ing with civic leaders, our elected leaders and law enforcement to foster more trust, transparency and understanding so we can heal and grow together as a community, Jordan said.?Duke

ATLANTA -- Commissioner Tim Finchem leaned on charity as a reason why he has no plans to relocate PGA Tour events from North Carolina over HB2, the so-called bathroom bill that limits protects for LGBT people.The NBA pulled the All-Star Game from Charlotte, while the NCAA said it would not hold the first and second rounds of the mens basketball tournament in North Carolina and the ACC relocated all its championships from the state.The Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte has been around since 2003, while the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro dates to 1938.Finchem said Tuesday that the PGA Tour supports the NBA, NCAA and ACC over its public stand against the legislation.We are not, however, inclined to join that group by pulling our tournament, he said. And the reason for that is quite simply, that tournament raises about $1.5 million right now for the Teach for America program in the inner city of Charlotte. Nobody else is going to put that money up.Finchem said the three pieces of the PGA Tour mission is to benefit the professional game and the players; building the communities where they play and helping to grow the game of golf.Well be vocal about the legislation, he said. But were not going to interrupt a unique program thats doing the great work its doing in the city of Charlotte.The Wells Fargo Championship will be played next year in Wilmington because Quail Hollow is being used for the PGA Championship.---WORST CASE SCENARIO: Jim Furyk and Paul Casey share a peculiar distinction in the FedEx Cup. They are the only players to twice be a Top 5 seed going into the Tour Championship without having won that year.Casey was the No. 5 seed in 2010 on the strength of his runner-up finish at the BMW Championship. He earned the No. 5 seed this time with successive runner-up finishes in the Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship.It means the PGA Tour can only hope for the one scenario that would put a serious dent in the credibility of the FedEx Cup. Casey has a mathematical chance -- and the way hes been playing, its not a stretch -- to win the $10 million bonus without winning on the PGA Tour.For that to happen, he would have to be runner-up and hope that none of the players ahead of him -- Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Adam Scott and Jason Day -- plays well. Johnson as the top seed, for example, would have to finish fifth or worse.Casey tied for fourth in 2010, when Jim Furyk won the Tour Championship to capture the cup.Furyk was the No. 3 seed going into the 2009 Tour Championship and had an even better chance to win the FedEx Cup without any other trophy that year. He tied for seventh. Furyk also was the No. 4 seed in 2008, but the points system was different that year and no one had a chance of beating Vijay Singh.Odds are still against Casey.In the previous nine years, only two players have won the Tour Championship without winning the $10 million bonus -- Phil Mickelson in 2009 and Camilo Villegas in 2008.---HOLIDAY BONUS: Russell Knox headed to South Africa at the end of last year to play the Nedbank Challenge. He probably wont have to go as far this year, even with Nedbank moving up a month into the European Tour schedule.The Tour Championship is the final event before the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas goes to the world ranking to fill its 18-man field. Knox is at No. 19 and is certain to get in because of the number of players who wont be there, such as Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia.Scott lives at Albany in the Bahamas, but hell be Down Under for the Australian Open, World Cup and Australian PGA Championship.A year ago, the field went into the mid-20s in the world ranking. Among those in need of a good week at East Lake if they want to play -- last place pays $100,000 -- are Emiliano Grillo, Kevin Kisner and Justin Thomas. The tournament is allowed two exemptions, provided they are among the top 50 in the world.There also is a provision for an exemption to go to the tournament host -- Tiger Woods.---KOEPKA POWER: Brooks Koepka, the only rookie (so far) on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, says he is most looking forward to being part of a team. He doesnt count his college days at Florida State because that was essentially individual players adding up their scores.Hed have to go back to his days playing baseball, which Koepka described as his passion.He gave up baseball for golf, and the reason was mildly surprising.I couldnt hit for power, believe it or not, said Koepka, in the top tier of big hitters on the PGA Tour. I was a decent pitcher, a good shortstop, I just didnt have a bat. I couldnt hit the ball out of the park. And if you cant hit ... oh, well.It worked out well for him in the end.---MAJOR AWARD: Lydia Ko has won the Rolex Annika Major Award, which is based on points earned at the LPGA Tour major championships. Players must win a major, and then have the most points from finishing in the top 10.The 19-year-old from New Zealand joins Michelle Wie (2014) and Inbee Park (2015) as winners of the award.Ko won the ANA Inspiration, the first major of the year when Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand faded over the closing holes at Mission Hills. That proved to be the difference, as Ko wound up winning the award by six points.Jutanugarn won the Womens British Open.While the race was close, there was little movement in the final major at the Evian Championship. Ko tied for 43rd, while the Thai tied for ninth.---DIVOTS: The last two European Tour events were won by home country players -- Joost Luiten in the KLM Open and Francesco Molinari in the Italian Open. ... Ten players who reached the Tour Championship have not won a PGA Tour event this season. That includes Roberto Castro, the only player in the field to have never won on the PGA Tour. ... Paul Broadhursts two victories this year have come at Carnoustie and Pebble Beach. The only other players to win at both courses were Ben Hogan and Tom Watson. ... Hong Kong will be the site of the World Amateur Team Championships in 2020. The Old and New Courses of Hong Kong Golf Club will be used for the women, while the Composite Course at Hong Kong Golf Club and Clearwater Bay will be used for the men. ... Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) Insurance is the new title sponsor for the PGA Tour Champions event at Pebble Beach. The Pure Insurance Championship combines senior players with juniors from The First Tee.---STAT OF THE WEEK: In Gee Chun became the first player since Se Ri Pak to win her first two LPGA Tour titles at major championships.---FINAL WORD: Get in a cart with Arnold Palmer and go around Latrobe. That would be all I need. -- PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem on the ideal retirement gift. Wholesale NFL Jerseys South Africa . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. Discount Jerseys South Africa . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. http://www.cheapjerseyssouthafrica.com/ . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Jerseys South Africa Outlet . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Stitched Jerseys South Africa . -- 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. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Panthers plan to play Sundays game against the Minnesota Vikings at Bank of America Stadium despite violent protests taking place in the city.More than that, they want to play unless the protests stemming from a Tuesday shooting escalate over the next couple of days as they did Wednesday night.I think it would be good for the city, coach Ron Rivera said on Thursday.The protests began Tuesday night after a black Charlotte police officer shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott, who also is black, in an apartment complex parking lot about 15 minutes from Bank of America Stadium.The protests moved within a few blocks of the stadium on Wednesday night, turning violent with gunshots, vandalism and police setting off tear gas bombs in an attempt to break up the protesters.Rivera said he has faith that city leaders will get the protests under control soon. He has no reservations about the safety of his team or having his wife at the stadium.The team issued a statement Thursday that said: We are in contact with government officials, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the NFL. We are continuing to monitor events as we prepare for Sundays home game.Carolina shut down its open locker room to reporters early on Thursday and had outside linebacker Thomas Davis and Greg Olsen serve as team spokesmen.Both agreed the game should be played on Sunday.This game absolutely should be played Sunday, Davis said. I look at football as a way to bring people together ... I hope people know that violence is not the answer. Its not the way to solve this problem.Olsen and Davis noted that the Carolina locker room, a mixture of different races, religious and political beliefs, could serve as an example.On Sundays, when people come and watch us, not only do people see that, but to a bigger level those people sitting in the crowd are from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, from all religious denominations, Olsen said. But for one day, for one afternoon for a few hours, they all come together for a few hours around the Carolina Panthers.Sports have a tremendous ability to bring people together. Sports have a tremendous ability to give people a little bit of reprieve from what for a lot of people not only with whats going on now but a general state of life.The Panthers and the NFL are monitoring the situation downtown. Their primary concern is having enough police to handle the safety concerns of the city and keep the stadium secure.The presence of the National Guard in Charlotte, according to a team source, helps that situation tremendously.Many businesses already have told employees not to come downtown for work unless it is necessary. In fact, NASCAR has closed its Charlotte office for normal business Thursday.During the unrest Wednesday night in Charlotte, windows were broken on the ground floor of the building where NASCAR offices occupy several floors. The building is adjacent to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which operates the Hall of Fame, said exterior windows were damaged, but the facility will be open as scheduled Thursday.In a statement, Charlotte Hornets chairman and owner Michael Jordan expressed his condolences to the Scott family and asked for calm.In light of the tragic events of the past three days, it is more important than ever that we restore calm and come together, as a community, in peaceful demonstration and conversation, and in constructive and non-violent ways.As part of the fabric of Charlotte, the Hornets organization is committed to working with civic leaders, our elected leaders and law enforcement to foster more trust, transparency and understanding so we can heal and grow together as a community, Jordan said.?Duke football coach David Cutcliffe said he planned to address the situation with his players.?We love the city of Charlotte and its sad and I havent really gone into any detail with the team. I have a Thursday night meeting and its on my agenda tonight. We know a lot of great change has comee in this country through protest and through somewhat even loud voices and I think we always need that.dddddddddddd But what we never need is violence. Just pray for peace. Thats it.San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been kneeling during the anthem for the past month as a protest against social injustice in the United States. While some players around the country have joined Kaepernicks protest, members of the Panthers have not.But safety Tre Boston said recent events have him considering possibly joining Kaepernicks cause.Look how much backlash he took, Boston said. Thats a peaceful protest, am I right? When stuff like this happens in the world ... where are the people that are mad at Kaepernick for taking a knee? Is everybody still mad at him for trying to stand for something that is happening in this world?So do I see myself taking that knee? I dont know. I have to talk to some people and see if thats the best thing for me to do.Protests are anticipated on Sunday. During Wednesday nights protest, a man carrying a megaphone shouted that if quarterback Cam Newton stood during the national anthem, his No. 1 jerseys would be burned.But Newton did post a message on Facebook on Wednesday saluting Kaepernick for making a stand for injustice in this country.Newton typically doesnt publicly address social issues, but he made an exception Wednesday. He spent a majority of his weekly news conference addressing what is happening in Charlotte.Im an African-American, and Im not happy how the justice has been dealt with over the years and the state of oppression in our community, the NFL MVP said. But we also as black people have to do right by ourselves. We cant be hypocrites.And I say that on one voice and also another voice that when you go public or when things happen in the community, its not the fact that things are happening, its the way they are being treated after they happen.The police said Scott exited his vehicle carrying a gun. Scotts family said he was unarmed and sitting in his car reading a book while waiting for his son to come home from school.Protests involving hundreds on Tuesday night turned to violence. Rocks were thrown, police vehicles vandalized and fires set. Sixteen police officers reportedly were injured. The situation escalated on Wednesday night.It could have happened in Atlanta. It could have happened in Los Angeles. It doesnt matter, Newton said. Its embarrassing for things to keep happening, and from what I do know we had an incident that happened in 2013 that had something to do with the police and it went to jury and whatever -- it got washed away in time.Newton was referring to the 2013 fatal shooting of Jonathan Ferrell by Charlotte officer Randall Kerrick. Ferrell, who was black, was shot 10 times by Kerrick, who is white.Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter. A judge declared a mistrial after the jury could not reach a verdict.My big thing is holding people accountable, no matter what the race, no matter what the gender is, no matter what the age is, Newton said. We all have to hold each other accountable.That was the message sent by Olsen, Davis and Rivera on Thursday. Thats why they chose to mix politics with football.This has to be a national discussion, Rivera said. But at the same time we have to do it the right way.All three also agreed they will be able to focus on football on Sunday.The neat thing is when its time to do football theyve done football, Rivera said. But when its times like this that they have some comments, you do hear them talking about it, you hear them pretty open.As Greg and Thomas said, you look at the diversity, where theyre all from, all races and colors, but yet they talk to one another, they care about one another. What has helped made this team strong has been what goes on in that locker room.Information from ESPNs Bob Pockrass was used in this report. 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