Free Republic

<p>Seattle Mariners catcher Steve Clevenger has been suspended for criticizing Black Lives Matter and President Obama.</p> <p>“BLM is pathetic once again! Obama you are pathetic once again! Everyone involved should be locked behind bars like animals!” the backup catcher tweeted out about the riots in Charlotte.</p>

Colin Kaepernick has yet to throw a regular-season pass, but the 49ers' backup quarterback's decision to kneel during the national anthem to protest social inequality has made an impact that extends well beyond a football game. As Kaepernick continues to protest, he has been joined by other NFL players, and athletes -- both professional and amateur -- in other sports. It has become a divisive topic nationally, especially in light of recent shootings of African-American men by police officers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina. On Friday night, Kaepernick was in Oakland at Castlemont High School, where he...

A Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives has proposed legislation to make it legal to play online fantasy sports for money and bet on the March Madness basketball tournament, as long as the prize is less than $3,000. Rep. Aaron Miller, R-Sturgis, introduced House Bill 5849 on Sept. 8 to decriminalize these activities. Miller said people from all facets of life are involved in fantasy sports and filling out NCAA basketball tournament brackets. “Winning $100 for winning your league – that shouldn’t be a crime,” Miller said. Miller said he didn’t expect the bill would be acted on...

The NASCAR Hall of Fame has been looted overnight in Charlotte, NC. Windows shattered, signs hanging through glass on $195 million dollar museum. A state of emergency declared on the city, the home of NASCAR. no lie pic.twitter.com/GWeZqlDsPU — Katie Peralta (@katieperalta) September 22, 2016 Keith Lamont Scott, father of 7, was killed Tuesday, at the hands of police. Another black man killed by police had the Black Lives Matter community taking to the streets demanding justice or proof of justified action. Police claim Scott was reaching through the window of his vehicle for a gun. However, photos of the...

This past week the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) pulled all championship events out of North Carolina for the 2016-2017 season simply because that state passed a law, known as HB 2, which requires men and women to use the restroom or locker room corresponding to the gender on their birth certificate. In essence, the North Carolina legislature said men use the men's room and ladies use the ladies room. By doing this, North Carolina was simply protecting women and children from sexual predators and voyeurs. Along with punishing North Carolina, the NCAA is forcing all potential championship host sites...

San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick says the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man in Tulsa is "the perfect example" of what he's protesting when he refuses to stand for the national anthem at 49ers' games. Kaepernick said Tuesday that "everybody's eyes" will be on Tulsa as authorities investigate the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher. He says criminal charges should be filed in the shooting death.

Why are people so angry over an NFL player that refused to stand for the National Anthem?    Hundreds of thousands of words have been written on the subject and I won't rehash any of them, but I'd ask you to consider the reason people are outraged and why it matters. Sports fan is a shortened form of the original term, sports fanatic.  Fanatic is defined as a person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal (great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective), especially for an extreme religious or political cause.  A religion can be defined as a...

Seattle Seahawks players say the team might boycott the national anthem during an upcoming game with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, September 11 — the anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil.

Each year the NFL minimum salaries increase by $15,000, up to $435k for a rookie in 2015. A player’s minimum salary is determined by his years of experience (YOE), ranging from 0 to 10 or more. The chart below shows the minimum (P5) salaries a team can contract a player to based on Years of Experience (credited seasons).   Yrs. 2015 2016 2017 2018 0 $435,000 $450,000 $465,000 $480,000 1 $510,000 $525,000 $540,000 $555,000 2 $585,000 $600,000 $615,000 $630,000 3 $660,000 $675,000 $690,000 $705,000 4-6 $745,000 $760,000 $775,000 $790,000 7-9 $870,000 $885,000 $900,000 $915,000 10+ $970,000 $985,000 $1,000,000 $1,015,000  Veteran...

U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem Sunday night before the Seattle Reign’s game against the Chicago Red Stars “in a little nod” to NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the anthem to protest racial injustice and minority oppression came to public notice when he remained seated on the...

