What are riches untold in a life without compassion? For theres no winter as cold As a life without compassion. Theres no prescription thats sold That can heal you like compassion. As any regular readers of this columns unabashedly indulgent ramblings may have detected, music is my first love and it will be my last (although plugging John Miles philosophy is not something I do with much enthusiasm). Graeme Wright, the estimable erstwhile editor of Wisden, even went so far as to dub me the first rock n roll cricket writer, a badge I wear with unseemly pride. Even so, my hero Todd Rundgrens plea for compassion has been falling on ever stonier ground of late - most troublingly, I readily confess, in the case of Mohammad Amir.As some of you might conceivably have noticed, my tolerance of match-/spot-fixing is approximately nine degrees below zero. Indeed, to attempt to predetermine even the merest millisecond of a sporting contest is, quite frankly, almost as despicable as racism. Dick Pound, the admirable Canadian lawyer who until recently spearheaded the drive to eliminate performance-enhancing drugs with impressively extreme prejudice, told a conference in Denmark last year that corruption was now the most dastardly enemy of fair and credible competition.To plot a result, or even a no-ball, deprives the competitive arts of their very essence: uncertainty, suspense and drama. Thats why it holds us in such a vice-like grip; and thats why my compassion for Amir has waxed and waned with such shameful frequency. As for those who have no compunction in persuading others to defraud spectators and subscribers, such as H***** C***** and S***** B***, I cannot even bring myself to type their names, much less - in the case of the former - mourn their passing.There is no need to remind you of the events of 2010, Amirs tender age, or the vast gulf in privilege between him and B***, the scruple-free captain who tk such deplorable advantage of his insecurity. That both served the same time in jail and the same five-year ICC suspension only reinforces the rank, perverse injustice of it all.So how do I feel about Amirs return to NW8? Roughly as equivocal as I do about the prospect of a female prime minister whose home contains a shrine to that accursed Thatcher woman: delighted that someone without an Adams apple is going to take up residence at 10 Downing Street, utterly and profoundly depressed that Theresa May should offer our troubled nation so little by way of gdness, direction or relief.On the one hand, as Amirs precocious performances here half a dozen summers ago so sumptuously demonstrated, he has it in him to match - or perhaps even exceed - the fabulous feats of his countryman Wasim Akram, the greatest of all brisk left-arm ball-benders. On the other, his return to centre stage accentuates my despair at the alacrity with which sport is descending into fraudulent farce. For centuries boxing and horse racing were the prime culprits. Nor should it ever be forgotten that the laws of our trivial pursuit were drawn up expressly to combat corruption, nor that the earliest MCC tours of Australia were bedevilled by premeditated outcomes. Nor that baseballs formative years were consistently polluted by such dastardly deeds. Now even tennis has been poisoned by those to whom money means more than merit. As for that hardy perennial wrestling, home to such tough-as-nails troubadours as Mick McManus and Big Daddy, lets just remind ourselves what WWE stands for: not World Wrestling Endeavour or World Wrestling Effort but World Wrestling Entertainment.The best bit of blindingly obvious advice I could give myself, therefore, would be to steer clear of St Johns Wd for the next few days. The problem with that, however, is that it is also home to Harry Ms, which, according to Matthew Engel and myself, is indubitably the planets finest purveyor of chopped liver, salt beef, cold fried haddock, potato latkes, blintzes and lockshen pudding.That Amir deserves every ounce of compassion we can muster is beyond dispute, but can a case not be made with equal conviction that cricket would make an infinitely more important statement by withholding it, by being mercilessly ruthless?After all, the eight members of the Chicago White Sox team who conspired to throw the 1919 World Series were all banned sine die; even Buck Weaver, whose only crime was to be aware of the original negotiations with Abe Rothsteins henchmen, and Shoeless Joe Jackson, the illiterate farmboy whose displays against the Cincinnati Reds - bar some fumbles in the field - were never less than inspirational (hence his rebirth in Field of Dreams). Can it be entirely coincidental that match-fixing has never subsequently darkened the drs of Major League Baseball? Do bees sting?Having endured problems with trust in recent years I recently decided to purge myself of anger by forgiving those responsible. And thats why I will be urging Amir on rather than banging on about why not everyone deserves a second chance. And if cricket stands for anything, it is second chances. Jalyn Holmes Womens Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shtaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Paul Krause Youth Jersey . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to lk at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. k-Vikings-Jersey/" target="_blank">http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Dalvin-Ck-Vikings-Jersey/ . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Brett Favre Womens Jersey . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Chris Doleman Jersey . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. ATLANTA -- Bartolo Colon tried not to put t much blame on himself for two mistake pitches that resulted in solo homers for Matt Kemp and Nick Markakis.I think I missed on both pitches, he said. In the big leagues, any time you miss your spots youre going to pay the consequences.Adonis Garcias tiebreaking single in the 10th inning scored Dansby Swanson from third base and the Atlanta Braves snapped the New York Mets six-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory on Saturday night.Swanson led off the 10th with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Erik Goeddel (1-1) and moved to third on A.J. Pierzynskis single.After Goeddel struck out pinch-hitter Tyler Flowers, Ty Kelly replaced center fielder Curtis Granderson to give the Mets five infielders and Josh Smoker retired Ender Inciarte on a popup. Kelly then moved back into the outfield, and Garcia singled up the middle to end it.The Mets winning streak was their longest since late April, when they won eight a row. New York dropped one-half game behind St. Louis for the second NL wild-card spot.Chris Withrow (3-0) faced the minimum in the 10th to earn the victory.Yoenis Cespedes gave the Mets a 3-2 lead in the fifth with his 29th homer, a solo shot.Colon didnt receive a decision after giving up five hits, three runs and one walk, and striking out two in six innings.Atlanta made it 3-all in the sixth on Kemps 30th homer and 2-all in the fourth on Markakis 10th homer.I felt gd, Colon said. The most important thing is I threw six innings.Braves third baseman Garcia and second baseman Jace Peterson were both charged with a fielding error that ruined double-play opportunities in the first, leading to New Yorks 2-0 lead. Jose Reyes scored when Curtis Granderson reached on botched force attempt. Cespedes scored on Jay Bruces RBI grounder.Atlanta cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom half of the first on Kemps sacrifice fly.Braves starter John Gant gave up four hits, four walks, three runs -- one earned -- and struck out six in 4 2/3 innings.BANG-BANG PLAYWilmer Flores, trying to score from second, was taggedd out to end the eighth on a head-first slide when his helmet popped off and his head jammed against Pierzynskis shin guard.ddddddddddddFlores briefly stayed on the ground bent over on a knee before being escorted off the field by a trainer. He was replaced by James Loney at first base. The Mets announced Flores has a neck contusion is day-to-day.We certainly have enough guys to have (pinch-run) for him, which we should have, manager Terry Collins said. I was trying to get the pitching set up and send a pinch-hitter in. Got distracted. My fault.NOT SURE YETPierzynski wouldnt say after the game if he has immediate plans to retire after 16 full seasons in the major leagues.I dont know the answer to that question, he said. Its been discussed, obviously, but I dont know.Pierzynski, 39, is hitting just .219 and playing for the worst team in the NL.STREAK EXTENDEDFreeman singled in the third to reach safely in his career-best 32nd straight game. He went 1 for 4.TRAINERS RMMets: Manager Terry Collins said the blister bothering RHP Seth Lugo has dried up, so Lugo will start Sunday. Colon moved up one day in the rotation to take Lugos spot. ... RHP Jacob deGrom (right forearm soreness) threw 10 pitches off a mound in his tennis shoes. ... LHP Steven Matz (shoulder tightness) threw about 65 pitches off a mound in Port St. Lucie, Fla. ... Collins had no immediate timetable for either pitcher.Braves: Matt Wisler felt fine after throwing a side session Friday and will throw another one Sunday. Wisler is expected to start Tuesday against Miami. He missed one turn in the rotation with a sore side. ... RHP Julio Teheran, hit by a line drive on his pitching arm Friday night, said he feels fine and will make his next start.UP NEXTMets: Lugo (3-2) will make his fifth start. He has never faced Atlanta.Braves: RHP Williams Perez (2-2) will make his 11th start. He is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance against New York. ' ' '