miaowang123: Monterrey to earn the final playoff spot. O

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Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Custom Edmonton Oilers Jerseys . 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. Jujhar Khaira Jersey . "If we could score a six in every game, obviously I would be pretty excited," Jones said. "Its a long week but a short week. Its a pretty short round robin from what were used to so you dont want to get behind the eight ball early. Bill Ranford Jersey . The 10-year deal the league and players agreed to that ended the 2011 lockout gave either side the right to opt out after six years. With the league projecting financial growth, there has been speculation that players will take that option in three years, especially since a new national TV contract will be in place by then.Mexico City, Mexico (SportsNetwork.com) - Juan Carlos Medina scored the deciding goal with 21 minutes to play on Saturday as Atlas claimed a 2-1 win over America in a battle of first and third place in the Apertura table. After suffering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Leon back on Nov. 1, Atlas finished their Apertura schedule with a draw and a win to finish in third place heading into the playoffs. America heads into the playoffs searching for form as the club closed its Apertura season on a four-match losing streak. Despite the recent stumble, America finished on top of the table with 31 points, level with Tigres and Atlas, but on top via goal difference. Atlas opened the scoring on Saturday after 33 minutes through a goal from Maikon Leite, but the home side drew level four minutes before the break through Oribe Peralta. Medinas winner came in the 69th minute and the club held on to claim all three points and finish level on points with America. Atlas will face Monterrey in the playoff quarterfinals, while America will fface Pumas. Jesse Puljujarvi Jersey. . Also in Mexico on Saturday, Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored a pair of goals, including a 90th-minute penalty kick as Puebla and Santos played to a 3-3 draw, while Marco Fabian and Marcelo Alatorre swapped goals as Leones Negros and Cruz Azul finished level at 1-1. Damian Ariel Alvarezs 90th-minute strike lifted Tigres to a 2-1 win over Toluca, while Aviles Hurtado late goal helped Pachuca claim a 1-0 win over Veracruz. Finally on Saturday, Jaguares earned a 2-1 win over Queretaro to finish fifth in the table. Sundays lone match saw Eduardo Herrera score a brace to go with goals from Dante Lopez and David Cabrera as Pumas claimed a 4-2 win over Monterrey to earn the final playoff spot. On Friday, Guadalajara earned a 2-1 win over Morelia, while Tijuana edged Leon, 3-2. The Apertura playoffs will get underway this week with top-seed America facing Pumas, while second-seed Tigres battles seventh-seed Pachuca. Third-seed Atlas faces sixth-seed Monterrey, while fourth-seed Toluca plays fifth-seed Jaguares. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL JerseysCheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys China China Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Jerseys ' ' '