Ups and Downs of Baseball
Two weeks ago, Kurt Suzuki of the Oakland Athletics was on a tear and had pushed his batting average to .331.

The Coach’s Court
Cal State Dominguez Hills looks to rename its basketball court after legendary coach Dave Yanai.

NAU North/South Basketball Championships
The Nisei Athletic Union (NAU) State Finals took place Sunday at the University of San Francisco.

Sophomore Surprise
Devin Setoguchi, in only his second year, is making a world of difference for the NHL’s team.

Don of a New Era
New Seattle Mariners Manager Don Wakamatsu faces an uphill battle this upcoming season.

Rafu’s Baseball Preview 2009
Former Rafu staffer Alex Isao Herbach gives an in-depth look into Major League Baseball’s teams and their outlook for the coming season.

Baseball’s Brave New World
The organizers of the World Baseball Classic have wisely emphasized national pride in promoting the tournament. Now it’s time for the U.S. to smarten up a little.

Troy’s Defeat Leaves Foul Taste
Warriors’ 3-for-12 performance at the free throw line is their undoing in CIF state semifinal against Long Beach Poly.

Mr. Vegas and His Pops
Gerald Morita and his father are the main men behind the Las Vegas Invitational Basketball Tourney.

CHANGE IS GOOD
Western’s ouster from the CIF playoffs can’t diminish the groundwork they have laid for future success.

‘Transcending’ the Game
Wat Misaka’s attendance at the screening of a documentary about his basketball days makes for a priceless event.

Marina’s Trifecta
All three James brothers are starters for the Vikings, a testament to their father’s dedication as well as their own.

Two Paths Diverged in the Road
Mira Costa extends win streak against a slumping West Torrance squad.

Swift Progress
7-foot center Robert Swift opens up about his team, his uncles and his NBA future.

An Uplifting Spirit
Clippers’ Spirit dance team member, Lynae Hashimoto excites and thrills the crowd every home game, despite a dismal start to the season.

Sweet as Cake
North’s girls celebrate their victory over El Segundo on Wednesday night with a round of cupcakes.

Remembering 10 Days in August
Players and coaches from the original Sansei Basketball team reunited 30 years after their pioneering trip to Japan.

Historic Hiring
Seattle Mariners’ Don Wakamatsu becomes the first Japanese American manager in major league baseball.

NBA: The Beasts–and the Leasts–of the East
The NBA season has officially kicked off. We’ve already seen Hack-a-Shaq, a re-injured Greg Oden and the Lakers dominating.

NBA Preview: In the End, the Sun Sets in the West
With new kicks, polished floors, and shiny gold medals for the league’s elite, the NBA season kicked off last week with last year’s number one pick, Greg Oden of the Blazers facing off against the Lakers’ Andrew Bynum in a battle of the new-school giants.

Phenom.
SGV point guard Bailey Kikuchi shows that when you get right down to it, skills trump size.

Goodwood, Good Times
Take a trip back in time to England, for one of the world’s most celebrated auto racing revivals.

Drought ends—for the Dodgers, anyway
Kuroda delivers as L.A. wins its first postseason series in 20 years. For Cubs’ fans, it’s 101 years and counting.

NOT JUST A PASSING PHASE
Maranatha libero Nicolette Tsukamoto’s most valuable skill is enthusiasm.

Open a Can of Excitement
The 2008 U.S. Sumo Open draws a boisterous crowd to the L.A. Sports Arena.

Hooping It Up
More than 1,400 players take part in the 2008 Nikkei Games Basketball tournament.

Engaging the Klutch
Oakland Athletics’ catcher Kurt Suzuki stays humble–and very, very good.

Right On Track
Results from the 2008 Nikkei Games Track and Field Events

Diving Their Way Up
The Ishimatsu sisters have the perfect follow-up to competing for national diving titles: send one to the Olympics in Beijing.

‘Tornado’ Moves On
Hideo Nomo decides he’s reached the end of his playing days, closing a career with a profound impact on players from across the Pacific.

Brush with Perfection
Hiroki Kuroda faces just one batter over the minimum in a masterful one-hitter Monday night.

Like Totally, Pitcher Perfect
Chatsworth ace Trevor Takeyama, prepares for two possible futures in medicine and baseball.

2008 Community Golf Calendar
Check this year's community golf schedule.

Belle of the Ball
Kristi Yamaguchi tosses the first pitch at Dodger Stadium, along with some insight on her ‘Dancing.’

So Cal Teams Advanced to NAU State Finals
The 2008 Southern California finals in the Nisei Athletic Union basketball league were played Sunday at Gardena High School, with teams in four divisions advancing to next weekend’s State fi nals.

Hoof Dreams
Huntington Beach’s Gary Masada shares memories of a life he loved—training and owning horses.

Capital Gain
Mira Costa’s storybook will have its final chapter at the State championship.

Point A to Point B
Eron Iki and Brandon Miyano split point guard duties for a North squad that’s ready for round two.

Spirit of a Nation
As captain of the L.A. Clippers’dance team, Kristin Egusa is always ready to pick up the fans, even in a thus far disappointing year.

A Sign of Good Weather
Citing the balmy climate and the comfort of his family, Hiroki Kuroda is introduced as the newest member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Grin and Bury It
Lauren Kamiyama shrugs off injury and comes out shooting, leading Chapman to an action-packed win over Occidental.

FOUR FOR THE FUTURE
A young Occidental volleyball team has a solid foundation on which to build for the coming years.

Drive to Succeed
USC’s Brent Yoshida has earned himself a starting spot on the Trojan’s kick return squad, but he knows he’ll have to continue to work hard to keep it.

Roberts to Have Unfamiliar View of Playoffs
The Giants centerfielder’s comeback from elbow surgery ends all too soon, as he won’t be a part of the postseason for the first time in four years.

NET GAIN
With a potent lineup or returning seniors and some talented underclassmen, there’s plenty of excitement at South Pasadena.

HEART AND SOLES
Gahr’s Corey Nielsen has stepped up, with the starting job at quarterback and perfect grades–along with some stylish footwear.

Dodgers to Host Annual JA Community Night
The Los Angeles Dodgers will host its annual Japanese American Community Night on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

Final Results from ’07 Nikkei Games Hoops
The 2007 Nikkei Games Basketball Tournament was held Aug. 18-19 at the Pyramid on the campus of Cal State Long Beach.

Advantage: South
So Cal teams top their Northern rivals at the annual North-South Tournament.

Tradition on Display
The Nisei Week Karate Tournament draws a full house to Caltech in Pasadena.

The Xs and Ohs! of the X Games
A couple of weeks ago, I was informed that there would be a Japanese freestyle motocross participant in this year’s X Games.