Funkerstation » usly blemish-free round.I hit the green o

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss legislation from John McCain, the Jays handling of Ricky Romero, the career of Sir Alex Ferguson and bizarre outing of Rays pitcher Alex Cobb. Dave Naylor, TSN Radio 1050: My thumb is up to Arizona senator John McCain, who has introduced legislation to say that if an NFL team gets taxpayer funding for its stadium, it shouldnt be allowed to black out games. McCain may be on the wrong side of the issue when it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes, but I believe hes on the right side with this one. There are two downsides to taxpayer funding: its a bad investment but its also insulting when, after picking the pockets of taxpayers, you say they cant even watch the games if they dont buy tickets. I dont often line up with Republican senators but with this one, I am with John McCain. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to the Toronto Blue Jays for their handling of Ricky Romero. A year ago this time, this was the No. 1 starter on the Blue Jays. Last year, rather than send him to the minors or the bullpen, they kept pitching him. He lost his confidence, he lost his way and it hasnt come back since. After a disastrous spring and an attempt to rebuild him, they brought him back for one start and it didnt work. Saturday night in Buffalo, Romero pitched 3.2 innings and gave up 10 hits and six runs. We dont know if well ever see Ricky Romero in the Major Leagues again. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is up to Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United, who closed his career at Old Trafford on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Swansea. What a career. In 26 years at Man U, he won 13 Premier League titles, two in the Champions League, five FA Cups and, of course, the treble in 1999. Maybe there has never been a greater coach of any sport at any time than Sir Alex. Scotty Bowman was smart enough to adapt to the times. Sir Alex was someone who bent the times to his own will. Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is up to Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Cobb for giving us one of those great "how could it happen" baseball teasers. Its all part of Cobbs bizarre Friday night outing against San Diego in which he recorded 13 strikeouts and didnt make it out of the 5th inning… because his pitch count was so high. The 3rd inning was the crazy one - Cobb struck out 4 Padres - a wild pitch third strike put a runner on first, and that runner stole second and third and then scored on a balk. Thats how a pitcher gives up a run despite striking out the side, plus one, and not allowing a hit or a walk, and without an error being committed. So now you know… Wholesale Vapormax NZ . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Air Vapormax Clearance . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. http://www.wholesalevapormaxnz.com/ . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. Buy Nike Vapormax NZ . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. Vapormax Sale NZ . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. GOLD COAST, Australia -- Adam Scott put together back-to-back rounds of 68 and feels like hes really back in the swing of things as he heads into the weekend at the Australian PGA Championship four shots off the pace.Andrew Dodt followed his opening 65 with a 67 on Friday to hold the halfway lead at 12 under, two shots ahead of fellow Australian Ashley Hall and four clear of Scott and New Zealander Ryan Fox, who share third place.Harold Varner III had a long, eventful morning before finishing before lunch at 7 under -- good enough to hold up for outright fifth after two rounds. He was up 2:45 a.m., finished his first round in a share of the lead after a 65, and took the lead early in the second round before back-to-back double-bogeys on his sixth and seventh holes -- the 15th and 16th holes at Royal Pines Resort. He picked up birdies on three of his last five holes for an even-par second round of 72.Scott had an afternoon start on Friday and only had to focus on his second round. Half the field had to get up before dawn for a 5:30 a.m. tee off to finish off the first round which was postponed late Thursday because of lightning and rain. Ian Poulter was among them, getting up at 3:30 -- something hes never had to do in 17 years on the tour. The 40-year-old Englishman had a 68 in his second round and was 4 under for the tournament.Scott, who spent time on the Gold Coast while growing up in Queensland, known as Australias Sunshine State, didnt think it was too much of a hardship for the rest of the field.You get up at 5 anyway here in Queensland, the former world No. 1 said.. I felt like a sleep in.Scott had five birdies and a bogey on Fridday, and was hitting most greens with ease, making it fairly stress free.ddddddddddddIts the best Ive hit in a few weeks, said Scott, who had slow starts at the Australian Open and at the World Cup of Golf last month. It was nice to find it. I havent had that crisp stroke through the ball for two weeks.Ive been very cautious not to hit it too far off line -- I was in a spot today where I could trust it.Dodt finished with a bogey on the 18th on Friday after a previously blemish-free round.I hit the green on the last, but unfortunately rushed my first putt and then missed the one coming back. So it was a frustrating way to finish ... but Im not going to beat myself up about it too badly.Hall finished runner-up to Jordan Spieth at the Australian Open at Royal Sydney last month, saying the result saved him from having to go out and get a job to support his family.He finished with a 65 in the first round, waking up at 3:17 a.m. to make it to the early start, and went through the second round in 69.It was a record -- 3.17 isnt really a good time to wake up but everyone else did it, he said.After starting on the back nine, Hall was down to 11 under before a triple bogey 7 at the 412-meter 4th hole.I was kind of cruising along before a little speed hump, but I got it back in the end, Hall said. I hit it right off the tee. It was a pretty bad shot actually. It hit the cart path and ended up in the hazard. Took a drop backward a little bit to try and hit the shot over the tree and in the bunker and 3-putted from there. ' ' '