Kritik und Lob » a touchdown-saving, victory-clinching pass breakup

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernicks recent decision to not stand during the national anthem as a way of protesting police killings of unarmed black men has drawn support and scorn far beyond sports. The Associated Press explains how The Star-Spangled Banner became a ritual of American public life, its complicated racial origins and how the song has been used as a form of political resistance.---THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AS A RITUAL OF AMERICAN SPORTThe national anthem and sports first merged in the early 20th century, when The Star-Spangled Banner became part of baseball games. The anthem is played before the start of every U.S. major sporting event, where fans and players are expected to salute the flag by placing a hand over the heart while singing along. Not doing so is considered unpatriotic by some.Its important to remember that a lot of these traditions that we take as timeless or dating back to the founders are pretty recent innovations, said Kevin Kruse, a historian at Princeton University.---BLACK ATHLETES AND POLITICAL PROTESTKaepernicks protest was the latest in a history of actions by black athletes meant to call out the discrepancies between the experiences of people of color and Americas professed ideals, said Penn State historian Crystal Sanders.In 1968, Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos lifted their black-gloved fists as the national anthem was played after they won the gold and bronze medals in the mens 200-meter sprint -- a gesture seen as radical and an endorsement of black power. Boxer Muhammad Ali, celebrated as an American hero after his death in June, was arrested in 1967 after his refusal to be drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War was seen as an act of civil disobedience. Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, wrote in his autobiography that he was unable to sing the national anthem or salute the flag.Former Denver Nuggets point guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was suspended by the NBA after refusing to participate in the national anthem pre-game ceremony in 1996. More recently, NBA players including Derrick Rose and LeBron James have worn T-shirts reading I Cant Breathe in reference to Eric Garner, who was killed by New York City police officers in 2014. Last month, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and James opened the ESPY Awards with a message about gun violence against minorities.The outrage were seeing in light of the Kaepernick decision ... is just another example of our countrys lack of a real understanding of what it means to be a person of color in the United States, Sanders said. Wealth, education, attire ... none of that prevents us from being victims of racial discrimination.---WHY THE CONTROVERSY?Kaepernicks decision has outraged some who see his protest as offensive and un-American. It is also an unwelcome distraction for those who view sports as a way to transcend conflicts around race, gender, politics and other uncomfortable subjects in American life.Others have come to his defense, saying his decision to sit out the national anthem and flag salute is protected as freedom of expression under the U.S. Constitution.---HOW THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER WAS BORNWatching the bombing of Fort McHenry while detained on a British ship during the War of 1812, attorney Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star-Spangled Banner as he saw the American flag flying overhead in the early morning hours of Sept. 14, 1814. The flags presence signaled the retreat of British ships from Baltimores harbor and the U.S. survival of a battle that lasted 25 hours. The showdown galvanized the young country and the flag became a symbol of determination and victory.The Star-Spangled Banner was popular among the branches of the armed forces throughout the 19th century, but more than a century would pass before the song would become the national anthem. President Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order declaring it so in 1916, and Congress passed an act confirming the order in 1931 that was signed into law by President Herbert Hoover the same year.---CONTROVERSIAL THIRD VERSEKey supported slavery and came from a powerful plantation family in Maryland. His background may have influenced the songs third verse, which includes the lyrics, No refuge could save the hireling and slave/From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.These words have been interpreted as a reference to the Colonial Marines, black recruits to the British forces who fought in exchange for their freedom.Kaepernicks objection to saluting the flag was not related to the third verse of the national anthem, but his protest has brought fresh attention to this forgotten stanza.---Errin Haines Whack covers urban affairs for The Associated Press. Follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/emarvelous and read more of her work at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/errin-haines-whack . Cheap Vapormax Australia . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. 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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Charles Tillman doesnt have many regrets after his 13-year career in the NFL, most of it with the Chicago Bears.But there is one.The ball-hawking cornerback known for his peanut punch after forcing 44 career fumbles is sorry he did not become the first member of the NFLs 40-40 club for forced fumbles and interceptions, falling two picks short. Oh, and about that nickname.I dont know who coined the name `peanut punch, Tillman said. I wish I had gotten into some of that stock so I could have reserved the right to use that for myself. But it worked out.It did indeed.The 35-year-old Tillman will forever be known as Peanut to Bears fans after he went to two Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl with Chicago, his hometown team. He signed a one-day contract Friday to retire as a member of the team that drafted him in 2003 and where he spent his first 12 years. He had announced his retirement Monday.He started 12 games last season with the Carolina Panthers before suffering a season-ending knee injury and missed the teams run to the Super Bowl.Tillman has the most interceptions by a cornerback in Bears history at 36, trailing only safeties Gary Fencik (38) and Richie Petitbon (37). Tillman also owns Bears records with nine defensive touchdowns and eight interception returns for touchdowns.You saw me turn into a man in front of your own eyes, Tillman said at a nnews conference Friday as he listed some of his favorite career moments over the years.ddddddddddddn his rookie season, he got his first start against the Raiders in Week 5 and had a touchdown-saving, victory-clinching pass breakup against the Vikings Randy Moss 10 weeks later.It showed the world that I could play with anybody, Tillman said. I know when I came from Louisiana(-Lafayette), when I got drafted, there were a lot people who were like, `Who the hell is Charles Tillman? What school is that? Wheres U-La-La? And I had a chip on my shoulder.Tillman said he had considered retirement for months after tearing one of his anterior cruciate ligaments in December.Once I tried to talk myself into coming back like three times, I knew it was time for me to walk away, he said.Bears Chairman George McCaskey praised Tillman as a rare player with uncommon ability and tenacity on the field and unsurpassed compassion and charitable spirit off the field. Tillman was selected in 2013 as the NFLs Walter Payton Man of the Year for the philanthropic work done through his foundation.Game notes Chicago terminated defensive back Omar Boldens contract on Friday.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '