Blue skies and gentle breezes turned the Bridgestone into a free-for-all, a regular 60s party with a crowded leaderboard entering Sunday.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerSteady play that didn't include a bogey anywhere on his scorecard helped Ryan Palmer grab a share of the Bridgestone Invitational lead with Sean O'Hair entering Sunday's final round at Firestone's South Course.

BRIDGESTONE INVIATIONAL
THIRD ROUND AT A GLANCE
Outta the park: Dustin Johnson hammered a 376-yard drive on the ninth hole, the longest of the day. He also recorded the longest drive on holes 10 (334 yards) and 14 (341). The power game has Johnson tied for 10th at 5-under.

Short-game magic: Bill Haas, who finished 1 over for the round and is even for the tournament, sank a putt from 50 feet, 9 inches on the par-3 15th hole, the day's longest.
Marcus Fraser (212) and Martin Laird (209) each led the field with 13 1-putts.

Shot of the day: Japan's Katsumasa Miyamoto scorched the back nine with a tournament record 6-under 29, highlighted by his approach on the par-4 17th. He nailed his approach shot from a fairway bunker 117 yards away for an eagle.

Mr. Consistent: Only Sean O'Hair (64) and Ryan Palmer (63) played bogey-free rounds.

Quote of the day: “You know, it's been 10 years, but the food is still good. I went to Applebee's last night and was able to eat some chicken wings. So it's good to be back.” — Miyamoto, through an interpreter, when asked about returning to the United States and Ohio.
— Bill Lubinger, Tim Rogers

AKRON, Ohio -- After the second day of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, Phil Mickelson said he thought a low round could be found on Firestone's South Course.

It was a classic understatement.

A whole bunch of players took Mickelson's words to heart on Saturday and went out and turned the Bridgestone into a free-for-all, a regular 60s party. At one point, eight players were in or tied for the lead, thanks to little wind and soft greens that welcomed shots like a flower to a settling butterfly.

Do you think Mickelson was thinking Katsumasa Miyamoto and Ryan Palmer when he offered his observation?

Palmer, who had missed 12 of 18 cuts after winning the Sony Open in January at least partially due to a design flaw in his irons, grabbed a share of the lead with a 7-under 63 that gave him a 54-hole total of 9-under 201.

Tied with Palmer is Sean O'Hair (64), with Matt Kuchar (66) alone in third place at 202. Ernie Els (64), Peter Hanson (68) and Justin Leonard (69) are two shots back. In all there are 19 players within five shots of the lead in what could be a scintillating Sunday.

Palmer wasn’t the only one to put a dent in the leaderboard. For the second day in a row, 35 players shot rounds in the 60s.

That includes Miyamoto, who had seven birdies and an eagle en route to a stunning 8-under 62, the lowest round here since Tiger Woods' 9-under 61 in the second round of the 2000 event. Miyamato moved from 58th place into a tie for 10th.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerKatsumasa Miyamoto happily accepted the cheers from the gallery around the 18th hole Saturday after his 8-under 62.

Miyamoto, 37, spiked his round with an eagle on the 400-yard 17th when he holed out from a fairway bunker 117 yards from the hole. That led to a back-nine 29, which equaled the tournament record shared by Robert Allenby (2002) and Adam Scott (2006).

"I couldn't see where it went, but when I got out of the bunker I heard the crowd cheer so I knew that it went in," he said of his second shot through interpreter Allen Turner. "Of all the great players that have played here that really haven't posted that score, it's really an honor."

For those of you who don't like the unconventional consider that Miyamoto plays an orange ball (Bridgestone Tourstage), a la Jerry Pate in the early 1980s.

"I've been playing this ball for a bout two years now," he said. "In Japan, everybody knows that I use this ball. But in the States, I still kind of get the reaction from the fans that they're not used to seeing this ball."

Palmer, who discovered his new irons were 1.5 degrees flatter than his previous set, nearly matched Miyamoto. He had no dramatic shots but finished with seven birdies and no bogeys.

"I kind of struggled there for a while but I was able to put the ball on the greens in the right spots and made a lot of good putts," said Palmer, who donates $50 for every birdie and $100 for each eagle to a charity he founded in his hometown of Amarillo, Tex.

Mickelson, seeking his first Firestone victory since the 1996 NEC World Series of Golf, is one of six players five shots back. He was as low as 7-under but made back-to-back bogeys on 14 and 15, finishing at 1-over 71.

He plans on being more aggressive today.

"I'm in a much more attacking mind frame," he said. "I'm thinking I've got to be on the attack, that I've got to be firing at pins and make birdies to try and catch the lead."

Woods cards a 77, finishing at 18-over par 298, probably finishing ahead of just one golfer in the 80-player field.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerTiger Woods acknowledges the cheers of the crowd after finishing his fourth round of the Bridgestone Invitational today, in next-to-last place.

Akron, Ohio -- Tiger Woods has never looked worse.

As he has done so often on Sunday at Firestone, he doffed his cap as he walked up to the 18th green. Only this time, the world's No. 1 player wore a look of resignation. He missed yet another putt and finished with a 77 to complete the highest 72-hole score of his career.

And it was the first time since 2003 that he shot over par in every round of a tournament.

Only Henrik Stenson kept Woods from finishing in last place. Woods, who last year made PGA Tour history by winning the Bridgestone Invitational for the seventh time at Firestone, finished at 18-over 298. The seven wins are the most for any player competing in the same tournament on the same course.

The 298 is 39 shots higher than the record score Woods shot 10 years ago.

Phil Mickelson will soon tee off, beginning his round at 5-under par, tied for 10th place, four strokes behind co-leaders Ryan Palmer and Sean O'Hair. If Mickelson finishes in the top four, he will replace Woods as the world's No. 1-ranked golfer.

Twins score five in fifth inning and lead Indians, 5-4, through six.

Associated PressCleveland Indians Michael Brantley slides into third base with a triple as MInnesota Twins third baseman Danny Valencia waits on the relay throw in today's game in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Tribe plays host to the Twins in the finale of a three-game series at Progressive Field.

Pitching matchup: LHP David Huff (2-10, 5.97 ERA) vs. LHP Brian Duensing (4-1, 2.10).

In-game updates:

The Twins led the Indians, 5-4, through six innings.

The Tribe scored three in the first.

Michael Brantley opened with a triple -- the first of his career. He hooked Duensing's pitch into the right-field corner.

After Asdrubal Cabrera grounded the first pitch to third, Shin-Soo Choo picked him up with a first-pitch single to center.

With two outs, Matt LaPorta kept the hands back and launched a changeup over the left-field wall. LaPorta hit a walkoff homer Friday night.

The Tribe made it 4-0 in the second when Trevor Crowe scored on Lou Marson's double-play grounder. The run was unearned because of an earlier throwing error by second baseman Orlando Hudson.

 Huff cruised into the fifth, having allowed two singles. The game got away from Huff in a hurry.

 Michael Cuddyer led off with a walk. Designated hitter Jim Thome dented a 1-0 pitch with a smash into the right-field seats for his 578th career homer.

 The RBIs were Nos. 1,600 and 1,601 for Thome, giving him sole possession of 31st on the all-time list. Nap Lajoie now ranks 32nd with 1,599.

 Danny Valencia struck out looking. J.J. Hardy reached on an infield single near second and sprinted to third on Jason Repko's double into the left-field corner.

 Orlando Hudson drove in two with a double to right-center. Hudson (right oblique) was activated earlier in the day.

 Hudson advanced to third on Huff's wild pitch during Joe Mauer's at-bat. Huff walked Mauer when a full-count fastball missed several inches inside.

 Indians manager Manny Acta popped out of the dugout and signaled for Justin Germano.

 Germano appeared to have made the pitch to keep it 4-4, getting Delmon Young to ground sharply to third. But Andy Marte fumbled the ball, ruining the possibility of a double play. Marte recovered in time for the force at second as Hudson scored.

 Pregame notes: Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, as much as anybody on the Indians, deserves good luck on the health front.

Earlier this season, Cabrera fractured his left forearm when teammate Jhonny Peralta crashed into him while attempting to field a grounder at Tampa Bay.

Cabrera missed two months' worth of games.

Saturday night, Cabrera caught a break instead of suffering one. He fouled a ball directly off his lower-right leg late in the Tribe's 7-2 loss to the Twins, but he returned to the lineup Sunday afternoon.

"I feel fortunate,'' he said. "It could have been worse.''

Cabrera fouled the pitch from Jon Rauch below the knee and slightly above a shin guard designed to prevent just such a calamity. Cabrera hobbled briefly, stayed in the game and drew a walk.

"I iced it after the game and waited to see how it felt in the morning,'' he said. "It was good enough to go.''

 Cabrera put a sleeve over the bruised area.

 O-Dog returns: The Twins activated second baseman Orlando Hudson (right oblique) Sunday. Hudson batted second.

 Mauer power: Minnesota hitting machine Joe Mauer started at catcher for the first time since July 31, the day he received a cortisone shot for right-shoulder tendinitis. He has been the Twins' designated hitter.

 Mauer is hitting .553 (21-for-38) since July 26 at Kansas City. The three-time AL batting champion ranks seventh in the league with a .322 average.

 Former Indian Jim Thome started at DH and batted seventh. 

  Lineups:

 Twins (62-49) -- 1. Jason Repko cf; 2. Orlando Hudson 2b; 3. Joe Mauer c; 4. Delmon Young lf; 5. Jason Kubel rf; 6. Michael Cuddyer 1b; 7. Jim Thome dh; 8. Danny Valencia 3b; 9. J.J. Hardy ss; and Duensing.

 Indians (47-64) -- 1. Michael Brantley cf; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Shelley Duncan dh; 5. Matt LaPorta 1b; 6. Andy Marte 3b; 7. Trevor Crowe lf; 8. Jason Donald 2b; 9. Lou Marson c; and Huff.

 Umpires: P -- D.J. Reyburn; 1b -- Greg Gibson; 2b -- Scott Barry; 3b -- Gerry Davis.

Two strokes behind are Hunter Mahan and Ryan Palmer. Stunningly, Phil Mickelson is 6-over for today after 11 holes, and Tiger Woods' 18-over, 298 tourney finish is the worst of his career.

Associated PressSean O'Hair is off to a strong start to his fourth round at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Updated at 3:10

Akron, Ohio -- Sean O'Hair has birdied two of his first five holes in the fourth round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, putting him 11-under par for the tournament and holding a two-stroke lead.

Hunter Mahan, 3-under through six holes today, and Ryan Palmer, even-par after three, are at 9-under for the tournament on Firestone Country Club's famed South Course.

Matt Kuchar (through four holes) and Bo Van Pelt (through seven) are three strokes behind O'Hair at 8-under.

The most shocking events of the day involve the world's top two ranked golfers, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Woods shot a 7-over par 77, finishing his tournament at 298, 18-over par. It's the worst showing in his professional career. He's in 79th place, ahead of only Henrik Stenson.

Mickelson would have replaced Woods at No. 1 if he had finished in the top four. That's not going to happen. Lefty is 6-over par in his first 10 holes, putting him at 1-over for the tournament.

Morrow pitched a one-hitter, struck out 17 and walked two. Evan Longoria's infield single with two out in the top of the ninth foiled the no-hitter.

Darren Calabrese, AP/Canadian PressBrandon Morrow pitching today for Toronto against Tampa.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Brandon Morrow lost his no-hitter with two outs in the top of the ninth inning on Evan Longoria's infield single, but got the 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays when he fanned Dan Johnson for his 17th strikeout of the game.

Longoria's hit had moved Ben Zobrist to third base. Zobrist had drawn Morrow's second walk of the game with one out.

Morrow (9-6, 4.45) walked Johnson leading off the second inning. Johnson also reached base on Blue Jays' first baseman Lyle Overbay's two-out error in the seventh.

Vernon Wells' RBI single off Tampa Bay lefthander and former Kent State pitcher Andy Sonnanstine (2-1, 3.98) in the bottom of the first inning was enough for Morrow.

Twins score five in fifth inning and defeat Indians, 5-4. Former Indian Jim Thome hit a two-run homer.

David Richard / Associated PressJim Thome's 578th career homer scored Michael Cuddyer in the fifth inning and kick-started the Minnesota Twins' comeback from a 4-0 deficity Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field. The Twins scored five times in the fifth and held on for a 5-4 victory.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lefty Brian Duensing recovered from a rocky beginning to work a career-high 7 1/3 innings as the Twins defeated the Indians, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field.

Duensing gave up four runs through two, then dominated.

Minnesota (63-49) won the final two of a three-game series. They overcame a 4-0 deficit through four innings thanks in part to Jim Thome's two-run homer.

The Indians slipped to 47-65.

Tribe lefty David Huff cruised into the fifth, having allowed two singles. The game got away from Huff in a hurry.

Michael Cuddyer led off with a walk. Designated hitter Jim Thome dented a 1-0 pitch with a smash into the right-field seats for his 578th career homer.

The RBIs were Nos. 1,600 and 1,601 for Thome, giving him sole possession of 31st on the all-time list. Nap Lajoie now ranks 32nd with 1,599.

Danny Valencia struck out looking. J.J. Hardy reached on an infield single near second and sprinted to third on Jason Repko's double into the left-field corner.

Orlando Hudson drove in two with a double to right-center. Hudson (right oblique) was activated earlier in the day. Hudson advanced to third on Huff's wild pitch during Joe Mauer's at-bat. Huff walked Mauer when a full-count fastball missed several inches inside.

Indians manager Manny Acta popped out of the dugout and signaled for Justin Germano, who appeared to have made the pitch to keep it 4-4, getting Delmon Young to ground sharply to third. But Andy Marte fumbled the ball, ruining the possibility of a double play. Marte recovered in time for the force at second as Hudson scored. 

The Tribe scored three in the first. Michael Brantley opened with a triple -- the first of his career. He hooked Duensing's pitch into the right-field corner. After Asdrubal Cabrera grounded the first pitch to third, Shin-Soo Choo picked him up with a first-pitch single to center.

With two outs, Matt LaPorta kept the hands back and launched a change-up over the left-field wall. LaPorta had hit a walkoff homer Friday night.

The Tribe made it 4-0 in the second when Trevor Crowe scored on Lou Marson's double-play grounder. The run was unearned because of an earlier throwing error by second baseman Hudson.

Browns punter Dave Zastudil will miss more time when he returns from Colorado on Wednesday. He went there to have his surgically-repaired right knee re-examined by his surgeon.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerDave Zastudil 's return to the field is in doubt after having his knee re-checked last week.

CLEVELAND -- Browns punter Dave Zastudil will miss more time when he returns from his surgeon in Colorado on Wednesday, coach Eric Mangini said.

Mangini said Zastudil did not undergo another procedure on his surgically-repaired right knee while in Colorado.

Zastudil missed the final eight games of last season with the injury, which he revealed last week was a torn patella tendon. Reggie Hodges punted in his place and has been punting in his place all camp.  

It's been a busy weekend for Browns DBs.

View full sizeGus Chan,
The Plain DealerBrandon McDonald, shown defensing a pass to tight end Ben Watson, has been having a good camp. But not a QUIETLY good camp.

The Browns' defensive backfield, with the exception of Gerard Lawson, had a pretty good weekend.

Brandon McDonald picked off Colt McCoy and returned it for a touchdown in the Browns' Family Day scrimmage on Saturday, and he defensed a couple of other attempts.

One other guy darn near had a sack, and might have had this been a game instead of a no-tackling scrimmage. More on him in a second.

McDonald may be facing a bit o' trouble from coach Eric Mangini, even though he did score on the INT. Risking injury by doing a front flip into the end zone before even the first preseason game doesn't exactly endear you to the head coach. A profane tweet about Terrell Owens joining the Bengals doesn't help, either. Plain Dealer beat writer has posted this update on Mangini, who warned the team about proper use of social media like twitter, facebook, etc.

But the talking to – and possible fine – that McDonald is likely to get for his antics pretty much pale with what's going on with Lawson. According to a story posted by Plain Dealer reporter Laura Johnston, Lawson was jailed early Sunday morning on a variety of charges, including driving under the influence and leaving an accident. He's out on bail now, and the Browns say they're aware of the situation, but not commenting on it as of now.

So let's move to happier topics, i.e. the guy who almost had a sack. Maybe you've heard of him, kid out of Kent State named Josh Cribbs?

Here's how James Walker of espn.com saw the play in his AFC North blog:

It was just one play. However, I found it very interesting that Browns receiver and Pro Bowl kick returner Josh Cribbs came on an outside blitz in this weekend's scrimmage. Cribbs playing defense was intriguing enough. But also coming on a quarterback blitz is a wrinkle to keep an eye on.

Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal had a nice little lead-in and take on the story, too:

At this rate, Josh Cribbs will be kicking field goals and punting by the end of the season.

After all, those are about the only duties he has not yet dabbled in during his career with the Browns.

On Saturday, Cribbs continued to redefine his versatility when he lined up at safety for one play during his team's intrasquad scrimmage at Cleveland Browns Stadium. In his lone appearance on defense, Cribbs blitzed and later noted he would have had a sack if he had been playing in a real game instead of an exhibition in which tackling was prohibited.

Cribbs is already known as one of the top return men in the NFL. He's also well-versed in making special-teams tackles, and running back, quarterback and wide receiver are on his resume, too.

But safety?

"I don't want to put my foot in my mouth, but Coach really likes me back there, and he wants to give me a shot," Cribbs said. "So I'm gonna take advantage of the opportunity when it comes."

For the record, The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot had an item on it in Sunday's paper, too. It was part of her Browns Insider, a sidebar to the main story about White's 14-6 "win" over Brown in Saturday's scrimmage.

Now that hurts


Everybody's doing previews, even the Brits. And nobody's respecting the Browns. Not even the Brits. Gred Butler of bettor.com just blogged his predictions for the AFC North for this season. You know the Browns are in for it when his overview of last season ended with, ". . .the Cleveland Browns continued their existence as a measuring stick of just how bad a franchise can get."

Here's what he had to say about this year's installment of the Browns:

The Browns are working to improve. They've hired the brilliant Mike Holmgren to be in charge of their football operations. Unfortunately, they don't really have much talent for Holmgren to improve right now.Quarterback Colt McCoy is too young to be a force just yet, and Jake Delhomme will most likely be behind centre to start the year. Delhomme was once a touted player, but can he really handle himself in such a physical division?

If the Browns don't do well, and they won't, coach Eric Mangini's job will most certainly be at stake. Browns fans can watch this season with the optimistic notion that the Browns have improved, but when it comes to football in Cleveland that doesn't mean a whole lot.

This analysis leaves just one question that MUST be answered:

What the HECK kind of name is "Gred?"

. . . Their potential together is boundless.

"It's a lot easier when the guy has played the position before," said Wallace. "He's played quarterback and it's kind of weird because he's always thinking what I'm thinking and he's smart. If he's uncovered, he's going to come back for the ball. He understands the mentality of a quarterback."

This could be fun.

Manny Acta goes all medieval, er, managerial, on David Huff.

View full sizeAssociated PressMatt LaPorta went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the Tribe's 5-4 loss to the Twins on Sunday.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Matt LaPorta went three for four with a couple of RBI in the Tribe's 5-4 loss to the Twins on Sunday. Not bad for a guy who on June 7 was given an opportunity to become intimately acquainted with the scenery along Interstate 71, between Cleveland and Columbus.

And it's just a piece of the entire picture, as noted by the website WaitingForNextYear.com:

Sent down to Columbus on June 7th of this year when the team activated Andy Marte, the move seemed to make sense on paper. LaPorta was only batting .218 at the time, he seemed uncomfortable at the plate, and was relatively slow to recover from a few nagging injuries which plagued him through the offseason. The former Florida Gator apparently took offense to the demotion and proceeded to take it out on Triple-A pitching, amassing an OPS of 1.094 with five home runs and four doubles in 18 games.

LaPorta was called up to the bigs just 20 days after his trip to Columbus and has not skipped a beat. In 38 games through June, July and August, LaPorta has eight doubles, six home runs, 20 RBI and an OPS of .926. While extrapolating could be a dangerous game, had LaPortabeen able to persistently pace that OPS mark through the first two months of the season, it would be good enough for fifth among AL first baseman – ahead of sluggers like Mark Teixeira and Carlos Pena.

Shhhh. You KNOW what will happen if the Indians brain trust finds out someone is doing well.

Huff 'n' stuff


Indians skipper Manny Acta seems to be pretty much a players' manager. But he's the best kind of players' manager: one who won't coddle someone. When you stink, you know you stink because he apparently will tell you.

Just as he told pitcher David Huff after the lefty blew a 4-0 lead. Here's how Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram told it:

"I don't know (what happened)," said Huff, who allowed six of the first seven hitters he faced in the fifth to reach base. "That fifth inning, I just didn't have it. I don't know what the deal was."I wasn't efficient. I wasn't attacking hitters. I was trying to nibble. It was like two different pitchers pitching out there today."

"Unfortunately, David had no command of his fastball and pitched behind in the count all day," Acta said. "You can't get away with that on this level."

Though Huff disagreed with Acta's assessment that he pitched behind all day, a lack of command could be one of the issues plaguing him. Huff began the season with a 1-1 record after working a complete game for his first win of the year April 15. Since then, he has gone 1-10 with a 7.24 ERA and has already pitched himself out of the majors once.

"I still don't see the fastball command," Acta said. "That's the key for him. Whatever the reason is, it hasn't been good."

Did we mention that Acta is also the master of understatement?

Road trip


Mitch Talbot is making a rehab start in Mahoning Valley tonight, and if all goes well with his strained back, he could be back with the big club soon, according to Sheldon Ocker of the Beacon-Journal.

That, coupled with Huff's recent struggles, could be bad news for the kid.

If Mitch Talbot (strained back) suffers no ill effects from his three-inning rehab start at Mahoning Valley tonight, he will probably be activated from the disabled list and pitch this weekend against the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field, Indians manager Manny Acta said.

"If he's fine the next day, he can take his turn in the rotation," Acta said.

Talbot's return would necessitate a move to make room for him on the roster. The likely candidates for demotion to Triple-A are David Huff and Jeanmar Gomez.

Huff's experience would seem to dictate he would dodge the bullet. Tribe officials have said they called up Gomez prematurely out of necessity, but he has pitched well in three starts.

So a 2-11 record and a 6.21 ERA (Huff's numbers) trumps a 2-0 record and 1.56 ERA (Gomez's)? Hmmm, we're beginning to see the flaw in Indians' thinking.

From The Plain Dealer

Writer Dennis Manoloff filled in for beat writer Paul Hoynes to cover that 5-4 loss got much the same scoop on Huff in his game story.

But Dman also got the scoop on what lies in the Tribe's immediate future. And the good news is that what lies in the future is Baltimore, at 37-74 with the worst record in baseball.

The Orioles come to Cleveland for three-game stretch that starts at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow at Progressive Field.

"Would it really be such a bad idea to honor Albert Belle? Nobody has to say he's a fine human being or a credit to the community, but wouldn't you love to see a full house screaming at him like they once did after one of those late-inning dagger home runs?" - larrymikan3

View full sizePlain Dealer file photoAlbert Belle hits a game-tying home run during a playoff game in 1995.

In response to the story Thome still stewing over Friday call; Lofton enters Tribe's Hall: Indians Insider, cleveland.com reader larrymikan3 thinks it's time for the Tribe to honor Albert Belle. This reader writes,

"Would it really be such a bad idea to honor Albert Belle? Nobody has to say he's a fine human being or a credit to the community, but wouldn't you love to see a full house screaming at him like they once did after one of those late-inning dagger home runs?"

"I don't want to see these guys 'just having fun' in practice. I want to see them with straight-faced, serious attitudes. Don't get me wrong. I love to see it if the players are bonding and having fun with each other. But this town is starved for professionals. We've had enough of kids playing games." - jaceczko

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerBrandon McDonald put on a show for the fans during Saturday's scrimmage.

In response to the story Brandon McDonald flips out after TD interception: Browns Insider, cleveland.com reader jaceczko wasn't a fan of McDonald's flip. This reader writes,

"I don't want to see these guys 'just having fun' in practice. I want to see them with straight-faced, serious attitudes. Don't get me wrong. I love to see it if the players are bonding and having fun with each other. But this town is starved for professionals. We've had enough of kids playing games."

Dennis Dodd at CBSsports.com believes Ohio State and Michigan should be in opposite divisions. Doug Lesmerises disagrees.

Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerSame division or different divisions? Aligning Ohio State and Michigan in the new Big Ten can be viewed a lot of different ways.

Dennis Dodd offered an interesting story on why Ohio State and Michigan should be in opposite divisions when the Big Ten decides how to break up the conference's new 12-team configuration.

Dodd wrote at CBSsports.com, "The league has a unique opportunity. Ohio State and Michigan must be separated when the Big Ten ADs divide the league into two six-team divisions for the 2011 season."

Jim Tressel seemed to lay some groundwork for this possibility with his comments in Chicago last week about the future of the Ohio State-Michigan game and whether it could move from the final game of the regular season.

After bouncing some ideas around with Marcus Hartman at Buckeye Sports Bulletin, it seems to me like the Big Ten would be taking a chance at lessening the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry in almost ANY scenario if they are in separate divisions.

Let's assume, fairly I think, that if the Buckeyes and Wolverines are in separate divisions, they will not play to end the regular season, as Tressel suggested. Risking a rematch in the title game a week later is just too odd.

So, consider these two possibilities:

Example A: Michigan soon returns to its previous from and rises to the top of its division while Ohio State continues its run as the dominant team in the conference and owns its division much of the time. Over the first 10 years of the Big Ten Championship Game, the Wolverines and Buckeyes meet six or seven times, meaning they'll play maybe 16 times in a 10-year period. Anything that isn't an Ohio State-Michigan title game then pales in comparison. Fans outside the two programs tire of seeing the same two teams all the time battle for the title, and even the fans inside the rivalry start wearying a bit of playing each other so much.

The regular season game in the middle of the year doesn't quite fire up the fans the way playing to end the regular season used to. And the championship game is already enough of a big deal in its own right, with a BCS or maybe national title game on the line, that the rivalry itself isn't what matters most.

The Big Ten again gains a reputation as the Big Two and the Little Ten, and its greatest showcase game gets overexposed.

Example B: Michigan does not return to its former glory, or the Wolverines do just as the Buckeyes hit a slump, and Ohio State and Michigan don't meet in the title game nearly as much as everyone expected they would. With Michigan battling Nebraska and Iowa, the Wolverines make just two title games in the first decade of the 12-team league, and in only one of those years do they meet the Buckeyes.

So now, the regular season game is no longer at the end of the year. The teams are not meeting for the title. And the tent pole of each team's season has been sacrificed for what? Yes, Michigan and Ohio State still don't like each other, but without both teams enjoying success, and without the special place in the schedule, the game starts to feel too much like a late October game against Purdue.

When the teams played at the end of the regular season, it didn't matter how good or bad the Wolverines and Buckeyes were - they still took an entire season to build up a new tank of distaste for each other, and the placement of the game at the end of the year helped ensure that it meant something, regardless of the records. Stuck in the middle of the season, it's just a little harder to do that.

Are either of those scenarios impossible to imagine? I don't think so. Are either of those what the conference or either fanbase would want? I don't think so.

So consider option C.

Example C: The Buckeyes and Wolverines are in the same division and continue to play at the end of the regular season. Chances are at least one of them will be involved in the race for the division title, so college football's greatest rivalry is only magnified by what turns into a de facto semifinal game when both teams are good, or the ultimate spoiler opportunity if one team is headed to the title game and the other is out of it.

Sure, there could be seasons when one team has a spot in the title game wrapped up and the Michigan-Ohio State game doesn't matter in that regard. But would anyone ever take for granted an Ohio State-Michigan game at the end of the year, when you've been building to it all season? It certainly would be less likely to be taken for granted than a game in the middle of the season, wouldn't it?

There's almost no scenario here that would lessen the game, and there are several that would take this showdown to an even higher level.

In the new Big Ten, there will be two games that will define the league and draw the most attention - the title game and the Ohio State-Michigan game. Do they really need to be the same thing? Keeping them distinct might be the best way to ensure that they both draw the attention they deserve and don't in any way cancel each other out.

McDonald's tweet about Terrell Owens brings a lecture from coach Eric Mangini and possible club discipline.

UPDATED: 10:17 p.m.

Lisa DeJong / The Plain DealerBrowns cornerback Brandon McDonald spent part of his Monday at training camp explaining -- and apologizing for -- his obscene tweet directed at the Bengals' Terrell Owens. "It was a bad decision on my part," he said. "One thing I don't want to do is cause a distraction to this team and I think that's what it has become."

BEREA, Ohio -- To tweet or not to tweet?

It's a question no NFL coach had to ponder 10, five, even two years ago. But Monday morning, Browns coach Eric Mangini had to spend preparation time lecturing his players on the hazards of tweeting and using other social media.

The topic came up as a result of a tweet sent on July 27 by cornerback Brandon McDonald in reaction to the Cincinnati Bengals signing receiver Terrell Owens. The tweet, which has been removed from McDonald's Twitter account, used obnoxious language to describe what McDonald expected the Browns' secondary to do when they meet Owens and the Bengals.

It could have been brushed off as harmless player-to-player trash-talking, if not for the crude language. It goes contrary to the message of family friendliness the new Browns' organization headed by President Mike Holmgren is striving to deliver.

Mangini indicated the club would discipline McDonald for the tweet.

McDonald, who did not practice on Monday because of an ankle injury apparently suffered in the team scrimmage on Saturday, said that he was not aware of any discipline and had not spoken with Mangini about it.

"Social media is a great way to connect with the fans," Mangini said. "[Players] have a responsibility to do that in a way that represents the organization the right way. That's their responsibility and they're accountable for it. If they don't do it, there are consequences to those actions."

McDonald said he regretted the tweet.

"It started out as a joke and it's escalated to what it is now," he said. "I really didn't mean anything by it. It was a bad decision on my part. One thing I don't want to do is cause a distraction to this team and I think that's what it has become.

"The way it was taken is not really how it was meant. I take full responsibility for it and it won't happen again."

But McDonald said he doesn't intend to stop tweeting. He uses his account to interact with friends and fans and plug his football camp and sales of a T-shirt bearing his apparent slogan for this season: "IT'S TRU."

Tweeting has become so popular in the NFL -- and potentially so hazardous -- that some clubs monitor their players' tweets. Mangini said he has no "czar" to oversee it. Last year, the San Diego Chargers fined cornerback Antonio Cromartie $2,500 for tweeting a negative comment about the food served at the team's training camp.

"Just like anything else, you have to take responsibility for your actions," said safety Abram Elam, who tweets.

"You've got to think before you act," said tweeter and receiver Chansi Stuckey. "Sometimes it can get out of hand."

Josh Cribbs is another tweeter.

"I make sure what's out there is what you really want out there," he said. "It's a social tool. A lot of it is a joke. It's hard to understand texts. That's how it gets taken out of context.I try not to put things out there I don't want out there."

Other players with Twitter accounts include cornerback Eric Wright, receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, cornerback Joe Haden and linebacker Eric Barton.

During his contract dispute with the Browns in the spring, Jackson used his Twitter account to assure fans that he would eventually sign his one-year contract and play for the team in 2010. On his Twitter account on Monday, Haden disclosed that a teammate was fined $1,760 by Mangini when his cell phone went off in a team meeting.

"It's kind of fun to tweet people following you," Massaquoi said. "At the same time, you've got to be careful. Some things can get misunderstood. There is a hazard any time you act a certain way. You never know who's watching you and what might be interpreted a certain way."

Players aren't the only ones in the act. At least two NFL coaches have active Twitter accounts and tweet frequently -- Seattle's Pete Carroll and Detroit's Jim Schwartz.

Mangini said he didn't plan to join the craze.

"I'm really not that interesting," he said.

Receiver Brian Robiskie and rookie quarterback Colt McCoy are among the seemingly-dwindling group of players who do not tweet.

"It takes a lot of time. I need to spend time with my playbook," McCoy said.

What if the Denver Nuggets, picking first in the 2003 NBA draft lottery, selected LeBron James. The Cavs, picking minutes later, chose Carmelo Anthony. Seven years later ...

Eric Gay / Associated PressWho knew that during the 2008 Olympics that LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were beginning to plot their eventual union in Cleveland? Or that Anthony -- an adopted son of Cleveland -- would be so successful in convincing James to leave Denver for his familiar Northeast Ohio roots?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Has it already been a little more than a month since "The Decision"?

How time flies when you're having fun!

You've probably still got your copy of The Plain Dealer that came out the next day. Hundreds of thousands of readers saved that edition, with its front page screaming "Homeward Bound!" Displaced Clevelanders around the country ordered copies. The paper's Internet site almost crashed under the strain of the worldwide audience reading the heart-warming story online.

Prodded by ESPN, a reluctant LeBron James agreed on July 8 to a 10-minute appearance on a special edition of "SportsCenter" called "The Decision." On it, he announced what everyone knew was a foregone conclusion -- that the NBA's most coveted free agent ever would leave Denver and return home to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, joining forces with close friend Carmelo Anthony.

James spent over half of the brief show thanking the Denver Nuggets' organization and the Nuggets' fans for "seven wonderful years."

"But Ohio is home to me," he said.

James had faxed notice of his decision to The Plain Dealer before the show began. "Me and Melo together! Oh, my God!" James said in a conference call to Plain Dealer reporters.

Ecstatic Cavs fans poured into downtown restaurants and bars in a foreshadowing of the booming business James will bring to the resurgent city, which is already known globally as a leading creator of "green" jobs. Across the street from The Q, crews worked all night under lights, erecting an enormous billboard that greeted commuters the next day. It pictured James and Anthony, arm in arm, beneath the team's slogan, "One for All, All for One."

"It's all about team," said James.

Nuggets officials, while disappointed, said James spoke with them in person before flying to northeast Ohio and making the announcement at the University of Akron's Rhodes Arena, where he played many of his games for Akron St. Vincent St. Mary High School.

"LeBron James gave us 100 percent every time he took the floor. Seven years is a long time. We reached the NBA Finals with him, and we wish him nothing but the best. I certainly know how great the fans are in Cleveland," said Denver coach George Karl, himself a former Cavs coach.

The Cavs also made one NBA Finals with Anthony. Like the Nuggets with James, they lost.

Neither Denver nor Cleveland was ever able to find the right sidekick for its resident superstar. The Cavs had spent the last two seasons doing little but clearing salary cap space to sign James, losing in the first round of the playoffs both seasons. But the gamble paid off because of the unquestioned maturity of the well-grounded James.

As for Anthony, the Cavs' resident superstar said, "I love Cleveland more than ever." He then revealed he would re-sign with the Cavs and spend the next five years, the duration of James' contract, with the team.

"I can't even complain about the winters here. I played in Syracuse," added the affable Anthony.

The bounce of a ping-pong ball in the 2003 NBA draft lottery led to James' seven-year exile in the Rocky Mountains. Denver and the Cavs tied for the worst record the previous season and shared the best chance of getting the top pick. The Nuggets won the lottery and selected James straight out of high school. It was a crushing blow to the Cavs and their fans to lose a nearly certain superstar who was born and bred in northeast Ohio.

Detroit, not Cleveland, had the second pick through a trade with the former Vancouver Grizzlies. With it, the Pistons chose Darko Milicic, a 7-foot Serbian teenager who was an international basketball sensation. Milicic, however, became one of the all-time draft busts.

With such premier players as Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade still on the board, Cleveland, picking third, made the safe choice in Anthony, who had led Syracuse to that year's NCAA championship as a freshman.

Seven years later, at a huge, impromptu party on Public Square, jubilant Cavs fans said they never gave up hope that James, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, would come home to play. They regarded it as an omen that James was often photographed wearing the baseball cap of his beloved Indians.

An avid sports fan, James also made several surprise appearances on the Browns' sideline during the team's Monday night games, never missing a game against the hated Dallas Cowboys.

"Who would have thought it would turn out better to lose the lottery than to win it?" said Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry.

"Pinch me," said Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. "I must be dreaming."

Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot report on what happened during day 10 of training camp in Berea. They also look back on the Brown and White Scrimmage held Saturday.

Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot report on what happened during day 10 of training camp in Berea. They also look back on the Brown and White Scrimmage held Saturday.

Shelley Duncan, the Indians' latest cleanup hitter, is taking advantage of an opportunity to get consistent at-bats in the big leagues for the first time in his career.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerAlthough he's only now getting consistent at-bats in the Indians' lineup, Shelley Duncan (right, celebrating a home run against Tampa Bay with Matt LaPorta) is third in slugging percentage among players on the current active roster, trailing only Shin-Soo Choo and Jayson Nix.

