Die Macht » pick any of the high-end American forwards

President-elect Donald Trump met Tuesday with several black celebrities, including rap mogul and possible future presidential candidate Kanye West, to talk about some of the issues facing inner city African-Americans.I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future president if we truly want change, West later said in a tweet.Trump met with West, former NFL linebacker Ray Lewis and NFL icon and civil rights leader Jim Brown, along with longtime Trump backer Omarosa Manigault, at Trump Tower in New York City on Tuesday. West refused to comment with reporters after the meeting, instead saying only I just want to take a picture right now as he posed for pictures with Trump.A few minutes later, West tweeted from his (at)kanyewest account that he met with Trump to discuss multicultural issues including bullying, education and violence in Chicago.West announced last year at the Video Music Awards that he would run for president in 2020. That means he would face Trump if the president-elect seeks a second term. After meeting with Trump, West hashtagged a tweet (hash)2024, the first time someone would be able to run for president outside of a possible two-term Trump presidency.This all comes as civil rights leaders have been asking for a meeting with Trump to discuss his upcoming administrations positions on issues like housing and urban renewal. The Rev. Jesse Jackson and other civil rights leaders last week wrote Trump to ask for a meeting to discuss urban policies, and to hold a White House conference on violence.It was not immediately known whether Trump would be meeting with civil rights leaders. Meeting with black celebrities -- especially West -- is not going to give Trump much credibility among black voters, said Leah Wright Rigueur, a professor of public policy at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government.Exit polls showed only about 8 percent of black voters backed Trump.While Trump may see this as establishing a level of legitimacy, it does nothing to validate him among black audiences. Kanyes recent views are outside the mainstream of black political thought, as are Donald Trump, she said. If anything, the association only serves to weaken Kanyes standing, particularly since Kanye has been silent on issues like economic inequality, joblessness, criminal justice reform and Black Lives Matter.Brown and Lewis said they talked with Trump about the new administration partnering with Browns Amer-I-Can outreach program, which aims to teach life skills to young people from poor backgrounds.The full governmental involvement of President Barack Obamas signature program, My Brothers Keeper, which is designed to improve the lives of boys and young men of color, will likely come to an official end at the conclusion of his presidency.Brown said he didnt vote for Trump. But we couldnt have had a better meeting, said Brown, a three-time MVP who retired from football to pursue an acting career and crusade for racial justice. The graciousness, the intelligence, the reception we got was fantastic.Lewis, a former Super Bowl MVP, said on Twitter that wherever Papa JB asks me to go I go. His vision is beyond platforms.After the meeting, Lewis praised the Amer-I-Can program, saying because of it we have 30,000-40,000 former gang members whove changed their lives.If they can partner with the Trump administration, forget black or white. Black or white is irrelevant, Lewis said. The bottom line is job creation and economic development in these urban areas to change the whole scheme of what our kids see. Stitched Patriots Jerseys . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Wholesale Patriots Jerseys . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/ . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. New England Patriots Store .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. New England Patriots Shirts . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Czech Republic versus Team USA, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2)You might as well call this one the First Flight Home Cup. Because at the end of the night, regardless of who wins, who scores, which goalies make the best saves, which team has the best puck luck, both these teams are done. The Czechs have lived down to the expectation they would be underdogs, getting waxed 6-0 by Canada and then losing in overtime to Team Europe. They have scored just twice, which, oddly enough, matches the offensive output of the Americans, who were shut out 3-0 by Europe and then were eliminated from the semis after losing 4-2 to the Canadians. In talking to a handful of U.S. players on Wednesday, several mentioned the need to end the tournament strongly. It will take stronger internal fortitude than weve seen thus far from the Americans for that to happen, although motivation will also be an issue for a Czech team that has looked lost defensively and whose best player has been goalie Petr Mrazek. For those of a sentimental nature, its possibly this is the last time youll see some of the veteran Americans in the familiar red, white and blue at international best-on-best tournaments, given the uncertainty over future Olympic participation by the NHL and the emergence of young American stars Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Shayne Gostisbehere and others. Even if the NHL goes to the Olympics in 2018, its likely that Thursday night will be the swan song for two-time Olympian David Backes, as well as Brandon Dubinsky, Jack Johnson and Erik Johnson, all of whom earned Olympic silver in 2010. Do not underestimate the emotional element of that for those American players in this game.Line watch: One of the frustrating parts of this tournament -- and their last four international games going back to Sochi -- for the U.S. has been an utter lack of scoring, especially from their top players. The U.S. has two goals in their last four best-on-best games and just one of those was scored by a forward. In short, pick any of the high-end American forwards, whether its Patrick Kane, Blake WWheeler, Joe Pavelski or Max Pacioretty, and this game marks a chance of at least regaining some offensive respect.dddddddddddd. -- Scott BurnsideFinland versus Russia, 3 p.m. ET (ESPN)This game has plenty at stake. Russia enters with a 1-1 record and can advance to the semifinals against Canada with a win. Team Finland is 0-2 and is already eliminated from moving on, but it could play the role of spoiler with ? a victory. If Finland wins, Russia is eliminated and Team North America advances to play Canada. The young stars have been so exciting to watch and it would only help this tournament if they advance. For Russia, this could decide the international legacy of Alex Ovechkin, who has not won much in best-on-best competitions. If the Russians advance, they would be an intriguing matchup in the semifinals because no one picked them to reach the next round. Sure, the Russians are loaded with offensive firepower, but their defense is suspect. The teams speed and offensive abilities could wreak havoc in the next round, so it would be interesting to see if they can defeat Finland to get there. The Finns are a proud group and despite their record in this tournament, theyve played OK. The biggest thing for the reigning Olympic bronze-medal winners is to not get blanked in the wins column.Line watch: Its all about the goalies in this game. For Finland, it appears Tuukka Rask will be back in net. He played well and made 28 saves in a 2-0 loss to Sweden on Tuesday, and even though Finnish coach Lauri Marjamaki did not announce his starter Wednesday, Rask should get the nod over?Pekka Rinne, who lost 4-1 to Team North?America on Sunday. If Rask plays against Russia and plays well again, it would be exactly what he needs to start the season for the Boston Bruins. For Russia, Sergei Bobrovsky has been solid in net. This will be his third game of the tournament and hes stopped 70 of 75 shots in that span. -- Joe McDonald ' ' '