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As the NBA prepares to open training camps -- and the issue of athletes protests during the national anthem shows no signs of abating -- it was only a matter of time before basketball players would be asked about what they plan to do.Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo was asked by Complex Sports whether NBA players are paying attention to Colin Kaepernicks protest of racial oppression and inequality in the United States -- and whether those protests would transfer to the NBA.Oh, no question. I truly believe it will, Oladipo said. Because at the end of the day its a sport, and people are gonna be looking at some guys in the NBA to see what theyre gonna do as well. At the end of the day you just control what you can control, so your opinion is your opinion, thats the beauty of the United States, so, do whatever you feel is best that will help you do whatever you believe.Kaepernick, a quarterback on the San Francisco 49ers, has drawn a great deal of attention for choosing to sit during the playing of the anthem in the 49ers second-to-last preseason game. After a storm of discussion and criticism for his initial action, he then chose to kneel in the final preseason game and the 49ers Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams.Other players have chosen to join Kaepernick in his protest. Their gestures have included kneeling, linking arms with teammates and raising fists during the song.Oladipo, who was acquired from the Orlando Magic?in June,?also was asked whether its something he had discussed with his teammates. While he said he has not, he expects to see at least a few NBA players with their own protests.A few people just in general Ive had conversations with about that, I tell em the same thing, peoples beliefs are peoples beliefs, you know what I mean, you can only control so much, you can only control what you can control, and the most things you can control is yourself, Oladipo said. So whatever you believe, believe in to the utmost. But I think definitely, well see a few guys in the NBA doing the same thing.Golden State Warriors MVP Stephen Curry said at the convention TechCrunch in San Francisco on Tuesday that he will most likely stand when the anthem is played.If you follow the way [Kaepernick] talks and the message hes trying to send with his act, from his mouth, hes not disrespecting veterans. Hes not disrespecting military. Thats not his intention, Curry said. Hes obviously continued the act to create a conversation for more social justice and things of that nature. So, Ive been a part of certain conversations off the grid, and finding different ways to make our community better, especially for African-Americans. And so, thats not the way that I would do it, but I support him in his attempt to start a conversation or continue the conversation.In 1996, then-Denver Nuggets player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf created controversy when he refused to stand for the anthem before games, saying the flag was a symbol of oppression in the nation, and that the U.S. had a long history of tyranny.Abdul-Rauf also said standing would conflict with his Islamic beliefs. In March 1996, the NBA suspended Abdul-Rauf for one game, but he quickly worked out a compromise in which he would stand but could close his eyes and look down during the song. He said he usually recited a prayer to himself.Kyle Guy Jersey .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Chris Webber Kings Jersey .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. https://www.kingslockerroom.com/Mitch-Richmond-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. Wenyen Gabriel Kings Jersey . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Iman Shumpert Kings Jersey .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.The first half of the 2016 college football featured the emergence of a new star quarterback, the re-emergence of an old Pac-12 power and the end of an era at LSU.Texas is back! Nope.Houston to the playoff! Nah.Tom Herman to LSU? Tom Herman to Texas? Tom Herman to the Chicago Bears? This, unfortunately, has only just begun.With seven weeks of the season in the books, we assess the best and the worst of the first half.---MOST SURPRISING UNDEFEATED TEAMNo. 6 Texas A&MThe Aggies were unranked and appeared to be an unsettled program to start the season. Assistant coaches made offseason headlines for the wrong reasons . The five-star quarterbacks had fled and were replaced by former inconsistent Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight. There is no more hot-seat talk about coach Kevin Sumlin as the Aggies head to No. 1 Alabama for a game that could decide the SEC West on Saturday. There is still potential for things to go sideways for Sumlin and the Aggies, but so far A&M has replaced the swag with substance.---MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAMNotre DameThere are some serious candidates here. Oregon, but the Ducks were showing signs for crashing coming into 2016. Michigan State, but the Spartans were probably due for a reset season. Notre Dame, however, is a big hot mess . Seven games in and coach Brian Kelly has fired his defensive coordinator and created an unnecessary quarterback controversy. Even allowing the Fighting Irish some leeway for over inflated expectations, 2-5 and scrambling to get bowl eligible is unacceptable.---BEST COACHING JOB-HEAD COACHNick Saban, Alabama, and Urban Meyer, Ohio State.We often reward the coaches who exceed expectations and do the most with the least. Thats all well and good, but sustained excellence is really where its at. No. 1 Alabama won the national championship last year and is better this season with a freshman quarterback . No. 2 Ohio State lost one of the great NFL draft classes from one school of all time and the Buckeyes have not missed a beat.---BEST COACHING JOB-COORDINATORJustin Wilcox, defensive coordinator, Wisconsin.Could go back to Alabama for Lane Kiffin or Ohio State for Greg Schiano, but Wilcox is the pick as he re-establishes himself as one of the better defensive coordinators in the country. He took over a well-stocked group after Dave Aranda left for LSU, but the 10th-ranked Badgers are as feisty as ever.---BEST TURNAROUNDColoradoIt has been a long hard road back to relevance for the Buffaloes, but Mike MacIntyre has Boulder interested in its college football team again. CU has not won more than six games since 2004 and had just two Pac-12 victories in MacIntyres first three seasons. Now the Buffs (5-2) are a win away from bowl eligibility and 3-1 in conference with a legit chance to take the Pac-12 South. Props also to defensive coordinator and former USF coach Jim Leavitt for the most improved part of the team.---BREAKOUT PLAYER-OFFENSE (not named Lamar Jackson)Dede Westbrook, WR, OklahomaLots of good candidates here among receeivers, most notably Cals Chad Hansen and Syracuses Amba Etta-Tawo.ddddddddddddWestbrook was the Big 12s offensive newcomer of the year last year so its not as if he is coming out of nowhere. His recent surge (26 catches for 574 yards), though, has him playing like an All-American and he has already surpassed last years numbers for receptions and yards.---BREAKOUR PLAYER-DEFENSEJoe Mathis, LB, WashingtonMathis has gone from solid player to an absolute force for the fifth-ranked Huskies in his senior season. He has already topped his career total for sacks with five and nearly doubled his career tackles for loss with 7.5 this season. Oregon coaches could still be searching game tape for play in which the Ducks handled Mathis.---BEST GAMEClemson 42, Louisville 36.Two great quarterbacks doing spectacular things. Talented players everywhere. Huge swings in emotion and momentum. Comebacks on both sides and clutch performances . All played in one of the best venues in college football. And it came down to 1 yard. Sure it was sloppy at times, but so much fun.---WORST GAMEMichigan 78, Rutgers 0Maybe the most noncompetitive conference game in the last 25 years of college football.---WORST OFFICIATINGThe officials who worked the Central Michigan-Oklahoma State.It is one thing to blow a judgment call. It is quite another to badly misinterpret a rule and that have that mistake cost a team a game. Both the MAC officials on the field and Big 12 replay officials earned suspensions.---WORST FIRINGLes Miles, LSULSU athletic director Joe Alleva wanted Miles out last season, but botched it and allowed Miles to gain a groundswell of support. So at first chance this season, after an ugly loss at Auburn dropped the Tigers to 2-2, Alleva canned Miles before the coach could go out and save himself again. It was time for a change in Baton Rouge. And if handled properly it could have been done 10 months earlier.---HOT-SEAT COACHESCooling contractsMark Stoops, Kentucky. Has a $12 million buyout. With assistants, firing him could cost more than $17 million .Steve Addazio, Boston College. Received an extension in 2014 that runs through 2020.WarmPaul Johnson, Georgia Tech; Mark Helfrich, Oregon; Gus Malzahn, AuburnWarmerCharlie Strong, TexasToastyDavid Bailiff, RiceCookedTim DeRuyter, Fresno State---HOT COACHES-GROUP OF FIVE (not named Tom Herman)Jeff Brohm, Western KentuckyP.J. Fleck, Western MichiganScott Satterfield, Appalachian StateWillie Taggart, USF---HALFWAY HEISMAN1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville2. Jake Browning, QB, Washington3. Greg Ward Jr., QB, HoustonThree more to watchDalvin Cook, RB, Florida StateJ.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio StateJalen Hurts, QB, Alabama---TOP FOUR NOW (doesnt matter)1. Alabama2. Ohio State3. Michigan4. Clemson---TOP FOUR ON DEC. 4 (matters)1. Alabama2. Ohio State3. Clemson4. Washington---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP ' ' '