Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss Steve Nash, the Spirits handling of Terry Traffords passing, Ralph Krueger and NHL shootouts. Bruce Arthur, the National Post: My thumb is up to Steve Nash, who was shut down this week with nerve pain, which has been limiting him since a harmless-looking collision early last year. Hes only played 10 games for the Lakers this season and he looked like himself once. If this isnt the end of his 18-year career, then were getting close. So why thumbs up? Because of how hes facing it. Nash is making short films for ESPNs Grantland that are incredibly honest - jarringly so, at times - about what its like to face your athletic mortality and was incredibly honest again when I spoke to him this week. Nash and I are the same age; we both came from B.C.; we both played basketball and thats where the comparison ends. And again, hes showing me what it would be like. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to the eerie silence that has engulfed the Saginaw Spirit in the tragic wake of the passing of 20-year-old Terry Trafford.There are questions here – but, to date, no answers coming from the prominent junior hockey people, coach Greg Gilbert or general manager Jim Paliafito. We know, from Traffords father, that the Spirit sent Terry home for what Roy Trafford calls “disciplinary reasons.” And we know, from the same conversation, that the time away from the team was supposed to be temporary, a few days. Then something changed. What changed? We dont know. Telephone messages were left informing Trafford that he was no longer welcome to return to the team. What we dont know and may never know - is why. To date, the only people who have those answers arent sharing them. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: Forget the Dos Equis guy. My thumb is up to the truly most interesting man in the world, Ralph Krueger. Less than a month after being the big-ice guru for the Canadian mens Olympic hockey team, Krueger has switched continents and sports. He is now chairman of Southampton FC, having jumped to the rarified world of English Premier League soccer without prior experience in the game. Krueger can match resumes with anyone. The Manitoban played pro hockey in Germany, built the Swiss national program, coached the Edmonton Oilers before his premature firing and boosted Team Canada. He also is an active member of the World Economic Forum. Now, soccer. Bartender, Ill drink what Kruegers drinking. Dave Hodge, TSN: Thumbs down to the NHL and its inability to deal with its dislike of the shootout. At the GMs meetings in Florida, the NHL continued to look for ways to decrease the number of shootouts. One way would be to change overtime from four-on-four to three-on-three, but if youre making a list of ideas that are less popular than the shootout, start there. The NHL will consider a change of ends for overtime to put skaters farther from their benches, as they are in the second period, which, statistically, is the highest-scoring of the three periods. Okay. Keep trying. The easy solution would be for the NHL to give up and decide it likes the shootout. Oh, but as with visits from grandpa, it does - there just shouldnt be too many of them. Fake NBA Jerseys . -- Nelson Cruz has only two hits in 15 at-bats against the Kansas City Royals this season. Clearance NBA Jerseys . After not scoring 40 points in the opening quarter in the last five seasons, the Rockets have done it five times this season and twice in the last three games. https://www.nbachinajerseys.us/. Huntelaar also had a penalty saved by Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio. The two goals brought Huntelaars total for the season to 18, level with Bayern Munichs Mario Gomez for most in the league. Nike NBA Jerseys China . There is no argument that the line of Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Thomas Vanek was one of the hottest in the NHL leading into the post-season, and they did combine for three goals and seven points, but it was the depth of all four lines that helped propel Montreal. Wholesale NBA Jerseys . The commissioners office said Friday that Sears tested positive for metabolites of Methandienone. Sears will be 23 in March. He signed with the Braves in June 2013 out of Arizona Christian, an NAIA school, and is on the roster of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves. SAN FRANCISCO -- Jesus Guzman got to see plenty of pitches, thanks to Tommy Medica. That helped when he stepped to the plate a little later. Guzman, Chris Denorfia and Jedd Gyorko each homered and drove in two runs and the San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 9-3 on Saturday. Medica singled after a 14-pitch at bat, with Guzman watching intently from the on-deck circle. Guzman then homered in a four-run fourth inning. "I saw a lot of pitches and I hit it good," Guzman said. "He made the pitcher throw a lot of pitches and then he gets the hit." Hunter Pence, who reached a tentative agreement on a $90 million, five-year contract before the game, hit a two-run homer for the Giants. San Francisco had won three in a row. Eric Stults (11-13) pitched seven effective innings to win his third straight start after going 0-6 in his previous 10 starts. He also helped himself with an RBI single during a four-run fourth. "I made some adjustments and was able to follow through on them," Stults said. "Every player wants to end on a good note and sometimes you have to battle the storm a little and keep pushing through." Stults allowed three runs on seven hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out three. Yusmeiro Petit (4-1) lasted a season-low 3 2-3 innings, giving up five runs and seven hits. "I felt good all the way around," Petit said. "This is a learning experience for me because when I get into big trouble I have to find a way to get out of it." Luke Gregerson pitched the eighth and Nick Vincent worked the ninth. The Padres are a game ahead of the Giants in third place in the NL West. Denorfia led off the game with his career-best 10th home run. Angel Pagan doubled to open the bottom of the first and scored when Sandoval doubled with two outs.dddddddddddd Pence hit his 27th homer in the third to put the Giants ahead 3-1. His homer total is the highest for the Giants since Barry Bonds hit 28 in 2007. Petit retired the first two batters in the fourth and then gave up six consecutive hits, including the long at bat by Medica, before being replaced by George Kontos. "He was throwing everything," Medica said. "He kept making good pitches and I was fortunate to keep getting a piece of them until I finally got one fair." Chase Headley doubled ahead of Medica. Guzman hit his homer and consecutive singles from Alexi Amarista, Chris Robinson, making his first major league start, and Stults produced another run and ended Petits day. Stults, who retired his last nine hitters, threw a career-high 203 2-3 innings this season. "Its definitely a milestone," Stults said. "The goal was to make it through the season healthy and try to be reliable." The Padres added four runs in the ninth on Gyorkos 22nd home run, a two-run shot, and RBI singles from Denorfia and Reymond Fuentes. Gyorko has the most home runs by a rookie second baseman since Dan Uggla hit 27 for the Marlins in 2006. NOTES: Giants INF Brandon Belt will be working on his versatility during the off-season according to manager Bruce Bochy. ... RHP Guillermo Moscoso (2-2, 4.21) will start Sundays season finale for the Giants. Its his first start since Aug. 4. ... RHP Tyson Ross (3-8, 3.10) makes the start for the Padres on Sunday. He has an ERA of 2.80 over his last 12 starts. ... Denorfia hit his second leadoff homer of the season and seventh of his career. ... Medica had his first career three-hit game. ' ' '