reconsider this decision, but not until Russia has been forced to think hard about what it

BARCELONA, Spain -- Injured Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes will undergo an operation to repair his torn right knee ligament on Monday. Barcelona says the procedure will be performed by doctors Ulrich Boenisch and Ricard Pruna in Augsburg, Germany. Valdes leg buckled while making a routine save in Wednesdays Spanish league win over Celta Vigo at Camp Nou. Valdes will likely be done for the season and miss the World Cup in Brazil for Spain. He may have also played his last game for Barcelona. The 32-year old has said he will not stay at Barcelona after his contract expires in June. Jose Pinto will take Valdes place in goal for the final part of the season. Barcelona trails Spanish leader Atletico Madrid by one point with eight games to play. Mike Piazza Jersey . - While a fast-paced offence has become more of a fixture in recent years, the San Antonio Spurs can still grind out games when needed. Maury Wills Jersey . The best round belonged to Pat Perez. Tiger Woods didnt come close to claiming either Thursday in the Farmers Insurance Open, where the seven-time champion failed to break par in the opening round for first time in his career. http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-babe-herman-jersey/.com) - The Los Angeles Kings peppered Ryan Miller with shot after shot. Chris Taylor Jersey . Dalton completed his only pass and led the Bengals to a touchdown in his only drive -- one that took four minutes to finish -- and the Cincinnati Bengals ended the preseason with a 27-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night. Jackie Robinson Jersey . The third baseman whipped the ball across the diamond to second baseman Aaron Hill. He quickly tossed it to shortstop Chris Owings, who flipped over his shoulder to left fielder Cody Ross.Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week, they discuss the NFL and Ray Rice, questionable coaching decisions, FIFA and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star My thumb is down to the National Football League, which may sound familiar. The monster-truck league smashes anything in its path, from brain damage to PEDs to painkiller addiction, but this time its something else. Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice knocked his fiancee unconscious in an elevator in the off-season. Still, the Ravens defended him. The NFLs typical suspension for drugs of any kind is four games; it just gave Minnesota special teams coach Mike Preifer three games for homophobic remarks. Knock a woman out? Two games. Pathetic. The only thing worse than the NFLs dismissal of domestic violence was the debate that followed, in which so many sad men made excuses for Rice. But then, after all, the NFL and the Ravens pretty much did it first. Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun My thumb is down to Chris Jones, the first year coach of the Edmonton Eskimos, for calling one of the most outrageous gambles Ive seen in more than 40 years of watching the Canadian Football League. Now I love a good, educated gamble. This just wasnt one of them. With time running out late in the first half against the Calgary Stampeders, rather than punt the ball, jones called a fake end around - from his own end zone. Needless to say, the Eskimos didnt make the long first down, turned the ball over, annd one play later, bang, Calgary scored a touchdown, and guess what, the Stampeders wound up winning by less than the score of that TD.dddddddddddd. Now I like Chris Jones and I think hes going to be a terrific CFL head coach. But theres no place for high school logic in professional football. Cathal Kelly, Globe and Mail My thumb is up to FIFA - a rarity - for their refusal this week to pull the 2018 World Cup away from Russia. It would be satisfying to do so, and would please many of their critics. But, as footballs ruling body pointed out, no boycott has ever stopped a war and sports are an enormously positive force for change. The biggest tournament in the world will be a useful carrot in the coming years. Why apply the stick now? There will be time to reconsider this decision, but not until Russia has been forced to think hard about what it wants more in the international community - territorial gains or friends in the game. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up to todays Baseball Hall of Fame class that numbers six inductees - former players Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas - and former managers Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa and Bobby Cox. In some of the coming years, we assume itll be tough to elect one Hall of Fame member, never mind six, because so many votes will be held back from candidates known to have used or thought to have used steroids. Ironic then, to see a class of six, requiring speeches shorter than usual. Baseball celebrates its best in a big way--while it can, before it cant. ' ' '