Spiele » Evernham said Gordon believes his car is ready

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss the decision to stop the NFL concussion settlement, the medias indifference to a big boxing match in Montreal, the maturity of Anthony Bennett and NHL outdoor games. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is up to U.S. federal judge Anita Brody, who this week halted the NFLs concussion settlement with former players. Judge Brody was concerned that with fixed dollar awards for specific ailments for ex-NFL players - a ghoulish list that specifies, for example, up to $3.5 million for Alzheimers, or up to $5 million for ALS - and a $765 million cap on the settlement fund, the money could run out, since its designed to cover 20,000 men over 65 years. Yes, there are ex-players who need help right now, and this could hurt them. But given the seriousness of the settlement, its potential ramifications, and what we still have to learn about what football does to peoples brains, it seems like the least you can do is to double-check the math. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to us - those of us in mainstream sports media in English Canada - who have ignored the rich and electric Quebec boxing scene. Saturday night, at a sold out Bell Centre, two former world champions, adopted Montrealers Jean Pascal and Lucien Bute, boxed a 12-rounder that most of us outside Quebec and the United States didnt pay any attention to. "This is the Super Bowl of boxing in Canada," said Pascal, the winner, but what he should have said is: this is the Super Bowl of boxing in French Canada. The bout was available live on HBO in the U.S. but not offered live and free across Canada. And not covered by anyone in Canada outside Quebec. We failed here on a major event: when it comes to boxing in Quebec, we always fail. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is up to Anthony Bennett for uncommon maturity. The surprising first pick in the NBA Draft says he will not object if the Cavaliers send him to the Development League to straighten out his game. Certainly some tidying up is in order. In about 10 minutes a night, the 20-year-old Torontonian has averaged two and a half points and shot a miserable 27 per cent. This is the worst start for a No. 1 overall selection since… well, ever. Most top picks would resist a demotion. Laudably Bennett, who has had his 6-8 frame parked on the bench, has parked his ego at the door. Dave Hodge, TSN: I will need both of my thumbs -- one is up to the NHL for the obvious success of the outdoor games, another of which we can talk about here next week as the Ducks and the Kings play on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Thatll be followed by the Rangers and Devils at Yankee Stadium next Sunday. And all the hockey fans in the stands at two of baseballs most famous stadiums will be having a great time at a hockey "event". Not so much the TV watchers. So let me say "thumbs down", to the viewing experience at home. The New Years Day game in Detroit could be measured this way, I think -- the fans in Ann Arbor were as excited as the fans at home were bored for much of the time. The excitement level will be the same at the LA and NY "events". The boredom level is liable to increase for the rest of us, because to expect what could be called a good hockey game is to expect too much. Athletics Jerseys 2019 . LOUIS -- Julius Randle had 19 points and 15 rebounds, Aaron Harrison finished with 18 points and No. Wholesale Athletics Jerseys . Tristan Jackson returned a missed field goal 129 yards early in the fourth quarter as the Roughriders beat the B.C. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/. The Professional Referee Organization, which manages game officials for the U.S. Soccer Federation and MLS, notified the Professional Soccer Referee Association of the lockout and said replacement officials will be used. Chris Bassitt Jersey .C. -- Theyll remember the OT from the first Syracuse-Duke game -- and the Ts that decided Round 2. Chris Bassitt Athletics Jersey . So true. It is one thing to create a winning football team, and another to keep it winning. Each and every week it changes. The NFL creates a unique interest of not who is "the best", but much more who is "the best this week".CONCORD, N.C. -- Sprint Cup points leader Jeff Gordon cut short his practice because of back spasms and the No. 24 team has Regan Smith on standby should the four-time champion not be able to run the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night. Gordon went just 11 laps Saturday before he told his crew he couldnt continue. He left out of a side door of his hauler and was escorted out of the track to get treatment. Crew chief Alan Gustafson said the team would not run the car in the final practice session and instead will get it ready for Sundays race. "Ive had some spasms in the past, but this one, it was a little bit different," said the 42-year-old Gordon. "And so I just want to really be cautious and take care of it. It doesnt do me any good to be in the car right now." Gustafson said the plan was for Gordon to start the longest event in NASCAR. Should the pain be too much, then Smith would take over the Hendrick Motorsports car. Gustafson said Gordon felt back pain after qualifying Thursday night and had hoped things would improve before Saturdays practice sessions. But "after the first run, we talked about it and it was pretty detrimental to him physically to continue," Gustafson said. Gordon said on Twitter he planned to rest and "be ready for 600 miles 2moro." The four-time series champion is having one of the steadiest starts of his career with eight top-10 finishes in the first 11 races. Gordon moved into the points lead following a second-place finish at Texas Motor Speedwway in early April and hes stayed out front ever since.dddddddddddd He cemented his place in the Sprint Cups championship Chase two weeks ago with a victory at Kansas Speedway. Gordon will start 27th and hope his back holds out for 400 laps around the 1.5-mile race track. "Luckily, we had a good 11 laps there and weve got our teammates and information that were going to be able to gather from them," Gordon said. "Its all coming together very fast right now." Gordon has had back spasms in the past and even considered retiring because of the severe pain. Regular treatment has kept the pain mostly in check and Gustafson hopes that will be the case again for Sunday. Doctors "will get him in the best condition he can and get him ready to run tomorrow," Gustafson said. This weeks race marks the 20th anniversary of Gordons first Sprint Cup victory. His crew chief then, Ray Evernham, said Gordon is much tougher than some believe and has raced through illness and pain before. "We won the Southern 500 (at Darlington) when he started throwing up halfway" through the race, said Evernham, currently working for Hendrick Motorsports. Evernham said Gordon believes his car is ready and is being smart by not hurting himself further by practicing. "Hell do everything he needs to do to get to feeling good and I know him and tomorrow night in that car, he may need some help getting out of it, but when hes in it, hes going to be at 100 per cent," Evernham said. ' ' '