<p>Yet the Washington Redskins didn’t travel their 22-player starting lineup for their preseason finale Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Former NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers threw only nine passes this preseason, and defending league rushing champion Adrian Peterson did not take a single hand-off.</p>

On Friday, an 11-year odyssey to bring Brandon Burlsworth's story to the big screen will reach its conclusion when Greater opens in 400 theaters in 20 states. "You will laugh and cry," said Chris Severio, the actor who plays Brandon. Judging by the trailer, you will indeed do both.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Colin Kaepernick did not stand during the national anthem Friday because he refused to “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he told the NFL Network’s Steve Wyche after the game. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” Kaepernick said. “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has been outspoken on his Twitter and Instagram account about racial issues, including...

Claressa Shields made history in Rio as the first U.S. boxer to win back-to-back gold medals. But while the major media outlets praised her historic win, they forgot about her most important personal win. On Monday, the 21-year-old credited God for her success on Good Morning America after ABC anchor Amy Robach referenced her “difficult childhood.” How Shields’ past was difficult, Robach didn’t say. But it’s a story well worth telling. Shields grew up in Flint, Michigan with a father in jail and a mother with drug problems and male “acquaintances” who, Shields said, raped and sexually molested her. Her...

My, my, there those feminists go, complaining again. This time the whining concerns supposedly “sexist” Olympics coverage. Their problem? Many journalists are, we’re told, using different language when talking about female athletes than when speaking of male ones. Oh, the humanity! There’s the guy who credited a female swimmer’s husband/coach for her success, the talk about a six-foot-three-inch South Korean woman volley ball player’s difficulty finding a boyfriend, and a reporter who called an equestrian rider “blondie.” Putting aside the female teacher who once called me blondie when I was 13, let’s have a reality check. Do you really think...

There are very few events that bring our country and the world at large together the way that the Olympics do. The Rio Olympics are a perfect example. In only a few days, the international community has been inspired and enlightened by the examples of some of the worldÂ’s best athletes who show us greatness both in their respective sports and in their communities.With that in mind, here's a few of the most inspiring stories that have come out of the Olympics so far.The Refugee Team: For some athletes at the Olympics, fighting to participate in the Olympics might have...

BOSTON - The Boston Red Sox canceled a David Ortiz bobblehead promotion Tuesday night when the figurine turned out to be "racially insensitive," said team president Sam Kennedy. The bobblehead depicts Ortiz addressing fans at Fenway Park following the Boston Marathon bombings, but Kennedy said it didn't much resemble the retiring slugger and was not fit for distribution. Kennedy saw the final version of the bobblehead for the first time Tuesday afternoon after they were delivered. "My two immediate reactions were first, it was a really inaccurate portrayal of what he looks like," Kennedy told The Associated Press. "My personal...

U.S. Olympian Katie Ledecky is the world record holder in the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyles, and the American record holder in the 500-, 1000- and 1650-yard freestyles.In the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she will compete in the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle. She has won Gold medals in the 2012 London Olympics and again in the 2016 Rio Olympics.But before every race Ledecky, a faithful Catholic, offers a Hail Mary. “I do say a prayer – or two – before any race. The Hail Mary is a beautiful prayer and I find that it calms me.” she said.In an interview with...

CANTON, Ohio — FOX6 News has learned the Green Bay Packers vs. Indianapolis Colts Pro Football Hall of Fame Game set for Sunday evening, August 7th has been cancelled due to turf concerns. Apparently there is an issue with the condition of the field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium after Saturday night’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony. FOX6’s Tim Van Vooren is there — and reported decision makers for the Packers and Colts were on the field, meeting about the field condition. David Baker, president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame was speaking with team...

RICHMOND, Va. — ESPN’s show First Take, with co-hosts Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman, visited Redskins Training Camp in Richmond Thursday to film on site. Kellerman was asked by the media on hand about the team this year, the NFC East, and the often-discussed controversial nickname. Kellerman said that not only did he think the name should change, but that it would happen under the current regime. “Yes, it will change and Dan Snyder will change it,” Kellerman declared. “And I’m looking forward to that day, because I’m very disappointed in him right now.” Snyder has repeatedly said...