12-07-2019, 01:16 AM
Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Balenciaga Outlet Italia . This week, they discuss preparations for the Rio Olympics, the exciting first round of the NBA playoffs, Mike Keenan victorious in Russia and the prolonged wait for the NFL Draft finally coming to an end. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star My thumb is down to the International Olympic Committee and…I know, I know…you feel like weve been here before, but this is a new frontier because the concept of an Olympics in Rio was new when the IOC awarded Brazil the 2016 games seven years ago. Concerns about readiness, inequality and about the way the country might react? Dont worry! Rio! Now with two years to go, the IOC is shocked…shocked…to find that they gambled on a country that hasnt built the establishment. Seriously, Rio is in major organization trouble with whole complexes unbuilt and with public unrest still simmering, the IOC is lamenting the fact that they cant employ Beijing-style slave labour. Theyre blaming it on Rio. Guess who they should be blaming instead? Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun My thumb is up to the first round of the playoffs and Im not talking about the Stanley Cup playoffs, which have been marvelous, as usual. Im talking about the NBA playoffs, where, normally, the first round is about favourites winning and not much else, but not this year. A last-second three by the sensational Damian Lillard of Portland meant there were five Game 7s in the first round, instead of a record-breaking six. There have been eight overtime games and the road team has won 21 of the first 36 playoff games - this from a league that usually sees the home teams win 70 per cent of the time. And, of course, there is Game 7 in Toronto today with the possibility of 2 million people watching on TV. If this isnt fun, I dont know what is. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated My thumb is up to Mike Keenan, who reminds us that a coach is a coach is a coach, no matter the team or the time zone. Keenan always dreamed of winning a Cup, although probably not the Gagarin Cup. Two decades after the New York Rangers memorable Stanley Cup run, Iron Mike did it again on the far side of the erstwhile Iron Curtain, coaching the KHLs Metallurg Magnitogorsk to a Game 7 win over Lev Prague. Note one striking similarity in the championships: as he did after beating the Vancouver Canucks in 94, Keenan celebrated in the dressing room by singing karaoke - this time in Russian, of course. The Red Army choir is not giving up its day job. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up to May 8, which is coming soon - on Thursday - and thats why my thumb is up, because when May 8 finally arrives, it brings with it the National Football League Draft…finally. Did I say "finally?" When the NFL moved the draft from April to May, we might have known wed be sick of mock drafts by now. There is actual analysis that proclaims winners and losers of mock drafts! Ive heard so much about Jadeveon Clowneys awesome talent and alleged laziness that Im sure there are two Jadeveon Clowneys. Im not sure if the Houston Texans will take one of them or which one or if the Texans will take Johnny Manziel or if theyll trade down - I only know they cant trade up and I dont care anymore what they do, I just want them to do it. On May 8. Air Max 270 Scontate Outlet . Which is to say, the top of this years draft class is not as dynamic or exciting as the 2013 class of Nate MacKinnon, Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Drouin and Seth Jones and its not as strikingly promising as the highly-anticipated 2015 slate of Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin. Balenciaga Offerte . Pironkova, who was ranked outside the top 100 despite reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2010, beat three top 10 players in Sydney, 2012 French Open finalist Sara Errani, 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Kerber. http://www.yeezyscarpeitaliaoutlet.it/sc...nline.html .Y. - Major League Soccer is prepared to start its season this weekend even if there isnt a labour deal with its referees and other on-field officials.Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Athletics traded third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays in a deal that sent infielder Brett Lawrie to Oakland. The As also obtained left-handed pitcher Sean Nolin, right-handed pitcher Kendall Graveman, and minor league infielder Franklin Barreto. A 2014 All-Star, Donaldson hit .255 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI in 158 games with the As last season. He is a .268 career hitter with 63 home runs and 228 RBI in 405 games over four seasons with Oakland. The 24-year-old Lawrie batted .247 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI in 70 games this past season, but he missed nearly the final three months due to a broken finger and an oblique strain. Lawrie started 44 games at third base and 26 at second base, but most of his career has been spent at third base, with 311 of his 344 career starts comming at that position. Air Force 1 Offerte. A first-round draft pick of the Brewers in 2008, Lawrie was dealt to the Blue Jays after the 2010 season. Hes a .265 career hitter with 43 home runs and 157 RBI in 345 contests. Graveman combined for a 14-6 record and a 1.83 ERA in 27 starts in the minors last season. He made his MLB debut in September and had five relief appearances. Nolin pitched one inning for the Blue Jays in 2014. He was a combined 4-7 with a 3.43 ERA in 20 starts in the minors. Barreto, who was originally signed by the Blue Jays organization as a non- drafted free agent out of Venezuela on July 2, 2012, spent this past season playing Single-A ball in Vancouver. To clear spots on the 40-man roster, the As designated right-handed pitcher Josh Lindblom and first baseman Kyle Blanks for assignment. ' ' '