The NCAA announced Monday that it would remove seven championship events from North Carolina because of HB2, the controversial law that requires people to use the public restroom that matches the sex indicated on a persons birth certificate.Fairness is about more than the opportunity to participate in college sports, or even compete for championships, NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement. We believe in providing a safe and respectful environment at our events and are committed to providing the best experience possible for college athletes, fans and everyone taking part in our championships.Its great that the NCAA is making a statement about how much it values inclusion not just in sport, but in society. But the question is: what does this mean for NCAA member institutions that openly discriminate against LGBTQ students on their campuses?Its absolutely fair for the NCAA to single out North Carolina; the states law is blatantly discriminatory, and the statements made by Gov. Pat McCrory after its passage (and by the North Carolina GOP following the NCAAs announcement) underscore that fact. The law is a direct attack on gay people and trans people specifically, those most vulnerable to violence and vitriol within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community.But the NCAA perpetuates LGBTQ discrimination in other areas of its governance. For example, a number of the NCAA member schools have applied for and been granted Title IX exemptions -- typically religious exemptions related to the usage of campus facilities, according to the?Human Rights Campaign. In other words, religious schools are requesting (and being allowed) the right to restrict access to bathrooms, housing and sports based on gender identity. If that sounds a lot like whats happening in North Carolina, thats because it is.To be fair, the NCAA does a lot through its Office of Inclusion to address LGBTQ equality. It has a policy protecting the abilities of trans people to play at the college level, and it provides materials about how to run LGBTQ-inclusive sports programs. It has hosted webinars on intra-team dating and summits on LGBTQ identity and faith, and every year the Office of Inclusion hosts its own conference. Its not like they do nothing.Whats frustrating is that the NCAA seems to want to have its cake and eat it too. The organization will move events, inform and educate, but when it comes to holding membership institutions accountable for their own discrimination, it falls short.When asked for comment, the NCAA referred to its original statement, in which board of governors vice chairman Jay Lemons said, Our membership comprises many different types of schools -- public, private, secular, faith-based -- and we believe this action appropriately reflects the collective will of that diverse group.In July, the NBA decided to move its All-Star Game out of Charlotte because of North Carolinas law, and earlier this year, the NFL drew criticism for not moving the 2017 Super Bowl from Houston after local voters repealed an LGBTQ-inclusive human rights ordinance. Frankly, the logistics of where leagues are playing or not playing their games are getting tiring.The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and NCAA could affect sustainable, tangible change all the way down to youth playing sports if they committed to doing so. The major sports leagues have a long way to go before theyre able to earn anything more than a golf clap of acknowledgement.Nevertheless, this step is unprecedented for the NCAA in its recognition of LGBTQ rights. It should be applauded for it. This thinking also should filter down to college and university campuses.Only time will tell. Fake Ducks Jerseys . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Adam Oates Jersey . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. https://www.cheapducks.com/297c-frederik-andersen-jersey-ducks.html . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. Josh Manson Jersey . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. John Gibson Jersey . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. OLYMPICSRyan Lochte lost three major sponsors when swimsuit company Speedo USA, clothing giant Ralph Lauren and skin-care firm Syneron-Candela announced in quick succession they were dumping the swimmer over a drunken incident during the Rio Olympics that he initially described as an armed robbery.Speedo USA also said it would donate $50,000 of Lochtes fee to Save The Children to benefit needy youngsters in Brazil.Initially, Lochte said he and three swimming teammates were robbed after their taxi was pulled over by armed men posing as police the night after the swimming competition ended in Rio de Janeiro.He has since apologized for embellishing his version of events.The financial costs of losing Speedo and Ralph Lauren are likely to be only the first sanctions that await Lochte, whose night of partying ended up tarnishing the reputation of the American team and dominating news away from the stadiums and arenas in the final days of the Rio Games that closed Sunday night.CARACAS, Venezuela -- None of Venezuelas 87 Olympic athletes won gold this year, but theyre getting another prize -- new homes from the government.Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that all the countrys participants in the Olympics will get free housing upon their return from Rio de Janeiro. The apartments are part of the government housing program that is a cornerstone of the countrys socialist revolution.Maduro says this way the athletes will feel the love of their country.Venezuela won three medals at the Rio Olympics: silver in the triple jump, bronze in boxing and bronze in BMX cycling.MMALAS VEGAS -- Conor McGregor has received a medical suspension of up to six months following his five-round victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 202.McGregor outpointed Diaz in a bloody, tiring slugfest Saturday and came out with issues in his foot and ankle, including a possible fracture, and also said after the fight that his shin was sore from landing so many kicks. He hobbled into his post-fight press conference on crutches and needed assistance walking out.The medical suspensions arent uncommon. McGregor can have his waived if he is cleared by an orthopedic doctor. Otherwise, hes unable to train with contact until Oct. 5 and is suspended from fighting until Oct. 20, when he can be re-evaluated.Diaz came out of the fight with his face bloodied and swollen but was only issued a 30-day suspension.McGregor and Diaz both called for a third match between the pair, though UFC has insisted that McGregor first drop down to defend his featherweight title.BASEBALLNEW YORK -- Dwight Gooden has deniedd Darryl Strawberrys accusation that he is a complete junkie-addict, saying his former teammate is just taking it personally that Gooden couldnt make a scheduled public appearance with Strawberry last week.ddddddddddddStrawberry told the New York Daily News that Gooden skipped an event organized by radio station WFAN and he worried Gooden has been using cocaine. Strawberry told the newspaper that Goodens son called him to beg him to help his father before he dies, adding that the condition Doc is in, its bad.Gooden says in a statement that he hasnt done cocaine in years. He apologized for Strawberrys inability to show more character and strength, saying he obviously was never there for me. Gooden claims he has always supported Strawberry, during his best and worst days.Gooden and Strawberry won back-to-back Rookie of the Year awards for the New York Mets in 1983 and `84. Drug abuse cut short both of their careers.OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Athletics fined Billy Butler and Danny Valencia after they were involved in a clubhouse fight last week that led to Butler being placed on the seven-day concussion list.The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Butler and Valencia began fighting over comments Butler made to an equipment representative prior to a game Friday at the Chicago White Sox. During the exchange, Valencia hit Butler in the temple before teammates stepped in to end the altercation.Butler sat out the series in Chicago with headaches and nausea.As general manager David Forst said Oakland -- among the worst teams in the American League -- would not suspend the players.FOOTBALLIRVINE, Calif. -- Former USC and Los Angeles Raiders quarterback Todd Marinovich has been arrested after being found naked with marijuana and possibly methamphetamine in a strangers backyard in Southern California.Irvine Police Cmdr. Mike Hallinan said that Marinovich was arrested Friday night after a call saying a naked man was on a hiking trail near homes. The officers found him in a backyard holding a brown bag containing marijuana and a substance that appeared to be meth but police are awaiting lab results.The 47-year-old Marinovich was a star quarterback at USC and the Raiders first-round draft pick in 1991, but drug problems drove him from the NFL after two seasons and he has had repeated run-ins with the law over drugs in the decades since.Contact information for Marinovich or an attorney who could comment for him could not immediately be found. ' ' '