WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama awarded the nations highest civilian honor to 21 groundbreaking actors, musicians, athletes and innovators who inspired him over the years and helped make me who I am.Everybody on this stage has touched me in a very powerful, personal way, in ways that they probably couldnt imagine, Obama said in concluding an hour-long ceremony Tuesday in the White House East Room.The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizes especially meritorious contributions to the national interests of the United States, its security and its culture. Obama called the 2016 group a particularly impressive class.In the film world, Obama honored Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Robert Redford and Cicely Tyson.Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, two of the greatest basketball players ever, were also among the honorees. Obama noted how Jordans name is synonymous with excellence.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.Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross were recognized for their music. Of The Boss, he said Springsteen crafted anthems of our America, the reality of who we are and the reverie of who we want to be.Other honorees included philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates, comedian Ellen DeGeneres and broadcaster Vin Scully. Of DeGeneres, Obama said she has a way of making people laugh at something rather than someone, except when I danced on her show. He said its also easy to forget that she had risked her career nearly 20 years ago when she came out as gay.What an incredible burden that was to bear, to risk her career like that. People dont do that very often, and then to have the hopes of millions on your shoulders, Obama said.The diverse group seemed to enjoy themselves at the White House, participating in a mannequin challenge before the ceremony, trying not to move as they were recorded on video.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.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.- Eduardo Padron, president of Miami Dade College.----On Twitter, reach Kevin Freking at https://twitter.com/APkfrekingCheap Shoes Wholesale Free Shipping . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. 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Cheap Shoes Free Shipping Worldwide . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases.Tim Kennedy is looking forward to resuming his fighting career at UFC 205 on Nov. 12 -- even if hes not expecting much profit in doing so.Kennedy (18-5) is scheduled to face former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans in a middleweight bout at Madison Square Garden this month. It will mark Kennedys first appearance since September 2014.The 37-year-old has been focused on other interests and reached a conclusion that he would only return to the cage under special circumstances. A bout against a former champion on arguably the biggest card in UFC history fit that description.After Nov. 12, if theyre not saying, Your next fight is against [middleweight champion]?Michael Bisping, who I smashed, then I dont know, Kennedy said. I cant even imagine the fight that would bring me back in again.It took Madison Square Garden, on the biggest fight card in MMA history, against a former light heavyweight champion, perennial contender, coming to a new weight class, in a state they just legalized MMA for the first time, for me to come back -- with the potential of, Win here, move into title contention. If it took that much to get me back here in the first place, it sure as hell will take a big, shiny belt for me to stay.Kennedy is confident a title fight -- and bigger paydays -- are around the corner should he defeat Evans at UFC 205. He has history with Bisping, having beaten him convincingly in a 2014 five-round fight.Until then, Kennedy says UFC 205 is essentially an investment in his future. After paying taxes, training expenses and pricey New York travel costs, the veteran estimates hell walk away with very little cash after the event.[The UFC] actually had a tax attorney contact us to say, Just wanted to warn you guys, heres some tax documents you need to start filling out, Kennedy said. I rented a house in Albuquerque [New Mexico, to train at Jackson-Wink MMA]. Im paying $5,000 medicals. Im paying coaches, management, gym fees, recovery costs, cryotherapy.Ill probably be a wash for this fight camp in money. Think about that for a minute.Despite the revelation, Kennedy says hes not necessarily trying to cause waves, just stating the facts. Hes known as one of the most outspoken fighters in the sport, particularly when it comes to issues like fighter pay and performannce-enhancing drug use, but says its something he doesnt try to force.dddddddddddd He also made it clear the UFC has never tried to punish him for it.The UFC is in an interesting transitional period, after announcing it had been sold to entertainment agency WME-IMG for $4 billion in July. Kennedy says hes optimistic the sport is close to a very positive turn for the fighters involved.The sport is at an opportunity in the very near future to make a difference and be something really significant, special and fantastic, Kennedy said. To see [athletes] lives be sustained at a [financial] level thats not embarrassingly humiliating, were close to that corner. I hope we take it and I hope Im there to take this sport around that corner.Im sure as s--- not in this sport for the money because its not there yet, but it will be. Were close. Conor McGregor has made huge waves in changing what the realization of what somebody can make, and before him it was Jon Jones and Ronda Rousey. We know the potential is there for earning. Were going to get it, but were not there yet.Kennedys disclosed purse for his last fight, a decision loss to Yoel Romero in Las Vegas, was $70,000. He said he and Jackson-Wink teammate Donald Cerrone have game planned ways to reduce expenses.Of course, his current focus is on Evans, but its no secret his sights are very much set on a championship fight. Because as he clearly put it, his appearance at UFC 205 is not about money.We have to get extra rooms in New York. You know how much a room in New York is -- how much a flight to New York is, Kennedy said. [Cerrone] is going to be flying Greg Jackson out, Im going to fly out [striking coach] Brandon Gibson. Were trying to, economically between the two of us, absorb the financial impact from the aspect of New York.I dont want to tell anybody what to think. Thats not ever what Ive done. Im going to tell you how it is and you be a smart, intelligent person and interpret what Im saying. You make your own opinions. I dont want to tell a fan what to think. This is just the truth of the sport. This is the truth about what Im making. The expenses [involved], people dont understand. ' ' '