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Cleveland Browns and NFL P.M. links: Special teamer Johnson Bademosi a starting free safety candidate; will Browns make a supplemental draft pick?

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Bademosi emerged during his 2012 rookie season as a special teams standout and could challenge Tashaun Gipson for the starting free safety job. Supplemental draft -- the process by which Browns acquired Josh Gordon last year -- will be held on Thursday. More Browns and NFL story links.


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns' special teams unit has undergone drastic changes this offseason. Kicker Phil Dawson has gone to San Francisco. Return man and special teams ace Josh Cribbs has gone to Oakland. Punter Reggie Hodges is still looking for work after being released by the team.

Cribbs will be missed not only for his skills as a returner but also for his work as a “gunner” on kickoff and punt coverage teams. He routinely led the team in special teams tackles. Last year, however, Cribbs wasn’t at the top of the team in special teams tackles. That title belonged to fan favorite Johnson Bademosi.

Bademosi was signed last offseason by the Browns as an undrafted free agent cornerback out of Stanford University. He recorded 18 special teams tackles and missed only one tackle all year. He received acclaim for his hustle on kickoff and punt coverage. ProFootballFocus named him a second team all-pro last year as a special teamer.

This season, Bademosi is expected to not only contribute on special teams, but to challenge Tashaun Gipson for the starting free safety job. While Bademosi only played 24 snaps on the defensive side of the ball last year, there is reason to believe he can emerge out of training camp as the team’s starting free safety.

Brendan Leister broke down Bademosi’s contributions on special teams last year for DraftBrowns.com.

To be an excellent special teamer, a player must be able to make tackles in space. Johnson Bademosi is incredibly adept at this. He consistently does a good job of taking proper pursuit angles, breaking down, adjusting to the ball carrier, and wrapping up while keeping his legs moving on contact.
The big question for Browns fans remains, can Bademosi’s exceptional ability as a special teams player translate to the defensive side of the ball? Leister continues, this time looking at his prospects for this coming season.
All in all, Johnson Bademosi is a very gifted football player with extremely high upside. It is evident when watching Bademosi’s special teams contributions that he has lots of talent and he could certainly bring some value at the free safety position in the Browns’ new defense.
Bademosi and Gipson have both flashed potential. The competition for the free safety job figures to be among the most heated position battles during training camp. 

NFL Story Links

Will the Browns consider picking someone in this year’s supplemental draft? (By Jon Stinchcomb, Dawgs By Nature)

Mary Kay Cabot answers questions in the latest edition of Hey, Mary Kay! (Plain Dealer and cleveland.com)

Paul Warfield comes in at No. 19 on the list of the 100 best Browns players of all time. (cleveland.com

Can the Browns’ receivers finally start to produce? (By Peter Smith, Dawg Pound Daily)

Anita Brody has ordered the NFL concussion case to mediation. (By Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk)

In the wake of the Aaron Hernandez scandal, can NFL teams do more to prevent similar situations from happening? (By Gary Hoenig, ESPN.com)

The Denver Broncos’ director of player personnel, Matt Russell is facing legal trouble. (By Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com)

The Seattle Seahawks Fans, known as the 12th man, hope to break a Guinness World Record. (By Jay Busbee, Yahoo! Sports)

Ravens first round pick Matt Elam will not hire an agent before the start of the season. (By Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk)

Fans at FirstEnergy Stadium this year will have a whole new game day experience. (By Will Burge, ESPNCleveland.com)

The Browns can’t send six pallbearers but they are sending a personalized jersey to Scott Entsminger’s memorial service. (By Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk)

A preview of the AFC North. (By Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated)

Matthew Stafford is nearing a three year contract extension with the Lions. (By John Breech, CBSSports.com)



Performance-enhancing drugs should be legalized in pro sports, Olympics says CWRU professor: Bill Livingston

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"Why is marijuana banned? It has no physical performance-enhancing effects," said CWRU law professor Max Mehlman.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "What's wrong with letting athletes use performance-enhancing drugs?" the bioethics/law professor at Case Western Reserve University wanted to know.

Max Mehlman, 64, bases his arguments about legalizing PEDs on two provisions: A doctor would be supervising the drug regimen and athletes must be informed about them and choose to use them.

"Why is marijuana banned?" he asked. "That's one of my favorites. Marijuana is prohibited, but why is that? It has no physical performance-enhancing effects.

"Dick Pound (the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency,or WADA) and I were debating that. He said the reason is that 'The White House wants us to put  it on the prohibited list, in order to fund USADA (the United States Anti-Doping Agency).' It's a political thing."

And Mehlman said: "Caffeine (a stimulant) is on the list. Do you realize if you drank a 16-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee and had two Mountain Dews, you would be over the line on the prohibited list?"

mehlman-case-mug.jpgView full sizeCase Western bioethics professor Max Mehlman. 

Major League Baseball investigators have connected about 20 players to a Miami-area clinic, Biogenesis of America, at the heart of an ongoing performance-enhancing drug scandal. Among them are Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun. Lance Armstrong's reputation went over the cliff when he admitted to blood doping and lavish use of endurance drugs. Codeine-laced cough syrup felled Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon for the first two games of next season, at least according to Gordon.

"There is nothing fundamentally wrong or ethically objectionable to PEDs," Mehlman argued.

Steroids, however, are currently illegal in the U.S. without a doctor's prescription. "If (a substance) is against the rules, then using it is saying, 'You cheat,'" Mehlman conceded. "Sports can make any rule it wants. Just like it's silly for there to be 10 players (counting the designated hitter) in the American League and nine in the National."

Steroid users develop their impressive physiques because, said Mehlman, "Steroids can prevent muscle tears, prevent the muscle sheath from shredding, and that's how the muscles grow."

The current PED ban stems from historical precedence, health concerns and a vague belief that PED use damages "the spirit of the game," Mehlman said.

"I'm not sure what that means," he said. "If you look at competition historically, athletes have always tried everything they possibly can to get better than their competitors."

The sanctity of the records, after lesser players broke those of legends, helped drive baseball's ban on PEDs. Mehlman asked, "How is baseball different than someone who invents a revolutionary technique or gets an advantage with equipment differences, such as the fiberglass pole? We didn't see it become a big deal. Everybody just said, 'It's changed.'"

But the rules specified that vaulting poles could be made from anything.

The Cold War and the American cultural divide of the 1960s heated up the debate about drugs. "Nothing really happened until the war on drugs started in 1968 with President Nixon and then the outrage at the East German government-run doping," said Mehlman.

Most of the East German athletes were doped without their knowledge or consent. The bittersweet joke goes that American swimming coaches supposedly sat together in a restaurant during the Olympics in the 1970s, complaining about how deep were the East German women's voices, all within earshot of the East German team.

Retorted the East German coach, "They came here to swim, not to sing."

Health concerns center on the assertion that PEDs are dangerous. Mehlman said that a blanket indictment lacks supporting evidence.

"I submitted a paper to a journal about cognition-enhancing drugs, such as  soldiers take a drug to stay awake for 48 hours in combat," said Mehlman. "In it, I quoted the National Institute on Drug Abuse on liver concerns and bone density effects. When a reviewer asked for support for those statements, I had my research assistant, a medical student, research it. She found nothing. Oral steroids, the corticosteroids, are metabolized in a totally different way than injectable steroids. With injectable ones, your voice will deepen and there will be other effects."

The injury issue brings another question: Why are painkillers, which allow athletes to compete at all, viewed with less condemnation than PEDs, which allow them to get better?

Mehlman conceded PEDs should not be used by minors because anabolic steroids, for example, interfere with physical development in adolescents. But if the pro leagues legalized them, it would be almost impossible to keep them out of the hands of young players trying to emulate those they see on television.

In the future, there will probably be genetic engineering, human cloning, and feats of strength and speed conceived before only in superhero movies. Said Mehlman, "They have weightlifting contests with untested competitors. People say, 'What's the point of that?' But why wouldn't you want to see how much weight a human can lift, not by using a mechanical lifter, but by using whatever diet, extra training and steroids can provide? Can a man lift 600 pounds? Let's find out."

Although bribes were taken and cheaters sometimes were triumphant at the Ancient Olympics, a time when divine beings were believed to meddle frequently in mortal affairs, the 26-mile run that the messenger Pheidippides made from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory in battle over the Persians was celebrated. It cost him his life, but it was an astonishing achievement of human will. Society today still highly values clean athletes.

"But how do we know what that Greek was on?" Mehlman said.

Indians vs. Blue Jays: Get updates and post your comments

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The Indians' 8-19 mark against the East is the second worst among AL teams as they begin a three-game home set against the Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

Game 90: Indians (46-43) vs. Blue Jays (43-45)

First pitch: 7:05 p.m. at Progressive Field.

TV/radio: TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WMMS FM/100.7, WTAM AM/ 1100



Starting pitchers: RHP Josh Johnson (1-3, 4.89) vs. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-4, 4.67).


» Box score | MLB scoreboard


» Get updates from the pressbox here


» You can also follow Tweets about the game and post your comments below.




NOPGA's good guy David Griffith dealt a dirty trick: NE Ohio Golf Insider

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Torn muscle prevents golf's good guy from competing in Ohio Amateur.

GRIFFITH_8728693.JPGView full sizeDavid Griffith, tournament director for the Northern Ohio PGA.

CANTON, Ohio -- David Griffith was supposed to tee it up Wednesday in the second round of the 107th Ohio Amateur Championship at Brookside Country Club.

Griffith, the tournament director for the Northern Ohio PGA and one in a long line of outstanding players to come out of the Kent State program, earned an exemption into the state's most prestigious amateur event by winning the Ohio Mid-Am last month, a surprise victory of sorts because "Griff" doesn't get to play the amount of golf required to compete against the state's top amateurs. 

But he shot rounds of 71-70 at Winding Hollow Country Club and his 3-under 141 was good for a two-shot victory over Cincinnati's Bill Williamson and Bellbrook's Jeff Scohy, two players likely to contend this week at Brookside.

"It was easy to tell David was excited to be playing," said Dominic Antenucci, executive director of NOPGA. "At first he wasn't sure he would play because he felt it would take him out of the office for too many days. David is one of those guys who has an extraordinary loyalty to his job. We told him that he was going to play and that was it. We gave him no other options."

Then came the conclusion of last week's Minute Men Ohio Open at Westfield Country Club and the revelation that sometimes the golf gods just don't play fair.

Griffith, a Hudson native and resident of Broadview Heights, was sitting around with Antenucci and other NOPGA folks after the Open was in the books. When scorekeeper Dave Chapple waved goodbye, Griffith jumped out of his chair and scaled down three small steps on the tri-level patio at Westfield, which overlooks the 18th green. That's when the golf gods played a dirty, rotten trick on one of the game's nice guys.

"It felt like I had been hit with a golf ball," Griffith said in describing the pain he felt in his leg. "I thought someone had sailed the green and the ball had skipped onto the patio and caught me in the leg. At least, that's what it felt like."

No such luck. It was a torn calf muscle. No golf for four to six weeks. He was placed in a walking boot.

And, that stinks.

It stinks because Griffith deserved to play in the state's most prestigious amateur event on one of the state's premier golf courses. He deserved it because he earned it by winning an event that is difficult to win if you're not one of those guys who plays golf as frequently as he shaves.

Griffith, 40, looked on the bright side.

"At least it wasn't my Achilles," he said.

On Monday, when many in the Ohio Amateur field of 144 were playing a practice round, Griffith was running a NOPGA event at Kirtland Country Club.

Some guys are better on one leg than others are on two.

Off to Cali: Barberton resident and Walsh Jesuit senior Chase Johnson has qualified to play in the 66th annual U.S. Junior Amateur after a one-stroke victory in a 36-hole qualifying event at the Country Club of Hudson. It will be Johnson's second straight trip to the U.S. Junior. 

The Kent State recruit shot 4-under 72-68 to earn medalist honors in the field of 43 and claim one of two spots in the national event on July 22-27 at the Martis Camp Club in Truckee, Calif. Warren's Ryan Fowler earned the other spot after surviving a six-hole playoff with two others. 

Johnson birdied the demanding 18th hole at Hudson in both rounds, including his second round when his 3-wood second shot from 260 yards stopped 15 feet from the hole and he two-putted.

College course: For the third consecutive year, the Northern Ohio PGA will stage three events for players between the ages of 18 and 22. The NOPGA Collegiate Series gives college-aged golfers an opportunity to play some of the top courses in the area in preparation for their college season. The Series will be played at Youngstown Country Club (July 24), Little Mountain Country Club (August 5) and Barrington Golf Club (August 12). All events include greens fees, cart, lunch and prizes. Entry deadline is one week before each event. Go to TheNorthernOhioPGA.com and click on Junior Golf.

Ladies day: The Cleveland Women's Golf Association will stage the fourth and penultimate round of team competition on Thursday at Lakewood Country Club. Kirtland, seeking a third title in the past four years, is in first place with 459 points, while defending champion Westwood is second with 410.5. In the fourth round Kirtland will face Chagrin Valley and Barrington, while Westwood takes on Beechmont, Elyria and Columbia Hills.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

On Twitter: @TimRogersCLE

Northeast Ohio golf listings for July 9, 2013

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See latest list of golf events across Greater Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Here is the latest set of golf listings for Northeast Ohio. To submit items for the listings send an e-mail to golf@plaind.com or fax to 216-999-6276. Listings are free.

Joshua Glatz golf outing will be held July 19 at Cherokee Hills G.C. Levels of donations and marketing opportunities can be viewed at www.jggolf.snappages.com. Email joshuaggolf@gmail.com or hamadsharon@yahoo.com.

OFSC Burn Invitational will be hosted by the Ohio Fire Safety Coalition on July 15 at Glenmoor C.C. Visit www.ohiofsc.org.

Firelands Alumni and Friends outing is July 27 at Pheasant Run G.C. in LaGrange. It will be a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Entry forms at firelandsschools.org. Contact Brett Bartlett at 440-213-6924 or bbartlett112@gmail.com; Mike Passerrello at 440-714-8158; Jason Duchoslav at 440-221-5932; or jduchoslav@yahoo.com.

Hungarian Cultural Garden of Cleveland will host an outing on Aug. 7 at Shaker Heights C.C. A shotgun start begins at 1 p.m. Registration deadline is Aug. 1. Call Mark Yonke at 440-610-7401 or Allen Waddle at 330-656-2218.

Rita Matteo golf outing will be held Aug. 11. Visit www.ritamatteo.org.

Joi Renee Smith golf outing will be held Aug. 16 at Briardale Greens G.C. All proceeds will be donated to the Joi Renee Smith Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Smith was a track athlete at Collinwood and Michigan. The event begins at 9 a.m. Call 216-396-1744 or 216-702-1711.

Summer Classic golf outing will be hosted by the University of Akron men's basketball team at the Quarry G.C. on Aug. 19. The event will include two flights, with the first set for a shotgun start at 7:45 a.m. and an afternoon flight at 2 p.m. Visit www.zips.com/zfund/events or call 330-972-7117.

Easter Seals golf outing will be held Aug. 26 at Red Tail G.C. with a shotgun start at noon. Visit www.noh.easterseals.com or call 440-324-6600 ext. 12.

For listings of various golf outings in Ohio visit www.ohiogolfoutings.com

Akron Zips extend women's basketball coach Jodi Kest's contract through 2017-18 season

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Kest, the Zips' coach the last seven years, last season led them to their second postseason berth in four years and a school-record 23 victories.


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The University of Akron announced on Tuesday that Zips women's basketball coach Jodi Kest has agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep her as the team's coach through the 2017-18 season.

The terms of the agreement are pending approval by the University's Board of Trustees.

"Coach Kest has worked tirelessly for the past seven years to change the women's basketball culture at Akron and establish a winning tradition," Akron athletic director Tom Wistrcill said in a statement released by the university.

"Following the most successful season in school history, we are proud to make this commitment to Jodi as she continues to build the program into one of the best in the Mid-American Conference."

Kest has coached Akron for seven years, making her the longest-tenured women's basketball head coach in the MAC. Last season, she led the Zips to their second postseason berth in four years and a school-record 23 victories. She has won more than 320 games in her 21 seasons as a college head coach.

"I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to lead the Zips for five more years," Kest said. "I am also very appreciative of the commitment and the support from the university administration, in particular (President) Dr. Luis Proenza, Tom Wistrcill and (Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator) Mary Lu Gribschaw.

"This administration truly believes in what we have built and has faith in the future of our program. Akron is a great place to be, and the opportunity to work with our student-athletes and build on our success is one that I cherish every day."

Akron has established itself as one of the top teams in the MAC under Kest's leadership. Last season, the Zips advanced to their first-ever league title game and won their first East Division championship -- the first time since 2005 a team other than Bowling Green won the division. Last year's squad broke more than 10 school records and finished the year with the seventh-highest scoring average in all of Division I at 75.4 points a game.

A northeast Ohio native, Kest became UA's all-time winningest women's basketball coach on Dec. 1, 2012, when the Zips defeated Canisius 81-72 at James A. Rhodes Arena. The Zips went to the Women's NIT, earning their first invitation to the postseason tournament since 1999. Akron has advanced to postseason play three times in its 39-year history, twice under the direction of Kest.

Over the past several seasons, Kest has mentored standout Rachel Tecca of Tallmadge, Ohio. Last season, Tecca became the first Akron player to win the MAC Player of the Year award and was an Academic All-American, just a year after her 2011-12 season was ended by an ACL injury. Tecca surpassed 1,000 career points in last season's second game en route to breaking the school's single-season scoring record.

For the first time in program history, three Akron players earned All-MAC recognition in 2012-13, headlined by Tecca (first team) who was joined by classmates Sina King (third team) and Hanna Luburgh (third team). Tecca and Luburgh went on to receive All-MAC Tournament Team nods, and five Zips garnered Academic All-MAC honors, another program record.

Kacie Cassell also had a milestone 2012-13 season for Akron. She led the nation's Division I players with  with 7.8 assists per game and broke the school's single-season and career assists records.

Kest graduated in 1984 with a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Slippery Rock University, where she was a standout in basketball and tennis. The three-time basketball team captain earned All-American honors in her final two seasons.

She led the "Rock" in scoring in three successive seasons, finishing her collegiate career with 1,289 points and 540 rebounds, and was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
In 1986, Kest received a master of science in education from Northwest Missouri State, where she served as graduate assistant coach from 1984-86.


Get help with those putts with subtle breaks: In the Pro Shop

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Here is a putting training device to help you make those pesky 10 to 15-footers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This week we take a look at a device designed to help you improve one of the most important parts of the game: reading greens.

Sure Putt Green Reader

The draw: Follow the bubble. That is what this putting aid will tell you. The product is similar to a level, the kind used in the building trades. You can learn the slope of the green by reading the dial around the disk. If the bubble stays in the center, the green is level. If it moves to the right on the dial, the slope will move to the left and if it moves to the left, the green will slope to the right. It also can tell you if you are facing an uphill putt or a downhill putt. Every quadrant on the dial has labels to indicate the correct path to the hole. By placing the device behind your ball or anywhere along the path to the hole it will tell you the direction the putt will break.

