Cleveland Indians Signed
NFL Football (Browns Dealt Cruel Blow)
July 28, 2006 (Cleveland, Ohio) – This city was once dubbed “the mistake by the lake” and they have done a heck of a job trying to change the impression that visitors like myself get when we visit this blue collar city. The Cleveland Indians have played some inspired baseball the past few years. King James rules the throne in basketball with the Cavaliers and the Cleveland Browns, with their rich traditions, have made some great moves during the offseason.
I was looking forward to seeing the new additions to coach Romeo Cremmel’s stable yesterday as this is year two in his regime and optimism reigns supreme at the training headquarters in Berea, Ohio. That was until Thursday morning when the Brownies were conducting their first 11-on-11 drills and their most prized acquisition, All-Pro Center LeCharles Bentley, went down on an innocent running play. Whether it be NFL or College Football, the number one criteria for a winning team is a strong and healthy offensive line. The center is arguably next to a talented quarterback, the most important component in this unit.
He calls all the blocking assignments and every play begins with him huddling up the team and then commencing it with the snap of the ball. A Cleveland native, Bentley spent his first four years with the New Orleans Saints. He started at right guard in his first two seasons and was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2003. The following year, Bentley moved to center and earned his second Pro Bowl selection in 2005.
The Browns forked over $36 million in the offseason to sign him to a 6-year deal and now he will miss the entire year with a torn patella tendon. Bentley’s injury is the latest for a Browns team beset by serious medical setbacks — No. 1 overall picks Courtney Brown and quarterback Tim Couch had several major injuries — since the club returned to the league as an expansion team in 1999.
On Thursday, tight end Kellen Winslow had his first contact after missing the past two seasons with major leg injuries. The Browns also are without wide receiver Braylon Edwards, their first-round pick in 2005, who is expected to be out until Oct. 1 following knee surgery.
While I realize that injuries are a big part of the world of football and playoff bound teams must overcome adversity, the Browns are done in 2006. With a young second year quarterback in Charlie Frye still learning on the job, this is one security blanket he desperately needed.
The good news for Ohio fans is that they still have the Ohio State Buckeyes to cheer for!
Bob Acton
About the Author
Bob Acton is an experienced sports writer and handicapper, who has written for the sports industry for over 10 years. His years of writing for Sports Scene, sports consulting on 33 Made for Television and Major Motion Pictures and his work as an instructor at Pro Teach Baseball Academy, have made Bob a trusted and respected source in the sports world.
Have you ever had an experience with an MLB player that made you dislike them or their team?
I was a die-hard Cleveland Indians fan and after one incident I quit following them for YEARS. After the game, I was standing at the player’s exit trying to get autographs….and then bam! My favorite Indian came by-Kenny Lofton. He signed the old lady on both sides of me’s stuff and skipped right over me. I was 11 years old and this CRUSHED me. I gave up on the Indians until recently.
And THEN…I went to see the Indians play the Tigers recently here at COmerica park and I was next to the bullpen during warm-ups and Casey Blake was standing right next to me. He saw that I was wearing my Indians jersey and I was like “Casey!” he sneered at me and handed the ball to some blonde wearing a Tigers shirt next to me. I was thrilled when they traded him the next week.
Bottom line, I hate Lofton AND Casey Blake.
I’ve only had the opposite happen. When I saw Yankees/Pirates a few weeks back, I saw Edwar Ramirez in the outfield during BP. I had never before realized how fun he is– spunky, full of life. He’s great with fans. Talks with them, throws them baseballs. He promised to give someone a ball and then actually followed through.
Same deal with Darrell Rasner. Ras might suck on the mound, but it doesn’t take away from his character. He’s also very fan-friendly (not as spunky as Ramirez, though) and was willing to sign stuff, smile for pictures, etc, etc.
Great guys.
The other indirect experience I had was when I was in school. We took a field trip to Pittsburgh and took a tour of PNC Park. We were split into two groups and the group I wasn’t in said they saw a Pirates player and he smiled and waved, which I thought was pretty nice.
Players need to keep their lives in perspective. Yes, they deal with slumps. Yes, they deal with media. Yes, they’re under intense scrutiny. But they need to remember that they’re getting paid a lot of money to play a game. There are people who adore them out there and pay quite a bit of money to watch them play. It’s a fine life.
All Bets Are Off 5-5-10
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CLEVELAND INDIANS, THE signed By the Author … |
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Cleveland Indians 1963 Official Scorecard (vs Tigers) (Signed by 6 Cleveland Browns Players including Ross Fichtner & John Wooten) 6″ x 9″; 16 pages plus the cover. Back cover was signed for a caddy at the Ashland County Club in 1965; during Fichtner’s annual golf tournament which would end in a racial controversy in 1968 involving Fichtner and Wooten. Both of their signatures are on the cover along with Mike Lucci, Jim Kanicki, Rich Kreitling, and Larry Benz…. |
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