ON DECK: INDIANS VS. ORIOLES
Where: Progressive Field.
When: Tuesday through Thursday.
TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.
Series: Indians lead, 2-1, this season. They lead, 414-381, all-time.
Pitching matchups: RHP Justin Masterson (4-10, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Arrieta (3-3, 5.07) Tuesday at 7:05; RHP Josh Tomlin (1-1, 2.79) vs. RHP Brian Bergesen (3-9, 6.26) on Wednesday at 7:05; RHP Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 1.56) vs. RHP Kevin Millwood (2-11, 6.05) on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
Indians update: They lost final two of three-game series against Minnesota last weekend. ... They are 13-11 since All-Star break. ... Tribe has five victories when trailing after seven innings. ... Masterson lost in Baltimore on May 14. ... Indians are 3-33 when scoring two or fewer runs. ... RF Shin-Soo Choo is hitting .338 with nine doubles and one homer in his last 18 games.
Orioles update: Buck Showalter took over as manager last Tuesday and was 5-1 entering Monday night’s game against White Sox in Baltimore. ... Orioles are 14-40 on road. ... Former Indians farmhand Luke Scott leads Baltimore in homers. ... Millwood pitched for Indians in 2005.
Injuries: Indians — RHP Anthony Reyes (elbow), OF Grady Sizemore (left knee), LHP Aaron Laffey (shoulder), RHP Mitch Talbot (back), C Carlos Santana (left knee) and DH Travis Hafner (shoulder) are on disabled list. Orioles — RHP Jim Johnson (elbow), RHP David Hernandez (left ankle) and OF Lou Montanez (oblique) are on DL.
Next for Indians: Homestand concludes with three-game series against Seattle beginning Friday.
— Dennis Manoloff

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It took some doing to get there, but Shelley Duncan finds himself getting regular at-bats in the middle of the Indians' lineup. Unexpected, yes. Unanticipated, well, maybe to everyone but Duncan.

If you're interested in stability, the middle of the Indians' batting order is not for you. Travis Hafner has started 45 games there. He's on the disabled list and is eligible to return Friday.

Austin Kearns, the next busiest cleanup hitter, was traded to the Yankees on July 30. Carlos Santana was next in line with 10 starts in the No.4 spot. He won't be back until next year after undergoing season-ending surgery on his left knee Friday. Jhonny Peralta and Russell Branyan had nine starts each. Peralta was traded to the Tigers and Branyan to the Mariners.

Which brings us to Duncan with four starts in the middle of the order.

Duncan spent the first nine years of his career with the Yankees. In all that time, he spent 68 games in the big leagues, getting 146 at-bats. The Yankees don't do fire sales. If they need a player, they buy him. Unless you play like Derek Jeter, a homegrown player is going to have a tough time cracking that lineup.

For three years running, the Indians have traded big parts of their roster at midseason to rebuild and save money. If the lineup doesn't have an opening today, it will tomorrow.

"I was always aware that a bunch of guys could get traded and I could get a lot more at-bats over the last couple of months," said Duncan. "So I wanted to stay focused and stay sharp.

"It was a big reason why I signed here. I really never got a good chance with the Yankees. I've wanted that challenge. I've always wanted it."

When Duncan didn't make the Indians out of spring training, he was disappointed, but not devastated. He went to Class AAA Columbus and hit .301 (44-for-146) with six homers and 34 RBI. It was not new ground. He won the International League MVP for the Yankees' Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre club in 2009 by hitting .277 with 30 homers and 99 RBI.

The Indians called him up in late May and he's been here since.

"Nobody here was anticipating Shelley hitting cleanup or anything like that," said manager Manny Acta, "but I'll tell you what ... him and Kearns were two really good signs during the off-season. They really contributed to this ballclub.

"Shelley not only brings what he's done offensively and defensively for us in the limited number of at-bats that he's had, but he's a great clubhouse guy. He has a lot of energy. Everybody here loves him."

The Indians targeted Duncan and Kearns near the end of last season. They needed right-handed outfielders to balance an the opening day outfield of Michael Brantley, Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo, all left-handed hitters.

Duncan, at 6-5 and 225 pounds, is hard to miss on the field. It's not just his size, but the way he plays. There's probably still a hole in the left field grandstand at Citizens Bank Park from where Duncan slid into it trying to make a catch against the Phillies in June. On Aug. 2 at Fenway Park, Duncan had the first four-hit game of his career. The next night, he was easy to spot in a swirl of bodies going none-to-nose with Boston's Josh Beckett in a bench's clearing incident.

Friday night, in a 7-6 victory, he doubled home two runs in the first inning against Minnesota's Francisco Liriano. On Saturday, he went from first to third on Jordan Brown's single in the sixth inning with the score still tied, 2-2, in what turned into a 7-2 loss.

"That's a big body flying around out there," said GM Mark Shapiro.

Duncan, 30, is hitting .263 (35-for-133) with eight doubles, six homers and 22 RBI. He's struck out 52 times.

"To me the best part of being here is what this team is doing," said Duncan, whose father, Dave, played for the Indians 1973-74 and is currently Tony La Russa's pitching coach in St. Louis. "How the organization is moving in the direction they're going. The team is extremely young. And Manny is teaching everybody how to play aggressive, but smart baseball.

"This team is so young, so fearless, yet so talented. It's neat to think about how good the future looks."

Talk, talk: Shortstop Tony Wolters, the Indians' No.3 pick, just finished playing for Team USA's 18-and-under national team. They went 19-2, but didn't win a medal after losing to Cuba, 3-2.

Wolters hit .366 (30-for-82) with 26 runs, nine doubles, one homer and 14 RBI. He had a .512 slugging percentage and .441 on-base percentage. He has already committed to the University of San Diego. Negotiations with the Indians are expected to turn serious this week. The deadline is Aug. 16.

Former Browns receiver Braylon Edwards, now with the Jets, told the New York Times that he was just too "New York," too flashy for the nothing city of Cleveland.

UPDATED: 8:48 p.m.

Kathy Willens / Associated PressBraylon Edwards was just way too hip and flashy for those little ol' folks from Cleveland.

