ESPN is reporting that Cleveland Indians closer Kerry Wood will miss the next six to eight weeks with a strained upper back. The Indians will use Chris Perez as their stopper as Wood rehabs the injury.

Wood first experienced pain in his back on March 10th and the Indians didn't think that injury was significant at the time. As the weeks went on the problem didn't heal, an MRI was ordered and showed the strain.

Tickets for first and second round games of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, which will be played on March 18 & 20, 2011 at Quicken Loans Arena, will go on sale to the general public beginning on Monday, March 22.

All-session tickets for the games, which include access to all six games that are part of three sessions, are available for $237.00. Two sessions consisting of two games each will be played on Friday, March 18 with the final two-game session coming on Sunday, March 20.

All tickets for the event will be sold online.

Fans wishing to purchase tickets can do so by following the link on the NCAA Tournament information site at www.csuohio.edu/2011ncaabasketball. Easy links are also available on CSUVikings.com and on the events page of the Quicken Loans Arena site at www.theqarena.com.

Ticket applications will be accepted from March 22 until May 1, 2010. Ticket applications will be fulfilled in the order in which they were received unless demand warrants the need for a random selection process. If tickets remain available following the ticket application window, sales will resume on a first come, first-served basis.

SETTING THE SCENE: Cleveland State will play in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship for the second time in the last three seasons when the 15th-seeded Vikings travel to second-seeded Notre Dame for an opening round game on Sunday, March 21, beginning at approximately 2:50 p.m. in Purcell Pavillion at the Joyce Center. The game, part of the Kansas City Regional, will follow Sunday's first game between No. 7 Wisconsin and No. 10 Vermont with the two winners playing for a spot in the regional semifinals on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at Notre Dame. The Vikings enter the tournament playing their best basketball of the season, winning seven of their last eight contests, including three games last week to claim their second Horizon League Championship in the last three seasons. CSU enters the NCAA Championship at 19-13 overall, marking the third straight year that the Vikings have won 19 games, tied for the second most in a single season in school history. This will be the sixth meeting between CSU and Notre Dame with the Fighting Irish winning the previous five match-ups. UND is 27-5 overall and placed fourth in the Big East with a 12-4 mark.

(On the players on offense and how he is going to mesh with them)- “I will be honest with you, I am still learning people’s names. March 17, I got here Sunday night, I am just learning different guy’s names. I know there are a lot of young guys. (Mohamed) Massaquoi, (Brian) Robiskie, I do not know Ben Watson. I’ve met some of the other players. It’s still early in the process. I can leave it at that. To say this is going to happen, I don’t know. We’re still very early in the process.”

The Cleveland Gladiators of the AF-1 Arena Football League have signed former Cleveland Browns receiver Steve Sanders to a deal that will allow him to earn a roster spot for the upcoming season.

Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Browns in 2006, Sanders was an East High and Bowling Green standout. In his tenure with the BG Falcons, Sanders registered 156 receptions, 2,324 receiving yards and 25 total touchdowns.

When looking through individual achievements in Cleveland State Vikings basketball history, one name that you see over and over is J'Nathan Bullock. J-Bull is first in all time starts, games played, and minutes played. He ranks 4th in career points, 5th in field goals made, 6th in career rebounds, and 2nd in free throws made. Beyond all that personal glory, the one thing that makes "Number 35" the proudest is the fact that he helped change the culture of the CSU Basketball program from a losing one to a constant contender. Bullock is currently playing professional basketball in Australia and scored the game winning basket in his second game last week. I recently caught up with Cleveland State basketball legend an email interview. Here is what the Flint, Michigan, native had to say:

Q: You are now playing ball professionally with the St. Laurence Geelong Supercats. Is the playing style a lot different from the American game, and how does that translate to your playing style?

The Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers completed a trade for minor leaguers today. The Indians sent Chuck Lofgren, who was claimed by the Brewers in the Rule 5 Draft but didn't stick with the club, to the Milwaukee organization in exchange for Minor League Omar Aguilar. Aguilar is a 25 year old left hand pitcher who 3-1 with a 4.72 ERA and 14 saves in 41 relief appearances in Double A last season.

Lofgren Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus and went a combined 9-11 with a 4.15 ERA in 25 starts last season.

Cleveland State University has organized a "Viking Voyage" for their NCAA Tournament game against Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Here is all the information if you plan on attending and cheering on the Vikings as they try to upset the Fighting Irish:

The Cleveland State Viking learned who they will facing as their March Madness dreams continue. The Vikings will travel to South Bend Indiana to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.Notre Dame is 27-5 is a number two seed who went 12-4 in the Big East. The Vikings punched their ticket to the Big Dance by winning the Horizon League Tournament. CSU earned a 15 seed and has a record of 19-13 on the season.

Tipoff for the contest is set for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday March 21st.

As we move through this tumultuous time of the offseason, it is often hard to keep up with the goings-on of a Browns organization that is sure to stay active throughout. As such, I will try to record a weekly breakdown detailing any acquisitions or rumors regarding this free agency/draft perio so you're not made a fool of at the water cooler. You can thank me later.