Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Luke Schenn Jersey . 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. Radim Vrbata Jersey . - Tom Brady and the Patriots routed the Bengals and quieted the doubters. Brad Richardson Jersey . Napoli beat high-flying Hellas Verona 3-0 to keep up the pressure on the top two while AC Milan had another disappointing night as four goals from teenage forward Domenico Berardi saw relegation-threatened Sassuolo come back from two goals down to win 4-3. http://www.hockeycoyotesproshop.com/Coyotes-Antti-Raanta-Adidas-Jersey/ . After rookie right-hander Alex Colome excelled in a 5-2 victory in the opener, the Rays fell to Chris Tillman and the Orioles 4-1 on Friday night.It was going better than expected for the Calgary Flames, but the loss of their captain as well as one of their top forwards has thrown a dash of cold water on the team. Captain and No. 1 defenceman Mark Giordano is out for six to eight weeks with a broken ankle. He took a shot off the right ankle in the second period of a road game Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 21. The Flames revealed the severity of his injury Tuesday. "Its brutal," Giordano said. "You dont want to miss any time, but if you have to youre hoping its something not as significant as that time frame." Another shot broke a bone in the foot of winger Lee Stempniak last week in Dallas. His status is week to week. The lower right legs of both Flames were encased in plastic walking casts Tuesday. "I feel like the team is playing well and to not be a part of it is tough," Stempniak said. "The swelling is going down so hopefully its not too long." Just above .500 and without a loss in regulation at home so far this season, the rebuilding Flames (5-4-2) were giving their fans reasons for optimism. An unexpected bonus has been the performance of 19-year-old forward Sean Monahan, who is among the leagues rookie scoring leaders with six goals and four assists in 11 games. But for a team without stars and a squad that requires maximum effort to win, the Flames will have to drain their tanks for victories, particularly if Stempniak is out long term. Giordano and Stempniak were tied for third in points on the team with nine each behind Monahan with 10 and Jiri Hudler with 13. Its likely Giordano wont return to the lineup before his predecessor as Flames captain, Jarome Iginla, returns to Scotiabank Saddledome on Dec. 10 as a member of the Boston Bruins. With defenceman Chris Breen day to day with an abdominal strain, the Flames had just six healthy defenceman Tuesday. Head coach Bob Hartley didnt seem to be in a hurry to summon reinforcements from Abbotsford, B.C. Calgary hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday and the Detroit Red Wings on Friday beforre departing on a four-game road trip. Anthony Duclair Jersey. "Im very comfortable," Hartley said. "Were not in back-to-back situations. We feel that its important for our young players to play in the American League. "If wed had a back-to-back and Abbotsford far away from us wed probably call up someone, but in this situation right now, we feel very comfortable." Giordano says an initial scan of his ankle after the Kings game didnt reveal a fracture. He tried to skate the next day in Phoenix prior to facing the Coyotes, but pain forced him off the ice. A subsequent scan revealed the injury. "One guy coming in and out of the lineup isnt going to change the way we play," Giordano said. "Guys have done a great job. Id like to be around the guys as much as possible. Obviously being hurt youre not in it as much as when youre playing. "You almost feel its a letdown for the team, but theres nothing I can do about it now." Calgary is 1-2 since Giordano was sidelined. Stempniak continued to play last Thursday in Dallas after a shot from teammate Dennis Wideman deflected hard off his skate boot. "Its one of those things when its not bad and your (foot) is in your skate and it feels all right and then it gets a little bit worse once you take your skate off," Stempniak explained. The Flames were successful in their one game without both Giordano and Stempniak. Calgary held Alex Ovechkin to zero points and defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2 last Saturday. Defencemen Wideman and Kris Russell were both plus-five in the game. "Every player - you ask Derek Smith, you ask Shane OBrien, you ask anyone on this team - if they want extra responsibility, the answer is pretty simple and very easy and its yes," Hartley said. "Its up to you when you get that chance to really make the best of it. "If one guy picks up a five per cent, another guy picks up a 10 per cent and 15 per cent, we might compensate and we have to find a way. No one feels sorry for us. We cant shut down." Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '