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The campaign to reverse the trend of cuts to youth sports funding is going green.The Sports Matter program run by the DICKS Sporting Goods Foundation has launched a green shoelaces movement. Under the latest all-sports initiative, DICKS will donate $2 from every shoelace sale to Sports Matter. The green shoelaces can be purchased at DICKS stores or online at dicks.com.As I travel around the country, I see more and more young athletes who dont have the means to play, and it breaks my heart, says Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden, now an analyst for ESPN and an ambassador for Sports Matter. The green laces represent more than your average shoelaces. They are a tangible way to raise awareness and start conversation around this crisis, all while raising money for kids who really need it the most.Projections show that 27% of U.S. public high schools might not have any sports programs by 2020, according to Up2Us Sports, a New York-based non-profit. With billions of dollars slashed from youth sports budgets in recent years, DICKS and its foundation have pledged more than $50 million to support teams and raise awareness of the issue. To date, the Sports Matter program has helped nearly 2,000 youth sports teams.Sports helped me get through some tough times in life, and taught me a lot about how to be a man on and off the field, says Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Kids need more chances in life, and I hate to imagine a world where sports arent around to help kids stay out of trouble and succeed.Green shoelace users can show their support as well by taking a picture of their casual or athletic shoes or cleats laced up with green shoelaces and use (hash)SaveYouthSports. You can be sure Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs will make such a fashion statement.Seeing what kids are exposed to nowadays makes the positive influences of coaches and teams more important than ever, Diggs says. The opportunity to play sports is huge in a kids life in so many ways, and not being able to afford joining a team is tragic.Thats why Ill be standing with others who purchase green laces in support of Sports Matter, and proud to wear them during Week 13 on `Thursday Night Football. `DICKS foundation also will use money donated to help raise awareness for and support underfunded youth sports programs.Other athletes involved in the program include Justise Winslow of the Miami Heat, Dexter Fowler of the Chicago Cubs (now a free agent), Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics, and Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets.The initiative also includes a short film profile of the Fifth Ward Saints football organization outside of Houston. It shows the importance of football in the lives of generations of Houston-area kids. At the end of the film, DICKS Foundation donates a $100,000 grant, including new equipment, as a gift.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLSportsMatter.com/greenlacesWholesale Soccer Jerseys . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. http://www.wholesalesoccerjerseys.info/ . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Cheap Soccer Jerseys China . PETERSBURG, Fla.NEW YORK -- Tennessee left tackle Taylor Lewan and Atlanta rookie safety Keanu Neal drew hefty fines from the NFL on Friday for their actions last weekend.Lewan was docked $30,387 for making contact with an official, a fine he says he will appeal. Neal was fined $24,309 for his helmet-to-helmet hot on Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews.Washington defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins roughing-the-passer penalty on Minnesotas Sam Bradford cost him $18,231.Titans rookie receiver Tajae Sharpe was fined $12,154 for unsportsmanlike conduct.Four players were nailed for $9,115 fines: Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion for a late hit, and defensive end Mike Daniels for unsportsmanlike conduct; Titans cornerback Perrish Cox for a hit on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the end zone; and Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. for a late hit.A third-year tackle, Lewan was ejected on the first drive of the Titans second possession in last Sundays 47-25 win over Green Bay.dddddddddddd He took exception to Guion hitting Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota on a play that drew Guion a penalty flag. Back judge Steve Freeman was trying to break up the players when Lewan brushed the officials hands away.Cox hit Rodgers a yard or so into the end zone after a 20-yard TD run by Rodgers in the third quarter. The flag came out late after the teams started pushing and shoving at the back of the end zone. Cox was penalized for unnecessary roughness.Neals hit didnt draw a flag but made Matthews lip bleed and dented his facemask. Matthews called Neal a dirty player.Fowler made his late hit on Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '