RENTON, Wash. -- NATIONAL ANTHEM PROTESTSSeattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said Wednesday the public isnt listening to the message NFL players are trying to send with their actions during the national anthem.While some fans are obsessing about whether players take a knee, raise a fist or lock arms during the national anthem before games, Sherman said they should be talking about the reasons why players are protesting.Sherman did not take questions during his media availability. Instead, he walked to the podium, said a few words about this weeks opponent San Francisco and then gave a two-minute statement about what players have wanted to accomplish.Shermans message came after a pair of police shootings this week, one in Charlotte, North Carolina, another in Tulsa, Oklahoma.Shermans statement came as the Seahawks are preparing to face San Francisco on Sunday. Teammate Doug Baldwin told reporters in the Bay Area that members of the Seahawks have had extensive conversations with Colin Kaepernick, who started the conversation with his decision to first sit and then kneel during the national anthem.PRO BASKETBALLMIAMI -- NBA players are being urged to reach out to league and union officials to try and come up with ways to create positive change in communities around the country, a move that comes in response to protests in other sports about racial oppression and other social matters.Players received a memo from the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association on Wednesday, one that announced that the league and the union, working together, have begun developing substantive ways for us to come together and take meaningful action.A copy of the memo was obtained by The Associated Press. It did not remind players of the NBAs rule saying players must stand for the national anthem, something that some athletes in other pro sports have chosen not to do in recent weeks in acts of protest.They also said the game should continue bringing people together and build bonds of trust in our communities.The memo was sent on the same day that each player on the WNBAs Indiana Fever roster took a knee and linked arms with a teammate during the playing of the national anthem that preceded the teams playoff game with the Phoenix Mercury.OLYMPICSCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The first Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award will recognize the late Muhammad Ali.The Owens Award was started this year, the 80th anniversary of Owens four-gold-medal performance at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, and is to be presented annually to recognize people who have served as an inspiration in society.Owens granddaughter, Marlene Dortch, will present the award at next weeks Best of the Games awards ceremony to Alis widow, Lonnie.Ali won the gold medal at the Rome 1960 Olympics, then took three world heavyweight championships -- in 1964, 1974 and 1978.HOCKEYFRISCO, Texas -- Dallas Stars announcer Dave Strader plans to work as many games as possible this season while undergoing treatment for a rare and aggressive form of cancer in his bile duct.Strader released a statement through the team Wednesday saying there is no cure for cholangiocarcinoma. But he said the cancer is treatable and that is fighting every day and doing everything the doctors tell him to do. He thanked the Stars, fans and the entire NHL for their support for him and his family.The Stars first revealed in June that Strader had been diagnosed with cancer, but gave no other details then.A 36-year veteran in broadcasting, Strader joined the TV and radio simulcast with the Stars last season. He has also worked for the NBC Sports Network and served stints with Florida, Arizona and Detroit in the NHL.POLITICSSACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A man hit Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson in the face with a pie at a charity dinner Wednesday night, and an official says the former NBA star went on the defensive.The mayors Chief of Staff Crystal Strait called the Wednesday night incident at the Sacramento Charter High School a shocking assault, but said the mayor wasnt hurt.She said the mayor defended himself against the man, but she would not give details.Sacramento police said in a statement that a police restrained the suspect, 32-year-old Sean Thompson, who has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a public official. He was treated for a minor injury and is being booked into jail.The mayor tweeted that hes doing fine and said Thank you to Sac PD for being there.Johnson a former NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns, has about two months left as mayor after deciding not to seek a third term. 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Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Country Rugby League boss Terry Quinn wants at least two regional NRL games guaranteed each year as a replacement for the axed City-Country fixture.Quinn made the bittersweet announcement on Monday that the central-western NSW town of Mudgee would host the final instalment of the traditional NSW State of Origin audition next year.Penriths sponsored NRL clash in Bathurst is expected to be the only other game played at a country venue when the governing body releases its draw within the next week.With officials vague about their determination to take more top level league to the bush beyond City-Country, Quinn is calling for an assurance of country games in 2018.Ive had discussions with (NRL CEO) Todd Greenberg in his previous position and we discussed trying to get a guarantee of at least two competition games, possibly three if that was the case, depending on what the clubs want, Quinn told AAP.And place them strategically where theyre going to get the best bang for their buck. Keeping it in one spot, I dont think you can get the impact.Quinn, who was in favour of scrapping the City-Country game due to the growing number of player withhdrawals each year, said the governing body also had to cover costs for games.ddddddddddddPenrith are in the middle of a five-year contract to play at Bathursts Carrington Park where they have won two of three games.Dubbo, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Griffith, Lismore and Coffs Harbour are other venues Quinn believes also have the capacity.The benefits are left at the communities (involved) ... helping the junior footy clubs or the senior football clubs developing the game, he said.They cant just fly in, fly out either. Theyve got to spend a few days there doing some of the stuff like they do in City-Country week.Quinn said while the possibility of NRL games going bush was a good trade-off, there was a romanticism that would die with the City-Country match.Out of the current NSW squad, theyve all had their start in City-Country games, which is quite phenomenal, he said.People can see their heroes, kids can touch them and realise theyre only human beings. It encourages development and growth for the game. ' ' '
