ERST LESEN! » losing the four-hitter by g

WASHINGTON -- Tommie Smith and John Carlos were proud to raise their gloved fists in a symbolic protest at the Olympics, and now theyre proud that Colin Kaepernick and other athletes are staging national anthem protests to raise awareness about racial inequality and police brutality.The American sprinters who were sent home from the 1968 Mexico City Olympics for what they called a human rights salute say the San Francisco 49ers quarterback and others are right to use their platform in an attempt to affect social change 48 years later.Dont hate the kid because he stood up for something to change, said Smith, who won the gold medal and set a world record in the 200 meters in 1968. He stood up for the right to exercise Amendment 1.Speaking Wednesday at the Team USA Awards, the first U.S. Olympic Committee event theyve been invited to since their protest, Smith says hes backing Kaepernick because his protest is proactive and Carlos says theres no better platform than sports to stand up for something, even if it brings criticism.Protest is a good thing because youre trying to expose certain things through protest, said Carlos, who won the bronze in the 200. Then, when you sit back and say, `Well, I dont know whether its the right place to make statement here or there. In any protest, I think you make a statement to try and reach the far ends of the earth. What better way to do it than if youre in a sport.Several athletes have followed Kaepernick, who sat for the anthem, then modified his protest to kneel during it. Some have raised their fists like Smith and Carlos.Most recently, Nebraska football players Michael Rose-Ivey, Mohamed Barry and DaiShon Neal kneeled during the anthem before a game at Northwestern, drawing criticism from Nebraskas governor. Rose-Ivey is expected to meet with the governor to discuss the issue next week.It is a sacrifice to deal with anything other than status quo, Smith said. As we know very well.While Smith said its important for athletes to study and understand why theyre protesting and what they want to come out of it, Carlos said backlash is part of the process.Any individual that makes a public statement or a public scene is saying we have issues that we need to deal with and we can no longer stick them under the rug or stick them behind the bus or what have you, Carlos said. By bringing attention to society, for them to be able to determine themselves why it was necessary that we take this thing called racism, violence and prejudice and bury it once and for all.It has taken almost half a century for the USOC to welcome Smith and Carlos back into the fold after being on the outside for breaking the rules. Carlos called their return a rebirth and both men hope they can be ambassadors and a positive influence on young people who werent born when they protested at the Olympics.We never denounced what we stood for, Carlos said. We stood for humanity. At the same time they loved the fact that we had courage. Thats what you need in athletics. For them to come and lower the drawbridge so to speak and welcome us across with open arms, its a beautiful situation. I dont think it gets any better. Los Angeles Lakers Gear . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. Los Angeles Lakers Store . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Los Angeles Lakers Pro Shop . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. Lakers Jerseys China . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. BOSTON -- The Tampa Bay Rays cant erase whats happened.They can only try and make the post All-Star break fun again.Former Ray David Price threw eight shutout innings in his best start with the Red Sox, David Ortiz entered the All-Star break with impressive numbers after hitting a two-run homer, and Boston sent the Rays to their sixth straight loss, 4-0 on Sunday.The victory completed a three-game sweep for the Red Sox and handed Tampa Bay its 22nd loss in 25 games.You can never start fresh until Opening Day, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said But somehow weve got to kind of maybe trick ourselves into thinking were going to start fresh here this second half and just start playing some better baseball, more competitive baseball, doing the little things that it takes to win.The Rays enter the break with 10 straight road losses.Jake Odorizzi (3-5) got the loss, allowing four runs in five innings. He was much better than his previous start, when he gave up a season-high seven runs to the Los Angeles at home Tuesday.Definitely from start to finish, he said. Good pitches. I was getting weak contact on it. Its encouraging to see.But he knows the Rays (34-54) have to find a way to play better.Basically the whole team, minus a few people are, probably going to use it as a whole new start to the season, he said.Boston, though, hopes Price and Ortiz continue just like Sunday.The 40-year-old Ortiz heads to his 10th All Star game with a .332 average and 72 RBI in what he announced last fall will be his final season. Its the most RBI ever at the break by a player 40 or older.Price (9-6) struck out 10, allowed four hits, walked one and hit two batters in snapping a personal two-game losing streak. Price didnt give up a hit after the third inning, retiring 17 of the last 19 batters.Mookie Betts had three singles and drove in a run to help the Red Sox (49-38) complete their first sweep since a three-game set at home against Oakland on May 9-11.ddddddddddddBrad Ziegler, acquired from Arizona after Friday nights games, closing the four-hitter by getting the final three outs in his Red Sox debut.Price had received two runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts. His teammates offered better support right away by grabbing a 3-0 lead in the first.Ortiz hit his homer into the Green Monster seats after Xander Bogaerts sacrifice fly. Betts RBI single made it 4-0 an inning later.GLAD AND SURPRISEDZiegler wore No. 29 after the Red Sox acquired the 36-year-old from Arizona for a pair of minor leaguers.The right-hander said the last conversation he had with the Diamondbacks before the trade was the possibility of an extension.I said: `Im open to whatever. Just come back to me and let me know, he said. The next time I heard from them I was traded. Thats part of why I was caught off guard and surprised how early it happened.AGAINTampa Bays Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch twice, bringing his season total to 20.ROUSING OVATIONSix-year-old Caroline Fahey of Newton, Massachusetts, sang the anthem flawlessly and got a huge hand from the fans and both dugouts.TRAINERS ROOMRays: Theyre still planning that CF Kevin Kiermaier (broken left hand) will return Friday.Red Sox: 1B Hanley Ramirez was out for his second straight with a sore left shin. . Both RHP Junichi Tazawa (tightness shoulder) and utility player Brock Holt (sprained left ankle) were unavailable.UP NEXTRays: RHP Chris Archer (4-12, 4.61 ERA) is slated to start Friday when they host the Orioles and RHP Yovani Gallardo (3-1, 5.82).Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3, 8.59) is expected to be recalled Friday and start the first of a three-game series against the Yankees in New York. ' ' '