Too bad there isn't a major NBA event in the next week to enthuse Cavaliers fans. Oh, there is?

View full sizeTerry Gilliam, Associated PressMany Cavaliers fans were convinced of the value of Michigan State's Draymond Green during his battles with Ohio State. But are the Cavaliers equally impressed?

Hey, Mary: Have the Cavaliers brought in Draymond Green for a pre-draft workout? Have they considered him with their second first-round pick? -- Russell, Cleveland

Hey, Russell: They did work him out. I'm just not sure exactly which pick they'd considering using on him. I think they'll likely look for more size at No. 24.

Hey, Mary: With the biggest need obviously being secondary scorers at the two and three positions, what do you think of the following? Take Harrison Barnes at No. 4. He has size, athleticism, can shoot from outside, can be an additional scorer and a relationship with Kyrie Irving. Then trade back into the lottery to take Jeremy Lamb. He also has the size and scoring ability. That gives the team the ability to score and stretch the floor from all three positions while letting Thompson and Varejao clean up the boards. -- Brandon, Dublin

Hey, Brandon: That certainly would be a step in improving their scoring, but I think the Cavs would have to give up a future No. 1 pick to get a second lottery pick this year and I don't think they're willing to do that. Nos. 24, 33 and 34 isn't going to do it.

Hey, Mary: At this point in the rebuilding process, does the team feel it is more important to fill a specific need at No. 4 or are we just looking for the best prospect? In my opinion Harrison Barnes would fill the hole in our team the best (a forward who can create his own shot) as opposed to another 6-3 guard (Beal), another defense- and intangible-driven forward (Kidd-Gilchrist) or another big who doesn't have a post game (Drummond). -- Anthony, Cleveland

Hey, Anthony: Sometimes the best available player actually does fill the specific needs of a team, and I happen to agree with you on Barnes, although I must point out Beal measured 6-4 3/4 in his shoes at the recent combine. I don't think the Cavs have made their minds up yet, although, obviously, they're getting closer.

Hey, Mary: Let's assume they draft Beal or Lamb. Would they then pursue a free-agent big man such as Roy Hibbert or Spencer Hawes? Or if it's Harrison Barnes, would they try to add balance with say Lou Williams/Jamal Crawford/Nick Young at shooting guard? I've tried to mention some cheaper options for adding some scoring but perhaps the Cavs are simply not interested in spending on free agents at this point. -- Aaron Fink, Boulder, Colo.

Hey, Aaron: Your thinking is correct in that they don't intend to be big players in the free agent market, so that takes Hibbert and Hawes out of the mix since they will command big money. Lou Williams and Nick Young likely are looking for more than the Cavs are willing to pay, too, and the one thing I'm sure of is that they don't want to overpay. With a plan to build around a young core, Crawford, at 32, probably is not in the plans.

View full sizeAP fileMaking some draft-day moves to acquire UConn's Jeremy Lamb and Baylor's Perry Jones (above) might interest some, but not Mary Schmitt Boyer.

Hey, Mary: What do you think about if we trade our picks with Portland and draft Jeremy Lamb with the sixth pick and than draft Perry Jones III with the 11th pick? Lamb would give us the shooting guard that we need and with Perry's size and ball-handing skills, he would be very hard to guard. Also, they are great defenders. -- Gregory Douglas, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Hey, Gregory: I'm not sold on Lamb, although the Cavs worked him out, and Jones reminds me too much of J.J. Hickson, so, personally, I'd take a pass on this deal.

Hey, Mary: If Tristan was in this year's class, how high do you think he would be drafted? -- Yair, Lakewood, N.J.

Hey, Yair: What a great question. Last year he was projected to go as a late lottery pick, but went 10 spots higher. The thing that sold the Cavaliers was his great motor. Ironically, power forwards projected fairly high in this draft -- like Perry Jones and Terrence Jones -- haven't displayed a similar motor, and there are questions about Jared Sullinger's back. If Anthony Davis and Thomas Robinson are the first two power forwards taken, perhaps 1 and 2, Thompson might have been the third, maybe by Portland at No. 6 or Detroit at No. 9.

Hey, Mary: LeBron might have played the greatest game ever in Game 3 of the finals. He played 45 min, guarded the leading scorer in the NBA, had 14 rebounds, five offensive rebounds and had only 1 foul. Is that a record for fewest amount of fouls vs. productivity? -- Joe Carter, San Diego, Calif.

Hey, Joe: While I'm willing to give James all the credit in the world for the way he played, there is no record I'm aware of that would prove your point.

Hey, Mary: I've read that the Cavs will not be big spenders in free agency even with all the cap space we have. I know we are trying to improve and build around young talent, but wouldn't going after a player like O.J. Mayo or Eric Gordon be a huge upgrade over what we've had the past couple seasons and fill another hole if we drafted, let's say Harrison Barnes at the three spot? I wouldn't want to see them make a bad move just to spend the money like the Pistons did, but I think there are some quality players available. If you were Chris Grant, would you pursue this off-season? -- Dustin Hutchinson, Parma

Hey, Dustin: I think we're just going to have to wait and see what happens in the draft before targetting free agents. It would seem to me the moves New Orleans made last week are to ensure that Gordon returns (at any price) and I've never had the sense Mayo was on the Cavs' radar. There have been reports linking the team with restricted free agent Sonny Weems of Toronto. Maybe he's an option.

Hey, Mary: How do the Cavs feel about selecting Royce White with the 24th pick? -- Jay Lindseth, Princeton, N.J.

Hey, Jay: The Cavs did work him out, so there's some interest. I guess it depends on which players are left in the mix at No. 24.

Hey, Mary: How often do teams draft players without having pre-draft workouts? If a team would have the 20th pick they probably wouldn't work out a top-10 talent but overlook a player like Terrence Jones. Are most workouts held by teams with lottery picks? -- Ryan, Holmesville, Ohio

Hey, Ryan: I would say almost every team has workouts of some sort, and lots of players get drafted by teams they didn't work out for. Golden State drafted Stephen Curry without working him out. Sometimes there's a power struggle between teams and agents who think their players should go by a certain number, and won't let them work out for teams drafting lower. I'm quite sure Jones has taken part in plenty of workouts.

Hey, Mary: I think the Cavs should really look at Terrence Jones or Terrence Ross, although both seem like a reach at No. 4. I would like to know are either of these players on their radar and how do you think they would fit? -- Brother Chet, Cleveland

Hey, Brother Chet: Right now, almost everybody is on their radar, but you're right -- No. 4 is too high for either player, and neither will probably still be there at No. 24. I like Ross better than Jones, but doubt either will wind up here.

Hey, Mary: Now that we know that Mirza Teletovic will sign with either the Cavs or Nets, I'm wondering whether the Cavs are actually interested in him. Do you think they will sign him if he chooses Cleveland? -- Josh Denison, Cleveland

Hey, Josh: I don't think we know for sure where he's going, and I think you've got it backwards. Why would he choose Cleveland if the team wasn't going to sign him? He's a good-shooting power forward. Depending on what happens in the draft, the Cavs could take a look, but nothing is certain at this point.

-- Mary

A wide variety of topics tests beat writer in this week's mailbag column.

