Recent Articles on BleacherReport.com

Since the Kobe-LeBron / Christmas Day article post in late December, here are some others that I wrote for BleacherReport.com:


December 30: Defense and Depth Are Positioning Cavaliers for a Serious Title Run

January 1: Ohio State's Sustained Excellence Is Underappreciated (a re-post of an article I had originally posted here a year ago)

January 2: The Cleveland Cavaliers, On a Mission, Start 2010 With Most Wins in NBA

January 4: Eric Mangini Does the Impossible; Cleveland Browns Fans, Media Thinking Twice

Hope you enjoy reading them. Remember, you can register at BleacherReport.com for free and then comment on my stories, or others that you read -- or even start writing yourself.

Happy New Year!

The Cavs Will Win It All; the Tribe and Browns, Not So Much

As I write this entry, the Cavs have opened up a 13-2 lead to start the season opener against Boston.

But that's not why I'm going out on a limb and saying that Cleveland will win the NBA title this year. Nor is it Shaq. Or Anthony Parker. Or Jamario Moon. Although, those three will make a huge difference, as I said last time.

It's because the Cavs lost to the Orlando Magic in last year's Eastern Conference finals. Face it, they didn't expect that to happen. They were supremely confident, and certain that they were going to make it to the Finals -- and win.

They didn't. It was a tough pill to swallow. But it was the last piece of humble pie that they needed to eat, apparently. I wrote about this in detail in an article on BleacherReport.com.

Acta Skips the 'Stros to Skip the Tribe

OK, so the Indians went ahead and hired Manny Acta as their new manager. I was skeptical about Acta last time, but, now that the deed is done, I'll be pulling for him to do well.

Acta -- unlike, say, Bobby Valentine (what was his deal, anyway?) -- said all the right things after his interviews. He talked like he was enthusiastic about the Indians and wanted the job badly, and then put his money where his mouth was.

He says the Tribe has great young talent. I'll take his word for it. No question, Acta's appeal had a lot to do with his Latino heritage, and the fact that the Indians' system is loaded with Latino players.

But Acta has his work cut out for him. Not only does he need to nurture the Tribe's young talent, he has to win over a cynical fan base in Cleveland. It seems like longer than two years ago that the Indians were on the verge of advancing to the World Series, but that's all it was -- two years ago, in 2007.

Cleveland fans are jaded. Add in the debacle that is the Browns, and it doesn't make the situation any easier for the Tribe's new skipper. It will be an interesting offseason and crucial spring training for Acta as he begins his tenure at Progressive Field.

Anderson? Why?

Derek Anderson followed up a pitiful game in Buffalo with equally pitiful games against Pittsburgh and Green Bay. To his credit, he got the Browns a win, somehow. But he's not exactly instilling confidence in the Cleveland faithful.

No point laboring the statistical comparison to Brady Quinn. Quinn's number's in 10 quarters of play are better -- significantly so, some would say -- than Anderson's have been in the 18 since.

The 31-3 loss to the Packers has been called by some the worst Browns performance since their return to the league in 1999. And Anderson was at the helm. Yet Eric Mangini won't budge in his commitment to D.A.

Apparently, Quinn's window of opportunity in Cleveland has been closed. If so, it was shockingly short. But why? Anderson is proving he's not the answer.

At this rate, Mangini would be better off cutting his losses and going to his third QB, Jets import Brett Ratliff.

Or, he could do something interesting and go with Josh Cribbs. Make it a wildcat offense on every play. Cribbs was Kent State's quarterback for four years. Could he possibly be worse than what we've witnessed? One thing's for certain: He wouldn't be as boring, and the team would likely score some points.

What a sad state of affairs for a once proud franchise.

Whatever. At least the Cavs are back, and for that, Cleveland fans can be grateful.

The Fun Was (Almost) Back in Browns' Town

Random observations after taking in the Browns’ 23-20 overtime loss at the stadium Sunday…

Who is Mohamed Massaquoi, and why are we just now hearing about him? It’s not just the fact that he caught eight passes for 148 yards. It’s the way he caught them. While being hit. While being held. Juggling and concentrating and refusing to be denied. If it was near him, he was gonna catch it. Braylon who?

Jerome Harrison…Jamal Lewis. Jerome Harrison…Jamal Lewis. After Harrison’s 121-yard day as the featured back, what’s to decide?

Staunch defender of letting Brady Quinn make mistakes and learn on the job that I have been, I must admit that Derek Anderson looked more comfortable, more in control than Quinn has. And his teammates looked more willing to play for him. I just wish Anderson would step up and be great, or at least very good. Show some swagger and don’t ever look back, D.A. Cleveland turns its lonely eyes to you.

Josh Cribbs is a force of nature. Simply a remarkable return man. He piled up 203 return yards on the day -- 58 on one kickoff, along with punt returns of 39 and 50 yards. There is an electricity in the air when he drops back to return a kick. People expect something big to happen. Add that to what he does defending on special teams, as well as playing receiver and occasionally carrying the ball on offense, and you have your team MVP.

Kudos to the offensive line. Cincinnati can bring pressure up front, and the Browns’ blockers did a pretty decent job. A friend of mine who played on the line for the Browns 20 years ago said he watched rookie center Alex Mack most of the day and came away favorably impressed. I’ll take his word for it.

Shaun Rogers? Two blocked kicks? That was impressive. Took four Bengals’ points off the board, all by himself. And the final one, on an extra point that would have given Cincinnati a one-point lead at the end of regulation, spelled H-E-A-R-T, in capital letters.

Eric Mangini may have lucked his way into a promising situation. If so, good for him. But he found something in the trifecta of Anderson, Harrison and Massaquoi. They were very good Sunday, all three of them, playing positions where -- let’s face it -- nobody was doing anything before that. That can turn a season around. I don’t see the Browns winning a ton of games, but I think they could win a representative number now. Couldn’t say that before yesterday.

Randy Lerner should put on jeans and a jacket, tell his front office staff to do the same, and then spread out and sit among the fans some Sunday. Wear disguises if need be. They need to see and hear for themselves how loyal and hopeful and forgiving Browns fans are. My son and I sat in the southwest corner of the stadium, and the fans were as entertaining as the game. They were knowledgeable. They were funny. They were passionate. They were loud. But, most of all, they were dedicated. They shouted criticisms when it was deserved, and rose to their feet as one and cheered wildly when the guys in the brown jerseys did something right. They exchanged barbs with Bengals fans seated in the same area. One guy had the audacity to stroll through our section wearing a Steelers jersey, and was greeted by a good-natured chorus of boos as he laughed and cooperatively egged his critics on. The atmosphere was fun and upbeat. It’s something you can’t appreciate watching a game on television. These people deserve better than what they’ve been given over the past eleven seasons. Lerner and company should give it to them.

It wasn’t a win. But it wasn’t a total disappointment, either. Fans were upbeat filing out of the stadium. The Browns looked like a professional football team for the first time all season. It’s about time. Thankfully, we came away with the hope there are more such times just ahead.

A Dark Day on the Lakefront

This is what it has come to.

In the same day, all three Cleveland sports teams dominated local news and garnered national media attention, each with bizarre twists that seemingly can only happen in Cleveland – at the same time, anyway.

The Indians? They fired manager Eric Wedge…but said he and his staff will stay on to finish the season. “In this game, situations often dictate decisions, and often the blame or the change occurs in one place when the reasons for that and the accountability for that lies throughout an organization,” said GM Mark Shapiro, stopping short of resigning himself.

The Browns? After spending five months conducting a quarterback contest between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, and choosing Quinn to be the starter, Eric Mangini reversed himself and switched to Anderson. Of his new starter’s 30-minute, three-interception relief appearance against Baltimore, Mangini said, “He did some good things.” Well, so did the captain of the Titanic.

The Cavs? Starting guard Delonte West remained a no-show at training camp, somehow knocking the LeBron James-Shaquille O’Neal pairing off the front pages for the second straight day. Because West continues to battle depression and various inner demons, I’m inclined to leave this one alone.

Nonetheless, for Cleveland sports fans this was – to borrow a phrase from my favorite funny man, Lewis Black – the “trifecta from hell.” Think about it: All in Cleveland? All in the same day? Really?

Some thoughts:

Regarding Wedge, Shapiro and team president Paul Dolan were correct in the vaguely describing the firing as, well, “the tried and true way of baseball.” Right or wrong, that is how it works. When the house is tumbling down around you and you need to give the impression of making a quick fix, you fire the manager – and they did. That’s not to say Wedge didn’t have it coming. His teams’ perennial slow starts, coupled with his frequently odd personnel decisions and lineup switcheroos, have a lot to do with the current mess. But, to his credit, Wedge conducted himself with class over the whole thing. He wanted to know his status now for next year, and they told him. Case closed. He’ll move on, probably to something better. And he’ll collect $1.25 million next year, regardless. Why do I get the feeling he’s getting the good end of this deal?

Regarding Anderson…who cares, really? I’ve been in favor of giving Quinn a chance, and am not persuaded that 10 quarters of football as the starter constitutes “a chance.” On the other hand, it’s becoming apparent that Quinn is not the kind of quarterback who is capable of rallying a miserable team to play above its skill level (think Culpepper, McNabb or Vick in their primes). Passes have been sailing behind or over targets, and others have been surprisingly wobbly. Perhaps his confidence has taken a beating playing for the Browns (who’s hasn’t?), but still, he’s struggled. So it’s back to Anderson, and…who cares? Honestly, being a Browns fan in Northeast Ohio has become surreal. Since 1999 they’ve been a shell of what the franchise was before the Modell move, and it’s not unusual anymore to see Steelers memorabilia worn and displayed in neighborhoods from Cleveland to Canton and all points in between. That never would have happened in the Jim Brown-Brian Sipe-Bernie Kosar eras. But it happens now, and, sadly, people care less and less and less.

Regarding West, as I said, I’m inclined to leave this one alone. He says he’s troubled, the Cavs openly admit it, so I believe it. Getting arrested riding a motorcycle (something banned by his contract) and carrying three firearms (something banned by common sense, if not a few laws or ordinances) is a clear warning signal. West was present for media day earlier in the week, then disappeared from view. All the Cavs are saying is that GM Danny Ferry has been in touch with West and had at least one long conversation with him. His teammates are expressing support and letting him know, publicly, that he’s always welcome back. It’s all you can do, and the Cavs – Cleveland’s beacon of hope in an otherwise stormy sports sea – seem, as usual, to be handling the situation with respect and professionalism. The question confronting them is, How long can they ride out this storm before it has a permanently negative effect on the team?

Anyway, I’m amazed at all that happened Wednesday. I don’t know if September 30, 2009, was a day that will go down in Cleveland sports infamy, or what. But it was some kind of day, that’s for sure.

Random Thoughts -- InfoCision Stadium, Jim Tressel, and the Browns

Had a chance to see the new InfoCision Stadium in Akron this past weekend. Took in the Akron-Indiana game, and you have to give the stadium a thumbs-up. Mind you, it’s all bench seating, but that’s football. There’s not a bad seat in the house. There are more than 27,000 of them, and attendance can top 30,000 when the hillside and standing-room areas are filled. I was impressed, too, with the relative affordability. Tickets are reasonably priced, parking on nearby lots is five bucks, and the food in the concession stands, while more expensive than your neighborhood burger joint, is still more affordable than the obscene professional venues. Service was fast and the lines were short -- for food, souvenirs and in the rest rooms. To be honest, everything about the experience was pleasant, and I would definitely go again.

About 18,000 fans watched as the Zips lost to the Hoosiers, 38-21, having lost their starting quarterback to a suspension and then enduring four interceptions thrown by his sophomore backup. A disappointment, no doubt, but Indiana was bigger and faster -- which is no surprise, with them being a Big Ten school. Perhaps the highlight of the day, however, was when Zippy –- Akron’s much-hyped mascot –- entered on a segway, one of those single-rider “people movers” that hit the streets a decade or so ago. As the delighted crowd cheered the erstwhile kangaroo, ol’ Zip fell right off the segway. He quickly climbed back on, whereupon it promptly stopped and lurched forward, leading to a face plant that left Zippy a little dazed and confused. If it didn’t make ESPN’s highlights that night, it should have. Sorry, Zippy, but that was funny.

A nod to Jim Tressel...

CBS Sports' Gregg Doyel writes online columns that elicit all sorts of emotional responses from readers. Sometimes you agree, often you don’t. But Tuesday he posted one that was right on target. Doyel compared the coaching performances of Ohio State’s Jim Tressel and USC’s Pete Carroll over the past decade, and pronounced Tressel the better of the two. I’m not concerned about who is actually better, but I was glad to see someone on the national stage defend the Buckeye’s leader. I wrote about it here last December, recognizing Ohio State’s sustained excellence since 2001. Doyel strikes the same chords. You can read his thoughts here.

Ah, the Browns!

A week ago I advocated taking it easy on the Browns after their season-opening loss to Minnesota. This time, after the debacle in Denver, not so much. That was a terrible performance, and it’s truly getting disgusting rooting for a team that simply cannot score a touchdown on offense. How pitiful can things get? That said, I’m not ready to give up on Brady Quinn, not by a long shot. I’ve mentioned before that I lived in Texas when the Dallas Cowboys drafted Troy Aikman, and the team ushered in the Jimmy Johnson era that year by going 1-15. They were terrible, something you just can’t be in Dallas, and fans and the media were wringing their hands in panic over what was happening. But, slowly, surely, Johnson molded a team that rose to the pinnacle of the sport, eventually winning two Super Bowls (and a third under Barry Switzer). Aikman struggled through his rookie year, but was, in short order, crucial to the rise of that team. His leadership and career accomplishments landed him in the Hall of Fame.

When the Browns returned to the league as an expansion team in 1999, Tim Couch (left) was the toast of the town. Within four years, he had led the team to the playoffs. Remember that? They were 9-7 that season. But Couch suffered a broken leg in the last game of the year. Kelly Holcomb rang up a ton of yards in the playoff loss to Pittsburgh, Butch Davis and the fans fell in love with Holcomb and, for whatever reason, out of love with Couch, and #2 was sent packing. I’ve always felt that Couch got a raw deal here. (Would you take 9-7 right now? I would.) That Couch pretty much disappeared from football after the next season isn’t the issue. He ended up with shoulder problems and was never the same. But he’s still the best quarterback the Browns have had in the 10-plus seasons since the team was reborn. Maybe Quinn will be better than Couch was, maybe he won’t. But two games at the helm of a pitiful offense is not enough to form a judgment on the kid. Leave him alone and let’s see what happens. The team isn’t going anywhere, so let’s stop kidding ourselves and play this season with the future in mind.

Orange You Glad It Was Only One Game?

Honestly.

“Quinn unimpressive.” “Browns are just as bad as we thought.” “Meltdown.”

So said headlines in area papers on this, the day after the opening Sunday of the NFL season.

Oh, boo, hoo. The Browns lost.

This is a surprise? Really? THE VIKINGS ARE BETTER! Why is that so hard to admit? Why is it that fans and media pundits alike allow themselves to pretend things are going to be better than they are?

I was talking to a friend at a high school football game the other night, and asked him how many games he thought the Browns would win this season. He said five. I countered with four.

The Vikings game was not one of the four. So why are we dissecting this thing like it was a game of consequence? It wasn’t. It was a brutal job of scheduling by the NFL, throwing the Browns to the wolves like that, right out of the gate. The Vikings have the talent to take Cleveland to the woodshed, and did.

So, Brady Quinn didn’t look like Joe Montana. Neither did Joe Montana, early in his career. I lived in Texas when Troy Aikman joined the Dallas Cowboys. He, and the team, were pitiful his rookie year. In short order they won three Super Bowls, and Aikman ended up in the Hall of Fame. It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen.

I have no idea when, or even if, the Browns will be contenders again. I was never particularly thrilled with the choice of Eric Mangini as head coach, but I’m willing to give the guy a chance. The team looked okay for a couple of quarters, not-so-okay after that. No big deal, if you ask me. Add a quarter here, and a quarter there, and who knows what might happen?

Four wins? More? Less?

Nobody knows. But the better team won on Sunday, and I wasn't particularly dismayed by it. Why is everyone else?

Random Thoughts as December Dawns

Limping to the Finish

The Browns have shot this season all to you-know-where. No news there. It was sad to see Brady Quinn sidelined for the year with a broken finger, just when he was getting the chance to play. It was just as sad to see Derek Anderson go down with a season-ending knee injury in Sunday’s loss to Indianapolis. That some fans jeered as he was helped off the field is distasteful, but then, Browns fans are so frustrated and fed up after 10 years of mostly blatant ineptitude that some of their wrath is bound to be misdirected. It was reminiscent of several years ago when Tim Couch left a game to similar derision, a scenario that was the beginning of the end of Couch’s run in Cleveland.

That said, I was struck by something Anderson said after the game. When asked if we might see Josh Cribbs at quarterback, Anderson responded with a jeer of his own and said anybody who thinks that would have to be “on crack.” You don’t put a receiver at quarterback, he said tersely.

And I thought, why not? First of all, he was a quarterback all the way through his playing days at Kent State. Furthermore, we’re talking about the one guy on the entire roster who consistently, week in and week out, makes plays. Every kickoff or punt return is cause for excitement when the ball is in Cribbs’ hands. Every opposing kickoff or punt return is cause for excitement when Cribbs has a shot at making the tackle -- which, more often than not, he does.

When the Browns started this long downward spiral, Cribbs was one of two players (Jamal Lewis being the other) who dared to say what others only thought: That perhaps some players were guilty of quitting. He later apologized, sort of, because it was the politically correct thing to do, but his words carried weight because, well, he never quits. This on a roster with too many people who seemed to be going through the motions.

This week Cribbs was quoted as saying yes, he could play quarterback, because he did it all his life before the NFL. He admitted it probably wouldn’t happen, but the point was made. “I want the ball in my hands,” he said.

So do the rest of us. I understand turning to Ken Dorsey to steer the sinking ship and I wish him well, but I couldn’t disagree with Anderson more when it comes to Cribbs. If you ask me, if there were 22 guys with number 16 on their jerseys, or at least number 16’s heart in their bodies, this franchise would be a lot better off.


On the Cavaliers…

Earlier this year I bemoaned the presence of Ben Wallace in the Cavs’ starting lineup, because of his age and his offensive shortcomings. It’s early, and the long season could yet take its toll, but I’m happy to admit that, thus far, Big Ben has made me eat those words.

The Cavs are playing championship caliber basketball, and Wallace is a big part of their success. His defensive intensity and rebounding prowess have helped fuel their recent run. I was concerned that perhaps he’d lost the one aspect of his game that had made him so formidable -- that being his intensity. My concern was misplaced. He’s been a one-man wrecking crew at times, and his teammates have picked up on it. That’s leadership, and I tip my cap to him.

Momentum is a funny thing in sports. As miserable as the Browns’ performances have been -- and as much as one lousy game fuels another -- the Cavs’ performances have been dominant. Players are feeding off of one another, and Mike Brown is doing a remarkable job of getting people their minutes.

Give credit to LeBron James on that count. His minutes per game are finally down to a reasonable level, and he’s not complaining at all. He’s getting much-needed rest because the Cavaliers are simply overpowering most of their opponents, and he’s not needed in the fourth quarter of many of those games. As his minutes decline, Brown can spread them among the Cavs’ bench players, and everybody’s happy. You get the sense that LeBron is less interested in accumulating personal stats than he is in getting the ring, and when your leader exhibits that approach, the rest of the team will follow.

Mo Williams and Delonte West are quickly becoming one of the best guard tandems in the league. And Zydrunas Ilgauskas just keeps rolling along, giving other teams fits with his offensive rebounding and outside shooting. Meanwhile, the bench is the deepest it’s been in years -- maybe ever -- and continues to make meaningful contributions night in and night out.

This team is good. Very, very good. I’m already looking forward to May and June.


High school football

I was treated, along with the rest of our town in North Canton, Ohio, to a remarkable season by the Hoover High School football team. The Vikings defied most preseason forecasts by losing just one game in the regular season, winning the Federal League title with a perfect 7-0 league mark, and going on to three straight playoff wins and a regional title.

That’s where it ended, of course, as the Vikings ran into the buzz saw that was Cleveland St. Ignatius in the state semifinals. The Wildcats went on to win the state championship in Division I, but Hoover’s overachieving roster will go down as one of the best teams in school history.

St. Ignatius is to be applauded, but I was struck during the postseason by all the talk of their 10 state championships in the last 20 years. I was reminded of a column last May by Bob Dyer of the Akron Beacon Journal, in which he wrote of the disproportionate advantage that parochial and private schools have over public schools in athletic competition. The stats that he cited were undeniable.

The playing field isn’t level by any means when it comes to private and public schools in Ohio. It’s not the private schools’ fault, of course. But, on the whole, it’s tough for public schools to reach the highest rung on the ladder on a consistent basis. A look at St. Ignatius’ web site reveals that it’s run more like a college than a high school, complete with a sophisticated advancement office that is only too happy to share information about annual gifts, capital gifts, and planned giving. Families pay tuition for their children to attend there. Even the web site suffix, “.edu,” is the one typically used by colleges and universities.

The two schools featured in the Ohio Division I championship game -- Cincinnati Elder being the other -- are both private, all-boys schools. And, unfettered as they are by geographic restraints, they welcome any student who can make the daily drive to their often glittering campuses -- and who can afford their rather hefty tuition fees.

Before Hoover’s game with St. Ignatius, Viking coach Don Hertler put it as politely, and plainly, as it can be put: “They’ve got kids probably from five counties, and we’ve got them probably from five neighborhoods.”

Officials from the Ohio High School Athletic Association acknowledge the disparity, but also lament the complexities involved in operating separate tournaments for public and private schools. I can understand their dilemma, but anyone who saw the St. Ignatius-Hoover semifinal and didn’t come away scratching their head over the issue just wasn’t paying attention.

Again, it’s not St. Ignatius’s fault. The system is what it is. But schools like Hoover only get so far every so often. Perhaps they can find some consolation in the fact that, among public schools in Ohio, they were one of the top two -- the other being the Pickerington Central Tigers, who were a perfect 13-0 before losing to Cincinnati Elder in the other state semifinal game.

Hoover’s football team wasn’t the only one of the school’s squads to make it so far this fall. The girls cross country team, a remarkable collection of talented runners from a small town of 15,000 people, was edged out at the state meet by the perennial powerhouse team from Magnificat High School in Rocky River, a suburb of Cleveland.

Magnificat was nowhere to be found in the boys’ race. That’s because it’s a private, all-girls school.

I checked their web site, too. They have five people in their advancement office.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

And so it goes.

The Bright Side of the Browns’ Latest Loss

Unbelievably, the Browns again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory Thursday night, stumbling through a miserable fourth quarter en route to a 34-30 loss to the Denver Broncos – their second straight shocking collapse at home.

Whatever. Dissect it all you want, wail and cry all you want, but today, I’m a pretty happy man. Because the Brady Quinn era has started, and not a moment too soon.

