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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Wholesale World Cup Jerseys .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. CHICAGO -- Best in the majors during the regular season, the Chicago Cubs are one win from reaching the NL Championship Series for the second straight year.Travis Wood took over when starter Kyle Hendricks got hurt and became the first relief pitcher since 1924 to hit a postseason home run , helping the Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 5-2 Saturday night for 2-0 NL Division Series lead.Madison Bumgarner, coming off a four-hit shutout of the New York Mets in the NL wild card game, tries to save the Giants season when the series resumes Monday in San Francisco.Cubs manager Joe Maddon remains wary of the Giants, World Series champions in 2010, 12 and `14.You watch how they react to different moments, Maddon said . Theyre never panicked. Theyre never concerned. ... I really believe our guys will come ready to play knowing that they are also. Thats just a given.The Cubs, who start reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta, are now one win from a matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers or Washington Nationals. Swept by the New York Mets in last years NLCS, Chicago led the big leagues with 103 wins during the regular season and is hoping for its first World Series title since 1908.Ben Zobrist hit a run-scoring single off former Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija in the first, and Hendricks added a two-run, bloop single in a three-run second.The Cubs were leading 4-2 in the fourth when Hendricks left the game after with a bruised right forearm after being hit by Angel Pagans line drive.Wood struck out Conor Gillaspie to strand Pagan, then sent a one-out offering from George Kontos halfway up the left-field bleachers in the bottom half. The only other reliever to homer in the postseason was the New York Giants Rosy Ryan in Game 3 of the 1924 World Series.Given a curtain call by a screaming crowd of 42,392, Wood joined Rick Sutcliffe (1984) and Kerry Wood (2003) as the only Cubs pitchers to go deep in the postseason. Travis Wood has nine regular-season homers in his big league career.Wood pitched a hitless fifth and was credited with the win. Four moree relievers completed Chicagos second straight six-hitter, with Aroldis Chapman throwing 12 of 16 pitches at 100 mph and up for his second consecutive save.ddddddddddddHendricks, the major league ERA leader, gave up two runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings.We picked him up tonight, having his injury and stuff and thats what we have done all year long, Wood said. We pull on each other and end up backing each other up.Samardzijas first career playoff start was a short one. The right-hander, who spent his first 61/2 seasons with the Cubs, was pinch hit for in the third after allowing four runs and six hits.Down 4-0, San Francisco scored two in the third when Gregor Blanco doubled in a run and scored on Brandon Belt `s sacrifice fly.Just cant put your team in that much of a hole early in the game, especially against a good staff like they have over there, Samardzija said. Like to have that one back, for sure, that ones on me.HENDRICKS UPDATEHendricks said his arm feels pretty good right now and he hopes to be ready in a few days after X-rays showed no structural damage.He said he felt pain after a few warmup pitches and exited after a discussion with Maddon.He told me if theres anything at all, he didnt want me in there, Hendricks said.SEENsActor and comedian Bill Murray was back cheering on the Cubs for the second night in a row. But no, he wasnt wearing an I Aint Afraid of No Goat shirt as he did on Friday.Former Cubs closer Lee Smith threw out the ceremonial first pitch , and Chicago native and former WWE star CM Punk delivered the Play Ball! call before the game.Actor Jeff Garlin sang Take Me Out To The Ball Game during the seventh-inning stretch.UP NEXTGiants: Bumgarner has pitched 23 consecutive postseason innings and is 8-3 with a 1.94 ERA in 13 postseason starts and 15 appearances.Cubs: Arrieta won 18 games but had a 4.60 ERA in five starts last month. He gave up seven runs in a loss to Pittsburgh on Sept. 28. ' ' '