Coach Urban Meyer has made it clear how much Simon is capable of -- and how critical the senior is to the success of the Buckeyes in what will be Simon's last season in Columbus and Meyer's first.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, Plain Dealer file photoLinebacker John Simon is expected to play a big role for the Buckeyes this season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State coach Urban Meyer was at the New York Jets' practice Thursday morning, watching Tim Tebow, his former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Florida. Then Meyer returned to Woody Hayes Athletic Center, where just outside his office window, his other Tebow was talking to reporters as several Buckeyes conducted interviews for a final time before the end of classes.

That was John Simon.

John Simon has been called a freak a lot, almost since he arrived at Ohio State as a weight-room addict who played immediately on the defensive line as a freshman. But among the more interesting things Meyer has done since his hiring almost six months ago is to put Simon in context.

Simon is strong. Simon is focused. But it took Meyer to call him "Tebowish."

By doing that last month, Meyer made it clear how much Simon is capable of -- and how critical the senior is to the success of the Buckeyes in what will be Simon's last season in Columbus and Meyer's first.

So is he like Tebow?

"That's a hard question to answer since I never met him, but with his character and with coach Meyer calling me 'Tebowish,' that means a lot," Simon said. "That's exciting, and not just for how great of a football player he was but the kind of person he was also."

Unlike Tebow, Simon isn't going to win the Heisman. Unlike Tebow, he'll almost certainly never make a public speech that is commemorated on a campus plaque. Unlike Tebow, he's unlikely to cause sports analysts to scream at one another, debating his worth. Unlike Tebow, he's unlikely to have a specific action -- one knee on the ground, hand to his face in prayer -- copied and named after him.

"I do not have a move," Simon said.

But what Simon can do like Tebow -- and what Meyer has said he must do -- is set the kind of example that helps turn Ohio State into a Meyer team.

When Meyer spoke to Ohio high school football coaches last month and explained his philosophy of elite players -- that a good team has 10 percent elite players, and if you have just 3 or 4 percent elite players, you're in trouble -- it was Simon he used as an example.

"They're different. God made them completely different. They're freaks. They're bizarre. I'm talking about the self-discipline, self-respect, work ethic that most of us can only dream of," Meyer said during his presentation. "One guy I'll point out to you is No. 54, John Simon. He's a freak. I've not been around a guy like that, other than my quarterback -- that left-handed kid at Florida, Tebow.

"He's different."

But Meyer doesn't believe that being elite means much if you keep it to yourself. Elite players must make sure they're rubbing off on their teammates, spreading their messages like bees taking pollen from flower to flower.

"It's called harnessing the power of the elite," Meyer said. "Because John Simon can go in there every day and lift with [strength coach] Mickey Marotti, and that serves no purpose. And that's what he used to do here: come in every day and lift with the strength coach. He's going to lift anyway."

But if Simon brings a teammate with him for those 6 a.m. lifts?

"Now we're getting somewhere," Meyer said. "Now Ohio State is getting better, and that's what's going on."

Simon, who's added a couple of pounds to reach 265 but also believes he is significantly quicker, said Thursday his typical early morning lifting partners have been sophomore linebackers Ryan Shazier and Curtis Grant.

"[They've] been coming almost every day at 6 a.m. with me," Simon said, "even on weekends. They do a great job, and I'm looking forward to what they do in the season."

Does Simon have to drag them out of bed, or do they come along with a smile?

"Half-and-half," Simon said with a smile of his own, one that maybe was a bit Tebowish.

Said OSU offensive lineman Jack Mewhort, one of Simon's best friends, when asked about the comparison: "I don't know Tim Tebow. But John Simon is like nobody I've ever met. I probably never will meet anybody like him again, the way he works and his dedication. That's the kind of dude, when you get older, you talk about and say, 'Wow, I've never met another guy like him.' "

Meyer has met one other guy like him. But when the OSU coach wants to talk elite in the future, he'll now have a Buckeye he can reference, along with that Florida quarterback.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

Wheldon and all the others lost in open-wheel auto racing are especially missed the weekend of the Indianapolis 500.

View full sizeDarron Cummings, Associated PressSusie Wheldon holds the 2011 Indianapolis 500 Champion of Champions ring that was presented to her during a ceremony Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Wheldon's husband, Dan Wheldon, was killed in a crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The tributes for Dan Wheldon, last year's Indianapolis 500 winner, are more subtle than grandiose as the 97th Indy 500 race on Sunday draws closer. That doesn't mean Wheldon's untimely death at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the last race of the 2011 season is felt any less.

Perhaps sportswriter and NBC auto race analyst Robin Miller said it best, privately, after doing a recent TV salute to Wheldon's career: "I think they [NBC] wanted more, but we have lost too many over the years to grieve for one more than another. They all leave you hurting."

Indeed, during the first weekend of my first Indianapolis 500 coverage in 1982, Gordon Smiley hit the wall -- a rare nose-first crash -- and died during qualifying. In those days, selected media were taken in a shuttle out to within viewing distance of where the car hit the wall and where it came to rest. If need be, selected media would then be taken to the TV compound to see a slow-motion replay.

Those first up-close views of the sport left an impression. That weekend was the only time I ever voluntarily wore a seat belt.

View full sizeAPDan Wheldon

Other race deaths and horrific accidents have happened since, with the 1996 loss of Scott Brayton at Indy, a friend and occasional fishing partner, perhaps hitting the closest to home.

But that doesn't diminish Greg Moore's racing death in 1999, or Alex Zanardi's crash and the ultimate loss of his legs in 2001, or Paul Dana's fatal crash in 2006, or Wheldon's, or numerous others. The YouTube recollections of each are still gut-wrenching experiences. Yet the sport, and the individuals in it, pay their respects and move on.

The bulk of auto race fans will now get to do the same for Wheldon, the two-time Indy winner (2005, 2011). They will get a pair of white cardboard sunglasses to wear on race day, as a nod to him. He was known for his white rims. Fans will be asked to sport them on the Parade Lap prior to the race, and on laps 26 and 98, indicative of the numbers on Wheldon's two winning Indy 500 cars.

Wheldon's team owner from 2011, Byran Herta, will drive Wheldon's 2011 winning car in the pre-race ceremonies. Technical inspection stickers for all 33 cars in the field will have Wheldon's image. His wife, Susie, will attend Saturday's public drivers' meeting and receive her husband's "Champion of Champions" ring, indicative of winning the 2011 race.

