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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 Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling. Bruce Arthur, National Post My thumb is down to Russias national mens hockey program, which is still making reverberations a week after Sochi. After falling in the quarter-finals for the second straight Olympics, Russias NHL stars came back angry. As Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wrote, Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin were unhappy for many reasons, but most of all resented the programs bias towards KHL players, which greatly distorted playing time, pairings, strategy, and felt like a punishment to Russian stars who dont play at home. Russia was one of the worlds great hockey powers, and a worthy rival to Canada; now its a mess, riven by petty rivalries. Its a shame, really. The Russians havent won a best-on-best tournament since the 1981 Canada Cup, and somehow they feel further away than ever. Steve Simmons, SUN Media My thumb is down to the International Olympic Committee for the mess it made of the Nicklas Backstrom gold medal game allergy pill fiasco. As a member of Swedens hockey delegation said, the IOC destroyed one of the greatest days in Olympic hockey history for the country. Backstrom, who did test positive for pseudo-ephedrine, didnt disagree with that assessment. The IOC first tested Backstrom last Wednesday. In the three days that followed, they never did do a second test. The Swedish team was not informed of Backstroms status until two hours before game time. Now dont get me wrong, the Swedes could have had Nicklas Backstrom, Ralph Backstrom, and all the Backstroms you can name available for the gold medal game and the result wouldnt have been different. What they didnt need was an unnecessary disruption, born of IOC ineptitude. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated My thumb is down to John Tortorella, not for his most recent apology but for the continual need to apologize. This time, the Canucks coach launched into a mea culpa after saying he favored Sweden in the Sochi final because he wanted his Swedish Olympians - Daniel Sedin and Alex Edler - to return with smiles on their faces. Tortorella wears blinders. Professionally, he sees the small picture, nothing beyond his team. Belatedly, of course, he grasped context - Vancouver … Canada. So four weeks after apologizing for losing his mind between periods against Calgary, he again was at a microphone wearing a hair shirt and a tight expression. Thats Tortorella, the never-ending sorry. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up to the excellence shown by Canadas Gold-medalists in curling - Jennifer Jones and her rink from Winnipeg and Brad Jacobs and his rink from Sault Ste. Marie. We used to take for granted Canadas worldwide dominance in curling, and then we didnt, because as good as the Canadians continued to be, several other countries showed they were capable of winning world titles. Not that Jones and Jacobs allow Canada to rest on its laurels, but the Sochi results were very impressive, and hows this for proof of Canadas wealth of curling talent - the Brier is underway in Kamloops and the field is strong with Jeff Stoughton, Kevin Koe, John Morris, and Brad Gushue. And imagine talking about a strong field that doesnt include Jacobs, Glenn Howard and Kevin Martin. Nate Palmer Jersey .com) - James van Riemsdyk had two goals with one assist to help the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night. LeShaun Sims Jersey . The roster changes have been constant and continuous since late last year, but even with their 46-man roster set for the start of the season, the banged-up Bombers will be kicking off Week 1 with a handful of fresh faces and back-ups in the starting lineup. http://www.officialtennesseetitansfootba...rsey-womens.com) - Charlie Davies netted a pair of goals, including the series-winner on Saturday, as the New England Revolution battled the New York Red Bulls to a 2-2 draw in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship at Gillette Stadium and advanced to MLS Cup final via a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory. Rashaan Evans Jersey .C. -- Kevin Harvick won his first career pole at Darlington Raceway on Friday as he looks to chase his first Southern 500. Dennis Kelly Jersey . Browns owner Jimmy Haslam announced the move with Young on Monday during a speech at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon.QUEBEC CITY - Early on, it was apparent the team that scored the last run would win at Le Stade Municipal in Quebec City Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Winnipeg Goldeyes, they didnt score that run. The Goldeyes (20-13) lost 6-5 to the Quebec Capitales in a see-saw affair. After Quebec grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, Donnie Webb and Reggie Abercrombie hit solo home runs in the top of the second to give Winnipeg their first lead of the night. The Capitales tied the game once again with a run in the bottom of the second, but the Goldeyes swiftly restored the lead in the top of the third. Josh Mazzolas sac fly brought in Casey Haerther and Abercrombie drilled a two-run double. "We hit a lot of balls hard today," Goldeyes pitching coach Jamie Vermilyea said on the Jewel 101 post-game show. "We were wearing out that left fielder with line drives." Howwever, Winnipegs three-run lead only shrank the rest night.dddddddddddd. Quebec scored twice in the bottom of the third to pull within a run before Jean Luc-Blaquiere hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to complete the comeback. Abercrombie led Winnipeg at the plate with a two-for-four night and three RBI. Tyler Kuhn also had a pair of hits. Goldeyes starter Ethan Hollingsworth went 5 1/3 innings in his Goldeyes debut, giving up four runs – three were earned – on nine hits. "He did well," Vermilyea said of Hollingsworth. "He only made a couple bad pitches and had some bad luck with soft-hit balls that found holes." Quebec starter Shawn Sanford picked up the win, while Gabe Aguilar, who gave up the home run to Blaquiere, suffered his first loss of the season. Kyle Regnault pitched the top of the ninth inning to get the save. 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