Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Duane Kuiper Jersey . This week they discuss Steve Nash, the Spirits handling of Terry Traffords passing, Ralph Krueger and NHL shootouts. Bruce Arthur, the National Post: My thumb is up to Steve Nash, who was shut down this week with nerve pain, which has been limiting him since a harmless-looking collision early last year. Hes only played 10 games for the Lakers this season and he looked like himself once. If this isnt the end of his 18-year career, then were getting close. So why thumbs up? Because of how hes facing it. Nash is making short films for ESPNs Grantland that are incredibly honest - jarringly so, at times - about what its like to face your athletic mortality and was incredibly honest again when I spoke to him this week. Nash and I are the same age; we both came from B.C.; we both played basketball and thats where the comparison ends. And again, hes showing me what it would be like. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to the eerie silence that has engulfed the Saginaw Spirit in the tragic wake of the passing of 20-year-old Terry Trafford.There are questions here – but, to date, no answers coming from the prominent junior hockey people, coach Greg Gilbert or general manager Jim Paliafito. We know, from Traffords father, that the Spirit sent Terry home for what Roy Trafford calls “disciplinary reasons.” And we know, from the same conversation, that the time away from the team was supposed to be temporary, a few days. Then something changed. What changed? We dont know. Telephone messages were left informing Trafford that he was no longer welcome to return to the team. What we dont know and may never know - is why. To date, the only people who have those answers arent sharing them. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: Forget the Dos Equis guy. My thumb is up to the truly most interesting man in the world, Ralph Krueger. Less than a month after being the big-ice guru for the Canadian mens Olympic hockey team, Krueger has switched continents and sports. He is now chairman of Southampton FC, having jumped to the rarified world of English Premier League soccer without prior experience in the game. Krueger can match resumes with anyone. The Manitoban played pro hockey in Germany, built the Swiss national program, coached the Edmonton Oilers before his premature firing and boosted Team Canada. He also is an active member of the World Economic Forum. Now, soccer. Bartender, Ill drink what Kruegers drinking. Dave Hodge, TSN: Thumbs down to the NHL and its inability to deal with its dislike of the shootout. At the GMs meetings in Florida, the NHL continued to look for ways to decrease the number of shootouts. One way would be to change overtime from four-on-four to three-on-three, but if youre making a list of ideas that are less popular than the shootout, start there. The NHL will consider a change of ends for overtime to put skaters farther from their benches, as they are in the second period, which, statistically, is the highest-scoring of the three periods. Okay. Keep trying. The easy solution would be for the NHL to give up and decide it likes the shootout. Oh, but as with visits from grandpa, it does - there just shouldnt be too many of them. Tony Watson Jersey . The same for both the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. Will Clark Jersey . The light-heavyweight champion and number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world is on an 11-fight UFC winning streak, the longest in the history of the weight class. http://www.sfgiantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Derek-Holland-Kids-Jersey/ . His fellow Finn, 21 years his junior, had just arrived in Anaheim and was hoping to stick with the Ducks. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Fantasy football owners and Denver Broncos fans can rest easy: Peyton Manning is back. Manning returned to practice Thursday after the Broncos held him out a day earlier because of a minor ankle injury he sustained in Denvers loss at Indianapolis last weekend. It was his first skipped practice since joining the Broncos 19 months ago, the result of the pounding he took in his homecoming at Indianapolis last weekend along with the coaches desire to give him a days rest as the midpoint of the season approaches. "Yeah, I thought he looked fine," coach John Fox said after Thursdays practice. "He was good, he was his normal self," offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase concurred. Joining Manning on the practice field, at least on a limited basis, was right tackle Orlando Franklin, who missed last weeks game with a sprained left ankle. With Franklin sidelined, Louis Vasquez made his first career start at right tackle, but he and fellow fill-in tackle Chris Clark were unable to hold the edge consistently against the likes of Robert Mathis. Manning was knocked down 10 times and sacked a season-high four times. Manning had only been sacked twice in the previous five games with Clark filling in admirably for All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady, who went on season-ending IR with a foot injury in Week 2. Dave Dravecky Jersey. . Chris Kuper filled in at right guard last week but hes missed practice all week with a sore ankle, so the Broncos (6-1) will likely juggle their O-line again Sunday when they host the Redskins (2-4). One possibility is moving Vasquez back to right guard and inserting eighth-year pro Winston Justice at right tackle and helping him out with two tight-end sets. Manning was one of eight starters who skipped Wednesdays workout, most of whom returned Thursday. Gase said he had "very little concern" about Manning missing practice and was pleased at how backup quarterback Brock Osweiler performed in his place. Everyone was glad to see Manning back under centre, however. Wide receiver Eric Decker (toe), who also returned to practice Thursday, said the day of rest was a welcome break from the grind of the season. "Being able to recharge and get ready for game week is huge," Decker said. Notes: CB Champ Bailey (foot) sat out practice again Thursday. Fox, who usually says injured players are "day-to-day," said Bailey is "week-to-week" after aggravating his sprained left foot Sunday night. He missed the first five games after getting hurt in the preseason. ' ' '