CHICAGO -- Until a few weeks ago, National Football League stadiums were about the last places anyone would go for a lesson in patriotism, First Amendment rights and civic responsibility.This is what I saw Sunday afternoon at an NFL game in New Jersey: An African-American artist, Brian McKnight, delivering a moving rendition of the national anthem.And this is what I saw Monday night at an NFL game in Chicago: Four African-American athletes raising their fists in protest during the playing of that same anthem.Freedom of expression is a powerful force in this country, and ever since Colin Kaepernick sat down last month while every other participant in a preseason game stood up, professional football players have reminded us that its a wonderfully American thing to honor your conscience and advocate for social change in the most public of forums.Here in Chicago, Malcolm Jenkins, Steven Means, Ron Brooks, and Marcus Smith II were the Eagles who raised their fists after a giant American flag was unfurled at Soldier Field. They should be proud of their willingness to take this stance, and all right-minded people around the league should be proud of their actions, too.Consider the following: Jenkins said he is the grandson of a Marine and Korean War veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart. Brooks said his girlfriend served in the Navy and is the daughter of a state trooper in Louisiana.I have the utmost respect for law enforcement and people who have put their lives on the line, Brooks said. And that will never change.Yes, this was a thoughtful act by thoughtful people. Jenkins, the Eagles union rep and organizer of the protest, ran his plans by friends in the military. He has been in contact with the police commissioner in Philadelphia, and he wants to continue finding ways through his foundation to aid kids in underserved communities.But he didnt believe that locking arms in a show of unity would help his cause. It doesnt address the actual issue, he said. Although it looks great because youre all together, the honest truth is that some guys on the team actually dont care about the issues, which is fine.So Jenkins wanted and needed a statement that left no room for interpretation. I think you immediately understand what the issue is, he said, when you see a black man raise his fist.Make no mistake: It isnt easy volunteering for social-media scorn and racial hostility from those who have forgotten the equal-opportunity tenets that are supposed to define us. The default position for far too many -- that multimillionaire athletes have no business assailing the very nation that provided them the opportunity to become rich and famous -- is a losing argument for people who conveniently forget that the multimillionaire athletes created their own opportunities, and often feel a moral obligation to use their platforms to help those without a voice.Whenever you talk about race or just anything to do with social injustice, Jenkins said, usually its a hard conversation to have. ... A lot of arguments you hear is, Do it on your own time. Do it in a different way. Well, the truth of the matter is, if you do it in a different way, that just allows you to ignore the issue.When you talk about real change, although a protest in itself doesnt change anything, it forces people to talk about it and it tugs on the social conscience of the citizens. So thats the biggest thing, how to get this topic in the minds of all those around the country and make them confront their own beliefs and thoughts and reasonings behind what they support and what they dont. And usually to do that, you have to disrupt something.The Eagles didnt really disrupt anything before their 29-14 victory over the Bears. No team or league rule was violated, the game went on as scheduled, and Carson Wentz did nothing to temper the expectation that hell become a big star soon.But still, this was a pretty big stage that required some pretty big, well, you know, for a staged protest. Monday Night Football isnt only a weekly TV program watched by millions; it is an institution to middle-aged fans of my generation who grew up on Cosell, Meredith and Gifford and the breathless anticipation of those halftime highlights from out-of-market Sunday games that werent available on our friendly neighborhood cable and dish packages and online services for the simple reason that those things didnt exist.But in the 1970s, years after sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their gloved fists during the medal-ceremony anthem at the Summer Games of Mexico City, the idea that an African-American athlete would raise his fist during the anthem on Monday Night Football was still as far-fetched as the notion of a mobile phone that could double as a TV.The NFL was an unforgiving place for those who didnt conform to the expectations of an overwhelmingly white power structure, and not much has changed all these years later. In this league, the punishment and pain are guaranteed but the contracts are not, making pro football players the most disposable team-sport athletes. Front-office executives cart out the broken bodies and cart in the fresh ones, and with the NFL the most popular game and prime-time show going, there isnt a whole hell of a lot the union can do about it.Kaepernick made his bold stand, anyway, taking the lead by taking a seat and then a knee to protest police brutality and uneven socioeconomic access in a racially divided land. He absorbed a predictable social-media pounding from critics who had never lived through the indignity of, say, being followed around a convenience store by a clerk whose suspicions were inspired only by the color of a customers skin.Kaepernick put his second-string neck on the first-string line, knowing full well hed be accused of being a traitor, an ingrate, and worse. Denver linebacker?Brandon Marshall?was among the NFL players who followed Kaepernicks example and took a knee that cost him a couple of endorsement deals with corporate sponsors who released cowardly statements supporting Marshalls right to protest while punishing him for exercising it.Monday night, Jenkins and friends decided to advance the ball. Doug Pederson knew it was coming and made Jenkins a game captain, a veteran move by a rookie coach. The cameramen scrambled into position as the Eagles lined up for the anthem, focusing on Jenkins. The veteran safety raised his right fist as the song played. In the same formation, Jason Peters, an African-American tackle, proudly planted his hand over his heart, another great sight to see.The night before, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had said he respected his players desire to speak out and change the community and that he wanted them to use that voice. Do the players really believe that? Does pro footballs largely African-American workforce truly believe a punitive, hammer-wielding commissioner and the face of that overwhelmingly white power structure wants social activism as part of the 16-game schedule?It doesnt seem to matter; the players arent backing off. Jenkins said he experienced a lonely feeling during his protest, and Brooks said he felt like he was out there on the edge, where you understand the consequences that will come.But these football players listened to their hearts, anyway, the potential consequences be damned. These Eagles didnt need to hit anybody to show they are tough, strong men. Cheap Custom Hockey Jerseys . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Custom Jerseys Clearance . 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Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat.Dominic Thiem defeated Gael Monfils in three sets to revive his hopes of qualifying for the last four of the ATP World Tour Finals. Thiem, who lost to Novak Djokovic in his first match, prevailed 6-3 1-6 6-4 in a closely fought encounter at the O2 Arena in which Monfils appeared to struggle with a leg problem during the second and third sets.Thiem will give himself a strong chance of progressing to Saturdays semi-finals if he can beat Milos Raonic in his final round-robin match, but Monfils has now lost both of his ties and needs to overcome Djokovic on Thursday, as well as hope other results go his way, to stay in the tournament. Live Tennis: ATP World Tour Finals November 16, 2016, 12:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Shot of the matchMonfils laid the platform for breaking Thiem early in the second set with this corker of a forehand on the turn.Thiems reactionIt was a very close match. I had the much better start and then he was playing a good second set, and the third set was very tight. Luckily he helped me a little bit in the last game of the match. Maybe I was a little bit lucky I won today. Gael Monfils forehand winner on the turn was the shot of the match Expert analysisMark Petchey: He [Thiem] won it with his head rather than his feet and his groundstrokes. He managed to hang in there and ride out the wave of great tennis from Gael. Lets not forget a couple of wonderful forehands from Monfils to give himself a chance. He weathered the storm really well out there.Peter Fleming: It was a shame because Monfils wasnt able to give his best. You could tell he was in a lot of pain out there and there were a number of times when he slid into a shot but chose not to and chose to keep running to take the stress off of that part of his body. Thiem admitted he had been fortunate to win The matchBoth players made solid starts, but Thiem gained the upper hand when he broke in the fifth and ninth games to clinch the opening set.ddddddddddddMonfils had started to move gingerly by this point, but he compensated by launching booming forehands and the tactic paid dividends when he broke twice to take a 4-0 lead. Monfils was hampered by a leg injury Although Thiem gave himself hope by breaking back, Monfils was in rampant form and broke for a third time to take the second set 6-1.Despite Monfils continuing to hobble around the court and being seen stretching his legs out at each change of end, the third set went with serve for the first nine games.However, Monfils then lost his composure when serving to say in the match and three double faults handed Thiem victory. Monfils v Thiem: Match Stats Monfils Thiem Aces 8 4 Double faults 5 1 1st serve points won 81% 72% 2nd serve points won 46% 50% Break points won 3/3 3/8 Total points won 74/148 74/148 Watch every day of the ATP World Tour Finals, from November 13-20, live on Sky Sports. Full schedule here. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch Man Utd v Arsenal on Saturday and get the first six months half price Also See: We will get the dream final Murray: No 1 hasnt changed me Murray wins on No 1 debut Shots to watch at the O2 ' ' '