The Latest: VP Pence leaves NFL game after anthem protests

Oct 9, 2017

(AP)

The Latest on Week 5 of the NFL (all times Eastern):

1:30 p.m.

Vice President Mike Pence has left the 49ers-Colts game after about a dozen San Francisco

players took a knee.

 

The former Indiana governor flew in so he could watch Peyton Manning’s jersey retirement

ceremony on Sunday. Manning will become the first Indianapolis-era player in Colts history

to have his number retired and will also be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.

 

But Pence didn’t stick around long.

Pence said on Twitter : “I left today’s Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify

any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.”

 

The White House also issued a statement from Pence, in which he says Americans should

rally around the flag. Pence said: “I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect

the Flag and our National Anthem.”

 

Pence is a noted sports fan and it’s second major event he’s attended in his home state since

taking office in January. He also attended May’s Indianapolis 500, a family tradition.

 

But Pence couldn’t come to Manning’s statue unveiling Saturday afternoon, which was

attended by a number of luminaries including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

 

Instead, Pence spent most of Saturday honoring victims of the Las Vegas shooting before

returning to his home state.

___

1:15 p.m.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has told CBS that he would stand during the national anthem

if given a chance to play football in the NFL again.

 

According to a report by Jason La Canfora on Sunday, Kaepernick has been living in New

York and working out privately in New Jersey with the hope of signing with a team this

season.

 

Kaepernick kneeled during the national anthem last season to bring more attention to the

killings of black men by police officers. The protests spread this season after the former San

Francisco 49er was unable to sign on with another team.

 

The issue has grown this season as Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett recently

said he was racially profiled by Las Vegas police during a confrontation, and President

Donald Trump aggressively chastised players and owners for protesting during the anthem.

___

1:10 p.m.

Myles Garrett wasted no time making an impact, recording a sack on his first play as a pro

for the Browns.

 

The top overall pick in this year’s draft, Garrett missed Cleveland’s first four games with a

high ankle sprain. After sitting out Sunday’s first two plays, Garrett came in on third down

and sacked New York quarterback Josh McCown for an eight-yard loss.

 

The Browns are hoping the 21-year-old year Garrett can not only help them get their first

win, but turn around a franchise that has had just one playoff appearance since 1999.

___

1:10 p.m.

A fan banner in the upper deck at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati says: “Just Play

Football.”

A pro-Trump banner was briefly displayed criticizing players and owners, signed with

#MakeAmericaGreatAgain before the Bengals hosted the Buffalo Bills.

 

During the anthem, a fan held a cardboard sign that said “Cincy Stands For The Anthem.”

It’s the first game at Paul Brown Stadium since President Donald Trump tweeted that players

should be fired if they protest during the anthem, prompting a pushback from players and

some team owners. Bills and Bengals players all stood.

 

In Indianapolis, about a dozen San Francisco 49ers players took a knee while the rest stood

with their hand over their heart. Two players appeared to take a knee when the line “land of

the free” played.

 

In Detroit, umpire Barry Anderson stood on the sideline and locked arms with Lions players

before a game against the Carolina Panthers.

 

As the Giants hosted the Los Angeles Chargers, most of the Giants linked arms and everyone

for Los Angeles stood.

___

12 p.m.

Top overall pick Myles Garrett is active and starting for the winless Browns.

Cleveland (0-4) hosts the New York Jets (2-2), who will be without running back Matt Forte.

Garrett missed Cleveland’s first four games with a sprained right ankle, but the rookie

defensive end is in the lineup Sunday as the Browns, who are just 1-19 in two seasons under

coach Hue Jackson, take on the New York Jets.

The 21-year-old Garrett was very impressive during the exhibition season and the Browns are

hoping his return can give them a spark.

He was able to make it through a full week of practice without any trouble. He announced his

return this week on Twitter and says he wants to declare his presence with a sack.

___

11:50p.m.

The Packers and Cowboys have been one of the NFL’s most entertaining, meaningful

rivalries for decades. They face off Sunday in one of the highlights of Week 5 in the NFL.

Green Bay receiver Jordy Nelson leads the league with five touchdown catches. He says the

game has a lot of history and gives fans reason for good conversation.

Cowboys tight end Jason Witten says the game is important because the Packers have played

well in critical games in recent years.

The Seahawks and Rams also play in a key game in the NFC West. The Rams offense has

been strong behind running back Todd Gurley and quarterback Jared Goff.

Kansas City is the only unbeaten team left in football. The Chiefs face the Texans in Houston

on Sunday night.

Carolina and Detroit both go into their game at 3-1, and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton

has been a focal point for much of the week because of a snide remark to a female reporter.

___

For more AP NFL coverage: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Rugby 7s No Medals SEA Games

Aug 20, 2017

The Philippines in Rugby 7s yielded no medal in Mens and Womens.

The Philippines won the Gold in Mens and Bronze in Women’s 2 years ago in Singapore.

Mens

Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand took the top 3 spots in the Mens. With the defending champions Philippines plummeting down to fourth. The Philippines won 2 of its games against Indonesia (47-7) and Cambodia (47-7) but lost to Malaysia (24-14), Singapore (21-7), Thailand (31-14). Which placed them 4th putting them in the Bronze medal match. They lost to Thailand again 26-7.

Womens

In the Womens Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia finished in the top 3 the Philippines landing fourth. Winning just one game against Laos (31-0), but losing to Thailand (32-0), Singapore (25-0), and drawing with Malaysia 5-5. In the bronze medalist match they lost to Malaysia 7-5.

SEA Games 2015

Rugby

It was a busy day in the fast-paced 7 aside Rugby tournament. The Philippines defeating

defending champion Thailand 24-10 and highly ranked home team Singapore in the Men’s

17-0. Before crushing Cambodia 55-0.

The Philippine women’s beat Laos 17-0 but were easily overwhelmed by Thailand 36-0

Rugby 7s at Batang Pinoy Finals

Rugby is a growing sport in the Philippines. Rugby 7s was played at the Batang Pinoy this year. It is not yet spread out to Palaro but it is growing in popularity around the Philippines. Coming from New Zealand i have much respect for this game. Rugby took part in only the Cebu edition of Batang Pinoy in Finals as it has a very strong following in Cebu with lots of former Fil-Australian athletes now running the game here.

Batang Pinoy is a multi sports PSC-POC Program for kids 15 years old and under in the Philippines. Cebu leg was proudly sponsored by Mr. Donut.

The national program is headed by the enthusiastic Australian Matt Cullen.

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Batang Pinoy Swimming Day 1-

Rugby Union on the rise in the Philippines

July 10, 2015

Article by Andrew Pirie ATFS Statistician

When i was working for the PSC one of the sports handled by the Office of Commissioner

Gomez was Rugby Union. He really has/had a treasure chest of sports.

 

1. Growing up in New Zealand

Rugby Union is the national sport of New Zealand, with the world famous ‘All Blacks’ and

Haka. Growing up on the Kapiti Coast Rugby was always secondary for me to athletics.

However since it was a tradition and most of my friends played it it was inevitable i would

learn the game and become a fan of the sport. I started playing Rugby when i go to high

school mainly in lunch times with the bigger athletes to demonstrate my speed, but i soon

learnt how to tackle much larger opponents. I never played Rugby in high school as I devoted

my time full time towards athletics as the faster sprinter in the school from 14, and one of the

countries best high school sprinters. I did play 11 aside Rugby when i was in College in

Palmerston North and even served as Team Manager for two years at International Pacific

College.

2. The Philippines has a Rugby Team

Yes the Philippines plays Rugby Union. And along with Basketball, Baseball and Softball its

our best team sport right now. Although alot less countries play Rugby Union than the other

sports we did very well at SEA Games level.

 

Our men’s Sevens (Union but shorter game with 7 men instead of the standard 15) mainly

comprising of Filipino Australians won the SEA Games Gold Medal in 2015 in Singapore

the women. Philippine took bronze in the women’s behind Thailand and Singapore. The

Women’s team was mainly comprised of local players.

 

The Brilliant work of Matt Cullen Director of PRFU, an Australian who has been in the

Philippines for 15 years married to a Filipina, he is working on a deal with San Miguel. I had

many good conversations with Matt and last time i spoke he said Rugby Union now has 13

teams in the Philippines although by the looks at how hard he and others have been working

it might now be more.

3. Local Development of Rugby

More recently the Clark’s Jets won the 2015 Edition of the PSC National Games beating

2013 and 2014 winner power house Alabang eagles. It really was the case of David vs

Goliath. Alabang had a national player and players twice the size of the Jets. What made this

historic was that this team is composed of all homegrown Filipino athletes many of whom

come from an orphanage and public schools. This is a result of a strong grassroots program

coupled with dedicated private supporters. The Volcanoes in the SEA Games were mostly

Fil-heritage players, in a few years time you will see some of the Jets as well as some players

from other areas like Albay Vulcans Cagayan de Oro, Davao, etc. become part of the winning

team. This is how a sport develops (From Jolly Gomez FB Page)

4. Why we should not fear Fil-Foreign Athletes

This is one reason why we shouldn’t be too fearful about Fil-Foreign Athletes as

they help promote the sport like any other pure-Filipino athlete and help level up the

local athletes.

1. By Inspiring, creating sports heroes were kids lack older role models

2. By participating providing stronger competition for locals

3. Transfer of Technology passing of skills and training knowledge

 

Below is a Grass roots video that shows very promising future for the next generation who

happen to be local athletes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vGIgJnF3MY

Philippines is a growing power house in Rugby union. They are coached by Australian Matt

Cullen who has being living in the Philippines quite a while and now calls it home. The team

sports we really excel at are Basketball, Baseball and Softball but the Philippines could also

be good at Rugby. Right now the Philippines ranks 4th in Asia behind Japan, Hong Kong and

Taipei.

 

The Philippine Rugby team is mainly composed of Filipino Australians, but the other

countries such as Japan and Hong Kong are recruiting athletes with no nationality blood at all

into there lineups.

The Philippine Rugby team is based at Southern Plains on the South Super Highway takes

the sta. Rosa exit turn right and then the Silangan exit R1 Highway.

 

Right now there are 13 Rugby clubs in the Philippines with 3 more forming.

2006 Vince Mellars

Article on Vince Mellars, Mellars was in my year at Kapiti College and quite a good friend.

Interesting to see he went onto play Rugby League for various clubs in Australia.

Vince Mellars 2006

2004

New Zealand team to U19 World Champs

Under 19 Squad named for world juniors

2003

Doug Howlett

Former All Black winger was actually a 100 and 110 Hurdles Champion at the NZ Secondary

Schools. He used to run at local meets in Auckland when i was beginning athletics and i saw

he recorded 10.94 for 100m and a 22 low for the 200.

Doug Howlett -NZSS 100m and 110H.

Rugby World Cup unsure

 

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