th\' and the Buffalo Sabres disaster season. Bruce Arthur, Natio

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. wholesale nfl jerseys . This week they discuss the NHL paying Wayne Gretzky, fighting in hockey, the "Group of Death" and the Buffalo Sabres disaster season. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is up to the NHL for finally paying Wayne Gretzky the money he was owed when the Phoenix Coyotes descended into bankruptcy way back in 2009. Gretzky was paid the $7 million he was owed plus interest, so it was closer to $8 million, and all it took was the utter exhaustion of all other avenues - primarily chasing former Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes in court - plus a $5.2-billion tv deal, which must have helped ease the financial strain. It is sad though, that that the league essentially exiled its greatest living player for four years while trying to solve the problem of a team in a ridiculous market that probably never would have existed without Gretzky spreading the hockey gospel in Los Angeles in the first place. Steve Simmons, SUN Media: My thumb is down to the continuing human tragedy that centres around long term fighting in hockey. Just this week the sad and troubled stories of two longtime NHL fighters, Gino Odjick and Scott Parker - career penalty minutes 3,266 - came to light. How their lives have been inexorably altered primarily because of their involvement in fighting and the numerous concussions that have come along with it. Time was, I was ambivalent to the ongoing fighting debate. But not anymore. And Im not sure how anyone, even those in the pro-fighting camp, can sit back now and be witness to so many lives in turmoil. This is beyond being a sporting issue now, this is a social issue. And we dont need to be party to any more tragedies, not when we know they can be prevented. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is down to the World Cup draw, and not merely because FIFA spent $11 million on an over-the-top exercise that it could have done for a thousand bucks, depending on how fancy the Danish tray. No, my thumb is down because now, like in every quadrennial, we are besieged with the most trite and soul-sucking sports cliché, the Group of Death. Death? Really? In 2012 1.6 million Americans died of cancer. Theres your group of death. This is soccer. Certainly the round-robin competition will be fierce, but can we please start referring to Germany, Portugal, Ghana and the United States as, say, the group of gastrointestinal discomfort? Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is down to the complete disaster that is the Buffalo Sabres 2013-2014 season. The owner, Terry Pegula, made this comment when he fired general manager Darcy Regier and coach Ron Rolsto – “If you want to win in this league, you have to draft first and get Sidney Crosby or draft second and get Evgeni Malkin.” Well, the proponents of the fine art of tanking would applaud Pegulas mission statement and his methodology - he should have fired Regier and Rolston prior to the season - they should have been replaced by now. Ryan Millers future should have been determined. The Sabres will promise something better to next seasons ticket-holders - but they have ignored the importance of support from the current customers, and will almost certainly draft first or second. jerseys from china . -- U.S. captain Tom Watson said Monday that Tiger Woods latest back injury "doesnt bode well right now" for Woods playing in the Ryder Cup. nfl jerseys china .C. -- J.B. Holmes was a 3-foot putt away from winning the Wells Fargo Championship when he backed away to size up the situation.CHICAGO -- Kobe Bryant is riding a bike. Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant broke a bone in his left knee Dec. 17 at Memphis while playing his fourth game in five nights, likely sidelining the superstar guard for six weeks. The injury against the Grizzlies occurred in his sixth game back after he missed the start of the season while recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon. The pair of injuries for the 35-year-old Bryant raised questions about whether he would ever return to his previous form. But he said Monday night he had no doubt he would play at a similarly high level again. "There was before I came back the first time because I didnt know how my Achilles was going to respond to playing and changing directions," Bryant said before the Lakers played the Bulls in Chicago. "The game in Memphis I had a pretty good feel for it, getting back to being able to do what I normally could do. I feel confident about it. I did play that second half on a fractured leg and played pretty well. I feel pretty good about my chances." But the rehab from the knee injury has been slow going so far. The 15-time All-Star said he is limited to mostly bike work right now and any talk of a return is up in the air until he returns to the court. "Try not to think about it too much," he said. "Just go day to day." Playing without Bryant and Steve Nash, the Lakers had lost 12 of 15 heading into the game at Chicago. But Los Angeles had won two in a row since a six-game losing streak, with Nick Young and Kendall Marshall helping fuel the mini-recovery. The Lakers still face a long road back to contention in the loaded Western Conference, especially with their injury issues. Nash is out with a back problem, and the team also is missing guards Jordan Farmar (torn left hamstring), Steve Blake (torn elbow ligament) and Xavier Henry (right knee bone bruise). cheap jerseys from china. "It just makes it harder," coach Mike DAntoni said of playing without two of the teams biggest stars. "Youre not quite as good as you were when you had the guy. The biggest thing is how to finish games off because you know where youre going if theyre on the floor. Youve got to figure that out." Henry could return soon. He is expected to step up his rehab work when the Lakers practice Wednesday in Miami. Even with his limited action, Bryant remains one of the most popular players in the league. He had the most All-Star votes among the Western Conference guards when balloting was announced Jan. 9. The fan voting was set to close Monday night, and the starters for the Feb. 16 game in New Orleans will be announced on Thursday. "Ive always looked forward to playing in All-Star games. Its always something thats been a huge honour," Bryant said. "With that being said, I havent played. I think some of the other guys who have been out there performing and playing well and are All-Star worthy should be the ones out there playing." Bryant isnt taking anything for granted in his 18th NBA season, especially with his injury problems over the last two years. All the time on the sideline also has provided more perspective on how the game has changed since he was a rookie in the 1996-97 season. "Its much, much less physical," he said. "Some of the flagrant fouls I see called nowadays makes me nauseous. You cant touch a guy without it being a flagrant foul. I think some of that are some of the negatives Ive seen change. But theres positives, too." cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' '