The Browns are demonstrating considerable faith in Mohamed Massaquoi, whether or not the numbers over the last three seasons merit it.

Tracy Boulian, The Plain DealerMohamed Massaquoi has seven career TD receptions in three seasons, which creates at least reasonable doubt in the Browns' continued optimism for the former Georgia star.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Sure, the Browns are now done until training camp, but that doesn't mean we can't be talkin' ...

About Mohamed Massaquoi and the receivers ...

1. Earlier in minicamps, Pat Shurmur was talking up Massaquoi. Then Browns President Mike Holmgren said "I think he's ready to have a breakout year." Holmgren correctly said Massaquoi had to be bothered by the concussions that he's had the last two years, and he also had a foot injury last summer that carried into training camp.

2. The Browns are optimistic new offensive assistant Nolan Cromwell can make an impact with the receivers. Cormwell was offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, a receivers coach under Holmgren in Green Bay and Seattle and had that same job with Shurmur in St. Louis. They wanted to hired Cromwell in 2011, but he was still under contract with the Rams.

3. So maybe Cromwell can help Massaquoi. Holmgren added, "Now we have to pass him the ball," and mentioned that he had only one pass thrown in his direction at a recent practice. Well, I did some checking, and in all the minicamps and OTAs -- Greg Little was targeted the most with passes. Next was Ben Watson, and right behind came Massaquoi. He has been getting the ball.

4. Last season, Little led the team in being targeted with 121 passes. Next came Massaquoi (74), Watson (70) and Joshua Cribbs (67). In his first three seasons, Massaquoi had 101 receptions with seven touchdowns against 13 drops. Those are simply mediocre numbers.

5. Here's why you know the Browns must believe in Massaquoi -- he was drafted by Eric Mangini in the second round of 2009. The other two second rounders from that season -- David Veikune and Brian Robiskie -- were cut. So it would be easy to say, "We didn't draft Massaquoi ... so long, maybe it will work out with another team."

Instead, they are working with Massaquoi in his fourth pro year, so they must see something.

6. The hope for a receiving upgrade is rookie Brandon Weeden getting them the ball. Holmgren said receivers have been open, but due to pressure on Colt McCoy and other factors, they weren't thrown the ball. Weeden has a stronger arm and quicker release, so they hope he can throw the ball down field and deeper more often.

7. Josh Cribbs will see heavy duty on special teams. The Browns hope Josh Cooper and/or Jordan Norwood can fill the third receiver spot behind Little and Massaquoi. An undrafted free agent from Oklahoma State, Cooper is more than just a guy who caught college passes from Weeden -- the Browns consider him a real prospect in the slot. They like his hands and ability to get open quickly.

About the Browns ...

1. The minicamps and OTAs seemed to run smoothly. Part of the reason is this is the second year in Shurmur's system for the players. The first summer was wiped out by labor problems. But there also is a sense that having added veteran coaches Brad Childress and Cromwell have made a huge difference.

2. No longer does Shurmur believe he has to coach the offense. Childress is the man in charge as offensive coordinator. Early in their careers, Shurmur and Childress worked together in Philadelphia. They know how they want the West Coast offense run, and know each other so well that they communicate quickly.

3. The new offensive coaches have a chance to look better because the talent has been upgraded. Weeden will be the quarterback with Trent Richardson at running back. The ground game was horrible in 2011, ranking 31st. Richardson along with a healthy Brandon Jackson has to make a major difference.

4. It was Christian Yount who took over for Ryan Pontbriand as long snapper last season, and he settled down the position. He is back in the job, unless he has a major slump. Pontbriand was released Friday by the 49ers.

5. Reggie Hodges is back as punter, after missing 2011 with Achilles surgery. The Browns are pleased so far. In 2010, Hodges averaged 43.9 yards a punt. He was the ninth-ranked punter in the NFL in net yardage. Brad Maynard ranked 32nd last season.

About Matt LaPorta ...

View full sizeAP fileMatt LaPorta hasn't done enough to keep a spot on the Indians' big-league roster, but his 2011 numbers are better than what the Indians have gotten in either left field or first base this season.

Yes, the Tribe can recall LaPorta in eight days. In fact, I think he will be back within a few weeks unless Johnny Damon suddenly starts to hit, which doesn't seem likely. But it bothered me that LaPorta was returned to the minors after only 11 at-bats with the Tribe.

Yes, he was a roster-crunch victim as the Tribe claimed Esmil Rogers on waivers from Colorado. If the Indians want to look at a reliever with a 96 mph fastball who is trying to figure out if he can throw it for strikes, that's fine. Once in a while, these guys do put it together. But to have LaPorta here for nine days and only 11 at bats, it seemed strange.

I'm at the point where I'd rather look at LaPorta in left field than Aaron Cunningham, Shelley Duncan or Damon. Or some other rummage sale player such as Vlad Guerrero.

Consider this:

A. Guerrero had 590 plate appearances last season with 13 HR, 63 RBI, batting .290 with a .733 OPS for Baltimore.

B. LaPorta had 385 plate appearances in 2011 with 11 HR, 53 RBI, batting .247 with a .711 OPS.

C. LaPorta is 27, Guerrero is 37.

D. Guerrero is almost hopeless in the field, LaPorta can at least can stand at first base and left without being a total embarrassment.

E. Guerrero was just cut by Toronto, and some fans want the Tribe to sign him. Why? Because he used to be good. Ditto for Damon.

F. I also get emails about bringing back Manny Ramirez. He's 40. He's the DH for Oakland's Class AAA Sacramento farm team. His average is .302, but in 63 at-bats, he has zero homers, only three doubles.

G. Cunningham and Duncan are out of minor-league options, although both probably could clear waivers. Cunningham is hitting .188 (only two doubles in 64 at bats) and has a career .224 average with six homers in 419 big-league at-bats. Duncan is at .205 this season, with four homers in 122 at-bats.

Meanwhile, in Colorado...

View full sizeChris Carlson, Associated PressIt's been a difficult 2012 season so far for Colorado's Drew Pomeranz.

Alex White is 2-5 with a 5.56 ERA for the Rockies. He is in the rotation. There was some discussion -- especially after his finger injury -- of the Tribe putting White in the bullpen. The Rockies did it in spring training, then moved him back to the rotation.

The bullpen may be a better idea.

Drew Pomeranz is 2-4 with a 3.06 ERA at AAA. Rockies manager Jim Tracy told Denver reporters: "In the case of Drew Pomeranz, we are working on cleaning up his delivery. His last two starts, he had [10] walks (in 10 1/3 innings). What purpose would that serve to bring him up knowing how guys we have here are getting hit with two-ball, one-strike counts?"

Also in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal was pitcher Joe Gardner, who is 3-3 with a 4.70 ERA at Class AA Tulsa.

About Kent State baseball...

Most fans know about Kent State's amazing run to the College World Series. But for the third year in a row, KSU was given the NCAA's Public Recognition Award, based on the most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rate.

The Flashes had a perfect 1000 multi-year APR. Only 16 teams have had the mark in each of the last three seasons -- and Kent State is the only public university on that list. Other schools include Harvard, Yale, Brown, Stanford and Georgetown.

"We received an award for having the highest GPA (3.09) of any of the (eight) teams in Omaha," said coach Scott Stricklin. "That means a lot to us, because we want to win the right way."

Stricklin said he's had not seen the All-Academic team selection for the MAC, but expects starters David Lyon, Jimmy Rider, Nick Hamilton and others to be considered. Junior Jason Bagoly (finance major from Austintown Fitch) was given the team's academic award for the highest GPA.

About the Cavaliers ...

Highlight video package on UConn's Jeremy Lamb

1. They are sorting through draft possibilities. They'd love to add a shooting guard, and may have a chance to pick between the two top-rated at that position -- Florida's Bradley Beal and UConn's Jeremy Lamb. Some reports have Beal being selected in the top three. Lamb is likely to be there at No. 4.

2. At 6-5, Lamb is an inch taller than Beal. His wing span (6-11) is longer than Beal's (6-8). The Cavs would like as taller guard next to 6-2 point man Kyrie Irving. Lamb averaged 4.9 rebounds, but Beal was an eye-popping 6.7.

3. While Harrison Barnes tested as an outstanding athlete at the recent NBA combine, the 6-8 forward from North Carolina averaged only 5.1 rebounds. His athleticism didn't seem to translate that often in terms of creating shots or hitting the boards as a small forward. Would I be stunned if the Cavs took Barnes? No. He remains an intriguing talent, although I still wonder how much of it is due to being rated the top high-school player in 2010.

4. It's doubtful, but there are some mock drafts where the Cavs end up with a choice between Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Barnes as small forwards. Teams love Gilchrist's athleticism, but he has a hitch in his shot and is not an outside scorer. Can he improve? He played only one year of college. Can Barnes do a better job of scoring off the dribble and drive? Can he be more aggressive? That's what teams are asking.

5. When it comes to Lamb and Beal, Lamb has the edge in size and also has a knack of scoring on mid-range jumpers and floaters from the 5- to 10-foot range. Those shots are very effective in the NBA. Lamb shot 60 percent on 2-pointers, Beal 54 percent. Both players were at 34 percent on 3-pointers. At the foul line, Lamb (81 percent) and Beal (78 percent) are solid.

6. While the Cavs would prefer a taller shooting guard, Byron Scott has said he'll play a smaller guard if he believes the guy can score. Beal won't be 19 until June 29. Lamb is 20. Most scouts prefer Beal, but it would not be a shock if the Cavs went for Lamb.

7. I've been told the Cavs have not had any talks about a deal with Portland involving the sixth and 11th picks. That may change on draft night, but nothing now.

Back in the 1960s and '70s, there were maybe a half-dozen knuckleball pitchers in the major leagues. Now there's just one: R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain Dealer"Once I started throwing the knuckleball," says Akron Aeros pitcher Steven Wright, "it was almost like a new life." But Wright is one of precious few hurlers willing to stake their professional life on the fluttering pitch. "It's a pitch born of desperation," concedes New York Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

AKRON, Ohio -- When the knuckleball is on, it dances left. It dances right. It do-si-do's and promenades.

But these days, the knuckler is mostly dead, gone the way of Bat Day and dollar beer.

"I think it's just one of those lost arts," said Steven Wright, of the Indians' Class AA Akron Aeros and one of the few knuckleballers left in the game.

Back in the 1960s and '70s, there were maybe a half-dozen knuckleball pitchers in the major leagues. Now there's just one: R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets, although Wright, at 27, holds his big-league future in the tips of his arched, hook-like index and middle fingers -- the familiar grip of pitch that's as difficult to master as it is to control.

"I don't know where it's going to go," Wright said. "But on a good day, I know where it's going to start."

For more consistent control, he's been coached to think of himself pitching in a long hallway with the catcher at the other end to keep from staying too far right or left on his delivery.

Wright, a former second-round draft pick by the Indians in 2006, has a 90-mph fastball. But he turned to the knuckler as his primary pitch last season as a collective decision among Wright and the Indians. Team President Mark Shapiro hooked him up with his friend and former Tribe knuckleballer Tom Candiotti in spring training 2011.

So far, the results have been promising: 5-3 with a 1.54 ERA and a shutout; Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors earlier this season.

"His knuckleball is nasty," Candiotti said. "It's filthy."

"Once I started throwing the knuckleball," Wright said, "it was almost like a new life."

Baseball's flame-throwers are the rock stars, lighting up the radar gun into the high 90s -- or over 100 as Detroit's Justin Verlander did recently in a loss to the Indians. Fans in the '70s and '80s used to crowd the bullpen before games just to watch Nolan Ryan warm up. Washington's Stephen Strasburg, whose fastball lives in the high 90s, is the new Ryan.

By comparison, knuckleballers are the bottom-feeders of the pitching staff; the carp, the catfish. And they're an endangered species.

Wright and Dickey are such a rarity that their craft was featured in a documentary called "Knuckleball!" due out this fall on DVD and video on demand. Conversations with knuckleballers past and present reveal they belong to a proud but fading fraternity. They lean on each other for suggestions and moral support, regardless of team allegiances.

Knuckleballers talk shop at 'Knuckleball' premiere in N.Y.

They share tips because they have to. There are few pitching coaches left who can teach it, and fewer managers who have the stomach for a ball that can turn into a wild pitch early and often.

Knuckleballers also turn to each other because most had to learn the pitch just to survive.

"It was time," said Dickey, a former first-round pick who found new life on the mound at 37, "to either be a knuckleballer or nothing else. It's a pitch born of desperation."

View full sizeTony Dejak, Associated PressNo knuckleballer in history was as successful as Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who won 318 games in a 24-year career that included two seasons with the Indians.

Four godfathers of the knuckleball -- Phil Niekro, Charlie Hough, Tim Wakefield and Wilbur Wood, who won a combined 898 games in 85 major-league seasons -- share similar stories of finding salvation after bounding around the minors or resurrecting a career after an arm injury.

Wakefield was a struggling infielder who turned the knuckler into a 19-year career. Hough learned the knuckler from his coaches, Goldie Holt and the legendary Tommy Lasorda, after hurting his pitching shoulder.

"Tommy basically told me I had to do something," Hough said, "because I was going to get released."

Wood joked that the knuckleball became his calling card because his fastball "was a few yards too short." He was able to ply his trade on a White Sox staff that also featured knuckleballers Hoyt Wilhelm and Eddie Fisher.

The pitch is easier on the arm because it's not thrown as hard, so the motion isn't as violent. Wright's coaches don't keep him on a rigid pitch count. Wood led the American League in starts for four straight years in the '70s and once beat the Indians twice in one day -- going five innings to finish a suspended game from the previous night and all nine innings of the second game.

At one time, the pitch was as common as live organ music at the ballpark. In the mid-'40s, the old Washington Senators had a staff of four knuckleballers (Dutch Leonard, Johnny Niggeling, Roger Wolff and Mickey Haefner). Now it's as rare as a starting pitcher lasting all nine innings -- for all sorts of reasons.

College scholarships aren't rewarded to pitchers who toy with a knuckleball. Big-league scouts aren't bird-dogging for them, either.

"No one in the front office is telling them to find the next Hoyt Wilhelm," Dickey said. "They're looking for the next Stephen Strasburg."

Maybe they should be searching for the next Dickey. Throwing the knuckler 90 percent of the time, at speeds of 60 to 82 mph, Dickey has a league-leading 10-1 record with a 2.20 ERA and set a Mets record with 32 straight scoreless innings. In his last five games, he's allowed two runs (one earned), struck out 40 and walked just three -- unheard of for a pitch with a mind of its own.

Highlights of R.A. Dickey's 1-hitter against Tampa Bay on Wednesday

The key to the knuckleball is the spin. It doesn't. Or, at least, it's not supposed to. When it does, even your grandmother can blast it 400 feet.

To the hitter, the knuckleball looks like "a butterfly. It flickers all over," said retired New York Mets second baseman Ron Hunt, who Niekro said was one of his toughest outs. "I tried to wait, wait, wait and then ping at it."

The pitch is a bit misnamed. The ball is gripped with the fingertips or fingernails, not the knuckles. Instead of snapping the pitch on release, the wrist is firm.

"From here it's locked in," Niekro said during a recent Cleveland visit, demonstrating the motion that won 318 games and a trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. "The slightest little turn of the wrist gives the ball rotation, which you don't want. The idea is to stiff-wrist it and just let it come out."

From there, the pitch floats toward hitters like dandelion fuzz, its unpredictability as much a blessing as a curse. "I've had some drop like five feet," Wright said. "That's the thing. How do you control that?"

Hough's catcher Geno Petralli, who probably extended his major-league career because he could handle the knuckler, led the AL in passed balls three times. He once committed four in one inning -- even with the special extra-large, floppy mitt designed for the knuckler. Eight days later he had six more.

"Believe it or not," Petralli said, "I wasn't the only one who had trouble. It was uncatchable at times."

Niekro, a five-time All-Star who pitched for the Indians in 1986-87, remembers a pitch that broke from the middle of the plate to behind the hitter, who swung and missed for strike three. Hough recalled a pitch in Seattle that started at the batter's head before breaking down and away. His catcher stood up to catch it before diving toward home plate to stop it.

View full size

Knuckleballers say their easiest outs were the power hitters, players who swung from the heels and tried to crush it. The toughest? Contact hitters, such as Hunt and his teammate Bud Harrelson, Cincinnati's Pete Rose, and Rod Carew and Tony Oliva of Minnesota.

"Billy Buckner," Niekro said without hesitation. "It was the littler guys that had the small strike zone. I had to really zero in -- and they didn't care how they got to first."

That was news to Buckner, who said Niekro was among the tougher pitchers he faced. Buckner hit .278 off "Knucksie," with 13 doubles, three home runs, six walks and 13 strikeouts, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

Buckner remembered a few of the homers -- and another meeting that left a mark.

"One time, he threw me one," he said. "I swung and it hit me right in the chest."

One more dance partner down.

On this Father's Day, we asked some Cleveland area athletes about their fathers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Fathers play an assortment of roles in the lives of their children who are athletes. Coach. Counselor. Chauffer.

They can be your biggest fan or your worst critic, sometimes in the same game. Some are role models for children following in their footsteps. Others learn everything about a certain sport once their child signs up.

On this Father's Day, we asked some Cleveland area athletes about their fathers. Initially, we asked them what they would write to their dads in a Father's Day card. But some were more comfortable sharing what they would say about their fathers than what they would say to their fathers.

We've included all their comments in their own words.

Happy Father's Day.

Cavaliers shooting guard Anthony Parker to his dad, Larry Parker: "You always used to joke that no athletes say, 'Hi Dad!' on television. Then The Temptations released the only popular "Dad" song called, 'Papa Was a Rollin' Stone.' We would laugh, but I never understood this as a kid because I thought everyone's dad was like mine.

"The memory you most talk about is coming home from work and us kids running and jumping in your arms screaming, "Daddy's home!" I remember it felt like the day started when you walked in the door. While everyone else was trying to be like Mike, you were always the person I tried to emulate. It's no accident that my temperament and disposition both come from you.

"A father is the earliest and most influential example of what it means to be a man. Most fathers say that they love their children. But more than words, love is expressed through time and sacrifice. As a dad myself, only now do I realize how easy you made this look.

"You may not have always wanted to come home from work and go straight to coach my team at practice after helping me with homework. Somehow you always found a way to pay for a new suit for me to go to the school dance. You didn't have to consult me about whether you should accept a new job offer that would require our family to move to a different state. But you knew how tough it could be for a 14-year-old being the new kid in high school. These are just a few of the many examples I could have used to show how you put your children before yourself. This is what it means to be a dad.

"I remember losing a big game because of a terrible shooting night on my part. We sat in the kitchen and you got up and started opening drawers, and cabinets, and looking under the table. My brother Marcus asked, "What are you looking for, Dad?" You looked up with a smile and said, "Anthony's jump shot!" The whole family died laughing! The next day you and I were on the playground working on that jumper.

"The investment you made in your children is why we are who we are today. You gave us the confidence that we could accomplish our dreams. You challenged us and motivated us to work hard and set the bar high. It's the reason I have played 15 years as a professional basketball player, my sister, Candace, is among the greatest women to ever play the game and Marcus went to Johns Hopkins for medical school and residency to be a radiologist -- a dream he had since he was 5 years old.

"When I get home, my favorite part of the day is my two boys running and jumping in my arms screaming, 'Daddy's home!' To me, it means that I'm doing something right. I guess I'm still trying to emulate my dad.

"Happy Father's Day. I love you!"

U.S. Olympic women's hockey goalie Brianne McLaughlin of Sheffield Village and Elyria Catholic to her dad, Briant McLaughlin: "Happy Father's Day, Dad! Thank you for always being my voice of reason when it came to big decisions or sports. You're smarter than you look sometimes!

"You always have the perfect thing to say and are able to make big things look so small. I admire your ability to always have a smile on your face and be able to put a smile on everyone else's face as well. Thank you for always being the kind of dad I could talk to about anything and the dad that took time for a game of catch.

"I love you so much and thank you for being the best dad I could have asked for.

"Love, Brianne."

Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving to (and on) his dad, Dred Irving: "Thanks, Dad, for supporting me this whole entire season even if you couldn't be at every single game.