Nothing against Derek Anderson, who accomplished far more in the position than I ever expected, and actually turned in a memorable year in 2007. A Pro Bowl year, in fact. It earned him a hefty new contract, so let’s hold the tears for D.A. I suspect he may turn up as a starter somewhere else down the road, and if that happens I’ll be rooting for him to do well.

But Quinn not only looked sharp in his professional debut, he said things afterward that sounded like the words of a champion. To wit:

"I told everyone, this one is flat on me," Quinn said. "I know I am good enough that I can make a play at the end and win.”

Hear that, Braylon Edwards?

More Quinn: ''There was no doubt in my mind when I walked out there that we were going to score on every drive. If you don't think like that, you're not going to be successful.''

Imagine that.

And finally, commenting on two Phil Dawson field goals, Quinn said this: "The frustrating thing was coming away with field goals instead of touchdowns. Nothing against Phil Dawson, but we've got to get sevens there."

Think about that. Points weren’t enough. Only seven points would have made him happy. Making plays in the clutch, and scoring on every drive, is the only acceptable result.

When is the last time you heard a Cleveland quarterback talk that way?

And this is the guy that the Browns' brain trust left standing on the sidelines for 24 games?

I’ve been to the stadium to see the Browns twice in the last two years. Both times, during warm-ups, there was one quarterback who stood out in my mind: Brady Quinn. He moved like a leader and threw like he was born to do it. Tight spirals. Accurate throws. By comparison, Anderson, Ken Dorsey, and, last year, Charlie Frye, looked average at best.

Well, all that’s changed. Brady has arrived. Take heart, Browns fans.

Bumbling Browns

Yecccch.

Sunday's 28-10 loss by the Browns at Baltimore was ridiculous -- inexcusable on many levels. Fans are harping about Derek Anderson -- and yes, he was bad -- but the whole team looked lethargic and undisciplined. After an early drive showed such promise and resulted in a touchdown (and a 7-0 lead), the Browns simply frittered away the remainder of the game. You can cut the defense a little slack -- after all, they were handed impossible situations more than once thanks to DA's interceptions -- but, once again, this was a team that appeared to be woefully unprepared and terribly outplayed. The longer the game went on, the worse it got, and it became difficult and disappointing to watch.

And it comes down to coaching. There's simply not much being said, at any level, about Romeo Crennel's genius as a football coach. People more knowledgeable than I are not exactly leaping to his defense, which confirms my suspicions that there's a problem at the top. The fact is, the Browns have played seven games this year and lost them all: four in the preseason, and three in the regular season. It's been ugly, frustrating and shocking, all at once. Fans came into the season with enormous expectations. There was, no doubt, some wishful thinking involved, but 0-3? That's simply inexcusable.

While we're on the subject of Romeo Crennel, I want to scream when he refuses to refer to players by name during press conferences. This time he talked about getting more reps at quarterback for "the other guy" -- instead of referring to Brady Quinn by name.

Here's a suggestion for Phil Savage and Randy Lerner: How about, real soon, you refer to Crennel as "the former coach?"

Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

OK, I'm Back

Enough of that silly retirement stuff. So I took a month off -- sue me. The whole Brett Favre thing still bores me. So much so that I got bored satirizing it!

Now then:

-- Anyone who honestly thought Ohio State was going to make a game of it against USC was kidding themselves. That they barely beat Ohio University was evidence enough. Fortunately, I had an event to attend that night, and didn't see a down. No loss. I'm a fan, but in the way I'm a fan of my son's high school team. I follow the team, and I hope they'll win, but I sleep fine either way. This Buckeyes team is not national championship material, so let's enjoy the season and be realistic about things.

-- I'm tired of the Browns' act. Really am. This is a team in disarray. They don't come to play. They're unprepared. Opposing teams punch them in the mouth and take over games before they know what hit them. After the talent on display last year, there's no excuse for it. There's a reason the experts had high expectations for the team this year -- THEY WERE EXPECTED TO BE EVEN BETTER. Instead, they stumbled through the preseason and stumbled through the first two games of the season. One can only assume they stumbled through training camp, too. It's ridiculous. I don't know Romeo Crennel, and I don't know as much about football as Romeo Crennel, but something is very, very wrong with this team and its ability to compete. I do know that he is responsible for that.

-- Cliff Lee has turned in one of the most remarkable pitching performances in baseball history, but I could care less if he wins the Cy Young Award or not. I suspect that it's not at the top of his list, either. It's great to win awards, but the list of sports awards from over the years is littered with one-hit wonders. And that's not what Lee wants. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to string together several excellent seasons, but, hearing his comments this year, it seems that's what he's most focused on -- being consistent, and giving his team a chance to win game in and game out. If he keeps that focus, he'll go down as one of the best in the game. That's more important in the long run than any individual award in one season.

-- I get a kick out of all these NASCAR rivalries and wars of words. This guy cut off that guy, this driver ran that driver into the wall, blah, blah, blah. Come on - these people are flying around oval tracks at ungodly speeds. Of course there are going to be bumps and bangs and crashes. Shut up and drive, and be glad you come out of these insane events alive.

-- I thought what Michael Phelps did was cool. People expected him to win eight gold medals, people wanted him to win eight gold medals, and he won eight gold medals. I can't even fathom how good he had to be to do that, and how many things had to go just right for it to happen. Good for him. Best ever? Who knows? Who CARES? It was remarkable, and that's enough for me.

-- The USA men's basketball team, on the other hand, was overhyped and surprisingly weak, I thought. Early in the qualifying rounds, Dwayne Wade actually said something about how the team was "growing" after they barely edged one of those tiny countries with a couple of factory workers and a baker on its roster. Growing? The best the NBA has to offer, and they're GROWING? Please. The decline of the NBA game -- lousy outside shooting, phantom defense, standing around on offense -- was on display for all to see. The Dream Team of Magic, Bird, Jordan, et al, simply dominated all comers. The "Redeem Team" would have lost to that group, based on what I saw this year. They may be athletically superior, but they're fundamentally inferior. A game between the two teams wouldn't have been close, I don't think.

Good sport, of a different sort

Last weekend I had the chance to rub shoulders with one of the most famous chefs in America, if not the world: Cat Cora, best known from her knockout performances on The Food Network's "Iron Chef America." Cat was in Northeast Ohio for a benefit for Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, where I do PR. She is, quite simply, the real deal -- a total delight, gracious and patient and kind in every way. A star, yes. But never a prima donna, even if she had the right to be, considering her exceptional talents and bonafide fame. Cat delivered meals for the agency, did a book signing at the local Borders Books, and wowed 230 guests at a fundraiser. She was down-to-earth and a blast to be around. The pic to the left includes her assistant, Ashley Campbell, and my wife Doreen. A great time, and a great memory.

So there. I'm back. Let me know what you think.

Random Thoughts for the Week

Some random thoughts that have occurred to me over the week:

How cool is it that Greg Norman continued to play brilliantly through the second round of the British Open, just one stroke off the lead? I’ll tell you how cool: At 53, he’s two years older than I am. That's not necessarily old -- except in golfing terms. To compete in a major at his age is amazing. To win it would be legendary. Then again, it is the British Open, once his favorite stomping ground. Besides, is it any wonder he’s playing great? He recently married again, to tennis legend Chris Evert. Hey, at least he didn’t marry her for her money. Go get ’em, Greg…

Don’t know why I never commented on the men’s Wimbledon final, but Rafael Nadal (left) and Roger Federer put on a show for the ages. It reminded me in so many ways of Borg-McEnroe in 1980, and even the Borg-Connors slugfests before that. The match was wonderful and awe-inspiring and may, over time, live up to Sports Illustrated’s breathless, instant labeling as “the greatest match ever played.” (No hype among today’s media, is there?) Nadal and Federer are great for men’s tennis – moreso than is the awkward pairing on the women's side of the Williams sisters, who, despite their greatness, make it difficult to watch with enthusiasm when they play against one another in a major final. It’s not fair to say that, but even they admit it. Nadal-Federer, meanwhile, will rank with the greatest rivalries in the history of sport. Just great to watch, anywhere, any time…

How stupid is it that Josh Hamilton is not the 2008 Home Run Derby champion? The other contestants should have just walked off and conceded after his stunning first round performance, during which he blasted 28 long balls. This was more awesome than what Bobby Abreu did a few years ago; Hamilton’s tape-measure shots had the Yankee Stadium crowd, and a national TV audience, gasping in amazement. (Not to mention Chris Berman, who, I do believe, would gasp in amazement announcing a turtle race.) So, Justin Morneau was the derby champion, huh? Yeah, right…

Let’s see now: James Posey gets tons of press as a possible free agent signing for the Cavs…and signs with New Orleans. Baron Davis? The Clippers. Elton Brand? Dealt to the Sixers. Even Corey Maggette signed with Golden State. Some major names have moved already, and so far the Cavs are standing pat. Michael Redd remains a possibility, but, with the addition of Richard Jefferson to the Bucks’ roster, it looks less likely that Redd will end up in a Cavaliers uniform. I appreciate that the Cavs pushed Boston to the limit in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but the fact is that it was just the semifinals, and the Celtics went on to win it all. The Cavs can’t afford to stand pat with the roster they have. Signing Daniel Gibson (left) to a long-term deal was a solid and necessary move, but more will be required if the Cavs are to compete for an NBA championship…

Hate to see Joe Jurevicius lose a third of the season to knee surgery, but that’s the way it is. It's hard to quantify the leadership and grit he brings to the Browns. He’s a crafty, veteran receiver, and I guarantee you that his influence rubbed off on his younger counterparts last year. It’s not likely he has a lot of time left. Here’s hoping he can come back and contribute in ’08. (By the way, has anybody else wondered if Jurevicius [left] and Drew Bledsoe [right] were separated at birth?)...

Finally, Asdrubal Cabrera (left) is back with the Tribe, and deservedly so. His month in Buffalo produced a .326 batting average, with four homers and 13 RBI. He’ll probably displace Jamey Carroll at second base, which is a shame because Carroll has been a consummate pro since taking over the everyday duties. What’s interesting to contemplate is how long it will be before Cabrera is the Tribe shortstop. He played short in 29 of the 34 games he played with the Bisons, and it’s my hunch that he hit better because he was playing a position he enjoys more, not because AAA pitchers are that much worse than big leaguers. If Eric Wedge is going to experiment with the rest of this season, why not move Jhonny Peralta to third (do we really need to see any more of Andy Marte?) and install Cabrera at short? Peralta has turned into a power and RBI machine since being moved to the cleanup spot in the order. That’s more suited to a third baseman. So make the move and get ready for ’09.

And that’s all I have to say about all that.

Random Notes

The LeCharles Bentley era in Cleveland ended before it started. A mysterious tour with the Browns came to an abrupt halt Wednesday when he asked for, and was granted, his release. Go figure on this one. Bentley didn't say much, and neither did the Browns. What was said was rather cryptic, on the part of all parties. GM Phil Savage called it "a chapter that finally comes to an end," said the team had "some closure" and acknowledged that it "just didn't work out." Asked by the Plain Dealer's Marla Ridenour if he had requested his release, Bentley replied, "Why would I do that?" OK, we get it, everybody's saying the right things. But this had to be one of the weirdest odysseys in Browns history. Well, it's over. Good luck to Bentley, and Go Browns. . . .

2008 has gradually shaped up to be a season that Victor Martinez would rather forget. A .278 batting average, with no homers and 21 RBIs? Hardly Martinez-like numbers. He strained a hamstring on Opening Day, and it's clear he's never been 100 percent since. Now he's scheduled to have an MRI on a right elbow inflammation that forced him out of Wednesday's loss to Minnesota. It flared up after an awkward swing in the first inning. Manager Eric Wedge later revealed that the elbow has been an issue for Martinez for a while. The question now is whether the combination of the hamstring and the elbow might land Martinez on the disabled list. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, a tip of the cap to Aaron Laffey. The young lefthander moved into the starting rotation when Jake Westbrook was lost to injury. Laffey was honored as the AL Rookie Pitcher of the Month for May, when he was 3-2 with a 0.79 ERA. Opponents hit just .220 against him over 34 innings during the month. Overall he's now 3-3 with a 2.98 ERA, and has most likely cemented his stay in Cleveland. . . .

Apparently Stark County's Kosta Koufos made a wise decision when he chose to leave Ohio State for the NBA after just one season. Word is his stock continues to rise and that he's looked good in personal workouts for NBA teams. Winning the MVP while helping lead Ohio State to the 2008 NIT Championship was a stroke of timing genius. Todd Porter of the Canton Repository recently wrote that NBA teams are focusing on wingspan more than height when it comes to big men in the draft. In other words, the fact that Koufos is a shade over seven feet tall is one thing; but the fact that his wingspan is almost 7'6" is more significant. Koufos has excellent skills for a post player, including his ball handling and his outside shooting ability. A number of mock drafts have Koufos going in the first round -- in at least one of those, to Cleveland. He'd be an intriguing pickup for the Cavaliers, who will need to groom a replacement for Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the next couple of years. If he falls to them in the draft, it could be another gift from the basketball gods for the franchise. . . .

An interesting side note to the NBA Finals is the presence of Ira Newble on the Lakers' roster. The former Cavalier, traded to Seattle in the deal that brought Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak to Cleveland, later signed with the Lakers and is enjoying a second consecutive trip to the NBA Finals. He's mostly a practice player and has logged a grand total of one minute in the postseason for L.A., but he's admittedly got the best seat in the house for the grand stage, and, if nothing else, he can boast of playing with the two best players in the league -- LeBron James and Kobe Bryant -- over the last two seasons. And Newble isn't alone as a former Cavalier enjoying the ride -- Chris Mihm is still with the Lakers, also in a benchwarming role. The two were teammates in Cleveland during the 2003-04 season.

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.

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.

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.