Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are considered one of the best all-time duos in sports. Jordan was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year, and Pippen will get honored tonight in the hall. An article in The Chicago Tribune asks if Jordan and Pippen are the best sports duo ever? What are the criteria for great sports duos? Longevity,...

APLeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are considered one of the best all-time duos in sports. Jordan was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year, and Pippen will get honored tonight in the hall.

An article in The Chicago Tribune asks if Jordan and Pippen are the best sports duo ever?

What are the criteria for great sports duos? Longevity, championships and records are a good start. But more than the numbers, they should be two players whom opponents dreaded playing against. Two players who would drive opposing coaches crazy—if you stopped one, the other would beat you. Two players whom if you weren't a fan of their team, you despised.  

So which pair are the greatest sports duo in Cleveland sports history?

One of the most prestigious waterfowl hunting clubs in the country, the Winous Point Shooting Club is also dedicated to wetlands and waterfowl research, and to introducing kids to the wild side of the marshes of the Sandusky Bay Region.

D'ARCY EGAN/THE PLAIN DEALERDevon Grosswiler, 10, a fifth grader at Danbury Elementary School in Danbury Twp., was thrilled to touch a female cardinal being held by Thomas Bartlett of the U.S. Geological Survey. One of dozens of birds trapped and banded by Bartlett for the A Day on the Wild Side program at the Winous Point Shooting Club, the youngster liberated the bird a few minutes later.

 
  
PORT CLINTON, OHIO

One of the most prestigious waterfowl hunting clubs in the country, the Winous Point Shooting Club is also dedicated to wetlands and waterfowl research, and to introducing kids to the wild side of the marshes of the Sandusky Bay Region.

 A gaggle of junior high school youngsters were invited for the inaugural A Day on the Wild Side program, developed by the Ottawa County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Winous Point Marsh Conservancy. The youngsters weren't shy about pulling the trigger on a shotgun, releasing a banded hummingbird, building a wood duck box or cruising the muck and mire of a real, honest-to-goodness wetlands.

"Just getting kids outdoors is a major part of the program," said Carol Benner of the OCSWCD. To give the junior high school kids a unique experience, and an education about marshland, a consortium of groups had five stations introducing them to water quality, invasive marsh species, trapping and wildlife management. They helped Tom Bartlett of the U.S. Geological Survey release songbirds that had been netted and banded, shot with bows and shotguns, rode in a pirogue-style hunting boat, built wood duck or bluebird nesting boxes and played a tune on a duck call.

Fred Zink of Zink Calls in Port Clinton brought each kid a duck call and showed them how to talk like a mallard, making a pizza lunch a very noisy affair. They also went home with hats, T-shirts and a new respect for Ohio's wetlands. 

 "We had a lot of help from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ohio Division of Wildlife," said Benner. "The folks at Winous Point Shooting Club were tremendous. There was a $20 fee, all of the kids had to volunteer and we wanted to limit the day to 30. We couldn't do it. We had 38 youngsters for the special day."

Bartlett, who said the USGS has been banding birds since the 1930s, gets a kick from putting a live songbird in someone's hands for release.

 "We were doing a banding a while back, and a grandmother in her 80s brought her grand kids to learn about our program," said Bartlett. "She was just as excited as the kids, and was in tears - the good kind - after releasing a songbird."

The youngsters gently cradled the birds after they were banded, using Barlett's special grip to prevent injuring the birds, which ranged from cardinals and catbirds to tiny hummingbirds caught in nets positioned around the club grounds. Few were as excited as Devon Grosswiler, 10, of Danbury Twp., who danced a jig after setting free a female cardinal.

"That was so cool," said the youngster. "I want to do it again and again."
 
Winous Point Club hunts ducks for two months, manages wildlife and marshland all year

D'ARCY EGAN/THE PLAIN DEALERBuilding a bluebird nesting box at the A Day on the Wild Side program at Sandusky Bay's Winous Point Shooting Club is Cierra McClure, 13, of Gibsonburg Middle School. As she screws together the pieces, the 13-year-old is getting a helping hand from the club's Opie Rohrer.

 PORT CLINTON, OHIO

The Winous Point Shooting Club is known world-wide as a premier waterfowl hunting club on Sandusky Bay. Established in 1856, it is the oldest continuously operated waterfowl hunting club in America.

Ohio's duck hunting season is only 60 days, though, while the WPSC is busy year-round. 

 The club's Winous Point Marsh Conservancy arm is at the forefront of marsh and waterfowl research on its sprawling wetlands, which are intensively managed to benefit wildlife. The WPMC hosts youth events, brings in researchers from colleges and conservation groups and works on "a slew of projects," said marsh manager and WPMC director John Simpson.

"We really enjoyed the A Day on the Wild Side program, because we want kids to get excited about the outdoors," said Simpson. "To interest them in hunting or fishing, or just being out in the marsh, is a very good thing. We want to pass along the importance of wetlands and wildlife."

The waterfowl club is heavily involved in marsh research that annually involves five to 10 graduate students, most from Ohio State University. Two or three college interns are signed on each summer as research assistants. The club works hand-in-hand with experts from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ohio Division of Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited and other conservation groups.

 It's biggest challenge in recent years, said Simpson, has been the control of an invasive grass, Phragmites australis. It is dominating marshes in the Great Lakes region, much to the detriment of waterfowl and other wildlife. WPSC has spent almost $250,000 on herbicides in the last two years to clear a 550-acre area of the noxious plant. 

 "It's a never-ending battle," said Simpson. "We're working with federal, state and local partners, as well as other landowners, to make it happen."

Ben Roethlisberger expects most warm greetings from Pittsburgh Steelers fans at Saturday's preseason home game against the Detroit Lions.

View full sizeAssociated PressMore cheers than jeers have greeted Ben Roethlisberger at training camp this year. But will that be the case when the quarterback who's been suspended for off-field activities steps onto the grass at Heinz Field Saturday?

Pittsburgh -- Maybe he'll take a few snaps, throw a pass or two. Maybe he won't even get off the bench.

Ben Roethlisberger returns to Heinz Field Saturday night for the first time since embarrassing himself and the Pittsburgh Steelers with off-field behavior that resulted in a six-game suspension and condemnation from his fan base. It's a night he once dreaded but, now that it's here, Roethlisberger said he expects mostly cheers, not jeers and hostility.

Roethlisberger is being greeted enthusiastically by spectators during training camp, but he might get a more accurate gauge of how Steelers fans feel about his offseason sexual assault allegations during Saturday's exhibition game against Detroit.

Roethlisberger has said repeatedly during camp that he is eager to move on and concentrate on football. He only hopes his fans are as willing, too.

"They've been awesome," Roethlisberger said of the fans who've repeatedly cheered him and eagerly sought his autograph during camp. "I think and hope it will be awesome."

Roethlisberger was accused of, but not charged with, assaulting a Georgia college student in March, drawing the NFL's harshest suspension for a player with a clean arrest record. The case ignited the wrath of Steelers supporters who burned his jersey or barred their children from wearing the quarterback's No. 7.

Five months later, with the focus of fans shifting to beating the Bengals and Ravens, it's apparent many believe the Steelers are better equipped to accomplish that with Roethlisberger.

The spirited reception to date encourages Steelers officials, who didn't anticipate hordes of Roethlisberger antagonists lining the practice fields at the Saint Vincent College camp. But they also didn't expect this much enthusiasm and forgiveness so soon. The next test is playing a home game, where fans eager to vent their displeasure can do so with more anonymity than they can on a cozy college campus.

What coach Mike Tomlin isn't saying is whether Roethlisberger or Byron Leftwich will be the quarterback when the starters play the eight to 12 snaps he plans to give them. The Steelers are preparing two starting quarterbacks in camp, Leftwich to start the season and Roethlisberger to finish it after he returns from a suspension that could be reduced to four games.

Roethlisberger definitely wants to play.

"If he says I won't be playing, I'll probably try to talk him out of it," Roethlisberger said. "Coach might think it's better to come back on the road where you're going to get booed no matter what happens. But I want to get back to Heinz Field. That's definitely home."

Chris Cerino, 41, of Wadsworth is in the spotlight Sunday night, one of four finalists in the History Channel's popular America's Top Shot reality show.

Chris Cerino, 41, of Wadsworth is in the spotlight Sunday night, one of four finalists in the History Channel's popular America's Top Shot reality show. Over nine weeks, 12 shooters have been eliminated in the competition for top marksman. In previous shows, shooters have been challenged with bow-and-arrow, sling shot, throwing knives, flintlock rifles and modern firearms.

The show airs at 10 p.m., with the winner taking home $100,000.

 The only non-competitive shooter in the field, Cerino is a firearms instructor at the Richfield campus of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. For 18 years, Cerino was a Medina County Sheriff's Deputy and a police officer with the City of Medina. More recently, Cerino was a training officer and air marshal with the Federal Air Marshall Service.

Will success spoil Josh Cribbs? The most popular Browns player, flush with his first big contract, says absolutely not.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerNow that he has his long-awaited new contract with the Browns, Josh Cribbs plans on being an even bigger contributor to the team this year, working hard to master the wide receiver position.

Will success spoil Josh Cribbs?

"Not at all," said the most popular Browns player. "I give my all every game."

His helmet was off. His smile was still in place, for these are good times. His resolve was as fierce as ever.

The Cleveland sports landscape is full of big-money guys who didn't pan out, through injury (Grady Sizemore, Kerry Wood, Jake Westbrook, Travis Hafner), loss of motivation (Shawn Kemp), unhappiness with the system (Larry Hughes), or simply being a malcontent (Andre Rison). Then there was the reprehensible Keith Hernandez, who took the Tribe's money without qualms and didn't even want to play.

The Browns signed Cribbs as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State. He was a surprise in the NFL only to people who did not see him play at the Horseshoe against eventual national champion Ohio State in 2002. Cribbs was just a sophomore. He was also the best athlete on the field, albeit in a lopsided KSU loss.

Cribbs wound up on a short list, one that included Vince Young at Texas and Pat White in West Virginia's super-charged spread offense, of players to rush and pass for more than 1,000 yards in at least two college seasons.

"It doesn't matter what you did in college," said Cribbs. "Every rookie comes into the NFL with a clean slate."

Cribbs actually came in with an advantage over athletes from bigger schools and better programs. He was driven by the resentment of a have-not who knew he could play with the have's.

"I'm all about the extras," said Cribbs. "Extra effort, extra yards. Every game I was focused on doing good every time I got a chance."

He will shoulder extra roles now too, as the Browns try to figure out how best to get their money's worth from a player who always insisted he wasn't just a kick returner.

A savage special-teams player on coverage and returns, Cribbs has built a sterling career on crowd-pleasing effort. After signing a six-year contract in 2006, he became unhappy midway through it and cleaned out his locker after last season, saying he never expected to wear the Browns' uniform again. He had still been a football firestorm all season, despite his unhappines.

Protracted negotiations resulted in a three-year, $20 million deal.

So how does Cribbs keep the recklessness that made him an overachiever now that it has also made him relatively secure?

First of all, NFL contracts, unlike those in the NBA and MLB, are not guaranteed. "The NFL is about what you did today," said Cribbs.

His vast personal pride should answer that question, although there is the gloomy precedent of Devin Hester. A small swerving, darting kick returner, Hester fueled the Chicago Bears' 2006 Super Bowl run. His career crested when he ran the opening kickoff in the Super Bowl back for a touchdown against Indianapolis. He soon signed a four-year, $40 million contract.

As Hester tries to be more of a wide receiver than kick returner in an expanded offensive role now, he has not only not connected well with the Bears new quarterack, Jay Cutler, but he has lost the "kick it short, kick it out of bounds, kick it anywhere but to him" fear he instilled in opposing teams.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerJosh Cribbs' success on special teams during a run of bad seasons for the Browns has made him the team's most popular player. Here he signs autographs after a scrimmage at Browns Stadium on Aug. 7.

Cribbs, who at 6-1, 215 pounds is much bigger and stronger than Hester, has to be physical to succeed. Players who try to arm-tackle the Browns' bulldozer might as well bear the nickname "Stumpy." Cribbs' constant aggression enabled him to beat out Hester as the first team kick returner on the NFL's Team of the Decade.

Cribbs has two touchdown punt returns and eight touchdown kickoff returns, an NFL record. Any man who can catch a punt with tacklers bearing down on him in the treacherous winds of Browns Stadium can handle the physical demands of wide receiver. Defensive scheme recognition and adjustments might be a different story.

Happily, given his bigger offensive role, Cribbs already senses a connection with backup quarterback Seneca Wallace when they are on the field together. Cribbs will yell "Huddle up" and clap his hands, as if he is the quarterback and not Wallace, then he will look at Wallace, signaling him to call the play.

"Give it to me," Cribbs will say, eager for the ball, craving the burden of expectations.

Mariners lead Indians, 3-2, through six innings.

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

Pitching matchup:  RHP Fausto Carmona (11-9, 3.90) vs. RHP David Pauley (0-4, 3.38).

In-game updates:

The Mariners led the Indians, 3-2, through six innings.

The speed of Ichiro Suzuki carried the Mariners to a 1-0 lead in the first.

 Suzuki led off with a poorly struck grounder over the mound. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera charged and threw on-target but Suzuki beat it.

 With Chone Figgins batting, Suzuki stole second. He moved to third on Figgins' grounder to first and scored on Russell Branyan's grounder to second. Jason Donald, as part of a shift, erased Branyan from shallow right field.

 The Indians tied it in the second on back-to-back doubles by Donald and Chris Gimenez with two outs. Both were hit to left.

 The Mariners pulled ahead 2-1 in the fourth. They might have produced more if not for an ill-advised decision by third-base coach Lee Tinsley.

 Russell Branyan, acquired from the Indians on June 26, led off with a double to left. With one out, Branyan moved to third on former Indian Franklin Gutierrez's grounder to second baseman Donald, who was shaded up the middle.

 Casey Kotchman chopped to the mound. Carmona reached up to get a glove on the ball but failed to secure it. Cabrera, cutting across, did not make the play, either. It was correctly ruled an RBI single.

 Adam Moore singled to center, Kotchman stopping at second. Michael Saunders singled sharply to right, Shin-Soo Choo fielding cleanly.

 Inexplicably, Tinsley, stationed two-thirds of the way down the line, pinwheeled the speed-challenged Kotchman. Even a fast runner would have been in trouble based on when Choo secured the ball.

 Choo fired to catcher Chris Gimenez, who patiently waited until Kotchman lumbered home.

 It did not seem possible, but Tinsley out-did himself in the sixth.

 After the Indians tied the score in the fifth on Choo's two-out, RBI single, the Mariners resumed staggering Carmona.

 Jose Lopez opened the sixth with a single to right. Gutierrez doubled into the left-field corner.

 Never mind that there was none out: Tinsley waved in Lopez. Cabrera relayed Trevor Crowe's throw and cut down Lopez with room to spare.

 Later in the inning, Seattle took the 3-2 lead on Donald's two-out error.

 Pregame notes:

The relievers Perez -- setup man Rafael and closer Chris -- have been locked in since June 1.

 Rafael Perez entered Friday having allowed four earned runs in 29 1/3 innings of 32 appearances, lowering his ERA from 7.20 to 3.25.

 The lanky lefty finally has regained the feel for his nasty slider. Just as importantly, he has been able to command the fastball early in counts, thereby giving him more options late.

 "He has gradually improved since the beginning of the season,'' Indians manager Manny Acta said. "It has a lot to do with strike one. There's no magic to it: Every major-league hitter becomes a little weaker when he's behind in the count. Get ahead, and you can get hitters to chase pitches outside of the zone.''

 Righty Chris Perez had allowed five earned runs in 28 innings of 28 appearances, lowering his ERA from 3.44 to 2.33.

 "A little luck, a little skill and a lot of fastballs,'' he said. "I've been able to run the fastball away from lefties and in on righties. The pitches haven't been straight. And I've made better pitches after I've fallen behind in the count; they're on the corners instead of over the plate.''

 Big-league Choo: Tribe right fielder Shin-Soo Choo does not want to answer questions about his .335 average.

 Why? Because it is only half of the story.

 If Choo explains how he was hitting .335 at home in 188 official at-bats entering Friday night, he needs to explain the .241 average in 191 at-bats on the road.

 Where Choo stands, no explanation is necessary.

 "I'm the same player,'' he said. "Nothing's different when I go to the plate at home or on the road. It's just one of those things.''

 Choo is a student of the game and stats junkie, so he is well aware of the disparity.

 "I hear about it and see it on the websites -- they write about it in the newspaper in Korea -- but I'm not worried about it,'' he said. "I can't worry about it. If I do, it's going to affect how I play.''

 Choo was hitting .288 overall after going 1-for-13 in a three-game series against Baltimore at Progressive Field.

 "How did that happen?'' Choo said with a smile. "How did I only go 1-for-13 at home? The answer is, that's baseball.''

 Choo escaped serious injury Thursday night. He feared he had broken a bone when a pitch from Orioles righty Kevin Millwood struck him on the back of the right hand. Choo stayed in the game, iced the hand afterward and returned to the lineup Friday against Seattle.

"Just a bruise,'' he said. "Everything's OK.''

 Acta said: "That would have been a big-time blow. It would have left us pretty much naked. I know he was scared because of what he had been through.''

 From July 4-22, Choo was on the disabled list because of a right-thumb sprain. Choo and the Indians initially feared he might be sidelined 6-8 weeks.

 Even with the missed time, Choo entered Friday leading the Tribe in multiple categories, including homers (14), doubles (23), RBI (55) and steals (14). He is the only active Indian with double-digit homers.

 Choo also is a quality defender. Acta made it a point Friday afternoon to rave about Choo's work in the field.

 "He's been money in the outfield,'' Acta said. "I'm very, very happy with his routes, his jumps. It seems like every time he dives for a ball, he comes up with it, which is not easy to do. It takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and concentration. And word has gotten around the league that his arm can affect a ball game.''

 Pronk update: Designated hitter Travis Hafner, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 3 because of right-shoulder inflammation, took batting practice Friday.

 "He looked fine,'' Acta said. "He swung the bat well.''

 Hafner will have another BP session Saturday, after which he and the bosses will decide when he rejoins the club. Hafner will have a short rehab assignment or accompany the team on a trip that begins Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo.

 Hafner's DL stint is retroactive to July 29.

 Laffey matter: Aaron Laffey threw a bullpen session Friday afternoon. He has been on the disabled list since July 23 because of shoulder fatigue.

 Russ Bus returns: Russell Branyan, acquired by Seattle from Cleveland on June 26, started at designated hitter Friday and batted third. He was hitting .211 with four homers and 11 RBI in 26 games for the Mariners.

 The Indians received minor leaguers Ezequiel Carrera and Juan Diaz for Branyan, who hit 10 homers in 52 games for Cleveland.

 "I was definitely surprised the trade happened, especially the timing of it,'' Branyan said. "But that's part of the game, and I've been traded several times.''

 Branyan's best season came last year with the Mariners. He hit 31 homers in 116 games before back trouble shut him down. He has been playing with a herniated disk this season.

 "It was a little crazy knowing I'd be going back to the team I was with last year,'' he said. "And I had a chance to sign with them in the offseason. I was sad to leave Cleveland, but I'm excited to be back here.''

 Branyan made his major-league debut with the Indians in 1998. He was in the Cleveland system until the 2002 season, when the Reds acquired him.

 King Felix: Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez, who starts Sunday, is a Cy Young Award candidate despite a losing record (8-9). In 25 starts, he has allowed 157 hits, walked 48 and struck out 165 in 182 1/3 innings. He has given up three or fewer earned runs 22 times.

Lineups:

Mariners (44-71) -- 1. Ichiro Suzuki rf; 2. Chone Figgins 2b; 3. Russell Branyan dh; 4. Jose Lopez 3b; 5. Franklin Gutierrez cf; 6. Casey Kotchman 1b; 7. Adam Moore c; 8. Michael Saunders lf; 9. Josh Wilson ss; and Pauley.

Indians (48-67) -- 1. Michael Brantley cf; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Jordan Brown dh; 5. Trevor Crowe lf; 6. Andy Marte 1b; 7. Luis Valbuena 3b; 8. Jason Donald 2b; 9. Chris Gimenez c; and Carmona.

Umpires:

P -- Eric Cooper; 1b -- Mike Reilly; 2b -- Chad Fairchild; 3b -- Todd Tichenor.

The relievers Perez -- setup man Rafael and closer Chris -- have been locked in since June 1. Rafael Perez entered Friday having allowed four earned runs in 29 1/3 innings of 32 appearances, lowering his ERA from 7.20 to 3.25. The lanky lefty finally has regained the feel for his nasty slider. Just as importantly, he has been...

The relievers Perez -- setup man Rafael and closer Chris -- have been locked in since June 1.

Rafael Perez entered Friday having allowed four earned runs in 29 1/3 innings of 32 appearances, lowering his ERA from 7.20 to 3.25.

The lanky lefty finally has regained the feel for his nasty slider. Just as importantly, he has been able to command the fastball early in counts, thereby giving him more options late.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerThings of been looking up of late for Tribe reliever Rafael Perez.

"He has gradually improved since the beginning of the season," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "It has a lot to do with strike one. There's no magic to it: Every major-league hitter becomes a little weaker when he's behind in the count. Get ahead, and you can get hitters to chase pitches outside of the zone."

Righty Chris Perez had allowed five earned runs in 28 innings of 28 appearances, lowering his ERA from 3.44 to 2.33.

"A little luck, a little skill and a lot of fastballs," he said. "I've been able to run the fastball away from lefties and in on righties. The pitches haven't been straight. And I've made better pitches after I've fallen behind in the count; they're on the corners instead of over the plate."

Big-league Choo: Tribe right fielder Shin-Soo Choo does not want to answer questions about his .335 average.

Why? Because it is only half the story.

If Choo explains how he was hitting .335 at home in 188 official at-bats entering Friday night, he needs to explain the .241 average in 191 at-bats on the road.

Where Choo stands, no explanation is necessary.

"I'm the same player," he said. "Nothing's different when I go to the plate at home or on the road. It's just one of those things."

Choo is a student of the game and stats junkie, so he is well aware of the disparity.

"I hear about it and see it on the websites -- they write about it in the newspaper in Korea -- but I'm not worried about it," he said. "I can't worry about it. If I do, it's going to affect how I play."

Choo was hitting .288 overall after going 1-for-13 in a three-game series against Baltimore at Progressive Field.

"How did that happen?" Choo said with a smile. "How did I only go 1-for-13 at home? The answer is, that's baseball."

Choo escaped serious injury Thursday night. He feared he had broken a bone when a pitch from Orioles righty Kevin Millwood struck him on the back of the right hand. Choo stayed in the game, iced the hand afterward and returned to the lineup Friday against Seattle.

"Just a bruise," he said. "Everything's OK."

Acta said: "That would have been a big-time blow. It would have left us pretty much naked. I know he was scared because of what he had been through."

From July 4-22, Choo was on the disabled list because of a right-thumb sprain. Choo and the Indians initially feared he might be sidelined 6-8 weeks.

Even with the missed time, Choo entered Friday leading the Tribe in multiple categories, including homers (14), doubles (23), RBI (55) and steals (14). He is the only Indian with double-digit homers.

Choo also is a quality defender. Acta made it a point Friday afternoon to rave about Choo's work in the field.

"He's been money in the outfield," Acta said. "I'm very, very happy with his routes, his jumps. It seems like every time he dives for a ball, he comes up with it, which is not easy to do. It takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and concentration. And word has gotten around the league that his arm can affect a ball game."

Pronk update: Designated hitter Travis Hafner, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 3 because of right-shoulder inflammation, took batting practice Friday.

"He looked fine," Acta said. "He swung the bat well."

Hafner will have another BP session today, after which he and the bosses will decide when he rejoins the club. Hafner will have a short rehab assignment or accompany the team on a trip that begins Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo.

Hafner's DL stint is retroactive to July 29.

Laffey matter: Aaron Laffey threw a bullpen session Friday afternoon. He has been on the disabled list since July 23 because of shoulder fatigue. Odds favor a return as a reliever.

King Felix: Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez, who starts Sunday, is a Cy Young Award candidate despite a losing record (8-9). In 25 starts, he has allowed 157 hits, walked 48 and struck out 165 in 182 1/3 innings. He has given up three or fewer earned runs 22 times.

Mariners defeat Indians, 3-2.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Not even Mariners third-base coach Lee "Send 'Em In'' Tinsley could save the Indians on Friday night.

 Seattle overcame two bad decisions by Tinsley to defeat the Tribe, 3-2, at Progressive Field.

 Right-hander David Pauley earned his first major-league victory in his 19th appearance, 11 of which have been starts. He gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings.

 Pauley was an eighth-round pick by San Diego in 2001. He had been 0-7 in the majors. 

 The Mariners (45-71) are 3-1 under interim manager Daren Brown.

 The Indians (48-68) have lost five of six. They are 0-2 against managers in their first road games with a new club post-All-Star break. Baltimore's Buck Showalter beat the Tribe on Tuesday.

 The Indians lost despite their pitchers having whiffed Ichiro Suzuki in his final three at-bats.

 Suzuki's speed carried the Mariners to a 1-0 lead in the first.

 Suzuki led off with a softly struck grounder over the mound. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera charged, picked and threw on-target -- but Suzuki beat it.

 With Chone Figgins batting, Suzuki stole second. He moved to third on Figgins' grounder to first and scored on Russell Branyan's grounder to second. Jason Donald, as part of a shift, erased Branyan from shallow right field.

 The Indians tied it in the second on back-to-back doubles by Donald and Chris Gimenez with two outs. Both were hit to left.

 The Mariners pulled ahead 2-1 in the fourth. They might have produced more if not for an ill-advised judgment call by Tinsley.

 Branyan, acquired from the Indians on June 26, led off with a double to left. With one out, Branyan moved to third on former Indian Franklin Gutierrez's grounder to second baseman Donald, who was shaded up the middle.

 Casey Kotchman chopped to the mound. Carmona reached up to get a glove on the ball but failed to secure it. Cabrera, cutting across, did not make the play, either. It was correctly ruled an RBI single.

 Adam Moore singled to center, Kotchman stopping at second. Michael Saunders singled sharply to right, Shin-Soo Choo fielding cleanly.

 Inexplicably, Tinsley, stationed two-thirds of the way down the line, pinwheeled the speed-challenged Kotchman. Even a fast runner would have been in trouble based on when Choo secured the ball.

 Choo fired to catcher Chris Gimenez, who patiently waited until Kotchman lumbered home.

 It did not seem possible, but Tinsley out-did himself in the sixth.

 After the Indians tied the score in the fifth on Choo's two-out, RBI single, the Mariners resumed staggering Carmona.

 Jose Lopez opened the sixth with a single to right. Gutierrez doubled into the left-field corner.

 Never mind that there was none out: Tinsley waved in Lopez. Cabrera relayed Trevor Crowe's throw and cut down Lopez with room to spare. Gutierrez scooted to third on the throw.

 Donald held Gutierrez while fielding Kotchman's grounder. Moments later, though,  Donald mishandled a grounder by Moore, enabling Seattle to take the 3-2 lead.

Jake Delhomme is eager to see his first game action with the Browns in Saturday's preseason opener in Green Bay.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerFormer Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme is eager to begin putting 2009 behind him when he takes the Browns' opening snap in the exhibition opener against the Packers.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme will get his first chance to shake off the Carolina blues tonight in Green Bay and see his first live action in a Browns uniform.

"I'm sure it will be a little bit different, but I've had all spring to put on the orange helmet," he said. "I'm looking forward to it. I think we all are. There's a lot of new guys here. The Packers are an extremely talented football team -- a lot of people's pick to go very far this year. It'll be a good test to see where we're at and where we need to improve."

Delhomme, who is scheduled to play a quarter tonight, said he's trying to put 2009 behind him. It was a year in which he threw 18 interceptions and eight touchdowns for the worst season of his career.

"I tried not to make a mistake last year," he said. "There were a lot of other factors, but I think you get to sit back and learn from it. You've just got to go out and play. See it, throw it, play it and hope you make the right decision."

He said he's aware of the perception that he doesn't have as much talent around him here as he did in Carolina.

"I love it when I hear things like that because that's when you just kind of keep your mouth shut and go under the radar," he said. "I think there's a lot of talent here. I really and truly believe that. I think it's some deep talent. Our running backs, we have some guys who can do it and do it in different ways. Our tight ends and our receivers -- these guys are going to do just fine. That's good. I kind of like that perception."

He said concerns about the passing game and young receiving corps are unfounded. Delhomme has developed an especially strong chemistry with new tight end Ben Watson.

"They [receivers] are doing an outstanding job and it's different guys," he said. "They all have their strengths. They're extremely intelligent and they work their tails off. The tight ends are really doing well, the running backs coming out of the backfield. It's been very, very positive so far."

Quarterback Seneca Wallace is also excited for a season in which he figures to get more playing time than ever before.

"I just want to have a good first showing in my new Cleveland Browns uniform," Wallace said. "I want to show that I know the system, that I'm being smart, knowing my reads and checks, and running the offense the way it's supposed to be run."

Wallace already has a great thing going with tight end Evan Moore and former quarterback Josh Cribbs, who has come a long way at receiver.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerBrowns quarterbacks, from left with QB coach Carl Smith, Seneca Wallace, Jake Delhomme and rookie Colt McCoy are expected to play about a quarter each against Green Bay. Brett Ratliff will also play one quarter.

"Hopefully the chemistry we've developed in practice will translate over into the game," Wallace said.

The running game will be without rookie running back Montario Hardesty (knee), but Jerome Harrison, Peyton Hillis, James Davis and Chris Jenning have all been impressive. Hillis has been catching the ball downfield and getting the tough, short yards behind Lawrence Vickers. Harrison has looked like the player who rushed for 561 yards in the final three games of last season.

"The offensive line and the running backs, we're on the right page," Harrison said. "We learned a lot from each other at the end of the season and when we got back here, we all wanted to pick up where we left off. We're all in the right mind-set and it's going pretty well. The running backs all have their own unique talents and gifts."

Defensively, the Browns will unveil their revamped unit, one that features new starters in linebackers Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong, rookie safety T.J. Ward and cornerback Sheldon Brown. Top pick Joe Haden, currently a second-teamer, will also see plenty of time in the nickel.

"It'll be great to see all these new guys playing with the guys we had and coming together as a team and trying to get better moving into the season," linebacker Jason Trusnik said. "The biggest thing is guys flying around and playing physical."

Mangini -- and everyone on the team -- is looking forward to seeing Ward finally get a chance to hit someone. He's had an outstanding camp, including a three-interception day on Thursday.

"Part of his charm is the way that he's able to hit and tackle, which is not something that we have been doing a lot of here in the early part of camp or in the spring," Mangini said. "It will be fun to watch him in some live action."

The young defensive backs will be tested by one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Aaron Rodgers and one of the most high-powered offenses in the NFL. Green Bay finished third in the NFL in scoring last season (28.8 points per game).

"I was talking to T.J. [Ward] yesterday and I was just reminding him that it's the same game that he's been playing since Pop Warner," Mangini said. "It's just a little bit faster and you're wearing a different color uniform. You don't want them to get so worked up over the game that they lose track of the fact that they have done this thousands of times before. The quicker they get the butterflies out, the better we'll do."

Browns sign offensive lineman: The Browns signed free agent offensive lineman John Malecki and waived tight end Joel Gamble.

The Tennessee Titans signed Malecki (6-2, 304) as an undrafted free agent April 26 and waived him Tuesday. The Pittsburgh native was first-team All-Big East as a senior at Pitt.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Perry Johnson said he was going to trust in the Lord for the right words to accept his late brother Gus Johnson's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. So it was no surprise his speech sounded a bit like a prayer Friday night at Symphony Hall. "Good evening," Perry Johnson told the crowd....

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Perry Johnson said he was going to trust in the Lord for the right words to accept his late brother Gus Johnson's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. So it was no surprise his speech sounded a bit like a prayer Friday night at Symphony Hall.

"Good evening," Perry Johnson told the crowd. "First I'd like to give honor to God.

"I'm so excited to be here and honored to speak for my brother. I'd love for him to be here, but he knew he was coming. I'd like to just thank all his coaches, from the church leagues to parks all the way through to the NBA. My brother was a very special man. He never picked up a weight. He looked like a Greek god. He just commanded a presence. He was just awesome. I want to thank you guys, the NBA, the Naismith Hall of Fame and everybody here. Thank you so much."

Gus Johnson, a five-time NBA All-Star from Akron Central-Hower High School, passed away April 29, 1987, at age 48 with an inoperable brain tumor.

View full sizeAssociated PressAkron native Gus Johnson was inducted into the the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.

Joining him in the 2010 induction class were former Chicago Bulls forward-guard Scottie Pippen; former Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, who choked up while mentioning that it was the seventh anniversary of his mother's death; former Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics guard Dennis Johnson; former Brazilian star Maciel "Ubiratan" Pereira; former WNBA guard Cynthia Cooper of the Houston Comets; Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss; St. Anthony's (N.J.) High School boys basketball coach Bob Hurley Sr.; and the 1960 and 1992 U.S. Olympic men's basketball teams.

Ohio State star Jerry Lucas and former University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Royals star Oscar Robertson were part of the 1960 team. Former Cavs player and coach Lenny Wilkens was an assistant on the 1992 team.

Dennis Johnson and Pereira also were inducted posthumously.

Perry Johnson has enjoyed mingling with the stars this week. On his way to the stage Friday night, he shook hands with Pippen and Michael Jordan and was welcomed on stage with hugs from Hall of Famers Wes Unseld and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, who played with Gus Johnson with the Baltimore Bullets.

Mostly, he enjoyed telling and hearing stories about his brother. Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan told him his brother protected him when he was a Bullets rookie and got into a fight with the Lakers' LeRoy Ellis. Miami Heat President Pat Riley told him his brother once broke his nose.

"Young people today don't know these guys could play ball," Perry Johnson said of his brother and the players of his era. "He was the first high flier. He was there before air was there. He could fly. He'd come down and throw that ball down with anybody.

"He was still playing at 48. He played every day. He loved the game like no other."

But that's only part of Gus Johnson's legacy.

"He made me who I am today," said Perry Johnson, who is almost eight years younger than his brother. "He taught me how to deal with people. He dealt with the president to Joe the Wino. He talked to everybody. He loved people, and people loved him. They reciprocated."

Then Perry Johnson closed his speech with another prayer.

"Thank you so very much," he said, "and God bless."

Asked on Thursday night what he thought his brother would say about the proceedings, Perry Johnson grinned and said, "He has the best seat in the house."

Branyan says he's happy to be back with the Mariners, the team he played for during the 2009 season.

View full sizeKevin P. Casey / Associated PressSeattle's Russell Branyan, who started this season with Cleveland, is no stranger to being traded, but he was surprised by the timing when the Indians sent him to Seattle.

Clubhouse confidential: The Russ Bus is back -- for three days.

Russell Branyan, acquired by the Seattle Mariners from Cleveland on June 26, started at designated hitter Friday and batted third. He was hitting .211 with four homers and 11 RBI in 26 games for the Mariners.

The Indians received minor-leaguers OF Ezequiel Carrera and SS Juan Diaz for Branyan, who cracked 10 homers in 52 games for Cleveland.

"I was definitely surprised the trade happened, especially the timing of it," Branyan said. "But that's part of the game, and I've been traded several times."

Branyan's best season came last year with the Mariners. He hit 31 homers in 116 games before back trouble shut him down. He has been playing with a herniated disk this season.

"It was a little crazy knowing I'd be going back to the team I was with last year," he said. "And I had a chance to sign with them in the off-season. I was sad to leave Cleveland, but I'm excited to be back here."

Branyan made his major-league debut with the Indians in 1998. He was in the Cleveland system until the 2002 season, when the Reds traded for him.

Stat of the day: According to the Indians' media relations department, right-hander Jeanmar Gomez on Thursday became the fourth Tribe pitcher since 1920 to win at least three of his first four major-league games while starting. He joined Scott Lewis (2008), Wynn Hawkins (1960) and Mudcat Grant (1958).

Gomez improved to 3-0 with a victory over the Orioles.

Stat of the day II: Gomez's 1.54 ERA is lowest among any Indians pitcher through his first four major-league games -- all being starts -- since 1920.

Jason Kipnis and Jordan Henry combine to drive in four runs in the Akron Aeros' Class AA win over New Britain, Conn.

View full sizePDAkron second baseman Jason Kipnis.

Clippers 12, Bats 4 Second baseman Cord Phelps (.335) smacked a grand slam and drove in five runs, and right fielder Jose Constanza (.303) went 4-for-4 with a triple, a double and three RBI to lead host Columbus past Louisville, Ky., in International League play Friday. DH Jared Goedert (.286) doubled twice and drove in two for the Clippers. Pitcher David Huff (7-0, 3.75 ERA) allowed three runs in seven innings.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 11, Rock Cats 7 Second baseman Jason Kipnis (.333) had a homer, two RBI and two of host Akron's 17 hits in an Eastern League win over New Britain, Conn. Center fielder Jordan Henry (.285) singled twice, tripled and drove in two for the Aeros. DH Cristo Arnal tripled, singled and drove in three runs.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Hillcats 6, Indians 1 LHP T.J. McFarland (10-4, 2.74) allowed five runs -- but only one earned -- in six innings as Kinston, N.C., lost a Carolina League game in Lynchburg, Va.

A Lake County Captains

TinCaps 3, Captains 2 1B Chris Kersten hit a two-run homer, but Lake County lost a Midwest League game in Fort Wayne, Ind.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Scrappers 3, Spinners 2 LHP Kirk Wetmore (2-6, 7.19) allowed one run in four innings of relief to earn the victory for Mahoning Valley in a New York-Penn League game in Lowell, Mass.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Miners 6, Crushers 5 Arden McWilliams had four of Lake Erie's 12 hits, but the Crushers dropped the Frontier League game at Southern Illinois.

Hall is 30 pounds lighter, dropping from 325 pounds to 295 during summer workouts, and the Glenville grad is the wild card on the offensive line.

View full sizeAPMarcus Hall

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Marcus Hall did enough as a true freshman at Ohio State to earn playing time, including one start at right tackle last season, backing up J.B. Shugarts. That's not easy for a freshman lineman. Now, Hall is 30 pounds lighter, dropping from 325 pounds to 295 during summer workouts, and the Glenville grad is the wild card on the offensive line.

On one hand, Hall nearly put himself in a bind with some academic problems this summer, admitting he wasn't as focused as he needed to be, which threatened to put his eligibility at risk.

But he worked through that and made it to preseason camp, where he now has a new home.

Instead of working with the second- team offensive line at right tackle, where senior Josh Kerr was taking most of the second-team reps early in camp, Hall said he asked in the spring to be moved to left tackle.

With Shugarts potentially locking down the right side for the next two seasons, entering an open competition on the left side might be the quicker route to consistent playing time.

He's another option behind the Mike Adams-Andrew Miller battle, though he knows he might be a bit of a long shot at this point.

"If I said I couldn't do it, I feel like I'd be cheating myself," Hall said. "It's definitely a tough fight."

Hall said he wasn't looking to drop that much weight but he feels the difference on the field.

"I'm quicker and I don't get tired as easily as I did," Hall said. "I don't feel like I'm getting thrown around because I weigh less. I just feel quicker."

Many in mixed martial arts circles are calling the fight between Silva and Sonnen one of the best in recent memory.

View full sizeJeff Chiu / Associated PressAnderson Silva, right, took a beating for most of the match last Saturday but managed to get Chael Sonnen to submit in the fifth round to retain the UFC middleweight title in Oakland, Calif.

Anderson Silva is still the UFC middleweight champion. But just barely.

With less than three minutes remaining in the five-round fight, the longest-reigning title holder in UFC history managed to secure Chael Sonnen in a triangle choke and force him to submit.

The win runs Silva's record to 26-4. Sonnen drops to 26-10.

Many in mixed martial arts circles called it one of the best fights in recent memory. Certainly few expected the journeyman Sonnen to dominate the champ as he did for just about the entire fight. Even Silva admitted later that he knew he had to do something, that he had lost the first four rounds.

"Chael deserved to be here tonight," UFC President Dana White said at the post-fight news conference. "He talked a lot of smack and came in here and backed it up.

"The fight that happened tonight is the stuff that makes legends. This guy [Silva] got roughed up and beat up for al most five full rounds, but he found a way to win," White said.

Even battered and beaten, and after grudgingly admitting that Silva came through as champions do -- Sonnen's mouth was still running. "I'm like a bomb, and when I go off, everybody gets dirty," he said.

"These guys need to get thicker skins," an unrepentant Sonnen told reporters. "Everybody in the UFC should offer an apology . . . except me. You stick a microphone in a guy's face and he calls out anybody except the champion, and Joe Silva [UFC's matchmaker] should fax him a pink slip right then.

"There's a lot of camaraderie that comes from this sport, but fighting Anderson Silva is like eating Chinese food. Twenty minutes after I do it, I'm gonna want to do it again."

He may get that chance, but likely it will be down the road. Consider Vitor Belfort, a Brazilian with a 19-8 record who, like Sonnen, has earned most of his victories with submissions. Sonnen's loss elevates the 33-year-old Belfort to the top contender's spot.

Maybe.

"It's definitely a rematch that I think people are going to want to see," White conceded in his remarks. "I keep looking at Twitter and I keep seeing 'Rematch!' 'Rematch!' So we'll see. Vitor is waiting to fight right now, too, so we'll see what happens."

Silva, who was uncharacteristically loquacious during his turn at the news conference, said that he suffered a rib injury training for the fight with Olympic judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii. Ishii was working with the champion and fellow UFC star Lyoto Machida at the Black House gym outside Los Angeles.

Doctors and officials of his camp advised against fighting, Silva said, but he made the decision because "I believe the show must go on."

View full sizeAPThe battle between former UFC heavyweight titleholder Randy Couture, left, and former three-division world boxing champion James Toney will draw a lot of interest on Aug. 28.

Up next: UFC 118 on Saturday, Aug. 28, will be a rematch between lightweight title holder Frankie Edgar (12-1) and B.J. Penn (15-6-1), who lost the title to Edgar in April. Penn is one of only two UFC fighters to hold titles in two divisions (lightweight and welterweight). The other is Randy Couture, the former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champ who will pit his mixed martial arts skills against veteran boxer James Toney that same night.

The Couture-Toney fight is supposed to settle once and for all whether boxing or MMA is the ultimate challenge, but this one probably won't do it. Both Couture, 47, and Toney, who will be 42 four days before the fight, are past their prime in their respective sports. Add to that the fact that this fight will be under MMA rules. Couture may have gotten a bit soft, filming his role in Sylvester Stallone's new action movie "The Expendables," and Toney may have put a lot of training time in the gym learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu and other arms of MMA. But the odds are Couture will win, and win handily.

The fight is in Boston's TD Gardens, and also will be broadcast to select movie theaters, including several in Cuyahoga County. Fans can contact their local cable and satellite providers for pay-per-view information.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: cyarborough@plaind.com, 216-999-4534

The 1960 U.S. men's Olympic team and 1992 U.S. men's Olympic team engaged in some championship trash talking this week.

View full sizeElise Amendola / Associated PressBasketball Hall of Fame inductee Karl Malone shows off his new jacket with sleeves much too short on Friday.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Friday's Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame induction of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team, viewed as the greatest amateur basketball team ever assembled, and the 1992 U.S. Olympic team, better known as the Dream Team, made up of NBA players and viewed as the greatest team ever assembled, produced some world-class trash talking.

During a panel discussion after dinner at the Hall on Thursday night, Charles Barkley and Larry Bird of the 1992 squad engaged in some good-natured banter with Ohio State star Jerry Lucas and Walt Bellamy of the 1960 team about which team would have come out on top in a game between the two.

In explaining some of the differences, Lucas pointed out that the track team was the star of the 1960 U.S. Olympic squad and got to ride in the air-conditioned part of the trains in Europe, while the basketball team rode at the end of the trains' non-air-conditioned cars. Jerry West recalled the $1 per diem they got -- and noted there was no air conditioning in their dorm rooms in Rome, either.

Meanwhile, the Dream Team was afforded every luxury in Barcelona.

After all the back-and-forth, Barkley got a big laugh when he suggested the dining tables be cleared from the floor and the two teams settle it on the court.

Going for three: Former Cavs player and coach Lenny Wilkens' induction as an assistant coach on the Dream Team makes him the only person inducted into the Hall of Fame three times. He also was inducted as a coach and player.

Tight fit: When the navy Hall of Fame jackets were handed out Friday morning, Karl Malone's didn't come close to fitting. It was tight through his massive chest, and the sleeves were several inches too short. Although he gamely put it on when it was first presented, he took it off and held it up in front of him as pictures were taken at the end of the ceremony.

Malone suggested the weekend be dedicated to the deceased Gus Johnson and Dennis Johnson, as well as to U.S. troops.

Ladies' day: Cynthia Cooper was the first WNBA player inducted, joining Jackie MacMullan, the former Boston Globe reporter, now and author and ESPN personality, who was the first female recipient of the Curt Gowdy Media Award, which she shared with Cavs broadcaster Joe Tait during ceremonies Thursday night. Shoe time: Springfield's answer to the big, multi-colored guitars that grace street corners in Cleveland are big, multi-colored tennis shoes.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668

Entering the second half of his life after losing love and money, former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar is slowly making a comeback.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerFormer Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar is turning his life around with the help of good friend Tami Longaberger, who is the CEO of The Longaberger Co. of Newark, Ohio.

About a year ago, Bernie Kosar quietly made a call to Baltimore.

"I needed to see Art," the former Cleveland Browns quarterback said. He meant Art Modell, the former owner of the Browns who moved the franchise to Baltimore after the 1995 season.

"We hadn't talked since I was cut [by the Browns in 1993]," Kosar said. "I heard that Art was in a wheelchair and not doing well. I know that Art thinks he can't come back [to Cleveland], so I went to Art."

All Kosar ever did was make Modell a lot of money from 1985 to '93, when Kosar quarterbacked the Browns. To this day, Browns fans are stunned then-coach Bill Belichick cut Kosar in the middle of the 1993 season. Belichick believed Vinny Testaverde was ready to be the Browns starter. But Testaverde was out with a shoulder separation when Belichick made the poorly timed, incredibly unpopular decision.

And Modell allowed it to happen.

So why visit Modell?

"Because it was something I should do," Kosar said. "Why not make up with him? Life is too short. We had a great visit."

Kosar is now 46. He sees the world not through the eyes of the confident quarterback, but from the perspective of a man who knows life can be hard. It's not always fair.

We also can make some dumb decisions.

"When I was playing, I never thought it would end," he said. "I knew it would happen, but I never thought it would, you know what I mean? I didn't think I'd get hurt. I didn't think I'd get divorced. I didn't think I'd go bankrupt. I thought the money would always be there. No athlete when he's young or in his prime ever thinks it will end."

But end it did.

The divorce was very public, very ugly.

The money disappeared because of some family issues and some poor investments. Kosar also forgot he was an honor student with a finance degree from the University of Miami. He allowed some people to handle his money, and he simply didn't pay attention to where it went.

"I know how to make money, and I know how to spend money," he said. "The saving part never worked for me. My dad was a steelworker. My brother's company closed. Things happen, people needed help."

He paused.

"I was into a lot of Florida real estate," he added. "Anyone who had a lot of Florida real estate and says they didn't get killed [financially] in the last few years is lying."

A new start

Kosar is starting over.

He's dating Tami Longaberger, the CEO of The Longaberger Co. of Newark, Ohio. It's nationally known for its handmade, quality baskets and enthusiastic, Avon-like sales force. Longaberger is publishing a business book called "Weaving Dreams" this month, and she has been on the board of trustees at Ohio State.

"The rumor is we're engaged," said Kosar. "I act like we're married. Just say that we're good friends. Her impact on me is phenomenal. She is an amazing person."

View full sizePDBernie Kosar takes time out during a conversation with Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, right, to sign an autograph after a Browns practice in Berea on Aug. 1.

Longaberger is helping Kosar get organized. He is now represented by Neil Cornrich, one of the National Football League's most respected agents. Kosar is working through his bankruptcy issues and working with Longaberger on selling products with NFL licensing.

Kosar recently was in Columbus for The Bee, a sales convention for the Longaberger Co. attended by more than 6,000. He was not the star. It was Tami who delivered the keynote address. He gave a short speech about the company's product line aimed at pro and college football fans.

Yes, he was there to shake hands and sign autographs, but he was more like a blocking back and a safety-valve receiver with Tami quarterbacking the business. He also seemed very content in the role, as this was his second Longaberger convention.

"Bernie is a person who is honest and has the courage to express his opinions," Longaberger said. "He's not self-absorbed. He is generous and kind. He has a hard time being mad at those who haven't been nice to him. It's not in his heart to hold grudges."

Friends with Belichick

Which brings us to Belichick.

"Bill and I made up not long after he got the New England [Patriots coaching] job," Kosar said. "I was interviewed about it, and I told the writers that I thought Bill would make a good coach. I really meant it. He's a smart guy. Bill then called me to thank me, and we've been friends ever since. I have never been one to carry grudges for long."

For real?

"I got whacked by Bill, but stuff does happen," Kosar said. "You can't change history. You can't be negative or bitter about it. I didn't want to carry that around when it came to Bill. When reporters asked me about how Bill would do in New England, they figured I'd slam him. But I said what I really believed. Bill is fantastic when it comes to organization and discipline. His strength is defense. He really knows his X's and O's. He could learn offense, and he'd learn from what happened in Cleveland."

But there's more.

"People won't believe this, but when we were talking about coaches for the Browns in 1999, I mentioned hiring Bill to [owner Al] Lerner and [team President] Carmen Policy," Kosar said. "They about laughed me out of the office. They thought I was crazy. I thought Bill would be perfect for a team on a tight timeline because of his incredible organizational skills. We needed a special coach for an expansion team."

View full sizePD fileKosar says he and Bill Belichick, right, have been friends for many years, even though Belichick infamously released the popular Browns quarterback in 1993.

Kosar had to know the public backlash to bringing Belichick back to Cleveland -- remember, he had yet to revive his career at New England -- meant it was impractical.

But the fact that he would mention it says two things about Kosar: 1) He is a very creative thinker and risk taker when it comes to football. 2) He really hates grudges.

Asked to discuss Kosar, Belichick responded with this e-mail: "I have always had a lot of respect for Bernie -- his football intelligence and passion for football. I appreciate the support he has shown me through the years. I have always admired his preparation and commitment to the Browns -- before, during and after Bill Belichick. I have enjoyed my communications with Bernie through the years."

It sounds very formal and sterile, but the facts are that Kosar has reached out to Modell and Belichick over the years, two guys who were part of the worst season of his life.

Pain management

Longaberger said one of the things she admires most about Kosar is "how he deals with pain, both emotional and physical. He says dealing with the pain, especially the emotional pain, has made him a better person. He doesn't stay angry."

The physical toll on his body is real.

In a low chair, he can't just stand up -- his surgically repaired ankle and aching knees aren't strong enough. He needs to pull himself up a bit with his hands on the arms of a chair. Nor can he hold his right arm straight out to the side of his body.

"I've had surgery on my ankle to get a screw taken out," Kosar said. "I had surgery on my right elbow to have spurs removed, and on my left elbow to have a ligament fixed. My back hurts sometimes. The ankle still isn't great. But I'm doing OK, I really am."

View full sizePD fileKosar took a physical beating during his playing career, and he still feels the effects today.

Kosar also has dealt with the aftermath of concussions suffered while playing. There are some headaches, some brief memory loss, some occasional involuntary twitching.

"I don't know how many concussions I had . . . a lot," he said. "We just played through them. It was like a badge of courage. No one was counting when I played. I kept smelling salts in my pouch [around his waist] when I was out there, because I'd get hit and feel dizzy."

