02-15-2020, 10:01 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem before a U.S. womens national team match against Thailand on Thursday night.Rapinoe first knelt during the anthem Sept. 4 before a game with her National Womens Soccer League team, the Seattle Reign. She said she wanted to express solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is not standing during the anthem to bring attention to racial inequality.After Thursday nights game, which the United States won 9-0, U.S. Soccer issued a statement to ESPN that said representing the country is a privilege and honor for any player or coach associated with the national teams.Therefore, our national anthem has particular significance for U.S. Soccer. In front of national and often global audiences, the playing of our national anthem is an opportunity for our Mens and Womens National Team players and coaches to reflect upon the liberties and freedom we all appreciate in this country.As part of the privilege to represent your country, we have an expectation that our players and coaches will stand and honor our flag while the national anthem is played.It was unclear whether Rapinoe would face any sanctions from the federation.Im very proud to pull on this shirt and play for this country, and also represent my country in a different way in speaking out for people that are oppressed, she told the network, which broadcast the game.Rapinoe did not start the game at Mapfre stadium. She knelt from a spot near the bench while the fellow reserves around her stood for the anthem.The 31-year-old, who helped the U.S. win the World Cup last year and played in the Rio Olympics, came into the match at the start of the second half.At a game Sunday night in Seattle, the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, she stood and linked arms with her Reign teammates.Last week before a Reign match against the Washington Spirit in Maryland, the anthem was played before the teams took the field rather than subject our fans and friends to the disrespect we feel such an act would represent, said a Spirit statement that cited the personal beliefs of the team owner.There was speculation that Rapinoe might refrain from kneeling before Thursday nights game because she was playing for the United States and not her club team. It was also the final game for midfielder Heather OReilly, who was retiring after 15 years with the national team.Kaepernicks refusal to stand for the anthem first came to public notice when he remained seated on the bench before an NFL preseason game against Green Bay. Since then numerous players have joined the protest, taking a knee or raising a fist.Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties. It was something small that I could do and something that I plan to keep doing in the future and hopefully spark some meaningful conversation around it, Rapinoe told American Soccer Now about her motivation for the protest.Since coming out in 2012, Rapinoe has been devoted advocate for LGBT rights and has worked with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and other organizations.Rapinoe also has been vocal about pay equity, and was among five national team players who lent their names to a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging wage discrimination. The players claim that members of the team make in some cases up to four times less than their male national team counterparts. China Jerseys Wholesale .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. Stitched China Jerseys . 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PHILADELPHIA -- With his teams 10-game win streak in the rearview mirror following Saturdays 3-1 loss to the Stars in Dallas, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall is anxious to see how his team responds on Monday night when the Nashville Predators come to town.I think weve got a lot of work to do, Hextall told the South Jersey Courier-Post. Im really interested to see (Monday) because typically when you come off of one of these (streaks) you really want to respond the right way. Every games important, but this is an important game, not necessarily win or loss, but in terms of how we play, the effort, the focus thats there. Human nature is that were a little disappointed and we come back and maybe theres a letdown.The Flyers 10-game win streak was the third-longest in franchise history, but thanks to strong runs by the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, the Flyers (19-11-3) hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings.We knew we werent going to win out the rest of the year, said goaltender Steve Mason, whose career-best, eight-game win streak was snapped on Saturday. Different guys stepped up at key opportunities. Its something I think, if the going gets tough later on, not just individually, but as a team, something we can draw upon. This team has the capabilities to warrant a stretch like this and well start a new one on Monday.Former Flyers coach Peter Laviolette and the Predators will have something to say about that. Considered one of the top teams in the Western Conference before the start of the season, the Preds (13-12-5) are three points out of a playoff spot.After going 9-3-2 in November, Nashville is 2-4-2 in December and is just 3-9-2 on the road this season with a minus-20 goal differential.We have to find ways to win and get rolling and move up in the standings, said Predators center Mike Fisher, who scored Naashvilles lone goal in a 2-1 home shootout loss to the Rangers on Saturday.dddddddddddd. We know we can be better. We have to be better. We have to get back to the way we were playing a few weeks ago and start getting some wins.Were a confident group. We have the guys in here to do it. Were going to pick it up and just keep improving and getting better.The Predators are the only team in the NHL without a win in overtime or by shootout (0-5) and are 0-for-7 in shootout attempts this season. Since 3-on-3 overtimes were introduced last season the Predators are 2-12 in games ended in OT.Weve got to be better, Laviolette said.Overtime and shootouts just havent been our friend for whatever reason, Fisher said. Its frustrating.The Predators are hoping defenseman P.K. Subban, who sat out Saturdays loss with an upper body injury, returns against the Flyers. He was scheduled to join the Predators on their two-game road trip, which continues Tuesday night in New Jersey.Look for goaltender Pekka Rinne, who was rested on Saturday, to get the call against Philadelphia and Mason to start in goal for the Flyers.Flyers backup goalie Michal Neuvirth, sidelined since Nov, 12 with a knee injury, is skating again but is not likely to return to action until after Christmas.Center Sean Couturier (knee) and defenseman Mark Streit (shoulder) are also skating but are doubtful for Monday.Philadelphia ranks third in the NHL on the power play (23.3 percent) but has gone three straight games without a power-play goal. The Preds ranks 19th on the penalty kill (80.4 percent).Nashville allowed three or more goals in nine straight games before yielding just one in regulation on Saturday. Fisher has four goals in the last three games and nine for the year.The Flyers also rank fourth in the NHL with 3.12 goals per game. ' ' '