Quantcast
Channel: Cleveland Sports News
Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live

Fans react to LeBron James winning first championship with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore: Podcast

0
0

cleveland.com's Glenn Moore recapped the series and talked with fans, who reacted to James and the Heat winning the NBA Finals.

lebron.JPGView full sizeWell, he has done it. And fans reacted after the game with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore.

LeBron James has won his first NBA Championship as the Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday night in Miami to take the series.

cleveland.com's Glenn Moore recapped the series and talked with fans, who reacted to James and the Heat winning the NBA Finals.

Among other topics discussed:

• Does this championship validate James' career?

• Can Cavs' fans finally start to move on and focus more on the Cavaliers?

• Will James ever be in the same level as Kobe or Jordan, in terms of rings?

• Recapped the playoffs and NBA Finals.

Read what G-Mo (@GlennMooreCLE) has to say on Twitter.

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


Friday, June 22 television and radio sports listings for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

0
0

Highlights include Indians at Houston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

AUTO RACING 

8 a.m. European Grand Prix practice, Speed Channel

3 p.m. Toyota/Save Mart 350 practice, Speed Channel

11 p.m. Toyota/Save Mart 350 qualifying (tape), Speed Channel

BASEBALL

7 p.m. AKRON AEROS at Altoona, AM/1350

7 p.m. Atlanta at Boston, MLB Network

7:05 p.m. LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS at Fort Wayne, AM/1330

8:05 p.m. INDIANS at Houston, SportsTime Ohio; AM/1100

9:30 p.m. Chicago Cubs at Arizona, WGN  

BOXING

9 p.m. Javier Castro vs. Mike Dallas Jr., ESPN2

COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES

9 p.m. South Carolina vs. Arkansas, ESPN

DIVING

11 p.m. Olympic Trials, mens 3m synchro final, NBCSN

GOLF

9 a.m. BMW International Open, Golf Channel

12:30 p.m. Manulife Financial Classic, Golf Channel

3 p.m. Travelers Championship, Golf Channel

6:30 p.m. Montreal Championship (tape), Golf Channel

NHL

7 p.m. Draft, NBCSN

SOCCER

2:30 p.m. Euro 2012, quarterfinal, ESPN

TRACK AND FIELD

9 p.m. Olympic Trials, finals, NBCSN

LeBron James passes on Cleveland question in post-game press conference

0
0

Would LeBron James thank Cleveland after winning his first NBA title? Read what he said when asked directly about Cleveland and watch a video clip of his post-game press conference.

Gallery preview

Would LeBron James thank Cleveland after winning his first NBA title?

That was the big question on the minds of many fans Thursday night after watching James pass on the opportunity when interviewed by ESPN's Doris Roberts on the court immediately after the game.

"It means everything," James said about his first championship. "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.

In the post-game press conference, however, James was asked directly about those fans in Cleveland he left two years ago. Here's what he said in a transcript provided by ASAP Sports and the NBA.

Reporter: This question isn't intended to bait you or intended as some negative question, but what would you say to the Cleveland fans tonight that wanted to share this moment with you, wanted to win this championship with you? What words would you offer them?

LeBron James: I mean, right here I'm sitting here as a member of the Miami Heat. The hard work and dedication that we put in these last two years to get to this point, I mean, it was unbelievable. I wanted to become a champion someday. I didn't know exactly when it would happen, but I put in a lot of hard work.

For me, I'm happy. I'm very excited. I'm very happy right now to be a champion. Nobody can take that away from me.

Meanwhile, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who promised a NBA championship before LeBron James won one in an angry letter after 'The Decision,' sent a congratulatory Tweet to the Heat last night -- but failed to mention James by name.

____

Should James have thanked Cleveland last night? Sound off in the comments section below.

Video: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade post-game conference

Gray Maynard happy to be on free TV: MMA Insider

0
0

Former St. Edward state wrestling champion is headlining “UFC on FX,” not some big-time pay-per-view event.

gray-maynard.jpgGray Maynard, left, mixes it up with Kenny Florian in 2010 in Boston. Maynard, a St. Edward state wrestling champion, is fighting Clay Guida in Atlantic City, N.J., tonight at 9 p.m. on FX.

Tonight, eight months, two weeks, two countries and one state removed from the night Frankie Edgar caught him by surprise with a right to the chin and ended his bid for the UFC lightweight title, Gray Maynard is stepping back into the Octagon.

This time, the former St. Edward state wrestling champion is headlining “UFC on FX,” not some big-time pay-per-view event.

And he could care less that he’s headlining what some might consider a lesser event.

“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Maynard in a call to his hotel room in Atlantic City, N.J., where the fight against Clay Guida will take place, when asked whether he felt going to free TV was a sort of demotion.

To Maynard, ranked No. 4 in the world by sherdog.com, getting back into the cage for a title shot is the goal.

To that end, he left Las Vegas and moved to Santa Cruz, Calif., in part to be near fiancée Jess Wheeler’s hometown, San Jose. “A happy wife equals a happy life,” joked Maynard.

But the real reason is he felt he had “reached a plateau” with Randy Couture’s Xtreme Gym in Sin City, where he had trained since beginning his mixed martial arts career. “I’m training at AKA [American Kickboxing Academy] in San Jose,” he said. “At AKA, there’s a lot more MMA. It’s not broken up a lot.

“Before, I was a little more about boxing, a little more about breaking up the areas a little too much,” he said.

“I needed a change.”

Now, it’s back to the grind as he prepares to take on a fighter sherdog.com ranks as the No. 7 lightweight in the world.

“His strengths are obviously his heart,” Maynard said of Guida, a submission specialist with a record of 29-9-0. “He keeps a good pace and has good takedowns and unorthodox striking.”

But that really is of no concern to the 11-1-0 Maynard.

“How do I compare to him? Obviously, my sprawl is good,” said the former All-American wrestler from Michigan State. “His takedowns are good, but mine are better, I think. I just am better in all areas.”

Maynard deflected questions on whether a win would put him in line for another title shot.

“I’m not even thinking about that,” he said. “I’m just geared towards Clay. But I’d have to be at the top [of the list for a shot] for sure.”

The fights air at 9 tonight on FX.

UFC 147 update: Former Cincinnati algebra teacher Rich Franklin (28-6-0-1 NC) takes on Wanderlei Silva (34-11-1-1NC) to headline UFC 147 on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. Saturday. The fight is on Silva’s home turf, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

The cost of pay-per-view is $45 for standard definition and $55 for high-def. Check your provider for ordering details.

Preliminary fights are streaming on Facebook.com at 7 p.m., and at 8 p.m. on FX.

Youth Ponds stocked with fish: Outdoors Notebook

0
0

The Youth Fishing Ponds developed by the Ohio Division of Wildlife at its Akron district office have been such a success, the state is opening four more stocked kids-only ponds on June 30 at select state parks around Ohio.

fishing.jpg

The Youth Fishing Ponds developed by the Ohio Division of Wildlife at its Akron district office have been such a success, the state is opening four more stocked kids-only ponds on June 30 at select state parks around Ohio.

The new family-friendly waters are at Sycamore State Park, west of Dayton; Delaware State Park, north of Delaware; Maumee Bay State Park, east of Toledo; and Caesar Creek State Park, southwest of Xenia. They will be stocked with channel catfish and hybrid bluegill for special events on June 30 and Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and open daily throughout the summer. The special fishing areas are for kids 15 and younger, who must have a non-fishing adult with them.

“The Akron ponds will have a Family Fishing Day on June 30,” said fisheries biologist Matt Wolfe. “The Portage Lakes Bassmasters will host a casting contest at 10:30 a.m. and help kids to catch fish. I’ll have a fish filleting demonstration at 2 p.m.”

The Youth Fishing Area, 912 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron, made its debut about 15 years ago. It is open only on the weekends through Labor Day for open fishing. During the week, the ponds can be booked for groups of youngsters, proving to be a popular program for Scouts, school classes and various youth groups.

“Throughout the summer, we have as many as 1,500 kids here during the week, and we’re booked pretty solid,” said Wolfe. “We provide cane poles, bobbers, hooks and night crawlers, but encourage kids to bring their own rods and reels. On the weekends, we provide staff for fishing instruction and angling assistance, and feature restrooms and picnic benches. We allow the kids to keep one fish to take home.”

Wolfe said the new stocked youth ponds are set up to attract young anglers from nearby cities. For information, visit wildohio.com or call 330-644-2293.

Fish magnet maps: Ohio and Pennsylvania officials team up to manage the sprawling 14,000-acre Pymatuning Reservoir for good fishing. To help fishermen find and catch walleye, crappie or bass, they have been lowering wooden cribs and rock reefs to the bottom of the big lake on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border to attract fish.

“We’re sending out Pymatuning Reservoir maps by email and regular mail that show where the fish-attracting structure is located,” said Wolfe, who oversees the project for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “On Google Earth, anglers can see bright blue marks that signify fish structure in Pymatuning and many other lakes around Northeast Ohio. Using standard GPS units and the new smart phones, it’s relatively easy for fishermen to launch a boat, and quickly find the structures that could be holding fish.”

A new batch of wooden cribs were sunk last week, said Wolfe, many within shouting distance of Pymatuning Lake’s launch ramps.

New guys at Hi-Way: Gale and Dwight Ritchie, a father-son team, are the new owners of Hi-Way Bait & Tackle on East Harbor Road (Ohio 163) in Marblehead. It’s a good location for their new live bait for yellow perch. Dwight Ritchie said they have had success with spotfin minnows, a Portage River minnow now being pond-raised for fishermen. The minnows are as bright-colored as traditional emerald shiner minnows, he said, but tougher. He said the spotfin minnows last longer in the bait bucket and on the hook.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

degan@plaind.com, 216-999-5158



Northeast Ohio Fishing Report: Lake Erie yellow perch finally biting

0
0

Lake Erie yellow perch are finally biting all along the shoreline, the best walleye fishing has moved deeper and white bass are schooling all along the big lake. Inland lake fishing has been good for walleye, crappie in deeper water, catfish and bluegill.

lake erie fishing muskie Fred Lederer of Perrysburg, the president of the Ohio Huskie Muskie Club, removes the hooks from a trophy muskie that he boated while fishing on Clear Fork Reservoir near Mansfield.

Lake Erie yellow perch are finally biting all along the shoreline, the best walleye fishing has moved deeper and white bass are schooling all along the big lake. Inland lake fishing has been good for walleye, crappie in deeper water, catfish and bluegill.

Cleveland area

The long-awaited Lake Erie yellow perch fishing has been good in 35 feet of water off the Gold Coast, and in 45 feet of water off Bratenahl and the Euclid area. Anglers are working emerald shiner minnows on or near the bottom, with braided fishing line a bonus for light perch bites. The general size of perch caught has been good.

Walleye and some steelhead trout are being caught in 55 to 60 feet of water north of the Rocky River on spinner rigs and night crawlers, spoons and diving plugs. Anglers are trolling a bit faster with silver-colored spoons to trigger steelhead trout strikes. As usual, pink or purple are the top walleye colors mixed with a little black, chartreuse or orange.

White bass are moving into the bays and around the piers and can be caught casting small spinners and spoons, diving plugs and jigs tipped with minnows or leeches.

Central Lake Erie

The deeper waters from Huron to Avon Lake have been best for catches of scattered walleye and some steelhead trout. Hot spots include the deep water north of the Lorain Sandbar that extends from Lorain to Vermilion, as well as in 16 to 28 feet of water inside the sandbar early and late in the day.

The shallow locations are also holding large numbers of sheepshead, white perch and white bass. A hot spot has been around the weather buoy north of Huron. The best depths have been 47 to 65 feet.

East of Cleveland, walleye and steelhead trout are being caught off Ashtabula and Geneva in 70 to 72 feet of water. The yellow perch are being caught in 52 feet of water off Ashtabula and 42 to 48 feet of water off Conneaut.

Good yellow perch fishing can be found from Vermilion to Cleveland in 38- to 41-foot depths. Hot spots include off St. Anthony on the east side of Lorain and north of Avon Point.

Western Lake Erie

Fair to good catches of walleye are being reported around Green and Rattlesnake islands by drift-and-cast anglers on spinner rigs and pieces of night crawler and fishermen trolling large spinner rigs, diving plugs and spoons. Walleye are being caught along the Ohio-Ontario border northwest of North Bass Island, northwest of West Sister Island and from North Bass Island to Gull Island Shoal.

