The Cavaliers are doing the right thing. They should not give into the demands of Anderson Varejao or Sasha Pavlovic. … The Indians bullpen is the reason they are where they are, and it will be what decides if they win the World Series or not. … Jamal Lewis being healthy is the difference between 8 wins and 5 or 6 wins for the Browns.

Will any team be undefeated in college football come November? … The Big Ten Network has been a dud. … By the way, that will be the only way to watch the OSU-Kent State game Saturday. … I don't think you will miss much.

Roger Clemens, Cooperstown is calling. It is time to trigger your five-year wait. … Dan O'Dowd of the Rockies and Josh Byrnes of the Diamondbacks; both GMs, also both former members of the Tribe front office. … No wonder the Pirates hired Neal Huntington as GM; the Tribe knows how to grow great front office folks.

Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon? I am pulling for Gordon. … Mike Tirico is everywhere.

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.

Are the Indians playing better? Are the Tigers just that bad?

Whatever the answer, the facts are that the Indians are in first place and that they have a 2.5-game lead.

I also think if you have to pick between good pitching and spotty hitting or spotty pitching and good hitting. Always take the pitching. Just ask the Tigers.

More proof? Jake Westbrook gave the Indians a chance to win today, and they did.

Has the work GM Mark Shapiro put into the Indians turned out to not be the right combination of players?

The question is worth asking because the GM has sort of put himself into a corner with the contracts that have been signed.

He doesn't have a lot of angles to take other than dealing some folks whom he just signed.

It should make for an interesting offseason if the Indians don't make the playoffs.

The Indians and Tigers start a two-game series tonight at Jacobs Field.

Is it a big deal or is it two teams struggling to see straight?

Both of these teams looked like sure playoff teams in May, now they are both lucky that the rule requires a team from the Central Division to take part in the playoffs.

Isn't it time to take Kenny Lofton and put him in the leadoff spot and drop Sizemore to the three slot? Sizemore gets on base, I know, but he also strikes out too much. Manager Eric Wedge needs to do something to shake up this offensive offense.

Things to watch this weekend:

– How bad is Travis Hafner's knee and is this the time when the Tribe breaks away from the pack by handling the Yankees?

– Does John Daly make a move and return to the center stage in golf or is it only Tiger's world at the PGA Championship?

– Anyone want to play quarterback? UA and the Browns are looking but so far haven't found what they are looking for.

– Can Dale Earnhardt Jr. break from his Anna Kournikova drought — lots of endorsements, no wins and maybe no Chase for the Cup?

– I must admit that I am surprised how easy the Tigers and Indians have allowed the races to tighten in the American League. With the resent poor play by the AL Central leaders, the Mariners and Yankees are now only a half behind the Tigers for the wild card. And don't forget the Twins, who are just 4 1/2 behind the Tribe. Should make September interesting but it didn't have to be this way for either the Indians or Tigers.

– The Browns can point to good signs at camp, including big back Jamal Lewis seeming to have something to prove. But with Orpheus Roye getting hurt, Ryan Tucker getting suspended, Brady Quinn causing bad PR league-wide, something doesn't smell right, and I am not talking about the Stadium.

– Dario Franchitti's crash at Michigan International Speedway shows just how well all racing cars are built these days. Take a look at ESPN for the video.

– Dale Earnhardt Jr. draws the most fans to the race track and to the souvenir shop but right now, he would not be in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. It is kind of like the NBA not getting as much attention whent the Knicks, Celtics and Lakers all are not in the playoffs.

– Mike Tomlin won his first game with the Steelers on Sunday in Canton. He won't remind many of Bill Cowher, but astute observers might see a little Chuck Noll in the rookie head coach.

– Ohio State football is No. 10 in the coaches' poll behind Wisconsin and Michigan in the Big Ten. Seems about right for a team that doesn't know who will be quarterback.

– Tiger Woods … really, whatelse can you say? Maybe it is time for a statue next to the historic water tower at Firestone.

Tribe GM Mark Shapiro said he would never make a trade like dealing Brian Giles for Ricardo Rincon.

If he is afraid to make a deal like that, then I am not sure if the Tribe will ever get over the hump to win a World Series — and I think that is the objective.

If the Indians would have got to a spot in the playoffs where getting one left-handed batter out and Rincon would have come in the game to get it done, then that 1 out would have been worth giving up Giles.

The Pirates of the early 90s traded a young Moises Alou to the Expos for Zane Smith. Sounds horrible now, but Smith helped the Pirates make the playoffs twice and nearly put them in the World Series.

Those are the trades that make GMs great.

Shapiro has to get over the fact that dealing prospects like Ben Francisco or Franklin Gutierrez is how you go from competing for titles to winning titles.