Rotten Apple ads

Today I finally reached the breaking point. Logged on to ESPN.com, encountered - once again - the highly annoying ad you see pictured at right, then contacted whoever it might concern at ESPN with this letter:

~~~~~

I visit ESPN.com several times throughout the day. Lately, I've been driven to use my mobile device because using my Mac at home has been a COMPLETE HASSLE.

Your advertisements for the Apple iPod Touch are ridiculous and annoying. When I want to find information on new Apple products, I go to apple.com. When I want to find information on sports news, I go to espn.com.

The first moments after arriving at espn.com are spent having to deal with this annoying ad campaign. I understand the whole idea behind these ads, why ESPN needs to use them, etc., but is there any way you could tone it down?

Like maybe only having the ad blow-up into this huge theatrical presentation if you CLICK on it. I just run my mouse over it and the entire computer turns into this fruity Apple commercial. I mean, c'mon already.

Thanks for your time,

Mark Catalano

~~~~~

I toned it down because the first draft was mean. I sent it twice. Then I get two responses:

~~~~~

Dear Mark,

Thank you for contacting us.

We value the comments and opinions of our fans. Your comments in reference to advertisements on ESPN.com will be forwarded to the appropriate department for review.

For live assistance with this or any other issue, please call Customer Care at 1-888-549-3776 (ESPN) between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. EST.

Regards,

Sara

ESPN.com Customer Care

~~~~~

The second e-mail was the exact same as the first - verbatim - except for the last part. Apparently Sara had to use the restroom because the second one was signed by "Andria."

I usually have zero complaints ever about ESPN, but these ads are killing me.

1 Minute Drill

Zero timeouts.

Would be quite the march.

Cribbs is missed RIGHT NOW.

Dallas vs Detroit: who cares.

80 yards in 1 minute starts NOW.

17 yards to Massaquoi. Nice.

Massaquoi again for 13!

50 yards in 40 seconds.

Stuckey didn't get out of bounds. 20 seconds.

Browns spike it. We lost a ton of time there.

3rd and 10...18 seconds...50 yards...

McCoy to Moore! He gets out of bounds!

1st and 10...13 seconds...29 yards...

Browns look CONFUSED.

Hits Stuckey in the hands and then into a Jags players hands. Interception.

Don't bother shooting me. I'm going into hiding.

Tick tick tick tick

Jones Drew dicing us up. Twice in a row.

Garrards ball tipped AGAIN! TJ Ward with his second INT of the game.

Bittersweet because we can't move the frigging ball. LET'S GO OFFENSE!

Once again we can't get a first down. Robiskie with a drop.

4th down and we line up for a long field goal.

51 yards..........

FINGERS CROSSED!

Nope. No good. Unreal.

Sorry, had to walk away for a few.

Browns sack Garrard, then allow Mercedes Lewis to dice us. Can't tackle just the guys feet, fellas. WRAP HIM UP.

3rd and 3...HUGE.

Run to Jennings for 1-2 yards. They'll go for it.

They got it. Jones Drew has 110 yards.

He just gashed us to the 5 yard line. Not good. Not good at all.

Make that 132 yards.

Buffalo takes the lead on Cincy.

Browns take a timeout.

Browns sack Garrard!

Underwood drops an easy TD. Was right in his mitts.

Touchdown strike to Mercedes Lewis. Shoot me.

Tie ball game.

Colt McCoy with a GREAT pass to Moore!

McCoy's pass tipped. Deep breathe.

Green Bay putting the hammer to the Vikings.

Stuckey with a snag, and picks up extra yards! (And he holds onto the pill!)

Houston creeping back against the Jets!

3rd and 4...

COLT RUNS FOR A BIG FIRST DOWN! But he's hurt. Not good, not good at all. Who would we even turn to?

He's staying in. Guys a warrior.

3 minutes left in the game. Colt is limping quite a bit.

Be smart here. Chew some clock.

Hillis can't gain anything. Offensive line should be ashamed.

Buffalo 42 to Cincy's 31 - can't wait to see what TO and Ocho think about that!

2nd and 10...

Hillis gains 3 or so yards. Jacksonville uses a timeout, 1 remaining.

3rd and 8...

Let's avoid a turnover here. Avoid the sack. Be smart.

Jacksonville shows blitz.

Colt is sacked. It was inevitable.

Field goal attempt here.

Dawsons kick is GOOD!

Browns up by 3!

2:46 left in the game...

Browns drop the returner at about the 10 yard line. That's what I like to see.

TJ Ward comes up limping.

Garrard way overthrows Underwood. Deep breathe.

Garrard to Osgood for the first and he gets out of bounds.

Jones Drew just ripped our hearts out. Short screen pass just about goes the friggin distance. I could puke.

2 minutes left and Jacksonville is on the 1.

Browns hold Jennings short.

Touchdown for Jones Drew. Sick feeling has returned.

GARRARD FUMBLES!

Browns recover! Tough day for the Jags! Garrard coughed it up on a QB Keeper.

Garrard looks to be shaken up.

Browns offense better WAKE UP.

Colt sacked again. Piss poor.

McCoy forced to throw it away.

Crucial play here. If we can't convert, Jacksonville has all the momentum in the world. And we run it. Hillis picks up a chunk, but not clearly enough. Sad. Sad. Sad.

Wonder if Garrard will be back?

Browns punt. Wrapped up at about the 20. Well done, and a nice kick.

Garrard has his helmet on and coming back into the game.

4th Quarter and the Browns are in the lead. Again. Can we hold it?

Not an Interception?

Ball hit the ground! Browns get to attempt a FG!

Rock-n-Roll!

Dawson's kick is GOOD!

Browns 17 - Jaguars 10

Don't look now, but Buffalo is mounting a serious comeback against Cincy!

Garrard with a nice pass to Miller.

Garrard to Miller again.

Jones Drew loses 1.

End of the 3rd Quarter.

Frown Upside Down

Then back to frown.

Browns go 3 and out.

Weak.

Jones Drew runs for a few.

Browns had Garrard wrapped up and he got away.

Looked MUCH LIKE last week with Mark Sanchez. WRAP YOUR MAN UP!

Drew gashes the middle.

Joe Haden picks off Garrard then GETS STRIPPED. Why do DB's always try to be heroes? PROTECT THE BALL.

Looks like Browns got it back, but c'mon now.

Hillis gains one to the right side.

Jags are really dominating the middle. Too bad that's where 95% of our offensive plays go.

Big 3rd down here. Huge blitz. McCoy gets picked off. Unreal.

McRib commercial. Those things are legit.

Yikes

Anyone else get nervous when Hillis jumps over people? I know I do.

Browns punt.

Jones Drew with the carry. Suddenly the ball is on the ground...Elam snaps it up...and runs it in. They say Touchdown for Cleveland? It can't be....can it???

They have to review it. Maybe not?

SHOCKING! BROWNS TOUCHDOWN! ELAM GETTING IT DONE!

Elam is a Kent State alum. Who knew?

Garrard screen to Jones Drew to the 23 yard line.

2nd and 4...

Another screen pass, this one to Thomas. May have the first.

Nasty Nate reporting that Rothlisberger was knocked out by Richard Seymour.

Jones Drew with a rush. Gains a couple.

2nd and 6...

Garrard to throw. Overthrows his target. Again.

Big play here. 3rd and 6...

Shotgun formation. Slings it up the middle. He may of creeped to the first. Announcers say it's going to be short. That being said, Jaguars have gone for it 14 times on 4th down this year. Madden-esque.

Half yard short or so.