The drivers themselves have long since mourned, and moved on, because that is what they have to do to still perform in this dangerous arena. Their remaining tributes, to Wheldon and others, are more subtle and private. James Hinchcliffe qualified for this race with Moore's racing gloves tucked inside his racing uniform.

Marco Andretti still drives with No. 26 on the car he inherited when Wheldon left the Andretti race team. Andretti, one of several favorites in the race, said he'll only replace it when he earns No. 1, indicative of being series champion.

Whatever the tribute, understand, Wheldon and all the others lost in open-wheel auto racing are especially missed the weekend of the Indianapolis 500.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

Wade and LeBron James turn around a season on the brink with perhaps the most remarkable week of their high-powered partnership.

Alan Diaz, Miami Herald via APLeBron James guards the Pacers Danny Granger in the fourth quarter.

INDIANAPOLIS — Miami's Big Two was more than enough to finish off the Indiana Pacers.

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James turned around a season on the brink with perhaps the most remarkable week of their high-powered partnership, capped off by a 105-93 victory in Game 6 Thursday night that sent the Heat back to the Eastern Conference finals.

Wade scored 41 points, James had 28 and Miami wrapped up the series 4-2, advancing to face either Boston or Philadelphia.

But this was about more than one game.

This was a dazzling trilogy, Wade and James taking control when the Heat were down and looked like they might be out.

"In the regular season, we've had some good games," Wade said. "But I don't know if we've ever had three in a row like that in the playoffs."

Seven days earlier, Miami trailed 2-1 in the series after getting routed 94-75 in Indianapolis. The fired-up Pacers had another game on their home court and a chance to build a commanding lead.

Instead, the Big Three-Turned-Two took over.

With Chris Bosh sidelined by an abdominal injury, James and Wade soared to new heights in their two-man game. Over the course of three dazzling games, James scored 98 points, grabbed 34 rebounds and dished out 24 assists. Wade had 99 points, 22 rebounds and 11 assists.

"Ever since Game 3, they've played at such a high level," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. "I don't know if anybody can beat them."

Next up, either the Celtics or 76ers in a series that starts Monday in Miami. Of course, nothing less than an NBA title will make for a satisfying summer in South Beach.

Two series down, two to go.

The Heat rallied from an early 11-point deficit, riding the hot hand of Wade in the opening half. He scored 26 points by the break, tying Tim Hardaway's 16-year-old franchise record for most playoff points in the first two quarters. James hit consecutive baskets with just over a minute remaining to close it out.

"We understand that when Chris went out, we had to step up," Wade said. "The team looked to us to lead."

The banged-up Heat will get a chance to relax a couple of days before worrying about the next opponent, which will be determined in Game 7 at Boston on Saturday.

Bosh hopes to return at some point, but it might not matter.

Not the way Wade and James are playing.

"Chris Bosh is an awesome basketball player, but when he goes down, that just means more touches for LeBron and Wade," Vogel said. "That's not exactly an advantage."

David West led Indiana with 24 points and all five starters were in double figures. But that balance was overwhelmed by Wade and James.

In a game of spurts, the decisive one came in the closing minutes of the third quarter.

The Pacers tied it at 66 on Darren Collison's 3-pointer, but it was all Heat the rest of the period. They closed on a 13-3 run, capped by Mario Chalmers' buzzer-beating 3 from the corner. Wade, who was on the bench getting his customary breather at the end of the quarter, leaped from his seat as the ball left Chalmers' hand at the far end, raced along the baseline and pumped his fist when it swished.

When Chalmers raced toward the Miami bench, Wade greeted him near the free throw line with a low-five.

"We just had a bad stretch," West said. "They got us in the third quarter."

Cheerleading aside, D-Wade did his best work while in the game. He dropped 11-of-16 shooting on the Pacers in the first half, but also made sure the MVP stayed involved, dishing off a behind-the-back pass to James for a thunderous jam.

"They're too good. They capitalize on your mistakes," West said. "We were too loose with the ball. They pressure you all over the place."

Indiana clamped down a bit on Wade after halftime, but he still managed perhaps his most jaw-dropping basket. Darting into the lane, he threw up a wild-looking, one-handed shot that looked like it might go over the backboard, only to catch the top of the glass and drop through, barely touching the twine.

There was none of the nastiness that marked Game 5, when a bunch of flagrant fouls resulted in suspensions for two Miami players, co-captain Udonis Haslem and backup center Dexter Pittman. Pacers president Larry Bird was so disgusted with his team's performance in a 95-86 loss that he accused them of going "soft."

Toughness wasn't the problem this time. This was merely a Miami team on a mission, a mission that began in the summer of 2010 when the Heat signed James and Bosh to join Wade in a seemingly unbeatable trio. There was a glitzy introduction and predictions of multiple championships, which left the rest of the league seething and plenty of people cheering when Miami was knocked off in the NBA finals by the Dallas Mavericks last season.

Shaking off that disappointment, James had perhaps his greatest season yet. But it was Wade who took control in the decisive game against the Pacers, delivering one final blow when he split West and George Hill, banking in the shot despite taking a knee from Hill that sent the Heat guard tumbling to the court.

"We just didn't have enough yet," Vogel said, "but we'll be back."

Chalmers finished with 15 points, while Mike Miller stepped up to provide some quality minutes, scoring 12 points on four 3-pointers to help fill the void without Haslem, Pittman and Bosh.

When Miller wasn't in the game, he stretched out along the baseline to cope with his various aches and pains, more comfortable that way than sitting in a chair. When coach Erik Spoelstra called his number, Miller summoned several of his teammates to help lift him up.

"He might be the toughest guy on the team," Wade said.

The Pacers started out like they were intent on sending the series back to Miami for a decisive game that surely would have had all of South Florida on edge.

West knocked down a short jumper right off the tip, Danny Granger stuffed one off a fast break, and the Pacers had their yellow-clad fans in a tizzy when Granger connected on a 3-pointer to make it 13-3 before the game was 5 minutes old. Another basket by Granger, this one a turnaround jumper, gave the Pacers their biggest lead at 19-8.

But Miami wasn't going to roll over that easy. Miller made the first of his 3s in the closing seconds of the first quarter, and Wade took over from there. He started the period by banking in a 12-footer, then made another short jumper to leave the crowd stirring uneasily. Miller followed with another 3 — and just like that, it was all tied up.

Yet another 3 by Miller, this one a good 5 feet beyond the arc, gave Miami its biggest lead of the half, 41-35. Back came the Pacers, who went to the locker room with a 53-51 lead and hope of extending their season for at least one more game.

