Leadoff with Lee 12.18.14

By @cleeverizon

- Despite Kevin Love recording his 14th double-double of the season and Lebron scoring 21 and another 21 from Dion Waiters off the bench, the Cavs fell 127-98 to the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta shot 64% from the field and every player shot 50% or better while hitting 16 3-pointers. The Cavs struggled defensively and were sluggish on their rotations, giving the Hawks open looks. After the post game interviews with the media, Kyrie Irving was putting in extra work, shooting jump shots as Lebron James watched him intensely. Irving knows he needs to step his game up and be the true point guard of the team instead of Lebron being the point-forward. The Cavs play the Brooklyn Nets at home on Friday.  I'm sure Coach Blatt will work hard in practice today with the team to improve defensively.

-Milwaukee Bucks rookie forward, and 2nd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Jabari Parker suffered a season ending torn ACL Tuesday night in a 96-94 Bucks victory over the Phoenix Suns. With Parker's injury, 5 out of the top 7 players rookies drafted in the 2014 NBA Draft are out for the season.

- The Cleveland Indians signed RHP Gavin Floyd to a 1-year, $4 million dollar deal. Floyd can make an additional $6 million dollars in incentives, for a potential total of up to $6 million dollars for the 2015 season. Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Gavin Floyd will all be in the starting rotation. Zack Mcallister, TJ House, Danny Salazar and Josh Tomlin will battle for the 5th spot in the rotation. Regardless who the last starter is, this will add depth to the Tribe's bullpen.

- Jason Kipnis underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a damaged extender tendon in his left ring finger. Kipnis was injured while he was performing off-season strength and conditioning activities in Chicago.

- 49ers GM Trent Baalke announces that the team has decided to release DT Ray McDonald from his contract. Police said Wednesday, that they are investigating the San Francisco defensive lineman Ray McDonald on suspicion of sexual assault. This is the second time in recent months that McDonald has been the subject of a police investigation. Last month, the Santa Clara County district attorney's office announced that it declined to file charges against McDonald in a domestic violence investigation stemming from his August 31, 2014 arrest.

- Multiple reports are saying 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh will be fired at season's end. Several media outlets have said the University of Michigan are prepared to offer Harbaugh a 6-year, $49 million dollar contract. $8.17 million dollars a year would make Harbaugh the highest paid head coach in college football.

- Jim Tressel hired Cardinal Mooney high school graduate Bo Pelini to become the head coach of Youngstown State University. The former Nebraska head coach will make $150,000 per year at YSU. Nebraska still owes Pelini $1.8 million dollars a year until February 2019. Not a bad way to make good money at a FCS school and bring credibility back to the program.

- Mount Union QB Kevin Burke won NCAA Division III's highest honor, the Gaglardi Trophy (equivalent to the Heisman trophy) for a second time. He's the first ever two-time winner.

- Here's how the Cleveland Browns rank in fan voting for this years NFL Pro Bowl:

Leadoff with Lee 4.18.14

-Jason Kipnis gets tossed and the Indians lost. Cleveland split a weather shortened 2 game series with Detroit, as they drop the latest game 7-5. Tribe pitcher Danny Salazar stays winless, pitching 4.2 innings,giving up 5 earned runs on 6 hits. The Indians were up 3-1 going into the bottom of the 5th when Salazar gave up 4 runs. The Indians had one last surge in the top of the 7th scoring 2 runs, 1 run was credited to Michael Brantley with his homerun. Brantley only went 2-5 but also drove in 4 RBIs. Justin Verlander got the win for Detroit, improving his record to 2-1 for the season. Cleveland heads home to open a 3 game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. Carlos Carassco (0-2, 7.84 era) is expected to start tonight's game for the Tribe.

-The Cavs came home to clean out their lockers and seemed to be very positive about next season. Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving expect Mike Brown to return as head coach next year. The Cavs had a good second half of the season and seemed to learn how to play defense. We will review the Cavs season and key free agents soon here on this site.

-36 year old wide receiver Chad "OCHOCINCO" Johnson signed a 2 years contract with the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes. Terms of his salary have not been disclosed. Montreal's general manager Jim Popp says Johnson told him "I just want to play." Johnson was last signed by the Miami Dolphins, but was released in training camp following his domestic violence arrest.

-Duke Blue Devils 6'8" small forward Jabari Parker announced he will declare for the 2014 NBA draft. Parker is expected to be a top 3 pick in the draft. In his lone season at Duke, he averaged 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds. He also earned first team All-American honors, along with winning the Wayman Tisdale Award which is given to the nations top freshman.