"I talked to him almost every single day during my rookie season, and it was a great one. We talked at the beginning of the year about the goals I wanted to accomplish, and I feel without him I couldn't have done it. He is my biggest fan and worst critic, and that's what I need in my life."

Browns quarterback Colt McCoy on his dad, Brad McCoy: "There's a lot of things I'd like to say to my dad. A lot of times, I just don't like to save it necessarily for Father's Day.

"I want him and my mom to know how much I appreciate the way they've raised me and the opportunities they've placed in front of me. They were a huge part of it all. From an early age, my dad raised me so that I understood my role. I understood and respected authority, which was him -- both my parents, obviously -- but also everywhere I went. As I got older, he was my high school football coach and my junior high football coach.

"I didn't start playing football until seventh grade. But as we went through, he had a lot of responsibilities being football coach and athletic director, and but he always spent time with us and he surrounded me with great men as far as other coaches that I was constantly around. He hired coaches who were good men, just like he was. I've always been surrounded by good people and I have him to thank for that.

"You know, it's really hard. My dad and granddad are both coaches, and my uncle is a coach. So anytime I make a phone call back home, regardless of who it's to, I'm getting coached. That's a good thing. Sometimes it's a little overwhelming. Sometimes I just want to get away, and that's why I have my mother. But I don't think they can ever lose the coach in them. But I always appreciate it.

"I'm always trying to be the best I can be. I think my dad did a good job because he was a coach, and everybody knew he was a coach. He's been a coach his whole life. But he also knew when to separate being a coach from being a dad. We would go out fishing or we'd go out and spend some time on our farm. We'd work outside together and our conversations would be nothing about football or basketball or track -- because I played all those sports. I think he had a very good feel for when we needed that. But when I needed to be coached, he coached me. I think he did a really good job."

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas on his dad, Eric Thomas: "He's meant a lot to me. He has been an extremely big part of turning me into the person that I am. A lot of the interests and activities that are really important to me are things that I learned from him. I'd just tell him how much that meant to me -- and the time he spent to me when I was a kid."

Browns cornerback Joe Haden III to his dad, Joe Haden Jr.: "Dad, I love you so much. Thank you for making me the man I am today. I look up to you. You made me exactly who I am. I just want to continue to be like you when I grow up."

Browns wide receiver/return specialist Josh Cribbs on his dad, Harold Cribbs: "My father's old school. I would congratulate him on teaching me to raise a family and to be the leader of the household. I'm married now. I have kids. Being with my dad, my parents and growing up in that household and seeing all the problems they had with finances and the different types of issues arise, seeing how they handled it helps me handle everything I go through now.

"My father was a perfect example of how to handle problems in a marriage, in life, with kids, stress. So when I go through it now I know exactly how to go through it and I know that there's light at the end of the tunnel."

Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden on his dad, Robbie Weeden: "He was always supportive, but never pushed us. Me and my brother kind of pushed ourselves. He was always there for support. If we needed anything, he was the guy we went to.

"Great father. Basically, a perfect dad. Didn't harp on us, didn't punish us. I'd just want to thank him for everything. Not only for when I was kid, but now when I'm an adult he still helps me to this day with stuff that guys like me need help with. He's taken up golf, so we're working together to play some golf. I think we'll look back in 20 years and be glad we did that. He started playing about a year ago. He scuffles around a little bit. I can play a little bit. I play too much, I think."

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis on his dad, Mark Kipnis: "There's not a bad bone in my dad's body. Sometimes I wish there was -- he's almost too nice of a guy. He had to do some community service (in connection with fraud charges against Hollinger International, the company where he served as general counsel). Even after his community service hours were up, he'd keep doing it. He'd help out at my high school, work in the concessions stands.

"Even after he was done, he kept doing it just because he liked the people there and was friends with all the people. That just shows what kind of guy he is. He still goes over there now every now and then to help out."

Indians outfielder Shelley Duncan on his dad, Dave Duncan, a former Indian: "It's more about raising me to be a man than a ballplayer. Teaching me right and wrong, giving me core values and stuff that I can pass down to my kids."

Plain Dealer reporters Jodie Valade and Tom Reed contributed to this report.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Highlights include Pittsburgh at Indians, fourth round of the U.S. Open and Game 3 of the Oklahoma City-Miami NBA Finals.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

AUTO RACING

6 a.m. 24 Hours of Le Mans, finish of race, Speed Channel

1 p.m. Quicken Loans 400, TNT

5 p.m. Thunder Valley Nationals (tape), ESPN

BASEBALL

1 p.m. LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS vs. Dayton, AM/970

1:05 p.m. INDIANS vs. Pittsburgh, SporstTime Ohio; AM/1100

1:30 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Washington, TBS

1:35 p.m. AKRON AEROS at Reading, AM/1350

8 p.m. Boston at Chicago Cubs, ESPN

COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES

5 p.m. Game 5, teams To be determined, ESPN2

9 p.m. Game 6, teams To be determined, ESPN2

CYCLING

7:30 p.m. Tour de Suisse, final stage (tape), NBCSN

GOLF

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

MOTORSPORTS

2:30 p.m. MotoGP, British Grand Prix (tape), Speed Channel

3:30 p.m. MotoGP Moto2, British Grand Prix (tape), Speed Channel

NBA FINALS

8 p.m. Oklahoma City at Miami, WEWS; AM/850

SOCCER

2:30 p.m. Euro 2012, group phase, Portugal vs. Netherlands, ESPN

2:30 p.m. Euro 2012, group phase, Denmark vs. Germany, ESPN2

5 p.m. MLS, New York at Chicago, NBCSN

Michael Brantley, who hit .337 (29-for-86) during his 22-game hitting streak, said he followed no specific routine to keep the streak going.The streak ended Saturday, but stands as the longest in the big leagues this year.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerMichael Brantley concentrated on helping the Indians win during his 22-game hitting streak.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The streak is over for Michael Brantley. It lasted 22 games, the longest by an Indians player since Casey Blake hit in 26 straight games in 2007, and ended with Saturday's 0-for-3 in a 9-2 loss to Pittsburgh.

Throughout the streak, Brantley said was not superstitious. He didn't eat chicken every day like Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, who won five batting titles. He didn't wear the same socks, underwear or batting gloves.

"I did absolutely nothing the same," said Brantley. "From changing bats, to batting gloves to cleats, I did absolutely nothing the same. I just went out there each and every day and played as hard as I could."

It's safe to say he's not superstitious.

The streak started on May 20 against Miami and ended Saturday against Pittsburgh. Interleague play, it would seem, giveth and taketh when it comes to hitting streaks.

Brantley hit .337 (29-for-86) with 23 singles, four doubles, one triple and one homer. He scored 12 runs and drove in 16. It stands as the longest streak in the big leagues this year.

"It just feels good to be in a streak like that because you're helping your team," said Brantley, whose average jumped from .255 to .284 during the streak. "The goal is to go out and play the best you can and, hopefully, get hits, score runs and do whatever you can to win ballgames."

Brantley hit second, fifth and sixth during the streak. As the streak grew, he spent the majority of his time in the fifth spot even though he doesn't hit for power.

"He gives us quality at-bats in the middle of the lineup," said manager Manny Acta.

Brantley entered Sunday's game against Pittsburgh hitting .313 (20-for-64) with runners in scoring position.

Sign here: The Indians signed No.3 pick Kieran Lovegrove to a $400,000 signing bonus. Their allotted price for the third round pick was $432,700.

Kieran, a high school right-hander from San Diego, took his physical Saturday. He'll report to the Indians rookie league team in Goodyear, Ariz.

Today's lineup:

Pirates: (32-31): LF Alex Presley (L), 2B Neil Walker (S), CF Andrew McCutchen (R), RF Garrett Jones (L), 1B Casey McGehee (R), 3B Pedro Alvarez (L), DH Matt Hague (R), SS Clint Barmes (R), C Michael McKenry (R), RHP Brad Lincoln (3-2, 3.15).

Indians (33-30): RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), 2B Jason Kipnis (L),   DH Jose Lopez (R), CF Michael Brantley (L), 3B Jack Hannahan (L), LF Johnny Damon (L), 1B Casey Kotchman (L), C Lou Marson (R), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (4-5, 4.71).

Umpires: H Adrian Johnson, 1B Gary Cederstrom, 2B Lance Barksdale, 3B Fieldin Culbreth.
 
Indians vs. Lincoln: Carlos Santana, who is not in the lineup, is 3-for-3 against Lincoln.

Pirates vs. Gomez: No Pirates batter has faced Gomez in the big leagues.

Next: RHP Derek Lowe (7-5, 3.78) will face Cincinnati's Mat Latos (5-2, 4.64) tonight at Progressive Field at 7:05 p.m. STO/WTAM will carry the game.

The Indians have lost five of their last six games and are 4-8 in interleague play with the Cincinnati Reds arriving in town for a three-game series starting Monday night.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerCleveland Indians Asdrubal Cabrera is about to throw the baseball away trying to throw over the Pittsburgh Pirates Garrett Jones in the 4th inning on June 17, 2012, at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera made three errors in a two-inning span Sunday and the Pirates took full advantage on the way to a 9-5 thumping of the Indians at Progressive Field.

The Indians have lost five of their last six games. It's their worst stretch since they lost four of their first five games to start the season.

Cabrera's three errors led to eight of Pittsburgh's nine runs. Cabrera, who started at shortstop for the American League in last year's All-Star game, doubled his error total for the season.

The last Indians shortstop to make three errors in a game was Ramon Vazquez on June 11, 2006 in Chicago. Vazquez was the utility infielder former manager Eric Wedge decided to keep instead of Brandon Phillips, who turned into a Gold Glove, All-Star second baseman in Cincinnati.

Jeanmar Gomez (4-6, 4.95 ERA) had two out and a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Cabrera made a wild throw to first on Casey McGehee's grounder to short. The Indians were shifted to the right against McGehee and Cabrera may have been screened on his throw.

The error was Cabrera's first since May 7 against the White Sox.

The error put runners on first and second and Gomez didn't react well. Pedro Alvarez hit his 1-0 pitch into the right field seats for his first of two three-run homers in the game. Alvarez, who hit four homers in the last two games against the Tribe, gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

The Indians came right back to take a 4-3 lead on Shin-Soo Choo's two-run double in the fourth to chase Brad Lincoln, but once again Gomez and Cabrera were lurking.

Gomez gave up a one-out homer to Alex Presley in the fifth to tie the score, 4-4. Gomez walked Neil Walker and gave up a double on the left field line to Andrew McCutchen. Garret Jones was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a double play.

McGehee cooperated with a hard grounder to Cabrera, but Cabrera fumbled the ball. To make matters worse, he slapped it toward second base as the ball scooted past Jason Kipnis and Walker and McCutchen scored for a 6-4 lead. Cabrera was charged with one error for failing to field the ball cleanly and another for slapping it ward second.

Gomez was done for the day, but Alvarez wasn't.

Newcomer Esmil Rogers relieved and promptly gave up another three-run homer to Alvarez to make it 9-4. Alvarez has 12 homers, four of them against the Indians. Alvarez, after going 0-for-3 Friday, went 5-for-8 with four homers and nine RBI against the Tribe.

The Indians made it 9-5 on Jose Lopez's double in the seventh.

Kipnis gave the Indians a 1-0 lead in the first with his 11th homer. The Indians made it 2-0 in the second when Johnny Damon singled, stole second and scored on Casey Kotchman's single to right.

But once again the offense failed to produce a big inning when opportunities presented themselves. They stranded four runners in the second and third innings.

Gomez continues to struggle. He's 1-4 in his last four starts with a 7.92 ERA (22 earned runs in 25 innings).

Andy Marte was the last Indians infielder to make three errors in a game. It happened on June 10, 2010 against Boston.

The Indians are 4-8 in interleague play.

The win went to Tony Watson (4-0).

St. Edward coach Eric Flannery, who coached Barnes in the 2010 McDonald's All-American game, thinks the sophomore would be a great addition to the Cavaliers.

View full sizeCharles Rex Arbogast, Associated PressHarrison Barnes delivers a sartorial slam dunk when he appeared before NBA writers during this month's combine in Chicago. "I think how you dress says a lot about how you carry yourself," said the former North Carolina forward, who could be the Cavaliers' pick with the fourth pick of the June 28 NBA draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes made a great first impression at the NBA combine in Chicago two weeks ago.

Unlike most of the 60 players, he showed up for his interviews the first day wearing black dress pants and a Carolina blue sweater. Asked why he was so dressed up, Barnes told reporters, "This is your job now. You always want to look nice. I think how you dress says a lot about how you carry yourself."

Barnes, an intelligent player who is reading Don Quixote -- in Spanish -- in his spare time this summer, made a similar great impression on St. Edward High School coach Eric Flannery, when Flannery coached Barnes in the McDonald's All-American game in Columbus in 2010.

"Right from the beginning you could tell," Flannery said. "Polite, very respectful, intelligent, picked things up in practice, was very easy to get along with, a quality young man. My impressions didn't change over the five or six days we were together. Taking pictures, signing autographs, having a good time, getting along with his teammates, very, very coachable."

Flannery said Barnes was the best player on his team. A kid by the name of Kyrie Irving was the best player on the other team. Against all odds, since Irving went to Carolina arch-rival Duke, the two have become good friends and could become teammates should the Cavaliers take Barnes with the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28.

Asked how a Tar Heel and a Dukie can actually get along, Barnes said of Irving, "He only played 10 games there. He jokes with me it took me 60 games to get drafted."

That hasn't happened quite yet, but it will in 11 days. Flannery can't say enough about Barnes and would love it if the Cavs took him.

"In my opinion, he's got all the qualities that you would want at the NBA level in a wing player, size being one of them," Flannery said. "He's strong. He's physical. He's got some length, and he's very athletic, deceivingly so.

"What I have heard, and what I have seen as far as the negatives with Harrison as player, is that he tries to score or he takes tough shots -- he takes contested shots -- and that he doesn't get his teammates involved as much as they would like him to. To me that sounds like an NBA wing. To me, if I'm an NBA scout, that would be a benefit.

"If he can score over people, if he can make contested shots, then you can work with him to develop him into a guy that can get his teammates involved, I think those are all assets and benefits to your team. If I'm a guy putting an NBA team together, that's what I'm looking for. I think he has those qualities."

Barnes, who was off the charts in the athletic testing during the combine, was a heralded prep star when he landed at North Carolina after leading Ames (Iowa) High School to back-to-back undefeated seasons and state titles. He was the first player to be named a preseason collegiate All-American before playing a single college game.

Harrison Barnes' makes and misses vs. Kentucky

While he had a solid career in college, it wasn't quite as explosive as expected, though he did lead the Tar Heels in scoring this season. But Barnes wouldn't be the first college player who altered his game to fit into the team concept -- especially at North Carolina.

"He was a kind of a quiet guy, so I can see him kind of taking the back seat once in a while as a freshman and not wanting to step on anybody's toes," Flannery said. "Maybe that's a negative. But it speaks again to the kid he is. I've also seen games, and I've seen times in the course of some of those games that he was spectacular, making some unbelievable shots."

Asked if he had to pull back on certain aspects of him game the past two seasons, Barnes said, "I think it's like daylight and darkness. At Carolina, I was surrounded by great players, and we felt like we were one of the more talented teams in the country. My job was to score. In the NBA, it's different. It's more isolation plays, so you have to change your game a little bit and play more NBA style."

Flannery thinks that deference speaks to Barnes' character. The Cavs, of course, value character as much as skill.

"I like to see the kid for who he is, I like to see the player for who he is," Flannery said. "I don't want to get into the hype. I'm looking at him as an NBA player, and I think he fits the bill."

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Indians pitcher Derek Lowe and Reds manager Dusty Baker meet Monday for the second time in less than a week. Will their long-standing feud re-ignite?

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerIndians pitcher Derek Lowe takes the hill Monday against the Reds. Last Wednesday, Lowe pitched against the Reds in Cincinnati and a long-running feud with Reds skipper Dusty Baker resurfaced.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Derek Lowe will start against Cincinnati's Mat Latos on Monday night at Progressive Field.

Under normal circumstances that would just be a line of agate type on the baseball page of your favorite newspaper or website. But it's taken on an edgier tone since Wednesday when Reds manager Dusty Baker told Latos to throw inside against Lowe in the fifth inning to rekindle a feud between the two.

When asked if he thought the feud would continue tonight, Lowe said Sunday morning: "I promise you I won't talk about that again. I guarantee it and there are very few things that are guaranteed in this life."

MLB is looking into the actions of Baker and Lowe, but it's not known if either man will be disciplined.

After Latos buzzed Lowe, Lowe pointed his bat at Baker in the Reds' dugout at Great American Ball Park. Baker shook his finger at Lowe, saying, in his own brand of sign language, "Don't mess with me or my team."

In the bottom of the fifth, Lowe hit Brandon Phillips with a pitch and both benches were warned.

After the game, Lowe said he had no respect for Baker. He said the feud went back to 2008, Lowe's last season with the Dodgers. Baker was managing the Reds at the time.

When asked about the feud, Baker said Lowe probably couldn't remember what he said because Lowe was drinking at the ballpark at the time. That's where the situation stands as the Reds and Indians get together for another interleague series.

Second baseman Jason Kipnis wasn't sure if the hard feelings would resurface Monday or not. For one thing, Lowe won't be batting because the series is being played in an American League park.

"I don't expect anything, but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if there was," said Kipnis. "I think it took care of itself off the field between Lowe and Dusty . . . I don't think anyone is going to be trying to do anything from either side."

Streakless in Cleveland: The streak is over for Michael Brantley. It lasted 22 games, the longest by an Indians player since Casey Blake hit in 26 straight games in 2007, and ended with Saturday's 0-for-3 in a 9-2 loss to Pittsburgh.

Throughout the streak, Brantley said he was not superstitious. He didn't eat chicken every day like Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, who won five batting titles. He didn't wear the same socks, underwear or batting gloves.

"I did absolutely nothing the same," said Brantley. "From changing bats, to batting gloves to cleats, I did absolutely nothing the same. I just went out there each and every day and played as hard as I could."

It's safe to say he's not superstitious.

The streak started May 20 against Miami and ended Saturday against Pittsburgh. Interleague play, it would seem, giveth and taketh when it comes to hitting streaks.

Brantley hit .337 (29-for-86) with 23 singles, four doubles, one triple and one homer. He scored 12 runs and drove in 16. It stands as the longest streak in the big leagues this year.

"It just feels good to be in a streak like that because you're helping your team," said Brantley, whose average jumped from .255 to .284 during the streak. "The goal is to go out and play the best you can and, hopefully, get hits, score runs and do whatever you can to win ballgames."

Brantley hit second, fifth and sixth during the streak. As the streak grew, he spent the majority of his time in the fifth spot even though he doesn't hit for power.

Sign here: The Indians signed No.3 pick Kieran Lovegrove to a $400,000 signing bonus. Their allotted price for the third round pick was $432,700.

Kieran, a high school right-hander from San Diego, took his physical Saturday. He'll report to the Indians' rookie league team in Goodyear, Ariz.

Over the weekend the Indians signed No. 1 pick Tyler Naquin ($1.75 million), No. 2 pick Mitch Brown ($800,000) and No. 3 pick Lovegrove. Brown is the only one who signed over his allotted draft price.

Finally: The Indians released right-hander Hector Ambriz from Class AAA Columbus to make room for left-hander Scott Barnes. Ambriz pitched for the Tribe in 2010 before having Tommy John surgery . . . Kipnis leads the AL with 17 steals, including 15 straight.

Portugal wins 2-1, advances to the Euro quarterfinals and sends the Netherlands home winless

View full sizeThe Associated PressPortugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scores by Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group B match between Portugal and the Netherlands in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday, June 17, 2012.

KHARKIV, Ukraine — Cristiano Ronaldo finally found the form he was lacking at the European Championship, scoring twice Sunday to give Portugal a 2-1 win over the Netherlands and a spot in the quarterfinals.

Poised to be written of as one of the tournament's flops, his performance put a miserable two-game goalless run at Euro 2012 behind him.

It also helped silence the critics who accused him of failing to reproduce the form he showed in a sensational 60-goal season for Real Madrid.

"Ronaldo got so much criticism in the last game and he is back now," Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said. "That is how fast things can change."

Ronaldo failed to sparkle in Portugal's 1-0 loss to Germany and 3-2 win over Denmark, but he was devastating against the Dutch. He produced an equalizer with his first goal of the tournament in the 28th minute and scored the winner in the 74th.

He had a half dozen other attempts at goal, including a low drive that clipped the post in the 16th, and he set up two clear chances for teammates.

Needing a win to have a chance at staying in the tournament, the disappointing Dutch fielded an impressive attacking lineup featuring Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie up front. It wasn't enough to keep them at Euro 2012.

"We started quite well but we were playing against one of the better teams today," Rafael van der Vaart said. "We lost three times. We were bad and we don't deserve to go through."

The Dutch lost in the World Cup final to Spain two years ago and, with stars like Van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, had anticipated a strong run at Euro 2012.

Instead, it will be Portugal in the quarterfinals facing the Czech Republic on Thursday in Warsaw.

"It won't be easy. We'll have to be this good again to reach the semifinals," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said.

Van der Vaart gave the Netherlands the lead in the 11th minute at the Metalist Stadium, but Portugal then took control of the match.

And Ronaldo stole the show.

Portugal cranked up the pressure after falling behind, with Ronaldo probing the Dutch back line and equalizing from Joao Pereira's pass. It was the kind of chance he took so often at Real Madrid last season, when he scored 60 goals for his club, but wasted in Portugal's opening matches.

For his second, he received a pass from former Manchester United teammate Nani, coolly wrong-footed his marker and tapped the ball past the goalkeeper.

The Portuguese went into the match against the Netherlands with an unchanged team from its previous encounters.

"Once again we showed how united we are as a team," Portugal midfielder Miguel Veloso said. "It wasn't easy to start with a defeat. The secret was our defending, our humility."

After losing their first two games to Denmark and Germany when they started with a lone striker, Van Marwijk added Huntelaar alongside Van Persie, the leading scorers in the Bundesliga and Premier League, respectively.

But Huntelaar was a spectator for most of the game, while Sneijder was stuck on the left wing in an unexpected tactical decision Van Marwijk.

The Netherlands have beaten Portugal only once in their past 10 meetings, in 1991.

Lukas Podolski's goal gives Germany a 2-1 victory - and the Group B title. Next up is a quarterfinal match vs. Greece

View full sizeThe Associated PressGermany's Lars Bender celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group B match between Denmark and Germany in Lviv, Ukraine, Sunday, June 17, 2012.

LVIV, Ukraine — Germany failed to sparkle but still advanced to a quarterfinal against Greece after grinding out a 2-1 victory over Denmark on Sunday at the European Championship.

The Danes were eliminated after the two teams finished their Group B campaigns.

Lukas Podolski opened the scoring for Germany in the 19th minute and Lars Bender slotted home the winner in the 80th after Michael Krohn-Dehli had equalized for Denmark in the first half.

"It's absolutely a day of joy," Bender said. "I'll be thinking back to this day a long, long time. We have a positive spirit in the team."

Germany played without flair, but controlled possession and were never really challenged by the Danes, who go home after stunning the Netherlands in the first match but losing to Portugal in the second.

"We can be satisfied with our effort but not with the result," Denmark midfielder William Kvist said. "I think we proved that we can play against the big teams. We won (against the Netherlands) and we didn't lose big. We showed that we can play against the best."

Germany seized the initiative from the kickoff and came close twice before Podolski, playing his 100th international match, scored his first goal of the tournament.

Mario Gomez set him up with a deft backheel touch following Thomas Mueller's low cross from the right flank.

Denmark replied just five minutes later with Krohn-Dehli heading in the equalizer from a set piece that stunned the German defense. A corner found Nicklas Bendtner who headed the ball into the area where Krohn-Dehli nodded home his second goal at Euro 2012.

Jakob Poulsen missed a chance to put Denmark in the driver's seat at the start of the second half when his shot grazed the outside of German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's right post.

After that scare, the Germans were firmly in charge and denied Denmark any real chance of getting back into the game.

Coach Morten Olsen's men were already looking tired when Bender, replacing suspended right back Jerome Boateng, picked up a pass from Mesut Oezil and made it 2-1.

"We should have gone ahead by two or three goals in the first half, but Denmark scored virtually out of nowhere," Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

"I think we had the game well under control. You get the feeling Denmark doesn't want to score, that they don't want to go forward, but suddenly they push ahead," he said. "We had a lot of possession and I was sure that we would score and advance."

It was the first competitive match between the two countries since the 1992 European Championship final, when the Danes stunned the Germans with a 2-0 win to become champions.

Hoping for another upset, Olsen changed his lineup by moving playmaker Christian Eriksen to the right flank, replacing injured winger Dennis Rommedahl in a five-man midfield.

But the move had little effect as Philipp Lahm effectively closed down the talented 20-year-old, who leaves Euro 2012 without fulfilling expectations of an international breakthrough.

Olsen praised the Germans, saying they played "fantastic football" that confirmed they are among the favorites to win the European title.

He regretted that Denmark wasn't able to salvage a point in the previous game against Portugal. The Danes conceded in the final minutes in the 3-2 loss.

"Having said that, I think we have done a really good job in this tournament," Olsen said. "This team has a future."

Germany finished top of the group with a perfect record of three wins and now faces Euro 2004 champion Greece on Friday in Gdansk.

ON DECK Indians vs. Cincinnati Reds When: Monday through Wednesday. Where: Progressive Field. TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM AM/1100. Pitching matchups: RHP Derek Lowe (7-5, 3.78 ERA) vs. RHP Mat Latos (5-2, 4.64) tonight at 7:05; RHP Josh Tomlin (3-4, 5.56) vs. RHP Mike Leake (2-5, 5.05) at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday; and RHP Justin Masterson (3-6, 4.38) vs. RHP Bronson...

ON DECK

Indians vs. Cincinnati Reds

When: Monday through Wednesday.

Where: Progressive Field.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.

Pitching matchups: RHP Derek Lowe (7-5, 3.78 ERA) vs. RHP Mat Latos (5-2, 4.64) tonight at 7:05; RHP Josh Tomlin (3-4, 5.56) vs. RHP Mike Leake (2-5, 5.05) at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday; and RHP Justin Masterson (3-6, 4.38) vs. RHP Bronson Arroyo (3-4, 3.84) at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.

Season series: The Reds lead the Indians, 3-0. Overall, the series is tied, 39-39.

Indians update: They will try to rebound after getting outscored, 24-9, in a three-game sweep in Cincinnati. Lowe and Tomlin went 0-2 against the Reds, allowing a combined nine earned runs on 15 hits and eight walks in 10 innings. Shin-Soo Choo had two homers in a 12-5 loss on June 14.

Reds update: Propelled by the three-game sweep of the Indians, the Reds have won six straight headed into tonight's game. Brandon Phillips went 8-for-12 with two homers and seven RBI and Joey Votto went 5-for-10 with two homers and six RBI in the sweep of the Indians.

Injuries: Indians -- DH Travis Hafner (right knee), LHP Rafael Perez (left side), CF Grady Sizemore (back) and RHP Carlos Carrasco (right elbow) are on the disabled list. Reds -- OF Drew Stubbs (strained side), RHP Nick Masset (right shoulder), 3B Scott Rolen (left shoulder), LHP Bill Bray (left groin, back) and RHP Ryan Madson (right elbow) are on the DL. LF Chris Heisey (left groin) is day to day.

Next: The Indians are off Thursday and travel to Houston for a three-game interleague series against the Astros starting Friday.

Pound Barks: Re Big job for backup quarterbackPosted by Bernie Kosar on June 16, 2012 – 4:08 am  By Bernie Kosar, Special Contributor to ClevelandBrowns.com (My response to the blog posted by Berne Kosar Special Contributor-ClevelandBrowns.com) First off, I find it difficult to have a QB competition, when the QB best suited to win it, and lead the team, isn't involved, or barely...

Big job for backup quarterback

Posted by Bernie Kosar on June 16, 2012 – 4:08 am 

By Bernie Kosar, Special Contributor to ClevelandBrowns.com

The Golden Flashes have experienced some tears and fears en route to Omaha.

View full sizeRoss William Hamilton, AP via The OregonianKent State's Derek Toadvine scores the winning run against Oregon last week that sent the Golden Flashes to the College World Series.

OMAHA, Neb. -- Kent State's run to the College World Series has been a feel-good story from the outset, but it has not come without some bittersweet moments as well.

Cheryl McHenry, the mother of backup catcher Jason Bagoly, died unexpectedly Thursday. And the grandfather of second baseman Derek Toadvine has put his life on the edge to see his grandson play on college baseball's biggest stage.

The "CM" sticker worn by Kent State players on their caps and helmets is in memory of Bagoly's mother. Bagoly, a junior catcher from Austintown, elected to stay with the team because funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

"We all feel awful for Jason," head coach Scott Stricklin said after Kent's 8-1 setback to Arkansas on Saturday evening. "We gave him the option if he wanted to fly home, but most of his family's here and his second family, his team, is here."

That team bond is also what draws David Toadvine to continue being around the Golden Flashes, even if his health may be at risk.

"I wasn't going to miss this," David Toadvine, a resident of Springfield, Ohio, said before Kent's opening game. So the elder Toadvine has put off having a heart procedure, scheduled for Wednesday, until July.

This despite the fact he already has had one scare during Kent's run in winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament, then an NCAA regional in Gary, Ind., and a super regional in Oregon.

"I had an anxiety attack in Gary," David Toadvine said. "I passed out, and don't know what happened after that."

What happened was that a scramble ensued as his wife, Dorothy, and others started to revive him.

"It was a surreal moment, and everything culminated at that time," Dorothy Toadvine began. "He had just called Derek, told him that he loved him and told him he was proud of him. Then, he started getting chest pains. Then it escalated. He got excited. He wasn't breathing good.

"It was way too much. We had a hard time finding a hospital. So it was a scary situation."

Parents of other players helped carry David Toadvine to the car, and a search began for the nearest hospital in Gary, Ind. Luckily, the parents of Derek Toadvine's girlfriend, Jacqueline Furay, are doctors (Rick and Juliana Furay) and were in the traveling party.

"So they tried to intervene and went to the hospital with him," Dorothy Toadvine said.

By that point, Derek Toadvine had left the team bus and was at the hospital as well. The bond between the two is more akin to father and son. Derek shyly admits he's probably the favorite of all of David Toadvine's grandchildren. So he did not leave the hospital until told all was OK and that his grandfather was stable.

David Toadvine did not travel with the team to Oregon. But no matter what the doctors said, he was not going to miss the trip to Omaha.

"I think even if they did [say he should not come], he would still be here regardless," Derek said. "Who knows if we'll be back next year or the year after. He would never miss something like this.

"I'm not doing this for myself, I'm doing it for him," Derek Toadvine said. "I'm living his dream, too."

Before the first game, the coaches saw David Toadvine wishing the team luck, and asked him to spend a moment on the team bus before going to TD Ameritrade Park.

"They said, 'Look who's alive, fellas,' " he said. "They told me to stay upright."

Later, David sat amidst a loud party filled with KSU administrators, alums, parents and fans, soaking in the experience.

"We're going to handle it," he said. "I got my nitro, now, so my doctor said I should be fine until the procedure."

Still, Dorothy Toadvine also has a backup plan in place.

"I told Jacqueline's parents, please bring your medicine kit," she said.

Meanwhile, Jason Bagoly's medicine is to be with his team during this difficult time.

In the ninth inning Saturday, even in the midst of pending defeat against Arkansas, Stricklin had his backup catcher on deck to pinch hit. But the game ended on George Roberts' double-play grounder to short and T.J. Sutton's groundout.

"He's going to get an at-bat for sure [today]," Stricklin said. "He's been a great hitter for us. Our prayers are with his family and our thoughts are with him. He's gotten a lot of hugs from our kids the last couple days.

"We love him and he loves us back because he wants to stay with us."

Mike Holmgren and Jim Brown said (some of) the right things this past week but there's a long way to go to reconciliation.

Scott Shaw, The Plain DealerMike Holmgren said last week he'd welcome Jim Brown "with open arms."

Remember when Albert Belle's relationship with the Indians was more strained and complicated than Jim Brown's relationship with the Browns?

Recent developments have delivered us to an alternate universe where Belle is the smiling prodigal son and where Brown -- despite the latest matchmaking attempts -- is still estranged from Berea.

The Indians didn't need to see Brown skip the Ring of Honor ceremonies at the lakefront to embrace a renewed courtship of Belle in advance of his inevitable selection to the Indians Hall of Fame.

No organization benefits from a poor relationship with the biggest and best of its alumni. All teams want their greatest former players on their side.

Belle once bashed the Dolan family as hard as Brown has come down on Mike Holmgren. So in that sense, maybe there's hope for a chorus of "We Are Family" in Berea.

As long as we don't confuse "hope" with a "sometime soon."

Holmgren responded to a media question last week when he said he would welcome Brown "with open arms." That's not quite the same as delivering the message to Brown unsolicited, either through mutual contacts or directly.

Brown responded -- again to a question from The Plain Dealer -- by saying the Browns team president "showed a lot of class" in his remarks during Thursday's news conference.

Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain DealerJim Brown said Mike Holmgren "showed a lot of class" in his remarks during Thursday's news conference.

"I've always been attracted to anyone who has the class to reach out," Brown said. Calling himself a "Cleveland Brown," the Hall of Famer added, "but it's always up to those in control to decide what they want to do."

So what we have so far is two men saying the polite thing to the third-party media. That's a first step, I guess, but a small, shaky first step.

It's like putting yourself out there on eHarmony. That's the easy part.

As far as chances of a budding relationship go, Belle and the Indians might be the better bet (and I can't believe I'm saying that).

If there's a lesson in Belle's softening attitude toward the local baseball team, it's the channel pursued and the pace of reconciliation. Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga and Sandy Alomar Jr. did the reaching out privately.

Belle showed up at spring training. He came to Cleveland for the charity golf outing. Someday maybe he'll want to engage fans more directly, but nobody is pushing it.

All that is relatively simple (if you dismiss Belle's changing moods as a potential obstacle) compared with the work Brown and Holmgren face if they want a harmonious working relationship. Belle never had a role with the Indians. Brown did in Berea. Brown saw himself as a valued adviser to ownership, the way the Lerner family wanted it.

Holmgren can say he would "like Jim Brown to come and be part of this," but part of what, exactly? The same role he envisioned for Brown when he cut his pay and changed his job description -- the one Brown angrily referred to as "that of mascot"? And it's not only up to the team. Would Brown be happy just to hang around at alumni events, or to occasionally appear in the locker room on game day?

Holmgren saying Brown is one of his childhood heroes sounds great but that sentiment didn't stop Holmgren from changing Brown's role in the organization. And it's not likely to play any part in an expanded role now.

Holmgren clearly believes there were too many voices chiming in before he arrived, and that's hard to argue. Randy Lerner even more clearly wants Holmgren to run the Browns as he sees fit.

In recent weeks, Brown has called Trent Richardson "ordinary," referred to the situation in Berea as a "mess" and made a reference to NFL Network regarding how much time Lerner has spent in England.

Holmgren brought up the Richardson opinion in his Thursday news conference, saying, "Did he really say that? What did he mean? It's all that kind of stuff."

Holmgren called the situation with Brown "an interesting thing." Which is not at all close to it being a reconciled thing. So what happens next? Holmgren and Brown smiling for the cameras together? You'll get equal odds on Progressive Field decorated like a Halloween Fun House with Albert Belle as the greeter.

Euclid native and former University of Akron diver Katie Carter is at the U.S. Olympic Trials this week, just two months after thinking her diving career was over.

Courtesy of USA DivingEuclid native and former University of Akron diver Katie Carter will compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials on Tuesday.

Zippy the kangaroo swimming the butterfly is finished. But there are some parts of the mural in the team lounge for the University of Akron swimming and diving teams that aren't quite done.

Don't blame the artist and designer. She has a good excuse. The U.S. Olympic Trials in diving came up.

Two months ago, Euclid native and former Akron diver Katie Carter, the 2009 Mid-American Conference champion in the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard, figured her diving career was basically over. The 24-year-old's focus had shifted to her graphic design career.

She had previously examined a list of the divers who qualified for the Olympic trials, and she wasn't on it. Graphic design, including creating and painting the nearly wall-size mural at her alma mater and designing T-shirts for the Akron swim team, was her focus, and she had backed off her training.

But then her former coach at Akron, Chris Medvedeff, checked the list again. This time, Carter, a 2005 Euclid High grad who finished fourth in the state diving meet as a senior, was on it. After finishing 18th at the 2012 Winter Nationals, Carter had not realized that her 12th-place finish at the 2010 Winter Nationals allowed her to make the cut of the 31 divers competing just outside Seattle this week, fighting to make it to London.

"I'll do anything," she said. "I have to compete in this."

So Zippy's mural had to wait.

"It was always my goal to make the trials," Carter said Saturday night after arriving in Washington and practicing at the pool in Federal Way, Wash., as the Olympic banners were still being arranged. "After you think you haven't made it and then I actually did, it was crazy."

So she got back on the board, training for five or six hours a day, six days a week. Everything takes a backseat when the dream you thought was dashed comes back to life.

"The whole goal this whole time in diving post-college has been trying to make the Olympic trials," said her father, Geoffrey. "So everything else has been put on the backburner, because she's been trying to make up for lost time. She's in really good shape now. And she doesn't like to be prodded about it too much, but she said, 'Dad, I'm just going to dive for all I'm worth.' "

The trials began Sunday with the preliminaries and semifinals in the women's synchronized springboard diving, with Abby Johnston of Columbus on a team favored to advance to London. The top team in the synchro events qualifies for the Olympics, while in the individual events, the two top places will go to London. Carter, Johnston and Bianca Alvarez of Ohio State start the individual 3-meter springboard competition with the preliminaries Tuesday morning.

The top 18 divers from Tuesday morning will advance to the semifinals. The top 12 Tuesday night then advance to the finals on Saturday. Carter wants to stick around as long as possible. And though just making it this far was the dream, she has pulled upsets before.

As a freshman at Akron, she won the 3-meter MAC championship out of nowhere.

"That was the best meet ever," Carter said with a laugh.

She had a terrible warm-up, was scolded by her coach, then decided to take a nap. And then she came out and won.

Maybe she should try that this week. She's already diving with nothing to lose, having reached the goal she thought had passed her by.

Webb Simpson won the U.S. Open and put two more names into the graveyard of champions.

AP PhotoWebb Simpson holds up the championship trophy after the U.S. Open Championship golf tournament Sunday, June 17, 2012, at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO — Webb Simpson won the U.S. Open and put two more names into the graveyard of champions.

Overlooked for so much of the week, Simpson emerged on a fog-filled Sunday at The Olympic Club with four birdies around the turn and a tough chip out of a hole to the right of the 18th green that he converted into par for a 2-under 68.

He finished at 1-over 281, and it was enough to outlast former U.S. Open champions Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell.

Furyk bogeyed two of his last three holes. McDowell had a 25-foot birdie on the 18th to force a playoff, but it never had a chance.

"Oh, wow," Simpson said, watching from the locker room.

Olympic is known as the "graveyard of champions" because proven major winners who were poised to win the U.S. Open have always lost to the underdog. One of those was Arnold Palmer in 1966, when he lost a seven-shot lead on the back nine.

Perhaps it was only fitting that the 25-year-old Simpson went to Wake Forest on an Arnold Palmer scholarship.

"Arnold has been so good to me," Simpson said. "Just the other day, I read that story and thought about it. He's meant so much to me and Wake Forest. Hopefully, I can get a little back for him and make him smile."

No one was beaming like Simpson, who followed a breakthrough year on the PGA Tour with his first major.

No one was more disgusted than Furyk, in control of the U.S. Open for so much of the final round until he snap-hooked his tee shot on the par-5 16th hole to fall out of the lead for the first time all day, and was unable to get it back. Needing a birdie on the final hole, he hit into the bunker. He crouched and clamped his teeth onto the shaft of his wedge. Furyk made bogey on the final hole and closed with a 74, a final round without a single birdie.

McDowell, who made four bogeys on the front nine, at least gave himself a chance with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th and a shot into the 18th that had him sprinting up the hill to see what kind of chance he had. The putt stayed left of the hole the entire way, and he had to settle for a 73.

McDowell shared second place with Michael Thompson, who closed with a 67 and waited two hours to see if it would be good enough.

Tiger Woods, starting five shots behind, played the first six holes in 6-over par and was never a factor. He shot 73.

LeBron James had 29 points and 14 rebounds, and the Miami Heat took a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

MIAMI (AP) — Halfway to a title, and LeBron James shows no sign of letting this one get away.

James had 29 points and 14 rebounds, and the Miami Heat took a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals with a 91-85 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.

Dwyane Wade had 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Heat, who were in this same position through three games last year, then didn't win again against the Dallas Mavericks.

James' poor performance was part of the problem then, but he seems on top of his game this time. His 3-pointer sent the Heat to the fourth quarter with the lead, and he scored five straight Miami points when the Heat were building just enough cushion to hold off another late flurry by the Thunder.

"Big time player makes big time plays on the big stage," Heat reserve James Jones said.

AP PhotoOklahoma City Thunder power forward Nick Collison (4) and Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) react during the second half at Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Sunday, June 17, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 91-85. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Game 4 is Tuesday night.

Kevin Durant had 25 points for the Thunder, but picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter and had to go to the bench when they had seemed to have control of the game.

The Heat survived their own fourth-quarter sloppiness — nine turnovers — by getting enough big plays from their Big Three.

James scored 30 and 32 points in the first two games, his two best finals performances. He fell just shy of another 30-point effort but reached his 20 points for the 20th time this postseason, two shy of Wade's franchise record set in 2006.

Gone is the player who seemed so tentative down the stretch last year in his second finals failure. He's constantly on the attack now, all while defending Durant in key situations.

"It's all about chemistry," James said. "We understand where we like to get the ball, what we like to do in close situations, and it's good to see us execute down the stretch. But more importantly it was great to see we were able to get stops. That's where the game is won and we did that."

Chris Bosh had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, who can win a second title by winning the next two games at home.

They seemed out of it when Oklahoma City opened a 10-point lead midway through the third. But Durant had just gone out with 5:41 left on Wade's baseline drive, though there appeared to be little or no contact. Thunder coach Scott Brooks decided to sit Russell Westbrook with him, and the Heat charged into the lead by the end of the period.

The Thunder had grabbed their last lead at 77-76 on James Harden's basket with 7:32 left. James answered with two free throws about 20 seconds later, and the teams would trade turnovers and stops over the next couple of tense minutes.

Wade then converted a three-point play, and another minute went by before James powered to the basket, Durant trying to get in position to draw a charge but watching helplessly as he picked up his fifth foul. James made the free throw for an 84-77 advantage with 3:47 to play.

After another basket by James, the Thunder had one last burst — haven't they always in this series? — ripping off six straight points to get within one before Bosh made a pair of free throws with 1:19 to play. Durant missed badly on a wild shot attempt, and the Thunder missed another chance when Westbrook was off from behind the arc.

James hit a free throw for a four-point lead with 16 seconds to go and Wade added two to close it out.

"It's very hard," James said. "Both teams are very active defensively and both teams make it hard on one another in the half court so when you get stops you try to get early offense, it always helps and we were able to do that a little bit."

The Thunder were just 4 of 18 on 3-pointers and hit only 15 of 24 free throws, unusually awful numbers for one of the league's best offensive teams. Harden, the Sixth Man of the Year, shot 2 of 10 for his nine points. Westbrook finished with 19 points.

After a split of the first two games, the series made its way from Oklahoma City, where fans in blue shirts filled every seat, to Miami, where white shirts hung on empty chairs just minutes before the tip. The late arrivals in Oklahoma City had been the Thunder players, who fell into big early deficits and acknowledged some first-time finals jitters in Game 1. Brooks said he heard the cries to change his starting lineup but said it never crossed his mind.

The Thunder quickly fell behind 10-4 in this one after spotting the Heat a 13-point lead in Game 1 and getting clubbed into an 18-2 hole in the opening minutes of Game 2. They didn't let things get any worse this time, playing the Heat even from there and trailing 26-20 after one. James, Wade and Bosh combined for Miami's first 18 points.

James and Wade had some dazzling drives in the second and Shane Battier got free for a pair of 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes, but the Thunder stayed with them the entire way, briefly holding a three-point lead. Westbrook's 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left cut Miami's lead to 47-46.

Oklahoma City started to take control with a 14-2 run early in the third. Durant had the first four points, Westbrook fooled the Heat with a fake behind the back pass before in for a layup, then Durant leaped over James for a follow dunk before nailing a jumper for a 60-51 lead with 6:55 left in the period.

But it was barely a minute later when he drew his fourth foul. The Thunder pushed the lead to 10 on Derek Fisher's four-point play, but the Heat got right back in it when Battier and then Jones made all six free throws after being fouled behind the arc.

Brooks also pulled Westbrook with 5 minutes left and left him out the remainder of the period, leaving the Thunder without their two best players as they tried to hang onto the lead.

They couldn't.

The Heat scored the final seven of the period, Wade making a turnaround jumper and two free throws before setting up James for a 3-pointer that made it 69-67 headed to the final quarter.

Notes: Battier had made at least four 3-pointers in three straight games. The last player to make four in four consecutive postseason games was Orlando's Dennis Scott in 1995. ... Brooks, joking Sunday morning about all the calls to change his lineup: "It's hard to take all the advice," he said. "I'm only allowed three bench assistant coaches."

Not since the opening game of the NCAA Tournament, when Kent State faced Kentucky, have the odds against winning seemed as large for the Golden Flashes. But there is no doubt that facing the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in an elimination game of the College World Series counts as a monumental challenge.

AP PhotoKent State’s Sawyer Polen, right, is safe ahead of the throw to Arkansas first baseman Dominic Ficociello in the fifth inning of the Golden Flashes’ 8-1 loss Saturday in their opening game of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. KSU plays an elimination game today at 5 p.m. against Florida.

Omaha, Neb. — Not since the opening game of the NCAA Tournament, when Kent State faced Kentucky, have the odds against winning seemed as large for the Golden Flashes. But there is no doubt that facing the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in an elimination game of the College World Series counts as a monumental challenge.

That is what Kent will face against Florida at 5 p.m. today at TD Ameritrade Park. It’s a small consolation that KSU, an 8-1 opening-game loser to Arkansas, dodged two-time defending national champion South Carolina, which defeated Florida, 7-3, in its opener.

“You’d like to be in the winners bracket, playing either one of those two teams,” Kent head coach Scott Stricklin said. “When you’ve got an elimination game, it’s tough.”

Kent’s run in the tournament has been so smooth that this will be only the second elimination game the Flashes have played. They worked through Kentucky (twice), Purdue and Oregon, losing once to Oregon in a super regional best-of-three series before advancing to Omaha on a walk-off Jimmy Rider RBI hit in the ninth inning of a 3-2 victory.

“We’ve just got to keep playing baseball,” first baseman George Roberts said. “Keep plugging away, keep trying to get better at-bats and score some runs early. We need to get ahead, because when we’re ahead, we’re tough to beat, just like anybody.”

To do that, Kent (46-19) will have to get some hits and nurse some walks against the Gators (47-19), who are making their second straight CWS appearance and seventh overall. The Flashes had just four hits against Arkansas, and for the second time in the tournament were no-hit into the fifth inning.

“We just need some timely hitting to come around,” outfielder Evan Campbell said. “I think we started slow, then started pressing a little bit. Just trying to do a little too much at the plate.”

Campbell said the pressure of being on the big stage for the first time in school history may have collectively caught up with him and the team as the game wore on against Arkansas.

“A little bit,” he admitted. “I feel like I’m trying to make adjustments. And obviously I’m not getting the results I want. So it’s difficult.”

Sunday the team got in a little more rest, along with a short practice session. Campbell said the light work day was a blessing.

“Definitely, I think so,” he said. “It gives us some time to recover and to recuperate a little bit.”

On the mound: Kent State will send No. 2 pitcher Ryan Bores (9-3, 3.35 ERA) against Florida. Pitching coach Mike Birkbeck said there are no worries about him.

“He’ll be ready to go,” Birkbeck said. “He had a great bullpen [session] the other day. He’s just got to be himself. We have all the confidence in the world he will go out and throw us a big-time game.”

Birkbeck said that while today’s elimination game is a no-holds-barred situation, it is unlikely that No. 3 starter Tyler Skulina will see action.

“It would have to be some unique circumstances,” Birkbeck said. “We’ve got a fully stocked bullpen with our go-to guys. The thing is, you don’t want to find yourself going no holds barred, and [if] you do win, now you’re sitting with Game 3 wondering where to go. So it’s highly unlikely Tyler gets into that game . . . unless we go 21 innings.”

The Flashes went 21 innings in their first tournament game against Kentucky.

Singular moment: While many have celebrated Kent’s run to the College World Series with family and friends, Derek Toadvine’s mother, Heather, was alone when the Golden Flashes secured their trip to Omaha on a walk-off run in Oregon scored by her son last Monday night.

“I was in Dublin, Ohio, doing some new computer training for my job with R&M Materials Handling in Springfield, Ohio,” Heather Toadvine said. “I was in the bar, by myself. Everybody else was watching the hockey game.”

She asked the barmaid to switch one of the TVs to college baseball.

“When I told her that was my son playing, she said,‘You’ve got control of that TV for the rest of the night.’ The moment Derek crossed home plate, I stood up in the middle of the bar. I started screaming. I started crying. Everybody thought I was crazy. It was the most surreal moment of my life. Unbelievable.

“I wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world. My boss, Mark Arthur, said,‘Go, I’ll see you when you get home, we’ll be watching.’ We’re taking a journey that so many parents wish they could take. We have been blessed.”

He said it: “This is really not about the money. This is about having a quality program, with student-athletes who have achieved the highest GPA, who have been so recognized for it. It’s about keeping the word ‘student’ in student-athletes, and having a first-class team that clearly plays at a national level. We’re going to continue to grow this program. These kinds of results show that we can get the job done.” — Kent State President Lester Lefton on future investment in Kent State baseball, starting with adding lights to Schoonover Stadium this fall.

Once known as "€œCharlie Hustle,"€ tarnished all-time MLB hits leader Pete Rose is now hitting up visitors to PeteRose.com to pay big money for anything --€“ and everything --€“ he can think of to sign.

Once known as "€œCharlie Hustle,"€ tarnished all-time MLB hits leader Pete Rose is now hitting up visitors to PeteRose.com to pay big money for anything  --€“ and everything --€“ he can think of to sign.

I was running behind getting a Father’s Day gift for my beleaguered dad — beleaguered because he now realizes his three children have reached their full potential, and we’re not talking presidential material here — so I figured I’d save time by buying something online.

Alas, when I went to the famed World Wide Web, I was stunned to see that 16 percent of all available online items were Pete Rose-branded merchandise.

Pete Rose collectibles, Pete Rose posters, Pete Rose autographs, Pete Rose memorabilia — everything but Pete Rose genitalia was available.

In fact, in 2009 — the most recent year for which figures are available — Pete Rose had a larger gross national product than Puerto Rico.

Involuntarily out of baseball for 23 years now, Rose has maintained an income the old-fashioned way — by selling his name $39.99 at a time.

Actually, other than, say, the unsigned Pete Rose Montreal Expos bobblehead ($8.99), most Pete Rose paraphernalia is going to cost you a whole lot more.

(By the way, in addition to his online retail onslaught, the all-time hits leader is also doing a 90-minute, one-man stage show billed as “An Evening With Pete Rose,” in which he tells stories, takes questions from the audience and reminisces. Sort of Garrison Keillor with a bookie.)

From “Charlie Hustle” to “Charlie Hustler,” an American success story.

Autographed Pete Rose bat, $221.99.

Autographed Pete Rose baseball with “Big Red Machine” inscription, $107.25.

Autographed Pete Rose throwback jersey with “4,256” (his hits total), $176.12.

Autographed ticket from Pete Rose’s 4,192nd-hit game (in which he broke the record), $188.99.

Autographed Pete Rose Cincinnati Enquirer “4,192” front page, $149.99.

(Forget the mind-boggling glut of Pete Rose-autographed merchandise. Here’s the more mind-boggling reality: Rose had to autograph all this stuff. I mean, at this very moment, if he’s not snacking, sleeping or showering, I assume he must be signing something. If Rose had been born before John Hancock, the expression would be: “Put your Charlie Hustle here.”)

Unquestionably, the most intriguing Pete Rose commodity is the signed baseball with the inscription, “I’m Sorry I Bet on Baseball,” available on various sites from $144.99 to $265.86. But let’s be blunt here: Rose is not sorry he bet on baseball. He’s sorry betting on baseball got him banned from the game, and I guarantee you, he’s even more sorry he lost when he bet on baseball.

However he truly feels, in a rather transparent bid to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Rose has shown a lot of belated contrition. Frankly, his “I’m Sorry I Bet on Baseball” world tour might carry a lot more weight if he weren’t literally selling the message on baseballs. I’ll let others debate whether Rose should be in the Hall of Fame. I’ll just say this: As long as you are banned from the game, it seems somewhat incongruous that you could receive the highest honor in the game.

Speaking of which, for $500, Rose will send you an autographed copy of the official document with which he was banished from Major League Baseball in 1989. This paperwork was originally signed by then-MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti, investigator/negotiator Fay Vincent and Charlie Hustle himself and set off a generation of Pete Rose wares that prop up the world’s economy today. You can only get this item at PeteRose.com, which is essentially a clearinghouse for Rose’s life. It appears to have a larger inventory than an old Sears and Roebuck catalog. You can get his signed autobiography for $99.99, but why read about Rose when you can break bread with him? That’s right, dinner for four with Rose in a Las Vegas steakhouse goes for just $5,000!

(For that price, I’d order the porterhouse for two and a pitcher of Grey Goose vodka, and I’d put everything on the table in a doggy bag.)

Anyway, I settled on the $8.99 bobblehead for my dad — it occurred to me that his lackluster parenting might’ve had something to do with my lack of success — but I wholeheartedly recommend PeteRose.com for all your Pete Rose collectible needs. You cut out the middleman, and we’re talking FREE SHIPPING. Plus, they accept all credit cards and PayPal. Apparently, Rose prefers your signature to his own.

Ask the Slouch!

Q: Jim Nantz just got married on a golf course. Can I assume that’s the only place Couch Slouch hasn’t been married? — Tim Wagner, Indianapolis

A: If I had wed on a golf course, to be realistic, I would’ve held the ceremony in a sand trap.

Q: I thought I saw you in a mall in L.A. the other day and, surprisingly, you looked better in person than on TV. —Brian Hall, West Hollywood, Calif.

A: I haven’t been in a mall since 1989. Perhaps you saw George Clooney.

Q: Ronald McDonald is taking part in several public libraries’ summer-reading programs. I didn’t know Ronald could read. Didn’t he graduate from the University of Maryland? — Sean Leary, Richmond, Va.

A: That’s a clown question, bro.

You, too, can enter the $1.25 Ask The Slouch Cash Giveaway. Just email asktheslouch@aol.com and, if your question is used, you win $1.25 in cash!

Norman Chad is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

With the expansion of interleague play on the horizon, the Indians and Pirates is a rivalry ripe for the picking.

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty ImagesIf Cleveland got anything out of Pedro Alvarez, here's hoping it's the start of a rivalry

Sports rivalries are always a curious topic. Never-ending debates wrapped in a thin coat of fandom, two teams in any given sport come to pit themselves against one another, and have the vast majority of a region invest a more-than-usual amount of emotion, providing a calendar crescendo, a slew of headlines and the occasional bumper sticker featuring Calvin and an opposing team’s logo. Well beyond that of the Montagues and Capulets, on-and-off-field rivalries exist for a variety of reasons — geography and history seemingly leading the pack — and are occasionally taken more seriously by one fan base more than another ¹ .

As Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez deposited what would be his first of four home runs during his weekend visit to Cleveland, the underachieving ² slugger took the customary trip around the bases with a chorus of boos as the soundtrack to his batted ball theatre. A 2-0 fastball from the hand of Indians starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez was quickly sent in a reverting direction, lofted over the head of right fielder Shin-Soo Choo before landing roughly 365 feet away from the plate. It was a game-tying swing, early in the second inning of the contest.

Heading into this season, Alvarez had nary an at-bat within the confines of Progressive Field, so these boos could not have been rooted in a Steeler-like history of triumph turned into suffering. Surely, with fans lacking succinct fortune-telling abilities having no idea of their city’s near-term future with regard to the bat of Alvarez, the boos held no weight from the standpoint of a home run-induced pain threshold. These boos, though a sound having a well-documented history from Cleveland fans this season, were not directed at the player at all.

They were directed at fans — fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates who were taking great pleasure in their corner infielders power stroke, opting to stand and cheer, some in a taunting and chest-thumping fashion.

The sea of red, white, and blue which littered most of Progressive Field during this weekend’s series was undoubtedly speckled with grey, black and gold. Pirates fans arrived to an offensive barrage from their team; the Indians, well at least they had a vocal group of fans who took to chanting "Pittsburgh sucks" during multiple periods of play.

Nestled just two hours east, it makes sense — what with being on a mid-June holiday weekend and all — for fans of the Pirates to make the trip over to a stadium in which they rarely get to see their team play. Opposed to years past, however, the Pittsburgh fans who had traditionally gallivanted about in their Steelers regalia have seen a slight evolution in their baseball fan attire; jersey and t-shirts clad with names like McCutchen and Tabata and McDonald. One middle-aged gentlemen who took a mid-game stroll through the main concourse did so while showing off his fairly intricate t-shirt dedicated to one Neil Walker.

The early elements of a rivalry are there: the geography, the market-based struggles of underdogs and the head-t0-head record ³ . The only ingredient missing from this rivalry stew the history, and the Office of the Commissioner seems to have a plan in place that will add to the Indians-Pirates record books in due time. While the teams themselves have been completely left in the dark, this much we know: at any point in the 2013 season (and beyond), there will be an American League team in the midst of a series with a counterpart from the National League. The Indians and Pirates already play host to one another in the current inter league format so it would not be far-fetched to assume a higher frequency of Cleveland and Pittsburgh being located on the same scoreboard.

“I don’t know if a rivalry is possible,” said Pirates scribe Kristy Robinson, who not only covered this weekend’s festivities first-hand, but has connections in both towns. “Interleague play is still relatively new, so there’s a chance, but there also needs to be more consistent relevance from both teams.”

More than 89,000 fans made their way through the turnstiles during this three-game stint, marking the most-attended home series of the season ⁴ . Last season, this number tipped north of 100,000 with Tribe fans going home very happy. The team and their broadcast partners, however, have opted for plenty of commercials and arbitrary trophys (The Ohio Cup? If not for the “Barge” of the Great Lakes Classic…)) aimed at advertising the intrastate rivalry between the Indians and Cincinnatti Reds; Cleveland’s turn to play host begins today! But just as the Bengals take a back seat to the Steelers on the autumnal local hate scale, we could be misallocating our emotions when it comes to the summer months.

The boos that echoed through Progressive Field during Alvarez’ first home run slowly morphed into cheers by the time his second round-tripper, a 419-foot blast off of Nick Hagadone, but not due to a change of heart. It was due to a change of attendance ratio as the seats which were formerly inhabited by red, white and blue were now the stark color of the forest green plastic. 

The black, gold and grey specks that once stuck out like sore thumbs were now the majority, the standing applause morphing into condescension to those Tribe fans who were able to stomach the drubbing. With their respective homes just a quick trip down the turnpike away and their team starting to have internally-grown talent produce at the major league level, Pittsburgh fans will only continue to come to Cleveland to watch their team play.

Surely these two teams do not share the record books with the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. They do not have the luxury of playing each other to close out the season as do the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. And they certainly do not have the major market push given to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. But with a little bit of success mixed with the increased opportunities to grow the history and a head-to-head record that is skewed by the smallest of margins, this is a rivalry which not only needs to be cultivated, but manicured, promoted and embraced. It will take a lot of dedication and time, but if anything is evident with sports in Cleveland, we have unending patience when it comes to an attainble goal.

This rivalry could be well worth the wait. 

___________________________________

1. Washington Wizards fans circa late-2000s, or Browns fans today, for example [back]
2. Until this past weekend, anyway [back]
3. The Pirates now lead in this category 17-16 [back]
4. Just ahead of the Miami Marlins series which drew 82,845 [back]