SANTA CLARA, Calif. - San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernicks $11,025 fine from the NFL for what a game official called inappropriate language during the 49ers loss to the Chicago Bears last month was cut in half Wednesday.Kaepernick has denied any wrongdoing when he and Chicago defensive end Lamarr Houston went at it after a fourth-quarter interception.I think it shouldve all been gone, Kaepernick said. If youre going to say I used a racial slur and come back and say I didnt say it, then I dont know what Im being fined for.Kaepernick pointed to Houstons own comments that the quarterback didnt say anything offensive or out of line.Houston told the Chicago Tribune after the game that he hadnt heard anything from Kaepernick and that he had said something to the quarterback after the first of two late interceptions by rookie Kyle Fuller that helped rally the Bears.I said, Nice pass, Houston said. Kaepernick shoved Houston.Union spokesman George Atallah tweeted that the union is disappointed that Kaepernicks fine was not eliminated given the finding there was no racial slur used.Kaepernick also was fined $10,000 for wearing the pink Beats by Dre brand headphones following the 49ers win over the Kansas City Chiefs.His fine was more than the $8,286 levied against the Broncos Julius Thomas for a chop block on Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell the same weekend.Im not going to say anything or theyre going to throw another fine my way, so Im just going to be quiet at this point, he said.While Kaepernick has an endorsement deal with Beats and has done a commercial, the leagues contract is with Bose.Wearing the pink version in support of his grandmother for October breast cancer awareness month, Kaepernick knew he could be subject to a fine.Kaepernick used to Twitter to explain his decision, posting a photo of himself with the headphones: I support breast cancer awareness! My grandma is a survivor!Coming off his just performance of the season, throwing for 343 yards and three touchdowns in Monday nights win over the St. Louis Rams, Kaepernick faces an even bigger challenge Sunday night, when the 49ers travel to Denver to take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos.Its always a great opportunity to go against someone like Peyton, Kaepernick said. He does a great job. Hes very intelligent and puts the offence and his team in the best position to win.NOTES: Several 49ers sported San Francisco Giants apparel before taking dressing for Wednesdays practice. ... LG Mike Iupati (concussion), S Jimmie Ward (quadriceps), LB Patrick Willis (toe) and DE Justin Smith (not injury related) were held out of practice. ... CB Tramaine Brock (toe), CB Chris Cook (quadriceps), CB Perrish Cox (quadriceps), CB Chris Culliver (shoulder) LT Anthony Davis (knee, ankle), DE Tony Jerrod-Eddie (shoulder), WR Stevie Johnson (hip) and DT Ian Williams (ankle, shoulder) were limited at practice. TE Vernon Davis (back) participated in the full practice. ... Johnsons hip is not considered serious. Pete Maravich Jersey . -- Each time the Utah Jazz threatened Memphis lead, the Grizzlies responded with defensive stops. Donovan Mitchell Jazz Jersey . -- The Grand Rapids Griffins scored three goals in 33 seconds of the second period en route to defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs 6-1 in American Hockey League action on Friday. http://www.jazzauthentic.com/kids-jeff-hornacek-jazz-jersey/. - The Cleveland Indians will place centerfielder Michael Bourn on the disabled list before their opener at Oakland on March 31. Karl Malone Jersey . -- Peyton Manning is the only player in this Super Bowl who has won the big game. Jeff Hornacek Jersey . - Even with a new coach, the Denver Nuggets still love to push the basketball. ST. LOUIS -- Not long after Jose Fernandez was lost for the season with an elbow injury, the Miami Marlins found a new ace. Theyve won a franchise-record 10 in a row when Henderson Alvarez takes the ball. "Hes been really good for us, especially since Jose went down," cleanup hitter Casey McGehee said Sunday after Alvarez (6-3) worked seven stingy innings and started the key rally with the first of his career-best three hits in an 8-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. "He pretty much did today what hes done all year for us. We love having him out on the mound." McGehee extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games with an RBI single in the first. Marcell Ozuna had a two-run single in a three-run sixth that made it 4-0, and Jarrod Saltalamacchias three-run homer off Jason Motte put Miami up 8-1 in the eighth. The Marlins had lost four of six before taking two of three from their spring training partners. The first two games of the series were decided by one run. "This group is special," manager Mike Redmond said. "Weve bounced back all year." The Marlins easily took the series finale despite stranding 14 runners, largely because of Alvarez. Hes 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA since May 16, allowing two or fewer runs in each of his last nine games. "Ive always wanted to be a leader," the 24-year-old right-hander said through a translator. "Im just focused on being a pitcher." Kolten Wong, just off the 15-day disabled list, had two hits and homered in the seventh for the lone run against Alvarez. Matt Adams had a career-best four hits, including an RBI double. "All we can do is stick with our approach and go up there and get the barrel on the balls, and thats what were doing," Adams said. "Were just hitting it right at people right now." Cardinals rookie Marco Gonzalez (0-2) allowed a run in 4 2-3 innings despite giving up seven hits and walking five in his third career start since being recalled from Double-A Springfield. He yielded five runs in each of his first two starts. "You look at the bottom line, obviously it wasnt as efficient as he wanted to be and we had tto get him out early," manager Mike Matheny said.dddddddddddd "He kept us in there and made good pitches when he had to." Alvarez struck out to end the second and then had a hit in three consecutive at-bats, the biggest a leadoff bloop single in the sixth. He topped his previous best of two hits, done twice, and raised his average this season to .250. Obviously, thats a bonus. "Im glad hes on our side, especially since hes been lights out," Redmond said. "I think we all feel so confident when he takes the ball." The three-day weekend series drew 133,736 fans, with the first two games sold out and the finale just shy at 42,160. It was 84 degrees at game time and temperatures were unseasonably mild throughout. Redmond, a former catcher, remembers St. Louis and Kansas City as the hottest cities in the majors, with triple-digit temperatures this time of year and "just roasting out there." "Its gorgeous," Matheny said before the finale. "Yesterday, I didnt realize it during the game but it was a beautiful day." NOTES: The Marlins previous franchise mark for consecutive wins in a pitchers starts was nine straight for Chris Hammond in 1993. Hammond was 8-0 during that stretch. ... Jim Edmonds threw out the first pitch, firing a high fastball to Matheny, on his bobblehead giveaway day. ... McGehee has hit in 20 straight games on the road, the second-longest streak in Marlins history behind a 27-game run by Luis Castillo in 2002. ... The Marlins open a three-game series at Arizona on Monday with Tom Koehler (6-6, 3.48 ERA), back from paternity leave, opposing Chase Anderson (5-4, 3.91). ... Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright (11-4, 1.89 ERA) was tied for the league lead in wins heading into a matchup against the Pirates and Charlie Morton (5-9, 3.30). Wainwright is 1-1 with a 1.20 ERA in two starts against Pittsburgh this year. ... Matheny said closer Trevor Rosenthal was unavailable after tough outings in the first two games of the series. ... Motte missed last year due to reconstructive elbow surgery and allowed four runs for the first time since Sept. 22, 2011, at the Mets. ' ' '