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Talk Indians with Paul Hoynes today at noon

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Get your Indians questions ready and join Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes today at noon as he talks Indians baseball. Can the Indians survive the injuries piling up? Will Lonnie Chisenhall be the everyday third baseman? We'll answer those questions and more.

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

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

Can the Indians survive the injuries piling up? Will Lonnie Chisenhall be the everyday third baseman?

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



Cleveland Browns release CB Mike Allen, according to report

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Free agent Mike Allen released.

The Cleveland Browns have released cornerback Mike Allen, according to Scout.com's Aaron Wilson.

The team has not officially announced Allen's release as of yet. Allen was a free agent signed by the Browns out of James Madison University.

The Browns will continue OTA's today.

 

 

Browns hold second OTA: Twitter updates

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Practice begins at 11 a.m. and runs through 12:30 p.m. Get updates from @MaryKayCabot on Twitter or on this page.

Gallery preview

Reporters will get another look at quarterbacks Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy along with the rest of the team as the Browns hold their second open organized team activity (OTA) this morning in Berea.

Who will get the majority of the first-team snaps? How will the receivers look? Who has the edge in replacing Phil Taylor at defensive tackle?

Practice begins at 11 a.m. and runs through about 12:30 p.m. Get updates from @MaryKayCabot on Twitter using the box below. Reload the page for the latest updates.


Michigan recruit gets threats from OSU fans: Doug Lesmerises' analysis (Video)

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Plain Dealer Buckeyes beat reporter Doug Lesmerises talks about the Michigan recruit who burned a letter from OSU and put the photo on Twitter.

Michigan commit Logan Tuley-Tillman received death threats for Tweeting anti-OSU remarks and setting his Ohio State letter ablaze. CineSport's Noah Coslov and The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises chat.

Read more background on the story from Sporting News:

osu-burned-letter.jpgFrom Twitter.com/LoganTillman

One member of Michigan’s 2013 recruiting class will fit right in with one of college football’s best rivalries.

First, Logan Tuley-Tillman took a letter he received from Ohio State and lit it on fire and then posted the photo on Twitter. That didn’t go over real well with Buckeye fans.

“There have been a couple of death threats,” he told Yahoo! Sports. “And they’ve been sending my mom messages on Facebook. I just told her you can’t listen to it because it’s one of the biggest rivalries in sports.”

Tuley-Tillman, an offensive lineman from Peoria, Ill., is rated No. 56 in the Sporting News top 125.

He told Yahoo! that fans were saying things to him in the mall when he was in Columbus to participate in a Nike camp.

“One of them actually threw something at me, but it didn’t hit me. So, that’s how it started,” said Tuley-Tillman, who confirmed that he’s all Michigan and that won’t change.


Cleveland Browns QB Brandon Weeden takes first snaps in team drills

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Rookie QB Brandon Weeden took the first snaps with the first team during Wednesday's OTA workout.

weeden-livingston-may26.jpgRookie quarterback Brandon Weeden took the first snaps with the first team in drills today at Browns camp in Berea.

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden took the first snaps in team drills today at OTAs, a departure from last week when Colt McCoy went first.

The Browns have said they fully expect Weeden to be their starting quarterback this season, but that he must earn the job.

McCoy, the starter for most of the last two seasons, has said that all he wants is a fair chance in the competition.

Two other top draft picks who cracked the first-team lineup Wednesday were running back Trent Richardson and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz.

 

 

Paul Hoynes talks Indians baseball - Podcast

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When will Travis Hafner be back? Will Lonnie Chisenhall be the everyday third baseman? The Plain Dealer's Tribe beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

cleveland indians travis hafner.JPGView full sizeTravis Hafner is back on the DL.

When will Travis Hafner be back? Will Lonnie Chisenhall be the everyday third baseman?

The Plain Dealer's Tribe beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• Ubaldo Jimenez's mechanics.

• Justin Masterson's inconsistency.

• Will Matt LaPorta come up to replace Hafner?

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Be sure to follow Hoynes on Twitter.

Cleveland Indians still slip-sliding, lose to Kansas City Royals, 6-3

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Right-hander Jeanmar Gomez pitched poorly for a second straight start as the Tribe lost to the Royals, 6-3, this afternoon at Progressive Field.

Gallery preview

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In less than seven days, the Indians have gone from swagger to stagger. When starting pitching goes south, it can happen to any club, especially one in the offense-rich American League.

Right-hander Jeanmar Gomez pitched poorly for a second straight start as the Tribe lost to the Royals, 6-3, Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field.

The Indians (27-23) have dropped five of six. They have gone from leading the AL Central by 3 1/2 games after completing a home sweep of Detroit on May 24 to second place, 1 1/2 games behind the white-hot White Sox, who defeated the Rays in Tampa Bay.

The Indians have an off-day Thursday before continuing their homestand with a three-game series against Minnesota.

"The day off comes at a perfect time," Tribe manager Manny Acta said. "We will need to go home, step back, come back Friday and play better baseball."

Kansas City (21-28) has won four of five, including the final two of the three-game series in Cleveland. The Royals scored the game's final six runs. They had trailed, 3-0, after two innings.

"Pitching sets a tone, and right now we're not setting a tone very well," Acta said.

In their most recent five losses, Tribe starters have allowed a combined 33 earned runs in 23 innings. Gomez's culpability is 11 earned in 10 2/3 innings. Wednesday, he gave up five runs on 10 hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out three. He threw 98 pitches, 63 for strikes.

"I threw a lot of strikes, but they got a lot of hits, too," Gomez (3-4, 4.42 ERA) said.

All runs off Gomez occurred with two outs. Three scored after two outs and none on base.

The Indians made matters interesting in the ninth, loading the bases with one out against Royals closer Jonathan Broxton. Shin-Soo Choo walked, Jason Kipnis singled and Asdrubal Cabrera walked on five pitches.

Jose Lopez, swinging at the first pitch, grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

"Jose was trying to ambush him on the first pitch and win it, or get an extra-base hit," Acta said. "It was just a poor swing."

Lopez, who had not offered at the first pitch in any of his previous four at-bats, said he was looking for a fastball that he could drive up the middle. Broxton delivered the fastball, but it came in high enough to foil Lopez.

"I was a little too eager," Lopez said. "I was trying to do my job. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't work."

Lopez's grounder came on the 348th pitch of a game that included 18 pickoff throws and lasted 3 hours, 28 minutes. The Indians finished with 10 hits -- nine singles and a double. They stranded 10.

The Tribe took the 3-0 lead in the second. Shelley Duncan led off with a single and boldly scooted to third on Michael Brantley's single up the middle. Johnny Damon, who entered with a .152 average, popped to second. Casey Kotchman picked him up with a bloop single to right that drove in Duncan. Brantley scored on Luke Carlin's force at second.

Carlin got a huge jump off lefty Bruce Chen and stole second. Carlin's first major-league steal proved important when Choo singled to center for the 3-0 advantage. Choo entered at 6-for-53 with no RBI against lefties this year.

Kansas City answered with two in the third. Johnny Giavotella doubled with one out and advanced to third on a grounder. Mike Moustakas worked the count full before doubling to left center. Jeff Francoeur worked the count full before ripping an RBI single to left.

Gomez regrouped to retire Eric Hosmer on a foul to first.

The Indians squandered a terrific opportunity in their half of the inning. Cabrera led off with a single and moved to second on Lopez's single. Duncan fouled a first-pitch fastball and eventually swung through a high-80s fastball for a strikeout. After Brantley flied to left, Damon walked on four pitches to load the bases.

The next sequence showed why Chen has lasted in the majors. He threw a sidearm fastball to Kotchman that was called a ball just off the outside corner for a 3-2 count. Instead of giving in, Chen threw an off-speed pitch clocked at 75 mph and Kotchman swung through it.

The Royals continued their two-out efficiency in the fourth, scoring twice for a 4-3 lead. The first two batters grounded out, then Escobar reached on an infield single. He stole second and scored on Alex Gordon's double to left. Duncan drifted to the wall but was unable to make the catch. Gordon came home on Giavotella's first-pitch bloop single to center.

Pena's RBI single in the fifth drove in Francoeur, who had doubled with two outs. Later in the inning, Duncan made an over-the-shoulder catch of Jarrod Dyson's fly to strand runners and second and third.

The Indians kicked a gift to the curb in their half of the inning. With two outs, second baseman Giavotella dropped Duncan's pop. Brantley's single pushed Duncan to third. When Chen caught Brantley off first, Brantley attempted to work a rundown. Duncan dashed for home and was thrown out on a 1-3-6-2.

Chen (4-5, 4.86) gave up three runs in five innings.

Kansas City made it 6-3 in the eighth against Vinnie Pestano.

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

Ohio State Buckeyes P.M. links: Big Johnathan Hankins expected to be a big-time player

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Defensive tackle Hankins, entering his junior season, could be a first-round pick if he declares for the 2013 NFL draft, though he has said he wants to help the Buckeyes win a national title when he would be a senior in 2013. More Ohio State story links, including men's tennis history.

johnathan-hankins.jpgJohnathan Hankins led Ohio State defensive linemen in tackles last season with 67.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio State Buckeyes must wait until Sept. 1 to play their first game with Urban Meyer as their coach: a home contest against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks.

That's 94 days until the Buckeyes can begin to try to put their 6-7 record in 2011 behind them, in terms of wins and losses, at least.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes Doug Lesmerises' story on former Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel, now the Vice President of Strategic Engagement at the University of Akron; Bill Livingston's column that Tressel's reputation may be tarnished, but he remains a favorite of Buckeyes' fans; Lesmerises' analysis, with video, of the story that a Michigan recruit has received threats from Ohio State fans; Lesmerises' interview on Starting Blocks TV, talking about Ohio State and about Tressel; Livingston's story about how he and PD reporter Tom Feran were on a long trip last May 30 when their car radio's reception went out as Tressel's firing by Ohio State was being reported.

The Buckeyes expect junior defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins to be one of their premier players this season.

In fact, there are lofty expectations for Hankins, as Adam Rittenberg writes for ESPN.com:

When ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., issued his first Big Board for the 2013 NFL draft, Hankins was the first Big Ten player listed, at the No. 11 overall selection. Although Hankins has started just one season for the Buckeyes and didn't earn first- or second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2011, his next-level potential is obvious, even to more decorated members of Ohio State's defensive line.

"His ceiling's through the roof," Buckeyes defensive lineman John Simon told ESPN.com. "He's a playmaker for us, a big-time player. You're going to need two guys to take him up. With his ability and his size and how quick he moves for his size, he's a dual threat."

Rittenberg refers to a Plain Dealer story last Friday, in which Doug Lesmerises writes that Hankins wants to help Ohio State win a national championship in 2013, which would be his senior season.

The Buckeyes, as an NCAA penalty for the memorabilia for tattoos/cash scandal that cost Jim Tressel his job and led to several player suspensions, are banned from the Big Ten championship game and bowl games this season, thus eliminating any national title possibilities.

Ohio State sports story links

Faith helped linebacker Curtis Grant improve and put together a solid spring football performance. (By Brandon Castel, the-ozone.net)

Ranking the quarterbacks -- including Ohio State's -- in the Leaders Division of the Big Ten. (By Tony Gerdeman, the-ozone.net)

Buckeyes have a solid group of running backs who could flourish in the new offense. (By Tim Bielik, Bleacher Report)

Troy Smith, the former Ohio State quarterback who won the 2006 Heisman Trophy, is trying to get back into the NFL. (Associated Press story on nbc4i.com)

When Chase Buchanan and Blaz Rola won the NCAA national tennis championship in men's doubles on Monday, they became the first duo to win all three major collegiate championships in the same season. (By Brandon Castel, the-ozone.net)
 

Mary Kay and Tom report on the second week of Cleveland Browns OTAs (video)

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Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed report on the second week of the Browns organized team activities in Berea. Watch video

Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed report on the second week of the Browns organized team activities in Berea.

To reach this Plain Dealer videographer: dandersen@plaind.com

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

Thistledown employees cleared in Internet wagering probe: Horse Racing Insider

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Thistledown horsemen have been cleared of any wrongdoing in the saga of mysterious wagering on a pair of thoroughbred races.

Horses get a workout at Thistledown View full sizeA large amount of money bet on a May 21 race at Thistledown sparked an investigation by the Ohio State Racing Commission.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thistledown horsemen have been cleared of any wrongdoing in the saga of mysterious wagering on a pair of thoroughbred races at the North Randall track on May 21, but the tactics of the Internet and offshore betting scheme have yet to be uncovered.

"The only reason I can think of for the big bets to be made at Thistledown, rather than another race track around the country, is that we were the right place at the right time," said racing secretary Bill Couch. "I know the Ohio State Racing Commission has to look at everything, but I never believed any of our jockeys or trainers were involved."

The Ohio State Racing Commission confirmed the bets were legal, said executive director William Crawford. They were made at Internet account-wagering sites betamerica.com, based in North Dakota, and link2bet.com, based on the Isle of Man, a self-governing dependency of the United Kingdom located between England and Ireland where Internet gambling is regulated by the government.

About $90,000 was wagered on Thistledown's fifth race on May 21, almost 10 times more than normal, with bets on every horse in the field except the prohibitive early favorite, Eye Look the Part. As a result, Eye Look the Part went from 1-5 to 5-1 in the final minutes before the race. The popular theory is the wagers were made to inflate track odds, which are paid by some non-parimutuel bookmakers.

But it would be a rare bookmaker who would handle a large Thistledown bet. Bookmakers generally accept only marginal bets on Thistledown races, an unidentified official told the Daily Racing Form, and have a $1,000 cap on win bets.

The major wagers seem to have backfired. They triggered a robotic wagering program that bet $8,359 to win on Eye Look the Part in the final seconds. Without the late wager, the odds would have soared to 14-1. As expected, Eye Look the Part romped to a 16 1/2-length victory in the six furlong race, paying $12.80 to win. The total mutuel pool was $128,010. The typical Thistledown mutuel pool averages $10,000.

The accounts making the bets were suspended by the sites, but not before they also bet the eighth race on May 21, hiking the mutuel pool for that race to $60,530. The race was won by Native Britches ($11.60), who beat favored Lazy Nathan by a head at the wire. Many late betting cancellations in that race are still being investigated.

"It's now in the hands of the Ohio State Racing Commission," Couch said. "We'll see what it can come up with."

Belmont bonanza: Thistledown and Northfield Park should reap the benefits of I'll Have Another trying to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

"With the chance for a Triple Crown winner on June 9, interest is really high in the Belmont Stakes," said Couch. "Interestingly, it looks like there will be a big field of 11 or 12 horses. Apparently, no one's afraid of I'll Have Another, and they're all going to be chasing him this time. Usually, when a horse wins the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, it results in a shorter field of six or eight horses."

Both race tracks have Belmont Day festivities, and will open early for the Belmont program.

No joke now: Trainer David Grisenthwaite couldn't have forecast Bio Link, a $3,000 claimer he acquired seven starts ago, would become the fastest pacer in his barn.

"She was kind of a joke at first," said Grisenthwaite. After the eight-year-old mare's 1:54.1 win on May 11, a career best, Grisenthwaite and owner Brian Lloyd of Garfield Heights are doing the laughing. Because of the speedy mile, Bio Link moved up to richer conditioned races and now has five wins this season, 38 victories in her career and earnings of $129,579. Grisenthwaite said he made some small changes in equipment and horseshoeing, and turned the mare over to drivers Ryan Stahl and Wyatt Irvine.

"When these guys get confidence in your horse, they are as good as it gets," said Grisenthwaite. "She would not be racing the way she is now without them."

Jamie Moyer, 49, who recently became oldest starting pitcher to win a game, designated for assignment by Colorado Rockies

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Moyer said in a news conference Wednesday that he still had hopes of continuing his career elsewhere but his immediate plan was to return home and attend a son's high school graduation.

jamie-moyer.jpgJamie Moyer pitching in Denver on April 17, when he became the oldest starter to win a major league game, as the Colorado Rockies defeated the San Diego Padres, 5-3.
DENVER, Colorado -- Jamie Moyer has been designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies, the move being made about six weeks after he became the oldest starting pitcher to win a game in major league history.

The 49-year-old Moyer said in a news conference Wednesday that he still had hopes of continuing his career elsewhere but his immediate plan was to return home and attend a son's high school graduation.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy told Moyer of the team's decision in a meeting earlier Wednesday.

After missing all of the 2011 season while recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery, Moyer signed with the Rockies and made the team with an impressive spring training. He became the oldest pitcher to win as a starter on April 17, when he led the Rockies to a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres.

Moyer was 2-5 with a 5.70 ERA in 10 starts.

No lottery luck for Cleveland Cavaliers, who fall to fourth in June's NBA draft after Wednesday's lottery

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The winning combination was in the set of numbers that the Hornets received as a result of losing the coin flip with the Cavs.

Gallery preview

NEW YORK -- Little did the Cavaliers know that when they won a coin flip with the New Orleans Hornets on April 26, they lost the NBA lottery.

In spite of good-luck charm Nick Gilbert and a contingent of supporters in bow ties that included Kyrie Irving of the Cavs and Bernie Kosar, Josh Cribbs and Joe Haden of the Browns, the Cavs dropped from the third slot to the fourth in Wednesday's NBA lottery to determine the order of selections in the NBA draft on June 28.

The Hornets jumped from No. 4 to No. 1, followed by Charlotte at No. 2 and Washington at No. 3.

While the Cavs likely still will be able to select from a group of players that includes Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, Connecticut center Andre Drummond and North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes, they weren't able to recreate the magic of last year, when Nick Gilbert stole the show by winning the lottery and uttering the phrase, "What's not to like?"

Though Gilbert, the 15-year-old son of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert was understandably disappointed with Wednesday's outcome, he insisted, "There's still a lot to like."

The Cavs' fate actually was determined last month after they tied with New Orleans for the third-worst record in the league at 21-45. The Cavs won the coin flip to break that tie, and got one extra combination in the lottery -- 138 chances to 137 for the Hornets.

That meant the Cavs owned combinations No. 450 to 587 out of the 1,000 assigned to the 14 teams in the lottery. The Hornets owned combinations No. 588 to 725, and that group included the winning combination of 6-4-9-7.

So if the Cavs had lost the coin flip -- or if they had won one more game to finish behind New Orleans -- Nick Gilbert would have been celebrating again Wednesday. Instead, his father tried to console him.

"C'mon, man," Gilbert told his son. "Don't be disappointed. It could have been five or six."

On the other hand, at least Dan Gilbert said he wasn't following through on his threat to ground Nick. "No, he's not grounded for the summer," a smiling Gilbert said. "Just for two weeks."

The funny thing was, Nick Gilbert was present for the coin flip in the NBA offices on April 26, and the Cavs were excited about that outcome.

"You want to play the odds, right? You want to win," Dan Gilbert said. "But who knew? Had we lost the coin flip, we would have had their numbers, and they would have had ours. Or if we had one more win.

"But you never know. It's all going to turn out."

New Orleans almost certainly will select Kentucky big man Anthony Davis with the No. 1 pick, but after that it's impossible to predict which players will be going where. The draft is thought to be much deeper than last year's, although the Cavs certainly made the most of the No. 1 pick last year by taking point guard Kyrie Irving, who became the Rookie of the Year.

Gilbert wouldn't make any predictions about the Cavs selection, instead deferring to General Manager Chris Grant.

"Had we had the No. 1 pick, I would have told you," he said. "After that I'm going to defer to our front office. Now the hard work comes. The top four guys in this draft are great by anybody's measure, and I'm looking forward to talking to Chris and his team and seeing what we're going to end up with."

This will be the second straight year the Cavs will have the No. 4 pick. They took power forward Tristan Thompson with the fourth pick last year, and he became one of Gilbert's favorites. So the owner is not the least bit upset about Wednesday's outcome.

"What's meant to be is meant to be," he said. "We'll be all right."

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Cavaliers get 4th pick: What they're saying on Twitter

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The Cavaliers landed the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery on Wednesday night. What's not to like? Well, plenty if you were hoping the Cavs would win the No. 1 pick for the second straight year.

nick-gilbert.jpgLuck wasn't on Nick Gilbert's side again this year.

The Cavaliers landed the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery on Wednesday night.

What's not to like?

Well, plenty if you were hoping the Cavs would win the No. 1 pick for the second straight year and a chance at Kentucky big man Anthony Davis. As it played out, New Orleans, a team just recently sold by the NBA, landed the No. 1 pick.

Charlotte, with the best shot at   the first pick after winning only 7 games last season, and -- adding insult to injury --- whose original team moved to New Orleans, will pick No. 2.

Back to the Cavs: what should they do with the No. 4 pick? Will it be UConn center Andre Drummond, Florida guard Bradley Beal, North Carolina swingman Harrison Barnes, somebody else or will the Cavs try to trade up?

Here's what Cavs Nation was saying on Twitter shortly after the lottery results were revealed.


Kent's Ben Curtis enters Memorial Tournament with that winning feeling

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Former Kent State golfer has his game on the upswing after saving his PGA career with a win last month.

curtis-2012-england-ap.jpgView full size"You just feel like when you show up you're going to do good things instead of, 'OK, how am I not going to have a disaster?'" says Kent's Ben Curtis entering this week's Memorial. "Now I'm just going out there and trying to make as many birdies as I can."

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Ben Curtis relaxed while showing off his skills with a pitching wedge Wednesday afternoon as Jack Nicklaus narrated during a golf clinic at Muirfield Village. The former Kent State star had good reason to be at ease, since he's already saved his career this season.

His win at the Valero Texas Open a month ago, a roll the Kent resident has continued by finishing 13th, fifth and second in his next three events, did just that.

After placing 149th on the PGA Tour money list in 2011, Curtis had only conditional status this season for the first time in his career, typically relying on sponsor exemptions to get into events. The win got him back to exempt status for the rest of this season and the next two years, and he'll start Thursday's Memorial Tournament as confident as he's ever been.

"That win is a life-changer for him, really," Ricky Elliott, Curtis' caddie of two years, said Wednesday. "The way he is playing, he can keep on going. If he hadn't had that win and lost his card completely next year, God knows what would have happened. So it's really a life-changer for him. It's a career-saver."

The win was the fourth of Curtis' career and his first since 2006. He is on another upswing, with three top-10 finishes this season the second-most of any year in his career. He had five top-10s in 2008.

This wasn't always the case, but right now Curtis feels like he can beat anyone.

"Those four weeks, it felt like, yeah, it didn't matter who I was playing with or against," Curtis said, "I was going to beat them. There are times when you're defeated and not playing well, but when I'm playing well there's no doubt I can beat the best players in the world."

Since bursting onto the scene with his upset win at the 2003 British Open, Curtis, 35, has never had to worry about his pro status, starting with his five-year tour exemption. Down the stretch in 2011, he knew he needed to finish among the top 125 on the money list to retain full status.

"He was never playing for his life. And last year was the first year he had to that, and his game wasn't up to scratch," Elliott said. "As the year went on, the pressure got more and more and by the end of the year it just broke him.

"Sometimes you can drift through, and his game was good enough where he was winning a million dollars a year and life is good, and he has all those exemptions for a number of years, and the one year he had to knuckle down like everyone else and win enough money to keep his card, his game wasn't there and he wasn't able to do it. But obviously, that was a wakeup call."

So Elliott said Curtis went to work over the winter, changed coaches, started hitting the ball better and when he changed his putting grip after a suggestion from Herb Page, his former coach at Kent State, it all came together in victory.

"The putter kind of showed up," Curtis said. "When I putt well I usually play well. That's what's been lacking the last year and a half."

Despite a 68th-place finish, which included a third-round 81, in his last event, the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour, Curtis is confident at the Memorial.

"You just feel like when you show up you're going to do good things instead of, 'OK, how am I not going to have a disaster?'" Curtis said. "Before I was playing and I'm trying to do everything I can to not make bogeys and double-bogeys, where now I'm just going out there and trying to make as many birdies as I can."

After watching one Curtis wedge swing during the clinic, Nicklaus told the crowd, "Nothing hurried."

