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Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. 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. Fake Air Max 270 For Sale .ca. Kerry, In the closing minutes of the second period of Game 4 between Pittsburgh and Columbus there were the remnants of two broken sticks behind the Pittsburgh net. Cheap Air Max 97 Wholesale . The 31-year-old, a two-time CFL lineman of the year, was among the most coveted free agents on the market. The Windsor, Ont., native will be especially important to a team that has lost veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo to retirement and is expected to go with the less experienced Troy Smith and Tanner Marsh this season. http://www.fakeairmaxukoutlet.com/best-m...eap-uk.html.com) - Hassan Whiteside scored 20 points with nine rebounds in the Miami Heats 83-75 win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Cheap Air Max 95 Wholesale Uk . Ghoulam has put pen to paper on a four and a half year deal, tying him to Napoli until 2018. The 22-year-old Algeria international, who played for France at Under 21 level, has made 87 league appearances in four seasons at Saint-Etienne. Air Max 90 Wholesale Uk . -- Arkansas didnt need a spectacular dunk to beat No.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Toronto Blue Jays are getting a big part of their offence back at the cost of a fan favourite. With shortstop and leadoff hitter Jose Reyes set to come off the disabled list on Wednesday, the club optioned Munenori Kawasaki to triple-A Buffalo after Tuesdays 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The eccentric Kawasaki has endeared himself to both fans and players in Toronto since being called up from the minors after Reyes suffered a left ankle sprain in mid-April. The 32-year-old Kawasaki brought energy to a struggling team and helped the Blue Jays to a club-record tying 11-game winning streak that got them back into playoff contention after a disastrous start to the season. "Its tough," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "You feel for the kid -- he did a tremendous job for us. But hell be back." Kawasaki had a modest .225 batting average with 17 RBIs in 60 games with Toronto, but he also had a flair for the dramatic. The Japanese shortstop had a walk-off double against Baltimore last month and blasted his first major league home run on Friday in Torontos 7-6 victory over those same Orioles. Fans at Rogers Centre chanted Kawasakis name after his homer in the seventh tied the game 6-6, and he obliged them with a curtain call that included three bows. "I love the guy. Hes a great guy the way he handles his business," Blue Jays starter Mark Buehrle said. "On the other side were getting Reyes back.dddddddddddd We know what he brings to the table and hopefully he can kind of spark this team." Kawasaki accepted his demotion to triple-A gracefully. "Im just one lucky guy to be able to play the game and play the game in this environment," Kawasaki said through an interpreter. "So I dont feel like I came up here to show anybody anything other than how much I love the game of baseball and Ill continue to do that. I feel like Im just one lucky guy." In Reyes, the Blue Jays are getting a dynamic player who joined the club in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins during a busy off-season. Before getting hurt while sliding into second base at Kansas City on April 13, Reyes was one of the lone bright spots for the Blue Jays early in 2013. In 10 games, he batted .395 with five RBIs, five runs scored, five stole bases and one home run. "Im very excited about (returning from injury)," Reyes said. "I missed two months of doing what I love to do and now I know Im going to be on the field one more time around my team. The way theyre playing, I want to be part of the success theyre having right now." Gibbons says Reyes has no limitations. "Hes one of those centrepieces of our team," Gibbons said. "Before he got hurt he was great. He was playing really well. Hes been gone a while and now maybe he can put us over the top. Well see." -- With files from The Associated Press ' ' '