Jim Furyk said he was comfortable with the South Course layout, and it showed on Thursday.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerThursday's opening round wasn't perfect for Jim Furyk, who had to deal with this bunker shot -- and an eventual bogey -- on the seventh hole. But he overcame that hiccup to grab the first-round lead at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

AKRON, Ohio -- Jim Furyk had his best round in 13 appearances at Firestone on Thursday, shooting a 7-under 63. He leads the 78-man field by two strokes.

Furyk, who has three top-5 finishes at the Bridgestone Invitational, carded seven birdies and an eagle. The round was a good start at recapturing the magic of 2006, when he scorched the South Course with a 9-under 271, good for third place. His best finish since was in a tie for sixth two years ago.

Born: May 12, 1970, West Chester, Pa.

Height/weight: 6-2, 185.

Turned pro: 1992.

Q: Do you approach this course differently than others?

A: No, I'm comfortable here. It's an old classic-style golf course. It's kind of back and forth like the kind I grew up on, (with) greens mostly sloping from back to front. I guess I haven't played on real fast greens in a lot of weeks, from Greenbriar (W.Va.) to the British Open to even last week. These greens are much quicker, so I'm trying to kind of see the ball feeding, get used to the speed of the greens. But, really, I don't prepare that much different."

Q: Do you have a favorite hole or memory here?

A: Unfortunately, I have to look at the picture of me holing the bunker shot the year we had the seven-hole playoff (with Tiger Woods). That was a good memory, but I had to look at the picture for years, knowing that I lost the tournament. So people came up to me, 'Hey, can you sign this picture?' It would be of me holing out, pumping the fist. But, ultimately, that tournament ended up in defeat, so it always kind of left a bitter taste. Then I went on to win the U.S. Open afterwards. Now I see that picture all the time, so it's a lot better."

Q: If you weren't a professional golfer, what would you be?

A: I don't know. Just be thankful I don't have to worry about it.

Q: When you do have free time, what hobbies do you enjoy?

A: I have an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old at home, so with the traveling I do, trying to be prepared to play golf and taking care of other business ventures, most of my free time is devoted to my family right now. I like to fish. I like to get out on the water a little bit. It's peaceful, it's quiet, it's away from everything. And in the fall, I like watching football. (His parents are from Pittsburgh, so he grew up a Steelers fan.)

Q: Who was your favorite golfer growing up and why?

A: Jack Nicklaus, because he's the best.

Both the Zips and Golden Flashes are looking to rebuild programs that have struggled in recent seasons.

View full sizeMike Cardew, Akron Beacon JournalAkron's new football coach, veteran Terry Bowden, says he's looking for players to buy into the revamped program in 2012.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- College football practice begins this weekend, with the Akron Zips and Kent State Golden Flashes welcoming players back to campus.

For Akron, it will be the official start of the Terry Bowden regime as the veteran coach works to revive a program that Rob Ianello could only get one victory out of in each of his two seasons.

Bowden's initial mission going into camp is a simple one. "Get everyone on the same page and have a total commitment to the plan," he said. "Get everyone in the program to exhibit sincere optimism."

Bowden decided during the summer that incumbent QB Clayton Moore had lost his job to senior transfer Dalton Williams (Stephen F. Austin). Moore has been given Bowden's blessing to transfer. For the fourth straight season, the Zips will be starting a new quarterback.

At least Bowden has a starter. Down the road at Kent State, that position is up for grabs as coach Darrell Hazell begins his second season. But it won't be open for long.

"We will find out who our quarterback is in the first two weeks," Hazell said.

Three-year starter Spencer Keith would seem to have the upper hand, but by the end of spring JC transfer David Fisher was clearly pushing Keith. Hazell says true freshman Colin Reardon will get a serious look as well.

Beyond quarterback, Kent will spend the preseason trying to lock down starters at outside linebacker, right guard, punter and receiver.

Welcome home: Kent's offensive line depth may be getting a boost. Pat McShane, a 6-5, 305-pound lineman out of Walsh Jesuit High, played guard and center as a Indiana freshman in 2009, red-shirted as a sophomore, then decided to leave the school and return home. Now McShane has had a change of heart.

"He just walked into my office this summer and said he had the desire to play football again," Hazell said. "Apparently, he was on campus all last year and nobody knew it."

Once cleared by the NCAA, McShane will get his chance to battle for the open guard spot.

Hoop news: It has not been confirmed by the Zips, but 6-11 sophomore Pat Forsythe from Brunswick has left West Virginia and reportedly will play basketball for the Zips. Forsythe, who got into some trouble at WVU for stolen debit cards, still has some legal issues to clear up. But he would be the clear heir apparent to senior Zeke Marshall.

At KSU, former MAC Player of the Year DeAndre Haynes has been hired as an assistant coach to replace Jordan Mincy, who left for the College of Charleston.

Vinny Rottino joined the Indians on Wednesday, started in left field Thursday and could be gone by Saturday when Travis Hafner returns from the paternity list. That's not a whole lot of time to make an impression.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Manager Manny Acta said he'd throw Vinny Rottino into the deep end of the pool and he did.

Rottino, filling in for Travis Hafner, started in left field Thursday night against Kansas City. Rottino joined the Indians from Class AAA Columbus just before Wednesday's game. Hafner was placed on the paternity list and returned to Cleveland where his wife, Amy, gave birth to a eight pound boy.

Hafner is scheduled to rejoin the Indians on Saturday in Detroit. Rottino could be designated for assignment to make room for Hafner unless the Indians make another move to get Hafner back on the roster.

"I'm glad they're throwing me right in there," said Rottino, 32. "I don't want to sit around and wait."

The Indians claimed Rottino on waivers from the Mets on June 27. He was optioned to Class AAA Columbus where he hit .299 (35-for-117) with nine doubles, four homers and 32 RBI in 30 games. This is his third trip to the big league this year, the first two coming with the Mets.

"My swing feels good," said Rottino. "My approach feels good. I got limited playing time with New York. So I was excited to just start playing again. I got off to a nice start."

Rottino arrived with eight gloves. He catches, plays first and third and the outfield.

"I've got four gloves and four backup gloves," said Rottino. "I can catch, play third, first and all three outfield spots.

"I love catching the most of all the positions, but I've played mostly outfield the last two years."

There could be some roster changes coming with the Indians seven games out of first place. They designated Derek Lowe, 39, for assignment Wednesday. If changes are made, Rottino might be able to stick around a little longer than Saturday. 

Tonight's lineups:

Indians (50-54): LF Shin-Soo Choo (L), 2B Brent Lillibridge, SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), 1B Carlos Santana (S), CF Michael Brantley (L), 3B Jose Lopez (R), , LF Vinny Rottino (R), DH Shelley Duncan (R), C Lou Marson, RHP Corey Kluber (first big league start).

Royals (43-60): LF Alex Gordon (L), SS Alcides Escobar (R), RF Lorenzo Cain (R), DH Billy Butler (R), 3B Mike Moustakas (L), C Brayan Pena (S), 1B Eric Hosmer (L), 2B Chris Getz (L), CF Jarrod Dyson (L), LHP Bruce Chen (7-9, 5.49).

Umpires: H Laz Diaz, 1B Mike Estabrook, 2B Tim Welke, 3B Mike Everitt. Welke, crew chief.

Indians vs. Chen: Casey Kotchman is hitting .321 (9-for-28) with one homer and five RBI and Lopez is hitting .333 (8-for-24) with two homers and three RBI.

Royals vs. Kluber: The Royals have never faced Kluber.

Next: RHP Justin Masterson (7-9, 4.47) will face Detroit's Anibal Sanchez (5-8, 4.11)
on Friday night at Comerica Park to open a three-game series. STO/WTAM will carry the game.

Mike Holmgren said Thursday afternoon that he will meet with new owner Jimmy Haslam III when he arrives for his Friday press conference. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Mike Holmgren said Thursday that he'll meet with new owner Jimmy Haslam III when he comes to town and let him know that he'd like to stay on as president of the team. Haslam will be introduced at a press conference Friday at 1 p.m.

Holmgren is in the third year of a five-year contract that pays him about $8 million a year. Asked if he hopes to be here through 2012, he said, "I hope to, but we'll see."

"I've been in this business a long time and we'll just see how that goes," he said. "Right now anything like that would be premature."

Holmgren said he spoke with Haslam by phone on Wednesday night.

"It was nice to hear his voice," he said. "He said the same thing about me and we look forward to spending some time together when he gets into town here."

Holmgren was asked if he'd feel as if he didn't complete his mission if he leaves now.

"That sounds like mission impossible, you know?" he said. "I can't talk about it. The what ifs and the hypotheticals, I really have to stay away from that now. Our focus is on the team. I look very much forward to talking with Mr. Haslam and again you guys will get a chance to as well pretty soon here."

Holmgren said he doesn't know yet if former Eagles President Joe Banner will be joining Haslam in Cleveland. The Plain Dealer reported last week that Banner will play an integral role here, but Banner declined to comment. CBS Sports' Jason LaCanfora reported Thursday that sources have told Banner's involvement "is not a slam dunk." But those close to Banner have been talking like it's a done deal.

"I don't know that," said Holmgren. "That conversation hasn't taken place."

Holmgren said he's known Banner for a long time. Over the past two years, Holmgren has represented Lerner at league functions, including the owners' annual meeting in March.

"He worked along with [Eagles owner] Jeffrey Lurie, who I respect tremendously, and of course Andy Reid, who worked for me for a while," said Holmgren. "So yeah, I've known Joe for a long time."

Asked if he felt he could work with Banner, he said, "You know what, I'm not going to go there right now." He said he had no assurances from current Browns owner Randy Lerner.

"We're not dealing with hypotheticals and we never did in our relationship," said Holmgren. "We're taking it a day at a time, and following league protocols. The owners have to vote on this. So there is a time factor with this, and in the meantime we're just going to try and get this team ready to play as best we can. And Pat [Shurmur] and those guys are doing a heckuva job. We're having a great camp so far."

He said he doubts Haslam will address the team Friday.

"I wouldn't think so, but again that's open for discussion certainly," said Holmgren. "I'm not ruling anything out, I'm just looking forward to meeting him and having a talk with him."

Holmgren admitted he was surprised when news broke of the possible sale in June.

"Since I've been in the league, most often, those type of things happen after the season's over and then you have your off-season. [The sale's timing] was different [in] that respect. But in this business, I gave up being surprised a long time ago on stuff."

Holmgren, 9-23 as team president, said this is the year they expect to make a big jump.

"We're all excited about the possibilities for this year and trying to keep it as best we can business as usual around here, and that's what I'm going to try to and do," he said.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Rafael Cabrera Bello and Simon Dyson posted matching 66s in their largely-ignored pairing, while Lee Slattery is alone in second with a 65.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerSpain's Rafael Cabrera Bello had five birdies on his way to a 4-under 66 in Thursday's first round, and didn't mind doing so while Tiger Woods attracted all the attention. "Well, it's how golf works," he said.

AKRON, Ohio -- It was like throwing a party and no one comes, while the neighbor's bash is blowing the roof off the place.

The gallery for Tiger Woods, as he began the back nine, was the usual three- and four-deep, cackling with "Atta boy!" and "You da man!" and "C'mon, Tiger!"

Across the way, relative unknowns -- at least beyond the European Tour -- labored in quiet, pushing themselves and each other toward the spotlight, at least for a day.

Rafael Cabrera Bello, of Spain, who had never played in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational before, and Englishman Simon Dyson, playing Firestone Country Club for just the third time, both scored a 4-under 66. After Thursday's first round, they're in a six-way tie for third.

First-timer Lee Slattery of England followed that duo, shooting 5-under 65, good for second place, two shots back of Jim Furyk, in similar obscurity.

As the swarm for Woods moved beyond sight on his way to an even-par round, just eight spectators followed Cabrera Bello and Dyson as they finished the day's final two holes. One was Neil Weinberger, 51, of Pepper Pike, who caught a glimpse of the scoreboard and hustled over to the sixth green.

"I saw they were both 5 under," he said.

Then Weinberger, often a solo clapper rewarding a choice shot by either, looked toward the crowd following Woods. He kind of shook his head as if to say, "What a shame they're missing this."

Dyson, age 34, scored six birdies, three per side. The 28-year-old Cabrera Bello had five, and would have been even better if not for a missed 8-foot birdie putt on No. 7 and bogey on the ninth, his day's final hole.

They did well despite illness. Cabrera Bello was fighting lingering stomach problems. He couldn't keep his breakfast down and didn't eat during the round, skipping the tuna fish sandwich his caddie packed. Dyson battled congestion that's lasted a few days.

Behind them, Slattery, a 32-year-old former clothing store assistant, birdied six of seven holes from No. 16 to No. 4.

Maybe Slattery was inspired by the steady golf played in front of him, although even he didn't buy it at first.

"I did look over," he said. "I was wondering whether they got the scores mixed up with red [under par] and [black for over]. But I couldn't believe how well they were playing, as well."

All three played rounds they won't soon forget. Even if it was in near isolation.

"Well, it's how golf works," said Cabrera Bello, whose best PGA Tour finish is a tie for 33rd. "Tiger definitely has earned his crowd throughout this year. I'm unknown here."

Dyson, whose best finish is a tie for sixth at the 2007 PGA Championship, actually found enjoyment in the solitude.

"It was quite nice, though, to be fair," he said. "It's nice to just get on with it."

Jim Furyk has his best round in 13 appearances at Firestone at 7-under 63 and leads the 78-man field by two strokes.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerJim Furyk played his best round at Firestone Country Club in 13 appearances Thursday, shooting a 7-under 63 for a two-stroke lead.

AKRON, Ohio -- Firestone veteran Jim Furyk surged to the top of the leaderboard late Thursday afternoon during the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Furyk, in his 13th appearance here, made a charge midway through his round en route to his best career day at Firestone. He leads the 78-man field by two strokes at 7-under 63.

Furyk, who began on No. 10, closed the back side with three consecutive birdies. He became the leader at 6 under when he eagled the par-5 second, traditionally the easiest hole on the South Course.

He went to 7 under with a birdie on the par-4 fourth. After bogeying the par-3 seventh, he returned to 7 under with a birdie on the 482-yard eighth hole.

"It's been a while since I've made seven birdies and an eagle in a round so it was fun," Furyk said.

England’s Lee Slattery is alone at 5 under, followed by a pack of six players at 4 under, including world No. 1 Luke Donald and Bubba Watson.

Cleveland native Jason Dufner, playing his first professional round at Firestone, is 3 under.

Tiger Woods, who has won seven times at Firestone and raved about how much he loves the course Wednesday during a news conference, faded and finished at even-par.

Woods was 3 under through 11 holes before bogeys on 13, 16 and 18, missing an eight-foot par putt.

Rory McIlroy also shot even-par.

Defending champion Adam Scott finished at 1 over in his first round since his British Open collapse July 22 when four straight closing bogeys cost him the Claret Jug.

Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson’s struggles continue, as he stands 1 over after he missed the cut at the British Open.

Go to cleveland.com/golf for live updates throughout every round from The Plain Dealer’s team at Firestone. Look for the automated Twitter box at the top of the webpage.

Bubba Watson, who averages 313.7 yards off the tee, used his driver on 11 of the South Course's 14 driving holes and finished with a 4-under 66.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerBubba Watson accepted the cheers from the fans around the 16th hole after he sank a birdie putt Thursday.

AKRON, Ohio -- When the temperature rises, Bubba Watson reaches for the heat.

The heat, at least in Watson's case, is the driver and PGA Tour's distance king did not hesitate to reach for it during Thursday's opening round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Watson, who entered the tournament averaging 313.7 yards off the tee, used his driver on 11 of the South Course's 14 driving holes and finished with a 4-under 66, three shots behind leader Jim Furyk. ShotLink, the Tour's statistical tracker, said Watson averaged 324.3 yards per drive in 90-degree temperatures.

