San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said he refused to stand during the national anthem on Friday because of his views on the countrys treatment of racial minorities.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 after Fridays 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 acknowledged in a statement that Kaepernick sat on the teams bench during the national anthem before San Franciscos game against the Green Bay Packers?in Santa Clara, California.The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pregame ceremony, the statement said. 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 to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.Kaepernick told NFL Media that he did not tell the team he was planning 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.Addressing reporters on a conference call on Saturday, 49ers coach Chip Kelly called Kaepernicks actions his right as a citizen.?We recognize his right to do that, Kelly said. Its not my right to tell him not to do something.Kelly added that he hadnt received any feedback from his players regarding the much-debated actions of his quarterback.Im sure some of them would be aware of it after reading the accounts today, but no one has expressed anything, Kelly said. Well talk about it as a team tomorrow.Keenan Reynolds, who played his college ball at Navy and is trying to make the Baltimore Ravens roster as a receiver and kick returner, said Kaepernick has the right to take such a stance.Obviously, being in the military, Im proud of that position, Im proud of being able to defend the country, so humbled [by] other people that came before me and gave their lives so I can play on the field and run around and we can live freely in this country, Reynolds said. But like I said, thats his right, and hes going to do what he has to do.New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz, speaking after Saturday nights preseason game against the?Jets, said he disagreed with Kaepernicks actions.I think, personally, the flag is the flag, regardless of how you feel about the things that are going on in America today and the things that are going on across the world with gun violence and things of that nature, Cruz said. You got to respect the flag, and you got to stand up with your teammates. Its bigger than just you, in my opinion. You go up there, youre with a team, and you go and pledge your allegiance to the flag, and you sing the national anthem with your team, and then you go about your business. Whatever your beliefs are, are your beliefs.Colin is his own man. He decided to sit down and sit out, and thats his prerogative. But on a personal standpoint, you have to stand up there and understand that this game and whats going on around the country is bigger than just you.Kaepernick also did not stand for the national anthem during the other preseason games, but he wasnt dressed for those contests because of tightness in his right shoulder.NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Saturday that players?are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem.Pro Football Talk initially reported that Kaepernick did not stand during the anthem. He was not asked about his decision during his postgame news conference, which was held before the Pro Football Talk report.Kaepernick, who is biracial, was adopted and raised by white parents. He has been outspoken on his Twitter account on civil rights issues and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.Numerous high-profile athletes have spoken out about civil rights issues in the wake of gun violence throughout the United States. In July, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul opened the ESPYS with a call for social change and an end to violence, and WNBA players wore warm-up shirts to show solidarity after shootings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.Wades cousin, Nykea Aldridge, was killed by gunfire in Chicago on Friday, a day after Wade participated in a series of panel discussions on gun violence hosted by The Undefeated on ESPN.Kaepernick told NFL Media that he had thought about going public with his feelings for a while but said, I felt that I needed to understand the situation better.In a series of tweets on Saturday, Giants?offensive lineman Justin Pugh reiterated his position on why he stands for the national anthem.Kaepernick joins team sports athletes, including Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Carlos Delgado, in refusing to participate during patriotic American songs. Abdul-Rauf was suspended one game by the NBA in 1996 for not standing during the national anthem, saying the United States had a history of tyranny and doing so would conflict with his Islamic beliefs. He later agreed to stand and pray silently during the song. Delgado would leave the field in 2004 during God Bless America in protest of the Iraq War.Kaepernick made his preseason debut on Friday against the Packers. He went 2 for 6 passing for 14 yards and added 18 yards on four carries in the 49ers 21-10 loss.Kelly was asked Saturday if he expects Kaepernick to make the 53-man roster.Yeah, hes competing with?Blaine [Gabbert]?to see who our starting quarterback is going to be, Kelly said. We havent had any discussions in terms of starters right now. Our whole focus today was really making our cuts to 75.?ESPN staff writer Nick Wagoner and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. ATLANTA -- The Washington Wizards will try to ensure the Atlanta Hawks Dwight Howard Era gets off to a rocky start when they meet in the season opener on Thursday.Howard was the biggest offseason acquisition for the Hawks, who hope to return to the Eastern Conference finals and beyond. Atlanta signed the 6-foot-11 center to a three-year, $70 million deal in the offseason after incumbent center Al Horford took less money to sign with the Boston Celtics.Atlanta went 48-34 last season, finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and was swept by Cleveland in the conference semifinals. Washington went 41-41 to finish 10th in the East and missed the playoffs.The Hawks are hopeful that the 30-year-old Howard, a native of Atlanta, can revive his career. He averaged 17.8 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks over his 12-year career, but slipped to 13.7 points for the Rockets last season.Playing at home, where people have great expectations for what is supposed to happen here, sometimes it can get a little nerve-racking, Howard said. For me, I just try not to think about it. I just try to approach it as though its any other game. But I know this city. They have their hopes real high on us and on me.Its a new start for Washington, too. The Wizards fired coach Randy Wittman and hired Scott Brooks, who spent six seasons at Oklahoma City and took the Thunder to the NBA finals in 2011-12.The Wizards are led by guard John Wall, who averaged 19.9 points and 10.2 assists last season, and Bradley Beal, who averaged 117.dddddddddddd4 points while dealing with hip and leg issues that limited him to 55 games. Beal showed he was fully recovered in the preseason, when he effectively distributed the ball and had very few turnovers.Us as players are coming in with a mindset of whatever we have to do, getting it done, Wall said. Its an all-new beginning for all of us, so we want to get off to a good start with a new coaching staff and new group of players we have on the team.Washington is also expected to start Otto Porter, Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat. The Wizards are hopeful that Morris can become the 3-point shooting threat the team has been missing.The Wizards also expect to see second-year player Kelly Oubre Jr. take big strides forward and be a key player off the bench. He should play more than he did a year ago, when he averaged 11 minutes.The Hawks had their starting five on the court at the same time in their final two preseason games. Atlanta will start Howard, forwards Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver and guards Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore.Schroder will be the starter at point guard after veteran Jeff Teague was traded to Indiana. Malcolm Delaney will be the backup at point.The Wizards play their first two games on the road, going to Memphis on Sunday, before playing at home on Wednesday against Toronto. The Hawks travel to Philadelphia for a game on Saturday afternoon. ' ' '