Cleveland

The Cleveland Force defeated the Kixx, 14-10, last night in a Major Indoor Soccer League game. It was the third straight defeat for the defending league champion, who are now 22-11. The Force (17-16) took control in the third quarter on a goal by Lee Edgerton, giving them a 12-10 lead. Cleveland had jumped in front by 4-0 on goals by Guiliano Oliviero and Nevio Pizzolitto. After nearly six scoreless minutes, Goran Vasic brought the Kixx to within 4-3 with a three-point goal.

I am writing in reference to the decision to give Cleveland the honor of playing home to the rock-and-roll Hall of Fame, when we know Philadelphia is undoubtedly the birthplace of rock-and-roll. I urge all Philadelphia musicians who believe that Philadelphia is the birthplace of rock-and-roll to withhold their material from Cleveland and for Philadelphia to establish a rock-and-roll museum here. I urge people to call or write to city officials, radio stations, musicians, etc., and give their support to this issue.

AGENDA Who: Soul (7-3) at Cleveland (6-3) When: Sunday, 4 p.m. Where: Quicken Loans Arena (17,500) TV/Radio: None Internet: www.UStream.com. or www.PhiladelphiaSoul.com About the Soul: Have lost two of the last three and now lead Cleveland by only a half-game in the East Division … Wide receiver Donovan Morgan returns to the lineup after missing 7 weeks with a broken wrist. He expects to play the entire game. About the Gladiators: Have won three in a row and are led by future Hall of Famer John Dutton at quarterback.

THE CLEVELAND Gladiators got under the Soul's collective skin before the game and stayed there long enough to ruin Philadelphia's home opener, 68-62. A game that was supposed to be further affirmation of the strides the Soul has taken in burying last year's mess deep in the litter box instead revealed some clumps. Cleveland quarterback John Dutton threw nine touchdown passes, but it was the Soul's lack of discipline that had head coach Doug Plank fuming afterward. "Tonight, we established a new low for our team," Plank said.

The Cleveland Gladiators got under the Soul's collective skin before their game and stayed there long enough to ruin the team's Arena Football League home opener, 68-62, on Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center. Cleveland quarterback John Dutton threw nine touchdown passes, but it was the Soul's lack of discipline that had head coach Doug Plank fuming afterward. "Tonight, we established a new low for our team," Plank said. "This was certainly the worst game of the season for us. I'm just disappointed.

Never mind that Cleveland has been most famous in recent years for rivers that are so polluted they catch fire and the reek from Lake Erie that's severe enough to singe the eyebrows - just wait until 2080. While New York City will be parched, Iowa and Nebraska will be a desert, and Miami will be fighting the ocean in its streets, a new study shows that Cleveland will be one of the "garden spots of tomorrow. " In the Great Greenhouse of the next century, as predicted by scientists studying the effects of pollution on global weather, Cleveland will have a balmy climate and plenty of water.

How long ago does last year's All-Star Game seem to Curt Schilling? Back then, the Phillies were about 700 games under .500. Back then, the Schilling-to-the-Indians trade rumors were flying. Back then, he was in Cleveland, wearing a Phillies uniform, being treated as if he were Rocky Colavito. He got a standing O before the game from 44,000 people. He got a sales pitch from his limo driver about the greatness of Cleveland. He was The Man. And yesterday, on the day before his second All-Star Game, he was just another guy. "I didn't even get a limo from the airport this year.

It's debatable where you could find more of the New Jersey Nets lately - in the playoffs or the hospital. Point guard Kenny Anderson has been gone for weeks with a broken wrist. Shooting guard Drazen Petrovic is back with his left knee in a brace, but he limps like Chester on Gunsmoke. The top two centers are watching in street clothes. Soon, the entire world expected, the whole bunch would be on summer vacation. Except for this: The Nets have shown remarkable pride and determination in this short-handed first-round series against a Cleveland team that aspires to a title but has played listlessly, without passion.

It looked like a good night for an upset. That's how coach Fred Carter put it shortly before his 76ers took the floor of the soon-to-be-replaced Richfield Coliseum for the final time last night. And, indeed, the Cavaliers were working on their 11th game in 17 days. They had played out of town the night before. They were missing frontcourt sentinels Brad Daugherty and Larry Nance. But for these Sixers, even when they play their best against a tired, beat- up contender, winning is but a wish.

League Championship Series Best of seven. Game 1: Boston, 10-3 Game 2: Cleveland, 13-6 Game 3: Tonight at Cleveland, 7:10 Game 4: Tomorrow at Cleveland, 8:21 Game 5: Thursday at Cleveland, 8:21 Game 6: Saturday at Boston, TBD Game 7: Sunday at Boston, TBD

THE SIXERS got some unexpected help in their bid for a playoff berth. Jordan Crawford equaled a season-high with 32 points, and John Wall had 14 points and 10 assists Wednesday night as the Washington Wizards dealt the visiting Milwaukee Bucks a crucial, 121-112, defeat in their attempt for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee began the day 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia for eighth place in the East, but lost a game as the Sixers won in Cleveland.

MONTA ELLIS scored 16 of his 30 points in the final 5 minutes, helping the host Milwaukee Bucks fend off a Cleveland team missing Kyrie Irving for a 107-98 victory Wednesday night. Brandon Jennings scored 19 points, and Ersan Ilyasova added 18 for Milwaukee. The Bucks have won four of their past five to close within a game of New York for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks were off Wednesday. Anthony Parker had a season-high 27 points for the Cavaliers, who have lost nine straight and 12 of 13. Cleveland looked lost at times without Irving, who reinjured his sprained right shoulder Tuesday night in a blowout loss to San Antonio.

The Cleveland Gladiators got under the Soul's collective skin before their game and stayed there long enough to ruin the team's Arena Football League home opener, 68-62, on Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center. Cleveland quarterback John Dutton threw nine touchdown passes, but it was the Soul's lack of discipline that had head coach Doug Plank fuming afterward. "Tonight, we established a new low for our team," Plank said. "This was certainly the worst game of the season for us. I'm just disappointed.

THE CLEVELAND Gladiators got under the Soul's collective skin before the game and stayed there long enough to ruin Philadelphia's home opener, 68-62. A game that was supposed to be further affirmation of the strides the Soul has taken in burying last year's mess deep in the litter box instead revealed some clumps. Cleveland quarterback John Dutton threw nine touchdown passes, but it was the Soul's lack of discipline that had head coach Doug Plank fuming afterward. "Tonight, we established a new low for our team," Plank said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur is pulling away from congressional colleague Dennis Kucinich in the battle for a newly drawn Ohio congressional district. Kaptur had a nearly nine-point lead with half the votes counted. Kucinich made a strong showing in his home county, Cuyahoga, but was behind in critical Lorain County. Toledo real estate agent Steve Kraus was holding a strong lead over Joseph Wurzelbacher on the Republican side of the race. Wurzelbacher earned the nickname "Joe the Plumber" during the 2008 presidential election.

Ray Allen scored 22 points, Kevin Garnett added 18 and the Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 86-83, on Tuesday night to snap a five-game losing streak. Boston, which couldn't hold a 16-point lead in the first quarter, avoided its first six-game skid since dropping seven in a row from April 4-15, 2007. Kyrie Irving returned from a bruised elbow that sidelined him late in the second quarter and led Cleveland with 24 points, 19 in the second half. Irving hit two free throws with 1:21 remaining to give host Cleveland an 81-80 lead.

CLEVELAND - A wanted man kidnapped his estranged girlfriend at gunpoint along with her 1-year-old she was pushing in a stroller, Cleveland police said yesterday, and all three were found shot to death hours later. Police said the couple had dated for about two months and that the woman, Latasha Jackson, 19, was trying to end the relationship. Jackson and daughter Chaniya Wynn were walking with Jackson's 14-year-old brother about noon Saturday when they encountered the man, Thomas Lorde.

CLEVELAND - Drexel made a loud case for a possible at-large NCAA tournament bid on Saturday, blowing out an unfamiliar foe on the road and further adding clout to the quality of its league. The Dragons (23-5), who extended their win streak to 15 by thumping Cleveland State, 69-49, in a nonconference ESPN Bracketbuster game, have dominated play in the Colonial Athletic Association over the last two months and are in first place with a 12-2 CAA mark. Despite having sent VCU (last year)

CHRIS PAUL is new to Los Angeles, so his modest explanation for the phenomenon going on throughout the NBA might be only half true. The Clippers, a perennial laughingstock, are now one of the hottest tickets in the league. Paul confirmed there's a buzz in each city the first-place Clippers visit, but his reason doesn't explain everything. "When you got Blake Griffin on your team, it's going to be like that every night," Paul said with a smile. And he's right that Griffin, last year's slam-dunk contest champion, is one of the NBA's most exciting players and biggest draws.