Banliste/Verwarnungen » over and its got to show up on game day, he said. A

Since the Rio Olympics, when Feyisa Lilesa made an anti-government gesture during the marathon, he has traveled from country to country out of fear of going home. He worries about the family he left behind in Ethiopia. His young kids ask when they will see him again.He just cant answer that question at the moment.Lilesa became an international figure when he crossed his wrists at the finish line last month in Brazil on his way to a silver medal. The gesture drew global attention to the recent deadly protests in his home region of Oromia.Concerned with what might happen to him should he return to his country, Lilesa spent over two extra weeks in Rio before arriving in the U.S. about a week ago on a special skills visa, which allows him to train and compete until January. He hasnt seen his wife, 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter since Aug. 17.If I wouldve taken my medal and went back to Ethiopia, that wouldve been the biggest regret of my life, Lilesa said through a translator in a phone interview with The Associated Press as he begins speaking out in the U.S. I wanted to be a voice for a story that wasnt getting any coverage.The Oromia region has experienced enormous anti-government protests in the past few months. The government is now vowing to take drastic measures to deal with mismanagement, corruption and nepotism. Yet the government has shown few signs of opening up the political space for opposition.Many social media users have changed their profile pictures with the image of Lilesa crossing his wrists, and many are describing him as a national hero for speaking up and bringing it to the international arena.The crossed-wrists gesture has been widely used by anti-government protesters in recent nationwide demonstrations as a sign of peaceful resistance, and before that by the Muslim community when it revolted against the government. It is meant to symbolize being handcuffed by security forces.Lilesa is not alone, either: Fellow Ethiopian Ebisa Ejigu flashed a similar gesture when he won the Quebec City Marathon on Aug. 28. Over the weekend, another Ethiopian, Tamiru Demisse, also made the X sign at the Rio Paralympic Games after capturing silver in the 1,500 meters.That solidarity meant a great deal to Lilesa.It gives me hope -- them following in my footsteps and making a stand by saying, Enough, said Lilesa, who has no plans to file for political asylum.With about 40 million people, the Oromo are Ethiopias largest ethnic group. Their region has seen anti-government protests since November 2015 that activists say have left more than 400 dead.Ethiopias government is often accused of silencing dissent, even blocking internet access at times. Recently, video obtained by the AP showed Ethiopian security forces beating, kicking and dragging several protesters during a rare demonstration in the capital.Theres been increased international pressure on Ethiopia and its treatment of protesters. The United States, for one, last week said it has raised grave concerns about what it called the excessive use of force against protesters in Ethiopia, describing the situation there as extremely serious and calling for an independent investigation.What we are asking for is peace, justice and freedom, said Lilesa, whos currently in Washington, D.C., but hoping to train in a city with a higher elevation. If the situation continues as it is, without any change, its going to degenerate into a conflict that could take a very, very bad direction. ... We need peace. We need change.Lilesa said his wifes brother -- a student at Madawalabu University in Bale -- was arrested in a protest nearly eight months ago. They still dont know his whereabouts.One of my main concerns if she finds out her brother was one of those who were killed is, what will she do? How will she feel? he said. Im not there to support her and comfort her.Ethiopias state broadcaster, EBC, did not re-broadcast images of Lilesas gesture when he finished runner-up on Aug. 21. Some people who were watching live and cheering for Lilesa quickly hushed when they saw his gesture.Lilesa said in a follow-up email hes received no backlash from the International Olympic Committee for his gesture.They came and asked me what the gesture was. I explained, Lilesa said. They empathized with my situation.And while the government assures him he will not face prosecution upon his return home and will have a heroic welcome, as a government spokesman recently said, hes wary of it.Usually, what the government says and what the government does are very opposite, Lilesa said. If change comes to Ethiopia, and the regime changes, and people are finally free, I look forward to the day I can go home and meet with my people. Live with my family in peace. Cheap Vapormax Shoes . PETERSBURG, Fla. Air Max Plus Tn Canada . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. http://www.airvapormaxcanada.com/ . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Nike Vapormax Clearance . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Vapormax Flyknit 2 Canada .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants coach Ben McAdoo isnt going to shake things up despite dismal performances in the first two preseason games, both losses.Speaking a day after dropping a 21-0 decision to the Bills in Buffalo, McAdoo said Sunday that some backups are going to get chances to show what they can do this week.The offensive line has to be the first-year coachs biggest concern. It failed to generate much of a running game last season and the Giants didnt do anything in the offseason to improve it.Free agency was used to buy players for the leagues worst defense in 2015, with the hope being that the offensive line would improve with everyone coming back.It hasnt happened.Left tackle Ereck Flowers, last years first-round draft pick, is not blowing anyone off the ball. Left guard Justin Pugh missed Saturdays game with a shoulder injury. Center Weston Richburg, right guard John Jerry and right tackle Marshall Newhouse have not impressed.Even backup Bobby Hart, a seventh-round pick who the Giants hoped would push Newhouse, has been inconsistent.The bottom line is the line needs help and there is little help behind the top six.The waiver wire might have to provide help after NFL rosters are reduced to 53 players on Sept. 3.The Giants open the season on Sept. 11 at Dallas.Were going to give guys opportunities to compete, but at the same point in time, were not going to have any knee-jerk reactions, no ones panicking here, McAdoo said. Were not going to rush to judgment on anything. Were going to go out there, were going to get the pads on and were going to get to work.In the season opener against the Dolphins, the running game generated 1225 yards in the first half on 23 carries.dddddddddddd However, Miami had none of its first-team defensive line play in the game.The Buffalo game was terrible. New York had eight rushes for 10 yards in the half.McAdoo said the line has to improve on its fundamentals and be more physical, something he has seen in practice.We have to keep working on it in practice and carry it over and its got to show up on game day, he said. A lot of the things, and a lot of the mistakes that were making, were not making in practice, we just need to have the confidence to carry those over to game day.McAdoo expects Pugh to return to practice in some capacity this week along with cornerback Eli Apple and receiver Victor Cruz.Cruz is expected to work Monday when the team does some conditioning, starts getting ready for the Jets and goes over corrections from Saturdays game.Cruz, who has not played in the opening two preseason games after missing all of last season, is expected to practice Tuesday when the team has a normal workout.Apple hurt a knee in the preseason opener.Wide receiver/return man Dwayne Harris had an MRI on the knee he hurt Saturday and it checked out OK. Trainers will examine him again Monday.McAdoo was not certain whether the Giants would bring in another placekicker. Free agent Tom Obarski missed a short field attempt on Saturday in what was considered his golden opportunity to show the team he could do the job with Josh Brown suspended for the season opener.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '