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PRO BASKETBALLPHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia 76ers national anthem singer Sevyn Streeter says she was told by the team she could not perform because of her We Matter jersey.She was scheduled to sing before the Sixers season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but said in an interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday she was told she would not sing just minutes before her performance.Id say two minutes before we were about to walk out ... the organization told me that I could not wear my shirt while singing the national anthem at their game, the R&B singer said by phone. I was never given any kind of dress code. I was never asked beforehand to show my wardrobe.The Sixers declined to say why Streeters performance was canceled.The Sixers declined to say why Streeters performance was canceled.The Philadelphia 76ers organization encourages meaningful actions to drive social change. We use our games to bring people together, to build trust and to strengthen our communities. As we move from symbolic gestures to action, we will continue to leverage our platform to positively impact our community, the Sixers said in a statement.The Sixers had a member of their dance team sing the anthem.This isnt the first time the Sixers were dragged into a national anthem controversy.BASEBALLCLEVELAND -- Jake Arrieta made a teasing run at history, Kyle Schwarber drove in two runs and the Chicago Cubs brushed off a shutout to even the World Series with their first Fall Classic win in 71 years, 5-1 over the Cleveland Indians in Game 2 on Wednesday night.Arrieta carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, briefly invoking Don Larsens name, before the Indians touched him for two hits and a run. However, the right-hander helped give Chicago just what it needed -- a split at Progressive Field -- before the Cubbies return to their Wrigley Field den for the next three games starting Friday night.The Cubs hadnt won in the Series since beating Detroit 8-7 in 1945 to force Game 7.CLEVELAND -- David Ortiz is heading into retirement with some more hardware.The Boston Red Sox slugger captured the Hank Aaron Award on Wednesday as the top hitter in the American League this season. Budding Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant was honored as the top hitter in the National League.The award was presented before Game 2 of the World Series between the Cubs and Cleveland. It was determined through a combination of fan voting and a panel that includes Aaron and other Hall of Fame players.The 40-year-old Ortiz hit .315 with 38 home runs, 127 RBI and 48 doubles in the 20th and final season of his major league career. His 541 career home runs rank 17th all-time.The 24-year-old Bryant hit .292 with 39 home runs and 102 RBI while helping the Cubs cruise to the NL Central title and eventually a spot in the World Series. Shortly after being honored, Bryant singled in the first inning for his first Series hit.COLLEGE BASKETBALLLAHAINA, Hawaii -- The 2018 Maui Invitational field will include eight Division I programs for the first time with host Chaminade moving to the opening round every other year.Chaminade has hosted the tournament since its inception in 1984, but will now play in the opening round in alternating years, starting in 2018.The 2018 field includes five-time Maui Invitational champion Duke and two-time champion Arizona. It also will include 2009 champion Gonzaga, Xavier, San Diego State, Auburn, Illinois and Iowa State.This years tournament includes North Carolina, UConn, Oregon, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State and Georgetown.Chaminade will play in the championship round the next two tournaments.DOPINGMONTREAL -- The publication of a final report into Russian state-sponsored doping and corruption at the Sochi Olympics has been delayed to December.The World Anti-Doping Agency says Canadian law professor Richard McLaren expects to release his second report in early December.McLarens interim report in July implicated Russian minister Vitaly Mutko and more than 20 summer and winter sports. It led WADA to call for a Russian ban from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.WADA wanted McLaren to finish by mid-November, when it has board meetings in Glasgow, Scotland.The latest target confirms McLarens prediction last month at a FIFA-hosted conference that his work was at least several months away from completion.WADA appointed McLaren in May to investigate corruption claims by Grigory Rodchenkov, the former Moscow testing laboratory director. Dallin Leavitt Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Tyrell Williams Jersey . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. http://www.cheapraidersjerseyschina.com/nick-nelson-jersey/ . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Denver Kirkland Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Justin Ellis Jersey . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Joe Sakic had to rush his coaching search after the abrupt resignation of Patrick Roy. He doesnt believe the Colorado Avalanche rushed their hire.After interviewing candidates with varying degrees of NHL coaching experience, Sakic ultimately chose Jared Bednar as the teams new coach. Bednar spent the past 14 seasons as a minor league coach, most recently winning the American Hockey Leagues Calder Cup with the Lake Erie Monsters, and the previous nine as a minor league player,.We knew we were in a rush situation, but I wanted to do what I thought was the best thing for the franchise, Sakic said on a conference call Thursday. I look at the track record and I place a lot of value in winning championships. I know Jareds won in the (ECHL) and he just won a Calder Cup. Its tough to win in any league and to able to win youve got to be doing something right.While Roy, who resigned as coach and vice president of hockey operations on Aug. 11, is a Hall of Fame goaltender with a firebrand personality, the 44-year-old Bednar is a demanding coach whom Sakic said players respect and play for. He paid his dues as a journeyman minor league defenseman in his playing days and did the same in coaching before Roys departure made for a surprise NHL opening.Bednar coached five different minor league teams, including the South Carolina Stingrays that he led to the ECHLs Kelly Cup in 2009. He doesnt see his lack of NHL head coaching experience as a weakness, nor his process of getting there.It hasnt been an overnight thing. Its taken some time and I think that all my stops along the way have helped prepare me for this, said Bednar, who signed a three-year contract. Ive never been trying to get on a fast track to get to the NHL. I feel like the goal is to do a good job where you are and be consistent and hone your craft and thats what Ive been working on over the years.ddddddddddddBednar got the nod from Sakic over Washington Capitals assistant Lane Lambert, Chicago Blackhawks assistant and former Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen and others. Sakics playing experience winning two Stanley Cups under Marc Crawford and Bob Hartley helped him decide that NHL head coaching experience wasnt a must.Based on the Avalanches talent up front with centers Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog, Sakic wanted someone who could coach in the fast, modern NHL and work with young players. Bednar showed that in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, impressing John Tortorella early in his tenure with the big club.Tortorella told me I dont know who (Bednar) is, but every time he sends me a guy, hes ready to play, Blue Jackets assistant GM Bill Zito said in a phone interview. I remembered it when he said it and I never forgot it.Sakic and Bednar thanked the Blue Jackets for being open to the hiring process in August, long after most vacancies are filled. Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen said hes happy for Bednar and while the timing may not be ideal the team is always supportive of people in the organization moving forward in their careers.You can be nothing but thrilled for the guy to see him get such a great opportunit