That's more like it

The Cavaliers went into Dallas last night, built a 16-point lead in the first half, let Dallas come all the way back to tie it, and still ended up walking away with a dominating 100-81 win (highlights here) over the Mavericks. If this was just our fist taste of the new-look Cavaliers then I'm already hungry for more. LeBron James led the way with 29 points (13-15 from the line!!!), Mo Williams added 14 (including some daggers during a fourth quarter run, highlighted by this long range bomb), and the Cavs outrebounded Dallas by 17. In all five Cavaliers were in double figures in a very balanced offensive attack.

I wish I had photographic or video evidence of a huge baseline dunk by Wally Szczerbiak but I cannot find it anywhere. But trust me, with 3:58 left in the third quarter and the Cavs only up by one Wally went baseline and threw one down right in Erick Dampier's face. It's like the people in control of NBA highlights were so shocked that it happened, they just decided to omit it altogether. It might be the first time I've ever even seen Wally throw one down in a Cavalier uniform and I won't soon forget it. It was the kind of night for the guys in wine and gold.

The King led the cheers from the bench in the 4th quarter

Another thing that was great about this win was the way the bench reacted throughout. They were up and cheering and really supporting the five guys on the floor all night. It may seem like a trivial thing but I can't remember the last time I saw the Cavs bench so actively involved in a game. I think it illustrates how tightly knit this group of players is and how excited they are about the opportunities ahead of them. LeBron was really leading the cheers from the bench in the fourth quarter. And how nice is that to say? Again, he only had to log 34 minutes on the court in this game and is averaging 34.5 mpg through the season's first four games. You know that makes Mike Brown grin uncontrolably. A healthy, rested LeBron means trouble for the rest of the league come playoff time...

Other Cavs Notes: Brian Windhorst's take on the big win in Dallas... The Cavaliers have some opinions on yesterday's big trade... I just noticed Bob Finnan started a new Cavalier blog to go along with his view of yesterday's win... The Cavaliers will return home to the Q tomorrow night to take on the Bulls at 8:00 pm.

Browns Update: I was literally shocked when I got three texts from friends around the same time as I was driving home from work yesterday - Brady Quinn will be the starter vs. the Broncos on Thursday night. Of course I wanted this and lobbied for it yesterday, but I can't believe the Browns actually pulled the trigger... Coach Crennel says it was his decision... Tony Grossi says the Browns just couldn't wait any longer on Quinn... Joe Jurevicius is eager to recover and return to the field in '09. We're pulling for you Joe.

"Some things had to do with it. Our record, offensive ranking, offensive production, so I made the decision to make the change." - Romeo Crennel

Back in action

To the faithful readers out there, I apologize for slacking yesterday. I took a day off and enjoyed some fun at Cedar Point in Sandusky. For those of you that have never been there, or maybe have been there but haven't tried out Top Thrill Dragster, I highly recommend it. The best way I can describe it is an experience where you almost crap your pants and have an orgasm at the same time. Just standing there watching it is intimidating as it accelerates to 120 mph and ascends straight up to 420 feet, and then straight back down again for the 17 second ride of your life. It gives you that nervous/sick feeling in your stomach just waiting in line to ride it (very reminiscent of the feeling I had watching Joe Borowski warm up during last year's playoff run). But I digress.

My day away from the TV and computer did allow me to avoid the pitching mockery on display by the Tribe yesterday. All I know is that they lost 14-11(!), Grady Sizemore hit another home run, and Aaron Laffey has been mystifyingly bad in his last two starts. Oh, and Tom Mastny is still not good (1-1/3 innings, 4 earned runs, and a 14.90 ERA). I've harped on it here before, so I guess I will again today - the 2008 Cleveland Indians are just awful during the day this year (10-19). And in weekday 'getaway' games they are even worse. By my own unofficial count they are now 0-6 on the year, being outscored 40-25 in such games. And there are still four more of them left on the schedule, which gives me another dumb reason to keep following the year of futility. Ugh.

The sun is shining, so chalk up another Tribe loss

Thankfully the Tribe will be given a day of rest today to travel back home. They will resume play tomorrow night at the Prog for a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins. At this point I just want to see us embrace the role of spoiler in the Central and try to make things difficult for both Minnesota and Chicago. And of course end up ahead of the lowly Royals. Yes, I'm now inventing reasons to keep watching.

In other Indians news, Shin-Soo Choo owes his country something. And as we've been speculating for a while, Casey Blake appears to be on the trading block. Also, the bullpen will likely undergo an overhaul before next season.

Browns Update: In more hopeful news, the Browns did finally begin training camp yesterday morning in Berea. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for no devastating knee injuries, resulting staph infections, or any of the other problems that seem to have plagued training camps of the past. Officially, both Joe Jurevicius and Ryan Tucker were placed on the active PUP list. The Browns have until first roster cuts (August 26th) to decide their status for the start of the season. Even with the injury to Jurevicius, Braylon Edwards is ready for the huge expectations this season. But I'm not sure even he was ready for the 'Super Bowl' chants heard on Wednesday.

Can K2 and the rest of the Browns live up to the massive expectations?

''Around here for a long time there were no expectations. We're glad people have some confidence in us, and we're going to try to prove worthy of those expectations.'' - Romeo Crennel

Bill Livingston and Bud Shaw give their thoughts on all the optimism in Berea. And Tony Grossi will check in today at noon for a training camp chat.

Cavs Update: J.J. Hickson continues to receive positive reviews, writes the ABJ's Pat McManamon. And LeBron almost gave me a heart attack last night when I read that he sprained his ankle (thankfully only a 'mild' sprain). Now he is guaranteeing gold in Beijing and I think he will deliver. And finally, Bob Finnan gives us a Delonte West update.

The Return of Joe Blow

Leave it to the Tribe's cold bats to prevent Cliff Lee from notching his 12th win... then leave it to Joe Borowski to really blow things up. With two outs and no one on in the bottom of the 10th and the Tribe hanging onto a 2-1 lead, Joe Blow first served up a home run to weak-hitting Alexei Ramirez. Then he went on to give up two more hits and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory yet again. The Indians' miserable four-game slide continues and I'm at a point where I've run out of ways to describe my level of disappointment (and now disinterest) in this team.

Believe it or not, this picture was taken when Borowski was running in from the bullpen

I was talking to my buddy at the game last Friday, recalling the Tribe's poor '06 season. But at least in that season you felt like they were trying to build towards the future. I just don't see the logic anymore of playing guys like David Dellucci and Joe Borowski on a daily basis. At some point you need to give up hope and start trying to retool for next year. 11.5 games out on July 2 and in sole possession of last place - it's time to raise the white flag. And that's coming from as big a Cleveland homer as you'll find.

But never fear Tribe fans - Eric Wedge isn't ready to concede anything. Great. Terry Pluto wonders if the Indians' youth is being wasted this year. And Sheldon Ocker tells us to expect new faces in the bullpen soon - and yes he did drop the dreaded Mastny reference there. Yikes.

Browns Update: Joe Jurevicius sounds like he really won't be ready for the start of training camp on the 23rd. A fourth surgery already this offseason? I'll be happy if he plays before the bye week at this point. And it makes the Donte Stallworth signing that much smarter.

Byrd Bombed in Denver

This is not the way to enhance your trade value: 4.0 IP, 9 H, 5ER, 2HR. Paul Byrd was shelled again last night to drop his record to 3-7 and raise his ERA to 5.21. He also added to his league-leading home runs allowed total of 19(!) in just 77 innings of work (OK, so one was an inside-the-park job last night, but still). I was hoping some team desperate for pitching would give us something for him at the trade deadline, but now I'm starting to think it's not very realistic. Our bullpen didn't help the cause either last night with Scott Elarton and Rick Bauer combining to give up 5 more runs before it was over. The 10-2 win by the Rockies leaves the Tribe a very disappointing 13-20 on the road now and tied with Detroit for 3rd place, 6.5 games behind the White Sox. Ugh.

Byrd's neck is sore from watching all his pitches fly out of the park

Tribe assistant GM Chris Antonetti spent part of his day yesterday downplaying rumors of an impending CC Sabathia trade. Which makes me think it's even more likely than I already thought. And things aren't getting any better with the wounded Indians. I smell a fire sale soon.

Cavs Update: Well the Celtics finished things off last night (and no, I did not watch). I guess it's good for the Cavaliers to see how close they came to being in that same spot. But the thought of another Boston title still makes me want to slit my wrists. On a happier note, LeBron James is helping some Clevelanders lose their spare tires, starting today at the Q. And Pat McManamon thinks that trading Anderson Varejao is a good idea.

Browns Update: Joe Jurevicius is just a good guy. I wish more athletes these days could be like him.

Gladiators Update: And finally, something from my favorite team to root for in the summer when the Tribe is down and there's nothing else to hold my sports attention... if the Gladiators win on Saturday they are in the playoffs. Call me fair-weather, but they are still a Cleveland team and arena football is kinda fun to watch.

Streak Snapped at 2

These are your 2008 Indians. They just can't seem to ever get any positive momentum going. After winning two straight and looking a little better, Paul Byrd took the mound and was promptly rocked for 6 runs in the first three innings. But after Grady Sizemore's 3-run bomb in the bottom of the 7th, the Tribe had clawed their way back to a 6-5 deficit. Leave it up to our shaky bullpen (it was Borowski this time) to kill any thoughts of a late-inning win by giving up two runs in the top of the 9th to erase any doubts. 8-5. Ball game. Back to .500 at home and 7.5 behind the White Sox. And Victor Martinez could now be heading to the DL. Damn it.

C'mon Byrdie... you're killing your trade value

Browns Update: Mary Kay Cabot and crusty old Bill Livingston add some more depth to the LeCharles Bentley saga. And some good news out of Berea - Joe Jurevicius says he wouldn't miss this season for the world.

Highlights from yesterday's mini-camp session:

Big sports Friday

Tonight is a big sports Friday in Cleveland. Most importantly, the Cavaliers travel to Chicago holding onto a 2-game lead for the #4 spot (home court advantage in the first round) in the East. The next two games are very winnable (Chicago and Miami), but anyone who has followed the Cavs this year knows that you can't predict anything with this team. Our magic number is really 3 with four games remaining. Any combination of Washington losses and Cleveland wins equaling three will clinch home court in the first round. So we'll keep watch here and hope that we can get LeBron some rest in the process.

Also, the Tribe returns home tonight to face the A's after a 2-4 West coast trip. I will be attending that game and will post some pictures afterward. I'm somewhat looking forward to and somewhat dreading attending a game that CC is pitching. He looked pretty shaky in his previous two outings so hopefully he can right the ship tonight.

And I wouldn't be a good Cleveland sports blogger without mentioning this little nugget involving the Browns and yet another staph infection. Let's hope it's not as serious as some of the others and Joe J can return soon. He is one of my favorite Browns.

Here we go again with the staph infections...