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Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has urged travelling supporters to respect the wishes of the Thai government and treat next months World Cup qualifier in Bangkok as a solemn occasion.The November 15 clash between Australia and Thailand will go ahead as planned despite the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej earlier this month, which has sent the country into a year-long mourning period.However, football fans have been told to resist any joyful activities at the match, such as chanting, and to wear neutral colours like black, white and grey.It was no small decision from them to play the game and the (playing) group travelling over will be very mindful of the circumstances were going into and I hope our spectators do the same, Postecoglou said.This is not something were familiar with.The fact theyve gone to these lengths shows its a very significant event in their country and well be mindful of it.We travel far and wide and, as a group and a nation, weve got to be respectful of the places we travel to.There was a little bit of conjecture about if the game would go ahead but the Thai government have worked pretty hard to ensure it will and it wont affect the contest at all - but the surroundings of it will be affected and weve got to respect that.Thailand are winless and bottom of Group B and need an unlikely win over Australia to have any realistic chance of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Olympic gold medalist Tommie Smith, whose raised-fist salute on the medal stand at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics was seen as a flash point in the civil rights movement, will light the Al Davis torch in memory of the late Oakland Raiders owner before Monday nights game at Mexico Citys Estadio Azteca against the Houston Texans.The torch is lit before every game, and this time, it will shine in Mexico City. It will only be Smiths second trip to Mexico City since those 1968 Summer Games, and he will travel with the team on its flight there.This is a very, very historic moment for me, Smith told ESPN.com on Wednesday. To do it for the Raiders, I have a lot of respect for the things that they do. The Raiders have always been out in front in terms of change. They were always called a renegade team. But look what the renegade team brought to light.Tom Flores was the first Latino head coach to win a Super Bowl, with the Raiders. The team also hired the first African-American coach in Art Shell, as well as the first female CEO in Amy Trask.This feels like its come full circle, Smith said.Raiders owner Mark Davis said that Smith lighting the torch in Mexico City was not a move motivated by politics, but rather, he said, Smith was a hero of his since his protest 48 years ago.When Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists, it touched me, Davis said. A 13-year-oold kid growing up in the Bay Area, which was a hotbed of all kinds of things.dddddddddddd We had Peoples Park. The Black Panthers. The Hells Angels. Berkeley had Telegraph Avenue and San Francisco had the Haight. So it was a hotbed of social activism, and then there was the war in Vietnam.It felt like it was the right time and the right moment and it fell in place. It was awesome, and it will always be a moment that will stick with me.Davis asked Smith this spring to light the torch in memory of his father. The torch has been lit by former players -- including Bo Jackson, Jim Plunkett and Hall of Famers Marcus Allen, Howie Long and John Madden -- representatives of military branches and local law enforcement, as well as actress Ann-Margret, who is family friend.Smith, who ran track at San Jose State and played briefly in the AFL as a receiver with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1969, has come back into the spotlight in recent weeks with the likes of Colin Kaepernicks protest during the national anthem.Athletes using the First Amendment to voice their opinion for social change, Smith said, has come a long way.I had a responsibility, Smith said, and I still do. To do this for someone like Al Davis and the Raiders is the pinnacle of what I believe in. ' ' '
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