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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 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". Mike Tolbert . The Arena das Dunas in the northeastern city of Natal sustained minor damage during the protests, but demonstrators stayed away on Sunday and officials said the stadium passed its first test, with only minor adjustments needed going forward. Mike Tolbert Jersey Carolina Panthers .ca in a 30 Teams In 30 Days tour of the NHL in preparation for the upcoming season. http://www.nflpanthersus.com/authentic-robert-lester-pink-jersey/ .Y. - Tennessee Titans safety Michael Griffin, and New York Jets defensive players Muhammad Wilkerson and Quinton Coples all have been fined for plays during last Sundays game at Nashville. Charles Johnson . Fortunately for the Ragin Cajuns, they had Corey Trim to make a game-changing play on defence. Trim returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown, Hunter Stover hit a go-ahead 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, and Louisiana-Lafayette held off Tulane 24-21 on Saturday night for its third straight New Orleans Bowl victory. Robert Lester Jersey Carolina Panthers . On Tuesday, they did it again. Roy Hibbert scored 22 points and Lance Stephenson fell just short of his fourth triple double this season, helping the Pacers hold off Torontos late charge for an 86-79 victory that allowed them to keep the NBAs best record. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolinas Steve Spurrier has received a one-year contract extension and a raise that will pay the coach $4 million annually. The university board of trustees approved a $700,000 raise and the extension Thursday. The deal ties Spurrier to the school through 2018. If the 68-year-old coach decides to retire, the trustees voted for a contract clause that would make Spurrier a special assistant to university President Harris Pastides and athletic director Ray Tanner. With the raise, Spurrier becomes one of the top 10 highest-paid college football coaches in the country. Spurriers nine assistant coaches also received raises that put their combined compensation at $3.3 million, up from the $2.7 the group earned this past season. All assistants were given new two-year contract agreements except for defensive co-ordinator Lorenzo Ward, who received a three-year deal. Also earning a raise was quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus, whose salary was frozen for a year after his arrest for urinating in public. Mangus salary increased $100,000 to $275,000. Ward will be the highest-paid assistant at $750,000, a $100,000 raise. The biggest boost came for offensive line coach Shawn Elliott, who saw his compensation rise from $305,000 to $430,000 next fall. Spurrier thanked Pastides, Tanner and the board for the new contracts and raises. "We all hope to coach here many more years and we still have some goals that have not been accomplished yet," he said. Spurrier led the Gamecocks to a third-straight 11-2 season. Before he arrived in 2004, South Carolina had only one 10-win season in history. "It was a fun year. I tell you what, our players found a way to win all these games," Spurrier said. "We didnt clobber a lot of people. These guys know how to play in the fourth quarter." Tanner said he talked with Spurrier about the new deals shortly after South Carolinas 31-17 victory over Clemson on Nov. 30 -- the Gamecocks record--setting fifth straight over their rivals.dddddddddddd Spurrier was most concerned about making sure his assistants were adequately compensated, Tanner said. The coach talked about raises on his call-in show Wednesday night, saying Tanner "has done a super job of (saying), Hey, whats right and how can we aligned in the SEC competitive wise with coaches salaries? The president and from what I am hearing the Board of Trustees think that keeps us where we should be." It would also mean be the first time in Spurriers nine seasons the assistants he finished one season with all returned for the next one. Tanner, the two-time national championship baseball coach turned head administrator, said it was his thought to add the clause about Spurrier remaining with the school after he leaves as football coach. Spurrier told Tanner he has enjoyed living in Columbia and planned to stay when his time on the field was finished. The post-football position is based on Spurrier maintaining a residence in town and either Pastides or Tanner remaining in their current positions. Tanner stressed the special assistant spot was not an exit strategy for Spurrier, wholl be 73 should he stay for the length of the deal. "Age is just a number," Tanner said. Right now, leaving the field seems as far from Spurriers mind as possible. Spurrier has said he didnt plan on coaching into his 80s like Florida States Bobby Bowden and the late Joe Paterno at Penn State, and the Capital One Bowl victory over Wisconsin was his 300th game as a college coach. Still, the schools all-time wins leader said hes excited about the success the team has had the past few years and anxious to see what else they can achieve. "If you continue doing what you did in your 50s, then the age factor doesnt kick in," Spurrier said on his radio show. "It doesnt kick in until you dont know what you are doing. Hopefully, I still know what is happening out there." ' ' '
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