Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

Because sportswriters get into the games for free, most are loathe to pay admission to see any event or a performance by any athlete. Seven years have passed since I wrapped up 25 years as a professional sportswriter, except for this bit on the Indians (and some would argue that these opionions are hardly the work of a professional!). And I must admit I wouldn't shell out to see many athletes. Tiger Woods is an exception, and so, too, would be an opportunity to watch Brett Favre or Peyton Manning.

Now I must add another athlete to the list: Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia. The 27-year-old lefthander looks to be at the top of his game, as he showed last night by dispatching the Oakland A's, 5-2, in posting his 11th victory against 2 losses.

At 6-foot-7 and well over 300 pounds, Sabathia is a physical marvel. He's also an exception to the rule that southpaws need years to harness their talents. C.C. possesses prodigious skills and, what's more, he now seems to be in complete control of them. The guy hardly ever walks a batter -- an unheard feat for a young lefthanded pitcher -- and he's a rare combination of power and finesse.

It took Sandy Koufax years before he became a complete pitcher, though, like Sabathia, he was 27 when he enjoyed his breakthrough season in 1963. He won 25 games that year. Koufax had been a Dodger for nearly 10 seasons by then -- albeit an extremely wild one until about 1961.

Now it's not too much of a stretch to think Sabathia can accomplish some things in baseball on a par with Koufax, by far the greatest pitcher I ever saw.

It's not just Sabathia's fastball, devastating curve or other pitches that are so impressive. It's his passion on the mound. It's the way he pounds his glove, pumps his arms and points at teammates who bail him out by making great plays in the field. C.C. did all that in last night's comeback win over the A's.

After the game, as he stood in front of the dugout, taking questions from the Indians TV broadcasters, Sabathia barely flinched as Trot Nixon sneaked up and smashed a whipped cream pie in his face. Nixon's pie throwing routine is getting a bit old -- especially now that he's batting only .240. He was much funnier when his average was over .300 and the Tribe held down first place.

Sabathia showed only the briefest flare of displeasure as he accepted a towel and wiped off the whipped cream, resuming the interview without missing a beat. It's a measure of the pitcher's maturity. You can see it on the mound, too, as Sabathia battles like a warrior. You believe him when he says the only important thing when he takes the mound is that the Indians win the game.

Indians fans should cherish the rest of this season and next year, before Sabathia's contract with the Tribe runs out. He could be the best we'll see for a long time to come.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz: Eddie Murray singled for his 3,000th hit in 1995. It was his first season with the Tribe after a long career with the Orioles and a brief stint with the Dodgers.

Today's quiz: Name the Indians pitcher who was traded at mid-season in 1984 and went on to win the Cy Young Award in the National League by winning 16 of his 17 decisions.

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-- Kevin Cuneo