Tempers flare up a little

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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Catcher Yan Gomes finds no issues in making a long-term commitment to the Cleveland Indians. He is confident the franchises strides in a turnaround 2013 season will carry over to future success starting this season. Gomes and the Indians completed a $23 million, six-year contract Monday after his breakout performance last season. "It goes into what it means to be in this organization. Youve got younger guys like ourselves just wanting to be here," Gomes said. "Were potentially signing a big amount of our careers. Theres not another place I would want to be with, especially from the top to the bottom here. Its the organization you want to be with." That feeling is mutual, even if Gomes provided a small sample size of the impact he can make behind the plate and with the bat. Assistant general manager Mike Chernoff and others in the front office are impressed with Gomes constant work to better learn Clevelands pitchers so they all find a comfort zone together. Gomes deal includes club options for 2020 and 21 that could bring the total to $42 million over eight years -- or even $48 million with escalators. "This is the organization I want to be with, that actually made it pretty easy," Gomes said before the scheduled opener in rain-soaked Oakland. "Im so thankful for that. My wife and I are excited to be Cleveland Indians for a while now. ... We got a little taste of the post-season last year. Thats what we play for." Gomes hit .294 with 11 homers and 38 RBIs in 88 games last season, his first with the Indians. The Indians went 49-30 when Gomes started, and manager Terry Francona went with Gomes during crucial games down the September stretch. "Its kind of been the motto of my career -- Ive always had to battle. Its not going to stop," Gomes said. "This is a huge blessing getting a contract like this, but now were talking about taking this team to another level." His new deal supersedes a previous one-year contract for 2014. The deal replaces a contract he agreed to in early March calling for a $513,000 salary in the majors and $281,000 in the minors. Gomes receives a $500,000 signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the contracts approval, and salaries of $550,000 salary this year, $1 million in 2015, $2.5 million in 2016, $4.5 million in 2017, $5.95 million in 2018 and $7 million in 2019. Cleveland has a $9 million option for 2020 with a $1 million buyout, and if that is exercised the Indians would have an $11 million option for 2021. The options may escalate by up to $3 million each based on MVP voting, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, and All-Star appearances. "Hes shown us that hes worth this contract," Francona said. "We have that much faith in him, and thats pretty amazing for a young kid with that kind of track record, or lack of track record, for us to buy in that much. So thats a pretty good compliment to him." Negotiations began during spring training. The deal with Gomes will keep Clevelands young core together for years to come. "You hope that these deals are win-win deals," Chernoff said. "They all want to be here. Its an environment, a culture, that people want to be a part of." The 26-year-old -- the first Brazilian-born player in the majors -- began last season at Triple-A Columbus, but after being brought up in April he stayed the rest of the year and was a major contributor as the Indians made the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Gomes was acquired from Toronto on Nov. 2, 2012. "He is the guy that, in spring training as were having these talks with him about a long-term contract, hes putting in more and more time to try to get to know the pitchers to build on where he was last year," Chernoff said. "Hes also a great organizational story. Our scouts worked really hard to identify Yan with Toronto and find a way to get him in a deal." Gomes was set to start and bat ninth in the season opener. Francona expressed his gratitude for the process. "I got a chance to maybe have a little bit of a front-row seat and it was kind of cool," he said. "Because those things just dont happen, in todays game especially, with the amount of dollars were talking about. ... To see them kind of work through it was really interesting. Its kind of a proud moment for our organization, because we got a guy that we really think a lot of tied up for a long time. Hes going to be a big part of what we do." Air Force 1 Grey Sale . - Diego Fagundez scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season in the 76th minute to lift the Revolution to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night that kept New Englands playoff hopes alive. Air Force 1 Blue Sale . For the Miami Heat, that was outstanding news. LeBron James scored the last of his 32 points on a layup that put Miami up for good with 11. http://www.airforce1storesale.com/fake- ... utlet.html. - Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has nothing but good problems right now. Air Force 1 High Wholesale .com) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quickly found themselves a new offensive coordinator, and one thats quite familiar with the NFC South. Air Force 1 White Store Sale . In Englands first game since its worst-ever World Cup showing, Roy Hodgsons side rarely looked like scoring against unambitious opposition and the breakthrough in the friendly only came when Raheem Sterling was tripped in the penalty area.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Kevin Garnett was suspended one game without pay Tuesday by the NBA for head-butting Dwight Howard, who received only a fine when the league ruled he didnt retaliate with a punch.Howard was fined $15,000, the league announced in saying he pushed Garnett in the neck.NBA President of Basketball Operations Rod Thorn determined that Garnett initiated the altercation in the Rockets 113-99 victory over Brooklyn on Monday night.Its an emotional game, Nets coach Lionel Hollins said Tuesday after practice. Im not getting into why he did what he did, but its an emotional game and you compete and things happen. Tempers flare up a little bit and then you have to pay the consequences.Garnett will miss the Nets game against Memphis on Wednesday night, leaving Hollins without his starting power forward against his former team, led by Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.Its going to be tough, Hollins said..dddddddddddd It would have been tough with him, but its going to be tougher.The altercation began with 7:53 left in the first quarter after Garnett fouled Howard. The two exchanged light shoves before Garnett threw the ball into Howards back. After they came face to face, Garnett slammed his head into the area near Howards mouth, and Howard responded by throwing his right hand into Garnetts neck.Garnett was ejected and Howard received a technical foul. Hollins was angry that Howard wasnt thrown out, believing he had thrown a punch. He still felt that way Tuesday, which would have meant Howard would miss his return to Orlando on Wednesday.Thats my opinion and like I said last night, it doesnt matter what I think, Hollins said.Garnett, who did not speak to reporters, will lose about $109,000 of his $12 million salary. Hollins said Brook Lopez would start in his place alongside Mason Plumlee. ' ' '