MIAMI -- A woman performing the national anthem before an NBA preseason game between the 76ers and Heat on Friday night did so while kneeling at midcourt, and she opened her jacket to show a shirt bearing the phrase Black Lives Matter.The singer was identified by the Miami Heat as Denasia Lawrence, who called the Black Lives Matter movement a rallying cry while explaining her decision to kneel in a Facebook post early Saturday.Were being unjustly killed and overly criminalized, Lawrence wrote. I took the opportunity to sing and kneel to show that we belong in this country and that we have the right to respectfully protest injustices against us.Heat players and coaches stood side by side for the anthem, with their arms linked, as has been their custom during the preseason. Many had their heads down as Lawrence sang, and the team released a statement saying it had no advance knowledge that she planned to kneel.We felt as a basketball team that we would do something united, so that was our focus, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Throughout all of this, I think the most important thing that has come out is the very poignant, thoughtful dialogue. Weve had great dialogue within our walls here, and hopefully this will lead to action.The anthem issue has been a major topic in the sports world in recent months, starting with the decision by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to not stand for its playing. Kaepernick cited racial injustice and police brutality among the reasons for his protest, and athletes from many sports -- and many levels, from youth all the way to professional -- have followed his lead in various ways.All I can say is what weve seen in multiple preseason games so far is our players standing for the national anthem, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in New York earlier Friday, at a news conference after the leagues board of governors meetings. It would be my hope that they would continue to stand for the national anthem. I think that is the appropriate thing to do.The NBA has a rule calling for players and coaches to stand during the anthem.Heat guard Wayne Ellington often speaks about the need to curb gun violence, after his father was shot and killed two years ago. He had his eyes closed for most of the anthem Friday, as per his own custom, though he was aware of Lawrences actions.At the end of the day, to each his own, Ellington said. If she feels like thats the way she wants to stand for it, then more power to her.Making a statement in the manner that Lawrence did Friday is rare, but not unheard of in recent weeks.When the Sacramento Kings played their first home preseason game earlier this month, anthem singer Leah Tysse dropped to one knee as she finished singing the song.Tysse is white. Lawrence is black.I love and honor my country as deeply as anyone yet it is my responsibility as an American to speak up against injustice as it affects my fellow Americans, Tysse wrote on Facebook. I have sung the anthem before but this time taking a knee felt like the most patriotic thing I could do. I cannot idly stand by as black people are unlawfully profiled, harassed and killed by our law enforcement over and over and without a drop of accountability. Mike Hughes Vikings Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Irv Smith Jr. Youth Jersey . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. http://www.authenticvikingspro.com/Randy-moss-vikings-jersey/ . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Custom Minnesota Vikings Jerseys . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. Paul Krause Vikings Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. NASCAR will limit the number of events that veteran Cup drivers can race in its development series starting next season.Cup drivers with more than five years of full-time Cup experience will be limited to 10 races in the Xfinity Series and seven races in the Camping World Truck Series. They will not be allowed to compete in any event starting with the regular-season finale and through the Chase for those series or in the four Xfinity Dash 4 Cash bonus events. No Cup driver who earns points in the series can compete in the season finale for either series.Full-time Cup drivers have won 18 races in the Xfinity Series this year and three of 19 in trucks. Of those 21 races won by Cup drivers, 11 have been won by Kyle Busch.NASCAR has been hesitant to limit Cup drivers in its developmental series, weighing the benefits for tracks to sell tickets with the sports biggest stars competing in additional races during a weekend as well as the benefit for young drivers to compete against the best in the sport. But thhe dominance of Busch and others in those races has left a sour taste in the mouths of some fans that those drivers are taking the glory away from the future stars as well as affecting the championship.ddddddddddddThe updated guidelines will elevate the stature of our future stars, while also providing them the opportunity to compete against the best in professional motorsports, NASCAR senior vice president Jim Cassidy said in a news release. These updated guidelines are the result of a collaborative effort involving the entire industry, and will ultimately better showcase the emerging stars of NASCAR.The limits are not applicable to drivers who have competed in Sprint Cup full time for more than five years, but declare to earn points in Xfinity or trucks. Drivers must declare at the start of the year in what series they will earn points and be eligible for the championship. ' ' '