Sports columnist Bud Shaw says Saturday for the Browns against Green Bay was just what the quarterback doctor, Mike Holmgren, ordered.

Jim Prisching / Associated PressJake Delhomme's strong series against the Packers may not totally quiet the summertime tradition of QB alarmists around Browns camp, but the murmuring should be a bit softer after Delhomme and Seneca Wallace looked like legitimate NFL signal-callers, says Bud Shaw.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After the unveiling of the quarterback makeover, you'd have to say things could not have gone better.

The public chorus for Colt McCoy is silenced by hosannas for Jake Delhomme and praise for Seneca Wallace today. Yes, it's only one meaningless exhibition game. But since bringing McCoy along slowly is the plan, this was just what the quarterback doctor, Mike Holmgren, ordered.

Once August comes around, any Cleveland weekend that passes without a grassroots movement calling for a change at quarterback is a welcome development.

Delhomme was sharp, decisive and effective in his one drive against Green Bay. Wallace showed with his legs and his arm why Holmgren brought him here from Seattle. Brett Ratliff at least got the Browns in position for a game-winning Phil Dawson field goal, thus saving everyone involved the torture that is overtime preseason football.

Two interceptions and a sprained thumb for McCoy was a reminder that young quarterbacks here and elsewhere have too often been force-fed the NFL game to their great detriment.

We need to see more of Delhomme to be convinced this was the beginning of the exorcism to drive away the demons that chased him from Carolina. How last season ended made this start important, both for him and for the fans' faith in Holmgren.

Did Holmgren know what he was doing in dispatching Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn and replacing them with Delhomme and Wallace? That's a two-part question.

"Absolutely" is the first answer.

Just imagine that Saturday was the first game in another quarterback challenge starring Anderson and Quinn. It not only would've been depressing for the people digging deep for Browns tickets but it would've cast a pall over the locker room where the sentiment would be, "We're going to try to win with these two, again?"

Since Eric Mangini clearly wasn't excited by either quarterback, change, in this case, was good enough all by itself.

Starting over at QB was never the wrong move, despite the protestations of the pro-Quinn faction. The rest of the equation dealt with whether Delhomme has anything left and -- worse-case scenario -- whether Wallace could step in if necessary to allow the organization time to groom McCoy.

That can't be resolved in one exhibition game. Let's just say we see no reason to bet against Holmgren getting it right.

What's the definition of "getting it right?" It's not making the playoffs. It's getting the kind of quarterback play that allows the offense to grow.

I'm not talking the infantry offense on display in the last four games a year ago. You can't win in the NFL digging tunnels on offense. Delhomme's work against Green Bay was good enough to offer hope of an honest-to-goodness NFL caliber air attack behind a line that just might be strong enough to keep him breathing.

His work against Green Bay was also over too soon, lasting just 11 plays. Last year, neither quarterback was ready for the regular season. But Saturday's rotation was more method than Mangini madness.

Mangini wanted Wallace to get time with the first-team offense since he figures into the Wildcat the Browns will run in the regular season. The length of Delhomme's first drive made it possible for him to get work and finish on a high note.

Overall, no penalties, no turnovers. Two good quarterback performances.

It's one game. But everyone needed this kind of start, from the top man to the 12th man.

The Browns' first-team offense has plenty to build on after its encouraging performance in Green Bay.

Jim Prisching / Associated PressMohamed Massaquoi outbattles the Packers' Brandon Underwood for this first-quarter reception in the Browns' 27-24 exhibition victory in Green Bay on Saturday. Massaquoi had a couple of catches in Jake Delhomme's opening TD drive, then sat out the rest of the game with a hamstring injury.

• Monday's schedule: One practice, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. For updates, call 877-6BROWNS.

BEREA, Ohio -- Jake Delhomme wanted to make a good first impression on his new fans, but even he probably wouldn't have dared to dream it up so perfectly.

"Had I stunk it up [Saturday night] I'd be pretty upset, but we did some decent things offensively," said the Browns' starting quarterback. "It just feels different for me. This is new and fresh. I know I keep saying that, but it's a whole new atmosphere and it's fun."

Here's how much fun it was for Delhomme in Green Bay, where the Browns beat the Packers, 27-24, in their first preseason game: He opened with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown run by Jerome Harrison. Along the way, he completed six-of-seven attempts for 66 yards for a 106.0 rating, including a pair of 17-yard completions to get things rolling.

What's more, he did it against the NFL's second-ranked defense from 2009, one that's not shy about blitzing in preseason. It was such good work that he got the rest of the night off.

"We wanted to make something happen, get some points," said Delhomme. "It was great because different guys touched the ball running and catching, and the protection was outstanding. It's something to build on."

With no disrespect to former quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, running back Jerome Harrison said he has noticed a huge difference in an experienced quarterback, one who's been to the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, who commands instant respect in the huddle.

John Kuntz / PD"(The opening TD drive) was great because different guys touched the ball running and catching, and the protection was outstanding," said Jake Delhomme after Saturday's game. "It's something to build on."

"Jake looked amazing," said Harrison. "And the offensive line, tight ends, everybody gave him all the time he needed to throw. The receivers ran the right routes and got open -- what we've been working on. It looked good and felt good. It was great to see our hard work pay off."

Delhomme hit passes of 17 and seven yards to Evan Moore vs. the blitz and 17 and 12 yards to Mohamed Massaquoi, the 12-yarder coming on a clutch fourth and 1. His only incompletion came when Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins jumped Brian Robiskie's route at the 20, went over the top and knocked the ball down.

"Jake did a great job," said Moore. "He's a guy we all trust. Even though we haven't played with him much, the trust is there because of his track record and how long he's been playing. It was a great way to start the game."

Picking up where Delhomme left off, Seneca Wallace entered on the next possession following a Packers fumble. He threw two touchdown passes in the first half, a 13-yarder in the back left corner of the end zone to Robiskie and a 20-yarder to tight end Ben Watson. Wallace finished 4-of-8 for 72 yards for a 120.8 rating.

"I always tell everybody 'you cannot forget about No. 6,'" said Harrison. "He's too special of a player."

By the time Wallace came in, Massaquoi was out with a strained hamstring suffered on the opening drive, but Wallace was unfazed. He went to Robiskie three straight times on his opening possession, including the TD pass. With Green Bay's Brady Poppinga in hot pursuit, Wallace scrambled left and delivered a pinpoint strike to Robiskie, who was covered by Collins.

"Seneca made a great play," said Robiskie. "He bought some time with his legs and as a receiver you have to work for him because the play's never over until the whistle blows. He did a great job of getting out of the pocket and throwing a perfect ball to me."

Wallace didn't need Josh Cribbs and the Wildcat to produce. On his second scoring drive, he completed passes of 13 yards to Robiskie, 26 to Peyton Hillis on a screen and 20 to Watson for the TD. On the score, he faked an out to the right and found Watson over the middle.

"From what I saw last year on film, it's a total difference [on offense]," he said. "There's a lot of young guys, but they're very eager to get better. This is something to improve on and hopefully we'll hit our stride at the start of the season."

Fullback Lawrence Vickers picked up where he left off last season, blasting holes big enough to drive a small motor home through -- including on Harrison's TD run.

"Oh man, anybody could've done what I did," said Harrison. "Vick crushed A.J. Hawk and I just waltzed right in. Vick always takes care of me."

Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy left in the third quarter after banging his right thumb on Casey Bender's helmet, but X-rays were negative and it's believed to be just a sprain. McCoy made a few nice plays, but threw two more interceptions. They followed the two he made in the Brown-White scrimmage last week.

"That's something we're going to have to continue to teach him," said Mangini. "He did a couple of nice things with his feet, but all that's going to be challenged when you throw two interceptions."

But all-in-all, it was an encouraging performance for the offense, especially the starters.

"Without a doubt [it was a confidence booster]," said Delhomme. "To finish out the season with four wins last year, and then to come out and play decent football, it's always fun. You play this game to win. It doesn't count, but everyone has a smile on their face."

Authorities said eight people were killed and 10 injured Saturday evening when a driver competing in the California 200 desert race in Lucerne Valley lost control of his off-roader, which went airborne and landed on top of spectators. The driver, who was uninjured, and seven of the eight people killed were identified Sunday by officials.

View full sizeFrancis Specker/APWorkers push an overturned off-road race truck Sunday after it went out of control and ran into a crowd of spectators during a race in Lucerne Valley, Calif., on Saturday.

PHIL WILLON and DAVID ZAHNISER, Los Angeles Times

LUCERNE VALLEY, Calif. -- Authorities said eight people were killed and 10 injured Saturday evening when a driver competing in the California 200 desert race in Lucerne Valley lost control of his off-roader, which went airborne and landed on top of spectators. The driver, who was uninjured, and seven of the eight people killed were identified Sunday by officials.

The driver "got airborne and, when he landed, rolled over straight into the spectators," said Officer Joaquin Zubieta of the California Highway Patrol, the agency investigating the crash. "People didn't have much of a chance . . . to get out of the way."

Six spectators died at the scene. Nine others were airlifted to hospitals, and two of them died later in the evening, Zubieta said. Of those hurt, five suffered major injuries and five had minor injuries, officials said. Brett M. Sloppy of San Marcos, Calif., was the driver of the truck, according to Zubieta.

Sloppy, 28, lost control of his modified 2000 Ford Ranger while he was driving 45 to 50 miles per hour. He was not arrested, and alcohol was not a factor in the crash, officials said.

The San Bernardino County coroner's office identified seven of the dead: Brian Wolfin, 27, of Escondido, Calif.; Anthony Sanchez, 23, of Escondido, Calif.; Aaron Farkas, 25, of Escondido, Calif.; Andrew Therrin, 22, of Riverside, Calif.; Zachary Freeman, 24, of Fillmore, Calif.; Dustin C. Malson, 24, of Ventura, Calif.; and Danica Frantzich, 20, of Las Vegas.

The 200-mile race, held on desolate Soggy Dry Lake on federal desert land just east of the San Bernardino Mountains, was sanctioned by Mojave Desert Racing and was part of a seven-race circuit. Off-roaders race around the 50-mile loop four times, reaching speeds upward of 60 mph.

Witnesses to the crash described a chaotic scene.

"There was dust everywhere, people screaming, people running," a photographer, David Conklin, told the Associated Press. "When I got up to the vehicle, I could tell that several people were trapped. There were just bodies everywhere. One woman with a major head wound [was] lying in a pool of blood. Someone else was crushed beneath the car."

Jeff Musgrave, an off-roader from Orange County, Calif., who was watching the race, called it gruesome but defended the driver.

"All I saw was the dust, and then I saw about 30 people on the ground. It was just brutal," Musgrave, 43, told the Los Angeles Times. "The problem is the crowd was just too close. I don't think the [racer] did anything stupid. He just hit it way too hard."

Sloppy had to be escorted from the area after the crowd "started to get rowdy," Zubieta said. "People were upset."

Justin Masterson's high-wire act Sunday had Indians manager Manny Acta smiling and shaking his head.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerJustin Masterson threw more balls (51) than strikes (49) in his six innings of work on Sunday. But he allowed just one hit to the Mariners and worked out of enough jams to keep the Indians in a game that they eventually won, 9-1.

INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: Monday at midnight is the MLB deadline to sign draft picks.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Indians had signed 20 of their 50 selections, including seven of their first 15. The top four, though, are unsigned: left-hander Drew Pomeranz, outfielder LeVon Washington, shortstop Tony Wolters and right-hander Kyle Blair.
The Indians are negotiating with No. 8 pick Alex Lavisky, the catcher from St. Edward High School. Lavisky has a scholarship to Georgia Tech.
Teams that don’t sign their first- or second-round picks will be compensated the following year with an extra pick in almost the same spot in that round. If they don’t sign their third-round pick, they will receive a compensation pick between the third and fourth rounds.

Book worm: Indians closer Chris Perez is reading former NBA referee Tim Donaghy’s book, “Personal Foul: A First-Person Account of the Scandal that Rocked the NBA.”
In August 2007, Donaghy pleaded guilty to two federal charges related to allegations that he bet on games and made calls affecting point spreads. He served prison time and was released in November 2009.
“The book makes you think,” Perez said. “It’s very enlightening. I believe what he writes. Why would he lie? He’s already lost everything. And the specifics he gives are hard to dispute.”

Power shortage: The lineups at first pitch Sunday featured just two players with double-digit homers for their respective clubs — Seattle center fielder Franklin Gutierrez (10) and Cleveland right fielder Shin-Soo Choo (14). Seattle designated hitter Russell Branyan, who has five with his current team, hit 10 for the Tribe before being traded in June.
The Tribe’s Travis Hafner and Jayson Nix each hit his 10th homer Sunday afternoon.

Stat of the day: Hafner owns two of the Indians’ four grand slams this year.
-- Dennis Manoloff

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Justin Masterson's high-wire act Sunday had Indians manager Manny Acta smiling and shaking his head.

Masterson allowed no runs on one hit in six innings despite throwing more balls (51) than strikes (49). He received a no-decision in the Tribe's 9-1 victory over the Mariners.

"This is the greatest game ever," Acta said. "When you think you've seen it all, you continue to see new things. I don't think I've ever seen a guy go six scoreless, give up one hit, and throw more balls than strikes."

Masterson walked six and struck out three. He is the first Indian since Rick Waits in 1979 to work at least six shutout innings while allowing one hit and walking six or more.

"It just shows you the kind of stuff Justin has," Acta said. "Even when he puts people on bases, if he throws the ball over the plate, he has a chance to get people out."

Masterson walked the first two batters of the game, Ichiro Suzuki and Chone Figgins, on nine pitches.

"It was kind of scary," Acta said. "The guys in the bullpen were thinking they would get a call in the first inning."

Against the Yankees, Masterson might have been toast. Given that this was offensively challenged Seattle, he had a sinkerballer's chance. Russell Branyan was caught looking at a 2-2 fastball on the inside corner, Jose Lopez flied to center and Franklin Gutierrez grounded to third.

Masterson did not give up a hit until Casey Kotchman doubled to center to lead off the fifth. It was the first hit of the game, Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez having matched zeroes.

Adam Moore walked. When Michael Saunders bunted back to the mound on a 2-1 pitch, Masterson whirled and threw to third baseman Luis Valbuena for the force. Chris Woodward walked, bringing hitting machine Suzuki to the plate.

Suzuki ripped a 2-0 pitch that appeared ticketed for a three-run double into the right-field corner -- until Matt LaPorta snared it with a dive toward the line.

"With Felix on the mound, [the game] could have ended right there," Acta said. "LaPorta saved the day for us."

Figgins followed with a drag-bunt toward LaPorta, who tagged Figgins in front of the bag. Or did he? Figgins and personnel in the Mariners' dugout argued with umpire Todd Tichenor that Figgins had avoided the tag. TV replays appeared to show that LaPorta's glove grazed Figgins' flapping uniform top, which shed light on why Figgins thought he was safe.

"Our guys played some great defense," Masterson said.

Tony Sipp relieved Masterson to begin the seventh. Sipp earned the victory when the Indians erupted for seven in their half of the seventh. Rafael Perez, Joe Smith and Chris Perez also pitched for Cleveland.

"I had a lot of movement on the sinker and the slider, and I wasn't going to give in," Masterson said. "I was never like, 'Man, I can't find the zone.' I threw a lot of close pitches, then moved on to the next guy."

Masterson's record remained 4-11 as his ERA dropped to 5.23. He has 66 walks in 139 1/3 innings of 24 starts.

"He's a big guy who at times struggles to find his release point," Acta said. "He has a lot of body parts moving all over the place. It's tough for him some days, and this was one of those days. But hey, he gave us six shutout innings."

Masterson has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 10 starts.

Hard luck: Hernandez gave up six runs -- all unearned -- on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out seven. The Indians scored seven runs in the seventh after an error by Seattle second baseman Figgins with two outs.

The baseball definition of a quality start is six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs. That means Hernandez added to his American League-leading total, which sits at 23.

Hernandez is 8-10 with a 2.62 ERA. The Mariners have scored 10 runs in his losses.

Brantley heating up: Michael Brantley was 2-for-4 with a homer and is hitting .375 (9-for-24) in his last six games.

Mariners Lite: Because Seattle only comes to town once, and the trip occurred in August, Tribe fans lost out on seeing two big names who were active with the club earlier in the season.

Ken Griffey Jr. broke camp with Seattle, but that was about as good as it got for him and the franchise in 2010. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer batted .184 in 33 games before announcing his retirement.

Lefty Cliff Lee, who won the AL Cy Young with the Tribe in 2008, began the season on the disabled list. He did not debut with the Mariners until May. He was traded to Texas in July.

The Rangers visited Progressive Field before Lee went to Texas, meaning Tribe fans have not seen Lee at Progressive Field since he was traded to Philadelphia on July 29, 2009.

Another Mariners notable, outfielder Milton Bradley, is on the disabled list because of right-knee tendinitis. He will have arthroscopic surgery Tuesday in Cincinnati. He is traveling with the team.

Bradley played for the Tribe from 2001-03, the tenure ending in a feud with manager Eric Wedge.

Ohio State defensive end Melvin Fellows, from Garfield Heights, is back healthy and looking to follow in the footsteps of OSU All-American candidate Cameron Heyward.

View full sizeOSU photo"It was kind of heartbreaking that I had to redshirt last year, but everything is falling into place," says redshirt freshman OSU defensive lineman Melvin Fellows, a Garfield Heights graduate. "I'm just ready for 2010 to show everybody all the work I put in."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- His skinny legs made Melvin Fellows a target of his Ohio State teammates' jokes last season. Veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward said Fellows needed to get stronger, but his left leg was what kept Fellows off the field his first year in Columbus.

After surgery on his left knee in April of 2009, Fellows admitted his left quad was weaker, but figured everything would be fine by the time he was a Buckeye. It wasn't, and Fellows said the muscles in his left leg atrophied while he tried to rehab. What was already skinny became skinnier.

Now backing up a potential All-American and working to earn playing time on a young second-team defensive line, Fellows is healthy and the right size for Big Ten play, gaining 33 pounds from his high school days to reach 265. The Garfield Heights grad said he's 100 percent healthy for the first time since his sophomore year of high school.

"It was kind of heartbreaking that I had to redshirt last year, but everything is falling into place," Fellows said. "I'm behind Cameron Heyward, he's a [future] first-round draft pick and I'm just trying to learn what I can from him. There's nothing better. He's a great guy and he's helping me on and off the field. I'm just ready for 2010 to show everybody all the work I put in.

"He has high hopes for me, and I'm just working and trying to make a name for myself like I did in high school."

There are chances for Fellows to show that. While Ohio State's starting defensive line is set with seniors Heyward and Dexter Larimore, junior Nathan Williams and sophomore John Simon, the second line is wide open. The Buckeyes lost five members of what was a nine-man rotation last year, so the second line, which always plays, will be young.

Junior Solomon Thomas is behind Williams at the Leo spot, the defensive end who also drops into coverage. Redshirt sophomore Garrett Goebel and redshirt freshman Adam Bellamy are also running with the second team, while Fellows follows Heyward.

Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock has said he'd like the dominant Heyward to jump from playing 60 percent of the snaps a year ago to 80 to 90 percent of the snaps this season.

Regardless, the Buckeyes need to know they can trust anyone who replaces their best defensive player, for however long it is. That's why Heyward said he'd be drawing up plays on a board during camp after seeing Fellows struggling with the playbook at times last year.

"It was very humbling for him being out last year, and I constantly try to stay on him," Heyward said. "He's going to be a great player here, I can already sense that. He can definitely disrupt the flow of the game. He's put in all the work, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do this year."

In practice, Fellows has shown off his strength and speed. At Heyward's position both are required, since you may be required to hold your ground inside against a guard on a running play, then follow that by having to beat a tackle to pressure the quarterback on the next play.

Fellows, when healthy, seems to have the tools needed to play both those roles.

"He's still got a lot of growing to do," Heyward said. "He's got a good work ethic, he stays out of trouble and he's a good guy. I think he's learning a lot."

And he's learning from one of the best.

Dustin Johnson was knocked out of the playoff at the PGA Championship after he was penalized two strokes for grounding his club in a bunker he didn't even realize existed.

Jae C. Hong / Associated PressDustin Johnson didn't realize it as he fired this 4-iron approach to the 18th green, but he had committed a two-stroke penalty by grounding his club in what was ruled a bunker and was denied a chance at a three-way playoff for the PGA Championship Sunday at Whistling Straights in Sheboygan, Wis.

THE WHISTLING STRAITS BUNKER RULE
An excerpt from the “Supplementary Rules of Play” that was posted in the locker room at Whistling Straits for the PGA Championship:

1. Bunkers: All areas of the course that were designed and built as sand bunkers will be played as bunkers (hazards), whether or not they have been raked. This will mean that many bunkers positioned outside of the ropes, as well as some areas of bunkers inside the ropes, close to the rope line, will likely include numerous footprints, heel prints and tire tracks during the play of the Championship. Such irregularities of surface are a part of the game and no free relief will be available form these conditions.

Note 1: The sand area in front, left and behind No. 5 green in the later water hazard is NOT a bunker (do not move stones).

Note 2: Where necessary, blue dots define the margin of a bunker.
— Associated Press

• Martin Kaymer tops Bubba Watson for title

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Dustin Johnson turned his pencil upside down and began erasing his scorecard.

He'd already given one major championship away. He never got a chance to finish this one.

Johnson was knocked out of the playoff at the PGA Championship on Sunday after he was penalized two strokes for grounding his club in a bunker he didn't even realize existed. Instead of 71 to join Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson in the three-hole playoff, he changed his score from a 5 to a 7 and signed for a 73 to tie for fifth.

"I don't know if I can describe it," said Johnson, who showered quickly and was on his way to the parking lot before Kaymer and Watson finished their first hole. "If it was up to me, I wouldn't have thought I was in a bunker. But it's not up to me."

It was the cruelest ruling at a major since Roberto de Vicenzo accidentally signed for a higher score at the 1968 Masters, and the victory went to Bob Goalby.

And it was yet another major heartbreak for Johnson.

The 26-year-old was the third-round leader at the U.S. Open, only to have a complete meltdown Sunday and shoot 82. It was the highest score in the U.S. Open by a 54-hole leader since Fred McLeod shot 83 at Chicago Golf Club in 1911. It was also Johnson's worst score as a professional.

He insisted he wouldn't let the collapse linger, and Pebble Beach seemed the furthest thing from his mind at Whistling Straits. When he curled in a 12-footer for birdie on the par-3 17th, he was the outright leader, less than a half-hour from redemption.

But his tee shot on 18 sailed into the gallery lining the right side of the fairway, landing in a small patch of sand that had been walked on, kicked and trampled by thousands of fans over the last week.

"Walking up and seeing the shot, never once did it cross my mind it was in a sand trap," Johnson said. "I just thought it was on a piece of dirt the crowd had trampled down. Never thought it was a sand trap. I looked at it a lot, never once thought it was a bunker."

Whistling Straits is designed to mimic an old-style links course, with more bunkers than you can count -- literally. Anytime the grounds crew trims the fescue, another emerges. The PGA of America decided back in 2004 that every bunker is a hazard, no matter how many fans tromp through it, and players were reminded of it this week with a notice in the locker room.

Johnson never read it.

Neither, though, did many other players.

"Honestly, I don't think anyone reads the sheets," playing partner Nick Watney said. "I mean, we've played in hundreds of tournaments, we get a sheet every week."

Unaware he was in a bunker, Johnson grounded his club before hitting toward the green. He missed a par putt that would have given him the victory, and immediately turned his attention to the playoff with Watson and Kaymer.

But as he and Watney walked off the green, he was approached by rules official David Price. There was a problem, Price told them, Johnson might have grounded his club in a bunker.

"What bunker?" was Johnson's reaction.

Given the details, Johnson immediately said he had grounded his club.

"But I never thought it was in a bunker," Johnson said.

Though he never disputed he'd grounded the club, Johnson and Watney spent several minutes in the scoring trailer with rules officials and watched replays of the shot.

Finally, he grabbed his pencil and changed the scorecard.

"I think I'm going to a playoff," he said, "and I've got a two-stroke penalty."

Johnson was composed when he spoke to the media in the clubhouse, never once blaming officials. Or even questioning them. He'd violated a rule, no matter if he didn't realize it.

His lone consolation is that his finish earned him a spot on his first Ryder Cup team. But whenever he sees the Wanamaker Trophy from now, Johnson will know it could have -- maybe should have -- been his.

"Maybe a little bit," Johnson said when someone suggested the title was "stolen" from him. "But that's how it goes."

After six centuries of tinkering with the rule book, discarding some entries and refining others, golf has a new contender for the dumbest.

Charlie Neibergall / Associated PressMoments after tapping in for what he thought was a bogey that placed him in a playoff for the PGA Championship title, Dustin Johnson begins a dazed walk with rules official David Price to the scoring error where he was penalized two shots on Sunday's 18th hole and an eventual fifth-place finish. Johnson was assessed a penalty for grounding his club in a bunker on the hole.

Jim Litke

AP Sports Columnist

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Wrong.

All of it.

Ditto for everyone involved.

The local rule that kept Dustin Johnson out of a playoff for the PGA Championship ... Johnson not bothering to read the rule book ... his caddie for not doing the same ... the rules officials who couldn't be bothered to walk over to that fateful patch of sand off the right side of the 18th fairway ... the marshals who didn't clear the fans from the bunker ... architect Pete Dye, who put so many of them on the course that no one knows the actual number ... Whistling Straits owner Herb Kohler, who gave him free rein ...

Take your pick.

There's no mystery why so few people take up golf, or why so many of them quit. It's the hardest game there is to play, and that's just for those of us who play it recreationally. Hit a ball into a hazard, onto a cart path or even a sprinkler head and half the time, you need Mr. Wizard to determine the exact spot from which to play your next shot. This isn't going to win the game any new fans.

Yes, a rule is a rule is a rule.

And yes, PGA officials posted the rule at every tee box and put it on a sign in the locker room explaining that, under local rules, every bowl of sand on the course is considered a bunker. That meant every single one, from the giant, finger-shaped sandbox that runs nearly the length of the 13th fairway to a few along the 18th that are barely bigger than a bathtub, and players should have known that grounding a club in any of them is a two-stroke penalty.

"I just thought it was on a piece of dirt the crowd had trampled down," said Johnson, who took his medicine admirably. "Never thought it was a sand trap. I looked at it a lot. Never once thought it was a bunker."

He paused.

"I guess maybe I should have looked at the rules sheet," he added, "a little harder."

Charlie Neibergall / Associated PressIt certainly wasn't Martin Kaymer's fault, but the newest PGA champion will likely become a sidenote to the improbable finish Sunday at Whistling Straits.

No doubt.

"You know, they showed us the sheet, it was on the sheet," said Nick Watney, who played with Johnson in the final pairing. "Honestly, I don't think anyone reads the sheets. I mean, we've played in hundreds of tournaments, we get a sheet every week. Like I said, I feel for him, I've never seen fans in a bunker with a player, so that was a little odd, I guess."

While there are over 1,000 bunkers pockmarking Whistling Straits -- no one knows the actual number -- only 100 or so are estimated to be in play when the pros compete here.

The bunker where Johnson's tee shot came to rest was well right of the 18th fairway; far enough, anyway, to be on the wrong side of the gallery rope. That explained why there were footprints and a fan's backpack sitting in it when he tried to play the shot and why the grassy edge that's supposed to demarcate the outline of the bunker was so trampled down Johnson assumed it was a footpath.

Spectators aren't allowed to walk on the fairways or greens during a tournament. But for all four days at Whistling Straits, they routinely traversed bunkers that were in play. Go figure. The gallery alongside the 18th couldn't.

As word spread that Johnson was facing a two-stroke penalty, chants of "Let him play!" and "Nonsense!" rocked the grandstand, accompanied by rhythmic clapping.

After six centuries of tinkering with the rule book, discarding some entries and refining others, golf has a new contender for the dumbest.

If you're addressing the ball when a gust of wind makes it wobble -- even a millimeter -- it's a one-stroke penalty. Try out a new driver on the practice range, stick it in the golf bag alongside the 14 clubs you're allowed to carry, then step on the course and never use it, that's still a two-stroke penalty for every hole played. Sign a scorecard with a wrong number on it -- even though computers track not just every shot, but their length -- and you're disqualified.

Players have wound up on the wrong side of every one, not to mention dozens more, and Johnson losing his spot in a playoff that ended with Martin Kaymer beating Bubba Watson doesn't even qualify as the biggest injustice as a result.

That was almost certainly what happened to Roberto de Vicenzo at the 1968 Masters. He made a birdie 3 on the 17th hole at Augusta, but playing partner Tommy Aaron -- a math major in college, no less -- put down a 4 and de Vicenzo signed the card. The higher score stood and, instead of facing Bob Goalby in a playoff, the Argentine great wound up second.

What de Vicenzo said that day became one of the most famous quotes in sports. One that everyone involved in the fiasco at Whistling Straits -- from Johnson on up to Kohler -- should be required to write on a blackboard 100 times:

"What a stupid I am!"

Besides what's his name (who took his talents to South Beach), which former Cleveland Cavaliers player deserves induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame? Ron Harper, who played only two years with the Cavaliers, is not in the poll because he had most of his success with the Chicago Bulls. But the Cavaliers have a few players who could receive...

APZydrunas Ilgauskas

Besides what's his name (who took his talents to South Beach), which former Cleveland Cavaliers player deserves induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame?

Ron Harper, who played only two years with the Cavaliers, is not in the poll because he had most of his success with the Chicago Bulls.

But the Cavaliers have a few players who could receive some consideration, like Austin Carr. Before he threw the hammer down as a television announcer, Carr had a solid career with the Cavaliers but he was slowed by injuries. Despite those injuries, Carr averaged 16.2 points per game over his career with the Cavs and 20 points per game in his first three seasons.

In three years at Notre Dame, Carr averaged 34.5 points a game and set the NCAA Tournament record for points in one game with 61 on Ohio University in 1970 - still a record. He also still holds the tournament record for highest scoring average, 50 points per game,  in the seven NCAA Tournament games he played for the Fighting Irish.

Mark Price finished his career as the NBA's all-time leader in free throw shooting percentage (90.4 percent). During the 1988-89 season, Price became the third player, along with Larry Bird and Reggie Miller, to join the NBA's 50-40-90 club for those who shot at least 40% from three-point range, at least 50% from the field and at least 90% from the free throw line in a single season, and is still one of only five players to have ever done this while also achieving the NBA league minimum number of makes in each category.

A player must be fully retired for five years before being eligible for Enshrinement. He/she may then be considered for Enshrinement in the sixth year of retirement. Should a player come out of retirement for a short period of time, as defined by the BHOF, his/her case and eligibility for Enshrinement shall be reviewed on an individual basis.

The heat is on for the Miami Heat and the season has even started yet. Heat forward Udonis Haslem was charged Sunday with marijuana possession, speeding -- and, having illegal window tinting, writes Diana Moskovitz and Luisa Yanez on MiamiHerald.com Haslem was clocked going 78 mph in a 60 mph zone. When he was pulled over, the trooper smelled marijuana in...

APMiami Heat forward Udonis Haslem, right, shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao defends.

The heat is on for the Miami Heat and the season has even started yet.

Heat forward Udonis Haslem was charged Sunday with marijuana possession, speeding -- and, having illegal window tinting, writes Diana Moskovitz and Luisa Yanez on MiamiHerald.com

Haslem was clocked going 78 mph in a 60 mph zone. When he was pulled over, the trooper smelled marijuana in the vehicle. After a search, Haslem and his passenger, were arrested and charged with marijuana possession.

Also in the article, Haslem was charged with possessing more than 20 grams of marijuana, a third-degree felony which could bring maximum punishments of a $5,000 fine and a five-year prison sentence.

Both men were expected to be taken to a Miami-Dade County jail Sunday night.

As for Haslem's playing time with the Heat, any possible punishment by the NBA would be handed down by the office of Stu Jackson, executive vice president of basketball operations.

Marijuana is prohibited by the NBA's anti-drug program. If a player pleads guilty, no contest or is convicted of using or possessing marijuana, he is required to enter the league's marijuana program.

Former Browns quarterback also made his Broncos debut in Denvers' 33-24 loss to Cincinnati.

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) passes against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Denver Broncos quarterback Brady Quinn (9) dives for a fumble recovery in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)
Box score | NFL scoreboard

Derek Anderson threw a touchdown, but was intercepted twice in his Cardinals debut. (AP Photo)

Plain Dealer reporter Mary Schmitt Boyer, today's guest, talks about her trip to Springfield, Mass., over the weekend to cover the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, our Web video show about what's going on in Cleveland sports. Today's show is hosted by Chuck Yarborough and Branson Wright. Today's highlights:

• A new class was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday. Vote in our Starting Blocks poll that asks which Cavaliers player should be in the Hall of Fame.

• Plain Dealer reporter Mary Schmitt Boyer, today's guest, talks about her trip to Springfield, Mass., over the weekend to cover the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Schmitt Boyer says there is no big drive to get Mark Price or Brad Daugherty inducted, and believes no Cavaliers listed among the online poll choices should be in the Hall of Fame.

Schmitt Boyer also talks more about the banter between the 1960 and 1992 U.S. Olympic teams that were inducted, and says the 1992 would win if they played each other.

Starting Blocks TV will return Tuesday with Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot. Do you have a question for her? Post it in the comments below.

"At the time the contract was signed, he was a top 5 hitter. Tribe fans would have been absolutely livid if he was given the chance to walk. As bad as it has turned out, I wouldn't call him a crook. He hasn't shown a bad attitude and has worked pretty hard to get back into the lineup. While, in hindsight, the move stinks, I can't blame either party. If this move was made after a one-year fluke and Hafner never had injuries, then we could complain." - The Great Michael

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerWhen the Indians re-signed Travis Hafner in 2007, they were hoping for many more years like they got from him between 2004-2006.

In response to the story Travis Hafner's slam propels Cleveland Indians to 9-1 victory over Seattle, cleveland.com reader The Great Michael thinks fans calling the Hafner extension a mistake is revisionist history. This reader writes,

"At the time the contract was signed, he was a top 5 hitter. Tribe fans would have been absolutely livid if he was given the chance to walk. As bad as it has turned out, I wouldn't call him a crook. He hasn't shown a bad attitude and has worked pretty hard to get back into the lineup. While, in hindsight, the move stinks, I can't blame either party. If this move was made after a one-year fluke and Hafner never had injuries, then we could complain."

The Cleveland Browns will finish last in the division, win only four games and new quarterback Jake Delhomme will continue his pitiful ways this coming season, according to a simulation season by Madden 11. ESPN's James Walker writes how the simulation has the Browns winning only four games this season. Many expect the Browns to struggle this season, so...

John Kuntz / PDBrowns backup Seneca Wallace, front, and Jake Delhomme.

The Cleveland Browns will finish last in the division, win only four games and new quarterback Jake Delhomme will continue his pitiful ways this coming season, according to a simulation season by Madden 11.

ESPN's James Walker writes how the simulation has the Browns winning only four games this season.

Many expect the Browns to struggle this season, so a 4-12 projection isn't surprising. The game predicts Cleveland will be 0-6 against the AFC North and 2-10 against AFC opponents.
The simulation also predicts Browns starting quarterback Jake Delhomme will be brutal this season. He will have a 61.3 passer rating and throw for 2,811 yards, 11 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.
Tailback Jerome Harrison will not be able to stay hot, according to "Madden 11." He will rush for 737 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. 
 

The Pittsburgh Steelers, according to the simulation, will win the division but the Baltimore Ravens will advance to the Super Bowl.

 

Postgame

Plenty of good things happened for the Cleveland Browns during last Saturday's preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers. Not so much that the Browns are getting overly excited, writes Ohio.com's Nate Ulrich.

But it does show signs that the Browns have made significant progress early in their second season under coach Eric Mangini.

Still, the Browns know they need to improve before their first regular-season game Sept. 12 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

''Everybody has been working so hard, offensively, defensively,'' Browns wide receiver Brian Robiskie said. ''We've just been really, really focusing on anything that we can do to make this team better this year. I think that anytime you work so hard in the offseason, in OTAs, in camp, you want to be able to come out and display what you've been working on. I think we have a long way. We'll just keep working and keep building on it.''

More postgame

It was only a preseason game but Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini will take a 27-24 last-play victory at Lambeau Field anytime, writes Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald.

Last year, the Browns opened the exhibition season with a 17-0 loss in Green Bay. The game was a portent of things to come. The Browns managed only 191 yards of offense while yielding 392 and possessed the ball for 20 minutes, 4 seconds, compared to 39:56 for Green Bay.

It was even worse on Oct. 25 in a game that counted.

The Packers crushed the Browns, 31-3, at Cleveland Browns Stadium and outgained them, 460 yards to 139.

 

"This first preseason game did mean something. For the first time since the Browns returned, I watched an organized, functional NFL football team with quarterbacks who could move the football. How many times in the past have we seen this team not even come close to scoring in preseason games? Mangini has this team operating like an NFL team." - 30yrBrownsFan

View full sizeAP Photo | Jim PrischingTouchdowns, like the one scored on the Browns' opening drive by Jerome Harrison, haven't always been a part of the team's preseason games.

In response to the story A night of professional quarterbacking a welcome sight for the Cleveland Browns: Bud Shaw, cleveland.com reader 30yrBrownsFan thinks there was some meaning to be found in an otherwise meaningless game. This reader writes,

"This first preseason game did mean something. For the first time since the Browns returned, I watched an organized, functional NFL football team with quarterbacks who could move the football. How many times in the past have we seen this team not even come close to scoring in preseason games? Mangini has this team operating like an NFL team."

"Collison may be a star soon, but he would have cost us much, much more than just Delonte. Cavs will have more financial flexibility than practically any NBA team for the next two seasons thanks, in part, to that $15 million Heat trade exception. They just need to be a little patient here. Sessions will prove to be solid piece, and now we have the cap resources to trade for a couple of high-end pieces." - Ctown-kb

View full sizeThomas Ondrey | The Plain DealerThe Cavaliers and GM Chris Grant (left) have worked to stockpile assets this summer.

In response to the story Will Cavaliers be stung by avoiding an ex-Hornet? Hey, Brian!, cleveland.com reader Ctown-kb is optimistic about the pieces the Cavaliers have acquired. This reader writes,

"Collison may be a star soon, but he would have cost us much, much more than just Delonte. Cavs will have more financial flexibility than practically any NBA team for the next two seasons thanks, in part, to that $15 million Heat trade exception. They just need to be a little patient here. Sessions will prove to be solid piece, and now we have the cap resources to trade for a couple of high-end pieces."

"Buckeye football, especially under Jim Tressel, has given all of us something to take great pride in. Without the contributions of Northeast Ohio talent, however, the Buckeyes would only be a shell of themselves. Jim Tressel realizes this and has made the most of building a fence around the area for Ohio State." - BuckeyeBullett

View full sizeMarvin Fong | The Plain DealerTroy Smith is just one of a number of key players Jim Tressel has brought to Columbus from Northeast Ohio.

In response to the story When it comes to college football, only Ohio State can regularly threaten the Sun Belt powers: Bill Livingston, cleveland.com reader BuckeyeBullett takes pride in Northeast Ohio's contributions to Ohio State's success. This reader writes,

"Buckeye football, especially under Jim Tressel, has given all of us something to take great pride in. Without the contributions of Northeast Ohio talent, however, the Buckeyes would only be a shell of themselves. Jim Tressel realizes this and has made the most of building a fence around the area for Ohio State."

Post your questions and we'll select the best ones for Tuesday's Starting Blocks TV show.

Plain Dealer Cleveland Browns writer Mary Kay Cabot.

Do you have a question about the Browns? Plain Dealer Browns writer Mary Kay Cabot will be Tuesday's guest on Starting Blocks TV -- cleveland.com's five-minute morning Web video show.

Post your questions in the comments section below and we'll select the best ones to ask Cabot on Tuesday morning.

The beat goes on for Tribe fan John Adams, as Seattle fans learn.

View full sizeDale Omori,
The Plain DealerJohn Adams bangs a dirge for Cleveland Municipal Stadium after the last Indians game there in October 1993. And he's STILL banging his drum for the Indians, capturing the interest of the Seattle media in town for the Tribe's series with the Mariners.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- OK, it's true the Indians are not having a bang-up year. Their most exciting player -- and possibly their best player -- is a rookie with a total of 46 games in the big leagues who's out for the year with a knee injury. The bad breaks began with their shortstop's arm, and just got worse as the season progressed.

But the reality is that no one expected them to do much this year, even with catcher Carlos Santana and SS Asdrubal Cabrera. And once the fire sale began, there was trouble coming.

Not so with the Seattle Mariners. Some pollsters, including a couple of reputable writers with ESPN.com, picked 'em to win the AL West. And even the experts who projected other winners in the West – Texas or Los Angeles – figured they'd at least contend.

The Indians' 49-69 record at this stage of the came probably comes as no surprise to anyone. The shocker is that the Tribe's 49-69 record is three games BETTER than Seattle's.

No wonder the beat writer for the Seattle Times figured it wouldn't really matter if he left the press box late in the game Sunday.

Still, ya gotta give Geoff Baker credit: He chose to use the time to interview John Adams, the drum-banging Tribe fan who's been such a fixture at Indians games.

The M's were in the process of getting throttled today, the game was dragging, so I decided to go and get the reader's question answered. I hustled down from the press box and made it all the way to the bleachers just as the bottom of the eighth was beginning.

First off, the drummer's name is John Adams, 58, who works for At&T during the day, but has season tickets and brings the drum in with him. He's been doing this for 37 years, so, no, as you'll hear in the video above, the security people don't bug him about it anymore.

Actually, he did have to buy tickets for the drum, since it's so big and takes up a seat. But the ballclub did give him his own bobblehead doll a few years back. He's been to more than 2,000 games and Aug. 24 will be his 37th anniversary of doing this.

So, that was our diversion from the game and the total collapse by Felix Hernandez and the Mariners in a 9-1 defeat.

Well, of COURSE he had to interview Adams. Didn't we SAY he was a beat writer?

More Milton Bradley games?


The Mariners' Milton Bradley probably is done for the season after surgery on his right knee on Tuesday. But the mercurial outfielder, who has had two tours of duty with the Indians in his career, may be jobless in Seattle after this year ends, anyway.

Seattlepi.com is speculating that may be the case for Bradley, who spent two weeks on the restricted list undergoing counseling treatment after he blew up at then-manager Don Wakamatsu.

Bradley has another year at $12 million on his contract, but it's reasonable to wonder where his future sits with the Mariners. He's hit just .205 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs in 73 games this season, hardly the kind of production the Mariners hoped for when they brought him aboard.

The assumption was Bradley might bring some headaches, but also a high on-base percentage and a little pop to the lineup.

Instead, he's become a nonfactor in the clubhouse, quietly going about his business, but his bat has been nearly as non-existent. His .205 batting average is the lowest of his career and his .292 on-base percentage is a shadow of his career mark of .366.

Is there a still a place for the 32-year-old in the M's plans? Hard to see it right now, that's for sure.

How about working a deal with the Bengals? It'd be like getting the baseball twin brother of Terrell Owens and pairing him with TO and their first-cousin, attitudinally speaking, Chad Ochocinco.

From The Plain Dealer


Travis Hafner is one of those all-or-nothing guys. For most of Sunday's game, he was the latter. But a grand slam like the one he ripped to the Indians' bullpen in center tends to erase bitter memories. Dennis Manoloff talked to Hafner, who was activated off the DL this weekend and chose to skip a rehab assignment, about the deed for his game story.

Dman also check with Tribe manager Manny Acta about pitcher Justin Masterson, who managed to pitch six innings, throw more balls than strikes and issued six walks . . . and neither won NOR lost the game. It's all part of the Indians Insider.

Did Dustin Johnson deserve the two stroke penalty that cost him a spot in the playoffs for the PGA Tour title?

View full sizeAssociated PressDustin Johnson hits of a bunker that no one KNEW was a bunker at the PGA Tour Championship at Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, Wis.