Jeremy Lin may change face of Chinese basketball: Yao Ming
Chinese basketball icon Yao Ming has been taken aback by Jeremy Lin’s rise at the New York Knicks and thinks his style and size could make China’s state sports system rethink how it selects and grooms its athletes.
Yao, who opened up the world’s most populous country to the NBA, retired from the game last year. In 2002, the seven foot, six inch (2.30m) former Houston Rockets center was the first international player to be top pick in the NBA draft and was an eight-times All Star.
Taiwanese-American Lin has taken the NBA by storm with a series of dynamic displays at point guard for the Knicks. His fast-paced, high-scoring, playmaking performances could hardly be more different from the towering Yao’s plodding, robust style.
Shanghai-native Yao said Lin, who stands 1.91m, could change the way China selects and trains its basketball players.
“This is something else that Jeremy Lin has brought to us. It has given us something to reflect on, whether there are imperfections over the development and selection process for our
via Lin may change face of Chinese basketball: Yao | Reuters.
UFC 144 Japan: Hatsu Hioki – Proving He Belongs
“I am proud of being a Japanese fighter. To me, the Japanese fighting spirit symbolizes overcoming obstacles and growing after every combat.” – Hatsu Hioki
Featherweight contender Hatsu Hioki is under no illusions about his debut win in the UFC over George Roop last October. He knows it wasn’t his best performance and he is well aware that he didn’t display the skills that had him dubbed before the fight as the best featherweight not fighting in the Octagon.
“That was a tough fight, and because of that, it was a very educational one, since I got to know what to work on in training,” said Hioki through translator / manager Kei Maeda. “I was not nervous, but my preparation and thoughts about fighting in the UFC environment were premature, so to speak.”
That was then. Four months later, Hioki has put the disappointment of his razor-thin split decision win aside, and now all that matters is showing off the “real” Hioki in front of his home country fans in Japan this Saturday against Bart Palaszewski, a welcome surprise to say the least.
“I thought I was not going to have an opportunity to fight in Japan for a while, so I am glad I have gotten that opportunity this quick,” he said. “I’m motivated.”
A recurring theme this week for the Japanese fighters on the card is that this event at Saitama Super Arena isn’t just an opportunity to get another win, but to help kickstart the flagging Japan MMA scene. Hioki is on board with that
Maria Ho and the World Poker Tour Launches WPT Foundation
The World Poker Tour has teamed up with several A-list celebrities and poker pros to launch WPT Foundation, an organization focused on “utilizing WPT’s unmatched platform to influence positive change in the world.”
The celebrity host committee includes a who’s-who of celebrity actors and musicians, including Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Eva Longoria, Maria Bello, Gerard Butler, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven, Joel Madden, and many others yet to be announced.
The hosts and other attendees will get to test their poker skills against and win poker lessons from the poker players like Daniel Negreanu, Dan Harrington, Antonio Esfandiari, Vanessa Selbst, Tony G, Jamie Gold, Maria Ho, Andy Frankenberger, and the WPT’s Tony Dunst.
video: Jeremy Lin 8 pts, 3 ast, 6 rbs in loss to Miami Heat
MIAMI – Jeremy Lin appeared a step slower today and had his worse shooting game of his career going 1-for-11 for 8 points. This performance could be understandable given it’s the Knicks 4th game in 5 days and 5th game in a week. Immediately after the game Lin traveled to Orlando for the All-Star festivities. Lin will be playing in the Rookie/Sophmore game on Friday.
Half Korean Ben Henderson On A Quest To Become The Best In The World
Ben Henderson has come a long way since losing the WEC lightweight title to Anthony Pettis back in 2010. He’s made three appearances in the UFC since, taking out Mark Bocek, Jim Miller and Clay Guida to earn a shot at Frankie Edgar’s UFC title, which he’ll take later this month at UFC 144.
But the Smooth one still has a long way to go before he’s satisfied the primary goal he set his mind to upon first entering the fight game: Become recognized hands down as the best fighter on the planet.
“I definitely have long term goals and short term goals, but that has been my goal since I first got into fighting, period: Just to be the best fighter on the…
via Ben Henderson On A Quest To Become The Best In The World – FightLine.com.
Jeremy Lin 17 points, 9 assists in blowout win over Atlanta Hawks
Scotty Nguyen to host World Series of Poker in Africa
The 2012 World Series of Poker Africa is rolling into Johannesburg on Feb. 21, and five-time WSOP bracelet winner Scotty Nguyen has been named host of the festivities.