BROWNS TRAINING CAMP LOG: AUG. 9
What happened: The day started with coach Eric Mangini lecturing his players about the hazards of Twitter as a result of an obscene tweet by cornerback Brandon McDonald that became an issue. Cornerback Gerard Lawson joined the team on the field after pleading not guilty in the morning to charges of DUI and hit-and-skip as a result of an arrest Sunday morning.

Hot and ugly: Not the greatest practice ever for the offensive unit. Some of Jake Delhomme’s passes wobbled as if thrown against a 30 mph gale. Seneca Wallace was intercepted once and had another pass deflected at the line of scrimmage. On successive plays, backup centers Billy Yates and Shawn Lauvao had to run laps for errant snaps beyond Colt McCoy out of the shotgun formation. A few plays later, starter Alex Mack had to run one for another miscue.

Injury report: Players who did not practice included linebacker David Bowens (knee), linebacker Titus Brown (undisclosed) and punter Dave Zastudil (knee). Offensive tackle Tony Pashos left the field with an apparent injury to his shoulder. Running back James Davis left the field, but returned.

Tuesday’s schedule: Practices 8:45-10:45 a.m. and 5:45-7:45 p.m. For updates, call 877-627-6967.
— Tony Grossi

BEREA, Ohio -- Receiver Braylon Edwards, traded to the Jets last season, explained to the New York Times why things didn't work out with the Browns: he was just too Hot in Cleveland.

He also slammed Cleveland and everyone in it for being un-hip and un-happenin'.

"There's nothing going on in Cleveland," Edwards told the Times. "There's no real estate. There's no social life, no social networking. All the people who have something going on leave Cleveland. So Cleveland has nothing, and I came in there with a New York-type of essence. So what? That was the attitude I came in with. Like, this is who I am. They didn't like the flash."

His mother, Malesa Plater, told the paper: "He came from a team that was always looking for a savior to a team that knows how to win. No one would understand what he's been through unless you've been drowning."

Really? Drowning?

Edwards also played the tired, worn-out card that people in Cleveland didn't like him because he showed up on the first day in an expensive Italian suit and a Bentley. He also played the "they didn't like me because I was from Michigan" card. (Note to Edwards: fans didn't like you because you dropped pass after pass after pass. The coaching staff didn't want you because you refused to obey the rules).

Edwards and his Jets visit Cleveland on Nov. 14. Have your cameras ready. It's not often that we get to see someone with so much pizzazz around these parts.

Lawson practices: Defensive back Gerard Lawson returned to practice Monday afternoon after being released from jail in the morning. He pleaded not guilty to drunken driving and leaving the scene after allegedly hitting a car in the Warehouse District early Sunday morning. He posted 10 percent of his $2,500 bond and is due back in Cleveland Municipal Court at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 17.

But before taking the field, he had to meet with coach Eric Mangini.

"I told him I was disappointed in him putting himself in that position," said Mangini. "The value in this and the value in any experience is what you can learn from it and make sure that this type of thing doesn't happen again. Not just for him, but for anybody in our group. In terms of the other aspects of it, I think [General Manager] Tom [Heckert] talked about that the other day and I really have nothing to add on that component."

Lawson's DUI arrest came about 17 months after former Browns receiver Donte Stallworth killed a man while driving drunk.

"I don't want any incidents to happen with the team at any point," said Mangini. "You talk about it and you try to educate and do as much as you possibly can and sometimes poor decisions are made. You want them to be safe and you want them to make sure they aren't putting anyone else at risk."

Lawson, who declined comment, was having a good camp, but the arrest won't help his chances. Last week, he intercepted two passes in the same practice and returned both for touchdowns. Lawson was arrested at 2:30 a.m., after the Browns had their curfew lifted for the night for playing hard in the Brown-White scrimmage at the Stadium.

"I gave the captains of the winning team the option whether to keep them under curfew or not," said Mangini. "They felt that it was a well-fought game and everybody deserved the night off, which I agreed with. As much as we can, have to help each do the right thing."

Zastudil's return uncertain: Mangini said punter Dave Zastudil will miss more time after he returns Wednesday from Colorado, where he went to have his knee re-checked by his surgeon.

Originally, Zastudil was supposed to return on Friday. Mangini said Zastudil did not have surgery while was in Colorado. He also didn't specify how long Zastudil might be out or whether he'll need more surgery in the future. He's recovering from a torn right patella tendon.

Cribbs on D: Josh Cribbs said "it's always a big possibility" that he'll play some at safety during the regular season. He played one snap there during the scrimmage, blitzing from the left side.

"You saw [receiver] Mike Furrey out there last year because of injuries," he said. He said he doesn't need to practice it in camp. "It's real basic things I've already seen before," he said.

Hillis returns: Running back Peyton Hillis returned to practice after a week off with a mild groin strain, but hit the ground running, literally. In addition to churning out some yards, he caught several passes downfield, including one from Seneca Wallace and one from Jake Delhomme.

"It was heartbreaking to sit inside and watch your teammates practice," he said. "I've been in my playbook and the offense is coming real good to me now. I've just got to get back in shape, get out in the heat and prepare for this Saturday's game [in Green Bay]."

He said he's gained all of his weight and strength back from missing some organized team activities and minicamp with the flu.

Hardesty update: Mangini said rookie running back Montario Hardesty will be back "hopefully next week -- hopefully." If not, he will have missed all of camp, which ends Aug. 19.

Plain Dealer reporter Donna J. Miller contributed to this report.

LeBron James created a bit of a stir when he brought family and friends to Cedar Point on Monday.

Photo from TwitterLeBron James and his friends checked out some Cedar Point 'athletes' at the park's three-point shooting contest.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James created a bit of a stir when he brought family and friends to Cedar Point on Monday, strolling the grounds and eating frozen lemonade.

James later tweeted: "Man its Mayhem up here at Cedar Point! Got my own 3G network following me. Haaaaaaa."

Several parkgoers took notice of the former Cavalier and got their own photos out on Twitter and other social networks.

James was in Akron over the weekend for his annual bike-a-thon charity event and clearly was spending more time in Ohio for the first time since his departure for the Miami Heat. Earlier Monday, a Harper's Bazaar story quoted James' girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, as saying that "Cleveland is home. Nothing is going to change about that."