Wanted & Unwanted » Lepchenko 5-1 in the second set and needing seven

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week, they discuss preparations for the Rio Olympics, the exciting first round of the NBA playoffs, Mike Keenan victorious in Russia and the prolonged wait for the NFL Draft finally coming to an end. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star My thumb is down to the International Olympic Committee and…I know, I know…you feel like weve been here before, but this is a new frontier because the concept of an Olympics in Rio was new when the IOC awarded Brazil the 2016 games seven years ago. Concerns about readiness, inequality and about the way the country might react? Dont worry! Rio! Now with two years to go, the IOC is shocked…shocked…to find that they gambled on a country that hasnt built the establishment. Seriously, Rio is in major organization trouble with whole complexes unbuilt and with public unrest still simmering, the IOC is lamenting the fact that they cant employ Beijing-style slave labour. Theyre blaming it on Rio. Guess who they should be blaming instead? Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun My thumb is up to the first round of the playoffs and Im not talking about the Stanley Cup playoffs, which have been marvelous, as usual. Im talking about the NBA playoffs, where, normally, the first round is about favourites winning and not much else, but not this year. A last-second three by the sensational Damian Lillard of Portland meant there were five Game 7s in the first round, instead of a record-breaking six. There have been eight overtime games and the road team has won 21 of the first 36 playoff games - this from a league that usually sees the home teams win 70 per cent of the time. And, of course, there is Game 7 in Toronto today with the possibility of 2 million people watching on TV. If this isnt fun, I dont know what is. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated My thumb is up to Mike Keenan, who reminds us that a coach is a coach is a coach, no matter the team or the time zone. Keenan always dreamed of winning a Cup, although probably not the Gagarin Cup. Two decades after the New York Rangers memorable Stanley Cup run, Iron Mike did it again on the far side of the erstwhile Iron Curtain, coaching the KHLs Metallurg Magnitogorsk to a Game 7 win over Lev Prague. Note one striking similarity in the championships: as he did after beating the Vancouver Canucks in 94, Keenan celebrated in the dressing room by singing karaoke - this time in Russian, of course. The Red Army choir is not giving up its day job. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up to May 8, which is coming soon - on Thursday - and thats why my thumb is up, because when May 8 finally arrives, it brings with it the National Football League Draft…finally. Did I say "finally?" When the NFL moved the draft from April to May, we might have known wed be sick of mock drafts by now. There is actual analysis that proclaims winners and losers of mock drafts! Ive heard so much about Jadeveon Clowneys awesome talent and alleged laziness that Im sure there are two Jadeveon Clowneys. Im not sure if the Houston Texans will take one of them or which one or if the Texans will take Johnny Manziel or if theyll trade down - I only know they cant trade up and I dont care anymore what they do, I just want them to do it. On May 8. Nike Air Max Shoes Wholesale China . Petersburg of the KHL. Belov was a free agent last summer when he signed a one-year contract with the Oilers. In 57 games this season he had one goal and six assists with 34 penalty minutes in Edmonton. Cheap Wholesale Air Max Shoes . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. http://www.wholesaleairmaxchina.com/ . The 25-year-old Brazilian player has only made four Premier League appearances for United this season and underwent a medical test in Italy on Friday. Cheap Nike Air Max Shoes China . He is nigh unstoppable against the leagues worst. The 31-year-old dangerman set up two goals and scored two himself as Toronto FC rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the slumping Houston Dynamo 4-2 on Saturday night. Air Max Wholesale Free Shipping . But Josh Bailey scored the shootout winner to lead the Islanders to a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in a battle of the Eastern Conferences two worst teams.BRISBANE, Australia - Roger Federer saw what a trio of next generation Grand Slam contenders had to offer Friday before putting on a show of his own, disposing of Australian wild card James Duckworth in 39 minutes to move into the Brisbane International semifinals.Top-seeded Federer dropped only six points in a 16-minute first set, and won 6-0, 6-1 without really breaking a sweat against No. 125-ranked Duckworth — a vast contrast to his rusty, three-set opening win over John Millman the previous night.I had a great start to the match, Federer said. I saved energy and stress and nerves.Yesterday was quite nerve-wracking and physically difficult because it was first match of the season. So Im very happy I got it done quickly today.The 17-time major winner will next meet No. 4-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, who advanced a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Martin Klizan of Slovakia.No. 2-seeded Kei Nishikori and No. 3 Milos Raonic, of Thornhill, Ont., will meet in the other semifinal after beating Australians.The top two players in the womens draw will meet in the final after No. 1-seeded Maria Sharapova beat Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-3, and No. 2 Ana Ivanovic had a 7-6 (2), 6-4 win over Varvara Lepchenko.Federer and Dimitrov are often compared due to their styles, particularly the single-handed backhand, and theyre both anticipating a great semifinal.Im aware of the challenge, Federer said. Hes clearly expecting big things from himself this year, I would assume.So, its an opportunity for him more than for me, but I still think its going to be a tough and good match for both of us.Dimitrov has lost two previous matches to Federer — both at Basel — but is growing in confidence after rising to a career-high No. 8 ranking last August.Im always excited when I get to play a match like that against a player like that, Dimitrov said. I have quite a bit of experience behind me now. Ive learned from each match thatt Ive played against him.dddddddddddd. I like my odds.Nishikori, the U.S. Open finalist, breezed past Bernard Tomic 6-0, 6-4, while Raonic had more of a struggle against big-serving Sam Groth, winning 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-6 (2).Groth got the only break of serve, in the second set, and had more winners and more aces — 22 against 15 — than Raonic, who is rarely outperformed in that area.Nishikori, Raonic and Dimitrov have yet to win a major title, but theyre widely considered the new wave of future champions. Theyre all playing their first tournaments of the season in Brisbane, getting primed for the Australian Open beginning on Jan. 19.In the night cap, Sharapova wasted four match points in the eighth game of the second set before dropping serve, but converted her fifth match point in the next game to see off Svitolina.Ivanovic had some wobbles, too, after leading Lepchenko 5-1 in the second set and needing seven match points before she finally finished it off on her serve.I knew she was going to go for it because she had her back against the wall and she was going to go big, Ivanovic said. I was really happy to stay calm and save break point and then win that (last) game.Poland advanced to the Hopman Cup final in Perth by clinching a point against defending champion France, setting up a final against the United States.Alize Cornet beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 to give France the lead, but Poland secured top spot in the group when Jerzy Janowicz beat Benoit Paire 6-4, 7-6 (6).At the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a 2-hour, 35-minute match to set up a final against Venus Williams, who brushed past American compatriot Lauren Davis 6-0, 6-3. Williams also reached the final last year, losing in three sets to Ivanovic.____AP Sports Writer Steve McMorran in New Zealand contributed. ' ' '