The Olympiques

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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 Johnny Manziel, late-night fans at the US Open, UFC president Dana White and the upcoming International Olympic Committee meetings. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is up to Johnny Manziel, the Heisman-winning, Texas A&M quarterbacking, moneyed-family, hell-raising ball of fire who had to sit out of the first half of Saturdays win over Rice. It was punishment for allegedly signed autographs for cash, something which is only illegal for celebrities in the NCAA. The NCAA couldnt or wouldnt prove it, but decided a half of football would learn him. It was a ridiculous penalty, and one Manziel appeared to mock by pretending to refuse an autograph to a Rice defender just before his first touchdown pass. So why thumbs up? Because Johnny Football keeps getting more famous, and as he does, he is putting the lie to the NCAAs rules so easily. And hes making it so much fun. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to the late-night fans at the US Open, who grab this tennis tournament and take it to another level. Where else do you see matches starting at 11pm et or Midnight and a crowd hanging in to the end, not leaving early, wanting to see the last of James Blake, or just another match with Serena Williams or Roger Federer as we saw the last few nights. Ive been fortunate enough to get to sporting events all over the world but for me, theres nothing quite like the US Open with its late nights and crowd participation in the city that never sleeps. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is down to UFC president Dana White for a lack of curiosity. White said this week he wants to take his cartoonish brand of martial arts to Russia. When asked about Russias new anti-gay legislation and the furor surrounding it regarding the Sochi Olympics, White said, "No, I know nothing about it." Unless you were vacationing on Mars, this was a tough story to miss. Newspapers, television networks, Twitterverse, even people who comment on sports were talking about it. Maybe you wont let Russian law stand in the way of a buck, but pay attention. Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is down to any mention of the true spirit of amateur sport when the International Olympic Committee meets next week in Buenos Aires to choose a new president and a host city for 2020. Let me read from an Associated Press story that previewed this IOC session: "Prime ministers, royalty, sports stars and celebrities will be part of an election extravaganza that will have the flavour of a political carnival, replete with last-minute campaigning, backstage vote-chasing and round-the-clock lobbying by spin doctors, consultants and strategists." The important thing is not to take part, but to win. Air Max Soldes Pas Cher . The Union looked to have grabbed a big win in the 88th minute when Amobi Okugo finally put the hosts in front. But a terrible giveaway by Union goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi handed Earnshaw the equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time, keeping the Union two points back of fifth-place Red Bull New York for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Air Max Pas Cher Livraison Rapide .com) - Manchester City will face a steep test in the Champions League knockout stage as the English champions were drawn with Barcelona on Monday. http://www.airmaxpascherfrance.fr/ . And thats good news for Canada. Kelly, who plays No. 8 at the back of the scrum, is captain of the Canadian womens team. Air Max Pas Cher France . After missing 20 games as a rookie a year ago, Valanciunas - like the Raptors as a whole - has been fortunate to be in good health this season. As he spoke about it, the Raptors sophomore centre scanned the room for wood to knock on. "It is disappointing because we lost today so thats the worst part of the day," said Valanciunas, who left Tuesdays game with a lower-back sprain in the third quarter, missing the rest of Torontos 118-113 overtime defeat at the hands of the Hawks. Air Max Pas Cher Solde .K. Subban and Matt Duchene will be the two skaters sitting out the teams opening game.SHERBROOKE, Que. - Emile Poirier scored four times as the Gatineau Olympiques crushed the host Sherbrooke Phoenix 7-2 on Wednesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Tommy Lapierre had a pair of goals for the Olympiques (31-17-4), who are 3-0-2 in their last five outings, while Simon Tardif-Richard scored once. Marc Beckstead, Taylor Burke and Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin chipped in with two assists apiece. Daniel Audette and Tim Wieser scored for the Phoenix (15-30-7), who dropped their fourth straight, and Gabriel Labbe assisted on both of his clubs goal. Gatineaus Anthony Brodeur only had to make 15 saves for his 11th win of the season. Sherbrookes Maxime Lagace turned aside 40-of-47 shots in a losing cause. The Olympiques went 1 for 1 on the power play while the Phoenix failed to score on their two chances with the man advantage. --- WILDCATS 4 TITAN 3 (OT) MONCTON, N.B. — Stephen Johnson scored 1:34 into extra time as the Wildcats handed Acadie-Bathurst its 10th straight loss. Christopher Caissy, Christophe Lalonde and Ivan Barbashev also scored for Moncton (26-25-2) and Vladimir Tkachev chipped in with two assists. Matthew Beaudreau scored all three goals for the Titann (17-34-6) while Scott Oke and Alexandros Soumakis each picked up two assists.dddddddddddd Jason Rioux made 21 saves for the Wildcats as Acadie-Bathursts Jacob Brennan allowed four goals on 19 shots. --- CATARACTES 2 DRAKKAR 1 SHAWINIGAN, Que. — Marvin Cupper kicked out 42 shots as the Cataractes snapped Baie-Comeaus 11-game win streak. Giovanni Fiore and Felix-Antoine Bergeron scored for Shawinigan (15-31-7), which went 1 for 3 on the power play. Maxime St-Cyr scored at 18:39 of the third period for the Drakkar (36-13-4), who failed to score on three chances with the man advantage. Baie-Comeaus Philippe Cadorette stopped 20-of-22 shots in a losing cause. --- HUSKIES 6 SCREAMING EAGLES 3 ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. — Jean-Sebastien Dea had three goals and an assist as the Huskies doubled up Cape Breton. Marcus Power scored once and set up three more for Rouyn-Noranda (28-18-5) while Francis Beauvillier and Justin Guenette each had a goal and an assist. Bradley Lalonde, Bronson Beaton and Cameron Darcy scored for the Screaming Eagles (27-23-3). Alexandre Belanger made 34 saves for the Huskies as Cape Bretons Zachary Fortin turned away 28-of-33 shots in defeat. --- Authentic Nike Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Tennessee Titans Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Washington Redskins Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Arizona Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Denver Broncos Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Green Bay Packers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike New England Patriots Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Oakland Raiders Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Seattle Seahawks Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Carolina Panthers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Cleveland Browns Jerseys Cheap Cheap Throwback Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Atlanta Braves Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Baltimore Orioles Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Boston Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Chicago Cubs Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Chicago White Sox Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Cincinnati Reds Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Cleveland Indians Jerseys ' ' '