How Did The National Anthem Get To Be A Mainstay Of Sports In The First Place?
How did the national anthem become a hallmark of sporting events and when did athletes start using it as an opportunity for protest?
Sports
Decades After An Iconic Protest, Tommie Smith Has Something Else On His Mind
After winning gold at the 1968 Olympics, Smith raised his fist in protest and made history. But ask him about the race, and he'll ask you a question in turn: Why did his winning time seem to change?
English Premier League Breaks Spending Records
Soccer teams in the English Premier League have spent about $1.3 billion to sign new players. Roger Bennett of NBC Sports' Men in Blazers explains why so much money is being invested in soccer.
Titans Linebacker Derrick Morgan To NFL: Consider The Benefits Of Marijuana
The NFL is physically brutal. Some say marijuana can alleviate pain, but it's still illegal in most places. Some players want their league to take a closer look at the benefits of the drug.
How A Baseball Batter's Brain Reacts To A Fast Pitch
NPR's Scott Simon talks with neurophysiologist Jason Sherwin about his research into how a baseball batter processes an incoming fastball.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Calls Colin Kaepernick's Concerns 'Very Admirable'
The basketball legend weighs in on the 49ers quarterback, who has decided not to stand when the national anthem is played before games.
Abdul-Jabbar Admires Athletes Who Make An Activist Statement
Steve Inskeep talks to former NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar about the controversy surrounding San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has decided not to stand during the national anthem.
A Paralympian Cyclist Gears Up For Rio
Nearly 300 Americans are heading to Rio de Janiero to compete in the Paralympics that begin Sept. 7. For Jennifer Schuble, it's her third time and the cyclist hopes to win gold yet again.
Athlete Activists Aren't New. Kaepernick Is Just The Latest
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is sitting through the national anthem to protest oppression of minorities. That prompted a debate about patriotism and contentious social issues.
My Father Stood For The Anthem, For The Same Reason That Colin Kaepernick Sits
As a child, I found my father's love of the national anthem utterly bewildering. His was the generation of men born free but shackled by bigotry. So why did he sound so proud, singing that song?