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INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James said he will not join San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernicks protest against the way African-Americans are treated in this country and kneel during the national anthem during Cleveland Cavaliers games this season.Me standing for the national anthem is something I will do, James said at the Cavs annual media day Monday. Thats who I am. Thats what I believe in. But that doesnt mean I dont respect and dont believe in what Colin Kaepernick is doing. You have the right to voice your opinion, stand for your opinion, and hes doing it in the most peaceful way Ive ever seen someone do something.James has been outspoken about social issues facing the U.S. for the past several years and recognized the unrest that exists in a speech at the ESPYS this summer, alongside fellow NBA players Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul. His message at the awards ceremony centered on community outreach. Kaepernick started his protest during the NFL preseason, approximately six weeks after the ESPYS speech.James turned the issues inward Monday, sharing how recent events have shaped the way he views his family.For me, my personal feelings is that I got a 12-year-old son, a 9-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter, and I look at my son being four years removed from driving his own car and being able to leave the house on his own, and its a scary thought right now to think if my son gets pulled over, James said. You tell your kids if you just apply [the lessons you teach them] and if you just listen to the police that they will be respectful and it will work itself out. And you see these videos that continue to come out, and its a scary-ass situation that if my son calls me and says that hes been pulled over that Im not that confident that things are going to go well and my son is going to return home. And my son just started the sixth grade.While James wont be taking a knee like Kaepernick, he did speak out against the backlash the quarterback has received for his actions.What I do not like about the situation is the negative attention that has been thrown upon him by some people because its not deserved, James said. He was very educated, very smart, very candid and very demanding about what he wanted to do, and he didnt ask anyone else to join him. And he did it in the most peaceful manner Ive ever seen anyone stand up and do something. So I can respect that. And the things that I do personally, when Im knowledgeable about it and Im passionate about it, Ill do that as well and let you guys know when those things are because Ill tell you.James, the vice president of the players association, was asked about the joint memo that the National Basketball Players Association?and the league issued to its players last week that sought to gather opinions on meaningful ways the two organizations can join together in response to the demonstrations by other pro athletes and create action. Michele Roberts, executive director of the players association, attended Cavs media day in person.The fact that the league has come out and said theyre going to continue to give back to the communities and hone in on whats important, we feel like we did our job, James said, alluding to his ESPYS speech. We just wanted the conversation to continue to go, to understand that police brutality and killings and things of that nature of innocent people, its not the answer. You mourn the lives of so many innocent people and you pray for the families of so many innocent people over this course of time, in this short period of time. So you feel for that.James clarified that his stance was not aimed at police misconduct, but rather an admission that race relations must be improved in order for the country to thrive.We just wanted the conversation to continue to keep going, and I dont have the answer, James said. None of us have the answer. But the more times that we can talk about it and the more times that we can [converse] about it [the better]. Because Im not up here saying that all police are bad, because theyre not. Im not up here saying all kids are great or all adults are great, because theyre not. But at the same time, all lives do matter. Its not just black or white, its not that. Its everyone. So its just tough being a parent right now when you have a preteen. But the conversation, its continued from the speech that myself, D-Wade, CP and Melo had, and thats definitely a good thing.Cavs general manager David Griffin was also passionate about the subject, vowing to help be a conduit for his players to enact change.I think far too much is being made of what form of non-violent protest somebody chooses to implement and not nearly enough is being paid to the actual issues that spawn that outrage in the first place, Griffin said. I think this is a situation for us where non-violence and direct action, as Dr. [Martin Luther] King [Jr.] said, is supposed to engender a sense of moral shame. We should be ashamed of whats going on in this country that prompted the initial protest in the first place. And Im really, really honored to be a part of a league where [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver and Michele Roberts are working in conjunction with the players association to try to find a way to bring meaningful change and to impact the issue rather than talk about how one person chose to deal with their outrage over the issue.And we have players in that room that are really mature, veteran people that want to make an impact. So were all going to talk about the political correctness of what they do, Id really like us to start talking about whats going on and trying to reach the core of whats going on. So, we will talk to our players as a team. Im very confident that well arrive at a place thats pretty inspired because we got a group of guys that are really about the right things, and I think have a very real moral fiber, but I just dont think this should be a topic that continues anymore. Lets start talking about what we actually did about it.Cheap NBA Jerseys Authentic . 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Fake NBA Jerseys . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Nike NBA Jerseys China . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson.After nine days and 1,513.5 kilometres in the saddle, almost all of it nursing a broken rib, Canadian Ryder Hesjedal defied logic by getting back on his bike Monday during a Tour de France rest day. The 32-year-old from Victoria went for a "beautiful" 90-minute spin with a local who showed off the roads ahead. This after a gruelling 168.5-kilometre Stage 9 Sunday that included five climbs, four of which were Category 1. "Definitely one of the more explosive days of racing in a long time," Hesjedal said from Nantes. Coming off a team stage win helped ease the pain. As did an off-day massage and relaxed lunch. Hesjedals Garmin-Sharp teammate Dan Martin crossed the finish line first Sunday and stands eighth overall. Overall race leader Chris Froome of Britain finished 14th, crossing the line in a group 20 second behind the Irishman. After taking part in an attack at the front, Hesjedal finished 59th on the stage and stands 41st overall, 26:08 behind the leader. Garmin Sharp teammate Andrew Talansky of the U.S. is 22nd overall. Hesjedals preparations for his sixth Tour de France were not ideal. A virus prematurely ended his bid to defend his Giro dItalia title and he crashed out of his comeback Tour de Suisse race in the early stages. He was proud just to make it to the Tour de France, although he admits the lack of race days in advance has meant his legs are not in top condition. "Not to be unexpected with the buildup I had to the race," he said. "I worked as hard as I could," he added. "I was optimistic I could ride into the race and be at the level that Im used to being at. But it just wasnt there in time for Stage 8." Thats when Froome, leaving challengers in his wake, attacked the first tough mountain stage en route to the yellow jersey and a dominant stage win. Hesjedal fell to 35th from 14th overall, losing 8:07 on the leader. It didnt help that on Day 1 of the Tour, he got caught up in another crash. Hesjedal was doing his best to avoid a group of riders who had crashed after clipping thhe barrier ahead of him.dddddddddddd It seemed to be working until someone hit him from behind and sent him flying into the crash. "I landed on bikes and people," he said. The impact broke his sixth rib in the front, in the chest area -- right where the lung expands. The injury also affects the muscles around the rib. "It is what it is," he said stoically of the injury. "Its been sometimes good, sometimes bad. Were so used to blocking things out mentally when youre riding." He has the injury taped up for stability. The good news is hes able to sleep a little better these days. But it hasnt made racing any easier. "I mean Im trying to stay with the best guys at the Tour de France," he said. "I try not to think about it and just focus on what I need to do. I think I showed (Sunday) that I still had plenty of ability to do something in the race." "Even if Im not 100 per cent, my 90 or 80 per cents not too bad," he added. "So I can always contribute to the team and be part of the equation for getting result somehow." Stage 10 Tuesday is a flat 197-kilometre run from Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Saint-Malo in Brittany. A 33-kilometre individual time trial follows Wednesday. With Hesjedal out of the general classification hunt, he expects to conserve energy during the time trial to save energy for later stages. Despite the toll on his body, Hesjedal says hes having fun. "I am," he said. "I love riding my bike, I love racing. "To be at the Tour de France -- I mean we won the stage (Sunday) by working together and everyone putting it out on the line. It doesnt get any better than that so Im definitely having a good time." Canadian David Veilleux of Cap-Rouge, Que., riding for Team Europcar, is 132nd overall while Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., part of the Orica GreenEdge team, is 173rd. Hesjedal offers no predictions on who will stand atop the podium when the peloton arrives in Paris on July 21, saying too much could happen between now and then. ' ' '