Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week, they discuss the mistakes in the recently-filed concussion lawsuit, Jaroslav Halaks unwillingness to play his fomer team, Ryan Smyth and what he meant to Edmonton and Canada, and the new, civilized way managers and umpires argue with each other. Bruce Arthur, National Post My thumb is up to proofreading, especially when you happen to be filing a class-action lawsuit that pertains to concussions. The suit filed this week against the NHL on behalf of a group that included a small group of former players, including Michael Peluso and Dan Lacouture, was the second of its kind in hockey, and wont be the last. And it probably didnt help the cause by misspelling Sidney Crosbys name, citing movies like “Friday the 13th” and “Mystery, Alaska”, and declaring Gordie Howe dead. Look, we know what brain trauma does to people, now. In sports, what leagues knew and when they knew it is important, because if information was concealed, that could be monstrous. Now, Im not a lawyer, but if youre looking for answers, maybe start by not killing Gordie Howe. Steve Simmons, SUN Media My thumb is down to Jaroslav Halak, for basically opting out of playing goal against his former team, the St. Louis Blues. This is a hard one to completely understand and there is more than one version of the story. But the way I understand it, the Washington Capitals picked up the goalie at the trade deadline for the express purpose of trying to help them get in the playoffs. Yet he told his coach, Adam Oates, that he wasnt comfortable playing against the Blues, the team that just traded him away. Not comfortable? Isnt the athletes favourite game the one against his former team with all his friends? Isnt that what a goalie signs up for? The odd part in all this, without Halak the Capitals beat the Blues Tuesday night and still managed to miss the playoffs. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated My thumb is up to Ryan Smyth, who announced his retirement Friday. He was not the greatest Oiler, obviously, but he was as much of an Edmonton-standard bearer in his era as Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier were in theirs. Smyth was not conspicuously skilled, but he stood for old-time hockey values - and he stood in front of the net, the source of most of his 386 goals. He was steadfast in commitment to country, playing in eight World Championships and two Olympics. Captain Canada, indeed. But Smyth spent 15 of 19 NHL seasons in copper and blue. He belongs to Edmonton. The rest of the country was lucky it could borrow him. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is down to baseball fans who say they miss the loud-cursing, dirt-kicking, arm-waving, near-spitting, face to face arguments between managers and umpires. Those have been replaced this season by civilized conversations that the managers deem necessary while they wait for dugout advice on replay challenges. We have enough fits of temper and rage in this world that they dont have to come in the form of phony sports entertainment. The managers look better when they act older than five, the umpires are deserving of respect and this way, bad calls can actually be corrected. Its all quite civilized, which, Abner Doubleday intended, I believe. If, indeed, Doubleday was baseballs inventor. There are other claims, but lets not fight about that, either. Cheap Adidas Sharks Jerseys . The ongoing funk on penalty kill and an unusually quiet night on home ice for the power play divided the Leafs from the Bruins at the ACC in a rare Sunday night affair. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . -- The Chicago Bears agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract with defensive lineman Israel Idonije and are bringing him back for a second stint. http://www.cheapsharksjerseys.com/. - The Carolina Panthers believe Steve Smith lost "top-end" speed, a big reason the franchise parted ways with its all-time leading receiver. Cheap Sharks Jerseys Authentic . And all things considered, the first 40 games have offered a little bit of everything from a hockey club that faced many questions in its first year under new management, with a new head coach and with a number of new faces in the lineup. However, with a recent dip in scoring, it seems some of the same old questions persist and several new ones have been raised after a somewhat troubling homestand. Cheap Sharks Jerseys China . "Today was a very great day for me. It was always my dream to be good in GS," Wierather said. "I took quite a long time to get there. It feels awesome to have my first win (in GS)." Wierather leads overall with 595 points from Lara Gut (568), who finished second, and Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany (535).ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -- Joni Ortio made 26 saves as the Abbotsford Heat defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-1 in American Hockey League action on Saturday night. The 23-year-old Ortio picked up his 19th win of the year, one off the league lead, though Hamilton snapped his shutout streak at 107 minutes and 41 seconds. Markus Granlund had a goal and an assist for Abbotsford (28-14-4), who are 3-0-2 in their past five. Max Reinhart, Josh Jooris and Derek Smith also scored. Stefan Fournier scored for Hamilton (20-20-4). The Bulldogs have just one win in their past six games and scored just three goals in those five losses. Robert Mayer made 26 saves in the loss. Reinhart opened the scoring at the 7:56 mark of the first on the power play. Markus Granlund crept to the right face-off dot to release a hard wrist shot and Reinhart was there to quickly bbag the rebound for his 10th of the year.dddddddddddd Jooris doubled the lead with 42 seconds to go in the first. Sven Baertschi was checked off the puck in the high slot, but Jooris pounced on it and beat Mayer with a deke move for his sixth goal of the season. Granlund made it 3-0 at 3:33 of the third on a short-handed goal. Carter Bancks chipped the puck to himself, creating a 2-on-1 rush with Granlund and the Finnish forward backhanded the Bancks saucer pass past an outstretched Mayer. The Bulldogs solved Ortio at 7:41 of the third as Greg Pateryns shot was deflected by Fournier for just his second goal of the year. Smith floated a shot from centre into the empty net with 45 seconds to play to round out the scoring. The Bulldogs power play unit, third-worst in the AHL, has been held scoreless in its last 32 attempts. ' ' '