Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. [url=http://www.nhldiscount.us.com/Authentic-ottawa-senators-custom-jers eys/]Cheap Custom Ottawa Senators Jerseys[/url] . This week they discuss Steve Nash, the Spirits handling of Terry Traffords passing, R

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Cheap Custom Ottawa Senators Jerseys . 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. Cheap Custom Dallas Stars Jerseys .Leicester won 25-21 in a heated European Rugby Champions Cup group match on Sunday.Toulon said on its website on Wednesday that it decided to open an investigation after Leicester complained about the behaviour of prop Martin Castrogiovanni and fullback Delon Armitage. Cheap Custom Winnipeg Jets Jerseys . Howard hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. http://www.nhldiscount.us.com/Cheap-colorado-avalanche-gear/ . -- The Windsor Spitfires were left with just one goaltender Tuesday after having their starter walk out on them midway through Game 3 of their Ontario Hockey League playoff matchup with the London Knights.Northern Ireland are preparing for their upcoming Euro 2016 games by using training bibs with the names of opposition players printed on them. It is a method designed to give players a greater understanding of how Poland and Ukraine line up, while helping to improve tactical awareness.The bibs, including one with Robert Lewandowskis name on the back, were spotted by the Sky Sports News HQ camera at the team base in Saint-George-de-Reneins on Friday. Northern Ireland are meticulously prepared for Euro 2016 Michael ONeill and his football staff, including Jimmy Nicholl (assistant manager), Stephen Robinson (first team coach), Austin MacPhee (assistant coach) and Maik Taylor (goalkeeping coach) are widely appreciated among Northern Ireland players for their inventive and visual methods.What we want to do is make sure the players know they can learn in different ways, MacPhee told Sky Sports News HQ. Northern Ireland manager Michael ONeill has given his players detailed information about their opposition The structure Michael has put in place has taken time and effort but were now set on a process that we believe gives the players the best chance of success.ONeill and his staff have watched all the qualifying games of their Group C opponents, with MacPhee tasked with compiling detailed video dossiers. The players are shown specific examples highlighting the dangers of playing to the strengths of opposition players, but they are also shown potential weaknesses. Robert Lewandowski will be the key threat for Poland Its very important we are not just telling them what to do but rather inform them of the reason we do it.We dont overload them with information but at the same time working on the opponents weaknesses can build confidence within your group.They face the daunting prospect of trying to stop striker Lewandowski, who scored 42 goals for Bayern Munich this season. Kyle Lafferty is confident hes winning his race to bit fit for Northern Irelands opening game of Euro 2016 There are different ways you can deal with a world class player, said MacPhee.You can deal with him in the structure of your team or you can deal with him in a more individual man marking sense.Alternatively you can identify the source and look at the service he gets, how he scores his goals and when he scores his goals. This is all information we know and ultimately Michael will make the decision. Over the last two years hes made aa lot of really good decisions in the biggest games and got it right time and time again. Cheap Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys. Meticulous preparation is a key strength of ONeill and his team. Players are left in no doubt what their role is, both individually and collectively. Northern Irelands Paddy McNair is confident they can upset Poland in their opening group game at Euro 2016 Paddy McNair, who has produced a series of impressive displays in the holding midfield role for Northern Ireland in recent friendly matches, is a firm believer in the visual methods. He regularly requests individual sessions to help improve his own performance. The analysis set up here is very similar (to Manchester United). I enjoy looking at clips and seeing what Im doing right and what Im doing wrong.On Wednesday, one journalist from Poland asked Craig Cathcart to name Polish players other than Lewandowski. The Watford defender successfully offered an assured critique of other attacking players in their team. As Northern Ireland prepare to face Poland in their first group game of Euro 2016, we look back at Will Griggs best League One goals from last season That attention to detail has not been restricted to the football staff this week. The operations department surprised the players with messages from their families as they arrived in France for the tournament.They also decorated the players bedrooms with celebratory images from the successful qualifying campaign, when Northern Ireland became the first pot five side to reach a major finals.ONeill, as a way of appreciation, invited IFA staff to a meal with the players on Monday night. Afterm he and captain Steven Davis made a short speech as the manager outlined their importance to the team. Northern Ireland go into their opening Euro 2016 as the form side of the competing nations, boasting a 12-match unbeaten run. 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