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Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Buccaneers #87 Jersey . This week they discuss the retirement of Doug Brown, the emergence of Tristan Thompson, the end of the PGA Tours Qualifying School and the Toronto Blue Jays. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is up to Doug Brown, the mountainous Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive lineman, who is retiring just as his team comes apart at the seams, on twitter and otherwise. Brown was a seven-time All-Star, the CFLs Most Outstanding Canadian in 2001, and the victim of some bad luck - his 2007 team arrived at the Grey Cup without its injured quarterback, and his first and last teams, which made the 2001 and 2011 Grey Cups, just werent quite good enough. But Brown conducted himself with loyalty and dignity, and was an immensely thoughtful and honest man. The final image: him fighting tears in front of his locker, in full uniform. The next one: him as a great broadcaster, wherever he lands. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to Tristan Thompson of Brampton, Ontario, the fourth pick in last Junes NBA Draft, for having a breakout game in just his second starting assignment with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thompson, who wasnt supposed to be able to score, wound up with 27 points and 12 rebounds - a combination that no one on the Toronto Raptors has matched yet this season. And its just not Thompson; if you look at the tournament, youll see Ontario kids like Brady Heslip knocking down threes for Baylor, displaying the emerging Canadian talent in the game. So in a different kind of way, maybe Don Cherrys not far off. Maybe the problem with the Raptors is: not enough Ontario kids on the team. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is down to the impending death of the PGA Tours Qualifying School, the grandest drama this side of Hamlet. Starting in 2013, the PGA will switch to a qualifying system involving only the Nationwide Tour, making that Triple A loop the lone path to a PGA card. For the sloggers on the Canadian tour, who survived the arduous qualifying process and jumped directly to the big leagues… well, sorry. For one last year, the six-round Q-School final will be the finest crucible in sports. Players arent playing for their lives but for their livelihoods - or at least a chance to earn them. Darwinian perfection; no revamped system will ever be more compelling. Dave Hodge, TSN: Never mind the idea that spring training results mean nothing, Im saying thumbs up to the Blue Jays for their pre-season-best 18 victories....and only four losses. But if you need another reason to be optimistic about their chances in 2012, here it is. Outfielder Travis Snider and pitcher Kyle Drabek are two players who are always mentioned when the Jays future is discussed. Odds are, they will not be on the major-league roster when the season starts, and yes, Im counting that as good news. Snider and Drabek are performing well, they just cant crack the lineup yet, and that must say something about the team the Jays will field this year, and in the coming years. Buccaneers #93 Jersey . -- Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau found the perfect way to celebrate their new contract extensions. Buccaneers #12 Jersey . Rose played about 10 minutes Monday night in New Jersey, and coach Tom Thibodeau declined to say for certain before tipoff whether the NBA MVP would play in New Orleans. Rose is averaging nearly 23 points and eight assists for Chicago, which has entered its game against the Hornets on a three-game winning streak and with the most victories (21) in the NBA.DETROIT -- Boston Bruins forward Jarome Iginla is sitting out against the Detroit Red Wings because of a lower-body injury. Iginla sat out Wednesday night after playing in the Bruins first 75 games this season. He leads the team with 30 goals and is second with 61 points. Boston has already clinched the Atlantic Division title. The Red Wings kept forward Daniel Alfredssson out of the lineup because of a lower-body injury. Evan Dietrich-Smith Buccaneers Jersey. He has 17 goals and 45 points in 63 games during his first season with Detroit. Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk skated with teammates Wednesday morning, but missed his 16th straight game because of an injured left knee. Datsyuk wouldnt say if he expected to play Friday at home against Buffalo. ' ' ' |
