ntus and Italian national team manager cut a frenetic figure in the coaches box for his Chelsea debut. Conte cheered, chastised and cajoled as the Blues s

Colin Kaepernick stood tall while sitting down, which is not an easy thing to do. In fact, what he did in benching himself for the national anthem on Friday night was the hardest thing he could possibly do.The easy thing? That would be standing silently with his teammates on the San Francisco 49ers sideline, cutting against the grain of his conscience. Nobody wouldve known the difference. Nobody would have reason to challenge his patriotism, to call him all kinds of nasty names, and to remind him, by the way, that he has devolved into a lousy quarterback who should be spending more time with his playbook anyway.But he planted himself among the Gatorade buckets, understanding that in an age of 24/7 surveillance, he would be outed soon enough. Kaepernick didnt strike the kind of dramatic pose made by Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City, and that was OK. He made his statement loudly and clearly.I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color, Kaepernick told NFL Medias Steve Wyche, confirming Pro Football Talks original report. To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.An unscientific survey of Twitter reaction from players, fans and observers offered more evidence that the country is divided, perhaps still broken, along racial lines. This emerged as the one undisputed truth about a story that will have legs as long as the quarterback doesnt use his during the pregame anthem:Kaepernick is a 28-year-old biracial man who was raised by the white parents who adopted him, and who believes he can no longer remain silent in a country where young, black men are too often shot by overheated cops, and where blacks are forever asked by whites to rise above obstacles that whites themselves created.African-American athletes are often asked (unfairly, perhaps) to speak out on social issues and, well, Kaepernick just did. If you dont like what the man did or said, thats your prerogative. But telling him that what he said and did was un-American is to lose sight of what it means to be an American.In some corners of the globe, Kaepernick might face prison time or worse for publicly disrespecting his country. Only the quarterback didnt disrespect the United States. While pointing out its fatal flaws -- socioeconomic and justice systems still tilted against African-Americans after all these years -- Kaepernick unwittingly reminded the world that the U.S. is still a pretty damn good place to live.His team released a statement praising what the anthem represents but recognizing that Kaepernicks boycott matched up with such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression. His league said players are encouraged but not required to stand for the anthem. His coach, Chip Kelly, said he had no right to tell any player how to honor, or not honor, his country.This is what American servicemen and women have defended here and abroad -- Kaepernicks right to sing the national anthem at the top of his lungs, and to refuse honor it altogether. As long as hes not interfering with his teammates right to make their own red, white and blue choices, whats the problem here?But yes, people had problems. A lot of people. Matt Hasselbeck, former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst, tweeted this of Kaepernicks move: Easy way to make sure youre NOT the starting QB on opening day. #Sept. 11.On the job front, perhaps some broad-minded Niners players, coaches and executives were less concerned with the real-world distraction theyd have to deal with and more impressed by the fact Kaepernick showed some courage and leadership at great personal risk. If they take football away, my endorsements from me, Kaepernick said, I know that I stood up for what is right.On the Sept. 11 hashtag front, I remember standing near the smolder at Ground Zero?when an African-American cab driver from Queens told me he believed the terrorist attacks would spell the end of racism in America. He thought a common enemy would bring white and black together, and I recall thinking it was one of the nicest things I had ever heard. Sadly, it didnt prove prophetic. There remains a White America and a Black America, separate and unequal, and Kaepernick just became the latest public figure to speak out against the imbalance.And now youre going to tell him to stick to football? To just worry about beating out Blaine Gabbert? To stand before the game and show proper respect to everything that song and flag represents?Youre going to try to scare him into submission with a biblical flood of tweets?Most of todays athletes arent ready for the backlash, sociologist Harry Edwards told me at this years Super Bowl. Edwards was a source of inspiration behind the 1968 Olympic protest. And they forget they dont control that, especially in this age of 24-hour social media. This isnt the athlete revolt of 1967, when you were talking about a telephone and a single reporter at a major newspaper and then somebody else picking up the story. Today, you hit send and you have an instant worldwide audience.Kaepernick didnt fear that attention; go review his Twitter timeline, his retweets of issues in black and white. This day was coming for him, just as it was for many bold athletes who preceded him.They say football builds character. In America, we should celebrate the fact that Colin Kaepernick just revealed his. Air Max Plus Wholesale Online . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. Cheap Air Max Plus Wholesale . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. http://www.airmaxpluscheap.com/ . 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Combustible and combative, Antonio Conte and Diego Costa seem tailor-made for each other to lead Chelsea back to glory after a disastrous title defence last season.Looking to build on their season-opening victory, the Blues seek three more points at Vicarage Road, where Watford could be further bolstered by some reinforcements signed during the transfer window.The former Juventus and Italian national team manager cut a frenetic figure in the coaches box for his Chelsea debut. Conte cheered, chastised and cajoled as the Blues showed more passion in their opening 90 minutes than they did for much of the last campaign in their 2-1 victory Monday night over West Ham United.Costas goal in the 89th minute provided the three points and touched off a wild celebration in which Conte -- in his customary black suit -- sprinted down the sideline to join the party and hugged supporters. In many respects, both Costa and Chelsea were fortunate -- the forward probably should have received a second yellow card for a late reckless challenge on Hammers goalkeeper Adrian before the goal.And that came after Costa became the highest-profile player of the opening matchday to receive a caution under the stricter new rules regarding dissent to the officials. This figures to be an on-going concern given his sometimes petulant mannerisms.Still, the big takeaway heading to Watford is Chelsea are playing Contes style. He has deemed Eden Hazard pivotal to any success this season, and the Belgium international had plenty of influence in addition to his conversion from the penalty spot early in the second half. The ball is going to find him, and Conte is OK with aggressive errors in trying to find the midfielder in space.Newcomer NGolo Kante made a seamless transition into the midfield, where he partnered with Nemanja Matic in front of the back four. And all three substitutes had an impact, with debutant Michy Batshuayi providing the assist on Costas winner.Im delighted with the performance because I saw a lot of good things, Conte told Chelseas official website. There was great intensity and possession. Every manager when they arrive at a new club tries to bring their philosophy and we have been working with the players for only one month, but I am pleased.Even with Costa finding the mark, Conte has not ruled out adding players before the transfer window closes. Cesc Fabregas did not play, and rumours persist Chellsea could make a play for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.ddddddddddddThere are two weeks and well pay attention, he said, if we find the right solution thats fine. The market is very crazy, the club know my ideas and its important to find the right solution to improve this team, not buy for the sake of it.While Conte is intimately familiar with Juventus, one of their players who arrived in Turin after he left to take over Italy could be in Watfords lineup Saturday. Midfielder Roberto Pereyra is reportedly close to signing with Watford in a deal that could be worth as much as ￡13 million. The Argentina international was loaned to Juve in 2014 from Udinese, who are owned by Giampaolo Pozzo -- the father of Watford owner Gino Pozzo.The prospects of having Pereyra in the hole behind forwards Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo has to be an enticing one for new Hornets manager Walter Mazzarri, who saw his team open the season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Southampton last Saturday.Etienne Capoue scored early for Watford, lashing a right-footed volley from 10 yards following a well-placed header by Deeney. The Hornets, though, played the final quarter-hour with 10 men after substitute Ben Watston was given a direct red card for a challenge on Shane Long as the last man defending.The Hornets also appeared to have made a successful transition to the 3-5-2 preferred by Mazzarri after utilising a 4-4-2 under predecessor Quique Sanchez Flores.There are different types of formation, but what is important is that the players follow my style of play, Mazzarri said through a translator post-match. We have been practising with two different types of play. We played with one formation and it went well.Ighalo had a quiet season debut with no shots shortly after signing a new five-year deal with the team. He scored 17 goals in 42 matches last season and has 37 in 81 contests since arriving from Udinese for the 2014-15 season.The teams split points in both matches last season, playing out a scoreless draw at Vicarage Road in February after a 2-2 stalemate at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. Watford are winless in their last five (0-2-3) top-flight matches versus Chelsea and last eight overall (0-2-6) after a victory in the first Premier League match between the teams Sept. 18, 1999. ' ' '