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TORONTO—J.J. Hickson scored 28 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 104-96 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night in a game between teams playing out the story lines on similar seasons.

TORONTO—J.J. Hickson scored 28 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 104-96 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night in a game between teams playing out the story lines on similar seasons.Jerryd Bayless scored 28 points for the Raptors (21-57), who have four games left in their disappointing season. DeMar DeRozan added 19 points, while Reggie Evans had a season-high 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Sonny Weems finished with 17 points.
Baron Davis added 19 points for the Cavs (17-61), while Ramon Sessions chipped in with 15, Ryan Hollins finished with 14, and Alonzo Gee added 10.
With LeBron James leaving Cleveland last summer and Chris Bosh bolting Toronto to join him in Miami, both teams have endured miserable seasons.
“They’re in the same boat as us, developing young players, trying to play hard and finish off the season,” said Raptors coach Jay Triano.
The Raptors, battling fatigue in their fourth game in five nights and missing the services of Andrea Bargnani and Amir Johnson, trailed from the outset, digging themselves a 22-point, first-half hole with sluggish shooting and a token defensive effort.
The crowd of 14,886 booed when Gee drove effortlessly to the net for a slam dunk midway through the second quarter. The Cavaliers led 77-64 heading into the fourth.
Toronto briefly made a game of it, pulling within five points on a 3-pointer by Weems with just over eight minutes left in the game. But three long jump shots from Davis and a 3-pointer from former Raptors guard Anthony Parker sealed the victory.
The Raptors left the court to a smattering of boos after their loss to the last-place team in the Eastern Conference.
Bargnani’s sore right ankle kept him out of his fourth game of the last six, while Johnson didn’t play after his troublesome ankle swelled up during warmup.
There were some tense moments late in the third quarter when former Raptor Joey Graham took a run at James Johnson and had to be held back by teammates. Johnson had caught Graham in the face with a block attempt, and was assessed a flagrant foul. Graham, who had three points, received a technical.
Fatigue was obvious in the Raptors’ sluggish first quarter that saw them shoot 29 percent and trail by as much as 12 points. The Cavs took a 28-17 lead into the second.
Toronto couldn’t contain Cleveland in the second quarter as the Cavaliers shot 59 percent and maintained a double-digit lead. Hickson’s free throws stretched the Cavs’ advantage to 22 points before a slam dunk by Toronto’s Alexis Ajinca cut the Cavs’ lead to 60-40 at halftime.
NOTES: Evans’ previous season high was 13 points. … The Raptors are in Philadelphia on Friday to face the 76ers, then back home Sunday to host the New Jersey Nets. Toronto plays at Milwaukee on Monday then wraps up its season next Wednesday at home against Bosh and the Heat.

Jets coach Rex Ryan currently has weightier matters on his mind than the NFL’s lockout or trying to get his team over the Super Bowl hump.
According to the (New York) Daily News, Buddy Ryan, 77, is undergoing evaluations for cancer treatment in New York, though Rex Ryan wouldn’t reveal the type or severity of the cancer his father is fighting.”He’s 80 years old, but he’s doing great. He’s tougher than (expletive),” Ryan said of his dad. “He’s had other things in his life. He overcame encephalitis. He’s overcome cancer twice. He’s tough.”
Buddy Ryan was an assistant coach on the Jets’ Super Bowl III team and the defensive coordinator on the famed ’85 Bears, who won Super Bowl XX. He went on to be the head coach of the Eagles and Cardinals, where he gave Rex and twin brother Rob Ryan their starts as NFL assistants on his staff.
Like Rex, Buddy Ryan was a memorable quote and known for earning the loyalty of his players

Green Bay laid bare Atlanta’s many deficiencies in the Packers’ 48-21 dismantling of the Falcons at the Georgia Dome in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Sure, Mike Smith’s team had a fantastic regular season, despite being middle-of-the-pack in just about every meaningful statistical category.
However, wins might not come quite as easily if GM Thomas Dimitroff lets starting linemen Tyson Ciabo, Harvey Dahl and Justin Blalock walk in free agency without finding any replacements.
Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherrod would be an excellent option with the 27th pick. The kid is massive, athletic and has plenty of experience as a run blocker, which the Falcons could use if they want to optimize Michael Turner in the good years he has left in the tank.

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As we all wait for good news coming from the labor talks, there isn’t much major news in the league that is not draft related. Here are a few stories that have caught my attention as wide spin around the NFL.

Teams dine with NewtonCam Newton worked out at Auburn’s pro day on Tuesday, but for me the workout was not as important as who actually took Newton to dinner. Both the Bills and Panthers had a private dinner with Newton, which will go a long way to determining their level of further interest. Newton the player is worth a top-five pick, but what clubs must determine is if Newton the person is worth that commitment. And this dinner setting is the first step in making a character evaluation.
How can a dinner determine a top pick? One dinner alone won’t make the decision. However, to make Newton the pick teams must first feel comfortable being in the same setting. This is just the first step, but an important one. Both the Bills and Panthers will be back to spend more time with Newton before they finalize their decisions, assuming theCan Jets keep both Holmes and Edwards?

The Jets want Holmes back and Holmes wants to remain with the Jets, so there should not be a problem getting a deal done. However, the more pressing question must be: How does this potential deal impact one for Braylon Edwards? Edwards also wants to stay with the Jets, but I am sure he does not want to take less money than Holmes.Once there is a new CBA, there will be a cap and how the Jets fit both players into a salary cap will be interesting to learn. Edwards played well last year as he, along with Holmes, gave the Jets two outstanding playmakers to help quarterback Mark Sanchez and the Jets’ offense. Edwards runs the routes that highlight the strengths in Sanchez’s game, so he is a valuable asset for the Jets to sign. With the Jets resigning linemen Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and once they are able to get both Edwards and Holmes under contract, they will have all the vital offensive pieces in place. The next step will be to allow the draft to fill in the missing spots.

So, why if the Jets want Holmes back and Holmes wants back is the deal not done? The Jets cannot commit to a deal for Holmes until they know the salary cap numbers, which will tell the team how to structure the deal that allows the Jets to then resign or sign other players. If the Jets make a deal without knowing the rules of engagement, then they risk making a cap mistake. The good news for the Jets is they know Holmes is not going anywhere as long as we have a new CBA.

Barber banks on comeback

Perhaps the only thing worth remembering about The Godfather: Part III was the line delivered by Michael Corleone when he says, “Just when I thought I was out … they pull me back in.”On Tuesday, we learned the love of football is pulling Tiki Barber back in. But does football want Tiki? And what can he do at his age (36 when the 2011 season begins) that can make him a viable option for any team? And everyone laughed when Herschel Walker said he wanted to come back?http://fearheller.blog.co.uk/

Barber was smart to make the announcement while free agency has not begun (let’s hope it begins soon), putting his name on the same list as other running backs in the market. However, much like Larry Johnson, Willie Parker and Shaun Alexander, time is never kind to older running backs, thus making the Barber return seem more like a publicity stunt then actually having merit. If this was five years ago, Barber being in the open market would peak every teams’ interest, but now I doubt there are any teams interested, at least in the NFL.

Titans have moved on, why can’t Young?

Is Vince Young really serious thinking that he can kiss and make up with the Titans? Does Young not realize that the Titans have moved on? The simple fact that he thinks there is a possibility might explain that he never understood his prior actions were so disruptive.

I can understand that Young wants to go to another team as the starter — which I doubt will happen but I understand his intent. However, before he can become a quality starter in the league Young must accept the fact that he has not worked hard enough to be a great professional player. He is letting this opportunity of being a successful quarterback slip through the cracks — all because he has never been realistic. Young must be realistic about his level of work, his commitment to his teammates and to the team.

Young can make this work if he decides he wants to make it work. He has to be the one committed to work hard on and off the field. He has to learn from his mistakes in Tennessee and move forward, not looking to go back. Literally the ball is in Young’s court.

… give your phone number to singer Bobby Valentino, who wants it in case he decides to come to a race.
And none of these is the coolest thing. That comes in the form of a text message you get from your ex-girlfriend who’s doing mission work in India. In the text is a photo of her and some kids from the slums. They’re holding a banner that reads, “Good job, Trevor. We’re proud.”
They’re proud of you, in freaking India!
You’re just two races into your Cup career. You win the second of those. Who comes to congratulate you in victory lane? If you’re Trevor Bayne, it’s Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch and newly-elected Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett, just to name a few.
“He’s one of a group of young guys who’s come in and they just treat people right and they earn that respect off of the race track,” Edwards explains. “They earn that respect off of the race track, so that when they do something good, people are happy for them. It says a lot more about them as people than it does about them as race car drivers.”
Because of all the notoriety, you’re given the opportunity to amend your decision to race for the championship in the Sprint Cup Series instead of the Triple-A Nationwide Series. Do you jump at the opportunity?
It’s enticing, but if you’re Trevor Bayne, you understand that NASCAR is trying to build up the sport by highlighting up-and-coming talent. You recognize that you’re part of that effort, so to shun the Nationwide title for the big-time opportunity in Cup isn’t what NASCAR needs right now.
You just turned 20 years old. The next day you win $1.5 million. What would be your first big purchase? If you’re Trevor Bayne, nothing.
“I tried to talk him into buying something expensive with his prize money,” Danica Patrick said of a conversation she had with Bayne at a charity event Thursday in the Phoenix area. “He said he didn’t want anything. Apparently I have a lot to learn from a 20-year-old.”
For winning the Daytona 500, you’re given one of those gaudy championship rings that screams bling. Do you take it off? If you’re Trevor Bayne, only when take a shower.
“The first couple of nights I was scared I’d wake up and it would be a dream,” you explain, “so I wanted to keep it on so I could wake up and look down and make sure it’s still there.”
Five days after besting three future Hall of Famers – Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin – heads up to win the biggest race in your sport, you’re asked how you will stay grounded. What do you say?
If you’re Trevor Bayne, you talk about all the people who got you where you are today – family, friends, fellow drivers, owners, crew chiefs, God – and about how if you didn’t mention them it “would be a complete lie.”
Then you go out and slam the wall in your first lap behind the wheel since taking the checkered flag in the Daytona 500.

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