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Indians season over after 4-0 loss in wild card game

Written By kolimtiga on Kamis, 03 Oktober 2013 | 21.08

CLEVELAND -- Alex Cobb dodged trouble for nearly seven innings and the Tampa Bay Rays pitched their way to another must-have win on the road, beating the Cleveland Indians 4-0 on Wednesday night in the AL wild-card game.

Cobb, who missed a chunk of the regular season after he was hit in the head by a line drive, quieted a thundering Cleveland crowd and ended the Indians' unexpected season.

Delmon Young homered in the third inning off rookie Danny Salazar as the Rays, playing in their third city over four days, advanced to face the AL East champion Boston Red Sox in the division series starting Friday.

Cobb's comeback in August from his frightening injury helped stabilize the Rays, who have spent the past two weeks winning crucial games to make the postseason for the fourth time in six years.

GAME RECAP:

It's a moment Indians baseball fans have been awaiting for 6 years... The return of playoff baseball to Cleveland.

From the first pitch to the final out, we documented all the action throughout the game here in our Tribe Fever game blog.

The pitching match-up featured Cleveland rookie Danny Salazar, 2-3 in the regular season with a 3.12 ERA, against Tampa Bay hurler Alex Cobb, 11- 3 in the regular season with a 2.76 ERA.  

Now, onto the game action...

Progressive Field was rocking with a packed house!!  43,579 Indians fans on hand to cheer their team on.

FIRST INNING:

Salazar's first pitch is a strike to Rays LF David DeJesus.  On the next pitch, he flies out deep to CF Michael Bourn for the first out.  The next batter, RF Wil Myers strikes out! Tampa 1B James Loney is the third batter of the inning.  Salazar strikes him out!

Now it's the Tribe's turn!  CF Michael Bourn, returning after missing several games with sore wrist, will lead off for the Indians.  Bourn flies out to  right on the first pitch he sees.  1B Nick Swisher steps up to the plate and after a meeting of the umpires is called out on a foul tip that comes close to hitting the ground, but ends up in the catcher's mitt.  The Tribe faithful are not happy with the call.  Replays clearly show it was the right one though.  Now it's 2B Jason Kipnis' turn to see if he can get something going.  He grounds out to end the inning.

After one inning, we're scoreless.  Rays - 0 Indians - 0

SECOND INNING:

3B Evan Longoria kicks off the second frame for the Rays.  He becomes Danny Salazar's third strikeout of the night!  The Rays now send 2B Ben Zobrist to the plate and he fouls out to Tribe #B Lonnie Chisenall.  Talk about deja vu, Desmond Jenning, Tampa's CF, flies out to Chisenall to end the Ray's inning.

DH Carlos Santana leads off the bottom of the second inning for the Indians but grounds out.  Next up, LF Michael Brantley lines out to center field.  RF Ryan Raburn steps into the batter box to try and get a little two out magic going.  And he does with a double!!  SS Asdrubal Cabrera is up looking to give the Indians the first lead of the game.  Unfortunately, he flies out to center field to end the inning.

Through two, it's still a scoreless tie:  Rays - 0 Indians - 0  

THIRD INNING:

Tampa DH Delmon Young hammers Salazar's first pitch of the inning over the left field wall to give the Rays the game's first run.  SS Yunel Escobar follows that with a fly out to right field.  C Jose Molina proceeds to ground out to Kipnis for the second out of the inning.  Back to the top of the order, and DeJesus flies out to shallow right field to end the inning . 

The Indians send C Yan Gomes to the plate to start their half of the inning.  Gomes sends a deep shot to left that is caught on the run by DeJesus.  3B Lonnie Chisenall jumps on the first pitch he sees for a single!  Back to the top of the Tribe order we go with CF Michael Bourn and he strikes out.  Fans are anxious, hoping  Buckeye Nick Swisher can tie the game or give the Indians the lead.  But he grounds out to end the inning.

