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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 Luol Deng, Craig Leipold, Saku Koivu, and the NHL trying to write an understandable rule covering "kicked in" goals. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star My thumb is up to Luol Deng of the Miami Heat. Deng, one of the most respected players in the NBA, was the subject of a racist scouting report originating that said Deng "has a little Africa in him," and compared him to a respectable shopkeeper who sells counterfeit goods. It was leaked amid an Atlanta Hawks ownership war, and that revelation has torn the franchise apart: the owner is selling, and general manager Danny Ferry, who read it aloud, is on indefinite leave. Dengs reaction, though, was perfect. He issued a statement that struck exactly the correct tone, and included Deng saying, "Im proud to say I actually have a lot of African in me, not just a little." He showed pride, strength, and grace. In this wretched week for sports, we needed that. Steve Simmons, SUN Media My thumb is up to Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold for offering to fly anyone in his organization to Saturdays funeral of Bob Suter, the first “Miracle on Ice” player to pass away. It wasnt just that Suter did some work for the Wild or was the father of Minnesota star defenceman Ryan Suter. It was who he was in the hockey world and what he represented that mattered so much. Unlike his son and his brother Gary, Bob Suter never played an NHL game. After the gold medal win in Lake Placid in 1980, he moved home to Wisconsin, opened up a sporting goods business, was involved in community, coached kids hockey. Among the non-family members he influenced: Phil and Amanda Kessel. Bob Suter was only 57 years old. The heart attack that took him too soon came in a hockey arena. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated My thumb is up to Saku Koivu, who never got his name engraved on the Stanley Cup but whose signature is on something of even more value - a pet scanner at Montreal General Hospital. Koivu retired this week after an end-of-career turn in Anaheim, but he will be remembered as the long-serving captain of the Canadiens, overcoming non-Hodgkins lymphoma and returning to the most thunderous ovation since Rocket Richard closed the Forum. Koivu was a lightning rod for criticism - he never did learn French - but deeds are more significant than words. He and his foundation bought the diagnostic machine that has helped thousands of cancer-stricken Montrealers. That is a proud legacy. Dave Hodge, TSN I sympathize with the NHL, but my thumb is down for the NHLs continuing inability to write an understandable rule that covers a goal scored when a puck goes into the net off an attacking players skate. I sympathize because what the NHL wants to do cant be done. It wants a rule that says some goals off skates should count, and others shouldnt. So the latest attempt requires “more demonstrable video evidence of a distinct kicking motion” to wipe out a goal or to uphold the call of “no goal.” This would be okay if we ever knew what the level of “demonstrable evidence” was previously. Then we could identify more of it when we see it in the coming season. There is a concern that a rule that allows all goals off skates would create wild attempts to kick at pucks in the crease. In fact, that is possible anywhere else on the ice, and isnt regarded as any sort of problem. The “kicked goal” rule is and always will be until it no longer exists. Wholesale Jordan Retro 5 .com) - Jeff Teague had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 90-85 on Saturday night. Cheap Jordan 5 For Sale . - The Carolina Panthers believe Steve Smith lost "top-end" speed, a big reason the franchise parted ways with its all-time leading receiver. http://www.cheapairjordan5.com/ . -- Kael Mouillierat scored three times and set up one more as the St. Jordan Retro 5 For Sale Cheap .com) - Troy Brouwer scored the game-winning goal with just 12. Wholesale Air Jordan 5 .ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience.GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Abbotsford Heat hope a last-minute goal keeps their season alive for more than one extra game. Marcus Granlund scored a power-play goal with a minute left in regulation as the Heat staved off elimination with a 2-1 win in Game 3 against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Corey Locke also scored for the Heat, who still trail 2-1 in the best-of-five series with Game 4 scheduled for Friday in Grand Rapids. "We came here and got the first one, and we need two more," Granlund said. "Were taking it day by day, and game by game, and we have to keep going. We have to keep pushing and win the next game, too." After dropping the first two games on their home ice, the Heat returned the favour by rallying in the final period for a pair of goals to erase a 1-0 deficit and earn the critical road win. "Our backs are against the wall, we realize that," Abbotsford coach Troy Ward said. "We came on the trip knowing we would play 20 minutes at a time, and the good thing about our team is were never too high or too low. "We felt good about Game 1, and obviously we stubbed our toe in Game 2, but we felt pretty good about ourselves coming in tonight." Granlunds game winner came after Grand Rapids Jeff Hoggan was whistled for high sticking with 1:20 left to put the Heat on the power play. Former Griffin Chad Billins delivered the pass to Granlund, who knocked it past Grandd Rapids goalie Petr Mrazek.dddddddddddd "It was a great pass by Billins, and I just shot it and it was a goal," Granlund said. "It was very exciting." Abbotsford went 1 for 9 on the power play in Games 1 and 2, and was 0 for 3 in Game 3 before the final goal. "Our power play has struggled so far in the series, so that was the bright eyed part of the game," Ward said. "It was a good play by Granlund, and hes been probably our catalyst all year." Grand Rapids, the defending Calder Cup champions, grabbed an early 1-0 lead on a power-play goal with 2:33 remaining in the first period when Tomas Jurco scored on a wrist shot off a pass from Riley Sheahan. Heat goalie Joni Ortio helped keep it a one-goal game with 19 stops through the first two periods and the Heat finally broke through less than six minutes into the third. Locke ripped a shot past Mrazek to tie the game before Granlunds goal at 18:58. "I thought as the game wore on, we skated better," Ward said. "I thought we had a couple really good pushes in the second there and I thought that made a difference with our confidence coming out in the third. We just picked it up after that. "This game had a lot of the same characteristics as Game 1. We got fortunate bounces at the right time and Ortio played a good game again." Ortio stopped 34 shots, while Mrazek finished with 23 saves. ' ' '