View full sizeAndrew Woolley, Four Seam Images The Indians' drafting of Texas A&M's Tyler Naquin -- and rapid signing -- reflects a new reality in MLB's strict pay levels to new talent.

Hey, Hoynsie: The so-called experts were surprised that the Tribe drafted Tyler Naquin as the 15th pick in the first round. Is this an example of the Tribe again trying to save money and not drafting better, more expensive, talent? -- Dave Miller, Cleveland

Hey, Dave: The Indians paid Naquin a $1.75 million signing bonus. Under the new basic agreement, they could have spent as much as $2.35 million on their first pick. They didn't do that so they could use the leftover money to help pay for their remaining top 10 picks.

Under the new basic agreement, each team was allocated a certain amount to spend on their first 10 picks. They Indians' bonus pool was just over $4.5 million. Teams spending beyond their bonus pool are subject to fines and possible loss of draft picks.

I think the Indians are trying to make the most of their available cash.

Hey, Hoynsie: You wrote in an earlier column that GM Chris Antonetti said the Indians had players in the minors other teams wanted and we could use them to acquire a bat or a pitcher. I follow all our minor-league teams. With the exception of Zach McAllister, who do we have at AAA or AA that other teams would trade a decent player for? -- Joe Eversole, Pelham, Ala.

Hey, Joe: I agree that McAllister would be attractive to another team. So would Chen-Chang Lee, providing a team is willing to wait a year while he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

Over the winter, the Indians traded minor-league relievers Zach Putnam and a couple of other relievers. I think they still have a backlog of decent relievers that might interest a team.Remember, money comes into play as well. If the Indians agreed to pay a big chunk of the incoming player's contract, the players they gave up would not have to be top-shelf prospects.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why did the Indians even bring up Matt LaPorta if they weren't going to play him? Is he done in Cleveland? -- Angelo Costanzo, Cleveland

Hey, Angelo: They needed somebody to fill in for Johnny Damon when he left the team to be with his wife and newborn twins on June 3. Is LaPorta done in Cleveland? Not sure if he's 100 percent deep fried, but I believe he's close.

Hey, Hoynsie: I only see the Tribe on MLB clips since I moved to Florida. But I have seen so many plays this year when a runner slides home belly-first, or just a regular hard slide at the plate when sometimes the throw has been cut off or the play wasn't close. Are the lead runners that score first supposed to give signs as to slide, or not slide, to the oncoming runner? If no lead runner is involved, can't the on-deck hitter move over or give a sign from the on-deck circle? I'd hate to see a guy get hurt when no slide was needed. -- Bruce Allen, Land O' Lakes, Fla.

Hey, Bruce: Good point. Travis Hafner injured his foot last year when one of his teammates told him to make an unnecessary slide home.

When you think about it, the Indians have struggled to score runs most of this season. I think players are so excited when they do score that they like to celebrate. You know, get their uniforms dirty. It's like driver turfing out the infield when he wins a NASCAR race. (Yes, I'm having a sarcastic moment.)

Hey, Hoynsie: Why were Jason Kipnis and Asdrubal Cabrera switched in the batting lineup? It seems that Kipnis was doing fine in the two hole. -- Lou Kovach, Gary, N.C.

Hey, Lou: Manager Manny Acta wanted to put the switch-hitter Cabrera between lefties Shin-Soo Choo and Kipnis at the top of the order. It's worked out well.

Hey, Hoynsie: Would Jason Kipnis be eligible for arbitration as a Super Two player at the end of the season, assuming he remains with the big-league club for the rest of the year? -- David Bruno, Chicago

Hey, David: He wouldn't. Kipnis won't have two full years of service time at the end of this season. Under the new basic agreement, Super Two players have to have two years of big league time plus be in the top 22 percent of players with more than two, but fewer than three years in the big leagues.

Hey, Hoynsie: With the trade deadline fast approaching, what is your understanding of owner Paul Dolan's commitment to spend when in contention? Can we take that to the bank like his dad's "we want to compete for the World Series every year?" -- Marion Stonebrook, Oxford

Hey, Marion: I think GM Chris Antonetti has permission to add pieces to this club to help them not only contend, but to win the AL Central.

Hey, Hoynsie: I believe that Carlos Santana should be placed sixth in the batting order and left there permanently. Do you have a breakdown on what his production is from batting fifth or lower in the lineup as opposed to fourth or higher? -- Nick Hansen, Oro Valley, Ariz.

Hey, Nick: Santana has spent exactly one game hitting sixth in the lineup. The rest of the time he's hit third, fourth or fifth. If Santana is still struggling when Travis Hafner returns to the lineup, perhaps he should be dropped to the sixth spot.

With a tip of the hat to baseball-reference.com, here's what Santana is hitting this season in various spots in the lineup: No.3 .167 (1-for-6); No. 4, .192 (25-for-130) with four homers and 19 RBI; No. 5 .299 (20-for-67), one homer, 10 RBI; No. 6 .500 (2-for-4).

-- Hoynsie

The inability to convert on four plays six yards from the end zone summed up another frustrating game for the Gladiators.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Cleveland Gladiators are close to being forced to grab at straws when it comes to assessing their Arena League playoff hopes.

Part of the reason for that, they claimed Saturday night, was because the officials failed to see two Jacksonville Sharks grabbing at the jersey of wide receiver Dominick Goodman.

John Dutton's potential game-tying fourth-down pass for Goodman fell incomplete with less than a minute to go at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The inability to convert on four plays six yards from the end zone summed up another frustrating game for the Gladiators, who saw their record fall to 6-8 and their losing streak extended to five as the Sharks came away with a 56-42 victory.

Neither team led by more than seven points all game until Bernard Morris threw his seventh touchdown pass, a 35-yard strike to Terrance Smith with 29.7 seconds remaining. The score came after Gladiators coach Steve Thonn was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after arguing the non-call against Goodman.

"Two guys grabbed him," Thonn said. "And they said they didn't see it. I thought it was pretty obvious that he got pulled down on the play."

A completion from Dutton to Goodman gave the Gladiators a first down at the 6. But that was followed by three incompletions and Michaeux Robinson's second interception as Goodman threw up his hands in exasperation.

"I felt like it was pass interference," he said. "But I can't make the call. So it is what it is."

• Gladiators-Sharks statistics

That wasn't the only beef the Gladiators had with the officiating crew. Levy Brown, who leads them in interceptions this season with eight, and backup guard Ron Haver were ejected before the game after getting into a scuffle with Vladimir Richard of the Sharks during warm-ups almost an hour before kickoff.

The officials were late in getting on the field and sorting out the altercation, which Thonn claimed was instigated by the Sharks.

"They came down to our end, into our end zone, and they ran through our warm-ups and started a fight," he said. "And we get penalized for it. I don't know what to say. As far as I know, you need to stay on your half of the field during warm-ups."

Smith streaked past Brown's replacement, Lenny Wicks, down the left sideline on the game-clinching score. But Wicks had played well for the bulk of the game, highlighted by a breakup of a long fourth-down pass intended for Smith and the Gladiators staring at a 42-35 deficit.

Dutton and Goodman hooked up on a 13-yard score moments later to tie the game.

"Whenever you lose a guy like Levy, it hurts," Thonn said. "But I thought our defense played well. Our DBs played pretty well picking up the slack."

The Gladiators held a 21-14 lead after one quarter on the strength of Dutton's two touchdown passes to Robert Redd and Maurice Williams' 53-yard kickoff return. It marked the first time all season that the Gladiators have taken back a kickoff for a score. But two turnovers in the second quarter, including a fumble by Redd resulting from a successful replay challenge by the Sharks, caused them to trail for the first time.

The Gladiators were able to tie the score with 11.5 seconds to go before halftime on a 5-yard pass from Dutton to a wide-open Goodman in the back of the end zone.

"Right now, it's a must-win situation," Thonn said. "So our playoffs start next week at home against Milwaukee. That's the attitude we have to take."

Ken Hornack is a freelance writer based in Florida.

Seven years after she won the world long jump title as a teenager, Madison is headed to her first Olympics in the 100 meters.

View full sizeAP photoTianna Madison assured herself of a spot in next month's Olympics when she finished second in the women's 100 meters in Saturday's Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

EUGENE, Ore. -- Elyria has its Olympian, and Tianna Madison has another shot at world supremacy.

Seven years after she won the world long jump title as a teenager, Madison is headed to her first Olympics in the 100 meters. She got off to her usual firecracker start before giving way to surging Carmelita Jeter in the U.S. Track and Field Trials final Saturday night. Jeter, the reigning 100 world champ, won in 10.92 seconds and Madison was four one-hundredths behind at 10.96.

Madison looked sharp the first two rounds, and her berth in the London Olympics didn't come as a surprise. What stunned the crowd of more than 20,000 in Hayward Field was Allyson Felix initially announced as the fourth-place finisher and out of the London loop. The top three earn Olympic berths, and to according to the initial final results, Jeneba Tarmoh edged Felix, 10.068 to 10.069.

That later was changed to a tie, with both runners' times posted at 10.068. Two cameras were used to record the photo finish. One was inconclusive and the other was analyzed to be a dead heat, according to a USATF spokesperson.

Officials from the U.S. track national governing body were meeting Saturday night to determine procedures to break the tie. Only three can go to London. Before learning of the result, Felix seemed resigned to not achieving her dream of double golds in the 100 and 200 in London. She still has the 200, where she is a two-time Olympic silver medalist.

"We always make plans and always think we know best, and sometimes that's not the case," she said.

Adding a little more intrigue is Madison skipped the post-race press conference for reasons that were unclear. She has kept a low profile, especially with the USATF, which did not publish her biography in an 780-page media guide and was unaware that she recently was married, according to teammates.

The post-race disappearing act apparently didn't sit well with Jeter, who declined to comment on Madison or mention her by name.

"I'm sorry, you will need that person here to comment on her race," Jeter said. "I want the American fans to be so proud of me, and I'm so excited to be a part of this team, and I'm excited for Jeneba."

Perhaps it's part of a grand plan to lay low. Madison's trials are not over, either. She's also is entered in the 200 and long jump and could become the reluctant star of this team.

In the only other women's final of the day, Ohio State's Christina Manning placed fifth in the highly-anticipated 100 hurdles final in 12.92. The top three were Dawn Harper (12.73), Kellie Wells (12.77) and Lolo Jones (12.86).

Manning violated the cardinal rule of hurdles, which is knowing the hurdles are your opponent, not the other runners.

"I didn't get out with a good start and started paying too much attention to everyone around me instead of running my race. It wasn't a focused race," she said.

Manning said she made contact with Jones, who passed Manning between the sixth and eighth hurdles.

"I tried to keep pushing, but I'm not that big. I've been hit before and been able to keep going," Manning said. "I'll be back. I feel very excited [about the future]. I've been running really good times all year."

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

The NBA draft coming up Thursday got us thinking: What if LeBron James had decided to stay in Cleveland instead of taking his talents to South Beach?

Associated Press fileWhat if, on that fateful day in July 2010, former Cavs phenom LeBron James had said he was sticking around Cleveland, instead of taking his talents to Miami?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NBA draft coming up Thursday got us thinking: What if LeBron James had decided to stay in Cleveland instead of taking his talents to South Beach?

Let's go back in time to July 8, 2010. We're at the Boys & Girls Club in Greenwich, Conn. LeBron sits across from Jim Gray and looks into the camera. The ESPN audience across the country waits for "The Decision."

"I have decided," LeBron says, "to remain at home, in Cleveland."

Gray's eyes widen as LeBron smiles.

"I will not rest until we have a championship," he says.

The headline in the next day's Plain Dealer is stripped across Page One: LEBRON TO STAY IN CLEVELAND; CITY REJOICES.

Over time, other things happened in Cleveland, as a result of "The Decision."

Here are some of the headlines that might have appeared in the following weeks and months:

PARADE FOR LEBRON TURNS UGLY

Dozens injured and jailed as celebration spins out of control

View full sizePlain Dealer fileWould the headline have read "LEBRON TO STAY IN CLEVELAND; CITY REJOICES" instead of "Gone" if LeBron had stayed in Cleveland?

COUNTY WORKERS' PRODUCTIVITY AT STANDSTILL

80% spend time on LeBron website

CITY COUNCIL DEDICATES LEBRON LANE

Cavs star can drive as fast as he wants /p>

MED MART TO MOVE FROM DOWNTOWN

The draft is Thursday.

View full sizeAP fileFormer Cavs player LeBron James, the first pick in the NBA draft, on Friday, June 27, 2003, at Gund Arena in Cleveland.

The draft is Thursday.

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Houston sent another left-hander starter to the mound on Sunday against the Indians with a predictable result. The Astros cruised to a 7-1 victory as the Indians fell to 5-15 against left-handed starters.

HOUSTON, Texas -- Manager Manny Acta's cell phone kept ringing as he talked to reporters in his office Sunday afternoon following another loss to another left-handed starter. Acta couldn't turn it off so he finally lobbed it over the reporters' heads and behind a small refrigerator in the far corner.

It landed with a clang, the same noise the Indians' offense made in a 7-1 loss to J.A. Happ and the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

The ring tone that Acta couldn't extinguish was the theme song from "Law & Order", the long-running TV courtroom drama in which every decision, no matter how ill-conceived, results in certain black-and-white consequences.

At the start of the season, the Indians purposely decided to build an offense overloaded with left-handed hitters. It was a calculated gamble based on the fact that they would face more right-handed starters than left-handers, which would increase their chances of winning.

It has worked to a certain degree. The Indians are 37-34 and have spent much of the first three months of the season in first place in the AL Central. They do not reside there today because of another consequence of their blueprint. The Indians, as presently constructed, are defenseless against left-handers.

The loss to Happ (6-7, 4.83) makes them 5-15 against left-handed starters this season. In this three-game series, the Indians scored four runs and still managed to win one game. Both losses were to lefty starters, Happ on Sunday and Dallas Keuchel on Saturday. Keuchel, a rookie making just his second big-league start, threw a complete game six-hitter.

It would appear the skill level of the left-hander facing the Indians doesn't really matter. The big thing is the arm he throws with.

The Indians simply didn't make this decision because there are more right-handed starters in the big leagues than lefties.

"We were willing to live with it because our ballpark is better suited for left-handed hitters," said Acta. "In our division, the Tigers didn't have one lefty in the rotation. The White Sox only had one lefty and the Twins had Francisco Liriano."

Seventy-one games into the season, there is no turning back. Yes, the Indians could add a right-handed hitter in a trade, but they need to add three or four and that's not going to happen.

"I would really be worried if we struggled against righties," said Acta. "It's put together that way. We can't complain when the lefties beat us."

The Indians are 32-19 against right-handed starters.

Derek Lowe, working with a 1-0 lead, retired 11 straight before the Astros reached him. Carlos Lee singled to left for the Astros' first hit with two outs in the fourth. It was no surprise because Lee entered the game hitting .364 (16-for-44) lifetime against Lowe (7-6, 4.28).

Singles by Brian Bogusevic and Chris Johnson made it a 1-1 game.

Houston took the lead for good, 2-1, in the sixth when Lee bounced a single through the middle to score Jed Lowrie from second.

"Sometimes you execute a pitch and it still gets hit," said Lowe. "That ball was well off the plate and he still hit it."

The Astros made it 3-1 in the seventh when Johnson scored on a double-play grounder. Then they iced the game in the eighth on two-run homers by Johnson and J.D. Martinez. Johnson homered off Nick Hagadone with two outs. Esmil Rogers relieved after Castro doubled and gave up Martinez's homer, a line drive over the left field scoreboard.

Besides losing to lefties, the Indians have developed another bad habit. This was the sixth time they've won the first game of a series only to get swept in the remaining portion of the series. They've done it four times since May 28.

The loss marked the end of interleague play for the Tribe. They went 8-10. They're 19-17 in the past two years, but only 29-43 since 2009.

Whether they decide to move up, move down or stay put at No. 4, the Cavaliers should get a player who will help them.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerNorth Carolina center Tyler Zeller could be an option for the Cavaliers if they end up making a trade in the NBA Draft.

What the Cavs will do in the NBA Draft has me talking to myself . . .

QUESTION: Do you think the Cavs will trade up in the draft for the No. 2 pick?

ANSWER: How about down? How about No. 4 and 24 to Portland for No. 6 and 11?

Q: So you don't think they'll trade picks Nos. 4 and 24 to Charlotte for No. 2?

A: The Charlotte Observer says that's a possibility. Of course, who knows what Bobcats President Michael Jordan will do? He just hired a college assistant coach (Mike Dunlap, St. John's) to be the team's head coach. Dunlap has an excellent reputation as a college coach (mostly an assistant) strong on Xs and Os and discipline. He also spent two years as an assistant in Denver. But did anyone see that coming?

Q: Meaning what?

A: Meaning who knows what Jordan will do at No. 2? The theory is the Cavs loved Bradley Beal (could be true) and believe the Florida shooting guard won't get past Washington at No. 3 (also could be true). So they trade up to No. 2 and grab Beal, and still have picks No. 33 and 34 in the second round.

Q: Will that happen?

A: Here's what I do know: The Cavs want a wing player who can create his own shot and they need more size, be it at power forward or center. The two shooting guards they like are UConn's Jeremy Lamb and Beal.

Q: Would they really take Lamb at No. 4?

A: I doubt it. That's where I think the Portland deal could happen. They'd take Lamb at No. 6 and someone such as Tyler Zeller at No. 11.

Q: Why Tyler Zeller?

A: Like a lot of NBA teams, the Cavs' research reveals that big men at major programs who average a rebound every three minutes (or less) tend to have good NBA careers. Rebounding machine Kenneth Faried (Denver) is an example from last year's draft. Zeller averaged 9.6 rebounds in 28 minutes for North Carolina. He also averaged 16.3 points, shot 55 percent from the field and 81 percent at the foul line. He's a legitimate 6-foot-11, 250 pounds.

Q: Didn't you want Thomas Robinson for the Cavs?

A: I'd be very pleased if they end up with the star from Kansas. He averaged 11.9 rebounds in 32 minutes. He was a 17-point scorer, a 50 percent shooter and I tend to agree with many scouts who say he's the most "NBA ready" player in the draft.

Q: Why a power forward at No. 4?

A: The Cavs have two real big men: Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson. My theory is Varejao plays 30 minutes at center. Thompson plays 18 at power forward, 18 at center. The other big man is Samardo Samuels. They need a power forward. They need a center. They need everything but a point guard.

View full sizeJeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCTMichael Kidd-Gilchrist, left, and Bradley Beal are two players that the Cavaliers will consider if they keep the fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Q: Didn't you write the Cavs were perhaps the "least athletic team" in the NBA at the two most athletic positions?

A: I did, meaning shooting guard and small forward. That is one reason they may trade up for Beal, who is 6-4 and averaged an impressive 6.7 rebounds per game at shooting guard. He is considered an elite shooter, but was only 47 percent from the field. But as one general manager told me: "Drafting these days is so hard because so many of these kids are babies, meaning they are 18-20 and have one year of college. You have to project them forward and can't just go on one year of college stats. Some of them are still growing."

Q: Like how?

A: The two youngest players projected in the top 25 are Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (MKG) and Andre Drummond, both 18. I really like MKG, while Drummond and that 29 percent free throw shooting along with his extremely raw offense scares me, especially at No. 4.

Q: Didn't you write MKG can't shoot?

A: I did, but he could be a guy who learns to score. Scouts have compared him to Gerald Wallace. If the Cavs take MKG, I'd be very happy as I think he'll start at small forward for a long time. He can really run the pick-and-roll, and he is outstanding on the fast break. The Cavs also like Terrence Jones, Kentucky's power forward. But he's a middle first-rounder, so I don't see him being picked unless there is a deal. Remember, Kentucky had so much talent -- perhaps five first-rounders in 2012 -- that no one has great stats. They were extremely unselfish.

Q: Don't the Cavs need scoring?

A: Of course. A shooting guard that many teams have embraced is Dion Waiters, who may have moved into the top 10 despite not starting in two years at Syracuse. The tape that I saw of him revealed an athletic but out-of-control player. He averaged 12.6 points in 24 minutes off the bench. But several scouts insist he will be a big-time scorer in the NBA. I much prefer Beal and Lamb when it comes to shooting guards. And I like Damian Lillard as a combination guard who can really shoot from the outside.

Q: What about Harrison Barnes?

A: Some scouts love him. I hear Jordan could take him at No. 2. I just can't buy him as a top-five player. He's supposed to be a good shooter, but was at 44 percent (36 percent on 3-pointers) in his sophomore season at North Carolina. In four NCAA Tournament games, he shot 20-of-61 from the field and went to the foul line only 14 times. Some said it was because he was playing without star point guard Kendall Marshall (injured), and that had an impact. But I'm still leery of Barnes as an elite player.

Q: Didn't he measure as one of the most athletically gifted players at the NBA combine?

A: Yes, he did. At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, he has ideal small forward size. But he didn't show that athleticism on the court. Beal averaged 6.7 rebounds, compared to 5.2 for Barnes this year.

Q: Any thoughts at No. 24 for the Cavs?

A: At that spot, I love Andrew Nicholson of St. Bonaventure. He averaged 18.1 points and 8.4 rebounds, shooting 57 percent from the field and 44 percent on 3-pointers. He's not especially athletic at 6-foot-9, 234 pounds. But he's a skilled power forward, and I really was impressed when watching him in person against Cleveland State and on TV in the Atlantic-10 Tournament. He will help an NBA team.

Q: What about Jared Sullinger?

A: Every NBA team is asking that about the Ohio State star. There are major concerns about his back and hamstring injuries. He could even fall out of the first round. If he does, the Cavs must think about him at those No. 33 and 34 picks in the second round.

Q: So you think the Cavs will do what?

A: At this point, I have no idea. That's probably how they want it. They are looking hard for wing players and big men. And with Dan Gilbert as the owner and Chris Grant's history of being willing to make trades, I would almost expect some sort of draft day deal.

The Indians could have used Youkilis' right-handed bat to combat their troubles against left-handed starters.

View full sizeMichael Dwyer, Associated PressKevin Youkilis is headed to Chicago to join the White Sox, where he will start at third base.

Houston -- The White Sox hit the Indians with a left-right combination Sunday. Not only did they knock them out of first place in the American League Central, they also acquired infielder Kevin Youkilis from Boston.

The Indians, a half-game out of first place following a 7-1 loss to Houston, were trying to get Youkilis since they desperately need a right-handed hitter to balance their lineup.

"Youkilis is going to make Chicago a better team," said manager Manny Acta. "He's a very good hitter. He's been there, done that. He adds to them.

"Obviously, it doesn't get any easier for us."

Youkilis will start at third base for Chicago. Orlando Hudson has been playing there, with starter Brent Morel sidelined because of a back injury.

The White Sox sent Boston right-hander Zach Stewart and utility man Brent Lillibridge. Boston reportedly will absorb about $5.5 million of the $6.6 million remaining on Youkilis' 2012 contract.

The Red Sox wanted to move Youkilis because they feared he'd cause a problem in a clubhouse that always seems to be at the boiling point. Youkilis, 33, was getting squeezed out of the starting lineup due to the emergence of third baseman Will Middlebrooks and last year's free-agent signing of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

The Indians are getting little, if any, production from their first and third basemen, where Casey Kotchman, Jack Hannahan, Lonnie Chisenhall and Jose Lopez are the primary players.

Youkilis plays first and third base and would have given them a right-handed bat --the team's grave weakness against lefties.

Warning signal: After his fifth-inning collapse Saturday against the Astros, Jeanmar Gomez could be in line for a trip to Class AAA Columbus.

"We're talking," said Acta, when asked before Sunday's game about Gomez's status. "We're looking at how we can improve the ballclub overall. It's out there, but we haven't made any type of decision yet."

Gomez (4-7, 5.18 ERA) is 1-5 with a 7.92 ERA in his past six starts. He's allowed 27 earned runs on 42 hits and 13 walks in 30 innings during that stretch.

"He's been having some mechanical issues pitching out of the stretch," Acta said. "He hasn't been able to stay back in his delivery long enough and [is] rushing forward. It's not helping his location."

Those problems were on display in Saturday's 8-1 loss to Houston. Gomez threw four perfect innings before giving up a leadoff double to Brian Bogusevic. Gomez, pitching out of the stretch for the first time in the game, gave up an RBI double to the next hitter, Chris Johnson.

He retired the next batter before allowing consecutive homers to Justin Maxwell and Jordan Schafer.

Gomez's next start is scheduled for Thursday in Baltimore. If he's optioned to Columbus, Zach McAllister would most likely take his place. Silver lining: If anything positive came out of Saturday's loss, it was Tony Sipp's 11/3 scoreless innings. Sipp has allowed eight earned runs in his past 81/3 innings, pushing his ERA from 5.40 to 6.56.

Acta says he has faith in Sipp, based on his past three seasons of work.

"We have to keep pitching him," Acta said. "The only way he's going to get better is by pitching."

Left-handers are hitting .184 (9-for-49) against Sipp. Right-handers are hitting .349 (15-for-53).

In Saturday's performance, he retired three lefties and one right-hander.

"Tony has pitched very well for us the last few years," Acta said. "The stuff is there. He's still throwing 91 to 93 mph with a breaking ball. It's about making pitches."

Baseball can be a "What have you done for me lately?" game, but where Sipp is concerned, Acta is looking at the bigger picture.

"I just can't look at the last week, I've got to look at the last three years," Acta said. "This guy has been very reliable over the last three years. I have to continue to trust him."

Finally: Astro second baseman Jose Altuve left Sunday's game after four innings with a strained right hamstring. . . . The Indians are 17-16 on the road but have gone 5-10 in their past 15 games as the visiting team.

Kent State's baseball success gave all of Northeast Ohio a reason to cheer, The Plain Dealer editorial board writes.

View full sizeEric Francis, Associated PressJosh Pierce looks like he was about to levitate following the final out of Monday's elimination-game victory over Florida. On Tuesday, the Golden Flashes and their fans are still afloat with College World Series fever, says Terry Pluto.

The best stories in sports, the ones that captivate even casual fans, are often the ones that no one -- except maybe the athletes themselves -- sees coming. Simply put, sports fans love a Cinderella story, even one that falls a bit short in the end. Like this year's Kent State University's baseball team.

Head coach Scott Stricklin's Golden Flashes reeled off a string of upsets en route to the College World Series, where they were finally ousted last Thursday by two-time defending champion South Carolina.

It was Kent's 12th trip to the post-season, but its first visit to college baseball's big show and the first by any Mid-America Conference team since Eastern Michigan lost the championship game in 1976.

To reach Omaha, Neb., the Flashes beat Purdue, the top seed in their regional; Kentucky, which had spent time as the No. 1 team in the country this season; and Oregon, which finished the regular season No. 1 in ESPN's Power Rankings. But even better than Kent's 47 wins was the character the team displayed -- the way they pulled one another through tight spots; the group hug for valuable reserve catcher Jason Bagoly when his mother died unexpectedly on the eve of the College World Series; their collective academic success.

Kent didn't get the last dance in Omaha, but it surely gave its fans -- including lots of new ones -- a season to remember.

The freshman shooting guard also is a good rebounder and says he wants to improve his ball-handling skills so he can play point guard, too.

View full sizeMatt York, Associated PressBradley Beal has drawn comparisons to Ray Allen as a shooter, which explains why the Cavaliers will seriously consider taking him with their first pick in the NBA Draft.

Cleveland -- As if comparing Bradley Beal to a perennial NBA All-Star wasn't enough pressure, why not predict the 18-year-old shooting guard will be even better?

Why not guess that Beal, the Florida freshman whom the Cavaliers are eyeing as a possible No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft, will shoot the ball just as silkily smooth, drive to the basket with singular ambition and rebound better than the guy who already has an NBA championship ring?

If everyone is comparing Beal to Ray Allen, Don Showalter figures it might be time to go one step further.

"I think he's going to be a better rebounder than Ray Allen was," said Showalter, the USA Basketball coach who oversaw Beal's U-17 team in 2011. "I think he's going to be better at going to the basket. I think he's got a better game of getting the ball to the basket. He's a great shooter like Ray Allen. I think he's got some things that in the future are going to make him a longtime NBA player and All-Star."

After all, why put any limits on Beal? After just one season with the Gators, when he averaged 14.8 points on 44 percent shooting, the 6-4 two-guard declared for the NBA Draft. And with a shooting stroke pure and accurate, observers and coaches alike see nothing but potential in Beal, who will turn 19 on Thursday, the day of the NBA Draft.

It has been that way for Beal since he began playing basketball, the only one of five boys in his family who didn't stick with football through high school.

Instead, he shined in basketball and was the 2011 Gatorade National Player of the Year at St. Louis' Chaminade College Preparatory School.

And he not only was a part of the U-17 World Championship team in 2010, he also was the MVP in helping the USA go 8-0 while averaging 18.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Though Beal shot just 34 percent from 3-point range during his season at Florida, he got stronger as his freshman year progressed.

In Beal's final five games, he didn't make fewer than half of his shot attempts. In Florida's 68-58 NCAA Tournament victory over Marquette, he sank 8-of-10 field goals.

And Beal reckons he hasn't yet shown the basketball world another side of his game -- that he yearns to be more of a combo guard than a straight shooting guard.

"I don't have a problem with handling the ball," Beal said at the NBA Combine in Chicago. "I think I have great ball-handling ability now, but it can get better, which is what I want to do -- keep improving to where I can run the offense and become a point guard."

In fact, Beal said he has always admired Allen Iverson, the gutsy little scorer who craved to handle the ball, and that he would "love" to play alongside Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving to show how their skills could mesh.

"I don't like to limit myself to just being a shooter like Ray Allen," Beal said. "I like to do everything and contribute to a win."

Finishing last in 400 meter final knocks her out of consideration for a spot on the 4x400 relay team.

View full sizeMarcio Jose Sanchez, Associated PressSanya Richards-Ross won the 400 meter final at the Olympic Trials in Oregon.

Eugene, Ore. -- There's a place 400-meter runners go during the final 75 meters, a place where they stashed some weird brew of bionic fuel, guile and confidence built up over years of interval training that would devastate most track athletes.

Sanya Richards-Ross has it in deep supply, and Dee Dee Trotter and Francena McCorory apparently have developed their own concoctions.

Jessica Beard's cupboard was bare Sunday.

The moment she needed it most, she had nothing.

Beard is not headed to the Summer Olympics, not this year, not at age 23, and not after coming out of high school and college as the next big thing. On the pro stage, she's still a rookie with a lot to learn and much to improve upon.

Beard finished dead last in the 400 final at the U.S. Track and Field Trials on Sunday. When more than 21,000 rose as one to see Richards-Ross break the meet record in 49.28 seconds, Beard was just coming into view, unable to stand out, despite her eye-catching lavender top and orange bottom.

She crossed the line in 51.52 seconds.When she won the NCAA championship last year, her time was 51.10. Her personal best is 50.56, which she ran three years ago.

"I'm not happy," she said, shaking her head and near tears. "I got out well. I might have tried to hit it too soon and I just couldn't hold on at the end. I mean, I had a season best (51.19) way better than today ."

Beard advanced through the first two rounds Friday and Saturday at 51.75 and 51.59. Following those races, Beard struggled long and hard to catch her breath. She'd obviously left a part of herself on the track each time.

Sunday, the physical exhaustion was compounded by the crushing realization she had come close to her ultimate goal – the Olympics – only to be unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

"I know I could have done better. I guess this is not my time right now," she said. "I was very confident. I felt good through my rounds. I felt fine. I didn't expect to get last. I mean, to make it to the final is a good thing, but that's not the goal."

It also won't be good enough to send her to London on the 4x400 relay. She won world championship gold medals on the relay in 2009 and 2011. Last year, she also advanced to the 400 semis at worlds (51.27).

Beard said she may head to Europe for a few pro meets, "then call it a season."

The U.S. will send a compelling trio to London in the men's 100 to battle the Jamaicans, while the final women's 100 berth will be settled by a run-off or a coin toss.

Justin Gatlin, the 2004 gold medalist in Athens, proved he's not over the hill yet at age 30 and won the men's race in 9.80, a personal best and the second-fastest time in the world this season (Usain Bolt, 9.76). American record holder Tyson Gay proved his surgically repaired right hip is sound and took second in 9.86, and former Oregon high school phenom Ryan Bailey (9.93) edged Michael Rodgers for the final Olympic berth by .01.

Off the track, the USATF announced a procedure to resolve the dead heat for third place in Saturday's 100 final between Jeneba Tarmoh and Allyson Felix. If both athletes agree, there will be either a run-off or a coin flip – their choice. If they do not agree, a run-off will be conducted by the end of the meet next Sunday. If they refuse to declare a preference, there will be a coin toss.

Ohio State long jumper Mike Hartfield fouled on four of his six jumps and still managed to place sixth (25-6 3/4). He popped a good final jump, but fouled again. The final was a game of can-you-top-this between winner Marquise Goodwin (27-4), William Clay 27-0 and George Kitchens Jr. (26-11 1/4). An Olympic berth already secured, Goodwin broke a 27-0 tie with Clay on his last attempt.

The U.S. has another strong looking team – on paper – in the shot put, and is hoping that translates into better Olympic performances than what similar performances promised in 2008 when all it managed was a silver by Christian Cantwell.

"We always send a strong team," winner Reese Hoffa said. "Among the three of us (Hoffa, Cantwell and Ryan Whiting), we have to get it done this time."

Reigning Olympic women's discus champion Stephanie Brown Trafton, who fell twice in preliminaries, recovered Sunday to win in a season best 213-0. "This was the most complicated and hardest meet of my life," she said.

London men's 400 favorite LaShawn Merritt won the 400 in 44.12, lowering his world-best this season by .07. NCAA champ Tony McQuay was second and Bryon Nellom, once the victim of a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, placed third. Jeremy Wariner, the 2004 Olympic champ, was sixth in 45.24 and might miss the relay team, as well.

With the odds of making the Olympic team long, swimmers like Lakewood's Kelsey Moran will measure success in other ways.

View full sizeCharlie Neibergall, Associated PressWalsh Jesuit's Danielle Margheret, a state champion in the breaststroke in 2011 and a runner-up this year, is seeded 73rd in the 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Omaha, Neb. -- Laura Lindsay hit the 81-degree water in the elevated pool -- black boxes shooting 30 flames positioned on each side and a medal podium on one end that rises from the floor, with victors' names to be projected on a waterfall -- and was "starstruck."

The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, which start today, will be staged like a concert inside CenturyLink Center and should have that effect on a lot of swimmers during the next week. Lindsay's awe lasted for about 100, maybe 200, meters Saturday night.

"The water was perfect, I felt fast, and I'd look up and see all the LED lights and then all the cameras on the bottom of the pool," said Lindsay, a Canton native and recent University of Toledo grad, on Sunday, water still dripping after a practice swim. "And then I was like: 'All right. Let's get your stuff together. You've got stuff to do.' "

That "stuff" will vary greatly among the record 1,800 swimmers at the trials, with something of a miscalculation by USA Swimming on the time standards set three years ago, creating a scenario where another 600 swimmers made the trials compared with 2008. Trying to set marks after full-body suits -- which made swimmers faster -- were banned, the times turned out to be a little slow. The result is an unprecedented celebration of American swimming.

Frank Busch, national team director for USA Swimming, admitted Sunday that 1,800 is probably too many swimmers, but that 1,000 would be too few.

"This is very important in how we make sure that our umbrella is big enough but not too big," Busch said.

A select few will be trying to make the Olympics. As Ohio State women's swimming coach Bill Dorenkott explained to his swimmers when they arrived in Omaha, the success for many others will be determined by swimming a personal best, winning a heat or making a semifinal.

"Bill made a good point to say, 'You are an underdog,' " said Ohio State swimmer Kelsey Moran, a Lakewood High grad. "No one really expects anything. There are so many different ways to succeed beyond making the Olympic team. Everyone wants that, but the likelihood is very small. There are so many things you can focus on to have an exceptional experience."

Moran, seeded 26th in the 100 backstroke, has set a goal to make the eight-woman final. Though there are 36 Ohio State swimmers here -- tied for the most among any university -- and approximately an additional 30 with other connections to Ohio, few will be aiming to finish in the top two in their events to earn a trip to London.

Two-time relay gold medalist Mark Gangloff, a Stow native and Firestone High grad, will try to make his third Olympic team at age 30 and is seeded second in the 100 breaststroke. Ohio State swimmer Tim Phillips is seeded third in the 100 butterfly, while former Ohio State swimmer Elliott Keefer is seeded fifth in the 200 breaststroke. Another six Ohio swimmers, including Lindsay and Moran, are seeded 26th or better in an event.

Lindsay, seeded 12th in the 100 breaststroke, is also aiming to make the finals, and she has a shot.

"As long as I keep my pace, I'll make the semifinals," Lindsay said. "If I pour my heart into my swim, I can make the finals. Just to say that is a wow factor."

Swimmers such as Danielle Margheret, a 17-year-old rising star who is a senior at Walsh Jesuit, is among the hundreds of swimmers here mainly for the life experience, hoping that this is the first Olympic trials of many to come.

"I've never been in a pool like this. It's almost like an NBA court, with the seating and the screens and everything," she said Sunday. "There's so much energy. I feel like I can absorb it, and it gives me so much more power."

When she was swimming at Green High School, Lindsay can remember seeing the 2008 trials standards posted at Cleveland State and thinking those times were impossible.

"Now, it's like, 'I'm here,' " Lindsay said, probably speaking for most of the swimmers in Omaha, "and it's crazy."

Diver Bell qualifies: Former Ohio State diver and Columbus native Katie Bell made the Olympic team with her second-place finish in the 10-meter platform event at the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials in Federal Way, Wash., on Sunday. Abby Johnston, another Columbus native, previously made the team in 3-meter springboard synchronized diving.

Michael Symon, Rocco Whalen and Jonathon Sawyer each will have two locations within the stadium, in the Lakeview and Cityview Club Level areas. The stands are expected to open in time for the Kenny Chesney-Tim McGraw concert on Sunday, July 29.

View full sizeAramark/RichardsonMichael Symon's new B Spot Burgers at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There will be new places for club- and loge-level fans to eat at Cleveland Browns Stadium this fall, bearing the names of three of the area's favorite chefs.

Michael Symon's B Spot, Rocco Whalen's Rosie & Rocco's and a new concept by Jonathon Sawyer of Greenhouse Tavern and Noodlecat restaurants will soon be operating under one roof.

Each chef will have two locations within the stadium, in the Lakeview and Cityview Club Level areas. The stands are expected to open in time for the Kenny Chesney-Tim McGraw concert on Sunday, July 29.

Symon, Whalen and Sawyer -- in partnership with Aramark, the Browns' new club- and suite-level dining and catering partner -- are launching Cleveland Browns Hospitality Group.

The chefs will provide signature dishes for club- and luxury-suite ticketholders and full menu service -- like "Rocco's Sunday Supper" meal package -- for loge holders.

Equal parts partnership and licensing deal, the group will also provide food and beverages for groups hosting catered events at Browns Stadium.

"We know that food is such an important part of the game-day experience," said Jim Ross, senior vice president for business development for the Browns.

"Having Michael, Jonathon and Rocco as part of the experience was a big part of our deciding to go ahead with this concept," Ross added.

Individually and as a company, the three chefs will develop recipes and standards for their products. Aramark, one of the nation's largest food-service providers for major venues like stadiums and performance centers, will operate the stands and produce the food.

Kevin Kearney, district manager for Aramark, said that while it's important to quickly produce and serve food so fans can get back to their seats, maintaining the integrity and quality of each chef's product is a key concern, too.

"They're highly protective of their brands," Kearney said of the chefs. "They'll be highly involved, very hands-on."

View full sizeAramark/RichardsonArtist rendering of Jonathon Sawyer's new Sawyer's Street Frites at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Sawyer said that was a key consideration before deciding to go ahead with a new restaurant, called Sawyer's Street Frites. The operation will offer several types of specialty french fries as well as sandwiches and snacks.

"Three years ago, I'd have been pretty leery about handing off my food" to a vendor, Sawyer said. But having worked closely with Symon, whose B Spot restaurants have implemented food preparation systems and production standards that ensure consistent quality, Sawyer said he's confident that Aramark will uphold his reputation for well-prepared food made with local products.

Whalen said duplicating his Rosie & Rocco's concept, which originated at the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, was a no-brainer.

"I'm very proud of the concept and how it's working at the casino. I'm really happy to bring it to the 50-yard line," he said.

Whalen, who has a long-standing relationship with the NFL through its annual Taste of the NFL fundraiser on the eve of the Super Bowl, said he intends to be on hand at the stadium for home games.

"I carry the torch," he said. "It's an opportunity to show people in town and from out of town why Cleveland is such a great place to live, eat and play."

Appealing to ticketholders attending home games is vital, the Browns' Ross says, but the move is equally important in attracting those interested in booking events at the stadium.

"Part of our job is making the club a place to be," he said. "The stadium itself can be a very attractive venue -- plus, we've got some good spaces."

Last year roughly 200 events -- ranging from weddings and proms to trade shows and private corporate events -- were held in the stadium.

"Imagine you have a party there, and [the chefs] open those three stands. It's kind of cool, like having your own food court with the tastes of Cleveland," Ross added.

Officials wouldn't discuss the exact duration of the contractual agreement. Ross would refer to it only as "a long-term deal."

But teaming a crew of celebrity chefs with a food-service provider and a major sports team appears to be a first, Ross and Kearney said.

View full sizeAramark/RichardsonArtist rendering of Rocco Whalen's new Rosie & Rocco's at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

"In opening the new Yankee Stadium," said Ross, who recently came to Cleveland from New York City, "we did do some things in a much smaller environment, for the very expensive seats that included all-inclusive food and beverage packages -- but it was a one-off, like Nobu chef [Nobu Matushisa] doing one event. This is a year-round, joined-at-the-hip deal."

And traditionalists can relax. Club and loge ticketholders, along with patrons in regular seats, will still be able to buy conventional game-day fare like franks or nachos.

Then again, who knows. Maybe there's a Rocco Dog in the future.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jcrea@plaind.com, 216-999-4401

Columbus starter T.J. McFarland (2-1, 4.22 ERA) pitched a complete game, holding Lehigh Valley scoreless on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk during an International League victory Sunday in Allentown, Pa.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 4, IronPigs 2

Starter T.J. McFarland (2-1, 4.22 ERA) pitched a complete game, holding Lehigh Valley scoreless on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk during an International League victory Sunday in Allentown, Pa.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 15, Curve 4

Adam Abraham (.240) had four RBI and Chun-Hsui Chen (.327) and Roberto Perez (.213) added three each during an Eastern League rout in Altoona, Pa.

