WASHINGTON -- Saying they had touched him in a powerful and personal way, President Barack Obama awarded the nations highest civilian honor to 21 groundbreaking actors, musicians, athletes and others during a ceremony on Tuesday at the White House.These are folks who have helped make me who I am, Obama said as the celebration concluded in the White House East Room.The awards had a major sports component, with Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Vin Scully among those recognized with the highest American civilian honor.That led to plenty of sports moments at Tuesdays ceremony, including Obama noting that MJ is more than just a logo. Hes more than just an internet meme. Fittingly, Jordan was crying as Obama made the comment.There is a reason you call somebody the Michael Jordan of, Obama said. The Michael Jordan of neurosurgery or the Michael Jordan of rabbis or the Michael Jordan of outrigger canoeing. Everyone knows what youre talking about.The president also had an eloquent description of Scully, saying, You hear the crack of the bat. Youve got the crowd singing in the seventh-inning stretch. And youve got the voice of Vin Scully.Among those also getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom were actors Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Robert Redford and Cicely Tyson.Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross were recognized for their music.Other honorees included philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates and comedian Ellen DeGeneres.Obama said the people receiving the medal helped push America forward and inspired millions around the world.?The White House said the president and his staff spend time considering a variety of candidates for the award, but ultimately, its the presidents decision.The award recognizes especially meritorious contributions to the national interests of the United States, to its culture or to other significant endeavors.Posthumous honors went to Native American advocate Elouise Cobell and Rear Adm. Grace Hopper.Others receiving the award included: Richard Garwin, an inventor and polymath physicist who made pioneering contributions to the nations defense; Frank Gehry, one of the worlds leading architects; Margaret H. Hamilton, a mathematician and computer scientist; Maya Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; Lorne Michaels, producer of Saturday Night Live; Newton Minow, a former Federal Communications Commission chairman devoted to numerous public and charitable causes; and Eduardo Padron, president of Miami Dade College.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Cheap Patriots Jerseys .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. Patriots Jerseys 2020 . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/ . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. New England Patriots Gear . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Fake Patriots Jerseys . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. When the NFL came out with its new personal conduct policy in 2014, it stated that violations of the policy involving domestic violence would get a baseline six-game suspension for a first offense, considering any aggravating or mitigating factors.On Wednesday, the NFL announced a one-game suspension for kicker Josh Brown, stemming from a domestic violence arrest last year. The police report, which was obtained by ESPN, is disturbing. On May 22, 2015 (the second straight night the police were called to their house), police took the statement of the alleged victim, who claimed there was a history of abuse that included 20 incidents of physical violence. The officer on the scene wrote in his report that he believed Brown assaulted her that night.She appeared to be genuinely scared of her husband Joshua, the officer wrote. She seemed very embarrassed to tell me the details of her husbands [sic] history of abusing her.Five days later, Brown said, the charges were dropped.Brown, 37, said he informed the Giants of the charge the day of the incident, and a team spokesman confirmed they knew of the incident. The Giants said they did not conduct their own investigation into the arrest, but they said they were aware of the specifics of the report and re-signed Brown during an active NFL investigation. A source told ESPNs Dan Graziano the victim refused multiple requests to be interviewed by the NFL for its investigation.Brown and the NFL Players Association appealed that one-game suspension, and arbiter Harold Henderson recently upheld the punishment.A one-game suspension is curious and hearkens back to the days when domestic violence wasnt taken seriously. Of course things have changed, and respected former prosecutor Lisa Friel vetted Browns case for the NFL and recommended one game. As part of investigating, the NFL would have looked up police reports, sought out a record of past infractions and interviewed witnesses. But what could be the factor that mitigates five games from the baseline?The NFLs code of conduct policy names the aggravating factors that could increase a suspension, such as use of a gun or harming a pregnant partner. But the league doesnt specify or name any mitigating factors.What this case shows is that domestic violence is an incredibly complex and complicated issue, said Anna Isaacson, the NFLs vice president of social responnsibility.dddddddddddd It would be wonderful if it was easy to explain. We dont profess to know everything, but we profess to try to get it right. I hope that what weve done in the last two years shows that were committed to this issue and fans can trust that.The issue is, it isnt easy for fans, players or personnel to determine what mitigates a penalty, or how a baseline of six games can be whittled down to one. The NFL seemingly set a firm policy, and this suspension casts some doubt on how porous that baseline is.Brown, the league and the NFL Players Association have all declined to name the mitigating factors in this case.Everybodys known, everybodys been a part of it, Brown said. You know, guys have been very supportive, guys from around the league, ex-coaches, players that know my character. Ive been very supported through the process. Like we said, this has been a year and Ive had to play with this over my head, and Ive continued to play well and I will continue to play well.Giants head coach Ben McAdoo reiterated his hard line on domestic violence -- while at the same time offering support for Brown.We support the league office in their decision and their stance on personal conduct, McAdoo said. I do support Josh as a man, a father, and a player. We treat these situations on a case-by-case basis.But theres no harmony between zero tolerance and signing players who are being investigated for domestic violence. The one-game suspension without a more concrete explanation undermines the very point of the revamped code of conduct. Players and personnel need a firm understanding of what constitutes a penalty. How easy will it be for the next player arrested on a charge to point to Browns case as a new metric?The process was put into place, said Rita Smith, an activist who consults with the NFL on issues of domestic violence and education. Lisa Friel does what she does, and a one-game suspension was what they found. Im sure there are going to be some this isnt serious reactions in my own field. Ill have to account for that.Browns one-game suspension adds a shade of gray to the NFLs domestic violence policy and allows for more judgment calls, when the initial idea was to set a firm standard and be clear about it. ' ' '