dAlso making big strides in the top-30 is Moose

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss Jason Collins ignoring homophobic slurs, Sam Tagesons big day with the San Jose Sharks, Alex Rodriguez in the news again, and Sidney Crosbys Hart Trophy case. Bruce Arthur, National Post My thumb is up to Jason Collins of the Brooklyn Nets. Remember Jason Collins? Big guy, sets screens, commits fouls, plays defence, and recently the first openly gay player in any of North Americas four major sports leagues. He never did much as a player; he still doesnt. And in his first 10 games since signing with Brooklyn, Collins hasnt been a distraction, hasnt created a media circus, and says that only one opposing player has thrown homophobic slurs his way. And how Collins reacted to that was important. He could have named names, damaged the guys reputation, and cost him a big league fine. Instead, in the manner of Jackie Robinson, Collins ignored the slurs. He just played, with dignity. By doing nothing Jason Collins showed that nameless idiot what mattered, and that it wasnt him. Steve Simmons, Sun Media My thumb is up to the San Jose Sharks, and not because theyre my pick to win the Stanley Cup. Well get to that in another show. This week the Sharks made the most meaningful transaction since the trade deadline. They signed 17-year-old Sam Tageson to a one-day contract, and turned one day into a lifetime of memories for many. Tageson was born with a debilitating heart condition that prevents strenuous activity. But against his doctors advice, he has never stopped playing hockey. The Sharks signed him to a one-day deal, had him practice with the team, dress with the club, hang around the players, and then skate out through that gigantic shark head and stand at the blue line for the national anthem. The crowd, the bench, the building, went crazy. For one night, there was crying in hockey and everybody loved it. Dave Naylor, TSN Radio 1050 My thumb is down to Alex Rodgriguez, who once again is embroiled in controversy, this time over supposed unpaid legal fees racked up while he was trying to defend himself from the season-long suspension. If you thought we could look forward to this baseball season to some respite from more A-Rod controversy, well, think again. Theres some disputing the legitimacy of this weeks reports, with suggestions that A-Rod fully intends to pay his bills. And since he has a net worth reported at more than 300 million, why wouldnt we give him the benefit of the doubt? Wait a minute … Alex Rodriguez? Benefit of the doubt? Oh, nevermind. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up in agreement with Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, who thinks Sidney Crosby is due to win the Hart Trophy for the second time, though I will take issue with Bylsma when he says there is "no question" that Crosby is the NHLs most valuable player. I do think theres a question – Im not sure why when the Penguins captain is running away with the scoring race and has appeared in all of Pittsburghs 70 games to lead the Pens to a certain Metropolitan Division title, but NHL watchers seem to want to consider other candidates. One problem with that - theres no answer to the question: who else should win? The next time you want Crosby to be better, name someone who is. Adidas Alphabounce Kopen . Serbia captain Bogdan Obradovic said his team will include 9th-ranked Janko Tipsarevic and 27th-ranked Viktor Troicki as he decided to let the top-ranked Djokovic rest. Adidas Zx Flux Goedkoop . The 155th edition of the Plate for Canadian-foaled three-year-olds, the oldest continuously run stakes race in North America, will be televised live on TSN in HD (High Definition) in a special presentation from 4:30 – 6:00 pm ET. Post time is 5:38 pm. http://www.nmdbelgie.com/kopen-adidas-zx-9000-sale.html . A receiver doesnt make the catch on a passing play and instantly motions to the ref – and everybody else – for a pass interference flag. Adidas NMD R1 Dames Sale . Kelli Stack and Alex Carpenter also scored for the Americans, who avoided a repeat of Finlands upset at the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., in November. Finnish goalie Noora Raty made 58 saves in that one, but the three-time Olympian could stop just 40 of 43 U. Adidas Schoenen NMD .com) - Mike Miller scored a season-high 21 points in a rare start and the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from their worst loss of the season with a 95-91 win over the Brooklyn Nets.Leon Draisaitl has made a big jump into the top-five in the latest edition of Craig Buttons TSN.ca NHL Draft rankings. The Prince Albert Raiders left winger has moved seven places up to fourth-spot in the March rankings. The German-born Draisaitl has 35 goals and 62 assists in 60 games this season for the Raiders who currently sit third in the Eastern Conferences East Division. The top three in the rankings have remained static with Kootenay centre Sam Reinhart, defenceman Aaron Ekblad of Barrie and Kingston centre Sam Bennett maintaining their January places. Oshawa left winger Michael Dal Colle, down from fourth, rounds out the top-five. While Draisaitl is the only new entry to the top-10 (at the expense of Sodertalje right winger David Pastrnak, who moves from #10 to #11), there is movement elsewhere. Jaren McCann, a centre for Sault Ste. Marie, drops two spots into eighth. Windsor Spitfires Josh Ho-Sang is the biggest mover in the March edition of Craig Buttons TSN.ca NHL Draft rankings. The Windsor Spitfires forward jumped 13 spaces to land at #20. Ho-Sang has 31 ggoals and 53 assists in 64 games.ddddddddddddAlso making big strides in the top-30 is Moose Jaw centreman Brayden Point, who jumped six places to land at #24. The player to lose the most ground in the March rankings is winger Anton Karlsson. Karlsson, who plies his trade for Frolundas junior side, slides down seven spots to land at #29. Marchs highest new entry comes in at #31 and it belongs to Swedish defenceman Marcus Pettersson (Skelleftea). Pettersson has represented Sweden at the under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels. Click here at (http://www.tsn.ca/craigslist) for the full Top 90 prospect list. TSN Scout Craig Button is part of TSN and TSN.cas expanded DraftCentre coverage. Craig started in the NHL as a scout with the Minnesota North Stars and stayed with the organization through the move to Dallas. He later became Director of Player Personnel, helping lead the Stars to a Stanley Cup in 1999. From 2000 to 2003, Craig served as Vice President and General Manager of the Calgary Flames and later joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as a scout. ' ' '