First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The Repository
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryCleveland's Quincy Morgan, left, bounces up off the turf after catching a pass from quarterback Tim Couch for an apparent first down as the Browns were driving late in the fourth quarter of their game with the Jacksonville Sunday Dec. 16, 2001. Providing coverage on the play is the Jaguars James Boyd. The catch was reviewed and reversed causing fans to throw bottles of beer onto the field and play being haulted.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryCleveland Browns head coach Butch Davis yells at game officals as they were about to reverse a call they made on what appeared to be a first down catch by Quincy Moran as Cleveland was driving late in the fourth quarter of their game with Jacksonville. At left is field judge Scott Steenson.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryA Browns fan in the Dawg Pound, wearing a Tim Couch jersey and a Santa hat, throws a beer botte towards the field after the game with the Jacksonville Jaguars was stopped with 48 seconds remaining after officials reversed an apparent first down catch.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryA fan is placed under arrest and handcuffed by Cleveland police and stadium security personnel during the bottle throwing incident. It was one of several arrests following fan misconduct at the game in retaliation of an officials ruling.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryGame officials cover their heads and leave the field at Cleveland Browns Stadium while fans pelted them with plastic bottles and cups.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryA security guard at Cleveland Browns Stadium kicks a water bottle out of the end zone after fans in the Dawg Pount showered debris onto the field and play was haulted. A half hour later, the final 48 seconds of the game was played under orders from the commissioner of the NFL.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryCleveland Browns fans return to the stadium after hearing the final 48 seconds of the game would resume. This time fans in the end zone are "restrained" from throwing additional bottles onto the field after a net, which normally keeps balls from entering the stands, is raised in front of the Dawg Pound.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryJacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell points to fans in the Dawg Pound that continue to throw bottles and debris onto the field once the teams were brought back to complete the final 48 seconds of the game. Brunell knelt down for the final two plays to end the contest.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryFans react in the Dawg Pound as the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cleveland Browns prepare for the final two plays of the game. Bottled that once littered the paying field were collected and pushed to the edge of the stands by game-day personnel.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryBrowns head coach Butch Davis post game press conference is shown on the stadium's scoreboard as plastic bottles, cups and dog bowls litter the field following the conclusion of the game with the Jacksonville. Cleveland owner Al Learner said, "So we didn't have the most stable people in the stands". Team president added, "I like that the fans care about this team and care about this game". Both apologized a day later.
, - Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerIn the 100th Anniversary of the Cleveland Indians baseball team, the Tribe put together a blend of veteran players and some young pitchers to reach the World Series, something they haven't won since 1948. Through the highs and lows, the celebrations, inclement Cleveland spring weather and the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers, the Indians gave their fans a season to remember and to reflect, as always, on next year. The greatest Indian pitcher, the great Bob Feller, waves to fans at Jacobs Field.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerFrom one great Indians pitcher to the next, a promising Cleveland Indian season included sensational rookie pitcher C.C. Sabathia, walking out of the pitchers bullpen for his first professional start at Jacobs Field in April. Shaking his hand is bullpen coach Luis Isaac. Sabathia ended up in 2nd place in rookie of the year competition behind Ichiro of Seattle.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerSpring baseball at Jacobs Field in Cleveland can witness huge weather changes, including this huge fog that rolled in against the Baltimore Orioles. Play was suspended after the 5th inning for a few minutes until the fog cleared, a first in Jacobs Field history. Play was resumed.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerGuest batboy Christopher Burks carries the bat of Omar Vizquel back to the dugout during a game at Jacobs Field in May. He brought his dad, Ellis Burks, good luck as Burks had six rbi in the Tribe victory. Christopher is 6 years old.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerThe Indian's old arms on the starting pitching staff started to fade early in the 2001 campaign. Starting pitcher Dave Burba is pulled in the 4th inning in the game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Burba was losing 5-0 and his expression here sums up the day. Manager Charlie Manuel stands by his pitcher.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerKansas City catcher Gregg Zaun gets nothing but air as Cleveland Indians' Roberto Alomar scored in the 5th inning. This made the score 5-1. The Tribe scored 7 runs in the 5th inning and went on to win the game.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerIndians catcher Ed Taubensee, wearing a Cleveland firefighter helmet, looks back to the pitchers mound after Cleveland Police Officer John Fore let loose with a wild pitch. A Cleveland police officer, firefighter and EMS paramedic each threw out a first pitch, in honor of the heroic work of their brothers in New York City. This was the first game at Jacobs Field since the terror strikes hit the USA.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerThe Indians bats start to wake up. The California Angels bullpen scatters as Cleveland Indian Juan Gonzalez's first inning homer lands in the bullpen. Angels right fielder Tim Salman watches as ball land over the fence. The bullpen might not have awake yet as this was the early Sunday game.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerAs Jim Thome heated up, so did the Indians. Here, Thome rounded 1st base after hitting a game winning 2-run homer to beat the Detroit Tigers. Fans celebrated behind.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerCleveland Indians closer Bob Wickman gets a champagne and beer shower in the Indians locker room after winning the A.L. Central Division title. On the right watching the celebration is Indians rookie C.C. Sabathia. It was the 6th time in 7 years that they made the playoffs but it was the first time for Wickman to win a Divisional crown.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerIchiro Suzuki, right fielder for the Seattle Mariners, looks up at Cleveland Indians' Roberto Alomar (left) and Jim Thome after he was picked off first base in the third inning. Cleveland won the first game in a best of 5 Divisional playoff series. A key factor in the victory was keeping Suzuki, the leadoff hitter for the Mariners, off the bases.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerAfter waiting 15 years to get back to the postseason, the Tribe's Chuck Finley got off to a rocky start, allowing four first-inning runs. Finley and the Indians never recovered, losing the game 5-0. The Indians lost the divisional playoff series to the Seattle Mariners 3 games to 2. Once again, maybe next year.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerVonda Ward, The "All American Girl" - From pro basketball to pro boxing, Northfield’s "All American Girl" isn’t afraid to take chances in her battle for the big time. The 6’ 6" Ward, a former high school All American, has put basketball on the back burner to pursue a career in professional boxing. She’s currently undefeated, but there are few quality opponents fighting in the heavyweight division, so she continues to wait for a chance at a title fight.captionVonda Ward flexes her muscle during the weigh in at the Radisson Hotel in Columbus Thursday, February 1, 2001.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerTonya gives Vonda Ward some words of encouragement as she gets ready for her fight against Kisha Snow Friday, February 2, 2001.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerLorenzo Scott rubs vaseline on the face of Vonda Ward before her fight Friday, February 2, 2001, with Kisha Snow, of Brooklyn, NY.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerVonda Ward gets a good luck handshake from the producer of ESPN II's Friday Night Fights before fighting in Columbus February 2, 2001.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerA quiet corner gives Vonda Ward a place to gather her thoughts and say a short prayer before her bout with Kisha Snow Friday, February 2, 2001, in Columbus.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerKisha Snow backs Vonda Ward up against the ropes while unleashing a flurry of punches in their fight Friday, February 2, 2000, in Columbus.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerA card girl announces the upcoming round while Vonda Ward is tended to by her trainer and manager Friday, February 2, 2001, in Columbus.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerKisha Snow holds onto Vonda Ward in the third round of their fight Friday, February 2, 2001, in Columbus. Ward won the fight on a fourth round TKO.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerVonda Wards falls to the mat, arms raised, as she TKOed Kisha Snow in the fourth round of their fight, Friday, February 2, 2001, in Columbus.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerVonda Ward gets a hug from mother Roseanne after beating Kisha Ward in a fourth round TKO Friday, February 2, 2001, in Columbus.
