Month: March 2006 (Page 7 of 11)

Indians talent want to stay in Cleveland

March 12, 2006 / Bob

The Cleveland Indians and GM Mark Shapiro are changing the way players look at the organization. After recently signing Jhonny Peralta to a long term deal, Indians players are talking about Cleveland and not about how much money they will make. Shapiro and Eric Wedge have always stressed how essential it is to evaluate talent and character. The signings of Travis Hafner, C.C. Sabathia and Victor Martinez show that they are signing team players and quality talent.

Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore, both young rising stars in major league baseball, have openly expressed their desire to stay in Cleveland and play for this organization. Shapiro has been doing a great job of communicating with players and has a good name around the baseball world. If team president Paul Dolan does the right thing, the Indians could lock up a core of talent that may be better than the Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle and Omar Vizquel days. The next couple weeks may be pretty exciting for the future of Indians baseball.

Cleveland Indians

Buckeyes in finals

March 12, 2006 / Bob

The Ohio State Buckeyes led by J. J. Sullinger�s 19 points and 13 rebounds held off a late Indiana rally to win 52-51 and head to the Big Ten Championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Buckeyes won again, despite shooting a miserable 18% from 3 point range. This is the second game in a row Ohio State has struggled from long range.

The Buckeyes are pretty much assured at least a number 2 seed in the tournament, but many feel with a victory against Iowa, Ohio State will be a number 1 seed. The Bucks defense has lead them through this Big Ten tournament. They will need a strong showing on both sides of the ball to defeat the Hawkeyes and match the ladies Buckeyes, who were Champions in both the regular season and the tournament.

OSU Basketball

Browns bolster the O-line with Bentley and Shaffer

March 11, 2006 / G

Phil Savage and the Browns started the free-agent signing period with a bang, landing center LeCharles Bentley and offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer. This continues Savage’s emphasis on rebuilding the offensive line that he started last season. After years of neglect, it’s refreshing to see this franchise pay attention to one of the most important parts of the team.

Bentley is the big story here. He was ranked by ESPN as the top free agent on the market. Shaffer is also an important addition. he was ranked as the 26th best free agent, and he will step into the hole left by the departure of left tackle L. J. Shelton.

Landing the highly regarded Bentley is a huge acquisition for the Browns, who wanted more bulk and power on the interior of their offensive line. The signing represents a homecoming for Bentley, who is a Cleveland native, attended that city’s St. Ignatius High School, and is a longtime Browns fan.

Bentley can also play guard, so it will interesting to see how the Browns will use him. They have an experienced center and two experienced guards, though the guards had to fight through injuries last season.

It’s a great start. We should expect a lot more.

Cleveland Browns

Ohio State’s basketball program will not face future sanctions

March 11, 2006 / G

What a relief. The Buckeyes will be able to play in the NCAA tournament, and next year they’ll be able to enjoy the top recruiting class in the country. The NCAA has placed the Buckeyes on three years of probabtion, and they have to take down some banners from the past, but Thad Matta and the boys will not have to pay for the sins of the past.

“To have this burden lifted off us, the smoke cleared, my wife cried tears of joy,” Matta said, “because I have been tough to deal with for a long, long time.”

“It’s wonderful,” said David Lighty, a senior at Villa Angela-Saint Joseph who is part of Ohio State’s 2006-07 recruiting class. “I don’t have to worry about it anymore. People can move on.”

The price to save the future is to erase part of the past.

Ohio State also will have to take down its 1999 Final Four banner, but that’s a trade OSU is more than willing to make when two other successful seasons were on the line: The current 24-4 team is gunning for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and the 2006-07 team will feature one of the top two recruiting classes in the country.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are still fighting for a possible #1 seed in NCAA tournament after a tough 63-56 wi over Penn State in the Big Ten tournament.

Go Bucks!

OSU Basketball