NEU » done a nice job each

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Russell Westbrook is a multi-millionaire basketball player, far removed from the rough community he came from in the Los Angeles area.When the Thunder All-Star learned about the recent police shootings of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa and Keith Scott in Charlotte, his mind went right back to his old neighborhood.Me growing up in the inner city and being able to see different things on a night in and day in, day out basis -- it hit home for me, just being able to see the different things thats going on globally, and giving people across the world an opportunity to see it, Westbrook said at Thunder media day on Friday. Now, its getting to a point that theres something that needs to be changed in that aspect. Im going to use my voice as much as possible to relay that aspect.Crutcher, 40, was shot Sept. 16. Police say the unarmed black man was shot by a white police officer, Betty Shelby, who has been charged with manslaughter. Tulsa is just a two-hour drive from Oklahoma City. Westbrook said the impact goes way beyond the incidents themselves.A lot of people dont realize the families of all these young men, Westbrook said. Their mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles. I think its very important that we understand how the families feel throughout these situations.Westbrook said he plans to use his platform to help find solutions.Me, being an African American athlete and having a voice, I think its important that its important that I make a stand that something has to change, he said. I think that -- obviously, I dont have an answer. Nobody has an answer. If that was the case, we would have fixed it. But its important that we try to figure out what we can do to help improve the things thats going on.Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was shot in Charlotte on Tuesday by a police officer. Both men are black. Thunder player Anthony Morrow, who is from Charlotte, was shaken by the shooting in his hometown.Obviously, Im sad, that being in my own personal city, he said. Its a very unfortunate, sad situation. Its a sad and unfortunate time that were in right now. It really hit home with me with it being Tulsa, then the next day, Charlotte. Its just something that, weve got to continue to pray and try to find the right answer or medium, because right now, its kind of all or nothing. So Im praying for my city and Tulsa and everywhere else.San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has chosen not to stand during the national anthem, saying he wouldnt show pride in the flag of a country that oppresses black people and people of color.Earlier this week, NBA players received a memo from the league and the National Basketball Players Association saying both were working on finding substantive ways to take meaningful action and effect `positive change.Neither Westbrook nor Morrow revealed whether they would stand for the anthem. Morrow said he has no issue if an athlete protests.If youve got a voice and youve got a stage and you feel like expressing yourself, I totally understand that, he said.Thunder general manager Sam Presti said Wednesday that, though hed prefer the players stand, he respects their right to free speech.We want to learn how we can help them take the symbol (flag) and try to create platforms for action, Presti said. And I think thats one of the great roles that any organization can play, especially here in Oklahoma City, which is great, given our relationship with the community.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP Fake Vans From China . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. Fake Vans Online . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. http://www.fakevans.com/ . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. Fake Vans Shoes . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Fake Vans Slip-on . Tracey comes to the Blue Bombers after spending over a decade with Queens University. Most recently he was the schools assistant football coach. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Junior forward Savannah McCaskill continued to fill up the stat sheet on Friday, tallying two goals and an assist to lead No. 24 South Carolina womens soccer to a 3-0 victory in its SEC opener against Georgia at Stone Stadium. The victory kept the Gamecocks (6-0-1) unbeaten and atop the league standings and pushed their winning streak to six matches. Georgia dropped to 2-4-1 on the year following the result.McCaskills performance marked her third multi-goal game of the season for South Carolina, which boasted a 15-3 shot advantage on Friday. Senior forward Sophie Groff also registered a goal, while senior midfielder Chelsea Drennan recorded an assist to move one away from the program record of 33.South Carolina again opened the scoring early, breaking through in the eighth minute. Attacker Daija Griffin created the scoring chance, as the senior made a nifty move to get around a defender before sending the ball into the box from the right side. McCaskill met the pass at the near post and rifled the ball into the corner of the net to put the Gamecocks in front. Griffin, who notched three shots on the night, earned her eighth career assist on the goal.The Gamecocks didnt waste much time out of the half to push their advantage to two. It was again McCaskill, who gathered a pass from junior midfielder Dominique Babbitt and charged into the box past the Georgia back line. She had just the keeper to beat, and the forward flicked a shot into the left side of the net to make it 2-0 in the 49th minute.South Carolina put the game away less than three minutes later following a series of nice passes. Drennan found McCaskill down the right side of the attacking third, and the junior used her speed to get into the box and deliver the ball to the far post. Groff received the pass in stride and one-timed a shot into the back of the net. The goal in the 52nd minute was the first of the year for the Grapevine, Texas, native.Freshman goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski picked up her second shutout on the year in the win, as she improved to 4-0-1. Her night was highlighted by a diving save in the 48thh minute when the Bulldogs fired a shot from close range.dddddddddddd It was one of just two attempts on frame for Georgia, which became the sixth team this year to record three or fewer shots on goal against South Carolina. The Gamecocks boasted a 6-4 advantage in corner kicks, and both teams committed seven fouls. Georgia goalkeeper Louise Hogrell tallied three saves in the loss.QUOTABLE This team has really done a nice job each game to come out and stick to the game plan. We finished chances early again, and were thrilled to start SEC play off with a win against a good Georgia team. When you score early it helps, and it changes how you play. I thought we did well to prepare for this evening, and we showed what we could do against an SEC opponent. - South Carolina womens soccer coach Shelley SmithGAMECHANGER With Georgia on the ropes, South Carolina put together two nice passes to set up senior forward Sophie Groffs goal in the 52nd minute and make it 3-0. The scoring play marked Groffs 16th career goal.KEY STAT South Carolina held Georgia to just three shots, the fewest attempts for a Gamecock opponent this season.NOTABLES South Carolina has won each of its last three SEC openers, and Fridays win improved its overall record against Georgia to 8-15-3.Junior forward Savannah McCaskills goal in the eighth minute marked the fourth time this season the Gamecocks have scored in the opening 10 minutes of a match.With five more points on Friday, McCaskill moved into third place on South Carolinas all-time scoring list with 64 for her career. She sits 51 points shy of former Gamecock Jennie Ondo, who ranks second with 115.South Carolina has yet to allow a goal in the first half this season.The Gamecocks have outscored opponents 11-1 at home this year.UP NEXT The Gamecocks conclude their four-game homestand on Thu., Sept. 15, when they face UNC Greensboro at Stone Stadium at 6 p.m. ET. The contest will mark South Carolinas final non-conference match of the regular season. ' ' '