This is from Disgrasion.com
and Ichiro is a Issei technically
Thursday, October 22, 2009
BIRTHDAY CELEBRASIAN! Ichiro Suzuki
Happy birthday to Ichiro, who turns 36 today!
2009 was a huge year for the mononymous outfielder: he set a major league-record of nine straight seasons with 200 or more hits, finished the season with a league-leading 225 hits, hit his first career walk-off home run (against the Yankees' Mariano Rivera, no less), and even drew his first career ejection for arguing a called third strike.
But hey, we're talking about a dude who's single-handedly proven to Americans that Asians can bring it on the baseball diamond, small ball can be just as captivating as long ball, and pokey ears can be weirdly hot, so Ichiro defying expectations is nothing new.
Speaking of defying expectations, here he is from a few years back telling Bob Costas what his favorite American expression is:
TRANSLASIAN: "August in Kansas City, it's hotter than two rats in a fucking wool sock."
Source
Posted by jen at 8:18 AM|PERMALINK Links to this post
Labels: Asian Baseball Players, Ballers, Baseball Players, Ichiro Suzuki, Japanese Athletes, Japanese Ballers, MLB, Records, The Seattle Mariners
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
CSUDH Celebrates the Legacy of Yanai's Success
CSUDH Celebrates the Legacy of Yanai's Success
10/5/2009 2:02:28 PM
(L-R): UCLA AD Dan Guerrero, honoree Dave Yanai, ESPN Analyst Steve Lavin, CSUDH AD Patrick Guillen & ABC-7 Sports Anchor/Dinner Emcee Rob FukuzakiView Dinner Photo Gallery
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The world famous Los Angeles Athletic Club, founded in 1880 and home to the annual Wooden Awards Ceremony, witnessed yet another prestigious event last Sunday as it hosted the "Dave Yanai Tribute Dinner and Silent Auction," honoring the former men's basketball head coach of Cal State Dominguez Hills.
"Tonight was a very special evening for a very special man, as evidenced by the love, admiration, gratitude and respect felt in the capacity-filled room," said CSUDH Athletics Director Patrick Guillen, reflecting on a tremendous night.
"Tonight's incredible event was the culmination of hundreds of hours of work, and I would like to express my deep appreciation to those who worked so tirelessly on this campaign, especially our co-chairs in Henry Ota, John Nojima, Dan Guerrero and Sam Lagana for their leadership, as well as to emcee Rob Fukuzaki, who offered his time and talent in helping make the night one to remember."
Emceed by KABC-7's sports anchor Fukuzaki, with speakers including UCLA Athletics Director Guerrero and ESPN/ABC analyst Steve Lavin, the event gave glimpses into coach Yanai's storied and award-filled coaching history, where guests including family, friends, colleagues, former players and co-workers filled the room with anecdotes about the man who many referred to as "so much more than just a coach."
Beginning with a cocktail hour featuring a vast array of silent auction items, the evening's dinner commenced with Guillen giving a warm welcome, followed by CSUDH VP Sue Borrego saying a few words on behalf of CSUDH President Mildred García, who gave way to Fukuzaki.
The southern California sports anchor icon then proceeded to introduce Lavin, former Toro Nojima and Guerrero, who each gave his personal account of the man who helped teach, mentor and inspire them, with composure, honesty, and caring emerging as common denominators.
Fukuzaki and Guillen followed suit, with Pepperdine's Associate Vice Chancellor and former CSUDH administrator Lagana interjecting with tremendous live auction items, before coach Yanai took the podium.
After thanking Guillen, who spearheaded this night and January 9, the date of the court unveiling, his wife and kids, and parents, Yanai named five individuals who served as mentors in brother Frank, Mas Fukai, Nojima's father, the night's honorary chairman John R. Wooden and Pete Newell, before giving credit and showing appreciation to the guest speakers, as well as his former assistants, trainers and players, many of whom were in the audience.
"Obviously it's a great honor and I'm really humbled by this whole affair," began Yanai, before the dinner. "The main thing for me is my thoughts for the scholarships this night may grant, but I’m so honored about the court naming.
"There are so many players, assistant coaches, boosters, administrators, and people who were my colleagues at CSUDH all these many years, and everyone of them has a piece of this wonderful honor, and when they see my name on the floor, I hope they feel like it’s their name because they all have a piece of it.
"I retired four years ago, and you just want to get onto other things that you’ve put on hold for a number of years like enjoying the grandkids, taking trips with one's wife, golfing and assorted other things. I’m an avid reader and now I can do it at my leisure and am getting the chance to do all the things that I love.
"And I also get a chance to do a little basketball activity," he continued, never quite being able to leave the game that's been so good to him. "I’ve gone to practices of various college coaching friends of mine and had a chance to critique and see some things that might help them.
"But this is something that I didn’t expect and to be honest, I’m really shy about these kinds of things. All I can say is that I’m humbled and honored to have this wonderful thing happen to me, and it's a tremendous honor."
Yanai spent 19 seasons as head coach at CSUDH, where his Toro teams advanced to the 1981, 1987 and 1989 NCAA Tournaments. In addition, he guided the Toros to the 1979 NAIA National Championship Elite EIght after winning the NAIA District III Championship in only his second year in Carson.
Individually, he claimed the 1979 District Coach of the Year, the 1987 NCAA West Region Coach of the Year and two-consecutive CCAA Coach of the Year Awards (1987 and 1988). Yanai also coached 34 All-CCAA Conference, two CCAA Athletes of the Year, eight NCAA All-West Region, two NCAA All-Americans and one NCAA Division II Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in Nojima, ending his coaching career at CSUDH with 287 of his 401 total wins, the winningest coach in CSUDH men's basketball history.
Part II of the “Dave Yanai” tribute will take place on Saturday, January 9, at 7:00 pm, when the Torodome court will be unveiled in his honor.
10/5/2009 2:02:28 PM
(L-R): UCLA AD Dan Guerrero, honoree Dave Yanai, ESPN Analyst Steve Lavin, CSUDH AD Patrick Guillen & ABC-7 Sports Anchor/Dinner Emcee Rob FukuzakiView Dinner Photo Gallery
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The world famous Los Angeles Athletic Club, founded in 1880 and home to the annual Wooden Awards Ceremony, witnessed yet another prestigious event last Sunday as it hosted the "Dave Yanai Tribute Dinner and Silent Auction," honoring the former men's basketball head coach of Cal State Dominguez Hills.
"Tonight was a very special evening for a very special man, as evidenced by the love, admiration, gratitude and respect felt in the capacity-filled room," said CSUDH Athletics Director Patrick Guillen, reflecting on a tremendous night.
"Tonight's incredible event was the culmination of hundreds of hours of work, and I would like to express my deep appreciation to those who worked so tirelessly on this campaign, especially our co-chairs in Henry Ota, John Nojima, Dan Guerrero and Sam Lagana for their leadership, as well as to emcee Rob Fukuzaki, who offered his time and talent in helping make the night one to remember."
Emceed by KABC-7's sports anchor Fukuzaki, with speakers including UCLA Athletics Director Guerrero and ESPN/ABC analyst Steve Lavin, the event gave glimpses into coach Yanai's storied and award-filled coaching history, where guests including family, friends, colleagues, former players and co-workers filled the room with anecdotes about the man who many referred to as "so much more than just a coach."
Beginning with a cocktail hour featuring a vast array of silent auction items, the evening's dinner commenced with Guillen giving a warm welcome, followed by CSUDH VP Sue Borrego saying a few words on behalf of CSUDH President Mildred García, who gave way to Fukuzaki.
The southern California sports anchor icon then proceeded to introduce Lavin, former Toro Nojima and Guerrero, who each gave his personal account of the man who helped teach, mentor and inspire them, with composure, honesty, and caring emerging as common denominators.
Fukuzaki and Guillen followed suit, with Pepperdine's Associate Vice Chancellor and former CSUDH administrator Lagana interjecting with tremendous live auction items, before coach Yanai took the podium.
After thanking Guillen, who spearheaded this night and January 9, the date of the court unveiling, his wife and kids, and parents, Yanai named five individuals who served as mentors in brother Frank, Mas Fukai, Nojima's father, the night's honorary chairman John R. Wooden and Pete Newell, before giving credit and showing appreciation to the guest speakers, as well as his former assistants, trainers and players, many of whom were in the audience.
"Obviously it's a great honor and I'm really humbled by this whole affair," began Yanai, before the dinner. "The main thing for me is my thoughts for the scholarships this night may grant, but I’m so honored about the court naming.
"There are so many players, assistant coaches, boosters, administrators, and people who were my colleagues at CSUDH all these many years, and everyone of them has a piece of this wonderful honor, and when they see my name on the floor, I hope they feel like it’s their name because they all have a piece of it.
"I retired four years ago, and you just want to get onto other things that you’ve put on hold for a number of years like enjoying the grandkids, taking trips with one's wife, golfing and assorted other things. I’m an avid reader and now I can do it at my leisure and am getting the chance to do all the things that I love.
"And I also get a chance to do a little basketball activity," he continued, never quite being able to leave the game that's been so good to him. "I’ve gone to practices of various college coaching friends of mine and had a chance to critique and see some things that might help them.
"But this is something that I didn’t expect and to be honest, I’m really shy about these kinds of things. All I can say is that I’m humbled and honored to have this wonderful thing happen to me, and it's a tremendous honor."
Yanai spent 19 seasons as head coach at CSUDH, where his Toro teams advanced to the 1981, 1987 and 1989 NCAA Tournaments. In addition, he guided the Toros to the 1979 NAIA National Championship Elite EIght after winning the NAIA District III Championship in only his second year in Carson.
Individually, he claimed the 1979 District Coach of the Year, the 1987 NCAA West Region Coach of the Year and two-consecutive CCAA Coach of the Year Awards (1987 and 1988). Yanai also coached 34 All-CCAA Conference, two CCAA Athletes of the Year, eight NCAA All-West Region, two NCAA All-Americans and one NCAA Division II Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in Nojima, ending his coaching career at CSUDH with 287 of his 401 total wins, the winningest coach in CSUDH men's basketball history.
Part II of the “Dave Yanai” tribute will take place on Saturday, January 9, at 7:00 pm, when the Torodome court will be unveiled in his honor.
Thanking the Thankful a dinner gala to honor basketball coaching legend Dave Yanai.
Thanking the Thankful
Faces from his past attend a dinner gala to honor basketball coaching legend Dave Yanai.
Coach Dave Yanai, center, poses with former players and assistant coaches during a gala dinner in his honor at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in Downtown on Sunday evening. (Photos by JORDAN IKEDA/Rafu Shimpo)
By JORDAN IKEDA
Rafu Sports Editor
===
Sunday evening at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in the heart of Downtown former players, coaches (both peers and assistants), former athletic directors, school faculty, friends, family, media members, officials—a wide spectrum of people from all over the country—gathered together to pay tribute and celebrate a man that has influenced, changed and touched their lives.
David Yanai was honored with a dinner gala for not only his 28 years of exceptional coaching, but more notably for a lifetime of being himself.
“Even more indelible are the literally thousands of lives he’s touched coaching, and we’re all better people because of you David,” said ABC 7 sports guy, Rob Fukuzaki, who emceed the event.
The dinner gala featured keynote speaker UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, as well as former UCLA head coach and current ESPN analyst Steve Lavin and former Cal State Dominguez Hills NCAA Div. II male scholar athlete of the year John Nojima all gave a unique aspect to the scope of Coach Yanai’s influence.
“You are certainly deserving of this tribute because of what you’ve achieved,” Guerrero told Yanai at the end of his speech. “Not just what you achieved as a coach, but what you’ve achieved as a person…I’ve learned as much from you about those things that are important in life as anyone whom I’ve ever met.”
Coach Yanai and his wife Sae.
It was obvious from the diversity of those in attendance that Coach Yanai’s teaching extends far beyond the awards and accolades and success on the court. Despite the 401 wins, the pair of CCAA coach of the year awards, the NCAA Regional Coach of the Year award and the District Coach of the Year award, the true reward, according to Coach Yanai, was found in the players.
“‘The gift to a coach,’” Nojima said, quoting Coach Yanai’s own words, “‘the championships for a coach, are always the players. It’s not about the wins or the championships. You guys are the wins and you guys are the championships. And don’t you ever forget it.’”
When it was finally his turn to speak, Coach Yanai made his way to the front amidst a standing ovation.
“This is really like a Lou Gehrig moment,” he said as he took the podium. “I feel like the luckiest person alive. I should be on the other end thanking all of you folks.”
True to form and his word, exemplifying why so many people love and support him, Coach Yanai did his best to do just that, thanking each and every one in turn.
He was supposed to talk for 10 minutes, but ended up going nearly 40 thanking his wife Sae and acknowledging that she deserves as much credit for his success. Thanking Guerrero and sharing his wish for him to become the next NCAA president. Thanking Lavin for his friendship and the two-way street of teaching.
Sharing stories about players, like Nojima’s penchant to help tutor his teammates. Thanking all of his former players, staff trainers, assistant coaches, rival coaches, referees, friends, and family and even the media, like long time Rafu writer George “Horse” Yoshinaga.
From left, UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, former Cal State, Dominguez Hills head basketball coach Dave Yanai, former UCLA head coach and current ESPN analyst Steve Lavin, CSUDH athletic director Patrick Guillen and ABC 7 sports anchor Rob Fukuzaki pose for a picture during a gala dinner in honor of Yanai Sunday evening.
He also made it a point to acknowledge and thank five mentors who helped shape and mold him. Frank Yanai, his brother who he said ran interference for him. Mas Fukai who got him excited about sports and formed the FOR club with him. Sho Nojima, John Nojima’s father, who was a calming and intellectual influence. And of course two legends of the game in John Wooden and Pete Newell who offered their own coaching guidance and teaching wisdom, much in the same manner that he does now to others.
The gala included a silent auction, an effort to raise the necessary funds to see through the vision of current CSUDH athletic director Pat Guillen, who envisioned barely a year ago the idea of honoring Coach Yanai with a scholarship in his name as well as that name being forever associated with the CSUDH basketball court.
That vision will be realized Jan. 10 with a special unveiling.
Sponsors who donated time, money and auction prizes included Steve Morikawa of American Honda, Nancy Matsui of American Airlines and long time Dave Yanai friend, Tetsu Tanimoto.
Lavin read an e-mail from Coach Yanai that really resounded throughout the entire evening and was a lesson that everyone in the room was able to take away and apply to their own lives.
The e-mail read, “Stevie, remember that time is the most important commodity you have. You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time. Once today is gone, it is gone forever. Always spend your time wisely.”
Everyone in attendance Sunday evening would agree that their choice to attend, much like Coach Yanai himself, was the epitome of wisdom.
For those who would like to donate to the Dave Yanai Scholarship Fund, visit www.gotoros.com/custompages/ yanai/giving.html or mail pledges to CSUDH Development Office: Dave Yanai Scholarship, 1000 E. Victoria St. Carson, CA 90747
Faces from his past attend a dinner gala to honor basketball coaching legend Dave Yanai.
Coach Dave Yanai, center, poses with former players and assistant coaches during a gala dinner in his honor at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in Downtown on Sunday evening. (Photos by JORDAN IKEDA/Rafu Shimpo)
By JORDAN IKEDA
Rafu Sports Editor
===
Sunday evening at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in the heart of Downtown former players, coaches (both peers and assistants), former athletic directors, school faculty, friends, family, media members, officials—a wide spectrum of people from all over the country—gathered together to pay tribute and celebrate a man that has influenced, changed and touched their lives.
David Yanai was honored with a dinner gala for not only his 28 years of exceptional coaching, but more notably for a lifetime of being himself.
“Even more indelible are the literally thousands of lives he’s touched coaching, and we’re all better people because of you David,” said ABC 7 sports guy, Rob Fukuzaki, who emceed the event.
The dinner gala featured keynote speaker UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, as well as former UCLA head coach and current ESPN analyst Steve Lavin and former Cal State Dominguez Hills NCAA Div. II male scholar athlete of the year John Nojima all gave a unique aspect to the scope of Coach Yanai’s influence.
“You are certainly deserving of this tribute because of what you’ve achieved,” Guerrero told Yanai at the end of his speech. “Not just what you achieved as a coach, but what you’ve achieved as a person…I’ve learned as much from you about those things that are important in life as anyone whom I’ve ever met.”
Coach Yanai and his wife Sae.
It was obvious from the diversity of those in attendance that Coach Yanai’s teaching extends far beyond the awards and accolades and success on the court. Despite the 401 wins, the pair of CCAA coach of the year awards, the NCAA Regional Coach of the Year award and the District Coach of the Year award, the true reward, according to Coach Yanai, was found in the players.
“‘The gift to a coach,’” Nojima said, quoting Coach Yanai’s own words, “‘the championships for a coach, are always the players. It’s not about the wins or the championships. You guys are the wins and you guys are the championships. And don’t you ever forget it.’”
When it was finally his turn to speak, Coach Yanai made his way to the front amidst a standing ovation.
“This is really like a Lou Gehrig moment,” he said as he took the podium. “I feel like the luckiest person alive. I should be on the other end thanking all of you folks.”
True to form and his word, exemplifying why so many people love and support him, Coach Yanai did his best to do just that, thanking each and every one in turn.
He was supposed to talk for 10 minutes, but ended up going nearly 40 thanking his wife Sae and acknowledging that she deserves as much credit for his success. Thanking Guerrero and sharing his wish for him to become the next NCAA president. Thanking Lavin for his friendship and the two-way street of teaching.
Sharing stories about players, like Nojima’s penchant to help tutor his teammates. Thanking all of his former players, staff trainers, assistant coaches, rival coaches, referees, friends, and family and even the media, like long time Rafu writer George “Horse” Yoshinaga.
From left, UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, former Cal State, Dominguez Hills head basketball coach Dave Yanai, former UCLA head coach and current ESPN analyst Steve Lavin, CSUDH athletic director Patrick Guillen and ABC 7 sports anchor Rob Fukuzaki pose for a picture during a gala dinner in honor of Yanai Sunday evening.
He also made it a point to acknowledge and thank five mentors who helped shape and mold him. Frank Yanai, his brother who he said ran interference for him. Mas Fukai who got him excited about sports and formed the FOR club with him. Sho Nojima, John Nojima’s father, who was a calming and intellectual influence. And of course two legends of the game in John Wooden and Pete Newell who offered their own coaching guidance and teaching wisdom, much in the same manner that he does now to others.
The gala included a silent auction, an effort to raise the necessary funds to see through the vision of current CSUDH athletic director Pat Guillen, who envisioned barely a year ago the idea of honoring Coach Yanai with a scholarship in his name as well as that name being forever associated with the CSUDH basketball court.
That vision will be realized Jan. 10 with a special unveiling.
Sponsors who donated time, money and auction prizes included Steve Morikawa of American Honda, Nancy Matsui of American Airlines and long time Dave Yanai friend, Tetsu Tanimoto.
Lavin read an e-mail from Coach Yanai that really resounded throughout the entire evening and was a lesson that everyone in the room was able to take away and apply to their own lives.
The e-mail read, “Stevie, remember that time is the most important commodity you have. You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time. Once today is gone, it is gone forever. Always spend your time wisely.”
Everyone in attendance Sunday evening would agree that their choice to attend, much like Coach Yanai himself, was the epitome of wisdom.
For those who would like to donate to the Dave Yanai Scholarship Fund, visit www.gotoros.com/custompages/ yanai/giving.html or mail pledges to CSUDH Development Office: Dave Yanai Scholarship, 1000 E. Victoria St. Carson, CA 90747
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