Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Cal Bears and Max Zhang
The Bears didn't do much inside, as starting center Markhuri Sanders-Frison was 1 of 2 for two points and 7-foot-3 backup Max Zhang - often matched against 6-7 Will Alston - was 1-for-5 for two points.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/24/SP4C1AQ11M.DTL#ixzz0XtC72HNo
Max Zhang did not get into the game until 2minutes to go in the 1st half. Looked a little weak in body as he was being moved around by the Jacksonville big men. Reminded me of Bill Cartwright when he first came to USF but Big Bill had a nice offensive game just was a little light up top
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Crimson’s Jeremy Lin forges new hoop path for Asian players De-dunking the myth
Crimson’s Jeremy Lin forges new hoop path for Asian players
De-dunking the myth
By Dan Duggan | Friday, November 20, 2009 | http://www.bostonherald.com | College Basketball
Photo
Photo by Matthew West
Jeremy Lin has heard every Asian stereotype and joke, and that’s just from his teammates.
As one of only a handful of Asian Americans playing Division 1 basketball - and easily the most accomplished - Lin takes the ribbing from his Harvard teammates in stride. During road games, the senior guard has heard just about every taunt imaginable and he’s mostly been able to laugh them off.
But there was one time, in a road game last season, when the crowd crossed the line and Lin lost his cool.
“The only one that’s really gotten to me is when I was called a (racial epithet),” Lin said.
Upset by the slur, Lin had one of his worst games of the season.
Lin’s parents met after they emigrated from Taiwan to the U.S. They both attended Purdue University and eventually settled in Palo Alto, Calif.
Lin grew up idolizing Michael Jordan, copying the superstar’s moves in his backyard. When he began playing organized basketball, Lin encountered preconceptions about his ability based on his ethnicity.
“That first happened when I was growing up,” Lin said. “It happened a lot in AAU tournaments when we were going to other places and everyone on the other team always wanted to guard me.”
Lin learned to channel the disrespect from opponents in a positive way.
“That’s something that I’ve kind of embraced,” Lin said. “I play with a chip on my shoulder because of that. At this point, I’ve embraced it and I enjoy it and I expect it.”
Teammate Oliver McNally has been impressed with the way Lin handles the slights.
“He has been hated on and discriminated against in the basketball world for his entire life, all the way up until he got here,” McNally said. “(If) you’re black or you’re white, you don’t really deal with a whole lot of racial stuff during games in this day and age. But he experiences it every big game. It’s pretty cool that he really feeds off that.”
Lin has consistently excelled in big games, capping his high school career by leading Palo Alto High over powerhouse Mater Dei in the California Div. 2 state championship game. Facing a team with future ACC and Pac-10 players, Lin scored 17 points and hit a late 3-pointer to secure a 51-47 upset.
The game finished a season that saw Lin named the Northern California Div. 2 player of the year. It would seem colleges would be lining up to land a player with such credentials, but Lin didn’t receive a single Div. 1 scholarship offer.
“I can’t believe that,” said McNally, who is also from Northern California and first saw Lin play in the state championship game. “That I really attribute to him being Asian, to be honest.”
Lin thinks his size - he was 6-foot-2, 170 pounds as a senior - scared off some schools, but he acknowledges there were other factors working against him.
“I think the Asian American stereotype was definitely there,” Lin said, “but at the same time, it wasn’t the whole story.”
Whatever the reason, the bigger programs that passed on Lin certainly regret the decision. Now 6-foot-3 and a solid 200 pounds, Lin has blossomed into a star for the Crimson.
“I’m glad that I’m here at Harvard,” Lin said. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation basketball-wise. It was a blessing in disguise for me.”
Last season, Lin was the only player in the country to rank in the top 10 in his conference in every statistical category.
The highlight of the season came on Jan. 7, when Lin had 27 points, eight assists and six steals to lead the Crimson to an 82-70 upset at Boston College.
Lin hasn’t missed a beat during Harvard’s 2-0 start to this season, averaging 21.5 points and eight assists.
Lin’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer from just inside half court gave Harvard an 87-85 triple-overtime win over William & Mary on Sunday. The shot was the No. 3 play of the day on SportsCenter, but Lin was unfazed.
“The shot was really lucky, obviously. I just kind of threw it up there and it went in,” Lin said, before directing the conversation to the play of his teammates.
Lin is uncomfortable with the spotlight that comes with his accomplishments. When he saw that his photo was featured on the cover of this year’s media guide, Lin went to his coaches and asked if it could be changed to include the rest of the team’s seniors.
“I think it’s quite obvious if you just look at numbers and stats, you would probably recognize his importance,” coach Tommy Amaker said. “But even beyond that, he’s incredibly humble, he’s a great teammate, he’s the hardest worker. He embodies all the things that you want in a young man, not just a good basketball player.”
Lin has big goals for the future. He’ll sit down with Amaker after the season and weigh his options, but there’s no question Lin is talented enough to play professionally at some level. When his playing days are done, Lin plans on becoming a pastor and working in an urban community.
But all of that can wait a few months. Lin’s immediate focus is on leading Harvard to its first Ivy League title, which will be a tall task with Cornell returning most of its core from last year’s Ivy League champion team.
“They have a great program going over there and they’ve won the league two years in a row,” Lin said. “They’re on the right step in terms of becoming a powerhouse and we would love to take them down.”
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/college/basketball/view.bg?articleid=1213295
De-dunking the myth
By Dan Duggan | Friday, November 20, 2009 | http://www.bostonherald.com | College Basketball
Photo
Photo by Matthew West
Jeremy Lin has heard every Asian stereotype and joke, and that’s just from his teammates.
As one of only a handful of Asian Americans playing Division 1 basketball - and easily the most accomplished - Lin takes the ribbing from his Harvard teammates in stride. During road games, the senior guard has heard just about every taunt imaginable and he’s mostly been able to laugh them off.
But there was one time, in a road game last season, when the crowd crossed the line and Lin lost his cool.
“The only one that’s really gotten to me is when I was called a (racial epithet),” Lin said.
Upset by the slur, Lin had one of his worst games of the season.
Lin’s parents met after they emigrated from Taiwan to the U.S. They both attended Purdue University and eventually settled in Palo Alto, Calif.
Lin grew up idolizing Michael Jordan, copying the superstar’s moves in his backyard. When he began playing organized basketball, Lin encountered preconceptions about his ability based on his ethnicity.
“That first happened when I was growing up,” Lin said. “It happened a lot in AAU tournaments when we were going to other places and everyone on the other team always wanted to guard me.”
Lin learned to channel the disrespect from opponents in a positive way.
“That’s something that I’ve kind of embraced,” Lin said. “I play with a chip on my shoulder because of that. At this point, I’ve embraced it and I enjoy it and I expect it.”
Teammate Oliver McNally has been impressed with the way Lin handles the slights.
“He has been hated on and discriminated against in the basketball world for his entire life, all the way up until he got here,” McNally said. “(If) you’re black or you’re white, you don’t really deal with a whole lot of racial stuff during games in this day and age. But he experiences it every big game. It’s pretty cool that he really feeds off that.”
Lin has consistently excelled in big games, capping his high school career by leading Palo Alto High over powerhouse Mater Dei in the California Div. 2 state championship game. Facing a team with future ACC and Pac-10 players, Lin scored 17 points and hit a late 3-pointer to secure a 51-47 upset.
The game finished a season that saw Lin named the Northern California Div. 2 player of the year. It would seem colleges would be lining up to land a player with such credentials, but Lin didn’t receive a single Div. 1 scholarship offer.
“I can’t believe that,” said McNally, who is also from Northern California and first saw Lin play in the state championship game. “That I really attribute to him being Asian, to be honest.”
Lin thinks his size - he was 6-foot-2, 170 pounds as a senior - scared off some schools, but he acknowledges there were other factors working against him.
“I think the Asian American stereotype was definitely there,” Lin said, “but at the same time, it wasn’t the whole story.”
Whatever the reason, the bigger programs that passed on Lin certainly regret the decision. Now 6-foot-3 and a solid 200 pounds, Lin has blossomed into a star for the Crimson.
“I’m glad that I’m here at Harvard,” Lin said. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation basketball-wise. It was a blessing in disguise for me.”
Last season, Lin was the only player in the country to rank in the top 10 in his conference in every statistical category.
The highlight of the season came on Jan. 7, when Lin had 27 points, eight assists and six steals to lead the Crimson to an 82-70 upset at Boston College.
Lin hasn’t missed a beat during Harvard’s 2-0 start to this season, averaging 21.5 points and eight assists.
Lin’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer from just inside half court gave Harvard an 87-85 triple-overtime win over William & Mary on Sunday. The shot was the No. 3 play of the day on SportsCenter, but Lin was unfazed.
“The shot was really lucky, obviously. I just kind of threw it up there and it went in,” Lin said, before directing the conversation to the play of his teammates.
Lin is uncomfortable with the spotlight that comes with his accomplishments. When he saw that his photo was featured on the cover of this year’s media guide, Lin went to his coaches and asked if it could be changed to include the rest of the team’s seniors.
“I think it’s quite obvious if you just look at numbers and stats, you would probably recognize his importance,” coach Tommy Amaker said. “But even beyond that, he’s incredibly humble, he’s a great teammate, he’s the hardest worker. He embodies all the things that you want in a young man, not just a good basketball player.”
Lin has big goals for the future. He’ll sit down with Amaker after the season and weigh his options, but there’s no question Lin is talented enough to play professionally at some level. When his playing days are done, Lin plans on becoming a pastor and working in an urban community.
But all of that can wait a few months. Lin’s immediate focus is on leading Harvard to its first Ivy League title, which will be a tall task with Cornell returning most of its core from last year’s Ivy League champion team.
“They have a great program going over there and they’ve won the league two years in a row,” Lin said. “They’re on the right step in terms of becoming a powerhouse and we would love to take them down.”
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/college/basketball/view.bg?articleid=1213295
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Nakamura breaks ankle on opening kickoff
Ravens notebook: Nakamura breaks ankle on opening kickoff
By Aaron Wilson, Times Staff Writer Tuesday, November 17, 2009
CLEVELAND -- Baltimore Ravens reserve safety and special-teams contributor Haruki Nakamura gruesomely broke his right ankle during the opening kickoff of Monday night's 16-0 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Because of the nature and timing of the injury, it's expected that Nakamura is out for the remainder of the season and will likely require surgery to repair the damage.
His leg crumpled awkwardly underneath the weight of Browns kick returner and wide receiver Joshua Cribbs, who was inadvertently blocked into Nakamura by tight end L.J. Smith.
Nakamura immediately grabbed his ankle and was clearly in agony while being carted off the field.
"It was pretty stunning,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It didn’t look good and he was in pain out there. We were excited about the way we returned the kick, but that was a little bit of a shocker right there.”
Nakamura is a Cleveland native who was an all-state selection at St. Edward High School in Cleveland.
Nakamura had several family members attending the game as his guests, including his mother, Karen. She visited with him after he suffered the injury.
Nakamura was slated to return with the team. His leg is in a cast.
By Aaron Wilson, Times Staff Writer Tuesday, November 17, 2009
CLEVELAND -- Baltimore Ravens reserve safety and special-teams contributor Haruki Nakamura gruesomely broke his right ankle during the opening kickoff of Monday night's 16-0 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Because of the nature and timing of the injury, it's expected that Nakamura is out for the remainder of the season and will likely require surgery to repair the damage.
His leg crumpled awkwardly underneath the weight of Browns kick returner and wide receiver Joshua Cribbs, who was inadvertently blocked into Nakamura by tight end L.J. Smith.
Nakamura immediately grabbed his ankle and was clearly in agony while being carted off the field.
"It was pretty stunning,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It didn’t look good and he was in pain out there. We were excited about the way we returned the kick, but that was a little bit of a shocker right there.”
Nakamura is a Cleveland native who was an all-state selection at St. Edward High School in Cleveland.
Nakamura had several family members attending the game as his guests, including his mother, Karen. She visited with him after he suffered the injury.
Nakamura was slated to return with the team. His leg is in a cast.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
harvard's jeremy lin hits it on the buzzer
This is from the Angry Asian man's blog
They're calling it the best buzzer-beater of the year (so far)... On Saturday night, Harvard guard Jeremy Lin hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in triple overtime, sealing the Crimson's 87-85 win over William & Mary: Harvard defeats William & Mary 87-85 in triple OT.
Watch the video here. It's pretty fuzzy, but it's all there. You see him nail it on the buzzer, and the crowd goes crazy. Pretty damn exciting finish. More here: Harvard guard hits game-winner of the year (so far).
Lin finished with 19 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals for Harvard. Last season, he was the only player in college basketball to rank among the top 10 players in his conference in every statistical category. Top that.
angrylink | share
They're calling it the best buzzer-beater of the year (so far)... On Saturday night, Harvard guard Jeremy Lin hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in triple overtime, sealing the Crimson's 87-85 win over William & Mary: Harvard defeats William & Mary 87-85 in triple OT.
Watch the video here. It's pretty fuzzy, but it's all there. You see him nail it on the buzzer, and the crowd goes crazy. Pretty damn exciting finish. More here: Harvard guard hits game-winner of the year (so far).
