points of the second period to extend Saints lead and it took plen

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. Toronto Raptors Jerseys .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Jodie Meeks Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. http://www.nbaraptorsonline.com/Authentic-Vince-Carter-Jersey/ . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Tracy Mcgrady Raptors Jersey . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Marc Gasol Raptors Jersey . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said.St Helens bounced back from defeat to Wigan to record a 20-12 victory at Widnes in a scrappy encounter. Despite a late rally from Denis Betts side, the visitors deserved the win with Joe Greenwood, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Tommy Makinson going over in the first half.Rhys Hanbury scored a try in each half for the hosts but it was not enough to stop them slipping to a second defeat over the Easter weekend, as Saints coach Keiron Cunningham maintained his record of never having lost to the Vikings as either a player or a coach. Saints started quickly and went ahead in the fifth minute after a Patrick Ah van knock-on gave them an extra six, deep in Widnes territory. They made it count as Greenwood forced his way over, despite the best efforts of Joe Mellor and Setaimata Sa to hold him up, and Luke Walsh added the extras.The Vikings hit back in the 13th minute, Hanbury taking advantage of some weak St Helens defending to dive over in the corner, before kicking the conversion to level the scores. Reaction from both camps after St Helens beat Widnes A scrappy couple of minutes followed with both sides knocking on to halt their attacking moomentum but it was Widnes who were eventually made to play.ddddddddddddHaving been gifted possession after a knock-on, Saints regained the lead when McCarthy-Scarsbrook timed his run to perfection, receiving Walshs pass and powering between two Vikings defenders to score.Walsh again converted and the visitors began to dominate, and, after Chris Dean conceded a needless penalty with Saints on the attack again, the ball was worked out wide to Makinson who ducked past Ah van to dot down for his sides third try.Widnes pressed for a route back into the game before half-time and had the chance to assert some sustained pressure after a high tackle from Walsh but the Saints defence held firm on their own goal-line.The game remained littered with errors and numerous penalties led to a stop-start encounter either side of the interval. Rhys Hanbury went over twice for Widnes Walsh kicked the first points of the second period to extend Saints lead and it took plenty more resolute defending to keep Cunninghams side at bay as they camped out in the hosts territory.Eventually, after Widnes were penalised again, St Helens opted to take the points, Walsh kicking his second penalty of the half to leave the Vikings needing three scores to turn things around.They were given the chance to get one back as Mellor intercepted just short of his own try line and set Corey Thompson away on the break, only for Walsh to get back and make a try-saving tackle inside his own half.Hanbury gave Widnes hope with 10 minutes to play as he jinked his way through before bundling over to score, and then convert, his and the Vikings second try.Dean looked set to add a third soon after only for Matty Dawson to steal the ball on his own goal-line, Saints held firm though as Widnes threatened from the resulting penalty to all but secure the win.Thompson thought he had stolen a late try for Widnes, only for the video referee to rule it out for interference at the play of the ball. 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