"I needed time, and I needed courage," Dominique Moceanu told The Plain Dealer. "But I still kinda kick myself for not writing my untold story sooner."

View full sizeOff Balance, Touchstone, 242 pp., $24.99, the cover art incorporates Annie Leibovitz's 1996 photograph

Author talk/book signing

When: 2 p.m. Saturday, June 16.

Where: Barnes & Noble, Eton Chagrin Boulevard, 28801 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere.

Admission: Free. Call 216-765-7532.

Dominique Moceanu picked a title for her memoir "Off Balance" that fits as closely as a gymnast's leotard.

The youngest athlete to appear on a Wheaties box, and the youngest American gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal, writes that she was a miserable 14-year-old -- hungry, injured, hounded and isolated.

Close observers can catch a trace of these qualities in Annie Leibovitz's haunting photograph of Moceanu, taken in New York immediately after the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Moceanu called Leibovitz a genius.

"She was the first person to say, 'I don't want you in make-up,' " Moceanu marveled of that photo session. "She stripped me down to my leotard. I used to rock the bangs, and she said, 'Pull those bangs back. I want to see your face.' "

The child athlete who stood 4-foot-4 and weighed 70 pounds had just thrilled spectators with an Olympics floor routine set to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." But behind the star turns, she writes, her bellicose father and controlling coach, Bela Karolyi, were screaming at her. And if Karolyi was angry enough, he called Dimitry Moceanu, who hit her.

Dominique Moceanu -- pronounced "M-oh-chee-an-noo" -- is 31 now and says her happiest years have been in Cleveland. She dedicates her book to her fans and to her husband, Dr. Mike Canales, who was studying at the Ohio College of Podiatry in Independence when she moved here from Houston a decade ago. (The couple met as child competitors at the 1994 U.S. Nationals, when Dominique was 12 and Mike was 16.)

Moceanu also dedicates her book to "the city of Cleveland, for accepting me and treating me as one of your own." In an interview, she described Cleveland as "a wonderful sports town -- I love its passion" and said her husband's connections at Gymnastics World in Broadview Heights helped ease her transition here.

The retired athlete said she still attracts a few stalkers, so she doesn't like to name the suburb in which she lives with Canales, their daughter Carmen and son Vincent. The family did permit producers for "20/20" to film them at home, for a segment that aired June 8.

View full sizeAmy Sancetta, APBela Karolyi congratulates 14-year-old Dominique Moceanu after the U.S. American women win gold in the 1996 Olympic team competition in Atlanta. Moceanu writes that Karolyi, and his wife Martha, center, were mocking, callous, cruel and opportunistic with her.

Moceanu doesn't dwell on her injuries -- two right-knee surgeries, another to repair her right shoulder, a fourth on her Achilles tendon -- and says she no longer experiences physical pain. Unlike many child performers, she managed to earn a college degree, in marketing, in 2009 from John Carroll University.

But, noting that she was "a relatively emotional person to begin with," the story she tells is fraught -- Moceanu last generated international headlines in a Texas court suing for emancipation from her parents when she was 17.

"When you have traveled the world, won Olympic gold, and gone through a very public court battle against your parents all by the age of seventeen, surprises don't come easy," Moceanu begins "Off Balance," which she co-wrote with her publicist Paul Williams and his wife, attorney Teri Williams.

The big surprise -- one that would have shocked young readers of Moceanu's tidy, self-titled first autobiography -- is that her mother, Camelia, had a second daughter in 1987 when the family was living in suburban Chicago. The baby was healthy but had no legs.

"Off Balance" reports that Dimitry Moceanu immediately put the infant up for adoption, before Camelia could see her.

Twenty years later, the grown sister, Jennifer Bricker, sent a letter introducing herself and tucked in supporting documents.

"As silly as it sounds, I was halfway expecting Ashton Kutcher to jump out and say I'd been 'punk'd!' , Moceanu writes. The women met and bonded. "Off Balance" contains several color photographs of them smiling together.

"I needed time, and I needed courage," Moceanu said. "But I still kinda kick myself for not writing my untold story sooner."

Karen R. Long is book editor of the Plain Dealer.

ARENA FOOTBALL 7:30 p.m. Gladiators vs. New Orleans FM/92.3 AUTO RACING 8:30 a.m. 24 Hours of Le Mans, start of race Speed 11 a.m. Alliance Truck Parts 250 qualifying ESPN2 1 p.m. Quicken Loans 400 qualifying Speed 1 p.m. Milwaukee IndyFest WEWS 2:30 p.m. 24 Hours of Le Mans Speed 7:30 p.m. 24 Hours of Le Mans Speed 7:30...

ARENA FOOTBALL

7:30 p.m. Gladiators vs. New Orleans FM/92.3

AUTO RACING

8:30 a.m. 24 Hours of Le Mans, start of race Speed

11 a.m. Alliance Truck Parts 250 qualifying ESPN2

1 p.m. Quicken Loans 400 qualifying Speed

1 p.m. Milwaukee IndyFest WEWS

2:30 p.m. 24 Hours of Le Mans Speed

7:30 p.m. 24 Hours of Le Mans Speed

7:30 p.m. Thunder Valley Nationals qualifying (tape) ESPN2

BASEBALL

1 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Washington MLBN

4:05 p.m. Indians vs. Pittsburgh STO; AM/1100

6:35 p.m. Aeros at Reading AM/1350

7 p.m. Captains vs. Dayton AM/1330

7 p.m. Cincinnati at N.Y. Mets WJW

10 p.m. Chicago White Sox at L.A. Dodgers MLBN, WGN

BOXING

9 p.m. Bryant Jennings vs. Steve Collins;

Tomasz Adamek vs. Eddie Chambers NBCSN

10 p.m. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Andy Lee HBO

COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES

5 p.m. Game 3, Kent State vs. Arkansas ESPN

9 p.m. Game 4, South Carolina vs. Florida ESPN

CYCLING

5 p.m. Tour de Suisse, stage 8 (tape) NBCSN

GOLF

4 p.m. U.S. Open Championship WKYC

LACROSSE

7 p.m. Boston at Charlotte CBSSN

9:30 p.m. Rochester at Denver CBSSN

MOTORSPORTS

2 p.m. AMA Motocross WKYC

4 p.m. AMA Motocross NBCSN

SOCCER

2:30 p.m. Euro 2012, group phase, Greece vs. Russia ESPN

2:30 p.m. Euro 2012, group phase, Czech Republic vs. Poland ESPN2

5 p.m. MLS, Dallas at Houston ESPN2

7:30 p.m. Columbus at New England FSO

Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is saying all the right things, but his brother Case tweeted today that the Browns are "only going downhill.''

Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain DealerBrowns quarterback Colt McCoy's brother Case reacted to fake a tweet by saying the Browns are "going downhill.''

CLEVELAND -- Colt McCoy's brother, Case, a quarterback for Texas, was fooled by a fake tweet and reacted by tweeting that Browns are "only going downhill.''

When he realized he had been duped, he attempted to retract his original remarks, but added, "Still kinda meant what I said.''

Here's how it went:

* Case saw a tweet from a fake ESPN account, perhaps one from a day or two ago that erroneously announced that Colt had been traded to the Eagles.

*  In response to the fake tweet, Case tweeted: "Good luck Brandon! Fan of you, but my brother's pulling the lucky straw on this one! Cleveland  is only going downhill!''

* He tweeted shortly thereafter: "That is...if these rumors are true.''

* Later, when he realized the account was fake, he tweeted: "Fake ESPN accounts are nuts...Got me fired up over nothing! Still kinda meant what I said.''

The tweets won't help big brother Colt, who's holding his head high and working hard in practice despite the fact the Browns are turning their offense over to rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden.

As for what's fact and fiction on the Colt trade front, here are the facts:

* The Browns will listen to offers for McCoy, but those probably won't come until training camp or preseason when a quarterbacks gets hurt. Browns President Mike Holmgren confirmed in his press conference Thursday that "Browns will listen to every phone call'' and "if it make the Cleveland Browns better'' we'll do it. He was talking not just about the QBs, but other positions.

* The Browns believe McCoy has good value and that someone will surrender a pick for him.

* The Browns will trade him if they get the right deal.

* They're not actively shopping him right now.

* McCoy's contract ($540,000 this season) makes him very tradeable. It also make him easy to keep as a backup if no one trades for him.

Naquin signed for $1.75 million and reported to Class A Mahoning Valley on Saturday.

View full sizeAndrew Woolley, Fourseam Images via APTyler Naquin joined the roster of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers after signing his contract with the Indians on Friday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Five questions with Tyler Naquin, who officially signed his new contract with the Indians on Friday after being the team's No.1 pick in the player draft from Texas A&M. Naquin signed for $1.75 million and reported to Class A Mahoning Valley on Saturday.

1: The deadline for signing is July 13, but you signed well before that. Why is that?

A: I want to get out and play. ... The journey doesn't stop here. The goal is to make it through minor-league ball as quickly as you can and help out the ballclub that gave you the opportunity to play for them.

2: Do you know much about the Indians?

A. I don't know much about them other than the fact that my first T-ball team was the Cleveland Indians. I still have the hat.

3: What do you think the biggest adjustment for you will be in pro ball?

A: I've never had a problem staying healthy, so I would think it will be adjusting to playing every day and being on the road.

4: Going into the draft, what round did you think you'd be taken in?

A: A couple of days before the draft I was still focused on playing for Texas A&M and trying to get back to the College World Series. That didn't happen and I actually had the whole draft day to sit back and relax.

I knew I had a chance to go in the first two rounds, or even the supplemental round. But being the 15th pick was overwhelming. It was definitely striking. It was really an unexplainable feeling.

5: You played right field in college, but the Indians project you as a center fielder. Do you feel comfortable in center?

A: Yes, sir. I played center field my whole life. When I got to Texas A&M, with my arm strength, they wanted me to play right field and try to shut down the running game. I'm totally comfortable in center field.

Chris Spielman's story about the ordeal of losing Stefanie -- and how to deal with it -- is one for any father who doubts himself.

View full sizeAP fileIn the happier days of 2000, Chris and Stefanie Spielman posed outside their Columbus home as Stefanie was in remission from cancer. The battle that ensued when it returned is at the heart of Chris' book, "That's Why I'm Here."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When Chris Spielman decided to write a book, he wanted to pay tribute to his wife, Stefanie, who died of cancer in 2009. But the former Ohio State star and Pro Bowl linebacker did far more than that. His book is an encouraging word to fathers.

"One of the hardest parts of Stef getting sick was wondering if I could do a good job as a dad to our four kids," Spielman told me this week.

Dads have doubts. No matter how strong they may seem at work, or even at home. Dads wonder if they are measuring up. They hate it when someone in their family is hurting, and they can't do anything about it.

"If I couldn't fix it immediately, I out-studied it, out-lifted it, out-ran it, but I had no control over [cancer]," wrote Spielman in his new book, "That's Why I'm Here."

When Spielman trained on his own in the swelter of the summer before football season opened, he'd run laps until he nearly dropped. Then he put a plastic suit over his sweat-soaked body and sit in the car.

And roll up the windows.

And turn up the heat ... full blast.

And stick a wad of chewing tobacco in his mouth.

And then drive around and see how long he'd last "before having to spit" the tobacco.

In his locker, was this sign: Super Bowl Champs, Only Thing That Matters.

But none of that helped when Stefanie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998. Or when it came back years later in her lungs, her spine and, finally, in her brain.

Or when his daughter Macy said her wrist hurt. Tough-guy dad said in an accusing tone of voice: "You want to go to the hospital and a get cast?" She said no. But the next day, it still hurt. And they went to the doctor. And her wrist was broken.

"I felt like an idiot," Spielman wrote.

He also wrote, "Being a single dad, I felt woefully inadequate ... like I'm in a fight that I can't win."

Chris Spielman speaks on Columbus' NBC4 about his book

The book partly deals with Spielman's terrific football career, but mostly with wife's 12-year battle with and death from cancer. It's an easy and emotionally compelling read thanks to some wonderful writing by co-author Bruce Hooley, a former PD sports writer and now a radio talk show host on WKNR.

Not only is the book a must for anyone dealing with cancer, it's also a good book for dads. Spielman has three daughters and one son between the ages of 9 and 17.

"Since Stef died, I've found myself taking on the mother and father roles," Spielman said. "We have great family support, but it's still hard. I don't listen to the girls as much as I should."

Spielman also had to wrestle with his faith. He and so many others prayed for Stefanie to be healed. At one point, it appeared that happened. Her form of breast cancer had about had only a 20 percent chance of coming back. But it did. One of Stefanie's prayers was for it not to spread to her brain, as she watched her father die of brain cancer. But it did.

He tried to bargain with God, asking for his wife to healed and saying, "I'll never ask for anything again." But she died at the age of 42.

In the end, Spielman had to decide if he was going to endure this with God or without God. He decided to stay with God, and said most of prayers have turned to "thanksgiving."

One of the best presents Stefanie gave her husband were these words not long before she died: "I know you can do this." She also taped a video with a friend, that was to be shown after her death. In that, she told Chris and her children how proud she was of them and how much she believed in them.

"Then I knew I could go on with the kids and with the work of the [Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research] foundation," he said. "I need to hear that she thought I could handle this."

The Spielmans have raised more than $10 million for cancer research. For more information about the foundation go to the foundation's Web site.

Indians GM Chris Antonetti says he has enough in-house talent to make another Ubaldo Jimenez-like deal if he can find the right player at the right cost.

View full sizeCharles Rex Arbogast, Associated PressAlfonso Soriano is on pace for another 30-homer season for the Cubs, but is likely available for trade because of his onerous contract. Could he be a deadline target of an Indians team desperate for some right-handed pop?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If we have learned anything about Chris Antonetti over the last year, it's that he's not afraid to take a chance. The time for chance taking is once again approaching.

Last year, with the Indians 2 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central on July 31, Antonetti traded No.1 picks Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, along with Joe Gardner and Matt McBride, to Colorado for right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. For a first-year general manager, it was more than a bold move.

It was a move that could define a career or break it. The results, to date, have been hazy.

Nearly a year later the Indians are in a similar position. Following Friday's 2-0 victory over Pittsburgh, they trail first-place Chicago by a half game. As usual, with the trade deadlines of July 31 and Aug. 31 inching closer, they are light on payroll, offense and starting pitching.

As for Antonetti, still pulling the arrows out of his back from the Jimenez trade, he is ready for another go. He feels the Indians have the kind of minor-league talent that would allow him to make another big deal. Any buyer's remorse for last year appears to be extinguished.

"I continue to trust our process and evaluators," said Antonetti. "If we feel the right guy is out there, and it's the right trade, we'll certainly be willing to make it. I don't think we'd operate any differently."

This year's trading season will operate under different rules because of the MLB's new basic agreement. An extra wild-card team has been added to each league and the draft pick compensation for free agents has changed. If a team makes a deal for a player who can be a free agent at the end of the year, that team will no longer receive draft picks should the player leave that team at the end of the season.

The result could be a seller's market, where teams on the cusp of the postseason are willing to overpay for talent. Antonetti counters by suggesting the frenzy for talent could be balanced by the fact that a team can no longer figure draft picks into its return should the player bolt at the end of the year.

One of the big reasons Antonetti traded for Jimenez was his contract. He's signed through 2013, meaning the Indians controlled him for at least 2 1/2 years at the time of the deal. If the Indians make another such deal this year, the same factor will undoubtedly come into play.

"The question is, is there the right player out there with the right duration of control for the right cost," said Antonetti.

From the outside looking in, the Indians' biggest concern is offense. They need a right-handed hitter to correct their glaring weakness against left-handers. But Antonetti does not always operate with the obvious in mind. The same problem existed last year and he acquired Jimenez and Kosuke Fukudome, another lefty-swinging outfielder. He says he still has confidence in the current roster. Repeating an organizational mantra, Antonetti believes the Indians have stayed competitive while not playing their best baseball.

With 99 games left on the schedule entering Saturday's afternoon with the Pirates, how long can one wait for that to happen?

"If we get to a point where we feel we have better alternatives, or our team would benefit from making some changes, we'll go ahead and do that," said Antonetti. "I'm talking about the trade market and [Class AAA] Columbus."

Antonetti added that he wasn't just talking about the "position player" part of the club. It's clear the Indians don't think the answer is a veteran hitter such as Manny Ramirez or Vladimir Guerrero. They are both available.

So are others: San Diego's Carlos Quentin, Minnesota's Josh Willingham, the Cubs' Alfonso Soriano and Boston's Kevin Youkilis, to name a few. Quentin, 29, is a free agent after this year. Willingham, 33, signed a three-year, $21 million deal during the winter. Soriano, 36, is signed through 2014 at $18 million a year. Youkilis, 33, has a club option for 2013.

Pitching wise, starters Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster of the Cubs could be available. Garza, 28, can be a free agent in 2014. Dempster, 35, is a free agent after this season.

