NATIONAL ANTHEM PROTESTSWASHINGTON -- Tommie Smith and John Carlos voiced their support for Colin Kaepernick and other athletes staging national anthem protests, 48 years after they raised their gloved fists on the medals stand in a symbolic protest at the Olympics.The American sprinters who were sent home from the 1968 Mexico City Olympics for what they called a human rights salute say the San Francisco 49ers quarterback and others are right to use their platform to raise awareness about racial inequality and police brutality.Speaking Wednesday at the Team USA Awards, the first U.S. Olympic Committee event theyve been invited to since their protest, Smith says hes backing Kaepernick because his protest is proactive and Carlos says theres no better platform than sports to stand up for something, even if it brings criticism.LINCOLN, Neb. -- Gov. Pete Ricketts has agreed to meet next week with one of the Nebraska football players he criticized for kneeling during the national anthem at the Cornhuskers most recent game.Michael Rose-Ivey and two teammates each took a knee before last Saturdays game at Northwestern as a protest against police brutality and racial injustice.Ricketts spokesman Taylor Gage said a day for the meeting had not been set but that it would be held next week, at Rose-Iveys request, so it doesnt interfere with football game preparation. The Cornhuskers dont have a game on Oct. 8.After Ricketts called the act disgraceful and disrespectful on his radio show Monday, Rose-Ivey tweeted at Ricketts that he would like to discuss the issue with him.Ricketts on Tuesday night responded on Twitter: Thanks for reaching out. Direct message me your information, and we will get something set up right away!Also Tuesday, Rose-Ivey and teammates Mohamed Barry and DaiShon Neal were criticized by two university regents, but received support from the university president Hank Bounds.PRO FOOTBALLPHILADELPHIA -- A second petition has been filed asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the $1 billion settlement of NFL concussion lawsuits because of how it treats current brain injuries versus future ones.The former players who filed the petition complain that chronic traumatic encephalopathy diagnosed before the April 2015 cutoff can bring $4 million while future CTE diagnoses arent compensated. They say that violates Supreme Court rulings that insist each subgroup in a class action settlement be treated fairly.The petition, filed Monday, echoes earlier complaints that the lead players lawyers signed a quick deal with the NFL in 2013 favoring their clients over thousands of others.Lawyers on the Plaintiffs Steering Committee, who negotiated the deal, reject those arguments and say the appeals are holding up payments that ailing retirees need. The NFL declined to comment.BASEBALLMIAMI -- Somber Marlins players and personnel escorted a hearse carrying the body of star pitcher Jose Fernandez from the teams ballpark, as the farewell for their beloved teammate marched on.As players and fans honored Fernandezs memory, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio sought a safety probe into the rock jetty where a boat crash claimed the lives of the baseball star and two friends.Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, manager Don Mattingly, hitting coach Barry Bonds and the players including Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton wore white T-shirts emblazoned with Fernandezs image and the letters RIP as they slowly walked the hearse away from Marlins Park in Miamis Little Havana neighborhood. Many in the crowd of about 1,000 chanted Jose! Jose! and some waved Cuban flags in honor of the popular Cuban-American player.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs announced a five-year contract extension with president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, rewarding him for an overhaul that has the long-suffering franchise eyeing its first championship since 1908.The extension comes with the Cubs wrapping up one of the greatest seasons in franchise history and their fans believing that this just might be the team to end the 108-year World Series title drought.They reached 100 wins for the first time since 1935 and were a major league-leading 101-56 heading into Wednesdays game at Pittsburgh. Chicago clinched the best record in the majors with more than a week left in the regular season.Terms were not disclosed. Chairman Tom Ricketts said the contract ensures the baseball operations team assembled by Epstein will continue its remarkable tenure of building a consistent championship contender.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Pete Rose has appealed directly to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in an effort to restore his eligibility to be elected.In a seven-page letter to the Halls president, Roses longtime attorney Raymond Genco makes the case that the career hits leaders ban from baseball for gambling in 1989 was not intended to make him ineligible for the Hall of Fame.The Hall of Fame changed its bylaws two years after Roses banishment to make banned players ineligible for the Hall. Rose argues that it wasnt then-Commissioner Bart Giamattis intention to keep him out of the Hall when the two reached a settlement that banned him from baseball.Genco said new commissioner Rob Manfred denying Roses reinstatement last December opened the door for the new argument. Albert Abreu Jersey . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Custom Yankees T-shirts . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. http://www.customyankeesjersey.com/custom-roger-clemens-jersey-large-1034i.html . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Custom Joe DiMaggio Jersey . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Custom Alex Rodriguez Jersey .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play.PARIS -- Justine Colley scored 12 points, while Courtnay Pilypaitis added 10 for Canadas womens basketball team in a 61-55 loss to Spain on Saturday. Canada dropped to 0-2 in the four-team tournament, losing to France in its opener. Canadians coach Lisa Thomaidis said the game was a missed opportunity. "We are disappointed because tonight was winnable for us. We had too many turnovers. We are looking forward to our game against Turkey," said Thomaidis. Turnovers proved costly for the Canadians,, who coughed up the ball 13 times in the first half.dddddddddddd Still, the Canadians had a one-point lead 20 minutes into the game thanks to a strong co-ordinated attack and impressive play on the defensive end. Spain put the game out of reach with a 14-0 run late in the third quarter and into the fourth. The Canadians outrebounded Spain 30-17, with Miranda Ayim, Janelle Bekkering and Kendel Ross each hauling down five. Canada faces Turkey on Sunday in its final game of the tournament. ' ' '