In my poll? #20

Ever since all the hoopla surrounding Tattoogate, it seems as though the national media has had it out for Ohio State.

The school's football program became such a powerhouse under the sweatervest that even other schools from other conferences started hating on Ohio State. It was the program that could do no wrong. The program by which all others were measured against.

Ohio State was America's college football team. Then, well, last year happened. And going into the 2011 season, with its athletic director, head coach and all kinds of expected returning starters no longer working or playing for the scarlet and gray, Ohio State got a #18 preseason ranking in the Associated Press poll.

Respectable, but not by Ohio State standards. And fans knew that AT LEAST the first half of the season would be a cluster on the field. Sure, the non-conference schedule had a couple easy ones tossed in there, and that was a good thing this year as Ohio State needed some time to figure things out on the field.

At 6 wins and 3 losses, Ohio State should be ranked. But they are not. They're receiving some votes, and virtually sit at #27 right now. But the team should be ranked somewhere around 20th. And here's why:

They started the season with a 42-0 romp over Akron, a team they should've blown out and did. Then the voters moved them up from #18 to #15.

In their second game they beat Toledo 27-22. Although the game was close, remember that Ohio State still had no identity on the field and players were still being shuffled back and forth. Also, Toledo and other top Mid-American Conference schools have been closing the competition gap between themselves and schools from larger conferences, playing them more competitively over the last 8-10 years. Toledo is a quality MAC opponent who also took Syracuse to overtime before losing by a field goal. The Rockets are ranked 26th nationally in passing offense, 18th in rushing and 8th in total points scored. So although it was a close game against a small school, a win is still a win, yet the voters penalized Ohio State and dropped them from #15 to #17 in the AP poll.

Game 3 saw the Buckeyes suffer their first defeat of the season with a 24-6 loss to a good Miami (FL) team. Miami is 5-4, but could just as easily be 9-0. They have been in every single game this year, always in a position to win, even when playing against the big boys. Look at their four losses: 32-24 @ Maryland ... 28-24 vs. #17 Kansas State ... 38-35 @ #10 Virginia Tech and 28-21 vs. #36 Virginia. All four losses could've been wins if not for mistakes on defense, penalties and a key turnover here and there. Miami has beaten itself countless times but is still a quality team when it plays like it should.

The Miami game dropped Ohio State from the rankings and they haven't been back since. I swear, voters were waiting for the opportunity to do this and are now only hoping and praying for another Buckeyes loss to keep them from re-entering the Top 25.

Game 4 was the 37-17 win at home over Colorado, a team everyone is blowing out this year, and Ohio State did the same. Still, at 3-1, Ohio State was left out.

Game 5 was a hard-nosed 10-7 loss to a Michigan State team that is ranked #13 in the AP. Close games like these against good teams shouldn't hurt the team on the losing end that much, case in point #2 Alabama only dropped to #4 in the AP after losing to #1 LSU in overtime 9-6. Michigan State is 7-2 (4-1 Big Ten), has one of the nation's best defenses (ranked No. 9 in the country in points allowed), and has quality wins over Michigan and Wisconsin.

Game 6, Ohio State blows a huge lead and barely loses at the end, 34-27, to a Nebraska team currently ranked #19. Ohio State was still one-dimensional at this point, and I chalk-up the miraculous comeback as more of Nebraska winning the game rather than Ohio State losing it. Nebraska has beaten Michigan State and they also blew-out a good Washington team earlier in the year.

At this point, the low-point in the season, Ohio State was 3-3, unranked, with two of its three losses in close games, and all three losses against very good teams.

After the Nebraska game, Ohio State got back senior RB1 Dan Herron, and the ground game was back! In the 3 games since his return, Herron has carried the ball 23 times for 114 yards, 33 for 160, and 14 for 141. The guy moves the chains! In those games, the Buckeyes have rattled off three consecutive wins, two over quality opponents (17-7 over a then-ranked Illinois team, and 33-29 over #16 Wisconsin). Illinois is ranked No. 27 rushing and No. 13 in points allowed, with a quality win over #28 Arizona State. Wisconsin is No. 10 in rushing, No. 4 in scoring and No. 10 in points allowed, and they've beaten Nebraska and narrowly lost to Michigan State.

Two teams with 3 losses have been ranked inside the Top 25 this year. Texas A&M was ranked when they were 5-3, but dropped out with another loss last week. The other team is current #24 Auburn (6-3). I like Auburn, but looking at their body of work I am not impressed. They have escaped with close wins against Utah State (42-38), Mississippi State (41-34), South Carolina (16-13) and Florida (17-6), and they've lost by large sums to Clemson (38-24), Arkansas (38-14) and LSU (45-10). It's like whenever Auburn faces a quality opponent, they either get blown out or somehow barely squeak-out a win. Aside from Miami, Ohio State has been playing everybody close.

Right now I would say Ohio State and Auburn are the best 6-3 teams, but Ohio State sits just outside the Top 25 at No. 27. They should be around No. 20 in my book. How teams like #16 Wisconsin, #21 Texas, #22 Michigan and #23 Cincinnati are ranked higher than the Buckeyes baffles me. The only justification is Tattoogate. Voters like hitting a team when they are down. Watch. If #12 Penn State loses this week, they MAYBE stay inside somewhere between Nos. 20-25. But there is a good chance they will drop off the poll. The voters are good like that.

With three regular season games left (Purdue, Penn State, Michigan), Ohio State has a good shot at running the table. Earlier in the year, under new head coach Adam Sandler, Ohio State had lots of work to do in finding an identity. They were without a handful of key expected returning starters, and Sandler had to shuffle quarterbacks until he found out which one made less mistakes. Good for him he went with the frosh. That'll pay off in two years.

The voters need to set their grudges aside and put the best teams into the right order. Enough with the politics. The fact of the matter is Ohio State is 6-3. It's three losses are to Miami (FL), Michigan State (close game) and Nebraska (close game). All quality opponents. If Ohio State had it's act together earlier in the year they could be 7-2 or even 8-1 right now. But, instead, they are 6-3, and in my opinion, the best 6-3 team in the nation. That warrants something, something other than "others receiving votes."

Once again, hard to watch

Has anyone else puked-up their orange and brown pride after trying not to watch another Sunday choke-job?

Game after game, season after season, decade after decade. Same story, different players on the field. Different personnel on the sidelines. What do they call doing the same thing over and over again, yet expecting a different result? Oh yeah, crazy, nuts, insane. Well the Browns coaching staff and front office is just that. The stadium sound team should snag a copy of Cypress Hill's 'Black Sunday,' because every Sunday is just that. "Who you tryin' to get crazy with, esse? Don't you know I'm loco?"

The Browns may only be 2-3 (which isn't too bad, considering we still face a somewhat laughable schedule), but this team could very well be 0-5 right now if it weren't for a) Peyton Manning's neck, and b) Jason Taylor's defensive offside penalty.

a) Let's face it: if Peyton Manning is healthy, Indy destroys Cleveland.

b) Think back to the Miami game. Browns are driving late in the 4th, down 16-10. They have 1st-and-10 at MIA 27. McCoy incomplete pass short left to Smith. 2nd-and-10 at MIA 27. McCoy incomplete pass short right to Smith (AGAIN!). 3rd-and-10 at MIA 27. McCoy incomplete pass short middle to Cribbs. But wait! Miami's Taylor is called for defensive offside, 5-yard penalty, replay 3rd down. 3rd-and-5 at MIA 22. McCoy completes a short pass to Moore for an 8-yard gain, first down. Had it been 4th-and-10, it would have been a turnover on downs. Next play, McCoy hits Massaquoi for a 14-yard-score and the Browns win on Phil Dawson's PAT, 17-16. Thank you Jason Taylor!

So yeah, the Browns are 2-3 but could easily be 0-5. The offense it THAT horrible! Where's the scotch. SOMEBODY GRAB THE SCOTCH!

I can stand the Texas Longhorns about as much as any Clevelander can stand the Miami Heat these days. Don't know exactly why, but I just can't stand 'em. Hated Vince Young. Hated Colt McCoy. He chumped-out in the big games, couldn't take a big hit, and really only excelled in college because his offensive line and receiving corps were blue chippers and it was at a time when Big 12 defenses were weak (still are).

But McCoy was eventually drafted by the Browns and because of that fact alone, I had to find a reason to like the guy. Only reason I could come up with was the fact that he was a Brown ... and as a Browns fan, you gotta back your team and stick up for its players. I mean, there's always a glimmer of hope that we will return to the glory years of the 1980s, and you MUST be on the bandwagon all the way, through thick and thin.

One thing I don't like about McCoy from an NFL quarterback standpoint is his size. The dude is small. He looks like Dustin Pedroia in pads (except that I doubt McCoy can grow any facial hair). In the long-term, I just don't think he can cut it as an NFL quarterback. He's Brady Quinn with a little less muscle and a little more finesse. He's Tim Couch with a little less raw talent and a little more smarts.

McCoy's tale of the tape is barely 6-1 and 215 drippin' wet. Actually, all the Browns quarterbacks are tiny. Thaddeus Lewis is 6-2, 200. Seneca Wallace is 5-11, 205. The average height of the Browns offensive line (Joe Thomas, Jason Pinkston, Alex Mack, Shawn Lauvao, Tony Pashos and Ben Watson) is 6-5. That make's McCoy's height a problem.

Look at other quarterbacks around the league. There are only a few exceptions (Michael Vick, Drew Brees and Aaron Rogers), but for the most part, successful QBs are bigs. Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Matt Hasselbeck and Matt Cassel are 6-4. Matt Schaub, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and Cam Newton are 6-5. Heck! Joe Flacco is 6-6. (side note: thinking about next year's draft, as Browns fans always do ... Andrew Luck is 6-4).

I don't know what it is exactly. Maybe it's his size. Maybe it's the play calling. Maybe it's the other guys on the field. But one thing's for certain, ever since McCoy became Cleveland's QB1 we haven't been able to effectively pass the football. Maybe he's better off with the clipboard and headset.

When the game plan keeps McCoy in check and he attempts less than 40 passes per game, the Browns are 4-5. When he attempts more than 40 passes, the Browns are 0-4.

Someone send Mike Holmgren a memo already!

I can picture meetings between front office personnel and the Browns coaching staff and they never look good. Picture a long boardroom table in a nice plush conference room, all the top dogs are in there (Tom Heckert, Jon Sandusky, Joe Sheehan, etc.). All the relevant coaches are in attendance. Suddenly Pat Shurmur appears in the doorway and announces, "Standbyyyyyy ... annnnnnnd nowwwwwwww, [gestures with hand] please rise for the honorable Michael George Holmgren." Then Holmgren walks into the room and everyone stands up like it's General Patton waltzing in wearing full uniform with combat helmet. "Please be seated."

I picture Shurmur standing off to the side and gazing toward Holmgren with goo-goo eyes, as The Man commands the attention of the room, much like Reed Rothchild admiring the presence of Dirk Diggler at Jack's pool party.

Then Holmgren announces that despite all the media hoopla, "We're sticking to our guns. We're sticking to what works in this league. West Coast-style!" Then he throws up the fingers like Snoop Dogg in the 'Gin and Juice' video, and exits the meeting.

All the coaches nod their heads up and down in agreement, as if hypnotized. Shurmur offers a blank stare and smiles as The Man exits the room, while defensive coordinator Dick Jauron slams his fist on the table in disgust.

I tend to agree with my buddy Ryan Gilkerson who said after the Browns lost to the Raiders Sunday, that the Hillis illness (Week 3) and hamstring (Week 6) are phantom injuries. He stated that it's obvious Holmgren and Shurmur's game plan is a West Coast-style offense. Knowing this, and realizing that his carries will be limited, it's apparent that Hillis isn't going to go all-out and give it 100 percent on Sundays. Any why would he?

He's playing for just above the league minimum salary. Let's say he goes all-out and shines (in a limited role). He racks up a string of games that are about 12 carries for 55 yards. Solid work. Yet no matter what, his free agency stock will drop significantly at season's end. So why put it all on the line when you can get nothing good out of the deal? Right? Save your body and have your agent point back to the 2010 campaign when it comes time to sign the new contract. And as a retaliation for Hillis being so disgruntled, the Browns staff looks as though they are benching him in favor of Hardesty in the limited RB1 role, with the majority of the plays still calling for dump passes from McCoy.

Only thing is, those dump passes ain't workin'.

What does work is Peyton Hillis. Since he became the featured back last year, the Browns are 0-9 when he carries the ball less than 15 times. When he exceeds 15 carries they are 6-5. Mediocre, for sure. But I'll take it over 0-9.

So why not scratch the lousy playbook, sign Hillis to a 3-year extension at, say $15 million, and put the big 4-0 in the backfield with 20 touches per game? It's not rocket science. It's called smash mouth football. And smash mouth football, built around a solid running game and a stifling defense is what Cleveland Browns football is all about. It's what carried the team to success in the 1960s (Jim Brown) and 1980s (Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack). What this storied franchise needs is to realize that Hillis is good enough to carry the load. He proved it last year. And he can continue to prove it if they give the guy a chance.

One thing is for certain, McCoy is surely not the answer.

Browns & Bucks...not much luck

In my humble opinion, the Browns should be 0-4 right now.

Think of it this way:

We got worked by the lonely (Yet 3-2) Bengals week one. That was a game I surely had us slated to win. No chance could the Bungles, led by rookie QB Andy Dalton, come into Cleveland and take us out. Well, they did. Insert balloon deflating .wav file here.

In week two, we went head to head with the artists formerly known as the Indianapolis Colts. No Peyton Manning means they are the Colts of yesteryear.

- side note, I hate espn.com - could they preload ANY MORE video that just plays when you hit their site? That's obnoxious. They should be fined.

The Colts are in shambles due to the neck injury to Peyton Manning. I personally don't think that Manning will play another down in the NFL, or even in a lame backyard football commercial where he yells at kids. Nope, I think he's going to hang up his cleats, and retire with the Biggest Forehead in NFL History. You heard it here first.

Week three, the Browns returned home, and the barbaric crowd washed up on the shores of Muni Lot. The Browns winning on a last second Cris Carteresque TD in the corner of the endzone was overshadowed by pantsless fights and in the open oral in Muni Lot. Stay classy, Cleveland. Without last second heroics (by MoMass and the woman in the Muni oral video), I don't think the Browns deserved a W in this game. One inch either way, and we lose. (That's what the guy in the Muni oral video said.)

Week four we looked like the Little Sisters of the Poor vs Tennessee. With a Golden Buckeye yielding QB in Matt Hasselbeck, and a sudden Travis Prentice wannabe in Chris Johnson, how could the Browns lose, right? Well, we suddenly drank the Hardesty Kool Aid that maybe next year he'd be on the cover of Madden, and oh yeah, we forgot how to tackle. The Browns looked like the boys from Varsity Blues after they partied at the strip club the night before a game. When the Browns were walking off the field, all I could think was, "I don't want your life". Well, maybe I do, but whatever. My life is pretty solid as I'm typing. I have some leftover Buffalo Chicken Dip in hand from last evening, and my fiance is out shopping. In my house, on Sundays, everybody wins. Even you, stop by anytime.

Speaking of Buffalo, they are 4-1 and atop their division. (They sit above New England because they beat the pouting Patriots. I love seeing Tom Brady with the quiver lip when he walks off a field.)

How about them Lions? A perfect 5-0? Somebody alert the Pilgrims and Indians, we may actually be able to enjoy Thanksgiving football this year. I really hope I didn't just jinx it. If they can keep this play up, I don't know about you, but I'm lugging my TV Tray with me to Thanksgiving. Believe dat!

The Dream Team Eagles are 1-4, along with the now Tebow lead Broncos. Nobody cares about their record except Agent 53.

Miami is 0-4. I say karma. They should do themselves a favor and boot that poser SheBron out of town. Trust me, the guys a cancer, and a proven loser. I blame his 'karma' for the NBA Lockout as well. I keep seeing lemmings (aka major sportscasters) Tweeting about 3Quarters James playing in the NFL. If an NFL team wants a guy who gives up on his team, plays only when he feels like it, and can't finish a game, trade for Albert Haynesworth. At least Haynesworth's mom isn't a train wreck. Or is she?

The Ohio State Buckeyes may have the WORST NCAA Division 1 Offense I've ever seen. We completed 1 pass yesterday (albeit a touchdown) and ran the ball 50+ times. Ground and pound or lack of a good noodle to hurl the pigskin? Jury is out, but I'm not sipping that Kool Aid, sorry Mrs. Braxton.

Michigan lost. All is now right with the world.

I have been Tweeting quite a bit during Browns games. You can find me @KidSalty

The only reason I updated this blog today is because Private Jake Walsh keeps busting my marbles that it's not updated. The guy moved to Hilton Head, SC and watches the games at Street Meet (Browns Backer Bar, much love!). The poor guy moved in with a Steelers fan down there, so things may get dicey come Week 14 and Week 17. I have a feeling David Camma will be locking Walsh in a room for a few hours those weeks.

Can we also give a big F- to the NFL Scheduling Committee. Really? We play the Steelers in Week 14 and then in Week 17? Why not just play a double header and save the travel time, costs and fuel. What a joke.

That's all the time for now...til next time...

NFL is BACK

Well, well, well. Look who's back. Like a drunk buddy stumbling through your apartment door at 9am after a bar bender, the NFL is back and things are about to get crazy.

I've neglected the blog for a while. LeBron choked. The Tribe is playing good ball, and the NFL has been in a lockout.

Only, I don't really call it a lockout. They really didn't miss anything. That's like saying I was locked out of work last Saturday and Sunday. No...I wouldn't of been there anyways. Granted the Hall of Fame Preseason game was canceled. Take a vote on who cares about that. If you've read this blog for a while, you know my disdain for Preseason games, and the racket that they are. I was hoping a few more Preseason games would be canceled. I bet LOTS of other season ticket holders feel the same way. It's like paying full price for a steak dinner at XO, but getting a frozen Banquet Salsbury Steak with green beans and mashed potatoes. Chew on that.

Undrafted kids from college are eligible now to sign with NFL teams. Two guys I was hoping would be donning the Orange and Brown would be WR Dane Sanzenbacher (sp?) and RB Jon Clay. Dane signed with the Bears and Clay with the dreaded Steelers.

So, ok, we move on from those guys. I am praying the Browns are able to ink a WR.

WR Santonio Holmes: I don't think there's a shot in heck that the Browns can ink this guy. It'd shock the world if we did, but I don't see it happening.

WR Sidney Rice: I like the guys speed, and his ability to spread the field, but I think we'd have to way overspend to sign him. I'm not convinced he's a #1 WR, but we'd have to pay him like a top flight #1 WR.

WR Braylon Edwards: Who? NEXT.

WR Steve Smith (NYG): Another guy I like. He's got good hands, and he's an upgrade over what we have. Bear in mind that he's also not a #1 more a mid #2 at best.

WR Plaxico Burress: Why not? NEXT.

WR Malcolm Floyd: Here's a guy that I'm high on. I think he can develop into a very productive WR for us, and his price tag should be in our range.

There's also a slew of very good offensive lineman available. Keep an eye on that.

Avid Browns fan Joe Marcotte wrote into the blog saying he wouldn't mind seeing the Browns land Charles Johnson, Dante Whitener, and Paul Posluzny. He feels if we can snag 2 of the 3, or even all 3, we'd be in great shape. I couldn't agree more. He also feels we should go after a RT. The man knows what he's talking about folks.

On the defensive side of the ball, the cornerbacks stand out to me. There is some serious talent there.

Should we go after a RB? I know everyone loves them some Peyton Hillis (myself included), but I'm not convinced we can rely on him all season. We need a serviceable #2 RB (Hardesty??) and/or a change of pace back. For a #2 Ahmad Bradshaw, Joseph Addai, Michael Bush, Cedric Benson would be above the call of serviceable. For a change of pace back, I like Sproles from SD.

Players are resigning as I type. Players are signing as I type. Lots of trades being mentioned. I'll do my best to continue updating this, otherwise, my dad may delete it from his bookmarks.

All for now, time for dinner and some NCAA Football. Go Baylor Bears.

What a difference 21 years makes ...

I remember the summer of 1990 when, as an 11-year-old kid playing Painesville Little League for the Orioles, I was selected as an alternate for the AL All-Star team.

We had 24 All-Stars and four alternates in Painesville. And all the All-Stars were more than excited about adjusting and pulling-on their new mesh ballcaps.

Back then, the MLB Mid-Summer Classic was a 2-0 AL win at Wrigley Field. Julio Franco was named MVP for smashing a double off NL reliever Rob Dibble, plating Sandy Alomar Jr. and Lance Parrish in the 8th inning. Yeah, two slow-moving catchers scored the only runs that year. Strange, I know.

In 1990, MLB had 58 All-Stars. There were 700 players on MLB rosters then. So about 8 percent of Major Leaguers were named All-Stars.

That number has been just about the norm over the years. Players selected who didn't get the chance to play, either couldn't play (due to real injuries) or were prevented from playing (because of a managerial decision). But there was one constant: everyone showed up. Even the guys who were injured made an appearance. That's because the All-Star Game used to be fun. Little League or Major League. Didn't matter. Being named an All-Star used to mean something.

But it's changed over the past 21 years.

Players have been skipping the All-Star Game. More and more "phantom injuries" and "fatigue excuses" have been popping up in recent years. MLB has also installed a rule that prevents several top starting pitchers from participating, for "scheduling concerns and injury prevention." This, despite the league raising the stakes on the outcome of the game. Whichever league wins the All-Star game is rewarded with home-field advantage for the World Series. Yet guys like Justin Verlander and Cole Hamels are ruled ineligible because they started a regular-season game on Sunday? Give me a break!

The 2011 edition of MLB's All-Star game had 81 players earn the All-Star "distinction." Now, with 750 roster slots in MLB, more than 1-in-10 players make the All-Star team. So much for distinction. Remember when card values would increase for All-Stars in the August editions of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly? Those were the days.

Nowadays, several big names are guilty of cashing-in on All-Star bonuses, only to sit back in their million-dollar homes watching the game from their plush recliners on the big screen. How many kids punched-in their ballots for Derek Jeter and were excited to see his No. 2 Yankee jersey leading-off yesterday, only to be disappointed when Jeter promptly punched-out due to fatigue? Jeter will make $15 million to play baseball for seven months this year. Over the course of his career, he's made more than $200 million in Yankee salary, excluding his earnings from several top tier endorsement deals. He owns four mansions, and during his Yankee career he's dated Mariah Carey, Miss Universe, Joy Enriquez, Jordana Brewster, Vanessa Minillo, Jessica Biel and currently Minka Kelly. Fatigue? Please!

There were 12 All-Stars selected for the Painesville Americans and Painesville Nationals. Each team had two alternates. Rules stated alternates must attend and view games from the bleachers, wearing only the team hat and team jersey. The rest of your uniform stayed in the trunk of your Dad's car.

Didn't matter to me. I was good with simply being recognized, and I proudly sported my team hat - even after our All-Star team was eliminated. We'd wear the hats to Senior League games, Cedar Point, family picnics, etc. We'd dirty 'em up. And next year ... first practice ... we broke out the Painesville American hats. You were good if you could pull off that feat at the start of your "12-year-old season." Not many 11-year-old made the All-Star team.

Today, it's the same way at the Little League level. Kids still run around the neighborhood playing whiffle ball, wearing half their All-Star uniform. They emulate their favorite players' batting stances just like I did with Julio Franco's unorthodox stance and Don Mattingly's sweet left-handed swing. And that's fine, because that's how America's Past-Time is supposed to be celebrated.

We can only hope today's Little Leaguers draw the line and ignore their favorite players' recent All-Star game shenanigans, which takes the fun right out of the game.

A Legacy That Will Last Forever

Bottom of the 8th inning, Indians batting, down 5-3.

Albert Belle walks. Manny Ramirez flies out to right. Herbert Perry pops out to first. Paul Sorrento walks, moving Belle to second. Sandy Alomar pops out to third.

I sat in my seat about midway up in section 184 thinking I was about to witness another Indians loss. But then again, this was a time when the Tribe were transitioning from bad baseball to pennant-winning baseball. It was July 18, 1995. I was 16. Justin Falcone sat next to me. He was 15. Next to him was his grandpa, Mr. Chic. He was 67 at the time, a HUGE fan of Cleveland Indians baseball. He was one of the old-timers who would follow pitch-by-pitch the entire 162-game schedule, either in-person, on the tube or from the voice of Herb Score on 1460 AM radio. The only games he’d miss were probably because of family functions. Yes, his priorities were in order.

Justin offered me the ticket earlier that day. We’d get a ride to the stadium in Mr. Cicconetti’s truck and he’d hang out with us to watch the game from the bleachers at the new Jacobs Field.

While trucking down Route 2 I remembered him asking me if I’d been to the new stadium. I had. But he gazed through the windshield and told me anyway, that it was nice, but it didn’t compare to the old Municipal Stadium. I remember him saying that and found it odd because my grandpa Felix used to say the same thing when plans were in place to start building it. Grandpa Felix died in 1992 and never got so see The Jake (it debuted in ’94), but then again, he was an old-timer too and he hated to see the old stadium go.

I ran the plans by my parents and they were on board. I remember sprinting from the garage and down the street to the Falcone’s house so Justin and I could get ready and cut through the backyards to his grandparents’ house. We were amped for this game and didn’t want to go back home with a loss.

Anyway, after Alomar popped out to end the 8th, Tribe fans began heading for the exits in typical Cleveland fashion. Gotta beat the traffic! It was a sellout crowd that day and I’d guess about 10,000 fans headed for the exits. Normally, we too probably would’ve bolted for the parking lot. But Justin and I looked over at Mr. Chic and he remained seated, staring toward the field smiling. We weren’t going anywhere until the fat lady sang her song.

Paul Assenmacher mowed ‘em down 1-2-3 in the top of the 9th, with the then-California Angels still leading 5-3.

Bottom of the 9th, Wayne Kirby hustles-out an infield single on a grounder to first base. He was stubby, but he was fast! Jim Thome, who was supposed to have the night off, pinch-hit for Ruben Amaro, and ultimately struck out swinging. That was a run-and-hit, and Kirby swiped second. So we had one out, one on second. Just as good as a sacrifice.

Next up, Omar Vizquel singled between short and third. There was no play as the speedy Kirby ran on contact and made it from second to third, and the quick young Vizquel made it to first without a throw. One out, runners on the corners. Angels 5, Tribe 3.

Carlos Baerga comes to the plate and walks, loading the bases. Angels closer Lee Smith is now shaking in his Mizunos as none other than Belle chucks his donut to the ground in the on-deck circle and slowly makes his way to the batters box, setting the stage with the bases loaded. The crowd is on its feet, John Thompson is banging his drum behind us.

Belle falls behind in the count, 1 ball / 2 strikes. Next pitch, THWAP! The crack of the bat never sounded more sweet. It was a long, powerful, line-drive to deep left-center. The ball was carrying, carrying, carrying … then … GONE! Into the seats! GRAND SALAMI!

TRIBE WINS! TRIBE WINS! Final score 7-5!

I remember not being able to see the field because everyone was up, out of their seats jumping up and down and the place was going bananas. Mr. Chic, Justin and I were high-fiving complete strangers and hugging one another.

One of my best Cleveland sports moments, definitely the top of my list as far as Indians baseball goes. And I got to share it with a man who had given me so much. The thing is, at that time I hadn’t known exactly what he’d given me.

Mr. Chic passed away 10 days ago. I’ve read about him and I’ve spoken with my parents about him since that somber June 11th day. I’ve learned EXACTLY how much he’s meant to not only his family but also how much he’s meant to the community where I was born and raised – and where he lived his entire life.

There was a connection there that I hadn’t seen before until I sat down and reflected. What did Mr. Chic share with me? Well, he shared quite a lot.

My earliest memories of him were going over to the Falcone’s house for summer cookouts. He’d be putting together teams for games of side-yard, scramble-style bocce. He always seemed to have a smile on his face and there’d always seem to be a young grandkid in his lap. Sometimes he’d simply be sitting there in a lawn chair, keeping to himself, observing his family with an arm dangling down toward the grass scratching the head of one of the dogs. He seemed content, having such a huge family that loved each another and always shared these moments amongst one other (and with a few of the lucky neighbors.)

Whenever the Cicconetti-Falcone family would go out of town for their family vacations – whether it be to Salt Fork or Maumee Bay – I’d somehow become trusted enough by Mr. Chic to take care of his garden with a simple watering chore, twice a day. Damn his garden was magnificent, probably still is. But that simple task made me feel important. I knew how much those flowers meant to him. He’d show me EXACTLY how to use the hose, so as not to apply too much water pressure because the flowers were delicate. My Mom would remind me, “Have you taken care of Mr. Cicconetti’s flowers yet? You better get over there before it gets dark, mister!” I couldn’t have been more than 12 years old at the time.

Now, 20 years later, I asked my Mom, “I remember you telling me about how grandma and Mrs. Cicconetti would wash everyone’s hair or something. What was that about?”

Apparently, Mr. Chic and my grandpa Felix worked together at Diamond Alkali back in the 50s, 60s and 70s. They became good friends and their wives, Jackie and Helen, respectively, formed a close bond. Jackie had 7 daughters and my grandma Helen had 2. So, while their men were at work, Jackie and Helen would get together, hang out while the children played (12 in all, including the boys), and apparently all I remembered from those stories was the hair-washing chores for the 9 girls. Must’ve been a long process.

The friendship was so special that it bridged not one, but two generations. My parents remained close with the Cicconetti-Falcone family, and their kids continued that sacred bond with sleepovers, card trading, squirt gun fights, foot chases and whiffle ball games. And to think, all this started way back in the 1950s with Mr. Chic and my grandpa Felix. Two cronies who shared a love for gardening and Indians baseball. I look back now and wonder if Mr. Chic thought of my grandpa Felix when I sat with him and Justin at the Tribe game in 1995. I wonder if they ever went downtown and saw a game together.

To this day, although we rarely see one another any more, I still consider Mr. Chic and Jackie as a third set of grandparents, I consider their children as aunts and uncles, and I consider their grandkids as cousins.

I have many other fond memories of Mr. Chic, from trips to the Oasis ice cream store with his grandkids to driving around in the truck splashing through rain puddles as we giggled in the back. He always treated my brothers and I as if we were part of the family.

He was a truly remarkable man and he has left behind a truly remarkable family. When the world loses men like him, they are not replaced. They leave a void that cannot be filled. But one thing is for sure, men like him leave behind a legacy that will last forever.

Who the hell is Mel Kiper?

I don't know who Mel Kiper is. But his son is an overpaid television sports personality who I mute every time I see his face and fruity mop on the tube.

I mean, what does this guy do? Really. And is what he does worth the money he's paid?

Well I'll tell you what he does and it isn't anywhere close to being worth the check he cashes from ESPN.

Mel Kiper, Jr. pretty much just provides general information to fans about potential NFL draft picks. That's it. He's a cheap scout who is paid like an entire team of NFL scouts. He rambles on and on about how the information he provides is golden and what each NFL team needs to do in order to have a successful draft. And God forbid if your opinion differs from his. He'll start jerking his head up and down. He'll look around the room with that Peyton Manning face of disgust.

Every year ESPN hypes his mock drafts and touts him as "King Kiper," but for what? His analysis of college players is nothing special. He's even been accused of over-hyping prospects on his draft boards based on their player-agent relationships.

For instance, in 2010 he had Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen ranked as the top college quarterback and the No. 4 overall talented player entering the draft. Scouts, Inc. had Oklahoma's Sam Bradford as the top QB and No. 3 overall talent, with Clausen ranked at No. 38.

Anyone with a pulse knew Kiper's analysis was dead wrong. Notre Dame hadn't produced a solid NFL quarterback in more than 30 years (Joe Montana, 1978). So naturally, Bradford was selected No. 1 overall and completed 60 percent of his passes as a rookie. He tallied 3,512 passing yards, 18 TDs, 15 INTs and had a QB rating of 76.5.

Clausen was taken in the 2nd round (No. 48 overall) by a team with NO quarterback. He completed 52 percent of his passes, totaling 1,558 yards, 3 TD passes and 9 picks. QB rating: 58.4. After that Brady Quinn-like stat line (and now that "Yes I" Cam Newton has been drafted by the Panthers) I wouldn't be surprised if Clausen never again reached QB1 on another depth chart.

So how could Kiper get this so incredibly wrong? Isn't he the top dog? The draft expert? And isn't quarterback ALWAYS the most talked-about and hyped position heading into the draft? Well maybe, just maybe, it's because Clausen's agent is a longtime friend of Kiper's?

Another time, a couple years ago, Kiper projected that a junior running back would be drafted by no later than the top few picks of the 2nd round. There was buzz around Virginia Tech's campus and the kid ended up leaving school early. After all, Kiper's word is golden. Right? The kid ended up being drafted No. 243 overall, now makes the league minimum and mostly stands on the sidelines on Sundays holding his helmet, wondering what could have been had he remained on campus, finished his degree and bolstered his draft position by playing his senior season. Damn you Mel Kiper, Jr.!

Kiper usually starts generating his mock drafts one week after bowl season. He calls the first installment "Mock Draft 1.0." How trendy! Kiper released his 2011 "Mock Draft 1.0" on Jan. 19. Of the 32 first round picks, Kiper's initial mock draft had 2 that were right. Yep. Two.

With each month leading up to the draft, he updates his mock draft as a Mock Draft 2.0, Mock Draft 3.0 ... and so on.

He released his polished and sparkling "Mock Draft 5.0" the day before the 2011 NFL Draft. This was after shuffling players up and down and all around, based on having nothing else to do in life but scour over more and more film, dissect the NFL Combine, and listen to the buzz from NFL teams about who they were going to target on draft day, etc. He waits until the last possible second before his editors at ESPN.com scream "DEADLINE, MEL! WE NEED VERSION 5.0 STAT!!!! DEADLINE!" ... then, he releases his best million-dollar effort.

"Mock Draft 5.0" yielded 9 correct picks out of the 32 first round selections.

That's a 28 percent success rate, which is clearly better than the first installment of only 6 percent correct. So pretty much every 5 mock drafts he increases his percentage by 22.

If we weren't already overexposed to his weird face, I'd suggest he try generating more mock drafts. Because, you know, by the time he got around to "Mock Draft 20.0" he might have a success rate of 94 percent.

And that, my friends, might be worth the check.