Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Jerry Noonan Jersey Online . 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. Ed Allen Jersey Online . He liked what he saw on Tuesday night. Not only did his team post a comeback 3-2 victory in a shootout over the Montreal Canadiens, but the rival Washington Capitals were beaten 5-1 in Buffalo. Cheap Jerseys Authentic . The 22-year-old Spanish midfielder recently signed a new three-year contract with Chelsea, and after spending last season on loan with Valencia in La Liga, Romeu will move to the Bundesliga for the 2014-15 campaign. https://www.cheapjerseysatwholesale.com/garrett-wolfe-jersey-online/ . Sopoaga hit the upright with his first shot at goal from 15 metres. He then kicked nine goals in succession -- two conversions and seven penalties -- before being replaced in the 62nd minute, three points short of the Highlanders record for most points in a match.Hallandale Beach, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Upstart, the 2-1 second pick, pulled away down stretch to capture Saturdays $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, with nine 3-year-olds, had 3-1 third choice Bluegrass Singer setting the pace. He led the closely bunched field up the backstretch with Upstart and jockey Jose Ortiz right behind and 3-2 favorite Frosted running fourth. Upstart, trained by Richard Violette, easily moved to the lead entering the stretch and proceeded to pull away to a 5 1/2-length win over Frosted with Bluegrass Singer holding on for third. You never know if they make the grade from 2 to 3, but today it looks like he stepped up, said Violette. Juan and Bina was fourth followed by Keen Ice, Frammento, First Down, Decision Day and High Noon Rider who was eased. Dom thhe Bomb was scratched to run in the earlier Hutcheson Stakes. Josh Whitman Jersey Online. The time for the Holy Bull on a fast track was 1:43.61. The victory was worth 10 points for Upstart to enter the Kentucky Derby on May 2. The 3-year-old now has a total of 16 points in the Kentucky Derby points system. Owned by Ralph Evans, Upstart pocketed $240,000 with Saturdays victory. He has won three of five starts for $703,800. Upstart won his first two starts, including the Funny Cide Stakes, at Saratoga and was second in Belmont Parks Champagne Stakes. He finished third in the Breeders Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1. Upstart paid $6.20, $3.20 and $2.40. Frosted returned $3.00 and $2.40, and Bluegrass Singer paid $2.80 to show. Next for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream is the Fountain of Youth on Feb. 21 with the Florida Derby on March 28. ' ' '