Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week, they discuss sports off-day, the MLB All-Star game, Canadas field lacrosse team and Huston Streets comments upon being traded. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star My thumb is up to Wednesday of this past week. Now, you probably read and heard a lot of sympathetically depressed moaning about how it was the slowest sports day of the year - no baseball, no hockey, no basketball, no football, and nothing to entertain those in search of sports except... Well, Major League Soccer, the Tour de France, and the ESPYs, featuring Drake. Thats hardly nothing, the semi-vacancy of the ESPYs aside, but you know what? Good. We could use some time with less sports. The days are packed with sports. Christmas day is basically a basketball tournament now. We could use some time to breathe, take a walk, reconnect with family, learn to make a bookshelf. Sports are fun, no question. But how can we miss them when they wont go away? Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun My thumb is down to major league baseball, the Minnesota Twins and broadcasters of the All-Star game for failing to appropriately recognize the passing of Tony Gwynn just one month ago. Its not like Gwynn was just another player. He was a 15-time All-Star, perhaps the most beloved figure in a game with not enough beloved figures, and yet somehow there was no tribute to Gwynn throughout the three hour Derek Jeter infomercial that we endured. And I have nothing but regard for Derek Jeter, who has had a storied career; but there should have been something for Gwynn. For the fans. For baseball. A moment of silence. Some words of tribute. Something. At least Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles had it right. He wrote in marker on his baseball cap the initials TG with the number 19. He had the sense of moment baseball didnt have. Gary Lawless, TSN Radio My thumb is up to Canadas national mens field lacrosse team for winning the world championship last night. Canada defeated the U.S., handing the Americans just their third loss in tournament history dating back to 1967. All three of those U.S. losses have come to Canada and all three in championship games, 1978, 2006 and now 2014. Lacrosse is our national sport but its box lacrosse most Canadians play, not field. In fact, Canada has never lost a box lacrosse game at the worlds. Winning the field championship doesnt qualify as a shock but more of a nice surprise. Congrats to Team Canada, who just so happened to be one of the youngest teams weve ever sent to the worlds, and will be a very serious threat to repeat in 2018. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up to the refreshing comments of relief pitcher/closer Huston Street as he departed the bottom-feeding San Diego Padres for the playoff-bound Los Angeles Angels. There would be lots to say about the horrible state of the Padres franchise, but street said this; "I believe in the ownership--they want to win--theyre not satisfied with the status quo. I blame the players for what has happened here." Well, even though theres plenty of blame to go around and it does extend to the front office and to ownership - the Padres field a lineup that is not of big-league quality - Street is quite right, as a player, to let others find fault with others and to say that, of all the reasons teams lose, the biggest reason is always that players perform badly. Ray Allen Bucks Jersey . And once again, Team Homan emerged as the victor with the reigning national champions defeating Team Sweeting at the Pintys All-Star Curling Skins Game Friday night in the tournaments opening draw at The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre in beautiful Banff National Park. Wesley Matthews Bucks Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. https://www.bucksrookiesshop.com/Robin-Lopez-City-Edition-Jersey/ . You can watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 3pm et/Noon pt. The Thunder reclaimed the home-court advantage LA took with a Game 1 win on Friday night with a 118-112 road win in Game 3. Pau Gasol Bucks Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. Jason Smith Jersey .Y. -- First, Patrick Kane gave his family and friends something to cheer about by scoring a highlight-reel goal in a rare trip home to Buffalo on Sunday night.Despite just one regulation win in their last 15 games, Dave Nonis re-iterated that he is committed to both Randy Carlyles coaching staff and to supporting the teams young players, particularly Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner. Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Randy didnt get stupid overnight, hes a heck of a coach,” Nonis said, pointing out that he felt the Carlyle-led staff was the biggest reason the team broke its nearly decade-long post-season drought last year, adding that rumblings about his job security are “completely unfounded.” The GM, still in his first year on the job after taking over on January 9 from Brian Burke, named “consistency” as the teams biggest concern 36 games into the season. “Its not that we havent seen high-level play from them, its that it hasnt happened on a 60-minute basis very often, and it hasnt happened on a nightly basis and that has to change if we want to turn this around. Despite the ongoing struggles, Nonis has been encouraged by the play of the Leafs youngsters, particularly on the back-end. “One of the bright spot of our slide has been the play of our young players,” Nonis said, noting that Gardiner and Rielly “are the future of our team.” The decision to keep Rielly was one the Leafs brass had battled with all season, but with the 19-year-old demonstrating that he was one of the teams “top two or three defenceman over the last five games,” the choice was made to allow him to develop his game in the NHL. “His play dictated that he was going to be (with the Leafs moving forward),” Nonis said, while also mentioning that he expects both Rielly and Gardiner to keep playing on a regular basis. Furthering his commitment to the teams youth, Nonis made it known that the Leafs are going to have to live with the mistakes made by players like Rielly and Gardiner if the team wants them to develop properly.dddddddddddd “Theres very few young defencemen in this league that dont make mistakes, particularly ones that are offensive minded like Jake,” Nonis explained. “Jake has a bit of a gamblers mentality and thats what makes him special and what makes him dangerous and it also causes some turnovers.” Asked about whether he has explored trade possibilities, Nonis said he is having discussions but is not willing to pull the trigger on deals which would negatively impact his teams future. “If the moves available are going to hurt your team long-term, then theres absolutely no reason to make any of those moves.” Regarding questions about the teams leadership, Nonis gave his captain a strong vote of confidence, while also saying the loss of veteran centre Dave Bolland may have had a bigger impact than many thought. “Dion has probably played the best hockey he has as a Leaf, this year,” Nonis said. “The one guy that I think weve really missed in terms of how he plays the game in terms of what he brought to us early on is Dave Bolland. He was a catalyst early on for our team and I think a lot of the players were following him.” Touching on his big free-agent acquisition David Clarkson, Nonis explained he isnt expecting the $5.2-million-a-year winger to replicate the 30-goal season he had with the Devils in 2011-12, but does need him to provide something more than what he has demonstrated thus far. “We need David Clarkson to be David Clarkson. I dont think hes a 30-goal scorer, we said that when we signed him. We need him to be hard to play against...he needs to be himself, he cant do more than hes capable of.” ' ' '