NEU » ne dimensional, Ash said.THE TAKEAW

Like many fans, I inherited my favorite teams from my father. I have his face, his eyes, his love of family, and his love of the Indians, Browns, Cavs and Buckeyes deep in my DNA.My love affair with my sweetest team began on a perfect Friday evening in Cleveland. I was 5 years old. Dad and I were two of the 12,084 in attendance for an Indians-Tigers game at the old and cavernous Municipal Stadium. Our seats were just behind the Indians dugout so we had a great view of one of baseballs all-time great brawls. In the eighth inning of an otherwise forgettable game, Tigers pitcher Bill Denehy decided to take back a pound of flesh for the three Tigers hitters already hit by Indians pitching. Denehy plunked Indians catcher Ray Fosse, who was having none of it. Fosse charged the mound. Denehy came flying at Fosse, spikes high, and caught him in the hand. Blood was everywhere. The benches cleared. Denehy, Fosse and Tigers left fielder Willie Horton were sent to the showers, and umpire Jim Honochick called it the bloodiest fight he had seen on a baseball field in 23 years. When the game finally resumed, Indians first baseman Chris Chambliss promptly belted a two-run homer and I was hopelessly hooked. My dad further cemented the relationship when he bought me an Indians replica batting helmet as we were leaving the stadium after the 7-0 win. That helmet left my head for church and sleep and not much else.That 1971 season the Indians lost 102 games, finishing 43 games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the old AL East. But it was in that warm June moment that I dedicated my forever fandom to the Cleveland Indians, declaring to my doting dad, Ill only play in the major leagues for the Cleveland Indians. Never happened, of course, but my lifelong love affair still continues 46 years later with the same unabashed hope and passion.Through the years, Dad and I shared the many heartbreaks, and occasional highs, of Indians baseball. We listened on the radio on Opening Day 1975 when Frank Robinson, in his first at-bat as the Indians player-manager, homered to lead the Indians to a 5-3 win over the Yankees.We watched on TV in 1981 as Len Barker threw a perfect game against the Blue Jays. I still remember our phone call during my senior year at BGSU when Sports Illustrated made Cory Snyder and Joe Carter cover boys with the banner, Indian Uprising. They would lose 101 games and finish 37 games behind the Detroit Tigers.The mid-90s saw the true Indian Uprising. By now, I was working at WBNS-TV, the CBS affiliate in Columbus, Ohio. I was lucky enough to cover the final game at Municipal Stadium and the first game at Jacobs Field. Dad was still living in Sandusky, and we would occasionally meet in Cleveland for games. The Indians were very good. Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Sandy Alomar, Kenny Lofton and on and on -- those teams were dripping with talent.I was covering the 1995 World Series when the Indians lost in six to Atlanta. My first call after completing my late reports was to Dad. We lamented. We replayed Game 6. A 1-0 loss. David Justice homered. Tom Glavine and Mark Wohlers held the potent Tribe offense to a single hit.Two years later it was even worse. 1997. Game 7 of the World Series in Miami. The Indians led the Marlins 2-1 heading to the bottom of the ninth inning. Manager Mike Hargrove called on closer Jose Mesa to get three more outs. Thats all that stood between the Indians and their first World Series championship since my dad was 10. I had left the press box and headed to the doors just outside the Indians clubhouse to prepare for postgame interviews. Suddenly the stadium shook. The Marlins had tied the game. The clubhouse doors flew open. I watched in disbelief as carts of champagne were whisked out of the Indians clubhouse. Boxes of Indians World Series Champions shirts and hats were also carted out, headed instead to Third World countries. The Marlins scored again in the 11th to win Game 7 and the World Series. When I finally finished my postgame interviews and final report, I called Dad. It was in the early morning hours. He was still awake. Waiting for my call.Ten years later, 2007, the Indians are good again, but now Dad was fighting cancer, and for his life, in Phoenix, Arizona. The Indians led Terry Francona and the Red Sox three games to one in the ALCS. My father had loved Terrys dad Tito, who spent six of his best 15 big league seasons with the Indians in the 50s and 60s. I decided to jump on a plane and stay in Phoenix until the baseball season was over. I knew it would be my fathers last. When I arrived, my dad remarked, Too bad for Titos boy, Terry. Seems like a wonderful man, but this one is ours. I spent the next days watching the Indians lose their grip on what seemed a certain trip to the World Series. They would lose Game 5. Then Game 6 and Game 7. My last chance to watch the Indians win a World Series with my dad had slipped away. In the minutes after Game 7 ended, Dad broke the ugly silence with few words. He told me he wouldnt trade the past few days for anything. Even though our team had lost and we both knew wed never see a championship together, he somehow found the positive. He focused on the father-son time. Watching baseball together. As we first had 36 years earlier. He put sports in its proper place. He told me, Let sports enhance your life, not detract from it. They are games, meant to be fun. Dont lose sight of that. He assured me one day Ill experience a championship with my son, Corey. He told me to enjoy it as much as if it had been lived with him.When the Cavaliers finally ended Clevelands 51-year title drought in June, Corey and I were together. We were in Cleveland and we celebrated like children at recess. It took just seconds before thoughts turned to Dad.And thats where my thoughts will be Tuesday night when the Indians host Game 1 of the World Series for the first time ever. With my dad. And all of those backyard catches. And all of those games in old Municipal Stadium. And the late-night consolation phone calls. And that difficult 2007 ALCS. Ill be with Corey, just a few feet away from the Indians dugout and Terry Francona. Dad, you were right. Terry is a wonderful man. And this time hes on our side. Cheap Flames Jerseys . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Calgary Flames Shirts . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Flames Jerseys China . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Custom Calgary Flames Jerseys . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- No. 8 Penn State is a win away from getting a piece of its first conference title since 2011, the year Joe Paterno was fired.Tyler Davis kicked a career-high four field goals and the Nittany Lions stayed in the hunt for a berth in the Big Ten Conference title game with a 39-0 victory over Rutgers on Saturday night.The win kept Penn State tied for first place in the Big Ten East with Ohio State and Michigan, who face each other in Columbus, Ohio. If the Buckeyes win and the Nittany Lions take their home finale against Michigan State, Penn State goes to the title game, having beaten the Buckeyes in the regular season.When I was a freshman, I never thought with the sanctions that we would ever be in this type of position, and to be here with nine wins -- this is our first nine-win season since Ive been on the team. Im just really proud of it, fifth-year senior defensive end Evan Schwan said after Penn State (9-2, 7-1, No. 9 AP) won its seventh straight game, its longest streak since 11, the year the child sex abuse scandal broke involving one of Paternos former coaches.Penn State was never threatened in this one, which finished with rain and then sleet falling.Saquon Barkley and Andre Robinson scored on short third-quarter runs and the Nittany Lions defense limited Rutgers (2-9, 0-8) to 87 yards in total offense.Tight end Mike Gesicki said the team has not talked much about the postseason implications in recent weeks.We control our own destiny on Saturdays when we play whoever were playing and thats all we can control and thats all we care about, Gesicki said.Trace McSorley (17-of-33 for 210 yards) added a 27-yard scoring pass to Mark Allen and backup quarterback Tommy Stevens scored on a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter, when the Nittany Lions had 216 of their 549 yards in total offense.The loss was the eighth straight for Rutgers and rookie head coach Chris Ash, and the shutout was the fourth of the season. The last time Rutgers was shut out four times in a season was 1936, when it was blanked six straight games in a 1-6-1 season.This one hurt because it was Senior Day for the Scarlet Knights and they wanted to give their seniors a final win at home.dddddddddddd.Just want to thank our seniors, Ash said. Disappointing that Senior Night didnt end on a positive. Didnt give them an opportunity to leave their legacy in this football program and this university the way that we wanted.Penn State led 9-0 at the half and the story was Davis and the Nittany Lions defense.Davis hit from 32, 34 and 40 yards, the first two into a stiff wind. He added a 32-yarder early in the second half to push the lead to 19-0.The defense set the tone for the game after Penn State return man Miles Sanders muffed the opening kickoff and Rutgers recovered at the 19. Three plays lost seven yards and David Bonagura was wide right on a 45-yard field goal attempt.The defense has been better every week, Penn State linebacker Jason Cadinda said. We pitched a shutout, 80-something yards. Every week the confidence just builds and builds. We know what were capable of. Its as simple as that.Rutgers averaged less than two yards a play on its 50 offensive plays, finishing 1 of 14 on third-down attempts.Look at the stats, were not even one dimensional, Ash said.THE TAKEAWAYPenn State: While the Nittany Lions defense was outstanding, the offense did not do much until late. There also has to be concern because Barkley (16 carries for 92 yards) was dinged in the third quarter on a run inside the 10 and he did not return. Michigan State showed Saturday that it still had something in the tank despite a dreadful season and Penn State needs a healthy Barkley.Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights will get a chance to play spoiler again and give Ash his first Big Ten win. All they need to do is end Marylands bid for bowl eligibility.DUBIOUS RECORD: Rutgers Michael Cintron averaged 37.3 yards on 11 punts, including one that was blocked. He now has punted 89 times this season, a single-season record for a punter in the conference.UP NEXTPenn State: The Nittany Lions close out the conference regular season at home against Michigan State.Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights play at Maryland on Saturday. ' ' '