The top spot for yellow perch has been northeast of Kelleys Island Shoal in 25 to 28 feet of water.

Inland lakes, reservoirs

Hot weather has Ohio’s inland lakes in a summertime mode, with walleye and crappie heading to deeper water and the catfish biting early and late in the day, and after dark.

Bass anglers are doing best early and late in the day casting top-water lures to the weed beds and around shoreline tangles. Diving plugs and plastic worms have been good for fishing points, channel bends and weed edges. Good bass lakes include Mosquito, LaDue Reservoir and the Portage Lakes. Mosquito Lake is also giving up a few northern pike and deep-water walleye.

Crappie have moved to the 10- to 18-foot depths at Mosquito, Berlin, Pymatuning and Wingfoot lakes. Suspend minnows under a float around the deeper humps, bumps and stumps, or cast spinner jigs tipped with soft plastic tails. For big redear sunfish, check Turkeyfoot and East lakes in the Portage Lakes chain, working hooks or small jigs tipped with maggots under a float.

Catfish are being caught all around the area on night crawlers, chicken livers and such processed baits as Magic and Berkley Powerbait.

The walleye bite continues to be good at Pymatuning Reservoir while trolling or drifting with spinner rigs or floating jigs tipped with night crawlers in deeper water. Night anglers are casting minnow-style diving plugs with silver-black a top color choice. Some muskies are being caught.

Trophy fish

Lenny Dyko of Bay Village landed a 29.5-inch Lake Erie walleye while fishing with Scott Hale in the Bay Village area.

Fishing tournaments

Walmart Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division (Mosquito Lake): Pro Division — Ray Brunner, Hamilton, 5 bass, 11 pounds, 15 ounces, $6,082; 2. Curt Fiessinger, Fort Loramie, 5, 11-1, $2,041; 3. James Hailstones, Cincinnati, 5, 10-15, $1,362. Co-Angler Division — 1. Mark Miller, Baltic, 5, 10-5, $2,041; 2. Jason Wilkins, Weston, 5, 10-4, $1,021; 3. Ray Philhower, Milford, 5, 9-2, $683.

Cleveland Yacht Club Battle of Lake Erie: Winning team captains — Wade Massad, 32.5 pounds (big walleye 10.5 pounds); Matt Davis, 32.5 pounds


More Northeast Ohio reaction to LeBron James winning his first NBA Championship

0
0

Two years after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to play in Miami, LeBron James has won his first NBA Championship, including being Finals MVP. Northeast Ohio reacted to scene in Miami, venting their frustration that the Akron native delivered for the Heat, and not the Cavaliers.

lebron.JPGNortheast Ohio reacted last night after LeBron James won his first NBA Championship.
Two years after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to play in Miami, LeBron James has won his first NBA Championship, including being Finals MVP.

Northeast Ohio reacted to scene in Miami, venting their frustration that the Akron native delivered for the Heat, and not the Cavaliers.

James scored 26 points and dished out 13 assists in the Heat's 121-106 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday night.

Make sure to check out our podcast from last night, in which fans called in to vent about James winning his first title.

Follow along with more coverage of the Miami Heat win:

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert congratulates Miami, but doesn't mention LeBron (cleveland.com)

Sports world reacts to an NBA title for LeBron James and Miami Heat (cleveland.com)

LeBron James passes on Cleveland question in post-game press conference (cleveland.com)

Miami Heat’s Big Three cruise to NBA title, sights set on more (Sporting News)

LeBron James vindicated with first NBA championship, Finals MVP (Sporting News)


Seneca Wallace cannot contribute to the growth of Brandon Weeden - Browns Comment of the Day

0
0

"Wallace may be the better backup (but not by much based on performance on the field). I don't see him contributing to Weeden's growth very much, there are layers of experienced QB guru's on the coaching staff." - canracnow

wallace.JPGView full sizeCan Seneca Wallace be a good backup for Brandon Weeden?
In response to the story Mary Kay Cabot tells 92.3 The Fan that Colt McCoy won't be with the Browns on Week One, cleveland.com reader canracnow says Seneca Wallace can't contribute to growth of Brandon Weeden as his backup. This reader writes,

"Wallace may be the better backup (but not by much based on performance on the field). I don't see him contributing to Weeden's growth very much, there are layers of experienced QB guru's on the coaching staff.

I believe unused cap space in 2012 rolls over to 2013 under the new CBA. The Browns could make a free agent splash then, similar to how Tampa did this year. $4M extra (2 yrs of Seneca's salary) wouldn't hurt.

This team isn't built to compete in 2012. A decent strategy would be to hoard cap space, test out the young players to see what we've got, get another decent draft slot, and then make a move in 2013 free agency to plug the weak spots where the young players didn't pan out."

To respond to canracnow's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Indians at Astros: Twitter updates and game preview

0
0

After sweeping the Cincinnati Reds earlier this week, the Indians travel to Houston face the Astros tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Paul Hoynes, @Hoynsie.

After sweeping the Cincinnati Reds earlier this week, the Indians travel to Houston face the Astros tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Paul Hoynes @Hoynsie or click here for a live game box score. You can also download our Cleveland Indians app for Android to get Tribe updates on your mobile device. Read on for a game preview.

Note: Hit reload for latest Tweets


houston.JPGView full sizeThe Tribe travel to Houston tonight to face the Astros.
(AP) -- The Cleveland Indians appear to have finally broken out of their slump. With Ubaldo Jimenez taking the mound on the road against the Houston Astros, they should have a good chance to extend their winning streak.

The right-hander seeks a third straight outstanding road start when he faces the Astros on Friday night.

Cleveland (36-32) gave up its AL Central lead during a 7-14 stretch but moved back into first place with a three-game sweep of Cincinnati to start the week. The Indians gave up a combined three runs in the final two games, the most recent an 8-1 win Wednesday, after posting a 6.16 ERA over their previous 22 contests.

"We're a resilient team," right-hander Justin Masterson said. "I think we'll be able to carry this momentum on the road and have a lot of fun with it."

Jimenez (6-5, 5.00 ERA) will try to do his part with another superb outing away from home. He has allowed one run and five hits in each of his last two road starts, pitching 13 2-3 innings, after putting up a 9.00 ERA in his first five such games.

Plus, Jimenez has gone 3-0 with a 2.27 ERA in five career starts against the Astros (28-41) and 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three at Minute Maid Park.

He will be looking for a better outing than his last one Saturday, when he gave up four runs in six innings of a 9-2 loss to Pittsburgh. However, he'll be facing a team that's 6-18 in its last 24 and has dropped four of five at home.

Houston has totaled one run in losing its last two, leaving 11 runners on base during a 2-1 defeat Wednesday.

"There's a lot of things we can point to like guys trying too hard and putting a little too much pressure on themselves," manager Brad Mills said. "When you start to struggle in those situations, it starts to mount."

Lucas Harrell (6-5, 5.07) will look to end his recent woes, as the right-hander has gone 2-2 with an 8.37 ERA over his last four starts. He held Texas scoreless over five innings Saturday before giving up a three-run homer and a two-run single in the sixth of an 8-3 loss.

Harrell, who has never faced the Indians, is 4-0 with a 2.76 ERA at Minute Maid Park this season.

The Astros could use an effective and efficient effort from Harrell with fatigue having apparently set in for their bullpen. Houston's relievers have a 7.27 ERA in the past 24 games after posting a 2.85 ERA in the first 45.

The bullpen has thrown 78 innings during the last 24 contests, among the most in the NL.

"You just hope the factors of the starters not going very deep hopefully doesn't last that long," Mills told the team's official website. "When the starters don't go very long, that's going to happen. Your bullpen has enough rest they can pick them up now and then, but when the bullpen starts to struggle it's up to the starters to pick them up."

These teams are meeting for the first time since a three-game series in Houston from July 15-17, 2001.

Connecticut's Andre Drummond is the NBA Draft's center of uncertainty

0
0

Big questions surround UConn big man Andre Drummond. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Calling Connecticut's Andre Drummond the best center in the 2012 NBA draft comes with a qualifier.

"The jury is still out," said Ryan Blake, who succeeded his father, Marty, as NBA director of scouting. "He has great skills. He's athletic. He has an NBA body, the ability to be a good shooter. But he has not applied it.

"It's hard to ignore something like that."

Blake and others have compared Drummond to New York's Amar'e Stoudemire, who took some time to develop.

Chris Monter, the Alliance native who is editor and publisher of College Basketball News and Monter Draft News, has the same questions about Drummond, who worked out for the Cavs and probably will go in the top 10 picks.

"I think people thought he should have been a little more dominant than he was at UConn," Monter said. "It was kind of a dysfunctional group at times. He's got big time potential. If he could play hard every game, he has a chance to be a very, very good player. The question is, if he was up and down in a 30-game, two-game-a-week schedule, what's going to happen when you get in the NBA?"

With the possible exception of North Carolina's Tyler Zeller, there are lots of questions about each big man.

In fact, Blake called the entire group of available centers a "weird crapshoot."

"Historically, centers have been weak in the draft," he said. "You just don't find that true franchise-type guy. Those guys come around once every 25 years. I think Dwight Howard was the last one."

Scouting Report / Centers

drummond-dunk-uconn-2012-ap.jpgView full sizeThis is Andre Drummond's comfort zone when it comes to scoring. From anywhere farther away than 10 inches ... well, that's a bit problematic.

The best

Andre Drummond, Connecticut, 6-11 3/4, 278.6: The biggest risk in this draft. A general manager willing to take a chance could get a steal -- or get fired. Drummond has undeniable skills. He's long, mobile and quick. But in spite of his size and bulk, he's not particularly physical and his 29.5 percent free-throw percentage is downright frightening. The biggest question is whether his laid-back nature is immaturity or a chronic condition.

Best of the rest

Tyler Zeller, North Carolina, 7-0 1/2, 247.4: He's the anti-Drummond. Not flashy but effective and hard working. What you see is what you get. Although he probably won't be winning awards, he likely will have a long, productive career. He can run the floor, has good hands and can shoot to 17 feet. A hard worker who is a good defender and rebounder. He needs to get stronger.

Meyers Leonard, Illinois, 7-1 1/4, 249.8: He led the Big Ten in blocked shots and was third in rebounding, plus he shot 58.4 percent. But he's young and plays like it. He can be a little emotional, and not in a good way. Another player who will have to bulk up and add muscle.

Fab Melo, Syracuse, 7-0, 255: He's big. Period. He's a good rebounder and shot blocker who can defend the basket -- at least he did in Syracuse's 2-3 zone. Playing in the NBA won't be quite the same thing. He improved considerably as a sophomore, and similar improvement will be necessary for him to make it as a pro.

Henry Sims, Georgetown, 6-11 3/4, 241.2: A shade small and not a great athlete, although he makes up for it with his intelligence and knowledge of how to play the game. Scouts note his ability to pass.

Others to watch: Justin Hamilton, LSU; Robert Sacre, Gonzaga; Kenny Frease, Xavier.

Will the Cavs take one? Almost certainly, but not at No. 4. Presumably they do not want to suffer through another season like 2011-12, when they could not get any of their healthy big men to step up and grab the opportunity available after Anderson Varejao went out with a broken wrist.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Cavs should wait until second round to draft center, save No. 24 pick for another position - Comment of the Day

0
0

"I want the Cavs to draft a center but I am not so sure that using their second pick to do so would be wise. There are a lot better prospects out there." - benny1699

white.JPGView full sizeCould Royce White be a potential pick for the Cavs late in the first round?
In response to the story With his height no longer an issue, Bradley Beal's stature is growing prior to June 28 NBA Draft, cleveland.com reader benny1699 says the Cavs should hold off on drafting a center until the second round. This reader writes,

"I want the Cavs to draft a center but I am not so sure that using their second pick to do so would be wise. There are a lot better prospects out that like Royce White, Moultrie, Nicholson, Q. Miller, Wrotten, J. Taylor, Jenkins, Fournier, D. Green and Barton. I like all those guys more than those centers who might be available. With 2 second round picks the Cavs can select a center. I just dont see Mayo as better than the names I mentioned. And Ezeli doesnt seem to be much less talented than Mayo. At least not enough separation between the two to spend the #24 pick on either."

To respond to benny1699's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day".

Cleveland Indians P.M. links: Middle relief pitching problems; scouting the Houston Astros; minor league doings

0
0

The Indians' relief pitching in front of set-up man Vinnie Pestano and closer Chris Perez has been inconsistent. Indians and Astros play for the first time in 11 years. More Indians' story links.

tony-sipp.jpgReliever Tony Sipp has a 6.95 ERA, allowing five home runs, in 22 innings this season. In the last three campaigns, Sipp was solid, with an overall 3.43 ERA in 62 appearances per season.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians try to build on their modest three-game winning streak tonight when they visit the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series.

Right-handers Ubaldo Jimenez of the Indians and Lucas Harrell of the Astros get the starts. Both pitchers have six wins and five losses, despite somewhat worse-than-average ERAs: Jimenez, 5.00; Harrell, 5.07.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage includes Bill Livingston's column on the smooth, and improved, play of center fielder Michael Brantley; Paul Hoynes' story on the hitting approach of Lonnie Chisenhall; Hoynes' Indians Insider, leading off with the improved offensive production of veteran outfielder Johnny Damon; Hoynes' Cleveland Indians at Houston Astros: On Deck; and more.

The Indians (36-32) are in first place in the American League Central Division, a half game ahead of the Chicago White Sox; 2 1/2 ahead of the defending division champion Detroit Tigers; 4 1/2 up on the Kansas City Royals; nine in front of the Minnesota Twins.

The Astros (28-41) are fifth in the six-team National League Central Division, 10 1/2 games behind the Cincinnati Reds, who just got swept by the Indians in a three-game series in Cleveland.

This is the 51st season, all in the National League, for the Houston franchise, known as the Colt .45's during their first three seasons (1962-64). Next season, the Astros will move to the American League West Division, evening the AL and NL at 15 teams each, with three five-team divisions -- and giving Houston a natural geographical rivalry with the two-time defending AL champion Texas Rangers.

Near the middle of the 2010 season, the Indians' bullpen emerged as one of the best in baseball. The Tribe's relievers maintained that status through last season, generally getting solid overall performances from the pitchers in every role from long relief through the closer's slot.

This season, closer Chris Perez and set-up man Vinnie Pestano are as good as ever, and Joe Smith, though not brilliant as a year ago, remains largely reliable.

Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal writes, though, that the middle relief pitching has been troublesome:

When more than one key reliever isn’t performing, it can lead to all kinds of problems, as the Indians have found this season with their struggling middle relief corps.

“The biggest issue we have this year is Raffy [Perez] went down [with a strained side muscle] and Tony [Sipp] has struggled,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “So we have to throw some guys out there to take those spots and it’s not easy. We need Tony to turn it around because then it gives us more than three or four guys back there that we can utilize.”
Indians story links

The Indians play the Astros for the first time since 2001....and other notes. (By Andrew Simon, MLB.com)

What do the Indians most need to upgrade before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline? (By Lewie Polls, Wahoo's on First)

Thus far, the signing of Johnny Damon -- despite some recent contributions -- hasn't quite worked out. (By Chris Assenheimer, Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette)

Scouting the Houston Astros, the Indians' opponent for the next three games. (By Lewie Pollis/Greg Thurston, Wahoo's on First)

Cleveland's first-round draft pick, outfielder Tyler Naquin from Texas A&M, gets his professional career going with the Indians' short-season Class A team, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. (By Kevin Kleps, News-Herald)

A review of the last week around the Cleveland farm system. (By Jacob Rosen, WaitingForNextYear)

Infielder Jesus Aguilar of the high-Class A Carolina Mudcats and shortstop Francisco Lindor of the low-Class A Lake County Captains represent the Indians' minor leaguers at the Futures Game. (By Justin Albers, MLB.com)

Some early notes on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, who just got their season underway. (By Andrew Zajac, Indians Prospect Insider)

The first half of the season went about as well as pitcher Cody Anderson could have hoped for. The Class A Lake County Captains' pitcher made the Midwest League all-star team. (By Tony Lastoria, Indians Prospect Insider)

The Indians send a 2007 first-round draft pick, first baseman Beau Mills, to the Cincinnati Reds for cash. (WaitingForNextYear)

Several roster moves made in the Indians' minor league system. (By Tony Lastoria, Indians Prospect Insider)

 

Fading Cleveland Gladiators still carrying playoff ambitions

0
0

The 6-7 Gladiators remain in the thick of the American Conference playoff chase entering Saturday's game in Jacksonville.

thonngr.jpgView full size"When you're below .500 this late in the season and still a contender, you have to consider yourselves fortunate," says Gladiators head coach Steve Thonn.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Gladiators continue to author creative ways to lose.

If they are not forfeiting (at home to Pittsburgh two weeks ago), they are being outscored, 26-0, in the fourth quarter (at home by New Orleans last week).

Yet the Gladiators, who have dropped four straight and sit 6-7, remain in the thick of the American Conference playoff chase entering Saturday night's game at Jacksonville. They can thank three other wild-card leaders -- Jacksonville, New Orleans, Tampa Bay -- for also being 6-7 with five games left in the regular season.

Jacksonville and New Orleans currently have the tiebreaker edge for the wild-card spots. The AFL's two conferences, American and National, have four postseason spots available: two for division champions, two for wild cards. The Philadelphia Soul (11-3) has clinched the East Division, of which the Gladiators are a member. The Georgia Force (7-7) leads the South.

The American Conference is either parity-rich or incredibly mediocre. Gladiators coach Steve Thonn does not care about labels at the moment; as long as his team is viable despite disappointing results, nothing else matters.

"We're definitely fortunate to be in the hunt," Thonn said. "When you're below .500 this late in the season and still a contender, you have to consider yourselves fortunate. We can't worry, though, about what has or hasn't happened to get to this point. All we know is, we have a chance. We've emphasized in practice that our playoff run begins now."

The Gladiators attempted to get started sooner, of course, but bad performances intervened. Their four-game slide began at The Q on May 27, when the Soul rolled, 55-33. Coming off a short week, they lost June 1 at Iowa, 70-62.

Then came the infamous forfeit June 8, when players executed a one-team strike on behalf of their union to protest league-wide working conditions. The Power, which had lost six in a row, pocketed a 2-0 victory. It was the first forfeit in AFL history.

As painful as the strike was to execute, it perhaps played a role in expediting negotiations between the league and its players, The AFL was expected to announce Friday night a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the AFLPU.

Last Saturday, the Gladiators seemingly had shaken off the forfeit by taking a 14-point lead over the VooDoo into the fourth. New Orleans capitalized on Cleveland turnovers and left with a 54-42 victory.

"Not taking anything away from New Orleans, but 26 unanswered points will lose a lot of football games," Thonn said.

The Gladiators' next opportunity to recalibrate comes against a team they had all but beaten April 21 at The Q. However, they turned the ball over on downs in the final minute, and the Sharks responded with a touchdown and 54-49 victory.

"Every loss, it seems, there is a combination of things that goes wrong," Thonn said. "The bottom line is, we're just not finishing games like we need to."

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

Michael Brantley was a gift in the CC Sabathia trade - Tribe Comment of the Day

0
0

"LaPorta will always carry the burden of the Sabathia trade, which we can generously call a bust. Brantley was a gift. Shappy traded two Cy Young winners and got Brantley, and a back-up catcher in return. And then got a promotion!" - pereubu

brantley.JPGView full sizeMichael Brantley has been the only bright spot for the Indians that was a part of the CC Sabathia deal.
In response to the story Cleveland Indians' Michael Brantley proving to be as smooth as a summer breeze: Bill Livingston, cleveland.com reader pereubu says Michael Brantley was the best part of the CC Sabathia trade. This reader writes,

"Nice player. Wish he has some power.

LaPorta will always carry the burden of the Sabathia trade, which we can generously call a bust. Brantley was a gift. Shappy traded two Cy Young winners and got Brantley, and a back-up catcher in return. And then got a promotion!"

To respond to pereubu's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Status of Scott Stricklin's contract is next priority for Kent State baseball

0
0

Kent State will be looking to replace some players who are leaving and hoping it doesn't have to replace its coach.

ksu-stricklin-ncaa-mug-ap.jpgView full size"You never know what's going to happen," KSU baseball coach Scott Stricklin said during the College World Series when asked about other potential college openings. "You never say never."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Time to reload for Kent State baseball. The magical 47-20 season is now complete, with memories of the Golden Flashes' first College World Series appearance still fresh.

Several key players must be replaced, and once again KSU has to lock in coach Scott Stricklin with another contract. The only open job out there is Michigan, which beyond sharing the label of "Big Ten" with a big purse, is also akin to jobs at Ohio State, Nebraska and Notre Dame, where Stricklin's name has surfaced in the past.

Yet he has remained at Kent.

The fact is, after eight years at the helm he's a lot closer to being a consistent College World Series contender in Portage County than he would be at just about any other institution north of the Mason-Dixon line.

"I'm at my alma mater. I met my wife here, we've raised a family here. We love Kent State," Stricklin said more than once during KSU's three-week run to the CWS. "I love Kent State University."

Yet he left also left himself some clear negotiating room. "You never know what's going to happen," he said. "You never say never."

Kent has already promised Stricklin new lights for the baseball stadium, with other improvements to come, perhaps including a new, more visible campus entrance from the east that will feature the stadium as it becomes a new focal point for the university. That momentum continues on the fast track if Stricklin is at Kent to push it.

Perhaps not if he's gone.

Following the Golden Flashes' 4-1 elimination from the CWS at the hands of South Carolina, Stricklin sounded like a man more focused on finding roster replacements than leaving.

Kent State loses No. 1 starter David Starn, catcher David Lyon, shortstop Jimmy Rider, pitcher Ryan Mace and outfielder Joe Koch. It's unknown if junior DH Nick Hamilton, a late-round pick by the Indians, will turn sign a contract, but junior right-hander Ryan Bores, the 27th-round pick by Texas, has said he will be going pro.

Final Kent State baseball statistics

Kent has a core of strong defensive players returning in second baseman Derek Toadvine, right fielder T.J. Sutton, first baseman George Roberts, third baseman Sawyer Polen, center fielder Evan Campbell and left fielder Alex Miklos. But more than one of those players struggled at the plate in the CWS, indicating a potential recruiting emphasis could be elite hitters.

One plus is DH Jason Bagoly, the star of Kent's 5-4 win over No. 1 Florida, returns, along with sophomore pitcher Tyler Skulina and freshman David Clark. Rider has been an invaluable player at short, but the athletic Campbell, who began his career as a middle infielder, is certainly capable of moving back.

Kent's biggest task in chasing future CWS appearances looks to be keeping Stricklin, 40. He has a base salary of $145,000 and with incentives almost certainly met his deal rises to near $200,000 according to AD Joel Nielsen. That's a deal which Nielson believes sits in the middle of the Big Ten pack.

But the bigger key may be Stricklin's vision for the program. Time and again he used Wichita State -- a heartland program not quite north or south -- as a reference to what KSU baseball could be. The Shockers program that produced former Cleveland Indian Joe Carter was shut down for seven years before returning in 1977. In the 35 years since, WSU has been to the College World Series five times and made 27 NCAA Tournament appearances.

"That's who we look up to, that's who we want to try to get our program like and be consistent on the national stage," Stricklin said.

While it might be a stretch to see Stricklin at KSU for another decade, in half the time he can set a deep foundation and would still be a young 45. By then Stricklin's name would almost certainly be aligned with more coveted Sunbelt jobs every time one became available.

For now, Nielsen might do very well having Stricklin recruit himself, with the same pitch being given high-school prospects.

"One part of my recruiting speech is 'This is the best time to ever be at Kent State' with all the renovations downtown, the new hotel, all that's going on on campus," Stricklin said. "We're going to keep selling that message. Now we can say, 'We're competing for a national championship' and look 'em square in the eye and mean it."

If, as Stricklin says, the time is truly now for KSU baseball, why leave?


Canadian court fines importing company for transporting Asian carp

0
0

Both Canadian and American officials have been working to halt the spread of the fish in the Great Lakes.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Canadian fish importing company and its president were fined $50,000 in a Sarnia, Ont. court on Friday for trying to illegally bring 5,450 pounds of live Asian carp into the country on Jan. 20, 2011.

Xiong Wang of Markham, Ont., was fined $10,000 and his company, Xionyin Trading Inc., of Toronto, was fined $40,000 by Justice Deborah J. Austin. The bighead carp valued at $3,270 were forfeited. Charges against a second company official have yet to be settled.

"We have three more cases involving the illegal importing of Asian carp before the courts here, two of them involving people from the U.S.," said John Cooper of the Ontario Ministry of Nature Resources. "It has been illegal since 2005 to possess live invasive carp in Ontario, including bighead, grass, black and silver carp."

The Xionyin Trading tank truck designed to carry live fish was stopped at the Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron, Mich., and Sarnia, Ont. by the Canada Border Services Agency. The Ministry of Natural Resources was called in to help with an inspection of the truck. When live Asian carp were discovered, the truck and fish were seized.

The invasive carp were once imported to supply Asians living in the Toronto area, who reportedly prefer live carp. In some cultures, an Asian carp is consumed and another released into rivers or lakes to celebrate a special occasion.

These hunting retrievers take 'fetch' to new heights: D'Arcy Egan's Outdoors

0
0

The well-trained canines strutting their stuff at the Buckeye Retriever Club's Hunt Test are a sight to see.

retriever-dog-vert-egan.jpgView full sizeCopper's Little Mountain Bruin stops on command despite being in the water to get direction from Michelle Reda of Mentor. She and her late husband, Jay Reda, a wildlife officer noted for his retrieving dog demonstrations at the Ohio State Fair, trained the six-year-old golden retriever.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Many mornings have been spent hunkered down in a waterfowl hunting blind, sipping strong black coffee and hoping Bluebelle, the Labrador retriever at my side, would have the chance to bring home a mallard or pintail.

Most hunters believe their retrieving dog is up to the task of marking, finding and retrieving a duck. Maybe so, but the talented retrievers performing in the Buckeye Retriever Club's Hunt Test at Hambden Nursery in Geauga County last weekend have the bar set so much higher.

In the Master Class for veteran dogs, the Labrador, golden and Chesapeake Bay retrievers need to possess triple the talent of a retrieving dog in the duck blind. The hunt test format calls for tossing out a trio of ducks while shotguns are fired from scattered blinds. It challenges dog and handler to mark where all of the birds fell, and efficiently make three consecutive retrieves on both land and in water.

"The handler and the dog really have to be on the same page," said Bruce Smith of Rome, Ohio, who was judging the Master Class. "You'll sometimes get a dog that thinks it knows more than its handler and wants to find a duck on its own. That's usually where they get into trouble."

The dogs have to use their ears and eyes, most quivering with anticipation when a shotgun is fired, intensely watching for a duck in the air. The handler can pick which duck is to be the first the dog should retrieve, using hand signals to help direct the dog. Should the dog stray off course, a quick whistle will get the dog's attention. The retriever will stop and look to the handler, whether the dog is paddling in place while swimming across a pond or skidding to a stop while racing through an upland field.

Hand signals will put the dog on the right path, and when the retriever is in the right neighborhood, a talented nose will guide it to the bird.

People who buy a Labrador or golden retriever just because they're great family pets will never know what they and their dog are missing. Well-bred retrievers are born to hunt and eager to do their job. That amazing drive is held in check by many months and years of training.

The Buckeye Retriever Club is designed to bring together hunting retriever fans, share training sessions and hold hunt tests. For someone used to the usual collection of guys in waders parked in a duck blind, a surprising number of the hunt test handlers -- which are generally the owners, as well -- are women of all ages.

Breeding is a large part of the success. The best male and female retrievers are matched, and not to produce a good-looking pet. These dog handlers want a well-rounded performer with a ton of desire, a willingness to instantly obey commands and a top-notch scenting ability.

"I was once a bird hunter with German shorthaired pointer," said Smith. "I lost Honker because I couldn't stop him from racing after a bird as it crossed a road. Honker was hit by a car and killed. My next two dogs, Zack and his son, Buddy, are Labs.

"When I blow the whistle, they stop and sit."

LeBron James' triumph being celebrated by his high-school coaches, Keith Dambrot and Dru Joyce

0
0

Local coaches Dru Joyce and Keith Dambrot celebrated the NBA championship with their former player, LeBron James.

lbj-dambrot-2011-jk.jpgView full sizeBefore the end of last fall's NBA lockout, Akron coach Keith Dambrot and LeBron James had a private talk. "He's always been a coachable guy, a guy who wanted to win and play the right way," said James' first coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary. "I knew that he could get back to where he wanted to get. But he had to look himself in the mirror."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the clock approached midnight on Thursday, 1,200 miles from American Airlines Arena, LeBron James of the Miami Heat hoisted first the NBA championship trophy and then The Finals MVP. At the same time, the two men who set him on his path watched on their home TVs in Akron and celebrated as if James were their son.

"I had a great seat at home, probably the best seat, with my grandchildren," said Dru Joyce. "There was a lot of whooping and hollering."

Surely, James would not have reached the pinnacle of success with Thursday's defeat of the Oklahoma City Thunder were it not for Joyce and Keith Dambrot, his first two coaches at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Their support and influence has nurtured James throughout his career and continues to do so to this day.

In fact, James' turnaround from also-ran in 2011 to champion in 2012 may have had its start one September day in the Akron basketball players lounge, where Dambrot, now the coach of the Zips, invited James in for a chat.

"Just give me five minutes," Dambrot said to James, who'd been working out in town during the NBA lockout.

"I sat him down and I said, 'Look you can stop me anytime you want. If you think I'm overstepping my bounds, you can stop me.' I just hit him with going back to the beginning, going back to the basics, doing things that he didn't want to do -- like rebounding, playing in the post, moving without the ball. But mostly about just the mental side of handling the criticism and trying to play through misses and getting on to the next play, not letting plays bother him or games bother him or anything bother him and just playing again, having fun playing.

"He was great. I talked to him about being coachable. I have a theory that people may wander off their course, but they are who they are. He's always been a coachable guy, a guy who wanted to win and play the right way. I knew that he could get back to where he wanted to get. But he had to look himself in the mirror. He agreed with me. I give him a lot of credit for that. He already knew."

joyce-mug-2009-jk.jpgView full size"The negatives that were said had an effect," current SVSM coach Dru Joyce said Friday. "(James) said it last night. He said he played last year trying to prove everyone wrong. Playing from that won't take you where you need to go. You have to play from love."

Both coaches suffered with James last season when he was criticized from all corners -- for leaving Cleveland, for using a national television show to announce it, then for falling short against the Dallas Mavericks.

"He has always been a likeable kid," said Joyce, who replaced Dambrot at SVSM after James' sophomore season and remains the coach of the Irish. "He enjoys people. He enjoyed people feeling good about him, not saying negative things about him. I think all of us do.

"The negatives that were said had an effect. He said it last night. He said he played last year trying to prove everyone wrong. Playing from that won't take you where you need to go. You have to play from love. You can't play from hate. You can't play from anger.

"This year, he forgot about the critics and just played the game the way he's been taught to play it, the way he's enjoyed playing it. He understood what the team need from him and he made those changes. He did the kinds of things he did growing up and in high school -- he did whatever his team needed. That was big.

"When you stay focused on the things you can control -- your attitude and your effort -- and you let all that other stuff go, you can make those kinds of strides. You've seen him grow up a lot."

Dambrot agreed.

"Physically he made some improvements, but most of if was just pure mental improvement," he said. "Until he understood that he couldn't please everybody and that people were going to criticize him and that he had to trust his instincts and just play basketball and not worry about what people thought, he was not going to be successful.

"I think he did a really good job of it for someone who has never been through it before -- this year. I think last year was really hard on him."

After sounding like a father for most of an interview on Friday, Dambrot's coaching side slipped out.

"I still think he can get a lot better," he said. "I always felt like he underachieved rebounding. He should be able to get 10 in his sleep as athletic and as strong as he is. And he's a much better shooter than he's shown.

"He's still a work in progress, as crazy as that sounds."

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Euro 2012 viewership up big from 4 years ago

0
0

The average audience in the United States was up 82 percent for English-language broadcasts through the group stage.

germany-celebrates-vs-portugal-euro-2012.jpgGermany celebrates ...a goal, not the TV ratings. But I'm sure they're happy about that too. 

The European Championship's viewership is up big from four years ago.

The average audience in the United States was up 82 percent for English-language broadcasts through the group stage.

The 24 matches on ESPN averaged more than 1 million viewers. For Euro 2008, the games were watched by an average of 552,000 people.

Germany beats Greece 4-2 to reach Euro 2012 semifinals

0
0

With Chancellor Angela Merkel cheering every step of the way, Germany dominated Greece -- on the football field.

germany-celebrates-vs-greece-euro-2012.jpgGermany's Philipp Lahm, left, celebrates with Jerome Boateng after scoring during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between Germany and Greece in Gdansk, Poland, Friday, June 22, 2012.

GDANSK, Poland — With Chancellor Angela Merkel cheering every step of the way, Germany dominated Greece -- on the football field.

The Germans reached the European Championship semifinals for a record seventh time by beating Greece 4-2 Friday in a match played amid the contentious political backdrop between the countries.

But just like in the real world, where Germany has been a major contributor to economic bailouts for Greece, the three-time champions were in control at the Arena Gdansk. And after the match, Merkel visited the players in the changing room.

"(Merkel) congratulated us and said that we played very well," Germany forward Mesut Oezil said. "The rest of what she said will stay among us."

Philipp Lahm put Germany in the lead in the 39th minute as his team controlled nearly every facet of the game. Although Georgios Samaras equalized for Greece in the 55th, it was all Germany after that as Sami Khedira, Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus scored.

It was the 15th consecutive competitive victory for Germany, dating back to the win over Uruguay for third place at the 2010 World Cup. The Germans will go for No. 16 against either England or Italy in the semifinals on Thursday in Warsaw.

Although Germany dominated from the start, the Greek defense held strong for much of the first half. Lahm finally put his team in front by controlling the ball with his chest and dribbling toward the middle before sending a long-distance shot into the corner off the hand of Greece goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis.

"We couldn't breathe and did very little with our chances and on set pieces," Greece coach Fernando Santos said. "The first goal made things very difficult for us, despite our good defensive effort."

The Greeks looked better at the start of the second half, and even equalized when Samaras knocked the ball past Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after a perfect cross from Dimitris Salpigidis.

It was one of Greece few forays into Germany's side of the field.

"Greece is a curious team. They had one chance and scored two goals," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "But we didn't get nervous after 1-1, and the goals came."

They did indeed.

Khedira volleyed in a cross from Jerome Boateng in the 61st, and Klose headed in a free kick from Oezil in the 68th as Sifakis was late to punch the ball away.

"When we conceded a second goal we had to open up and that cost us," Salpigidis said. "I hope the Greeks got some encouragement from watching us fighting."

Reus made it 4-1 in the 74th, volleying a shot in off the underside of the crossbar after Sifakis had saved from Klose. Salpigidis added a consolation penalty for Greece in the 89th after Boateng handled.

"We scored twice. We did what we could," Greece defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos said. "Maybe we could have been a bit more careful but we fought hard, we fought for the whole of Greece."

Loew dropped his three main forwards for the match, including leading striker Mario Gomez, but their replacements did just fine.

Klose, who has Polish heritage, constantly troubled the Greek defense and linked up well with Oezil and Andre Schuerrle.

Greece had one major change in its lineup, but it was because of suspension. Captain Giorgos Karagounis sat out the match after picking up a yellow card in the 1-0 win over Russia for diving.

Without him in the midfield, the Germans had little trouble controlling the play and creating chance after chance.

"We made it to the last eight and this is very important," Papastathopoulos said. "The Netherlands didn't make it and we are talking about a very big country in football terms."

___

Lineups:

Germany: Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Holger Badstuber, Philipp Lahm, Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marco Reus (Mario Goetze, 80), Mesut Oezil, Andre Schuerrle (Thomas Mueller, 67), Miroslav Klose (Mario Gomez, 80).

Greece: Michalis Sifakis, Yiannis Maniatis, Giorgos Tzavelas (Giorgos Fotakis, 46), Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Grigoris Makos (Nikos Lymberopoulos, 72), Georgios Samaras, Dimitris Salpigidis, Vassilis Torosidis, Sotiris Ninis (Fanis Gekas, 46), Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Costas Katsouranis.

Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images