Victorian jockey Ben Melham has produced a stunning Sydney raid

CHICAGO -- The Milwaukee Bucks stood together in a show of unity during the national anthem before Mondays preseason opener against the Chicago Bulls. The Bucks stood in a line, with each man putting his left arm around the man next to him. Some players and coaches kept their right hands on their hearts as the anthem played.Bucks head coach Jason Kidd made it clear before the game that his team was not protesting, in the wake of recent events centered around opposition to police brutality and shootings across the country. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the most recent trend last month, when he decided to sit during the national anthem. He has been kneeling during the anthem the past few weeks.Its not a protest, Kidd said. Were not protesting. Were showing unity. Theres not a protest.Kidd said that after some of the protests across the country, he wanted his team to make a decision together.We discussed it, he said. And I think there was a lot of discussion throughout the week ... guys have come up with a solution of what they want to do for the national anthem. So Im very proud of them being able to come together and make a decision and do it as a team. That just shows a lot of growth for our young players.Kidd, speaking before the game, seemed pleased with his teams outcome.I think theyve covered every base, and I think its just showing awareness, Kidd said. I think its for [the team] to discuss and talk about because I think its really nice of them and special that they came together as a unit and be unified. It just shows our growth for a young team.No Bulls players or staff members did anything out of their routine during the anthem. Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg noted that he would respect whatever decision his team made.I respect our players in whatever decision they make, Hoiberg said before the game. Im not sure what will happen with our group, but I do certainly respect their right to express themselves. As far as what were going to do, were going to go out there. As far as my beliefs, I believe in standing respectfully and honoring the national anthem, but I certainly do respect our players and the right to express themselves.Kidd believes the protests have gotten so much attention due in part to the fact that the NBA and other professional sports leagues have more media attention than ever before.There wasnt enough of you guys, Kidd said. There was only two of you [reporters]. Now theres millions. So thats the biggest change. Our media platform is a lot bigger than Dr. Js and Larry Birds and Magics. They only had to talk to one [reporter]. But the way the media is and the platform the NBA has, I think its great that there [are] voices that come from the young men and older guys too. To show that they do care about more than just basketball. Lane Thomas Cardinals Jersey . 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Victorian jockey Ben Melham has produced a stunning Sydney raid, saving his best performance of the day for an upset win on Sense Of Occasion in the Group Two Villiers Stakes.Sent out a $31 chance, Sense Of Occasions win in Saturdays feature race over 1600m at Randwick even took trainer Kris Lees by surprise.It was the third leg of a treble for Melham who also won the $500,000 Inglis Classic on She Will Reign and scored aboard Kinshachi in a benchmark handicap.I thought this would be a nice lead-up into a Gosford Cup but hes really trialled well and hes impressed us in all his work, Lees said.Lees said he instructed Melham to ride Sense Of Occasion quietly and try to find a late run.I rode him as hard as Ben Melham the last 100 metres, Lees said.After settling last, Melham rode for luck and found the crucial gap before the 100m mark to poke through and consign Dibayani ($9.50) to the ninth Group placing of his career with Sarrasin ($21) third.Dibayani, who hasnt won since June 2013, looked the winner at the 150m until he reaffirmed his bridesmaid tag.ddddddddddddHe was going all right until he saw the winning post. Hes just a little camera shy, Dibayanis jockey Damien Oliver said.While Sydneys racing treated Melham well, the citys hot weather didnt and he gave up the ride on Brook Road in the Razor Sharp Handicap after suffering dehydration.Stewards inquired into the Villiers performance of $2.60 favourite Fabrizio after he finished last.Hes had a long, hard preparation and probably showed signs of that today, Fabrizios jockey Tim Clark told stewards.Hes looking for somewhere to lie down and that was at the furlong.Sense Of Occasions win gave Lees a welcome conundrum as he weighs up whether to try for the $100,000 bonus for winning the Villiers and Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on New Years Eve or stick with his original plan of the Gosford Gold Cup on January 13. ' ' '