Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Devin Gardner College Jersey . This week, they discuss the American support of the World Cup, the passivity of NHL GMs, the clubhouse issues of Bryce Harper, and the career of the retired Alex Kovalev. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star: My thumb is up to American soccer fans, who have been much maligned over the years. Americans dont like soccer, people say - the same people, of course, year after year. Too little scoring, too much diving, too many ties, blah blah blah. Americans, the laziest critics have said for years, are too good for soccer. That typically mindless braying resurfaced during this World Cup, but a funny thing happened: it was overwhelmed by a tidal wave of support, of enjoyment, of commitment to a U.S. team that didnt have the most talent, but that rewarded its fans with everything it had. TV ratings? Through the roof. Online support? Inescapable. Americans embraced soccer, and it was so much fun. If they cant accept the metric system, they can at least love this. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to the passivity of NHL general managers, who are sometimes too polite for their own good. The GMs missed out on the opportunity to make an offer to restricted free agent PK Subban and now that Subban has filed for arbitration, his rights are protected by Montreal for the coming season. But if Im a GM, I would have made a monstrous offer to Subban, more than $10 million a year, and not just because he was the only game changing player available. I look at this two ways. If I throw huge money at Subban, I have a shot to get him - albeit its a long shot. And if Montreal matches, which is usually the way these things go, then Im messing up their payroll. Either way, I have nothing to lose. Even if the GMs dont agree. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is down to Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, for more unwelcome Washington punditry. After missing 57 games following thumb surgery, the uber-talented 21-year-old returned this week full of enthusiasm and suggestions. He critiqued the batting order - he was hitting sixth - and, more tellingly, the personnel. Harper was in left field, not his preferred position of centre, implying that Denard Span, the Nats centre fielder, should have been on the bench. Great for clubhouse chemistry. In publicly slagging first-year manager Matt Williams lineup, the prodigy wasnt breaking one of baseballs murky unwritten rules. He was violating basic workplace etiquette. Everyone has bosses and co-workers, even Harper, the young and the restless. Dave Hodge, TSN: And my thumb is sideways - thats right sideways - to the hockey career of Alex Kovalev, who announced his retirement this week at age 41 after playing last season in Switzerland. Why is my thumb sideways? Well, because like a lot of people, I cant decide whether Kovalev had a great career or is one of the great underachievers in the sport of hockey. The term enigma is thrown around too loosely in sports, especially at Russian hockey players. But how else to describe a player would could appear to be the most talented of any in one game, and then invisible the next, a pattern that existed throughout his career. Fans and even Kovalevs teammates used to debate how hard he was trying on any given night. Which, more than anything he accomplished on the ice … seems destined to be what we remember about him most. Braylon Edwards College Jersey . - Ryan Spooner scored twice to lead the Boston Bruins to a 6-1 victory over the New York Islanders in a preseason game Friday night. Shea Patterson College Jersey . A spokeswoman for the NLRB says its "a very incremental move" and does not necessarily indicate the board is close to a finding in the case. NFL owners filed an unfair labour charge against the players union in February, arguing that the union was not negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement in good faith. http://www.cheapmichiganjerseys.com/?tag=michigan-desmond-howard-college-jersey . The $145.7-million Tim Hortons Field was slated to open this month, a year before it was to host all 32 mens and womens soccer competitions. The delay has forced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football team to use a smaller facility for the first two home games of the season.Really?! Yes… that Ive told him (Duncan) about, and he was surprised. I told him I had it since I was young, like 5 years old. And thats when he was like, a rookie in the NBA. But that was one of my first jerseys as well.br /> #242101 / gettyimages.com Were you a Raptors fan growing up? And if so, who was your favourite player on those teams? I was definitely a Raptors fan. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady when we had him, so it was cool when he came last year to play with the Spurs for the playoffs. That was cool getting to meet him and see his views on basketball and whatnot. Damon Stoudamire, of course, we had a lot of guys come through Toronto that I liked. But I would say Vince Carter was the most inspiring to me. #51960387 / gettyimages.com Is there a player you watched in the NBA and tried to mirror your game after? I try to take little pieces of things from everybody. I try to learn from (Steve) Nash, being such a great player and being one of my mentors. Being from Canada I get to work with him through the summers and try to take pieces of his game. Deron Williams I watched a lot when I was in college. You can always learn from everybody. Obviously, you cant model your game exactly like one person, youve gotta be yourself as well, but I try to take pieces from everybody. #2423603 / gettyimages.com If you could play one on one against one player, alive or dead, who would it be? Jerry West, hes the logo... I want to beat the logo! I would definitely want to play Jerry West. Hes the logo, man. Why isnt Jerry West being paid for the use of his image as the official #NBA logo?? http://t.co/cDL73l3okh pic.twitter.com/4tR4pmhJDS — TMZ (@TMZ) June 2, 2014You drove in and posterized Serge Ibaka during the playoffs, which a lot of Canadians took pride in seeing...Who is a player youd like to put on a poster more than anyone in the league? So, I cant say Serge? You could, you could... but you did it, you accomplished posterizing Serge. Well before it was Serge, but umm... maybe Anthony Davis, hes great at blocking shots as well. You gotta go for the best blockers. What does your pre-game playlist look like? I listen to reggae before the games just to relax because its smooth. Chronixx, obviously I listen to some Drake being from Toronto, yknow, some Jay-Z, Lil Wayne those guys, but mostly reggae is what I listen to. I hear youre a bit of a soccer fan, what country were you pulling for in the World Cup? Yea, I used to play actually, until Grade 10 and then I stopped... but umm, none (laughs). Canada wasnt in it, man. I wasnt pulling for anybody, but the matches I did watch were intense. I just like to see good matches. I also hear youre a big fan of movies, what is your favourite movie right now? I watch so many movies, but Ive got into the TV shows lately. Im still watching Revenge, Im watching Orange Is the New Black, and Im watching Scandal... I watch it all, man! Especially on the road when you have a little bit of time in the hotel room, I watch all those TV shows. So what did it feel like to win an NBA Championship for you? It was great. As a kid every kid who plays basketball dreams about that, and to have it actually happen, and so quickly into my career… its definitely a blessing. And I mean… I cant even explain. I cant even explain how grateful and how much it makes me happy, or how good it makes me feel. pic.twitter.com/yr9dRzU60l — Cory Joseph (@Cory_Joe) June 16, 2014How is playing with and learninng from NBA Legend caliber players like Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili? Its an honour being able to come into a team where they have those players and be able to learn from them everyday. Jacke Long College Jersey. Its definitely an honour to just see what they do on a daily bases to be ready for the game, and how to be a complete professional in terms of off the court and on the court. I learn, I learn… not only on the court but off the court as well. I learn a lot everyday, man. And how do you like playing for Gregg Popovich? I love it. He is a great coach. He is very serious, but were all serious about getting better. He helps you, as long as youre putting your best effort out there, hes going to work with you to get better, and I love that about him. What is your favourite quote or advice that youve ever received from coach Pop? Well, from me being point guard, advice that hes given me in the past that I try to think of during the game or before I sub in is to not think that much. Thats what he tells me all the time. When I get out there, yknow, maybe I have a tendency to just think about the game too much, but sometime you just need a break. And thats what hes so good at, giving the guys breaks as well. And I think thats why you consistently see the Spurs in the postseason, because sometimes mentally and physically you just need a break from the game. When he just tells me not to think out there, to just be you, play yourself, be your game, because he knows I give my best effort, I think that helps me a lot. After winning a championship and learning from those players and coach – how will you take what youve learnt to help Team Canada improve? A lot. I will definitely take the whole atmosphere we have over at the Spurs organization and Ill try to imply that here with the guys on Team Canada. The focus that we had is the focus you need to be able to succeed at a high level. Ill definitely have to take that to Team Canada. Im the point guard so I gotta control, Ive gotta be the extension of the coach on the court. Ive gotta be able to hopefully drive this vehicle that we have into the right direction and keep on speeding down the highway. With Andrew Wiggins, Nik Stauskas and Tyler Ennis being drafted this year now... Oh for sure, we have a lot of talent that just got drafted. A lot of talent that hopefully can make rosters, a lot of talent overseas... Im excited and looking forward to this, man. #123462383 / gettyimages.com What advice do you have for young Canadian players who look up to you? Just believe… thats what its about. Its about believing and staying true to yourself, and that goes for when youre working on your game. Never get too high or too low, and dont let anybody try to say youre not good enough; you keep working, because thats what I did when I was younger. I never thought I was going to be here this quick. I just kept working; I believed that I could get there. So now when people say "oh youre from Canada, how did you make it? I thought that was a hockey country" thats what they always tell me. But with all these guys going pro now, hopefully we can get a balance here soon. I cant wait for all the Canadian basketball excitement; its going to be fun. Not only is it going to be fun for you as fans; its going to be a lot of fun as players. And now I have something over those other (Team Canada) players too, "youve got to listen to me, Im an NBA champion!" (laughs). Im just playing, but its going to be great. Authentic Nike Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Tennessee Titans Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Washington Redskins Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Arizona Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Denver Broncos Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Green Bay Packers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike New England Patriots Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Oakland Raiders Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Seattle Seahawks Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Carolina Panthers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Cleveland Browns Jerseys Cheap Cheap Throwback Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Atlanta Braves Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Baltimore Orioles Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Boston Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Chicago Cubs Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Chicago White Sox Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Cincinnati Reds Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Cleveland Indians Jerseys ' ' '