Terry's Talkin' Sports

Terry Pluto on the Browns, Indians, Cavs and Buckeyes

• LOSS ONLY DELAYS FUN
Repeat after me: It's only one game.

• Acta lands in a great spot for him to look good
%%head%%SCRIBBLES IN MY NOTEBOOK AS THE INDIANS HIRE MANNY ACTA AS MANAGER . . .%%endhead%%

• Cavaliers give embattled Cleveland fans something to cheer about, says Terry Pluto
Bring on the Cavaliers.

• Idea that Browns could improve against run was rush to judgment
1. One area where I thought the Browns would improve would be against the run. I thought wrong. Oh, did I ever think wrong. Green Bay rushed for 202 yards against the Browns, with Ryan Grant (148 yards) having his first 100-yard game. He did it with the Packers having two starting offensive linemen hurt. He did it despite the fact it seemed the Browns didn't blitz that much. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers came into the game being sacked a league-high 25 times, but he wasn't sacked by the Browns.

• It's tough to evaluate Acta's time with Nats
Here's what I think of the Indians hiring Manny Acta -- I just don't know.

• ABOUT THE CAVS . . .
Maybe the Cavs will start fast. Maybe they will win 66 games again. Maybe they will even begin with a 1-2 record as they did a year ago, and then win 19-of-20 to bolt to a 20-3 start. But it's hard to imagine that happening because of changes in the lineup and a tougher schedule.

• ABOUT THE INDIANS . . .
One reason for the success of the Minnesota Twins is Rod Gardenhire in the dugout. As a manager, he finds a way to keep his team contending in the Central Division when stars are traded or leave via free agency. He and his coaching staff put the finishing touches on prospects coming from the minors. If possible, the Indians must hire an impact manager. Of the four being interviewed - Manny Acta, Bobby Valentine, Torey Lovullo and Don Mattingly - Valentine seems the best bet to be that guy for the Indians.

• Browns need help to turn the corner
%%head%%ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .%%endhead%%

• Marshall football wins off field, too
The John Marshall football team usually practices at a place called Terminal Park. It's tucked away off West 143rd Street, on St. James Avenue in Cleveland. It has a baseball diamond, a park with swings and monkey bars and a water fountain.

• Valentine would be a big roll of the dice
Bobby Valentine admits that after managing for the past six years in Japan, he knows little "about the American League, the Central Division or the Indians."

• Acta could provide missing ingredient
Can Manny Acta be a good manager for the Indians?

• A victory in Pittsburgh still out of reach for the Browns
Pittsburgh

• Browns' lack of offense traced to lack of players
Pittsburgh

• ABOUT BROWNS CONTRACTS . . .
Joshua Cribbs is not going to be traded by Tuesday's deadline. The Browns love the guy, and he loves playing here. The issue is the contract, and it seems the Browns will seriously address that after the season. The trade rumors are because other teams are asking about Cribbs, and because some in Cribbs' camp think it's a good way to pressure the Browns to move on the contract extension.

• ABOUT THE CAVS . . .
LeBron James continues to work on his low-post moves near the basket. He has not used them often in the preseason games, but James has made it a focal point of extra time on the court after the regular practice sessions. James has said he will have something new for this season -- and going into the low post a few times a game would put even more pressure on opposing defenses.

• ABOUT THE INDIANS . . .
The Indians are expected to cut their managerial search to five or fewer candidates this week, and don't be surprised if former Washington manager Manny Acta is among the finalists. The Indians know that Acta had a dismal record (158-252, .385 winning percentage) in the last 2½ seasons with the Nationals -- but they also believe that was a team with little talent.

• Anderson puts in hard work to help his play
%%head%%ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .%%endhead%%

• Let Cribbs loose in the wildcat
It was a lot of fun watching Miami beat the New York Jets, 31-27, last Monday.

• House sale doesn't put Quinn on block
Talking to myself about Brady Quinn . . .

• It's pretty hard to complain today, despite difficulty in getting first 'W'
Orchard Park, N.Y.

• Mangini can embrace this one
JOHN KUNTZ THE PLAIN DEALERCleveland coach Eric Mangini is congratulated by safety Abram Elam after Mangini's first win as Browns coach.

• ABOUT THE CAVS . . .
Stephen Jackson for Zydru nas Ilgauskas? Forget about it. Jackson wants to play for Cleveland. He has been wanting out of Golden State. But the Cavs need Ilgauskas for depth inside. There is 37-year-old Shaquille O'Neal. There is Anderson Varejao. And there are promising kids in J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson. But that's not good enough, especially with the Cavs wanting to play O'Neal 25 to 30 minutes per game to keep him ready for the playoffs.

• ABOUT THE INDIANS' SEARCH . . .
The Indians are undertaking a much wider search for a manager than they did when Eric Wedge was promoted from Class AAA to take the job for the 2003 season. While the team refuses to comment on any names, it's believed that former big-league manager Bobby Valentine and former Tribe third baseman and Mahoning Valley manager Travis Fryman are two of about a dozen names still under consideration. That's a wide range from a Rookie League manager (Fryman) to Valentine, who has managed in Japan from 2004 to 2009. Before that, he managed the Rangers (1985-92) and the Mets (1996-2002). His big-league record is 536-467.