The series will be held at the Emerald Resort and Casino from Feb. 21 through 26, and will consist of six events, including a $3,300 Main Event beginning on Friday, Feb. 24. Last year, South African Warren Zackey outlasted 188 players to collect the WSOP ring and the top prize of $222,477.
Nguyen has never been to South Africa and says he’s looking forward to his first trip to the country’s largest city.
“You know, the Prince has been all over the world baby, you name it: Australia, Asia, Europe, but this is my first time going to South Africa and I’m so excited to come out and share this great game we love with the players there, to get to know them and to just have a good time baby,” Nguyen told Sport24. “Just make sure the people at the Emerald protect me from any lions and I promise you we’ll have a lot of fun baby!”
via The Nightly Turbo: Antonius Joins Premier League, Nguyen to Host WSOP Africa, and More | PokerNews.
Scotty Nguyen, far left, in the ESPN Body Issue
Knicks’ Jeremy Lin holds mirror up to America
As Lin captivates fans with basketball prowess, he also makes people confront their biases and reassess why Asian Americans have been publicly categorized in ways unacceptable for other minorities.
Of all the drives, dunks and dazzling shots Jeremy Lin is forcing upon the stars of the NBA, none of it compares with the moves he’s putting on a larger collection of everyday people.
Jeremy Lin has dribbled America into the previously quiet corner of its casual prejudice and lazy stereotypes of Asian Americans. The true beauty of his story is in awareness of the ugliness that has been found there.
It’s been barely two weeks since the beginning of a tale that rocked the sports world with great basketball and bad puns, but so much already has changed. When America now looks at Lin, it should see more than an Asian American kid from Harvard who overcame ignorance at every level to become a star guard for the New York Knicks.
America should see itself in the murky reflection of a society that has long considered it reasonable to publicly categorize Asian Americans in ways that would never be acceptable for other, more vocal minorities.
America should see the writer from Foxsports.com who began the barrage of ignorance last week by tweeting a tired joke about the assumed size of Lin’s manhood. The guy apologized, but his company did not, which should not be surprising considering Fox Sports is also the outfit that last fall aired a segment in which a reporter ridiculed Asian Americans at USC for not understanding football.
Can you imagine a major American media company tolerating this sort of blatant racism if it were directed toward any of Lin’s African American teammates?
America should see the game video from the Knicks’ MSG network in which cameras focused on a homemade sign that showed Lin’s face above a fortune cookie with the words, “The Knicks Good Fortune.”
Can you imagine, five months from now, that same television director willingly airing a shot of a sign that made fun of the heritage of a Latino member of the New York Mets?
If America has the stomach, it should even watch the tape of the WNYW morning show in New York where one of the anchors, upon hearing a reporter list Lin’s physical attributes, asked, “What about his eyes?”
The newsman made the slur, he sort of winked with glee, the entire news desk laughed and I’m thinking, you’re kidding me, right? In a media world that is reluctant to even cite a subject’s ethnicity unless it is relevant, it’s suddenly OK to openly laugh about Lin’s cultural characteristics because, well, because he’s Asian American and everybody does it?
“In this country, Asian Americans are stereotyped as the meek and the mild, the ones who will always take the racism,” said Daryl Maeda, an associate professor of ethnic studies at the University of Colorado who specializes in Asian American studies. ”There is a perception that it’s OK to offend Asian Americans because they simply won’t fight back.”
There was finally push-back last weekend at ESPN, which fired one employee and suspended another for separately describing the Knicks’ first loss with Lin as a starter as a “Chink in the armor.”
The guy who was fired amazingly felt confident enough to put it in a mobile website headline. The guy who was suspended said it on the air during a conversation, and it seemed impulsive enough that he was probably just throwing out a cliché without thinking.
In marginalizing the Jeremy Lin story, that newsman actually illustrated its real importance. This newfound basketball force has forced Americans to take a deep breath and think. He has forced America to realize it has become too comfortable compartmentalizing Asian Americans with a list of stereotypes that are misguided, mean-spirited and just plain wrong. Such as that one that says, you know, they can’t play sports.
“The one thing I think is interesting about this whole Jeremy Linsanity is that it has forced us to think about how we think and talk about race in general,” Maeda said. “Asian Americans have long been put into this safe little slot, and Jeremy has taken us out of those places.”
This is what sports does. This is one reason sports matters. Through the shared understanding of the human condition that so publicly exists in sports, society is often forced into self-realization and change, and where else can that happen?
America really needs to watch the “Saturday Night Live” skit in which three sports reporters laughingly discuss Lin while using Asian American slurs, yet when a fourth newsman tries to discuss other Knicks by using African American slurs, they become offended.
“This all shows how Asian Americans have long been the invisible minority,” Maeda said. Not right now, not in NBA’s biggest city, as the most celebrated Asian American in league history is in the backcourt for one of the NBA’s marquee teams, in the center of what could end up being the sports story of the year.
Jeremy Lin’s heritage is a wonderful part of this story and should not be ignored. But can’t we do that without being ignorant?
via BILL PLASCHKE Knicks’ Jeremy Lin holds mirror up to America – latimes.com.
Tri City Americans’ Zachary Yuen Named HockeyShot.com Defensive POTW – Junior Hockey News
JuniorHockey.com today announced that Zachary Yuen, of the Western Hockey League’s Tri-City Americans, has been named HockeyShot.com’s National Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending February 19th.
Yuen recorded two points (1g, 1a) and a plus-two rating while also helping Tri-City go 2-2 in a tough four-game week. The 6’0″, 200 pounder from Vancouver, BC has a plus 37 rating through the first 52 games this season, leading all defensemen in the WHL and #2 overall. The nineteen-year-old also has 29 points (9g, 20a) on the season.
Zach Yuen became the first Chinese blueliner to be drafted into the league, selected 119th overall. And Yuen is hoping his ethnicity and rising exposure will help him become the perfect role model for Chinese kids looking to get into the sport.
“I didn’t see too many Asians play hockey when I was growing up,” Yuen said. “Hopefully, this will help other Chinese Canadians, inspire them and get them to pursue hockey too in the future. If they look up to me and they see me doing something good, they’ll follow suit.”
via Americans’ Yuen Named HockeyShot.com Defensive POTW – Junior Hockey News.
Jeremy Lin 21 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds in loss to Nets
NEW YORK, N.Y. Jeremy Lin has people watching the New York Knicks in record numbers. The Knicks said Tuesday that their past two games were the highest-rated regular season events on MSG since the network began tracking household ratings in the 1988-89 season.
Losses to New Orleans on Friday and New Jersey on Monday were each watched in more than 540,000 households and drew ratings above 7.3.
That easily beat the previous high in the regular season, a 6.78 rating for Michael Jordan’s famed…
via TheSpec – Lin helps Knicks draw highest regular-season ratings….
Satsuki Ito, the total boxer babe aiming to London Olympics
At last years Kick boxing event, Born This Way #3 J-GIRLS, , Oishi Yukino became the bantamweight champion. Kickboxing rise in high school girls is remarkable. In recent years, the world of women’s MMA in Japan, young and beautiful players have appeared. In particular, boxer and female college student Satsuki Ito. Ito has surged in popularity on the Internet in the wake of that was introduced on TV. “This is a cute Gachi” voiced one after another.
Born in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Satsuki Ito, is a shining college champion. Women’s boxing has been adopted in the official event for this year’s London Olympics, Ito has been chosen to enhance the Japan Amateur Boxing Federation. “And there is something in what are by far than their own people as a boxer is I do not think. You’ve got just because there is confidence in the speed and timing, I want to stretch it.” Ito replied along the local newspaper interview, or to be too beautiful medalist. Keep an eye on her from the challenge.
‘The Black Widow’ Jeanette Lee Gives Free Tulsa Billiards Exhibition
TULSA, Oklahoma - Jeanette Lee, also known as The Black Widow, will perform a free billiards exhibition at Magoo’s, 5002 S. Memorial Drive in Tulsa tomorrow on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
The Black Widow is currently ranked in the top 10 players in the world and has more than 30 international billiard titles. In addition, Lee has garnered quite a bit of attention for her striking appearance. ESPN named her one of the “sexiest women athletes in the world.”
Lee has appeared on several TV shows, including on Arli$$, HBO Real Sports, Today, The Late Show with David Letterman and Live with Regis & Kelly.