Advanced A Carolina Mudcats

Keys 5, Mudcats 0

Starter Will Roberts (3-4, 5.17) gave up four runs on seven hits in six innings, and the Mudcats’ offense could manage only three hits in a Carolina League loss in Frederick, Md.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 4, TinCaps 2

DH Alex Lavisky (.235) had a solo homer and Luigi Rodriguez, Jordan Smith and Patric Tolentino each had an RBI in a Midwest League victory in Fort Wayne, Ind.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Spikes 6, Scrappers 5

Mahoning Valley scored two runs in the top of the ninth to make it close, but it wasn’t enough in a New York-Penn League loss in State College, Pa. Evan Frazar (.235) had two RBI for the Scrappers.

Independent Lake Erie

Crushers 6, Wild Things 1

Lake Erie struck for five runs in the first three innings and cruised during a Frontier League win in Washington, Pa. Andrew Davis (.257) had three RBI and Jason Taylor (.319) contributed two.

The Yankees are 16-4 in June and lead the big leagues with 110 homers, 32 coming in the past 18 games.

APThe Yankees are 16-4 in June.

Where: Yankee Stadium, New York.

When: Tonight-Wednesday.

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

Pitching matchups: RHP Josh Tomlin (3-4, 5.12 ERA) vs. RHP Hiroki Kuroda (6-7, 3.57) tonight at 7:05; RHP Justin Masterson (4-6, 3.98) vs. RHP Phil Hughes (7-6, 4.94) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (7-5, 4.59) vs. LHP Andy Pettitte (3-3, 3.29) Wednesday at 1:05 p.m.

Season series: The Indians went 3-4 against the Yankees last year. The Yankees lead, 1,075-849, overall.

Indians update: The Tribe is 2-6 at Yankee Stadium during the past two years. They haven’t had a winning record there since 2008. Tomlin went 1-1, and Masterson and Jimenez were each 1-0 against the Yankees last year. Jimenez beat them when he was with Colorado.

Yankees update: The Yankees are 16-4 in June. They ended a three-game losing streak Saturday night and lead the big leagues with 110 homers, 32 coming in the past 18 games.

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. Yankees — RHP David Aardsma (right elbow), LHP Cesar Cabral (left elbow), RHP Joba Chamberlain (knee, ankle), OF Brett Gardner (right elbow), RHP Brad Meyers (right shoulder), RHP Michael Pineda (right shoulder), RHP Mariano Rivera (right knee) and C Austin Romine (back) are on the disabled list. C Martin Russell (back) is day to day

Next: Tribe opens a four-game series in Baltimore on Thursday night.

Poker is at a crossroads — the game is under siege, both from outside forces and from within. As a poker community, we either can step up and be more productive citizens or step back and lurk in the shadows of mainstream America.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerWhether you are playing at the new 30-table Horseshoe Casino Cleveland poker room or in Las Vegas, Norman Chad has some advice for poker players: Just be civil.

Las Vegas — From my nonsmoking hotel room here with ceiling-to-floor windows, the curious thing is that I can still smell smoke and no outside air ever penetrates these walls, which, oddly enough, serves as a metaphor for the state of poker these days.

I love poker. I love the vagaries of the game, the character of the people, the diversity of the characters. Most of all, I love the World Series of Poker, which I have been fortunate enough — along with an equally lotto-lucky Lon McEachern — to announce on ESPN for 10 years.

(Neither of us is a poker player, and one of us — the shorter, bespectacled chap — isn’t even a broadcaster, yet we yap away deep into the night with all the authority of Walter Cronkite at an Apollo launch.)

This year, the World Series of Poker concludes with a twin spectacle.

Next week begins the Main Event — the last great American gold rush — in which thousands of poker pros and part-time players put up $10,000 in the dream of becoming a multimillionaire.

And just before that comes the audacious $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop, with $111,111 of each entry going to One Drop’s charitable efforts to provide safe drinking water worldwide. The creation of Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, you need $1 million to sit at the table; for that money, the seats should at least vibrate, no? This event will attract nearly 50 players, a mix of very well-heeled businessmen and very well-backed poker pros.

Both the Main Event and the One Drop put the “wow” back in “Wowza!”

But all that glitters masks a gritty reality: There’s a lot of stagnant air in the poker world, and too many of the game’s best and brightest haven’t peeked outside lately to smell the roses.

Poker is at a crossroads — the game is under siege, both from outside forces and from within. As a poker community, we either can step up and be more productive citizens or step back and lurk in the shadows of mainstream America.

(Let’s start by rooting out the cheaters and any site operators who cheat the public.)

At the moment, the ban on online poker in the United States remains a blight on American freedoms. The ban — instituted April 15, 2011, and known as “Black Friday” in poker circles — is as intellectually stupid as it is economically senseless. Online poker should be legalized, regulated and taxed; the taxes alone could pay for the border fence so many are clamoring for, which in turn would keep out countless Mexican immigrants who come here to play poker illegally.

On the other hand, I am tired of hearing how Black Friday cost a lot of people a lot of money. Indeed, many poker pros lost their livelihood. But the truth of the matter is: Black Friday saved even more folks a lot of money. After all, most people lose when they play. So the online-poker ban — while unfortunate, in terms of personal liberties — actually has put more money back into more people’s pockets.

Meanwhile, since Black Friday, some of the younger, online players have stumbled into card rooms — such as my poker home in Los Angeles, Hollywood Park — with all the social prowess of a fire hydrant. They don’t talk and listen very well — uh, it’s called a conversation — because they have been trapped in their bedrooms since their teen years, shades down, with the laptop screen illuminating their entire world six to 12 hours a day, clicking “bet,” “raise” or “fold.”

Anyway, to all of you online and offline pokerati, I’m asking you to realize we are surrounded by fellow humans.

So let’s interact with these other Homo sapiens in a more civilized fashion.

Let’s dress better and treat everyone better.

Let’s keep an eye on any friends or family with a gambling problem.

Let’s understand that it’s just a game — granted, a wonderful, complex, multi-skillset game — and stop treating it like nuclear science; nobody just split the atom here, somebody just was smart enough to figure out that Seat 8 three-bet with 7-6 off-suit.

Let’s leave the card room once in a while to catch a sunset.

Let’s stop accosting people in bathrooms with bad-beat stories.

And let’s wash our hands before running back to the felt; trust me, we all can afford to miss a hand or two.

Ask The Slouch!

Q: Ted Stevens, Barry Bonds, John Edwards, Roger Clemens — when’s the Department of Justice going to record a “W”? — Stephen Holt, Alexandria, Va.

A: Shockingly, the Justice Department has become the Washington Generals of the legal system. Heck, those fellas couldn’t convict Benedict Arnold of treason.

Q: Do you feel good jinxing the Thunder last week, with your self-congratulatory pat-on-the-back for picking them to win the NBA title? — J.P. Harris, Indianapolis

A: It reminded me of when I called all my friends in 1948 to tell them Dewey had beaten Truman.

Q: Who do you like in the Tour de France? — Rick Schwartz, Cleveland

A: The bottled-water vendors.

(Note to Readers: Shirley is on a paid leave of absence.)

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

Norman Chad is a freelance writer in Los Angeles.

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