Landschaften und Orte » become the winningest coach in Division I. This

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week, they discuss the NBAs fine on the Toronto Raptors, the ice bucket challenge, Candlestick Park and Jimmy Grahams reaction to the NFLs goal-post no dunking" rule. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star My thumb is up to the $25,000 tampering fine that the NBA levied against the Toronto Raptors this week. The fine came after the rapper Drake, the teams unpaid but omnipresent global ambassador, spotted league MVP Kevin Durant in the crowd during a Toronto concert and all but openly recruited him with the aid of a chanting crowd. So, the team received the fine, and its about time. Drake is popular in NBA circles, and you can bet hes talked to guys like Durant off-stage, too. In the NBA, the best players choose their destinations, and even if the NBA insists they never asked for Drakes removal as ambassador, that makes him sound like a threat, right? Which, he may yet be. And finally, with this fine, the Raptors have at least paid something for his services. Steve Simmons, Sun Media My thumb is up to the ice bucket challenge, the charitable campaign inspired and enhanced by social media that has worked so well to raise money for the dreadful disease ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease. Suddenly, in recent days weve seen the likes of Sidney Crosby, Gary Bettman, Henrik Lundqvist, P.K. Subban from the hockey world and other athletes and celebrities dumping a bucket of ice over their head inspiring donations worldwide, the likes of which we have never seen before. A year ago this timeframe, ALS had raised $32,000 in a two-week period. Since the ice bucket challenge began, the brainchild of former college baseball player and ALS sufferer Peter Frates, more than $5.5 million has been pledged. Sometimes a simple idea, for all the right reasons, with the aid of social media, can go an awfully long way. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated My thumb is up to memories of San Franciscos Candlestick Park, the 54-year-old stadium whose swan song was sung this week at a concert by Paul McCartney. It was fitting Sir Paul closed the place considering the Beatles gave their last live performance there, in 1966. Candlestick chilled the body. Giants fans wore parkas in June. But it often warmed the sporting soul. This was hallowed ground where Willie Mays roamed center field and Joe Montana connected with Dwight Clark on "the catch." The Stick held up well, especially during the 89 World Series as I sat worriedly in the auxiliary press box during the Loma Prieta earthquake. For that, and for everything, thanks. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is down to Jimmy Graham, the New Orleans Saints standout tight end, who is probably the best at his position in the NFL, even better than the grown-ups. Graham is responsible for the so-called "goal-post no dunking" rule because he went too far and managed to bend a goal post. Well, he hates the rule, has vowed to protest it by ignoring it, which he did twice after touchdowns on Friday night. Now, you can call it the "no fun league," you can say that pre-season games arent to be taken too seriously and that unsportsmanlike penalties after touchdowns are no big deal, but if you play for Saints coach Sean Payton, who was suspended for a year by the NFL, you do not show up the league because you know your coach - any coach, I guess - will tear into you. Thats what Payton did and Graham yelled back and a sideline shouting match ensued, during kindergarten. Jeff Beukeboom Jersey . 3 Ohio State. Amedeo Della Valle had 15 points, Marc Loving scored a career-high 13 and the bench provided 38 points as the Buckeyes sprinted past Nebraska 84-53 on Saturday. Walt Tkaczuk Jersey .com) - Novak Djokovic easily took care of Andy Murray to reach the final at the $2. http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/mike-richter-hockey-jersey/ . Last year, Matt Kuchar closed with a 4-under 68 to beat Kevin Chappell by two strokes for his second win of the 2013 season and sixth of his career. Rod Gilbert Jersey . Cory Batey and Brandon Vandenburg were each convicted on four charges of aggravated rape, one of attempted aggravated rape and two for aggravated sexual battery. Vandenburg was also found guilty of tampering with evidence as well as an unlawful photography charge. Glenn Anderson Jersey . -- Phil Mickelson came to the St. LUBBOCK, Texas -- Marcus Smart hustled back on defence to prevent a dunk and went careening into the crowd behind the basket. He