"Today was ideal," said Watson, one of six players tied for third, one shot behind England's Lee Slattery. "No wind. Sunshine. The ball was really traveling far because of the humidity. The weather dictates what we're going to do."

A score in the 60s at Firestone is not foreign territory to Watson, the reigning Masters champ. He was the first-round leader two years ago with a 64 but lost his way with three straight rounds in the 70s and finished in a tie for 22nd.

One of the benefits of being long off the tee is hitting short irons into many greens. Watson leads the Tour in greens in regulation and hit 14 of 18 Thursday.

Starting on the back nine, he strung together three straight birdies, a bogey and an eagle on holes 16 through 2. He was one of four players to eagle the 526-yard second when he hit his drive 339 yards and an 8-iron to about eight feet.

Mistaken identity: Adam Scott did not know his tee shot struck a tree that overhangs the right side of the 471-yard 13th hole and fell straight down into the fairway. Meanwhile, playing partner Matt Kuchar's drive was perfect, landing about 40 yards past Scott's.

Typically much longer than his partner, Scott walked past his ball and approached Kuchar's. Trailing behind, when Kuchar reached the ball under the tree, he took one look at it and said, "Adam, Titleist?"

They exchanged a fist bump and a chuckle as they moved to their respective balls. It made little difference. Both made par.

Slow start: Tiger Woods, a seven-time Bridgestone champion, finished the front nine at 1 under and followed with birdies on 10 and 11. But with three bogeys on the back nine, Woods finished with an even-par 70. It was his 13th start at Bridgestone, but only the second time he opened with a round in the 70s.

He's tied for 31st and hasn't won here since 2009.

"Well, I hit it good today," said Woods, who reached 78 percent of his greens in regulation. "Unfortunately, once I got to the greens, probably I think I averaged about four putts per hole, so it wasn't a great day on the greens."

No comfort zone: Try as he might, British Open champion Ernie Els just can't seem to find his mojo here. The best Els has done at Firestone was a fifth, back in 1999, and he shot 3 over Thursday.

"Just never got the knack of this place for some reason," he said. "Can't score here, but the course is in great shape. It's just one of those things. I've been coming here for 20 years and trying to change my attitude every time, but the course gets me every time."

Hall of Famer in the crowd: A familiar face was spotted walking outside the ropes. Former Pittsburgh Steelers great Lynn Swann was trying to catch up with friend Furyk. Bridgestone is a regular stop this time of year, he said, because it aligns with the Pro Football Hall of Fame week. He has attended yearly since his 2001 induction.

Swann, who knows several pro golfers through pro-am tournaments he's hosted, is a 13-handicap.

In the bag: Among Rickie Fowler's head covers: a mini-Fowler Puma cap, orange of course. And an Oklahoma State Cowboy swinging a driver, which should make Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden proud. Fowler shot a 70.

Caped crusaders: Several youngsters were spotted in the gallery wearing large capes adorned with the Spanish coat of arms. They are part of a group from Spain that has been in the country for the last few weeks attending golf schools. As part of their tour they are attending the Bridgestone Invitational and followed the Spanish players.

Macho Montao Gimeno, 13, from Madrid, and Girtavo Penen Segurann, 15, from Salamanca, were part of the small gallery following Rafael Cabrera Bello as he shot a 4-under 66. They had the autographs of all the Spanish players on their capes.

Carrying weight: How much does a pro golfer's bag weigh? Usually, anywhere from about 45 to 60 pounds. But, said Zach Johnson's caddie Damon Green, a professional golfer himself, "It depends on how they're playing. When they're playing poorly, it feels like a ton of bricks. When they're playing well, it's as light as a feather."

Favorite hole: For volunteer marshal Jim Molnar, 52, of Kent, that would be number three. Why? His father worked for Ohio Bell and handled the Firestone account, so the golf tournament was a yearly tradition.

When Molnar was about eight, they were following Arnold Palmer during a practice round. After hitting his drive on No. 3, Palmer dropped three more balls and asked the gallery how many they thought he could skip off the water and on to the green. Then he put on a show, as each one reached its destination on one skip.

Staff writers Tim Rogers and Bill Lubinger contributed to this report.

The arrival of Jimmy Haslam III as Browns owner comes with the promise of sleeves rolled up and eyes laser-focused.

View full sizePilot Corp.Jimmy Haslam is reportedly a hands-on owner, but that version of the species doesn't guarantee success, says Bill Livingston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- So now we're back to a "hands-on" owner.

Art Modell was so hands-on it became meddling. There was only one star in the Browns franchise when Modell owned the team. The occasionally effective executive deflected media praise and, in the case of Ernie Accorsi -- the general manager during all the agonizing near-misses against John Elway's Broncos -- actively discouraged it due to Modell's jealousy.

After Modell moved the team, the only evidence of a hands-on approach by the Lerner family turned out to be Al Lerner's thumbprints, which were all over the move. Fans forgave, although many never forgot. But they trusted that the Lerners' hands-off approach would be the antidote to Modell.

Such an approach works only by hiring good coaches and general managers, though.

New England Patriots' owner Robert Kraft snapped up truculent, but brilliant, Bill Belichick after Belichick dropped the controlled mumble that characterized many of his comments as Modell's last Browns coach. Instead he favored a curt, handwritten note to the New York Jets, of which he had been head coach for about five minutes. "I resign as HC of the NYJ," Belichick wrote.

As HC of the NEP, Belichick got insanely lucky with (or sagely coached, pick one) greatness from sixth-round draft choice Tom Brady, the 199th player taken in the draft. Five Super Bowls and three Vince Lombardi trophies later, Kraft sets the standard for ownership in the NFL.

Strangely, Randy Lerner, who inherited the Browns after his father died in 2002, considered Kraft a friend and sounding board. Randy, however, was so hands off he could have been the Bubble Owner. Neither his hands-off approach -- nor the advice from Kraft -- took.

The arrival of Jimmy Haslam III as Browns owner comes with the promise of sleeves rolled up and eyes laser-focused. Hands are back on. All this recalls the way a coach who is a strict disciplinarian is followed by a "players" coach who is followed by another tightening of the reins.Either way, however, with the Browns owners the results have been depressing for a generation, which is all that counts.

Haslam says the Browns will stay here. Still, will new ownership keep Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert? Or, more likely, will Haslam want his own lieutenants?

Even with the unavoidable growing pains, rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden and rookie running back Trent Richardson create more interest than there has been in years. It is hard to think the Browns are pointed north in the standings real soon. There have been too many dashed hopes. The only sure thing is that they will be loved through thin and thinner.

The silliest objection to Haslam is that he is a minority owner of the hated Pittsburgh Steelers. Given the way things have gone by the three rivers and the way they have gone here, no objection should be made if some of the Steelers' methods rub off on the Browns.

As long as it's not paint from James Harrison's helmet.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

The sacrifices of Ohio native Kayla Harrison and her family helped push her to the first Olympic gold medal in American judo history.

LONDON -- Leaving the medal podium Thursday, the gold medal around her neck and tears in her eyes, Ohio native Kayla Harrison looked at her family in the stands, patted her heart and mouthed, "I love you."

Not that it was needed, but her history-making Olympic performance proved that.

"I think she feels like she's walking on the clouds," said her mother, Jeannie Yazell, "and we're walking on the clouds, I know that."

The first American judo athlete ever to win Olympic gold, Harrison rose to the top of her sport six years after leaving her family and her home state, moving from Middletown to just outside Boston to restart her life after her former judo coach went to prison for sexually abusing her.

"For Kayla, she had to overcome so much and she's been through so many tough situations, stepping on the Olympic mat is nothing compared to what she already beat," said her current coach, Jimmy Pedro. "That's what gives her incredible resolve and makes her a true champion with character. Somebody who is questioning whether they want to go on and want to live life or not, now to the point they're the Olympic champion? It's the American dream, right?"