After three, the Tribe trails Tampa: Rays - 1 Indians - 0  

FOURTH INNING:

RF Wil Myers leads off the inning for the Rays. He becomes strikeout number four of the night for Salazar!  1B James Loney, who struck out in his first at bat, lines a single to right field.  Now 3B Evan Longoria is up to bat.  He bounces a hit between third base and the shortstop.  Two on with one out.  2B Zobrist is up and shows bunt but ends up flying out to right.  Loney moves to third.  Runners on the corners with two outs.  Desmond  Jennings lines a double to left field.  Loney and Longoria score.  Rays take a 3-0 lead.  Salazar intentionally walks Delmon Young.  The Indians bullpen is up and active.  Yunel Escobar grounds out to end the top of the inning, but the Rays manage to increase their lead over the Indians and now lead by 3 runs.

2B Jason Kipnis leads off the fourth for Cleveland and grounds out to start the inning.  C Carlos Santana digs in for the Tribe and shoots a hit down the right field line for a double!  LF Michael Brantley follows that with a single up the middle and Santana advances to third.  Indians at the corners with one out and RF Ryan Raburn up to bat.   Raburn takes a walk to load the bases.  Now it's SS Asdrubal Cabrera's turn to put some numbers on the board for the Indians.  Tampa's bullpen starts to get busy. Cabrera hits into a 6-3-1 inning ending double play.

Following four innings:  Rays - 3 Indians - 0

FIFTH INNING:

Rays C Jose Molina starts the inning off with a walk and that means the end of the night for Indians pitcher Danny Salazar as manager Terry Francona goes to the bullpen.   Matt Rzepczynski comes in to face LF David DeJesus and strikes him out for the inning's first out.  Francona goes back to the bullpen and brings in Brian Shaw to take on RF Wil Myers.  He strikes him out!  1B Loney comes to the plate but Indians catcher Yan Gomes throws out Molina trying to steal second to end the top half of the inning.

Following his defensive gem in the top half of the inning, Yan Gomes comes to the plate to try and get momentum back on the Tribe's side.  And he delivers with a lead-off double!!  3B Lonnie Chisenhall, who doubled earlier, lines a single to right field and Gomes moves to third.  Two on, nobody out.  CF Michael Bourn is up and strikes out.  Nick Swisher comes to the plate and grounds out to first.  The Indians narrowly miss getting caught up in a double play when Gomes tries to go home but there is no one covering third when he heads back as the throw comes home.  Runners at second and third with two outs and 2B Jason Kipnis at the plate.  He hits a weak tapper to the pitcher and another potential Indians rally comes up short.

After five, it's still Rays - 3, Indians - 0.

SIXTH INNING:

Indians pitcher Brian Shaw gets Tampa 1B James Loney to fly out to start the inning.  He follows that up by striking out 3B Evan Longoria.  2B Ben Zobrist lines it to Swisher for the third out of the Rays' inning.

C Carlos Santana leads off the bottom frame for the Indians and he gets called out on strikes.  LF Michael Brantley steps in to the batter's box and hits a grounder to the third baseman who throws him out at first.  RF Ryan Raburn is up and strikes out to end the inning.

Six innings in the books and it's Rays - 3, Indians - 0.

SEVENTH INNING:

Shaw stays in the game and Jennings hits a deep liner to left to lead off the Rays' inning.  Terry Francona makes another call to the bullpen and brings out former starter Justin Masterson.  Tampa makes a substitution, subbing in Sam Fuld as a pinch runner for Desmond Jennings at first.  Masterson gets Delmon Young to strike out for the first out of the inning.  Yunel Escobar taps the next pitch to the mound and Masterson makes the easy toss to Swisher for out number two.  Jose Molina is the next batter and he strikes out to turn the inning over to the Tribe.  Fans are starting to get noisy again.  Time for the seventh inning stretch.

Asdrubal Cabrera leads off the seventh for the Indians with a grounder to the second baseman who throws to first to get Cabrera out.  Yan Gomes is back up to bat and lands a single into right field for the Tribe's seventh hit of the night.  Lonnie Chisenhall comes to the plate with two hits under his belt.  He gets his third hit of the night!  Two on, one out and the tying run comes to the plate in the form of Michael Bourn.  Bourn flies out to left field for the second out but it's not deep enough for the runners to advance.  Two on with two outs and Tampa manager Joe Madden makes his first call to the bullpen, bringing on Joel Peralta to face Nick Swisher.  Swisher strikes out and the Indians miss another opportunity to put runs on the board with runners in scoring position.

We go to the eighth, Rays - 3, Indians - 0.

EIGHTH INNING:

Masterson remains on the hill for the Indians.  David DeJesus leads off for the Rays and gets hit by a pitch.  Wil Myers is the next batter and he hits a grounder to third and beats out the throw for a single.   James Loney hits into a 5-4-3 double play leaving a runner at third with two outs.  Evan Longoria steps up to the plate and hits a sharp liner to third but Chisenhall makes an amazing grab to end the scoring threat.

Six outs left for the Indians to make a comeback.  Jason Kipnis will try and get something going.  Defensive changes for the Rays as Kevin Kiermaier takes over in center field for Myers.  Kipnis pops up for the first out.  Carlos Santana follows with a single to left field!  Michael Brantley flies out to left field for out number two.  Tampa goes to the bullpen with one out and two on.  Jake McGee comes on to face Ryan Raburn and strikes him out on a 99 mph fastball.

Eight in the books, Rays - 3, Indians - 0.

NINTH INNING:

Cody Allen has come on to pitch for the Indians.  Ben Zobrist greets him with a single to right field.  Rays RF Sam Fuld makes his first plate appearance of the night and strikes out.  That's it for Allen as Terry Francona goes back to the bullpen bringing in sidearm hurler Joe Smith.  The first batter he'll face is Delmon Young who bounces a hit off the glove of 3B Lonnie Chisenhall.  Zobrist advances to third.  Runners on the corners with one out.  Ouch!  Escobar hits a ball off the glove of Swisher.  A run scores and the lead is up to 4 with runners on first and second with one out.  Smith gets Jose Molina to strike out for the inning's second out.  David DeJesus flies out to end the Rays' ninth.  Down four with three outs left.  Can the Tribe perform one more miracle comeback?

The Indians' last chance to keep playing in October will come against Fernando Rodney.  Asdrubal Cabrera leads off and strikes out.  Now it's up to Yan Gomes to get something going but a broken bat hit gets him thrown out at first.  Lonnie Chisenhall, with three hits on the night, is up and he strikes out.

And with that, a surprising Indians season ends in a 4 - 0 wild card loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.  


21.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fans look forward to Browns game after Indians loss

With the Indians loss in the American League Wild Card game still fresh on the minds of fans, a primetime Browns game may be just what the doctor ordered.

The Browns will host the Bills in their only night game of the season tonight. It's a nationally televised game and you can watch it right here on Channel 3. Pre-game begins at 7 p.m.

The Browns will stick with Brian Hoyer at quarterback. The team is on a two-game winning streak. The Browns are 2-2 on the year so far.

Joe Cronauer has been talking with fans who are confident the Browns can win.

WKYC-TV


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Speeding ticket: $55; Court costs: $141; What gives?

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CLEVELAND -- The typical speeding ticket in Cleveland costs a driver $55.  But, it's the tagged-on court costs that can sting -- they start at $140.

And those fees are required whether you waive your court appearance or not. Where does it all go?

"There are all these buckets that have been established," says Clerk of Courts spokesperson Obie Shelton. "Every little bit of money goes into these buckets that pay for law enforcement, for different kinds of things."

Channel 3 News reviewed the list.  Among the things speeders pay for:

  • $20 goes to the City of Cleveland's Indigent Defense Support Fund
  • $9 goes to the State of Ohio Victim of Crime Fund
  • $5 goes to the Cuyahoga County regional Information System

Drivers we met can't quite understand how things that have nothing to do with traffic are being funded by traffic offenders.

"That is ridiculous, it doesn't make any sense," said driver Dorothy Williams. "How does the indigent defense fund have anything to do with speeding?"