Lin finished with 19 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals for Harvard. Last season, he was the only player in college basketball to rank among the top 10 players in his conference in every statistical category. Top that.
angrylink | share
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
College Basketball Preview Pt 2: The Consistent Coach
This is from the Rafu Shimpo online, click on the title above to go to the original article
Jeff Hironaka, center, is an assistant coach for Washington State University and the highest ranking Japanese American coach in the country. But outside of basketball, he's just one of the guys. Jeff with his friends "the Bobs." Bob Kroenze, left and Bob Fujii, right, are diehard basketball and baseball fanatics and have been following Jeff's career for nearly 20 years. (JORDAN IKEDA/Rafu Shimpo)
By JORDAN IKEDA
Sports Editor
A good coach is a rare commodity because in order to be considered good, one has to be consistently good. The coaching profession is a fickle entity. One year you’re the toast of the town, the next you’re cleaning out your desk. Ask former Hornets coach Byron Scott, NBA coach of the year two seasons ago, or perhaps chat up Charlie Weis over at Notre Dame.
To be good at coaching, it not only takes a wealth of basketball knowledge, communication skills and obsessive dedication, it also takes a great deal of faith in your system, faith in your players, and a whole hell of a lot of luck.
Jeff Hironaka, thus far, has been able to find the right mixture of all of these elements. In April, the former head coach of Seattle Pacific University took on an assistant coaching position to Ken Bone (who he worked with at SPU) at Washington State University. Entering into the Pac-10, Hironaka now finds himself as the highest-ranking Japanese American coach in the nation.
“I never thought about it much until people asked me about it,” Hironaka told the Rafu Shimpo in regards to his place in the coaching heirarchy. “What would I like to do with it? I’d like to be a head Division I coach somewhere. Would I like to be a Pac-10 head coach? Sure. Is that realistic? Ehhhh, I don’t know. Low D-I, if we do well. If we don’t do well, we’re all done anyway.”
Hironaka, who looks part mad scientist (it’s the hair), part astrophysicist (it’s the glasses) and full time basketball coach (it’s the warm-ups) has a sly, somewhat self-deprecating humor about him that bubbles up through all the basketball jargon and his stream-of-consciousness chatter. But don’t be fooled by his exterior.
His hesitation at projecting a move up the coaching ladder to D-I does not come from a lack of a resume.
During his 18 years at SPU, including 11 years serving as Bone’s chief aide, the Falcons amassed a 370-154 record, earned seven conference championships and qualified for NCAA Division II Tournament berths 13 of the last 16 years.
As the head coach of SPU the past seven seasons, Hironaka’s teams have gone 134-67 highlighted by seven consecutive winning seasons and five consecutive appearances in the NCAA D-II Tournament. In 2006, Hironaka’s Falcons won 26 games and matched the school’s best NCAA Tournament result, reaching the final four and capturing the first of back-to-back conference championships. Of course, with the winning have come awards as well. Hironaka is a two-time GNAC Coach of the Year and was named the 2006 NABC West Region Coach of the Year.
Hironaka hopes to be a big part of the future success of the WSU .
As one can readily see, the resume is about as sparkling as a person can ever hope to achieve—a Phil Jacksonesque winning percentage and a whole closet full of hardware to show for it. So it’s not the lack of a resume.
Nor is it a lack of drive.
“I think he and Kobe (Bryant) would get along very well because of their work ethic,” Bob Kroenze, a friend of Hironaka’s and former teacher, told the Rafu.
“He’s so conscientious about his job that he thinks that he shouldn’t be going to a movie or a ball game,” said Bob Fujii, another close friend who has opened up his house for Hironaka over the past 18 years when the coach is out recruiting in the greater Los Angeles area. “It bothers him that he’s not doing recruiting work or watching film. He overdoes that…He’s taken maybe three total days of vacation. He’s that type of person.”
There is no lack of drive, not from a man who hasn’t missed a single day of early morning running over the past five years.
Instead, the lack of hope for upward movement, that hesitation in Hironaka’s expectations, comes more from what he is not.
“I mean you try to name a Japanese coach in the Pac-10,” he said. “I mean, Rex Walters, he’s a hapa at the University of San Francisco and that’s really it. Other than Bill Fujikawa at Arizona State back in the 50s, other than him, there’s nobody. Dave Yanai was very successful at Cal State L.A. and I was fortunate enough to be fairly successful at SPU. But as an Asian male, you’re not much of a commodity because there aren’t any Asian players that are high caliber talent. So you don’t bring a lot to the table that way. If you look at the coaches in the NCAA, you’ve got a lot of African American players, so you need African American coaches or assistants because you need someone on the staff who can identify with the players you’re recruiting.”
If that assessment sounds harsh, it’s because it rings truth. In fact, harshness has been a lifelong companion to Hironaka, and being able to deal with that reality and make adjustments has made him an excellent coach.
“Nobody ever gave me anything,” he said, more in a matter-of-fact tone than one of grouse. “I’ve had to bust my hump, making no money working small colleges. There were a lot of years of sacrificing. No marriage, no family. None of that stuff. I don’t recommend that to most…But I’m pretty stubborn.”
Hironaka’s family relocated to Weiser, Idaho after being released from the internment camps back in the 40s. Weiser became the Sansei’s home where he played hoops from first grade on. He was an All-Snake River Conference guard in high school before going on to Eastern Oregon where he was a three-year varsity letterman.
“I was a scrub college player,” he said, again with the self-deprecating humor. “So I always got to sit on the bench and just watch. I got interested in it. When you’re sitting on the bench and watching you think, ‘Hey, I kind of want to do this.’”
After earning his bachelor’s degree in secondary education, he moved back to his hometown and did it, taking a job coaching junior high basketball. Over a 5-year period, he moved up to J.V. then to varsity, before taking a job in Eastern Idaho.
“We won zero games. They weren’t very good. But that’s the kind of jobs you’re going to get,” Hironaka said. “After that, I went to interview for another job at a small high school and got it. So I went from a team that didn’t win any games to another team that didn’t win any games. My first year, we won four games at the small school. That’s four more than they won the year before, so they thought I was king.”
From there, he coached at a large high school before getting recognized by the head coach at Idaho State who was watching his son play against Hironaka’s team. He then became the assistant at Idaho State where he stayed for three years. That last season, the team wasn’t very good, so the staff was released.
Hironaka’s job hunting brought him out to California in the Santa Clarita Valley, where he took a coaching job at Master’s College from 1990-91. After that, he was offered the assistant coaching position under Bone at SBU.
Eighteen years later, Bone and Hironaka are once again reunited with a team that features eight freshman and seven sophomores, and in the Pac-10 no less.
“Jeff will be an outstanding addition to our staff here at Washington State,” Bone told the media back in April. “Jeff brings a wealth of coaching experience as both an assistant and head coach where he has had a tremendous amount of success. His energy and passion for the game are second to none.”
“The goal right now this first year,” Hironaka said, “is to incorporate the new system. Get the players to grasp the system, believe in the system. Because if they don’t it’s not going to work. It’s based on guys doing their job and everybody buying into playing as a team. I don’t need the best players, I need the best team. And that’s what you need to sell. The best team can beat the most talent.”
If his words sound familiar, perhaps it’s because, like countless other coaches across the U.S., Hironaka admires John Wooden whom he met and had a five-hour chat with several years ago.
“John Wooden did it with all types of characters, all types of people. Tall teams, short teams, fast teams, slow teams. It didn’t matter the team he had. He was always able to figure the best way to win. The system was always the same for the most part. He made the right adjustment. He said the right things. Half the battle is saying the right things to your players to get them to believe that they can do it. I admire what he was able to do.”
Hironaka has a long way to go to reach the Wizard of Westwood, but he’s on the right path. His goal is to always be more prepared than the opposition, and he works tirelessly towards that goal.
“My philosophy,” he said, “is that if you work hard and do the right things and you hopefully know what you’re doing, then it will pay off somewhere down the line.”
At the heart of that philosophy?
Why consistency of course…
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
For those who want to check out Jeff in action, the WSU Cougars come to L.A. to play the USC Trojans at the Galen Center on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010. They then play the UCLA Bruins at Poly Pavilion on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Jeff Hironaka, center, is an assistant coach for Washington State University and the highest ranking Japanese American coach in the country. But outside of basketball, he's just one of the guys. Jeff with his friends "the Bobs." Bob Kroenze, left and Bob Fujii, right, are diehard basketball and baseball fanatics and have been following Jeff's career for nearly 20 years. (JORDAN IKEDA/Rafu Shimpo)
By JORDAN IKEDA
Sports Editor
A good coach is a rare commodity because in order to be considered good, one has to be consistently good. The coaching profession is a fickle entity. One year you’re the toast of the town, the next you’re cleaning out your desk. Ask former Hornets coach Byron Scott, NBA coach of the year two seasons ago, or perhaps chat up Charlie Weis over at Notre Dame.
To be good at coaching, it not only takes a wealth of basketball knowledge, communication skills and obsessive dedication, it also takes a great deal of faith in your system, faith in your players, and a whole hell of a lot of luck.
Jeff Hironaka, thus far, has been able to find the right mixture of all of these elements. In April, the former head coach of Seattle Pacific University took on an assistant coaching position to Ken Bone (who he worked with at SPU) at Washington State University. Entering into the Pac-10, Hironaka now finds himself as the highest-ranking Japanese American coach in the nation.
“I never thought about it much until people asked me about it,” Hironaka told the Rafu Shimpo in regards to his place in the coaching heirarchy. “What would I like to do with it? I’d like to be a head Division I coach somewhere. Would I like to be a Pac-10 head coach? Sure. Is that realistic? Ehhhh, I don’t know. Low D-I, if we do well. If we don’t do well, we’re all done anyway.”
Hironaka, who looks part mad scientist (it’s the hair), part astrophysicist (it’s the glasses) and full time basketball coach (it’s the warm-ups) has a sly, somewhat self-deprecating humor about him that bubbles up through all the basketball jargon and his stream-of-consciousness chatter. But don’t be fooled by his exterior.
His hesitation at projecting a move up the coaching ladder to D-I does not come from a lack of a resume.
During his 18 years at SPU, including 11 years serving as Bone’s chief aide, the Falcons amassed a 370-154 record, earned seven conference championships and qualified for NCAA Division II Tournament berths 13 of the last 16 years.
As the head coach of SPU the past seven seasons, Hironaka’s teams have gone 134-67 highlighted by seven consecutive winning seasons and five consecutive appearances in the NCAA D-II Tournament. In 2006, Hironaka’s Falcons won 26 games and matched the school’s best NCAA Tournament result, reaching the final four and capturing the first of back-to-back conference championships. Of course, with the winning have come awards as well. Hironaka is a two-time GNAC Coach of the Year and was named the 2006 NABC West Region Coach of the Year.
Hironaka hopes to be a big part of the future success of the WSU .
As one can readily see, the resume is about as sparkling as a person can ever hope to achieve—a Phil Jacksonesque winning percentage and a whole closet full of hardware to show for it. So it’s not the lack of a resume.
Nor is it a lack of drive.
“I think he and Kobe (Bryant) would get along very well because of their work ethic,” Bob Kroenze, a friend of Hironaka’s and former teacher, told the Rafu.
“He’s so conscientious about his job that he thinks that he shouldn’t be going to a movie or a ball game,” said Bob Fujii, another close friend who has opened up his house for Hironaka over the past 18 years when the coach is out recruiting in the greater Los Angeles area. “It bothers him that he’s not doing recruiting work or watching film. He overdoes that…He’s taken maybe three total days of vacation. He’s that type of person.”
There is no lack of drive, not from a man who hasn’t missed a single day of early morning running over the past five years.
Instead, the lack of hope for upward movement, that hesitation in Hironaka’s expectations, comes more from what he is not.
“I mean you try to name a Japanese coach in the Pac-10,” he said. “I mean, Rex Walters, he’s a hapa at the University of San Francisco and that’s really it. Other than Bill Fujikawa at Arizona State back in the 50s, other than him, there’s nobody. Dave Yanai was very successful at Cal State L.A. and I was fortunate enough to be fairly successful at SPU. But as an Asian male, you’re not much of a commodity because there aren’t any Asian players that are high caliber talent. So you don’t bring a lot to the table that way. If you look at the coaches in the NCAA, you’ve got a lot of African American players, so you need African American coaches or assistants because you need someone on the staff who can identify with the players you’re recruiting.”
If that assessment sounds harsh, it’s because it rings truth. In fact, harshness has been a lifelong companion to Hironaka, and being able to deal with that reality and make adjustments has made him an excellent coach.
“Nobody ever gave me anything,” he said, more in a matter-of-fact tone than one of grouse. “I’ve had to bust my hump, making no money working small colleges. There were a lot of years of sacrificing. No marriage, no family. None of that stuff. I don’t recommend that to most…But I’m pretty stubborn.”
Hironaka’s family relocated to Weiser, Idaho after being released from the internment camps back in the 40s. Weiser became the Sansei’s home where he played hoops from first grade on. He was an All-Snake River Conference guard in high school before going on to Eastern Oregon where he was a three-year varsity letterman.
“I was a scrub college player,” he said, again with the self-deprecating humor. “So I always got to sit on the bench and just watch. I got interested in it. When you’re sitting on the bench and watching you think, ‘Hey, I kind of want to do this.’”
After earning his bachelor’s degree in secondary education, he moved back to his hometown and did it, taking a job coaching junior high basketball. Over a 5-year period, he moved up to J.V. then to varsity, before taking a job in Eastern Idaho.
“We won zero games. They weren’t very good. But that’s the kind of jobs you’re going to get,” Hironaka said. “After that, I went to interview for another job at a small high school and got it. So I went from a team that didn’t win any games to another team that didn’t win any games. My first year, we won four games at the small school. That’s four more than they won the year before, so they thought I was king.”
From there, he coached at a large high school before getting recognized by the head coach at Idaho State who was watching his son play against Hironaka’s team. He then became the assistant at Idaho State where he stayed for three years. That last season, the team wasn’t very good, so the staff was released.