was helped to his feet with only seconds remaining and No. 19 Oklahoma State on its way to a fourth straight defeat. Thats when all the trouble started. Suddenly incensed, Smart got in the face of a Texas Tech fan who appeared to say something to the star guard. Smart shoved him with two hands. The man stumbled backward a bit, but didnt fall. Teammates quickly pulled Smart away from the fracas, and he pointed back in the direction of the fan. Smart was called for a technical foul but was not ejected. He remained on the bench until the final buzzer. As fans stormed the court to celebrate Texas Techs 65-61 win Saturday night, Smart was escorted off the floor by a man wearing Oklahoma State colours -- with a uniformed police officer trailing right behind. A unanimous selection to the preseason All-America team, Smart could now face discipline from the Big 12. Texas Tech spokesman Trenten Hilburn said John Underwood, the conferences associate commissioner for basketball, said the league would review the situation. "I didnt see it yet. I want to make sure I see it and see what happened," Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said after the game. "Im still trying to figure it out." No Cowboys players were made available to reporters after the game. Smart tried to block Jaye Crocketts dunk attempt from behind with 6.2 seconds to go and tumbled into the front row of the crowd. He was helped up by one man but then went after another, Jeff Orr, who travels thousands of miles each year to attend Texas Tech basketball games, according to athletic department spokesman Blayne Beal. Smart pushed Orr, and fans nearby looked stunned -- one wide-eyed woman next to Orr pointed at Smart as he was pulled away. Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith said he turned away from the play and didnt see the altercation. "You really have to find the film to see what happened," he said. "I assume the officials saw what happened. Thats why he got a technical out of it. The frustration when youre losing sometimes on a losing streak, Ive been there before, it can be tough. Im sure he regrets doing that, whatever he did, so things like that happen in the heat of the battle." Crockett scored 21 points and tied his season high with 12 rebounds to lead Texas Tech.dddddddddddd Smart had 22 points and Phil Forte added 15 for the Cowboys (16-7, 4-6 Big 12). Considered one of the best all-around players in the country, Smart has showed frustration more than once during an inconsistent season. The sophomore guard got off to a fantastic start, leading to speculation that he could be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft this year. He has struggled in some recent games, though, including a four-point effort against West Virginia when he kicked a chair on the bench. That led to him apologizing to his teammates afterward. This one was tied at 61 when Crockett hit the go-ahead shot with 41 seconds remaining. Oklahoma States LeBryan Nash lost the ball in the lane, and Crockett raced toward the basket at the other end. Smart knocked the ball away and was called for a foul, then pushed Orr and drew the technical. Dusty Hannahs and Crockett each made one of two free throws for the final margin. The Red Raiders (12-11, 4-6) earned their second win over a Top 25 team in the past month. They beat then-No. 12 Baylor in January. None of Texas Techs players had ever played in front of a sellout crowd at home before. The last two at United Spirit Arena came in January 2007, including New Years Day when former Red Raiders coach Bob Knight got his 880th win to become the winningest coach in Division I. This victory gave the Red Raiders as many Big 12 wins this season as they had the past two years combined. The score was tied 13 times and the lead changed 12 times as each team put together runs throughout the game. Oklahoma State went on a 17-7 spurt to open the second half, including two 3-pointers by Forte and six points from Smart, to go up 44-36. But the Red Raiders didnt buckle. They used a 9-2 run to pull to 46-45 with 11:14 remaining. Texas Tech went ahead 51-48 on a 3 by Crockett right before Kamari Murphy picked up his fourth foul with 7:47 left. The Cowboys answered, culminating with a 3-pointer from Smart to go up 57-54 with 4:31 remaining. Crockett quickly tied it at 57 with a 3. Oklahoma State struggled early, making one field goal in 11 tries. But the Cowboys used a 10-0 run to go up 14-10. The Red Raiders answered with a 9-2 run and later an 8-2 spurt in the final 1:29 of the half to lead 29-27. Oklahoma States point total for the half was a season low. ' ' '