Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was awarded his 10th consecutive American League Gold Glove award — one for each season Suzuki has been in the MLB. The award, recognizing the best defensive players at each position, is selected by the league’s managers and coaches at the end of each season. The only other players awarded 10 Gold Gloves are Andruw Jones, Ken Griffey Jr. and Al Kaline.

Also awarded were New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, their second baseman Robinson Cano and first baseman Mark Teixeira, Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Carl Crawford and third baseman Evan Longoria, Mariners center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, and Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle.

Reuters: “Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki wins 10th straight Gold Glove”

MLB.com: “Ichiro wins 10th straight Gold Glove”

USA Today: “Ichiro wins 10th consecutive Gold Glove, Derek Jeter wins fifth“

Japan’s Miki Ando claimed the Cup of China this weekend, surpassing defending champion and compatriot Akiko Suzuki for the gold by completing a clean free skate. Japanese American figure skater Mirai Nagasu won the short program, making a promising return from her foot injury, but dropped down to fourth after a disappointing free skate.

Ando, who placed third after the short program, came back from behind to claim her fourth career Grand Prix title.  On the men’s side, Takahiko Kozuka earned his second Grand Prix title ahead of Brand Mroz of the U.S. and Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic.

AP: “Nagasu of US wins short program at Cup of China”

Yahoo! Sports: “Nagasu wins short programme on ice return”

Examiner: “Ando runs away with Cup of China title, Nagasu fourth”

Yahoo! Sports: “Ando claims victory in China“

Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai defeated Ayumi Morita 6-1, 6-4  in the finals of the OEC Taipei Ladies Open.  The 24-year-old was seated fifth going into the singles tournament, and earned a victory over No.2 seed Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4), on her way to the finals.  The fourth-seeded Morita overcame an impressive start from Australian Jarmila Groth in the semi-final round.

Meanwhile, hometeam Taiwanese duo Chang Kai-chen and Chuang Chia-chung (one-half of the defending championship team) also claimed the doubles title against Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Sania Mirza of India, the No.2 seeds.

Taipei Times: “China’s Peng claims Taipei Ladies title” and “Peng, Morita to contest Taipei final”

Focus Taiwan: “Taiwanese stars in Taipei Ladies tennis doubles final“

South Korean golfer Jiyai Shin claimed the Mizuno Classic trophy on Sunday, winning her eighth career LPGA Tour event, her second of the season.  Shin earned her two-stroke victory over Yani Tseng to win the Mizuno Classic as well as to keep her No. 1 spot in the women’s world rankings.  Tseng jumped up to the second spot ahead of American Cristie Kerr, Korean Na Yeon Choi, and Japanese golfer Ai Miyazato.

AP: “South Korean Jiyai Shin holds off Taiwan’s Tseng to win Mizuno Classic”

AHN: “Jiyai Shin Wins Mizuno Classic With Back Nine Birdies”

TSN: “Title for Shin extends No. 1 Women’s Ranking”

Focus Taiwan: “Taiwanese golfer vaults to 2nd place in world rankings“

Chinese American left tackle Ed Wang of the Buffalo Bills is steadily making progress after suffering from a thumb injury which required surgery.  According to the Bills’ blog, Wang is back in practice and able to use his hand without the aid of a split.

Despite missing training camp and the entire preseason, fans are hoping that the 6′5″ 23-year-old will soon make his way from the disabled list to the football field.

Meanwhile, Wang is also being cross-trained at the guard, forcing him to adjust to the confined space and new speed of the new position.  He is hoping that increased versatility will help him earn more playing time in his rookie NFL season.

Also check out this in-depth article on Wang by Charlotte Hsu: “Making the Cut” or at Buffalo Story Project.

Inside the Bills Blog: “Wang back to tackle soon”

Buffalo News: “Wang works toward becoming jack of all trades on O-line“

Last night, Houston Rockets center Yao Ming took to the court for his long-awaited return to the NBA in the Rockets’ season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.  The 7′6″ All-Star contributed nine points and 11 rebounds, and well as a strong defensive presence, despite limited playing time and fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Yao is fully recovered after undergoing foot surgery in the offseason, but the Houston coaching staff has decided to limit him to no more than 24 minutes a game until he can get back to full speed and strength.

In other news, UC Berkeley’s Max Zhang, a 7′3″ center from Yantai City, China, has opted out of his last two years at Cal.  Instead he will compete for Yao Ming’s Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association.  Zhang’s decision to leave the NCAA comes shortly after his decision to miss his fall semester at Cal in order to compete for China’s senior national team at the Asian Games in Guangzhou this past November.

And last but not least, with the official start of the NBA season, Golden State rookie guard Jeremy Lin is looking to learn and improve this season, coming off the bench to relieve Warriors front-line guards Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis.  Check out this article by NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper about the pressure Lin is facing, and his unique situation as the first Asian American in the NBA.

NBA.com: “Lin faces the rookie grind as an entire community watches on”

AFP: “China’s Yao returns in basketball season opener”

Culture Map Houston: “Imperfectly perfect start: Yao Ming provides presence, not points, determination, not dazzle”

SB Nation: “Max Zhang not returning to Golden Bears, Signed Contract with Shanghai Sharks”

Niuball.com: “Max Zhang to sign with Shanghai, NCAA career is over“

An interesting tid-bit about Buffalo Bills left tackle Ed Wang, the first player of full Chinese descent in the NFL (published Oct 18):

Bills offensive tackle Ed Wang won’t be making just a routine trip to the barber today. The rookie from Virginia Tech, whose hair hangs past his waist, will cut 18 to 24 inches off today to donate to Locks of Love.

Wang will get his haircut at 6 p.m. at Chez Ann Salon on Delaware Avenue.

Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

“Locks of Love is extremely grateful to Ed Wang for his generous volunteerism,” said Lauren Kukkamaa, the group’s communications director. “His donation and support will further our efforts to help children living with the daily trials of medical hair loss.

Read the full article at Buffalo News.

Check out this interview by the Wall Street Journal (SF Bay Area) with Jeremy Lin about preparing for his first season with Golden State, the Asian American community and his favorite Warriors.  Check it out here.

South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na was honored last week by the Women’s Sports Foundation as the U.S. organization’s “Sportswoman of the Year” in the individual sport category for her accomplishments on the ice, which included an Olympic gold medal at the Vancouver games.  Kim is the first Asian athlete to earn the distinction.  She made headlines recently for relocating to Los Angeles and selecting Peter Oppegard as her new coach.

Xinhua: “S. Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na named ‘Sportswoman of the Year’“

Thai tennis player Tamarine Tanasugarn defeated Japan’s Kimiko Date Krumm in the finals of the HP Open in Osaka, Japan this weekend.  Tanasugarn claimed her fourth WTA Tour title and ended Date Krumm’s impressive run.  The 40-year-old had upset No. 1 seed Samantha Stosur, ranked eighth in the world, and No. 3 seed Shahar Peer on her way to the final match against Tanasugarn, who earned her own upset over No. 2 seed Marion Bartoli.

Tanasugarn and Date Krumm are two of the most recognizable Asian faces in the women’s tennis world, as well as two of the oldest players to make it to the finals of a WTA tournament.  In the women’s doubles tournament, third-seeded team Chang Kai-Chen and partner Lilia Osterloh defeated Shuko Aoyama and Rika Fujiwara in the final tournament to take home the championship trophy.

WTA Tour: “Tanasugarn Wins Historic Final”

WTA Tour: “Tamarine & Kimiko Make History”

WTA Tour: “Kimiko Stuns Sam in QFs“