Before there was Colin Kaepernick sitting and kneeling during the national anthem, before there was backlash -- and backlash from the backlash -- and long before talk simmered of how Major League Baseball wouldnt provide the best forum for social protest, there was Toronto Blue Jays slugger Carlos Delgado, parked in the dugout during God Bless America.Twelve years ago, Delgado quietly remained in the dugout while the song was played during the seventh inning of games as had become tradition across the league after 9/11.Delgado, speaking in an interview published by Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día over the weekend, said he knows to some degree what Kaepernick is going through and that he doesnt think the San Francisco 49ers quarterback is refusing to stand for the national anthem.It is not that he doesnt respect the anthem, Delgado said in Spanish to El Nuevo Día. I am almost positive that that is not the case. Just as I, in my era, it wasnt that I didnt respect God Bless America or what it represented for the United States. But yes, he is tying what he thinks it should represent for the African-American community in the United States, especially given all the things that have happened lately with African-American victims of beatings by white police.Delgado, whose protest was directed at the U.S. participation in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, had also said he meant no disrespect to the institutions Americans attach to such songs as God Bless America and The Star Spangled Banner.It was something very personal at that moment, Delgado said of his decision to protest. Obviously I spoke with several people, but more than anything about how it went, how I felt about people booing me. I would say that when you do [something like this], you do it because you feel it is the right thing to do. Not necessarily because you expect a specific result or because you expect some kind of metrics or intention before doing it.Delgado was a two-time All-Star during a 17-year career as a first baseman and designated hitter for the Blue Jays,?Florida Marlins and New York Mets, before his retirement after the 2009 season.I dont think it is any secret that in the United States there is a problem with racism, Delgado said. Obviously, he has to know that he has a legion of followers and a legion of people who will hate him until his death. That is what democracy is about. You have the liberty to express how you feel and another has the liberty to say what they think about it.At this moment, he decided to take a knee during the anthem and he will have supporters and detractors. I think the important thing is for him to be consistent with his principles and his message. It is not normal that here we are in 2016 and we still have segregation, marginalization and the abuse that we have against minorities, religious communities and African-American communities.Delgado said he wasnt suggesting everyone should protest.But I think it is important that athletes, who have this platform, where they can reach millions of people, they should use it, Delgado said. If your principles indicate that you want to do something or must do it, you should act, whether you act alone or with others. Yes, I received support from some of my fellow athletes. And even those who didnt join me, they never made me feel left out. They never elbowed me out. But I heard from others who wanted to rip my head off, saying: Go back to Puerto Rico. But I knew that would be part of the process. When you take this decision you know that there will be people who support you and those who will hate you. The most important thing is to stay true to your values and your principles.Delgado told Editor and Publisher at the time that however political his protest seemed, thats not what it was about because I hate politics.?I say God bless America, Delgado said then. God bless Miami, God bless Puerto Rico and all countries until there is peace in the world. Cheap Vapormax 97 . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. Nike Vapormax Flyknit 3 Australia .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. http://www.vapormaxaustraliashoes.com/ . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Nike Air Max Plus 97 Australia . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. Nike Air Vapormax 2019 Australia . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Miguel Sano hit the highest pop-fly ever at Tropicana Field before sending two other balls deep into the left-field seats.Sano homered twice and drove in four runs as the Minnesota Twins took two of three in a series between the teams with the ALs worst records by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 on Sunday.It was really fun to hit the home runs and help the team to win the series, Sano said through a translator. Im going to keep on doing my job.Sano put the Twins up 3-1 on a three-run shot off Matt Andriese in the third and added a solo drive during the ninth against Ryan Garton. The blasts were estimated at 425- and 419-feet, respectively.Sano also became the first player to hit a ball off the roof at Tropicana Field, which opened in 1998, in the first when his pop fly hit 210 feet above the playing surface before being caught by third baseman Evan Longoria.I looked up and the ball kind of disappeared, Andriese said. I wasnt too sure exactly where it went but Longo kept his eye on it, so thats cool.The Twins have won eight of 11.Its fun to get on a roll and find a way to win some games, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said.Kyle Gibson (4-6) gave up two runs, six hits and walked four over five innings to get his first win over Tampa Bay after four losses. Brandon Kintzler, the Twins fourth reliever, pitched the ninth for his ninth save.Nick Franklin and Longoria homered for the Rays. Longoria has seven homers in seven games against Minnesota this season.Andriese (6-3) allowed three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings.Brian Dozier extended his career-high hitting streak to 16 games with a single in tthe seventh and later scored to make it 4-2 on Max Keplers sacrifice fly.ddddddddddddKepler had two hits and also made a diving catch in right field during the seventh to take a hit away from Logan Forsythe.A-RODS FINALEThe Rays upcoming six-game road trip includes New York slugger Alex Rodriguezs final game Friday night at Yankee Stadium. Tampa Bay OF Steven Souza Jr. said A-Rod was one his favorite players growing up. I know it hasnt been the season that David Ortiz is having this year with his send-off, Souza said. But the way he played the game, PED or not, he was extremely talented and so hopefully we can send him off with a thank you for a great career.MOLLYS TAKEMolitor said Rodriguez had an incredible run and has numbers among the best of all-time. Hopefully his transition will be smooth, Molitor said.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: 3B Trevor Plouffe (fractured left rib) will be reinstated from the disabled list Monday. To make room on the roster, OF Byron Buxton was optioned to Triple-A Rochester..Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled to pitch four innings for Triple-A Durham Wednesday. . 1B Logan Morrison (strained right forearm) and OF Oswaldo Arcia (strained right elbow) will work out Monday with Class A Charlotte.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Tyler Duffey (6-8) faces Houston RHP Collin McHugh (7-8) Monday night.Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (6-5) has a stretch of three consecutive scoreless starts (20 2/3 innings) entering Monday nights outing against Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (8-12). ' ' '
