Jones: Cowboys who ‘disrespect’ flag will sit
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the NFL can’t leave the impression that it tolerates disrespect of the flag and that any of his players making such displays won’t play.
Jones had his strongest comments so far on the anthem controversy in response to a question about Vice President Pence leaving the game in Indianapolis after about a dozen San Francisco players knelt during the anthem.
“We cannot in the NFL in any way give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag,” Jones said after a 35-31 loss to Green Bay. “We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues, but there is no question in my mind that the National Football League and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag. So we’re clear.”
Jones and his family joined Dallas players, coaches and others in kneeling arm-in-arm before the anthem two weeks ago after President Trump criticized the protests. All of them stood for the anthem, with arms locked.
Other than that, Dallas players have stood on the sideline, many with hands over their hearts, during the anthem.
“If there’s anything that is disrespectful to the flag, then we will not play. OK? Understand?” Jones said. “If we are disrespecting the f lag, then we won’t play. Period.”
Rafael Nadal beat Nick Kyrgios 6-2, 6-1 in the China Open final to win his sixth ATP title of the year, and Caroline Garcia defeated soon-to-be-No. 1 Simona Halep 6-4, 7-6 (3) in the women’s event.
Top-ranked Nadal, who was tied with Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev at five titles this season, picked up his 75th career singles trophy. The 15th-ranked Garcia, who lost to Halep the two previous times they played, won her second consecutive WTA title. The Frenchwoman will make her top-10 debut when the new rankings come out on Monday.
Nadal’s six trophies this year include a record 10th title at the French Open and a third at the U.S. Open. The last time the Spaniard won at least six titles in a year was in 2013 when he captured 10 trophies for the season.
Halep was particularly disappointed as she was unable to back up her guaranteed debut in the No. 1 ranking Monday. She secured the top spot Saturday with her semifinal win over French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
American Jared Donaldson will face Nadal in the second round of the Shanghai Masters after beating Pablo Cuevas 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4 . ... David Goffin atoned for his defeat in the Japan Open final last year by winning it Sunday, beating Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 7-5.
With a record-setting 16th goal in European qualifying, Robert Lewandowski led Poland’s charge into a first World Cup since 2006 with a 4-2 win over Montenegro. Egypt, meanwhile, is headed to the World Cup for the first time in 27 years after beating Republic of Congo 2-1 at home. Defending champion Germany wrapped up the most successful World Cup qualifying campaign with a 5-1 victory over Azerbaijan, its 10th win in 10 games . ... The North Carolina Courage reached the National Women’s Soccer League championship with a 1-0 semifinal victory over the Chicago Red Starts. The Courage will face the Portland Thorns for the title Saturday in Orlando, Fla.
Guard Gary Harris has agreed to an $84-million, four-year contract extension with the Denver Nuggets that will begin for the 2018-19 season, according to reports. Harris, 23, averaged 14.9 points last season . ... Stephen Curry scored 40 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 142-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves for a split of their exhibition series in China.
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton won the Japanese Grand Prix, taking a major step toward winning his third Formula One title. The Mercedes driver crossed the finish line 1.2 seconds ahead of Malaysia GP winner Max Verstappen to claim his eighth F1 victory of the season.
Germany’s Pauline Schaefer won the balance beam title in the world gymnastics championhips while American Morgan Hurd, the all-around winner Friday night, was second. Japan’s Mai Murakami took the women’s floor exercise, edging American Jade Carey.
Galen Rupp won the Chicago Marathon to become the first American winner in 15 years.