They are going for it. I say MJD up the gut. Announcers are saying QB Keeper.

Jones Drew it is. Chew on that, Richie. He got the first.

Jones Drew is 5'7".

Garrard throws, ball is touched by his Wide Receiver, INTO THE HANDS OF TJ WARD!

BROWNS INTERCEPTION! Believe Dat!

Browns Need to Buckle Down

Garrard picking the defense apart.

Jones Drew down to the 5 yard line.

1st and Goal for Jacksonville.

45 seconds left in the half...

Garrard throws way too high. I expect a run next.

Garrard throws a TD to Thomas. It was great coverage by Sheldon Brown, but he got it in there. DAMN!

Browns 7 - Jacksonville 10

30 seconds left in the half...

Browns take a knee.

Turnover on Downs

Jones Drew up the middle.

Garrard throws over the middle, incomplete.

Joe Flacco: 13-15 for 195 yards. Not a bad stat line.

Garrard throws for a first down.

Browns bat down the ball. Sheldon Brown credited with the knock down.

2nd and 10...

Garrard drops it over the middle.

Garrard runs. Damn. Looked like Terrelle Pryor.

1st and 10...

Jones Drew may be small but he just willed himself to a first down.

Jags Ball

Cincy crushing Buffalo.

Garrard to Mercedes Lewis.

Garrard flips it to Jones Drew. JONES DREW THROWS!

Picked off by Elam! PICKED OFF BY ELAM! ALRIIIIIIIIIGHT!

Browns ball at the 20.

Hillis up the gut. Picks up a few.

He has 121 total yards on the day already.

2nd and 6...

Hillis gains zero.

Lost 2 I guess.

McCoy sacked. Damn.

Browns punt. Hate typing that.

Browns Town

McCoy rolls out and hits Massaquoi, but he was out of bounds.

Hillis up the gut for a chunk.

McCoy throws a screen to Hillis who BREAKS a tackle and goes for 47 yards! WOW!!

Mike Bell comes in to run the ball, and even the announcers call him Hillis. We're all very used to it I guess, haha!

McCoy avoids a sack and literally throws the ball into the hands of a Jags lineman. UNREAL, luckily the guy didn't catch it.

Offensive Pass Interference on Robiskie. He must be reading 'How to be an NFL Wide Receiver' by Braylon Edwards.

Hillis with a delayed draw run play. Picks up a chunk. Ways to go for a first.

3rd and 13...

Shotgun. McCoy throws it and Massaquoi cut to the sideline. Yuck.

Field Goal? Yep, Dawson on the field. 51 yard attempt.............

No good. Wide right. It had the distance.

"Too high." - Major League

16 Play Drive - Heck Yeah!

Browns piecing it together.

Loads of car commercials lately. Let's all hope the Auto Industry is on the rebound.

Just got a penalty for grabbing the inside of a guys helmet? Um, what??

First down for the Jags.

Mangini upset, good to see him showing some fire. He isn't invited to fish with us, however.

Josh Cribbs didn't make the trip with the Browns.

Maurice Jones Drew is small.

Rob Ryan's beer gut isn't. Haha! Nothing but love for the guy.

Garrard almost throws a pick! Pass broken up, looks like they'll have to punt.

Steelers up 7-3 on Oakland now.

Browns ball at the 19.

2nd Quarter featuring Ritz Crackers and Cheese

McCoy with ALL DAY to throw, yet nobody is open. He runs for a few.

McCoy throws a duck "QUACK" and it's tipped....weirdly...right into the hands of Massaquoi.

McCoy throws again to Evan Moore. Snags about 9.

McCoy is a magician! He eludes a sack, then dumps it off to Peyton Hillis who TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE! BOOMSHACKALACKA!

Dawson's kick is good.

Browns 7 - Jacksonville 3

Peyton Hillis vs Jacksoville Jaguars

Hillis with another carry to the right side. Big stiff arm!

3rd and 6...

McCoy in shotgun.

Throw to Stuckey for no gain.

Flag down. Fingers are crossed.

Fouls by both teams. SWEET. Geez.

Replay of the down I guess? We'll take it.

Cheapshot by the Jags on McCoy. Thugs.

Great throw to a slanting Stuckey!

FIRST DOWN BROWNS!

Haven't typed HILLIS in a while, I was having withdrawl.

I benched Ocho Cinco at the LAST SECOND in Fantasy Football today. He just scored. Sweet.

McCoy sacked.

False start by the Browns. Looking like the Browns of old right now.

Oakland beating the Steelers 3-0.

End of the 1st Quarter.

Browns 0 - Jacksonville 3

Believeland Blogging is Back!

Nasty Nate Thompson texted me asking if I was blogging today. I figured: why not?

Karissa just made us a cheese tray with crackers, so I'd say the game is off to a good start.

McCoy almost picked off early, and once again, the Browns offense is all Peyton Hillis. Either he runs the ball, or it's a screen to him. Obviously I'm a huge Hillis fan, but our offense is becoming VERY predictable.

Josh Scobee just kicked a short field goal to give Jacksonville a 3-0 lead. Now you're caught up.

I see tons of Geico commercials, but I honestly don't know ONE person who uses Geico for their insurance.

Temps are 80 degrees in Florida. It's a brisk 55 here in Mentor.

Browns with a return. Looked like we clipped a Jaguars player. Yep, flag came in late. Blake Costanzo with the block in the back.

I'm going to post smaller bits and pieces as the game goes on, just just full quarters. Hillis up the gut, gains a few.

I'd like to hang out with Joe Thomas. I wonder if he'd take me fishing? Yeah, probably not.

Hillis up the gut again, just shy of the 1st down.

If Joe Thomas did take me fishing, I'd want Hillis to come too. I'll provide the worms and beer.

Hillis has a Road Warrior looking facemask. Seriously, that thing looks like the front of a Dodge Ram truck!

McCoy with a quick pass to Massequoi. I probably butchered his name, but if he caught more balls, I'd try to learn how to spell his name. His drop last week hurt us just as much as Stuckey's fumble.

Ben Watson down hurt and is limping. Not good.

Browns get the first on the ground.

Run again to Hillis. Shocker.

Haven't heard Jerome Harrison's name since we traded him. I do think he'd be a nice change of pace back from Hillis.

Screen pass to Hillis.

Run by Hillis.

Seeing a trend?

Which Ryan is it?

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2010/11/10/rex-ryan-dresses-as-brother-rob-ryan-for-press-conference

Funny!

Browns, Hillis capitalize on terrible Broncos trade

Maybe the hooded sweatshirt was hanging over Josh McDaniels’ eyes the entire 2009 season. Or maybe he never took the time to watch all of the Denver Broncos’ game film from 2008. Or maybe Mike Holmgren and the Cleveland Browns’ new front office is a whole lot smarter than we realized.

Or maybe there’s no reasonable explanation for how Peyton Hillis(notes) ended up where he is – sparking the suddenly feisty Browns, and leaving Broncos fans writhing in agony over the worst trade of last offseason.

Where is Brady Quinn(notes) these days? You’ll find him scraping barnacles off the bottom of the depth chart, languishing behind Tim Tebow(notes). Yes, that’s the guy whom McDaniels traded Hillis for – he of the career 66.8 quarterback rating and 52 percent completion rate. And it wasn’t even a straight up player-for-player deal. Denver kicked in a sixth-round pick in 2011 and a conditional pick in 2012 to sweeten the pot. Nothing like a couple of bamboo shoots under the fingernails on draft day to remind fans of a team’s brain-searing roster machinations.

The Browns’ Peyton Hillis rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Patriots.
(Tony Dejak/AP Photo)

Of course, you could give Hoodie Jr. a pass and say that there was no way McDaniels could have known Hillis would be a player who almost singlehandedly destroyed Hoodie Sr. (Bill Belichick) and the Patriots, en route to 220 yards from scrimmage (including 184 yards rushing) and two touchdowns – a guy who through eight games is on pace to rush for 1,288 yards and score 16 total touchdowns.

You could say McDaniels couldn’t have known, and you’d be right. He couldn’t, because McDaniels never took the time to try and know what Hillis was capable of accomplishing. Despite Hillis’ five yards per carry average and five TDs in a meager 68 rushing attempts in 2008, he didn’t get a sniff when McDaniels took over. Instead, the new regime, in its infinite wisdom, went out of its way to try almost anyone at running back other than Hillis. They drafted Knowshon Moreno(notes), signed J.J. Arrington(notes) (then cut him and signed him again), and scooped up injury-addled veterans Correll Buckhalter(notes) and LaMont Jordan(notes). And into the abyss Hillis went, never to be heard from again in 2009, save for 13 meaningless carries in 14 games.

The truth is, McDaniels never believed in Hillis, and the running back said as much when he joined Cleveland this offseason. Maybe only Hillis believed in himself, since nobody in the media (including me) was shooting a thumbs-up in Cleveland’s direction at the time of the deal. Just like nobody talked about Hillis when they lauded the sick talent in the University of Arkansas’ backfield in 2007, yammering non-stop about Darren McFadden(notes) and Felix Jones(notes), and almost never saying a word about Hillis.

Hindsight is cruel in the NFL, and Hillis’ success is downright merciless for a Broncos team that can’t run the football (last in the NFL heading into this weekend) and has watched Moreno struggle to stay on the field.

So Hillis delivers the two-pronged entry this week, making Denver’s shortsightedness a loser, and Cleveland’s sheer luck a winner. I have a feeling both cities will be talking about this trade for years to come.

Have the Browns found their identity?

The Cleveland Browns seem to be back to what they were once known for: smash-mouth football!

We remember what worked so well from the mid-1980s to the early-1990s, establishing the ground game with Byner, Mack, Metcalf, etc., and setting up the big play passing game with Kosar to Slaughter, Langhorne, Newsome, Brennan and Weathers. The offense's success translated into success for the defense and the Cleveland defense was one of the most feared in the league.

Maybe this Browns team has begun to copy that blueprint?

On Sept. 27, after the Browns had started the season 0-3, I wrote "State of Browns? Ehhh, iffy" - and for good reason.

At that point the season didn't look promising. But then again, they'd only lost those first three games by a combined 12 points and could have just as easily been 3-0 at that point. At any rate, the Browns were finding ways to lose football games.

They were just about to enter a brutal stretch of their schedule with upcoming games against CIN, ATL, PIT, NO, NE and NYJ. Those six games looked like six more losses. But something happened and the Browns - now having just completed five of those six games - are 3-2 during the rough stretch.

Overall they are sitting at 3-5, yet could easily be 6-2 right now.

The Browns are actually playing good football. In their last 12 games dating back to last season, they are 7-5.

They closed out 2009 with 4-straight wins:

- 13-6 over Pittsburgh,

- 41-34 over Kansas City,

- 23-9 over Oakland,

- 23-17 over Jacksonville

Their three 2010 wins:

- 23-20 over Cincinnati,

- 30-17 over New Orleans,

- 34-14 over New England

Dating back to last season's bye week, the Browns have lost nine games by a combined 73 points. That's an average loss of just 8.1. They're in just about every game.

The one common trend with the Browns' winning ways this season has been the success of running back Peyton Hillis. In the Browns' five losses, he's averaging 12 carries for 58 yards. In their three wins, he's averaging 24 carries for 118 yards.

See the trend? Establish the ground game with Hillis and the Browns have been unstoppable. What Hillis did to the Patriots' run defense in Week 9 needs to be looked at further. For starters, he carried the ball 29 times for 184 yards and two scores.

He victimized several Patriots defenders and the Browns offensive line was easily winning the battle in the trenches. In the first quarter, Hillis had 9 carries for 63 yards. Second quarter he had 2 for 10 yards. Third quarter he had 9 for 41. Fourth quarter he had 9 for 70.

Hillis' 184 yards on the ground against the Patriots were the most rushing yards gained by a player against the Patriots since Ricky Williams rushed for 185 yards on Dec. 29, 2002. That's almost eight years people!

According to ESPN, of his 29 carries, Hillis ran the ball 21 times for 133 yards and a touchdown on attempts between the tackles (72.4 percent of his carries). Entering Week 9, only 49ers RB Frank Gore (69.5) had a higher percentage of his carries go up the middle than Hillis (65.4).

Hillis carried the ball six times for 59 yards (9.8 avg) and a touchdown when the Patriots had eight or more defenders in the box. Entering Week 9, the Patriots had allowed only 1.3 yards per carry with eight in the box, fourth-best in the NFL. Hillis also rushed for three first downs in those situations, half the total the Patriots had allowed in their first seven games this season (6).

On the season, Hillis has 133 carries for 644 yards (4.8 avg), 5 TDs rushing; and 30 receptions for 229 yards (7.6 avg), 1 TD receiving. Of the Top 10 running backs in the AFC, he ranks 7th in yards, but also 7th in total carries out of those 10 backs.

The Hillis surge has given the Browns' offense a jolt like no other. They've jumped up a bit to 25th in total offense (25th in passing, 13th in rushing). This has translated to having a better overall defense, because with the offense clicking they are starting to eat-up some time of possession battles. Coming into this season the Browns' defense was considered middle of the road at best. They started out slow because the team was getting killed in time of possession. Currently, the total team defense ranks 21st (24th in passing D, 15th in rushing D). They are 11th in points against and are now actually +2 in the turnover margin.

Through Week 6, the Browns were being outscored 125-81 (48-14 in the fourth quarter). The team record was 1-5. In the last two games (Saints-Patriots), the Browns are winning 64-31 (with a slight 21-20 fourth quarter scoring deficit). The team record: 2-0. In the Saints-Patriots games the Browns outscored both teams by a combined 44-10 in quarters 1 through 3.

What the Browns are doing is involving Hillis more, and playing games to win by coming out fast, putting points on the board, and limiting 4th quarter damage by killing the clock with the ground game. And they aren't making stupid mistakes.

The team is showing more discipline and looks like it has finally bought into Mangini's system (by the way, Mangini is now 4-1 coming off bye weeks).

Now, even if the Browns lose to the Jets next week and slip to 3-6, that four-game span against JAC, CAR, MIA and BUF looks quite promising. The Browns could easily take 3 of those 4 and be sitting at 6-7 with CIN, BAL and PIT to round out the season. And by that time, with the final two games in cold-weather Cleveland, anything can happen.

State of Browns? Ehhh, iffy

Like the late, great Hal Lebovitz used to stay at the start of his News-Herald columns, "A little bit of this, a little bit of that ... "

The Browns have had a fourth-quarter lead in all three games this season, but are 0-3 for the third straight season and the fourth time in five years.

At least we didn't grow up in Detroit.

There were some bright spots in Sunday's 24-17 loss in Baltimore. But I'm not so sure the Browns had a really good game as much as the Ravens defense played a really bad one.

TOUGH SCHEDULE

Whatever the case, the Browns are 0-3 and could just as easily be the shock of the league at 3-0 if they had the ability to play the second half the same way they play in the first half.

Sitting at 0-3 is a major cause for concern. Especially when you consider the Browns have two very difficult stretches in their schedule this season.

The first stretch already started with the loss at Baltimore. But the next six games are going to be brutal. We can only hope for some magic and for certain things to just start clicking defensively. Here's a list of who we face:

Game 4 - Bengals (in Cleveland)

Game 5 - Falcons (in Cleveland)

Game 6 - at Steelers

Game 7 - at Saints

Game 8 - Patriots (in Cleveland)

Game 9 - Jets (in Cleveland)

If the Browns don't upset the Bengals or Falcons, they could be entering their next four-game stretch at 0-9. This relatively easy four-game stretch includes:

Game 10 - at Jaguars

Game 11 - Panthers (in Cleveland, Thanksgiving weekend)

Game 12 - at Dolphins

Game 13 - at Bills

Then the season closes with three difficult divisional games. These games might be more difficult than the first time the Browns face these teams, as I am sure the Division and Wild Card spots will be on the line for these three:

Game 14 - at Bengals

Game 15 - Ravens (in Cleveland, day after Christmas)

Game 16 - Steelers (in Cleveland, day after New Year's)

Looking at that schedule, on paper the Browns are underdogs in all but one game: at Buffalo on Dec. 12. But that game, whether in Cleveland or Buffalo, has historically been a cold, slow-paced, fumble-fest in the snow that could go either way depending on which team gets the breaks that day. Remember Dec. 16, 2007, the Browns were hosting the Bills at Cleveland Browns Stadium, going into the game 9-5 against a 7-7 Bills team. Browns won 8-0. One safety and two field goals by Phil Dawson, one of which was booted 49 yards in blizzard conditions. Fun fact to remember heading into this game: Buffalo, NY has an average temp of 36 in December. Their average snowfall for December is 25.4 inches. The number of days it snows in December on average is 15. Keep your fingers crossed for a whiteout!

OUR QUARTERBACK SITUATION BLOWS

Jake Delhomme? Seneca Wallace? Riiiiiight. Both QBs suck. Sure, they are professional quarterbacks with jobs. But compared to all other QBs in the league, they suck. When I watch Browns highlights each week I ask myself, "When are the Browns going to put a QB1 onto the field that can single-handedly win some football games?" You know, if Colt McCoy doesn't get some experience this year, he will suck in 2011. He'll be making rookie mistakes like Tim Couch and Brady Quinn did. The only question is does McCoy have what it takes to learn from his mistakes? He's definitely a smart, NFL prototype quarterback with a strong, accurate arm, quick release and good pocket presence.

I think he'll be a good QB. The question is: Will he ever be a good QB in orange and brown - because, you know, the Browns are notorious for demoting and trading quarterbacks after a few bad passes and some tough losses.

O-LINE

Alex Mack (6'4", 311 lbs.) and Joe Thomas (6'6", 312 lbs.) have been lights out. Thomas was drafted 2007, 1st round, 3rd pick. Mack was drafted 2009, 1st round, 21st pick. Probably our two best draft picks since the 1999 return.

Something you may have not known. I once had the opportunity to meet and speak with Mack for about 5 minutes at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Mack was drafted on Saturday, April 25, 2009. The following day I had a flight from Cleveland to Norfolk. I was leaving the area and returning home after MANcation 2009 in Hocking Hills. As I walk toward security, I see this fairly large dude wearing a white polo and some khaki shorts with a Browns hat turned around backwards like Ken Griffey. I look at him standing in front of me in line and I'm thinking, "Dude's a Brown. His face looks familiar." Then it hit me! He was drafted the day before. I'd just seen him on TV at the MANcabin. So I say, "Excuse me sir, weren't you just drafted by the Browns?" He turns and replies, "Yeah, Alex Mack," sticks out his hand to shake, "how are ya." So I shake his hand and go on to explain how I'm a big Browns fan and how we were excited to have him because we needed some more stability on the offensive line. He tells me that he flew in as soon as he got the news and how he was pumped to be playing with Joe Thomas, etc. He spent that Saturday evening and Sunday morning meeting people, and was about to fly back out to California to make preparations to move to Cleveland.

HILLIS OVER HARRISON?

I say yes. Peyton Hillis has rushed for 220 yards and 3 TDs on a 5.6 yards per carry average. The 24-year-old is a battle-tested beast. He not only knows how to run- and pass-block, but he's that one guy opponents on the defense do everything in their power to avoid when someone else has the ball. At a rock-solid 6'2", 250 lbs., the guy pops chinstraps.

And the more (or less, actually) I see of Jerome Harrison this year, the more I think last season was a fluke. In the five games Harrison was the Browns' featured back in 2009, he topped 100 yards four times. In those five starts he had 151 carries for 734 yards (4.9 per carry) and 5 TDs. Now with his recent thigh injury (and injuries in previous seasons), you have to start questioning his durability. He's only had 19 touches this year (16 rushes and 3 receptions) and he's already broke. Hillis had more than that (22 rushes, 7 receptions) against the Ravens defense. Then again, Harrison is five inches shorter and 45 pounds lighter than Hillis, and probably hangs out in the Flats after hours more than he should.

CRIBBS HAVING ANOTHER ALL-PRO YEAR

In terms of returning kicks, we all knew what we were getting with Josh Cribbs - the best in the game and perhaps the best in NFL history.

But what we were looking for with that pay increase for the 2010 season was for Cribbs to play more of a major role in the offense. And so far he has.

Cribbs is currently the Browns' leading receiver with 10 receptions for 143 yards and 1 TD. That's like one game for an elite wideout. Ten receptions over three games surely aren't enough. Heck, he's only been targeted 15 times (an average of 5 per game). At any rate, this is a step in the right direction. In addition to his receiving yardage, Cribbs has amassed 9 passing yards, 32 rushing yards, 112 kick return yards and 34 yards on punt returns.

Check out this list of Cribbs' total yards since joining the league out of Kent State:

2005 - 14 games ... 1,106 yards (79.0 per game)

2006 - 16 games ... 1,647 yards (102.9 per game)

2007 - 16 games ... 2,312 yards (144.5 per game)

2008 - 15 games ... 1,531 yards (102.1 per game)

2009 - 16 games ... 2,528 yards (158.0 per game)

2010 - 3 games ... 330 yards (110.0 per game)

He's just heating up. Dude is consistent. Get him the rock!

DEFENSE

As far as the defense is concerned, the Browns are in the middle of the pack right now, which is good considering how shaky the offense has been. Typically teams with bad offenses and are prone to 3-and-outs have horrible defensive statistics because the defense is tired and always on the field.

The Browns overall defense is 16th. Rushing defense is 20th. Passing defense is 12th.

When it comes to pressuring the quarterback the Browns are 23rd in sacks with just 4. Guess which team is ranked 3rd? Packers, with 10. And wouldn't you know it, Clay Matthews Jr. is leading the league with 6.0 sacks. He had 10 sacks as a rookie last season. The Browns had an opportunity to draft Matthews in 2009, and that would have been off-the-charts crazy considering his father played as an All-Pro linebacker with the Browns during the glory years under Sam Rutigliano and Marty Schottenheimer. Now, the Browns did get Mack in the first round, ahead of Matthews in 2009, and you can't argue with that. The offensive line is important and the Browns needed some fixes in that area more so than they did at linebacker - at that point. But other than Mack, the Browns screwed up their 2009 draft.

THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW

When the Browns used to know how to draft players out of college, they were good. During the Rutigliano (1978-1984) and Schottenheimer (1984-1988) years - which spanned 11 seasons - the Browns were 91-77 (.542 win%), had four seasons of at least 10 wins, and made the playoffs six times.

In the 11 years since the Browns rejoined the NFL in 1999 (plus the three games from this season), the Browns are 59-120 (.329 win%), with one season of at least 10 wins, and made the playoffs one time.

There have been roughly 70 draft picks made by the Browns since 1999 and only a few of these players have amounted to anything in a Browns uniform.

Hopefully the Mike Holmgren years will be similar to the Rutigliano-Schottenheimer years, and the tiny snowball at the bottom of the hill can eventually build into a large snowball and make it all the way to the top, collecting all the pieces it needs along the way. I'm sick and tired of our snowball making it halfway before being squashed by the Bengals, Ravens and Steelers, then having to start all over again. And I'm sick of starting out 0-3.

Quarter 4 vs. Tampa Bay

Browns punt. Typical. C'mon man.

Mike Williams looking like Jerry Rice.

Cadillac runs for 4 yards.

Browns sack Freeman! TB will punt.

TB's defense is fired up. LET'S GO BROWNS!

3 and out.

TB third down, great play and huge first down. Shoot me man.

Browns 14 TB 10 8 minutes left

Freeman out throws a wide open TD.

TB scores. Flag down. Against us.

Typical Browns, welcome back.

"These are two very bad teams" - Shawn VanHuss

Delhomme throws another pick.

Cadillac running over us.

TAMPA BAY FUMBLES!!

Hillis gets the first!

Browns going for it on 4th and we get a false start. You must be kidding me.

4th and ballgame.

Way over thrown. Game over. I'm signing off, can't stand this shit.

Quarter 3 vs. Tampa Bay

Just saw a penalty flag thrown very close to a players helmet. Jeff Tripplett threw it. Didn't he learn his lesson?

Delhomme working the tight ends. Looking solid early in Q3.

Peyton Hillis is pure beast.

And Hillis fumbles again. Really making me eat my words. Unreal.

Browns D looking good, thankfully.

Cribbs with zero return.

Delhomme looks hurt.

NE is working the Bengals.

TB moving the ball slowly.

Cadillac looking explosive. Flag will bring that run back. Whew.

Matt Forte going off on the receiving end.

Hey look, Houston is beating Indy!

Cribbs fumbles the kick. TB saying they have it.

Blake Costanzo recovered it! HERO!

Delhomme another risky throw.

Fail to get a 1st. Again.

Detroit beating Chicago.

Cadillac dicing us up.

Kellen Winslow just almost made great catch. Dropped it. Memory lane, ha.

Seneca Wallace in the game.

Cribbs at QB though. Wildcat produces zero.

Delhomme throws to Cribbs.

Quarter 2 vs. Tampa Bay

Cribbs throws to Seneca Williams. Nice!

Delhomme throws a duck. Could've been a TD.

Browns D holds strong. NICE!


Cribbs with a nice return.

Hillis drops the ball. SON OF A BITCH.

Browns recover.

HARRISON WITH A HUGE RUN!!

Missed a few plays. Buffalo Chicken Dip and chicken nuggets were done. MMMMMM.

BROWNS INTERCEPT after a Cadillac run! YEAH BOY!

Delhomme throws a duck INT. Unreal.

TB scores. Shoot me.

Seriously, 20 seconds left in the half and we do that. Lost all momentum.

Quarter 1 vs. Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay moving the ball. Using the tight end quite a bit.

Browns finally stop them on third down. Stand up.

Delhomme throws for a first down to FB Peyton Hillis. NICE!

Hillis with a run. Got nothing.

Dump pass to HB Jerome Harrison. Gains 6.

Delhomme throws on third down into the hands of TE Ben Watson. Stone hands. Let's hope that trend does not continue.

I think we should be in the market for a Punter. Remember I said that.

Cadillac Williams with the run. Really gets nothing. He's a member of the Backyard Legends.

Defense stops Cadillac again. Odds that he drives a Caddy?

Browns sack QB Josh Freeman!! Scotty "The Ninja" Fujita!

TB may need a punter too.

Delhomme taking some chances. Little risky.

Hillis on a draw play for what looks like a first down! Hit the DB so hard his helmet came off and he's down hurt. Hillis is a beast.

TOUCHDOWN!! 41 yards to Massaquoi (sp?) from Delhomme!

What a strike!!

Pass interference on Sheldon Brown.

Freeman runs wild. Damn it.

Defense better buck up.

TB going for a FG.

Good from 41 yards.

QUARTER OVER.

Hurricane Rolling In To Town

By Mike Yozipovich
(ps: that's his own tattoo in the picture


The key to the game and what to watch for will be the effectiveness of
Miami's offensive line. Offensively, I believe, Miami has the edge at
every skill position over Ohio State. The only problem is that the
Offensive line is soooo average and has the task of stopping Ohio
State and it's dominating defensive line. I know this can be said for
just about any game and any team. However this is the Hurricanes one
glaring weakness. If it is as porous as it was against Wisconsin in
last years bowl game, Miami's offense will be totally inept. On the
other hand if they can rise to the challenge and give Jacory Harris a
little time, he should be able to pick apart the secondary of Ohio
State. By all accounts, the one weakness of the Buckeyes. The 2010
Hurricanes pass to set up the run, while most teams are the exact
opposite. So if the passing game gets going, look for Damien Berry and
Lamar Miller to be effective on the ground.

It's a lot of "ifs", I know. I do think it's going to be a close,
lower scoring, type of game. I'm just kind of undecided which way I
think it's going to go. The game reminds me more of the 1999 Kick-Off
Classic match up than the 2002 National Championship game.

If you are not familiar with Miami, here are a couple guys to watch:

Jacory Harris-QB; Cool, calm, nerves of steel. Trusts his arm and
takes some risks. His pro style of play is the exact opposite of
Terrell Pryor.
Damien Berry-RB; Nose for the end zone.
Leonard Hankerson-WR; Once known for a case of the drops. The senior
once worked all summer with Mark Duper before his junior year and
everything changed. He is the Hurricanes best, most reliable receiver.
Allen Bailey-DE; Future 1st round draft pick.
Ray Ray Armstrong-S; Playmaker

Breaking News: Muni Lot

According to multiple sources, the famed Muni Lot won't open this year until 7am.

Think that means you can sleep in and still get a primo spot?

Think again. The traffic to get into Muni is going to be horrible. You may have to get there EARLIER to sit in traffic, waiting for the gates to open.

What's the reasoning behind this? Stay tuned, we're trying to find out.

- Salty

Quickness Kills

- WHY THERE'S NO LeBRON JAMES OF THE NFL.

By John Brenkus, special to ESPN

Pretend for a moment that the NFL lifted its eligibility rules, which dictate that three full football seasons must pass after a player's high school graduation date before he can declare for the draft. Would that mean the NFL would suddenly be blessed with its own LeBron James, a teen prodigy who rules the game with his preternatural talent? Not bloody likely.

There are huge, prohibitive differences between even the best young players and their pro counterparts in speed (peak age: around 26), strength (peak age: early 30s) and aerobic capacity (peak age: 25). But the biggest difference is quickness.

For most positions, flat-out speed is less important than quickness. Quickness is that critical first step that allows a lineman to explode off the line and establish the optimal leverage angles on his opponent. That step helps a receiver get separation from the defender. And teenagers simply aren't hardwired to be as quick as veterans.

We've used cutting-edge accelerometers and infrared timing gates to measure the reaction times off the line of scrimmage for numerous college and NFL players. Most recently, we tested receivers Mardy Gilyard, 23, of Cincinnati, and Damian Williams, then 21, of USC, just before they entered the 2010 draft. Each took his first step in .33 of a second, on average.

Compare that with our measured reaction times of 26-year-old Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald and Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who was 44 when we tested him three years ago. They reacted to the trigger, on average, in only .18 of a second - almost twice as fast as the college kids.

The results were no coincidence. Reaction time improves with age, getting shorter until we're in our late 20s, when typically times start to increase. It's all about muscle memory. Our ability to react quickly to a stimuli is dependent upon how efficiently our brain's cerebellum communicates with the primary motor cortex and the motor neurons and neurotransmitters that trigger muscles. Practice and repetition create shortcuts in the neural pathways that transmit messages from brain to body, decreasing reaction times. In other words, practice makes quickness more perfect - and separates the men from the boys.

Slap in the face!

As a Cleveland sports fan, I'm still trying to grasp what it is about our three major sports teams that always seems to lead us fans up and down a roller coaster ride of emotions every few years.

These gut-wrenching rides have taken place on the field. There were The Drive (Elway), The Fumble (Byner), and The Shot (Jordan). It has also taken place due to the misfortune of Cleveland being a mid-market sports city on a small-market budget. We've traded away All-Stars during their prime contract years (C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee) in an effort to gain SOMETHING, usually in the form of prospects, to avoid being outbid by major-market teams and being left with nothing to show for it (Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome).

Will it ever all come together for Clevelanders?

When it comes to the Cavaliers, we've never really had a true superstar with contract issues. Even with LeBron James, the contract wasn't the issue. You can't say the same for the Indians. The Cavs were in a position to pay James more money than any other team in the NBA. But he wasn't traded last season for two reasons: 1) the Cavs were in the hunt for an NBA title, and 2) based on what the Cavs could offer, and given the fact that he was so well admired throughout Northeast Ohio, we would have been crazy to trade him away on the thinking that he would leave for less money and opt to play for a city where he had no real ties.

At any rate, the Cavs made an attempt at a new contract prior to the 2009-10 NBA season. James said no dice. He wanted to see what other teams offered. The Cavs front office shrugged and said, "Okay, we'll let you play around with free agency. We know you're not going to Carlos Boozer us. After all, you are ONE OF US."

But way back then, James must have known deep down inside what he was going to do. He knew that Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and him were going to play on the same team. The question was: Which team? Cleveland was still a possibility.

I think the final straw for James was during the Cavs' playoff run last season, when James had an apparent elbow injury (although MRI results were negative). During this phantom injury time, James was inconsistent on the court. One game he'd put up astronomical numbers. The next game, he'd play passive basketball and look disinterested. I remember hearing the home crowd boo him for the first time in his seven years with the Cavs. I believe at that point, something in James' mind changed. He still had the idea that he'd be playing on the same team as Wade and Bosh, only now he knew that Cleveland wasn't the city they'd all be playing in. Maybe there actually WAS some significance in him quickly peeling off his jersey and discarding it following the knockout game vs. the Celtics.

We should've known something sketchy was in the works when Toronto agreed to do a sign-and-trade with Cleveland for Bosh, but Bosh replied, "No way, I'm not playing in Cleveland." At that point it was obvious that James' run in Cleveland was over. Maybe we were just being too optimistic and keeping our fingers crossed.

In the day following James' announcement to leave the Cavs and play for the Heat alongside Wade and Bosh, the national media seemed to agree that Clevelanders were overreacting and handling the news poorly. The collective groan in the papers and on the radio and television was that Cleveland fans were treating James unfairly. Bloggers were begging us fans to "stop crying."

But what these people are not getting is the fact that James' decision to leave the Cavs and continue the prime years of his career playing for the Heat is not what has Cleveland fans this upset. Would we have shared a feeling of being "let down" or "disappointed" had James announced his decision via Twitter or some other instant media source? Sure. But the reason that this level of uproar has been so deafening is because of the way James went about his announcement.

Was there really a need to hold an hourlong national primetime special announcing this decision? No, there really wasn't. What James did was unprecedented, unwanted, unwarranted and unneeded. He strung us along and dropped a LeBomb.

I've thought a lot about if there has ever been a similar situation in sports history (even minus the TV special), where a hometown sports icon leaves his or her respective team to make less money in order to play on a star-studded roster with one goal in mind: winning championships to bolster a personal resume.

This has never happened. Sure, players have left bad, mediocre, and even in some cases good teams, for monetary reasons. And typically, when players have left their teams for the opportunity to win a championship, the moment has come during the twilight of their careers as a last-ditch effort to get a ring before retiring.

Never has a player, who was born, raised, drafted and invested in their local community to the point James was, left their home team/city/state during their prime years like James has. James stated during "The Decision" interview that his heart is still in Northeast Ohio, but I just don't believe him. His mansion is still there, but that's about it. This move had disloyalty written all over it.

Can you imagine the buzz and backlash Joe Mauer would have gotten had he opted for free agency to hear pitches from the Twins, Yankees, Mets, White Sox, Dodgers and Marlins? Mauer keeps everyone on the dark as the free agency signing period approaches. The Minneapolis-St. Paul community would have been in an uproar (and so would have the national media) had this situation unfolded, and had Mauer ultimately signed with the Yankees for less money than the Twins offered so that he could "win championships."

But that situation never happened because Joe Mauer is loyal. He understands what it means to his community to play for the Twins. He's their homegrown golden child, much like LeBron James was to the greater Cleveland-Akron metropolitan area.

What James did was give up. He looked down the road toward the end of his career and thought, "If I play out my entire career in a Cavs uniform, I might win one title, maybe two. But one or two titles aren't enough. I want to make history. I want my legacy to be that I won more titles than MJ, more titles than Kobe. And I just can't do that in Cleveland. Just don't see it happening."

Whereas Mauer looked down the road toward the end of his career and thought, "I WANT to play out my entire career in a Twins uniform. I WANT to win titles for Minneapolis-St. Paul. If we win three or four, that's awesome. But then again, if we win just one, that'd be great too. I realize I'm an important figure to this community and I enjoy living and playing here, and that's what is important. If at the end of my career I don't have any World Series rings, yet I've had fun and enjoyed all my years playing the game I love, I will be happy. I will be content."

And with no World Series rings, Mauer would still go down as being one of - if not THE - greatest catchers in MLB history. He would be forever known as a great individual player, but an even greater team-oriented guy. See Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, etc.

In 2003, James picked up a city that was in need of a boost. He created a buzz and lifted a city's spirit. This was/is a city that was/is experiencing some of the worst there was/is to offer during tough economic times. Northeast Ohio has been hit hard, but James gave families a reason to smile and have a good time. He single-handedly boosted the economy. With his move to Miami, James has let the City of Cleveland down, very hard. And yes, I understand that the NBA is a business and that James was a free agent and that it was HIS decision. That's all fine. But we were slammed! We did not deserve it. For seven years we've given James everything and more. Treated him like a king. So let's not kid ourselves. Cleveland was slapped in the face and pushed out of the airplane with no parachute on the national stage. Absolutely uncalled for!

And for that, he cannot be forgiven.

LeBron signs 3 year deal!

Various national media outlets are confirming that LeBron James has indeed inked a brand new 3 year deal that will keep him in Cleveland.

He, however, will not be donning the Wine & Gold for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Instead he'll be sporting Scene Magazine red.

"We are very excited to sign LeBron to a 3 year deal. We are celebrating our 40th Anniversary, and what better way to do it than bring on the best player in the NBA? With the addition of Mr. James, we wholeheartedly expect to win the Corporate Challenge for years to come," quips an elated Scene executive.

With the addition of James, Scene Magazine is the clear favorite to dominate the Corporate Challenge, but other area businesses are already asking, where will LeBron end up in 3 years?

Bank of America? Progressive Insurance? Pannini's? The Cavs?

James is expected to hold various positions in the Scene Magazine office, including but not limited to Light Bulb Changer, Hanging Plant Waterer and Poster Hanger. Basically anything that will fully utilize his height.

Jay Z has declined comment, but is rumored to be writing a battle rap song that not only slams Scene Magazine, but the Indians, Browns and Usher. How original.

The LeBron wait may of already ended, but the hourglass is already spilling sand the other way. Stay tuned daily to see where the media thinks James will be in 3 years!

Tribe looks horrible, but they have before

Riding the Cleveland sports train is a lot like planting your rear-end into one of the seats at Cedar Point’s Power Tower.

It’s up and down and up and down.

When the Cavaliers are good, the Browns are bad. When the Indians are good, the Buckeyes lose a couple late-season close games and end up in a non-BCS bowl. We don't live in the New England, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia or Los Angeles areas, so I guess because we are fans of Cleveland sports that means we can't win 'em all.

This year, Browns shook things up in their off-season by hiring a new GM and completely refining their quarterback position. Fans are excited about the promise Colt McCoy brings to the table. The Cavs, they had one of their best regular seasons in team history, yet were ousted in the second round of the playoffs, which has led to the firing of the head coach, resignation of the GM, and arguably the league’s biggest star readying himself to test the free agent waters.

And then you have the Indians, sitting at 22-36 and in last place in the AL Central. It is June 10th and they are already 12.5 games behind the division-leading Twins and one game back of the lowly Royals. When the stadium was called Jacobs Field, it would sell out and merchandise sales were through the roof. In recent years, the Indians have had to deal with a significant decline in ticket sales and merchandising, which is probably what forced the front office to accept an offer from local insurance company Progressive to rename the stadium Progressive Field. A quick look at the standings this year reveals that the Tribe are dead-last in American League attendance.

Their contracts appear to be as mess as well. The Indians are paying Travis Hafner (.243 avg, 20 R, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 0 SB) $11.5 million, yet Shin-Soo Choo (.290 avg, 33 R, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 10 SB) is making only $461,000 in comparison.

Jake Westbrook (3-3, 4.84 ERA) is making $11 million and Kerry Wood (0-2, 8.68 ERA, 4 SV) is pulling in $10.5 million. The club’s two best starting pitchers, Fausto Carmona (4-5, 3.49 ERA) and Mitch Talbot (7-4, 3.54 ERA), are making $5.08 million and $400,700, respectively. You could say that Carmona is the only player making what he’s worth in MLB terms.

When you're paying veteran ballplayers big bucks, they are supposed to provide A) numbers that show up in the box score, or B) significant clubhouse leadership, or C) both.

That’s been the Indians’ bread-and-butter. Find a young nameless talent (example Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle, Jim Thome, C.C. Sabathia etc.) and sign them to a long-term deal. Yet it’s also been the Indians’ fire-and-smoke when these players develop into superstars and opt for free agency and the highest-bidding major market team (Ramirez to Boston, Belle to Chicago, Thome to Philadelphia, Sabathia to New York). Although, as in Sabathia’s case, there have been instances in the past where the Indians knew what was going to happen with free agency and have traded away their superstars for prospects, cash and picks.

From 1969 through 1993, the Indians had a final regular-season record of .500 or better just four times. Then in the strike-shortened 1994 season, the Indians were a powerhouse and finished 2nd in the AL Central at 66-47. This was the first of eight consecutive .500 or better seasons, six of which the Tribe made the playoffs.

That 1994 team consisted of:

C – Sandy Alomar

1B – Paul Sorrento

2B – Carlos Baerga

SS – Omar Vizquel

3B – Jim Thome

LF – Albert Belle

CF – Kenny Lofton

RF – Manny Ramirez

DH – Eddie Murray

To Cleveland fans these are all household names. Heck, to ordinary fans of baseball these are now all household names, but back in 1994 nobody knew who Sorrento, Vizquel, Thome, Lofton and Ramirez were. Baerga was already an All-Star, as was Belle. But it wasn’t until the 1995 campaign, when the Indians finished 100-44 and went on to the World Series did people start to recognize and respect this lineup as it developed from young farm talent into slugging All-Stars.

That starting nine from 1993 has one Hall of Famer (Murray), two future Hall of Famers (Thome, Ramirez), and three borderline Cooperstown enshrinees (Vizquel, Belle, Lofton).

In 2002, when the Indians finished in 3rd place at 74-88, the entire city of Cleveland was in shock. How could this happen? We were so used to winning. The Indians rattled off sub-.500 seasons in four of the next five seasons. Wahoo fans collectively wondered if their team was headed in the same direction that it was stuck in for 25 years in the late 60s, 70s, 80s and early 90s, which was nowhere but down at the cellar of the division.

Suddenly, in 2007, the Tribe once again won the division, finished the regular season four wins shy of 100, and reached the ALCS, losing in seven games to the Red Sox after leading 3-1.

Game 1 – BOS 10, CLE 3

Game 2 – CLE 13, BOS 6 (11 inn.)

Game 3 – CLE 4, BOS 2

Game 4 – CLE 7, BOS 3

Game 5 – BOS 7, CLE 1

Game 6 – BOS 12, CLE 2

Game 7 – BOS 11, CLE 2

Sorry about bringing that one up again.

Since then, the Indians have finished in 3rd, 4th, and are now currently last, in 5th, in the division.

We have to wonder if a lineup that looks like …

C – Lou Marson/Mike Redmond

1B – Russell Branyan/Matt LaPorta

2B – Luis Valbuena/Mark Grudzielanek

SS – Asdrubal Cabrera/Jason Donald

3B – Jhonny Peralta

LF – Austin Kearns/Mike Brantley

CF – Grady Sizemore/Trevor Crowe

RF – Shin-Soo Choo

DH – Travis Hafner

… can within the next decade develop into a lineup that includes a couple Hall of Famers and is one that was mostly made up of All-Stars. Cabrera, Sizemore and Choo are here to stay. All good enough to be All-Stars. Donald is a young talent that is perhaps playing in the Big Show a tad bit early due to Cabrera’s injury, yet he has shown signs of brilliance and should develop into a very good infielder. Add a couple key pieces here and there, and you never know. Give this lineup a solid first basemen and a quality veteran clubhouse leader and a young starting pitching talent … and … I’m just saying.

Remember, those 1994 Indians caught us by surprise. A couple of years earlier things continued to look bleak and nobody gave the Indians a chance. Afford this team some time to get healthy and develop and they will be back in contention.

At least we all hope so.

Unconditional Love? Why?

I haven't blogged in over a month, and right now, I simply can't even think of a headline for this.

What I just WITNESSed was a team that could not, or refused to, overcome any obstacles.

Maybe LeBron is hurt far more than we were told?

Maybe the Celtics suddenly found the Fountain of Youth?

Maybe the Cleveland Cavaliers were outcoached by the Boston Celtics? I sure feel that their game-plan superseded ours. How can you not? They were able to stop the best player in the NBA. The Cavs got torched by Rajon Rondo. Even Tony Allen looked like a superstar against us. I refuse to believe that we were not outcoached in this series.

Cleveland fans give so much, and get so little in return. In a severly depressed economy, where homes can't sell, people are still losing jobs, foreclosures is still a headline and more people are moving from the city, than moving into it, one thing remains constant: Cleveland sports still sell out.

Granted the Cleveland Indians have a few seats available here and there, the the reality is, Clevelanders are spending their hard earned money, and what are we getting in return?

I feel speechless.

Our beloved Cavaliers gave up? Win or lose, hustle your ass off, earn your money, and stop breaking our hearts. Stop embarassing the City of Cleveland. A city that has given you their money, time and hearts. If you can find a better definition of "unconditional love" than a Clevelander to their sports team, I would love to see it.

Actually, I just found my headline.

LeBron sure seemed to rip his jersey off awfully fast. I wish he realized he tore out millions of hearts as he did it. Upset? Sure LeBron, I'm upset too.

If you decide to turn your back on this city, the day we win a Championship (and yes, there will be a day), I hope the City of Cleveland bans you from ever returning.

Man up, LeBron. You said you want to bring a Championship to Cleveland. Put your money where your mouth is. Cleveland fans have. Year after year. Deliver, King James. If you aren't a man of your word, you aren't a man at all.

Speechless. Again.

Cleveland Browns Trade

The Eagles and Browns completed a five-player trade Friday, with Philadelphia sending former Pro Bowl cornerback Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong to Cleveland for a fourth-round pick, a fifth-round pick and linebacker Alex Hall.

"Sheldon Brown has been a very good football player for the Eagles over the last eight years," Eagles coach Andy Reid said in a statement. "He's a good person, a legitimate tough guy and he'll do a good job helping the Browns."

It would figure the two teams would be trading partners.

The Browns' general manager, Tom Heckert, is the Eagles' former general manager. Cleveland is likely to extend the contract of Brown, sources close to the deal said.

"Chris did a good job converting from defensive end to linebacker and helped us win a lot of football games," Reid said of Gocong. "We wish both of them all of the best."

Adam Schefter is ESPN's NFL Insider.

ESPN LINK

Shaun Roger Arrested

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - Breaking news into the 19 Action Newsroom this hour.

19 Action News has learn Cleveland Browns Defensive lineman Shaun Rogers has been arrested at Hopkins airport with a gun.

It happened as the NFL'er was about to board a flight. The gun was discovered in a bag. Apparently, Rogers told officers he forgot the gun was in there.

No further details are available at this time.

Check back for details on this developing story.

©2010 WOIO. All rights reserved.

How Arnie Palmer Put Ben Roethlisberger in His Place

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 13, 2010 8:53 PM EST in Golfiness 20 comments

This story was told to me just a few days ago from a very credible source.

The Steelers have their training camp in Latrobe, PA - a town absolutely owned by Arnold Palmer. Near the training camp is Laurel Valley golf club. It has hosted several major championships and is a big deal club in the area. Ben Roethlisberger came by during training camp one summer and said he wanted to get on the course to play. The pro shop said that they would accomodate him but that members that had tee times would go ahead of him and they would work him on.

So, Ben looks around the pro shop and starts buying up stuff. Makes his purchases, then disappears to the first tee. He's teeing off out of turn. The pro shop wrangles him down in the first fairway and demands that he return to the clubhouse to wait his turn to play. Eventually, he gets to go off. He runs into a bunch of people who naturally want his autograph. He says no to all of them. Doesn't want to be nice to the people letting him play their exclusive track.

When he's done with the round, Ben goes into the locker room in the clubhouse. He takes a shower and comes out, when a man comes up to him and tells him, "What you are going to do right now is go into the pro shop and sign autographs for every single person who wants them, and then you will never come back here again."

The man who told him that? Arnold Palmer.

Link.

Salty's Thoughts: I absolutely love it. Proves, again, that Ben is a punk. Arnie doesn't play reindeer games.

Breaking Down the Cavs Trade

Cavaliers send Zydrunas Ilgauskas and his $11.5M expiring contract to the Washington Wizards.
- Everyone who is anyone that is a Cavaliers fan has a place in their basketball heart for Z. We saw him battle back from foot problems, and develop into a mainstay on some very bad teams, and then some very good teams. He even became an All Star. Right now, Z is no All Star. As Nate Thompson put it, "Dwight Howard eats Z for breakfast." He's right, Howard does. Z doesn't move around as well as he used to, but he does stretch other centers into covering him because of his ability to hit jumpers. (Well, they are kind of jumpers, he barely leaves the floor.) Regardless, the Cavs will miss Z, but there is an outside chance the Wizards may cut him and the Cavs can resign him. That's a big couple of "ifs", but it can happen. Or maybe it won't happen. Nothing is promised in the NBA, right Carlos Boozer?

Cavaliers send Washington a First Round Draft Pick.
- Fine by me. We seem to do better with our Second Round picks (Carlos Boozer, Boobie Gibson) anyways.

Cavaliers receive Antawn Jamison from the Wizards.
- Jamison is big (6ft9") and averaging 20.5 points and almost 9 rebounds a game. Don't get the fantasy into your head that he'll score 20 a night for the Cavs. We don't need him to. He may even come off the bench with the second unit to provide a legitimate scoring threat when LeBron needs a breather. Best 6th man in the NBA, believe that.

Cavaliers receive Sebastian Telfair from the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Telfair is a real toss in. He could provide some quickness, but I really don't know how or if the Cavs will find him minutes. Consider that Mo Williams will be back soon, Delonte West is now healthy, and Leon Powe has been practicing. Cavs may even release him.

What this boils down to is the fact that the Cavs and Danny Ferry want to win NOW. Shaq has the "Get a ring for the King" mentality, the rest of the team is on board, and Jamison is saying all the right things after finding out he'd been dealt to the 1st place Cavs.

If you think about it, the Cavs starting 5 will be:

Mo Williams
Delonte West
Shaquille O'neal
JJ Hickson
LeBron James

Coming off the bench then is:

Antawn Jamison (a starter on any other team in the NBA)
Anderson Varejao (a starter on most teams in the NBA)
Anthony Parker (can really spread the floor, and plays above average defense)
Jamario Moon (also spreads floor with good defense)
Leon Powe (The Cav Killer should provide toughness if he can prove healthy)
Daniel "Boobie" Gibson (with as many open looks as he'll get, he should be a marksman from the 3pt line)
Darnell Jackson (may see the floor more often until/if we see Z come back)

Is that the lineup to bring Cleveland the Championship it so yearns for? I'm not sure, but I do know, if I'm Danny Ferry, I feel good about my chances.

Well done, Danny. Well done.

Love,

Cleveland Fans Everywhere

Shaq Keeping it Real

How can you not love Shaquille O'Neal?

His Shaqship was shocked — shocked! — the Orlando Magic had the nerve to double-team him Thursday night, even though the Magic's starting center, Dwight Howard, likes to call himself "Superman."

Shaq is old school. He comes from a time when men were men and superheroes were superheroes.

The essence of his message to Howard on Thursday was this: "I was Superman before you were Superman. And besides, you ain't really even Superman, so stop calling your tired self that, anyway."

The only thing missing was a "Why, I oughta ... " from Shaq.

"When I was coming up," said the world's largest human being, "there was Patrick Ewing and Hakeem (Olajuwon), I never doubled anybody. You tell me who the real Superman is. Don't compare me to nobody. I'd rather not be mentioned. I'm offended.

"Don't let them (the Magic) double team me and make it a him vs. me thing. Eighteen years straight, Hakeem, Patrick, Rik Smits, Tim Duncan, David Robinson, the best of the best, straight up. I never doubled nobody, nor have I ever asked for a double team."

Got that?

Just to make sure reporters did, at the end of his postgame rant, the big fella got downright Shaqeloquent: "Superman, my (butt)."