• ABOUT THE TRIBE . . .
It's painful for Tribe fans to watch all the former Indians in the playoffs, especially pitchersCliff Lee and CC Sabathia winning the opening postseason games for their respective teams. I've received some e-mails from fans who said Eric Wedge didn't deserve to be fired because they have traded so many veterans the past few years to save money. But the reason for most of those deals was the Tribe's slow start. They were out of contention by July 4, which dictated the trades since they had no chance to contend.

• Who'll be catching on with Edwards gone?
The Browns need a veteran receiver to help out rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi, and that's why Mike Furrey and / or newly acquired Chansi Stuckey will often be on the field. But the Browns picked both players in the second round because they knew Braylon Edwards would not be around long. Massaquoi had a huge game (eight catches, 148 yards) against Cincinnati. Backers of Edwards said it was because Edwards drew double-coverage, leaving Massaquoi open. That's true, but the Georgia product still had to make good catches.

• Coach's game plan is X's, O's of life
In the mood for an upbeat story about a good man doing the right things, and who hap pens to be a college football coach at the age of 71?

• Cleveland Browns trade of Braylon Edwards the right move, writes The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
If I'm Eric Mangini, I do exactly what the Browns' coach did Wednesday morning -- I trade Braylon Edwards.

• The Cleveland Cavaliers have all the pieces in place to become a champion: Terry Pluto
It's still hard to believe - Shaquille O'Neal in a Cavaliers uniform.

• Braylon's late route cause for concern
It's hard to know exactly what happened at the View nightclub on Prospect Avenue in Cleveland at about 2:30 a.m. Monday, but it wasn't good for Braylon Edwards or the Browns.

• BENGALS 23, BROWNS 20, OT
6cap2%>1.Jerome Harrison's 121-yard rushing game is the first time a Browns back passed 100 yards since Jamal Lewis did it on the final game of the 2007 season. It was great to see Harrison show that he's more than a scat back, as he carried the ball 29 times for 121 yards - often running between the tackles. He also caught five passes for 32 yards. His 21-yard run was the Browns' longest of the season. Harrison looked like the back who rushed for 1,900 yards as a senior at Washington State. Harrison piled up these 121 yards against a Bengals defense that had allowed only 89 on the ground per game this season.

• ABOUT SOME OLD DRAFTS . . .
Kinson (Cleveland) e- mailed that the Browns remained haunted by the drafts from 1999 to 2004, before Savage and Mangini. While that was 7-to-11 years ago, his point is the Browns have 17 players on their roster with at least seven years experience -- eight of them with at least 10 years in the NFL. The only player from those first six drafts still with the team is Ryan Pontbriand, a long snapper.

• ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .
The biggest challenge for Man gini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is to show they can establish a quarterback with the Browns. It is now Derek Anderson's team, and the last thing the Browns need is a switch back to Brady Quinn in 3 to 4 weeks. Mangini has been impressed with Anderson's arm strength, but the coaches must stabilize the situation by being patient with him.

• ABOUT THE INDIANS . . .
The Indians know they may have to sell themselves to some managerial candidates because there are times when more than one team wants to hire the same person. The Tribe's pitch will center on the fact they went through a seriously rebuilding stage in 2003-04. It produced a contender in 2005, along with the 2007 team that won 96 games.

• Balance Mangini's bad with good
In a week when Browns coach Eric Mangini has been called in the media the NFL's "worst" coach to "the worst coaching hire in 25 years," I offer this in the case of fairness. And remember, I took Mangini and the Browns to the verbal woodshed in a Wednesday story.

• Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal looks motivated to have a good season: Terry Pluto's Scribbles
Scribbles from my notebook about the Cavs scrimmage . . .

• Mo gets to play with Shaq after all
Very few players have ever enjoyed being a member of the Cavaliers more than Mo Williams. He just loves being around the game. You almost would need to wrap his mouth with duct tape to wipe the smile off his face.

• In the Tribe? Manager search shouldn't be
As the Indians search for a manager, the first thing they must do is look outside the organization.

• Browns fans deserve better
Has any Browns coach ever lost the faith of the fans faster than Eric Mangini?

• Sunday, 1 p.m., Cleveland Browns Stadium, WOIO Ch. 19
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• With LeBron and Shaq, Cavs give Cleveland sporting chance
It's a star-studded roster. It's a budget-busting payroll. It's a mob of microphones and reporters on media day.

• 34-0 would have been embarrassing
Baltimore-

• QBs don't fare well playing in Cleveland
Baltimore

• ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .
Coaches believed Mohamed Massaquoi had moved ahead of fellow rookie receiver Brian Robiskie long before the beginning of training camp. During minicamps, the receiver from Georgia seemed more athletic, more suited to help on special teams, and able to grasp the system faster. There has been some discussion of even starting Massaquoi today in Baltimore. If nothing else, he is expected to play more than in the first two games.

• ABOUT THE INDIANS . . .
It looks like Michael Brant ley should be the favorite to open next season in left field for the Indians. He takes over the leadoff spot, allowing Grady Sizemore to bat in the middle of the order. He also can play center field when Sizemore needs a rest. He should give the Indians one of the best defensive outfields in the league. Shin-Soo Choo, Sizemore and Brantley all can run, although Choo is the only one with a good arm.

• Pall of losing remains thick
%%head%%ABOUT THE STATE OF THE BROWNS . . .%%endhead%%

• Memories of '64 come flooding back
Not long after former Browns right tackle Monte Clark died, I was telling someone about the 1964 Cleveland Browns.

• Cavs must prepare to play without West
Here is what we know about the Delonte West situation: The Cavaliers will be without their starting guard for at least a few games this season.

• Hope for improvement by Cleveland Browns takes another step back: Terry Pluto
After watching the Browns lose, 27-6, my first scribble was, "I just didn't think it would be this bad." And this is a very big word when it comes to the 0-2 Browns. This is not heavy analysis. It was just a hope that the offense would be better, maybe scoring a touchdown in each game when it actually means something. This is a team that has allowed more sacks (nine) than it has rushing first downs (six). It's an offense that has more turnovers (four) than it has complete passes for at least 20 yards (three). This is not much fun for Browns fans.

• Offense had to cash in on early opportunity
Denver

• ABOUT THE TRADED INDIANS . . .
Most fans know Cliff Lee (7-2, 2.67 ERA) has been spectacular for the Phillies. Ben Francisco has been mostly a spot player, but his average is up to .246 with four home runs in 61 at-bats. The Indians added Lou Marson, Jason Knapp, Jason Donald and Carlos Carrasco in that deal. Marson and Carrasco are with the Tribe, Knapp and Donald are injured.

• If only NFL teams had to play two quarters instead of four . . .
In last Sunday's 34-20 loss to Minnesota, the new Browns coaching staff re ceived a jarring lesson on how this football team struggles with confidence and focus.

• KSU star deserves one more season
If Kent State football coach Doug Martin had to do it over, he would skip his rant about how Kent State fans "should storm the NCAA and we should burn the place down."

• Lee deal looking worse and worse
Ican remember when the Indians picked up Grady Sizemore in the Bartolo Colon deal - and I wondered, "Why?"

• Wimbley at home on move
One of the running debates be tween the Browns' front office and the coaching staff during the previous regime was the implementation of Kamerion Wimbley. The front office believed that if Wimbley did more than simply line up against the opposing left tackle, the linebacker could use his speed to get to the quarterback. Former coach Romeo Crennel never seriously tried. New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan did, however, and Wimbley delivered a sack, three quarterback hits and three tackles on Sunday. It was a better game than any Wimbley had last season.

• Browns give themselves half a chance, then falter
Just because the Browns lost their home opener . . . again . . . making them 1-10 in these games since their return . . . I'm not ready to say this season will be an other 4-12 re run. But I will say if the Browns have more games like this with four false starts and sloppy special teams play, they will be lucky to win four games.

• ABOUT THE TRIBE . . .
Afew readers thought I was buying into the Tribe's party line when I suggested Asdrubal Cabrera is developing into an All-Star shortstop. I'll simply say that heading into the weekend, there were 20 batters hitting over .300 in the American League. Cabrera was 10th at .312. If you like the OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), only Jason Bartlett (.913) and Derek Jeter (.867) among shortstops are above Cabrera (.812). His eight errors in 84 games comes out to 14 for a 140-game season, which is excellent. Here's more: He's first among shortstops with 36 doubles, third with 61 RBI. He has stolen 16 bases in 20 tries, and he's a 23-year-old switch-hitter.

• BROWNS BY THE NUMBERS . . .
Yes, Shaun Rogers had a Pro Bowl season, but it wasn't until I dug into my copy of "Football Outsiders Almanac 2009" that I realized the Browns' defensive tackle had a great season. Rogers was surrounded by so little talent on the defensive line because of injuries to Robaire Smith, Shaun Smith and the disappointing play of Corey Williams (sore shoulder), but he still ranked second in the NFL in quarterback hits with 18. That's remarkable, given the fact that he played in the middle of a weak 3-4 defense. He usually had two blockers on him from the second the ball was snapped, yet he got to the quarterback 18 times. He also had 4.5 sacks.

• Come for the new stadium, stay for the rebirth of the Zips
The air was filled with the lus cious odor of hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. The sidewalks and streets were packed with college kids in blue T-shirts, boldly proclaiming Fear The Roo.

• Rogers really was a hit in '08
%%head%%ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .%%endhead%%

• Tribe fans ask: Why not Brown?
Ireceived three e-mails in the past few days from angry Tribe fans wondering why their favorite team has not promoted Jordan Brown from the minors.

• University of Akron Zips football team building a home advantage: Terry Pluto
When University of Akron football coach J.D. Brookhart had a recruit on campus, he spent a lot of time with the player showing off the new field house, the new classrooms and dorms, the 15 new buildings that have changed the face of the downtown university.

• Just pointing out some stats. . .
No matter who plays quarter back, Braylon Edwards and Jamal Lewis are just as important to improving the Browns' offense. Both had dramatic declines last season, and the regression began long before the quarterbacks started getting hurt. I'm going to use some material compiled by Pro Football Outsiders coming from their new book, "Football Outsiders Almanac 2009." Some of the material is complicated, but lots of great stuff can be found in more than 500 pages.

• Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini sticks with the 'process' in selecting quarterback: Terry Pluto
When it comes to quarter backs, Browns coach Eric Mangini keeps talking about "the process." He has a process for picking a quarterback and he's not about to change it. He will wait until it ends, whatever that means. He said he did the same in New York when he became the Jets coach in 2006. At Monday's news conference, I asked Mangini when he declared a starter with the Jets that year, and he said he couldn't remember. I pressed: "Was it three weeks? Three days? Three minutes before the opener?" He smiled, still pleading a foggy memory.

• ABOUT THE CAVS . . .
Talked to head coach Mike Brown recently and he is thrilled with the additions of Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon. He pushed hard for some taller, athletic wing men who could be used to defend the perimeter. After the season, the coaches and front office studied films not just of the loss to Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals, but also of other teams that gave them trouble -- the Lakers, Rockets and Celtics. The problem was the same: The Cavs were too small and not quick enough at shooting guard and small forward when LeBron James wasn't on the court.

• ABOUT THE LEBRON BOOK . . .
Along with LeBron James, Buzz Bissinger is co-author of "Shooting Stars," a book that deals with the James era at St. Vincent-St. Mary High in Akron. Bissinger took issue with my assertion that the comments about former Irish coach Keith Dambrot (now at the University of Akron) were primarily his view of the story. Here is Bissinger's response:

• Rookie Davis making the most of his extra time
With Jerome Harrison miss ing the past two weeks with what is believed to be an ankle injury, rookie James Davis (149 yards in 19 preseason carries) is receiving a lot of work at running back. He has quick feet, a nice burst of speed and a good idea how to follow his blockers, then make a move at the right time. He may be the perfect counterpoint to the bullish Jamal Lewis at running back. Remember, that coach Eric Mangini's reputation is that he'll use two running backs. In his three seasons with the Jets, Mangini had a second back with at least 70 carries behind Thomas Jones. In his first New York season, Mangini had three runners with at least 100 carries.

• After weeks of blood and sweat, Northeast Ohio high school football players get a chance to hear the cheers: Terry Pluto
TRACY BOULIANTHE PLAIN DEALERWest Geauga's captains unite as they prepare to launch the high school football season Thursday. The Wolverines faced Chardon in Chester Township.

• Plenty of questions linger on Cleveland Browns' running game: Terry Pluto's Scribbles in his Notebook
Scribbles in my Browns notebook . . .

• Browns fans, lend me your ears
Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto had this to say about the Browns in his weekly noon chat on Tuesday. You can hear the complete conversion at cleveland.com/pluto:

• Cleveland Browns fans look for reason to believe: Terry Pluto
Everywhere I went Sunday, I heard the same thing: "Hey, the Browns looked pretty good, didn't they?"

• ABOUT TRIBE'S 2010 ROTATION . . .
The Indians might have found someone for the 2010 rotation as Aaron Laffey, before Saturday night's start, is 6-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 11 starts. (He's 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in six appearances out of the bullpen.) For his big-league career as a starter, he is 15-11 with a 4.02 ERA in 36 starts. He's only 24 and showed this season that he is willing to start or relieve -- but the Indians need starters.

• MORE ABOUT THE TRIBE . . .
The Indians' best player this season might be . . . Asdrubal Cabrera. If you consider that he was a natural shortstop in the minors, came to the majors as a second baseman, opened this season at second - and is now back at short, his defense at both spots has been excellent. He entered Saturday night's game hitting .316 (.817 OPS) and is at .345 since the All-Star break. Talk about consistent, he's hitting .319 against righties, .310 against lefties and .316 with runners in scoring position.

• NEW CAVS CONTRACTS . . .
Jamario Moon: $6 million over two years - $3 million annually.

• They only look larger than life
The real hero of "More Than a Game" is Akron native and Walsh Jesuit High product Kris Belman, who spent eight years on the project and produced a fair and riveting accounting of the LeBron James years at St. Vincent-St. Mary. The center of the story is not James, but the Joyce family -- Dru II the coach, and Dru III the point guard. Belman gained the trust of the coaches and teams, and produced a Valentine to the city of Akron and that remarkable team.

• Anderson is not the short answer
Browns coach Eric Mangini can try to simu late all the different game conditions in practice for his quarterbacks. He can juggle them during Saturday's preseason game against Detroit. He can wait until the last moment to pick a starter for the Sept. 13 home opener against Minnesota.

• ABOUT THE CAVS . . .
Give the Cavs credit for not dismissing the Orlando series as "bad luck," or running into a hot team. Their defense was scorched for 103.7 points and 48 percent shooting. It happened because they lacked athletic wing players (other than LeBron James) to defend Hedu Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis and Mickael Pietrus. That's behind the signings of Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon. Both also can score, but more importantly, they can bring some quick feet and long arms on defense.

