Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Andre Johnson Jersey . This week they discuss the NHL paying Wayne Gretzky, fighting in hockey, the "Group of Death" and the Buffalo Sabres disaster season. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is up to the NHL for finally paying Wayne Gretzky the money he was owed when the Phoenix Coyotes descended into bankruptcy way back in 2009. Gretzky was paid the $7 million he was owed plus interest, so it was closer to $8 million, and all it took was the utter exhaustion of all other avenues - primarily chasing former Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes in court - plus a $5.2-billion tv deal, which must have helped ease the financial strain. It is sad though, that that the league essentially exiled its greatest living player for four years while trying to solve the problem of a team in a ridiculous market that probably never would have existed without Gretzky spreading the hockey gospel in Los Angeles in the first place. Steve Simmons, SUN Media: My thumb is down to the continuing human tragedy that centres around long term fighting in hockey. Just this week the sad and troubled stories of two longtime NHL fighters, Gino Odjick and Scott Parker - career penalty minutes 3,266 - came to light. How their lives have been inexorably altered primarily because of their involvement in fighting and the numerous concussions that have come along with it. Time was, I was ambivalent to the ongoing fighting debate. But not anymore. And Im not sure how anyone, even those in the pro-fighting camp, can sit back now and be witness to so many lives in turmoil. This is beyond being a sporting issue now, this is a social issue. And we dont need to be party to any more tragedies, not when we know they can be prevented. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is down to the World Cup draw, and not merely because FIFA spent $11 million on an over-the-top exercise that it could have done for a thousand bucks, depending on how fancy the Danish tray. No, my thumb is down because now, like in every quadrennial, we are besieged with the most trite and soul-sucking sports cliché, the Group of Death. Death? Really? In 2012 1.6 million Americans died of cancer. Theres your group of death. This is soccer. Certainly the round-robin competition will be fierce, but can we please start referring to Germany, Portugal, Ghana and the United States as, say, the group of gastrointestinal discomfort? Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is down to the complete disaster that is the Buffalo Sabres 2013-2014 season. The owner, Terry Pegula, made this comment when he fired general manager Darcy Regier and coach Ron Rolsto – “If you want to win in this league, you have to draft first and get Sidney Crosby or draft second and get Evgeni Malkin.” Well, the proponents of the fine art of tanking would applaud Pegulas mission statement and his methodology - he should have fired Regier and Rolston prior to the season - they should have been replaced by now. Ryan Millers future should have been determined. The Sabres will promise something better to next seasons ticket-holders - but they have ignored the importance of support from the current customers, and will almost certainly draft first or second. Houston Texans Jerseys . -- The way Ted Ligety carved into turns looked so easy. J.J. Watt Jersey . With the Nets winning streak in jeopardy, Williams scored 23 points, 11 in the final six minutes, to lead Brooklyn to a 104-99 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. http://www.officialhoustontexanspro.com/Arian-foster-texans-jersey/ . Here at TSN.ca we will take a look back at the season by bringing together a panel of experts to help pick the best 50 players of the season.GREEN BAY, Wis. - Offensive lineman Josh Sitton could use a break.Unfortunately for him, the NFL schedule calls for Green Bay and its standout left guard to play the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night a€” just five days after the Packers last game.This didnt make him happy on Tuesday.I hate it, Sitton said.Life in the trenches can be enough of a grind with the pounding that occurs in the running game. That part of the Packers offence has been a problem, so far, ranking just 28th in the league at 73 yards per game.Tuesdays are when offensive linemen really feel the pounding. Its usually a day off in a normal work week in Green Bay.This is no normal week.I think its stupid. I think its all about money for the NFL, obviously, Sitton said regarding Thursday night games. Thats what this league is about, is about making money a€” which is fine. I like to make money, as well.But, yeah, its tough on your body, tough on your head, Sitton said.Every team has to go through it. In one area, this might be an opportune time for a Thursday game for the Packers given that their passing attack is on a roll.Aaron Rodgers threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-17 win last week over Chicago. Receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb had two scoring catches apiece. Nelson leads the NFL with 33 catches for 459 yards.But running back Eddie Lacy, last years offensive rookie of the year, had another subpar day a€” and his 48 yards were still a season high. Lacy at least scored his first rushing touchdown of the year on one of his 17 carries.Yeah, I think we did some good things, but the offence is still not where we want it, Rodgers said. Obviously, wed like to have some more balance. We didnt run the ball real effectively.Sometimes its going to happen when you throw it so well, but weve got to be able to close out games running it a little more effectively.Lacy is averaging 3.0 yards per carry. Backup running back James Starks didnt get a carry, though coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday that was the result of poor game management and that Starks should touchh the ball every game. Custom Houston Texans Jerseys. But in the Packers hurry-up offence, in which tempo is key, sometimes the opportunities for clock-eating drives marked by grinding runs just arent there.When the Packers are in shotgun, Lacy is standing next to Rodgers. The bruising back isnt getting a head start of a few steps to build up momentum against oncoming defenders. Its an adjustment for Lacy. Last year, the Packers were more reliant on him with Rodgers out nearly half the season with a collarbone injury.Its not that I dont like running from out of shotgun or I dont like running from (the quarterback being) under centre, you have to do what you have to do. And this is just part of what you have to do, Lacy said.The easygoing Lacy would love to have more yards, but remains patient.The pass game has been crazy good the past few games so why mess with it? At the same time, youre going to need to be able to run the ball just to create balance and make sure the defence cant concentrate on stopping one thing, Lacy said.McCarthy sees the low production as a result of lack of volume. Green Bay had 18 running plays against Chicago, and hasnt had more than 22 in a game in the first four weeks.There are opportunities to both run effectively and maintain tempo, the Packers maintain.Well, the biggest thing within our run game is weve got to get the attempts up, so we need to keep generating first downs, McCarthy said. Anytime you have a successful run game, youre definitely pushing 30 attempts.Sitton, looking a bit worn while sitting at his locker, offered his unique view about the lack of production on the ground.It was simple and to the point. He sounded tired.Were not blocking good enough. The running backs arent running good enough. The quarterback is not making the right check all the time. Receivers arent making their blocks good enough, Sitton said. 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