SB Nation Cleveland - the hit list

Jimmy Haslam Confirms He Plans On Selling Browns Stadium Naming Rights

2012-09-19T16:41:53Z

Prepare yourselves, Browns fans -- your beloved Cleveland Browns Stadium is going to have a new sponsor-dictated name at some point.

New owner Jimmy Haslam said as much before, and he reiterated it on Wednesday. It should happen after this season, Haslam said in a radio interview.

Asked about stadium naming rights - Haslam says post season discussion, but plans on it happening #Browns
— Matt Loede (@Loede923TheFan) September 19, 2012

While renaming the stadium is a big change, others could be in store for the Browns under their new administration. That might even include the uniforms.

But imagine for a moment the stadium with a sponsor's name, something with a local hook a la Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena. Sherwin-Williams Stadium? Medical Mutual Field? Giant Eagle _____?

It happens to almost every team across the country.

It looks like the Browns have a forward thinker in Haslam, but fans who love the tradition must be prepared to accept whatever changes may come.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature.

Bob Knight Inducted Into Ohio State Athletics Hall Of Fame

2012-09-17T17:21:15Z

Bob Knight was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday at halftime of Ohio State's victory of the California Golden Bears.

Knight called the ceremony the most moving of his career.

Knight played on the Ohio State Buckeye basketball team from 1958 to 1962 with star players such as John Havlicek. Knight later went on the coach the Indiana Hoosiers, but he kept his allegiance to Ohio State throughout his tenure, reports Rob Oller of the Columbus Dispatch.

"When I came over here as a coach, I wasn't real happy when we won, and I wasn't real happy when we lost, either, so it was a bad deal either way," he said.

As for the current state of Ohio State athletics, Knight has high hopes for the football program and holds new head coach Urban Meyer in high esteem. Knight believes Meyer could go down as one of the best in Buckeye history.

"There's no ifs, ands or buts with Urban Meyer ... and he'll go down as one of the really great coaches after his tenure here at Ohio State because he doesn't put up with things that other people put up with, and that will make for a better football team."

To read about the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Land-Grant Holy Land. For college football coverage from around the country check out SB Nation's college football hub.

NFL Rookie QB Comparison: Brandon Weeden Posts Top Quarterback Rating In Week 2

2012-09-17T17:00:54Z

Following Week 1, Cleveland Browns fans were calling for rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden to be benched in favor of Colt McCoy. In Week 2, Weeden out-performed the other rookie quarterbacks and set a Browns franchise record for passing yards. He threw for 322 yards and had a pair of touchdowns, all while sporting a quarterback rating of 114.9. To compare, his rating in Week 1 was ... 5.1.

Cleveland still lost the game, but it wasn't because of Weeden or his arm. He and fellow rookie Trent Richardson did incredibly well on offense, but they weren't able to get things done on defense in a losing effort to Cincinnati. Head coach Pat Shurmur was impressed with Weeden's ability to bounce back.

"I've seen really good quarterbacks have bad games at all stages of their career and I've seen guys bounce back," Shurmur said. "I watched the way he prepared this week and I think he really learned a lot last week about how this thing works ... you have to go through it.

Weeden's performance is definitely a highlight in his young career, and if he can build on it, then the Browns will definitely be in good shape. After the jump, we've got a video from SB Nation Studios that breaks down the rookie quarterbacks in Week 2.

Browns' Reporters Survive Shurmur/Jauron/Childress Extravaganza Of Mundane

2012-09-13T17:40:48Z

On Thursday, the Cleveland Browns met with the media for a press conference following the team's morning practice. It was a treat for the media - all of Pat Shurmur, Dick Jauron and Brad Childress spoke to important, hard-hitting issues with the team. Among the things addressed were comments from Cincinnati's Rey Maualuga on running back Trent Richardson, Mike Holmgren's comb-over and 10 reasons why Colt McCoy won't be the starting quarterback.

No wait, those would be interesting topics of discussion. Instead, Shurmur had "no reaction" to the Maualuga comments, the comb-over wasn't even discussed, and all we know is that Brandon Weeden is the guy going forward. The three combined for a press conference in which virtually nothing of substance was actually discussed. The only worthwhile thing we got was a quote from Childress (surprise) about ... smelly armpits, or something along those lines. Make the jump for the Tweet.

OC Childress: "winning is a great deodorant." I see that becoming a hashtag.
— Tom Reed (@treedPD) September 13, 2012

So in other words, the Browns stink. They missed their once-a-week laundry day and the gym shorts are pretty rancid following Sunday's close loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Right now, everything is being questioned and that's all thanks to the fact that the team is 0-1 instead of 1-0. Change just one play from that game and the Browns escape with a narrow victory, and things are much better in Cleveland.

They'll hope to apply a fresh coat of Right Guard with a win over the Bengals in Week 2.

James Harrison Donates $100K To Kent State, Will Have Weight Room Named In His Honor

2012-09-13T14:02:27Z

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has become a star in the NFL, but he has not forgotten his NCAA roots with the Kent State Golden Flashes. Harrison recently gifted $100,000 to school -- the Kent State Board of Trustees approved the gift on Wednesday -- and now the university will rename the Field House weight room to honor and recognize Harrison, a four-time Pro Bowl performer and the 2008 NFL AP Defensive Player of the Year. The weight room will be re-branded as The James Harrison Strength & Conditioning Center, and the linebacker's donation will go toward the Football Enhancement Fund, which contributes to programs such as scholarship support and facility upgrades.

Kent State Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen couldn't thank Harrison enough for his contribution (via KentStateSports.com):

"We are extremely grateful to James for his commitment to Kent State and the football program. He is one of the most recognizable figures in the NFL today and his support is sure to have a lasting effect on our student-athletes now and in the future."

Harrison was named First-Team All Mid-American Conference as a senior for the Golden Flashes when he recorded a record 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.

Cavaliers Honoring 'A Christmas Story' With Leg Lamp Bobble Night On Dec. 5

2012-09-11T16:06:09Z

Well, don't let anybody tell you the Cavs aren't willing to give the people what they really want. On Dec. 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers are giving away -- you guessed it -- an "A Christmas Story" themed bobblehead, err, leg.

Via John Telich

But honestly, why stop there? The Cavs must have considered some other "A Christmas Story" options, as well. Here are some other ideas that didn't make it past the cutting room floor:

Little Orphan Annie night, where every fan in attendance gets a decoder ring. Free Ovaltine to the fans who wear their Anderson Varejao wigs in honor of the curly-headed lass.
Red Rider B.B. Gun promotion. Actually, scratch that, someone'll shoot their eye out.
Higbee's Day -- where every fan with a ticket gets to ride down the slide at the Higbee's building, which is now the Horseshoe Casino. Because slides are more fun and less prone to preying on socioeconomic status than casinos anyway.
Dressing Luke Harangody up as Randy, Ralphie's younger brother, in the giant parka. This is as good a use for Gody during December as anything else.

Do you have any other great "A Christmas Story" suggestions for the Cavaliers? Should the team think about playing some of its holiday home games at the actual house on W. 11th St.?

The Future Of SB Nation Cleveland

2012-09-07T12:02:52Z

It's with great pleasure that I unveil the first step in the next evolution of SB Nation Cleveland. In the next month, SB Nation will be undergoing a dramatic upgrade to our platform and our editorial process. We're also working hard to add passionate and talented Cleveland voices who will provide some of the best insight and writing that you'll find on your favorite Cleveland teams. There will be much more detail to come but for now, the new logo below is just a first taste of what is coming for SB Nation Cleveland.

This is a small, but important sample of what is coming when our network undergoes its most exciting and radical transformation in the eight-year history of the company. A new visual identity here and across the network is only one step we are taking to unite our network of sites. United through individuality is the underlying theme of this project. You'll notice that our team colors and the unique spirit of our individual community is maintained while making it clear to sports fans that each site is a part of the larger SB Nation network. We want everyone to know that they can find the same type of great writing, video and conversation that we offer here on all of our 350 plus sites. You can browse through all the new logos on a special page we put together at sbnation.com/united.

Our commitment to passionately follow our sports will never end. It's what makes SB Nation a special place and that will only be enhanced by these new changes. In the meantime we're setting up additions to our store so you can be sporting the latest and greatest before it even launches. Welcome to our future.

Forbes Values Cleveland Browns At $987 Million

2012-09-05T18:12:01Z

Forbes Magazine says NFL teams keep growing in value -- all but one, anyway -- and among those to rise in worth are the Cleveland Browns.

This despite the recent approval of the sale of the club to Jimmy Haslam III, and the fact that the Browns have struggled to win games for years, especially recently. There appeared to be no concern that the Browns would drop in value with new owners. Haslam, says Forbes, is paying $987 million for the team.

The Dallas Cowboys were valued the highest, at $2.1 billion, while the Cincinnati Bengals dropped in value, from $875 million to $871 million. Twenty teams are worth at least $1 billion, up from 15 last season.

On average, NFL teams are worth $1.1 billion. That's a 7 percent increase from last season. The Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers made the highest jump in value due to new stadium legislation approval.

For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs by Nature or stick with SB Nation Cleveland. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.