• ABOUT THE INDIANS . . .
Who will be the Indians' starting catcher next season? That's something I never thought I'd be writing at the start of 2009, when Victor Martinez was healthy and Kelly Shoppach was coming off a 21-homer season. But Martinez was traded to Boston, Shoppach is in a .217 funk, striking out 74 times in 198 at-bats. Even for a team like the Indians that doesn't worry a lot about strikeouts or batting average, this is alarming. He has been nearly helpless (.186) against right-handed pitchers. For Shoppach's career, he's at .225 against righties, .301 against lefties.

• ABOUT THE INDIANS' PITCHING PROSPECTS . . .
When was the last time the Tribe had two legitimate starting prospects at Class AAA whose average fastball is in the 92-93 mph range, and can hit 95 at times? Not sure I can recall, which is why I can't wait to see Carlos Carrasco, and especially Hector Rondon, with the Tribe in September, if not sooner. The Indians have been offering up mostly finesse lefties as prospects -- Jeremy Sowers, David Huff, Aaron Laffey and Scott Lewis. It's nice to know there are some right-handers with above-average fastballs on the horizon.

• More carries for Harrison is refreshing
Eric Mangini has been talk ing about Jerome Harrison having "a great opportunity to continue to carve out his role." And he's been talking about using a multiback system with the Browns. Jamal Lewis would still be the main focus, but someone else - probably Harrison - would have a significant number of carries. Mangini did that in New York, where he had a main back in Thomas Jones, but backup Leon Washington had at least 71 carries in the past two seasons. In his first year with the Jets, Mangini had three backs with at least 100 carries.

• Mount Union Purple Raiders look to defend Division III national title with a new quarterback: Terry Pluto
Will a defending national championship football team take an All-America wide receiver and turn him into a quarterback for his senior season?

• Cleveland Browns open preseason Saturday, which has columnist Terry Pluto talking to himself again
Talking to myself as the Browns open the preseason tonight in Green Bay . . .

• Goodell's sentence matches the crime
The NFL got it right, and not just because it's the penalty I suggested in a June 18 story (read the story at tinyurl.com/p43y6m).

• Cleveland Indians are underachievers, from the front office to the coaches to the farm system to the players, writes The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
Lost in all the discussion of the Indians' trades and the Dolan's millions in losses is the fact the front office is finally admitting something the fans have sensed for a while - they aren't just a woe-is-me small-market team, they have been underachievers the past two seasons.

• IT STARTED WITH MONEY . . .
Travis Hafner and Jake Westbrook make a combined $24 million this season, and their contracts will pay them $24 million next year. Yes, the Indians ranked 14th in payroll at the start of the season at $81 million, putting them near the major-league average. But $24 million of that last year went to Hafner and Westbrook, as it did this season and will again in 2010. No one is blaming those players. Both wanted to stay with the Indians, and both signed long-term deals - as ownership committed to them. Then, both got hurt. Thanks to elbow surgery, Westbrook has made five big-league starts in two years. Dealing with shoulder problems and then surgery, Hafner has 394 at-bats over two seasons.

• Kent State football, Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto wonders it can actually produce a winning team
For Kent State's football team, last season ended with a 24-21 victory at Buffalo.

• Cleveland Browns linebackers worrisome on an upgraded defense, writes The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
%%head%%ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .%%endhead%%

• 'Cats earn stripes in many arenas
When Sports Illustrated recently named St. Ignatius the top high school athletic program in Ohio for the past school year, it wasn't exactly a shock. There's a football coach named Chuck Kyle, who just won his 10th state championship and whose teams have made the playoffs every year since 1988.

• Cleveland Cavaliers are a better team than last season: Terry Pluto
Yes, the Cavaliers are a better team today than the one that was knocked out of the Eastern Conference finals by Orlando.

• Why do Cleveland Indians keep playing Jhonny Peralta? -- Terry Pluto
Is there any reason for the Indians to play Jhonny Peralta every day at third base? Or for them to keep Andy Marte at Class AAA Columbus? Will someone in the front office say, "Let's look at Peralta as you should any other player -- with cold, hard facts."

• ABOUT THE CAVS . . .
LeBron James spent most of last week in Idaho with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and other corporate executives at a conference nicknamed "Summer Camp for Billionaires." No one made a big deal about it, but Gilbert arranged for James to attend. The Cavs star also is friends with Warren Buffet, and let's hope Buffet told James about the joy of running a worldwide business from his hometown of Omaha, Neb. Yes, you can be a billionaire while living in Northeast Ohio - that should be one of the messages James received from this gathering of the rich from all over the country.

• Cleveland State men's basketball faces tough schedule: Terry Pluto
Itracked down Gary Waters in Milwaukee last week, where the Cleveland State men's basketball coach was watching yet another summer showcase for high school talent.

• Newsflash: Browns not exactly feared
As training camp ap proaches, the Browns really are determined to give both quarterbacks a chance to win the job. The coaching staff believes that a major key to the position is handling pressure, and they plan to put Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson under the most pressure possible, especially in practice. Over and over, the coaches have talked about the need for the QB to get the team lined up correctly, have control of the huddle, make the proper calls at the line and to make the proper adjustment when the first receiver is not open.

• Cleveland Indians have columnist talking to himself: Terry Pluto
Talking to myself while watching the Indi ans on a July night when they took the field with the American League's worst record . . .

• Columnist Terry Pluto has some ideas on how to bring meaning to the Cleveland Indians' second half of the season
An unlucky 13 scribbles in my Indians note book about how to bring some meaning to the second half of the season for the team with the league's worst record:

• Columnist wrong about Cleveland Indians and other matters: Terry Pluto
Upon further review . . .

• Cleveland Indians have been a bummer this summer: Terry Pluto
Maybe you are an Indians fan like me. Maybe you were really looking forward to this season, while having one eye on the rearview mirror from 2007.

• Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown inherits more pressure with Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James on same team: Terry Pluto
No NBA coach will be under a more un forgiving spotlight or face more pres sure than the Cavaliers' Mike Brown next season.

• ABOUT THE INDIANS . . .
%%head%%ABOUT THE

• Varejao enters age of big-man pay
%%head%%ABOUT THE CAVS AND FREE AGENCY . . .%%endhead%%

• WHAT THE BROWNS CAN LEARN FROM THE DONTÉ STALLWORTH MESS . . .
When Donté Stallworth was signed in the spring of 2008, the Browns were desperate to add a veteran receiver. Joe Jurevicius had informed the team his knee was becoming a problem, and he was not sure if he could start. The roster for receivers suddenly looked thin. There was Braylon Edwards, then a steep drop-off to the likes of Syndric Steptoe. The Browns had traded their top three draft choices in 2008 for deals involving Brady Quinn, Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers.

• Cameron Wright of Benedictine High School happy to be back in the college basketball recruiting game, writes Terry Pluto
After his freshman year at Benedictine, Cameron Wright committed to play bas ketball at Ohio State.

• Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James can prove his sincerity about staying a Cav simply by signing a contract extension.
If LeBron James wants the NBA to know he plans to stay in Cleveland, he can put it in writing any time after July 18. That's the first day the Cavaliers can offer him an extension.

• Gameday is a holiday for Junior World Championship football fans: Terry Pluto
Canton

• James' off-season: Stretch, lift, shoot
For LeBron James, the journey to repeat as the NBA's Most Valuable Player begins Monday morning.

• Shaquille O'Neal says the Cavs are LeBron James' team, and he's here to help win the NBA championship.
The big man in the charcoal suit with the pink shirt and tie delivered a smile that could wipe the tears off even the gloomiest, wet Cleveland day.

• Terry's Talkin'... about the Browns' Rob Ryan, Eric Wedge's future and the Shaq trade
It was fun to hear new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan say: "We want to be multiple [defenses], and we want to have multiple players who can play different spots and cause confusion." That was his reputation as the defensive coordinator in Oakland, and the Browns need some creativity. Playing the bland, passive 3-4 seems to leave the defense on the field forever and does nothing to stop the run.

• He's ours, all ours
You should love the Cavaliers' trade for Shaquille O'Neal.

• He's ours, all ours
ISAAC BALDZIONNBAE VIA GETTY IMAGESShaquille O'Neal is a Cavalier. . . . Say it again. Shaquille O'Neal is a Cavalier. If the Cavs win a championship with him, saying that will never get old.

• Cleveland Cavaliers choice of the Congo's Christian Eyenga is an odd selection - Terry Pluto
Scribbles in my Cavs notebook . . .

• Cleveland Indians fans finding it difficult to care about Tribe: Terry Pluto
This might not end up being the worst In dian summer since the turn of the new century, but it could be the saddest in a long time for those who love the Tribe.

• Cavs may buy way into better pick
Don't be surprised if the Cavs come away with a rotation player in Thursday's NBA Draft. It probably won't happen if they stay at current picks No. 30 and No. 46, but with teams hurting for money and the Cavs flush with cash from a strong playoff run and LeBron-mania, it puts them in superb position to add some money to that 30th pick and move up. It's a draft with a glut of point guards, and the Cavs could use one. There also are some intriguing wing players.

• ABOUT THE CAVS . . .
With only four years as coach of the Cavs, Mike Brown ranks tied for 10th with Portland's Nate McMillan in terms of seniority with his current team. It's no secret that while the NBA loves to fire coaches, the Cavs believe Brown compares well to most in the league and he is still learning. It's a tough league where 14 of the past 19 titles have been won by two coaches - Phil Jackson (six with the Bulls, four with the Lakers) and Gregg Popovich (four with the Spurs).

• ABOUT THE INDIANS . . .
At the start of the season, the Indians hoped Ben Francisco would estab lish himself as a starting outfielder. Instead, he has declined to the point where he'll have to rally to stay on the roster. It's bad enough he went into the weekend hitting .233 with five HRs (three off Tampa Bay's Andy Sonnanstine) and 23 RBI, but since the 2008 All-Star break, Francisco is batting .234 (100-for-417) with 12 homers and 42 RBI. That's a large sample and it's going in the wrong direction with Francisco hitting .129 in June.