Turns out, they were down to their last half.

Notes: Indiana started 8-of-9 from the field, but went just 26-of-61 (43 percent) the rest of the way. ... The Heat held the Pacers to an average of less than 40 points in the second half over the last three games. ... Miami had only 10 turnovers, its fewest in the series.

The Medina County resident has the London Olympics in her sights and the memory of her late grandfather in her heart as she prepares for her last shot at making this year's U.S. team.

View full sizeOle Miss Athletic DepartmentAbbey Stanec, of Sharon Center, in Medina County, has a shot to make the U.S. Olympic team next month during small-bore rifle competition in Georgia.

Long before she ever thought about being an Olympian, Abbey Stanec wasn't actually dragged to the shooting range, but it certainly wasn't her idea.

"My mom and dad were getting divorced, and my grandpa decided it would be a cool thing to start shooting for fun," Stanec recalled this week. "He took me out to the range, and I said, 'Oh, my gosh, this is going to be SO boring. How is this going to be successful? A 10-year-old girl at the shooting range?' "

A decade later, the Medina County resident has the London Olympics in her sights and the memory of her late grandfather in her heart as she prepares for her last shot at making this year's U.S. team.

Stanec, 20, will compete at the Olympic trials for small-bore rifle in the three-position event June 5-12 at Fort Benning, Ga. One women's berth is available.

Three-position small-bore (standing, kneeling and prone) isn't her best event, but despite her youth, Stanec is considered talented enough to be a legitimate contender and has demonstrated she can perform well at big events. A former two-time national junior champ, she was the NCAA runner-up in air rifle this spring.

Adding emphasis to the June trials is the fact Stanec bypassed a good chance to make the Olympic team in February. She chose to compete in a conference championship for the University of Mississippi instead of the second leg of Olympic trials for air rifle at Camp Perry, Ohio.

Stanec had been ranked sixth in air rifle after a preliminary round held in December. But in making the choice, she had to consider that she receives a partial shooting scholarship at Ole Miss, where she is a sophomore.

Stanec didn't place at the Great American Rifle Conference meet.

"I still kick myself to this day," Stanec said. "It was a tough decision. I was making the choice of either going to the Olympics or represent my [college] team that was paying me to be there. My coach wanted me to go to the conference championships. I didn't agree with it, and that's how it worked out.

"There's definitely more pressure on me now because it would have been much easier for me to go for air gun. I had been shooting good scores for air gun, but I've been struggling at small-bore this whole year."

An air-gun rifle shoots a pellet propelled by compressed air. A small-bore rifle fires a .22-caliber bullet. Stanec said some of her struggles can be traced to the passing of her grandfather, Dennis Stanec, last fall. He was 67.

Abbey Stanec fell in love with the competitive, yet friendly nature of the sport from their first trip to the range. She quickly discovered she was a natural, and she especially enjoyed the one-on-one time with her grandfather.

"It's been difficult competing without my partner in crime," she said. "I spent every day with my grandpa when I was home. We were pretty close, and [I] spent every Monday night with him for 10 years going to matches and practices.

"He was like another father figure for me. He helped me with schoolwork, and he even spent three weeks trying to find a tutor for calculus for me in high school."

At the NCAA air-rifle finals, Stanec said a season of underperforming worried her before the competition began.

"I was so frustrated, trying to deal with my grandpa being gone," she said. "So I sat down with my iPad and wrote down a conversation I would have had if he'd been there. I wrote what he would say, and what I would say. I had a little dialogue session to coach myself and calm my nerves."

Stanec shot a personal-best round of 592 (a perfect score is 600). That placed her third heading into the finals, where she shot a 102 (out of 109) to claim second place by 0.20.

Stanec is now home for summer break before heading to Georgia. She is helping finish a small shooting range that Dennis Stanec had begun building in his barn before he died. He lived next door to Abbey's family in Sharon Center, about 30 miles south of Cleveland.

"He always bragged about me to his buddies," she said. "He had seven grandkids, and I like to think I was his favorite."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

Catlaunch, an 11-year-old gelding that was Ohio's Horse of the Year in 2011 for Scioto Farms of Chillicothe, returns for the Rowland Memorial.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerThistledown racetrack in North Randall.

Thistledown's Memorial Day weekend includes a pair of $50,000 holiday stakes races for Ohio-bred horses, and two veteran stars are the thoroughbreds to watch.

The ninth-annual $50,000 Michael F. Rowland Memorial Handicap matches a field of 3-year-olds and up Saturday.

Monday's 20th-annual $50,000 Angenora Stakes is sending out fillies and mares that are 3 years old and up.

Catlaunch, an 11-year-old gelding that was Ohio's Horse of the Year in 2011 for Scioto Farms of Chillicothe, returns for the Rowland Memorial. Trained by Ivan Vazquez, Catlaunch has the outside post in the nine-horse field, facing longtime rivals Raise the Reward and Beau Mec, as well as morning-line favorite Best Air in the No. 1 post. Luis Martinez Jr. will be in the saddle with Catlaunch.

Pay the Man, an 8-year-old bay mare from Pyrite Stables, is being ridden by Luis Gonzalez as she chases her fourth Angenora title at Thistledown in five years.

"Irish" Owens remembered: Backstretch veterans were telling tales this week about popular trainer Martin "Irish" Owens, who died Tuesday night at 90.

A native of New York City, Owens saddled his first winner at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans after World War II. When their children, Ginny, Dave and Alf arrived, Owens' wife, Virginia, insisted on making the Northeast Ohio tracks their home base, and they bought a farm in Mantua.

An expert horsewoman, Virginia died in 1987. Owens' second wife, Sue, died in January 2010.

"Dad did the work of four men," said Martin "Dave" Owens Jr., a California attorney. "He trained a string of about 35 horses by day, then would go home and work the farm. If a racing secretary needed a horse for a big race, he wouldn't call Kentucky. He'd call my dad."

Owens won training titles in all four local meets in four consecutive years in the 1970s and trained multiple stakes winners throughout the years, with Merry Time and Burglary among his favorites. He was a champion of the people who worked the backstretch, helping grooms and horsemen in need. Because of injuries, he retired in 2007. Services are June 2 at Our Lady of Hope in Bedford.

Scioto Downs slots: Scioto Downs in Columbus is opening its new video-lottery casino June 1, even though a lawsuit seeking to stop the video-lottery terminals, or slots, at Ohio's seven racetracks is still languishing in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Track owner MTR Gaming Group announced Tuesday it has a permanent license from the Ohio Lottery Commission to operate the VLTs. Scioto Downs' live harness racing began May 10 and runs through early September.

It won't matter what the court ruling is in the slots case. Both sides say they will appeal the decision all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court if they lose. A ruling was expected by late this month, but June now seems more likely.

Trotting millionaire: Stiletto visited Northfield Park last week to pick up yet another win in the 12-year-old trotter's long and productive career. Now the son of Mr. Vic has the chance to top the $1 million mark tonight at The Meadows in Washington, Pa.

Owned by Trudy Hite, of Coal Center, Pa., Stiletto has made an amazing 222 starts, winning 46 races and adding 29 seconds and 19 thirds to win $999,173.

Stiletto ($3.40) led most of the way in Northfield Park's first race on May 15, with Ryan Stahl in the sulky, notching a length victory in 1:59.2.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: degan@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

CANTON, Ohio — The Chardon baseball team has overcome adversity with the same deportment as Omar Vizquel handling a ground ball. So when the Hilltoppers fell behind early in Thursday's Division I regional semifinal at Thurman Munson Stadium, there was no need to panic. Panic? You must be joking. A two-run deficit in the second inning? That's a day...

CANTON, Ohio — The Chardon baseball team has overcome adversity with the same deportment as Omar Vizquel handling a ground ball. So when the Hilltoppers fell behind early in Thursday's Division I regional semifinal at Thurman Munson Stadium, there was no need to panic.

Panic? You must be joking. A two-run deficit in the second inning? That's a day at the beach after what these players have been through since a Feb. 27 shooting at their school resulted in the deaths of three students and injuries to three more.

Another two-run deficit in the third inning? A mere road bump for a team that has experienced enough coaching changes in the past 12 months that you would have thought Ted Turner was in charge.

The Hilltoppers, who seemingly are trying to bring a deeper meaning to the word camaraderie, broke up what had been a back-and-forth game by scoring seven runs in the fifth inning and went on to a 12-10 victory against Mayfield in the school's first regional appearance since 1950.

"It's been that way all year," said interim coach Dave Toaddy, who watched his team raise its record to 25-3 and advance to today's championship game against Massillon Perry (20-10).

"Again, these kids are playing for a community. They are playing for what happened in February. Most of all, they are playing for themselves. It's been a team thing, and it's very united. They have been playing together for a very long time, and it shows every game."

Chardon pounded out 12 hits and needed every one of them, as Mayfield (23-5) scored at least one run in each of the first four innings before being done in by the seven-run fifth.

"There isn't an easy out in their lineup," said Chardon starter and winner John Martillotta (6-1) of the Wildcats, who showed resolve by scoring twice in the sixth on two walks and a booming triple to left field by Mitch Longo, who drove in three runs with three hits. "You have to keep battling, keep battling, keep fighting. If you don't, it's game over. If you do, you keep your team in the game and come out with a win."

The teams combined for 21 hits, six for extra bases. Center fielder Reilly Hawkins and first baseman Jake Happ drove in three runs each for Chardon, with Happ's bases-loaded double the decisive blow in the fifth inning. Eight of nine Chardon batters had at least one hit, and seven players drove in runs.

"The amount of trust we have in one another is absolutely amazing," Happ said.

Second baseman Justin Bonchek and catcher Ray Guerrini drove in two runs each to back Longo's three RBI. Seven Wildcats had hits, and the first six players in the lineup scored at least one run each. It simply wasn't enough.

So the Hilltoppers are one game away from a trip to the final four.

"It's pretty amazing," Martillotta said, referring to the tragedy last February and the coaching changes the past two weeks. "A little overwhelming, but the way we've backed each other all season, that's what's kept us going after all that's happened."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

Hankins knows that goal is off the table for 2012 because of a bowl ban, so he's targeting his senor season in 2013.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, Plain Dealer file photoBuckeyes defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins (52) is hoping to have a national title on his resume before he leaves.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — This could be a money season for Ohio State defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins, except he plans on making 2013 a national championship season for the Buckeyes.

On the lists of super-early NFL mock drafts for 2013, the OSU junior is getting as much respect as any player in the Big Ten. ESPN's Mel Kiper has Hankins No. 11 on his list of draft prospects. At CBSSports.com, draft analyst Rob Rang has Hankins at No. 5 in his mock draft, while draft analyst Dane Brugler has him No. 3.

The lists are fun, but they do give some indication of what people are expecting from Hankins as a junior -- and the decision he almost certainly will have to make after the season about returning as a senior.

"My goal when I first got here was to win a national championship," Hankins said Thursday, as several Buckeyes met with reporters one last time before spring classes end.

Hankins knows that goal is off the table for 2012 because of a bowl ban, "so I really want to win a national championship, so I think my senior year, we'll have a really good chance of winning it," he said. "I honestly think this year we have a good chance to win it, but we can't play in it."

A book containing the names of OSU players -- and those at other schools -- who talked about returning and then left for the NFL would weigh almost as much as the 320-pound Hankins. It's impossible for Hankins to truly consider his future now. What if he's the next Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson, the imposing OSU defensive lineman who was the No. 1 pick overall in the 1994 draft?

"If I happen to leave after my junior year, it's because I'm predicted to go high. If I'm the first overall top pick, I'll probably go," Hankins said. "But if not, I'll stay with my teammates and enjoy my life at Ohio State."

Senior John Simon also has a chance to work his way into the first round of the NFL Draft, and those two are the most likely OSU candidates for national attention in 2012. The preseason All-Big Ten team from Cleveland college football magazine publisher Phil Steele includes four Buckeyes on the conference's first team -- Hankins, Simon, safety C.J. Barnett and tight end Jake Stoneburner.

"It [makes you] pretty happy when people notice that you can play," Hankins said.

OSU fans can notice him for at least one more year -- and maybe two.

No major violations: Ohio State was forced to emphasize that no new major NCAA violations were on the horizon for the athletic department after some confusion arose Thursday.

The Lantern, Ohio State's student newspaper, reported that Athletic Director Gene Smith said there were 12 NCAA violations pending within the department, and "it may turn out to be secondary. It may not."

That was taken to mean that the violations could be major. Smith said he meant it as the potential violations may not even rise to the level of secondary violations and may not even be violations at all.

