"Great sign and they knew what kind of talent this kid had and were not willing to lose it to someone else. Lock him up pay him and if he turns out to be a stud like he may....then its a great investment. Win win situation. Lets hope our line stays healthy and our boy Weeden may actually have some weapons and time to throw it further than 8 yards. I just hope Shurmur and Childress use this offense properly. Steady feed t rich and the play action may actually work. Exciting season. CANT WAIT!" - youngunner45

View full sizeBaylor UniversityBrowns fans are excited about the passing game with the Josh Gordon pick.

"Great sign and they knew what kind of talent this kid had and were not willing to lose it to someone else. Lock him up pay him and if he turns out to be a stud like he may....then its a great investment. Win win situation. Lets hope our line stays healthy and our boy Weeden may actually have some weapons and time to throw it further than 8 yards. I just hope Shurmur and Childress use this offense properly. Steady feed t rich and the play action may actually work. Exciting season. CANT WAIT!"

The quarterback is an older rookie, but younger players around him will be asked to make plays. More Browns' story links.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerSecond-year wide receiver Greg Little is among the young players the Browns will count on to make offensive plays this season.

When the Browns selected Josh Gordon in the second round of Tuesday's supplemental draft, they made a total commitment to go young at wide receiver.

Gordon is 21. Greg Little is 23. Fourth-round pick Travis Benjamin is 24. Mohamed Massaquoi is 25 and in the last year of his contract. Carlton Mitchell is 24 and will fight just to make the roster. Throw in 21-year-old running back Trent Richardson and you can see that the Browns will be green at the skill positions this season.

The only age issue is rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden, who turns 29 in October, but he'll have four seasons to prove his worth.

History tells Browns fans to be patient. Teams have been successful going young at the skill positions, but in most cases, the growing pains hurt them in the first year.

Report says the Knicks have elected — as was widely expected — not to equal the Rockets' three-year, $25 million offer sheet, signed by Lin last Friday

Associated PressJeremy Lin was on the verge of being waived by the Knicks last season before he sparked them on an unlikely run that led to a playoff berth.

"If he can fill a 3, 4 or 5 starter role that will be fine. I have more confidence in him than Ubaldo. McAllister did not have good control last night, yet fought through the whole mess with a good result. Pitching at the MLB level is a long and winding road for most pitchers." - rruss1

View full sizeAP Photo/Mike CarlsonZach McAllister can be a good back of rotation pitcher for Tribe, says one cleveland.com reader.

"If he can fill a 3, 4 or 5 starter role that will be fine. I have more confidence in him than Ubaldo. McAllister did not have good control last night, yet fought through the whole mess with a good result. Pitching at the MLB level is a long and winding road for most pitchers. How he adjusts and handles the mental part of the game will determine his fate."

Surgery to repair the fractured bone in Kyrie Irving's right hand was successful, the Cavaliers announced on Wednesday

View full sizeAP fileKyrie Irving

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Surgery to repair a fractured bone in Kyrie Irving's right hand was successful, the Cavaliers announced Wednesday afternoon.

Irving, the Cavs leading scorer last season and the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, broke a bone between his right little finger and wrist when he slapped padding on a wall after a turnover in a summer-league practice on Saturday morning in Las Vegas.

The surgery was performed at the Cleveland Clinic by Dr. Thomas Graham and Cavaliers head team physician Dr. Richard Parker. Irving is projected to be ready for the start of training camp at the end of September, and his status will be updated as appropriate, the team said.

Irving called the injury a freak accident on Saturday.

"I'm fine,'' he said on Saturday. "I am a little disappointed, a freak accident like that. I have to be more responsible about my health. It was just crazy. It happened so fast. That thing that I did _ hitting the pad on the wall _ I've done it so many times. This time was just a freak accident.''

Cavs general manager Chris Grant returned from Las Vegas to be with Irving, prompting a new round of rumors that his ''unscheduled'' departure indicated the closing of a three-team deal that would bring Lakers center Andrew Bynum to the Cavs, send Anderson Varejao and draft picks to Orlando and send disgruntled center Dwight Howard to the Lakers.

Grant could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

The Indians need a strong game from Justin Masterson in Tampa Bay. He is 2-7 with a 7.04 ERA in his career against the Rays, and allowed eight runs in his last start against this team.

Cleveland Indians righthander Justin Masterson has a 2-7 record against Tampa Bay entering tonight's game.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Indians are facing Tampa Bay's Jeremy Hellickson tonight at Tropicana Field. Hellickson is 0-6 in his last eight starts, 4-6 with a 3.48 ERA on the season.

Much like tonight's Tribe starter Justin Masterson, Hellickson has not received much run support. He's lost has last two games by 3-1 scores.

Hellickson is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA carer against the Tribe.

The Rays have stung Masterson as he's 2-7 with a 7.04 ERA against them.

The Tribe needs the Masterson who beat Toronto, 1-0, in his last outing to make an appearance tonight. The Tribe's offense is stuck in slump since the All-Star break. They scored only five runs in splitting the first two games with Tampa Bay.

Carlos Santana may be in a slump, but he has moved up from sixth to the No. 5 spot in the batting order. That's because usual No. 5 hitter Jose Lopez is on the bench. The Indians prefer to play Jack Hannahan at third base when Masterson (a sinkerball pitcher) is the mound. He gives up a lot of ground balls, and Hannahan is the superior fielder.

Michael Brantley and Shin-Soo Choo are both 2-of-5 vs. Hellickson.

Masterson was shelled for eight runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Rays on July 6.

Here's the Tribe's lineup:

1. Shin-Soo Choo, RF

2. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS

3. Jason Kipnis, 2B

4. Michael Brantley, CF

5. Carlos Santana, C

6. Travis Hafner, DH

7. Johnny Damon, LF.

8. Casey Kotchman, 1B

9. Jack Hannahan, C.

P. Justin Masterson P

"Probably 4 wins, but they'll improve over the course of the season IF their receivers get going. Drops are drive killers, tho, so hopefully Richardson can do some receiving out of the backfield. They're going to need that with such green receivers." - ldbrownsnut

View full sizeChuck Crow/The Plain DealerMany cleveland.com readers hope the Browns' wide receivers improve from last year.

"Probably 4 wins, but they'll improve over the course of the season IF their receivers get going. Drops are drive killers, tho, so hopefully Richardson can do some receiving out of the backfield. They're going to need that with such green receivers.

How the defense fares will have a lot to do with whether they improve as well: like where the perpetually non-existent pass rush is going to come from."

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are The Cleveland Sports Report, CBS Sports and Did The Tribe Win Last Night.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer1-15? Really?

"There is no way to sugar coat how pathetic the Browns offense was last season. Inept is not too strong a description. Less than 14 points per game. Only 20 combined passing and rushing TDs. There is no place to go but up for this group, and they will need immediate impact from this rookie class in order to pull it off. The front office focus the past few years has clearly been on the defense and team president Mike Holmgren inherited a roster that was full of recent draft busts on the offensive side of the ball.

Obviously, all of that changed in April, when the Browns took what they figure will be their feature back in Trent Richardson and their long-term starting quarterback in Brandon Weeden. Look for both to start from Day 1, barring injury, and Richardson will be on the field in all situations and will have the ball in his hands a ton. He's facing some of the best rushing defenses in the league, however, in this division, which won't help his learning curve much. Over 16 games he must be one of the more productive backs in the NFL if Cleveland is going to have any chance to compete. The offense will revolve around him, something longtime Browns fans will be familiar with when they think back to the glory days of the franchise."

"The greater concern and realization fans have to come to grips with is that no one trade will spring the Indians to the top of the standings. They are in desperate need of a right-handed bat that can hit in the middle of the order, but they also could use a starting pitcher and a left-handed relief pitcher. There is no one player who can solve all the Indians’ ills, regardless of availability or price.

If the Indians are to see the top line of the American League Central Division standings again this season, they need better production from Travis Hafner and Carlos Santana in the middle of the order. They need better output from Casey Kotchman, Jack Hannahan, Johnny Damon and Shelley Duncan. Pluck any hitter off the magic trade tree you’d like and stick them in the middle of the order tonight in Tampa, but if the Indians around them don’t play better, the offense will remain anemic."

"Tyler Zeller had a steller game at both ends of the floor with blocking shots, rebounding and both his inside and outside game.

I also took notice that Samuels slimmed down a bit which I think will benefit him this year. Thompson still struggles with his offensive game but seems to have a better feeling for where to be at for getting after rebounds. My biggest issue that I seen out of Tristan during the game was he has the ability, and this isn't a good thing, to find himself trapped with no where to go under the rim."

The Indians and Rays square off for their third game of the four-game set in Tampa Bay. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Terry Pluto, @terrypluto.

The Indians and Rays square off for their third game of the four-game set in Tampa Bay. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Terry Pluto @terrypluto 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.

View full sizeAP Photo/Mike CarlsonThe Indians and Rays square off again tonight in Tampa Bay.

Is Kyrie Irving injury-prone? Even granted that his Summer League injury was a fluke, even given the Cavaliers' denial of that premise, there is ample reason for concern.

Danny Johnston, Associated PressCan Kyrie Irving avoid injury and stay on the court?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If you saw the tape of Kyrie Irving spinning through the U.S. Olympic team's defenders, baffling one and all, you know what a major talent the Cavaliers have on their hands.

The Cavs, however, face another bad break with injuries after Irving apparently went Nick Hagadone on a padded wall in a team scrimmage, following the young point guard's spectacular efforts against the Olympians in Las Vegas. Irving has a broken right (dominant) hand, on which surgery was performed Wednesday, which the Cavs called "successful," adding they expect him to be ready for training camp. They might have an injury-prone prodigy.

Even if the summer injury was a freak one, it took away time for Irving and the fourth overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, Dion Waiters, to play together in the NBA Summer League.

It was probably better for Irving's burgeoning confidence that he played with the USA Select Team against the Olympians anyway. The media buzz that created led to widespread predictions that the 2011-12 Rookie of the Year will be the NBA's next big star. Irving was all set to play Kobe Bryant one-on-one in a game for $50,000, to be donated by the winner to charity, before the injury.

With Irving, Waiters would almost surely be having a smoother transition in the backcourt. The shooting guard of the future, the player coach Byron Scott called the second-best in the draft behind shot-predator Anthony Davis -- Waiters is shooting 12-for-40 from the field and one-for-six from the three-point arc in his first three Summer League games.

An ecstatic Scott compared Waiters to the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade for Waiters' fearlessness in penetrating the lane. Right now, because of the brittleness factor, that analogy seems to fit Irving better.

Wade has played nine NBA seasons. The wear and tear of attacking the basket so often for so long with a relatively slight, or at least non-LeBronian, frame is showing on him.

As for Irving, he is only 20 years old. But with his spinning and crossovers, he gets to the rim more often than a free throw by Chris Dudley. Punishing fouls await at the rim in attempts to discourage such plays.

Perhaps significantly, Irving has proven fragile before. He played only 11 games in his only season at Duke after suffering a toe injury. He returned in time to play well in the NCAA Tournament and allay doubts about the toe.

Irving missed three games after he banged his head against the knee of Wade in a fall during a game against the Heat last season. He missed a total of 10 more games after spraining his right shoulder in a collision with Milwaukee's Ergan Ilyasova. Irving said it was the same shoulder he had injured as a sophomore in high school. He did not play in 15 of 66 games overall, two of them by coach's decision, and was on the inactive list twice.

It doesn't mean Irving is going to prove fragile throughout his career. Zydrunas Ilgauskas' career appeared to be over because of recurring foot problems. Then a medical miracle restored him to the lineup, and he became the franchise's all-time leader in games played. Still, this is not an event with Irving, it's a trend.

Nor does it mean that Waiters will continue to shoot 30 percent overall (and 16.7 percent from the arc). As Mike Hargrove used to say when he managed the Indians, it's a concern, not a worry.

Irving has shown far more for the Cavs than the Browns got for Montario Hardesty, whom they picked in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft despite his injury history in college. Hardesty missed all of the 2010 NFL season with a torn ACL. But wishful thinking about injured players by the local franchises can create its own set of problems. See the Indians' gamble on Grady Sizemore for this season.

By the way, despite Irving's edge in quickness and youth, it was hard to see him countering Bryant's size and experience in that proposed one-on-one game. An NBA axiom is to go with the good big man over the good little man. In this case, the latter can only have a hot hand if he has a mended one.

To reach Bill Livingston: blivingston@plaind.com, 216-999-4672

Twitter: @LivyPD

"Watching Santana hit lately has been painful. With two strikes and runners on the other day, he struck out on a pitch that bounced into the catchers mitt...if it traveled 58 ft I'd be surprised. I'd think some serious consideration would be given to sending him down to AAA to DH for a few weeks." - sma8or20

View full sizeChuck Crow/The Plain DealerIt's been a rough season for Carlos Santana.

"Watching Santana hit lately has been painful. With two strikes and runners on the other day, he struck out on a pitch that bounced into the catchers mitt...if it traveled 58 ft I'd be surprised. I'd think some serious consideration would be given to sending him down to AAA to DH for a few weeks, and working to get his plate mechanics and confidence in order. If that isn't an option, then at least slot him in at the 9 hole. He had the worst BA and Slg% in the lineup last night, and he still hit in the 6 hole. If anybody should be getting less ABs in that order right now, one that's screaming for run production, it's him."

The Tribe starter wants to put his poor start against Toronto behind him.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerUbaldo Jimenez, the Indians' starting pitcher Thursday against Tampa Bay, faced the Rays on July 7 in Cleveland and earned the win. He pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out eight.

Clubhouse Confidential: It hurt Tribe pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez to watch the tape of his most recent start -- eight earned runs in 2-1/3 innings in a loss to Toronto.

"Right away, I could see what I did wrong," Jimenez said. "It makes me want to get back out there."

Jimenez will do that Thursday, when he and Indians play Tampa Bay at 12:10 p.m.

Heading into the Toronto game, Jimenez thought getting shelled was behind him. In his previous seven starts, he had a 2.93 ERA.

Tribe fans know there are two Ubaldos: The Good and The Bad.

Jimenez has a 9.00 ERA with opponents hitting .324 against him in his eight losses.

In his other 10 starts (eight victories), he has a 2.56 ERA.

"I had those problems with my mechanics," he said.

He meant he was stopping his right hand behind his back, rather than keeping it moving as happens when he's pitching well. There also were some issues with his left shoulder "flying open" as he releases his pitches.

"I worked on it in the bullpen," he said. "I can get back to how I was pitching before."

Stats of the day: Starting pitchers edition: Jimenez was 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 2011 with the Tribe. (He was acquired from Colorado on July 30.) This season, he's 8-8 with a 5.09 ERA. The Indians want consistency, but not this kind of consistency from a guy they want near the top of their rotation.

Jimenez is tied for the American League lead in walks (62).

Jimenez has 10 quality starts -- pitching at least six innings, allowing three or fewer runs. That's good for third on the Tribe. Other Indians pitchers (through Tuesday): Derek Lowe has 13 quality starts, Justin Masterson 12, Josh Tomlin six and Zach McAllister and Jeanmar Gomez each have four.

UPDATED: Reliever Esmil Rogers keeps the Tribe in the game after starter Justin Masterson struggles, and Carlos Santana breaks out of his slump to help the Indians win at Tampa, Fla.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- OK, Tribe fans, did you see this one coming?

This meaning so much more than your favorite team's 10-6 victory over Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field.

This was a game with so many heroes, everyone from Rogers to Santana to Kipnis to Cabrera to Brantley to Hannahan.

Sounds like one of the world's most diverse law firms.

Instead, it was that combination along with a little help from some others who helped the Indians win for only the fourth time in 44 games when they trailed after six innings.

Or how about this? The Tribe's first eight runs all came with two outs. And they were losing, 4-0, heading into the fifth inning.

No wonder Tribe manager Manny Acta couldn't stop smiling and said more than a few times, "This was a big win for us."

And it was a huge game for catcher Carlos Santana, who broke out of a two-month stranglehold of a slump with a three-run homer in the seventh inning. It was his first since May 15. His first in 138 at-bats. His first of the year from the right side of the plate.

Homer No. 6 of 2012 was a sweet screamer over the center-field wall. Santana also had a single in the ninth.

Give him four RBI and a peaceful night's sleep.

Then there was Jason Kipnis delivering what Acta called "the key hit of the game."

This was the seventh inning. The Indians were behind, 4-3. Shin-Soo Choo stood on third base. Two outs.

The Tampa pitcher was Jake McGee, a 230-pound lefty with a fierce fastball and a 2.03 ERA. He kept trying to throw the ball past Kipnis.

The Tribe's most consistent run-producer stubbornly fouled off one pitch after another.

McGee kept pumping fastballs: 95, 96, 97 and finally 98 mph.

Kipnis then lashed that 98 mph pitch right through McGee's legs and into center field for a base hit to tie the game, 4-4.

Michael Brantley followed with a screaming single, putting the Tribe ahead, 5-4.

Then Santana busted this game wide open with his three-run homer.

"I know Santana feels so much better to get that monkey off his back," Acta said. "That power drought had been weighing on him."

And that was true of Acta and everyone else in Wahoo red, white and blue who know they have slim playoff possibilities unless Santana regains the 2011 form when he hammered 27 homers.

The Tribe scored five runs in the seventh inning, taking an 8-4 lead. They produced five consecutive hits with two outs.

On the same night that Tampa Bay was a mind-bending 4-of-16 with runners in scoring position, the Indians were 7-of-12.

This wasn't the Tribe's most important victory of season, but it was one of most improbable because they were in so much trouble, so early.

"We looked sort of little dead there [for a while]," said Acta, who credited Jack Hannahan with starting the comeback. Hannahan belted a two-run double in the fifth inning when the Indians were behind, 4-0. He also was terrific at third base, taking away at least two hits.

Asdrubal Cabrera had three hits, erasing a 2-of-29 slump that he carried into the game. He also had a strong night at shortstop.

Perhaps the biggest hero was Esmil Rogers.

Tribe starter Justin Masterson should just call in sick the next time he has to face the Rays. His career record against them is 1-7 with a 7.74 ERA.

Two weeks ago, Masterson was clobbered for eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings by these same Rays at Progressive Field.

Then it was four runs in 4 1/3 innings Wednesday night in the dome.

Rogers came out of the Tribe bullpen and took the fifth, as in the fifth inning.

Here was the situation: Bases loaded, one out. Then Rogers whiffed Elliot Johnson. He induced B.J. Upton to ground out

The man with the 97 mph fastball didn't unleash a single heater that inning.

"I threw all curveballs," he said. "They hit my fastballs [for homers] the last two times I pitched against them."

Rogers added a scoreless sixth inning. He picked up his first victory with the Tribe as his ERA sunk to 2.04.

"Esmil was fantastic, he pretty much saved the game for us," Acta said.

The Indians needed this game, as they are 3-3 since All-Star break and they are three games behind the first-place White Sox in the Central Division.

The Akron Aeros rally in the bottom of the ninth to beat Harrisburg, 6-5, Wednesday night.

Pat Sullivan, Associated PressJeanmar Gomez

AAA Columbus Clippers

Bats 4, Clippers 2 Louisville piled up 12 hits for an International League win in Columbus.

Clippers starter Jeanmar Gomez (2-2, 1.86 ERA) pitched seven innings, giving up two earned runs on 10 hits while striking out eight.

2B Cord Phelps (.267) hit a solo home run for Columbus.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 6, Senators 5 Down a run in the bottom of the ninth, Akron rallied when pinch runner Davis Stoneburner scored on a walk with the bases loaded and LF Thomas Neal (.330) drove in CF Tyler Holt (.220) with an RBI single for an Eastern League win against Harrisburg, Pa., in Akron.

Advanced A Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats 11, Dash 9 Carolina withstood a five-run rally in the top of the ninth inning by Winston-Salem to win a Carolina League game in Zebulon, N.C.

Three Mudcats hit home runs: RF Bo Greenwell (.364), CF Carlos Moncrief (.253) and SS Ronny Rodriguez (.268).

A Lake County Captains

Captains 7, River Bandits 1 Lake County buried Quad Cities with a barrage of 13 hits for a Midwest League win in Davenport, Iowa.

DH Jordan Smith (.322) led the charge, going 3-for-4 with two RBI.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Spikes 8, Scrappers 6 Mahoning Valley allowed three runs in the top of the eighth inning to lose a New York-Penn League game in State College, Pa.

Reliever Luis Morel (1-1, 5.00 ERA) took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits.

RF Hunter Jones (.171) had two RBI for the Scrappers, and 3B Joseph Wendle added a solo home run.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers 10, Boomers 7 Lake Erie batters racked up 11 hits to win a Frontier League game in Schaumburg, Ill.

DH Jason Taylor (.336) led the offensive onslaught with three RBI.

More news and statistics on Indians minor-league teams at cleveland.com/tribe

Say this for Andrew Bynum. He's a terrific talent who would immediately make the Cavaliers better for having him and worse for putting up with him.

Jack Dempsey, Associated PressTrade rumors have Lakers big man Andrew Bynum soon becoming a Cavalier. Let's hope it stays a rumor.

The big and small of it.

With Wednesday bringing another Andrew Bynum-to-Cleveland rumor, it's as good a time as any to address the pros and cons of such a transaction.

• Pro: You can't teach "big."

• Con: It's often equally difficult to un-teach "knucklehead."

The Lakers have seen ample evidence of both in Bynum's seven years.

• Pro: Twice, the Lakers won titles -- once with him playing hurt in the postseason.

• Con: In 2009, he visited the Playboy Mansion and introduced the novel concept of strengthening a bad knee by carrying a Playboy Bunny on his shoulders. (Could be considered a "pro" if it was part of a team-ordered rehab program. Start with Bunnies and build up to Hef.)

• Pro: Lakers fans saw him become an All-Star this past season when he averaged 18.7 points per game.

• Con: It was the first time he'd averaged more than 15. His career averages: 11.7 points and 7.8 rebounds speak to his history of injuries and, to some extent, the bad attitude that crops up when there's no Playboy Bunny to carry.

• Pro: Bynum played 60 games in the shortened 66-game season.

• Con: He's only played more than 65 games once in his career.

• Pro: He didn't get so caught up in L.A.'s glamorous lifestyle that he stopped running his own errands.

• Con: In July 2011, a Los Angeles parking official filmed Bynum parking his BMW across two spots reserved for the disabled while he got his groceries.

• Pro: On the court he has shown some outside range.

• Con: After former Cavs coach Mike Brown benched him for an ill-conceived 3-pointer in the fourth quarter against Golden State in March, Bynum said: "I don't know what was bench-worthy about the shot to be honest with you. I made one last game and wanted to make another one."

• Pro: Doesn't get rattled easily.

• Con: Explaining why he didn't take part in Mike Brown's huddles, Bynum said he sat apart "getting my Zen on." The team fined him for "numerous infractions."

(OK, I know what you're thinking. Mike Brown often doesn't take part in Mike Brown's huddles but that's beside the point.)

• Pro: He can be physical in the post.

• Con: His petulant elbow to Dallas guard J.J. Barea in the 2011 playoffs earned him an ejection and a five-game suspension served at the beginning of last season.

• Pro: Doesn't over-think things.

• Con: Doesn't think things. In the playoffs before Game 6 against Denver, he said, "Close-out games are actually kind of easy." Denver won.

Say this for Andrew Bynum. He's a terrific talent who would immediately make the Cavaliers better for having him and worse for putting up with him.

That makes him the complete package. One the Cavs could use but don't need at this stage of their development. The "cons" win because he's not enough of a pro.

Spinoffs

A small plane owned by a company in Ohio carried a banner over the Penn State campus Tuesday that read, "Take the statue down or we will."

The same company carried banners heckling Tiger Woods from high above Augusta National in 2010. Those banners read, "Tiger: Did you mean Bootyism?" and "Sex addict? Yeah. Right. Sure. Me, too."

The clearest message: build a statue to Tiger Woods at your own risk. . . .

Former FBI director Louis Freeh, who conducted the investigation into the child abuse scandal at Penn State, cited a "culture of reverence for the football program that is ingrained at all levels of the campus community."

Good thing that's only the case at Penn State and not every big-time NCAA college football program or other abuses of power could take place. . . .

The early take on Cavs No. 1 draft choice Dion Waiters at the Summer League in Vegas: It's one thing to show up not in basketball shape.

And something entirely different to show up in sportswriter shape. . . .

The Cavs recently defeated the D-League Select Team -- proving, primarily, that there can be such a thing as a D-League Select Team.

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant was arrested for a physical altercation with a family member and has expressed "regret" over the incident, according to one of his advisers.

Next time Bryant says he'd knock over his mother to get in the end zone his words will carry an entirely different meaning. . . .

Sometime during the USA-Brazil men's Olympic basketball exhibition game, possibly when Team USA found itself down 10 points, Kobe Bryant should have retracted his statement saying the 2012 team would beat the 1992 Dream Team. . . .

And to think Kobe called David Stern's age-restriction proposal for the Olympics "stupid."

Pete Rose says of a proposed reality TV show starring himself, "It's not going to be classless."

Looking at his track record, long and frequent naps at age 71 are his only chance of being right. . . .

Mensa Candidate of the Week: Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy Tweeted a picture of his car odometer reaching 100 mph.

This a year removed from missing a chunk of training camp after an accident on his motorcycle. Brand: Kawasaki. Model: Why, "Ninja," of course. . . .

Former Browns exec Mike Lombardi Tweeted a link Wednesday to the "Five Regrets of the Dying." Watching ESPN debates between Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith did not top as many lists as expected. . . .

View full sizeDeSoto (Texas) Police Department via APCowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant loves his mother.

He said it

"He loves his mother to death." -- An adviser to Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, winning the "Worst Choice of Words 2012 Award" after Bryant's mother called 9-1-1 and could be heard telling friends that her son "tried to kill me."

She Tweeted it

"Just checked in with U.S. Olympic team en route to London at @united under 20-foot banner of [swimmer] Ryan Lochte, then charged $100 baggage fee. Thanks."-- U.S. Olympic rower Megan Kalmoe.

That got her in hot water with USA Rowing and the U.S. Olympic Committee because the USOC reimburses baggage fees.

So all's good. Just don't tell Congress if the bag was made in China.

You said it

(The Expanded Midweek Edition)

"Bud: I know your publisher is always concerned with readership numbers. Have you ever considered renaming this column 'Tyler Perry's Shaw's Spin'?" -- Chuck Levin

I thought about doing a better job with it once to encourage higher readership, but your idea sounds more plausible.

"Bud: Sources tell me Josh Gordon only ran 'Zig-Zag' patterns in college." -- Aunt Mil

It's come to this, has it?

"Bud: While Chris Johnson may not have had a 'CJ2K year,' I think I speak for everyone when saying you had a great 'BS year.' " -- J. Kiska, Lorain

Why, thanks. Then, you know I mean it when I say I cherish your opinion.

"Bud: Yes, too bad the Opening Ceremonies uniforms for the U.S. Olympic team were made in China. Funny how some react so strongly. Mr. Harry Reid thinks they should be burned. Very little mention of the monument to Martin Luther King being made in China. Where is the outrage? Or have they written off his memory in favor of our Athlete Gods? Politics and politicians are a strange lot." -- Norm Davis, Olmsted Falls

Sir, "You said it" is no place for the kind of social awareness and sound reasoning you bring to the table.

"Bud: Despite some public concern, there is no need for you to worry about my releasing the photos of your life as a 'before' model.". -- Michael Sarro

My third chin is especially thankful.

"Hey, Bud: Just moved here in June from the D.C. area. What should we consider more valuable, Norm Chad's $1.25 or your 'You said it' T-shirt?" -- Tom Geraci, N. Ridgeville

Hard to say. Both stem from the naive hope that you -- unlike so many D.C. politicians -- can be bought.

"Bud: Did Kyrie Irving and Nick Hagadone both graduate from "The School Of Hard Knocks?" -- Bob Lawther, Willoughby

First-time "You said it" winners receive a T-shirt from the mental_floss collection. Repeat winners receive fractured hopes and dreams.

Foiled Again leads a field of veteran pacers in the $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie on Saturday night at Northfield Park, chasing a record-setting third victory in the stakes event.

ThistledownJacob Radosevich, 19, injured his back in a horse racing accident during Monday's fith race at Thistledown when his horse, Flanagan Station, broke down. Radosevich, 19, was treated for four verterbral compression fractures along his spine and fitted with a brace at Cleveland's MetroHealth Medical Center. Track officials do not know when Radosevich will return to racing. Flanagan Station was euthanized.

 Northfield park has plucked a power-packed field of seven older pacers from a list of 20 nominees for the 17th edition of the $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie on Saturday night. There are some new faces, but the horse to beat will again be Foiled Again, looking for a record-setting third victory in the stakes race.

"Foiled Again is a total freak," said Pennsylvania trainer Ron Burke, whose stable has dominated the national harness racing scene in recent years. "He's getting older, but just gets better with age. He takes basically any kind of trip that's needed, and seems to love it."

Burke, in a telephone interview, said he is also sending in Something For Doc, a recent addition to his stable, but not stablemate Clear Vision. An upset winner over Foiled Again in the $182,000 Bettor's Delight on June 10 at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y., Clear Vision is done racing for the year.

"Clear Vision suffered a slight suspensory pull," said Burke, "An exceptional pacer, he has been very good all year and I don't want him to aggravate the injury."

 Burke said premier driver Yannick Gingras will be at The Meadows in Washington, Pa. for the Adios Week stakes races, which begin on Saturday with the $600,000 Delvin Miller Adios for three-year-old pacers. Burke plans to have Gingras drive at The Meadows by day, and at Northfield Park at night in the Battle of Lake Erie. The racing program at Northfield Park begins at 7 p.m., but the Battle of Lake Erie won't be behind the starting gate until 11 p.m.

From the rail post position out, the field includes Flipper J, Trick Man, Classic Rock N Roll, Valentino, Aracache Hanover and Something For Doc. Foiled Again is the 2-1 early favorite to win his fifth in 14 starts and add to $474,434 in earnings this season, Foiled Again has 62 career wins and $3.9 million in earnings.

The eight-year-old is a son of Dragon Again, the 2000 winner of the "Battle." Foiled Again won the race in 2009 and 2011. His top win this year was in the $300,000 Molson Pace at Western Fair District in London, Ontario.

North America's leading trainer with 478 wins and $8.7 million in earnings, Burke enjoys racing at Northfield Park. He says he's looking forward to his favorite Ohio track getting video lottery terminals (VLTs), or slots, now forecast for 2014.

"The racing scene should improve with the increased purses," Burke said. "It will be better for everybody, and Ohio racing will again become an option for a lot of horsemen (from out of state)."

Ohio youngsters battle: The best of Ohio's two-year-old colts also have big purses to chase at Northfield Park on Saturday. There are a pair of $17,200 divisions of the Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old colt pacers, and two $16,300 divisions for the freshman colt trotters.

Thistledown news: Jockey Jacob Radosevich, 19, was treated and released from Cleveland's MetroHealth Medical Center on Monday after his horse, Flanagan Station, broke down in a race and tossed the rider. Radosevich had four vertebral compression fractures in his back and has been fitted with a brace, said track officials. The three-year-old thoroughbred was euthanized.

The nephew of Thistledown trainer Jeff Radosevich, the young jockey's brother, Josh Radosevich, then 16, was killed in a horse racing accident at Beulah Park in 2005. Their father, Jake Radosevich, is also an Ohio trainer.

Veterans at Thistle: Keeping with tradition, Thistledown has a special Veterans Day at the Track on Friday, hosting a lunch for patients at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Administration Medical Center. The track is also providing race programs and the first $2 wager of the day for the veterans.

Ottawa track record: In a rare appearance in the sulky, trainer Jim Mulinix celebrated his victory in the $600,000 Meadowlands Pace last Saturday by driving his two-year-old trotter, Sir James, to a track record for its age and gait at the Ottawa County Fair on Tuesday in Oak Harbor, Ohio. The Master Glide colt trotted a 2:03 mile in his first career start. A Wauseon, Ohio native, Mulinix's A Rocknroll Dance and reinsman Gingras, the track's leading driver, nailed the Meadowlands Pace with a 1:48.1 mile.

Went the Day Well is done: Went the Day Well won't be racing any more this season for Barry Irwin's Team Valor International, a syndicate that includes Youngstown horseman Bruce Zoldan. The three-year-old colt by Proud Citizen, a winner in the Vinery Spiral Stakes and a strong fourth in the Kentucky Derby, suffered from bone bruising in his front ankles and has been sent to Denali Stud in Kentucky for a couple of months. He's expected to race next in January at Gulfstream Park.

Palone Night: The Meadows will have Dave Palone Night on Wednesday to celebrate that the winningest driver in harness racing history is a regular at the Keystone track. Palone slipped past Herve Filion's 15,181 wins recently.
  

With temperatures in the mid-90s with high humidity, Lower wins a pressure-packed, two-hole aggregate playoff against Kevin Hall.

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain DealerJustin Lower hits out of the rough Wednesday during the final round of the Ohio Open at Weymouth Country Club in Medina.

MEDINA, Ohio — General opinion was it would take one heck of a finish to upstage what took place one year ago.

Young professionals Justin Lower and Kevin Hall managed to do just that -- supplying even more drama than last year -- on Wednesday in the final round of the 89th annual MaximusJobs.com Ohio Open at the Weymouth Club in Medina.

Lower, from Canal Fulton, and Hall, from Cincinnati, finished regulation play tied for the lead at 13-under 203, three shots in front of Zanesville's Chase Wilson, who surged into third place with a final-round 7-under 65, the best score of the 54-hole event.

With temperatures in the mid-90s with high humidity, Lower won a pressure-packed, two-hole aggregate playoff by making a 3-foot putt for par on Weymouth's 470-yard 18th hole while Hall made bogey. Both men parred the 555-yard 10th, the first playoff hole.

In 2011, Canton's Mike Emery won the title on the final hole of regulation when his 19-foot birdie putt gave him a one-stroke win over former John Carroll star Brian Unk.

Hall, the former Big Ten champion from Ohio State who has been deaf since age 2, made eight straight pars on the back nine to finish with a 4-under 68. Lower, who won a NAIA national championship at Malone in 2010, began the day one shot in front of Hall but fell out of the lead when he bogeyed the 414-yard sixth, arguably the toughest hole on the course.

View full sizePDKevin Hall.

He regained a share of the lead with a birdie on the 218-yard 15th with the wind suddenly making an appearance. After watching eventual fourth-place finisher Sebastian MacLean land short of the green with a 5-iron, Lower switched to a 4-iron and carved his tee shot to nine feet.

"The wind was picking up and I didn't think I could get it there with the 5-iron," said Lower, who made $9,000 for his second professional victory of the season. "I just wanted to cut a 4-iron in there."

The drama did not stop there. A short time later, Lower found himself in the right rough on the 442-yard 17th, his path to the green blocked by two trees about 20 yards in front of him. With an unfortunate lie preventing him from going over the trees, he elected to hit a low line drive between them.

His screaming liner just clipped some leaves but rolled to a stop about 18 feet from the hole and he made par. He also saved par with an excellent chip shot from the right rough to extend the tournament to overtime.

"Winning here really means a lot to me," said Lower, who had Malone coach Ken Hyland and several playing partners on hand. "I don't want to say it was for the money, but that sure will help out. But, to have my name on the same trophy as guys like Jack Nicklaus and Byron Nelson is pretty special."

Hall was steady as a rock through regulation, as he had been for the first 36 holes. He began the day one shot behind Lower but made that up with an eagle on the 515-yard fifth and took sole possession of the lead with a birdie on the 555-yard 10th by making a 6-foot putt.

One of his rare blunders of the week came on the second playoff hole when he hit his tee shot into a small grove of trees just off the right side of the fairway. He had hit his ball to almost the same spot in regulation but was able to make par. Not this time as he left his second shot short of the green.

"The shot from the rough called for a hook, and I have that shot," he said during a written interview. "I just picked one club too short."

Hall, the 2005 Big Ten champion who made $5,000 for his runner-up finish, backed away from his 4-footer on the final hole when a bug flew at his ball an instant before he took his putter back. He settled in but missed the putt, setting the stage for Lower.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

Indians working hard to get catcher Carlos Santana out of his funk.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerCarlos Santana is hitting .185 since May 15.

Scribbles in my notebook as the Tribe plays the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.

1. Carlos Santana on Wednesday night hit his first home run since May 15, a stretch of 138 at-bats. And what a relief it was for the Tribe . . . and for Santana. While the Indians have talked about the merits of sending Santana to Class AAA Columbus, they are not close to making that move. Part of the problem is this -- if not Santana, then, who? As in, who catches? They can go with Lou Marson, who is batting a respectable .287 (.787 OPS) in 101 at-bats this season.

2. But more importantly, the Indians want the switch-hitting Santana to work through his problems at the plate. If the Indians have any hope of making the playoffs this season, they need the Carlos Santana who hit 27 homers in 2011. He now has six homers in 2012, and his three-run shot in the seventh inning Wednesday was his first home run in 83 at-bats this season hitting right-handed.

3. Indians batting coach Bruce Fields has been working hard with Santana, who was in a 25-of-138 slump (.183) before he unloaded Wednesday night. In that span, he had only 10 RBI, six doubles and three balls hit to the warning track.

4. Fields said Santana must "quiet his body . . . shorten his swing . . . keep it simple." And yes, that's simpler said than done. That's especially true because Santana always had a lot of front-toe tapping and a high leg kick as he attacked the pitch. His swing would grow long because of all the body movement. But since he was an elite hitter in the minors, there was no reason to change him.

5. Fields said that after "a year and in a half in the majors, they have scouting reports and video on you. Pitchers work you over. They find your weaknesses, you have to adjust." Santana sees only 49 percent fastballs, according to Fangraphs.com. Pitchers love to throw him things that slide, sink, dip and almost crawl up to home plate.

6. Among American League hitters, only Jesus Montero and Justin Morneau are seeing a fewer percentage of fastballs than Santana -- all three are slightly below 50 percent. Santana is among the league leaders in seeing changeups and curveballs as pitchers believe he can be fooled with off-speed stuff. He belted a 95 mph fastball over the center-field wall off Tampa Bay lefty Jake McGee. McGee had a 2.03 ERA entering the game.

7. Santana has always hit for power and drawn a lot of walks, even with his career big-league batting average of .244 heading into the season. Even this season, he has a respectable .348 on-base percentage because he draws walks. The Indians have made sure there are no lingering problems from his concussion in May. They say he rarely is in the trainer's room. They don't believe health is an issue.

8. It comes down not only to mechanics, but confidence. And the Tribe hopes Wednesday's game will be the tonic Santana needs.

9. Fields said players can make adjustments. Michael Brantley (hitting .300) went back to the minors twice to learn to change his stance and pull inside pitches. "He began to bat standing more straight up and it gave him better plate coverage with his swing," Fields said. "He also learned the strike zone and he's very selective. He has become a tough out."

10. Heading into Wednesday night, Tampa Bay's Luke Scott was 8-for-25 against the Indians, and 0-for-38 against everyone else in his past 18 games. He then added four more hits against the Tribe. Yes, once upon a time, he was a Tribe farmhand.

11. For now, the Indians want to stick with Johnny Damon, who is hitting .278 with three homers and 12 RBI since June 1.

12. The stolen base Tuesday by the Rays' Desmond Jennings (the Indians still insist he was out) was the first against Josh Tomlin since Sept 19, 2010. The Tribe pitcher had thrown 2671/3 innings without allowing a steal. The real problem wasn't the stolen base, it was that Tomlin then gave up an RBI single to Jose Lobaton, giving Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning. He was batting .207 for the season and .139 (5-for-36) when he delivered that key base hit.

13. Raffy Perez threw a scoreless inning for Columbus on Wednesday night as he continues to work his way back from a strained left lat. His fastball was in the 85- to 87-mph range. That's better than the 82-85 range earlier this season, before he went on the disabled list. If he remains healthy, he'll pitch a few more times next week on minor-league rehabilitation assignments.

14 The Tribe will have an extra second-round pick in the 2013 amateur draft thanks to something called the Competitive Balance Lottery. The franchises in the 10 smallest markets had a lottery, and the Indians were awarded a pick in the round that will be held after the regular second round. It's a pick in the 70s. This is part of the new collective bargaining agreement.

Highlights include Indians at Tampa Bay at 12:10 p.m., and the British Open.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

TV and radio sports listings

BASEBALL

3 p.m. True South Classic, Golf Channel

4:30 a.m. (Friday) British Open, ESPN

MAJOR LEAGUE LACROSSE

7 p.m. Denver at Boston, CBSSN

SOFTBALL

1 p.m. Youth, TC/USA Nationals semifinals, CBSSN

3:30 p.m. Youth, TC/USA Nationals final, CBSSN

Is Kyrie Irving prone to injury, or has his injuries just been a coincidence?

Gus Chan, The Plain DealerKyrie Irving

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving played in only 11 games in college due to a toe injury. Irving missed 15 games this season due to various injuries, coach's decision and the inactive list.

And on Wednesday, Irving had surgery on his right hand that was broken when he slapped a padded wall in frustration.