Clan-Members » agree on terms of a multiyear contract by Ju

NEW YORK -- The WNBA has withdrawn its fines for teams and players who showed support of citizens and police involved in recent shootings by wearing black warm-up shirts before games.WNBA president Lisa Borders said in a statement Saturday that the league was rescinding penalties given to the Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury and their players for wearing the shirts during pregame protests, which began after shootings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.While we expect players to comply with league rules and uniform guidelines, we also understand their desire to use their platform to address important societal issues, Borders said. Given that the league will now be suspending play until August 26 for the Olympics, we plan to use this time to work with our players and their union on ways for the players to make their views known to their fans and the public.Borders also tweeted her support for the players.Each organization had been fined $5,000 and players were each given a $500 penalty because WNBA rules state that uniforms may not be altered in any way. The normal fine for uniform violations is $200.The fines seemed to galvanize the players, who have used postgame interview sessions and social media to voice their displeasure. There has also been public criticism of the fines, including from New York Knicks star?Carmelo Anthony.Its a huge win overall, said Fever All-Star Tamika Catchings, who is president of the players union. I think more than anything I told [Borders] at times youre going to agree to disagree. With this, Im really proud of the players standing strong and for utilizing their voices. Change starts with us. We have a social responsibility as well.The Rev. Al Sharpton said early Saturday that his organization, the National Action Network, would pay the $500 fines. He called the penalty unacceptable.The Liberty wore the plain black shirts four times, including Wednesday against Washington. Indiana and Phoenix donned the shirts Tuesday night before their nationally televised game.We commend Lisa Borders for recognizing how the players of the WNBA felt and the sensitive time that were living in and being willing to re-evaluate their decision,?Liberty president Isiah Thomas said. We are also very proud of our players; the world is seeing what we already knew. Theyre truly incredible, thoughtful and talented individuals. Our league, our partners and our society are better because of our players willingness to enter the political and social activism arena.The fines were administered Wednesday, and neither the Fever nor the Liberty wore the shirts at their matinee game Thursday. Tina Charles did wear her warm-up shirt inside-out in honor of a shooting in Florida that morning.Charles said she was happy that the league rescinded the fines. She has donated her entire salary this year to her charity -- Hopeys Heart Foundation -- so the withdrawn fine means more money that will help buy automated external defibrillators.Still, she said it was embarrassing that the players had been fined in the first place.The only good thing that came out of it is that the 70 percent of the WNBA that are African-Americans are protected when the jerseys are on. We are united with police officers, she said. When we take off our jerseys and we are out there, we could be next.We were able to show our voice. People responding to me said you gained a fan, not because of what I do on the court, but the act I did. We have followers now because of who we are, not what we do.WNBA teams abided by the uniform rule Friday -- the final day of games before the monthlong Olympic break. Washington Mystics players had shirts saying Black Lives Matters in the locker room after their game Friday night. Seattle Storm and Minnesota Lynx players tweeted pictures of their teams wearing black shirts featuring a Martin Luther King Jr. quote before their game. To avoid getting fined, they didnt wear those shirts on the court.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.Los Angeles Lakers Store . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Cheap Lakers Jerseys .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Stitched Lakers Jerseys . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Lakers Jerseys China . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago.ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs are not expecting Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry to join his teammates for the start of training camp this weekend, a source said.Veterans are to report to camp Friday and the Chiefs first full-squad practice is Saturday.Coach Andy Reid said he has been in contact recently with Berry, the Chiefs unsigned franchise-tag player, but was unaware whether Berry would report Friday.Im hoping hes here, Reid said at Missouri Western State University, where the Chiefs will begin a three-day minicamp for quarterbacks and rookies Wednesday. If hes not, I understand that, too. Ive been doing this for a few years, so I know how things go. It will all work out one way or another and hes going to continue to be a heck of a football player for us. We look forward to getting him back in here and rolling with him.We love Eric Berry. Hes a huge part of this football team. Whether hes here or not [on Friday], I cant answer that.NFL Network earlier reported news of Berrys intended absence.Berry has yet to accept the one-year contract worth about $10.8 million the Chiefs are obligated to offer him as their franchise player. The sides failed to agree on terms of a multiyear contract by July 15, the deadline for getting such deals done with a franchise player.ddddddddddddIf Berry plays for the Chiefs this year, it will be under the one-year contract. He cant participate in training camp without first signing the contract.Reid didnt sound as if he was expecting Berrys absence to be extended.Whatever way you cut it, Eric Berry is a great football player and good things are going to happen to him here, Reid said. I know how hes wired. He loves to play the game. Thats how it is.Its a weird dynamic that youre juggling with finances and playing and all those things. Ive seen it before. Guys normally come in and they just go. When its time to play, they play. They put the business side aside and they get after it.Reid indicated linebacker Justin Houston, the Chiefs leader in sacks in each of the past four seasons, would not participate in training camp. Houston underwent knee surgery in February.Thats not going to happen, Reid said. Hes not going to work here. Hell be here. Hes just not going to be able to do the football stuff.The Chiefs final practice in St. Joseph is Aug. 18. ' ' '