Liu Xiang bests Dayron Robles in 60m hurdles at Birmingham Grand Prix
BIRMINGHAM, England – Liu Xiang beat Dayron Robles in a resumption of their hurdling rivalry before the London Olympics, and Lerone Clarke upstaged Jamaican rival Asafa Powell in the 60-meter sprint at the Birmingham Grand Prix on Saturday.
Liu ran a flawless 60-meter hurdles final in 7.41 seconds, with the Chinese star almost a tenth of a second ahead of world record-holder Robles in their first meeting since at last year’s world championships.
“I am especially happy to get a national as well as Asian record,” Liu said. “I still feel though that over the first two hurdles I didn’t do very well and that there is work to be done there. I am excited about the rest of the year now.”
In South Korea in August…
via Liu Xiang bests Dayron Robles in 60m hurdles at Birmingham GP – ESPN.
Jeremy Lin, Kim Kardashian to go out on a date?
MediaTakeOut reported on Thursday, that the divorced reality star Kim Kardashian is set date to Jeremy Lin, as her publicist had made arrangements for her to go on a “date” with Knicks player.
“She thinks [Jeremy] is cute, and she’s good friend’s with [Jeremy's teammate Carmelo Anthony's wife] Lala,” a friend of the reality star reportedly told MediaTakeOut. “It’s going to be a double date.”
via Jeremy Lin, Kim Kardashian to go out on a date | NBA | New York Knicks.
Chinese Basketball Association 2012 All-Star Festivities
The CBA All-Star festivities have concluded.
In the Skills Challenge, China U19 star and potential NBA prospect Guo Ailun made it into the final round. Chen Jianghua didn’t make it past the first round. PG Guo Ailun won the Skills Challenge and defended his title.
In the 3-pointer Shooting Contest, Zhu Yanxi, Sun Jie and Lester Hudson make it into the final round. Aaron Brooks scored 15 points but didn’t make it into the final round. Zhu Yanxi had a high of 21 points in the first round. Potential Rookie of the Year Zhu Yanxi won the 3-point Shooting Contest with 17 points in the final round.
In the Slam Dunk Contest, Chang Lin, Yan Pengfei and Zhao Tailong qualified for the final tonight, while Yang Wenbo, Tian Yuxiang and Meng Xianglong got eliminated.
Former San Diego highschool standout Chang Lin scored a perfect 50 points with a 360 degree windmill dunk. However, Zhao Tailong won the slam dunk contest.
In the Rising Stars game, the Northern team is coached by Stephon Marbury and the Southern team is coached by another former NBA player, Wang Zhizhi. The Northern team won 105-88. Guo Ailun was picked as the MVP with 30 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds. Potential Rookie of the Year Zhai Xiaochuan scored 12 points, 13 rebounds.
Yi Jianlian says China can ‘surprise’ at 2012 London Olympic Games
Yi Jianlian said China’s national basketball team, becoming accustomed to life without the prodigious talents of the retired Yao Ming, could produce a surprise at this year’s London Olympics.
China reached the quarter-finals on home soil with Yao in Beijing four years ago and came through a tricky transition to regain the Asia championship title in Wuhan last September and qualify for London.
“We are going to have a surprise for everybody,” Yi told Reuters before his Dallas Mavericks team lost to the New York Knicks 104-97 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. “You’ll see.”
Yi is struggling to make his mark with the NBA champion Mavericks after signing as a free agent this season. The 24-year-old, who is battling back from an injured right knee, did not play Sunday and has only averaged about eight minutes a game with a 3.3 scoring average in 12 games this season for Dallas.
Yi, however, expects to play a significant role on the…
via Olympics-Yi says China can ‘surprise’ at London Games | Reuters.
Jeremy Lin 28 points, career high 14 assists, 5 steals leads Knicks Past Defending Champion Mavericks
Jeremy Lin does it again. Even being guarded by the lanky Shawn Marion, one of the leagues best defenders, AND double teamed off every pick and roll play, Lin prevailed again. He lead a huge 12-point comeback late in the 3rd quarter and hit two 3 pointers over Dirk Nowitzski and Marion to help keep the leads late in the 4th quarter. Highlights below:
All 14 Assists:
All baskets:
Post-Game Interview:
Life just keeps getting better with age for Jessica Gomes
Jessica Gomes, who can lay claim to being Asian-Australian’s sexiest international fashion export, is criss-crossing America as part of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit blitz after featuring in the magazine for the fifth consecutive year.
A thrilled Gomes said she was getting better with age. ” This is definitely my best year ever, It is a real honour to be in it, and what made it even more special was that we got to shoot in Sydney, Australia. I am a Sports Illustrated girl. I am healthy, I am curvy, I have a big personality. They are the qualities they are looking for. (The magazine) wants to promote a healthy image. It wants women with boobs and butts … This is a men’s magazine and men like curvy women, full stop.”
Gomes, who heads to Melbourne next month, said her sultry figure had not always been embraced by the fashion world.
“There has always been some pressure to be thin, but I just sort of rolled with it,” Gomes said.
via Life just keeps getting better with age for Gomes | News.com.au.
Jeremy Lin steals and dunks the ball on the Mavs, leading another comeback?
Being down 10 points in the 3rd quarter, Jeremy Lin is leading a comeback… (full Lin highlights later)
UFC 144 in Japan to feature seven main-card bouts, Yushin Okami and Hatsu Hioki promoted
UFC Girl Logan Stanton
UFC 144 takes place Feb. 25 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. In addition to the main card, which airs in its normal Saturday-night timeslot with a Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson headliner, prelims air on FX.
Bouts originally slated for the prelims but now part of the PPV broadcast feature two Japanese fighters: Yushin Okami (26-6 MMA, 10-3 UFC), who meets fellow middleweight Tim Boetsch (14-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC), and Hatsu Hioki (25-4-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who takes on featherweight Bart Palaszewski (36-14 MMA, 1-0 UFC).
To date the UFC has hosted three events in Japan. None took place at Saitama Super Arena, the former home of PRIDE Fighting Championships, a top rival the UFC purchased and ultimately disbanded in 2007. UFC 144 is the first show in Japan since UFC 29 in late 2000.
The full UFC 144 card now includes
via UFC 144 in Japan to feature seven main-card bouts, Okami and Hioki promoted | MMAjunkie.com.
UFC 144 Japan: Jake Shields vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
Next Saturday, the UFC returns to the “Land of the Rising Sun” to put on a stacked card at UFC 144. Japan was the Mecca of MMA at one point in time, hosting Pride FC, which was the premiere organization in the world. Now, the UFC is going back to the Saitama Super Arena to put on one of the biggest shows of the year so far.
Headlined by the Lightweight Championship on the line, the rest of the main card is filled with exciting fights. But the one that may carries just as much importance as the title fight is the bout between Jake Shields and Yoshihiro Akiyama.
In the blue corner you have Jake Shields. An American jiu-jitsu fighter looking to bounce back from two losses, Shields now is at a point where he desperately needs a win. With his fame and popularity, it is not likely he will be cut if he loses against Akiyama, but having three losses in a row puts you very far away from attaining a title shot.
In the red corner you have Yoshihiro Akiyama. The Asian superstar will be making his welterweight debut after losing three in a row at middleweight. An excellent striker and Judo practitioner, Akiyama will be looking for success at the new weight, and will avoid a dangerous situation in his career as well.
It’s rare for a fighter not to be cut after three losses, so taking a fourth loss might send Akiyama on his way out of the UFC. On the other hand, he has a big draw in the Asian public, and keeping him around might be another Dan Hardy situation where his ethnicity helps keep him afloat.
This fight will be determined on whether they fight mostly standing or mostly on the ground. If it stays standing, Akiyama holds a distinct advantage in the striking game. His judo should help him in close quarters, especially if Shields decides to try to take him down from a clinch or cage position.
via UFC “Quick Break”: Jake Shields vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama | Bleacher Report.
China’s chess champ Hou Yifan makes history
China’s Hou Yifan, 17, stunned the chess world by beating the legendary and almost invincible Judit Polgar.
CHINA’S 17-year-old Hou Yifan did not start out as a favourite at the recent Tradewise Gibraltar chess festival, even though she is the women’s world champion. Hou’s international rating stood at 2605 points, and there were at least 20 high-profile players who were ranked much higher than her. Eleven of them were players whose ratings placed them in the super-grandmaster class.
Besides, there was always Judit Polgar who has been the top ranked woman chess player for as long
Devin Setoguchi has two goals, but Wild fall to Winnipeg in a shootout
ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Wild earned a point before falling to the Jets 4-3 in a shootout last night at the Xcel Energy Center.
The Wild went oh-three-and-one on the homestand as their winless streak reach six games. Evander Kane scored the game-winner in the shootout plus two regulation goals for Winnipeg. Devin Setoguchi had a pair of goals and an assist for Minnesota and Mikko Koivu lit the lamp for the first time since December 29th. Setoguchi now has 14 goals in the season.
Jeremy Lin scores 26, but Hornets snap Knicks’ win streak
NEW YORK – All winning streaks come to an end, and even All-Stars have bad games. The New Orleans Hornets ended the New York Knicks’ seven-game winning streak with an 89-85 victory Friday at Madison Square Garden.
In Knicks guard Jeremy Lin‘s meteoric ascent to NBA and worldwide cultural phenom, this was not his finest performance, even though he had a team-high 26 points, five assists and four steals.
As is the case with young point guards who have the ball in their hands so often, Lin struggled to…
via Jeremy Lin scores 26, but Hornets snap Knicks’ win streak – USATODAY.com.
ESPN Posts Racist Jeremy Lin Headline
Last night, ESPN posted a racist Jeremy Lin title on their NBA mobile page. Here is the response i got from ESPN.
“Thanks for contacting ESPN. Last night, ESPN.com’s mobile web site posted an offensive headline referencing Jeremy Lin at 2:30 am. The headline was removed at 3:05 am. We are conducting a complete review of our cross-platform editorial procedures and are determining appropriate disciplinary action to ensure this does not happen again. We regret and apologize for this mistake.”
It’s a bit comical that no large media outlet writes about the racist undertones that contributed to Jeremy’s lack of recruitment in college and the NBA, but then these blatantly racist headlines can be released. Food for thought.
——-
Update: 2/19/12
http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7591778/espn-statement-offensive-jeremy-lin-comments
What do New Yorkers think about the Linsanity?
This video was brought to my attention by the people who conducted the interview. Various New Yorkers of different backgrounds were asked what they thought about Jeremy Lin and the Linsanity that has overcome the city. Take a look,
After falling into an early-season losing slump, the New York Knicks have since been reinvigorated by former benchwarmer Jeremy Lin. The underdog point guard has led the team to seven consecutive wins, sparking a “Linsanity” movement across the NBA. On this episode of BTR Pulse, host Lauren Hawker hits the streets to discuss Lin’s surprising success, and the Knicks’ prospects for the remainder of the season.
Linsanity on BTR Pulse
via http://blip.tv/btrpulse/linsanity-btr-pulse-ep63-5961105
NBA adds Jeremy Lin to rookie-sophomore All-Star game
Jeremy Lin will play in the Rising Stars Challenge after all. The New York Knicks point guard was added Thursday to the roster of players for the Feb. 24 game at All-Star Weekend in Orlando, just before Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley began drafting for their teams.
New York’s current sensation has also been invited to play a role in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. Sources with knowledge of the league’s plans told ESPN.com that Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert — one of four dunk-contest entrants alongside Houston Rockets forward Chase Budinger, Indiana Pacers swingman Paul George and Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Derrick Williams — will be enlisting Lin to “assist” him in a manner similar to the help 2011 champion Blake Griffin got from then-Los Angeles Clippers teammate Baron Davis.
O’Neal took Lin with his third pick after starting with the Clippers’ Blake Griffin. Barkley took Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving at No. 2. Barkley praised Lin’s addition, saying it was “really stupid the NBA denied him in the beginning.”
Lin, a second-year point guard, has started six games and led the Knicks to seven straight wins. His strong performance the past two weeks has drawn international attention, including that of President Barack Obama, and led to debate about whether he would be invited to participate in All-Star Weekend, which begins Feb. 23 and culminates with the All-Star Game on Feb. 26.
A league source Thursday confirmed a New York Daily News report that the NBA will make Lin part of the field for the Haier Shooting Stars competition during All-Star Saturday night. NBA commissioner David Stern told USA Today earlier this week that Lin would not be a special late addition to the…
Kosuke Fukudome signs with Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox have signed Japanese national and former Chicago Cubs’ talented out-fielder Kosuke Fukudome to a one-year deal worth $1 million on late Tuesday night to support their dire outfield.
“We have a fair amount of quality (right-handed pitchers) in our division this year and we felt we were a little unbalanced,” White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn said. “Kosuke obviously has a track record of performing well against right-handed pitchers.”
From experts’ point of view, Fukudome will be helping the White Sox right field. Last season playing along-side with some of the very talented players of the Cleveland Indians, Fukudome showed them the true class of the Japanese style of offensive ball play that eventually helped the Indians’ roster in a big way. They not only out-performed many teams but also achieved consistent winning percentage last season.
Fukudome is coming with a batting average of .262 along with eight home-runs, 35 RBIs and .342 OBP while his career average of .260, 42 homers, 191 RBIs and .361 OBP is also pretty impressive for a three-year veteran player.
via Kosuke Fukudome signs with Chicago White Sox – MLB News | bettor.com.
Jeremy Lin with career-high 13 assists in win over Sacramento Kings
NEW YORK – With a huge assist from point guard Jeremy Lin, the New York Knicks’ emergent star, a playoff atmosphere has returned to Madison Square Garden. And it’s only mid-February.
Lin, whose scoring had ignited the Knicks’ winning streak, did it with passing this time, handing out a career-high 13 assists in a 100-85 victory Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings.
The NBA’s first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent drove the lane and dished so effectively — in 26 minutes he had two fewer assists than all the Kings — that the Knicks (15-15) rolled to their seventh consecutive victory and returned to .500 for the first time since early January.
“As a point guard, my field goal attempts have been really high. I don’t think that’s necessarily good,” said Lin, who averaged 26.8 points in his previous six games. “My job is to distribute and…
via Jeremy Lin, Knicks drub Kings to run win streak to seven – USATODAY.com.
Lee Nguyen prepared for Vancouver Whitecaps second season
The Vancouver Whitecaps enter their second season in Major League Soccer hoping to improve on the groundwork they laid in their debut campaign. New head coach Martin Rennie is at the helm and will be installing a new system in the hopes of earning the second-year franchise its first playoff berth. One of the players that will be at his disposal is former Indiana Hoosier Lee Nguyen, who was acquired by Vancouver through an MLS weighted lottery.
After one season in the NCAA, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder moved on to Holland’s PSV Eindhoven and became the first American to play in the Vietnamese V-League. Nguyen believes that his European experience will help him adjust to Rennie’s style of formation. “The system we play, I’ve played it at PSV so I’m used to it and I like it,” said Nguyen.
While he enjoyed the notoriety of playing in Vietnam where he holds citizenship along with the United States, Lee Nguyen is excited to be competing once again in North America.
“You get all of the hype that you don’t usually get, they treat you like an A-lister,” said Nguyen about his time in Vietnam. “It’s fun and it’s something that I cherished while I was there, now it’s nice to be back and I’m trying to work hard and get ready for (the opening game on) March 10th.”
via Nguyen, Cannon both prepared for Whitecaps second season.
Jessica Gomes will appear in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition 2012
Half Chinese/Portuguese Jessica Gomes will once again appear in the Swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated. The Australian-born model has appeared in every edition since 2008. The magazine hit newstands on Tuesday, Feb 14th.
Jessica Gomes was shot by Walter Iooss Jr against a distinctly Australian backdrop (Surf! Sand! Icebergs!) and it’s the fifth time that Australia’s Maxim-certified Sexiest Model has been shot for the lad’s mag, arousing all kinds of dangerous rips and strong, overwhelming internal currents – the strongest, of course, being patriotism – all over the country. Nay, the world.
via Jess Gomes For Sports Illustrated (Probably NSFW) – Fashion News – Pedestrian TV.
video shoot,
Sports Illustrated Jessica Gomes photoshoot
Video: Jeremy Lin hits the last-second game winning 3-pointer to beat the Raptors 90-87
With a game-winning three-pointer in the closing second, 23-year-old Jeremy Lin, who last month rode the end of the bench for the New York Knicks, clinched the team’s sixth consecutive victory Tuesday night in Toronto. New York rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit, tying the Raptors before Lin held the ball for the final shot. He dribbled forward, pulled up and drained it in front of Jose Calderon’s outstretched hand for the win.
“I’m just glad we actually had an opportunity to be tied at the end because we came out flat,” Lin said. “I’m thankful that my coaches and teammates trusted me with the ball.”
Lin scored 27 points and added a career-high 11 assists, his second double-double. Twelve of his points came in the fourth quarter, and it was Lin’s finishing drive and made free throw that tied the game at 87-87 with 1:05 to play.
Coach Mike D’Antoni was asked if he …
via USAToday
Richard Park scores his 100th career NHL goal
Over the weekend, Richard Park notched his 100th career NHL goal in a high-scoring 8-5 win over Winnipeg Jets,
Is Race A Factor In Linsanity? – ESPN
ESPN discussion on whether Lin's race is the reason for Linsanity
Jeremy Lin is suddently becoming a global star. This is an interesting video bit on ESPN. The commentators discuss whether or not Lin’s asian race is contributing to all the Linsanity. Two blacks guys, one white guy and a Mexican guy talks about Lin’s race and the pros and cons of him being asian.
Here, First Take debates whether or not Jeremy Lin’s race plays a factor in his popularity. Click on the image to view the video ->
Rangers plan to be very cautious with Yu Darvish’s transition to MLB
Even though Yu Darvish has never pitched an inning of Major League Baseball in his life, the Rangers sunk more than $100 million into him this offseason while letting 2011 ace C.J. Wilson walk away for less.
So it’s no wonder that the club is planning to be extra careful when it comes to Darvish’s transition to the big leagues.
According to SI’s Tom Verducci, the Rangers are hopeful that they can put Darvish on a training regimen that will wean him from the marathon pitching performances he often endured in Japan (Darvish had 15 starts with 120+ pitches last year), and prepare him for shorter outings with less down time in between.
But in order to ease the switch, the Rangers could give Darvish a few extra days off, while looking to their bullpen to carry the extra weight. They will consider adding a sixth starter to the rotation at times during ….
Joseph Lin scores 2 baskets for Hamilton College with brother Jeremy Lin in stands
CLINTON, N.Y. (WKTV) – “Linsanity” spread to Central New York Sunday as Jeremy Lin, a guard for the New York Knicks, made a visit to Hamilton College, where his brother Joseph is a freshman player of the Continental’s Basketball team.
The youngest brother Joseph Lin is a freshman backup point guard for Hamilton. Their last home game was Sunday, so older brother Jeremy took in the action for himself. The Continentals beat Bates College on Sunday, 72-62.
At Hamilton, Joseph Lin averages about 16.5 minutes of play time and has .406 field goal percentage.
“From a basketball perspective, he’s probably one of our most complete basketball players. He has a great court sense, a great feel. He’s very good at running ball screens. He’s our best passer,” said head coach Adam Stockwell in an interview to media outlets.
watch video highlights here, Knicks’ Jeremy Lin visits Hamilton College to watch brother play basketball | NBC-WKTV News Channel 2 – Utica News, Weather, Sports – | Local News
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Coach Erik Spoelstra, LeBron James impressed with Jeremy Lin’s ascent – ESPN
ATLANTA — When Erik Spoelstra was chosen by the Miami Heat to succeed Pat Riley in 2008, he made history as the first Asian-American coach in the four major North American sports leagues.
Although he has seen only highlights of Jeremy Lin since the New York Knicks point guard took the league by storm over the past week, Spoelstra expressed a measure of pride on Sunday over what Lin has accomplished as the first Asian-American to start an NBA game since the league began keeping records of starting lineups decades ago.
“Also being an Asian-American, it’s great to see him break some barriers,” said Spoelstra, who has described himself as half Filipino. “As a fan of the game, I root for him. It’s a great sports story, in general.”
Since Feb. 4, Lin has averaged 26.8 points and eight assists on a true shooting percentage of 58 percent. The 13-15 Knicks have won all four games Lin has started…
via Erik Spoelstra, LeBron James impressed with Jeremy Lin’s ascent – ESPN.
Devin Setoguchi scores his 12th goal of the season against Columbus Blue Jackets
Anne Keothavong to face Heather Watson Qatar Open
Anne Keothavong will face British compatriot Heather Watson for the first time on Sunday as they compete for a place in the main draw of the lucrative Qatar Total Open.
For British No 2 Keothavong it will be a second all-British clash in as many days after she dispatched Laura Robson 6-1 6-1 in the first round of qualifying on Saturday, while Watson defeated Poland’s Klaudia Jans-Ignacik 6-2 6-1.
Anne was born in Hackney in London, to parents who had fled from their wartorn home country of Laos in the 1970s Keothavong’s younger sister, Lena Keothavong, also played tennis on the ITF tour briefly with limited success.
via Anne Keothavong to face Heather Watson Qatar Total Open | Mail Online.