• Cleveland Browns' Braylon Edwards will likely remain here, writes The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
ROADELL HICKMANTHE PLAIN DEALERThe Browns are counting on wide receiver Braylon Edwards to return to his Pro Bowl form - it is a contract year, after all.

• Cleveland Browns receiver Donté Stallworth should be suspended by the NFL for at least one year: Terry Pluto
Here's some help for the NFL as Commissioner Roger Goodell decides what to do with Donté Stallworth, who was suspended indefinitely by the league Thursday:

• Shaquille O'Neal would look good in a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform, but the Cavs need more re: Terry Pluto
Talkin' to myself about Sha quille O'Neal . . .

• He was a good guy and so much more
When Bill Fitch heard that former Plain Dealer sportswriter Bill Nichols had died, one of the first words out of the longtime NBA coach was initials - G.G.

• ABOUT MERLE LEVIN . . .
No one ever loved Cleveland State University more than Merle Levin, the former sports information director who passed away last week at age 81. Levin began at the school in 1955, when it was Fenn College and had no dream of making the NCAA Tournament, or even playing major college basketball. Levin was a relentless promoter and supporter of the school, a friend to countless coaches, players and media members until his retirement in 1993.

• ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .
Eric Mangini's approach to practices says a lot about the Browns of the past few years: They were a soft team, both physically and especially mentally. Too many penalties, too many blown assignments. Too may breakdowns in the final two minutes of games. Mangini's approach to throw a lot of material at the players, and have them work through extreme noise and rain and wind, is designed to teach his players not to rattle, to concentrate on assignments. The real pressure that his coaches put on the players is not as much physical as mental. Can you make the correct decision, the proper read, and do it when you can barely hear yourself think?

• Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown wasn't going anywhere, writes Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto
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• Death takes another '60s memory: Terry Pluto
When I think of Woodie Held, I think of baseball cards. I think of how they came in packs of five for a quarter, along with a super-sweet chunk of pink bubblegum from Topps - the only baseball card company around.

• Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about Browns QBs, a valiant friend, Cavs' needs, Tribe's shuffling
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's Sunday, which means Terry Pluto has thoughts ...

• Former Cleveland Indians owner Dick Jacobs is reason Tribe is still in town, writes The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
The reason the Indians re main in Cleveland is be cause Dick Jacobs bought the franchise in 1986.

• Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert puts cash behind 'One Goal': Terry Pluto
If any of the local sports franchise owners is going to deliver a championship in the near future, it's Dan Gilbert of the Cavaliers.

• Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James should have shaken hands, but he didn't do anything horrible: Terry Pluto
Before we act as if LeBron James just blew up the Terminal Tower, some of us need to remember what it was like to be 24.

• ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .
Despite the issues about his weight, I believe Eric Steinbach will be the starting left guard. Assuming he stays healthy, he is the best guard on the team - although a healthy Ryan Tucker is close. Asking an offensive lineman to add some pounds is a lot easier than needing him to lose weight. Steinbach was too light for the spot last season - in the 270 range. He has added at least 12 pounds this off-season. Steinbach is one of only four NFL offensive linemen under 300 pounds, according to Browns beat writer Tony Grossi's research. The goal for Steinbach is to add weight and keep his quickness, the key to his success.

• ABOUT THE TRIBE . . .
Why isn't Mark DeRosa at second base? Be cause a few weeks ago, the Indians made the decision (finally!) to put together their best defensive infield. That meant moving Jhonny Peralta to third and Asbrubal Cabrera to short. As they checked with scouts, they determined DeRosa was OK at second, but the team would be better off defensively with Luis Valbuena and Jamey Carroll splitting time at second.

• Cleveland Browns' Eric Mangini deserves kudos for his no-nonsense approach, writes The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
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• For Cleveland Cavaliers' fans, it's the whimper of our discontent - Terry Pluto
Orlando, Fla.

• For Cleveland Cavaliers' fans, it's the whimper of our discontent - Terry Pluto
Orlando, Fla.

• Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto scribbles in his notebook before the Cleveland Cavaliers play Game 6
Orlando

• Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto scribbles in his notebook before the Cleveland Cavaliers play Game 6
Orlando

• Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto scribbles in his notebook before the Cleveland Cavaliers play Game 6
Orlando

• Cleveland Cavaliers finally close out a game against the Orlando Magic: Terry Pluto
The Cavs did more than win this game and remain alive in the Eastern Conference fi nals, they closed out a game in the fashion that helped them win 66 games in the regular sea son. They outscored Or lando, 34-23, in the fourth period, so critical after losing a 22-point lead in the first half. What the Cavs did in this game was come out with confidence, then lose it in the second quarter as they were being outscored, 37-21, and the crowd turned worried and quiet. Then suddenly they remembered that they indeed were 44-3 at home (counting playoffs) this season, and made it 45-3 by outscoring Orlando, 23-12, in the last six minutes.

• Cleveland Cavaliers could use a good swingman like the Orlando Magic's Mickael Pietrus: Terry Pluto
Yes, Orlando guard- forward Mickael Pietrus has been a great sixth man in this se ries. But there is another message about this - the 6-6 Pietrus is the kind of long, lean, athletic swing man the Cavs need. Guard Sasha Pavlovic has some size and athletic talent, but he is so inconsistent. Guard Wally Szczerbiak also has the size, but he has been battling knee problems the past few years and even before that, quickness was not his best asset. They need an athletic wing player as a top substitute off the bench. Their guard crew of Mo Williams, Delonte West and Daniel Gibson is small by NBA standards - none of them is taller than 6-2, no matter what is their listed size.

• Terry Pluto asks, can the Cleveland Cavaliers give their fans one more reason to smile?
Im trying not to be depressed about the Cavs . . . but guess what?

• Cleveland Cavaliers need to rethink their strategy to stay alive, says The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
Orlando, Fla.- So, now what?

• NBA referee crews lack chemistry, says The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
Here's my theory on why some of the playoff games have been offici ated so incon sistently: These guys don't work to gether that often. Yes, there are three groups of 20 officials - and they assemble teams from that. But in that group, you have guys who are used to running the show, being the lead officials. Now they are tossed together, and they sometimes conflict. For example, in Game 3, Joe Crawford, Mark Wunderlich and Greg Willard called 58 personal fouls leading to 86 free throws. All are strong-willed officials, and their lack of chemistry was obvious.

• Terry hedline goes right here
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• PLUTO CHAT What does Terry Pluto think about the Cavs, Browns and Indians? Chat live at noon today at
cleveland.com/pluto

• Cleveland Cavaliers fall flat against Orlando Magic in first big road test of the 2009 NBA playoffs: The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
Orlando, Fla.- Can the Cavs win a game on the road - especially an ugly, sometimes turnover-scarred, foul-marred mess of a test away from home?

• James thrives with game on line
Whenever LeBron James makes a pass near the end of a game rather than a shot, it brings up the charge that he doesn't want to take on the pressure of winning the game. That talk was silenced with his last-sec ond shot to beat Orlando, 96-95, in Game 2 at The Q. But what do the numbers say? Does the Cavs star shy away from pressure?

• ABOUT THE BROWNS . . .
Maybe I'm naive, but I believe the situation with Joshua Cribbs will work out. Very few players since the Browns returned in 1999 have loved playing for this team as much as Cribbs. Very few share his passion for football. Right after Mangini was hired, I asked him what players impressed him the most on film - he mentioned D'Qwell Jackson, Shaun Rogers, Joe Thomas and Cribbs. At different news conferences, he seemed to make a point of praising Cribbs.

• ABOUT THE TRIBE . . .
Isometimes get in trouble when I write stuff like this, but it seems the Indians have a rising star in Asdrubal Cabrera. Remember that he opened last season about 15 pounds heavy and ended up being sent to the minors in June. He spent a month at Class AAA and returned at the All-Star break a revived player. Heading into the weekend, Cabrera has played 115 games (356 at-bats) since the second half of 2008, hitting .323 with 25 doubles and 55 RBI in those 115 games. His OPS is .850, with an on-base percentage of .398. Yes, maybe he can be the leadoff man.

• LeBron: For me, a second is a long time
When the ball came off the fingertips of the huge right hand that belongs to LeBron James, for a second, it looked good, real good.

• Cleveland Browns' Eric Mangini sends a message to his players when he speaks, writes The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
Ibelieve every time coach Eric Man gini says something - such as naming Brady Quinn to practice with the first string, even if it's in voluntary workouts - the new Browns coach is sending a message.

• Film study puts focus on Howard
In the first game, the Cavs' film study re vealed that there were five to seven plays in which Dwight Howard was within a few feet of the basket and a Cavs player was nearby and could have fouled him -- but they did not.

• Film study puts focus on Howard
Yes, the 3-pointer at the buzzer by LeBron James (and his 35 points) de cided this game. But did you notice Dwight How ard had only two points after the first quarter? Or only 10 for night? Howard still was a factor in this game with 18 rebounds, but not even close to 30-point force he was in the opener. That's because the Cavs changed their defensive approach, giving Zydrunas Ilgauskas plenty of help - and the Cavs center also being more active. Or how about this? Ilgauskas outscored Howard, 12-10. He was close in rebounding, the 18-15 edge to Howard. It was so much better than the opener, when Howard outscored Ilgauskas, 30-10.

• Film study puts focus on Howard
Yes, the 3-pointer at the buzzer by LeBron James (and his 35 points) de cided this game. But did you notice Dwight How ard had only two points after the first quarter? Or only 10 for night? Howard still was a factor in this game with 18 rebounds, but not even close to 30-point force he was in the opener. That's because the Cavs changed their defensive approach, giving Zydrunas Ilgauskas plenty of help - and the Cavs center also being more active. Or how about this? Ilgauskas outscored Howard, 12-10. He was close in rebounding, the 18-15 edge to Howard. It was so much better than the opener, when Howard outscored Ilgauskas, 30-10.

• Film study puts focus on Howard
In the first game, the Cavs' film study re vealed that there were five to seven plays in which Dwight Howard was within a few feet of the basket and a Cavs player was nearby and could have fouled him -- but they did not.