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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For the second time in recent days, but the first while wearing the uniform of the United States womens national team, Megan Rapinoe chose not to stand for the national anthem prior to a soccer game.Instead, Rapinoe knelt on the sideline during The Star-Spangled Banner before Thursdays 9-0 exhibition win against Thailand in what she has described as a gesture of solidarity with?San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick?and others protesting social inequalities.U.S. Soccer released a statement during the game, saying it did not agree with Rapinoes decision.Representing your country is a privilege and honor for any player or coach that is associated with U.S. Soccers National Teams. Therefore, our national anthem has particular significance for U.S. Soccer, the statement read. In front of national and often global audiences, the playing of our national anthem is an opportunity for our Mens and Womens National Team players and coaches to reflect upon the liberties and freedom we all appreciate in this country. As part of the privilege to represent your country, we have an expectation that our players and coaches will stand and honor our flag while the national anthem is played.Rapinoe told ESPN after the game that she went with her heart and what I knew was right all along.?As of now I plan to keep kneeling, she said. Im trying to kind of formulate a better plan and an action step moving forward. But until then, this is how I can help, this is how I can use my voice going forward, and this is how I can be an ally in this space.Rapinoe first knelt during the anthem prior to a Sept. 4 game involving the Seattle Reign, her National Womens Soccer League team. In her next NWSL game with Seattle on Sept. 7, the Washington Spirit played the anthem before players took the field to prevent a repeat protest.Most recently, Rapinoe chose to stand and link arms with teammates during the anthem prior to a game on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, in what she indicated was a nod to the sensitivity of the occasion.Rapinoe, who helped the U.S. win the World Cup last year and played in the Rio Olympics, entered Thursdays match at the start of the second half.We need to look at all the things the flag and the anthem represent and all the things it means, and is it protecting everybody? Rapinoe said. There are people who dont feel as protected as I do every day. I know its a time-honored tradition. Especially in a sports environment, its something the country is very passionate about, but there is a bigger conversation here that is more important than sports.As recently as a day before the game against Thailand, the first for the U.S. since the Olympics and since Kaepernicks protests came to national attention, Rapinoe said she wasnt sure whether she would take a knee.But after standing alongside other non-starters during the playing of Thailands anthem Thursday night at Mapfre Stadium in Ohios capital, Rapinoe knelt to the ground during the American anthem, sung by an Air Force servicewoman. No players joined her, although all remained close by on either side. Moments before the anthem, teammate Meghan Klingenberg hugged Rapinoe.There was little discernible reaction, positive or negative, from the crowd.My impact right now is being able to have conversations in my community, Rapinoe said. I live in a very white world, and I think the conversations I have been able to open up just with my family and my friends and the people around me and the people I work with has been tremendous. I feel like thats my part right now.Ultimately I would like to be involved in any way I can and be an ally and use my platform or use the resources I have to shed light on the issues and then go past that. Its really not about having just one conversation. It really is about the next step and what can we do to sort of break down some of these prejudices and some of these injustices that are happening and really move forward.U.S. coach Jill Ellis said that while she supported Rapinoes activism, she felt it was the expectation of a national team player to stand for the anthem.It was one of those things that you dont know until you know, [that] kind of thing, in terms of what happened, Ellis said. I think for me and who I am, Ive given this a lot of thought and a lot of contemplation. And I think tonight I was not going to get caught up in an emotional response in the moment. Im pretty measured in everything I do, and certainly even to the game plan was measured in minutes and that was factored in, including Megan. I think thats just how I am. Now its continued conversations and thoughts on my part and probably with the federation.Ellis said she had discussed the situation with Rapinoe.It was important for me to express how I felt and important for me to listen as well, Ellis said. I was very clear in what I expected and needed. Everything for me, from the day I took over this job, its about the team. And if something supersedes the team, thats where I get concerned. And I think thats something I have to reflect on now at this point.The substitute role for Rapinoe against Thailand was not a surprise. The midfielder hasnt started for the national team since tearing an ACL in December, and one of the starting places she might otherwise have contended for was occupied by Heather OReilly in the veterans final international game.OReilly said?Rapinoe had talked to the team about her decision.And we know, obviously, why she is doing that, OReilly said. Because she loves this country and she wants to see change, and thats how she feels, in her heart, that shes demonstrating it.Rapinoe played a part in one of the most iconic on-field moments in the history of the womens national team, delivering the cross that Abby Wambach headed for a late tying goal during an Olympic quarterfinal against Brazil in 2012.But the 31-year-old has been equally visible in using the platform of the national team to address off-field issues. A longtime advocate for LGBT rights, she also is one of five players named in an equal-pay complaint filed against U.S. Soccer and was a vocal critic of the artificial turf used during the 2015 World Cup.She spoke Wednesday of frustration, saying the medium of protests has been debated more than the social issues that Kaepernick first cited as the root cause of those protests. Rapinoe reiterated concerns about both police violence against minority communities and the challenges faced by police. Not long after she spoke at Mapfre Stadium, a police shooting occurred a little more than 4 miles away.The mayor of Columbus and other officials asked the public for patience Thursday as they addressed the overnight shooting death of a 13-year-old African-American boy. Officials said the boy, Tyree King, was shot and killed by an officer after King pulled what appeared to be a firearm out of his waistband when pursued in connection with an armed robbery minutes earlier. The weapon turned out to be what was described as a realistic-looking BB gun.It is unclear what, if any, role the incident played in Rapinoes decision to follow through on her protest during the national anthem, although she retweeted journalist and Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King, who connected the shooting with the death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was playing with a pellet gun when he was fatally shot by Cleveland police in 2014.The U.S. womens national team next plays Sunday in Atlanta against the Netherlands.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Air Max Plus Homme Pas Cher . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. 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That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games.Classic F1 is back and youve picked your top three Damon Hill races for our opening weekend of classic grand prix action. Thousands of votes were cast with Hills heroics in an Arrows at Hungary in 1997 coming out on top. You can see that race on Friday March 11 at 9pm on Sky Sports F1.The reigning world champion took on the might of Ferrari and Williams in his Yamaha-powered Arrows and nearly delivered one of the biggest shocks in F1 history. In second place was the action-packed 1998 Belgian GP where Hill battled horrendous weather conditions to take his last and Jordans first win in F1. That race will be scrreened on Saturday March 12 at 9pm.ddddddddddddompleting the podium places was Japan 1994, another race run in torrential rain. The grand prix was run in two parts due the conditions, with Hill taking victory on an aggregate time from Michael Schumacher. You can see the 1994 Japanese GP at 9pm on Sunday March 13. Thanks for voting and enjoy the races. Classic F1 scheduleFriday March 119pm - 1997 Hungarian GPSaturday March 129pm - 1998 Belgian GPSunday March 139pm - 1994 Japanese GP Also See: F1 gossip column Every 2016 race live ' ' '