Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Authentic Adoree Jackson 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. Cheap Tennessee Titans Jerseys . -- With the Memphis Grizzlies struggling to find their offensive rhythm, O. Titans Jerseys China . Before that, Rousey needed a total 23 minutes and 26 seconds to take care of her last eight opponents - and one of those fights lasted 10 minutes and 58 seconds. http://www.cheaptitansjerseysauthentic.com/ . Wayne and Cindy Tuck of Ilderton, Ont., closed out round-robin play earlier in the day with a 7-3 win over Finland but needed a win over Austria to reach the final eight.Stat of the week!!! Torontos back-up quarterback, third-year player from Edinboro, Trevor Harris, had two special teams tackles. Never a good thing when thats happening. Although Harris did show us 400-metre strength, speed and endurance while tracking down the speedy returner from West Virginia, Jock Saunders, on the missed field goal return of 121 yards. That play showcases how unpredictable and explosive our great brand of football can be here in Canada and also gives us an insight as to how you can make a bye week only two weeks into the season pay off. To ensure there were no blues, loss of continuity or complacency pertaining to the execution of schemes, the Stampeders coaching staff and players reloaded and actually extended their playbook. This was evident on Saunders missed field goal return. Coach Mark Kilam, in his tenth year coaching for the Stampeders, and fifth as special teams coordinator, had his return teams locked, loaded and dialed in, ready to pounce on this very opportunity. Anticipating a missed field goal, a wall return left was executed like clock work. Saunders, while making an acrobatic catch on the errant field goal attempt as he was tight roping the very back of the end zone, started to his left and quickly became the beneficiary of his teammates hustle and preparation. Before you knew it, Saunders, the first year Stampeder, was bursting down the sideline with Kilam himself not far behind. With sheer determination and athletic ability, Argonaut Harris, who was holding for third year kicker from Alabama-Birmingham, Swayze Waters, on the field goal attempt, somehow tracked down Saunders. Sometimes we see these extra effort and hustle plays pay off, but in this case the Stamps third year quarterback, from Eastern Washington, Bo Levi Mitchell cashed in quickly with a quick TD strike. Bang, ten-point swing just like that! Exciting and unpredictable. To have a designed missed field goal return implemented at this juncture of the season is one thing, but to be able to execute all the moving parts that are required in order to pull it off, is really heady stuff. Another example of how Calgary used the extra prep time to their advantage was the direct snap to Saunders, throwback to Mitchell, chunk it over the top to Anthony Parker. This early in the season, teams are working diligently to find rhythm and consistency in the basics of their respective systems, let alone trying to master plays like the flea-flicker. Maybe Saunders was the only running back who had the ability to throw it back to Mitchell, but to have that play in the game plan at this stage and the way it was executed, is an indicator that Calgary had the extra time and spent it wisely. If you still are not convinced that this extra week of prep time holds merit for teams and in this case the Stampeders, look to whom the Stamps had to replace in only their second game of the season. Missing was Jon Cornish, reigning Most Outstanding Player in the CFL and two electrifying receivers in Nik Lewis and Mo Price. The Stamps offence found a way to survive and even thrive. Second year receiver from Texas A&M, Jeff Fuller flexed his athletic ability and found the end zone twice, picking up some of the slack. Authentic Logan Ryan Jersey. . Fourth year receiver from University of Calgary, Anthony Parker seemed well versed and more at ease performing his responsibilities, contributing four catches for 101 yards and a score. Third year running back, also from the University of Calgary, Matt Walter continues to round out into form when given the opportunity. Id also say that Walter took on more of a work load than usual in this contest because of the added time the Stamps were afforded. Walter was involved downfield in the passing game on play 115 from scrimmage, a fake screen pass. This is when he releases out of the backfield giving the defence a look like he is going to block the defender whos covering the receiver faking the hitch screen and then at the last possible moment, he turns it up the rail as the defence bites on the screen. You see it all the time in the CFL but primarily with your starters executing these timing plays, not your back ups. Not a believer yet? How about the Stampeders defence shutting down the high powered offence of Toronto led by 12-year veteran quarterback from Sacramento State, Ricky Ray. Ray had his streak of ten games in a row throwing a touchdown pass broken. We are talking about an offence that put up 559 total yards of offence against the defending Grey Cup Champion Saskatchewan Roughriders defence the week before and looked lethal. Defensive coordinator Rich Stubler had his men on point to where they held the Ray-led Argos out of the end zone for just the second time since Ray has been an Argo. Now I must say Ray and company moved the ball between the twenties but thats where the well devised defensive gameplan came into play. Dont give up the big play and make Toronto be patient series after series. In other words, play everything in front of you and rally to the ball. Certainly easier said than done, but the plan was implemented and well executed. So an early quirk/bye in the schedule actually pays off for the Stampeders as they were able to prepare, plug and play players without missing a beat and actually extend a few of their philosophies and schemes in only Week 2 of the season. Calgarys next bye week is a long ways off, coming in Week 16. Ill bet you they will embrace that bye week as much and if not more than they did in Week 2! Heres a look at the remaining bye weeks for each CFL team. Week 1 Ottawa (makes sense to give them a bit more time) Week 2 Calgary (see article above) Week 3 Hamilton (able to get Masoli and LeFevour up to speed and Fantuz and Ellingson another week) Week 4 Saskatchewan (ouch, a two-game losing streak going into this stretch is ugly) Week 5 Montreal Week 6 Edmonton Week 7 Toronto (seems like they could use it now) Week 8 None, that means somebody has to play twice during this week and thats Toronto Week 9 Hamilton Week 10 BC Week 11 Toronto Week 12 Ottawa Week 13 Winnipeg Week 14 Toronto (Damn, Toronto gets three, making up for Week 8) Week 15 Montreal Week 16 Calgary Week 17 BC Week 18 Edmonton Week 19 Saskatchewan Week 20 Winnipeg Ready Break!!! 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