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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 Maple Leafs defenceman Paul Ranger, Floyd Mayweather, the Washington Capitals decision to let Alex Ovechkin participate in the Olympic torch relay and the Washington Redskins nickname. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is up to Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Paul Ranger. Ranger was a top-four defenceman for Tampa Bay when in 2009 he asked for a leave of absence from the team and for his salary to be withheld. He didnt come back. After two years he resurfaced to help coach his old bantam triple-A team in Whitby. And last year he asked Toronto for an AHL-only contract and excelled. Now hes a Leaf. He wont say what specifically kept him away, but he talks about how strong he feels inside, how the mental side of the game is so important and how proud he is that hes come this far. Were not hard to root for people in this business, but Ill say this: for Paul Ranger its not hard to make an exception. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to Floyd Mayweather Jr., the only breakout star left in the dwindling attraction that is boxing. Money Mayweather was at his best Saturday night in Las Vegas putting on another clinic of both pugilism and commerce winning just about every round against the capable Canelo Alvarez and taking home a guaranteed purse of $41.5 million to boot. Mayweather was as slippery as ever in the Super Welterweight title bout, nearly impossible to hit, counter-punching, utilizing his incomparable hand speed. The only downfall to the one-sided win was one of the ringside judges, C.J. Ross, myopically scored the fight a draw. Anyone who watched from around the world knew better. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is up to simple common sense, which the Washington Capitals showed in the not-insignificant matter of Alex Ovechkin and the Olympic torch relay. The Capitals are allowing Ovechkin a quick trip to Greece to carry the torch from Mount Olympus even though it will occur only two days before the team opens – eight time zones away – in Chicago. Washington might have a travel-weary captain against the Blackhawks, but my guess is this conspicuously proud Russian will be energized by the torch honour. Ovechkin had a slow start to his Hart-winning 2013 season. This Olympic hors doeuvre is the thing that might light a fire under him. Dave Naylor, TSN: My thumb is up to the growing number of voices calling for the Washington Redskins to find a new nickname. Recently the chorus of those crying for change added two prominent American journalists: Peter King of Sports Illustrated and Christine Brennan of USA Today who, among others, said they will no longer use the word in their work. More significantly, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell appears to be changing his tune, talking about the "need to be listening" and to "do the right thing." Many, including Goodell, have pointed out that the Redskins name represents an important piece of the NFLs history. But history is exactly where that name belongs. China Jerseys For Cheap . JOHNS, N. China Jerseys . The Calgary skip fell 10-8 to Swedens Oskar Eriksson in semifinal action Saturday and will face Switzerlands Peter de Cruz for the bronze medal (Saturday at 10pm et/7pm pt on TSN2). http://www.chinajerseyspaypal.com/ . -- Pinch-runner Rajai Daviss decision to steal third base just as Oakland catcher Derek Norris was throwing the ball back to the pitcher caught most everyone by surprise -- including several of his Detroit teammates. China Jerseys Paypal .Brazil midfielder Ricardo Goulart scored the winner in the 50th minute to give the defending champion a four-point advantage in the standings over second-place Sao Paulo, which beat rival Palmeiras 2-0. China Jerseys Reviews . Compared to what hes gone through in recent weeks, that seemed like a breeze. Speaking to The Associated Press on Friday at an NBA Cares event, Silver said hes thrilled that the leagues attention can be on the championship series between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs -- and not, as it was for so much of the post-season, on the off-the-court matters involving the banishment of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling and now the looming sale of that franchise.MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins arent picky about how they get on base this season. And if the most-walked team in the majors can get more starting pitching performances as they did Saturday, the Twins likely wont mind their status as a middle-of-the-pack team when it comes to batting average. Phil Hughes struck out six in seven innings, Josmil Pinto hit his fifth homer of the season and the Twins scored two runs in the fifth without a hit in their 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday. Minnesota looked to be in for a long afternoon after Detroit took an early 2-0 lead and Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez handled the Twins early. But Sanchez left in the third with a blister on his middle finger on his throwing hand, forcing newly recalled Jose Ortega (0-1) into action. Ortega, who had just arrived from Triple-A Toledo, and Phil Coke then combined to walk six Twins -- five in the fifth. A throwing error by catcher Bryan Holaday and a bases-loaded walk by Coke allowed Minnesota, hitless at that point, to tie the game. Minnesota entered the game with a majors-leading 113 walks this season, and added eight more on Saturday. "As weve talked about many times now, were taking our walks and getting people on, and you score runs like that," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Thats a good way to go about your business." Especially with Hughes rolling. Hughes (2-1) didnt walk a batter, retired 16 straight at one point and has won two straight -- a welcome sight for a Twins rotation that had produced only six quality starts this season. Although he acknowledged the need for more innings from his starters, Gardenhire preached patience with his rotation earlier in the day, saying the team believes its starting pitchers will do well. For one afternoon, at least, Hughes gave his manager a glimpse of that. "Anytime your starter doesnt give you innings, its up to the next guy to kind of bounce back and hopefully save the bullpen a little bit," Hughes said a day after the Twins bullpen threw six-plus innings in Friday nights loss. Trevor Plouffes two-run single off Coke scored Eduardo Escobar and Brian Dozier put the Twins ahead for good in the fifth, and Pintos homer off Al Albuquerque in the eighth provided an insurance run. "It was a tough spot for the entire bullpen," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "We were a little bit strapped going into today as it was. Sanchezs injury straps us even more." Detroit took a first-inning lead after Sam Fuld couldnt hang onto Miguel Cabreras fly to deeep right, allowing Torii Hunter to score from first.dddddddddddd Cabrera went to third on Fulds bad throw and scored on Victor Martinezs sacrifice fly. That was all the Tigers could muster against Hughes, though. The veteran right-hander made efficient work of Detroits lineup the next six innings. Jared Burton pitched a scoreless eighth and Glen Perkins pitched the ninth for his sixth save in seven chances. "After the first I was coming apart a little bit, and not really staying within myself, overthrowing a little bit and coming out of my mechanics," Hughes said. "But I was able to settle down pretty quick and get on a little bit of a roll, which was nice." Martinez led off the ninth with a homer. Sanchez threw 53 pitches without allowing a hit and was in the middle of Doziers at-bat when Holaday, head trainer Kevin Rand and pitching coach Jeff Jones went to the mound. Shortly after being joined by Ausmus, Rand and Sanchez walked off the field. "It looked nasty, it really did," Ausmus said. "As soon as I went out there and saw it I was caught between throwing up and pulling him out of the game. It looked gross." Notes: Trevor Plouffe took a pitch off the arm in the fourth and later came out of the game. Gardenhire said he would be day to day. ... The Tigers optioned RHP Justin Miller -- who pitched two-thirds innings on Friday night and allowed a run and two hits -- to Toledo to make room for Ortega. "It had nothing to do with how Justin pitched last night. He had pitched well the previous two outings, it was just we needed help for the bullpen," Ausmus said. ... Ausmus says he plans to put C Alex Avila (shin) back into the lineup Sunday. Avila was hurt sliding into home plate on Friday. Ausmus reiterated RHP Rick Porcello (elbow) should make his next scheduled start Wednesday. Porcello was hurt after a line drive deflected off his glove and hit his throwing elbow. ... A day after his relievers threw 6 2-3 innings, Ron Gardenhire put starter Mike Pelfrey in the bullpen as "an emergency-type guy." Asked about tweaking his starting rotation, Gardenhire said, "Youve got to give them a little bit of time here. These guys are here for a reason, we think theyre going to be good and hopefully theyll get rolling and we dont have to have this conversation." . The Tigers and Twins wrap up their three-game series on Sunday when Justin Verlander (3-1) takes the mound for Detroit. Minnesota righty Kyle Gibson (3-1) will make his start against the Tigers for the first time. ' ' '