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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 NFL and Ray Rice, questionable coaching decisions, FIFA and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star My thumb is down to the National Football League, which may sound familiar. The monster-truck league smashes anything in its path, from brain damage to PEDs to painkiller addiction, but this time its something else. Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice knocked his fiancee unconscious in an elevator in the off-season. Still, the Ravens defended him. The NFLs typical suspension for drugs of any kind is four games; it just gave Minnesota special teams coach Mike Preifer three games for homophobic remarks. Knock a woman out? Two games. Pathetic. The only thing worse than the NFLs dismissal of domestic violence was the debate that followed, in which so many sad men made excuses for Rice. But then, after all, the NFL and the Ravens pretty much did it first. Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun My thumb is down to Chris Jones, the first year coach of the Edmonton Eskimos, for calling one of the most outrageous gambles Ive seen in more than 40 years of watching the Canadian Football League. Now I love a good, educated gamble. This just wasnt one of them. With time running out late in the first half against the Calgary Stampeders, rather than punt the ball, jones called a fake end around - from his own end zone. Needless to say, the Eskimos didnt make the long first down, turned the ball over, and one play later, bang, Calgary scored a touchdown, and guess what, the Stampeders wound up winning by less than the score of that TD. Now I like Chris Jones and I think hes going to be a terrific CFL head coach. But theres no place for high school logic in professional football. Cathal Kelly, Globe and Mail My thumb is up to FIFA - a rarity - for their refusal this week to pull the 2018 World Cup away from Russia. It would be satisfying to do so, and would please many of their critics. But, as footballs ruling body pointed out, no boycott has ever stopped a war and sports are an enormously positive force for change. The biggest tournament in the world will be a useful carrot in the coming years. Why apply the stick now? There will be time to reconsider this decision, but not until Russia has been forced to think hard about what it wants more in the international community - territorial gains or friends in the game. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up to todays Baseball Hall of Fame class that numbers six inductees - former players Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas - and former managers Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa and Bobby Cox. In some of the coming years, we assume itll be tough to elect one Hall of Fame member, never mind six, because so many votes will be held back from candidates known to have used or thought to have used steroids. Ironic then, to see a class of six, requiring speeches shorter than usual. Baseball celebrates its best in a big way--while it can, before it cant. J.T. Compher Jersey . Here is a look at all the moves through the first week of NHL Free Agency. The most significant deals will get the full Numbers Game column treatment, like these:Briere-for-Parenteau trade. Matt Nieto Jersey . -- Top-seed Shahar Peer and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard advanced to the second round of the inaugural WTA Citi Open. http://www.hockeyavalanche.com/authentic...alanche-jersey/. Louis and Ryan Kesler have demanded to be traded. Rob Ramage Avalanche Jersey . -- Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh says he isnt going to change what he does on the field. Peter Forsberg Jersey . "Hes over there," the first baseman said. "You dont need to talk to anybody else." Indeed, Peralta did it all as the majors top team won again.SAGINAW -- Media reports say a Canadian junior hockey player whose body was found in Michigan this week died from asphyxiation, which police believe to have been self-inflicted. The reports say autopsy results for Terry Trafford, 20, were released Thursday -- two days after the missing athlete was found in an SUV in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Saginaw Township. Trafford, who played for the Saginaw Spirit, had last been seen about 9:30 a.m. on March 3 at the Dow Event Center, the teams hoome arena.dddddddddddd At one point in the search, police said they believed Trafford, a centre with the Spirit, might have left the state to return to his hometown of Toronto. His girlfriend previously told The Saginaw News that he was devastated after the team sent him home "for partying on a road trip." The Ontario Hockey League postponed the Spirits game on Wednesday so the team could mourn his death. The team will resume its season Friday in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. ' ' '