The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports.

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Throwback Bears Jerseys . This week they discuss Toronto mayor Rob Ford, the new Hockey Hall of Fame class, the success of Manny Malhotra, and Adam Pardys helmet in Chicago. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is down to Rob Ford, though not for all his various misdeeds, specifically. No, it is because he has ballooned into a globally famous Hindenburg of a mayor and he had dragged this citys sports along with him. When he threatened a Toronto Star reporter near his house he met the press in an Argonauts shirt. The first time he was photographed with accused extortionist and drug trafficker Sandro Lisi was at a Leafs game in a Leafs jersey. After the chief of police announced that yes, a crack tape did exist, Ford responded wearing his Raptors tie. And when he finally admitted to crack cocaine use, Ford - a longtime proponent of Torontos chase for an NFL team - wore an old NFL tie. Lets be honest, the citys sports scene is used to indignity but it is not used to it being inflicted by someone else. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2013 but in particular to the long overdue induction of the late Freddie Shero in the builders category. And build and leave an imprint is what Shero did. He last coached in the NHL 33 years ago but hardly a day goes by that we dont reference something he said or did. He was the first to use assistant coaches in hockey and the first to implement a variety of systems and breakouts, depending on game circumstances. He wrote on the board to his Philadelphia Flyers "Win today, and we walk together forever." From the championship teams in Philadelphia, he joins the owner, the general manager, the captain and the goaltender in the Hall of Fame, together forever. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is up to Manny Malhotra who had the breakaway winner for Carolina last Tuesday against the Flyers. This represented not just a triumph for the Hurricanes, but a victory of the human spirit. Malhotra, of course, suffered what would, and probably should, have been a career-ending eye injury in 2012. Certainly Vancouver, his former team, thought he should have retired for his own safety. The Canucks pleas stemmed from the same genuine health concerns fans have when they see athletes like oft-concussed B.C. Lions quarterback Buck Pierce soldiering on. But it is never our call, is it? These men know the risk and Malhotra reaped the reward. We can only applaud. Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is up to the hockey moment that managed to somehow fit right in with all of the news coming out of the mayors office in Toronto. I neednt spell out the comparisons, but first, there needs to be a video that everyone wants to see. In this case it is Adam Pardy of the Jets going into the boards and through the glass whereupon he lost his helmet to a...how would you describe the guy? In this context, that would be dangerous, but Im safe in saying that the beer poured over Pardys head seems to fit. And the two fans were quickly removed from their seats and escorted out of Chicagos United Center, easier to do in some places than others. Kylie Fitts Stitched Jersey . However, the intensity and physicality that has characterized the postseason so far has caught Gretzky by surprise. "Its a little bit risqué right now," Gretzky told Philadelphia radio station 97. Joel Iyiegbuniwe Stitched Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.officialbearsnflauthenticshop.com/anthony-miller-stitched-jersey/ . He just didnt expect them to be this good. Darrun Hilliard scored 19 points to lead No. 6 Villanova to a dominating 77-59 victory over Georgetown on Saturday, preserving the Wildcats hopes of a No. MIAMI -- LeBron James says his new protective mask is hot, uncomfortable and prone to fogging up. Plus, as teammate Dwyane Wade pointed out, it looks weird. So James is in the market for design suggestions. "Ive been talking to Marvel Comics for the last couple of days, and DC Comics, to try to come up with one of the greatest masks of all time," James said with a chuckle Wednesday. "So well see what happens." James spoke after trying out his new mask for the first time in practice. He plans to use it Thursday when the Miami Heat play the New York Knicks. The game will be the first for James since he broke his nose last Thursday in a victory at Oklahoma City. He and his mask took part in contact drills Wednesday, and coach Erik Spoelstra was encouraged by James progress. "Hell give it a shot Thursday," Spoelstra said. "He was able to go through today without any hiccups. But he also didnt take a hit today." Given James aggressive style of play, hes bound to receive an inadvertent blow to the face sooner or later. Thus the mask. "It lessens the impact," said James, who wore a mask 10 years ago to protect a broken cheek. "You can still feel it, because the nose is still tender. But it definitely lessens the pain." James had removed his clear mask by the time media were admitted to the gym for the end of practice, but teammates provided a description. "He looked like every other player in a mask -- it looks weird," Wade said. "He looks like the LeBron that wore a mask the first time, only about 30 pounds heavier, a little more muscular, a little less hair." Said Shane Battier with a grin: "As long as No. 6 is in uniform, he looks all right to me." James was on a roll when hurt. On Thursday hell try for his fifth consecutive 30-point game, which would be the second-longest such streak in Heat history. The Heat have won five consecutive games and trail Easterrn Conference leader Indiana by one game. Camo Bears Jerseys. But theyve been prone to stumble against weak opponents, and their next three games are at home against team with losing records -- the Knicks, Magic and Bobcats. Nine of the Heats 14 defeats, including one against the Knicks, have come versus teams that are below .500. "You dont want to lose to the good teams. And you dont want to lose to the teams that arent as good," Wade said. "So then you would be 82-0. Youve got to lose to somebody. You cant play your A game for 82 games, so you have some of those moments. It happens to every team. Were no different." Lately the two-time defending NBA champions have been consistently on their A game, in part because of stout defence. They held Oklahoma City to 81 points, which tied the Thunders season low, then held Chicago to 79 in a victory Sunday as an antsy James watched from the bench. The injury-plagued Knicks have lost their past three games, and in their season of upheaval, the latest jarring development came Tuesday. Point guard Raymond Felton was arraigned on two felony weapons possession charges following an early-morning arrest. After going 54-28 last season, the Knicks are 21-36. "They havent forgotten how to play," Spoelstra said. "Theyve been injury-riddled all year long, and thats tough to deal with. That adversity coming into our game is irrelevant. Im sure theyll be ready." The Knicks split two games earlier this season against Miami, and theyre one of the few teams with a player who can match James basket for basket. Carmelo Anthony has scored more than 40 points in three of the past four games. James said hes sorry to see his friend endure such a difficult season in the standings. "I want him to win, and I want him to succeed," James said. "Obviously he has been playing great basketball, but I definitely dont like seeing him lose the way theyve been losing." Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '