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.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. http://www.authenticfootballshoptitans.com/authentic-brett-kern-titans-jersey/ . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. Bruce Matthews Jersey . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. http://www.authenticfootballshoptitans.com/authentic-jonnu-smith-titans-jersey/ . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. http://www.authenticfootballshoptitans.com/authentic-taywan-taylor-titans-jersey/ . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. LeShaun Sims Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12.Speed skater Elise Christie continued her stunning form with a gold and silver at the latest World Cup event in Germany. Just a week after her triple gold heroics at the European Short-Track Speed Skating Championships in Sochi, the 25-year-old showed no sign of tiredness or effect from her recent injury.The Sky Academy Sports Scholar stormed to gold in Saturdays opening event in Dresden in the 1500m ahead of South Korean pair Choi and Alang Kim, clocking 2 minutes 41.20 seconds.So far this season only Choi and Shim Suk-hee had claimed gold over the 1500m distance.Im thrilled and shocked with the outcome for the 1500m as this isnt my strongest distance, Christie said.Christie was then pipped to gold in Sundays 500m final, losing out to Canadian Marianne St-Gelais after consistent lap times helped her to edge clear of Dutch duo Lara van Ruijven and Yara van Kerkhof.Im really happy to get a medal as I dont often double medal at World Cups, she added. I know Ive still got areas to improve on but that what makes the future exciting.My blade got kicked during the race which affected the way I skated but overall I am pleased with weekend. Jack Bateson was edged out by the eventual winner in Hungary It was a mixed weekend for the Scholars. Jessica Judd had problems withh the testing conditions at the BUCS (British Universities) cross country race in Gloucester and finished ninth.ddddddddddddThe 21-year-old said: It didnt go great. I found the course too muddy and my legs just died!It was a struggle but at least it was in the top 10! It wasnt fun to feel like that but I will hopefully get back to where I want to be by the national cross country champs at the end of February.Rising boxing star Jack Bateson didnt quite have the weekend he was hoping for as he continues his quest to qualify for the Rio Olympics.The 21-year-old from Leeds fell at the first hurdle at the Bocskai tournament in Hungary, but it wasnt without a stubborn fight against Spaniard Gabriel Escobar Mascunano.He said: It wasnt the best tournament for myself. I lost by a split decision in my first fight against the lad who went and won the whole thing.It could have easily gone my way but on to the next one.WHATS COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS...JAN 16 - MARCH 5: Siobhan OConnor, AustraliaFEB 8-9: Quillan Isidore, Manchester Winter Race Round 4FEB 8-15: Sam Oldham, training camp in PortugalFEB 13-14: Elise Christie, World Cup in DordrechtFEB 17: Mark English, Holly Bradshaw, Grand Prix IAAF Indoor Meeting, Stockholm Also See: Christie begins Euros in style SportsWomen Latest Show News Latest News SportsWomen Video Cheap Jerseys ChinaNFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Jerseys WholesaleDiscount Basketball JerseysCheap NHL Jerseys AuthenticCheap Baseball Jerseys Free ShippingCheapest College Jerseys SaleCheap Football Jerseys ChinaNike NFL Jerseys CanadaWholesale NHL Jerseys From ChinaMLB Jerseys Outlet CanadaWholesale NBA Jerseys Canada StoreCheap Soccer Jerseys ChinaCheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '