On the anniversary of being forced out, Jim Tressel said he carries no scars and hopes one day to reconnect with the Buckeyes.

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain DealerNow the Vice President for Strategic Engagement at the University of Akron, former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel says he doesn't spend much time thinking about his ouster from the Buckeyes' football program one year ago. "I had to make decisions in my life that weren't perfect for everyone," Tressel told The Plain Dealer, "and people have to make decisions. So what I needed to do, like one of our guys who gets knocked down, was get up off the turf."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- On Memorial Day this year, Jim Tressel's plan was golf -- on the links for the first time in 2012, playing nine holes with his wife, Ellen.

"I'll probably shoot 120," Tressel said Monday morning.

He could take to the course with his golf bag, but, as he explained during an interview with The Plain Dealer, no baggage.

Today is the one-year anniversary of Tressel's forced resignation from Ohio State. On May 30, 2011, the football coach's 10-year run with the Buckeyes ended over his major NCAA violations and the public criticism they created.

Tressel lost his job last Memorial Day. In February, he was hired by the University of Akron as its Vice President of Strategic Engagement, and he says he didn't lose his joy for what he does now, or what he did for 25 years as the head football coach at Youngstown State and Ohio State.

"It was going to end one day, in one way or another, and that wasn't the way we wanted to end it," Tressel said.

"Wow, a lot happens in a year, a lot that you don't know is going to happen. But I don't feel scarred or disappointed or mad. I just don't feel that way. The people at Ohio State have always been great to me, and things end up the way they do, and you go on to the next play or the next day, and that's always been the way I look at things."

After six Big Ten titles (and another wiped out by NCAA violations) and the 2002 national title, Tressel's departure was announced a year ago by a video message released by OSU athletic director Gene Smith.

Tressel has granted numerous interviews since then, particularly since February, but nothing that qualified as a farewell to Ohio State -- in part because he did not want to say farewell.

"I wouldn't call it a goodbye," Tressel said. "I would say, 'Hey, we'll see you soon.' Whenever it is, who knows?

"But keep cheering for those Buckeyes. I'm sure we'll have time when we have the chance to reconnect in some form. In the meantime, you've got to make sure the Buckeyes are ready. Who knows what the next 10 or 15 years of college football is going to be like? So keep loving them and keep flying that flag, and we hope one day that we get a chance to reconnect, and in the meantime we know we're still busy and we've got one another to root for."

During his tenure, Tressel provided an office in Ohio State's football building to be shared by former head coaches Earle Bruce and John Cooper. Tressel explained it took many years for those coaches to return, and he laughed when asked about someday dotting the i with the OSU band.

"Time has to take care of some things," Tressel, 59, said, "but I hope to live long enough to have a great career at the University of Akron and then enjoy that recognition of every place I've been."

Tressel still keeps in touch with many former and current Buckeyes, jumping out of a small meeting last week to take a call from former running back Maurice Clarett.

But at Ohio State, time moved quickly. After a 6-7 season under former Tressel assistant Luke Fickell, the Buckeyes hired two-time national championship coach Urban Meyer, who has re-invigorated the fan base, with Tressel now most often mentioned as a contrast to Meyer's intense coaching style. A tumultuous year filled with suspensions, a losing record and a bowl ban for 2012 has yielded to the calm waters of expectation.

"It's pretty crazy. It's almost like it didn't happen," senior tight end Jake Stoneburner said. "For losing one of the greatest coaches at Ohio State ever just a year ago, to be where we're at now, we're pretty fortunate.

"Coach Tress was a great guy, everyone loved him, so to see him get fired or resign, it was tough. It's kind of crazy how it came around to everything working out. I didn't expect it to be like this, but I'm definitely happy about it."

The Buckeyes suffered for a year to reach this point, and will feel the pain again come bowl season. Tressel suffered as well, losing his dream job and, to many, his reputation. His actions brought serious penalties from the NCAA that included a five-year "show-cause penalty" that basically prevents him from coaching on the college level until December 2016.

Tressel's punishment was levied because he became aware of potential NCAA violations committed by several of his players and didn't tell his bosses, as he was required to do by his contract and NCAA rules. He has said previously that he made a mistake.

But the last year in college sports also brought some context, as many schools -- from Penn State to Miami to Arkansas -- dealt with serious problems that didn't change the wrongs at Ohio State, but have changed, to some, how they should be viewed.

Asked if there was anything more he'd like people to know about the Ohio State situation, Tressel said:

"I think everyone has their own perception. ... I don't really have anything I would want anyone to know other than for the 101/2 years I was there, I worked as hard as I could and did as well as I could for Ohio State."

As for what he was thinking a year ago on this day, Tressel said, "What I realized is I was disappointed because it meant I had to leave some folks I loved. But I also knew I had to make decisions in my life that weren't perfect for everyone, and people have to make decisions. So what I needed to do, like one of our guys who gets knocked down, was get up off the turf."

So the team and its former leader believe they have. Ohio State's players said they knew the program, in the end, would be fine.

"I think it's in the best spot it could be," junior safety C.J. Barnett said. "I know we lost a great coach, but we picked up another great coach. We got lucky."

Tressel, who spent last season as a consultant with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, said he felt the same about himself.

"I had a lot of confidence that we were moving forward and things would be fine," Tressel said. "We talked a million times to our young people about the fact that Ohio State is bigger than you, or Youngstown State is bigger than you, and it's going to move forward. So do the best you can while you're there and know that it's a part of your life forever, but that there's a moment when it's not the every day part of your life.

"The people I run into want to talk about the fond memories, and I'm sure that's not unlike when you lose a loved one and you think back on all those wonderful times, and that's absolutely the way I feel.

"I suppose it was disappointing to some. They thought we would do that forever, but it took a strange turn. But I think when you step back, at least I do, I think of all the good times and the excellent I people I worked with and got to meet."

Indians closer Chris Perez draws ire of Royals for hand gesture in ninth inning Monday afternoon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians' and Royals' dislike for each other has gotten that much more intense.

Not surprisingly, Indians closer Chris Perez is the fulcrum. Perez's "U Can't See Me'' gesture directed at Jarrod Dyson on Monday served as kindling for the already crackling campfire. Perez, after striking out Dyson for the second out of the ninth inning in the Tribe's 8-5 victory, waved his hand in front of his face. It was an imitation of WWE star John Cena's signature smack.

Dyson did not see what happened, but he watched it on replay and was none too pleased. Jerry "The King'' Lawler referenced it on a WWE television show.

Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer- Cleveland Indians Chris Perez does the "can't see you" move after striking out Jarrod Dyson of the Kansas City Royals in the 9th inning on May 28, 2012, at Progressive Field.

"I don't know why he did it, but I think it was terrible,'' Dyson said Tuesday afternoon before batting practice. "I think it's crazy for him to be doing that. It's a little bit disrespectful. I guess he felt like he struck out Albert Pujols or something. It's probably just him being him. I don't know if it was adrenaline, or what. Sometimes you can get pumped up and overreact.''

Perez, speaking with four reporters in the dugout before batting practice, confirmed that the gesture was meant for Dyson, and that there was thought behind it.

"The whole reason I did it is, I heard through the grapevine that Dyson said his team is coming for me,'' Perez said. "I said, 'All right, if you're coming for me, I'm coming for you. If I strike you out, you're going to get the 'U Can't See Me' face.' That's what happened -- three pitches and you can't see me.''

Perez said he learned that Dyson had voiced displeasure about a comment Perez made during his recent criticism of the Tribe fan base. On May 20, as part of his knocking fans for not showing up to watch a first-place club, Perez said: "We could be in last place. We could be the Royals, we could be the Pirates, who haven't won anything in 20 years.''

Perez said he is not concerned about Dyson being upset with the gesture.

"If he took offense to it -- oh, well,'' Perez said. "It happened. It's the same as if a hitter hits a home run and he comes back to the dugout and does all the hand-slapping stuff (with teammates). We see that as pitchers, and we don't take offense to it because he hit a home run.''

Dyson said that, if he had seen it, he might have said something.

"At the same time, I'm not a guy to jump out of character, especially not over one play,'' he said. "We're not a team to jump out of character, either. We preach it hard over here to be a model organization.

"I wouldn't have done it. But that's just him being him. You can't tell a guy how to go about his business. If that's what gets him going, then keep doing it. If I knew showboating, or whatever, got me going, I'd be doing it. I wouldn't care what anybody said.''

Dyson said he "can't wait'' to face Perez again. He no doubt spoke for his teammates as well.

"That's the good part of the game: You do something like that, you make the opposing team want you even more,'' he said. "That's the way it is. We want to beat him.''

As ticked off as he is, Dyson conceded that Perez has the leverage at the moment. Perez has been pitching well and the Indians were 5-2 against the Royals through Monday.

"Whoever wins can talk the most,'' Dyson said. "That's how I look at it. No matter what, we've got to win. If we beat them out here, we can do what we want. But we have to win first. You can't do anything when you lose.

"If you're losing against a team you're supposed to be rivals with, you can't say anything. They basically shut you up. They show you up on the field, but you can't do much until you win. If you win, you've got something to say.''

Perez, inherently animated during outings, acknowledged that being a successful closer for a first-place club provides somewhat of a bully pulpit. Perez entered Tuesday having converted 17 straight opportunities since a blown save on Opening Day; the Indians led the AL Central by a half-game.

"(Winning) definitely gives me some leeway to do what I do,'' he said. "Nobody wants to hear this from a last-place team. I mean, who cares -- you're in last place. You talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. We're in first place right now, and it's fun.

"And I know that, if I'm blowing saves, I can't do that stuff, either. I'm enjoying this. This is fun. It's not very often you can go on a streak like this, especially in the big leagues, and pitch as well as I have been. Not trying to pump myself up, but it's fun.''

Dyson said Perez's actions -- and, for that matter, a tweet about not liking the Royals -- have helped fuel his club's distaste for the Indians.

"I don't know how everybody else takes it, but that's how I feel,'' he said. "We want to beat everybody, don't get me wrong. But against the Indians, we don't want them to get the upper hand on us. You want to beat every team, but there's more intensity against the Indians.''

Jim Tressel made Cleveland more of an Ohio State town than it ever was before. He's taking his football exile one day at a time.

View full sizeJim Tressel's departure from Ohio State rattled the Buckeyes program and its fan base. Now he's biding his time as his five-year suspension from collegiate coaching drags on.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jim Tressel, when introduced at a banquet this month in Westlake, said, "I'm happy to be here. When you've been fired twice in one year, you're happy to be anywhere."

He now holds an administrative job at the University of Akron. A year ago, he resigned under fire after a decade as the most successful Ohio State coach since Woody Hayes. The second dismissal came when the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, in the wake of a 2-14 season, fired coach Jim Caldwell and his staff, including Tressel, who had worked for the final 10 games as an instant-replay adviser.

Tressel's fall at Ohio State shook most of the state as it had not been shaken since Woody Hayes threw a punch in the Gator Bowl in 1978. Fans in Cleveland reeled from Tressel's ouster more than most. In a city starved for victory, Tressel was the local guy -- born in Mentor, raised in Berea -- who won it all.

Before Tressel, Cleveland was divided in three parts among major-college loyalties. Ohio State claimed a majority of fans, with Notre Dame and Michigan trading spots as the second and third favorite, depending on their fortunes on the field.

After Tressel, Cleveland is the northernmost outpost of the Buckeye Empire. Everyone saw that in 2011 when Ohio State's men's basketball team played the second and third rounds of the NCAA Tournament at The Q, before adoring crowds in a scarlet madhouse.

Tressel built a fence around Ohio in recruiting. While the occasional Big Ten skill-position starter (Lee Evans, Ricky Stanzi, Brian Hoyer) got away, there was no recurrence of such defections as Villa Angela-St Joseph's Desmond Howard slipping off to Michigan to win a Heisman Trophy, while paired with his high school batterymate, Elvis Grbac.

Notre Dame's decline among fans here has been a function of its also-ran status on the field for a generation. Michigan's rise coincided with the Charlie Brown struggles of John Cooper, Tressel's predecessor, who so often whiffed when the big prize -- an undefeated season, a bowl victory, most of all a win over Michigan -- was within reach.

Tressel all but promised to reverse that trend the day he was hired out of Youngstown State in college football's minor leagues. Typically, though, he left himself an out. "I just promised [the fans] they would be proud of the players," Tressel said after a 26-20 victory at Ann Arbor in 2001 changed the way the sport's biggest rivalry would be viewed.

After that, Ohio State had the initiative. The Buckeyes won an unthinkable nine of 10 times. Tressel chased the respected Lloyd Carr into retirement and ensured the cashiering of his Michigan successor, Rich Rodriguez.

Every hair in place, tie knotted, plays scripted, Tressel seemed to be a sideline-pacing contradiction. He was a buttoned-down technocrat who so loved the Saturday battles that he counted off the days every year until the biggest one against Michigan.

His fall was not as easy to explain as that of the fiery Hayes. He was not an outsized celebrity coach who brought great expectations, like his successor, Urban Meyer. Tressel was a man of both opportunism and altruism who helped many more people than he hurt. He was also an icon of propriety who had a past of improprieties, for which he had escaped punishment.

The player tattoos whose concealment finally brought him down seem trivial in many ways. Said Terry Bowden, now Akron's coach, a member of college football royalty, along with his father, Bobby, and brother, Tommy: "A lot of coaches look at it a little differently. Did Jim Tressel cheat to recruit players? Did Ohio State pay players when he was the coach? No, he didn't. No, they didn't. He just didn't handle some things as well as we all wish we had done from time to time."

To fans, Tressel had a quality of nobility, even at the end. He was the coach who took the fall for his players, the selfless figure (albeit one leaving with a lavish settlement) who fell on his sword for Ohio State.

The coverup of the tattoos, though, branded Tressel as a liar. It is a mortal sin in the creed of the NCAA.

Tressel had been guilty of favoritism and negligence before. The first instance was with Ray Isaac at Youngstown State, where Tressel was also the athletic director and thus was well-schooled in the application of the rules. The two biggest instances were at Ohio State with Maurice Clarett, the star of his national championship team, and Terrelle Pryor, the most publicized player he ever recruited.

Knowingly playing ineligible players in the scandal involving Pryor was not a survivable offense. Tressel's penalty was to lose his dream job and to be unemployable for the next five seasons in college football.

Five years is over 1,800 days. It is a long countdown until Tressel, taking it one day at a time in Akron, can be on a college sideline, happy in conflict again.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Davis advances to the second round of the French Open with a victory over 30th-ranked Mona Barthel.

View full sizeMichel Springler, Associated Press"I knew I had to play my best to beat her," Gates Mills native Lauren Davis, 18, said of playing Mona Barthel Monday at the French Open, "and I did."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lauren Davis is short. This fact is not a secret, it's right there on the Gates Mills' native's bio: She's all of 5 feet, 2 inches, 121 pounds. Tiny.

"When she's on the court, she has to move three steps for a normal person's one step," tennis legend Chris Evert remarked on ESPN on Monday. "She's running a lot more than any other player."

What the 18-year-old Davis lacks in height she makes up for in grit, as she showed Monday when she toppled 30th-seeded Mona Barthel, 6-1, 6-1, in the opening round of the French Open. The victory marked Davis' first in three tries at a Grand Slam event, and came after she was forced to qualify when she did not win a wild-card invitation. She faces American Christina McHale, ranked 35th, in the second round Thursday.

With strong baseline strokes as her constant, Davis made only 11 unforced errors to the 6-foot-1 Barthel's 44.

"I'm playing well here in Europe on the red clay," Davis said in a press conference after her victory. "I feel really, really comfortable on it. I knew I had to play my best to beat her, and I did."

Evert, for one, was stunned to momentary silence on ESPN when talking about the young Cleveland-area product. Davis has trained at The Evert Academy in Florida for the past two years, which is how Evert knows her game so well.

Davis, currently ranked 162, missed out on the Roland Garros wild card at the USTA Pro Circuit Challenger event in Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., recently when she fell in the semifinals. She had to win four matches to advance to the first round of the French, and she's won 14 of her last 18 matches. In all, American women won 10 of their 12 first-round matches-- Serena Williams was the notable upset victim.

Davis' success comes a little more than a year after a bizarre TV camera mishap that resulted in a concussion that sidelined her for several weeks. In April 2011, a fierce wind blew a TV camera onto her head at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. Davis was knocked unconscious and had a headache, "24-7, that never went away," she said. She returned to win USTA circuit events in Atlanta and Buffalo, but the victory over the German Barthel is by far her greatest as a professional.

Her reward is McHale on Thursday -- a player who is much closer to her stature at 5-feet-5.

"[That was] probably my biggest win," Davis said, "so I have a lot of confidence."

Sifford, who lives in Highland Heights, has been slowed by kidney disease but "is still feeling pretty good for an old man."

View full sizeAP fileWorld Golf Hall of Famer Charlie Sifford turns 90 on Saturday, and the Highland Heights resident would like to see today's top players improve their short games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Charlie Sifford broke down racial barriers while routinely breaking par.

On Saturday, the legendary pro breaks 90, as in his age.

Sifford, whose racial pioneering efforts in the late 1940s and early 1950s paved the way for players such as Lee Elder, Calvin Peete and, of course, Tiger Woods, was born June 2, 1922 in Charlotte, N.C. He began caddying as a youngster, earning 60 cents a day. He became the first African-American to earn a PGA Tour card (1960) and was a two-time winner on the regular Tour and was an original member of the PGA Senior Tour, now known as the Champions Tour.

In 1975 he won PGA Senior Championship. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004 and in 2008 he was given the Golden Tee Award by the New York Golf Writers Association and was named as the Ambassador of Golf for the Bridgestone Invitational.

Sifford, who lives in Highland Heights, has been slowed by kidney disease but "is still feeling pretty good for an old man" and plans on attending this week's Memorial and the Bridgestone Invitational in August.

Sifford's short game was always his strong point and he feels the young professionals and junior players don't spend enough time working on chipping and putting.

"They all want that long ball," he said. "That's all they seem to care about."

Taking a break: Former Clevelander Jason Dufner will take a well-earned break following his whirlwind month on the PGA Tour in which he won twice, had one runner-up finish -- banking $3,032,485 -- and got married to the former Amanda Boyd.

Dufner will skip this week's Memorial, serving instead as a volunteer assistant coach for his alma mater, Auburn, at the NCAA tournament in Los Angeles. He will play in the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, then he and his bride will honeymoon in the Caribbean before he heads off to British Open.

Speaking of the Open: The list of those attempting to qualify out of the sectional event on Monday at the Scarlet Course and Scioto Country Club is an impressive one. It includes former PGA Champion Davis Love III, former Masters champion Mike Weir, former British Open champion Ben Curtis and current PGA Tour stars Ryan Moore, Chris DiMarco, Camilo Villegas, Ricky Barnes, Pat Perez, Rory Sabbatini, Henrik Stenson, Sean O'Hair, Johnson Wagner, Jeff Overton, J.B. Holmes, John Huh, Stuart Appleby and Tommy Gainey. An undetermined number will advance to next month's Open at the Olympic Club.

Help wanted: Officials from the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational are looking for volunteers to work the Aug. 1-5 event at Firestone Country Club. Golf knowledge is not required. More than 1,000 volunteers serve in several capacities, including marshaling, greeting patrons at the gate and transporting players and officials.

The volunteer fee of $75 includes a tournament golf shirt, headwear, volunteer badge valid for week-long tournament access, meals and beverages during assigned shifts, a catered breakfast on Saturday of tournament week and an invitation to the volunteer kick-off party on July 29.

Glenda Buchanan, administrator of Northern Ohio Golf Charities, said volunteers from 19 states and Canada worked last year's event.

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

Holes without dramatic elevation changes can sometimes be less than memorable, but the sixth makes sure you keep paying attention.

View full size

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Avon's Bob-O-Link Golf Club offers 36 holes to challenge golfers of all skill levels. This week we focus on the par-5 sixth hole on the Gold course which plays up to 526 yards.

Holes without dramatic elevation changes can sometimes be something less than memorable, but the sixth makes sure you keep paying attention in order to find the sloping fairway that turns to the right, and then offers a risk-reward shot over a creek about 135 yards in front of the green.

Our Hole of the Week doesn't hide its difficulty, listed as the top handicap hole on the Gold course.

In the Browns' last 19 seasons -- six before their move to Baltimore and 13 since their return as an NFL franchise -- they have lost 90 more games than they've won. Links to more Browns' stories.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerBrowns fans, who have essentially watched one losing season after another, hope the 2012 campaign will be a turning point for the better.

The best thing that can happen to the Browns this year is a 9-7 record that includes some key divisional victories.

Brecksville, Ohio - Tom Tupa Jr. wants to throw the football for the Miami Redhawks. The Brecksville-Broadview Heights quarterback said he has made an oral commitment to play at Miami starting in the fall 2013.

Brecksville quarterback Tom Tupa Jr., who has orally committed to Miami of Ohio, threw for 980 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He missed half the season after injuring his left shoulder. - (Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer)

Brecksville, Ohio - Tom Tupa Jr. wants to throw the football for the Miami Redhawks.

The Brecksville-Broadview Heights quarterback said he has made an oral commitment to play at Miami starting in the fall 2013.

"The deciding factor was playing time and I fell in love with the campus," said Tupa, son of the former Ohio State and NFL quarterback/punter. "It was about getting the opportunity to play."

Tupa said he had narrowed his other two choices down to Ohio University and Marshall.

After throwing for 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore, Tupa suffered a left shoulder injury last year in the season's second game and played half the season. He threw for 980 yards and eight touchdowns, with eight interceptions.

He said he plans to major in business, leaning toward marketing. He made his college choice at this time to put himself at ease.

"I wasn't going to wait for the bigger schools and have nothing happen," he said. "I am really comfortable with making this decision."

"I'm beyond being anxious or frustrated," says the veteran outfielder. "I can't even explain it. ... It's almost feels like a part of you is missing."

View full sizeChuck Crow, PD file"It's not easy to watch because you want to be out there. But I can't not watch," Grady Sizemore said Tuesday of following the Indians. "It's exciting. ... It makes me want to be a part of it that much more."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Grady Sizemore watched Michael Brantley stretch above and over the center-field fence Saturday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field to steal a three-run homer from Chicago's Alex Rios.

Sizemore was back in Cleveland, watching on TV, after another day of rehabilitation at Progressive Field.

"It was impressive, really good," said the former Gold Glove center fielder. "Those are things I used to be able to do."

Will he be able to do them again? Will he be able to do them for the Indians before his one-year, $5 million deal expires? Sizemore can't stay for sure.

His body, ravaged by six operations since late in the 2009 season, is feeling stronger. He's taking batting practice, running and playing catch, but he still doesn't know when he'll start playing minor-league games.

"When I get to the point where I'm ready to play rehab games, I'll have a better idea of when I'll be able to get back," said Sizemore. "Hopefully, it's soon."

Until then, Sizemore knows one thing. "I'm beyond being anxious or frustrated. I can't even explain it. ... It's almost feels like a part of you is missing."

One thing he can't do is stop watching the Indians play.

"It's not easy to watch because you want to be out there. But I can't not watch," said Sizemore. "It's exciting. ... It makes me want to be a part of it that much more."

Sizemore had surgery to repair a herniated disc in March. He'd already spent the winter rehabbing from right knee surgery in October. The year before he had microfracture surgery on the left knee.

"I've learned that rushing and trying to get back as soon as possible didn't work," said Sizemore. "I tried that last year and I just ended up putting myself in a worse position.

"That's why we're taking it slow now. That's why it's important to not just feel good, but to feel really good, to feel great."

He's back: All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who missed the last three games with a strained left hamstring, was a late addition to the lineup on Tuesday.

After Cabrera ran the bases early Tuesday afternoon, he convinced manager Manny Acta that he was ready to play.

"Manny made the lineup early and didn't put me in there," said Cabrera. "I went in his office and told him I wanted to play and felt really good."

Said Acta, "We went through the whole workout with him. He's pain free and ran the bases well. He's very adamant that he has no issues. We're going to start him at DH and ease him into it."

Cabrera is expected to return to shortstop for Wednesday's 12:05 p.m. game against the Royals.

"We just didn't want him to be a hero in May," said Acta.

Cabrera injured his hamstring last week against the Tigers. He re-injured it Friday against the White Sox and had to leave the game. Rookie Juan Diaz, promoted from Class AA Akron, has filled in at short.

Testing, testing: Travis Hafner (right knee) took batting practice and did some light running Tuesday.

"He's still not 100 percent with the running," said Acta, "but I anticipate having him available off the bench [Tuesday] if I need him. On Wednesday, he'll do some more running to find out where he's at."

Extra arm: Look for the Indians to add another reliever in the next couple of days. They're going with a six-man pen at the moment, one short of the regular seven relievers.

"This is not something we want to do," said Acta.

Acta said as soon as he knows Cabrera can play shortstop or a final decision is made on Hafner's condition, a seventh reliever will be added. Frank Herrmann, Chris Ray, Hector Ambriz and Scott Barnes are possibilities at Class AAA Columbus.

Player of the week: Tony Wolters, 19, has been named the organization's Minor League Player of the Week. Wolters, a third-round pick in 2008, hit .429 (9-for-21) with two doubles and one RBI last week for Class A Carolina.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

On a big news day, we were characters in a sitcom, all our gizmos of modern communications rendered useless by pine trees and hills.

View full sizeAP fileJim Tressel's fate was finally revealed to most football fans -- but not two PD columnists -- on a hazy Memorial Day one year ago.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Just outside of Benton, Ark., home of Cliff Lee and near Walmart's world headquarters, at 9 a.m., Central Time, on May 30, Memorial Day, 2011, the news began to crackle over the radio.

Then, it stopped.

"Big news out of Columbus, Ohio," said "Phlash" Phelps, the disc jockey on the "60s on 6" channel on XM radio. "You're going to want to hear this, Ohio State fans."

At that point, the radio lost the signal in the car in which Plain Dealer colleague Tom Feran and I were making our once-every-three years trip to Austin, Tex., to see family and friends.

"What? What?" Feran cried as the radio went silent, without even the hiss of a lost signal that is heard from stations on the ground.

"It has to be Tressel!" I said.

We were driving in hilly terrain, down a tunnel carved through pine trees by Interstate 30. After a minute or so, we heard Phelps say, "Ohio State ..." and then the signal died again. Feran twisted the dial as I sped up behind the wheel to escape the dead zone. Finally, we crested a hill and heard Phelps say, "So now you know, Buckeye fans."

He then played the Monkees' "Last Train to Clarksville."

It wasn't my road trip, or Tom's by then. We had become characters in a sitcom, all our gizmos of modern communications rendered useless by some pine trees and hills. Feran finally found a news station, through which we learned that Jim Tressel had indeed resigned as Ohio State's football coach.

The Plain Dealer's Ohio State beat man Doug Lesmerises and I had decided weeks before that Tressel was unlikely to survive the cover-up of the tattoo scandal. I had already filed a long column about his wildly successful decade in Columbus. In the old days, Feran and I would have had to find a place with a pay phone to call the copy desk and sports editor to make sure they had retrieved it. Cell phones took care of that.

In fact, interviewers from the PD's Starting Blocks TV and ESPN spoke with me by cell phone while I was sitting in the passenger seat, whispering to Feran -- who was driving as we passed the Texas border -- to pull into a different lane because the pavement was too rough. The rumble of the tires over it was making it hard to hear interviewers' questions.

We stopped at a McDonald's in Texas, where I used the free wi-fi to post to Twitter and Facebook the links to the column and to a blog I had written earlier about what I (and I alone, apparently) thought was the underrated sense of humor of Tressel.

"I hate to interrupt your little Thelma and Louise thing, but can you both be on the show?" said former PD columnist Dick Feagler, who referred in his cell phone call to his "Feagler and Friends" panel show on WVIZ-TV.

Well, actually we couldn't. We were outward, not homeward, bound.

"I believe you mean Butch and Sundance," Feran said.

"We'll settle for Hope and Crosby," said Feagler.

Royals left-handers do a number early on Justin Masterson as the Indians lose to yet another left-handed starter.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerShin-Soo Choo watches the ball hit by Kansas City's Mike Moustakas sail into the right-field stands Tuesday night at Progressive Field. The two-run homer in the first inning was the first blow in the Royals' easy 8-2 victory.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The only left-handed hitter Justin Masterson retired in the first two innings Tuesday night at Progressive Field was Jarrod Dyson, and he was trying to make an out on a sacrifice bunt.

The other lefties in Kansas City's lineup went 5-for-5 against Masterson to beat the 6-6 right-hander and the Indians, 8-2.

The loss ended the Indians' 35-day stay atop the AL Central. They dropped below Chicago by a half game after the White Sox beat Tampa Bay.

The Royals took a 2-0 in the first inning on Mike Moustakas' two-run homer with two out. Alex Gordon opened with a single, but was forced at second on a grounder by Johnny Giavotella. After Billy Butler flied out to center, Moustakas yanked a 3-1 pitch into the right-field seats.

Rookie Will Smith, 22, was making his second big-league start. The Yankees pounded him for five runs on six hits, including three homers, in 3 1/3 innings in his first start. But Smith had one thing going for him against the Tribe, he's left-handed.

The Tribe scored twice in the first to even the score, but the inning offered so much more. Shin-Soo Choo and Jason Kipnis opened with walks. Asdrubal Cabrera, making his first start since leaving Friday's game with a tight left hamstring, loaded the bases with a single.

Jose Lopez followed with an RBI single. Michael Brantley brought home the second run on a ground out, but that was it. Smith retired Aaron Cunningham and Lonnie Chisenhall to end the inning.

The Royals' lefties re-focused their attention on Masterson (2-4, 5.14) in the second. Lefty Eric Hosmer hit a leadoff single. Masterson hit Alcides Escobar with a pitch and Dyson advanced them with a bunt back to the mound.

Humberto Quintero sent a bouncer to first with Hosmer running on contact. Lopez threw home, but Hosmer slid around catcher Luke Carlin for a 3-2 lead. Gordon, yes, he's left-handed, singled home Escobar. Giavotella followed with another RBI single before Masterson struck out Butler.

Moustakas, another lefty in case you were wondering, sent a drive down the right field line and into the seats. Manager Ned Yost, thinking it was a three-run homer, asked for the umpires to review it. The umpires called it foul, so Moustakas settled for a two-run single for a 7-2 lead.

Smith (1-1, 6.l75), the opening day starter for Class AAA Omaha, proceeded to throw five straight shutout innings. He allowed two runs on four hits in six innings for his first big-league victory.

The Indians are 4-10 in games started by lefties this year. It marked the second time in five games that they've been beaten by a rookie left-hander. Chicago's Jose Quintana also held them to two runs over six innings Friday at U.S. Cellular Field.

After the first two innings, Masterson allowed just one more run through the sixth, but the Tribe's offense was silent. Masterson allowed eight runs, seven earned, on six hits in six innings. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter for the first time in 11 starts this season.

What kind of night was it for the Tribe's offense? Carlin was one of their busiest baserunners as he reached on three straight Royals errors.

Horizon League, which includes Cleveland State, loses its signature basketball team a year earlier than expected.

Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain DealerButler's Andrew Smith defends the basket against Cleveland State's Anton Grady during the Bulldogs' 52-49 win over host CSU on Feb. 12. The Vikings had won at Butler, 76-69, on Jan. 14.

The Cavs plan to copy many of the aspects of last year's lottery experience, which resulted in acquiring Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving.

View full sizeAP fileLast year, Nick Gilbert receiving the winning handshake from NBA assistant commissioner Adam Silver after the Cavaliers won the draft lottery. A year older, will Gilbert be able to say "what's not to like" one more time?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the only general manager to win the NBA lottery in back-to-back years, former Orlando GM Pat Williams has some advice for the Cavaliers, who are trying to double up on landing last year's No. 1 pick.

"Whatever worked last year, try it again," said Williams, whose Magic claimed the top spot in 1992 and 1993.

Referring to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's 15-year-old son Nick, who will represent the team on stage again during Wednesday night's televised lottery, Williams said, "The young boy who touched the hearts of America? If I were in their shoes, I would do an exact repeat. I'd have the same clothes. I'd have everything. I would try to see if I could have lightning strike twice."

Even before hearing Williams' suggestions, the Cavs planned to copy many of the aspects of last year's lottery experience, which resulted in acquiring point guard Kyrie Irving, recently named the league's Rookie of the Year.

Oddly enough, Williams didn't take his own advice in 1993. The Magic had made Shaquille O'Neal the No. 1 pick in 1992 and just missed making the playoffs in 1993.

"We lost out of the playoffs by the fifth tiebreaker," Williams said. "So we go in with one pingpong ball. Back in those days, you could understand how the lottery worked. The year before, we had 10 of 66 pingpong balls."

In the 1990 lottery, a weighted system was introduced for the 11 teams that missed the playoffs. (Because of expansion, there are now 14 teams in the lottery.) The team with the worst record during the regular season -- in 1992, that was Minnesota at 15-67 -- received 11 chances at the top pick (out of a total of 66). The second-worst team -- in 1992, that was Orlando at 21-61 -- got 10 chances.

When the Magic went 41-41 in 1993, Williams figured he had no chance in the lottery. Whereas in the past, he'd taken an assortment of good-luck charms with him, in 1993, he went empty-handed.

"Over the years, we took everything," recalled Williams, now a senior vice president with the Magic who is also a cancer survivor, prolific author and popular guest speaker. "We took rabbit's feet. We took Lucky Charms cereal. We took big bags of pingpong balls. But I found in '92, the best thing that worked were losses. They worked a lot better than rabbit's feet. They're not fun going through, but come May in Secaucus, the best thing you have going for you are lots of Ls.

"In 92, there were 11 teams there with Shaq jerseys made up. I remember when we got turned over at one, you could hear the rustling of those jerseys being stuffed back into paper bags.

"But in 93, it was a wasted trip in my mind -- no charms, no clovers, no Lucky Charms cereal, none whatsoever. I remember going very reluctantly. I was just going to go up, sit there, wasted trip, come home, pick 11th."

His attitude changed moments after the televised lottery show began. As it will be Wednesday night, the lottery picks are revealed in reverse order.

"At No. 11, our card is not turned over and then the world changed," said Williams, who was named the recipient of the 2012 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "There was an absolute chilled wind that swept through that room because everybody in that room knew something really nasty had taken place and that we were going to be one of the top three picks. The countdown continues with everybody thinking, 'Oh my goodness.' It just shook the room. We don't get turned over at No. 3. Now it's even more frozen. Then suddenly Charlotte is flipped over at No. 2, and there we sit.

"I remember going up and there's David Stern. The year before, in 1992, he was very glad to see me up on the stage. When I got up there that second year in '93, it was like, 'Ooh, I don't really, really want to be here.' He's thinking, 'This is not good.' I think in his mind, he was thinking there was new legislation being instituted right on the spot. So that was the last year of an ordinary lottery that human beings could understand. From that point on ... just call it the Orlando rule. Never again will we have anything happen like what happened in '93. That was too shocking to the system -- one out of 66 pingpong balls."

Indeed, after Orlando used the No. 1 pick in 1993 to select Chris Webber and then traded him to Golden State for Penny Hardaway, the No. 3 pick, the NBA modified the lottery system later that year to increase the chances of the teams with the worst records in the league winning one of the top three picks in the draft while decreasing the lottery chances of the teams with the best records. That system remains in place today.

While the NBA lists the odds of each pick for each team in the lottery this season, there are no odds for a team winning back-to-back lotteries. Trust Williams when he says it's a long shot -- and one no one outside of Orlando cheered.

"There was nobody real thrilled for us," said Williams, who also won the lottery in 2004 and used the No. 1 pick on Dwight Howard. "But Orlando was changed forever."

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

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 lottery contingent on Wednesday.

Twitter fans also can follow the lottery proceedings @CavsDan or @CavsNick for Dan Gilbert and Nick Gilbert, respectively.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

The Crew outshot Dayton 18-3, but had only a 64th minute penalty kick goal by Olman Vargas to show for it.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Daniel Holowaty came off the bench to set up two goals in the final 11 minutes as the Dayton Dutch Lions defeated the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer 2-1 on Tuesday in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Dayton of the third division US Pro league will play the Michigan Bucks of the USL Premier Development League, who beat the Chicago Fire, 3-2.

The Crew outshot Dayton 18-3, but had only a 64th minute penalty kick goal by Olman Vargas to show for it.

Holowaty entered in the 78th minute and a minute later set up Jan Gerrit Bartels to tie the score and then sent a crossing pass that Gibson Bardsley converted in the 81st minute.

Highlights include Cavaliers' participation in the NBA draft lottery and the NHL Finals opener. Indians' 12:05 p.m. game vs. Royals is on radio only.

Thomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerThe Cavaliers won the NBA draft lottery a year ago and used the first pick to select point guard Kyrie Irving, who became Rookie of the Year. The Cavs will participate in the draft lottery again tonight.

The Spurs held on for a Tony Parker-fueled 120-111 win and a 2-0 series lead, stretching their winning streak to 20 games and putting them two wins away from the NBA Finals

SAN ANTONIO—There was a stretch, in the third quarter of Game 2 of the Western Conference finals here at AT&T Center, in which everything Tony Parker did went just right. With 7:27 to play in the period, he pulled up for a 17-footer just outside the right elbow and rattled it in. He pulled up for a jumper 38 seconds later from almost the same spot, and knocked that in, too. Another 38 seconds after that, he got into the lane and located forward Kawhi Leonard for a corner 3-pointer, which Leonard made. Then, in a rarity, Parker himself lined up a 3-point shot in the right corner with 5:15 to play. It was good, and the shot capped a 10-2 run that gave the Spurs a 20-point lead.

The Thunder would come back, and get as close as six points, but in the end, the Spurs held on for a Parker-fueled 120-111 win and a 2-0 series lead, stretching their winning streak to 20 games and putting them two wins away from the NBA Finals. While Parker wasn’t flawless for all 39 minutes he was on the floor, he was close, finishing with 34 points (on 16-for-21 shooting), eight assists and just two turnovers, a big leap from his Game 1 performance, in which he shot 6-for-15 from the field and committed four turnovers.

“Tony’s been great all year,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He’s really been focused the entire season. What he did tonight, we’ve seen many times before, so it’s not a surprise. He was excellent. He played a fantastic game in a lot of ways.”

This is Parker’s 11th season with Popovich, and Popovich has called it Parker’s best year in the NBA, one in which he averaged a career-high 18.3 points and 7.7 assists. Anyone who has followed the dynamics of the Parker-Popovich relationship over the years knows that there has to be some satisfaction on Parker’s part to hear his coach speak about him so glowingly—even back when Parker was helping the Spurs to the ’03 championship, he was often the target of Popovich ire in practice and criticism in the media.

AP PhotoSan Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker received high praise from coach Gregg Popovich for his play in a 120-111 win of Game 2 over the Thunder. (AP Photo)

After all, Popovich’s first point guard was Avery Johnson, a gritty, smart, veteran point guard whose game couldn’t be much different than that of Parker, the sleek, quick and high-scoring Frenchman who came into the league at just 19 years old. For years, the story of Parker’s time with the Spurs was one of him trying to figure out how be himself, while still delivering the kind of point-guard play that Popovich wanted.

— Spurs' precision: Parker, Spurs pick the Thunder apart

“It’s always been a battle my whole career, when you’re a scoring point guard and Pop wants you to score, then he wants you to pass. Then he wants you to score, then he wants you to pass. I would go back and forth," Parker said. "It’s always been the biggest room for me to improve, to find that happy middle between scoring and passing, and find that good balance. I think over the years I got better at it, finding my spots, when to score and when to pass the ball.”

He was spot-on in his decision making here in Game 2, and he drove San Antonio’s offensive performance. Parker was accurate from all over the floor, making six shots in the paint, three from around the right elbow, six midrange shots from just left of the lane and the corner 3. With 120 points, the Spurs have now reached triple-digits in 18 games on their 20-win streak, and are averaging 104.1 points per game in the playoffs (on 49.4 percent shooting). While the Spurs’ depth is the key to their ability to put up big scoring numbers, as the point guard, Parker is usually the catalyst.

Popovich even gave his team a notable, if tepid, compliment, agreeing with the notion that the offense is one of the best he has had in his tenure as San Antonio’s coach. “We’ve had some good ball movement with other teams that we’ve had here, but I think that the combination of penetrate-and-pitch, and post-up with Timmy (Duncan) is probably the best that we’ve had. Other teams were more half-court. This team has more pace to it than what we’ve had in the past.”

That is, in part, because of the play of Parker, who had eight of the Spurs’ 27 assists. During the regular season, the Spurs ranked fourth in the league in assists (23.2 per game), and in the playoffs, they’re averaging 24.2 assists. If the Spurs have an exceptional penchant for moving the ball, that has a lot to do with Popovich.

“When you have Coach Pop screaming at you every day, it will make you pass the ball,” Parker said. “He is always big on, you have to find a better shot. Always trying to find the better shot, the better shot all season long, make the extra pass. You know, we have great shooters on the team. We have guys who can penetrate and find open guys, so we like to play like that.”

Make no mistake, Popovich hasn’t changed, as Parker indicates. He’s still a yeller, the high-decibel instruction still finds its way to his point guard, in practice and during games—even during Parker’s

— Thunder turn tables on Popovich: OKC tries Hack-a-Splitter

near-perfect Game 2. But, heck, Popovich still yells at Tim Duncan. The relationship between Popovich and Parker is different now, with Parker more understanding of his coach’s methods, and Popovich’s criticism of Parker less frequent and more even-handed.

Even Popovich has grown to appreciate the talents of his point guard, to smile more about the positive than harp on the negative. Parker’s play in Game 2 showed why.

-- Sean Deveney, Sporting News

This story originally appeared on SportingNews.com

Six Hall of Famers recognized during May 17 event at Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.

Cleveland, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference recognized its best and brightest and its 2012 Hall of Fame inductees at the annual MAC Honors Dinner on May 17 at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.

For the first time in history, Toledo won the Jacoby Award, given annually to the best overall women's sports program in the MAC. The Rockets won the MAC women's cross country championship, women's soccer championship and swimming and diving championship. The trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner Fred Jacoby, the MAC Commissioner from 1971-82 who is credited with incorporating women's athletics into the conference structure.

Kent State again captured the Reese Award, presented to the MAC's best overall men's program. KSU won the honor for the fourth consecutive year, its fifth in the last seven years and its seventh in the last 13 seasons. The Golden Flashes claimed their fourth straight men's golf title; and in baseball, they earned their second straight outright conference regular-season title. KSU's wrestling team won the regular-season title, as well. The men's trophy is named for David E. Reese, the MAC commissioner from the league's inception in 1946 until 1964.

Six MAC greats were recognized as Hall of Fame Inductees.

They are:

• Ben Curtis, Kent State golfer: The 2003 British Open champion, Curtis had a stellar career at KSU. He was a three-time All-American and was named MAC Golfer of the Year, Sportsman of the Year and was the MAC Championship medalist as a senior in 2000.

The Stow native led the Golden Flashes to a MAC title in each of his four years and helped Kent State to a ninth-place finish at the 2000 NCAA Championships. Curtis is the Golden Flashes' all-time leader in career top-10 finishes with 28, and stroke average at 72.23.

Curtis was playing on the PGA Tour on the night of the banquet, so he asked former KSU athletic director Laing Kennedy to accept the honor on his behalf.

• Herb Deromedi, C. Michigan football coach/AD: Deromedi was CMU's football coach from 1978-93, and then served the program as Director of Athletics from 1994-2006.

He is the winningest football coach in the Mid-American Conference history with an overall record of 110-55-10. Deromedi lead the Chippewas to MAC Championships in 1979, 1980 and 1990, and was named MAC Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1990. During his coaching career, he led Central Michigan to a 20-3 win at No. 18 Michigan State in 1991 and a 24-20 win at Michigan State in 1992.

Deromedi was a 2007 inductee into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame, one of only two MAC football coaches enshrined with this honor.

He his wife, Marilyn, live in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

• Wayne Embry, Miami basketball player: Embry played 11 seasons in the NBA and went on to become the league's first African-American general manager and team president. He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Embry was a three-year letter winner in basketball (1955-56; 1956-57; 1957-58) at Miami. He was a two-time All-MAC player and led Miami to conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 1957 and 1958. Embry led the MAC in scoring and rebounding his last two seasons and still holds several school records, including best career rebounding average (15.5 rpg).

He currently ranks No. 12 on Miami's all-time scoring list with 1,401 points and No. 2 on the all-time rebounding list with 1,117. Miami retired jersey number 23 in his honor.

Embry scored 10,380 career points in 831 career NBA games. In 1971, Embry was named the Milwaukee Bucks' General Manger. From 1985 to 1992, Embry was vice president and general manager of the Cavaliers and became the NBA's first African-American team president with the Cavaliers in 1994.

The Sporting News named him NBA Executive of the Year in 1992 and 1998.

Embry and his wife, Terri, live in Scottsdale, Ariz.

• Karen Fitzpatrick, Ball State field hockey coach: During her 21 years, she built the Cardinals into one of the premier programs in the country, accumulating a 285-130-11 mark. Her 285 victories placed her in the top five nationally among active Division I head coaches at the time of her retirement. Fitzpatrick was head coach from 1980 through 2000. She was an 11-time recipient of the MAC Coach of the Year accolades. Her BSU teams captured an unprecedented 16 regular-season MAC titles and 10 league tournament crowns, plus advanced to four NCAA Championship Tournaments, including three quarterfinal appearances.

Fitzpatrick retired from Ball State following the 2000 season and currently resides in Atlanta, Ga.

• Bob Nichols, Toledo men's basketball coach: Nichols earned three varsity letters in basketball at Toledo as a player from 1950-53, served as assistant basketball coach for two seasons (1964-65) before serving as head basketball coach for 22 seasons (1965-87).

His lifetime record at Toledo was 376-212 and still ranks today as the most wins by any basketball coach in Mid-American Conference history. Nichols led the Rockets to 20 consecutive winning seasons from 1965-66 through 1984-85. His 1966-67 squad posted a 23-2 record, the best record in school history, and was ranked No. 11 in the nation in the final UPI poll that season.

During his coaching career, Nichols led the Rockets to the NCAA Tournament in 1967, 1979 and 1980. The 1979 squad advanced to the Sweet 16 with a win over Big Ten Champion Iowa before falling to Notre Dame.

Nichols resides in Sylvania, Ohio.

• Mike Schmidt, Ohio baseball player: The Baseball Hall of Famer lettered at OU from 1967-71 and was named an All-American for both the 1970 and 1971 seasons. He was named First Team All-MAC during three seasons of his impressive career.

Schmidt was selected in the second round by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1971 with the 30th overall pick. He went on to play 18 years for the Phillies (1972-89) and was named to 12 All-Star Teams, 10 Gold Glove Awards at third base, was three times named National League MVP (1980, 81, 86), and was a member of the 1980 World Series Champion Phillies.

Schmidt was unable to attend, so OU president Roderick McDavis accepted the award on his behalf.

-- Background information from the MAC website was used in this report.

The NBA Draft Lottery is tonight: will the Cavaliers win the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row? Join our live audio broadcast and online chat from the official Cavs Draft Lottery Watch party from 7:30-9 p.m.

PD FileWill good luck be on the Cavs' side again?

The NBA Draft Lottery is tonight: will the Cavaliers win the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row? Join our live audio broadcast and online chat from the official Cavs Draft Lottery Watch party at Cadillac Ranch starting at 7:30 p.m.

Log in, listen and chat with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore and Brendan Bowers of StepienRules.com as they set the stage for the lottery and then break down the possible picks and scenarios once the numbers are drawn. Express your opinions and ask your questions in the chat room or by calling into the show at 440-678-7599.

You can also get Twitter updates from The Plain Dealer's Jodie Valade at the watch party and Mary Schmitt Boyer in New York @PDCavsInsider.

Our live coverage is scheduled from 7:30-9 p.m., with the actual lottery starting around 8 p.m.

Will Jim Tressel coach college football again?

APJim Tressel

Reporter Doug Lesmerises writes on Cleveland.com how it's been a year since Jim Tressel was fired as coach of Ohio State.

Presently, Tressel is the Vice President of Strategic Engagement at the University of Akron.

Tressel lost his dream job as coach of the Buckeyes, but what are his chances of coaching college football again? His actions brought serious penalties from the NCAA that included a five-year "show-cause penalty" that basically prevents him from coaching on the college level until December 2016.

Tressel will be 64 on Dec. 5 of that year.

The Cavaliers have a 13.8 percent chance to win the lottery and the number one pick.  What is more likely to happen, Tressel become a head coach in college football or the Cavaliers win the lottery tonight?

Travis Hafner will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday at Cleveland Clinic. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Left-hander Scott Barnes has been recalled from Class AAA Columbus to put the bullpen at full strength.

Tony Dejak, Associated PressTravis Hafner on 15-day disabled list.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday at Cleveland Clinic, head trainer Lonnie Soloff said today. Hafner is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

The Indians placed Hafner on the 15-day disabled list and recalled left-hander Scott Barnes from Class AAA Columbus.

Hafner missed six games with soreness in his right knee after aggravating it May 23 against Detroit. He hit and tried to run before Tuesday night's game against Kansas City. Hafner swung the bat well but had difficult running.

Hafner's surgery will be performed by Dr. Rick Parker. It will  deal with a frayed and irritated medial meniscus.

"It should be a relatively small procedure and won't have any long-term consequences,'' Soloff said.  

The Indians, who have had a flurry of injuries over the last week, were playing with a six-man bullpen until the injury situation with Hafner and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera became clear. Cabrera (hamstring) returned to the lineup at DH on Tuesday and will start at shortstop today.

Barnes impressed the Indians in spring traing. He opened the year in Columbus as a starter, but the Indians moved him to the bullpen in case they needed him in the major leagues.

Barnes is 0-2 with a 3.81 ERA in 11 games (three starts) with the Clippers. He has struck out 30, walked 12 and allowed 12 earned runs in 28 1/3 innings.  He has a WHIP of 1.02, and the opposition is hitting .175 against him.

Hafner makes his sixth trip to the DL in the last five years and eighth in his career. He is hitting .242 (32-for-132) with 14 runs, six doubles, on triple, six homers and 23 RBI. He has a .380 on-base percentage and .439 slugging percentage.