For those who are fans of Dan Patrick, he will be starting a new show on a radio syndicate Oct. 1. No word, yet, on what stations he will be on this area. He left ESPN last month.

Here is a link to his Web site.

Sheldon Ocker reported today that the Indians are investigating national companies' interests in buying the naming rights to Jacobs Field.

Dick Jacobs' contract ran out at the end of last season. According to the report, the Indians have been underwhelmed with local companies' offers.

Do fans really care about what the name is on the stadium? The Houston Astros have had numerous names on their stadium — Enron Field, Astros Park, Minute Maid Park. So have the San Francisco Giants: Pac Bell Park and AT&T Park.

Any ideas of companies you all would be interested in putting their name on the stadium. I am surprised local companies with national reaches have been slow to move. Smuckers Stadium? Goodyear Park? Firestone Field? National City Park?

What about Dan Gilbert's Palace? Wait, that should be the name of the Cavs practice facility.

The Indians have moved themselves into the slot as baseball's best team.

And despite C.C.'s horrible career record against the Yankees (1-7 with a ERA north of 7), I like the Tribe against the Yankees in the first round of the AL playoffs.

Against the Red Sox and Angels, the confidence isn't there.

… The Browns offense finds its groove and destroys the Bengals defense.

The Bengals offense continues to expose the Browns defense.

It added up to a surprising win for the Browns. It also adds up to another season where high expectations will meet an early ending to a season for the Bengals. Everyone falls in love with offense but defense is the key. The Bengals remind me of the Chargers of the 80s. Lots of Hall of Fame offensive players but no rings to show for it.

… Clint Bowyer wins his first race of the season and is in fourth place in the Race for the Nextel Cup. Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are tied for first. This will be a battle of attrition.

… Maybe this time O.J. Simpson is guilty.

… Then again …

… Is it better for the Indians to have the Tigers in the playoffs or the Yankees or does it matter. If the Tigers make the playoffs then the Indians will play the Angels in the first round. Otherwise, they are going to Boston or hosting the Yankees. I like their chances better against the Angels.

… Ohio State looks in good shape to play a New Year's Day bowl but I am still not sure if they will win the Big Ten. Penn State and Wisconsin are interesting, and Michigan can't be counted out.

… So will Charlie Weis get the same treatment as Ty Willingham and get fired after what is going to be a horrible third season? Probably not. But it is a valid point.

… I have to like Kent State over Akron in the game at the Rubber Bowl on Saturday. The Zips just seem to lack a strong enough defense to slow down the Flashes. If KSU does win, they are setting up a season that could end in a bowl game.

… Brady who?

… Tiger Woods wins FedExCup. No surprise.

… My guess is that the Bill Belichick video scandal isn't over yet.

… Less than a month until Cavs open training camp.

SUNDAY
Bengals (-6.5) over Browns — WRONG
Steelers (-10) over Bills — RIGHT
Colts (-7) over Titans — WRONG
Panthers (-6.5) over Texans — WRONG
Rams (-3) over 49ers — WRONG
Packers (pick) over Giants — RIGHT
Falcons (+10) over Jaguars — RIGHT
Saints (-3.5) over Bucs — WRONG
Lions (-3) over Vikings — PUSH
Cowboys (-3.5) over Dolphins — RIGHT
Cardinals (+3) over Seahawks — RIGHT
Ravens (-11) over Jets — WRONG
Broncos (-9.5) over Raiders — WRONG
Chiefs (+12) over Bears — RIGHT
Chargers (+3.5) over Patriots — WRONG

MONDAY
Redskins (+7) over Eagles — Right

Record 7-8-1 for the week; 14-15-3 for the season

Arent' you glad that this is what is important to our institutions of higher learning:

The Associated Press is reporting that athletic footwear and apparel
manufacturer Nike and Ohio State have signed a new $26-million
contract that will keep Buckeyes' sports teams in uniforms with
a swoosh for the next seven years.
The agreement, announced Wednesday, went into effect on Aug.
1 and expires July 31, 2014. Nike has an option to extend the
deal by three years.
As exclusive provider of footwear and apparel for Ohio
State's athletics program, Nike will provide OSU teams with
$2.34 million per year in free products, or $16.4 million over
the seven-year period.
Nike also will pay the Ohio State athletic department $1.2
million annually for the right to be Ohio State's exclusive
provider, or $8.3 million over the seven years.
There are bonus payments for football and men's and women's
basketball based upon rankings and postseason appearances.
Each year, Nike will pay Ohio State $28,000 for appearances
by the coaching staff and $22,000 for design and safety input
from the coaches.
The university also will receive royalties from Nike of at
least $200,000 annually.

SUNDAY
Bengals (-6.5) over Browns
Steelers (-10) over Bills
Colts (-7) over Titans
Panthers (-6.5) over Texans
Rams (-3) over 49ers
Packers (pick) over Giants
Falcons (+10) over Jaguars
Saints (-3.5) over Bucs
Lions (-3) over Vikings
Cowboys (-3.5) over Dolphins
Cardinals (+3) over Seahawks
Ravens (-11) over Jets
Broncos (-9.5) over Raiders
Chiefs (+12) over Bears
Chargers (+3.5) over Patriots

MONDAY
Redskins (+7) over Eagles

NASCAR teams, car makers, drivers and numbers have been switching as fast as GM Phil Savage changes his mind on how to handle the Browns quarterbacks.

But for the diehards, Jayski.com has put a page together that shows where everyone sits and is expected to sit come the Daytona 500 in February. Here it is.

The latest changes have IRL champion Dario Franchitti joining Chip Gannassi Racing in the No. 40 car.

Mark Martin and youngster Aric Almirola sharing time in the No. 8 DEI car.

Casey Mears going to the No. 5 car for Hendricks.

What number and sponsor that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have next season is expected to be announced by the end of the month.

I spent Monday night at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Great seats. Beautiful September night. Great time with my two boys.

Then it struck me.

I know what it feels like to be a Browns fan.

See, the Pirates, the team that I have rooted for since I was little, have not been good for a long time. In fact, I had just graduated from the University of Pittsburgh when Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke, Doug Drabek and Jim Leyland left the Pirates an inning short of the 1992 World Series.

It has been a long 15 years. No winning seasons. Let me repeat that. No winning seasons. Not one game over .500.

But here I am on a Monday night sitting in Pittsburgh watching my Pirates. Getting excited about beating the Milwaukee Brewers 9-0.

Seeing young September callups — Nyjer Morgan and Steve Pearce — lead the Bucs to a victory. Watching Nate McLouth hit a home run — the ball landing in the Allegheny River. Viewing Tony Armas and two young relievers combine for a shutout.

I start to get excited.

The Pirates are about to hire a new CEO, who will hire a new GM.

I can't wait until next year.

Then I think back to Sunday afternoon. And recall Kellen Winslow dropping balls, Charlie Frye getting smashed. Joe Thomas turning into a turnstile. Eric Wright and Brodney Pool chasing Steelers receivers AFTER they catch the ball.

You know: the Browns and the Pirates just might be cursed. Neither team might ever amount to anything. But at the end of the day, we fans will continue to live and mostly die with these franchises.

I grew up in Pittsburgh, and the Steelers are my team, but the Pirates give me the same feeling that the Browns give their fans.

An upset stomach.

Has an NFL season ever caved in on a team faster than it did on the Browns on Sunday?

Three-and-out, botched punt, four penalties on one play. All in 61 seconds.

And now Charlie Frye is going to be run out of town as the scape goat.

The special teams stink, the defense gets rolled after halftime and it is Charlie Frye's fault. Just like it was Tim Couch's fault and Trent Dilfer's fault and Kelly Holcomb's fault and so on.

Folks this is Randy Lerner's fault, this is Phil Savage's fault and this is Romeo Crennel's fault.

The team that these three put together quit 61 seconds into the season.

I don't think shipping Frye to Seattle is going to fix that.