COLUMBUS, OHIO -- John Tortorella, the coach of Team USA for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, isnt backing off on his comments that hed bench any player who didnt stand for the U.S. national anthem.On Tuesday, Tortorella told ESPN: If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game. The coach seemed taken aback Wednesday by the reaction to his comment, but he did not backtrack on his stance.Im not backing off, Tortorella said after the teams on-ice workout Wednesday.Ill tell you right now. Try to understand me. Im not criticizing anybody for stepping up and putting their thoughts out there about things. Im the furthest thing away from being anything political. No chance Im involved in that stuff, Tortorella said.But the Columbus Blue Jackets coach says he remains unequivocal in his belief that the flag and the anthem should be sacrosanct. Tortorella has a son who is deployed in Afghanistan for the third time as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces.Listen, he told reporters. Were in a great country because we can express ourselves. And I am not against expressing yourselves. Thats whats great about our country. We can do that. But when there are men and women that give their lives for their flag, for their anthem, have given their lives, continue to put themselves on the line with our services for our flag, for our anthem, families that have been disrupted, traumatic physical injuries, traumatic mental injuries for these people that give us the opportunity to do the things we want to do, theres no chance an anthem and a flag should come into any type of situation where youre trying to make a point.It is probably the most disrespectful thing you can do as a U.S. citizen is to bring that in. Because thats our symbol. All for [expressing] yourself. Thats whats so great. Everybody does. But no chance when it comes to the flag and the anthem. No chance.The issue of respecting the anthem has created a firestorm of debate and controversy after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose to sit for the national anthem during one NFL preseason game and then kneel for another.Tortorella, 58, said a number of the players on Team USA came to him after his comments were made public and supported his views on respecting the anthem and flag.Team North America defenseman Seth Jones was asked Thursday about Tortorellas comments regarding sitting for the anthem.I have no problem with the comments, Jones said. Youre not going to see me sitting down. ... I dont know Kaepernick at all, but I wont sit down. Not even a thought.Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, plays for Tortorella in Columbus and is the highest-drafted African-American in the NHL.In a follow-up interview with ESPNs Linda Cohn on Wednesday, Tortorella described what would happen if a player on one of his teams decided to boycott the national anthem.On this team here, this World Cup team, there wouldnt even be a player that would think about doing that because I know the guys well enough. Weve gone through it, he said. But if I was ever involved in a situation where someone is trying to make a point, and they have a perfect right to do that, but to disrespect our flag and anthem, as I said yesterday, they would not play.If that ever happened, theres no question, its just not right. And its not black, white, blue, red. It has nothing to do with the politics of all of this. Its just not right. This is our country. Our people are fighting for our country, our flag and our anthem. That shouldnt come into this equation at all. There are other ways of doing things.Earlier Wednesday, a member of the U.S. Army addressed the team but neither Tortorella nor the members of Team USA would describe the exchange.We are playing hockey, Tortorella said. Other people are doing real stuff. This gentleman who spoke to us this morning is doing the real stuff. Life and death. We just want to give to our country in our own little way. Quite honestly we are entertainers. What this man talked about in our locker room and what he does casts a huge shadow over us as far as what were doing.Canada World Cup coach Mike Babcock, who also coaches the Toronto Maple Leafs, was asked what would happen if one of his players sat during the national anthem in protest.This is what I know: Im not going to have to make that decision because thats not going to happen, he said. So I dont have to worry about that reaction. At that time I guess I would decide what to do. One of the greatest things about this tournament is that most of us get to play for your country, and thats a thrill of a lifetime in itself. And then when you get to do it on Canadian soil, thats another thrill.For those of us who have the life we have, and the freedom we have, to repay respects to the people who went before us and made sure that happened; I mean, its pretty straightforward and common sense to me. But I dont know why were talking about this.ESPN senior writer Craig Custance contributed to this report. Kyrie Flytrap Shoes For Sale . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Kyrie 3 Samurai For Sale . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. http://www.kyrieirvingshoescheap.com/ . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Kyrie 2 Shoes Cheap . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Kyrie Irving Shoes Cheap .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. PASADENA, Calif. -- Although the five-county Los Angeles area is a sprawling metropolis of nearly 19 million people, the Southland can be a small town to its best young football players, who know all about each other from Pop Warner onward.For those who stay close to home for college, UCLAs annual crosstown showdown with Southern California is a lively rivalry game with a unique edge. Almost everybody has friends across the line of scrimmage, which makes a victory even sweeter.Theyve all played together, and theyve played against each other a lot since they were little kids, UCLA coach Jim Mora said. So theres a little special feeling there.For instance, USC defensive back Chris Hawkins and UCLA receiver Darren Andrews grew up together in the eastern LA suburbs, running track and forming a family friendship. When they line up against each other at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night, their friendly competition will have an extra bite.The first thing we say when we see each other, we boast about, `Yeah, we beat yall this year, Hawkins said. Hell say the same thing. Thats what we are out here working so hard for. Everything is about bragging rights, especially in this atmosphere and this type of rivalry. You want that W. This is a must-win. We cant lose this game.Both teams have relatively modest stakes in their 86th meeting, but a rivalry game carries its own weight.No. 15 USC (7-3, 6-2 Pac-12) has rescued its season from the brink of catastrophe with six straight wins, its longest streak since 2008, capped by an upset victory at fourth-ranked Washington last week.USC still needs help to win the Pac-12 South. But with Notre Dame arriving next week, the Trojans will have no shortage of motivation while facing their two biggest rivals in their final two games of the regular season.The Trojans dont think their resuscitation would be complete without a victory over struggling UCLA (4-6, 2-5), which snapped a four-game skid last weekend by beating Oregon State. The Bruins would have to win out to guarantee bowl eligibility, but a win over USC would mean a whole lot more than any lower-tier postseason destination.Hopefully we can get a win against them so I can talk smack, said UCLA linebacker Jayon Brown, the Pac-12s leading tackler. Getting a victory against those guys would be everything.Here are more things to watch when both teams wear their home jerseyys to play for the Victory Bell:COACHING CLASH: Mora had beaten USC three straight times before last season, when interim coach Clay Helton led the Trojans past UCLA 40-21 at the Coliseum.dddddddddddd The victory was life-changing for Helton, who was given the permanent job by former athletic director Pat Haden two days later. Mora reveled in his mastery over friends Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian, but he has only a passing acquaintance with Helton. No matter what happens, Mora is finishing his worst season of a half-decade in Westwood.FAMILIAR FACES: The players familiarity leads to subtle adjustments in this rivalry game, particularly when friends like Andrews and Hawkins face off. You kind of know what they do, and they know what you do, but you still have to do your assignment, Andrews said. You might have to add a little more flavor to whatever your route concept is. A little more flavor to disguise it, so he doesnt pick up my tendencies.QUARTERBACK COLLISION: Sam Darnold and Mike Fafaul are making their first appearances in the crosstown showdown. Darnold is among the most promising passers in the game late in his standout freshman season, while Fafaul has been resilient while playing the second half of his senior season in place of injured Josh Rosen. Darnold will be challenged by UCLAs outstanding defense, while Fafaul will have to be careful to avoid interceptions after throwing 10 in the previous five games.RUNAWAYS: USCs running game is sharp, with Ronald Jones II and Justin Davis leading a yardage-chewing group. UCLAs inability to run the ball has submarined its entire season, with the Bruins managing only 87.2 yards per game -- the second-worst total in the FBS. USCs defense has bottled up several good attacks, holding Washington to 17 yards on the ground last week.HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: While most UCLA players were too young to remember, Bruins fans have fond memories of this game 10 years ago. UCLA stunned USC 13-9 at the Rose Bowl in December 2006, depriving Pete Carrolls second-ranked Trojans of the chance to play for another national title. The loss was only the fourth in 59 games for USC during that dominant stretch.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '