September 2nd, 2010
Reposted from Businessweek.com:
Major League Baseball and YouTube are aiming for the fences by offering full games on demand for free to fans in Japan within 36 hours of being broadcast live.
The deal to show games, supported by advertising revenue, represents the largest partnership for premium sports content in the history of the Google Inc. video site, according to a joint press release. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Viewers in Japan can watch full games from the current season and last season, as well as get highlights of Japan-born stars such as Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Live games featuring Japanese-language commentary are currently available on MLB.JP, or in high-definition with a monthly subscription on MLB.TV.
The deal also gives fans in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand and Russia access to highlight clips and archives on YouTube.
Tags: baseball japan, live streaming baseball, MLB youtube japan
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September 1st, 2010
20-year-old Michelle Wie won the CN Canadian Women’s Open by three shots, claiming her second LPGA tour victory and moving up five spots to seventh in the women’s world rankings. The Korean American from Hawaii beat out World No. 4 Jiyai Shin to clinch the top spot in Winnipeg. Having turned pro at 15, Wie has built up an impressive brand – which includes sponsorships with big names like Nike and Sony — and has been working to back up the hype with LPGA tour wins like Sunday’s.
ESPN: “Just in time, Michelle Wie finally arrives”
ESPN Golf: “Michelle Wie still having fun on the course”
Montreal Gazette: “Wie’s victory puts Winnipeg on the map”
TSN: “Wie up to seventh in the world rankings”
UKPA: “Wie claims second LPGA title“
Tags: asian american athlete, asian american golfer, korean american athlete, korean american golfer, michelle wie canadian women's open, michelle wie lpga tour, michelle wie world rankings
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August 31st, 2010
Boston.com recently published an article describing Chinese American Rich Cho as a “one of the NBA’s brightest minds [who] finally has an opportunity to implement his state-of-the-art ideas.” Last month, Cho left his post with the Oklahoma City Thunder to take over as the General Manager of the Portland Trailblazers — the first Asian American to hold such a position in the NBA.
The 45-year-old Burma-born GM also spent time with the Seattle SuperSonics (before their move to Oklahoma City), putting to good use his engineering and law background. Cho is now working hard to build the organization and improve the team’s chances for success:
“I don’t take this responsibility and opportunity lightly,’’ he said. “As far as [being] Asian-American, I am definitely honored to be the first in major sports. It’s not something I dwell on, I just want to do my job and help improve the team. I would never say that it was my time, but I have been through a lot of situations through my time in the league that has helped me prepare to become a GM.’’
“I just feel fortunate to be in this position. It’s not important for me to get accolades. It’s always been my goal to be a GM and I knew being a GM for me would take an owner to think outside the box.’’
For more, listen to/read an interview with Cho about his plans and the Blazers’ future lineup here.
Read the full article at Boston.com: “Portland GM Cho is truly a trail blazer“
Tags: rich cho, rich cho blazers gm, rich cho general manager, rich cho NBA, rich cho oklahoma city, rich cho portland trailblazers, rich cho seattle sonics
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August 30th, 2010
Japan defeated Hawaii to claim the Little League World Series Championship — their first since 2004 and the seventh in the island nation’s history. The Waipahu All-Stars won four out of four elimination games to make it to the finals against Japan, but the undefeated Tokyo-based team showed their discipline on defense as well as stellar pitching, helping them to break the U.S.’s five-year winning streak as Little League World Series champions. 12-year-old Konan Tomori had a home run and three RBIs to put Japan ahead 4-1. Also, Kaohsiung, Taiwan took the consolation prize with their 14-2 victory over Pearland, Texas
Bleacher Report: “Little League World Series 2010: Defense Leads To Japan World Championship”
Associated Press: “Japan takes Little League World Series title”
AP: “Japan takes Little League WS title”
NY Times: “Japan Beats Hawaii to Win Little League World Series“
Tags: asian athlete, asian baseball, japan little league world series, japan little league world series champions, japanese athlete, japanese baseball, kaohsiung taiwan, konan tomori, pearland texas little league, waipahu all-stars
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August 25th, 2010
25-year-old Japanese golfer Ai Miyazato has claimed the No.1 spot on the women’s world rankings for the third time this year, bumping Cristie Kerr after winning the Safeway Classic on Sunday — her fifth LPGA tour win. The last two times Miyazato held the top position only lasted a week each. She continues to exchange places with Kerr, Suzann Petersen (in third place), Korea’s Jiyai Shin (currently ranked four), Taiwan’s Yani Tseng (ranked five) and South Korean Na Yeon Choi (sixth).
