|
Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Nate Washington Elite Womens Jersey . This week they discuss the retirements of Simon Whitfield, Perdita Felicien and Jim Leyland as well as unwritten codes in sport. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is up to Simon Whitfield, who officially retired from triathlon this week after over a decade as one of Canadas defining athletes. When you ask him what he remembers best, its his surprising Gold at the Sydney Olympics. When you ask most people what they remember about Simon Whitfield, I find its what I remember: Beijing, when he kept getting dropped on the run by the lead group in that astonishing heat until finally he simply refused to be dropped, surging to the lead before winning the best Silver youll ever see. His career ended with that heartbreaking crash in London, but if you ask him, hes at peace with it; it was just part of the road. Simon Whitfields legacy in this country may be this: he reminded us that winning wasnt everything, and that losing wasnt everything, either. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to Jim Leyland, the gruff talking, cigarette smoking, old school manager of the Detroit Tigers, who walked away from the big league game after eight seasons in Detroit, and after 22 seasons as a manager at the age of 68. What made Leyland unique, more than how he did things, more than how he left himself so open to the second guess, is he was never fired as a manager, not in Pittsburgh, not in Florida where he won the World Series, not in his single season in Colorado and not now as leaves the Tigers on his own accord. His way. His time. "Thank you," he said, "for having me." Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: my thumb is up to hurdler Perdita Felicien, who announced her retirement this week. While best remembered for an Olympic tumble, she should be honoured as the first Canadian female track athlete to win a world championship. Felicien won the 100-meter hurdles in 2003, establishing her as the favorite for Athens 2004. Well, life and a hurdle got in the way. Felicien clipped the first hurdle and fell, taking out Russias Irina Shevchenko on the way down. This was not how Felicien wanted to bow out of her last Olympic race, but it was a quintessential Canadian sporting moment: she took the Russian down with her. Dave Hodge, TSN: my thumb is down to those unwritten codes that pop up in every sport. For instance: in the first inning of Game 1 in the World Series, Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma was initially given credit for making an out at second base but the umpires gathered to reverse what had been an obvious incorrect call. That, and the code, brought St. Louis manager Mike Matheny racing from the dugout to argue that his team had been victimized. He was doing what everyone expected him to do, so he did it. Wouldnt it have been refreshing if, instead, Matheny had calmly walked to meet Kozma at his shortstop position, placed his hand on Kozmas shoulder, and said the following: "I know you never caught that ball, and you know it, and the umpires know it Forget about it and catch the next one" and if after that meeting, Matheny had returned to the dugout with nary a word for an umpire? But the code would never allow it. Jake Locker Elite Womens Jersey . Cross-country skier Brian McKeever won the mens visually impaired 20-kilometre race on Monday. Earl Campbell Jersey . Baumann misjudged a long ball from Milan Badelj and failed to clear after emerging outside the penalty area, allowing Maximilian Beister to open the scoring in the 37th minute.SEATTLE -- Zach Miller will stay with the Seattle Seahawks after the tight end agreed to restructure his contract in an effort to free up salary cap room for the Super Bowl champions. The team confirmed the Millers restructured deal on Saturday, which was first reported by 710 ESPN radio in Seattle. Terms of Millers new deal were not immediately available, but it keeps an important piece of the Seahawks offence in Seattle after two starters -- wide receiver Golden Tate and right tackle Breno Giacomini -- left earlier this week in free agency. Miller has become vital as both a pass receiver and blocker for the Seahawks offence. Miller had 33 receptions and five touchdowns in the 2013 regular season, but his ability to block on the edge and help the run game led by Marshawn Lynch has proven just as important. Miller was due to make $4. Shonn Greene Jersey. .8 million in base salary in 2014 before restructuring. It was part of the original deal he signed with Seattle as a free agent before the 2011 season after being a Pro Bowl selection with Oakland. Seattle had previously released wide receiver Sidney Rice and defensive ends Red Bryant and Chris Clemons in an effort to free cap space. Clemons and Bryant both signed with Jacksonville while Rice remains unsigned. With Millers expected return, the Seahawks appear set at tight end, although they have been in discussions with former Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley. Before the start of free agency, the Seahawks re-signed Anthony McCoy, who missed all of last season after suffering an Achilles tendon tear. Seattle also has Luke Willson, who served as Millers backup this past season. ' ' ' |
