Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Stephen Gostkowski Jersey . This week they discuss the Paralympic spirit, a good day for King James, the future of football in Toronto and one truly ugly game at Staples Center. Bruce Arthur, The National Post: My thumb is up to the Paralympics, which began Friday in Sochi, or, more specifically to the Paralympians involved. There were calls for athlete boycotts after Russia sent troops into Ukraine the day after the Olympics ended, but an athlete boycott was a silly and callous idea; it would have no effect on the invasion except to deprive those who push the edge of human possibility from something they deserve, even in a diminished spotlight. Instead, at the opening ceremony Friday, we saw a significant political statement from Ukraine, which sent just one of its 23 athletes to march in the opening ceremony. We didnt see anything that meaningful two weeks ago; Im glad we saw it now. The Paralympics, and Paralympians, deserve whatever spotlight they get. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to LeBron James, and not for being the best player in the NBA or for the career-high 61 points he tossed up the other night. LeBron travelled last night to Cleveland, between games and against the advice of the Miami Heat, so he could be part of the ceremony that honoured his former Cavaliers teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas. LeBron played more games with Ilgauskas as a teammate than anyone else he has played with in his 11-year career and he wanted to be there for his good friend and to see him honoured. In an NBA world in which selfishness reigns supreme, King James showed another side of himself last night. A surprisingly likable side. Dave Naylor, TSN Radio: My thumb is up to the Buffalo Bills who this week pulled the plug - at least for one year - on the Bills in Toronto series. For something that once stirred rabid debate across this country, the Bills playing in Toronto turned out to be much ado about nothing. The product was lousy, the prices too high and – oh, yes - that infamous news conference. But what also became obvious was the disconnect between Torontos sports fans and somebody elses NFL team. I dont know if there will ever be another NFL game played in Toronto, but the only way it makes sense is if one of the teams playing is Toronto. Dave Hodge, TSN: It was going to be "thumbs down" to the LA Lakers for the worst game in their history - that would be Thursdays loss by 48 points to the Clippers - but really, it should be "thumbs up" to the Lakers for their contribution to the anti-tanking movement, which seeks to change the NBAs draft lottery. Theres no proof that the Lakers tanked against the Clippers, except the scoreboard, and the 18,000 eyewitnesses at Staples Center, and the open encouragement of a "Riggin for Wiggins" campaign. The NBA needs to act, and the NHL needs to follow before next season a strategy unfolds that could be known as "Lose honor, get Connor". Chandler Jones Jersey .m. Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Seattle Sounders FC hopes to rebound from a mid-week loss at D.C. United when it travels to Columbus for a Major League Soccer clash with the Crew on Saturday. Shane Vereen Jersey . Louis Cardinals have agreed on a four-year contract, giving the All-Star a fresh start after his Biogenesis drug suspension last summer. BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Greg Biffle knows he wont be perfect all season. Hell take what he can get right now. The Sprint Cup points leader continued his strong start to the season Friday by winning the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway. "I know this isnt going to last all season, but Im enjoying the hell out of it right now," Biffle said. He turned a lap of 125.215 mph in his Roush Fenway Racing Ford to take the top qualifying spot for Sundays race. Biffle has opened the season with three third-place finishes, and has not qualified lower than ninth. "I gotta pinch myself. I think Im dreaming," he said. "Im having a great time, the time of my life." Its the 10th pole of Biffles career, but his first at Bristol. Hes credited his strong start to the season to an off-season overhaul to his No. 16 team. Biffle has a new crew chief in Matt Puccia, and every crew member was changed. "They are a great group of guys, Im happy to have them," Biffle said. "Just plain and simply Matt Puccia is the reason why were running and competing and finishing where we are. This team needed leadership and he was willing to step up and take the task on and hes done a fantastic job so far." AJ Allmendinger qualified second in a Penske Racing Dodge. Its his first top-10 starting position of 2012, but third in 10 previous Sprint Cup races at Bristol. Allmendinger has had a rough starrt to his first season with Penske, opening the year with a 34th-place finish at Daytona followed by an 18th at Phoenix and a 37th at Las Vegas. Vince Wilfork Jersey. "This has never been a place that Im really good at," Allmendinger said. "We tested this week and learned some things, came into here, and was able to put them on the race car and really just have a solid day overall. Weve had a tough start to the season, and definitely not the way we imagined when we signed. But its still early." Ryan Newman qualified third in a Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing. Jeff Gordon qualified fourth in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Brad Keselowski was fifth to put both Penske cars in the top five. Regan Smith was sixth, followed by Aric Almirola, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Kasey Kahne. Timmy Hill was the only driver who failed to qualify. Robby Gordon withdrew because of mechanical problems. Brian Vickers will make his first start of the season, driving the No. 55 Toyota in place of Mark Martin for Michael Waltrip Racing. He has a six-race deal to drive the races Martin does not. Vickers will start 25th, and said Bristol is not the ideal track for a season debut. "This would not be my pick," he said. "If someone said, OK, youre going to be out of the car for a while, miss a few races and where do you want to start? it wouldnt be Bristol. Thats all right." ' ' '