What is certain is that the program isn't headed for any imminent trouble. Ohio State went as far as to outline the 12 pending violations, including four in football. Those violations were a former assistant coach having an inadvertent "bump" with a recruit during an impermissible time; impermissibly providing food and hotel to a recruit's aunt on an official visit because the school mistakenly believed the aunt was the player's legal guardian; an assistant coach posting on the Facebook wall of a recruit by accident; and the compliance office approving the use of mini basketballs during a football winter conditioning workout, which in fact, wasn't allowed.

OSU violations have been in the news since The Plain Dealer last week reported that Ohio State had 46 secondary NCAA violations in 21 sports since former coach Jim Tressel's ouster May 30, 2011. But no major violations, nothing that would cause further NCAA sanctions, were brought to light, then or now.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

WESTLAKE, Ohio — It was Westlake's prom, and Colton Buffington had a date to be at Cleveland Browns Stadium last Saturday night. But first things first.

Westlake's Colton Buffington is 26-0 this season. - (Lonnie Timmons III, PD)

WESTLAKE, Ohio — It was Westlake's prom, and Colton Buffington had a date to be at Cleveland Browns Stadium last Saturday night.

But first things first.

The Westlake senior first had to get past Cloverleaf sophomore Jacob Dunbar, who was giving the defending Division I district tennis champion plenty of trouble in their title match at Oberlin College. When Dunbar got the benefit of a fortunate bounce off the net cord to win the first set, 6-4, you could see the chagrin on Buffington's face as he lost a set for the first time this season.

But while he doesn't shy away from baring his emotions, it's the inner game that has set him apart as one of the top players in the state.

"At that moment, when I messed up -- three missed volleys and the net cord -- it took me three seconds to know I was going to have a long day," said Buffington, who will play in his fourth state tournament today at Ohio State. "I'm missing bunnies, and you can't win playing like that. I had to turn it around at that exact moment."

That's exactly what he did as he won the next two sets to hand the up-and-coming Dunbar his first loss this season after 31 wins, also giving him his first set losses. In taking those two sets, both 6-1, Buffington took advantage of Dunbar's physical toll from a cold and the insight to go after any vulnerable openings.

"What's working for me and what's not working for him," said Buffington (26-0), who plays in a signature sweat-stained baseball cap turned backward. "I was hitting backhand angles well and moving forward. I tried to pick up the pace of the match, keep the points going and outgrind him."

Buffington, 19 on May 12, had to make a choice between baseball and tennis growing up. Vacationing with his family in Hilton Head, S.C., every summer, he would spend a week playing at Smith Stearns Tennis Academy.

"I did the whole baseball thing," he said. "I went to Cooperstown twice and the Little League World Series. I played second base and hit leadoff. The big thing was to get on first and steal second.

"I was kind of back and forth. Dad had played baseball. Mom played recreational tennis. I chose tennis. I like to compete by myself. Not to be selfish, but I don't want to lose because of someone else's mistakes."

He was offered a scholarship by the academy and spent eighth grade in South Carolina.

"It was very difficult for us, especially for my wife, Judy," said Wayne Buffington, who owns All Seasons Paper Co. in Brook Park. "[Colton] started out loving baseball, but he made the choice of tennis and it's pretty much been a passion for him. I think it was a wise choice.

"We went down as often as we could. He was homesick, at times, but he told himself this is what he wants to do and he stuck it out."

That year out of the Westlake loop made a huge difference in Buffington's tennis game and his high school outlook. He said the game took up so much of his time that he really didn't feel like he fit in with a lot of his classmates.

"My freshman year up here, I still knew everybody, but I didn't have close friends," Buffington said. "I don't know if it was frowned upon, but you are labeled as 'that kid' who went away to play a sport. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Westlake senior pitcher Kevin Neumann, whose team played St. Ignatius in a regional semifinal Thursday, said he became friends with Buffington when they attended Parkside Intermediate School. They hooked up again as Westlake freshmen and work out regularly at Traq Performance Institute in Avon under trainers Eric Cook and Mike D'Andrea.

"He's one of the most competitive friends I have," said Neumann, who will be attending Seton Hill (Pa.) University. "He's all fun and games, but once he gets to the tennis, he's locked in. I don't think [people] understand him because they don't understand how difficult tennis is. He's so gifted as a player."

Buffington has also put some distractions to rest. He decided to attend Louisville for tennis and a business degree, bypassing Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia Tech and Winthrop. While his dedication has never wavered, Buffington said he has tried to "laugh with the crowd" and not take the game so seriously.

He thinks the new outlook will help unlock the puzzle of a state title.

"Losing last year was a big disappointment," said Buffington, who was 31-0 before losing in the quarterfinals. "I was going through the recruiting thing and, I don't know, was nervous. It took me a good week to get over that one.

"Right now, I'm excited and confident. I've been playing well, I've got college out of my mind and my family will be down there. Am I ready? Absolutely."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

On Twitter: @JoeMaxse

Colton Buffington file

School: Westlake.

Class: Senior.

Age: 19.

Height/weight: 6-1, 180 pounds.

College: Will play tennis and major in marketing or finance at Louisville.

Family: Parents, Wayne and Judy; older brothers, Alex and Tom.

Tennis record: Has reached the state tennis tournament all four years. Reached first round as a freshman, placed third as a sophomore and reached quarterfinals as a junior. Went 31-1 last year and is 26-0 this season.

Notable: Hobbies are playing the guitar and lifting weights. Favorites include the Cavaliers, tennis pro Roger Federer, "Gladiator" movie, "Family Guy" TV show, "NCAA Football 12" video game and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

-- Joe Maxse

With a dramatic win under their belts, the Dutch Lions move on to Round 3 where they will face Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew.

In the second round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the Dayton Dutch Lions found themselves in a position they have never been in before. They were a few minutes away from winning.

The Dutch Lions, in just their third year of existence, were one-and-done in their first two appearances in the 99-year-old single-elimination soccer tournament. After losing 2-0 to the Rochester Rhinos in 2010 and 4-1 to the Richmond Kickers last year, Dayton found themselves leading the Chicago Fire's Premier Development League team (amateur) 1-0 in the 90th minute. 

Eli Garner's 38th minute goal was the difference and it looked like Dayton would not only win their first-ever Open Cup game, but after going 0-4-3 in league play to that point, they would pick up their first win of any kind in 2012. 

As the game reached the 90th minute, the Dutch Lions faithful likely felt the same horror that so many Northern Ohio sports fans have felt over the years as Chicago's Brendan King scored the tying goal.

However, before the Fire fans at the Toyota Park practice field in Bridgeview, Ill., could get settled back in their seats, Daniel Holowaty, a former Cleveland-area high school star came to the rescue. Holowaty, who led Saint Ignatius High School to an Ohio state championship back in 2005, scored the game-winning goal off a corner kick by slamming a loose ball into the back of the net. 

How close to the end was Holowaty's first goal of the season? The Fire PDL took the kickoff to restart play following the goal, and the referee's final whistle was blown seconds later.

With a dramatic win under their belts, the Dutch Lions move on to Round 3 where they will face Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew. The Open Cup is unique in the American sports landscape because it allows any team from any level to compete in a March Madness-style tournament. Dayton competes in USL Pro, a 3rd division professional league, two levels down from the Crew, but as the saying goes: "on any given Tuesday ..."  

On Tuesday, the two teams will meet at Columbus Crew Stadium (7:30 p.m. kickoff) in what will be the first Open Cup meeting between two Ohio teams in more than two decades. The team that emerges from that will face the winner of the Chicago Fire of MLS and one of the Cinderella stories of 2012, the Michigan Bucks, an amateur team from the PDL.

Highlights include Indians at White Sox.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJeanmar Gomez gets the start for the Indians tonight at 8:10 against the White Sox in Chicago. The game will be televised on SportsTime Ohio and broadcast on WTAM/1100-AM.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

AUTO RACING

11 a.m. Indianapolis 500 Carb Day, NBCSN

Noon Freedom 100, NBCSN

8 p.m. World of Outlaws, Speed Channel

BASEBALL

7 p.m. Tampa Bay at Boston, MLB Network

7:05 p.m. AKRON AEROS at Erie, AM/1350

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

8:10 p.m. INDIANS at Chicago White Sox, STO; AM/1100

BOXING

9 p.m. Ji-Hoon Kim vs. Alisher Rahimov, ESPN2

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Noon Big Ten Tournament, Game 6, BTN

3:30 p.m. Big Ten Tournament, Game 7, BTN

7 p.m. Big Ten Tournament semifinal, BTN

COLLEGE SOFTBALL SUPER REGIONALS

7 p.m. Michigan at Alabama (if necessary), ESPN2

9 p.m. Oregon at Texas, ESPN

GOLF

9 a.m. BMW PGA Championship, Golf Channel

Noon Senior PGA Championship, Golf Channel

3 p.m. Crowne Plaza Invitational, Golf Channel

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

5 p.m. DIII regional final, Keystone vs. Orrville/Grand Valley, AM/930

NHL PLAYOFFS

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

Before you go fishing, make sure your tackle gives you a balanced approach to catching walleye or bass.

D'Arcy Egan, The Plain DealerA well-balanced, quality spinning rod and reel will catch almost any fish that swims around Ohio, and provide years of angling fun.

 Well-balanced fishing tackle is easy to cast and retrieve, and catches more fish.

It's a very basic concept in the fishing tackle industry, and encourages anglers to buy a matched fishing combo they'll use to catch their favorite fish. If anglers read what the tackle makers print on their rods and reels, they'll easily find the best rig for their favorite fishing.

Spinning rods and reels are the most commonly-used type of fishing tackle in America. Each spinning reel made today has numbers on the side of its spool that holds the line. Those numbers tell an angler how many yards of line the spool will hold, and the line weights the reel was designed to cast.

My favorite spinning reel for walleye and bass holds 200 yards of 6-pound test line, 140 yards of 8-pound test line or 120 yards of 10-pound test line. The listings tell me the reel was made specifically for those lines, and I wouldn't think of spooling up with line that is lighter or heavier.

The fishing rod I rely on also has lots of information on the rod blank, just in front of the handle. The rod was designed for the same types of fishing line, which tells me the rod action will sparkle when I'm casting 1/8-ounce to 1/2-ounce lures.

What I have is perfectly-matched tackle. The rod and reel are balanced, and work together to help me cast, retrieve and catch fish.

"I've watched far too many fishermen struggle with a reel that is too heavy or too small for the fishing rod it's attached to," said John Mazurkiewicz of Catalyst Marketing, a fishing expert who deals with Shimano rods and reels and G. Loomis rods. "Fishermen wouldn't make that mistake if they simply read what the tackle makers have printed on the rods and reels."

Bass fishing and the lures used to catch bass have become so sophisticated, said Mazurkiewicz, that changes will soon be made. 

 "On some of our new rods coming out later this year, we're going to put small icons on the rod blank to help fishermen pick the best rod for a specific type of lure or fishing. The icons will tell a fishermen if the rod is designed, perhaps, for casting crankbaits, shaky head worms, drop shot rigs, spinnerbaits or jig-worm combos. Or maybe even the new, heavy Alabama rigs."

 In Ohio, a single rod and reel can cover the majority of the fishing opportunities. If muskies are your game, or big flathead catfish keep you on the water nights, you will nead heavy-duty tackle. But a standard spinning rod and reel designed for walleye will also be a good choice for largemouth bass, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish, rainbow trout or even a batch of bluegill.

 Picking the perfect fishing rig is also a great excuse to stop at the local fishing tackle shop. While catalogs and big box stores may offer lots of fishing tackle, a local expert at the neighborhood tackle shop can put the right rod and reel in your hand. That will help determine if it fits the style of fishing you enjoy most. 

If you already own well-balanced tackle, there's still one last question. Did you spool on some fresh fishing line lately? 

Spinning tackle the best bet for young anglers   

 Push-button reels weren't designed for kids.

The spincast, or push-button reel, was first manufactured in 1949 and allowed fishermen to cast without cursing a backlash. Casting or level-wind reels were the norm and tangled braided line on almost every other cast was common.

When spinning reels and monofilament fishing line made their debut soon after, fishermen rejoiced. The vast majority of today's fishermen use spinning reels, and kids should, too.

The push-button reels are easy to learn to use, but the inexpensive spincast reels are only a fishing trip away from breaking. Even the quality spincast reels from Zebco and Daiwa have a housing that covers the spool of fishing line, allowing tangles and other problems to stay hidden until they short-circuit a fishing trip. 

 If you're teaching a kid to fish, start with a spinning reel. It has a larger spool of line and a strong bail mechanism that gathers fishing line on the retrieve. An hour in the back yard with a spinning combo and a casting plug will have a youngster casting like a veteran.

 For kids with small hands, start with a small spinning reel designed to hold 6-pound test line. Match it with a fishing rod designed for that line weight, and for casting lures that weigh from 1/8-ounce to about 1/2-ounce.

The best fishing rod for a 5-foot fisherman is a 5-foot fishing rod, and no longer than 6 feet. A rod that is a lot longer than a young angler is tall becomes unwieldy for short arms.

If you want to hook a kid on fishing, a simple hand line will do the job. Balanced tackle, though, helps to make a life-long angler.

- D'Arcy Egan
 

Is playing for the Browns as a backup good for Colt McCoy or better for the Browns?

Jae C. Hong / Associated PressColt McCoy

Columnist Terry Pluto writes on Cleveland.com how it's in the best interest of the Cleveland Browns to keep Colt McCoy, even as a backup.

But is that really in the best interest for McCoy? Should McCoy ask for a trade during training camp and try to compete for a starting spot with another NFL team? Or should he just stay and compete with rookie Brandon Weeden, and believe the Browns will pick the "best" QB?

Browns running back Trent Richardson interviews fellow rookie Brandon Weeden. They talk about the upcoming season, including how they will fare in the cold weather, how Weeden was able to steal his number, and where the Browns will be at the end of the season

PDBrandon Weeden and Trent Richardson.

Plain Dealer Browns reporter says being healthy and having a strong-armed QB can do nothing but boost WR's numbers. Watch video

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

Today is Friday, which means it's time for Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot to answer fan questions from her weekly "Hey, Mary Kay!" feature.

This week's questions focus on why the Cleveland Browns likely won't be on HBO's "Hard Knocks" series; why the NFL will require players to wear thigh pads and knee pads starting in 2013; why Browns linebacker Scott Fujita is being suspended and fined for something he did when he played for the New Orleans Saints; and whether Mohamed Massaquoi might have better numbers in 2012 with a hard-throwing QB like Brandon Weeden feeding him passes.

SBTV will return Tuesday with Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff as the guest. Have a great holiday weekend!

"CPerez has been the catalyst the whole season. He battled an injury to make the opening day roster. His "you hit us we hit you period" tweet sparked their first winning streak (and goes down with "not in our garage"). And his comments about the fans got some real Wahoos to the ballpark." - lambbone

View full sizeChuck Crow/The Plain DealerTribe fans everywhere were happy to see Chris Perez back up his comments with three saves against the Tigers.

"CPerez has been the catalyst the whole season. He battled an injury to make the opening day roster. His "you hit us we hit you period" tweet sparked their first winning streak (and goes down with "not in our garage"). And his comments about the fans got some real Wahoos to the ballpark. It has to be tiring to read and hear constant negative junk here and on the radio when the team is in 1st place - and has been for a month. Then he slams the door on three straight against the defending division champs.

I knew I liked this guy when he hit the fiirst two guys he ever faced as an Indian. This team needs someone to kick folks in the pants once in a while."

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Fear the Sword, ESPN's AFC North blog and Did The Tribe Win Last Night.

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

Joshua Gunter/ The Plain DealerDid Mike Holmgren make the right moves for the Browns to succeed this season?

"Dream scenario (8-8): The Browns reap the rewards of a third straight successful draft and produce their first non-losing season since 2007. Team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert are vindicated for making the right moves, and head coach Pat Shurmur shows what he can do when he has a full offseason with a team. While this isn't a playoff team yet, this season proves that the team is headed in the right direction.

Nightmare scenario (3-13): The Browns hit rock bottom, struggling against the NFL's third-toughest schedule. The hot seat is scorching for Shumur, and there are constant questions whether Holmgren and Heckert will be around when the Browns select first in the 2013 draft."

"Despite the Indians’ struggles during the 1970s and 1980s, Rose remained a die-hard Cleveland fan and attributes some of his success as a broadcaster to all the empty seats at old Municipal Stadium.

“The old stadium was a great place,” Rose said. “I was able to get up and move around the park and really watch baseball from all the angles. It really helped me craft my passion."

AP Photo/Darron CummingsGoodbye, Antawn Jamison.

"And while Cavs fans don't seem to worked up over his announcement, the fact remains, it looks likely that the Cavaliers are going to lose their leading scorer in the post-LeBron James era. And think about it, even with Antawn Jamison out there putting up 20+ points a night, the Cavaliers still managed towards the end of the season to get blown out by 20+. Imagine if he wasn't there on those nights. It's not a pretty thought."

Josh Tomlin won't be activated until Monday, but he'll start against Kansas City at Progressive Field.

View full sizeAP Photo/Jae C. HongThe Indians, short on infielders, have recalled shortstop Juan Diaz from Class AA Akron and optioned right-hander Zach McAllister to Class AAA Columbus.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Indians, short on infielders, have recalled shortstop Juan Diaz from Class AA Akron and optioned right-hander Zach McAllister to Class AAA Columbus.

Josh Tomlin (sore right wrist) won't be activated until Monday when he starts against Kansas City at Progressive Field. McAllister had taken Tomlin's spot in the rotation.

Diaz, 23, is hitting .232 (32-for138) with seven doubles, three HR and 18 RBI in 34 games with Akron. The switch-hitter is batting .330 (30-for-91) against right-handers with an  .849 OPS.

The Indians acquired Diaz and Ezequiel Carrera from Seattle in 2009 for Russell Branyan. He'll wear No.29 and will be in uniform tonilght when the Indians open a three-game series against Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field.

McAllister has made four promising starts for the Indians in two different trips to Cleveland this year. He's 1-1 with a 3.96 ERA. He has 22 strikeouts, while allowing six walks and 29 hits in 25 innings.

He's  3-1 with a 2.83 ERA in six starts at Columbus.

The Indians could use an extra infielder. They don't have a legitimate backup for shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and Jack Hannahan has been slow to recover from a back injury.

Nick Gilbert and his signature bowtie still headline the Cavs lottery plan, but there will be some changes from last year, including a new venue.

AP fileNick Gilbert, the oldest son of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, will again represent the team at the NBA Lottery.

CLEVELAND -- The thing is, no matter how hard the Cavaliers try to recreate their successful lottery experience from 2011, there's one giant difference -- and it has nothing to do with Dan Gilbert's casinos or Nick Gilbert's bow tie.

The 2012 lottery will be held in an entirely different venue this year. Last year, it was held at the NBA Entertainment studios in Secaucus, N.J., where it has been held since 1994. This year, because the NBAE offices no longer house a television studio, it moves to the Disney/ABC’s Times Square studios.

The members of the Cavs contingent hope the karma will follow them across the river, and they're doing as much as they can to make sure that's the case, as well as building on some of the key elements from last year, when they won the lottery and turned the No. 1 pick into Kyrie Irving, who recently was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year.

Nick Gilbert, 15, the oldest son of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, stole the show last year with his bow tie, thick, dark-rimmed hipster glasses and the catch phrase, "What's not to like?'' But this year his bowtie will be a new one. He revealed in an interview with The Plain Dealer last fall that he'd misplaced the original one.

The traveling party includes the Gilberts (Dan, Nick and his younger brother), Cavs vice chairmen Jeff Cohen and Nate Forbes, Cavs senior vice president of communications Tad Carper and human good luck charms Josh Cribbs and Joe Haden of the Browns.

Like last year, the charter jet carrying the Gilberts will fly from Detroit to Cleveland to pick up Carper, Cribbs and Hayden. At the lottery, Bernie Kosar will join the group, along with Irving and his dad, Dred. The Irvings attended last year's lottery because it was so close to their home in West Orange, N.J., though they didn't know at the time that Irving would become such a vital member of the Cavs.

Back in Cleveland, the team will return to the Cadillac Ranch for its lottery party, with essentially the same program and lineup.

Although the Orlando Magic in 1992-93 are the only team to have won the lottery in back to back seasons, the Cavs remain optimistic.

"I’m hoping that there’s still a lot to like for Cleveland on Wednesday night,'' Nick Gilbert said.

The team has launched a new website, www.2012PickNick.com, to get lottery and draft information, to order a bowtie like Nick's or to make donations to the Children's Tumor Foundation and Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation. All proceeds from the bowtie sales will be donated to those causes. Nick Gilbert was born with neurofibromatosis and has battled the disease his entire life.

The Cavs also are working with Cincinnati-based BowTie Cause to support Nick Gilbert’s fundraising efforts. The organization was founded in May 2010 by former NFL player Dhani Jones, who also will be part of the Cavs contingent on Wednesday.

And here's another good sign for the Cavs. For the second straight year, Plain Dealer beat reporter Mary Schmitt Boyer has been selected by the NBA to witness the actual lottery draw.

Since Shin-Soo Choo has been at the top of the order, he's been on top of his game.

Chuck Crow, The PDShin-Soo Choo

Reporter Justin Alberts writes on MLB.com how Shin-Soo Choo has grown tired of being asked if he's a better hitter because he's now at the leadoff spot.

He doesn't believe the switch is the reason why his batting average has improved approximately 40 points since moving up. The way he sees it, he was beginning to hit better before the change was made.

"The first four or five weeks, I missed a lot of fastballs," Choo said. "In the big leagues, if you miss fastballs, you can't play here. You have to hit a fastball. Now I'm swinging to make contact -- ground ball, fly ball, whatever."

Regardless if the leadoff spot is reason for the change or not, Choo has been hot.

More Cleveland Indians

Chris Perez has become a fan favorite (Ohio.com).

Hitting coach Bruce Fields on keeping your balance (Cleveland.com).

Preview of the White Sox and the Tribe (Chicago Tribune).

The Tribe option pitcher Zach McAllister, recall AA prospect (Cleveland.com).

Cleveland Indians sweep the Tigers  (The News-Herald).

Tribe vs. Chicago White Sox preview (CantonRep.com).

Travis Hafner received an MRI and a cortisone shot in his right knee Thursday. Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, says he has an irrited medical meniscus in his right knee.

Ted S. Warren, Associated PressTravis Hafner nursing sore right knee.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- DH Travis Hafner is not expected to play against the White Sox this weekend because of an irritated right knee.

Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said Hafner complained of right knee soreness Wednesday while being treated for a bruised right shin after fouling a ball off the shin during 4-2 victory over Detroit. Hafner hit a two-run homer in the game.

Hafner received an MRI and a cortisone injection in the knee Thursday. He did not play in the Tribe's 2-1 victory over the Tigers to complete a three-game sweep at Progressive Field.

Pronk did not make the trip to Chicago with the Indians. 

"We're hopeful that the medication (shot) and rest is sufficient for full resolution of the symptoms," said Soloff.

Soloff said Hafner irritated the medial meniscus cartilage in his right knee. The meniscus acts as a "shock absorber' in the knee.

Hafner told Soloff that his right knee was sore when he went to Progressive Field before Wednesday's game, but he didn't think it was serious.

Asked about the possibility of surgery, Soloff said, "In the event that the medication and rest isn't sufficient, that introduces a different scenario and we'd provide an update on that early next week if it went that route."

Hafner is hitting .242 (32-for-132) with six doubles, one triple, six homers and 23 RBI. He has played 39 of the Tribe's 44 games.

"The fact that he's been able to play regularly this year gives us stability in our lineup," said manager Manny Acta. "He's a presence. He changes the way the opposition pitches to other guys in our lineup.

"He's a threat every time he's up. He brings a dimension that a lot of hitters don't have. Even when he's not hitting, he's walking. So he's always on base."

Hafner, with 26 walks and 25 strikeouts, has a .380 on base percentage.

Soloff talked to Hafner on Friday.

"He said he's feeling better," said Soloff. "He said he's able to walk on the knee. I take that as a good sign."

Shelley Duncan started at DH Friday against Chicago. Acta said he'll also use Johnny Damon, Carlos Santana and Jose Lopez at DH in Hafner's absence.

Tonight's lineup:

Indians (26-18): RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), 2B Jason Kipnis (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), C Carlos Santana (S), 3B Jose Lopez (R), DH Shelley Duncan (R), LF Johnny Damon (L), 1B Casey Kotchman (L), CF Aaron Cunningham (R), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (3-2, 3.19).

White Sox (23-22): CF Alejandro De Aza (L), 2B Gordon Beckham (R), DH Adam Dunn (L), 1B Paul Konerko (R), RF Alex Rios (R), C A.J. Pierzynski (L), LF Dayan Viciedo (R), SS Alexi Ramirez (R), 3B Orlando Hudson (S), LHP Jose Quintana (0-0, 0.00).

Indians vs. Quintana: Hafner, who did not make the trip, is the only Indian with a hit against Quintana. Tribe, as a team, is 1-for-18 against Quintana.

White Sox vs. Gomez: Ramirez is hitting .444 (4-for-9) with one RBI and De Aza is hitting .429 (3-for-7) with two RBI.

Umpires: H Brian Runge, 1B Ted Barrett, 2B Marvin Hudson, 3B Tim McClelland.

Next: RHP Derek Lowe (6-2, 2.15) vs. RHP Jake Peavy (5-1, 2.39) Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET. STO/WTAM will carry the game.