TSN: “Miyazato Takes Top Spot in Women’s Rankings Again”
Sports Tribune: “In Japan, hugely popular Miyazato has the ‘Ai’ of a Tiger“
Tags: ai miyazato cristie kerr, ai miyazato no 1., ai miyazato safeway classic, ai miyazato world rankings, asian athlete, asian golfer, japanese athlete, japanese golfer
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August 23rd, 2010
Unseeded Chinese tennis player Jie Zheng upset fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva 7-6, 6-4 last week in the third round of the Rogers Cup in Montreal, to become one of the last eight players left in the tournament. She also beat sixteenth-seeded Iranian-French Aravane Rezaï before facing Dementieva. Zheng eventually lost in the fourth round to eleventh-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who went on to the semi-finals against No. 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki, who went on to win in the finals against Vera Zvonareva.
UKPA – “Dementieva’s defence ended”
The Globe and Mail – “Zheng’s Rogers Cup dream run ends“
Tags: asian athlete, asian tennis player, chinese athlete, chinese tennis player, jie zheng elena dementieva, jie zheng montreal, jie zheng rogers cup
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August 13th, 2010
Check out this article by the Washington Post on Japanese teen golf sensation Ryo Ishikawa. The “bashful prince,” as he is nicknamed in Japan, is only second in popularity behind the Mariner’s Ichiro Suzuki in his home country.
He has attracted a huge amount of press attention since he won his first victory on the Japan Golf Tour at 15. Since then, Ishikawa has won the money crown in Japan and made history with his record 58 at The Crowns tournament.
In other news, Korean PGA Champion Y.E. Yang used his champion’s choice to have Korean B.B.Q. added to the menu for the traditional annual dinner before the PGA Championships. Yang is the first Asian to win a golf major on the PGA tour.
Washington Post: “Ryo Ishikawa: a ‘prince’ who wants to rule golf”
Associated Press: “Korean bbq on menu for Y.E. Yang’s champion’s dinner at PGA Championship“
Tags: asian golfer, japanese golfer, ryo ishikawa bashful prince, ryo ishikawa pga tour, y.e. yang champions choice, Y.E. Yang korean bbq
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August 12th, 2010
Anthony Kim recently returned to the golf course after receiving the green light from his doctor. Kim has missed several competitions due to a thumb injury which required surgery. The 25-year-old Korean American golf phenom had been playing well before his operation, but has appeared a bit rusty in his first post-op competition at the Bridgestone Invitational. Kim hoped to get back into top form in time for the upcoming Ryder Cup team competition, where he played a pivotal part in the U.S. team’s 2008 win.
CBS Sports: “U.S. Ryder chances in balance as Kim’s comeback begins gingerly”
Examiner: “La Quinta’s Anthony Kim struggles at Bridgestone Invitational after returning from thumb surgery“
Tags: anthony kim bridgestone invitational, anthony kim comeback, anthony kim ryder cup, asian american athlete, asian american golfer, korean american athlete, korean american golfer, korean athlete, korean golfer
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August 11th, 2010
Yesterday, Golden Warriors guard Jeremy Lin appeared as a guest on “The Jim Rome Show,” where he talked to host Jim Rome about everything from the NBA draft to competing against John Wall to his decision to sign with the Warriors. Sign in or subscribe to listen to the interview. There have also been rumors floating around that Lin has signed a shoe deal with Nike Taiwan. Stay tuned for more.
Tags: jeremy lin interview, jeremy lin jim rome, jeremy lin jim rome show, jeremy lin nike, jeremy lin nike taiwan
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