Farewell, EJ, Kenny and Sir Charles

Ah, the end of the broadcast season on TNT. My basketball viewing will drop off significantly, Finals or no.

That's because, like most other people, I tune in TNT on game nights not for the games, necessarily, but for the pre- and postgame shows, and halftime. There's simply no other studio show on TV quite like that of the NBA on TNT.

Simply put, these guys are great: Ernie Johnson, the traffic cop of a host who knows when to enforce the rules and when to let his guys off with just a warning; Kenny Smith, the straight man who has mastered the art of getting in his observation before all hell breaks loose; and Charles Barkley, the most refreshing voice on television, period. Charles is at once someone to be taken seriously for his basketball knowledge, and a comic relief from all the staid and stuffy commentary that takes place on televised sports.

Spencer Hall wrote a great piece about the trio in the June 2 issue of The Sporting News. It captures perfectly the controlled chaos that is the TNT studio set, and provides more than a few laughs. That's because the things he writes are things we can identify with, things similar to what we've seen and heard while watching the show over the years. And it all revolves around Barkley -- as Hall points out in the last few paragraphs by offering a few of Charles' best lines. (Perhaps my favorite, a reference to the constant stream of promos for "The Closer," TNT's hit series: "If I see Kyra Sedgwyck one more time, my head's gonna explode.")

Kelly Dwyer alluded to the same magic in a 2005 article in Sports Illustrated. As Dwyer pointed out, the TNT show is just fun (unlike ESPN's, which he called "depressing"). No pretense, no maliciousness, just fun. And Barkley's blatant honesty, which has rubbed off on Smith. During this year's Cleveland-Boston series, Barkley complained loudly about the Cavaliers' "crappy offense" and Smith quickly, and enthusiastically, agreed.

The key to Barkley's appeal is his total transparency, his willingness to be honest with himself and with others. As Phil Taylor wrote in the June 3 issue of SI, "Part of the reason Barkley gets away with outrageous statements and acts...is because he doesn't deny, deflect or dissemble, like so many other sports figures do when caught in a sticky situation." It's that singular characteristic that makes Barkley so genuine, so believable, and so successful.

Some critics have lamented the guest appearances by Magic Johnson next to TNT's dynamic threesome over the years, but he's clearly grown as a TV commentator, primarily because the TNT format (and personalities) encourage him to simply be himself. He doesn't have to carry the show; he need only fit in. In fact, Magic now comes across as an elder statesman, and his simple insights add to the show's appeal.

I'll be checking in on the rest of the postseason, obviously. But I won't go out of my way to watch the studio shows, which pale in comparison to the lively banter and honest insights of the guys on TNT.

A Snapshot of What Ails the Tribe

The Indians dropped another winnable game Wednesday, this one by a 6-5 score to the White Sox. Patrick McManamon wrote in today's Akron Beacon Journal that Eric Wedge was openly angry with his team after the game, as he should have been.

In addition to Wedge's frustration with reliever Rafael Betancourt -- something with which I have no firsthand knowledge but can't blame him for, either -- the skipper expressed disappointment, and rightfully so, with the final two at bats of the game, by Ben Francisco and Victor Martinez.

With one out in the ninth and runners at second and third, Francisco swung at the first pitch from Sox closer Bobby Jenks. The first pitch! Pop up, two outs.

Then Martinez, long the best hitter on the team, took a low and away pitch. On TV, Rick Manning mused that Jenks would waste another pitch and, if Martinez didn't bite, probably walk him to load the bases and create a force at any base.

He didn't have to. He wasted a pitch, alright -- high and outside, and Martinez bit. Pop fly to left, game over. You had to believe Manning's blood pressure rose a bit, watching that.

Let me issue a bit of a disclaimer here. I've coached sports at various levels for 30 years, most of it with kids. Yes, I've managed baseball teams. But I've never considered myself an expert at it. For that, I've attended seminars, and listened to those who have coached at levels far beyond mine. I also spent a couple of years broadcasting minor league baseball, and had the chance to talk about the game with coaches and players along the way.

One thing I've learned from it all, and tried to convey to teams I coached: When you've got a situation that's in your favor, be smart. Jenks was in trouble. Yes, he's good. But the Indians had the ideal situation. One out. Tying run on third. Winning run on second, in scoring position. Logic dictates that you work the count. Make Jenks throw strikes. Keep him on his heels. Wait for a mistake.

Instead, on three pitches, the game was over. No work. No sweat. No worries. Just, game over.

I was stunned, watching it. I'm sure Manning was stunned. The fans in the stands sure were. As Wedge himself put it, "They swung at pitches you're not going to be able to do anything with." And the Indians took that now customary long walk down the tunnel, while another opponent celebrated a win in a scene becoming all too familiar this season.

It needn't have been that way. But the Indians are shooting themselves in the foot with regularity. And it's mystifying.

I don't envy Wedge or Mark Shapiro right now. Who do you bench? Who do you send packing? What do you do to shake this team out of its lethargy before it's too late?

One is reminded of the two-bit carny hypnotist in "The Natural," who said, "Losing...is a disease."

He later added that it's "curable." For the Tribe's sake, let's hope so.

A Look at the Browns' Offseason Activities

While Clevelanders wring their hands about what Danny Ferry should do next to improve the Cavs, or what Mark Shapiro should do now to improve the Indians, Browns GM Phil Savage has somehow been flying under the radar as he has quietly added some key players to a team with high expectations for next season.

Think about it: You know the Browns are better. But you also haven't been giving it much thought, preoccupied as we all are with the other teams in town. Well, don't look now, but Savage has taken the Browns' newfound status -- and 2008 schedule -- seriously with some shrewd moves.

Start with the most significant of all. Faced with the prospect of losing Derek Anderson and forcing Brady Quinn into the starting role prematurely, Savage preempted other suitors and locked up Anderson with a three-year deal. I wrote about it in my May 16 post. It's a solid move because Anderson responded so well when given the opportunity last season. Nobody expected the Browns to click like they did, and few honestly expected it to be with Anderson at the helm. I know I didn't. When someone steps up and performs the way Anderson did, they deserve the trust and confidence that comes with it. I remain curious about what Quinn will contribute when his time comes, and I suspect it could be very good. But I have a good feeling about Anderson, and am intrigued to see what 2008 will bring.

If signing Anderson was offseason move number 1, then signing Jamal Lewis to a new three-year deal was move 1a. What's not to like? Here's a guy who has rushed for more than 9,000 yards in seven seasons. He's never gained fewer than 900 yards in a season. Doesn't exactly make you long for William Green, does it? Lewis showed up, suited up, and plowed his way to more than 1,300 yards (fifth in the league) and nine touchdowns in his first season in a Browns uniform. Running behind a revamped offensive line, Lewis helped propel the Browns rushing attack to 118 yards a game, tenth in the league. Gone are the days of Browns fans lamenting the lack of a running game.

Suffice it to say that having Anderson and Lewis on board stabilizes an offense that got even stronger with the signing of Donte Stallworth. Here's a legitimate NFL receiver, a complement to Braylon Edwards' emergence as a true number one guy. Joe Jurevicius wanted a reduced role, as his body can no longer withstand the rigors of a starting position. Stallworth's still can, and he's a solid option as the number two wideout, with excellent speed. Opposing defenses will have to pay attention to him, which will open things up for Edwards and Kellen Winslow. Stallworth has his doubters, in part due to reports that he is in the NFL's substance abuse program. CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco has already labeled Stallworth as the Browns' most overrated player -- this without having played a snap in the orange and brown -- because of his "inconsistency." Well, 279 catches and 31 touchdowns over six seasons will fit into the Browns' offense very nicely, I think. And with Jurevicius still around -- not to mention Josh Cribbs -- the receiving corps is that much better.

Shoring up the offense, Savage added Rex Hadnot to an already formidable offensive line. He was a sixth-round pick by the Dolphins in 2004 and has missed only one game in his career, logging time at guard and center. And that's the key. His versatility enables Romeo Crennel to use him at multiple positions on the interior line. That's already become important, because Ryan Tucker went down early with a hip injury that threatens his availability for training camp this summer. The projected line during organized team activity practices this month included Joe Thomas at left tackle, Eric Steinbach at left guard, Hank Fraley at center, Tucker at right guard and Kevin Shaffer at right tackle. The addition of Hadnot, and the offseason re-signings of Seth McKinney and Lennie Friedman, give the Browns veteran depth up front.

On the defensive side of the ball, trades in February and March brought defensive linemen Corey Williams from Green Bay and Shaun Rogers from Detroit. There's no question the duo will immediately upgrade the defensive line. Williams and Rogers had seven sacks apiece last season, and Rogers has recorded 29 sacks in his seven-year career. Williams will likely pair with Robaire Smith on the ends in the Browns 3-4 scheme, while Rogers will share time with Shaun Smith at the nose tackle position. Crennel has said, however, that Rogers may also see time at defensive end.

Continuing to focus on the defense, Savage quickly tried to offset the loss of cornerback Daven Holly to a season-ending injury by signing veteran Terry Cousin to a two-year deal. Cousin has appeared in 156 games, with 68 starts, in 11 NFL seasons. He'll likely backup Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald and see time in the Browns' nickel packages. Cousin's experience includes a Super Bowl XXXVIII appearance with Carolina, one of six teams he played for before signing with Cleveland.

As for the draft, Savage claimed linebacker Beau Bell from UNLV and tight end Martin Rucker from Missouri with his remaining top picks, both fourth-rounders. Bell had 320 tackles during a four-year career at Las Vegas and earned 2007 Defensive Player of the Year honors in the Mountain West Conference. He's known as a hard hitter, something the Browns felt was lacking on defense last season. Rucker's numbers improved each year at Missouri, capping off with an All-American season that included 84 catches, 834 yards and eight touchdowns his senior year. He caught 203 passes during his four years with the Tigers.

In all, it's been a productive offseason for the Browns, one that was needed considering the schedule they'll be facing in the fall. Non-division foes include: the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, plus Dallas, Washington, Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Tennessee, all of whom finished above .500 last year; Philadelphia, who was 8-8; and Denver and Buffalo, both of whom were 7-9. The Browns were 10-6 a season ago, and the road to that record or better won't be as easy this season. But the new additions to the roster give them a much better chance to enter the ranks of the NFL's elite in 2008.

A Memorable Weekend of Youth Baseball -- and One Organization Doing Something for the African-American Community

A couple of simple observations today, after the Indians' fate was sealed Monday night against the White Sox when they couldn't hold a 3-1 lead in the seventh. (Did you really think they would score any more runs? Were you at all surprised that it was Chicago that pulled it out in the twelfth inning?)

A proud dad, and delighted fan

Over the weekend our youngest son played in a 13-and-under baseball tournament in Alliance. He plays for the traveling team from North Canton. Their most formidable opponent was a big team from Pittsburgh, and, sure enough, the Pittsburgh team outlasted them, 9-8, when they met in pool play.

The two teams met again in the championship game on Sunday. My son was asked to start on the mound, and he put together five solid innings that would make any dad proud. He had done well growing up in Little League, but this is different. The field is bigger, the pitching distance is further, and he hasn't really had his growth spurt yet. So when he was able to hold the strong-hitting Pittsburgh team at bay, it was no small feat, and our guys took a 7-4 lead into the sixth inning.

As they'd done the previous day, Pittsburgh came back to tie it in the bottom of the seventh. And they had a workhorse of a kid on the mound in relief who was throwing heat and looked like he'd be tough to get a hit off of, let alone score against. But in the tenth inning he allowed a couple of walks, then a wild pitch, and after a throwing error and a double by one of our guys, we ended up winning, 10-7. The picture that accompanies this was taken after they won the title game.

Obviously, winning beats the alternative, but I was struck mostly by how talented these two teams were, and by how they played each other down to the wire on consecutive days. Mind you, they're 13 year old kids. But they made plays, got key hits, and kept battling. It was entertaining -- and an enjoyable way to spend a holiday weekend.

I was also reminded of something else. Given the choice of watching millionaires play baseball in the majors, or these kids play on sandlots everywhere like the ones this weekend in Alliance, I'd take the kids any day. There was drama, all-out effort, courage, grit (more than one kid played despite bumps and bruises sustained during the weekend) and good sportsmanship.

That's not to say I don't enjoy the Indians and major league baseball in general. Of course I do. But this was just as entertaining, and just as hotly contested. There's nothing quite like watching people -- kids or otherwise -- playing for the love of the game.

African-Americans and baseball...

Much has been said and written in recent years about the declining number of African-Americans in professional baseball. One of the chief causes is the lack of emphasis on the game in urban areas, where kids typically play basketball, if anything. Programs have been launched in urban communities across America to try to rekindle interest in baseball.

That's why I was impressed over the weekend to again see a couple of teams from Canton in the annual Memorial Day Tournament sponsored by the North Canton Little League. The Canton teams were from the Mitey Mite program, which is operated by the J. Babe Stearn Community Center.

Babe Stearn was a legendary figure and former sheriff in Stark County. More than 50 years ago, Stearn launched the Mitey Mite baseball association in Canton, and over the years it has afforded thousands of kids the chance to learn and play the game. It's similar in many ways to Little League, but a separate entity. The picture featured here is from a Mitey Mite game in the 1960s.

Following my son's final tournament game in Alliance on Sunday, we made it back home in time to see the championship game of the tourney at the North Canton Little League complex. The game paired the North Canton Indians and the Mitey Mite Rangers. It was interesting to observe that the Rangers' roster was made up entirely of African-American players and coaches. Anyone who says that more programs are needed to sustain interest in baseball among African-American children need only to come to Canton to witness the fine work being done by the J. Babe Stearn Community Center and Mitey Mite baseball. Obviously, not all players in the program are African-American, but a large percentage are.

The Rangers fell behind early and, despite a late rally, lost in the championship game, 7-3. But they were competitive, well-coached, and enthusiastic about the game. It was great to see. Congratulations to the Rangers and to all those who are working to rekindle enthusiasm for baseball among the children in Canton, particularly in the African-American community.

The Grandstand Managers Association

Check out my official Grandstand Managers Association membership card for 1973. I still have one from '72, and I'm sure I had them in the years before that. The Grandstand Managers idea was the brainchild of the late Hal Lebovitz, the legendary columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The name was borrowed, I believe, from a famous promotion by Bill Veeck when he owned the St. Louis Browns in the 1950s. All you had to do was send in a coupon that appeared in the PD, and you received your membership card and a general admission ticket for an Indians' game. Hey, tickets were expensive back then -- a whopping $2 for a general admission seat! But we loved it.

This was in old Cleveland Stadium, of course -- the home of the Tribe until they moved to Jacobs Field in 1994. What a cavernous place to watch a ball game. But it was the only stadium most of us knew back in those days -- certainly was for me. It's the only place I saw a major league game until I lived in Southern California in the late '70s and early '80s and took in games at Dodger Stadium and Anaheim Stadium.

I also came across a scorecard from an Indians doubleheader on July 12, 1970. They lost both games to the Red Sox, 6-2 and 8-2. Vada Pinson had a big day for the Tribe, going 2-for-5 in the first game and 3-for-5 in the second. But there wasn't much else to shout about. Tony Horton homered for Cleveland in game one, and Ted Uhlaender followed suit in the nightcap. Carl Yaztrzemski had a hit in each game for Boston.

More significant, to me, were my notes for game two. Remember, I was 13 at the time: "In the first inning Lasher hit Tony C. Yaz went to 2nd. Tony C. charged Lasher, exchanged punches. Both benches emptied. Tempers flared, Tony C. ejected, replaced by Fiore who went to 1st. Yaz to left field, Billy C. to right."

"Tempers flared?" Who did I think I was, Red Smith?

Of course, "Tony C." was Tony Conigliaro, who had an understandably short fuse when it came to beanballs, having been seriously injured when he was struck in the eye by a pitch from the Angels' Jack Hamilton in 1967. Conigliaro, a rising star at the time of that beaning, never achieved the level of stardom that was originally expected of him. So when Fred Lasher nailed him, out to the mound he went.

By the way -- "Billy C." was, of course, Billy Conigliaro, Tony's brother.

And now for some lighthearted fun -- some selected concession prices as listed in that program:

Beer .50
Soft Drink .25
Coffee .20
Peanuts .25
Popcorn .25
Pizza Slice .30
Hot Dogs .40
Hamburger .50

And so on. This was also a time when you could buy cigarettes in the stadium for 60 cents, and a cigar for 15 cents. Smoking was, of course, permitted everywhere.

Reading those prices confirmed one thing: If the Indians ever have a "turn back the clock to 1970" night at Progressive Field, with prices to match, I'm there.

Another Injury - and Memories of the Most Legendary Brown of All

The injury bug bit the Browns in a big way again on Tuesday, when cornerback Daven Holly blew out a knee during a practice at the team's facilities in Berea. Holly was expected to battle for one of the starting cornerback positions this season, but instead will apparently be lost for the year. Reports released Wednesday said Holly jumped for a ball during practice and came down awkwardly on the knee. His injury was the second serious setback for a Browns player in the past week. Right guard Ryan Tucker suffered a hip injury May 14 and had to undergo surgery. He'll miss most, if not all, of training camp, but is expected back in time for the season.

Remembering the glory days...

My brother suggested I post scans and photos from days gone by. There was a time when our dad had a couple of programs from Browns games in their pre-NFL days of the 1940s, when they were the dominant team (and only champion) in the four-season existence of the All-America Football Conference. Those programs may still be around, but we haven't come across them in several years. Maybe in a box somewhere.

Meanwhile, I went back to our old baseball/football card collections to pull out a few gems from the 1960s. The photo on the left is of the 1962 Jim Brown card from Post Cereal, one of an ongoing series issued on the backs of cereal boxes. That was a great idea for the time. We'd buy the cereal just to get the cards. Post did it for several years with baseball, but only 1962 for football. We didn't anticipate at the time that cards like this would ever be worth anything more than the stock they were printed on, so we cut them out with scissors and collected them, nothing more. The ones I still have are all cut unevenly and have rounded corners. Who knew? And who cared? It was Jim Brown, for crying out loud, and that's all that mattered. Look at him. Still the prototype for the NFL running back. 12,000+ yards in nine seasons. Everybody else takes a back seat. (Yes, you can see a cleaner image at the Vintage Football Card Gallery, but their cards obviously weren't mangled and worn with love like ours were. That's just boring.)

These next two cards are cool for different reasons. First is JB's 1964 Philadelphia card, part of a series that featured a hilarious set of player shots from the Browns. For whatever reason, unlike the other teams who appear to have had their shots taken at training camps per usual, the Browns players all had their card photos taken outside next to a parking lot. I'm guessing this might have been outside of Cleveland Stadium, or maybe at their training facility. But that Cadillac convertible (I think that's what it is) behind Brown is in the photo on every card of a Browns player I have from that season. (There's one of linebacker Galen Fiss that just cracks me up. Maybe I'll post it another time.) At any rate, the same season that this card was released, the Browns won the last major professional sports championship by any team from Cleveland, defeating the Colts in the 1964 title game, 27-0. I love Brown in this photo. Where the photographer tried to get guys to use typical football poses (like the one in the card above), you can tell Brown just thought, "Are you kidding? This is a sidewalk, with a car behind me! Just take the stupid photo," and crouched down.

Finally, there's the Jim Brown card from the season that never was. This is his 1966 card, and he never played in the 1966 season. The previous year, he ran for 1,544 yards and 17 TDs and averaged 5.3 yards a carry, leading the league (again) and just missing out on a second straight NFL title (the Browns were toppled by the Green Bay Packers). During the offseason Brown, an aspiring actor at the time, was in London shooting "The Dirty Dozen." The story goes that Brown intended to play at least one more season, although he admittedly had an eye on an acting career. However, when it appeared that the movie's schedule would overlap the start of Browns training camp, owner Art Modell proclaimed that Brown would be fined for every day of training camp that he missed. Bad idea. Never one to have things dictated to him, Brown simply retired, stunning the sports world. He had dominated the NFL for nearly a decade, but he walked away, and that was it. I remember feeling heartbroken at the time. Now, I can't imagine anything cooler. As Brown himself said, the way he went out was preferable to the way so many aging athletes do, "sitting on a bench, limping around, invoking sympathy."

Amazing, what memories a few old cards can invoke. Maybe over time I'll pull out a few other treasures to share.

Hole-y Bats, Batman!

Somebody at CBS Sportsline has been having some fun with the Indians.

In the site's article about last night's 4-1 loss to Chicago, they named Grady Sizemore as Cleveland's "Player of the Game." Sizemore went 0-for-4, but apparently earned the designation by driving in the Tribe's only run. Pretty meager stats, but what's an editor to do these days? The Indians' bats are as silent as a Charlie Chaplin film.

And so it goes in this strange odyssey that is the 2008 season.

Last night it was four hits, one run, and yet another wasted outing by a Cleveland starter. Once again it was C.C. Sabathia, who surrendered only two runs -- both on solo home runs -- in seven innings while striking out eight. The score looked worse because Jensen Lewis blew up in two innings of relief.