After her controlled and clear victory over surprise finalist Gemma Gibbons of Great Britain, with Harrison acknowledging that "Gemma sounds like Kayla," so she could take the crowd's home country chants as her own, Harrison jumped into the arms of Pedro, then climbed the stands to reach her fiance, Aaron Handy. He thought he was just handing her the American flag for a victory lap before she wound up in his arms.

"I was surprised she had that much energy left," Handy said with a laugh. "I'm sure there was relief, sadness, a lot of things rolled into one that you didn't expect to feel. ... It's the culmination of her athletic career. When you start judo, that's what you want to do. You hear stories that no one in the U.S. has ever won a gold medal. You want to be the first. And she did it."

The victory wasn't hers alone. Harrison, 22, longs to popularize judo, the sports she calls the greatest in the world. Since making her story of abuse public last fall, she has accepted her role as a beacon for those who have similarly suffered. A gold medal makes that only more true.

"This is proof that you're only a victim if you allow yourself to be, and nothing can stop you, nothing can stop you," Harrison said with the medal around her neck. "I want to be the person that stands up and fights for what's right.

"Honestly, I've never done anything harder than having to go through that. And the Olympics wasn't a breeze, but ... it was something I was focused on and I wanted and I used everything as my fuel."

Harrison, the No. 4 seed in the 172-pound weight class and the 2010 world champion, won four matches Thursday, the second a tough come-from-behind win against a tall, awkward left-handed Hungarian, Abigel Joo, that she'd never beaten before. That set up a semifinal with rival and top seed Mayra Aguiar of Brazil, but Harrison so dominated that Pedro came off the mat all but guaranteeing the gold medal while proclaiming, "Today is Kayla Harrison's day."

She couldn't have agreed more. Harrison said Thursday was just the second time in her career that she woke with a certain sense of victory. Her family never had a doubt, and neither did she.

"This is my day, this is my purpose. This is my day, this is my purpose. Kayla Harrison, Olympic champion. Kayla Harrison, Olympic champion. That's what was in my head all day," she said. "That's what's been going on in my head the last four years."

As the national anthem began, Harrison broke down with the first note of the song, moments from her life flashing through her head.

"I cried when she won. I'm about to cry right now," Harrison's 17-year-old sister, Aura, said just before the medal ceremony. "I'm freaking out. It really didn't feel like the Olympics until just now.

"If she wants something, she gets it. She's always been that way. I already knew she was going to win."

Along with other friends from Ohio and Massachusetts, Harrison's mother, father, sister, brother and grandparents were in the stands in "Team Kayla" T-shirts. For the last six years, they haven't often been together. But in victory, for an historic gold medal, they were.

"I haven't been there for a lot of things. Everyone sacrificed a lot. To have them here for my big moment, our big moment, is amazing," Harrison said. "I've missed being a big sister to them, I've missed my family. We were a very close family and I grew up going to my grandparents' house every Sunday for dinner. It's something I can never give back to them, but I can try to by doing this.

"They sacrificed everything for me to get this, and I hope it was worth it."

Together, on the clouds, they could agree it was.

Among the best things to experience at an Olympics is a home-team win, regardless of the host country's attachment to the sport, which in this case is minimal.

View full sizeVictor R. Caivano, Associated PressGreat Britain's Olympic fans may not have much practical experience with whitewater canoeing, but that hardly mattered to those who celebrated some unexpected gold medals Thursday.

HERTFORDSHIRE, England -- There's no such thing as a bad day on the river. Rain, snow, brutal sun -- it doesn't matter when the water is white and the waves roar.

Years spent paddling rapids from Pennsylvania and West Virginia to Colorado stamped that outlook on me, so I could not have been more stoked to journey 12 miles north of London for a long-awaited day at the Lee Valley Olympic Whitewater Center on Thursday.

A day after dealing with badminton's ugly match-fixing scandal, the English countryside was more than just welcome gulps of fresh air. It unexpectedly had me thinking of a different kind of day on the river. Far downstream, I spied two elderly gentlemen casting long fishing poles, as I might have been doing on the Grand River if I were home.

I found them set up between thorny black raspberry bushes and, wouldn't you know, one of them saw "Cleveland Plain Dealer" on my ID badge and exclaimed, "Cleveland!"

Earl Dawson was wearing a faded Oakland Raiders cap and said he wasn't a fan -- it was a gift -- and eagerly shared the story of his mum being a pen pal with a Mrs. Gardner in Cleveland after World War II. Mrs. Gardner sent the Dawsons food packages because their neighborhood in London's East End, where Olympic Park now stands, had been devastated by German bombs, and his father was badly wounded fighting in Italy.

"I can remember never tasting an orange or banana until I was eight -- many years after the war," he said. "The packages from Cleveland were always welcome."

I watched him catch a minnow with his red maggots -- not the two-pound roach fish he was hoping for -- and we shared a laugh before I bade him farewell, wishing him a good day on the river.

Making my way toward the venue on a pebbled path beside a set of old locks, I encountered a young dad holding his son's hand. The brown-haired boy looked to be about 6 and he was asking a lot of questions about the unfamiliar sport we were about to see.

"We'll cheer," the dad said. "When we see the British, we'll cheer very loudly, because if we don't cheer loudly enough, we might not win."

We crossed a bridge and laid eyes on a spectacular venue. High stands jutted out of the valley floor all along a curvy right bank of a man-made course. The rapids were the equivalent of a good mountain creek, about 40 feet wide with continuous drops, or "holes," and powerful reactionary waves bouncing off artificial structures in a cement trench.

The moving water creates energy, and rapids are electric. That hooks boaters, who go far and wide in all conditions to paddle good rivers. British boater Tim Baille has chased big water in Nepal, and he's navigated the Ocoee in Tennessee, which he called "sweet."

"You learn to tap into the energy of a river, or even a small steam, and that power drives energy through your body," said Baille's canoe doubles partner, Etienne Stott.

In whitewater terms, the course was between class III and V, with class VI being the most treacherous, and would be a pretty common sight in West Virginia or Colorado. It looked like tons of fun. Olympic boaters race a clock as they dart through and around hanging gates, so they do not stop to play in the waves as an average boater might. Still, the energy translates to excitement for the fans who might be as new to the sport as the little boy.

I didn't see the lad again, but safely assumed he cheered his little lungs out, because the British won like they've never won before in whitewater. They captured gold and silver in men's canoe double (C-2), pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the Games, in front of 11,000 delirious fans on an absolutely glorious August day.

Paddling first in the six-boat finals, Baille and Stott won gold. Teammates David Florence and Richard Houslow, paddling last, captured silver. They upset Slovakian twins Pavol and Peter Hochschorner, who have dominated their event like almost no other summer Olympians in recent years. They had won the last three gold medals, as well as the last three world championships.

Boaters at river's end almost always emerge exhilarated. A great run, plus Olympic medals? It was pandemonium as the Brits ripped off the waterproof skirts that attached them to their cockpits. The jumped into the water with their coaches, splashing all about.

"I do the sport not because I wanted to be the best in the world; I do it because it's extremely exciting. The sport is very good fun," Florence said.

Among the best things to experience at an Olympics is a home-team win, regardless of the host country's attachment to the sport, which in this case is minimal. The island nation has little whitewater that we don't have after a hard rain on upper sections of the Cuyahoga River.

But at the Olympics, the sport doesn't matter. As the dad said to the boy, they cheer as loud as they can, and their cheers filled Lee Valley, especially when Stott leaped high onto the awards podium, unable to contain his joy. Hearing the better part of 11,000 people proudly singing "God Save the Queen" in a beautiful venue at the Olympics, well, that's a good day on the river.

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

Manny Acta and Scott Radinsky think Derek Lowe will pitch again this season in the big leagues, but it won't be for the Indians.

View full sizeOrlin Wagner, Associated PressCarlos Santana needed a reminder from umpire Mike Estabrook that he had indeed belted a game-tying home run in the fifth inning of Thursday's game in Kansas City. Santana, who didn't follow the flight of the ball, had stopped at second base believing he had hit a ground-rule double. After a few seconds of hesitation, he completed the trip around the bases.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Manny Acta couldn't pinpoint a reason why Derek Lowe went from the Indians' best starter to being designated for assignment Wednesday.

"I don't have an answer," said Acta. "He was so good the first two months of the season. He basically gave us enough time for Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez to get it back together."

Lowe was 6-1 with a 2.05 ERA after his first eight starts. He went 2-9 with a 8.28 ERA the rest of the way.

"It was just two different guys," said Acta.

Acta and pitching coach Scott Radinsky believe Lowe, 39, will pitch again this year. The Indians have 10 days to trade, release or put him on waivers.

"I learned a lot from him," said Radinsky, the Indians' first-year pitching coach. "I hope our pitchers learned a lot from being around him. The work he did between starts was incredible.

"That's why he was still in the big leagues at 39."

Boston and Baltimore could be possible destinations for Lowe. Radinsky said age may have stolen some of Lowe's thunder. Acta wasn't sure.

"He's in very good shape," said Acta. "That's why I never thought age was an issue. This guy works like a beast to get ready every five days.

"I just don't know how it could happen in the middle of the season like that. We're all human, but he was pretty good earlier in the year."

This is Lowe's 15th year in the big leagues. He's 174-156 with 85 saves and a 4.01 ERA.

"It's hard to break the news to anybody, but especially when it's to a guy who has had such a good career at the major-league level," said Acta. "It's something I've always dreaded."

New guy: Vinny Rottino, fresh from Class AAA Columbus, was in the starting lineup Thursday night. He replaced Travis Hafner, who was placed on the paternity list Wednesday.

Hafner is scheduled to rejoin the Indians on Saturday in Detroit. Rottino, out of options, could be designated for assignment. The Indians can also make another move so they can take a longer look at Rottino.

The Indians went into Thursday's game seven games out of first place in the AL Central. Lowe might not be the only veteran on the way out the door.

"At some point we're going to have to give some of those kids an opportunity," said Acta. "It's not about giving up or going young. It's about trying to get better."

Rottino, 32, isn't a kid, but he is a right-handed hitter. After being claimed on waivers from the Mets on June 25, he went to Columbus and hit .299 (35-for-117) with nine doubles, four homers and 32 RBI in 30 games. This is his third trip to the bigs this year, the first two coming with the Mets.

"My swing feels good," said Rottino. "My approach feels good. I got limited playing time with New York. So I was excited to just start playing again. I got off to a nice start."

Rottino arrived with eight gloves. He catches, plays first and third and the outfield.

"I've got four gloves and four backup gloves," he said. "I love catching the most of all the positions, but I've played mostly outfield the last two years."

Sick bay: Lefty Rafael Perez, who has not pitched in a big-league game since late April because of a strained left lat, is back to playing catch. He was shut down recently because of shoulder soreness after throwing two innings during a rehab assignment at Class AA Akron.

"We're going to ramp him up," said Acta.

Center fielder Grady Sizemore, who has yet to play this year, will attempt to run again when the Indians return home from this trip after Sunday's game in Detroit.

Asked if the Indians have thought about just shutting Sizemore down for the rest of the year, Acta said, "I don't think that's the plan with him or our medical staff. We're going to try until the end."

Bowling with Manny: Acta is hosting his second annual celebrity bowling fundraiser Aug. 23 at the Corner Alley on East 4th Street in Cleveland. Proceeds will go to the ImpACTA Kids Foundation, Acta's non-profit organization to provide scholarship opportunities for need children in Cleveland and the Dominican Republic.

For ticket information fans and sponsors can go to impactakids.org.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

After two opening routs that provoked criticism of their slow starts and outside shooting, the Americans rewrote the record books. They led by 26 in the first quarter, had an Olympic-record 78 points in the first half and Carmelo Anthony scored 37 points, including 10 of 12 3-pointers, to break the U.S. single-game scoring record in less than three quarters.

View full sizeAP PhotoUSA's Carmelo Anthony drives to the basket past Nigeria's Derrick Obasohan during a men's basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, in London. Anthony had 37 points in USA's 156-73 win.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

LONDON — The last group in England with this many records was The Beatles.

The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team beat Nigeria 156-73 Thursday night, an epic blowout that answered the Americans' detractors and sent a clear message to let them be.

After two opening routs that provoked criticism of their slow starts and outside shooting, the Americans rewrote the record books.

They led by 26 in the first quarter, had an Olympic-record 78 points in the first half and Carmelo Anthony scored 37 points, including 10 of 12 3-pointers, to break the U.S. single-game scoring record in less than three quarters.

"Our guys just couldn't miss," said coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Incredibly, they eclipsed the 100-point mark with 5 minutes still left in the third.

"When we get hot, it's a big problem," Kobe Bryant said. "So you have all these guys on one team and then all get hot on the same night, it's tough."

They broke the Olympic record for most points in a game with 4:37 still to play, and set U.S. records for 3-pointers (26), field goals (59) and field-goal percentage (71).

When Andre Iguodala hit a 3-pointer with 4:37 left, the Americans had surpassed the previous Olympic record of 138 points set by Brazil against Egypt in 1988. When the record was announced to the mesmerized crowd, all the players seated on the U.S. bench got up and walked single file past Krzyzewski, slapping hands with him and his staff.

Gentlemen, take a bow.

"It was just one of them nights where as a unit we had it going," Anthony said. "It could have been anybody out on the court playing against us."

The Americans even one-upped the 1992 Dream Team. The 83-point margin of victory was the largest in U.S. national team history, eclipsing the 79-point spread when Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Co. beat Cuba 136-57 in their first game.

The U.S. seemed intent on breaking Nigeria's spirit, and when that was accomplished with ease, the Americans made a profound statement with their marksmanship.

Nigeria was the first to get the message.

"When they shoot like this, I don't know if there is any team that can beat them," said Ike Diogu, one of the Nigerians who promised not to be intimidated by the Americans.

Bryant scored 16 points — 14 in the first quarter — for the Americans, who scored 49 points in the first, left the floor leading 78-45 at half and then doubled their total in the second half.

Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points, Kevin Love 15 and Kevin Durant 14 for the U.S., which will play Lithuania on Saturday. The Americans have won their first three games with ease, but now things are expected to get a lot tougher as they approach next week's medal round.

Diogu scored 27 to lead Nigeria (1-2), which was as good as done after Durant hit a 3-pointer 11 seconds in, snapping an 0-for-14 slump by the U.S. in the first quarter in the tourney.

Bryant was mostly a non-factor in wins over France and Tunisia, playing just 21 minutes and getting into early foul trouble. But from the outset against Nigeria, the two-time Olympian nicknamed the Black Mamba was as deadly as ever. He set the tone by scoring seven quick points as the U.S. (3-0) raced to a 13-0 lead, a haymaker that stunned the Nigerians.

Durant buried three 3-pointers, Bryant and Anthony added two from long-range and when Love, the NBA's 3-point champion, came off the bench and knocked down his first 3, the U.S. team's shooting gallery of stars had opened a 41-15 lead and made the p.a. announcer's pregame comment that "anything is possible" seem prophetic.

He was talking about a possible upset. The only surprise in the first quarter was when the U.S. missed.

"We were looking forward to this game, playing against the U.S.," Diogu said. "You know we wanted to use this to show the world what type of team we are. We just came out flat, turned the ball over too many times and they made us pay every time."

After starting so sluggishly in blowout wins over France and Tunisia, the U.S. came flying out of the gates, led by Bryant.

The Americans seemed intent on breaking Nigeria's spirit, and when that was accomplished with ease, they made a profound statement with their marksmanship.

Nigeria was the first to get the message.

"When they shoot like this, I don't know if there is any team that can beat them," Diogu said.

Anthony, who made five 3-pointers in the first half, put on a shooting clinic in the third quarter. With the U.S. bench standing in anticipation every time he touched the ball on the perimeter, Anthony made all five of his attempts, punctuating one that made it 97-54 by throwing back his head, laughing and shrugging his shoulders.

He was in a zone unlike any seen before.

