The Ohio State University just inked the best signing of the 2006 season. The Buckeyes and Coach Jim Tressel have agreed to a 7-year extension continuing through January of 2013.

Tressel has been one of the most successful coaches at Ohio State and whole NCAA over the last 5 years. He carries a record of 50-13 and has a National Championship. The way Tressel embraced the Buckeyes tradition and history in his first year was a sign to everyone around Buckeye Nation that this was a long term relationship.

This move of loyalty and stability to Coach Tressel should only increase the power Ohio State has when trying to sign a prize recruit.

Albert Belle, the ex-Cleveland Indian, had the world in his hands while playing baseball for the Tribe. He is now under arrest for stalking his ex-girlfriend. Belle was a very good player that Cleveland supported through thick and thin.

He chased money and fought off injuries before retiring from the Baltimore Orioles in 2000. The years after playing in Cleveland were rocky as he continued to find himself in trouble with the law. Albert will look back on his career and have more “what ifs” than any player that has hit over 350 home runs in their career.

Casey Blake continues to be locked in. He had two RBI and extended his hitting streak to 15 games as the Tribe beat the Royals 6-5 Thursday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep. Kansas City opened an early 2-0 lead but the Indians climbed on top with the help of RBI singles by Blake and Broussard in the third. Everyone in the lineup recorded a hit for the Tribe.

Doubles by Reggie Sanders and Tony Graffanino in the seventh got the Royals back in the game but Bob Wickman saved it in the ninth for his seventh of the season. Cliff Lee got his third win of the season, giving up four runs and striking out seven in six-plus innings. The Indinas are starting to play much better baseball.

“Some good things were happening out there,” Wedge said. “Overall, we’ve had a more consistent approach. That’s really where it all starts for us. Guys are fighting through at-bats and getting knocks when we need them.”

It seems like the Indians are getting back on the right track. I don’t know what was going on with them last week but they are playing much more relaxed now.

In the Indians’ 5-0 win over the Kansas City Royals Wednesday night, they managed only three hits. But with the help of seven walks and Travis Hafner’s third inning grand slam, the Tribe was able to put up five runs on the board and win their second straight. Jake Westbrook pitched his best game of the season by far, surrendering only six hits in his complete game shutout. The sinkerballer did was he does best, recording 18 ground ball outs.

“Jake had it working,” manager Eric Wedge said. “He didn’t just do a good job of being aggressive early in the count, but he also stayed aggressive late. He really commanded the ballgame.”

Man, if Jake pitches like this for the rest of the season we’ll be in pretty good shape.