There's no rush for Curtis now. He's already back in the game.

"There's really no weakness in his game right now. He's mentally strong. His game is good. I can see him doing well this week," Elliott said. "He knows when his game is there to beat the best players in the world. It's there at the moment."

Chris Grant talks about getting No. 4 pick in draft and the possibility of trading up (video)

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The Cavs will select No. 4 in the upcoming NBA draft, dropping one spot. Cavs' GM Chris Grant spoke with the media following the lottery. Watch video

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't have luck on their side tonight.

The Cavs will select No. 4 in the upcoming NBA Draft, dropping one spot. Cavs' GM Chris Grant spoke with the media following the lottery and expressed the Cavs are guaranteed to grab a good player in June.

Grant also talked about the possibility of trading up and the likelihood of it happening. He also discussed what the game plan is going forward and how they will come to the conclusion at the NBA Draft.

The Cavs had a 23.82 percent chance of falling to No. 4, a 29.05 percent chance of falling to No. 5 and a 4.55 percent chance of falling to No. 6 if a team behind them won a spot in the top three and pushed the Cavs back.

The New Orleans Hornets gained the No. 1 pick and the Charlotte Bobcats hold No. 2.


NBA Draft Lottery recap with Glenn Moore and Brendan Bowers (video)

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Cleveland.com's Glenn Moore and StepienRules.com's Brendan Bowers recap the NBA Draft Lottery and give their thoughts on what the Cavaliers could do with their pick. Watch video

The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped a spot and landed with the No. 4 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.


Cleveland.com's Glenn Moore and StepienRules.com's Brendan Bowers recap the NBA Draft Lottery and give their thoughts on what the Cavaliers could do with their pick.


Will they trade up? Who will they draft? The possibilities in players range from Harrison Barnes to Perry Jones.


Glenn and Brendan also discuss the possibility of trading with either the New Orleans Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats, who own the No. 1 and No.2 picks, respectively. And what could it take for the Cavs to get one of those picks.

Cleveland Cavaliers didn't win lottery, but Kansas' Thomas Robinson would be a fine draft choice: Terry Pluto

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The Cavs will likely have a shot at Robinson, the Kansas forward, or Florida guard Bradley Beal. They're in excellent position to draft a very good player.

robinson-kansas-2012-ncaa-mf.jpgView full sizeKansas' Thomas Robinson (0) seems to have all the ingredients to be a great addition to the Cavaliers -- if he lasts to the fourth pick, says Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thomas Robinson, what's not to like?

That's what I asked myself after the Cavaliers ended up with the fourth pick in next month's NBA draft. It was fun to dream about Anthony Davis dunking on lob passes from Kyrie Irving. It's comforting to consider Michael Kidd-Gilchrist taking over at small forward.

Davis will go to New Orleans with the top pick. It's hard to imagine Kidd-Gilchrist slipping past both Charlotte (No. 2) and Washington (No. 3). If he does, the Cavs don't have to hesitate, grab the freshman from Kentucky.

But odds are Kidd-Gilchrist will be gone. Which means the Cavs will either have a shot at Robinson, the Kansas forward, or Florida guard Bradley Beal. It puts the Cavs in excellent position to draft a very good player.

Here's my dream: Charlotte's Michael Jordan channels his inner Kwame Brown (a big man disaster pick that he made in Washington) and takes Andre Drummond. Or Washington does it. If there's a reason to suspect a player will be a bust, it's the 6-foot-10 freshman center from UConn. Drummond shot 29 percent from the foul line. That's 26-of-88, which makes Tristan Thompson and Chris Dudley look like Mark Price.

Drummond also averaged only 10 points and 7.6 rebounds in 28 minutes. Yes, UConn had issues. Yes, big men develop later. But Drummond doesn't play hard, and that also could lead to one big headache for any team.

Big draft mistakes are made when a team picking high drafts a big man simply because he's "the best center available." So regardless of what the Cavs do, they absolutely, positively must not call Drummond's name with the No. 4 pick.

ESPN's Chris Ford projects the first three selections as this: 1. Davis. 2. Kidd-Gilchrist. 3. Beal. Here's hoping Ford nailed it, because that would leave the Cavs with the 6-foot-10, 237-pound Robinson.

The junior averaged 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds in 32 minutes a game for Kansas. He had 20 points and 18 rebounds in the NCAA title game against that athletic front line of Kentucky.

NBA research has shown that a player from a major school who averages a rebound per every three minutes usually has a successful pro career. Robinson is a rebounding monster. NBA scouts love the "rebounds per 40 minutes" when looking at big men prospects. The top player in that category was Andre Roberson of Colorado. Robinson came in second. Kentucky's Davis was 12th.

This is not to make Robinson a better prospect than Davis, but it is to say he should have a very good pro career.

Another power forward for the Cavs? There is no big-time wing player after Kidd-Gilchrist. Robinson shot 50 percent from the field, 68 percent at the foul line and has all the leadership and intangibles that NBA coaches love.

Yes, the Cavs have Thompson at power forward. Anderson Varejao's best position is power forward. But both played center last season. I'd rather throw Robinson into that mix, as he may become the best of the three. Makes far more sense than forcing the center issue with Drummond.

Beal is an attractive shooting guard, and if Robinson ends up in the top three Beal should receive strong consideration by the Cavaliers. The Florida freshman averaged 14.8 points and shot only 44 percent (34 percent on 3-pointers) in the regular season. But in three NCAA tournament games, Beal averaged 15.7 points and shot 60 percent.

He scored 20 percent in the NCAA loss to Kentucky and seemed to improve during the season, a natural for a freshman. While he's only 6-foot-3, he was athletic enough to average 6.7 rebounds in the tough SEC.

Robinson or Beal?

I'd take Robinson, but either way, this lottery leaves the Cavs in a very strong position to immediately improve their team. Remember, they also have the No. 24, No. 33 and No. 34 selections, so that leaves room for trades.

The draft is June 28.

Can't wait.

Inside the NBA draft lottery: Some tantalizing moments, but finally frustration for Cleveland Cavaliers

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If the Cavaliers had lost a tiebreaking coin flip with the Hornets at season's end, they would have had the winning combination.

draft-lottery-studio-2012-ap.jpgView full sizeNick Gilbert had another moment in the national television spotlight on Wednesday, but the Cavaliers didn't receive any positive luck in taking the fourth pick in the June NBA draft.

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nick Gilbert was featured prominently in the Disney/ABC Times Square Studio that housed the NBA lottery drawing on Wednesday night.

A large photograph of him thrusting his fist into the air after winning the lottery last year was hung prominently in the collection of uniform jerseys and photographs that served as a backdrop for last night's televised proceedings.

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers and their fans, there won't be a similar picture of the 15-year-old son of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert next year. The Cavs dropped from third to fourth in the lottery as a result of the New Orleans Hornets winning the No. 1 spot, followed by Charlotte and Washington.

The Cavs and Hornets actually tied for the third-worst record in the league last season at 21-45, and the Cavs won a coin flip after the season to break that tie. Had they lost the coin flip -- or won one more game to drop behind New Orleans -- they'd have owned the combination that won the lottery on Wednesday.

"Oh, so close," said Cavs vice chairman Jeff Cohen, who was in the room for the drawing as he was last year.

I was in the room, too, just like last year. But this time I was the only reporter covering the Cavs who was present, along with a reporter from the Bay Area and one from Sports Illustrated.The room, of course, was totally different.

Last year we were in the NBA Entertainment Studio in Secaucus, N.J. This year we were in the studio that normally houses "Good Morning America," just a few steps off Times Square. There actually were two studios used for Wednesday's televised lottery.

Cohen and I were in one studio with representatives of all the lottery teams except the Milwaukee Bucks, along with a handful of NBA executives and security guards, maybe a total of 30 people. All of us surrendered our phones, pagers, computers and any communications devices upon entering.

The NBA executives were seated at five round glass tables. Cohen was seated with Dell Demps, general manager of the winning Hornets. The right side of the room was dominated by eight large charts on easels, containing the 1,000 possible draft combinations divided among the 14 lottery teams. The left side of the room featured a large flat screen television and a kitchen, along with snacks, coffee, water and soft drinks.

The front of the room featured the photographs and jerseys, as well as a podium holding a briefcase labeled "NBA Draft Lottery." It contained the 14 balls used in the drawing, as well as the hopper they were placed in. Lou DiSabatino, NBA vice president of events and attractions, placed the balls in the machine one by one, mixed then for 20 seconds and then drew out the first winning combination: 6-4-9-7.

When the Hornets were announced as the holders of that combination, Demps celebrated with a small fist pump -- and a cup of decaf coffee. Cohen said the Cavs were one ball away. They had 6-4-9-3.

The drawing was repeated and Charlotte won the No. 2 pick with a combination of 8-1-11-5. New Orleans won the third pick so, as stipulated by the rules, there was a redraw. Charlotte won, so there was a second redraw, with Washington eventually winning the No. 3 pick with a combination of 13-7-3-2. According to Cohen, the Cavs had 13-7-3-4 and 13-7-3-5.

The five drawings took about 10 minutes. Then came the 75-minute wait in lockdown until we were allowed into the second studio that housed the NBA representatives who were shown on camera during the lottery show, including Nick and Dan Gilbert, and Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving -- all in bow ties.

The Cavs tried to remain upbeat, but couldn't hide their disappointment.

"I came in thinking we were going to win," said Cohen, who also wore a bow tie. "I thought we had a pretty good chance."

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

GM Chris Grant 'feels great' with fourth pick: Cavaliers Insider

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Cavaliers breathe a sign of relief at not sliding farther back in NBA draft, but GM Chris Grant won't hint at who the team might target.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The good news is, the rest of the world is just as informed as Chris Grant's 7-year-old son.

As the Cavaliers' general manager was leaving home to watch the draft lottery on Wednesday evening, young Cameron asked his dad who the Cleveland was going to select in the draft. This was all before Grant learned the Cavaliers fell one spot to the fourth pick, so there was really only one thing he could say.

"I told him to brush his teeth and go to bed," Grant said.

The same can go for anyone else intent upon predicting the Cavaliers' top selection this year. First, let Grant and the rest of the team revel in a pretty good position in what he labeled a "deep" draft. The next month will be reserved for sifting through the players the Cavaliers can select with their picks at 4, 24, 33 and 34.

For now, Grant is pleased they didn't fall to No. 6, the lowest the team could have dropped in the lottery.

"I feel great about where we are," Grant said. "We get a chance to add another really good, young player to our roster, so it's a good day. We feel good about it, we're excited about the prospects."

There's no point in fretting about what might have been. The Cavaliers would have gotten the No. 1 pick had they lost a coin toss with New Orleans at the end of the season.

"It's not something you can control," Grant said. "We felt really good about where we were. And if we were fortunate enough to move up, great. ... We're in a good spot. We're in a really good spot."

Being content to stay at No. 4 pick is another matter. Grant wouldn't hint, either, at whether the Cavaliers are interested in trading up.

"I don't know if we know the answer to that yet," Grant said. "One thing we've talked about a lot with our ownership group is we like being aggressive. We'll look at a lot of different options once we get everyone in here, but I presume we'll be pretty active."

Odds and ends: Since the weighted system began in 1993, only three teams with the worst record have won -- the Nets in 1990, Cavs in 2003 and Magic in 2004. The team with the second-worst record has won it twice, and the team with the third-best record has six wins.

Since 1990, eight players drafted No. 1 have not made an All-Star Game -- Joe Smith (1995), Michael Olowokandi (1998), Kwame Brown (2001), Andrew Bogut (2005), Andrea Bargnani (2006), Greg Oden (2007), John Wall (2010) and Kyrie Irving (2011).

On Wednesday, the league held the lottery in New York City for the first time since 1993. It's just the ninth time in the event's 28-year history that it was held outside of New Jersey.

Gilbert influence: Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert recently was one of two NBA owners named to a new competition committee. The committee includes two owners, four general managers, three head coaches and one NBA representative.

"I feel good. We're going to add a four- and five-point line this year," Gilbert joked. "No, just kidding. I was excited to be on it. I think there's a couple rules they're really talking about doing some stuff with. It will be a good experience. ... I was honored to be picked to do this."

Draft party: The team will host a Draft Party at The Q on June 28, free to fans. The event begins at 6 p.m., and will include analysis by Cavaliers announcers Austin Carr, Campy Russell and Fred McLeod.

The last word: From Nick Gilbert, pulling off his bow tie as he was leaving the lottery studio: "It's choking me."

Plain Dealer reporter Mary Schmitt Boyer contributed to this story.

Cleveland State ponders changes after Butler departure

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Scheduling is a primary concern, but Horizon schools are also contemplating further moves with a smaller league.

csu-grady-butler-vert-lt.jpgView full sizeAnton Grady and the rest of the Cleveland State Vikings could still possibly continue a rivalry with Butler after the Bulldogs' departure from the Horizon League.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Butler announced Tuesday that it will leave the Horizon League for the Atlantic-10 Conference starting this fall, and the ripple effect for Cleveland State's men's basketball program has yet to be determined.

CSU Athletic Director John Parry said there are many discussions going on not just within the Horizon League, but other leagues around the region going through changes.

"We've got a lot of scheduling challenges, but this is what we get paid for," he said from the HL meetings in Chicago.

Butler opted to make the move this season instead of 2013-14 because HL rules do not allow teams that are leaving the league to play for regular season or conference tournament titles. That restriction would have seriously hurt Butler's chances of earning an NCAA Tournament berth. For other HL teams, playing the Bulldogs, and possibly losing to the league powerhouse twice, could hurt, as well.

"I think this is a good thing," Parry said of Butler's immediate move. "Everybody moves forward."

The first change will be dropping from an 18-game round-robin schedule to 16, which will enable teams to add two non-conference games.

Also, the HL might consider league-wide changes such as eliminating travel partners (Youngstown State is CSU's partner), or moving from traditional HL game dates of Thursday and Saturday to a split schedule where teams have one home game and one road game each week.

The more immediate change is looking for the non-conference games. One option could be keeping Butler on the schedule.

"Absolutely," Parry said. "A lot of it will be date-dependent. If Butler is amenable, I think we would like to play them. A lot still has to be sorted out."

Other teams looking for games include Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion, although the Vikings already have a return BracketBuster game with ODU on the schedule.

The other delicate issue is the future of the Horizon League itself. Parry said the league is looking at possible expansion, although that is probably a year away at the earliest.

"It's a challenge, but it's our job," Parry said.

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