Freischaltung » widely praised for his commitment to

NEW YORK -- For the second time in a week during the WNBA Finals, the league acknowledged a late officiating mistake.The WNBA said the officials missed a shot clock violation in the deciding Game 5 on Thursday night in which the Los Angeles Sparks beat the defending champion Minnesota Lynx 77-76.After reviewing postgame video, we have determined that Nneka Ogwumikes shot with 1:14 remaining in regulation time should not have counted due to a shot-clock violation, and that the referees improperly failed to review the play under the instant replay rules, Renee Brown, WNBA chief of basketball operations and player relations, said in a statement Friday.Ogwumikes jumper with 3.1 seconds left, off the rebound of her blocked shot, won it for the Sparks.The league earlier this week admitted a mistake after officials missed an 8-second backcourt violation that benefited Minnesota late in Game 4 on Sunday. The Lynx scored on that possession for a four-point lead with 12.5 seconds left and won 85-79.Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve was angry in her postgame news conference Thursday night about both missed calls, saying the league needed to do more than just apologize and send a memo.Its really unfortunate that players continually put themselves out there, playing and competing at a really high level. Whether it was the 8-second call in LA or the game today, doesnt matter, OK? The game today, its not fair to the players, Reeve said. Its not enough just to apologize or send out a memo that they got something wrong, OK? These players are so invested and something must be done about the officiating in this league because its not fair to these great players we have.WNBA rules state in the final two minutes of a game, plays are only reviewable immediately. Earlier in the game, time can elapse and plays can still be reviewed. In college basketball, officials are given more time to review calls in the final two minutes.It was reviewable at the time when she shot it, Reeve said. The referees at that point didnt think anything was wrong. They didnt understand it was the end of the clock. They didnt hear the shot clock. When they put the ball in play, the play is no longer reviewable.Arenas switched shot clocks midseason. There were some issues when they were changed about how audible the horn was when it reached zero.This wasnt the first year officiating mistakes happened in playoff games. Last season, in the Western Conference finals, the Lynx were aided by a foul with 1.5 seconds left in a tie game against Phoenix. The league acknowledged the call should never have been made.Its unfortunate were having this discussion, Reeve said. The number of people that have contacted us and said this shot was no good, its unfortunate. I mean, I dont know what happens from there. Maybe they still win. I dont know. Thats why I dont want to take anything away from LA.Lynx star Maya Moore didnt realize the controversy until asked about it in a sullen losing locker room.OK, that doesnt make me feel any better, Moore said.She said she thought she saw one of the officials signal for a review and was surprised to hear that didnt occur, the details of the final minutes lost in the haze of defeat.Well, it doesnt mean anything now, Moore said.Air Force 1 Alte Liberty . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Air Force 1 Mid Uomo . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/scontate-lunar-force-1.html . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Air Force 1 Mid Utility . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Air Force 1 Alte Flax . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night.SAN DIEGO -- Colin Kaepernick and San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid kneeled during the national anthem Thursday night, continuing the quarterbacks preseason protest of American racial injustice and minority oppression.Kaepernick and Reid dropped to one knee while a naval officer sang The Star-Spangled Banner and dozens of military members unfurled an oversized flag at the Chargers Qualcomm Stadium.Kaepernick received scattered boos when he dropped to a knee, but the protest was otherwise unremarked by the San Diego crowd. The 49ers visit coincided with the annual Salute to the Military preseason game for the Chargers, who have strong fan support in their citys extensive armed forces community.Kaepernick got much heavier boos when he took the field to start the game for the 49ers and immediately led them on a 16-play, 85-yard touchdown drive. The veteran quarterback is attempting to regain the starting job that he lost last season.Kaepernicks protest has dominated the public discussion of the nations most popular sport this week, and his stance has been met with equally passionate condemnation and support. His refusal to stand for the anthem first came to public notice last week when he remained seated on the 49ers bench before a preseason game against Green Bay.When Kaepernick left the field following pregame warmups, he was greeted with profanity and obscene gestures from Leo Uzcategui, a 20-year Navy veteran in a military-green Chargers jersey with quarterback Philip Rivers No. 17 in camouflage numbering.I was in the Navy and I saw men and women bleed and die for this flag, Uzcategui said. If he wants to do something, go to some outreach program where he can do some good. And I get it, his First Amendment right. But you dont sit during the presenting of the colors, and you dont sit during the national anthem. That is not the way to do it.Domenique Banks, a 23-year-old fan from nearby Oceanside, California, got the quarterback to sign his Kaepernick jersey before the game.I told him I appreciate what he is standing up for, Banks said. He said he appreciated it. Most of the people I talk to say the same thing. I dont like that he is sitting during the national anthem, but I appreciate what he is standing for.Kaepernick said he had invited teammates to sit with him during the anthem, but didnt expect any to join him. His invitation apparently was accepted by Reid, the 49ers starting safety and a fourth-year veteran from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Reid, who wasnt in uniform for the game, had been publicly supportive of Kaepernicks stance.Onee sign in the crowd read: Youre an American.dddddddddddd Act like one.In Oakland, Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane also sat on the bench behind his standing teammates as the national anthem was performed before Seattles game against the Raiders.Kaepernick kneeled next to Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret who went to training camp with the Seahawks last year as a long snapper. Boyer, who wrote a conciliatory open letter to Kaepernick earlier this week, had a long conversation with the quarterback about his stance this week, and he posted a photo of the two on Twitter with a caption reading, Lets just keep moving forward. This is what America should be all about.Kaepernicks visit to San Diego fell on the Chargers 28th annual Salute to the Military, a night designed to pay tribute to the tens of thousands of active and retired military personnel who live in the area. The festivities included pregame music from the Marine Band San Diego, halftime recognition of Vietnam War veterans, and a crowd filled with numerous injured soldiers invited as special guests.Kaepernick has said he doesnt intend his stance to be a criticism of the military, claiming he has great respect for the men and women that have fought for this country.Kaepernicks social activism, which only emerged publicly in recent weeks, also included support for the Black Lives Matter movement through social media.While negative reaction to the quarterback has been strong, Kaepernick also has been widely praised for his commitment to his stance. Veterans and military members tweeted their support for Kaepernick in recent days under the hashtag VeteransForKaepernick.Jim Brown voiced support for Kaepernick while disagreeing with his method of protest. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar called Kaepernicks decision highly patriotic while encouraging him to take further steps to build dialogue between law enforcement and blacks.Amid the uproar of his emerging social activism, Kaepernick is still trying to win a job with the 49ers less than four years after leading them to the Super Bowl. The quarterback lost the starting job last season, and he hasnt separated himself from Blaine Gabbert this summer under new coach Chip Kelly.Gabbert wasnt expected to play in the San Diego finale because he had already played much more in the preseason than Kaepernick, who didnt appear until San Franciscos third exhibition game.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '