Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot joined Bull and Fox on 92.3 The Fan (WKRK-FM) Thursday afternoon to talk about what the Browns should do with Colt McCoy.

Mary Kay Cabot

"Great job by Masterson and the batting order. We needed a complete game. We needed to win a breather too. Returned the favor and swept them at home. Tigers lost too.Did not need Kipnis after all so i guess I was wrong to criticize Acta for not playing him. I guess he figured Masterson was going to pitch a Masterpiece." - joedean

View full sizeChuck Crow/The Plain DealerNo need for the Indians bullpen yesterday.

"Great job by Masterson and the batting order. We needed a complete game. We needed to win a breather too. Returned the favor and swept them at home. Tigers lost too.Did not need Kipnis after all so i guess I was wrong to criticize Acta for not playing him. I guess he figured Masterson was going to pitch a Masterpiece."

Breaking down this weekend's three-game series between the Astros and Indians.

View full sizeAP fileJ.A. Happ will be one of two left-handed starting pitchers who the Indians will face during their three-game series in Houston this weekend.

When: Friday through Sunday.

Where: Minute Maid Park.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, WKYC Ch. 3 Sunday; WTAM AM/1100, WMMS FM/110.7 Friday.

Pitching matchups: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-5, 5.00 ERA) vs. RHP Lucas Harrell (6-5, 5.07) Friday at 8:05 ET; RHP Jeanmar Gomez (4-6, 4.95) vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 1.80) Saturday at 4:05; RHP Derek Lowe (7-5, 4.30) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (5-7, 5.15) Sunday at 2:05.

Series: The Indians trail all-time series, 7-8. They have not played each other since 2001, when the Indians went 1-2 in Houston. NL veterans Jimenez and Lowe are 3-0 and 5-4, respectively, in their careers against Houston. Jimenez has made five starts, Lowe 12. Astros will move to the AL next season.

Astros update: They've gone 1-5 against Texas and Kansas City in a nine-game interleague stretch that concludes with a visit from the Tribe. The Astros did get the memo about the Tribe vs. lefties as Keuchel and Happ will be starting the second and third game of the series. The Indians are 5-13 in games started by lefties. Shortstop Jed Lowrie leads the team with 13 homers.

Indians update: Just ended a 4-2 homestand. They're 9-9 in June and 7-8 in interleague play, including a 2-4 record under NL rules.

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. Astros -- RHP Wilton Lopez (right elbow), OF Fernando Martinez (concussion), RHP Bud Norris (left knee), RHP Kyle Weiland (right shoulder), SS Marwin Gonzalez (right heel), OF Travis Buck (right Achilles) and LHP Sergio Escalona (left elbow) are on the disabled list.

Next: The Indians open a three-game series against New York at Yankee Stadium on Monday night.

Smooth-running, hot-swinging Michael Brantley is the Indians' center fielder of the future, no matter if injured Grady Sizemore returns or not.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerThrough his hit streak and with his play in center, Michael Brantley has well-earned his new nickname of "Dr. Smooth," says Bill Livingston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn, with his namesake song blasting over the public address system as he stood on the mound, wasn't smooth. Nor was the actor who played him in the classic movie about Indians baseball, Charlie Sheen.

Michael Brantley is smooth.

Brantley would never get the nickname "Wild Thing," "Scrap Iron" or "Iron Mike," or even "Scrap Iron Mike." The Indians' center fielder runs fast, but looks unhurried. His line-drive swing has been polished to a lustrous gleam with a streak of hits in 25 of his last 26 games.

Outfield is often considered a power position, but center field is a bit different. The defensive demands are high there, too. A good glove can make up for a long-ball deficit. "I'm a line-drive hitter," Brantley said. "If it gets into the gaps, I get a lot of doubles."

His interviews are like his play -- unruffled and uncluttered. Ask him about his speed, and he will note the ripple effect it has on his team in distracting the pitcher with pickoff attempts and creating more fastballs for the hitter behind him. "It all goes together," he said.

In Cleveland, fans are used to a fiercer, blue-collar model of play in center. Grady Sizemore, Brantley's predecessor, played with a bustling, brittle, daredevil style, challenging walls on deep ones and diving head-first on short ones. Kenny Lofton, teeth bared as he raced in to erase a mistake in reading the ball's flight with sheer athletic ability, was breath-taking, but not smooth. Lofton was the best athlete ever to play center for the Indians, although Tris Speaker's extremely shallow center in the dead ball era probably deserves mention.

Now that Indians broadcaster Jim Rosenhaus has gone public with Brantley's nickname, its dubious origin can be revealed. The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff came up with "Dr. Smooth" for Brantley, perhaps while watching an ESPN Classic broadcast of Chris Berman babbling about Bert "Be Home" Blyleven. Manoloff ought to have a ceremonial sword, he has dubbed so many people so many things.

As for Brantley, he is said to be in favor of the moniker, which had already been accorded the approval of the press box crowd.

The nickname fit because of Brantley's style. Roberto Alomar was smooth when he formed a memorable double-play combination with the flashy Omar Vizquel, who was fluid in his own right. People knew Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs was smooth, just from the "Sweet-Swinging" nickname.

Thus does the new smoothness doctor operate: Brantley is hitting .282 with one home run, 20 doubles and 34 RBI. Originally, the assumption was that Brantley would move to left to staunch the defensive hemorrhaging there when (and if) Sizemore returns this season. Now, however, Brantley seems to have won the job, especially because Sizemore keeps breaking down.

Brantley made a spectacular play Tuesday night that was on all the highlight shows, but he did it with no frills, with the smoothness that has become his M.O. In the second inning, he took extra bases away from the Reds' Ryan Ludwick with a leaping catch at the protective padding near the 370-foot mark in left-center. It hardly looked as if Brantley broke a sweat while doing it.

There was a recent day when Sizemore, still rehabbing, walked through the clubhouse at Progressive Field while the highlights from a previous game played on a nearby television set. On it, Brantley was climbing the wall to take away a home run. "I used to do that," said Sizemore, quietly.

The baseball season moves along, as remorselessly and inevitably as ever. Yesterday's highlights are today's wistful memories. The transition is seldom smooth, even if the new guy is.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

"Just hang on to Colt and give him the 3rd string spot until one team in the league loses a QB in camp/preseason/regular season. Then swoop down like a loan shark and pick-up a 4th rounder from some team that is obviously desperate." - flukemaster

View full sizeJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerShould the Browns hang on to Colt McCoy?

"Just hang on to Colt and give him the 3rd string spot until one team in the league loses a QB in camp/preseason/regular season. Then swoop down like a loan shark and pick-up a 4th rounder from some team that is obviously desperate. Mike Brown did it to the Raiders, with higher stakes of course but you get the idea."

There have been so many bear sightings this week that wildlife officials can't keep up.

View full sizePaul Love, Special to The Plain DealerA medium-sized black bear wandered Paul Love’s neighborhood in Lake Milton, eating pears from a tree and getting his picture taken. When Tommy, a neighborhood cat, gave it the hissing treatment, it decided to wander to new grounds.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's the black bear season, with bruins rambling with abandon around northeast Ohio.

Paul Love of Lake Milton spotted a black bear on Saturday afternoon in his Mahoning County neighborhood. The young bear put up with people armed with cameras, but took off after being hissed at by Tommy, a neighborhood cat.

"The bear seemed pretty calm when I spotted him about 2 p.m. He was eating pears from a tree near my house," said Love, a human resource manager. "When the bear walked up a neighbor's driveway, Tommy the cat hissed at him. The bear backed up, turned around and left."

Love sees bears all the time while running his 4-wheeler in Pennsylvania, but seldom this close.

"I hunt a lot, deer and turkey mostly, and read a lot of wildlife books," he said. "This bear was a bit of a surprise because he wasn't fazed much by people -- even when they were pretty close to him."

There have been so many bear sightings this week that wildlife officials can't keep up. Wildlife research technician Laurie Graber is coordinating a large stack of reports and also participating in Canada goose roundups this week.

The Mahoning Valley has been its usual hot spot, with bear sightings in Canfield and Jackson Township. Much of that has to do with its closeness to the Pennsylvania woods, where bear populations are high and mother bears are giving their young male offspring the boot before the breeding season begins again.

"We've had about 40 reports in the past week, processing 19 of them," said wildlife information officer Jamey Graham. "While few bear sightings have been confirmed, many are hard to deny because of the consistent reports and information we receive. Bears have been reported in 10 counties around northeast Ohio so far this year."

Ohio wildlife experts believe there are about 60 black bears living year-round in Ohio. While bear sightings have been on the upswing over the last decade, there was slight decrease in 2011. With 152 black bears reported last year, 60 were confirmed. In 2010, there were 64 confirmed sightings.

Most bears are spotted in northeast and southeast Ohio. Northeast Ohio bear sightings hit 97 last year in 13 counties, with Geauga and Ashtabula counties leading the way with 22 and 20 sightings.

Bear hunting is not in Ohio's future, say Ohio wildlife officials. In Pennsylvania, where there are large numbers, the spring hunting season is needed to keep bears from being a major nuisance. Last spring, Pennsylvania hunters killed 4,350 bears with gun and bow, the largest modern-day bear harvest.

The bears prowling Ohio looking for new territory or a mate tend to be medium-sized, 18-month-old males weighing about 150 pounds. In Pennsylvania, bears grow much older, and far bigger. In 2011, the biggest bear checked by a hunter weighed 746 pounds, with the next seven in the standings weighing at least 706 pounds. In 2010, a hunter weighed in one of the six bears that have topped 800 pounds over the years, an 879-pound behemoth.

Ohio wildlife officials have warned people to stay away from wild bears roaming into Ohio, and discourage bears from hanging around. Bears are hungry, requiring people to move bird feeders higher, keep trash inside until pick up day and clean barbecue grills.

If the rest of the bears are like the one roaming Lake Milton on Saturday, a "watch cat" may not be a bad idea.

For NBA teams looking for power forwards, this is their draft. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Teams looking for power forwards are in luck. There are plenty available in next Wednesday's NBA Draft.

Chris Monter, the Alliance native who is editor and publisher of College Basketball News and Monter Draft News, calls this position the strength of the draft this season. Kentucky's Anthony Davis almost certainly will be the No. 1 pick by the New Orleans Hornets, and Kansas' Thomas Robinson could go anywhere from No. 2 to No. 6.

"Perry Jones is kind of the 'X' factor," Monter said. "He has great potential but hasn't always lived up to it. You've got [Ohio State's Jared] Sullinger, you've got [Kentucky's] Terrence Jones, you've got John Henson from North Carolina. ... You've got for sure five, maybe as many as seven power forwards could possibly go in the lottery."

The fate of Robinson could well alter the course of the draft. Many expect him to go to Charlotte at No. 2. If that happens, and the Washington Wizards take Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal at No. 3, as is expected, then the Cavaliers could be choosing between forward Harrison Barnes of North Carolina and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of Kentucky.

If Charlotte trades the pick, or takes Kidd-Gilchrist, Robinson, who has boasted that he should be the No. 1 pick overall, could slide a bit.

Scouting Report / Power Forwards

The best

Anthony Davis, Kentucky, 6-10 1/2, 221.8 pounds: Clearly the prize of the draft who can impact the game with his shot-blocking skills on the defensive end. Long, quick and explosive with good hands and leaping ability. He grew eight inches in 18 months in high school and needs to add strength to match his size. But has a chance to be an impact player for a long time.

Best of the rest

Thomas Robinson, Kansas, 6-8 3/4, 244.2: Has the size, strength and experience to make an impact immediately, which can't be said about a lot of players. Quick and tough, a good athlete with great energy. Good rebounder and willing defender. Although his post-up game is sufficient, he needs to improve offensively and develop a jump shot.

Perry Jones, Baylor, 6-11 1/4, 233: He made a good decision to return for his sophomore season, but didn't really answer questions about his focus and attitude. He has all the skills to be great offensively. He can shoot inside and out. He can handle the ball. He can finish. He also has the size and strength to be a good defender, but not necessarily the desire to do so. Reportedly, he has not helped himself with lackluster pre-draft workouts.

John Henson, North Carolina, 6-10 1/2, 216: His strengths are the things that make scouts and coaches smile -- rebounding, shot-blocking and defense, as well as experience. Not many players stay in school at least three years any more. Lanky and athletic with great energy, although he needs to bulk up considerably. His perimeter game also needs work. He's somewhat unorthodox offensively, which calls to mind another former Tar Heel power forward, Antawn Jamison.

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State, 6-9, 268.2: ESPN reported earlier this week that Sullinger had been red-flagged because of a bad back, although his agent, David Falk, and his father, Satch, who coached his son in high school at Columbus Northland, tried to downplay the reports and said the problem was really extremely tight hamstrings. Sullinger is skilled and smart, but not athletic or explosive, and he tested poorly at the recent NBA combine. Whereas his big butt is his biggest asset, there are questions about his true position. He's too small to play center, as he did in college, but may not be quick enough to play power forward in the NBA.

Others to watch: Terrence Jones, Kentucky; Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State; Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure; Miles Plumlee, Duke.

Will the Cavs take one? Having drafted Tristan Thompson last year at No. 4, it's unlikely the Cavs will be interested in a power forward at No. 4 this time around, but they might look to add size at No. 24 or Nos. 33 and 34.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Chisenhall's ability to control the strike zone could determine how long he stays in the big leagues.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerThis triple in the Indians' 10-9 victory over the Reds on Monday was just one of Lonnie Chisenhall's many productive moments in the Cincinnati series. "I'm happy to be here," the young third baseman says. "You have to wait your turn, earn your spot and continue to do well to keep it."

HOUSTON, Texas -- All right, Lonnie Chisenhall drew a walk. Maybe now everyone can get off his back.

In the fourth inning Wednesday night, Chisenhall drew his first base on balls since being recalled from Class AAA Columbus on May 28. One walk in 60 plate appearances is not the type of strike-zone discipline the on base-obsessed Indians are looking for from their No.1 pick in 2008.

Then again, perhaps the Tribe's 8-1 victory over Cincinnati to complete a three-game sweep can be a learning experience for all involved. Chisenhall's first walk of the year, following a two-run homer by Johnny Damon, set the stage for a three-run homer by Asdrubal Cabrera. When the inning ended, the Indians led, 5-0, and the game was over based on how Justin Masterson, who threw a three-hitter, was pitching.

In the seventh, Chisenhall came to the plate with two out and the bases loaded. This was not the time to walk. This was the time to do what Chisenhall was drafted to do -- swing the bat. He sent Alfredo Simon's curveball into the right-field corner for a three-run double and a 8-0 lead.

"We had a big lead at the time," said Chisenhall. "I just kind of relaxed. Whatever happens, happens right there."

Chisenhall had two big games against the Reds. In Monday's 10-9 victory, he homered, tripled, singled and lined out to right from the ninth spot in the lineup. In Tuesday's 3-2 victory, he DH'd and went 0-for-4 while hitting ninth.

Lonnie Chisenhall's big Monday against the Reds

He's in an interesting position. Following his terrible spring training, Jack Hannahan easily beat Chisenhall out for the third-base job. Chisenhall opened the year at Columbus where he hit .324 (36-for-111) with 12 doubles, four homers and 17 RBI in 28 games before his promotion when Hannahan went on the disabled list with calf and back problems.

Chisenhall walked just four times at Columbus, but his on-base percentage was .353. Last year he walked just eight times in 212 at-bats with the Tribe.

Now manager Manny Acta has three players he can use at third base: Chisenhall, Hannahan and Jose Lopez. Since his recall, Chisenhall has started 15 of 21 games. With DH Travis Hafner on the disabled list, Acta has had the flexibility to use Chisenhall and Lopez at DH as well.

"I'm happy to be here," said Chisenhall. "The lineups are made a little differently up here. You're trying to set matchups with guys who have had previous success off other guys. You've just got to bite the bullet sometimes and roll with it."

Chisenhall is hitting .271 (16-for-59) with two doubles, one triple, three homers and nine RBI. He has a .492 slugging percentage, but only a .283 on-base percentage.

"You have to wait your turn, earn your spot and continue to do well to keep it," he said.

When Hafner is activated, it will be interesting to see how Chisenhall is affected. So far, he's been a good self evaluator when it comes to swinging the bat.

"I'm swinging it like the numbers say. I'm hit or miss, literally," said Chisenhall. "I've got to swing at better pitches. I think that's the only thing I've got to worry about."

Chisenhall is not concerned about his lack of walks.

"If I'm overly patient it turns from patient to passive," he said. "I know they're worried about the walks, but I'm not looking to walk right now. If a guy walks me, he walks me. But I'm looking for a good, hard swing."

Acta says Chisenhall is a work in progress when it comes to controlling the strike zone instead of letting the pitcher control him. "He's going to have his ups and down, but he has a beautiful swing and good pop," said Acta. "We feel he's going to be a very good hitter up here.

"He's a product of being a modern-day player. With the demand for talent, they don't spent five or six years in the minors getting polished as in years past. They come up here and it's a tough place to make all those adjustments."

Chisenhall believes when he starts swinging at better pitches, the walks will come and the grumbling will stop. If not, he still might find a spot in one of the big league's most unique lineups, which leans more to the left than your favorite liberal.

"I don't think about being left-handed," said Chisenhall. "It's just another way to hit. I'm left-handed, so is everybody else. It's kind of the norm around here."

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Johnny Damon is slowly getting his swing back. It looks like he'll have more time to do that than the Indians originally thought.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerJohnny Damon's third home run as an Indian on Wednesday drove in Casey Kotchman (left) and continued his solid work in June. He is hitting .295 with a .392 on-base percentage and a .892 OPS since May 30.

HOUSTON, Texas -- It looks like Johnny Damon is going to be around for a while.

Damon is starting to hit and Grady Sizemore still hasn't started running after a setback several weeks ago in his recovery from back and knee surgery. When the Indians signed Damon on April 17, it was agreed that he could seek his release based on his playing time. The agreement was made in case Sizemore returned and Damon was pushed to the bench in a crowded outfield.

It's been more than two months since Damon signed and there's still no hint of when or if Sizemore will return. The only thing that is clear is that he won't be back before the All-Star break, which begins July 9.

"I'm still optimistic that Grady will be able to contribute this year," said GM Chris Antonetti, who signed Sizemore to a one-year, $5 million deal. Sizemore took batting practice during the last homestand and he's been able to throw, but he hasn't resumed running.

Damon, meanwhile, is hitting .295 with a .392 on-base percentage and a .892 OPS since May 30. He's hitting only .203 (25-for-123) overall after hitting .171 (14-for-82) in May.

"I know a lot of people are just going to be looking at the batting average, but I can point out at least five games over the last 10 days where Johnny has had something to do with us winning the ballgame," said manager Manny Acta after Damon's two-run homer Wednesday in a 8-1 win over Cincinnati. "His hits have been huge for us. He's doing it at the right time and I hope he continues doing it."

Still, the left field picture is not good. Damon, Shelley Duncan and Aaron Cunningham have failed to produce consistently. It would not be surprising if the outfield undergoes some changes because of a trade instead of a return by Sizemore.

Testing, testing: Don't look for DH Travis Hafner to come off the disabled list during this 10-game trip through Houston, New York and Baltimore. But he could be ready for a rehab assignment during the next 10 days.

He's been on the disabled list following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

On a roll: Justin Masterson, who threw a three-hitter Wednesday in his first complete game of the season, has nine quality starts in his last 11 appearances. He has pitched at least six innings in each of those 11 starts.

Person of interest: The Boston Globe is reporting that the Indians are one of the teams interested in Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis.

Youkilis, 33, is hitting .174 (8-for-46) in June with no homers and one RBI. He's making $12 million this year and can be a free agent in 2013 if the Red Sox don't pick up a $13 million option.

Party invitations: Tribe prospects Francisco Lindor and Jesus Aguilar have been picked to play in the All-Star Futures Game in Kansas City on July 8 as part of the All-Star Game festivities.

Lindor and Aguilar will play on the World Team against Team USA at 5 p.m. at Kauffman Stadium. The big league All-Star Game is July 10.

On Wednesday, Lindor, 18, started at shortstop and batted leadoff for the Class A Midwest League East All-Stars. He went 2-for-4 and batted leadoff. The Indians' No.1 pick in 2011 is hitting .285 (71-for-249) with 13 doubles, three triples, four homers and 23 RBI in 60 games at Class A Lake County.

Aguilar, a 6-3, 257-pound first baseman, was signed out of Venezuela as a non-drafted free agent in 2007. The 21-year-old right-handed hitter is batting .295 (66-for-224) with 41 runs, 17 doubles, two triples, six homers and 30 RBI in 65 games at Class A Carolina.

Finally: Shin-Soo Choo, since moving into the leadoff spot on May 14, is hitting .307 (43-for-140) with 30 runs, 15 doubles, five homers, nine RBI and four steals. His average has jumped from .236 to .276.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

KSU head coach says finding more pitchers is the priority in the recruiting season.

View full sizeLisa DeJong, The Plain DealerThe final moments of Kent State's run to the College World Series was almost too difficult to watch for KSU sophomore Karla Santiago (left), who joined Brooklynn Hansley (center) and Roslynn Porch at the school's student center on Thursday.

OMAHA, Neb. -- In the world of college sports, a team is only as good as its recruits. Which means Kent State baseball has to get back to work, immediately.

"We're behind in recruiting right now," head coach Scott Stricklin said after Thursday's elimination from the College World Series. "We'll be on the road very quickly to catch up.

"We're not able to see recruits because we're out here, but recruits have been able to see us. That's the biggest key to coming out here, you're in the limelight, you're on the national stage. And the kids you've been in contact with for the last year have gotten to see us play."

Stricklin said he will be focusing on the pitcher's mound.

"Pitching is the key to success in college baseball, so we're always looking for arms," he said. "We're going to sign three or four arms. We're looking for 2013 grads. We've got a couple infielders already committed to us. We need to get an outfielder, we need to get a catcher, we need to get a few pitchers. A little bit of everything.

"We'll sign eight guys like we always do. We're not going to sign 15 or 20 and run guys off."

Final words: Stricklin had his team surround him in right field following the loss to South Carolina, but said his comments were hard to come by.

"It was tough," he said. "I always promise myself when the year's over I'm not going to choke up, I'm going to get through this. It took me about 30 seconds before I could say something.

"I said, 'Only one team gets to win their last game and we were one of five left standing. No one expected it. Just really proud of what our guys accomplished. When no one expects you to do anything and you do it and you overachieve, it's such a satisfying feeling. I think our kids did prove on the national stage we belonged here.

"We earned a lot of respect along the way. Every place we've been, when we leave I think people understand we're a great program, our kids play the right way, you don't see kids throwing their helmets and doing things they shouldn't be doing.

"We've got the highest GPA here, our APR is in the top in the country. We're doing things the right way with homegrown kids. We you do things the right way it usually pays off."

This n' that: During the postseason, Kent outscored its opponents, 24-12, in the first four innings, but was outscored, 25-10, in the final five. ... While much of Kent's lineup struggled at the plate here, shortstop Jimmy Rider was stellar. He was 15-for-43 (.349) with four doubles, 10 runs scored and nine RBI throughout the NCAA run, including a double, homer, two RBI and four runs scored in three CWS games. ...

Kent State's two hits vs. South Carolina matched its season low against Akron on May 19. ... South Carolina pitcher Michael Roth is 8-0 in CWS games after defeating Kent and has never allowed more than three runs in any CWS game.

It's a second consecutive Junior Open title for Highland's Porvasnik.

View full sizeAllison Carey, PDJessica Porvasnik breezed to a successful defense of her Cleveland Junior Open girls golf title on Thursday.

AVON, Ohio -- Jessica Porvasnik got the party started early.

The Highland senior and reigning two-time Plain Dealer player of the year celebrated her 17th birthday two days in advance on Thursday, when she won the Cleveland Junior Open golf tournament for the second year in a row at the Red Tail Golf Club.

While posting a final-round 75, which included three uncharacteristic double bogeys, Porvasnik won her third American Junior Golf Association event by a comfortable five shots over Kari Bellville, of Granger, Ind., and South Korean Ju-Hee Bae, of Chantilly, Va., with a 54-hole score of even-par 216.

The victory made up for last week's runner-up finish in the Hudson Junior, an event she led after two rounds but finished second.

Evan DeRoche, of Key West, Fla. -- by way of Chagrin Falls -- won the boys championship with a three-day total of 215 with a final-round 73. That was enough for a two-shot win over Sean Crocker, of Westlake Village, Calif., who closed with a 71.

Shaker Heights' Andrew Bieber, the reigning Division III state champion, charged hard with a final-round 68 -- sharing tournament low-round honors with Stow's Ian Holt -- but opening rounds of 77-75 left too much real estate to overcome and he finished in a tie for third at 220.

It was the first AJGA title for DeRoche, a junior at Key West High, who is in town visiting his maternal grandparents, Richard and Jill London. He turned his vacation into a bountiful one. He finished 16th at Hudson last week and won for the first time.

Porvasnik, who will play in the prestigious Rolex Tournament of Champions next week in Alphretta, Ga., credited her putting. While she three-putted at least once in each round, she used just 88 putts for the week.

"My putting was down," she said. "I had a lot of one putts that saved me."

The reigning Division I state runner-up said winning at Red Tail twice in as many years was special, beyond the early birthday celebration.

"It gives you confidence when you win and it's exciting to win at home," she said. "I like this course a lot. I've played here a lot and I'm able to read the greens real well. Funny, I don't play well in practice rounds here but I play well in the tournament."

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

The Infelds, Beaumont High School graduates, are believed to be the only sisters competing among the 1,000 athletes at the Trials.

View full sizePD fileMaggie Infeld has her first 800 heat at the Olympic Trials on Friday, but believes her best chance at London is in the 1,500.

EUGENE, Ore. – Imagine your kid is good enough to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Big thrill, right?

Double that feeling, and you begin to approach what Sue and Michael Infeld of University Heights are experiencing at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, which take off Friday with a full schedule at Hayward Field. The Infeld's two oldest daughters, Maggie and Emily, will run separately in three events and could run as many as seven races if they reach all three finals, though that is unlikely.

The Infelds are believed to be the only sisters competing among the 1,000 athletes at the Trials.

"I'm really happy that they're able to pursue this dream they've had most of their lives, to participate in the sport they love at the highest level," Sue Infeld said.

Sue and Michael are in town along with youngest sister, Lucy, and the girls' high school coach at Beaumont, Jim Emery, who drove to Oregon.

View full sizePD fileEmily Infeld takes her shot at an Olympic berth in the 5,000-meter final on Sunday.

Maggie, 26, runs her first 800 heat Friday. She is using the event as a tune-up for the 1,500, which is her main event, and begins next Thursday. Emily, 23, runs the 5,000 final Saturday night, 30 minutes after the 800 final.

Maggie and Emily live in Washington, D.C., while attending and training at Georgetown University. Maggie, who has exhausted her athletic eligibility, is entering her third year of medical school. Emily, a three-time NCAA runner-up and an indoor champion, has one year left and will begin graduate school in the fall.

They haven't raced in the same meets often, though they both were All-Americans in the 1,500 in 2009. Maggie runs professionally for New York Athletic Club.

"It's really exciting," Maggie said. "I'll get to watch her whole race and vice-versa. It's really a special experience, the first time for both of us at trials, which we watched on TV together in '08.

"We're really close and it's really special that I've been able to train with her the past couple years and watch her be so successful. I've been inspired by Emily and am so proud of her."

For a while, there was a possibility they both would run the 1,500. Emily was the NCAA indoor champ and outdoor runner-up at that distance this year. She also was the 2010 cross country NCAA runner-up at 6,000 meters. Emily and the Infelds' coach, Chris Miltenberg, decided the 5,000 is her future. She's ranked 10th by Track and Field News, and neither sister is ranked at any other distance.

"I'm excited that we don't have to be competing against one another because I like cheering more for her than running against her," Emily said. "I love the 1,500, but I'd have to get my speed a lot faster, and we decided to go a different route, which I think is paying off."

The Infelds have one other to cheer for, 200-meter sprinter Aareon Payne of Akron, who was Emily's teammate at Beaumont.

"As a fan," Sue Infeld said, "I'm just thrilled."

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

Cavaliers center Semih Erden apparently is seeking employment in Europe next season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant is aware of the internet rumors saying that center Semih Erden has turned down an offer to play for FC Barcelona and will sign to play in Turkey but doesn't believe anything has been finalized yet.

A phone call to Erden's agent, Justin Zanik, was not returned to The Plain Dealer on Thursday.

Erden, obtained with Luke Harangody from Boston in 2011 for a second-round draft choice, never took advantage of the opportunities he was given at center last year after Anderson Varejao went out with a broken wrist in February. Erden played 28 games, averaging just 3.5 points and 2.6 rebounds.

After nine seasons in the NBA, LeBron James is on his way to winning his first ring. Now, it's time for Cleveland to react. Are you happy? Upset? Let cleveland.com's Glenn Moore know during the postgame chat.

View full sizeAP photoLeBron James

In a few days, all the hype will subside. ESPN will turn its attention to Tim Tebow or Tiger Woods or the New York Yankees.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James unburdened himself on Thursday night and, in a strange way, so did Cleveland fans who have spent the past two years rooting for the former Cavaliers star to fail.

Lugging around that excess schadenfreude is not a good look, and frankly it's bad for the spine. It was released into the ether after the Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder to capture the NBA title, culminating a remarkable playoff run for James, who atoned for previous post-season flameouts while embracing moments that once overwhelmed him.

Scorned fans don't need to be happy for James or forgive the fact he went on national television to announce his breakup with a city that adored him. They also don't have to waste energy cheering against the inevitability of a LeBron title or debating whether he can be considered one of the greats without a ring.

Not long after Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert went Yosemite Sam on James in his famous Comic Sans rant, the franchise began moving on from the disappointment of July 8, 2010. General Manager Chris Grant gutted the roster and started to rebuild with the intent of never again being reliant on one superstar.

"Eight guys" has become a mantra for an organization trying to model itself after the Thunder. Selecting Kyrie Irving, who won NBA Rookie of the Year honors, was a bright start. If the Cavs can add a piece or two at next Thursday's draft with the Nos. 4 and 24 picks, their return to relevance will be accelerated.

But make no mistake, these have been two difficult years for Cleveland fans who are conditioned to free-agent defections and trades of necessity.

James' departure doesn't rise to the level of Art Modell's betrayal with the Browns. Nothing does. Unlike Modell, James is a Northeast Ohio native who continues to support the Akron community that raised him. He comes home frequently, sometimes during the season when the Heat have a few days off.

It leaves some conflicted in their feelings, ones tugged again in February after James hinted of a possible Cavaliers return in two years. Others were done with him the night of Game 5 against Boston in 2010 when he sat bewildered at the bench like Sonny Liston refusing to get off the stool and fight another round against Muhammad Ali.

James has since voiced his regret with the way his time in Cleveland ended. You can doubt the sincerity, but there's little question James has matured and his game has evolved. Would that process have occurred had he remained with the Cavaliers? Perhaps. Or, maybe he needed to go somewhere that wasn't going to placate him. In Miami, Heat president Pat Riley and Dwyane Wade have not catered to his every wish.

He reached the finals in his first season, but performed miserably in crunch time in a six-game series loss to the Dallas Mavericks. His detractors delighted even as James said they would "have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today."

Perhaps no player benefited from the extended lockout more than James. He escaped from the public eye and worked to improve his game. With two All-Stars for teammates, he couldn't blame a lack of high-end talent for his failure. He committed to playing more on the blocks, learning post moves from Hakeem Olajuwon, and becoming the Heat's defensive stopper as he guarded everyone from centers to point guards. He addressed his late-game struggles with self-help exercises.

Away from the court, he put a ring on the finger of his longtime girlfriend and spoke out against the perceived injustice he witnessed in the Trayvon Martin case. As the postseason neared, he read books more than he wrote Tweets. He narrowed his focus and harnessed his emotions.

James' playoff performances have been routinely spectacular in becoming just the third NBA player to score at least 25 points in 20 games in the same season. Michael Jordan (1992) and Olajuwon (1995) are the others. He has rallied the Heat from series deficits against Indiana, Boston and Oklahoma City, altering the image of the star who defers at winning time by knocking down huge jumpers in the Finals.

Quite a change from the player who didn't even want to take the last shot in an All-Star Game.

For some Cleveland fans it's all been too much. There are those who did not watch the title clincher. In a few days, however, all the hype will subside. ESPN will turn its attention to Tim Tebow or Tiger Woods or the New York Yankees, other polarizing figures who drive ratings and half the nation crazy.

James has his title and a grudging respect from skeptics who thought he'd only win one as a second option to Wade. The Heat are champions. Let them have their parade down South Beach. We've got more pressing concerns.

Who is going to catch passes from strong-armed rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden?

Video: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra and Kevin Durant react after Game 5

The journey of a decade ends with Akron's LeBron James finally caressing his first NBA title.

View full sizeRobert Duyos, MCTIn a life that has been lived in the media spotlight, LeBron James finally has his NBA championship.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Has any American athlete had his entire career scrutinized in public more than LeBron James?

As James revels in his first NBA championship in nine seasons, he does so in South Beach as fully the global icon that was his goal when he was drafted by the Cavaliers on June 26, 2003 out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

He isn't as controversial as Muhammad Ali, not as successful (on or off the court) as Michael Jordan, not (yet) the recognized greatest ever in his profession, as Jim Brown has been in football ever since he left Cleveland for the movies in the 1960s. He (happily) hasn't crossed over from Sports Illustrated and ESPN to the supermarket tabloids like Tiger Woods. And, until Thursday night, he has never been able to lift the trophy emblematic of the very best of his sport, unlike all of his sporting peers.

But no one has been more visible in his successes and failures. No one has been more dissected in print, digital and broadcast media. He came to age with the digital world. Who has been the topic of more Tweets, more camera phones, more online blogs, TV and radio talking heads than James? Nike certainly never intended for all of James' witnesses to spend 108 months of his professional career waiting -- patiently or otherwise -- for him to become The Chosen One with a title, The King with a championship ring.

It began shortly after the turn of the decade, with rumblings from Akron growing louder with every magazine story and ESPN feature. Check out Dru Joyce's ability to forecast the future at the 2:50 mark.

ESPN feature on the high-school LeBron James

By the time of the 2003 draft lottery, the target of every team with a ping pong ball was James, who was already taping commercials as the draft approached. "LeBron's in Cleveland, which in one way is the best place for him," wrote ESPN's Ralph Wiley. "In another way, it's the (worst)."

Either way, he arrived at Gund Arena as a prodigy, with plenty of doubters waiting to see how he would fare in real NBA action. Facing the Sacramento Kings might only barely qualify as "real" NBA opponents, but James' performance was memorable nonetheless.

LeBron James' NBA debut vs. Sacramento, Oct. 29, 2003

For two years, James learned the pro game, but didn't make the playoffs as the Cavaliers labored to upgrade the roster. Paul Silas coached James in those first two seasons and was praised as a disciplinarian who would pass along the "right way" to compete as a pro. But he didn't win, and the purchase of the team by Quicken Loans boss Dan Gilbert led to the arrival of former San Antonio assistant Mike Brown in 2005.

The first breakthrough came in that third season, as the Cavaliers won 50 games and faced Washington for their first playoff challenge.

James' Game 3 game-winner vs. Washington, April 29, 2006

In those days, James was quickly praised as a finisher, even as the Cavaliers fell to Detroit in the second round in 2006. One year later, he seemed to announce his arrival at the top of the league in his stunning Game 5 of the 2007 playoffs against Detroit.

"This wasn't just about the improbable 29-of-30 points barrage down the stretch, those two monster dunks at the end of regulation, the way he persevered despite a crummy coach and a mediocre supporting cast, how he just kept coming and coming, even how he made that game-winning layup look so damned easy," wrote ESPN's in-house NBA true-believer Bill Simmons.

"Physically, LeBron overpowered the Pistons. This was like watching a light-heavyweight battling a middleweight for eight rounds and suddenly realizing, 'Wait, I have 15 pounds on this guy,' then whipping the poor guy into a corner and destroying him with body punches."

James' Game 5 heroics vs. Detroit, May 31, 2007

James had arrived, and championships were certain to follow ... except.

Except he didn't sign a max deal with the Cavaliers, but just a three-year contract that nearly tripled his paycheck but increased the pressure on the franchise to construct the right kind of roster around him.

And there were those casual comments to NBA writers in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities about how much James was looking forward to his 2010 free agency. How momentous it would all be -- even as Cavaliers fans kept trying to convince themselves that he was one of us, and wouldn't ever leave without bringing the O'Brien Trophy to The Q.

James' willingness to play the tease to a variety of franchises began the first real backlash of criticism.

Charles Barkley on LeBron's talk of free agency in 2008

The Cavaliers pushed the envelope on roster moves, with the deadline deal that brought Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, Delonte West and Joe Smith to provide veteran support for the playoff run. The team struggled to find a chemistry before the postseason, but pushed the rebuild Celtics to a Game 7 in the Eastern finals.

Which set up a stunning showdown between James and Paul Pierce.

James' duel with Boston's Paul Pierce in Game 7, May 18, 2008

Who knew that was as far as James and the Cavaliers would climb?

The franchise became the dominant Eastern power in 2008-09, James' first MVP season. But the toying with other cities continued and when Cleveland met Orlando in the Eastern finals, there was more than a little rumbling that "the matchup wasn't good."

But there was still a miracle to witness.

James' Game 2 game-winner vs. Magic, May 22, 2009

But the Magic were the better team throughout the series, and knocked out the Cavaliers in six games -- with James famously walking out of the Orlando arena without congratulating his opponents. Who knew the NBA was supposed to be the Stanley Cup playoffs?

The urgency was felt nearly every day of the 2009-10 season. Shaquille O'Neal was acquired, and rather amply filled the middle of the lane -- when he could stay healthy. Shaq would be the antidote to Orlando's Dwight Howard, and seemed to revel in the task. But they never reached the Magic.

The Celtics were supposedly too old to really challenge the Cavaliers, but they never lost their bravado. The Cavaliers brought in a two-time MVP? Didn't matter. Boston believed, and by then, that didn't seem like something that could be said of the team in wine and gold.

James was something other than Most Valuable in that series. He gave the Cavaliers what seemed to be a critical Game 3 victory with a brilliant 38-point performance, but then ...

James' disappearing act in Game 5 vs. Boston, May 11, 2010

In what was his Cavaliers finale, he scored 27 points with 19 rebounds, but added nine turnovers. Was he hurt? Was he disillusioned? It was hard to watch him pull off his uniform as he walked to the locker room in Boston without thinking that he wanted it off ... for good.

James' final game as a Cavalier, Game 6 vs. Boston, May 13, 2010

The next few weeks were a blur of emotions. The LeBron-O-Meter swayed every 24 hours as team executives came to Cleveland to state their case. The banners hung over East Ninth Street proclaiming allegiance to a team, to a family, to a city.

In retrospect, it seemed desperate, didn't it?

Yet, even though James' departure was rumored -- strongly -- for hours before the evening of July 8, 2010, the actual ... decision ... stunned the region.

Cleveland fans react to The Decision

Followed by the South Florida fireworks.

The Heat unveil their new Big Three

There was some consolation in the national groundswell of support for Cleveland and its fans and condemnation of James' departure to chase a championship on someone else's team. ESPN devoted a legion of writers and Web resources to following just one franchise.

James said he embraced being the guy in the black hat, the national sporting villain. But his ability to dominate games seemed to wither -- never more so that in the 2011 Finals against Dallas. The wonderchild who dissected Detroit, who didn't shrink from the clutch play in his early Cavaliers days couldn't shoot straight against the Mavericks/Mavaliers, and the national media seemed to relish every fourth-quarter failure.

The final moments of Dallas winning the 2011 Finals

Which was still the storyline this spring. LeBron was Robin to Dwyane Wade's Batman, except Wade was clearly limping and Chris Bosh was injured. So James led the Heat to a comeback series win against Indiana. Then Boston took a 3-2 series lead in Miami. A home game to knock out the Heat and perhaps reshuffle James' surrounding cast once again ...

LeBron James' 45-point performance in Game 6 vs. Boston

Was there really much doubt after that? Oklahoma City is talented, but not yet polished by experience. James was the finisher again. By leading the Heat after a Game 1 loss in OKC to a 3-1 advantage entering Thursday, James answered every question, defeated every challenge. There's even the possibility, as Tom Reed writes, that this title is as necessary for Cavaliers fans as it is for James.

After the billions of words broadcast, written, blogged and Tweeted over 10 years, James had gone from prodigy to wunderkind to beloved superstar to reviled turncoat and postseason goat to the one adjective he most wanted.

Champion.

James is the Finals MVP after a triple double in the clincher, but he also has plenty of help from his teammates as Miami wins its second championship.

MIAMI -- The decision is final: LeBron James made the right call coming to Miami.

Finally an NBA champion, it's all worth it now.

James had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists, and got the kind of help that was worth leaving home for, leading the Heat in a 121-106 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night to win the NBA Finals in five games.

Best player in the game, best team in the league. James was named the unanimous MVP of the Finals. He has found it all since taking his talents to South Beach.

"It means everything," James said moments after the win. "I made a difficult decision to leave Cleveland but I understood what my future was about ... I knew we had a bright future (in Miami). This is a dream come true for me. This is definitely when it pays off."

He left the game along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for good with 3:01 remaining for a round of hugs and the start for a celebration he's been waiting for since arriving in the NBA out of high school as the No. 1 pick of the 2003 draft.

James hopped up and down in the final minutes, shared a long hug with opponent Kevin Durant, and watched the confetti rain down from the rafters.

The Heat took control in the second quarter, briefly lost it and blew it open again in the third behind their role players, James content to pass to wide-open 3-point shooters while the Thunder focused all their attention on him.

Bosh and Wade, the other members of the Big Three who sat alongside James as he promised titles at his Miami welcoming party two summers ago, both had strong games. Bosh, who broke down in tears as the Heat left their own court after losing Game 6 last year, finished with 24 points and Wade scored 20. The Heat also got a huge boost from Mike Miller, who made seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points.

The disappointment of losing to Dallas in six games last year vanished in a blowout of the demoralized Thunder, who got 32 points and 11 rebounds from Durant.

That made it easier for James, the most heavily scrutinized player in the league since his departure from Cleveland, when he announced he was "taking his talents to South Beach" on a TV special called "The Decision" that was criticized everywhere from talk shows and water coolers straight to the commissioner's office. James has said he wishes he handled things differently, but few who watched the Cavaliers fail to assemble championship talent around him could have argued with his desire to depart.

He found in Miami a team where he never had to do it alone -- though he reminded everyone during his sensational postseason run that he still could when necessary. He got support whenever he needed it in this series, from Shane Battier's 17 points in Game 2 to Mario Chalmers' 25 in Game 4.

In the clincher it was Miller, banged-up from so many recent injuries that he practically limps from the bench to scorer's table when he checks in. He made his fourth 3-pointer of the half right before James' fast-break basket capped a 15-2 run that extended Miami's lead to 53-36 with 4:42 remaining in the first half. James had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists at halftime, with the Heat ahead 59-49.

Durant added 11 rebounds for the Thunder, who made a remarkably early trip to the NBA Finals just three years after starting 3-29. With Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and James Harden all 23 or younger, the Thunder have the pieces in place for a lengthy stay atop the Western Conference.

But their inexperience showed in this series, a few questionable decisions, possessions and outright mistakes costing them in their franchise's first playoff appearance since Seattle lost to Chicago in 1996. Westbrook scored 19 but shot only 4 of 20, unable to come up with anything close to his 43-point outing in Game 4, and Harden finished a miserable series with 19.

Nothing they done could have stopped James, anyway.

Appearing fully over the cramps that forced him to sit out the end of Game 4, he was back to his dominant self, a combination of strength and speed that is practically unmatched in the game -- and rarely seen in the history of it.

Wade skipped to each side of the court before the opening tip with arms up to pump up the fans, then James showed them nothing wrong with his legs, throwing down an emphatic fast-break dunk to open the scoring. He made consecutive baskets while being fouled, showing no expression after the second, as if he'd hardly even known he was hit. Drawing so much attention from the Thunder, he started finding his wide-open shooters, and the Heat built a nine-point lead before going to the second up 31-26.

Oklahoma City got back within five early in the third before consecutive 3-pointers by Chalmers and Battier triggered a 27-7 burst that made it 88-63 on another 3-pointer by Miller. James didn't even score in the run until it was almost over, hitting a pair of free throws after he was flagrantly fouled by Derek Fisher while powering toward the basket.

Gone was the tentative player who was mocked for shrinking on the big stage last year, too willing to defer to others who didn't possess half his talents. This time, he was at peace off the court and on attack on it, vowing to have no regrets and playing in such a way they wouldn't be necessary.

James promised multiple titles at his welcoming party, and the Heat have three pieces to build around. Pat Riley will have to fill some holes on the roster, but will likely find some players eager to come to Miami for the good weather and great chance to win.

Miller was one of them last year, and though injuries have ruined his effectiveness, his shooting turned this into the only blowout of the series after Miami had outscored Oklahoma City by just 389-384 over the first four games.

Video: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra and Kevin Durant react after Game 5

As LeBron James finally won the NBA Championship and collected the NBA Finals MVP, viewers and fans from Northeast Ohio had their say on Twitter.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert tweets congratulations to Heat, but doesn't mention LeBron James

View full sizeThomas Ondrey, PD"Congratulations to Miami & OKC for an exciting Finals," Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said on Twitter Thursday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It took about five minutes for Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert to acknowledge the Miami Heat's NBA championship on Twitter Thursday night. But he still refused to mention LeBron James by name.

Sometime after the final buzzer sounded but before the championship trophy was presented to the Heat and the Finals MVP went to James, Gilbert tweeted, "Great NBA season. Enjoyed playoffs. Congratulations to Miami & OKC for an exciting Finals. Back to work on next weeks promising Cavs draft.''

Gilbert, of course, attacked James after the Akron native and St. Vincent St. Mary graduate bolted from Cleveland to Miami in 2010.

In part of his infamous letter -- in comic sans type -- to Cavaliers fans after The Decision aired on ESPN on July 8, 2010, Gilbert used capital letters to emphasize, "I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE. You can take it to the bank.''

But the Cavs, winners of just a total of 40 games in the two seasons since James left, haven't been able to cash Gilbert's check yet.

Former Cav Mo Williams, who played with James for two seasons in Cleveland, Tweeted: “Don’t be like that followers, give credit when credit is do. They are champions. That’s why we compete. That’s why we have a playoffs to . . . prove who the best is. They proved it and they deserve the respect aspect of that . . . Until next season when somebody else get a crack of it.”

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Early reactions around the country following Miami's NBA triumph Thursday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the celebration hit its full stride in Miami during the early morning hours of Friday, reaction around the sports world started to build.

Sports Illustrated's Zach Lowe: "(James) grew into some unholy combination of point forward and power forward, grabbing rebounds, dishing assists all over the floor, guarding every position and contributing Hall of Fame-level production even when his jumper wouldn't fall.

"He scored at least 30 points in 13 of Miami's 23 playoff games, including in 10 of 12 games beginning in Game 4 of the conference semifinals against Indiana -- the team's first playoff pressure point. He finished the playoffs with a stat line -- about 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists per game -- that the modern NBA has never seen."

Dave Hyde, South Florida Sun Sentinel: "Now the AmericanAirlines Arena crowd was standing and cheering the Heat again as the final seconds were ticking down. The journey was long. It was rough. And finally, happily, it was over.

"One final time in the fourth quarter, LeBron blasted through the heart of the defense one final time, got a rebound and another triple-double (26 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists). And it was official now. He would get his ring.

"And more than that: They all would for what they did. Pat Riley, for dreaming up this team when no one else in the NBA dared. Erik Spoelstra, for coaching it when people had him fired the very first month. Dwyane Wade, for winning a second time. Chris Bosh collapsed in the hallway after losing to Dallas a year ago. Now he was hugging teammates, and being hugged back, and nearly collapsing again from the joy of the moment.

"LeBron was asked in the televised celebration what he thought, standing there, watching the final seconds disappear and his ring appear.

"It's about damn time!" he shouted to the crowd.

ESPN's Heat Index: "LeBron's first bucket was a roaring dunk on a fast break and the last chapter of his redemption tour took off from there. James squashed the demons of NBA Finals' past and destroyed OKC with every assisted 3-pointer and hanging finish. His all-encompassing Game 5 reminded everyone why he's this generation's most gifted player."

ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz: "This first championship won’t make James more palatable to his critics, and some will find a way to belittle the achievement. They’ll affix an asterisk to the title, or remind us that James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Pat Riley were killjoys who stacked the deck. As insubstantial as those arguments might be, they’re far easier on the ears than the noisy certitude of those who know James is a born loser, or a beta male, or someone whose personal failings will relegate him to a career of futility."

Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times: "LeBron James was in no hurry as he walked off the court in the final minutes, raising his right arm in triumph.

"Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were not far behind, the ballyhooed Miami Heat trio hugging teammates and coaches along the sideline. Bosh, who had wept after last year’s NBA Finals, held Udonis Haslem in a firm embrace, swaying back and forth. James playfully nudged Coach Erik Spoelstra.

"Five years of Finals anguish ended for James on Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena when Miami routed the Oklahoma City Thunder, 121-106, in Game 5 to win its first title since 2006."

Jim Litke, Associated Press: Some of the NBA’s greatest players ever didn’t need to see a championship ring to count LeBron James in their ranks. In what amounts to a game of “musical chairs” — and that’s what ranking “the greatest anything” comes down to — a few sounded prepared to give up their seats. But if James wants to occupy the last one, if it’s important to him to be the best of the best, the ring he picked up Thursday night better not be his last. He has a lot of ground to make up. ... Oscar Robertson, who made a career setting up teammates to succeed, squandered a decade trying to win in Cincinnati, then moved to Milwaukee and partnered with a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to get his first and only title. He couldn’t have been more complimentary about James. “He’s getting smarter, he’s only 27 and still too sensitive to what people think about him. He’ll get over that and if nothing else, it stops the ‘when are you ...’ talk,” Robertson said. “Then he won’t give a damn what they say. That’s when we’ll see real LeBron come out.”