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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 American support of the World Cup, the passivity of NHL GMs, the clubhouse issues of Bryce Harper, and the career of the retired Alex Kovalev. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star: My thumb is up to American soccer fans, who have been much maligned over the years. Americans dont like soccer, people say - the same people, of course, year after year. Too little scoring, too much diving, too many ties, blah blah blah. Americans, the laziest critics have said for years, are too good for soccer. That typically mindless braying resurfaced during this World Cup, but a funny thing happened: it was overwhelmed by a tidal wave of support, of enjoyment, of commitment to a U.S. team that didnt have the most talent, but that rewarded its fans with everything it had. TV ratings? Through the roof. Online support? Inescapable. Americans embraced soccer, and it was so much fun. If they cant accept the metric system, they can at least love this. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to the passivity of NHL general managers, who are sometimes too polite for their own good. The GMs missed out on the opportunity to make an offer to restricted free agent PK Subban and now that Subban has filed for arbitration, his rights are protected by Montreal for the coming season. But if Im a GM, I would have made a monstrous offer to Subban, more than $10 million a year, and not just because he was the only game changing player available. I look at this two ways. If I throw huge money at Subban, I have a shot to get him - albeit its a long shot. And if Montreal matches, which is usually the way these things go, then Im messing up their payroll. Either way, I have nothing to lose. Even if the GMs dont agree. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is down to Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, for more unwelcome Washington punditry. After missing 57 games following thumb surgery, the uber-talented 21-year-old returned this week full of enthusiasm and suggestions. He critiqued the batting order - he was hitting sixth - and, more tellingly, the personnel. Harper was in left field, not his preferred position of centre, implying that Denard Span, the Nats centre fielder, should have been on the bench. Great for clubhouse chemistry. In publicly slagging first-year manager Matt Williams lineup, the prodigy wasnt breaking one of baseballs murky unwritten rules. He was violating basic workplace etiquette. Everyone has bosses and co-workers, even Harper, the young and the restless. Dave Hodge, TSN: And my thumb is sideways - thats right sideways - to the hockey career of Alex Kovalev, who announced his retirement this week at age 41 after playing last season in Switzerland. Why is my thumb sideways? Well, because like a lot of people, I cant decide whether Kovalev had a great career or is one of the great underachievers in the sport of hockey. The term enigma is thrown around too loosely in sports, especially at Russian hockey players. But how else to describe a player would could appear to be the most talented of any in one game, and then invisible the next, a pattern that existed throughout his career. Fans and even Kovalevs teammates used to debate how hard he was trying on any given night. Which, more than anything he accomplished on the ice … seems destined to be what we remember about him most. Authentic Green Bay Packers Jerseys . On paper, it looks a little like Andre the Giant taking on a midget wrestler. It has all the makings of a rout with the Americans adding an eighth win in nine outings of this biennial event. The Yanks have eight players in the top 15 in the world while the Internationals have just one. Green Bay Packers Jerseys China . The ninth-seeded Safarova doused Swede Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-3 on the green clay at Family Circle Tennis Center. The Czech player was a finalist here two years ago and captured back-to-back doubles titles in 2012 and last year. http://www.packerscheap.com/ . Numbers Game looks at the As getting Jon Lester from Boston, sending Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox along with a deal involving the As and the Minnesota Twins. The Athletics Get: LHP Jon Lester, LF Jonny Gomes, OF Sam Fuld and cash. Cheap Green Bay Packers Jerseys Online . At this point, even he isnt sure when it is going to stop. The right-hander dropped his fourth straight decision in Los Angeles 6-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night, leaving his status very much in doubt as the Dodgers prepare for the stretch drive. Green Bay Packers Jerseys Outlet . Head coach Corey Chamblin announced on Monday that Avon Cobourne had been hired as the defending Grey Cup champions new running backs coach. CHICAGO -- After hitting his first career grand slam, Junior Lake came up next time with runners on first and second with nobody out. But instead of swinging for the fences, the 23-year-old rookie dropped down a bunt for a base hit that eventually led to two runs. That extra offence proved vital in the Cubs 8-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. "Youve either savvy or youre not a very selfish player because its hard to go up there after hitting a grand slam and not think about having two homers and seven ribbies in your pocket," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "But that led to bases loaded and nobody out and we ended up getting two out of it. Its nice to see a guy thinking about other things other than his own stats." Lake, who went 2 for 4 and has hit five homers since being called up on July 19, said that was what he was thinking. "Im just doing whats best for the team," he said through an interpreter. "I can get the bunt down and beat it out for a base hit to load the bases, or if Im out, its like a sacrifice. "I have confidence in my teammates." The Cubs jumped on Brewers starter Kyle Lohse (9-9) in the first inning. Nate Schierholtz singled with one out and runners on first and second to drive in the first run. Two batters later, Lake homered on a 1-0 slider to complete the five-run inning. "He missed location a lot. And when he missed location, they didnt miss the pitch," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said of Lohse. "He didnt make too many quality pitches there the first inning." The Brewers scored in the second and third innings to make it 5-2. Cubs starter Chris Rusin made it 7-2 with a two-run single in the bottom of the third after Lake had his bunt single. Rusin had more success at the plate than on the mound. After getting the first two outs in the fourth, he gave up consecutive hits to Norichika Aoki and Jean Segura, and was pulled from the game. With right-handed power hitter Jonathan Lucroy due up, Sveum replaced the left-handed Rusin with right-hander Carlos Villanueva (5-8) and he got the final out in the inning and earned the victory.dddddddddddd "I was wild today, just a little wild and I had a tough time trying to find a rhythm," Rusin said. "But the bullpen did a good job. They came in and closed the door." Said Sveum: "He got his pitch count up and I think he would tell you he didnt have his best stuff or command today. But it was huge coming up with that hit, thats for sure." Especially after Milwaukees Scooter Gennett hit a pinch-hit three-run homer off Pedro Strop to make it 7-5 in the eighth. The Cubs added a run in the inning when Donnie Murphy led off with a single and scored on shortstop Seguras throwing error. Kevin Gregg got the final three outs for his 30th save in 35 chances. "Its kind of always one of those benchmarks for a closer," Gregg said of 30 saves. "From the way my year started, its pretty exciting to get to. "Being released out of spring training and not having a job for the first two weeks of the season, it was a pleasant surprise, I guess." NOTES: The Cubs activated recently acquired RHP Daniel Bard before the game, but whether he pitches in a game this season remains to be seen. Before he throws in a game, the Cubs at least want to see him throw on the side a couple of times. After battling an abdominal strain this season, Bard said hes healthy and hopes to correct the problems with mechanics he believes robbed him of his high-90s fastball while with the Boston Red Sox. ... Khris Davis was in the Brewers lineup playing left field and batting sixth, but was scratched because of soreness in his left wrist. He is listed day to day. ... The Cubs announced that RHP Scott Baker will start the series finale Sunday. It will be his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. ... The Cubs Jake Arrieta (2-1) will face Johnny Hellweg (0-3) on Saturday. 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