Willkommen » hat was about to happen. No leaks, no whisp

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss Steve Nash, the Spirits handling of Terry Traffords passing, Ralph Krueger and NHL shootouts. Bruce Arthur, the National Post: My thumb is up to Steve Nash, who was shut down this week with nerve pain, which has been limiting him since a harmless-looking collision early last year. Hes only played 10 games for the Lakers this season and he looked like himself once. If this isnt the end of his 18-year career, then were getting close. So why thumbs up? Because of how hes facing it. Nash is making short films for ESPNs Grantland that are incredibly honest - jarringly so, at times - about what its like to face your athletic mortality and was incredibly honest again when I spoke to him this week. Nash and I are the same age; we both came from B.C.; we both played basketball and thats where the comparison ends. And again, hes showing me what it would be like. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to the eerie silence that has engulfed the Saginaw Spirit in the tragic wake of the passing of 20-year-old Terry Trafford.There are questions here – but, to date, no answers coming from the prominent junior hockey people, coach Greg Gilbert or general manager Jim Paliafito. We know, from Traffords father, that the Spirit sent Terry home for what Roy Trafford calls “disciplinary reasons.” And we know, from the same conversation, that the time away from the team was supposed to be temporary, a few days. Then something changed. What changed? We dont know. Telephone messages were left informing Trafford that he was no longer welcome to return to the team. What we dont know and may never know - is why. To date, the only people who have those answers arent sharing them. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: Forget the Dos Equis guy. My thumb is up to the truly most interesting man in the world, Ralph Krueger. Less than a month after being the big-ice guru for the Canadian mens Olympic hockey team, Krueger has switched continents and sports. He is now chairman of Southampton FC, having jumped to the rarified world of English Premier League soccer without prior experience in the game. Krueger can match resumes with anyone. The Manitoban played pro hockey in Germany, built the Swiss national program, coached the Edmonton Oilers before his premature firing and boosted Team Canada. He also is an active member of the World Economic Forum. Now, soccer. Bartender, Ill drink what Kruegers drinking. Dave Hodge, TSN: Thumbs down to the NHL and its inability to deal with its dislike of the shootout. At the GMs meetings in Florida, the NHL continued to look for ways to decrease the number of shootouts. One way would be to change overtime from four-on-four to three-on-three, but if youre making a list of ideas that are less popular than the shootout, start there. The NHL will consider a change of ends for overtime to put skaters farther from their benches, as they are in the second period, which, statistically, is the highest-scoring of the three periods. Okay. Keep trying. The easy solution would be for the NHL to give up and decide it likes the shootout. Oh, but as with visits from grandpa, it does - there just shouldnt be too many of them. Ederson Brazil Jersey . The game had many controversial incidents that, upon closer inspection, were not as controversial as many believed. The Formations Toronto FC lined up in its usual 4-4-2 formation, with Nick Hagglund slotting in at right fullback and Bradley Orr at centreback in place of the injured Mark Bloom and Steven Caldwell, respectively. Filipe Luis Brazil Jersey . On Tuesday, the star questioned whether that was still the case. Speaking to reporters at a charity event, Johnson said: "I just kind of wonder sometimes: Is this still the place for me?" Johnsons comments came after he was asked why he recently skipped a voluntary minicamp. http://www.soccerbrazilonline.com/Taison...America-Jersey/. For the first time all night, as the Raptors were on the clock to make the 20th overall selection, no one had the slightest idea what was about to happen. No leaks, no whispers, nothing. Thiago Silva Jersey . Just ask last seasons Supporters Shield winners, the New York Red Bulls, who were resoundingly defeated last weekend by a rampant Vancouver Whitecaps in a match which produced two contenders for MLS Goal of the Week from Sebastian Fernandez and Pedro Morales. Neymar Jr Brazil Jersey . Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blue Jackets may do to build upon last seasons success to return to the playoffs again next year.Jake Peavy can pitch the San Francisco Giants to their third World Series title in five years tonight when they attempt to close out the Kansas City Royals in Game 6 at Kauffman Stadium. Thats what you play for -- to be in the World Series and to win it, Peavy said. To be the guy who gets the ball with that opportunity. Its a special opportunity, I understand that. I just have to do all I can do to be in the moment, to think about executing pitches, to find any way, any how for the San Francisco Giants to win this game. While it may seem as if all the chips are stacked against Kansas City that may not be the case. Teams going home down 3-2 in a best-of-seven World Series have won it all in eight of the last 10 instances. Also, the Giants have lost both of their series when they have been in this position. And of course, Kansas City won Games 6 and 7 at home to win the 1985 World Series. I think the character in our clubhouse is at an all-time high, Royals pitcher James Shields said. I think thats what is going to get us through the next two games. Weve been in some situations where we had to get some wins in September, and we got it done. Theres no difference. Kansas City may have done its part in getting the series back to its ballpark, but the Giants also accomplished their goal of winning a game not started by Madison Bumgarner. Now, theyll have to win another if they want to secure the eighth world title in team history. Peavy will get the first crack at it, as he tries to reverse his postseason fortunes. Peavy ran into trouble against the Royals his third time through the lineup in Game 2 and left after allowing four runs and six hits in five-plus innings of work. Hes pitched to a 3.68 ERA in three starts this postseason, but is just 1-4 lifetime in the playoffs with a 7.05 ERA in eight starts. Im really excited about the opportunity, I really am, Peavy said. I never thought it would happen any other way. Thats not who I am. I never thought wed get swept in the three games (at home). The thought that I might not pitch again never really entered my mind. I prepared and I expectedd to pitch again, I really did.dddddddddddd. San Francisco has been spoiled this postseason by Bumgarner, who has put together one of the better runs in recent memory. He followed up his brilliant Game 1 showing with an even better effort in Game 5 on Sunday, as he tossed a four-hit shutout in the Giants 5-0 win. Im just happy we won, Bumgarner said. That was a big game for us, being tied 2-2. Going back to Kansas City with two games, its a whole lot better that we have to win one now instead of having to win two. The Giants have scored first in four of five games in this series and are 7-1 during the postseason under this circumstance. Theyve also scored 15 unanswered runs since falling behind 4-1 in the third inning of Game 4. Neither team homered for the third straight game, marking the first time this has happened in a World Series since Games 1-3 of the 1948 Fall Classic between the Indians and the Boston Braves. Getting the call for the Royals will be 23-year-old rookie Yordano Ventura, who pitched well against the Giants in Game 1. After allowing a leadoff home run to Gregor Blanco, Ventura settled down and ended up surrendering just two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 frames. That kid has no fear, Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera said of Ventura. You either hit him or he hits you, but hes not going to be scared. Ventura will be pitching with a heavy heart Tuesday following the death of his friend, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras, who was killed in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. Ventura plans on writing Taveras No. 18 and the initials R.I.P. on his spikes and glove in memory of his countrymate. Its going to be hard to put that aside, Ventura said on Monday, but Im going to throw everything I have out there. Im dedicating that game to him. These teams actually met in the regular season, as the Royals completed a three-game sweep at Kauffman Stadium. Going back to The K, said Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, with those fans and that electricity, were excited. If necessary, Game 7 will be played on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium. Blackhawks Jerseys Store Cheap Wild Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Penguins Jerseys Store Capitals Jerseys For Sale Blues Jerseys Store Cheap Kings Jerseys Adidas Lightning Jerseys Stars Jerseys For Sale Cheap Predators Jerseys Ducks Store Sharks Jerseys For Sale Cheap Sabres Jerseys Rangers Jerseys For Sale ' ' '