Kritik und Lob » Pacers in Game 1 at Indianapolis and led by as ma

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss the NBA of Canada, New York broadcasters, Milwaukee Brewers fans and Johnny Manziel. Bruce Arthur, National Post My thumb is down to the National Basketball League of Canada, a nine-team minor league that is emphasizing the minor league, of late. Before a playoff game 7 this week between the Windsor Express and the London Lightning, Windsor owner and apparent local goofball Darton Willis ejected London Free Press columnist Morris Della Costa because he disapproved of his work, which in this case included tweeting about a Windsor player flipping off some fans. Commissioner Paul Riley cited his own experience as a journalism professor while siding with the owner, which should be taught in introduction to irony 101. If these maroons were trying to get their minor league some attention, ok, it worked. But this is what we learned: if this is how you treat the people who pay attention to you now, why should the rest of us bother? Dave Naylor, TSN My thumb is down to the trio of broadcasters at WFAN in New York, who this week criticized the Mets Daniel Murphy for missing the first two games of the Major League Baseball season so that he could be with his wife for the birth of their son, Noah. First a little perspective here folks; Daniel murphy played 161 games last season for New York, so it doesnt appear as if hes a slacker. Even if you happen to believe that a trio of baseball games is more important that being present for your childs birth - guess what - its a right the players collectively bargained. Can we all just admit that professional sports is the only place where anyone can be criticized for missing work to be there for the birth of a child. And really, for those of us who love pro sports, thats kind of pathetic. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated My thumb is down to the standing ovation brewers fans gave Ryan Braun at Milwaukees home opener. I get it. Sports, like politics, are local. Hey, Braun might be a drug cheat and liar, but hes our drug cheat and liar. But even after serving his 65-game suspension and kissing up with apologies to season ticket holders, Braun hardly seemed worthy of a love-in. In cowardly fashion, he tried to slough off a positive test on a urine sample collector. He attempted to cover his drug shame by implying he was a victim of anti-Semitism. Fans are free to choose their heroes, Milwaukee should have chosen more wisely. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up to the legend of Johnny Manziel - yes, hes already a legend, perhaps too soon, so Ill stop short of saying thumbs up to Johnny Football himself. Yes, Johnny Football, or J-man or JFF, as he wants to be called if youre buying apparel with those trademarks that hes seeking. J-man, I would have thought Jay Onrait would have beaten him to that, and JFF is either just for fun or Johnny-freaking-football, Im not sure. But we love stories like his in this business, and so we look forward to the NFL draft primarily because of him. The team that picks him suddenly becomes more interesting, no matter how interesting it might be already, and it will have to inform Manziel that hes a rookie and he has veteran teammates, who wont necessarily like him as much as the media does. Nike Air Max Tn Sverige . McCutchen hit his first home run in over a month, doubled twice and scored two runs to help the Pirates beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Sunday and take three of four from the defending NL West champions. Nike Air Max 720 Sverige . Various media outlets, including the Detroit Free Press, indicate a deal is close, while USA Today cited an unidentified person directly involved with the negotiations as saying the pact is for two years. http://www.reaairmaxsverige.com/air-max-270-rabatt/max-270-dam.html . NORRIS COLE (Heat): Its funny, you watch a guy play and now really produce and it just jumps off the page at you - why? You put a young player with potential in a winning environment where there is veteran leadership, outstanding coaching and management and a way that things are done and its a wonderful environment for growth, improvement in a climate of constant accountability and expectation of achievement/production. Air Max 95 Sverige .J. - The New Jersey Devils know the odds are against them as they chase a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Nike Air Max Billigt Rea .ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience.ATLANTA -- As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Atlanta Hawks celebrated and their fans serenaded the Indiana Pacers with chants of "Overrated!" Game 3 did nothing to change that perception. The top-seeded Pacers are on the ropes again at the hands of the eighth-seeded Hawks, who finished six games below .500 during the regular season but truly believe they can pull off a major upset in the opening round of the playoffs. Atlanta is playing with confidence and swagger -- and even got a crucial call to go its way. Jeff Teague flung in a wild 3-pointer after the officials missed him stepping out of bounds, and Kyle Korver finished off Indiana from beyond the arc to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 98-85 victory Thursday night and another lead in the series. The Hawks took control in the third quarter -- the decisive period in all three games -- and held off the Pacers to go up 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Saturday in Atlanta. The Hawks were up 84-78 with the shot clock running down when Teague launched a running shot from the wing -- after his foot clipped the line. "I knew it was a 3," Teague said. "Hopefully they just count it." They did, even after a video review. Referee Tony Brothers explained that officials took another look at the play merely to determine if Teague was behind the 3-point line when he shot. There wasnt any doubt about that, and under NBA rules the only other thing they could look at was the position of Teagues feet when the ball left his hand. He was clearly in bounds when he shot. Korver clinched the victory with the last of his four treys, putting Atlanta up 92-80 with 1:41 remaining. That was only appropriate, since the Hawks made 10 3s in the second half. "In the second half, we came out and made some big shots," Teague said. "Everybody played well." Teague scored 22 points and Korver added 20 to lead the Hawks, who are having their way with an Indiana team that struggled down the stretch and is still scrambling to regain the form it showed much of the season. Lance Stephenson led the Pacers with 21 points, and Luis Scola added 17 in another stellar performance off the bench. But Paul George was held to 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting, George Hill made only 1-of-11 from the field, and Roy Hibbert continually missed shotts close to the hoop.dddddddddddd "We have a dream of winning it all," George said. "Weve got be much more tougher than that. I dont think its there. Our toughness is questionable right now." Hibbert is having an especially rough time, scoring only 18 points in the first three games on 7-of-25 shooting. Coach Frank Vogel was asked if he planned on making a lineup change, especially given the Pacers had more success with their 7-footer on the bench. "Were going to look at everything," Vogel said. "He has not played well in the series to this point. But we still have confidence in Roy Hibbert." Teague made the biggest shot of all for the Hawks. Looking up to see the clock running down, he dribbled to his left and threw it up with Scola in his face. Nothing but net. Teague smiled and shrugged his shoulders on the way back down the court, as surprised as anyone that it went in. "A lot of times those plays that you draw up dont work the way that you want them to," Korver said. "You improvise and sometimes you throw stuff up as the shot clocks coming down and it goes in. Im glad that it happened for us and not for them." The Hawks stunned the Pacers in Game 1 at Indianapolis and led by as many as 11 in the first half of Game 2, before the Pacers finally looked like the top seed in the East with a dominant third quarter that evened the series. This time, the Hawks gained the upper hand in the third -- just as they did in the series opener. Korver knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner off a fast break, prompting the Pacers to call a timeout. They needed another after Teague soared for a thunderous dunk off an Indiana turnover, pushing Atlanta to a 10-point lead, matching its biggest of the game to that point. The Hawks went to the final quarter riding a wave of momentum when Lou Williams stepped back and swished a 3 with just 1.2 seconds left in the third, pushing Atlanta ahead 67-58. Notes: The Hawks improved to 15-2 against Indiana at Philips Arena since December 2006. ... Both teams shot under 40 per cent from the field. ... DeMarre Carroll scored 18 points for Atlanta. ... Stephenson had a double-double with 13 rebounds. ... Scola got into it with Atlantas Mike Scott midway through the second quarter. They were quickly separated and assessed technical fouls. ' ' '