Cleveland, OH
Key Reasons to Be Excited for Michigan State Basketball
Things are not going well for the Michigan State football team right now, but let’s take the focus away from that group and spin things in a more positive light.
The Spartan basketball team is preparing for the 2025-26 season after a run to the Elite Eight. MSU fell just short of a Final Four appearance, and Tom Izzo is itching to get to his ninth.
Izzo lost lots of production from last year’s team, but he has reloaded his roster in the past and remained great. His returning talent should keep the team as a Big Ten contender.
What should Spartan fans be excited about when it comes to this hoops team? Let’s break down three positive elements of this MSU squad.
No dunker is more explosive than Carr.
As his game develops and he becomes a more complete player, the highlight posters and fastbreak slams excite fans across the country. Carr should continue to soar through the sky and terrify rims.
Every backdoor cut, pick and roll, and lob pass should worry opposing defenses, because Carr will be back to jump over them every game.
It’s hard to be worse than MSU was at shooting the three-ball in 2024-25.
The Spartans were near the bottom of the country in three-point percentage last season, which ultimately doomed them against Auburn in that Elite Eight game. But things should improve this season – theoretically.
The addition of Trey Fort, plus the growth from Carr, Jeremy Fears Jr., and Jaxon Kohler, should make this Spartan team more dangerous from beyond the arc. That will lead to higher scoring games, and the MSU defense will do the rest.
MSU fans finally learned not to take Izzo for granted last season.
After a few down seasons, Izzo reminded the country why he is one of the greatest coaches the game of basketball has ever seen. It took some addition by subtraction to get the team rolling again, but the Spartans are back atop the Big Ten as they should be.
Few media outlets have picked MSU to win the conference, but they should still be considered among the best teams in the Big Ten. The Spartans have snuck up on the conference before, and they can do it again.
Keep up with all our content when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be sure to let us know what you’re most excited for with this Michigan State basketball team when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
Don’t forget to give us a follow on X @MSUSpartansOnSI as well.
Hanford Dixon’s legacy continues to grow.
On Monday, June 29, it was announced by the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame that Cleveland Browns legend Hanford Dixon will be part of the 2026 induction class. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hall of Fame.
Dixon will be formally inducted in September, with the full class and ceremony details expected to be released in the coming weeks.
🏈 The first of a MEMORABLE class!
Welcome to the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, Hanford Dixon! pic.twitter.com/fNsydaXHxV
— Greater Cleveland Sports HOF (@GCLESPORTSHOF) June 29, 2026
Before the news was made public, the 67-year-old was surprised by Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame President Bob DiBiasio and Vice President John Telich, who informed him of the announcement just before he was set to record a show on the BIGPLAY Sports Network.
“I am a man of many words. I can always find something to say,” Dixon began. “But I just want to tell you guys, thank you. This means a lot to me from the bottom of my heart because you guys know, old country boy coming from a little small town outside of Mobile in Alabama.
“I decided to stay here in Cleveland and make Cleveland my home, so I tell you how much Cleveland means to me.”
DiBiasio went on to share that making Cleveland your home is one of the many criteria that allows individuals to be inducted into The Hall.
“You mentioned that you made Cleveland your home,” he said. “That’s one of the criteria to be in the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. It’s a nine-county region, and you either had to be born or raised in Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland area, or made Cleveland your home after your career, which you did, and you are a perfect example of that.
“You made Cleveland your home, and you are so deserving.”
After being selected by the Browns with the 22nd overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft out of the University of Southern Mississippi, he would go on to play nine seasons. Dixon was a lockdown defender for the Browns, snagging 26 interceptions across 131 games played.
Selected to three Pro Bowls and named an All-Pro twice, Dixon was one of the bright spots for an era of Cleveland football that saw the team reach the playoffs six times. He would team up with Frank Minnifield, helping form one of football’s best duos in the history of the sport. He is also credited with helping to create and name the iconic “Dawg Pound” identity.
He retired after the 1989 campaign, going on to stay active in the community and media space.
He has worked with WOIO-TV 19 and Fox Sports Ohio, covering high school football, and also the BIGPLAY Sports Network, where he currently hosts a show called BIGPLAY Cleveland Live, covering Cleveland’s professional sports organizations.
“Such a fun thing for us to be able to sneak in here before your show, and share the wonderful news,” DiBiasio concluded. “We can’t be more happy for you to join. We are in our 50th year… it is one of Cleveland’s best kept secrets.”
Breaking: #Browns legend Hanford Dixon will be inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 2026 class.#DawgPound
— Cade Cracas (@CracasCade) June 29, 2026
Earlier this year, Dixon was also presented with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26th Greater Cleveland Sports Awards back on Feb. 5. Such an honor highlighted the play he had put on the field back in the 80’s, and the work he had done in the community following his playing career.
Now, just a few months removed, Dixon will receive yet another prestigious honor from the city he has dedicated his life to.
“I came here, and I just love the city, love the people, now you can’t get rid of me,” Dixon said when receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award earlier. “I’m still here…”
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Cleveland, OH
E. 9th Street exit to close Monday, affecting downtown Cleveland commuters through late October
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is preparing to close a ramp into downtown Cleveland that will be a major disruption for the rest of the summer.
19 News spoke with Jacob McCullough, who lives downtown. He said he will now have to give himself much more time for travel.
“Anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes,” McCullough said.
Nathaniel Birach drives into downtown every week from Vermilion and uses the E 9th Street exit.
“On busy weekends it already takes 20 minutes to get through the city,” Birach said. “Having to go 2 exits over potentially is going to be another 20 minutes are so on both ends”
On June 29, the eastbound exit to E. 9th St. will close and is not scheduled to reopen until late October.
According to a spokesperson, ODOT was informed by the contractor earlier this month of the closure, and the work is for the new ramp and a new bridge support pier.
All of this work is a part of the Cleveland Innerbelt Modernization Plan.
ODOT is suggesting a detour of exiting on Ontario, then a right on Carnegie to E. 9th St.
This closure will have major impacts on morning commuters trying to get into downtown, as well as ballgame traffic for the Guardians, and any events at Rocket Fieldhouse.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland EMS responded to a fatal crash early Sunday morning.
According to EMS, the accident was at I-71 N and W 130th Street.
When crews arrived, they pronounced a 28-year-old man dead at the scene.
A 35-year-old man was taken to Fairview Hospital in stable condition, EMS said.
Two other men, ages 18 and 21, were also at the scene but declined medical transport.
19 News has made call outs to Cleveland Police on more information on the accident.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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