The milestone drive also was his 10th in his firs

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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 hopes of the National Basketball League, Jim Thomes remarkable accomplishment, the spending habits of a Russian soccer club and mixed signals from the Toronto Blue Jays. Dave Feschuk, Toronto Star: My thumb is up to the National Basketball League of Canada, holding its inaugural draft today. Geography and historic apathy might be against it, but the NBL is starting small, just seven teams from London, Ont. to the Atlantic provinces, and it could be a worthy venture. Canadas recent lack of success on the international stage isnt simply about Steve Nashs summertime need to rest his aching body. Its that every other country serious about the game has a domestic league that gives a large pool of elite players an opportunity to hone their craft. Now, the NBLs current plan is to have just two Canadians per team, which isnt enough. But its a start. And, hey, it might also be Canadas only pro basketball option this autumn. Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun: My thumb is up to Jim Thome, who has hit the quietest 600 home runs in major league history. And no matter how you look at that - 15 years of 40 homers a year; 20 years of 30 a year - it is a remarkable feat. It becomes all the more amazing that Thome has done so while avoiding the stench of steroids, the first player since Ken Griffey Jr. to be so unencumbered. In all, only eight men in the history of baseball - eight - have hit 600 homers and three of them, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa, have had their accomplishments enhanced so to speak. That puts Thome in a rare place that includes Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Now thats baseball company you might want to keep. Cathal Kelly, Toronto Star: My thumb is down to Anzhi Makhachkala, the goofy Russian soccer club that wants to make Samuel Etoo the highest paid player in real terms in team sport history. Anzhi is an insignificant club in the Russian premier league thats just been given to billionaire strongman Suleyman Kerimov in return for political favours. Kerimov has begun collecting players like china dolls. Hes offered Etoo $26 million dollars a season after tax to play quite literally in the middle of nowhere - the capital of the restive Russian province of Dagestan. Dagestan is roiled by ethnic tension and terrorist violence. Seventy per cent of the population lives below the poverty line. Etoos prospective salary is 50,000 times the average wage of the fans hell be playing for. If he were making that kind of cabbage playing for the Yankees or the Lakers, itd be a fun story. It seems a lot less fun when Etoos new boss has literally taken the food out of peoples mouths in order to pay him. James Cybulski, TSN Radio: My thumb is down to the Toronto Blue Jays, who seem to be giving us more mixed signals than they can allegedly steal these days. This past week, the Jays, who have been all about developing young prospects, were the only team that failed to sign their first round pick. Tyler Beede warned MLB teams it was going to cost them to sign him and surprise, surprise, the Jays didnt pony up. For the last two years, Blue Jays ownership has said they would spend money when the time was right. Well now not only are they not spending, theyve apparently stopped developing prospects, too. Toronto is one of the five largest markets in North America and the least affected Major League Baseball team during this epic U.S. recession, yet they are ranked 23rd in payroll. Theres a ton of optimism at the Dome right now, but the optics are bad from the top. www.nflsteelersjerseymart.com/elite-carnell-lake-steelers-jersey/ . Near-identical goals by Gareth Bale -- his 10th in his past eight games -- and fellow winger Aaron Lennon in a three-minute span at the end of the first half proved decisive for Spurs, whose euphoric post-match celebrations gave an indication of the psychological importance of the victory. www.nflsteelersjerseymart.com/elite-mike-webster-steelers-jersey/ . ESPN reported the anticipated moves and the Baltimore Sun reported that the Ravens informed nose tackle Kelly Gregg that he would be cut on Thursday. The news came a few hours after the league officially announced an end to the NFL lockout. The work stoppage had been in place since March 12. www.nflsteelersjerseymart.com/elite-steve-mclendon-steelers-jersey/ . -- Russell Westbrook blocked Stephen Currys layup, Kevin Durant corralled the ball and dribbled down court. www.nflsteelersjerseymart.com/elite-bruce-gradkowski-steelers-jersey/ . Instead, the Texas Rangers had a successful squeeze bunt and the lead, and the Oakland As had a mess on their hands. www.nflsteelersjerseymart.com/elite-lawrence-timmons-steelers-jersey/ . Cuche scored enough points finishing fourth to overtake Austrias Michael Walchhofer, who placed 11th in his final downhill before retiring. The race was won by Adrien Theaux of France, who earned his first World Cup victory. MIAMI -- Jack McKeon stayed with Ricky Nolasco and the right-hander rewarded his manager for the vote of confidence. Nolasco tossed a seven-hitter for his sixth career complete game, Logan Morrison hit a bases-loaded triple in Floridas four-run fifth inning and the Marlins beat the Houston Astros 6-1. "Every pitcher from the minor leagues to the major leagues, that should be the goal," McKeon said of Nolascos effort. "Weve got too many guys now who go five or six and look over their shoulder, Whos going to pick me up? "We train em that way, and thats the way theyre going to be. But were going to untrain them." John Buck hit career homer No. 100 for the Marlins, who tied a season high with their fourth consecutive victory. Morrison finished with three hits, and Nolasco (6-5) struck out eight and walked one in his second complete game of the season -- both coming in his last three starts. "The mindset I have is to go as deep as I can, for as long as I can, to keep my team in the game," he said. "Jack let me keep going out there and Im just trying to make him look good on his decision to let me keep going in the game." Houston has lost eight of nine and 13 of 15 overall. Brett Myers (3-9) allowed six runs, five earned, and four hits in 4 1/3 innings, dropping to 0-5 with an 8.17 ERA in his last seven starts against Florida. The Astros hurt themselves with sshoddy defence in the fifth.dddddddddddd With one out and Emilio Bonifacio on first, shortstop Clint Barmes booted Omar Infantes chopper for an error that left runners on first and second. Myers then walked Gaby Sanchez and Hanley Ramirez to force in a run before Morrison hit a liner into right-centre for his second triple of the season. Wilton Lopez then came in and retired Mike Stanton and Mike Cameron to end the inning. Bonifacio also helped set up Floridas first run. He started the Marlins first with a walk and stole second. He then moved up on a grounder and scored on Ramirezs infield out. Buck homered on a 1-2 pitch with two out in the second to give Florida a 2-0 lead. The milestone drive also was his 10th in his first season with the Marlins. "My wife said to me, See if you can get that ball ... if you ever hit it," said Buck, who did get the ball back. Pinch-hitter Brian Bogusevic hit an RBI double in the seventh for Houstons only run. NOTES: Actor David Cassidy, of Partridge Family fame, threw out a ceremonial first pitch. ... Marlins manager Jack McKeon said Anibal Sanchez and Nolasco would start the first two post-All-Star break games in Chicago. ... Bonifacio returned to the lineup after missing Friday nights game to be with his wife for the birth of the couples first child. Emil Andres Bonifacio was born at 1:57 p.m. ET Saturday. ' ' '