WASHINGTON -- Tommie Smith and John Carlos were proud to raise their gloved fists in a symbolic protest at the Olympics, and now theyre proud that Colin Kaepernick and other athletes are staging national anthem protests to raise awareness about racial inequality and police brutality. Cheap Shoes Replica .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 in an attempt to affect social change 48 years later.Dont hate the kid because he stood up for something to change, said Smith, who won the gold medal and set a world record in the 200 meters in 1968. He stood up for the right to exercise Amendment 1.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.Protest is a good thing because youre trying to expose certain things through protest, said Carlos, who won the bronze in the 200. Then, when you sit back and say, `Well, I dont know whether its the right place to make statement here or there. In any protest, I think you make a statement to try and reach the far ends of the earth. What better way to do it than if youre in a sport.Several athletes have followed Kaepernick, who sat for the anthem, then modified his protest to kneel during it. Some have raised their fists like Smith and Carlos.Most recently, Nebraska football players Michael Rose-Ivey, Mohamed Barry and DaiShon Neal kneeled during the anthem before a game at Northwestern, drawing criticism from Nebraskas governor. Rose-Ivey is expected to meet with the governor to discuss the issue next week.It is a sacrifice to deal with anything other than status quo, Smith said. As we know very well.While Smith said its important for athletes to study and understand why theyre protesting and what they want to come out of it, Carlos said backlash is part of the process.Any individual that makes a public statement or a public scene is saying we have issues that we need to deal with and we can no longer stick them under the rug or stick them behind the bus or what have you, Carlos said. By bringing attention to society, for them to be able to determine themselves why it was necessary that we take this thing called racism, violence and prejudice and bury it once and for all.It has taken almost half a century for the USOC to welcome Smith and Carlos back into the fold after being on the outside for breaking the rules. Carlos called their return a rebirth and both men hope they can be ambassadors and a positive influence on young people who werent born when they protested at the Olympics.We never denounced what we stood for, Carlos said. We stood for humanity. At the same time they loved the fact that we had courage. Thats what you need in athletics. For them to come and lower the drawbridge so to speak and welcome us across with open arms, its a beautiful situation. I dont think it gets any better. Cheap Shoes From China . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Cheap Shoes Website . JOHNS, N. https://www.cheapshoesdiscount.com/ . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. SEATTLE -- Nicolas Lodeiro, the attacking midfielder who just helped Argentina powerhouse Boca Juniors reach the semifinals of the prestigious Copa Libertadores club championship in South America, has signed with the Seattle Sounders as a designated player.The 27-year-old Lodeiro also has 48 caps for the Uruguay national team, including this summers Copa America Centenario in the United States.With the performance the Sounders typically have, they have always played in the playoff every season and are an important team in the MLS overall, Lodeiro said through a translator during a press conference Wednesday. That convinced me to come over here and be part of this project and be part of this team, and to help the team to continue to be successful.Success has been elusive for the Sounders this season, as they lag near the bottom of the standings with a 6-12-2 record. Wednesdays move was their second major one in 24 hours.On Tuesday, the team announced it had parted ways with coach Sigi Schmid, who had been in charge since Seattle joined MLS in 2009. Longtime assistant Brian Schmetzer was named the interim head coach and was delighted to add Lodeiro to the roster in just his second day on the job.Im very keen on getting Nico and Clint Dempsey together, Schmetzer said about pairing the newcomer with the U.S. national team forward. All the guys, Im sure, are going to get a good burst of energy from Nicos appearance with the club.Pending the receipt of his P-1 visa and international transfer clearance, Lodeiro could be available as soon as Sunday when the Sounders host the Los Angeles Galaxy.The decision of where I play is up to the coach, he said. The most important thing to me is to play with great players.Added Schmetzer, It gives us new options. Nicolas is going to have a big impact on the team, on and off the field. Hes going to work hard and hes going to work smart.Loderio has played in three Copa Americas, including 2011 when Uruguay won it. He has been in two World Cups, helping the country finish fourth in 2010 and reach the round of 16 in 2014. He also was in the 2012 London Olympics.Professionally, Lodeiro played three seasons with Uruguays Nacional, three seasons with Dutch side Ajax, two with Brazils Botafogo, and one with Corinthians of Brazil. He joined Boca Juniors in 2015, scoring three goals.With Dempsey, rookie Jordan Morris, and veteran Nelson Valdez up front, Sounders officials said adding an attacking midfielder was a priority.Nicolas is going to be a tremendous presence for us going forward, general manager and president of soccer Garth Lagerway said. Even five years ago, the thought that the playmaking midfielder for Boca Juniors, one of the biggest clubs in all of the Americas, would come and play in MLS in the prime of his career at age 27 was unbelievable.This is a game-changer for us.Nicolas Lodeiro, the attacking midfielder who just helped Argentinna powerhouse Boca Juniors reach the semifinals of the prestigious Copa Libertadores club championship in South America, has signed with the Seattle Sounders as a designated player. Cheap Shoes Fake. The 27-year-old Lodeiro also has 48 caps for the Uruguay national team, including this summers Copa America Centenario in the United States.With the performance the Sounders typically have, they have always played in the playoff every season and are an important team in the MLS overall, Lodeiro said through a translator during a press conference Wednesday. That convinced me to come over here and be part of this project and be part of this team, and to help the team to continue to be successful.Success has been elusive for the Sounders this season, as they lag near the bottom of the standings with a 6-12-2 record. Wednesdays move was their second major one in 24 hours.On Tuesday, the team announced it had parted ways with coach Sigi Schmid, who had been in charge since Seattle joined MLS in 2009. Longtime assistant Brian Schmetzer was named the interim head coach and was delighted to add Lodeiro to the roster in just his second day on the job.Im very keen on getting Nico and Clint Dempsey together, Schmetzer said about pairing the newcomer with the U.S. national team forward. All the guys, Im sure, are going to get a good burst of energy from Nicos appearance with the club.Pending the receipt of his P-1 visa and international transfer clearance, Lodeiro could be available as soon as Sunday when the Sounders host the Los Angeles Galaxy.The decision of where I play is up to the coach, he said. The most important thing to me is to play with great players.Added Schmetzer, It gives us new options. Nicolas is going to have a big impact on the team, on and off the field. Hes going to work hard and hes going to work smart.Loderio has played in three Copa Americas, including 2011 when Uruguay won it. He has been in two World Cups, helping the country finish fourth in 2010 and reach the round of 16 in 2014. He also was in the 2012 London Olympics.Professionally, Lodeiro played three seasons with Uruguays Nacional, three seasons with Dutch side Ajax, two with Brazils Botafogo, and one with Corinthians of Brazil. He joined Boca Juniors in 2015, scoring three goals.With Dempsey, rookie Jordan Morris, and veteran Nelson Valdez up front, Sounders officials said adding an attacking midfielder was a priority.Nicolas is going to be a tremendous presence for us going forward, general manager and president of soccer Garth Lagerway said. Even five years ago, the thought that the playmaking midfielder for Boca Juniors, one of the biggest clubs in all of the Americas, would come and play in MLS in the prime of his career at age 27 was unbelievable.This is a game-changer for us. ' ' '