Who knows where this will lead. Antonetti said the trade market hasn't really developed yet, but it will soon.

The week in baseball

Baseball is a game of threes. Three strikes and you're out and three outs in each half of an inning. Here are two more sets of threes to consider from last week in baseball. All stats are through Friday.

Three up

MLB Network's Tom Verducci on rising stars Bryce Harper, Mike Trout

1. Pittsburgh's Jason Grilli, who blew out his knee in spring training with the Indians in 2010, entered Saturday with a 1.82 ERA in 26 games.

2. Angels rookie Mike Trout is on pace to score 116 runs even though he didn't join the team until April 28.

3. Four of 19-year-old Bryce Harper's first seven homers have traveled 420 feet or better, according to ESPN's hit tracker.

Three down

1. The last time a player with an average as low as Milwaukee's Rickie Weeks (.162) qualified for the batting title, according to High Heat Stats, was 1909 when Billy Sullivan hit .162.

2. Texas was 13 games above .500 on May 28, but has since lost nine of its last 16.

3. The Red Sox have been fourth or fifth in the AL East since Opening Day. After May 4 last season, they were never lower than third in the standings.

Stat-o-matic

Comeback story: White Sox DH Adam Dunn leads the big leagues with 23 homers, 12 more than he totaled last year.

Iron arm: Detroit's Justin Verlander, according to MLB Stat of the Day, has thrown at least six innings in 56 consecutive starts.

Power plus: Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe has hit five homers in his last four games and seven in his last seven.

2012 NBA Draft prospects Harrison Barnes and Bradley Beal worked out for the Cavaliers on Saturday.

Matt York, Associated PressThe Cavs might have to trade up to get Florida's Bradley Beal.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant declined to comment on the workout between draft prospects Harrison Barnes and Bradley Beal at the team's Independence facility on Saturday. But Beal's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said it went great.

Bartelstein confirmed that the two players worked out against each other.

"It went really well, and I know he enjoyed spending time with the coaches and staff,'' Bartelstein said of Beal.

The Cavs have the fourth pick in the draft on June 28, and Barnes and Beal are considered two of the contenders for that spot, along with Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The Cavs also have the 24th, 33rd and 34th picks.

Beal now heads to Charlotte for a workout on Monday. He tweeted "Wheels up to Charlotte,'' on his way out of Cleveland Saturday afternoon.

The Bobcats have the No. 2 pick.

Jack Hannahan returned from the disabled list on Friday. Manager Manny Acta says he'll play him every other day for the next week or so to make sure he's healthy.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJack Hannahan, shown here bunting earlier this season, is back in the Indians lineup after a long stay on the disabled list.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Despite getting robbed in the seventh inning Friday night, third baseman Jack Hannahan's return from the disabled list went well.

Hannahan hit the ball hard three times and felt fine physically. It was only his second game with the Tribe since May 13 when his back tightened. As he was recovering from his back problem, Hannahan strained his left calf and had to go on the disabled list.

"I felt like I hadn't missed a beat," said Hannahan. "I hit three bullets. I felt like I was seeing the ball really well."

Manager Manny Acta said Hannahan will play every other day for the next week or so to make sure he's ready physically. Lonnie Chisenhall started at third base Saturday against the Pirates.

Hannahan lined out to the track in center field in the second inning. He flied out again to center in the fifth and in the seventh sent a sinking liner to left with one out and Johnny Damon on third.

Alex Presley charged the ball, made a shoe-string catch and threw a strike to get Damon at the plate for an inning-ending double play in the Tribe's 2-0 victory.

"Presley made a great play," said Hannahan.

If Acta's schedule holds true, Hannahan should be in the lineup Sunday for Father's Day. Hannahan's wife, Jenny, and their son, Johnny, will be at Progressive Field as well. Jenny and Johnny were at Friday night's game.

"He made it all the way through," said Hannahan.

Johnny was born Aug. 5 almost three months premature.

"He's up to 20 pounds and doing great," said Hannahan.

Today's lineup:

Pirates: (32-31): LF Alex Presley (L), 2B Neil Walker (S), CF Andrew McCutchen (R), DH Garrett Jones (L), 1B Casey McGehee (R), 3B Pedro Alvarez (L), RF Jose Tabata (R), C Rod Barajas (R), SS Clint Barmes (R), RHP A.J. Burnett (6-2, 3.61).

Indians (33-30): RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), 2B Jason Kipnis (L),   C Carlos Santana (S), CF Michael Brantley (L), DH Johnny Damon (L), LF Shelley Duncan, 1B Casey Kotchman (L), 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (L), RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-4, 4.91)

Umpires: H Fieldin Culbreth, 1B Adrian Johnson, 2B Gardy Cederstrom, 3B Lance Barksdale.

Indians vs. Burnett: Cabrera is hitting .308 (4-for-13) with one homer and three RBI, Kotchman is hitting .304 (7-for-23) with two RBI.

Pirates vs. Jimenez: Barajas is hitting .375 (3-for-8) with one homer and two RBI and Jones is hitting .333 (3-for-9) with two RBI.   

Next: RHP Jeanmar Gomez (4-5, 4.71) vs. Pittsburgh's RHP Brad Lincoln (3-2, 3.15) on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. STO/WTAM will carry the game.

Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes once again sorts through the weekly mailbag for the best questions on the Tribe.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerJohnny Damon remains stuck below the .200 mark in batting average, but his spot as a regular in the lineup appears secure despite his struggles.

Hey, Hoynsie: Is the Tribe going to release Johnny Damon? -- Nick Monter, Cleveland

Hey, Nick: I doubt it. His playing time might be cut depending on what moves they make at the trading deadline, but I don't see them releasing him.

Grady Sizemore's return does not appear to be imminent and Matt LaPorta has been optioned to Class AAA Columbus. They seemed to be the two greatest challenges to Damon's playing time. As manager Manny Acta said, the Indians signed Damon to be with them for the rest of the season.

Damon does have the ability to opt out of the contract.

Hey, Hoynsie: Is Jason Kipnis eligible for the AL Rookie of the Year award this season? -- Dave Van Valkenburgh, Wadsworth

Hey, Dave: No. Kipnis played only 36 games with the Indians last year, but he exceeded the rookie limits of 130 at-bats with 136, and 45 days on the active roster. Kipnis was credited with 69 days.

Hey, Hoynsie: Recent interviews of Paul Dolan and Mark Shapiro state how proud they are of the way they run the team. By purposefully having a low payroll, doesn't the team receive millions each year? The team has had only two winning seasons in 10. So I assume that they are proud of beating the system financially and not their success on the field? -- Paul White, Albuquerque, N.M.

Hey, Paul: The Indians do receive revenue sharing annually. As do many other teams in the big leagues. However, I don't think they've used that money to beat the system. As Shapiro said in Bill Lubinger's fine Q&A with the Indians president, the team has its spots when to spend or make trades, but I don't think they've mismanaged that money. If they had, they would have been called out by the MLB's players association just as the Miami Marlins were.

Hey, Hoynsie: Carlos Beltran's comments about off-season negotiations with the Indians seemed valid to me. Why didn't the Indians come forward and set the record straight and correct the erroneous media reporting? -- Rebekka Berman, Cleveland

Hey, Rebekka: Negotiations are tricky. Things can get lost in translation. Agents tell teams one thing and their clients another. An offer by one team is used to get a bigger offer out of another team. Sources I trust told me the Indians made a two-year, $24 million offer to Beltran, complete with perks. I believe them.

When I talked to Beltran in St. Louis, he said things never got that serious with the Tribe. I think in his mind Beltran always wanted to go to St. Louis and always wanted to stay in the National League. If the Indians were going to change his mind, they would have had to blow St. Louis' two-year, $26 million offer out of the water.

Hey, Hoynsie: With scoring down and average pitchers throwing no-hitters on an almost weekly basis, is it time to lower the pitching mound a couple of inches or do something else to rebalance the sport? I've never seen so many .210 hitters in baseball. -- Steve Alex, Gainesville, Fla.

Hey, Steve: Matt Cain and Johan Santana certainly aren't ordinary pitchers, but I understand where you're coming from.

What I think has happened is that MLB's drug policy against steroids and amphetamines is finally taking hold, especially among hitters. I also think there has been an influx of good young pitchers who are getting better coaching at a younger age.

I still think hitters have plenty of advantages -- small parks, a strike zone where the high strike exists only on occasion, shrinking foul territory and state of the art video equipment to break down their at-bats during the game.

Hey, Hoynsie: This happened in our game of 11 year olds. Runners on second and third with one out. Batter hits fly ball to center that is caught -- both runners tag and move up a base. Opposing team appeals that runner left second base early and umpire calls him out, ending the inning. Does the run that scored from third base still count? -- Dave Audia, Medina

Hey, Dave: Chuck Murr, one of the Indians' official scorers, checked with a couple of local umpires. They said the run counts because the third out, coming on the appeal at second, came after the run scored. The exact situation is not covered in MLB's official rule book, so this took a while to unravel.

Hey, Hoynsie: Are there any women playing in organized baseball at any level? I'm guessing not or it would be big news. Does MLB have a rule that forbids females, or is this a game where they just can't compete with men? -- Bruce Allen, Land O' Lakes, Fla.

Hey, Bruce: There are no women playing in the big leagues or their minor-league affiliates.I checked with MLB and was told there is nothing in its bylaws that would prevent a team from signing a woman. The official rulebook makes no distinction on who can play.The National Association, which runs the minors, on July 2, 1952 banned teams from signing women. George Trautman, then NA president, said he did so with the support of MLB Commissioner Ford Frick, but it was never officially voted on by MLB teams.

-- Hoynsie

Golden Flashes can't muster much offense, fall into losers bracket. Next game is 5 p.m. ET on Monday.

View full sizeEric Francis, Associated PressKent State's Jimmy Rider (left) successfully recorded an out at second with this fourth-inning flip to Derek Toadvine, but not much else went well for the Golden Flashes in their College World Series debut. Rider's solo homer was the only KSU run in a 8-1 loss to Arkansas Saturday afternoon in Omaha, Neb.

OMAHA, Neb. -- Kent State's debut at the College World Series did not go well as ace lefty David Starn struggled into the sixth inning and Arkansas dominated with an 8-1 victory in a first-round game Saturday afternoon in TD Ameritrade Park.

A rainy morning led to overcast skies during batting practice, then sun for the game. But none of those rays seemed to favor the Flashes. KSU didn't have a hit until two were out in the fifth. The only run came on Jimmy Rider's homer to left in the sixth, one of just four hits Kent would get against Razorbacks starter D.J. Baxendale and reliever Brandon Moore.

"The better team won today," Kent State coach Scott Stricklin said. "[Baxendale] was the best guy on the field today."

Rider's blast cut Arkansas' lead to 3-1. But Arkansas countered quickly against Starn with Matt Vinson's two-run double in the bottom of the sixth, ending Starn's day.

"I kept him in too long," Stricklin admitted.

The Razorbacks scored three more runs in the eighth to end any suspense. Jake Wise's two-run single was the big hit, adding to Wise's solo homer in the second inning.

Kent (46-19) must win in Monday's 5 p.m. ET losers bracket game against either South Carolina or Florida to extend its season.

This journey was clearly going to be a tough one for the Flashes, with three SEC teams in their bracket -- Arkansas, two-time defending champion South Carolina and No. 1-ranked Florida. Now the Flashes will need Ryan Bores at his absolute best on Monday, and for their bats to awaken.

"Their talent is outstanding, and their experience is unmatched," Stricklin said of Florida and South Carolina. "But we're going to fight on Monday."

• Kent State-Arkansas box score

Starn was not himself from the outset. "His arm speed just has not been there the last couple of outings," pitching coach Mike Birkbeck said.

Starn walked seven against Oregon in the Super Regional but Kent still won, 3-2. With one out in the first inning Saturday, Starn, who had only issued 38 walks on the season, walked three straight to load the bases. Brian Anderson's infield single opened the scoring before Starn got a double-play ball from Bo Bigham to get out of the inning.

Starn only threw four strikes in his first 20 pitches.

As Baxendale breezed, Starn gave up a second-inning homer to Wise -- "a two-seam fastball over the middle of the plate," Starn said.

The Flashes got their first hit on Sawyer Polen's single in the fifth, but the Hogs pushed the lead to 3-0 on Joe Serrano's RBI single in the fifth.

In the sixth, Rider broke up the shutout and extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a towering homer that just stayed fair down the left-field line.

"I was just looking for a fastball," Rider said. "That was probably the one pitch [Baxendale] left up all night."

Now Kent must find a way to win one more, or play no more this season.

"It will be a daunting task," Stricklin said.

Tweaking the roster before training camp starts next month is all the rage in this week's mailbag.

View full sizeMatt Slocum, Associated PressPlaxico Burress will be 35 during training camp this summer, but he remains rather popular among Browns fans looking for a boost to the 2012 receiving corps.

Hey, Mary Kay: I want your opinion on why the Browns refuse to go after a free-agent receiver. There are still a handful out there. I think a one-year deal to Plaxico Burress could only help with the development of the young WR crew. Or maybe someone who is cut during camp. -- Dustin Murphy, Columbus

Hey, Dustin: The Browns went hard after Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan in free agency, two receivers in their prime, but were outbid by Washington. They're not going to add an aging veteran with baggage just to get a body in here. If a quality veteran gets cut, maybe they'll sign him, but they're optimistic about what they have.

Hey, Mary Kay: The Houston Chronicle reported that the Packers may be willing to trade WR James Jones. Will the Browns get off their hands and make a play for him if the price is right? If not, why? -- Mike Nyerges, Cincinnati

Hey, Mike: Jones isn't officially on the trading block yet, and I'm not sure the Browns would surrender a pick for a 28-year-old who's owed more than $5.5 million over the next two seasons, including $2.3 million in 2012. I think it's more likely they'd sign a veteran let go by someone in camp.

Hey, Mary Kay: When Seneca Wallace originally came to Cleveland I had a jersey made and believed that he would be the starter with his Holmgren connection. Then they brought in Delhomme and McCoy. Last year I felt that he'd have a fair chance, but that didn't happen. Then it was released that helping McCoy wasn't in the cards. Now he can possibly pocket three million and he's running his mouth again. Is this the reason he's been a career backup or is there something else that we don't know? -- James Williams, Cleveland

Hey, James: I think the reason Wallace has been a backup is because he's 6-15 as a starter. I don't think it has anything to do with what he's said.

Hey, Mary Kay: Mike Wallace has not been signed by the Steelers and has not shown up at any team activities, including mini-camp. Should the Browns be interested? Will they be? -- Tom Kerr, Pittsburgh

Hey, Tom: Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said this week that he'd like to sign Wallace to a long-term deal. I don't think Pittsburgh will let him get away.

Hey, Mary Kay: Considering the Browns schedule, do you think a .500 record would be a good season? -- James Reese, Upland, Calif.

Hey, James: The Browns do have a brutal schedule, third-toughest this season (opponents were 135-121 in 2011 for a .527 winning percentage). For that reason, I do think 8-8 would be a good season. They're catching a few breaks with Baltimore's Terrell Suggs and Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall injured.

Hey, Mary Kay: Who are they going to put in the backfield with Trent Richardson: Owen Marecic or Brad Smelley? Will they do anything else to shore up our receiving corps? -- Pat Cleary, Tallmadge

Hey, Pat: Owen Marecic will start at fullback, but the Browns do like Smelley, their seventh-round pick, who can play fullback or tight end.

Hey, Mary Kay: It seems like the Browns are getting a raw deal on this Scott Fujita suspension. Why should we be penalized by having one of our starters suspended when we did nothing? I feel we are owed some sort of compensation (the Saints' seventh-round pick in next year's draft maybe?). -- Scott Cordle, Blacklick, Ohio

Hey, Scott: The Browns can only hope that Fujita wins the appeal of his three-game suspension (the hearing is Monday) and that they're not penalized. The Browns won't be getting any breaks from the NFL on this one.

Hey, Mary Kay: It certainly appears like Brandon Weeden will soon be declared the starting QB. A lot of Texas fans like myself were hoping McCoy would get one more year to prove himself. But, aside from not starting, it just seems like the Browns want to get rid of him altogether. So, is there really any chance McCoy will be their backup? If not, where else might you see him competing for the starting role? Or, even for a backup role? -- Raul Delgado, El Paso, Texas

Hey, Raul: My gut feeling is that the Browns will trade McCoy sometime during the preseason to a team needing a backup. I still think he can be successful in the right situation, with a good supporting cast.

Hey, Mary Kay: I loved the draft and upgrades at QB and RB, but I still only see one NFL caliber receiver on our roster, Greg Little. One available free agent is Mike Sims-Walker, who caught 14 TDs and over 100 passes in a two-year span with Jacksonville in 2009-10. Do you think he is worth a look? I hope I am wrong, but Private Benjamin looks too small for the NFL and Mo-Mass is too injury prone. -- Frank Xavier, Fairview Park

Hey Frank: Sims-Walker, coming off a knee injury, spent three days with the Texans during their minicamp this week and they're deciding whether or not to sign him. I haven't heard of any interest from the Browns, but he might be worth a look if still available later in camp.

-- Mary Kay

Greece surged into the European Championship quarterfinals, defeating Russia 1-0.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Shades of 2004.

Greece surged into the European Championship quarterfinals, defeating Russia 1-0 Saturday on a goal by Giorgos Karagounis just before halftime.

AP PhotoRussia goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev deflects a ball the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group A match between Greece and Russia in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, June 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

Karagounis, making his team record-tying 120th international appearance, sent a low shot under goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev with the final touch of the first half.

The Greeks, the 2004 European champions, then did what they do best: defend.

"The moments are pure magic for all of us. This is a great night for all Greeks," Karagounis said. "I cannot describe how I feel. It's so great."

Greece was a long shot at Euros eight years ago and after sneaking into the knockout rounds, it stormed to the title. Could it happen again?

"What inspires us is Greece's history. That inspires me a lot," said Greece coach Fernando Santos, who is Portuguese. "The Greeks have great pride and they have earned respect from everyone. History democracy, science, values — it all started in Greece."

For the Russians, it was a shocking early dismissal after they made the semifinals four years ago. Russia was the overwhelming choice going into the match at the National Stadium, but it was again guilty of squandering chances. The Russians finished the match with 25 shots on goal, while Greece managed only five.

"We should have won by a wide margin tonight, but we didn't. My compliments to Greece," Russia coach Dick Advocaat said. "A number of players weren't sharp enough to score."

The Russians became one of the tournament favorites with their 4-1 win over the Czech Republic in their opening match, then drew with Poland and finally lost to Greece, snapping a 16-match unbeaten run.

Even as the Greeks closed down in front of their net late in the match, Karagounis looked to have won a penalty kick when Sergei Ignashevich appeared to bring him down in the area. But Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson instead booked the Greece captain for a dive, meaning he will miss the quarterfinals.

"We are proud that we gave the people back home some joy and a break from their problems — even for a short while," Greece striker Georgios Samaras said. "We did very well defensively, but the will we had was the main thing. That stopped them from scoring goals."

Russian players dejectedly tramped off the field immediately after the final whistle, while Greece's euphoric players hugged one another and then celebrated with their fans.

"What I'm feeling is overwhelming. I think we did deserve more, but it didn't happen," Malafeev said. "To concede that goal just before halftime was an awful feeling."

Giorgos Tzavelas nearly gave Greece a two-goal cushion when he curled a free kick over the Russian wall in the 70th minute, but saw the ball slam against the top of the goalpost.

Michalis Sifakis then ensured his team would advance when he saved a close-range shot by substitute Pavel Pogrebnyak in second-half injury time.

Russia came close several times in the first half. But even as the team laid siege to the Greek goal it was largely restricted to long-range efforts after the break as it went after the equalizer.

Russia forward Alan Dzagoyev came close in the 84th minute with a glancing header off a cross from Andrei Arshavin, but the ball drifted just wide.

Greece, knowing it needed a win to progress after a draw and a loss, started the match with a defensive setup aimed at stifling Russia's passing game in the midfield. Russia only needed a draw to reach the quarterfinals.

As the minutes ticked off, Greek fans sang the national anthem and the Russians lit off flares before walking out of the stadium.

One strike from Czech midfielder Petr Jiracek brought an end to the European Championship dreams of 40 million Poles.

WROCLAW, Poland  (AP) — All it took was one strike from Czech midfielder Petr Jiracek to bring an end to the European Championship dreams of 40 million Poles.

AP PhotoCzech Republic's Petr Jiracek scores by Poland goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton and Rafal Murawski during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group A match between Czech Republic and Poland in Wroclaw, Poland, Saturday, June 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Jiracek scored with a stylish second-half shot to lift the Czech Republic to a 1-0 win over Poland, putting the Czechs through to the quarterfinals and knocking out Euro 2012 co-host Poland.

With the victory, the Czechs finished atop Group A, and will play the runner-up of Group B in the knockout stage in Warsaw next week.

After withstanding a first-half barrage from Poland, the Czechs pushed forward in the second half looking for an opening. It came on a counterattack in the 72nd minute, when Jiracek collected a pass from Milan Baros in the box, cut right to clear past Poland's Marcin Wasilewski and slotted the ball inside the far post.

"We had a poor start but we gradually improved, started to create chances and finally, we deserved to score," Jiracek said.

Poland, which had to win to advance, immediately brought on two attacking players in the last 30 minutes to push for a goal, but struggled to create any serious threats.

After the final whistle, the Czech players swarmed each other on the pitch. The Poles fell to the ground, covering their faces.

"I think that probably we were too sure about winning this game. The Czechs played excellent football," Poland coach Franciszek Smuda said. "We had some opportunities before halftime, we didn't take advantage of them and we lost the game."

The Czechs pulled off the win despite playing without their captain and playmaker Tomas Rosicky, who was sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury.

Without his creative skills the Czechs were listless in the first half, struggling to put together any fluid passing and reduced to knocking long balls forward. But as the Poles pushed forward in the second half in search of a goal to put them through to the quarterfinals, more space began to open up in midfield.

That space gave the Czechs the opportunity to strike on the counter, and the punishment came with Jiracek's second goal of the tournament. He also opened the scoring in a 2-1 victory over Greece.

Poland responded well, though, and the final chances were all for the home team.

A cross from the right was deflected to the far post, where Marcin Wasilewski met the ball with a header that just cleared the crossbar. Minutes later, Jakub Blaszczykowski's angled effort was cleared off the line by Michal Kadlec as the Czechs sealed their place in the last eight.

"With the time passing, we had to open up more and more, and I think this is the reason we conceded a goal on the counter," Blaszczykowski said.

The loss is a huge disappointment for Poland fans, who were hoping for the country's first European Championship win, which would have put them through to the quarterfinals. The country had rallied around the team since the tournament opened last week, and fans' hopes were boosted by the Poles' solid performances in their first two Euro 2012 matches.

But even with the raucous support of the capacity crowd of 41,000 at Municipal Stadium, the team failed to come through, even against a Czech side playing without its best player.

With less than two weeks left before the NBA Draft, fans have no shortage of scenarios that might improve their hometown team.

View full sizeAP fileMichael Redd has been connected to the Cavaliers in free-agent or trade rumors several times in his career. But as he turns 33 this summer, has the window closed on the Cavaliers' interest?

Hey, Mary: How do you think the following players rank on the Cavs draft big board: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal, Harrison Barnes and Jeremy Lamb. Also ESPN's Rumor Central says Cleveland could be a possible destination for Mirza Teletovic and Michael Redd. Teletovic reportedly has agreed to a buyout with his Spanish team, Caja Laboral, and is being targeted by the Cavs.

With Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker gone, the Cavs could use a veteran leader with good shooting ability in Redd. What do you think? -- Zach Johnson, Cleveland

Hey, Zach: I think the Cavs are in the process of ranking players, so while you've named some good ones, I don't think they're there yet. Any of them would help. The hard part is finding the right piece, and they place a lot of value on the interview process to help them do that.

Depending on what happens in the draft, Teletovic is a good-shooting power forward who might interest the Cavs. As far as Redd, I think the Cavs are looking to build with younger pieces going forward. It's not like bringing back Anthony Parker, who had a history with the team.

Hey, Mary: From the J.J. Hickson-Omri Casspi trade, we got that lottery-protected first-round pick from Sacramento. So we can't get it this year because the pick is top 14 protected, top 13 next year, top 12 the year after that and top 10 for a couple more years. Do you think we can trade Luke Walton's expiring contract ($6 million) to get the protections on those picks lifted?

In theory, we trade Luke Walton for a bad Sacramento contract (John Salmons three years, $8.5 million or Francisco Garcia two years, $5.8 million) and get our pick from Sacramento unprotected. Assuming the Cavs don't make playoffs next year, then we have two draft picks that can help us win the lottery. Chris Grant does like these kinds of trades, but I have never seen it happen. Are the Cavs trying to do this? -- C.C. Shahjahan, Pepper Pike

Hey, C.C.: It would be possible to make a second deal to alter terms of the first. But I do not sense it's much of a priority. Let's concentrate on this year's draft before worrying too much about next year's.

Hey, Mary: Do the Cavs like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist enough to move up to No. 2? What would it take to make that deal possible with the Bobcats? If recent Cleveland pro sports drafting has taught us anything, if you really like a player, do what it takes to trade up to get him (see Trent Richardson). -- Dan Kubacki, Erie, Pa.

Hey, Dan: I agree with you about moving up to get the guy you want, but I don't think the Cavs have decided yet. They haven't completed their interviews yet. Once they do that, they will make every attempt to make sure they can get the player they want. If it takes moving up to No. 2, they do have three more picks this year to try and make that happen, plus cap space if they have to take back a bad contract in order to get the deal done.

Hey, Mary: Out of curiosity, in regards to location for the playoffs, is there any particular reason that the NBA has stuck with the 2-3-2 format for The Finals vs. the 2-2-1-1-1 format for all other series? -- Sachin Java, Shaker Heights

Hey, Sachin: It was originally done to cut down on travel when the teams had to cross the entire country to play, like from Los Angeles to Boston. It's a little easier on everyone this way, although there will always be those who don't like it.

Hey, Mary: Do you know how Andy Varejao is doing on his rehab from the broken wrist? -- John Mayor, Marienville, Pa.

Hey, John: He has been practicing with the national team. He gave an interview to the O Globo newspaper in Brazil a month ago and said the pain was gone from his broken right wrist.

Hey, Mary: If the draft goes Anthony Davis, Beal, MKG in any order, do you see them automatically going for Barnes or even Thomas Robinson since he is a better offensive player? Or is trading the pick to Portland a realistic and likely option? Moving back would allow us to get two players to contribute right away, such as Jeremy Lamb, Austin Rivers, Terrence Jones and others. Not big on Barnes or Andre Drummond. -- Leo Mann, Lakewood

Hey, Leo: All options -- such as moving back -- are still on the table. I share your sense of Drummond, but I think Barnes, whose athleticism was off the charts in the NBA combine testing, helps more than the others right away. That's just my opinion.

Hey, Mary: What do you think of the Cavs trading their late second-round pick for New Orleans' pick at 10 and either Trevor Ariza or Emeka Okafor? Would they do this? I am thinking more young talent and we have the cap space. -- Roger Perdue, Middletown

Hey, Roger: You could be on to something. I checked with the Hornets beat writer who tells me he thinks New Orleans will move the pick and package Okafor or Ariza with it. But I'm not sure the Cavs want to take on those kinds of big salaries, which could handicap future deals.

Hey, Mary: I know people have been talking about Bradley Beal at No. 4, but how about Kidd-Gilchrist at 4, Fab Melo at 24 and Doron Lamb at 33? That way we get the scorer, defensive presence and the 3-point shooter we need. -- Zak Fleischman, Beachwood

Hey, Zak: Works for me, but awfully hard to predict one pick at the top of the draft, much less two more in the middle. I don't think the Cavs have decided on No. 4 yet, so anything's possible.

Hey, Mary: Is Fab Melo from Syracuse a good late first-round pick? Will he make a decent pro? -- Rich Shawbell, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Hey, Rich: Well, that's always the question, isn't it? He will work out for the Cavs, who will then make that analysis. He was no great shakes in the athletic testing at the combine and there are questions about his intensity. I think we'll just have to wait and see.

Hey, Mary: I know you've said that the Cavs will not be looking to do much in free agency, but I just read that they might be going after a Euro SF/PF named Mirza Teletovic. I looked up his stats and seems decent, but do you know anything more about him or the Cavs' interest? Also, it seems like the Cavs trading picks No. 4 and No. 24 for Portland's picks No. 6 and No. 11 is blowing hot and cold. What impression do you get about the likelihood of this trade, and does the new Portland GM make it more or less likely to happen? -- J. Smith, Rocky River

Hey, J: Right now, all options are still on the table. I don't think new GM in Portland matters. Teletovic is a good-shooting power forward. The Cavs have scouted him, but right now they're focusing on the draft. They will make decisions about free agents after June 28.

-- Mary

Pay the Man won six of eight races in 2011 for Pyrite Stables, including four straight stakes wins at Thistledown.

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio -- The old gal showed the younger fillies she still has plenty of power in the Thistledown stretch, as Pay the Man held off favored Muir Woods and The War Department on Saturday afternoon to win the $50,000 J. William Petro Memorial Handicap.

When the 8-year-old stakes star rang up a couple of slow quarters after taking the early lead, trainer Miguel "Angel" Feliciano said the tactic assured that Pay The Man would have plenty left when the field of six Ohio-bred fillies and mares turned for home in the 1 1/16-mile race.

"When Pay the Man gets the lead, she's tough," Feliciano said. "And when she has the lead in the stretch, she's usually the winner."

Pay the Man won six of eight races in 2011 for Pyrite Stables, including four straight stakes wins at Thistledown. The daughter of Bernstein, she was 0-for-2 this season, including a loss to Startin Something in the $50,000 Angenora Stakes on May 12.

This time around, jockey Ricardo Feliciano, the trainer's nephew, set her up perfectly for her first trip to the winner's circle this season. He took Pay the Man to the early lead in a leisurely 24.2 seconds and a half-mile in 48.2, with The War Department and Muir Woods parked on the outside.

Turning for home, both came after Pay the Man, but she had too much left. She won by a length in 1:46.1 to pay $8.40, $3.40 and $3.60. Muir Woods moved into second, paying $2.80 and $2.60; with The War Department third, returning $3.60.

"I was surprised [trainer] Tim Hamm didn't send at least one horse of his stable entry [Startin Something and Muir Woods] after us early," said jockey Ricardo Feliciano. "When they let me get away with slow fractions like that, Pay the Man is unbeatable."

There's a good chance Pyrite Stables will retire Pay the Man after this season, said trainer Miguel Feliciano.

"They'd like her to become a mama next year and pass on her talent," he said.

The two former Open champions are the only players at the unforgiving Olympic Club course under par.

View full sizeBen Margot, Associated PressGraeme McDowell, chasing his second U.S. Open title in three years, posted a 2-under 68 on Saturday to tie Jim Furyk for the third-round lead at The Olympic Club.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk won the battle of par Saturday at the U.S. Open.

Tiger Woods lost a lot more than that.

McDowell showed the kind of fight that won him a U.S. Open two years ago down the coast at Pebble Beach. He scratched out pars and finished with a 4-foot birdie putt that gave him a 2-under 68 and a share of the lead going into the final round at The Olympic Club.

Furyk, also bidding for another trophy from golf's toughest test, outclassed Woods in the final pairing with key bunker saves and an 8-foot birdie putt on the 17th for a 70, making him the only player who has yet to have a round over par.

They were at 1-under 139, the only survivors against par.

Woods, wearing a key lime shirt, turned in a lemon. He fell out of the lead with two bogeys in the first three holes, couldn't make a birdie on the stretch of holes that Olympic allows players to make up ground, and ended with a sloppy bogey on the 18th for a 75.

There were only eight scores worse in the third round. It matched Woods' highest score when he had at least a share of the lead after any round of a major. He also closed with a 75 in 2009 at the PGA Championship when he lost a two-shot lead to Y.E. Yang.

All is not lost for Woods, not to mention another dozen or so players. In a U.S. Open that is living up to its reputation, it was difficult for anyone to build a big advantage.

McDowell and Furyk were two shots ahead of Fredrik Jacobson, who had a 68. In the group another shot behind were Lee Westwood, whose Saturday-best 67 gave him another shot at his first major, and Ernie Els, who holed a long pitch for eagle on the 17th that carried him to a 68. The Big Easy is a two-time U.S. Open champion, with that first title coming 18 years ago.

• Complete U.S. Open leaderboard

Thirteen players were separated by four shots going into Sunday, a list that includes 17-year-old Beau Hossler, who followed bogeys with birdies for a 70.

Woods, who has never won a major from behind, was five shots back. His round ended with a shot from the middle of the 18th fairway that hung up in the right collar of rough, and a stubbed chip that took a hard turn to the left some 10 feet away.

View full sizeEric Gay, Associated PressJim Furyk shook off a bogey on the 16th hole Saturday with a birdie on the par-5 17th to maintain a share of the U.S. Open lead.

When he two-putted for his sixth bogey, his day got a little worse. Climbing the hill toward the fabled clubhouse at Olympic, a photographer brushed past him and Woods banged his hand into the camera. He shook it several times, but later said he was fine.

The real hurt came from Olympic.

"It was just a tough day on the greens, and most of the day, I just kept getting that half-number, right in between clubs all day," said Woods, who was either well long or short on his approach shots.

Furyk, the only player who has not had a round over par this week, and McDowell played together in the opening two rounds. On Sunday, much more is at stake.

But this was not shaping up as a two-man race for McDowell and Furyk.

"Looking at the leaderboard, you've got to look down as far as the guys at 3 or 4 [over] as having a realistic chance of winning this tournament," McDowell said.

For every bogey Hossler made, he answered with a birdie on the next hole. His only big blunder came on the 11th, when he was too aggressive with a downhill putt and missed his par putt from six feet. Two holes later, he hit a heavy chip from the hazard that rolled back down a slope for another bogey. The kid just wouldn't go away, though, and suddenly he is dreaming big.

Hossler wanted to make the cut. Then, he wanted to be the low amateur. Now?

"My goal now is to win the tournament," he said.

In the 14 majors he has won, Woods was never worse than par in the pivotal third round and had a scoring average of 68.3. There was no way that was going to hold up on a course like Olympic, though Woods was expecting better than what he delivered on this Saturday. He missed the first fairway, came up short of the third green and wound up with three bogeys through six holes.

Woods wasn't alone in making mistakes. David Toms, tied for the second-round lead with Furyk and Woods at 1 under, played that rugged six-hole stretch in 5 over and fell six shots behind with a 76.

Even with the USGA watering the course Friday night and Saturday morning, Olympic was as relentless as ever. But it wasn't impossible. Westwood showed that, as did Els, who called it as easy as the course played all week.

Kevin Chappell, who tied for third last year to earn a spot in this U.S. Open, had a 68 and takes an unthinkable streak of 24 holes without a bogey into the final round. He was at 3-over 213, along with Webb Simpson, who also had a 68.

Asked if the experience at Congressional would help, Chappell gave an apt description of what awaits on Sunday.

"Last year we were trying to make birdies in the U.S. Open," he said. "And here, you're just trying to survive."

Westwood came in right behind Chappell, and while he failed to take advantage on the par 5s, he finished in style with a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a 67. Westwood began this week as the third wheel in a powerful threesome of the top players in the world ranking. Luke Donald, the world No. 1, and defending champion Rory McIlroy have gone home. Westwood now has another chance to pick up his first major.

He twice has missed a playoff by one shot, in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and the 2009 British Open at Turnberry. He twice as been runner-up in the majors.

A win on Sunday would end that heartache, and return him to No. 1 in the world.

"I think I've probably been in contention in major championships more than anybody else over the last three or four years," Westwood said. "So I'm looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully go out and have some fun and see what happens."

Andy Gruenebaum made five saves for his fifth shutout of the season to lead the Columbus Crew in a scoreless draw against the New England Revolution on Saturday night.

The Associated PressColumbus Crew's Eric Gehrig, left, and New England Revolution's Blake Brettschneider try to get a head on the ball in the second half of an MLS soccer game in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, June 16, 2012. The teams tied 0-0. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Andy Gruenebaum made five saves for his fifth shutout of the season to lead the Columbus Crew in a scoreless draw against the New England Revolution on Saturday night.

The Crew (5-4-4) extended their unbeaten streak to six matches (3-0-3) overall and five (3-0-2) against the Revolution.

Matt Reis had three saves for New England (5-7-2), getting his third shoutout of the season and 58th of his career. The Revolution had scored in six straight matches and totaled 12 goals in their previous six at home, but were shut out for the fifth time this season.

New England had some scoring chances in the first half, but Benny Feilhaber missed in the opening minute and Gruenebaum smothered Jose Moreno's solo breakaway attempt from the left side in the 15th. Saer Sene laced an 18-yard blast off the crossbar in the 29th minute and Fernado Cardenas had a shot off the right wing and a rebound in the 38th.

In the second half, Kelyn Rowe (72nd) and Lee Nguyen (90th) had shots knocked away by Gruenebaum.

Reis made a diving stave on Milovan Morosevic's drive in the eighth minute, and Morosevic had drive off the crossbar in stoppage time.

HERSHEY, Pa. — Tyler Grassman of Gahanna Lincoln kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime to lift Ohio to a 24-21 win against Pennsylvania on Saturday night in the 55th Big 33 Football Classic at Hersheypark Stadium. Ohio stormed back from a 21-7 deficit with two fourth-quarter touchdowns by E.J. Junior (Middletown, Cincinnati) and MVP Tyler O'Connor (Lima Central...

HERSHEY, Pa. — Tyler Grassman of Gahanna Lincoln kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime to lift Ohio to a 24-21 win against Pennsylvania on Saturday night in the 55th Big 33 Football Classic at Hersheypark Stadium.

Ohio stormed back from a 21-7 deficit with two fourth-quarter touchdowns by E.J. Junior (Middletown, Cincinnati) and MVP Tyler O'Connor (Lima Central Catholic, Michigan State), followed by Grassman's winning kick.

Najee Murray (Steubenville, Ohio State) kick-started the Ohio offense in the third quarter when he latched onto a scoring pass from O'Connor that covered 85 yards with 4:35 left in the third quarter.

"That was the play that got us started," said Murray, who played primarily defensive back. "I told them I could play some slot. Tyler threw it up there for me. I had to make a little adjustment on it in the air, but I came down with it and went all the way."

It was Ohio's fourth straight win, but it looked doubtful right until the end.

"We hung in there," said coach Bill Albright of Midview. "It took us a while to get going, but all these kids are good kids. They're from state champs and so forth. They're all going to big-time schools. We came together at the end and got it done."

Grassman could easily have been the MVP. It was his deep kickoff to Pennsylvania's Desmon Peoples (Archbishop Wood, Rutgers) that led to Junior's touchdown. Peoples fumbled the ball on the 1-yard line, stepped into the end zone, then realized he had to come out. He was hit on the 3 and coughed up the ball, and Junior recovered for a touchdown with 6:10 left in the game to make it 21-21.

After Ohio's opening drive ended with a 37-yard missed field goal by Grassman, Skyler Mornhinweg (St. Joe's Prep, Florida) put Pennsylvania on the board just three plays later.

Rushel Shell (Hopewell, Pitt) ran 18 yards down the right sideline to the 39-yard line, then Mornhinweg found Kevin Gulyas (Allentown Central Catholic, Villanova) on a crossing pattern. Gulyas hauled it in on the 28 and eluded two tacklers on his way to the end zone with 7:14 left in the first quarter.

With 2:49 left in the half, Pennsylvania quarterback Blake Rankin (Bloomsburg, Rutgers) hit wideout Shakim Alonzo (Woodland Hills, Cincinnati) on a 13-yard touchdown pass at the front corner of the end zone. Rankin went twice to Alonzo in the end zone, with Connor Noe (Mason, BYU) breaking up the first.

O'Connor completed 8 of 16 first-half passes for 76 yards. The Pennsylvania defense held Ohio runners to 40 first-half yards, with Warren Ball (St. Frances DeSales, Ohio State) leading the way with 29 yards on four carries.

Cleveland suffers to its fourth loss in as many games and, at 6-7, is now on the outside looking in for a playoff slot.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — When it comes to sports, Cleveland fans are some of the most passionate in the world.

A week after a strike by players, one that occurred just hours before a game against Pittsburgh and resulted in a forfeit, fans seemed to send a message, too, as just 5,109 were in attendance at The Q.

Those who did attend, though, got all they paid for and then some in a 54-42 win by New Orleans.

First, it was a showcase between a league legend (John Dutton) and his protege, current VooDoo and former Mount Union standout quarterback Kurt Rocco.

Last year, Rocco spelled relief for Dutton when Dutton tore his Achilles tendon after the first game. Rocco led the team to a playoff appearance.

They also saw a seesaw affair that wasn't won by an offensive score but a defensive play that seemed to deflate the Gladiators late in the fourth quarter, when, after leading all game, they saw the VooDoo take their first lead of the night, one they wouldn't relinquish.

Michael Janac recovered a fumble by Dutton in the end zone and Phil Marfuggi converted the extra point to put New Orleans up, 47-42, with 5:05 left. It was the third of four unanswered fourth-quarter touchdowns by the VooDoo.

"This was a huge game for us, to beat a good team. This was a must win for us," said Rocco, who had 296 yards passing and six touchdowns on the night said. "But our defense won this for us, and I tell every one each week, they get the turnovers needed for us to win each week."

Dutton passed for 270 yards and had five touchdowns (two rushing, three passing). Despite those numbers, Cleveland fell to its fourth loss in as many games and, at 6-7, is now on the outside looking in for a playoff slot, as New Orleans has the tiebreaker.

"This is frustrating," receiver Robert Redd said. "We have to finish games. This is probably the fourth game of the year we have given away. This one stings a little bit because we should have had this one."

Gladiators coach Steve Thonn agreed with Redd, who nearly tied things up in the fourth before a forced fumble that led to the VooDoo's final score, a 33-yard bomb by Rocco with 33 seconds left.

"We talked all week that we had to finish the game, we had it there for the taking and just didn't take it," Thonn said. "We can't blame last week. We had a good practice and were focused on the game. It's disappointing we got a loss last week, but it had nothing to do with anything this week."

Matt Pawlikowski, Special to The Plain Dealer

The Browns clearly think Colt McCoy was part of the problem last year, not a victim of circumstances, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin column.

View full sizeAP fileIf Seneca Wallace doesn't want to be the No. 3 quarterback for the Browns, why would anyone believe Colt McCoy feels differently? Bud Shaw isn't buying that McCoy's silence means he's a better teammate.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Three's a crowd...

The backup quarterback is the most popular guy in a losing football town, apparently unless he's Seneca Wallace.

Somehow Wallace has earned the ire of Browns fans I hear from for being the last honest man in Berea -- at least on the subject of the team's quarterback derby. Wallace didn't say he was better than Brandon Weeden or even Colt McCoy. He didn't try to claim tough breaks and a lack of opportunity are the only things that kept him from being Drew Brees in his NFL career. He knows that would sound crazy.

Wallace said he doesn't see the Browns keeping himself, McCoy and Weeden on the roster -- despite head coach Pat Shurmur describing a scenario in which it could happen -- and that he wouldn't want to be No. 3 on the depth chart.

Who would? McCoy doesn't want to be No. 3 either. Or probably even No. 2.

Just because McCoy toes the party line publicly doesn't mean he's a better teammate. It doesn't mean he's less resentful about drawing the short straw. (Case McCoy's tweets on behalf of his brother are probably not his sentiments alone.)

Mike Holmgren came closest to supporting Wallace's view of things when he said the plan isn't to part ways with any quarterback now -- it's June after all -- but that the plan could well change. Translation: when it makes sense to pull off a trade, they will.

And McCoy is the most sensible trade piece, given his salary and his age. Holmgren did his part to prop up the QB competition as real. But if you read between the lines, the Browns think McCoy was part of the problem in 2011 -- not the victim his fans believe he was.

Didn't anyone learn anything from falling in love with Brady Quinn? He was picked two rounds ahead of McCoy, who failed to stand up to a challenging situation last season -- let alone rise above it.

"It's not always fair," Holmgren said. "But what he did get, he got a chance to play a whole year. You learned how does he deal with this ... those types of things are the things that you have to answer, be very honest about how you feel about that. That's how you move forward, I think."

If the Browns want to continue the charade to increase McCoy's trade value, I guess that's fine. So long as it doesn't take valuable snaps away from Weeden in training camp, they can pretend he's a legitimate candidate to start.

Holmgren's thoughts were also instructive on what qualities he looks for in a backup quarterback.

"The No. 2 quarterback has to be able to prepare himself and get ready to play a game without much practice," Holmgren said. "Whatever that is that allows a player to do that, whether it's intelligence, whether it's just athletic ability or whatever."

How about experience? Wallace has done it for 10 years.

And he doesn't have a brother who tweets.

SPINOFFS

View full sizeAP fileDusty Baker -- obviously the soul of tact and discretion -- is doing a fine job of building interest in the upcoming Reds-Indians series at Progressive Field.

In the booking video obtained by FirstCoastNews, Jaguars' receiver Justin Blackmon tells Oklahoma police, "I'm literally not a drinker."

Asks the jailer, "When was the last time you drank heavily?"

"Well, I mean, I drank tonight," Blackmon said. "But this is the first time I've been here in Stillwater."

So there you have the definition of "literally" not being a drinker. Blowing .024 in your second DUI offense, but, hey, in different cities.

People do know what "literally" literally means, right? ...

It's good Holmgren wants a better relationship with media and fans. Fresh start. No hard feelings. I want him to know he can even come to me looking for extra copies of Spin now...

The U.S. Anti Doping Agency is charging Lance Armstrong with using performance-enhancing drugs. The agency apparently has compiled evidence including 10 or so former Armstrong associates and teammates testifying that he used PEDs.

So, you know, nothing conclusive...

Armstrong is staying in France for the time being. It's a curious safe haven since the French have long accused him of cheating to win the Tour de France. No word on whether he will consider changing his name to Jerry Lewis...

I'd rather see the USADA chasing Roger Clemens than see taxpayer money spent in hopes a jury finds Brian McNamee's 10-year-old syringe-in-a-can a trustworthy piece of evidence...

Let's see. Reds' manager Dusty Baker has a problem with Derek Lowe, so he ordered pitcher Mat Latos to throw a 95 mph fastball high and inside to the Indians right-hander. Ordering a player to settle a manager's own personal differences? I'd say priceless, except Baker has to get fined.

Who knew fighting for the Ohio Cup could get this intense?

The Mets appealed for a scoring change that would've given R.A. Dickey a no-hitter but it was turned down as expected. That means there have only been three no-hitters in the last 13 days and five (two of them perfect games) since the start of the season.

In the post steroid era poll, four out of five soccer fans admit to falling asleep at baseball games...

With 14 no-hitters and four perfect games since 2010, does this really seem like a good time to talk about doing away with the designated hitter? If it makes you feel any better about the state of baseball in the late 1990s and early 2000, the drop in offense these days isn't solely pinned on the post steroid era.

Some executives and league officials agree it's the amphetamine testing, too...

The World Boxing Organization is going to review the judging in the Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley fight that saw Bradley win a controversial split decision. In other news, the fox says the hen house looks "pretty secure"...

SPIN BY THE NUMBERS

9 – E-mail references to Johnny Damon's weak bat and weaker arm

View full sizeAP fileIn 252 big-league at-bats, he's walked exactly eight times -- and not once in 2012.

7 -- Times I've questioned the direction of my "career." This week

49 -- Average Wonderlic score of Spin emailers (out of 50)

1 -- Times this week I've totally fabricated a number for this segment

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Lonnie Chisenhall and Charlie Chaplin -- IG, Willowick

New Jersey Devils head coach Peter DeBoer and Randy Quaid (cousin Eddie) -- Annie Thomas

HE SAID IT

"If you can't legislate it, if you can't enforce it then you probably ought to just go ahead and make it legal. I think that's kind of what happened with Prohibition." -- West Virginia coach Bob Huggins

View full sizeAP fileAmong his many memorable characteristics ... there was that special walk.

Finally, somebody speaks up for the legalization of ... coaches texting and calling high school athletes more often than their girlfriends do?

HE SAID WHAT?

"He don't respect himself. The word was whatever he did and said probably there was a good chance he was drinking at the ballpark and he don't remember what he said or what he did. OK." -- Dusty Baker responding to Derek Lowe saying he didn't respect the Reds' manager.

So long as Baker isn't making any reckless accusations that involve the height of unprofessional behavior on Lowe's part, this ought to blow right over.

HE TWEETED IT

"Hate when I let those people in the mall talk me into entertaining that nail file and leaving me with one shiny nail for a month!" -- Browns receiver Greg Little.

And for some reason people still contend the game has changed drastically since the days of Jim Brown.

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Hi Bud:

"So OKC fans stand until the Thunder make their first field goal. How would this concept work at Browns Stadium?" -- Tom, Parma

With or without Phil Dawson?

"Bud:

"What sort of future does PD management have mapped out for you if one day a tendon injury prevents you from typing a third consecutive great Spin column?" -- Chas K

I never thought about it in terms of your reference -- I'll Have Another's injury and the Triple Crown. But this could explain why when top editors told me I was the "glue" that held the department together they were giggling and elbowing each other.

"Bud:

"Does Matt LaPorta have EZ Pass?" -- Corby Mike

No. But before finding his control in his last two starts, Ubaldo Jimenez did.

"Bud:

"I saw you on More Sports & Les Levine recently and your 'do is looking shaggy with the grey coming in strong. When will you grow the big frothy mustache and smoke a pipe and finish off the Einstein makeover?" -- Devin, Concord

I was going for a more mature Fabio look. No good?

"Bud:

"Would you rate Chris Perez as one of MLB's best hurlers?" -- Anne

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

"Bud:

"I think I'll Have Another is ready to play left field for the Indians." -- Joe

Repeat winners are put out to pasture.

"Hey Bud:

"Somali terrorists reportedly have offered a bounty of 10 camels on U.S. officials. If Roger Goodell was in charge of Homeland Security, how long do you think the terrorists would be suspended for?" -- Bob H, Medina

Some repeat winners receive tough love.

On Twitter: @budshaw