"I don't understand how you still have to pay the court fees if you waive your court appearance," said Warrio Bernard.

"City council, a couple decades ago, passed a law that said the city can collect this money from you, whether or not you waive your court appearance," Shelton said.

The $55 fine goes to the city, if a city police officer pulled you over. It goes to the State of Ohio if a Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper nabbed you.

Traffic cameras are exempt from these kinds of court costs because they are considered civil infractions, not criminal.

In Cleveland, they typically come with a flat $100 fine.

WKYC-TV


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Progressive Field readies for postseason

Written By kolimtiga on Rabu, 02 Oktober 2013 | 21.08

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CLEVELAND -- It is finally here and so are we! We're talking Tribe, postseason baseball at Progressive Field.

"Everybody in this organization, this is what you strive for and hope for all year long," says Curtis Danburg, director of communications for the Cleveland Indians.

This banner, that went up today, probably says it best: "Tribetown lives for October."

"It's all hands on deck. We're ramping up staff for 44,000 fans," says Danburg.

In fact, the Indians are one of the few businesses that are putting out these signs: "Now Hiring."

Meanwhile, as those employees learn how to serve a packed house during orientation, down on the field, the grounds crew is painting the grass, hosing it down, hanging the bunting and putting in additional seats.

Also inside the stadium, at the team shop, fans are busy living for the moment.

They showed up early, waited in long lines, and were happy to do it, in order to get their hands on the official, postseason T-shirts and hats

And they're selling out as fast as the team shop can hang them up.

In fact, all team shops sold out of the postseason gear in 40 minutes.

So even though it's a bit chaotic inside the stadium, Indians fans wouldn't have it any other way.

"We're very grateful. I don't need to sleep for October, and I think everyone feels the same. We can sleep in November," says Danburg.

WKYC-TV


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Where to watch the #WIndians Wednesday

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CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians are in the playoffs!  

The game sold out in just minutes.  So we went to our Facebook friends to find out where the best place was to watch the Tribe if you couldn't be at Progressive Field.

Here are some of the suggestions with a look at some of the deals for Indians fans.

Stampers: 

  • 21750 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, OH
  • 440.333.7826 
  • $2 domestic beer, $2 tacos, $3 dogs 

Fox and Hound: 

  • 8735 Day Dr, Parma
  • 440.842.8840                 
  • $3 dollar wheat beers; trivia until 9 p.m. 

Rocky River Brewing Co.:

  • 21290 Center Ridge Rd, Cleveland
  • 440.895.2739 
  • $3 margaritas, $3 chips and salsa 

Harry Buffalo North Olmsted:

  • 4824 Great Northern Blvd  North Olmsted
  • 440.734.4545
  • They are still working on a menu for fans

Melt Bar & Grill: 

  • Every Location will have the Tribe game on each television. 
  • The special sandwich will be the Rocktobenator. A Bratwurst Patty with sauerkraut potato pancakes, whole grain mustard sauce and a horseradish white cheddar.

WKYC-TV


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Indians, Rays fight to keep momentum

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

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CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians roll into tonight's American League wild-card game on a 10-game winning streak, ready to provide another example of it's not who you are but how hot you are when October arrives.

The Indians are home thanks to that streak. And they're playing the Tampa Bay Rays, a team that's making a winning tradition out of defying odds - economic ones, at least.

Something special obviously is brewing, and one of these teams will take it to Boston for a division series against the Red Sox beginning this weekend. Or so it would seem.

"Honestly, no," Indians infielder Mike Aviles said Tuesday. "All 10-0 means is we get to play here tomorrow. Everything we did for 162 games and everything the Rays did for 163 games means nothing."

But something's afoot here. It has to be.

Only once in the past 11 years has there been a postseason without a wild-card team winning at least one playoff round. Four wild cards have won the World Series in that span and four more have lost the Series.

The Indians finished on a 15-2 run. The only team in recent history that reached the playoffs hotter was the 2007 Colorado Rockies, who won 14 of their final 15 - including a tiebreaker to win the wild card - and then their first seven playoff games.

"When stuff like that happens, everything's flowing well, no one's thinking about it, no one's talking about it," says Seth Smith, an outfielder on that Rockies team and now with another payroll-challenged playoff team in the Oakland Athletics. "Things just sort of start happening and you end up with a W every day. You can't explain it, you can't quantify it, but it just happens."

There's the point. Keeping that underdog feeling - or at least ignoring expectations you should win - is a key component.

"You get immune to whatever that pressure is and just go play," says Rays manager Joe Maddon, whose team won seven in a row before losing two of their final three in Toronto against the Blue Jays. That forced them to win a one-game playoff with the Texas Rangers, who had won their previous seven games.

"You don't have time enough to be nervous," Maddon says. "You just get ready and go play. For our guys, I kind of like that mode right now."

But no streak is infinite. Those Rockies were swept in the World Series. And whose expectations are higher tonight?

"We went through a struggle (a 3-11 skid into early September), and I was happy about that in a weird way," says Alex Cobb, the Rays' starter tonight. "This is such a streaky game and we were at such a high point, then we got down to a low point with enough chances to get back. I knew if we got into the playoffs while hot, we would be dangerous the way the pitching's been going."

Money is losing its cache in clubhouses, at least as far as being the source of success. The Rays' $58 million opening-day payroll ranked 28th; the Indians, at $78 million, were 21st.

"I don't care how much a team spends," Indians first baseman and former New York Yankee Nick Swisher says. "I don't care if you have a $500 million payroll or a $10 payroll. I've played in the biggest market and I've played in this market. If you're winning, you're winning."

Maddon agrees, citing drug testing as one equalizer in recent years.

"I know people make a lot of this money deal, and I understand that, but for us it doesn't matter," he said.

What matters now isn't money or streaks. Maybe playing at home does, as Aviles says, even for an Indians team next-to-last in AL attendance - ahead of only the Rays. It will be full house tonight, packed with fans who remember the franchise's 455 consecutive sellouts in the late 1990s and early 2000s and finally sense something special again.

"That's huge for us," Indians reliever Joe Smith says.

Only if they make it 11 in a row.

Paul White, USA TODAY Sports

Gannett/USA Today


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Federal government shutdown begins

Written By kolimtiga on Selasa, 01 Oktober 2013 | 21.08

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WASHINGTON -- The federal government shut down for the first time in nearly two decades following more than a week of legislative jockeying by House Republicans to extract concessions from President Obama and Senate Democrats on the Affordable Care Act.

Shortly before midnight, Obama notified government agencies to prepare to cease operations Tuesday, even as House Republicans worked on a fourth and final attempt to again advance a plan to delay the individual mandate to buy health insurance exchanges that open for enrollment Tuesday.

GUIDE | How the government shutdown impacts you

The House Republicans' moves came as a series of polls released Monday showed that they were bearing the bulk of the blame for the shutdown. One of their Senate colleagues, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the party's 2008 presidential nominee, called their position doomed to eventual failure.

Republicans were also seeking a motion to start formal negotiations, called a conference committee, with the Senate on the stopgap spending measure - an unusual request for a six-week spending bill that funds the government at current levels, but it provides Republicans a vehicle to keep the debate going. It was quickly rejected by Senate Democrats.

"Under the Constitution there is a way to resolve this process and that is to go to conference and talk through your differences," Boehner said in a short press conference after the shutdown began.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev, made it clear late Monday he did not intend to go to conference under the present circumstances.

"We will not go to conference with a gun to our head," Reid said.

Reid and other Senate Democrats urged House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to put a Senate-passed bill on the floor to keep the government funded through Nov. 15 and that did not include any provisions affecting the health care law. Boehner refused.

"That's not going to happen," he said.

Obama took to his Twitter account to comment on the failure to fund the government. "They actually did it," he wrote. "A group of Republicans in the House just forced a government shutdown over Obamacare instead of passing a real budget."

The Senate voted twice Monday to reject House efforts to delay the individual mandate, repeal a 2.3% tax on medical devices enacted to help pay for the law, and a proposal to eliminate a proposed subsidy to members of Congress, their staffs, and members of the Obama administration to buy insurance in the new system.

Obama reiterated that he would not sign any bill that seeks to dismantle the law. "One faction of one party in one house of Congress in one branch of government doesn't get to shut down the entire government just to refight the results of an election," Obama said at the White House.

The president did sign late Monday a bill that would pay members of the military during a shutdown.

Reid maintained the only way to avoid a shutdown was to approve the Senate-passed stopgap spending bill with no provisions on "Obamacare."

"They try to send us something back, they're spinning their wheels," Reid said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Democrats would deliver most of their 200 votes if Boehner would agree to put the Senate bill on the floor. "I think it's very clear Democrats are making an explicit offer to the speaker to keep government open. Whatever he may bring out of his caucus to bring to the floor, we hope that he will also give a vote to the clean (funding bill)," Pelosi said.

The House provision on insurance subsidies was a reaction to an Office of Personnel Management decision to provide members of Congress and their staffs the same amount of money they get now as part of the federal employees insurance system to pay for policies they will now have to buy on local exchanges, which are state websites where people can shop for and buy insurance.

"There should be no special treatment for the well-connected under ObamaCare. Delaying the individual mandate and withdrawing special exemptions for Congress is the fair thing to do," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said in a statement.

Some of the health care law is already in place, including provisions that expand prescription-drug discounts and allow young people up to age 26 to remain on their parents' health insurance policies. Obama said Monday that those exchanges will open regardless of what Congress does.

"We're at an impasse that can only be resolved by Speaker Boehner going to his caucus and saying, 'Enough is enough,'" Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee and a former campaign committee chairman, said at a breakfast hosted Monday by The Christian Science Monitor.

The standoff has energized Tea Party organizations, which have made dismantling the health care law a top priority and have exercised substantial influence over House Republicans elected with their help since 2010.

"What's happening in Washington right now is largely a result of the grass roots speaking with one voice at the same time," said Dean Clancy, vice president of public policy for FreedomWorks, one of the leading Tea Party-affiliated groups. His group, which touts an e-mail list and social media following of more than 6 million, said it has driven more than 50,000 calls to Congress in recent weeks as part of the effort to defund the law.

"We are setting the agenda in Washington, and it feels good," he said.

Van Hollen said he's not sure when a shutdown will end. "I think the scary thing about this period we're in is that there's no clear end point to a shutdown," he said.

The last time the government shut down was in 1995-96 for a combined period of 28 days during budget standoffs between the Clinton administration and a Republican Congress. Most Americans would not feel the effects of a short-term shutdown because most essential government operations would continue, but a longer-term shutdown could negatively affect the economy and federal workers and inconvenience Americans in need of government services.

---

By Susan Davis, USA Today; contributing: David Jackson, Gregory Korte, Fredreka Schouten and William Cummings.

Gannett / USA Today


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Cuyahoga Valley National Park shuts down

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PENINSULA -- Park visitors pay the price for Washington D.C.'s political power play.

The closing of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park has major impacts for visitors.

All gated parking areas in the park will be locked. No visitors centers will be open or staffed. The administrative offices will close. Visitors to Ohio's only national park won't even have access to restroom facilities.

"If it has a lock, it will be locked", says Mary Pat Doorley, Public Information Officer for the CVNP.

More than 100 park employees will be furloughed.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will be shut down as well, which will have a huge impact.

Fall foliage is approaching its most colorful time, and the train has been booked with reservations.

The popular Farmer's Market at Howe Meadow on weekends will be canceled and the Towpath Marathon, scheduled for Oct. 13, is in jeopardy of being nixed.

The CVNP website and Facebook page will not be monitored, and there will be no one to field questions.

You can contact the Conservancy for Cuyahoga National Park through their website or visit the two "Trail Mix" stores they operate in the park.

WKYC-TV


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Keeping kids safe: Bikers Against Child Abuse

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CLEVELAND -- It's a worldwide, non-profit organization aimed at helping children who've been abused.

All their members wear leather, some have tattoos and all of them ride motorcycles.

The group is called "Bikers Against Child Abuse," or B.A.C.A.

They have chapters in Italy, Holland, Canada, all over the United States, and now, for the first time, there's one in Northeast Ohio.

That means the next time a local child is abused, local B.A.C.A. members may be called up by the court system or by family services to support and empower the child.

And it's easy to see, this organization is really changing lives.

Maybe it's the leather.

Maybe it's the tattoos.

"You know everyone has those stereotypes, biker clubs and biker this and biker that," says one biker, code name "Ginger."

But how about bikers as "keepers of the children" or Bikers Against Child Abuse?

"We got love for kids and there's no reason a child should live in fear," says B.A.C.A. member, "Jammer."

"We empowered the children to be a child," says B.A.C.A. member "Floppy."

"You see these big, huge, burly guys and their tattoos and some have long hair some have shaved heads, and everyone is there for the same cause and the same reason," says "Ginger."

That reason, quite simply, is to support and empower children who've been abused, children like "Snake."

"At first, I felt so scared and so afraid," says "Snake."

"Snake" is 9 years old, in fourth grade. He was abused by someone close to his family, and just recently, B.A.C.A. members from all over Ohio came to Northeast Ohio for his "adoption" ceremony into the B.A.C.A. family.

"Hearing the rumble of the pipes and hearing the bikes come down the road. We all stopped and said, here they come."

Imagine what that sounds like. Imagine what it feels like when you realize all that noise, all these leather clad bikers are here for you, here to keep you safe.

"We don't condone violence in any form, but we will protect that child at all costs," says "Jammer."

"I felt really happy and really protected," says "Snake."

Part of becoming a full-fledged, B.A.C.A. member includes a code name, a warm blanket, a vest and the ultimate biker accessory, a teddy bear.

"Everybody here is gonna hug this bear, okay?" says "Jammer" to "Snake" during the adoption ceremony. "Anytime you feel afraid, scared, whatever, you hug that bear."

"When we saw his little face light up, there wasn't a dry eye in the area. Big huge guys were standing behind me and you hear sniffling," says "Ginger."

"Jammer" then tells "Snake," "So from here forward, you just be a kid, and you do that kid thing, and you let us take care of everything else for you."

Part of that new support system includes B.A.C.A. members accompanying the child to court, in case he or she needs to testify against their abuser.

"Go on that stand and say what you've got to say. There's nothing to be afraid of. We're here. Nobody's going to hurt you. It's all good," says "Jammer."

So when "Snake" does testify, when he looks out in that courtroom, he will see "Trouble," "Floppy," "Ginger," "Jammer" and several other men and women looking back at him, giving him strength.

"It's a tough thing," says "Jammer." "Don't let anybody tell you bikers don't shed tears. Bikers shed tears."

"Yeah," says "Snake," "I feel like I don't have to be afraid of anything now because I have them, the B.A.C.A."

When asked what "Snake" wants to be when he grows up, he says he wants to be "a B.A.C.A."

WKYC-TV


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Bernie Kosar arrested for OVI

Written By kolimtiga on Senin, 30 September 2013 | 21.08

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SOLON -- Bernie Kosar was arrested and charged with speeding and OVI early Sunday.

Police tell WKYC-TV that Kosar was pulled over after speeding on U.S. Route 422 just east of SOM Center Road just before 3 a.m.

The police officer reported a strong odor of alcohol. Solon police say an officer ran a series of field sobriety tests, which Kosar failed.

Kosar was then arrested and taken to the Solon Police Department with the intent to give him a Breathalyzer test.  Kosar refused to take the test.

Kosar posted bond and was released. He was the only person in the car. 

Kosar was at FirstEnergy Stadium for the Browns-Bengals game. He declined to comment on the incident.

Kosar played quarterback for the Cleveland Browns from 1985 to 1993. 

WKYC-TV


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