o an encouraging start after the break and

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week, they discuss the ongoing Redskins name debate, a truly dominant pitching performance, the bargain basement standards of the LPGA and MLBs latest fine import. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star: My thumb is down to the Washington Redskins name debate, and not just because theres any debate at all over the most clearly racist name in sports. No, its because the debates getting dumber by the second, as it ratchets up. A sitting U.S. Congressman - low bar, I know - compared Barack Obama to Kim Jong-Il, or -Un, after a federal trademark case declared the name derogatory. A Fox News host - low bar, I know - compared the name to the New York Giants offending tall people. This happens often, and its always, always stupid, people. Its like the Yankees, or the Lakers, or the Dallas Cowboys of stupid. Calling Dallas the Cowboys, of course, should only be offensive to competent and/or humble cowboys, one and all. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to Clayton Kershaw, superstar pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who brought the no-hitter back into vogue with a performance for the ages Wednesday night at Coors Field. And I know what youre thinking: another no-hitter, big deal. Theres been so many of them in recent seasons that weve all grown a little bored of pitchers we didnt know or care about throwing another no-no. But it was different against the Colorado Rockies. This is a big name - Kershaw - striking out 15 batters, walking no one, in total command, only reaching the count of three balls on one batter and had it not been for an error by Hanley Ramirez, were talking perfect game here. Add Vin Scully broadcasting to the occasion and baseball doesnt get any better than that. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is down not to 11-year-old Lucy Li, who qualified for the U.S. Open, but to womens professional golf, whose thimble-deep talent pool made it possible for an 11-year old to qualify. The sixth-grader, who looked like she should be entered in a hopscotch tournament and not slugging it out on Pinehurst no. 2, shot a pair of credible 78s, a score that matched marquee names Natalie Gulbis and Laura Davies but left her far off the cut. Nice two-day story. But rather than celebrate the presence of a sprite in the event, shouldnt the USGA, and by extension the LPGA, be mortified a novice qualified? The kid is precocious, but she isnt exactly Mozart. Dave Naylor, TSN: And my thumb is up to Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees for proving that sometimes a player really is worth all the hype. You may remember how Tanakas transfer from Japan was the major story of the MLB off-season. You may also remember that when the first Major Leage hitter he faced in Melky Cabrera took him deep … some were wondering if the Yankees had just uncovered the next “Dice-K” Matsuzaka. Well right now Tanaka leads the American League in wins and ERA and is among the leaders in innings-pitched, as well as strikeouts and walks per nine innings. And hes looking like a good bet to win both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year honours. Coming off a perfect 24-0 record in Japan last season, experts cautioned not to expect the same thing from Tanaka in the major leagues. And they were right. After all, on May 20th against the Cubs he did something he never did all of last season in japan. He took the loss. Kemba Walker Jersey . Rinehart joins safety Darrell Stuckey and linebacker Donald Butler as potential unrestricted free agents who are remaining with the team. Marvin Williams Jersey .com) - Sixth-seeded Feliciano Lopez was a first-round winner on Monday at the Delray Beach Open tennis event. http://www.hornetsteamproshop.com/Cheap-...ets-Jersey/.com) - Even-money favorite Liams Map proved a little too tough down the stretch and won Saturdays $100,000 Harlans Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Charlotte Hornets Jerseys .com) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quickly found themselves a new offensive coordinator, and one thats quite familiar with the NFC South. Michael Carter-Williams Jersey . Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed on Sunday that his starting goalie has a head injury and the team will take it day by day.PORTLAND, OREGON – Vancouver Whitecaps FC claimed their second straight win at the Rose City Invitational on Wednesday, defeating San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 on the strength of a first-half Kenny Miller marker and a late Darren Mattocks penalty. Making his first start of the preseason, Miller put the ‘Caps ahead in the 26th minute and Mattocks added an insurance marker – his second goal in as many matches – to carry the ‘Caps to victory. Recently acquired goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi looked sharp when called upon, making a pair of saves to earn a clean sheet in his first appearance with Whitecaps FC. After opening the Rose City Invitational with a 5-1 win over Portmore United on Sunday, Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson made a full squad change for Wednesdays tilt with San Jose. Eleven new players – most of the youthful variety – drew into the starting lineup. In addition to Miller, who wore the captains armband and played in an attacking midfielder position behind lone central forward Omar Salgado, one of those players was Christian Dean . Just as he has all preseason, the 20-year-old impressed again on Wednesday – both on and off the ball. Robinson opted to use Dean at left back, which moved Sam Adekugbe up to the left wing. And it was the Homegrown defender who created the first goal of the match in the 26th minute. Adekugbe, who made his way over to the right side of the park, ran onto a perfectly-weighted ball by Salgado and laid it into the box for Miller, who hit it first timee into the back of the net.dddddddddddd Aside from the Scotsmans tally, there wasnt much room for either side in the opening 25 minutes. One player who looked lively for the ‘Caps was Salgado, who was very active in the lone central forward position. At the other end of the park, the Quakes had a pair of great first-half opportunities. But a sliding Carlyle Mitchell clearance off the goal line in the 12th minute and a sprawling save by Tornaghi on an Adam Jahn break just moments after Millers marker kept them off the scoresheet. Vancouver made one change at the half, as Residency midfielder Marco Bustos replaced Miller in the attacking midfielder position. Robinsons side got off to an encouraging start after the break and Salgado was once again involved. First, Dean whipped in a low cross to Salgado in the 52nd minute, but the 6-foot-4 strikers first-time effort just missed wide of the near post. A few minutes later, Salgado let loose another left-footed effort from inside the box but this time substitute goalkeeper David Bingham made a sprawling fingertip save to keep the game within reach. Vancouver received a boost around the hour-mark, when speedsters Erik Hurtado, Kekuta Manneh, and Darren Mattocks entered the match. The trio created a number of opportunities and finally, after a late Quakes charge, they found the back of the net. After midfielder Bryce Alderson was hauled down in the box, Mattocks stepped up to the penalty spot and sealed the deal with a cool finish to give Vancouver a 2-0 victory. 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