Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Justin-Ellis-Draft-Jersey/ . This week, they discuss preparations for the Rio Olympics, the exciting first round of the NBA playoffs, Mike Keenan victorious in Russia and the prolonged wait for the NFL Draft finally coming to an end. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star My thumb is down to the International Olympic Committee and…I know, I know…you feel like weve been here before, but this is a new frontier because the concept of an Olympics in Rio was new when the IOC awarded Brazil the 2016 games seven years ago. Concerns about readiness, inequality and about the way the country might react? Dont worry! Rio! Now with two years to go, the IOC is shocked…shocked…to find that they gambled on a country that hasnt built the establishment. Seriously, Rio is in major organization trouble with whole complexes unbuilt and with public unrest still simmering, the IOC is lamenting the fact that they cant employ Beijing-style slave labour. Theyre blaming it on Rio. Guess who they should be blaming instead? Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun My thumb is up to the first round of the playoffs and Im not talking about the Stanley Cup playoffs, which have been marvelous, as usual. Im talking about the NBA playoffs, where, normally, the first round is about favourites winning and not much else, but not this year. A last-second three by the sensational Damian Lillard of Portland meant there were five Game 7s in the first round, instead of a record-breaking six. There have been eight overtime games and the road team has won 21 of the first 36 playoff games - this from a league that usually sees the home teams win 70 per cent of the time. And, of course, there is Game 7 in Toronto today with the possibility of 2 million people watching on TV. If this isnt fun, I dont know what is. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated My thumb is up to Mike Keenan, who reminds us that a coach is a coach is a coach, no matter the team or the time zone. Keenan always dreamed of winning a Cup, although probably not the Gagarin Cup. Two decades after the New York Rangers memorable Stanley Cup run, Iron Mike did it again on the far side of the erstwhile Iron Curtain, coaching the KHLs Metallurg Magnitogorsk to a Game 7 win over Lev Prague. Note one striking similarity in the championships: as he did after beating the Vancouver Canucks in 94, Keenan celebrated in the dressing room by singing karaoke - this time in Russian, of course. The Red Army choir is not giving up its day job. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up to May 8, which is coming soon - on Thursday - and thats why my thumb is up, because when May 8 finally arrives, it brings with it the National Football League Draft…finally. Did I say "finally?" When the NFL moved the draft from April to May, we might have known wed be sick of mock drafts by now. There is actual analysis that proclaims winners and losers of mock drafts! Ive heard so much about Jadeveon Clowneys awesome talent and alleged laziness that Im sure there are two Jadeveon Clowneys. Im not sure if the Houston Texans will take one of them or which one or if the Texans will take Johnny Manziel or if theyll trade down - I only know they cant trade up and I dont care anymore what they do, I just want them to do it. On May 8. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Derek-Carr-Draft-Jersey/ . LOUIS - Two-thirds of the St. Johnny Townsend Jersey . - Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II says the NFL has told the team it will not be docked a pick in this years draft for coach Mike Tomlins foray onto the field against Baltimore last November. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Tahir-Whitehead-Draft-Jersey/ . Power had a two-lap average of 218.896 mph in qualifying Friday at the high-banked, high-speed 1 1/2-mile track for his 34th career pole.Scoring in five of nine innings goes a long way to posting a W. The Winnipeg Goldeyes (15-9) did just that in a 7-4 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (15-9) at Newman Outdoor Field in North Dakota Sunday afternoon. The win is Winnipegs first regular season victory in Fargo since August 2012 and avoids a third consecutive sweep in Fargo to the RedHawks. The Goldeyes scored single runs in each of the first three innings, including a lead-off home run by Ray Sadler in the top of the third inning that gave Winnipeg a 3-1 lead. After Fargo responded with two runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game, Winnipeg restored the two-run lead in the top of the sixth. Josh Mazzola singled in Donnie Webb, and Reggie Abercrombie scored on the same play thanks to a throwing error by Fargo third baseman Ronnie Bourquin, who was trying to catch Mazzola in a run down between first and second base. An inning later, Luis Alen dumped a single into centre field, which scored Tyler Kuhn and Jake Blackwood.Fargo tallied a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the RedHawks comeback bid fell three runs shortt. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Nick-Nelson-Draft-Jersey/. Alen was Winnipegs leader offensively with three RBI in the game. "Thats what Luis does," Goldeyes pitching coach Jamie Vermilyea said on the Jewel 101 post-game show. "He puts the ball in play, finds the gaps and gets the big hits with men on base." On the bump, Chandler Barnard went 5 1/3 innings in his Goldeyes debut to get the win. He allowed three runs on six hits. "He has a hard, heavy sinker," Vermilyea said. "Once he established that and threw it over the plate, they didnt put too many good swings on it. He looked good, especially joining a new team in the middle of the season." Kyle Bellamy pitched the ninth inning for his fourth save of the season. Fargos starter Danny Gutierrez suffered the loss for the RedHawks. After playing the Field of Dreams Golf Tournament tomorrow, the Goldeyes begin a six-game homestand Tuesday night against the Grand Prairie AirHogs, who will be making their first visit to Shaw Park. The St. Paul Saints will make their first of three visits to Winnipeg next weekend for the back half of the homestand. Cheap Nuggets Jerseys Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Cheap Warriors Jerseys Cheap Clippers Jerseys Cheap Lakers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Kings Jerseys Cheap Mavericks Jerseys Cheap Rockets Jerseys Cheap Grizzlies Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Cheap Spurs Jerseys ' ' '