Hironaka’s job hunting brought him out to California in the Santa Clarita Valley, where he took a coaching job at Master’s College from 1990-91. After that, he was offered the assistant coaching position under Bone at SBU.
Eighteen years later, Bone and Hironaka are once again reunited with a team that features eight freshman and seven sophomores, and in the Pac-10 no less.
“Jeff will be an outstanding addition to our staff here at Washington State,” Bone told the media back in April. “Jeff brings a wealth of coaching experience as both an assistant and head coach where he has had a tremendous amount of success. His energy and passion for the game are second to none.”
“The goal right now this first year,” Hironaka said, “is to incorporate the new system. Get the players to grasp the system, believe in the system. Because if they don’t it’s not going to work. It’s based on guys doing their job and everybody buying into playing as a team. I don’t need the best players, I need the best team. And that’s what you need to sell. The best team can beat the most talent.”
If his words sound familiar, perhaps it’s because, like countless other coaches across the U.S., Hironaka admires John Wooden whom he met and had a five-hour chat with several years ago.
“John Wooden did it with all types of characters, all types of people. Tall teams, short teams, fast teams, slow teams. It didn’t matter the team he had. He was always able to figure the best way to win. The system was always the same for the most part. He made the right adjustment. He said the right things. Half the battle is saying the right things to your players to get them to believe that they can do it. I admire what he was able to do.”
Hironaka has a long way to go to reach the Wizard of Westwood, but he’s on the right path. His goal is to always be more prepared than the opposition, and he works tirelessly towards that goal.
“My philosophy,” he said, “is that if you work hard and do the right things and you hopefully know what you’re doing, then it will pay off somewhere down the line.”
At the heart of that philosophy?
Why consistency of course…
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
For those who want to check out Jeff in action, the WSU Cougars come to L.A. to play the USC Trojans at the Galen Center on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010. They then play the UCLA Bruins at Poly Pavilion on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Matsui vrs Ichiro
Sun Spots: “Matsui vs. Ichiro”
From Jordan Ikeda
Faithful Rafu reader George Nakagawa has been giving me tips on players to check out in Japan, but recently called me to tell me that he had never heard about the Ichiro/Matsui non-friendship I wrote about in last week’s J-Slanted. Here’s several links on background info on Ichiro and his history with Matsui.
Keizo Konishi a special writer to The Seattle Times talks in depth about Ichiro in a 2005 piece: “I’ve been covering Ichiro since 1994, and from my experience I can say one thing for certain: Ichiro loves Seattle, and is extremely grateful to the fans here who have been supporting him. To really understand this, you need to look at the tough times he went through when he played in Japan. During the last three years before he came to Seattle, when Ichiro was playing for the Orix Blue Wave in Kobe, Japan, there were so few fans in the stands that you could look out from the press box in Green Stadium and count them. For six years, starting in 1995, Ichiro received the most votes for the Japanese All-Star team, 1.6 times as many votes as Hideki Matsui, now with the Yankees. If you consider that Orix was the least popular of the 12 Japanese professional teams, and that the Tokyo Giants, Matsui’s team at the time, was far and away the most popular, it should give you an idea of how phenomenal Ichiro’s popularity was.”
Jim Caple of ESPN write in 2003 of the possible birth of a rivalry: “Hideki Matsui tells a revealing story. He’s a year younger than Ichiro and when he was a junior, his Seiryo high school team traveled to play Ichiro’s Aikoudai Meiden high school. In Japan, teams frequently take communal baths after games and because Matsui’s team was the guest, they went into the bath first. When Ichiro arrived and found Matsui in the bath, he considered it a serious breach of etiquette. Ichiro was a senior and the first bath is reserved strictly for seniors. Ichiro never forgot the perceived affront. When the two were on a TV show a dozen years later after they had both reached the majors, Ichiro had an important question for Matsui. ‘Why did you take the first bath?’”
Caple further explains this rivalry in another piece from 2003: “The two players also are very different. Ichiro is guarded with reporters—like Bonds, he traveled with his own p.r. people during last year’s major-league tour of Japan—while Matsui is much more open and outgoing. Ichiro is a slap hitter and superb outfielder. Matsui is a power hitter and an average outfielder. There already is a rivalry growing between the two players. Back when both played in Japan, Ichiro once grumbled that ‘I could hit .400 and still Matsui would get more attention.’ And despite the gracious words expressed recently, Matsui and Ichiro appear to be, as gossip columnist Walter Winchell used to say, ‘Don’t invite ‘ems.’ In other words, they’re not the biggest fans of each other.”
Christian Red of Daily Sports News in a 2003 article: “Before Ichiro entered the batting cage to take a few practice swings, Seattle GM Pat Gillick showed the Seattle right fielder a copy of Tuesday’s Daily News, in which a cartoon Godzilla foot dwarfs an Ichiro caricature. Ichiro burst into a loud cackle and said (without the help of an interpreter), “That’s good, that’s good.” Before walking toward the plate, he was asked if it’s accurate to call him “cranky” with the press. Ichiro smiled and shook his head.
John M. Glionna of Los Angeles Times: “Ichiro is the stoic media-shy obsessive with the Seattle Mariners, who toiled in the obscurity of the smaller of his country’s two leagues before becoming the first Japanese position player to dominate in MLB. Matsui of the fabled Yomiuri Giants of Tokyo, is the one who famously cried on national TV when announcing his decision to leave for the Yankees, and who was swiftly forgiven at home as he shattered the perception that Japanese players couldn’t hit the long ball in the American game. If it was a rivalry for popularity in Japan, it wasn’t really close. For years after leaving Japan, Matsui grabbed the headlines and the big endorsement deals back home. He stroked the media entourage that shadowed him, his personality as big as the town he played in. Ichiro did his best to ignore the media. Racking up records but playing on a non-contender, the Mariners’ outfielder came to be seen as moody, even petulant. Then came the first World Baseball Classic in 2006, and the baton was passed.”
From Jordan Ikeda
Faithful Rafu reader George Nakagawa has been giving me tips on players to check out in Japan, but recently called me to tell me that he had never heard about the Ichiro/Matsui non-friendship I wrote about in last week’s J-Slanted. Here’s several links on background info on Ichiro and his history with Matsui.
Keizo Konishi a special writer to The Seattle Times talks in depth about Ichiro in a 2005 piece: “I’ve been covering Ichiro since 1994, and from my experience I can say one thing for certain: Ichiro loves Seattle, and is extremely grateful to the fans here who have been supporting him. To really understand this, you need to look at the tough times he went through when he played in Japan. During the last three years before he came to Seattle, when Ichiro was playing for the Orix Blue Wave in Kobe, Japan, there were so few fans in the stands that you could look out from the press box in Green Stadium and count them. For six years, starting in 1995, Ichiro received the most votes for the Japanese All-Star team, 1.6 times as many votes as Hideki Matsui, now with the Yankees. If you consider that Orix was the least popular of the 12 Japanese professional teams, and that the Tokyo Giants, Matsui’s team at the time, was far and away the most popular, it should give you an idea of how phenomenal Ichiro’s popularity was.”
Jim Caple of ESPN write in 2003 of the possible birth of a rivalry: “Hideki Matsui tells a revealing story. He’s a year younger than Ichiro and when he was a junior, his Seiryo high school team traveled to play Ichiro’s Aikoudai Meiden high school. In Japan, teams frequently take communal baths after games and because Matsui’s team was the guest, they went into the bath first. When Ichiro arrived and found Matsui in the bath, he considered it a serious breach of etiquette. Ichiro was a senior and the first bath is reserved strictly for seniors. Ichiro never forgot the perceived affront. When the two were on a TV show a dozen years later after they had both reached the majors, Ichiro had an important question for Matsui. ‘Why did you take the first bath?’”
Caple further explains this rivalry in another piece from 2003: “The two players also are very different. Ichiro is guarded with reporters—like Bonds, he traveled with his own p.r. people during last year’s major-league tour of Japan—while Matsui is much more open and outgoing. Ichiro is a slap hitter and superb outfielder. Matsui is a power hitter and an average outfielder. There already is a rivalry growing between the two players. Back when both played in Japan, Ichiro once grumbled that ‘I could hit .400 and still Matsui would get more attention.’ And despite the gracious words expressed recently, Matsui and Ichiro appear to be, as gossip columnist Walter Winchell used to say, ‘Don’t invite ‘ems.’ In other words, they’re not the biggest fans of each other.”
Christian Red of Daily Sports News in a 2003 article: “Before Ichiro entered the batting cage to take a few practice swings, Seattle GM Pat Gillick showed the Seattle right fielder a copy of Tuesday’s Daily News, in which a cartoon Godzilla foot dwarfs an Ichiro caricature. Ichiro burst into a loud cackle and said (without the help of an interpreter), “That’s good, that’s good.” Before walking toward the plate, he was asked if it’s accurate to call him “cranky” with the press. Ichiro smiled and shook his head.
John M. Glionna of Los Angeles Times: “Ichiro is the stoic media-shy obsessive with the Seattle Mariners, who toiled in the obscurity of the smaller of his country’s two leagues before becoming the first Japanese position player to dominate in MLB. Matsui of the fabled Yomiuri Giants of Tokyo, is the one who famously cried on national TV when announcing his decision to leave for the Yankees, and who was swiftly forgiven at home as he shattered the perception that Japanese players couldn’t hit the long ball in the American game. If it was a rivalry for popularity in Japan, it wasn’t really close. For years after leaving Japan, Matsui grabbed the headlines and the big endorsement deals back home. He stroked the media entourage that shadowed him, his personality as big as the town he played in. Ichiro did his best to ignore the media. Racking up records but playing on a non-contender, the Mariners’ outfielder came to be seen as moody, even petulant. Then came the first World Baseball Classic in 2006, and the baton was passed.”
Enter the Cosmo
College Preview Pt 1: Enter the Cosmo
Cosmo Morabbi hopes to bring Citadel fans to their feet this year with his lights out shooting.
By JORDAN IKEDA
Orignially from the Rafu Shimpo, click on the link to see article
Sports Editor
Coaches and analysts like to talk about how defense wins championships. Scouts like to rave about athleticism and quickness. General managers look at potential upside. But when it comes right down to the bare bones reality of it, basketball is all about putting the ball in the hoop.
“My specialty is shooting,” Cosmo Morabbi told the Rafu Shimpo. “I’ve always been a shooter since I was little.”
Morabbi, a half-Japanese, half-Persian American from Beverly Hills plays shooting guard for the Citadel, a military school in Charleston, SC. Last year, he played his way into a rotation that went 20-13 and made the first postseason appearance in school history.
As a freshman, Morabbi averaged 18.8 minutes and 4.5 points per game, a far cry from his high school senior season at Beverly Hills High where he averaged 28 points and 8 rebounds.
“It’s completely different,” Morabbi said. “High school to college is a big step, but to D1 was a major step. The first ten games last year, I had a lot of trouble adjusting. But after that, you get used to it. Because everybody is athletic and has size, it’s a completely different game than high school.”
Adjustments, however, have been a way of life for the 6-2 guard. His father, Ali, is Iranian and his mother, Junko, is Japanese. This unique union has been a blessing in disguise for him.
“I get to see two different cultures,” Morabbi said in his smooth, laid-back tone. “I also get taught by two different cultures. I have a Japanese side—the discipline and all that. And then I also have the Persian side—where you’re always trying to get things done. It’s weird just having both because I feel like I get a little extra more than somebody else might.”
His combination of cultures has helped him adjust to the two completely different lifestyles of the ritzy, Hollywood-driven pizzazz of Beverly Hills and the relaxed, southern charm of Charleston. It’s also aided him in making the necessary adjustments in his basketball game.
Despite starting off his freshman campaign hitting only 9-43 threes, he finished the season at a 36 percent clip nailing 19-52 after a breakout game against Wofford where he hit 4-6. The Bulldogs lost that game, but then went on an 11-game winning streak, the longest in school history.
So far, this pre-season has been exhausting for Morabbi. In addition to studying for 18 units of school work, Morabbi has also been rehabbing a bruised kneecap, a deep thigh contusion, and a sprained pinky (just like the injury Kobe Bryant has). All of that in addition to the 3-4 hours of daily practice. But he says he makes sure he gets enough sleep so he is alert and ready to practice hard.
Morabbi
“As a team we’re way far ahead of where we were at the same time last year,” he said, “Because we have so many returning, our coach has been really tough on the little things. Like where our eyes should be looking and each step we take on the defensive end. He likes using the term no ‘false steps.’”
Morabbi’s expectations for this season are much higher than one might expect from a sophomore sitting behind two junior guards on the depth chart, both of whom also happen to be the captains of the team.
Morabbi believes that last year’s record 20 wins as well as the Southern Conference is theirs for the taking, especially for a team returning all but one of its players.
On a personal level, Morabbi really wants to start, but his main goal this season is to shoot 40 percent from beyond the arc.
In order to reach this goal, he’s been spending 30 minutes a day one-hand form shooting so that the ball feels perfect on his release. Realistically, he sees about 20-25 minutes a game this season and the occasional 20-point explosion throughout the season if he can get to the rim consistently and finish.
He has bigger aspirations as well. Goals that will demand he muster every last drop of his Japanese discipline and every ounce of his Persian drive.
“A little part of me still dreams about the NBA,” Morabbi said. “I’m trying for that, that’s my number one goal. If I don’t get that, then hopefully there’s somewhere else that I can go.”
To dismiss this dream would be foolhardy. After all, Morabbi’s brother, Abe, widely considered the best “Persian basketball player on the planet” currently plays pro ball in Japan under the guise Ken Tanaka. And Morabbi has pretty much followed his brother in all aspects since he was a young buck playing on five teams at once.
“When I grew up in the Asian leagues, I was typically the biggest one on the court,” he said. “But I still tried to work on my guard skills because my brother kept telling me that I’m not going to be 6-8, 6-9, I’m going to be 6-2 so I’ve got to work on how to dribble the ball, shoot from the outside, things like that.
“I feel like I have been blessed to play for a school that plays really smart basketball. So you really have to know what’s going on, on the court. We know what the other team is going to run and all that. You want to have a good coach. You want to find a good coach somewhere where you can actually learn the game. Because not everyone is going to be blessed with athleticism—you can work hard to improve that. But if you can play smart basketball and find a way. That’s my main thing.
Morabbi has been working hard to improve his admittedly average athleticism. He’s really into weight lifting and speed work and has been searching for different ways every year to try something new. This year, he found Optical Sports and has been working with large rubber bands doing resistance training to increase his quickness.
“I heard an NBA scout talking and he said you only need to be great at one thing to make it. I believe I can shoot. If I can do that and just add mediocre NBA talent in speed, dribbling ability and passing, defense, I’ll be able to make it.”
Making it to Division 1, let alone the NBA, takes more than just natural talent. It takes hard work, dedication, commitment, pain, and smarts. Clichéd though these attributes may sound, truth rings behind each and every one.
That’s why not too many people make it, especially Japanese American males.
Morabbi is looking to change this reality.
“I think me playing will open the doors and help little kids see that it’s possible because a lot of people don’t believe. There’s a way. There’s always a way. There’s always a chance.
You have to keep believing in yourself.”
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Japanese fans celebrate Hideki Matsui's MVP performance in World Series
Japanese fans celebrate Hideki Matsui's MVP performance in World Series
Jim Armstrong, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nov 5, 8:45 am EST
Printable View
Return to Original Buzz up! 2 PrintTOKYO - Japan nearly came to a standstill as millions watched on TV while Hideki Matsui(notes), the man they know as Godzilla, stomped around New York to lead the Yankees to the World Series title.
Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to receive the trophy for the Most Valuable Player of the World Series with a record-tying six RBIs in the clincher to lead the Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 on Wednesday.
Matsui homered, doubled and singled in Game 6, highlighting a series in which he hit .615 with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Japanese businessmen crammed into downtown electronics stores to watch the final few innings on giant TVs. The game ended just before 2 p.m. local time Thursday, giving office workers an excuse to take an extended lunch break.
"All the news recently has been about Ichiro Suzuki(notes)," said office worker Hiroyuki Takeuchi, who took the morning off to watch the game. "But Matsui's presence is huge. He overcame injuries and came through with the performance of a lifetime. As a Japanese, I'm very proud today."
Matsui was a three-time MVP for the Yomiuri Giants in the regular season in 1996, 2000 and 2002, his last year in Japan. He also won the MVP award in the 2000 Japan Series, Japan's version of the World Series.
Earning the nickname "Godzilla," Matsui hit 50 home runs in 2002. The No. 55 on his uniform is a tribute to Sadaharu Oh's single-season home run record.
"As the first Japanese to win an MVP in the World Series, this is a great accomplishment for Matsui and will have a huge impact," said former San Francisco Giants pitcher Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player to play in the major leagues, who watched at his Tokyo home.
Matsui always has been popular in Japan, but his decision not to play in the World Baseball Classic drew criticism from some fans. Matsui always said he was passing over the WBC to prepare for the season with the Yankees.
The 35-year-old designated hitter is in the final year of a US$52-million, four-year contract. And every baseball fan across Japan wants to know this: What will the Yankees do with Matsui?
"He's a very hard worker and is serious about his career," Murakami said. "I hope he stays with the Yankees. I know he wants to stay, and the Japanese fans want him to stay."
Japanese sports dailies have speculated about his future, some even saying he might return to Japan to play for the Hanshin Tigers, the fierce Central League rivals of the Giants.
"I hope he stays in New York," Takeuchi said. "He looks good in pinstripes."
Updated Nov 5, 8:45 am EST
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MLB Ramirez returning to Dodgers next season
Lidge, Ibanez, Eyre to have surgery
Report: Lincecum has deal on drug charge
Phillies pick up LHP Lee's $9M option
Arizona exercises '10 option on RHP Webb
Twins keep Cuddyer for 2011 at $10.5M
Putz, Pavano file for free agency
Yankees celebrate 27th title with parade
Twins get Hardy from Brewers for Gomez
White Sox decline $12M option on RF Dye
Jim Armstrong, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nov 5, 8:45 am EST
Printable View
Return to Original Buzz up! 2 PrintTOKYO - Japan nearly came to a standstill as millions watched on TV while Hideki Matsui(notes), the man they know as Godzilla, stomped around New York to lead the Yankees to the World Series title.
Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to receive the trophy for the Most Valuable Player of the World Series with a record-tying six RBIs in the clincher to lead the Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 on Wednesday.
Matsui homered, doubled and singled in Game 6, highlighting a series in which he hit .615 with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Japanese businessmen crammed into downtown electronics stores to watch the final few innings on giant TVs. The game ended just before 2 p.m. local time Thursday, giving office workers an excuse to take an extended lunch break.
"All the news recently has been about Ichiro Suzuki(notes)," said office worker Hiroyuki Takeuchi, who took the morning off to watch the game. "But Matsui's presence is huge. He overcame injuries and came through with the performance of a lifetime. As a Japanese, I'm very proud today."
Matsui was a three-time MVP for the Yomiuri Giants in the regular season in 1996, 2000 and 2002, his last year in Japan. He also won the MVP award in the 2000 Japan Series, Japan's version of the World Series.
Earning the nickname "Godzilla," Matsui hit 50 home runs in 2002. The No. 55 on his uniform is a tribute to Sadaharu Oh's single-season home run record.
"As the first Japanese to win an MVP in the World Series, this is a great accomplishment for Matsui and will have a huge impact," said former San Francisco Giants pitcher Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player to play in the major leagues, who watched at his Tokyo home.
Matsui always has been popular in Japan, but his decision not to play in the World Baseball Classic drew criticism from some fans. Matsui always said he was passing over the WBC to prepare for the season with the Yankees.
The 35-year-old designated hitter is in the final year of a US$52-million, four-year contract. And every baseball fan across Japan wants to know this: What will the Yankees do with Matsui?
"He's a very hard worker and is serious about his career," Murakami said. "I hope he stays with the Yankees. I know he wants to stay, and the Japanese fans want him to stay."
Japanese sports dailies have speculated about his future, some even saying he might return to Japan to play for the Hanshin Tigers, the fierce Central League rivals of the Giants.
"I hope he stays in New York," Takeuchi said. "He looks good in pinstripes."
Updated Nov 5, 8:45 am EST
Email Print Buzz up! 2 digg add to facebook del.icio.us morefark
mixx
StumbleUpon
Google Bookmarks
Yahoo! Bookmarks
MLB Ramirez returning to Dodgers next season
Lidge, Ibanez, Eyre to have surgery
Report: Lincecum has deal on drug charge
Phillies pick up LHP Lee's $9M option
Arizona exercises '10 option on RHP Webb
Twins keep Cuddyer for 2011 at $10.5M
Putz, Pavano file for free agency
Yankees celebrate 27th title with parade
Twins get Hardy from Brewers for Gomez
White Sox decline $12M option on RF Dye
‘Ruki Was a Steal
Haruki Nakamura wasn’t expected to offer much as a rookie, but he exceeded those thoughts. by Mike Duffy
Apr 20, 2009, 5:34PM
In the days leading up to the NFL Draft, BaltimoreRavens.com takes a look at some of the successes from the Ravens’ scouting department. Sunday kicked off the series with undrafted free agent Jameel McClain.
In the sixth round, Baltimore found a gem in safety Haruki Nakamura, who was an unheralded player out of the University of Cincinnati.
It has only been one year since Haruki Nakamura’s name was called out on draft day, but the Ravens don’t need any more convincing that he is worth a sixth-round pick.
In fact, they believe they walked away with a steal.
Not much was publicly known about Nakamura heading into the draft. Even though he was a first-team All-Big East honoree as a senior, it wasn’t like Cincinnati was a college football powerhouse.
Nakamura posted a career-high 95 tackles, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries, but he wasn’t even invited to the annual NFL Scouting Combine.
Had he attended that event, he would have been given the opportunity to speak with all 32 teams across the league. Instead, Nakamura just continued to fly under the radar - which was a dream scenario for Baltimore.
“We actually started talking with Haruki when he was at the Hula Bowl,” said Ravens director of college scouting Joe Hortiz, who noted that the initial conversation was sparked by player personnel assistant Mark Azevedo. “Then, he earned the Defensive Most Valuable Player for the game with a pick, a fumble recovery and pass breakup. We knew we had to keep an eye on him.”
Further delving into Nakamura’s game tape, the Ravens’ interest was piqued even more.
At 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, Nakamura was never the biggest or strongest guy on the football field. He typically wasn’t the fastest either.
Nakamura made up for what some would perceive as shortcomings with hard work and desire. Rare was a moment when Nakamura was not in the thick of the action. After playing mostly special teams as a freshman, Nakamura went on to start 36 consecutive contests, racking up an impressive 237 tackles along the way.
“The first thing you saw with Haruki was his playmaking ability in college,” Hortiz said. “He was always very active, no matter what, he was always ready to make things happen, whether it was picking balls off, coming up on tackles, forcing fumbles, recovering fumbles. He was just constantly around the ball.
“He did it at Cincinnati, and he did it at the Hula Bowl.”
Nakamura has been a welcome addition to the locker room. Always quick with a joke and a laugh, Nakamura’s wide smile belies the fire of a fierce competitor.
“The intelligence comes across, and then you notice his charisma and passion for the game,” Hortiz explained. “He’s an outgoing person, and when we brought him here for a meeting, you got more of the same.”
From the beginning, Nakamura’s intelligence showed up during offseason minicamps and training camp. He seemed to intercept a pass in every other practice, prompting surprised thoughts that this sixth-rounder might make the active roster as a special teamer - not an easy feat.
As the season unfolded, however, no one in Baltimore was surprised to see Nakamura contributing not only on special teams, but on defense.
Nakamura finished third on the team with 14 special teams stops and was a regular contributor on former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan’s seven-defensive back alignment.
“With a lot of those late-round guys, you’re just looking for him to contribute on teams,” said Hortiz. “You anticipated a guy that would make it because of his toughness and attitude, but he kind of grew into that role as a blitzer and a guy that would help in certain run situations.
“With Haruki, we needed him to step up late in the season to help us win games. He did a fine job for us, and that’s really just a testament to him and the way he plays the game.”
Stay tuned tomorrow for a scout’s look at fifth-round draft pick Dawan Landry!
Mike Duffy
Content Writer
Andrew Nakamura is a senior running back/linebacker for Piedmont High School
This originally came from the Rafu Shimpo
here is the link
Andrew Nakamura is a senior running back/linebacker for Piedmont High School. In his last game against Albany (a 53-3 beatdown), Andrew rushed for 20 yards on four carries and had a touchdown. Piedmont High School has become known for inventing a unique offensive style that is quickly spreading across the nation and has received pub in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Denver Post, Seattle Times, San Francisco Chronicle, ESPN the Magazine, and Coaching Management.
“The A-11 is a brand new offense that utilizes all players on the field to catch the ball,” Andrew told the Rafu Shimpo via Facebook. “The offense comes out of a spread formation that features six receivers, three linemen, and two quarterbacks, or a QB and running back in the backfield. This formation allows us to have many options when throwing the ball and our team is able to utilize the entire field, which spreads out the defense, opening up the weak points in many of our opponents’ defenses.”
For more info on the A-11 offense, visit the Piedmont football website.
As for Andrew, he began playing football his freshman year because he thought it would be fun to play and that it would challenge him to be able to push himself and become a better athlete.
“What I like about football,” he said, “is the feeling of playing under the lights on a friday night, the atmosphere of the stadium and its fans, and being able to be a part of something special that will last for the rest of my life, especially since I scored a touchdown.”
Next year, Andrew plans to head to UC Davis or UC Santa Barbara and study zoology. He enjoys drawing and playing music. His favorite players are Jahvid Best who is the star running back of Cal and the sweetness of HOFer Walter Payton.
here is the link
Andrew Nakamura is a senior running back/linebacker for Piedmont High School. In his last game against Albany (a 53-3 beatdown), Andrew rushed for 20 yards on four carries and had a touchdown. Piedmont High School has become known for inventing a unique offensive style that is quickly spreading across the nation and has received pub in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Denver Post, Seattle Times, San Francisco Chronicle, ESPN the Magazine, and Coaching Management.
“The A-11 is a brand new offense that utilizes all players on the field to catch the ball,” Andrew told the Rafu Shimpo via Facebook. “The offense comes out of a spread formation that features six receivers, three linemen, and two quarterbacks, or a QB and running back in the backfield. This formation allows us to have many options when throwing the ball and our team is able to utilize the entire field, which spreads out the defense, opening up the weak points in many of our opponents’ defenses.”
For more info on the A-11 offense, visit the Piedmont football website.
As for Andrew, he began playing football his freshman year because he thought it would be fun to play and that it would challenge him to be able to push himself and become a better athlete.
“What I like about football,” he said, “is the feeling of playing under the lights on a friday night, the atmosphere of the stadium and its fans, and being able to be a part of something special that will last for the rest of my life, especially since I scored a touchdown.”
Next year, Andrew plans to head to UC Davis or UC Santa Barbara and study zoology. He enjoys drawing and playing music. His favorite players are Jahvid Best who is the star running back of Cal and the sweetness of HOFer Walter Payton.
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