The problem with writing a column like this, during seasons like this, is that there's little to say that readers don't already know. Pitching's great. Defense is OK. Hitting stinks. Next?

However, some ominous signs are developing. Jhonny Peralta's on-again, off-again career is apparently in an off-again season. He went .292 with 24 home runs and 78 RBIs in 2005, dropped .257-13-68 in '06, rebounded to .270-21-72 last year, and so far is stumbling along at .225-8-15.

But hey, he should be really good next year.

Travis Hafner has been struggling for so long that it might be time to face facts. Either something's wrong, or he just can't hit like he used to. That's rather hard to fathom after the numbers he put up from 2004 to 2006, when he averaged 34 homers and 111 RBIs while batting over .300 each season. Given that track record, Eric Wedge has to wait for him to try to work out of it -- but how long can Wedge afford to wait?

Peralta and Hafner are symbolic of what ails the entire lineup. There may be no quick fixes, other than to bring Shin-Soo Choo up from Buffalo when he's ready and see if he can team with Ben Francisco to pump some life into the offense. Barring that, GM Mark Shapiro will have to consider a trade or two to overhaul what has become a shockingly anemic attack.

"I know coming up soon we're going to explode," said Sabathia after the game. Well, that was nice of him. Of course, he might also want to add that if "we" don't, "we" can all expect to see him in another uniform next season. It can't be satisfying to lose as many games as Sabathia has over the years because of no run support.

The hitters have to get it done. That's what they're paid to do -- millions of dollars a year, at that. Wedge and the coaching staff can only do so much. It's up to the guys in uniform.

The Cavaliers Need to Get Better -- But How?

The postmortems will now commence on the Cavaliers and run all the way until next fall. This much is certain: Nobody knows what will happen.

It's always that way. Who saw the "big trade" coming before it was made in February? Fans and the media didn't, and, once it occurred, they didn't know whether to get excited or scratch their heads in bewilderment. Still don't. (Personally, there are days I really miss Drew Gooden, who, lest we forget, was the Cavs' second option on offense. But, on we go. )

So the Cavs enter the offseason coming off a disappointing playoff loss. But ask yourself: Were you surprised that their run ended earlier this year? Other than LeBron, and maybe Ilgauskas, this is a collection of NBA journeymen, role players who are asked to do more than just play a role.

The teams in the conference finals are just that -- teams, collections of talented players who make contributions across the board. That includes the Lakers, since the addition of Pau Gasol. As important as he was in providing support to Kobe Bryant, he also made Lamar Odom their third option on offense. Not bad.

And the Spurs? When you've got Manu Ginobili as your sixth man, you can play with anybody. (The Cavs had to thrust 32-year-old Joe Smith into that role for the final games of the Celtics series.)

Delonte West and Daniel Gibson are restricted free agents. The Cavs should keep West. They have no better option at the point. He put up decent, if not spectacular, numbers (about 10 points, 4.5 assists) during the regular season and the playoffs. He was given an opportunity and did more with it than anyone else has in the past couple of years. Whether he's a pure NBA point guard or not isn't the issue. Right now he's the best Cleveland has.

The argument for Gibson is that he's a solid shooter, and in Cleveland's system -- where LeBron handles the ball as often as does the point guard -- you need a shooter as much as you do a ballhandler at the point.

Devin Brown is an unrestricted free agent. He's bounced around in his career, yet at one point this season appeared to have solidified his place with the Cavs. He started and played well much of the year -- then rode the pine throughout the Boston series. How that happens, I don't know. This is a guy, remember, who averaged 11.6 points and four rebounds a game last year for New Orleans. What, Mike Brown had better options?

The Cavaliers remain "LeBron James and everyone else," and that's no formula for a championship. Ilgauskas is still a serviceable center, although he's not getting any younger. But there's no Scottie Pippen-like player, nobody who can take over a game if the defense keys on James.

The Lakers of the '70s and '80s weren't all about Magic. They were loaded, with players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Jamal Wilkes and Michael Cooper. The same with the Celtics of that era. It wasn't just Bird. McHale, Parish, Ainge -- they were stacked as well.

The Cavaliers fall woefully short by comparison, and need to do something to beef up their lineup -- and soon. But they're hindered by the salary cap and will have to exercise some creativity in order to pull off a trade that could bring a big name to town. LeBron has two years left on his contract, and no doubt feels comfortable playing so close to home in Cleveland. Yet he knows that great players are measured not only by personal achievements, but by championships. It's not likely he'll stand still for too many more missed opportunities.

Call It What It Was -- A Great Game

It's the day after, and time for Cavs fans to come down from the lofty perch that is the NBA Playoffs. The season is over for the wine and gold, and that's never an easy thing to accept. But, if the Cavs were going to go out, at least they went out in style.

Paul Pierce and LeBron James put on an impressive show Sunday, and, as expected, the Celtics defended their home court with a 97-92 win that sends them to the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit.

My general impression as these two opponents duked it out all afternoon: What a great game.

It was enjoyable to watch. It had drama, plenty of big plays, a few momentum shifts, and a compelling story line. I didn't need LeBron's postgame comments to remind me of the Larry Bird-Dominique Wilkins duel in the 1988 playoffs. I was already thinking of that memorable game by halftime of Sunday's contest. James and Pierce didn't disappoint, turning in stat lines for the ages in a classic matchup.

LeBron: 45 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists. Pierce: 41 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists. It was mano-a-mano, and it was truly enjoyable to watch.

That aside, Boston won because they're a better team. They earned the right during the regular season to have home court advantage during the playoffs, and it paid off on Sunday. They took the lead early in the game and, despite a late Cavs rally, never relinquished it. Hats off to them.

Now they move on, and the Cavs move out of the way. For Cleveland, it will be an important offseason. Many questions will be raised, questions that will have to be answered.

Is the Cavs roster acceptable as is? Probably not, but "getting help" is easier said that done -- and a topic for another day and another discussion. But it's clear that LeBron had to shoulder almost the entire load in Game 7. To think that he almost pulled off a victory show just how determined and resilient he is. Not to mention talented. (I happen to think that you could take any other MVP candidate from the past two or three years, put him on the Cavs teams of those years in place of LeBron, and get nowhere near the results. From a sheer talent standpoint, James does things that no one else in basketball does.)

But all that analysis is better left for later. For today, we're left with vivid memories of a tremendous game that featured remarkable performances by two remarkable players.

Tribe time

It looks like nothing will come easy for the Indians this year. Just as they start to ride the crest of the wave that has been their starting pitching, they go to Cincinnati and drop three in a row to the Reds. Ugh. As if that wasn't bad enough, the Reds did something no other team had been able to do this season: Beat Cliff Lee.

So it's back to reality for Cleveland, and the reality is that their offense is as bad as...well, as the Cavaliers' is, come to think of it. Team batting average of .236. Apart from Victor Martinez and new arrival Ben Francisco, the Indians couldn't hit the broad side of a glacier, which is the only thing as cold as they are.

Jhonny Peralta is hitting .225. Casey Blake, .226. Travis Hafner, .228. Franklin Gutierrez, .232. Ryan Garko looks like a stud in this lineup, at .241.

Jamey Carrol, the utility man, is hitting a mighty .194 -- and he's ahead of Asdrubal Cabrera, who is plodding along at a dismal .180 clip.

What in the name of Chico Salmon is going on?

Problem is, we're at the point of the season where the team will either have to put up or shut up. You don't alter the entire lineup and expect good results. Eric Wedge will have to ride the horses he has, and hope they start to produce.

The Indians' pitching should keep them around the top of the A.L. Central, which isn't loaded with any powerhouse teams. If the hitters don't take advantage of it and start to produce, they'll have no one to blame but themselves.

An Offensive Offensive Display

You know, I'm tired of the debate.

The Celtics scored 69 points Friday night and the Cavs won. Great defense? OK, sure. Did the Cavs get "stops"? Yes. They swarmed, they hustled, they denied, they rebounded. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Then why do I have the nagging feeling it's not why they won? Why is that ALWAYS the nagging feeling in games like this?

Because their offense is so uninspired, that's why.

I'm sorry, but a physically gifted superstar going to the line 15 times is not a sound offensive strategy -- it's the advantage of playing at home. Give credit where credit is due -- LeBron made 13 of those -- but does anyone really think he'll get those opportunities in Game 7 in Boston?

The Cavs shot 32.9 percent from the field. CLANK. But they "got to the line" 25 times, and made 21. Boston was a more efficient 11-of-13 from the stripe. You think those 10 points didn't make a difference in an offensive stinker like this one?

Yes, credit the Cavs with having much to do with Boston's 39.7 shooting percentage from the field. But the fact remains, the Celtics outshot Cleveland from the field and the line, and had almost twice as many assists, and lost. That's because they were called for far more fouls, and the Cavs made enough of their free throws to win.

That's not going to happen in Boston.

So where does that leave us? With the Cavs having to make shots. And that, as anyone knows, is scary. Not because they can't shoot. But because they end up settling for so many bad shots, out of position, in an offense that seems, inevitably, to lead nowhere.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas appeared totally uncomfortable from the opening tip Friday night, going 3 for 11. Wally Szczerbiak shot 2 for 11. Ben Wallace -- well, we won't count Big Ben. Anderson Varajeo, 2 for 6. Sasha Pavlovic not only went 1 for 6, he looked awful doing it. Damon Jones got in briefly, missed the first two shots he's taken since Roosevelt was President, and came back out.

Devin Brown must be wondering what a guy has to do to get some court time, something the key contributor throughout the season hasn't had this series.

You're left scratching your head sometimes, wondering if the Cavs know what they're supposed to be doing out there other than getting out of LeBron's way, or looking to get the ball back to him as soon as they get it.

Are the Cavs good because of their defense? Because they got stops? Because of their rebounding?

Not really. They do those things well sometimes, maybe even most of the time. But they're good -- in the "championship caliber" sense of the word -- because of LeBron James. It showed again on Friday night.

It doesn't make for a good scenario for Game 7. No way LeBron gets that charge call at the end of the game in Boston. No way the Cavs get the advantage at the line they enjoyed Friday night, in a game that could -- should -- have been a runaway but ended up a squeaker.

That's not to say Game 7 isn't winnable. But it's not likely to be winnable the way Game 6 was won.

Talkin' Pitching -- the Horsehide and the Pigskin

At least Aaron Laffey took the pressure off of everyone.

His throwing error in the second inning of Thursday afternoon's win over Oakland allowed a runner to score and ended the Tribe starters' string of scoreless innings pitched at 44-1/3. Laffey went on to work seven innings in a 4-2 victory, Cleveland's eighth in 10 games.

Don't look now, but the Indians are in first place.

Laffey, who has taken over the fifth starter spot in place of the injured Jake Westbrook, now sports a 1.35 ERA to go along with a 2-2 record. Westbrook was 1-2, 2.73 before his injury.

Cleveland's starting pitching of late has been magnificent. We've talked about Cliff Lee (6-0, 0.67 ERA) and Fausto Carmona (4-1, 2.40). Paul Byrd's ERA is 3.61, and C.C. Sabathia, following early season struggles, has allowed just one run over 16 innings in his last two starts, striking out 20 along the way.

The scoreless innings streak was the Indians' longest by a starting staff since the Tribe foursome of Bob Lemon, Satchel Paige, Gene Bearden and Sam Zoldak hurled 47 straight in 1948. And it's the longest in baseball in over 30 years, since the Orioles' staff tossed 54 in a row in 1974. Pretty heady stuff.

The Indians' climb into first place proves the old theory: In baseball, pitching wins championships. Cleveland is dead last in the American League in team hitting, at .236. But they're first in team ERA, at 3.26. Detroit, meanwhile, is in last place in the division, despite being tied for 5th in the league with a .262 team batting average. That's because their team ERA of 5.05 is at the bottom of the charts.

If the Tribe's bats come alive, and their relievers settle in, and someone steps up to claim the closer role, the team will be a force to be reckoned with. For now, thank the starters for their recent rise to prominence.

And, in Browns' Town...

About time I chimed in on the Browns, bumped as they are from the headlines at this time of year.

Lots of excited chatter going on as the 2008 season approaches. Experts are predicting big things -- including a first place finish in the AFC North, according to some. The TV networks have come a-calling and the Browns will make a splash on the prime time scene in a major way this fall, for the first time since their return to the league in 1999.

So why not make Brady Quinn the quarterback? At least, that's what some fans have been asking.

Two words: Steve Young.

You know, the Hall of Fame quarterback from the 49ers. Super Bowl champion. Seven-time All-Pro.

Well, Steve wasn't so young when he took over as the 49ers QB in 1991. What was he, 26? 28, maybe?

Try 30. After a couple of seasons in the USFL, Young joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1985, at age 24. He started for them the following year, then winged his way to San Fran for what would turn out to be a 13-year ride.

Of course, Joe Montana was in his heyday at the helm of the 49ers when Young arrived, so he had to bide his time. For four years. By the time he cracked the starting lineup, he was 30. And it wasn't until the following year, when he was 31, that he began the string of seven sterling seasons that would earn him a spot in Canton.

The moral of the story is simple. There's plenty of time for Brady Quinn to develop, learn the game, and one day earn his shot. He's only 23. Time is on his side.

In the meantime, the Browns are doing the right thing by sticking with Derek Anderson, to see if last year was the real thing or a fluke. Either way, they're in great shape. If Anderson continues to shine, it's a good thing. If he struggles, then Quinn's opportunity will come.

Where there's smoke...

Finally, here's a vote for ending the pregame pyrotechnics in NBA arenas. Cleveland's Ben Wallace and Delonte West retreated to the locker room rather than having to endure the aftermath of the controlled detonations that occurred prior to Wednesday's game in Boston. Wallace didn't want to risk another dizzy spell, and West has been bothered by an eye infection.

Marketing is a fact of life in pro sports, but some things go way beyond the extreme. This is one. Games actually get underway with a cloud of smoke in the air. That's ridiculous, and the league ought to bring it to a halt.

Let's Pause for Intermission...But Then Could We Keep Playing, for Crying Out Loud?

The Cavs-Celtics series continued according to script Wednesday night, with Boston holding court at home for a 96-89 win over Cleveland. A promising start for the wine-and-gold went sour after Boston coach Doc Rivers made all the right adjustments at halftime and the Celtics rode a 29-17 third quarter to cement the win.

The Cavs exhibited the same tendency throughout the regular season -- third quarter woes leaving them in a deep hole. All year, media and fans wondered, aloud and in print, what the problem was. Why did the Cavaliers seem to falter at that point in so many games? Why did they lack the intensity and focus to hold leads, or to cut in to opponents' leads, after halftime?

The burden is always on the players to perform. On paper, the Celtics have a deeper, more experienced roster than the Cavaliers, and there's no question that Boston came out with more fire in the third quarter. Doc Rivers didn't go from hack to genius in one year; the fact is, he has more talent to work with this time around.

But you have to ask why this happens so frequently under Mike Brown's watch. You're ahead at halftime, in a pivotal Game 5, needing to win in Boston at some point in order to win the series -- and your team can't get pumped up for the third quarter? How is that possible?

It was bad enough that Cleveland squandered a 15-point advantage with four minutes left in the first half, and ended up leading by only four at the intermission. But it got even worse when Boston came out of the locker room and punched the Cavs squarely in the mouth with two quick baskets, one a three-pointer, to grab a one-point lead at the start of the third. That's a 16-point turnaround in five minutes of playing time.

Bingo. Ballgame. You fumble your way through a 16-point switcheroo in a game like this, you should expect to lose.

But more to the point: What in a professional basketball player's career experience doesn't tell him to apply the knockout blow when a playoff opponent is on the ropes -- on their own floor? And what in a coach's experience doesn't tell him to call a timeout or two, stop the bleeding, and get his team focused when things start to slip away?

After Cleveland surged to that 15-point lead, Brown watched over the next two minutes as Kevin Garnett hit a jumper, the Cavs missed a shot, Rajon Rondo hit a three, Cleveland missed again, got the rebound and turned the ball over, and then Rondo hit another three, cutting the lead to seven. The Cavs committed another turnover and then a shooting foul (which would lead to two more Celtic points) before they were rescued, mercifully, by a TV timeout.

But why the wait? With Boston staggering around the ring just 90 seconds earlier, Brown and the Cavs backed off and let the Celtics clear their heads. Big mistake, and it cost them the game.

More Stockton

Disappointment in TNT's Dick Stockton continues, in this corner. After LeBron James posted his strongest stretch of play this series in the first half Wednesday, the Celtics adjusted and focused on him in the third. No surprise. But Stockton continued his mantra from the other night, droning on and on about LeBron's "struggles" throughout the third quarter. OK, James took three shots and missed -- one being a Garnett block of a layup. Quiet, maybe, but not struggling. It was more a case of Boston designing their defense to stop James, a strategy that paid off. Once James knocked down a few shots down the stretch, Stockton quieted down, much less gleeful about the whole course of events.

I'm still a Stockton admirer, but, as Jerry Seinfeld might say: "What's up with that?"

Hammer time

OK, OK, hard fouls are "a part of the game," whatever that means. Not in the rule book, but I digress.

Twice at the start of the fourth quarter on Wednesday night, Celtics forward P.J. Brown obliterated Cavs' shooters from behind to prevent layup attempts. Not block the shots, mind you -- prevent the attempts. The strategy of fouling in the act of defending to prevent an easy basket is fine. But it still seems that pro basketball has endorsed the mugging over the clean, athletic move.

Defenders get a pass if they're "going for the ball." Fine. If there's a little contact, and a message is sent in the process, OK. But when Garnett, or LeBron, or any defender, goes up to block a shot, how do they do it? With one arm extended, at the height of their jump, almost tipping the shot like on a jump ball.

That's not what Brown did. First on Varajeo, then on Szczerbiak -- both of whom beat him to the hoop with inside position -- Brown came up from behind and swung down hard, with both arms, on the shoulders and head. Going for the ball? I don't think so. He was going for them. Both went sprawling to the hardwood.

Naturally, Stockton purred about both plays being "good, smart fouls" by Brown. Whatever. It's the kind of thing that makes NBA basketball so bizarre. "You just beat me to the hoop? That's what you think. . .take that!"

Then again, why be good, when you can be brutal? Why bother to work for good defensive position when you don't have to?

Mine isn't the popular viewpoint, I know. "Hard fouls" are an accepted part of the game. But, too often, they cross the line and completely negate the effectiveness of good offensive execution. When that happens, they should carry a greater penalty.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Cavs-Celtics: On to Game 5; and a Rare Gem for the Tribe

Well, the Cavaliers stepped up Monday night and evened the series with the Celtics with an 88-77 victory. Now they head back to Boston, where they must win a game in order to win this series. As poorly as the Celtics have played on the road this postseason, all they have to do is keep winning at home and they'll be in the finals.

The playoffs have clearly been frustrating for Boston. They were a league-best 66-16 during the regular season. Sixteen losses over six months; that's two, maybe three a month. They've already lost five in the postseason alone.

The fact is, playoff series are different. Opponents have time to adjust, and coaches come up with plans designed specifically for you. A younger, faster team can give older teams (like Boston) fits. To be more specific, younger, faster superstars can give older ones problems. Think it's tough on LeBron James to play so many games a year? He's 23 and built like an ox. Think of the toll it takes on Kevin Garnett, who's 32, or Ray Allen, who's almost 33 -- or Sam Cassell, who is 38.

Even so, Boston is still in the driver's seat as long as they win at home. They're living dangerously, but they're living.

To the bench...

The Cavaliers' subs have stepped up in games three and four. Last night Cleveland's reserves outscored Boston's 36-17. Daniel Gibson tossed in 14 points, and Anderson Varajeo had his best game of the postseason with 12 points and six rebounds, actually logging more minutes than Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Joe Smith continued his sterling play off the bench.

I've commented many times in the past on Mike Brown's tendency to bury players on the bench after using them in prominent roles only days or weeks earlier. The latest Cavalier affected is Devin Brown, who was a key contributor all season, spending significant time in the starting lineup. He's been MIA this series. Damon Jones has barely moved from his seat for the last month or more. Sasha Pavlovic is getting a few minutes here and there.

The playoffs are a time when a coach has to find a rotation that works. Each series is different. And while it's not likely Jones, despite his shooting ability, will get off the pine any time soon, it's entirely possible that Brown could once again play a role should the Cavs advance to the third round.

It's all about matchups, and it's the life of an NBA reserve. You've just got to stay ready.

Look, Mom...

Had to love the scene when Paul Pierce wrapped up James on a drive to the hoop in the first half -- right in front of LeBron's mother Gloria. She jumped up to give Pierce a piece of her mind, when Garnett stepped in to calm her down. LeBron glared at her and shouted "sit your (expletive) down."

And we all had a front row seat. Pretty funny stuff. When's the last time you saw an NBA superstar in that situation? LeBron admitted after the game that he used language he shouldn't have, joking that it's a good thing it wasn't Mother's Day.

Gloria's reaction wasn't exactly a case of Minna Wilson wielding her shoe in the boxing ring -- she jumped into the middle of her son Tony's fight in 1989 and whacked his opponent, Steve McCarthy, in the head with the heel of her shoe, opening a cut that stopped the fight -- but Gloria's reaction was an honest example of how every parent feels when their sons or daughters are threatened in a sports contest.

The irony is, most of us aren't protecting kids who are 6'8" and 250 pounds. But try, she did. One can only imagine the laughs LeBron will share with Pierce and Garnett after the dust has settled on this series and season.

Meanwhile, at The Prog...

The Indians and the Blue Jays sought to underhit each other in a doubleheader last night. After Cleveland took the opener, 3-0, the Jays grabbed the nightcap by the same score.

Of course, Toronto's win came only after Cliff Lee exited. Lee hurled nine shutout innings at the baffled Blue Jays but was denied his seventh win of the season when the Jays scored three off of Rafael Betancourt in the tenth. Lee's ERA is now a microscopic 0.67.

The game also featured an unassisted triple play by second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera. It was the first by an Indian in a regular season game since Neal Ball turned the trick in 1909 -- which also happened to be the first one in baseball history. Another Indian, Bill Wambsganss, completed the only one in World Series history in 1920.

How rare is the unassisted triple play? Cabrera's was only the 14th in major league history. There have been more perfect games thrown (17) than that. That's how rarely it happens.

With all the attention Lee is getting, and deservedly so, let's not overlook Fausto Carmona. His win in the first game raised his record to 4-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.40. Cleveland will only go as far as their pitching takes them, so Carmona's consistency is every bit as important right now as Lee's.

Exactly What IS Flagrant?

The Cavaliers rebounded nicely Saturday night as their series with the Celtics shifted to Cleveland. With LeBron James still searching for his shot, others stepped up and made it interesting. Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, Joe Smith and Ben Wallace showed -- for one game at least -- why Danny Ferry made that big trade in February. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had what has been, for him, a typically solid game this postseason. Put it all together and it means Cleveland was competitive. The ability to do that consistently will be the key. Game four will be crucial for both teams.

Once again in this game, LeBron James was hammered by an opponent. This time it was the Celtics' James Posey, who yanked James to the ground after being left in his wake on a drive to the hoop in the first half. Call it a clothesline, call it horse-collaring, call it what you want, it was as unnecessary as it was dangerous. Posey was beaten; James was on his way. Rather than live with it, Posey grabbed James and sent him to the hardwood. "OK, you're actually a lot better than me, but take THAT!"

It's become standard practice in today's NBA. Mind you, while the league is populated with some of the best athletes in the world, it does not exhibit the best brand of basketball from a fan's perspective. That resides at the collegiate level, where, for example, help defense is allowed without resulting in fouls being granted to dribblers plowing their way to the hoop; pushing, shoving and hacking are treated as rules violations; traveling is a no-no; a charging foul is a charging foul; and "continuation" is treated as the stupid concept it really is.

But this is the NBA. Referees' decisions are often as perplexing as they are brilliant. Home teams get calls, visitors don't, and everybody knows it. (One imagines there are clauses to that effect in the NBA Rule Book, presuming one exists.) In Saturday's game, not only was it puzzling to see Posey plead his case with the officials -- this after his imitation of an NFL linebacker taking down a receiver exposed over the middle -- it was startling to hear ABC's broadcast team of Mike Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy debate whether it was a flagrant foul or not. Jackson called it a "hard playoff foul."

In what universe are basketball players taught to grab people and throw them down? Is there a DVD series I don't know about that teaches mugging as defense? (Come to think of it, there may be a marketing opportunity there for Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn or Maurice Lucas.) Young players are taught to play defense with their feet and beat their opponent to a spot. In the NBA, players simply stand still and then whack people once they're beat. It's bush.

Mind you, the Celtics are playing team defense, and aren't, as a rule, resorting to the tactics employed by the Washington Wizards in Round One. But Posey's move was shocking. James is 6-8, 260. Guys like that don't go down easily. LeBron hit the ground like a calf on the wrong end of a rodeo cowboy's rope.

The only way to stop it -- not that David Stern and the NBA seem particularly concerned about that -- is to eject players who do what Posey did then suspend them for a game. Minus that, guys like James are sitting ducks.

Players are resorting to this with James for two reasons: 1.) They know his outside shot is inconsistent, and 2.) they know they can't stop him from going to the basket. It's why he led the league in scoring. It's why he's so good, for crying out loud! If he's not hitting jumpers -- and thus far in this series he hasn't been -- then defenders will be tempted to pound him every time he goes to the hoop. In the permissive world of the NBA Playoffs, it's allowed, so why not?

This isn't just a LeBron James thing. Basketball is supposed to be a game of skill, of athleticism, of artistry. For the purist, it's what makes the game great. It's what makes a James, or a Kobe Bryant, or a Magic, Bird or Jordan so enthralling to watch.

Taking that away by allowing muggings on a near-nightly basis only serves to minimize the beauty of the sport.

A Tale of Two Dannys

OK, maybe that's not totally fair.

But the difference in the Cavs-Celtics series thus far, with the Celtics racing to a 2-0 lead and barely having to break a sweat to do it, has been personnel, plain and simple.

Yes, the Cavs' offense continues to elicit puzzled declarations from TV pundits, most recently ESPN's Stephen A. Smith at halftime of Thursday night's game. But the truth is, Cleveland doesn't have the horses that Boston has.

Credit Danny Ainge, the Celtics' director of basketball operations, for that. What he pulled off in personnel moves over the past year sparked one of the most dramatic turnarounds in sports history. Ray Allen...Kevin Garnett...James Posey...Glen Davis...P.J. Brown...Sam Cassell...the list of additions since June is impressive, and it's the reason the Celtics have reclaimed their former status as one of the NBA's elite teams.

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, have struggled all season to find the right combination. This after making it to the NBA Finals a year ago. No doubt growing increasingly anxious as players like Allen, Garnett and Pau Gasol switched uniforms and instantly made contenders out of their new teams, Cavs GM Danny Ferry pulled the trigger on that now-famous trade in February. It was a risk, and it would be hard to assert that it's paid off.

Better known for their defense than offense last season, the Cavs have struggled to find a combination that can get the job done at both ends of the floor. Delonte West has shown flashes of brilliance, but Larry Hughes did that. Wally Szczerbiak has never found a rhythm in Cleveland. Ben Wallace and Joe Smith have not proven to be an upgrade over Drew Gooden. At best, the trade has been a wash.

The team is battling, rather valiantly at times. They duked it out with Washington in the first round and were the ones standing at the end. But the truth is, they've been overmatched by the Celtics -- in talent, execution, and energy. That's what happens. Better teams win for a reason, and Boston is showing, thus far, that they're the better team.

And an update...

Tuesday I expressed my hope that Jason Michaels, designated for assignment the previous day by the Indians, would catch on elsewhere. Thursday the Tribe sent him to Pittsburgh, where his veteran presence should help the Pirates. Good for him, and happy trails.

A Cliff Hanging for the Yankees

Cliff Lee keeps sailing along for the Tribe. His stunning reversal from a dismal 2007 (5-8, 6.29 ERA, and a trip to the minors) continued with seven more shutout innings in a 3-0 whitewash of New York. Lee is now 6-0 with a ridiculous 0.81 ERA. He's won all six of his starts and has 39 strikeouts against just two walks in his 44-2/3 innings. Amazing stuff.

The lefty was solid between 2004 and 2006, going 44-26 -- including 18 wins in 2005 -- but was nowhere near the dominating pitcher he's been this year.

Lee, along with Grady Sizemore, have made the case for the trade that brought them to Cleveland in 2002. They were among four players the Indians received from Montreal in exchange for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew (who was out of baseball within a couple of years). Colon had some excellent seasons after that, including his Cy Young Award-winning year of 2005, but the Indians made the deal with an eye on the future. Sizemore has been outstanding, and, now that Lee is returning to form and then some, the trade looks very good, indeed.

I wrote at the time of the trade that it was an excellent deal, if for no other fact than Colon never behaved like an ace for Cleveland. He was in his sixth season at that point and had won 65 games, including 18 one year. But he still preferred to speak through an interpreter and was an enigma to fans. There was nothing engaging about his personality, in contrast to stoppers like Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling or Roger Clemens. They behaved like aces and told you after the game how they did it, and how they would do it again. They welcomed the chance to have their teammates climb on their backs and enjoy the ride to victory.

Colon never did that during his stay in Cleveland, talented though he was. It's a rarity. And even though it's still early in the season, Lee is showing signs of maturing into a true ace for the Tribe. His AL Pitcher of the Month award for April was no fluke.

Imagine if the Indians hadn't given up on Brandon Phillips so abruptly. He also came over in the Colon deal, but was sent packing early in 2006, and has become a mainstay of Cincinnati's lineup at second base -- a position the Indians are still struggling to stabilize.

Cavs-Celtics; and Please, Mr. Stockton...

Weird Game 1 between the Cavs and the Celtics Tuesday night. LeBron James never found a rhythm. Give credit to the Celtics defense, but, as the crew said on TNT, the offensive scheme ("Here, LeBron, do everything") was a puzzle. Charles Barkley couldn't contain himself, declaring emphatically that the Cavs run a "crappy offense." Kenny Smith and guest commentator Chris Webber agreed. As for the outcome, it's more troubling that Boston was able to win while Ray Allen was scoreless and Paul Pierce only had four points, than it is cause for optimism that Cleveland barely lost on a night when LeBron had only 12 points. The chickens may well come home to roost in this series for the Cavs' offense.

Meanwhile...

I'm a big fan of Dick Stockton, who called the game for TNT. A real pro, and one of the best in the business. His voice and pro basketball are synonymous for an entire generation of fans.

But what was up on Tuesday? It was odd to hear him repeat, time after time after time, "LeBron James has only one basket" -- not because I'm partial to the Cavaliers, but because there's so much more going on in any game than one person's highs or lows. It seemed like every time the Cavs had the ball in the fourth quarter, Stockton repeated that James was struggling, James was unable to get in a rhythm, James had "only one basket." It was as if no one else was on the floor for Cleveland. When LeBron finally scored another field goal, it became "James has only two baskets." While it was true, it was also a case of overstating the obvious. Barely registering on his radar were the struggles of Allen and Pierce. A former Beantown broadcaster with the Red Sox, Stockton seemed to allow his allegiences to show through during the evening, particularly when he gushed about all the former Celtics in attendance who he remembered from those years.

A small thing, perhaps, but strange for being so noticeable. Not his finest moment.

And finally...

No problem with Kobe Bryant being the MVP, although it's amazing how much his stock rose once Pau Gasol arrived in L.A. But if James isn't motivated by being fourth -- fourth! -- in the MVP voting, then he needs a pulse. First things first, meaning the playoffs, but one suspects he'll have all the incentive he needs to elevate his game during the offseason. To improve on a single-season stat line that only Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan achieved before him could be a downright scary prospect for the rest of the NBA.

Platoon, Schmatoon

I've never been a big fan of the platoon. Somebody always gets nipped in the bud, and this time it was Jason Michaels' turn.

A serviceable .270 hitter in two previous seasons with the Indians, Michaels -- who I guess now qualifies as a "journeyman" -- was designated for assignment Monday. He was hitting only .207 in 58 at bats this season, making him vulnerable in this less-than-stellar early season for the Tribe.

Called up to fill his roster spot is the much-heralded Ben Francisco, who himself was hitting only .228 in 92 at bats for Triple-A Buffalo. However, he won the International League batting title last year at .318, and came in at .274 in limited callup duty for Cleveland, so it's time to put him to the test for good.

GM Mark Shapiro said that Francisco will get a lot of time in right and left fields, and that he's "not a strict platoon guy."

Well, let's hope not. Platoons are agonizing. Michaels really didn't have a chance to do much, with 58 intermittent at bats this season. Either you've got the horses, or you don't. Play your best nine. If you're a championship team, it will show. If you're not, it won't.

It's early, and no time to panic. But the Tribe bats had better make some noise this month. Travis Hafner's '07 funk has, unfortunately, extended into this season (.209 through 110 at bats). Jhonny Peralta (.216), Casey Blake (.202) and Asdrubal Cabrera (.191) have yet to heat up. As Harry Doyle might put it, the Tribe offense has been offensive -- just not in the right way.

Hopefully, Francisco will help. But please, not as part of a platoon. David Dellucci's a pro, but no moreso than Michaels. Give Francisco a shot, and see what happens.

In the meantime, good luck to Jason Michaels. A .277 lifetime hitter deserves a job somewhere.

Barkley Is Right

Charles Barkley is perhaps my favorite television personality, let alone commentator. I actually tune in the TNT pregame, halftime and post game shows just to listen to him. I suspect I'm not alone. His mixture of insight and humor is refreshing.

At the start of the season Barkley suggested that the lack of a point guard would keep Cleveland out of the playoffs. When the Cavs made their big multi-player trade, he praised it, including the acquisition of Delonte West. But he has continued to point out that the team still needs more production and leadership from the point.

Shift gears to the Hornets-Spurs series for an example of what Barkley is talking about. As of this writing the Hornets are up 2-0. Why? Chris Paul. The Hornets eliminated the Mavericks in Round One. Why? Chris Paul. The kid is simply amazing.

The point guard doesn't have to be as dominant as Paul has been in order for a team to succeed (see MJ, Scottie and the Bulls), but there's no question that he has shifted the focus back to the position. "Bigs," as post players are now euphemistically called, are vital. But seeing Paul dominate the floor recalls the days when Magic led the Lakers, and Isiah the Pistons. It's refreshing.

The Cavs have lacked that kind of leadership since Mark Price and Terrell Brandon patrolled the position a decade or two ago. West has teased Cavs fans with flashes of strong play since his arrival. He -- or someone -- will need to make it a regular thing for the team to "rise up" to true champion status.

Barkley's assessment of the Cavs has been right on target. He remains the most compelling sports commentator on TV.