"It's a great accomplishment to get that record," said Anthony, who broke Stephon Marbury's scoring mark of 31 against Spain in 2004. "We did it in a very highly classy way. We went out there and we played basketball. We made shots. We make shots like that and play the way we played tonight, that record could have came on any team."

Anthony wasn't the lone sniper as the Americans made 29 of 46 3-pointers (63 percent), numbers that could stand for several more Olympiads.

Although an Olympic rookie, Nigeria, with 10 players who played college ball in the U.S., also has its share of pro experience.

Diogu, who was born in Buffalo, N.Y., after his parents emigrated from Africa, has played for eight NBA teams and Al-Farouq, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 draft, was traded last year by the Los Angeles Clippers to New Orleans in the deal for U.S. guard Chris Paul.

But there isn't a team in the Olympics that can match the American's celebrated roster with a combined 43 All-Star appearances, seven NBA titles and four league MVPs.

Krzyzewski gave his players the day off on Wednesday, a chance to relax and enjoy the games. Anthony and James Harden went to see boxing. Durant watched beach volleyball.

They came back rested.

And on target.

The Clippers, Aeros, Mudcats, Captains and Scrappers suffer losses on Thursday.

Tides 8, Clippers 2 Columbus starter Eric Berger (2-4, 5.16 ERA) was battered for five runs in the first inning during an International League loss in Norfolk, Va.

AA Akron Aeros

Sea Dogs 3, Aeros 0 Akron left-hander T.J. House (6-3) pitched seven strong innings, but the Aeros couldn’t push a run across the plate despite 10 hits in an Eastern League loss in Portland, Maine.

House allowed five hits and was the victim of an unearned run.

Akron went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Advanced A Carolina Mudcats

Pelicans 3, Mudcats 0 Carolina starter Michael Goodnight (2-11, 4.45) went 6 2⁄3 innings, striking out three and walking two, during a Carolina League loss to Myrtle Beach, S.C., in Zebulon, N.C.

A Lake County Captains

Whitecaps 6, Captains 0 Lake County avoided a nohitter with Jose Ramirez’s single in the top of the ninth inning during a Midwest League loss to West Michigan in Comstock Park.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Lake Monsters 7, Scrappers 5 Mahoning Valley got the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth inning but couldn’t convert in a New York-Penn loss to Vermont in Burlington.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers 1, RiverHawks 0 Kyle Weldon hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Lake Erie wrapped up a three-game sweep of Rockford, Ill., with a Frontier League victory in Avon.

The Royals beat the Indians, 7-6, Thursday night in 11 innings to extend their losing streak to a season-high six games.

Highlights include extensive Olympics coverage, Indians at Detroit and second-round play at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

AUTO RACING

Noon Pennsylvania 400 practice, Speed Channel

3:30 p.m. Pennsylvania 400 "Happy Hour Series," Speed Channel

BASEBALL

7 p.m. LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS at West Michigan, AM/1330

7 p.m. Seattle at N.Y. Yankees, MLB Network

7:05 p.m. AKRON AEROS at New Hampshire, AM/1350

7:05 p.m. CLEVELAND INDIANS at Detroit, SportsTime Ohio; AM/1100, FM/100.7

10 p.m. Chicago Cubs at L.A. Dodgers, WGN

BOXING

10 p.m. Mercito Gesta vs. Ty Barnett, ESPN2

GOLF

10 a.m. Cox Classic, Golf Channel

Noon 3M Championship, Golf Channel

2 p.m. BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL, Golf Channel

6:30 p.m. Reno-Tahoe Open, Golf Channel

SOCCER

8 p.m. MLS, New York at Houston, NBCSN

TENNIS

5 p.m. ATP, Citi Open quarterfinals, ESPN2

                                       ............................................

OLYMPICS COVERAGE

4 a.m. NBCSN,  LIVE: women's soccer, quarterfinals; women's basketball, United States vs. Czech Republic; beach volleyball; women's volleyball, Brazil vs. China; DELAYED TAPE: boxing; men's archery, individual Gold Medal final; men's shooting: 50m prone rifle Gold Medal final, rapid fire pistol, at London

NBC,  BASKETBALL -- Women's: United States vs. Czech Republic, Russia vs. Australia, Brazil vs. Canada, Angola vs. Croatia, Turkey vs. China, France vs. Britain, at London

7 a.m.

BRAVO,  Tennis: singles and mixed doubles semifinals, at London

NBC,  SOCCER -- Women's soccer, quarterfinals, at various sites

9 a.m.

MSNBC,  -- LIVE: men's gymnastics, trampoline; women's water polo: LIVE: Russia vs. Australia, SAME-DAY TAPE: Spain vs. Hungary; weightlifting, Gold Medal finals: men's 85kg, women's 75kg; LIVE: women's handball, Denmark vs. Norway; SAME-DAY TAPE: equestrian, dressage; badminton: men's and women's singles semifinals, mixed doubles Gold Medal final; team table tennis, at London

TELEMUNDO,  -- Swimming; track and field; women's volleyball; tennis, singles semifinals; beach volleyball; boxing, at London (same-day tape)

10 a.m.

NBC,  -- SAME-DAY TAPE: swimming; track and field: LIVE: women's 10,000m Gold Medal final, SAME-DAY TAPE: qualifying rounds; LIVE: beach volleyball; women's water polo, United States vs. China; SAME-DAY TAPE: rowing, Gold Medal final, at London

5 p.m.

CNBC,  -- Boxing, at London (same-day tape)

8 p.m.

NBC,  -- Swimming, Gold Medal finals: men's 100m butterfly, men's 50m freestyle, women's 200m backstroke, women's 800m freestyle; track and field, men's shot put Gold Medal final; women's diving, springboard; women's volleyball, United States vs. Serbia; men's gymnastics, trampoline Gold Medal final, at London (same-day tape)

12 Midnight

TELEMUNDO,  -- Swimming, Gold Medal finals; track and field, Gold Medal final; women's diving, springboard, at London (same-day tape)

12:35 a.m. Saturday

NBC,  -- Track and field; cycling, track Gold Medal finals, at London (delayed tape)

The challenge for Hunter-Reay, now in his fourth full-time season on the circuit, is to bring the title home for his Andretti Autosport team.

View full sizeJeffrey Phelps, Associated Press file photoRyan Hunter-Reay has never finished higher than seventh in his four full seasons on the IndyCar circuit, but now he has a real shot at winning the title.

Hunter-Reay, 31, enters the 13-turn, 2 1⁄4-mile, 85-lap test with a solid, but not insurmountable, lead on seasoned veteran Helio Castroneves, 362 points to 339. The challenge for Hunter-Reay, now in his fourth full-time season on the circuit, is to bring the title home for his Andretti Autosport team.

“We’re going to have to win another race to win this thing,” Hunter-Reay said. “And a DNF [did not finish] will kill it. We cannot afford to DNF.”

To date, Hunter-Reay has had a consistent season. He is one of two drivers (Will Power is the other) who have each won three of the 11 previous races. But Hunter-Reay also has two DNFs this season. The problem is, the only driver in the top 10 who has finished every race so far is Castroneves. Some might call that luck, but Hunter-Reay has had his share of that, too.

During a break at a recent Mid-Ohio test session — and after the latest race in Edmonton, Alberta — the points leader offered this: “We came here, and two laps in, which is two laps after Edmonton, we had a gearbox failure. So we escaped that DNF by a couple of laps,” Hunter-Reay said.

Former series champ Scott Dixon (2008), who is fourth in the points race (301) yet still in the running, said closing out the season can be tricky.

“With four [races] to go, I’ve got to go try and win every one,” he said. “With four or five to go in 2008, I had an 86-point lead and won by less than 10. We’re just 61 out now. We have to do our best and try to make the most of it.

“DNFs, for sure, kill you. Engine failures, penalties you can get, those are the big unknowns now. But you can’t rely on people having those issues, even though we all do.”

Hunter-Reay, who has never finished higher than seventh in his four full seasons, is enjoying his success. He’s well-aware that less than five years ago, he was a struggling race driver until Ohio native and former Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal provided him with a midseason ride. From that point on, it has been a steady climb — first with Rahal, then the past three seasons with Andretti’s team. Half his six career wins have come this season. Before 2012, Hunter- Reay had six career top-five finishes. He has added another five so far this year. And he has been efficient. Hunter-Reay heads the field despite the fact that he trails the next three racers in laps led: No. 4 Dixon (405), No. 3 Power (158) and No. 2 Castroneves (263). Hunter-Reay has 139.

“Before Bobby, I didn’t have a ride, so, yes, I savor this,” said Hunter-Reay, the 2007 series Rookie of the Year. “When you experience the lows, the highs are that much sweeter. The lows make you really dig deeper, especially when you are fighting to stay on top in the championship. That makes you hungrier to win it.

“It’s come a long way, and I certainly appreciate everything Bobby has done for my career. That was the start to this journey. It’s come a long way in four and a half years. This is where I envisioned myself, being with a team that I could call home for an extended period of time, which has been almost three years now.

“This is the most fun I have had in my whole life. This is the position to be in with a championship- level team. To be fighting with these guys for a championship is definitely a dream come true for me.”

The challenge now is for Hunter-Reay to end 2012 with a title.

Local update: The combined Panther Racing/Dreyer & Reinbold team, co-owned by Lakewood’s Robbie Buhl, heads into Mid-Ohio with some momentum after the two teams joined forces before the Indianapolis 500. This unification allowed driver Oriol Servia to climb into a coveted Chevroletpowered machine and out of a struggling Lotus.

Servia sits 11th in the championship with 227 points, and he’s 10 points out of 10th. Since making the switch to Chevy power, Panther/DRR and Servia have earned four top-five finishes in seven races, with season- best fourth-place finishes at the Indianapolis 500 and in Detroit.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

Heat has slowed Cleveland area yellow perch and walleye fishing.

View full sizeAkron Beacon Journal file photo

Cleveland area

Heat has slowed Cleveland area yellow perch and walleye fishing. Some yellow perch were reported caught from 50-foot depths around the Cleveland Crib. A few catfish and smallmouth bass are being caught in Cleveland Harbor. White bass schools have scattered, and rock bass fishing is slow.

Walleye are being caught off Avon Point and around the north side of the Lorain Sand Bar in 41 to 48 feet of water northwest of Lorain. Anglers are trolling tandem spinner rigs and nightcrawlers, spoons and diving plugs. Pink and purple are still the top lure colors.

Central Lake Erie

The weather buoy on the Ohio-Ontario line north of Vermilion continues to attract walleye fishermen. To the east, walleye and a few steelhead trout are being caught in 70 to 74 feet of water off Geneva and northwest of Ashtabula. Trolling fishermen are using diving planers and wire line to probe for suspended walleye.

Yellow perch are being caught in 40 to 50 feet around the Fairport Harbor hump and in 42- to 48-foot depths northeast of Geneva and north of Conneaut. Smallmouth bass are biting in 15 to 30 feet around rocky humps and bumps in harbor areas from Cleveland to Conneaut. Anglers are tempting bass with crayfish, drop shot rigs with goby imitations, jig-leech combos and jigging spoons.

Western Lake Erie

Walleye fishermen have focused on the Canadian reefs west of Pelee Island, casting weightforward spinners and small goldbladed spinner rigs tipped with nightcrawlers. Walleye have been reported caught around Gull Shoal and Kelleys Shoal on spinner rigs, north of West Sister Island and off the Camp Perry area reefs. A few yellow perch have been caught north of the Niagara Reef complex, northeast of Kelleys Island and around Green and Rattlesnake islands.

Inland lakes, reservoirs

Hot weather has given the catfish bite a boost, especially for anglers working the near-shore flats after dark. Nightcrawlers are the top catfish bait, as well as chicken livers, cut bait and processed catfish baits. In the catfish spotlight are Mosquito and LaDue reservoirs. To the west, Sandusky Bay continues to be a catfish hot spot. The Portage Lakes chain has been good for bluegill, with fair largemouth bass fishing. Bluegill anglers are suspending a hook tipped with maggots or waxworms about 3 to 4 feet under a float. East and West reservoirs have been best. Bass are hitting plastic worms and lead-head jigs and trailers around humps, deeper weed beds and off the points.

— D’Arcy Egan

Tournaments

Ohio Walleye Federation (Lake Erie at Geneva): 1. Mark Hull and Steve Bartolone, 5 walleye, 40.04 pounds; 2. Chad Hawley and Brian Whitleather, 5, 39.64 pounds; 3. Brian Davies and Paul Kerr, 5, 38.52 pounds.

KSU LaDo Bass Series (LaDue Reservoir): 1. Mick Maloney and Gary Pridemore, 5 bass, 17.64 pounds, $552; 2. Vince Tuttolomondo and Michael Tharp, 5, 11.34 pounds, $234; 3. Jeff Ring and Maddox Ring, 5, 10.72 pounds, $182. Big Bass: Maloney and Pridemore, 5.73 pounds.

Surveys began Monday in Sandusky Bay and Maumee Bay, focusing on the collection of water samples for DNA analysis.

View full sizeMinneapolis Star-Tribune file photoThe much-feared invasive Asian carp.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio, Michigan and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fishery experts are sampling the waters of western Lake Erie this week, trying to find evidence of a breeding population of the noxious Asian carp.

It was expected the Asian carp would slip into the Great Lakes through a watery Chicago gateway to Lake Michigan. Samples taken in the Maumee Bay and Sandusky Bay areas collected in August 2011, but not released until last month, tested positive for bighead carp and silver carp DNA. While individual bighead carp have been caught in Ohio commercial nets — one in 1995 and two in 2000 — Ohio fisheries head Rich Carter said those fish weren’t born up north.

“Studies of the otoliths [ear stones] indicated those Asian carp spent their early years in southern waters,” said Carter. “We feel those fish may have been released in Lake Erie.”

There is a custom of buying Asian carp for a celebration and eating one, and releasing the other as a gesture of good will.

Four of the positive DNA samples from the Ohio waters of Sandusky Bay tested positive for bighead carp. Two from the Michigan waters of northern Maumee Bay tested positive for silver carp, the dramatic “jumpers” that vault from the water when disturbed.

Surveys began Monday in Sandusky Bay and Maumee Bay, focusing on the collection of water samples for DNA analysis. In an effort to capture an Asian carp, electroshocking and netting surveys of suitable bighead and silver carp habitat starts next Monday. In addition to sites where positive samples were found, fisheries experts also will sample the Sandusky and Maumee rivers, considered the favorite habitat for the carp. “This sampling will help us to put things in perspective relative to the presence of Asian carp in western Lake Erie,” said Carter. “It is the next step in a responsible path forward. Any management action will be based on the additional analysis.”

Carter said there is no evidence to suggest there is a breeding population of Asian carp in Lake Erie. The carp feed on algae and plankton, making it unlikely a sport angler would hook one. But Carter noted the Division of Wildlife is constantly surveying Lake Erie with trawl and gill nets, and there are many commercial fishing nets in use in both the U.S. and Canadian waters of Lake Erie.

Wardens in hot water: The Allan Wright fiasco in Brown County has grown to include two more officers with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Wright was convicted in a Cincinnati federal court of helping a South Carolina wildlife officer to illegally buy a $19 resident hunting license instead of a $125 nonresident license. Wright was recently fined $1,000, ordered to serve three months of home confinement and had all hunting privileges suspended for five years.

The Wright case also snared five wildlife managers, including former chief David Graham, for concealing Wright’s actions.

Wright is back in hot water after a post-hunt photo surfaced of Wright, field supervisor David Warner and Clinton County wildlife officer Matthew Roberts.

It seems the trio hunted while on the clock with the wildlife division, something Wright told the court was routine.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: degan@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Westlake rower Margot Shumway and Sarah Trowbridge are finalists in double sculls rowing. They will be in row 1, a tough draw, and are not favored.

APU.S. rowers Sarah Trowbridge, left, and Margot Shumway are finalists in double sculls rowing today in London.

Margot rows for gold

Westlake rower Margot Shumway and Sarah Trowbridge are finalists in double sculls rowing. They will be in row 1, a tough draw, and are not favored. That role goes to three-time silver medalist Kat Grainger and partner Anna Watkins of Great Britain. Shumway and Trowbridge have good closing speed and need to be close at 1,500 meters of the 2,000-meter race. Race time: 4:50 a.m. WYKC Channel 3 has rowing scheduled at 10:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.

Rodhe throws for Canada

Kenston High graduate and former Bainbridge Township resident Justin Rodhe competes in the shot put for his adopted country, Canada, as track and field gets under way at Olympic Stadium. Rodhe is ranked 10th in the world and his first round is at 5 a.m., with finals at 3:30 p.m. The women’s 10,000 meters is at 4 p.m. WKYC Channel 3 has track scheduled at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Phelps’ last individual final

Michael Phelps’ last individual event is the 100-meter butterfly final at 2:38 p.m. He’s the top qualifier, and this is the event he won in 2008 by .01. He also won it in 2004. Also today, world-record holder Cesar Cielo of Brazil and American Cullen Jones are the top qualifiers in the 50 freestyle, and U.S. women’s backstrokers Elizabeth Beisel and Missy Franklin qualified 1-2. WKYC Channel 3 has swimming at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

New cycling event debuts

Keirin, one of the most unusual cycling events, makes its Olympic debut for women riders today. Riders compete in a sprint after following a motorized pacer who leaves the track just over 600 meters before the finish. Riders’ starting positions are drawn by lot. First-round, second-chance (repechage) races and the final are today. WKYC Channel 3 has cycling at 4 p.m.

• Also see: Olympics 2012: Friday, Aug. 3 TV schedule

In an exclusive interview with the Plain Dealer, Jimmy Haslam said he's determined to restore the once-proud Browns to championship ways, and is in it for the long haul. Watch video

View full sizePilot Corp."The Browns are one of the iconic franchises in the NFL," incoming owner Jimmy Haslam told The Plain Dealer in an exclusive interview Thursday night. "Their fans are renowned as being amongst the best fans in the country and we feel its our responsibility to give the Cleveland fans and the Cleveland community a winning team."

BEREA, Ohio -- Hours after Tennessee billionaire Jimmy Haslam III reached an agreement with Randy Lerner to buy the Browns on Thursday, he returned to his Knoxville home for the pivotal Changing of the Watch.

"I've worn a Steelers watch for the last four years," said Haslam, a minority owner of the Steelers since 2008, in an exclusive interview with The Plain Dealer. "I didn't want to be premature and jinx anything, but now I'm putting on my Cleveland Browns watch. I've taken off all of my black and gold and I'm putting on my orange and brown."

It's a new day in Cleveland Browns football. Haslam, whose family made its $3 billion fortune on Pilot Flying J travel centers, will officially become the new owner as soon as three-quarters of the NFL owners approve the sale, which could come before the start of the regular season in September. The next owners' meeting is Oct. 16-17 in Chicago, but Commissioner Roger Goodell could call a special session to expedite the sale -- and that's likely to happen, according to league sources.

The transfer of ownership would take about two weeks after approval.

Haslam, 58, will buy the Browns for about $1 billion -- $700 million now and $300 million when he buys out Lerner's remaining 30 percent, which will take place on the fourth anniversary of the closing date.

In the meantime, Haslam, who will watch practice Friday morning and be introduced at a 1 p.m. press conference in Berea, wants to re-assure fans that the franchise isn't going anywhere.

"We're not moving the Cleveland Browns," said Haslam, who arrived in town Thursday night. "To own a team with a such a rich tradition and history is a dream come true. Randy had four things he wanted and I won't share all of them, but No. 1 was we keep them in Cleveland. Why would we move? I've been to three games there on the other side of the field and I've seen the intensity and the enthusiasm. That thought never, ever entered our minds."

Haslam also stressed that not only are the Browns here to stay, so is he. No more upheaval or overhauls.

"We're in this for the long run," he said. "We've owned our family business for 53 years. There are some people that come into a franchise for three years and sell it. That's not us. Our family is in this for the long, long run."

Haslam's No. 1 promise is he's here to restore the Browns to its old championship luster.

"Our entire effort, our entire focus is going to be on creating a winning team," he said. "We're immensely excited about this opportunity and Ohio's a great football state.

"The Browns are one of the iconic franchise in the NFL. Their fans are renowned as being amongst the best fans in the country and we feel its our responsibility to give the Cleveland fans and the Cleveland community a winning team."

So what's a self-described "1,000 percent Steelers fan" doing owning the Browns?

"That's a fair question," Haslam said with a hearty laugh. "The four years that we were a small part of the Pittsburgh organization were a great experience for us. The Rooneys are everything you hear they are. They're class people. In the four years we were part of the franchise, they went to two Super Bowls, won one and they just do things the right way.

"Having said that, I had a conversation with Art Rooney today and we've become good friends and the last thing he said was, 'I'm going to have to learn to hate you on Sundays.'

"Our challenge is candidly the Cleveland-Pittsburgh rivalry is not what it when you were growing up. Our challenge is to turn the Browns into a team that will once again regenerate that rivalry."

Haslam, who made his long-held desire to own an NFL team known to the Rooneys, received a call about six weeks ago to contact Lerner.

"I met Randy for the first time on Monday, July 2, that's how fast this has gone," Haslam said. "We thought it was an unbelievable opportunity and we checked with four or five people that have been involved in the NFL for a long, long time and everybody told us -- it was our instinct anyway -- that if you have a chance to get the Cleveland Browns, jump all over it."

Haslam, who will divest his interest in the Steelers, will bring in former Eagles President Joe Banner to run the team once the sale is approved, league sources said. He said he's talked to Banner, but wouldn't confirm his involvement.

"I don't own the team yet, so comments about current or future personnel would be unfair," he said.

He had dinner with Browns President Mike Holmgren Thursday night to discuss the team and his future. "I'm looking forward to meeting one of the great legends of the NFL," he said beforehand. "We just don't want to be a distraction to Pat Shurmur or the team as they prepare for the season."

Holmgren, who has three years left on his five-year contract at $8 million a year, said he hopes to stay on this season and be part of what he feels will be a winning team. "But we'll see," he said Thursday afternoon to reporters.

Haslam, a major benefactor of the University of Tennessee, said his wife Susan will look at homes in the Cleveland area over the next few days. He said they'll maintain their primary residence in Knoxville, where the business is located, and that he'll remain CEO of Pilot Flying J.

"But we're going to be in Cleveland frequently, and we're going to be active in the community," he said. "We've been involved in a multitude of philanthropic opportunities and we plan on establishing the same type of base in Cleveland. This is a huge deal to our family, it's a substantial investment and we're very excited."

As for being a hands-on owner, he said, "We don't pretend to be experts in evaluating talent and coaching talent. We think we have a lot to learn. The best thing we can do is ensure that we have the best people in place. But if you check our business background, we're regarded as hands-on people."

He chuckled when asked if he'll bring in his good friend Peyton Manning to run the team someday in a John Elway-type role. Haslam talks to the Mannings frequently.

"They're great friends," he said. "Peyton is of course is a legend in Tennessee and Archie, Eli, our families are great friends. I just got a text from Archie. You won't find better people than the Manning family. I'd say he's focused on being a great quarterback for the Broncos now and I've checked the schedule -- we'll be out there on Dec. 23."

But he did allow, "Peyton's a great talent. He's not only a great athlete, he's also a very smart person."

He said Lerner has told him, "listen, I'll do as little or as much as you want. My plan is to stay in the background, but anytime you need anything, just give me a call." Haslam also said his three adult children might get involved with the team down the road.

Haslam said he hopes to run the Browns the same way the Rooneys run the Steelers, building through the draft and treating everyone with respect. He also admires their consistent success.

"When you get off that elevator, there are those six Super Bowl trophies," he said. "I don't care who you are, you get fired up."

If he has his way, he'll decorate the Browns' foyer in a similar fashion.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot