WRLTHD: August 2016

Colin Kaepernick explains why he sat during national anthem

By Steve Wyche
NFL Media reporterSANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has willingly immersed himself into controversy by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the United States.

His latest refusal to stand for the anthem -- he has done this in at least one other preseason game -- came before the 49ers' preseason loss to Green Bay at Levi's Stadium on Friday night.

"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 Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "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."

The 49ers issued a statement about Kaepernick's decision: "The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony. It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem."

The NFL also released a statement, obtained by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport: "Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem."

By taking a stand for civil rights, Kaepernick, 28, joins other athletes, like the NBA's Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and several WNBA players in using their platform and status to raise awareness to issues affecting minorities in the U.S.

However, refusal to support the American flag as a means to take a stand has brought incredible backlash before and likely will in this instance. The NBA's Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of the Denver Nuggets, formerly Chris Jackson before converting to Islam, refused to acknowledge the flag in protest, citing similar reasons as Kaepernick and saying that it conflicted with some of his Islamic beliefs.

Abdul-Rauf drew the ire of fans and was briefly suspended by the NBA before a compromise was worked out between the league and player, who eventually stood with his teammates and coaches at the playing of the national anthem.

Kaepernick said that he is aware of what he is doing and that he knows it will not sit well with a lot of people, including the 49ers. He said that he did not inform the club or anyone affiliated with the team of his intentions to protest the national anthem.

"This is not something that I am going to run by anybody," he said. "I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. ... If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right."

Kaepernick said that he has thought about going public with his feelings for a while but that "I felt that I needed to understand the situation better."

He said that he has discussed his feelings with his family and, after months of witnessing some of the civil unrest in the U.S., decided to be more active and involved in rights for black people. Kaepernick, who is biracial, was adopted and raised by white parents and siblings.

Kaepernick's Twitter feed is filled with civil rights messages.

The former Super Bowl starting quarterback's decision to go public comes while he is fighting for his football life with the 49ers, who drafted him in the second round in 2011. He lost his starting job last season after being one of the most promising players in the NFL during his run under former coach Jim Harbaugh.

Over the past few months, his relationship with management has turned sour. He requested a trade last spring, which never came. He also has spent most of the offseason rehabilitating from operations to his left (non-throwing) shoulder, his hand and knee. His recovery left him unable to fully compete with Blaine Gabbert for months and has him seemingly in a bind to regain his starting job.

He made his preseason debut against the Packers and played in the second quarter, completing two of six passes for 14 yards. He looked as rusty as you'd expect from someone who has not played since last November.

Following the game, and without any knowledge of Kaepernick's non-football behavior, coach Chip Kelly said that there has never been any discussion about cutting Kaepernick. Rapoport added Saturday that Kelly will make "football decisions" on Kaepernick, despite the quarterback's comments.

Venezuelan Police Jail Top Activist in Pre-Dawn Transfer

By camilo hernandez, associated press

BOGOTA, Colombia

A prominent Venezuelan opposition leader has been jailed again after intelligence agents picked him up at his home before dawn, a brazen move that the government said was necessary to prevent acts of violence but which has alarmed the opposition and human rights groups.

Patricia Gutierrez said that the agents from the Sebin intelligence agency arrived around 3 a.m.

Saturday without notice at the family home where her husband, Daniel Ceballos, had been held under house arrest.

She said they put Ceballos in an ambulance, saying they were taking for a medical exam, but instead transported the former mayor of San Cristobal to the same jail in central Guarico state where was held for more than a year until August 2015, when he was granted house arrest for kidney problems.

His transfer to jail comes as the opposition vows a mass protest on Thursday to demand that authorities allow a recall referendum to go ahead. A successful "yes" vote this year would cut short President Nicolas Maduro's term and trigger new elections.

The government said it had intelligence that Ceballos was planning to flee before the Sept. 1 protests and carry out violent acts.

"The evidence compiled will allow us to continue advancing in necessary investigations to prevent, uncover and neutralize any act that aims to destabilize our democratic system," the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Gutierrez published a cell phone video in which Ceballos and his daughter can be heard exchanging shouts of "I love you" as an ambulance is seen parked in front of an apartment building.

"This is how my daughter Victoria said goodbye to her father," Gutierrez said on Twitter. "The dictatorship isn't going to destroy my family. Freedom will come soon."

The transfer alarmed government opponents and human rights groups.

"Authorities in Venezuela seem to be willing to stop at nothing in their quest to prevent anyone from criticizing them, particularly as the political and humanitarian situation in the country continues to deteriorate," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at the rights group Amnesty International.

The 32-year-old Ceballos was the leader of a wave of anti-government protests in the restive western city of San Cristobal that rocked Venezuela in early 2014, leading to more than 40 deaths.

Fear of another crackdown has made it harder for the opposition to coax its supporters back into the streets. But as Venezuela's economy spins further out of control, with daily, blocks-long food lines and inflation topping 700 percent, calls for Maduro's removal have grown louder, even among poor Venezuelans who still revere his predecessor and mentor, the late Hugo Chavez.

Electoral authorities, who are widely seen as bowing to Maduro's demands, say it's unlikely a vote can be scheduled this year. If the ruling party can delay a vote until 2017, Maduro would be replaced by his vice president in loses, as polls indicate he would.

Ceballos was initially arrested along with several other activists of his Popular Will party, including Leopoldo Lopez. He's already served a 12-month sentence for disobeying a government order to remove barricades during the street protests but still faces civil rebellion charges.

He won a congressional primary from behind bars last year but authorities later barred him from holding public office. His wife then won by a landslide in an election to succeed him.

The U.S.-backed opposition has made the release of Lopez, Ceballos and dozens of other activists it considers political prisoners a key demand. Maduro considers the activists dangerous coup-plotters.

Stranded mariners rescued in Micronesia after 'SOS' spotted in sand

By Chantelle Aguilar
HNN Digital Intern

Two stranded mariners are safe Friday after crews spotted their “SOS” in the sand on uninhabited island in Micronesia.

A U.S. Navy aircraft crew spotted the couple on the beach, and relayed their location to the Coast Guard in Guam. The two, who had limited supplies and no emergency equipment, were picked up and transferred to a patrol boat.

The Coast Guard got a report about the couple's 18-foot vessel going missing on Aug. 19.

The two departed Weno Island on Aug. 17, and were expected to arrive at their destination to Tamatam Island the next day.

Over seven days, the Coast Guard and other agencies searched nearly 17,000 square miles for the two.

On Wednesday, a ship noticed flashing lights emitting from the uninhabited Chuuk State island where the two were later found. The U.S. Navy was alerted and patrolled the island when they spotted the survivors -- and their message -- on the beach.

Ryan Lochte ditched by four major sponsors

by Chris Isidore and Jackie Wattles

Four major sponsors of Ryan Lochte walked away from the disgraced U.S. swimmer on Monday.

Speedo, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Gentle Hair Removal and mattress maker Airweave all said they would be cutting ties with Lochte after the swimmer admitted to lying about being robbed at gunpoint while in Rio.

"While we have enjoyed a winning relationship with Ryan for over a decade and he has been an important member of the Speedo team, we cannot condone behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for," Speedo said in its statement. "We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience."

Ralph Lauren said it had signed Lochte to an endorsement deal specifically for the 2016 Games and the company will not be renewing the contract. The company, which early Monday still had a photo of Lochte wearing an Olympic medal on its Twitter home page, has since taken that image down.

Likewise, Airweave -- which provided mattresses for Team USA in Rio -- said its agreement with Lochte was "in support of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games" and the company has decided to end the partnership.

But Lochte's photos were still all over the website of Gentle Hair Removal, which made Lochte a figurehead of their advertising campaigns since signing the athlete in April. Lochte appeared in a promotional video for Gentle Hair Removal, in which he said the service "was the best thing that's ever happened. I don't have to worry about shaving anymore."

But Gentle Hair Removal's parent company, Syneron-Candela (ELOS), announced Monday that it's parting ways with Lochte.

"We hold our employees to high standards, and we expect the same of our business partners. We wish Ryan well on his future endeavors and thank him for the time he spent supporting our brand," the company said in a statement.

Lochte's problems began when he and three teammates said they had been robbed at gunpoint after attending a party at the Olympics, but it was soon discovered the four athletes allegedly vandalized a gas station and urinated on the building. Authorities in Brazil denied any robbery took place.

On Friday, he apologized in a statement, saying he should have been "more careful and candid" from the get-go. In an interview on NBC on Saturday, Lochte said "I over-exaggerated that story and if I had never done that we wouldn't be in this mess."

On Monday he said he respects Speedo's decision to end his sponsorship.

"I am grateful for the opportunities that our partnership has afforded me over the years," he said. "I am proud of the accomplishments that we have achieved together."

Speedo initially said it was following the situation and that it has a policy not to comment on ongoing legal investigations. Monday it said it will donate a $50,000 portion of Lochte's fee to Save the Children for children in Brazil.

Lochte: 'I over-exaggerated' Olympics robbery story

Rumors were circulating over the weekend that Macy's (M) was also attempting to distance itself from Lochte by removing advertisements from its stores that featured his picture. But in a statement on Monday, Macy's said the move was actually a scheduled marketing change.

"As scheduled, we are transitioning out all Olympic visual as the games ended yesterday, and we are moving into our fall fashion message," Macy's said.

CNNMoney (New York)

Michael Phelps makes history! Wins 22nd Olympic gold medal

By James Masters, CNN

(CNN)Michael Phelps is used to rewriting history -- now he's eclipsing it too.

You have to go back around 2,160 years, give a week or two, to find an athlete who could challenge the imperious record held by the "Baltimore Bullet."

The US star claimed the 22nd Olympic gold of his Olympic career Thursday after powering past the opposition in the final of the 200-meter individual medley.

Michael Phelps won the 200-meter individual medley for the fourth successive Games.

That victory, the 13th individual triumph of his Olympics career, meant he surpassed the greatest athlete of ancient Greece and indeed of the Games -- Leonidas of Rhodes.

Phelps, who took his tally to four gold medals at Rio by winning the event for the fourth consecutive

Games, moved ahead of Leonidas after edging out Japan's Kosuke Hagino and China's Wang Shun.

The achievements of Leonidas, a runner who competed between 164 and 152 BC, were recorded by Philostratus the Athenian and Pausanias who told of his 12 triumphs, according to the official Olympics website.

Perhaps in another 2,000 years the stories of Phelps and his exploits will be shared around the table given his astonishing record.

The most decorated Olympian of all-time with 26 medals made a mockery of suggestions that he would struggle to cope with teammate Ryan Lochte and Japan's Hagino.

Phelps didn't just win -- he smashed it. Then he jumped out of the pool to receive his medal before heading back in to qualify for Friday's 100-meter butterfly final.

The 31-year-old, who is set to retire after the Games, could end up with five gold medals by the end of the competition.

Phelps wasn't the only gold medal winner for the US on a stunning night of swimming.

China developing a hypersonic jet: Could drastically cut the cost of space travel

By MailOnline Reporter

China is developing a hypersonic aircraft to take pilots, and perhaps even passengers, to the edge of space.

A state aerospace firm has reportedly begun research on an aircraft capable of taking off from a runway and carrying a crew into low Earth orbit.

The design is purported to be a more efficient successor to Nasa’s Space Shuttle, which was launched on a rocket but landed on a runway.

The new space plane is being developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASTC).

When completed it could dramatically reduce the costs of space travel and give China a boost in the renewed space race.

According to Popular Science, the aircraft would take off like a normal plane, before a supersonic scramjet engine kicks in to lift it to almost 100 km above sea level.

At this point, rocket boosters will provide the additional thrust, giving it enough power to escape the clutches of Earth's lower atmosphere.

Plans for the plane were discussed on state broadcaster CCTV, with a plane entering service by 2030.

With Nasa's Space Shuttle programme decommissioned since 2011, a hybrid space plane could give the Chinese an edge in the space race.

Details are sketchy at this early stage, but the craft could potentially hit speeds of Mach 5, reports Popular Science.

It comes just a few weeks after Russia revealed it was developing a hypersonic aircraft capable to travelling anywhere in the world in two hours.

The European Space Agency has also been funding research into a revolutionary Sabre Engine capable to propelling an aircraft at 4,000 mph.

China is reportedly developing a hypersonic aircraft (pictured) capable of carrying those on board into low Earth orbit. The move could drastically reduce the cost of space travel, it is claimed

Michael Phelps Wins His 19th Gold Medal

By VICTOR MATHER and KAREN CROUSE

RIO DE JANEIRO — Michael Phelps won his 19th Olympic gold medal as the United States won the 4x100 relay at the Olympics on Sunday. The Americans’ traditional rival in the event, France, was second, and Australia third.

Credit Francois-Xavier Marit/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The gold was Phelps’s 23rd medal: 19 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes. The final time was 3:09.92.

Phelps swam the second leg for the Americans, taking over from Caeleb Dressel in second place behind France and swimming into the lead. His split time was a strong 47.12. Ryan Held and Nathan Adrian brought the U.S. home; Adrian’s split was an even better 46.97.

Usually the American 4x100 team is made up of the top finishers from the 100 free at the Olympic Trials. Phelps chose not to contest that event, but was put on the relay team anyway.

Credit Patrick B. Kraemer/European Pressphoto Agency

Phelps retired after the 2012 Games but decided to return in part because of disappointment with how the American men swam in the 4x100 relay at the 2013 world championships, losing to France.

The relay was the most unpredictable event of the night in swimming, with Australia, France, the United States and Russia all having claims to a gold medal. France and the United States split the last two Olympic gold medals, with Yannick Agnel of France outdueling Ryan Lochte in the anchor leg to win four years ago. Phelps was on both of those American teams.