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Cavs going after Laettner?

September 20, 2005 / Tim Russo

Although the main target might be Jahidi White, the Miami Heat must be thinking we’ve got something against them. From Ohio.com (free registration required)

The Cavaliers have been in talks with free-agent center Jahidi White for much of the summer and hosted him on a visit last month. They’ve also been in touch with free-agent big men Christian Laettner and Andrew DeClercq among others. Several other free agents have come to Quicken Loans Arena to work out in recent weeks, among them former Utah Jazz center Ben Handlogten.

I wouldn’t mind Laettner. With a guy like him, and newly acquired Alan Henderson, there’d be a little of that missing, hard ass attitude off the bench.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Mariotti on the Tribe

September 20, 2005 / Tim Russo

Chicago Sun Times columnist and regular on ESPN’s Around The Horn, Jay Mariotti, hears nothing but gagging coming out of the White Sox, and sees a lot to like about the Tribe.

Whether the Sox go on to finish the biggest regular-season fold in baseball history or somehow do a backdoor slider into the playoffs, it should be obvious now that the rampaging Indians are a much better team and are worthier of the American League Central title.

Long term?

Whatever the final outcome, the Sox should be mortified by the presence of the Tribe. Anyone who thinks Williams has laid groundwork for long-term divisional success doesn’t understand the golden future of the Indians, who have the same championship potential of their ’90s clubs. GM Mark Shapiro downsized the big-boom era for a kiddie movement, and his daring plan worked fantastically.

Cleveland Indians

Another good ESPN article…

September 20, 2005 / Tim Russo

This time it’s Gene Wojciechowski focusing on the White Sox…

Since then they’ve had a posture problem, slumping at the exact moment the Indians became the ’27 Yankees. Cleveland began shaving away the White Sox lead as though it were peach fuzz.

The Tribe is big news, folks.

Cleveland Indians

Great ESPN article on the Tribe

September 20, 2005 / Tim Russo

Jayson Stark lays out just how historic the Tribe’s current shot at the division title is…

Only one team in the history of baseball — the 1914 “Miracle” Braves — was ever 15 games out at any point of any season and came back to finish first. But that team fell 15 back in the first week of July, not the first week of August.

Stark gives a great write up of last night’s game, then goes to Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen for some comic relief.

“I’ll be concerned,” Guillen said, “when we’re one game behind.” But if he ever does find himself one game behind, we’re betting “concerned” won’t be the first word out of his mouth. Actually, we’re betting you won’t be able to print the first word out of his mouth.

I’m betting if the Sox blow this lead and lose the division, Ozzie Guillen will be fired the next day. That’ll get him concerned.

Cleveland Indians