The scorecard: The thing works. I took it to Washington Golf Course and Mark Anderson, a recent graduate of Brooklyn High and on his way to Heidelberg, and I attempted about 15 putts each. The aid was right on and was especially helpful  when lining up a putt on unfamiliar territory. Longer putts with an obvious break are easier to read with the naked eye than the short, tricky 5-footers. If you are facing a lengthy putt with multiple breaks you’ll have to take two readings at various spots along your line to the hole. But the device was helpful on putts of 5 to 10 feet with a subtle break. The price of $39.99 is a little steep for my tastes. I picked mine up at www.sureputtgolf.com.
 


Bunt or no bunt, Lonnie Chisenhall regrets ninth-inning failure: Cleveland Indians Chatter

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Wasted opportunity proved costly in Indians' extra-inning loss to Detroit on Monday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seen and heard at Progressive Field before Tuesday's game.

Clubhouse confidential: Lonnie Chisenhall was not surprised manager Terry Francona didn't ask him to bunt in the ninth inning Monday night with Drew Stubbs on second base, no one out and Detroit lefty Drew Smyly on the mound in a 2-2 game.

"No, I wasn't," said Chisenhall. "He just wanted me to get the barrel over on the ball and hit it to my pull side [right side of the field]. Stubbs is in scoring position right there whether I hit a single, Yan Gomes hits a single or Michael Bourn hits one."

Chisenhall hit a fly ball to center field that wasn't deep enough to advance Stubbs. Gomes struck out and Bourn flied out to left. The Tigers won, 4-2, with two runs in the 10th.

"It was my job to get Stubbs over right there for Yan," said Chisenhall. "When you have a job to do, you've got to get it done."

Drano, anyone? The Indians and Blue Jays had to hit inside on Tuesday because the playing surface at Progressive Field was too saturated from Monday night's rain. When Progressive Field opened in 1994, it had one of the best drainage systems in the big leagues.

Stat of the day: When the Indians have a starting pitcher go six or more innings, they are 31-15 this season.


Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun and others are expected to be suspended by Major League Baseball around All-Star break, according to report

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MLB is expected to suspend as many as 20 players some time after next week's All-Star break for their roles in the Biogenesis case, sources told ESPN's "Outside the Lines." MLB may be considering 100-game suspensions for Rodriguez and Braun.


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Alex Rodriguez, fifth on baseball's all-time home run list with 647, and 2011 National League MVP Ryan Braun are among the players who are expected to be suspended by Major League Baseball, according to an ESPN report.

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" news show reported that sources say Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Braun refused to answer questions during a June 29 meeting with Major League Baseball about his connection to Tony Bosch and the Biogenesis clinic in Miami. A source said New York Yankees third baseman Rodriguez has not been interviewed but a meeting is expected to take place within the week. MLB has interviewed other players linked to the clinic, sources say.

The story by T.J. Quinn and Mike Fish for ESPN.com includes:

Commissioner Bud Selig's office is expected to suspend Braun and Rodriguez, along with as many as 20 players sometime after next week's All-Star break, for their roles in the Biogenesis case, several sources told "Outside the Lines." As OTL reported, MLB started building cases against the players last month after Bosch agreed to cooperate with investigators.

The question is the length of the suspensions.

Sources said the commissioner's office was considering 100-game bans for Braun and Rodriguez, the punishment for a second offense, even though neither player was previously suspended for violating MLB's drug policy.

The argument, one source said, would be that they -- and possibly other players -- committed multiple offenses by receiving performance-enhancing drugs from Bosch and by lying about it.

Rodriguez is on a rehabilitation assignment with the Yankees high-Class A team, the Tampa Yankees. The three-time American League MVP and 14-time all-star has not played for the Yankees this season after having surgery in January to repair a torn left hip labrum.

The Brewers host the Cincinnati Reds tonight. Braun came off the disabled list on Monday. The 2007 NL Rookie of the Year and five-time all-star had been sidelined since June 9 with a bruised right thumb. Braun was batting .304 with nine homers and 36 RBI in 57 games this season going into tonight's game.


Front-nine ace carries Corey Richmond to lead at rain-interrupted Ohio Amateur

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Playing in his first Ohio Amateur but managing it like a veteran, the Northern Kentucky senior-to-be forged a three-stroke lead after Tuesday's rain-delayed first round at Brookside Country Club.

CANTON, Ohio -- Long before rain suspended play for half the field early in the evening, Corey Richmond staked a claim to a near-perfect day.

How many golfers have a hole in one and shoot an 8-under 63, the lowest round they've ever had in a tournament?

Playing in his first Ohio Amateur but managing it like a veteran, the Northern Kentucky senior-to-be forged a three-stroke lead after Tuesday's rain-delayed first round at Brookside Country Club.

"It's crazy," he said of his rapid rise to the top of the leaderboard. "It hasn't really soaked in yet."

The West Union native holed an 8 iron from 178 yards on the seventh hole and added eight birdies on a Donald Ross layout considered one of the toughest tests in the state. After teeing off in the very first threesome, he posted a low score that had to be daunting to a lot of those in the 144-player field.

"I wouldn't want to tee off in the afternoon and see that, I guess," Richmond said with a grin.

• Ohio Amateur scoreboard

He sure got everyone's attention. After teeing off at 8 a.m. in the same group that included former Cincinnati Reds third baseman Chris Sabo, he needed just 29 shots to play his first nine holes.

Michael Bernard -- you may remember him from three years ago at the age of 16 as the youngest winner ever of the Ohio Am -- also opened with a 29 on his first nine but the round stalled out coming down the stretch. The Ohio State sophomore from Huber Heights doesn't know Richmond but figures he has to be a great player.

"The guy that shot 63, that was pretty impressive," he said, shortly after following Richmond into the scorer's tent. "A 63 on this course is really impressive."

Golfers love to swap news about what everybody's doing on the course. That was no different on the rolling hills at Brookside.

"One of my friends told me at the turn that two people had shot 29s on their first nine," said Andrew Dorn, who matched Bernard with a 66. "I heard the scores were really low and I was, just, 'Wow.'"

The round was delayed by an hour due to lightning early in the morning. Then most of the field played in humid weather and under bright sun for the next several hours. But a major thunderstorm pounded the course late in the day, preventing 72 players from completing their rounds. They'll return early on Wednesday and finish up before a belated start to the second round.

The 21-year-old Richmond had a fine season at Northern Kentucky, where he was the No. 1 player on the team and was medalist of the Bearcat Invitational. His only previous ace came at a little nine-hole course, Adams County Country Club, when he was 12.

His low score last season in college was a 67. But he topped that at Brookside, coming within a shot of matching the competitive course record.

"Most of the bunkers are playing at like 310 or 305 (yards), and that's usually how far I hit my drives," said Richmond, who qualified at Coldstream Country Club in Cincinnati because it is close to his apartment. "With it being wet today actually helped because my ball stuck in front of some of the bunkers and made it easy to fire at the pins."

Not many people had any idea who he was before the round. One who did was defending Ohio Amateur champion Nathan Kerns, who shot a 72.

"That's incredible," he said of Richmond's magical round. "We played a lot of matches together. I played a lot with him in high school and a few times with him in college. He's a great player. You can't not be a great player and shoot a 63."

Massillon's Tyler Light was alone in fourth with a 67, followed by Parker Hewit of Westfield Center at 69 and Dublin's Nathan Clark and Akron's Dan Belden, each with a 70.

Remarkably, Richmond wasn't the only player with an ace at the seventh hole. Erik Hoops holed a 7-iron at the hole while shooting a 72.

The 2011 winner, Korey Ward, had a 71, with 1995 champion Alan Fadel at 74 and two-time winner Robert Gerwin II at 74.

Peter Hammar, who won the Ohio Am the last time it was played at Brookside in 1987, sagged to a 79.

Former Cleveland Browns GM Tom Heckert arrested on DUI charges

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Heckert becomes the second Denver Broncos executive facing drunk driving charges.

BEREA, Ohio – In an NFL off-season rife with poor off-field decisions and arrests, former Browns general manager Tom Heckert has become the latest to make news for the wrong reasons.

Heckert, who joined the Denver Broncos as the director of pro personnel in May, was arrested in greater Denver on June 11 and charged with driving under the influence and careless driving. The report from the Douglas County (Colo.) Sheriff's Department was obtained Tuesday by the Associated Press.

Heckert, 45, is the second Broncos executive facing drunken driving charges. Director of player personnel Matt Russell was arrested Saturday for suspicion of driving under the influence.

Broncos president Joe Ellis told the Denver Post that discipline for both team executives will be severe.

“I am extremely disappointed that in my short time with the Broncos I have made such a serious mistake,” Heckert said in a statement released by the team. “My actions last month have brought embarrassment to the organization, and I fully understand the consequences that are involved. I am truly sorry and take complete responsibility for this situation.

“Although I have let many people down, I will learn from this and work toward regaining the trust that I have lost.”

Heckert spent the previous three seasons with the Browns, but was jettisoned in a franchise overhaul directed by CEO Joe Banner.

The Broncos learned of Heckert’s arrest “immediately after it occurred” and notified the league office, according to the release.

“Tom’s actions are obviously part of a disturbing pattern of irresponsible behavior that we are aggressively addressing within our organization,” the Broncos wrote in the release. “One member of the Broncos arrested for driving under the influence is one too many. This type of behavior puts innocent people at risk and cannot be tolerated. While our team and league supply plenty of resources to prevent these situations, it is clear we need to do better.”

The Associated Press reported Heckert’s pretrial conference is scheduled for Aug. 30.

It has been a difficult off-season for the league in the police blotter. The arrest of former New England tight end Aaron Hernandez on murder charges has dominated national headlines in recent weeks.

Three Browns players – Quentin Groves (solicitation of an undercover officer for prostitution), Armonty Bryant (DUI) and Ausar Walcott (attempted murder) – have been arrested since April. Desmond Bryant was arrested for criminal mischief in February prior to signing with the club.

Browns receiver Josh Gordon, who Heckert selected in the second round of the 2012 supplemental draft, will serve a two-game ban to start the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Heckert is entering his 23rd season in the NFL. His fellow Broncos executive, Russell, was arrested after allegedly hitting two vehicles in separate crashes, the second of which injured a police officer, who was treated at a hospital and released.

RHP Danny Salazar will start Thursday in big-league debut: Cleveland Indians Insider

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The Indians' starting rotation is very much a subject of conversation within the organization as the All-Star game approaches.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Danny Salazar will become the 10th pitcher to start a game for the Indians this season when he makes his big-league debut against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon at Progressive Field.

One way or the other Salazar, who could be showcased for a trade, probably won't stick around long. Zach McAllister is expected to rejoin the starting rotation soon after the All-Star break as he recovers from a sprained right middle finger. The break begins after Sunday's game against Kansas City with play resuming for the Indians on July 19 against the Twins at Target Field.

Manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Mickey Callaway are spending the days before the break checking with members of the rotation to see how they're feeling physically.

"Mickey and I are in the process of getting with every pitcher regarding rest: who needs it, who it helps, who it doesn't help," said Francona.

He wants to have All-Star Justin Masterson open the second half against the Twins whether or not he pitches Tuesday for the American League at Citi Field. Masterson's last start of the first half will be Wednesday night against the Blue Jays.

"I do think we'd like to have Masty come out of the break starting it for obvious reasons," said Francona. It's not known in what order the rest of the rotation, Ubaldo Jimenez, Corey Kluber and Scott Kazmir, will be in when the second half begins.

"We'll try to set it up to our advantage because that's the one time of the season you can do it," said Francona.

The rotation, through the first 89 games of the season, was 30-34 with a 4.58 ERA. They have the 11th highest ERA in the league.

The Indians are trying to acquire a starting pitcher to pair with Masterson at the top of the rotation. They've talked to the Cubs about Matt Garza and Milwaukee about Yovani Gallardo. Garza can be a free agent at the end of the season, while Gallardo is signed through 2014 with a club option for 2015.

Salazar could be one of the prospects GM Chris Antonetti will have to give up to bolster the rotation. "When all the minor-league coordinators came through Cleveland a couple of weeks ago, one of the questions was could Salazar handle one of these spot starts," said Francona. "It was a unanimous yes. So we're kind of excited to see him pitch."

Salazar opened the season at Class AA Akron. He went 2-3 with a 2.67 ERA in seven starts before being promoted to Class AAA Columbus on May 12. He's gone 3-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 10 starts since his promotion, striking out 49 in 42 1/3 innings. Overall, the opposition is hitting .221 (61-for-276) against him. Right-handers are hitting .207 (29-for-140).

Salazar, 23, had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2010 and spent most of the 2011 season rehabbing. They were still cautious with him in 2012 as he pitched just 87 2/3 innings in the minors.

The 6-0, 190-pound Salazar won the Tribe's Player of the Week award for going 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA (one earned run in 10 innings) from July 1-7. He beat Class AAA Durham and Louisville, striking out 10 in 10 innings.

Carlos Carrasco was in line for Thursday's start, but he pitched so poorly Saturday against the Tigers that he was sent back to Columbus on Sunday. He officially cleared optional waivers Tuesday and was optioned to the Clippers. Trevor Bauer has already made four spot starts for the Tribe this year, but Francona said the Indians decided it was best to let him stay in Columbus and continue to retool his delivery.

My friend Vinnie: Joe Smith, taking over the eighth inning for struggling Vinnie Pestano, doesn't think it will take Pestano long to rebound.

"The bullpen is our own little family out there," said Smith. "Vinnie has picked up everybody in that bullpen, including me, numerous times. Over the past two years, he's been one of the best set-up men in the league.

"He's picked us up enough where we can go out and pick him up. When he gets it figured out, we're going to be rolling down there."

Finally: Catcher Lou Marson is back playing catch. He received a cortisone shot in his right shoulder and believes he can avoid surgery after visiting Dr. James Andrews.

Ubaldo Jimenez pitches 6 scoreless innings in Cleveland Indians' 3-0 victory over Jays

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Ubaldo Jimenez pitched six scoreless innings as the Cleveland Indians beat Toronto on Tuesday night for just their second victory in the last seven games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In his last start, Ubaldo Jimenez couldn't get through the sixth inning. To be more specific, he didn't record an out, walked two, made an error and gave up a grand slam to help turn a 5-0 lead into a 10-7 loss.

Jimenez's collapse came against Kansas City on the Fourth of July. Tuesday night there were no such fireworks as Jimenez pitched six scoreless innings in the Indians' 3-0 victory over Toronto at Progressive Field.

The Tribe's offense was still hung over after losing three out of four games to the AL Central-leading Tigers, but Jimenez pitched like a man with something to prove. For just the sixth time in 18 starts, he pitched at least six innings, earning his seventh victory of the season.

"They say in baseball you have to forget quick," said Jimenez. "I had to forget about what happened in my last start and get ready for this one."

Tribe-Jays boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

Jimenez (7-4, 4.37) still threw too many pitches and not enough strikes -- only 57 percent (60-for-105) of his pitches went for strikes -- but he walked only two after walking nine in 10 innings over his previous two starts.

"He's done a pretty good job. I think he should be proud of himself," said manager Terry Francona, when asked to evaluate Jimenez's first half. "What happened last year was difficult for him. Every time he's gone out there this year, he's given us a chance to win. ... We'll take that."

Jimenez went 9-17 last season.

Regarding Jimenez's excess of pitches, Francona said: "In a perfect world, that gets better and he goes seven innings instead of six ... but it's not always a perfect world. I think in some cases that's why no one seems to get a bead on him. He pitches backward. He has some deception ... you don't really hone in on him."

Josh Johnson (1-4, 4.62) was almost as good as Jimenez, but the Indians stung him early and Jimenez and the bullpen made it stand. Johnson struck out six, walked two and allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings.

Jimenez, Cody Allen, Joe Smith and Chris Perez combined on an eight-hitter for the Tribe's 11th shutout of the season. The 11 shutouts are second in the big leagues behind Pittsburgh's 12.

After scoreless innings by Allen and Smith, Perez allowed two singles in the ninth, but earned his 10th save. He's 4-for-4 in save situations since coming off the disabled list on June 27.

"It was really good to see Chris get four in a row," said Francona. "The big thing is he feels good health-wise, his ball has life and he's staying down in the zone. It's very encouraging."

The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Johnson had a momentary letdown.

Asdrubal Cabrera, who struck out in the first to extend his slump to 0-for-20, walked with one out. Jason Kipnis singled to center as Cabrera moved to second. Nick Swisher followed with a single into right field to score Cabrera for a 1-0 lead.

Michael Brantley followed with another single to right as Kipnis scored. Just like that the opportunity for more runs disappeared as Johnson retired Carlos Santana on a fly ball to right and Mark Reynolds on a grounder to second.

The Indians added an insurance run in the eighth. Drew Stubbs opened with a double off Steve Delabar. Michael Bourn moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt and Cabrera delivered him with a sacrifice fly.

All the little things the Indians couldn't do against the Tigers, they did against Toronto. It paid dividends in the standings as well as the Indians moved to within a 2 1/2 games of the Tigers following their loss to Chicago on Tuesday night.

"This was a nice bounce-back win," said Francona. "It all starts with pitching."

In two starts against the Jays this year, Jimenez is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA. He's held Toronto to one run on eight hits in 12 innings, striking out 10 and walking four.

The Jays pressured Jimenez. Brantley lost Maicer Izturis' fly ball in the lights in second inning and it fell for a double. With two out, Jimenez walked J.P. Arencibia, but struck out Emilio Bonifacio to end the inning.

By the end of the third, Jimenez had thrown 65 pitches -- 35 strikes and 30 balls. That's not a good ratio and it did not improve as Cody Rasmus started the fourth with a double and Izturis singled him to third, but Jimenez helped himself by grabbing Rajai Davis' bouncer back to the mound.

After freezing Rasmus at third, he threw to second for the force. Then he struck out Arencibia and retired Bonifacio on a fly ball to the track in right.

"He had some traffic, but he didn't let it spiral out of control," said Francona.

Cleveland Browns give jersey to family of longtime fan who tweaked team in his obituary

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The Cleveland Browns sent two representatives and a No. 76 jersey to the memorial service of a fan who made nationwide headlines with his humorous mention of the team in his obituary.

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns didn't send pallbearers, but they did dispatch a pair of representatives and a customized team jersey to the memorial service of a longtime fan who created national headlines with a humorous obituary.

Mansfield resident Scott E. Entsminger, 55, died Thursday and in his obit -- which ran Monday in the Columbus Dispatch -- included a memorable request: "six Cleveland Browns pallbearers so the Browns can let him down one last time."

The obituary was written by Bill Entsminger, the brother of the Browns' season-ticket holder.

Media outlets across the country picked up the story. It certainly caught the attention of the Browns. The organization contacted Entsminger's widow, Pat, on Monday and learned his favorite player was Hall of Famer Lou Groza.

The organization sent Browns Backers manager Michele DeScioli and guest-relations manager of season tickets Rico Rivera to the Tuesday service, where they presented the family with a jersey featuring Groza's number, 76, and Entsminger's name on the back.

Family members told the Mansfield News Journal that Scott and Bill Entsminger hadn't missed a Browns home game since 1999. The General Motors retiree had pancreatic cancer and died 22 days after his diagnosis, the News Journal reported.

Andrew Bynum will visit Dallas; Cleveland Cavaliers waiting

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Multiple reports say the Cleveland Cavaliers have offered Andrew Bynum a 2-year, $24 million deal, but a source familiar with discussions said the sides still are negotiating.

bynum-lakers-jazz-horiz-ap.jpgAndrew Bynum is in Atlanta today and plans to visit Dallas tomorrow before the free agent decides where he will play next season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Andrew Bynum pursuit now has extended into a third day with a third team, and the questions everyone has posed to the coveted 7-footer remain unanswered.

Cleveland Cavaliers? Atlanta Hawks? Or Dallas Mavericks?

"Time will tell," said David Lee, Bynum's agent Tuesday evening.

Lee spoke from a plane headed to Dallas, where he and Bynum will meet with Mavericks officials Wednesday. It will be the third free-agent pitch in three days for the intriguing 25-year-old center with questionable knees.

Wednesday also is the first day that free agents are permitted to sign with teams.

The Cavaliers' offer came first, and is perhaps the most lucrative of the three Bynum is mulling. Yahoo reported that the Cavaliers offered Bynum a two-year, $24 million deal, with a team option for a second year.

The Cavaliers have plenty of salary-cap space to offer Bynum around $12 million per year, but many teams remain skeptical that Bynum's knees are healthy enough for him to play a full season. Bynum missed all of 2012-13 with the Philadelphia 76ers because of knee problems that eventually resulted in surgery in March.

Lee has said that he will not permit his client to work out for teams. However, Lee also has said he expects Bynum to be ready to play at the start of training camp.

It's a gamble whether Bynum will be able to not only return to form, but return at all. But it's a gamble that a handful of teams are willing to take on a player who is considered an elite NBA center when healthy. The Cavaliers envision a Bynum-Kyrie Irving tandem that could dominate in the Eastern Conference.

In addition to a lucrative contract, the Cavaliers also can offer head coach Mike Brown -- the same coach who was at the helm of the L.A. Lakers when Bynum had his most productive season in the NBA. In 2011-12, Bynum averaged a career-best 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds.

In his seven-season career, Bynum has averaged 11.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

The Cavaliers already have deals in place with guard Jarrett Jack and forward Earl Clark in this free-agency negotiation period.


Indians vs. Blue Jays: Get updates and post your comments

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Justin Masterson tries to bounce back from one of this worst starts of the season by continuing his dominance over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night in Cleveland.

Game 91: Indians (47-43) vs. Blue Jays (43-46)

First pitch: 7:05 p.m. at Progressive Field.

TV/radio: TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WMMS FM/100.7, WTAM AM/ 1100



Starting pitchers: RHP Esmil Rogers (3-4, 3.84) vs. RHP Justin Masterson (10-7, 3.78).


» Box score | MLB scoreboard


» Get updates from the pressbox here


» You can also follow Tweets about the game and post your comments below.




Hey, you! Get your Browns, Indians and Cavaliers questions answered by our beat reporters

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What's on your mind, Cleveland sports fans? Mary Kay Cabot, Paul Hoynes and Mary Schmitt Boyer tackle your questions every Sunday in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com in their Hey! columns.

Mary Schmitt BoyerMary Schmitt Boyer 

What's on your mind, Cleveland sports fans?

Did the Cavaliers offer Andrew Bynum too much money? How will Brandon Weeden do in his second year as quarterback in the NFL? Can the Indians catch the Tigers?

Got questions about these topics or others for our Cavs, Browns and Indians beat writers? What are you waiting for? Send them in!

Mary Kay Cabot, Paul Hoynes and Mary Schmitt Boyer tackle your questions every Sunday in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com in their Hey! columns. But you must use the links to the forms below to submit your question.

Submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for them to be considered for this weekend's columns.

Send a Browns question now to Mary Kay Cabot »

Send an Indians question now to Paul Hoynes »

Send a Cavaliers question now to Mary Schmitt Boyer

Cleveland Browns and NFL P.M. links: Outside linebackers in Ray Horton's 3-4 are key to success; how will new defensive line fare?

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New defensive coordinator Horton has promised that his attacking 3-4 defense will pester opponents. To do so, outside LBs must excel. More Browns and NFL story links.


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Despite having one of the worst offenses in the NFL last season, the Browns main focus in the offseason was to address the defensive side of the ball.  Ray Horton, the Browns’ new defensive coordinator, has promised that his new 3-4 defense will look a lot like the Pittsburgh Steelers' attacking defense that has terrorized the Browns for the last 10 years.

In order for Horton to fulfill that promise, he will need stellar play from his outside linebackers.  In the last few years, the Steelers’ defense featured two Pro Bowl caliber players on the outside in James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley.  This season, Horton will be working with free-agent signee Paul Kruger, first-round draft pick Barkevious Mingo and third-year veteran Jabaal Sheard.

Kruger and Mingo are more natural fits for the position whereas Sheard has played defensive end in former defensive coordinator Dick Jauron’s 4-3 scheme the last two seasons.  Sheard will have to perform one of the toughest transitions for NFL players to make.

Defensive ends in a 4-3 are solely responsible for getting after the passer and setting the edge on running plays to keep the runner from getting outside.  A 3-4 outside linebacker has more responsibilities.  Along with being able to rush the passer and set the edge effectively, an outside linebacker in a 3-4 must be able to drop into coverage, play man or zone, and make more open-field tackles.

Chris Pokorny of dawgsbynature.com has justifiable doubt as to whether Sheard can develop the necessary coverage skills to excel at his new position.

My big question for Sheard boils down to how well he will do when he has to drop back into coverage. For me, it’s one of those things that I’m really not confident in evaluating until we see how he does during the regular season.
All indications out of the Berea suggest that Sheard’s transition has been seamless.  If these reports are true, combined with Mingo and Kruger, the Browns will feature a pass rush that has the capability to get after the quarterback with regularity, something that is vital to success in today’s NFL.  

NFL Story Links

How will the Browns’ new look defensive line perform this season? (By Peter Smith, Dawg Pound Daily)

The Browns’ receivers have plenty of potential: can it translate to success on the field? (By Fred Greetham, Orange and Brown Report)

How will Norv Turner go about improving the Browns’ offense? (By John Breech, CBSSports.com)

Everything you need to know before the Browns’ start to training camp. (By Jason La Canfora, CBSSports.com)

Aaron Hernandez has reportedly confessed to the murder of Odin Lloyd. (ESPN.com)

The ‘other’ Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski, is doing well after back surgery. (FanNation)

Which NFL teams are primed to drastically improve this year? (By Bill Barnwell, Grantland)

Cowboys running back Demarco Murray is confident in Tony Romo’s abilities. (By Jon Machota, dallasnews.com)

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/10/utecht-wins-concussion-arbitration-against-the-bengals Former NFL tight end Ben Utecht has won his concussion arbitration proceeding. (By Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk)

Reviewing the 2013 NFL draft for the teams in the AFC North. (By Doug Farrar, Yahoo! Sports)


What do you think of the CWRU law professor's idea to legalize PEDs in pro sports? Bill Livingston

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Tell us what you think about legalizing performance-enhancing drugs in pro sports and the Olympics.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Case Western Reserve bioethics and law professor Max Mehlman argued in my column today that Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs, such as anabolic steroids and endurance drus, should be legalized for professional sports and Olympic competitors, given informed consent by the athletes and medical supervision in their use.

WWW.TrackandFieldNews.com  picked up the column because of the damage PEDs have done to the sport.

• Do you think it would level the playing field if all competitors had access to PEDs? Or would it make the sports legalizing them morally bankupt?

• Would it end the hypocrisy? Or taint the records irrevocably?

• Is the model of clean athletes an impossible dream at the top levels of sports? Or would only the cynical observers think that?

• If such a step were taken, would it change your views on Major League Baseball's "steroid era" and soften your opposition to the Hall of Fame induction of players admitting to, testing positive for, or suspected of being steroid abusers, such as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens,  Sammy Sosa, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, and Ryan Braun?

• Would that be fair to the players, such as Kenny Lofton,  who competed at the same time and never were under the cloud of drug use?

Share your opinion in the comments section below.

Old warrior Catlaunch back at ThistleDown Racino for $50,000 Lewis Memorial: Horse Racing Insider

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The old warrior Catlaunch returns to ThistleDown Racino on Saturday for the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial Stakes.

Catlaunch May Rowland Memorial.jpgView full sizeCatlaunch makes a return appearance at Thistledown on Saturday.

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio -- Catlaunch is 12 years old, but still a very bad cat when chasing rich Ohio Sires Stakes purses at Buckeye thoroughbred tracks.

Catlaunch has long been a stakes star at Thistledown Racino, where he'll return on Saturday for the 1 1/8-mile $50,000 George Lewis Memorial Stakes. The ageless gelding had a victory drought in 2012 and 2013 before finally making it to the winner's circle in the $50,000 Sydney Gendelman Memorial Handicap at Beulah Park in Grove City on June 16 with Megan Fadlovich in the saddle.

It was Catlaunch's first win in seven starts this season after going 0-for-7 in 2012. The old-timer is far from finished. While he hadn't won in two years, Catlaunch had rung up four seconds and five thirds. Over his career, Catlaunch has won 40 of 105 races and $1,120,709, a record for Ohio Sires Stakes action. He was the 2011 Ohio Horse of the Year after winning five of eight races and $166,900.

"I can't believe it, but Catlaunch still acts like a four-year-old," said owner Ron Field of Scioto Farm Supply in Chillicothe. "We had his joints checked before the season started and had a few little chips taken out. I figured we'd race Catlaunch or let him retire to a life of comfort, but he's been  his old self lately, so why retire him? Age is just a number with this horse.

"Catlaunch is physically fit. We don't inject him or do anything to him. He's a happy camper and (trainer Ivan Vasquez) says he likes his job. Catlaunch is a
beautiful horse. He'll tell us when he's finished with racing."

The homebred son of Noble Cat-Skilaunch proved he still is tough to beat in winning the 1 1/16-mile Gendelman, a race he'd captured in 2009-11. Overtaken in the stretch, Catlaunch came back with a surprising burst at the wire to beat Master Rocket by a nose in 1:48.17, paying $20.80.

"Three favorites came after him and he brushed them off," said Field. "When the long shot came after him, Catlaunch dug in. There have been jockeys who want to pull him up or jerk him around (when Catlaunch appears to be fading in the stretch), but we know not to touch him. Catlaunch doesn't like to get beat and knows what to do to win."

Captain at Big M: The spectacular three-year-old pacer Captaintreacherous has already won the richest pacing event of the season - the $1 million North America Cup at Mohawk Raceway in Campbellville, Ontario - and the $500,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. On Saturday he'll chase the richest U.S. pacing event of the year as the early 6-5 favorite to win the $635,750 Meadowlands Pace at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J.

Sunshine Beach won Saturday night's $50,000 Meadowlands Pace elimination in a duel with Odds On Equuleus, while Captaintreacherous earned a bye. The two are given the best chance of derailing Captaintreacherous on Saturday, although trainer Tony Alagna said the Big M is a perfect fit for the son of Somebeachsomewhere.

"He loves this track," Alagna told Standardbred Canada. "This is home for him and will always be his home. Tim Tetrick is driving him. He knows the horse. I just have to bring (Captaintreacherous) in great shape and let everything happen the way it should."

Captaintreacherous has the No. 5 post in a field of 10 top three-year-old pacers. The U.S. Trotting Association's Horse of the Year as a precocious two-year-old, The Captain is five-for-five this season and eight of 10 in 2012. His career earnings have soared to $1.72 million for the Captaintreacherous Racing syndicate, which includes Joe Sbrocco of Brecksville.

Freshmen stars at Northfield: A trio of pacing favorites sparkled and interesting there were interesting trotting division upsets as the two-year-year-olds dueled at Northfield Park on July 3 in five $30,000 Ohio Sires Stakes races.

The most impressive pacer was Dibs ($2.80), from Pennsylvania's Burke Racing Stable. With Tony Hall in the sulky, the Pine Valley colt scorched the half-mile track in 1:55.4. Also capturing freshman pacing events were Rocket Beau ($4.20) in 1:58.1 with Chris Page driving and Chance I Might ($2.80), guided to a 1:59 win by Hall. Trotter Noah Count ($24.80) went wire-to-wire in 2:02.2 in his first career start with Robin Miller at the reins. Rompaway Galaxy ($26.20) scored an upset in the second trotting division, a 2:01.1 victory with Mike Micallef driving.

Page wins 2,000th: Chris Page, 29, is a road warrior, driving all around Ohio to race trotters and pacers. On Monday, he made the trip from his Mt. Vernon home to Northfield Park, winning three of the first six races on the program and scoring the 2,000th victory of his career behind Midnight Dragon in 1:54.4. Page has won the $100,000 Ohio Sires Stakes championship three times, and $7.5 million in purses.

Page plans to stay in Ohio and drive at Scioto Downs and Northfield Park. Wearing his white and blue colors, Page leads the Northfield driving standings and is third at Scioto.


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