He paused.

"We played at Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Houston every year," Kosar said. "That awful [artificial] turf, the worst fields. It was like cement. The initial hit wasn't the worst, it was when your head banged down on that turf. I have friends that I played with who are worse. They have short-term memory loss, I don't.

"But in the morning, I sometimes feel slow. At night, I get tired. I struggle sometimes to say exactly what I want when I'm tired like that. But I have been treated, I am doing better."

Kosar said all that without a trace of pity. It was as if he were reading off his work schedule for the day -- no emotion, just a fact of life.

"I've gotten to know some of Bernie's friends from the Browns," Longaberger said. "Most of them have real physical problems from football that they'll deal with the rest of their lives. But they are like Bernie -- they say they'd go through it all once more if only they could play again."

Mr. Mom

Kosar has four children: Sara (age 18), Rachel (17), Becky (13) and Joe (10).

"I spend a lot of time as Mr. Mom," he said. "The kids live in Florida, but they spend a lot of time up here with me. I coach my son's flag football team. It's so cool. We have a kid named Michael Stolzenberg. He plays with artificial legs and arms. He's unbelievable, so tough. When I feel bad, I think about him. I get real thankful. Then guess what? He runs faster than me."

Kosar loves to play catch with his son, both pretending they are quarterbacks.

"I still have a juvenile streak in me," he said. "If one of us makes a bad throw or drops a pass -- usually, it's me -- then we later play a game called Gastineau. I stand by the bed, and my son blindsides me. Hits me hard. He's about 5-4, 125 pounds. He lifts weights with me. He's strong."

Most Browns fans will remember when New York Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau hammered Kosar in a game. Now, it's what Kosar calls it when his son tackles him.

Kosar doesn't dwell on the past, but he thinks about it.

"I still talk to [former Denver Broncos quarterback] John Elway," he said. "We never talk about The Drive or The Fumble [which led to losses by the Browns in the AFC Championship Games during the 1986 and 1987 seasons]. He knows it's still too painful for me. We talk about guys we played, games we saw -- even some individual plays in games. He owned the Denver franchise in the old Arena League, and we talk a lot about Arena League players. But we don't talk about those [playoff] games."

View full sizeAPKosar was a backup to Hall of Famer Troy Aikman during his half-season with the Cowboys in 1993, but he played most of the second half of the NFC Championship Game after Aikman was injured, and received a Super Bowl ring.

Kosar did receive a Super Bowl ring as a backup with Dallas in the 1993 season, "but my goal was to win a Super Bowl for Cleveland. It's why I wanted to play here in the first place. It's home."

So what was worse, The Drive or The Fumble?

"Can't say," he said. "They both sucked. But I felt the worst for Earnest [Byner, who fumbled]. He's such a good man. I think about him every day. I admire how he handled all that."

Dreaming of playing

There are nights when Kosar feels as if he's still the Browns' quarterback.

If you say, "In his dreams," you're right.

"I have dreams where I'm still playing," he said. "Not dreams about whole games, just plays. I may be watching film of certain blitzes or defenses, then I go to sleep -- and suddenly I'm in a game, facing that defense. I've had dreams about two-minute drills. I still watch a lot of game films. Arena League, the Browns, whatever. I remain fascinated by it, I love to study it."

Longaberger said: "Bernie is brilliant when it comes to the game of football. He tells me what is going to happen with a play as soon as the teams are on the line of scrimmage . . . his vision for the game is absolutely amazing. Sometimes, he will talk about his playing days . . . a specific play that he would want to do over, how [former University of Miami] coach [Howard] Schnellenberger, [former Miami offensive coordinator Gary] Stevens and [former Miami quarterbacks coach Marc] Trestman influenced his offensive philosophy and his life.

"He misses the locker room environment that no one really understands but the players. He still appreciates the loyalty and love he receives from the guys he played with."

Kosar's last game with the Browns was 11 games into the 1993 season. His last season as a pro was with Miami as a backup in 1996.

"I still miss playing," he said. "That's the best job that I'll ever have. That's why I loved sitting down late at night in Berea with [Browns offensive coordinator] Brian Daboll and [coach] Eric Mangini, looking at film. Talking football. They are great guys. They proved it in the last four games of the year."

Kosar remains a consultant for the Browns. When former General Manager George Kokinis left the team in the middle of last season, owner Randy Lerner asked Kosar to be around the team -- to be available to Mangini.

At first, the coaches were suspicious of Kosar. Was he there to spy for the owner? Did he plan to second-guess them to the players?

But Kosar took a very low-key approach, arriving at the practice facility long after the players were gone. He simply said he was available to the coaches, and it wasn't long before Mangini began to incorporate the former quarterback into some film sessions with the coaches.

"Bernie was great," Mangini said. "We clicked right away. It's all football with him. He had no agenda other than to help us get better. He developed a good relationship with Brian [Daboll]. He is totally honest, a guy you can trust."

Mangini attended some of the Gladiators' Arena League games, as Kosar is a consultant for that team.

"I wanted to show support for Bernie," he said. "We still talk on the phone, and we'll see how it works this season."

Kosar said he's open to whatever role the new front office would have for him.

"But this is [team President Mike Holmgren's] show," he said. "He has brought in his own people. I don't want to interfere."

Kosar paused.

"I'm 46, in the second half of my life," he said. "I feel better than I have -- physically and emotionally -- probably since I played. I work out about every day. I eat better. I do a lot of stretching. I have stopped making long-term plans because I have learned how it all can change. I want to make the most of every day. I really am content where I am right now."

To reach Terry Pluto: terrypluto2003@yahoo.com, 216-999-4674

Fog continues to cause problems for the season's final major ... the second round will be completed today before the beginning of the third round.

View full sizeCharlie Neibergall / Associated PressMatt Kuchar has a one-stroke lead after the second round of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, Wis.

Nancy Armour / Associated Press

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Matt Kuchar might finally have figured out what it's going to take to win.

"There's definitely an element of luck involved," he said. "You just can't control everything out there."

Welcome to this year's PGA Championship.

Thick fog delayed the start of play for a second straight day Friday, wreaking havoc on tee times and further muddling what was already a wide-open championship. Only one player in the top 10 has won a major, and one guy's best finish is a win on the Nationwide Tour.

The lone constant is Kuchar, who took the lead with a birdie on his first hole of the day and was still there some 10 hours later, when play was halted because of darkness. His 69 in the second round left him at 8 under with a one-stroke lead over Nick Watney.

But half the field -- including Tiger Woods -- was still on the course.

"I'm not sure when I'm going to tee off or when they are going to finish the second round even," Watney said. "So it's a bit strange when usually the cut is being made around this time."

Strange is a good word for this PGA -- the entire season, really. The turmoil in Woods' personal life has spilled over into his game, two players shot 59s and both the U.S. Open (Graeme McDowell) and British Open (Louis Oosthuizen) were won by first-timers.

While this kind of showing has been expected of Kuchar since he won the U.S. Amateur, that was 13 years ago.

"I think it's golf," said Kuchar, who was the low amateur at both the Masters and U.S. Open in 1998. "I went through some stretches of not having it, but have kind of dug my way out."

He's had eight top 10s this year, including ties for sixth at the U.S. Open and second at the Bob Hope Classic. And few are playing Whistling Straits with more ease or confidence.

View full sizeMCTNick Watney watches his tee shot go left on the 16th hole Friday. Watney is in second place, just one stroke behind Matt Kuchar.

He made only two bogeys in his first two rounds, along with eight birdies and an eagle. He nearly holed out again from the 13th fairway again Friday. He's hit 23 of 28 fairways, and needed only 52 putts.

"I'm very pleased with the way I've been playing," Kuchar said. "I'm putting well, staying out of trouble."

But his lead is far from safe, not with so many players chasing him and more bad weather on the horizon.

Bryce Molder, Kuchar's teammate at Georgia Tech, is three strokes behind his good friend after shooting 5-under 67. Also at 5 under are Jason Dufner (66), 19-year-old S.Y. Noh (71), big-hitting Dustin Johnson (68), Simon Khan (70), Rory McIlroy (68) and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson (70).

Phil Mickelson scrambled his way to a 69, putting him at 2 under -- and very much alive in his quest to move to No. 1 in the world for the first time.

These topsy-turvy rounds can be Mickelson's most entertaining, and Friday was no exception. He carries extra gloves in his bag for souvenirs when he hits a fan, and he had to dig one out on the 15th hole after bonking a guy off the tee.

Not only did Mickelson sign it, Lefty wrote "Sorry" on it, making a frowning face inside the "o."

"This is a penalizing golf course to not play from the fairway," Mickelson said. "And I certainly explored a lot of areas here."

Woods did, too.

After showing signs of the old, masterful Woods in the first round, the unpredictable play that's marked his woeful year was back on display. He scrambled for pars off a cart path, out of grass up to his knees and from a grassy knoll.

When the horn sounded, he'd played six holes and made six pars, keeping him at 1 under.

"Had to hang in there, and did a good job with that," he told a PGA official.

Bubba Watson, whose 68 gave him a share of the clubhouse lead Thursday, looked as if he was going to catch Kuchar in a hurry. He birdied his first two holes, and had a 5-foot putt to make it three in a row and pull within one shot of Kuchar.

But he ran it 4 feet by and wound up three-putting for bogey.

Watson stumbled again on the par-5 16th when his shot out of a bunker caught the lip. He's 3 under for the tournament with nine holes still to play this morning.

Asked how he'll keep his focus overnight, Watson didn't even try to come up with a clever answer.

"I have no idea," he said. "You tell me, and then I'll tell you."

Coach Tom Narducci says Gedeon can play about any position on the field for the Explorers.

Hudson sophomore Ben Gedeon is listed as a quarterback and linebacker, but coach Tom Narducci prefers to call him "The Answer."

"Need a quarterback, running back, defensive back, linebacker, cover rusher? We have Ben," Narducci said. "He's 6-3, about 210 pounds and he's a real specimen."

Gedeon doesn't care where he plays.

"I've always been a running back and linebacker but I just want to be on the field as much as possible to help the team," said Gedeon, the third of four children.

Former Explorers standout Alex Gedeon, now a starting linebacker at Harvard, has always referred to his younger brother as "Freak."

"He's been calling me that since I was little because I've always been one of the bigger kids," Ben Gedeon said. "I never took it serious because I know it's in fun and I look up to 'Big Al' so much."

The younger Gedeon is sharing snaps under center with 5-10, 154-pound junior David Nelson so don't be surprised if Hudson takes advantage of a two-quarterback system.

"It won't be a platooning thing, rather we'll utilize what each does best depending on the situation," Narducci said. "Both can run and pass and are very good on defense. In fact, David's one of our best safeties."

Mind boggling: Junior Anthony Howard and sophomore Ramond Bell were the furthest players from John F. Kennedy coach Scott Wodtly's mind a month ago, but he can't stop thinking about them now.

"Both players immediately caught my eye," Wodtly said.

Bell, a 5-10, 200-pound linebacker, is a first-time player.

"Ramond's natural ability is unbelievable," Wodtly said. "He's aggressive, very dependable and coachable."

Wodtly knew about Howard from basketball season.

"I'd talk to him off and on, then he started showing up for workouts," Wodtly said of the 6-1, 180-pound wide receiver/safety. "He's very athletic and is catching on very quickly."

Getting ready: Avon Lake is looking forward to the season both on and off the field. The Shoremen, under veteran coach Dave Dlugosz, are preparing for a run at the Southwestern Conference title and another trip to the Division II playoffs.

However, they have been inconvenienced at times as their refurbished Avon Lake Memorial Stadium undergoes the finishing work on its revamped look. The addition of new stands, bringing capacity to 5,000, two restrooms, two concession stands and an artificial turf field will be well worth the adjustments in preseason practice schedules, according to the coach.

"People won't know it's the same place," said Dlugosz, whose team opens its season at home Aug. 27 against rival Avon.

Coming back: Lutheran West went through one of those forgettable seasons a year ago when the Longhorns went 0-10. But third-year coach Dave Geye, whose club went 7-3 in 2008, wants to stress the positives instead of the winless record.

"The players did not pack it in," said Geye, who has 53 players in training camp. "We had enormous injuries, so players were moved all over the place. Now we'll try to solidify positions."

That should bode well this season, as nine players on offense and eight on defense saw significant time a year ago. Geye said it was an oddity that his club has 15 seniors and only five juniors.

Geye said 20 players were out with injuries a year ago, three quarterbacks among the lost. Senior offensive and defensive tackle Adam Schick was the only lineman who avoided the injury bug all season.

The Longhorns open at Fairview.

Reloading at Royalton: North Royalton coach Nick Ciulli was looking for someone to take a hold of the defense since standout linebacker Clay Krafft has graduated.

Enter 6-3, 190-pound senior safety James Holodnak.

"Linebackers are usually the leaders on defense but James is smart and always around the ball," Ciulli said. "We sort of expected James would step up and he has."

What Ciulli didn't expect was 5-10, 170-pound junior Jake Lark making a serious case for the starting quarterback job, but he's been impressive enough to create a three-person battle with 5-10, 170-pound Travis Tarnowski and 5-11, 170-pound junior Bobby Barnes.

"Bobby's more of a runner and can also play cornerback," Ciulli said. "Jake and Travis can throw and are concentrating primarily on offense."

Barnes and Lark split time last season on a junior varsity team that went 10-1. Tarnowski directed the freshman team to a 10-0 record, which included a 13-7 victory over St. Ignatius.

To reach these Plain Dealer reporters: bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4665,

jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

Plain Dealer high school sportswriter Tim Rogers takes a look at the upcoming girls tennis season.

View full sizeImpactActionPhotos.comWestlake's Lauren Golick.

Alex Bastock, Sr., Hudson: Had a fine regular season but finished fourth in the sectional which gave her a tough district draw. Has improved on all aspects of her game and is looking to reach Columbus.

Lydia Colvin, Sr., Orange: A two-time state qualifier in either doubles or singles, she has a great chance of advancing deep into the tournament. While the Division II singles competition is loaded statewise -- 14 of last year's 16 qualifiers are eligible to return this year -- Colvin can compete.

Allyson Doragi, Sr., Laurel: A two-time district qualifier and a state qualifier in 2008, she will probably play singles during the regular season before a decision is reached on her status for the postseason. Either way, she brings a wealth of experience.

Lauren Golick, So., Westlake: Nationally ranked, she has an opportunity to become a four-time state qualifier and a three-time Southwestern Conference champ. She was beaten in the first round in the state tournament last year but figures to advance much deeper this season.

Madison Hromada, Sr., Magnificat: A two-time district qualifier, she will be counted on to lead the team, both athletically and spiritually, from the No. 1 singles spot.

Taylor Johnson, Sr., Hawken: The daughter of a former world-ranked player, Johnson teamed with Surya Khadilkar to reach the Division II state tournament in doubles, where they lost to the eventual state champ. Athletic and powerful, she was a Plain Dealer All-Star and will probably alternate at first and second singles this season.

Surya Khadilkar, Jr., Hawken: After reaching the Division II state tournament with doubles partner Taylor Johnson and earning Plain Dealer All-Star honors, she grew four inches in the past year. Still, she only stands 5-4 but is regarded as a precision shot-maker.

Victoria Marchant, Sr., Kenston: Teamed with her younger sister, Mandy, to reach the Division I state doubles tournament. New coach Greg Aten said he was unsure if the Marchants will team up again or play singles.

Emily Mazzola, Jr., Chagrin Falls: She was a state qualifier last year in singles, a state runner-up with Anna Benson in doubles and a Plain Dealer All-Star in 2008. Expect nothing less this year.

Kelsey Wanhainen, Sr., Westlake: She is the reigning Southwestern Conference champ at second singles and teams with Lauren Golick to give the Lady Demons a nice 1-2 punch.

Notable teams

Chagrin Falls: The Lady Tigers have a lineup that can compete with anyone, led by state qualifiers Emily Mazzola, Anna Benson and Erica Leone. Senior Sarah Ross, sophomore Riley White and junior Madeline O'Neil are likely candidates to fill out the remaining spots.

Hawken: Junior Surya Khadilkar and senior Taylor Johnson advanced to the Division II state doubles and will probably alternate between first and second singles. Seniors Sydney Davis and Hannah Kerman and junior Jennifer Mazenec, a transfer from Hathaway Brown, will help.

Kenston: Led by the Marchant sisters, senior Victoria and sophomore Mandy, the Bombers are as deep as any team around. Junior Shea Marks, sister of state qualifier Nolan, is strong at third singles. Junior Keirsten Kure will team with Morgan Weemhoff at first doubles and freshman Miranda Kyle, senior Katie Marks (cousin of Shea and Nolan), Kathleen Swanson or Kendall Althans will make up the second doubles team.

Orange: New coach Julie Mitchell was greeted with a team full of experience, led by three-time state qualifier Lydia Colvin and fellow seniors Kathy Tokman and Carmen Gota, who may play singles or form a doubles team. Seniors Natalie Kaufman, Danni Popalsky, Jessica Grishkan, Allie Gregg and Grace Ubersax, twin sister of state qualifier Sam, will provide depth at doubles.

Westlake: More than 12 area coaches were unanimous in calling the Demons the best team around. Coach Ralph Dunbar is in his 15th season and has four nationally-ranked players on his squad, an oddity for a public school. The team, led by sophomore Lauren Golick and senior Kelsey Wanhainen, was 20-1 last year and has added Dunbar's freshman daughter, Julia, to an already solid lineup.