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.