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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 Americas Cup, a Canadian Tennis leader, Glen Grunwalds unceremonious exit and Tigers big year-end bonus. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is up to Team Oracle, which retained the Americas Cup by winning eight consecutive must-win races in San Francisco Bay. After falling behind 8-1, they repeatedly out-sailed New Zealand, and the glory is theirs. All it took was 11 victories in a best-of-17, since Oracle had been penalized two races for being caught in the biggest cheating scandal in the events 162-year history; one dead sailor, who perished back in May when one of the insane 130-foot-high catamarans that Oracle CEO Larry Ellision decreed be used for this version of the race tipped over; and boats so mind-bogglingly expensive that only four teams could afford to enter. But Americas win-at-all-cost billionaires beat New Zealands, and thats the bottom line. Congratulations, everyone. Well, not everyone. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to James Dolan and the New York Knicks for the unceremonious and unnecessary firing of general manager Glen Grunwald. The removal of Grunwald comes after a season in which the Knicks won more games - 54 - than they have in the past 16 years. And then they went two rounds in the playoffs, something they hadnt done in 12 years. Grunwald operated the franchise with an un-New York-like calm, hiring Mike Woodson to coach, finding a certain peace between Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudamire, trading away Jeremy Lin. Rather than fire him, Dolan should done the opposite and given Grunwald a contract extension. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is up to Michael Downey, the Tennis Canada CEO who is leaving to run the Lawn Tennis Association in Great Britain. Think of him as Mark Carney - the Canadian who heads the Bank of England - only with a chair umpire. This is a significant loss for Canadian tennis, which benefitted from Downeys organizational skills. Of course Id be a little more worried for the immediate future of the sport in this country if Milos Raonic bolted with Downey - like Greg Rusedski did 18 years ago. There are dozens of talented sports administrators. There are far fewer people who can thump a 135 mile-per-hour serve. This morning, Raonic won the Thailand Open, beating top seed Tomas Berdych in straight sets. Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is up to the PGA Tour for making Tiger Woods its Player of the Year when nobody - maybe not even Tiger Woods - would have objected strenuously if the choice had been Adam Scott. Because so much emphasis is placed on major titles, and Tigers the biggest reason for that, it might seem strange that Scott wasnt chosen for his masters win and two other top-five finishes at majors, and that tiger was chosen in a year that saw him shut out at majors - again, for the fifth straight time. But Tiger won five other tournaments, he won the most money and he is – officially - the Number One player in the world. He had the best year… he just didnt have it in the best places. Neal Broten Jersey . On Thursday theyll learn even more. Despite the cloud of uncertainty that has followed them around from the moment general manager Masai Ujiri was brought in to put his stamp on the franchise, the Raptors have surpassed all pre-season expectations. Brett Hull Jersey . "I wasnt waving the pom-poms to be involved with it to start with," Carlyle said after a 5-2 win over Carolina on Sunday night. "Its been a trying time. "Specifically we havent played as well as wed like to hang our hat on. http://www.authenticstarspro.com/Mattias...k-stars-jersey/. The move - the latest twist in Greeces nearly three-year financial freefall -- is the first such action by any of the countrys major sports bodies. It immediately halts all domestic track and field competitions, including track meets May 12-13 in several Greek cities. Jason Spezza Jersey . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. John Klingberg Jersey . They are back to a game above .500 on the year and back to .500 on the road. It was their 10th extra time game of the year, and only the second one that did not got to a shootout.It wasnt that hard to imagine the Dallas Mavericks being one of the NBAs best offensive teams after adding Chandler Parsons and a pair of other significant pieces in the offseason. With a rotation thats largely unchanged, the Toronto Raptors rise was a little harder to see coming. The leagues two highest-scoring teams meet north of the border Friday night with the Raptors seeking their first seven-game winning streak since Vince Carters heyday. You can listen to all the action on TSN Radio 1050 Toronto starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. Dallas (11-5) was eighth in points per game and fourth in field-goal percentage last season, and after adding Parsons, Jameer Nelson and reacquiring Tyson Chandler, its no surprise to see Rick Carlisles club leading the league with 109.3 points per game. The Raptors emergence as one of the NBAs best offenses is turning a few more heads. Lou Williams was the only prominent addition to the top eight of Torontos rotation, but the reserve guard has been a big reason the Raptors (13-2) have jumped from 13th in points per game (101.3) to second (108.0). Williams burned his former team for 22 points in 26 minutes Wednesday, making him one of three Raptors with 20-plus in a 126-115 win at Atlanta. DeMar DeRozan led the way with 27, the third player to lead Toronto in scoring in as many games. Three nights in a row its been somebody else stepping up, said Williams, whos averaged 24.3 points in his last four games. It just shows the depth and the character of this team. The Raptors havent won seven straight since a nine-game run March 22-April 9, 2002. Toronto won 11 of 12 late in that season, a franchise-best stretch that was matched against the Hawks as seven Raptors scored in double figures. Thats what its going to take to win, DeRozan saiid of Torontos scoring depth.ddddddddddddHonestly, thats what its all about. Dallas also has a six-game winning streak this season, but it was in danger of losing a third straight game Wednesday before rallying past New York 109-102 in overtime. Like Williams did against his former club for Toronto, Chandler came up big against the Knicks. The Mavericks big man had 17 points and 25 rebounds, helping Dallas outscore New York 50-24 in the paint. Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points on 11-of-24 shooting, but he and Parsons combined to go 2 for 16 from 3-point range. The Mavericks are shooting 20 percent from beyond the arc in their last three games. I mean, were not playing really well right now. I think thats pretty obvious, Nowitzki told the Mavericks official website. And we just had to find a way to steal this one, really. The visit to Toronto is Dallas first stop on a four-game trip, and there are a few signs it might not be a pleasant one beyond the Raptors 9-1 home record and the potential absence of Nelson due to back spasms. The Mavericks have averaged 117.0 points in nine games against teams with losing records, but that number falls to just 99.3 against those at .500 or better. Theyve scored 94.7 points per game and shot 39.2 percent in their last three road games against clubs with winning records. Nowitzki is shooting 40.4 percent against winning teams and 59.8 percent against sub-.500 clubs. Hes missed two of Dallas last three against Toronto, all losses. Carlisle opted to rest him during a busy stretch when the Mavericks visited Air Canada Centre on Jan. 22, and they certainly couldve used him. DeRozan had a career-high 40 points in a 93-85 win. Toronto overcame deficits of at least 19 points in both victories against Dallas last season. ' ' '