday, May 22):

17. Michigan Bucks (PDL) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO): Chartiers Valley Stadium; Bridgeville, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

18. Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

19. Cal FC (USASA) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO): Legion Sports Complex; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET

20. PSA Elite (USASA) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET

21. Fresno Fuego (PDL) at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL): Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

22. K.C. Athletics (USASA) at Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

23. Reading United AC (PDL) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET

24. Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO): Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.; 7:35 p.m. ET

25. Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Jacksonville United (NPSL): Patton Park; Jacksonville, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET

26. Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SportsPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET

27. Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL): RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET

28. Laredo Heat (PDL) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

29. Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 6 p.m. CT

30. Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL): Valley Stadium; Des Moines, Iowa; 7:30 p.m. CT

31. Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at El Paso Patriots (PDL): Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 8 p.m. MT

32. Ventura County Fusion (PDL) at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO): Titan Stadium, Cal-State Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT

at Laredo Heat (PDL): Texas A&M IU Soccer Complex; Laredo, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
OR
at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

Chicago Fire (MLS) 
at Michigan Bucks (PDL): Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO): Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.; 7:30 p.m. CT

Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
vs K.C. Athletics (USASA)/Orlando City (USL PRO): LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT

D.C. United (MLS) 
at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET
OR
vs Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SoccerPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Columbus Crew (MLS)
vs Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO)/Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio; 7:30 p.m. ET

FC Dallas (MLS)
vs Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO)/El Paso Patriots (PDL): FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
vs Fresno Fuego (PDL)/Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL): Cagan Stadium, Stanford University; Stanford, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT

Philadelphia Union (MLS)
vs Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)/Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO): PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET

New England Revolution (MLS)
vs Long Island Rough Riders (PDL): TBD; Time TBD
OR
at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Hershey Park Stadium; Hershey, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

New York Red Bulls (MLS)
vs Reading United AC (PDL): Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.; 7 p.m. ET
OR
at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Chivas USA (MLS)
vs Ventura County Fusion (PDL); TBD; Time TBD
OR
at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO): Titan Stadium, Cal State Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif.; 7 p.m.

Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
vs PSA Elite (USASA): The Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT
OR
at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET

Colorado Rapids (MLS) 
at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL): Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
vs Jacksonville United (NPSL): Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.; 7 p.m. MT

Portland Timbers (MLS)
vs Cal FC (USASA): JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:30 p.m. PT
OR
at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO): Legion Sports Park; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET

Seattle Sounders (MLS) 
at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL): Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Atlanta, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
vs Georgia Revolution (NPSL): Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.; 7 p.m. PT

Real Salt Lake (MLS) 
at Minnesota Stars FC (NASL): National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.; 7:30 p.m. CT
OR
vs Des Moines Menace (PDL): Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah; 7 p.m. MT

Indians' 12:05 p.m. home game against Seattle is on radio only.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

AUTO RACING

8 p.m. Sprint Cup, Pit Crew Challenge (tape), Speed Channel

BASEBALL

10:35 a.m. LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS at South Bend, AM/1330

12:05 p.m. Seattle at INDIANS, AM/1100

7 p.m. Boston at Tampa Bay, MLBN

8 p.m. Philadelphia at Chicago Cubs, WGN

COLLEGE BASEBALL

1 p.m. Seton Hall vs. St. Johns, CBSSN

7:30 p.m. Minnesota at Illinois, BTN

7:30 p.m. Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt, ESPNU

CYCLING

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

GOLF

8 a.m. Volvo World Match Play, Golf Channel,

12:30 p.m. BMW Charity Pro-Am, Golf Channel

3 p.m. Byron Nelson Championship, Golf Channel

6:30 p.m. Sybase Match Play Championship (tape), Golf Channel

HOCKEY

6 a.m. World Championships, quarterfinals, NBCSN

NBA PLAYOFFS

7 p.m. Miami at Indiana, ESPN

9:30 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio, ESPN

NHL PLAYOFFS

8 p.m. conference finals, teams to be determined, NBCSN

Could Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another produce another Cinderella finish for owner J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill?

AP Photo/Garry JonesI'll Have Another, winner of the Kentucky Derby, gallops under exercise rider Johnny Garcia at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., Wednesday, May 16, 2012. The Preakness horse race will take place Saturday at Pimlico.

The Triple Crown is a magical mystery tour for 3-year-old thoroughbreds.

The mandatory first step to winning the Triple Crown is to capture the Kentucky Derby. I’ll Have Another did that — and as a 15-1 long shot with a Kentucky Derby rookie aboard, jockey Mario Gutierrez. The chestnut colt won from the No. 19 slot in the starting gate, the first horse to do that in 138 tries at Churchill Downs. His owner paid only $11,000 for him as a yearling.

Could the big colt produce another Cinderella finish for owner J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill?

Racing experts seem unsure whether the son of the unheralded Flower Alley has the firepower to add victories in Saturday’s 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes, or the longer 1½-mile Belmont Stakes on June 9.

On Saturday, race fans will have to decide what is more fun: cheering for a well-regarded favorite such as Bodemeister, or for the unlikely Kentucky Derby champ.

For Northeast Ohio fans, there is another choice. Youngstown’s Bruce Zoldan has a big piece of Went the Day Well as a member of Team Valor International, and he also co-owned last year’s Derby-winning horse, Animal Kingdom. Went the Day Well charged to a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and could benefit from the smaller Preakness field.

Trainer O’Neill believes I’ll Have Another has the heart — and the stamina. All he needs is a little luck when the starting gate opens on Saturday.

Thistledown is opening its doors Saturday at 10 a.m. for the Preakness program from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, which kicks off at 10:45 a.m. The live thoroughbred racing at Thistledown begins at 1:50 p.m.

Seats in Silks clubhouse’s dining room can be reserved, with the Winking Lizard Tavern grilling trackside.

Rock ’n’ roll tribute band Cold Blue Steele is on the trackside stage from 1 to 4 p.m. Racing secretary Bill Couch and race analyst Rich Ruda have a handicapping seminar at 12:15 p.m. The Triple Crown Super Handicapping Contest continues with the Preakness Stakes.

Saturday at Northfield: Northfield Park doesn’t offer live racing on the three Saturdays when Triple Crown races are held, but the track has the full program beamed from Pimlico. Northfield opens the gates at 9:45 a.m., with coffee and doughnuts for a buck. Every fan older than 18 gets a free Preakness Stakes Handicapping Challenge entry form, with the top handicapper winning $1,000. There will also be prize drawings throughout the afternoon.

The big winner in the $5,000 Kentucky Derby Contest was William Henry of Strongsville, who randomly drew I’ll Have Another.

Big betting day: Northfield Park officials said race fans may not have had the chance to watch live trotting and pacing on Kentucky Derby day, but they were wagering on the simulcast action. Fans bet $677,141 throughout the day, a 16.5 percent jump, and collected $780,441 in winnings, a 15 percent return.

The big winners of the day were bettors from Lyndhurst and Shaker Heights, who nailed the superfecta combination in the Kentucky Derby. Boosted by winner I’ll Have Another’s $32.60 payoff, their $1 superfecta tickets were each worth $48,046.

Northfield leaders: Ryan Stahl (139 wins) is still atop the driver’s standings at Northfield Park, followed by Tyler Smith (115) and Aaron Merriman (95). Top trainers are Kevin Ehrhardt (24), Calvin Hollar (23) and Jim Otto (21).

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

degan@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

No doubt, James has failed to come through in big moments, and he is still championship-free. But every loss becomes tied to that storyline, whether it fits or not.

AP PhotoMiami coach Erik Spoelstra told LeBron James he 'cannot get tired.' And, apparently, he wasn't kidding. (AP Photo)

From now until whenever the Miami Heat win an NBA championship, every game this team plays in the postseason will fall into one of two categories: Either they’ll win, like they’re supposed to do, or they’ll lose and it’ll be entirely LeBron James’ fault.

We saw this in Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers. James, no question, blew an opportunity by clanging a pair of free throws with 54 seconds remaining and his team down by just one point. And James was not involved in Miami’s two final possessions.

Thus, the logic that has been repeatedly floated in the wake of the Heat’s loss on Tuesday is part of the same music we’ve heard for years now—LeBron James can’t finish, he will shrink when the moment is biggest.

This is getting a little ridiculous. No doubt, James has failed to come through in big moments, and he is still championship-free. But every loss becomes tied to that storyline, whether it fits or not. If the Heat don’t win, there’s another notch on the James-can’t-come-through belt.

Remember, though, James is part of Miami’s Big Three, and another member of that group, Chris Bosh, is out indefinitely with an abdominal injury. The other, Dwyane Wade, was 8-for-22 in Game 2 with 24 points, six rebounds and four assists. James was better, going 10-for-22, with 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists, plus six steals, while playing out of position in place of Bosh.

Yet the Game 2 loss comes back to James, again and again, despite the fact that his teammates shot just 30.4 percent from the field, and despite the fact that his coach, Erik Spoelstra, did not do nearly enough to adjust to the Pacers’ ability to match small lineup vs. small lineup, especially in the third quarter, when Indiana took control of the game.

Yes, he missed the free throws. But he also played 43 minutes, including the entire second half. In Game 1, Spoelstra told James he “cannot get tired, period.” In Game 2, Spoelstra showed he wasn’t kidding.

It’s really difficult to argue how the Heat handled their final two possessions, even if James did not take the shots, as so many argue he should have. It’s a fallacy that shots in the clutch should all be taken by the team’s top player—no, those shots should be high-percentage shots, no matter who’s taking them.

With 16.8 seconds to go, on a play called for him, Wade had gotten around Pacers guard George Hill, and had a pretty good look at a layup. It was not an easy attempt, but it was the kind of shot for which Wade is paid a max salary to make. That would have tied the game. He missed it.

Why aren’t we wondering what the heck is wrong with Wade? Why aren’t we wondering why he couldn’t close against Indiana? Is it because he already has a championship ring, one he won six years ago? Wade is every bit as much to blame—more so, if you look at the game in its entirety—as James for the Game 2 loss to the Pacers.

Mario Chalmers took the final shot, and Spoelstra was absolutely right to have Chalmers take it. It was not an ideal play set-up—Chalmers had to put the ball on the floor and fire a contested 3—but Chalmers has been the team’s most reliable perimeter shooter, and with the Heat trailing by three points, it made far more sense for him to be shooting rather than James, who is at 25.9 percent from the 3-point line in the postseason.

Now, as the teams get ready for Game 3, the Heat are in the unexpected position of needing at least a split to come back to Miami with homecourt advantage. As poorly as they played in Game 2, the Heat did have a chance for the win, and Spoelstra has to find some encouragement in that. Of course, judging by the reaction, one might assume James had an awful outing in Game 2.

He didn’t, and Miami doesn’t need more from him going forward—they need more from everyone else, starting with Wade.

-- Sean Deveney, Sporting News

This column originally appeared on SportingNews.com

"The Tribe attacked tonite rather than waiting for something to happen. Choo hits the first pitch and the rest of the lineup was ready to swing the bats. Whether they knew the opposing pitcher only walked 16 vs 58 Ks this year or not they were ready to hit. Coming back after a long Seattle half of the first and how many dirt galls by Jiminez was great to see." - captain67

View full sizeAP Photo/Amy SancettaShin-Soo Choo set the pace last night for the Tribe.

"The Tribe attacked tonite rather than waiting for something to happen. Choo hits the first pitch and the rest of the lineup was ready to swing the bats. Whether they knew the opposing pitcher only walked 16 vs 58 Ks this year or not they were ready to hit. Coming back after a long Seattle half of the first and how many dirt galls by Jiminez was great to see."

The Indiana Pacers have the momentum going into tonight's game against the Miami Heat.

AP PhotoDavid West

Game 3 of the series between the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat is tonight at 7 p.m. The series is tied 1-1 and the Pacers, after winning Game 2 in Miami, have the momentum.

But will it matter since the Heat have the MVP in LeBron James and one of the better players in the league in Dwayne Wade?

The Pacers don't have the stars like the Heat, but the Pacers have been scrappy all season. They have a better inside game than the Heat (see David West) and a stronger bench.

But will that be enough to defeat LBJ and D-Wade?

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Who Dey Fans, Wahoo's On First and Right Down Euclid.

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

Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain DealerIs Brandon Weeden really a bad investment for the Browns?

"As I stated after the draft, the selection of Brandon Weeden was a terrible investment in my opinion and really hurt their draft. Blaming Colt McCoy for the offense was silly because he simply had no weapons around him. Greg Little led all receivers with 709 yds. I expect Weeden to be no better than McCoy and eventually just another entry on a long list of failed QBs in Cleveland.

Two other notable moves involve trying to improve the run-stopping ability of the defensive line by drafting DT John Hughes and DE Frostee Rucker. Hughes will be a good rotational player. (The Browns took him six spots ahead of Brandon Thompson, but I think the Bengals got the better player.)"

"To put this into proper perspective, the Phillies lead the majors in attendance with an average of 44,999 per game or 103 percent of Citizens Bank Park’s capacity. That’s right, the Phillies are filling their stadium over the listed maximum. Rounding out the top five are the Rangers (43,448), Cardinals (42,118), Giants (41,527), and Yankees (40,710). And don’t be fooled into thinking that only the “big market” teams in contention on a yearly basis are making the Indians’ attendance figures look bad. The league average is around 30,000 per game. The Twins are averaging 33,000-plus despite their awful start and the Brewers upwards of 35,000.

So what gives? Why are Clevelanders avoiding the Indians like the plague? How can a community that has long thought of itself as one of the best sports cities in America turn in such pathetic attendance figures? After all, this is the same fan base that once sold out the very same stadium for 455 straight games."

AP Photo/Tony DejakKyrie Irving has made many fans forget LeBron James.

"But as cynical and pessimistic that Cleveland fans have grown over the years, why should we believe that Irving is going to be “that player” who can do something that LeBron James couldn’t? Why should Cleveland fans believe that Irving isn’t committed to the Cavaliers past the 2014-15 season?

My answer to those nagging questions that will leave Cavalier fans restless until Irving signs another (hopefully longterm) contract with Cleveland was formulated just by comparing what I saw James do on the court in the 2003-04 season and what I saw Irving this season. Irving wants to at some point become the best point guard in the league, but how he plans to do that is what gives me hope for the future of the organization."

The Indians look to take their two-game series against the Mariners this afternoon. First pitch is at 12:05 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Paul Hoynes, @hoynsie.

The Indians look to take their two-game series against the Mariners this afternoon. First pitch is at 12:05 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.

View full sizeAP Photo/Amy SancettaThe Indians look to take their two-game series with the Seattle Mariners this afternoon after winning last night, 9-3.

Join Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Glenn Moore, along with Mary Kay Cabot live at noon to discuss the latest Browns news, including the status of defensive tackle Phil Taylor. Bud Shaw is off today.

Watch PD Sports Insider live at noon every Monday and Thursday on cleveland.com

Note: To turn off audio alerts in the chatroom, click on the round button on bottom left of the chat room, then preferences. Uncheck all audio options and save.

About the show: PD Sports Insider airs live every Monday and Thursday at noon. Co-hosted by Bud Shaw, Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Glenn Moore, the show features a timely and lively debate of the biggest sports topics of the day and gives readers a chance to interact directly with PD sportswriters and columnists.

Viewers have to the opportunity to ask questions and post comments in a live chat room during the show. They can also email their video questions during the week.

Asdrubal Cabrera, coming off a career season in 2011, entered Thursday's game against the Mariners hitting .325.

Associated PressAsdrubal Cabrera has started the season is good fashion.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The quieter the better for shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.

"That's me," he said. "I'm the kind of guy who like everything to be quiet."

Quiet, but not unproductive. Cabrera entered Thursday's game against Seattle leading the Indians with a .325 batting average. He leads the team with 17 multi-hit games and is hitting .350 (21-for-60) with two homers and nine RBI in May.

Manager Manny Acta says this isn't a carry over from Cabrera's breakout season of 2011 when he hit .273 (165-for-604) with 87 runs, 32 doubles, three triples, 25 homers and 92 RBI.

"Asdrubal is a good hitter, period," said Acta. "He just hit a lot of home runs and drove in a lot of runs last year. He has a chance to be a .300 hitter or even a .280 hitter with 15 to 20 homers every years in the this league. He's that good.

"The only reason he didn't hit in 2010 was because he had a broken forearm."

Cabrera's numbers are solid across the board: he ranks seventh in the American League
in batting average, third in on base percentage and fourth with men on base.

"His season was louder last year because he'd never hit that many home runs," said Acta. "All the attention went to the power numbers, but he's doing what we want him to do. His on base percentage and hitting ability is there.

"He's had a good month and a half so far."

Back pain: Jack Hannahan missed his fourth straight game Thursday with a sore back. He told reporters that he could be back in the lineup Friday or Saturday.

Quality stuff: Ubaldo Jimenez's start Wednesday night gave the Indians 22 quality starts this season (six innings, three or fewer runs). It's the fourth most in the AL behind the Angels with 25 and the White Sox and Rangers with 23 each. Since April 27, the Indians rotation has pitched more inning than any rotation in the AL.

Today's lineup:

Mariners (16-23): 2B Dustin Ackley (L), CF Michael Saunders (L), CF Ichiro Suzuki (L), 3B Kyle Seager (L), 1B Justin Smoak (S), LF Alex Liddi (R), C John Jaso (L), DH Mike Carp (L), SS Brendan Ryan (R), RHP Hector Noesi (2-4, 6.32). 

Indians (21-16): RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), 2B Jason Kipnis (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), DH Travis Hafner (L), C Carlos Santana (S), CF Michael Brantley (L), LF Johnny Damon (L), 1B Casey Kotchman (L), 3B Jose Lopez (R), RHP Zach McAllister (5-1, 2.47).

Indians vs. Noesi: Damon and Kotchman are the only Indians players to face Noesi. They're a combined 0-for-6.  

Mariners vs. McAllister: Ackley is hitting .667 (2-for-3) with three RBI.

Umpires: H Adrian Johnson, 1B Gary Cederstrom, 2B Lance Barksdale, 3B Fielding Culbreth.

Next: RHP Justin Masterson (1-3, 5.40) will face Miami's Carlos Zambrano on Friday night at 7:05 at Progressive Field.

Plain Dealer columnist says Mark Price was great, but Irving has the tools to be better. Watch video

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

The Miami Heat are tied with the Indiana Pacers, 1-1, heading into tonight's Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. What do you think the Pacers need to do to knock off the Heat tonight? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston, who says he thinks Indiana is a deeper and more balanced team. Livy also talks about NBA Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving and why he has a chance to be the best point guard in franchise history; and he talks Ohio State football, and why the program under Urban Meyer feels different than it did under Jim Tressel.

SBTV returns Friday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot answering fan questions from her Hey, Mary Kay! feature.

"As I have said before Drummond could be the riskiest pick in the draft, and down the road it could be our biggest regret if we pick him. I think Beal would at least be a solid pick if we get him at 6-3 or 6-4 he would not be to short to guard opposing shooting guard along the perimeter." - rome

View full sizeAP Photo/Fred BeckhamOne cleveland.com reader thinks the Cavaliers should stay away from picking Andre Drummond in the upcoming NBA Draft.

"As I have said before Drummond could be the riskiest pick in the draft, and down the road it could be our biggest regret if we pick him. I think Beal would at least be a solid pick if we get him at 3 or 4. He would not be too short to guard opposing shooting guards along the perimeter. He is also a strong player according to reports. I wonder if Lamb or Ross would be better pick up for the team. They both are scorers on his level."

The Indians' rally started with a three-run homer by Jose Lopez in the eighth inning that rescued a sleeping lineup and produced a 4-4 tie.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jose Lopez watched the flight of the baseball so closely that he missed stepping on first base. Heroic home runs are not born of such things, but never fear -- Lopez knew he'd missed the bag.

So did first-base coach Tom Wiedenbauer, who was screaming for him to return. Lopez did, as soon as he saw his game-tying three-run homer barely make it over the 19-foot left-field wall in the eighth inning Thursday at Progressive Field.

"So happy," is how Lopez described the moment.

He grew happier still when Carlos Santana singled him home with one out in the 11th to give the Indians a 6-5 victory over Seattle. The Indians have won four straight and lead the AL Central by four games over Detroit. The road-weary Mariners, just completing the third leg of a four-city, 10-game trip, are 1-6 on the journey.

Lopez opened the season with the Indians, but was taken off the roster May 1 when Johnny Damon joined the club. Lopez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Columbus where all he did was hit .522 (12-for-23) in six games. When the Indians optioned infielder Jason Donald to Columbus last weekend in Boston, Lopez rejoined the team.

In his first three at-bats Thursday, Lopez went 0-for-3 and stranded six runners. When he came to the plate in the eighth, Santana was on third, Casey Kotchman on second and Seattle had a 4-1 lead.

"The count was 2-0 with two guys on base," said Lopez. "I was looking for a fastball where I could tie the game. I was trying to do the same thing in my first two at-bats. So I went 1-for-3."

Lopez made his fourth straight start at third base Thursday as Jack Hannahan continues to deal with a stiff lower back.

The Indians' final rally came against closer Brandon League, who has a great arm, but can't beat the Tribe. They've beat him four times in the last two years, all in dramatic fashion. In his career, League is 2-for-7 in save situations against Cleveland.

Michael Saunders gave Seattle a 5-4 lead in the 11th with a double off Joe Smith (4-1). Eric Wedge called for League to save the game, but things went wrong in a hurry. Lopez drew a leadoff walk and League wild-pitched him to second. Shin-Soo Choo struck out, but Jason Kipnis walked. Asdrubal Cabrera, hitting .367 (12-for-33) with runners in scoring position, singled to right to tie the score.

"I just couldn't throw strikes," said League.

Aaron Cunningham, pinch-hitting for Travis Hafner -- who left the game after getting hit by a pitch on his right hand in the ninth inning -- walked to load the bases. Santana came to the plate, worked the count full, and then sent a single through the middle to win it.

Acta said Hafner's hand was not serious. "It's a soft-tissue bruise," said Acta. "The trainer didn't even send him for X-rays."

The Indians had lost five straight extra-inning home games going back to 2011. They are 1-4 in extras at home this year and 2-4 overall.

Santana's teammates mobbed him at first base.

"I was getting hit everywhere," said Santana. "I don't care. I'm so happy, so excited. If I have the opportunity to do the same thing, I don't care if I get hurt."

League saved 37 games last year. Against the Indians, however, he's become the present-day Troy Percival, a respected closer for the Angels in the mid- to late-1990s who was also tortured by the Tribe.

"You don't see that very often against closers," said Acta. "The fact that we've done it a few times again him gives the guys confidence."

Zach McAllister walked one batter in his first two starts with the Indians. He walked five in 5 2/3 innings Thursday. When Acta went to the bullpen, the Mariners had a 3-0 lead behind the strong starting pitching of Hector Noesi. They led 4-0 with two out in the seventh before Cabrera started the Tribe's comeback with an RBI single.

Indians relievers allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings after McAllister left.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

The danger for baseball is the possibility that a division champion with a far superior regular season record would be on the road for fhe first two games of the best-of-five series.

Associated PressSt. Louis catcher Yadier Molina leaps toward relief pitcher Jason Motte (left) after the Cardinals clinched their 2011 World Series win over the Texas Rangers in seven games. St. Louis was the National League's wild card team. Now, the NL and the American League will have two wild-card teams each.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Major League Baseball owners have approved a major, and what could prove to be controversial, change to the best-of-five division series in the American and National Leagues -- though possibly only for this season.

Since 1998, the divisional playoff rounds have been played with a 2-2-1 format: the teams with home-field advantage hosting the first, second and, if necessary, fifth games.

Now, at least for the 2012 postseason, the divisional rounds will feature a 2-3 format: wild card teams will host the first two games, and divisional champions will host the third, and if necessary, fourth and fifth games.

The Cleveland Indians, of course, hope to contend for the American League Central Division championship or a wild card playoff berth.

ESPN.com reports on the owners' approval of wild card teams playing host to the first two games of the divisional playoff rounds:

The change, approved by owners on Thursday, was made to accommodate baseball's new one-game wild-card playoff round. The new round of playoffs was added after schedules were set with the regular season ending Oct. 3 and the World Series starting Oct. 24.

Teams with home-field advantage will host Games 3, 4, and 5, eliminating one travel day, and the wild-card playoff winners will start the Division Series at home.

Baseball could revert back to a 2-2-1 format in 2013, when the regular season is tentatively set to start on April 1, with a Sunday night game possible the previous day. Baseball is shifting from the midweek start it used in 2011 and 2012.

The danger for baseball with the 2-3 format is the possibility that a division champion with, say, a 100-62 regular season record, would be on the road for fhe first two games of the best-of-five series, visiting a wild-card winner with, say, 15 fewer regular season wins.