RIP 2025

1/16/25 - Bob Uecker

1/15/25 - Gus Williams

1/12/25 - Felix Mantilla

NFL 2025

1/7/25 - Raiders fire Antonio Pierce

1/6/25 - Patriots fire Jerod Mayo after 1 season as head coach

NBA 2024-2025

1/3/25 - Jimmy Butler not happy with the Heat

12/29/24 - D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, three second-round picks traded from Lakers to Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton

12/28/24 - Sacramento fires head coach Mike Brown

10/8/24 - NBA GM Survey: Boston to win the title, SGA to win MVP

9/27/24 - Minnesota trades Karl-Anthony Towns to Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, first round pick

9/26/24 - Derrick Rose announces retirement

9/22/24 - Aja Wilson unanimously named WNBA MVP / Clark unanimous rookie of the year / WNBA first team: Wilson, Clark, Collier, Stewart, Thomas

9/20/24 - Embiid signs three year $192.9 million extension

9/18/24 - WNBA to expand to Portland in 2026

9/18/24 - Woj retires from ESPN, to become general manager of St. Bonaventure basketball / NBA AW (after Woj)

7/24/24 - NBA rejects Warner Brothers Discovery bid, but WBD disagrees and will take "appropriate action".

7/22/24 - Dinwiddie signs with Dallas

7/19/24 - Clippers trade Russell Westbrook to Utah for Kris Dunn

7/7/24 - Here's the details: Dallas gets Klay Thompson (from Golden State) and second-round pick, Minnesota gets second-round pick, 2031 second-round pick swap and cash, Golden State gets Buddy Hield (from Philadelphia) and Kyle Anderson (from Minnesota), Denver gets cash, Charlotte gets Josh Green (from Dallas), Reggie Jackson (from Denver), 2029 second-round pick, 2030 second-round pick, Philadelphia gets 2031 second-round pick. 

7/7/24 - DeMar DeRozan ($74 million, three years) traded from Bulls to Kings, Kings send Harrison Barnes and pick swap to San Antonio, Bulls receive Chris Duarte, two second-round picks and cash

7/4/24 - Buddy Hield traded from 76ers to Warriors for 2031 second-round pick

7/1/24 - Jayson Tatum gets the richest contract in NBA history: $315 million for five years

7/1/24 - Klay Thompson to join Dallas for 3 years, $50 million

7/1/24 - Maxey agrees to five-year, $204 million maximum extension

7/1/24 - Paul George signs with 76ers for four years, $212 million

7/1/24 - Hartenstein signs with OKC for three years, $87 million

7/1/24 - Tobias Harris signs with Pistons for two years, $52 million

6/30/24 - J.B. Bickerstaff to become Piston's head coach

6/30/24 - Chris Paul signs with Spurs (1 year, $11 million) after release from Warriors

6/29/24 - Atlanta trades Dejounte Murray to New Orleans for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, 2025 first round pick, 2027 first round pick

6/28/24 - NBA draft grades

30. Boston - Baylor Scheierman, W, Creighton

29.  Utah - Isaiah Collier, G, USC

28. Denver (to Phoenix) - Ryan Dunn, F, Virginia

27. Minnesota - Terrence Shannon, Jr., W, Illinois

26. Washingon (to Knicks to Oklahoma City) - Dillon Jones, F, Weber State

25. Knicks - Pacome Dadiet, W, France

24. Knicks (to Washington) - Kyshawn George, W, Miami

24. Knicks trade pick to Washington for the 26th pick

23. Milwaukee - A.J. Johnson, G, National Basketball League (Australia)

22. Phoenix (to Denver) - DaRon Holmes II, C, Dayton

22. Phoenix trades their first round pick (no. 22) to Denver for first round pick (28), second round pick (56) and 2 future 2nd round picks

21. New Orleans - Yves Missi, C, Baylor

20.  Cleveland - Jaylon Tyson, W, California

19. Toronto - Ja'Kobe Walter, W, Baylor

18.  Orlando - Tristan da Silva, F, Colorado

17.  Lakers - Dalton Knecht, W, Tennessee

16.  Philadelphia - Jared McCain, G, Duke

15.  Miami - Kel'el Ware, C, Indiana

14.  Portland (to Washington) - Bub Carrington, G, Pittsburgh

Washington trades Avdija to Portland for Brogdon, 2024 1st round pick, 2029 1st round pick, two 2nd-round picks

13. Sacramento - Devin Carter, G, Providence

12. Oklahoma City - Nikola Topic, G, Serbia

11. Chicago - Matas Buzelis, W, G League Ignite

10. Utah - Cody Williams, W, Colorado

9.  Memphis - Zach Edey, C, Purdue

Minnesota trades for Rob Dillingham

8.  San Antonio - Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky

7.  Portland - Donovan Clingan, C, UConn

6.  Charlotte - Tidjane Salaun, F, France

5.  Detroit - Ron Holland II, W, G League Ignite

4.  San Antonio - Stephon Castle, G, UConn

3.  Houston - Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky

2.  Washington - Alex Sarr, C, France (Overtime Elite, Perth)

1.  Atlanta - Zaccharie Risacher, W, France

6/26/24 - And the first pick goes to...

6/25/24 - Nets to trade Mikal Bridges to Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic, five first-round picks, first-round pick swap, and second round pick

6/24/24 - Toronto signing Scottie Barnes to 5-year max extension worth up to $270 million

6/24/24 - Cavaliers hiring Kenny Atkinson as head coach

6/21/24 - Bulls trade Caruso to OKC for Giddey

6/20/24 - Lakers hiring J.J. Redick as head coach

6/19/24 - Piston fire Monty Williams after one season

6/18/24 - Clippers hire Jeff Van Gundy as lead assistant

6/14/24 - Charles Barkley says he's retiring from television after next season

6/10/24 - Dan Hurley reported turns down 5 year $70 million offer from Lakers

6/10/24 - Darvin Ham returns to Milwaukee as top assistant

5/29/24 - Tyronn Lue agrees to 5 year $70 million extension

5/23/24 - Cavaliers fire J.B. Bickerstaff

5/11/24 - Suns hire Mike Budenzolzer as head coach for 5 years, $50 million

5/10/24 - Hornets hire Boston assistant Charles Lee as head coach

5/10/24 - Suns fire Frank Vogel after one season

5/3/24 - Darvin Ham fired by Lakers

4/22/24 - Nets hire Jordi Fernandez as head coach

University of Hawaii Football 2025

12/29/24 - C-Bo Brown is coming back, Brandon White WR will transfer from Kentucky

12/28/24 - Nick Cenacle withdraws from transfer portal, Luke Weaver JC QB signs scholarship agreement

12/24/24 - Jackson Harris, WR, to transfer from Stanford

12/18/24 - Nick Cenacle enters transfer portal

12/15/24 - Hawaii lands place kicker Caleb Sempebwa and long-snapper Jax Thompson from TCU

12/8/24 - Kainoa "Kaikai" Carvalho, 2021 offensive player of the year, signs with Hawaii

12/5/24 - Warriors sign 13 in early signing period including Titan Lacaden from St. Louis

R.I.P. 2024

12/27/24 - Greg Gumbel

12/20/24 - Ricky Henderson

12/11/24 - Rocky Colavito

12/6/24 - Bill Melton

12/1/24 - Lou Carnesecca

11/25/24 - Rico Carty

11/19/24 - Bob Love

11/12/24 - Gerry Faust

11/11/24 - John Robinson

11/3/24 - Dub Jones

10/22/24 - Fernando Valenzuela

10/8/24 - Luis Tiant

10/5/24 - Greg Landry

10/4/24 - Billy Shaw

9/30/24 - Pete Rose

9/30/24 - Dikembe Mutombo

9/21/24 - Mercury Morris

8/21/24 - Al Attles

8/10/24 - Kevin Sullivan

8/9/24 - Chi Chi Rodriguez

8/7/24 - Duane Thomas

7/16/24 - Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant

6/28/24 - Orlando Cepeda

6/25/24 - Sika Anoa'i

6/18/24 - Willie Mays 

6/12/24 - Jerry West

6/9/24 - Frank Arnold

6/9/24 - Chet Walker

6/3/24 - Larry Allen

5/29/24 - Kent Kafentzis

5/27/24 - Bill Walton

5/20/24 - Jim Otto

4/20/24 - Roman Gabriel

4/16/24 - Whitey Herzog

4/11/24 - OJ Simpson (Reardon)

4/11/24 - Chad Rowan (Akebono)

3/26/24 - Jim Loomis

3/3/24 - Chris Mortensen

2/26/24 - Golden Richards

WNBA 2025

12/24/24 - Caitlin Clark named AP Female Athlete of the Year

12/10/24 - Caitlin Clark named Time Athlete of the Year

11/7/24 - Top 25 WNBA players ranked

11/1/24 - Indiana Fever hire Stephanie White as new head coach

10/28/24 - Connecticut splits with head coach Stephanie White, one day after Indiana fires Christie Sides

MLB 2024

12/23/24 - Ohtani wins AP male athlete of the year for the third time

11/22/24 - Judge and Ohtani are unanimous MVPs

11/21/24 - Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal win Cy Young Awards

10/30/24 - Dodgers down 0-5, come back to beat the Yankees 7-6 to win World Series

10/25/24 - World Series game 1: Freddie Freeman walk-off grandslam

9/19/23 - Shohei goes 50-50, went 6-6 with three homers, two doubles, two steals, four runs scored, and 10 RBIs

3/19/24 - Blake Snell sign with Giants for two years, $62 million

12/9/23 - Shohei Otani signs with Dodgers for 10 years, $700 million

NCAA Football 2025

12/15/24 - Nick Rolovich to join Cal's staff as offensive assistant

12/13/24 - Dan Mullen to be next head coach at UNLV, replacing Barry Odom who left for Purdue

12/11/24 - Bill Belichick agrees to be next head coach at North Carolina for five years $50 million

NCAA Football 2024

12/15/24 - Travis Hunter edges Ashton Jeanty (and Dillon Gabriel and Cam Ward) to win Heisman Trophy

12/13/24 - Dan Mullen to be next head coach at UNLV, replacing Barry Odom who left for Purdue

12/11/24 - Bill Belichick agrees to be next head coach at North Carolina

12/8/24 - Committee gives SMU the 12th spot over Alabama for the College Football Playoffs

11/9/24 - Dylan Gabriel breaks Case Keenum's record for most career TDs

10/1/24 - Gonzaga to join Pac-12 in 2026, but doesn't have a football team, UTEP to leave Conference USA for Mountain West in 2026

9/26/24 - Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada-Reno, New Mexico, San Jose State, Nevada Las Vegas, Wyoming commit to Mountain West Conference through June 30, 2032

9/24/24 - Utah State to leave Mountain West for Pac-12 too

9/12/24 - Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Colorado State to leave Mountain West and join Oregon State and Washington State in 2026 to bring Pac-2 up to six teams / who's next?

8/19/24 - RJ Young ranks the 134 teams: Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Oregon, Florida State, Ole Miss, LSU, Michigan, Alabama, Missouri / where's Hawaii? 105

6/3/24 - How Dillon Gabriel ended up at Oklahoma

5/24/24 - Power Five Students-athletes will be paid directly under landmark NCAA settlement

1/26/24 - Michigan promotes Sherron Moore to head coach

1/22/24 - San Jose State hires Ken Niumatalolo as head coach

1/17/24 - Arizona hires Brent Brennan away from San Jose State to be head coach

1/14/24 - Washington hires Jedd Fisch away from Arizona to be head coach

1/12/24 - Alabama hires Kalen DeBoer away from Washington to be head coach

1/10/24 - Nick Saban retires as Alabama head coach after 17 seasons

1/6/24 - Niumatalolo to coach tight ends for UCLA

1/6/24 - Taulia Tagovailoa enters transfer portal

12/9/23 - Dillon Gabriel to transfer to Oregon

MLB 2025

12/9/24 - Dick Allen and Dave Parker elected to Hall of Fame by Veterans Committee

12/9/24 - Juan Soto signs with Mets for record-breaking $765 million, 15 years

Hawaii High School Football 2024

12/4/24 - Sagapolutele flips from Cal to Oregon

11/30/24 - St. Louis defeats Kahuku 17-10 to win the Open Championships

11/26/24 - St. Louis' Pupu Sepulona is a two-sports star

11/15/24 - St. Louis rallies to defeat Campbell 27-24 after Sagapolutele departs

11/15/24 - Kahuku edges Mililani 8-6 in State Semi-Final

11/8/24 - Kahuku rallies over no. 1 Campbell 33-15 for OIA championship

11/8/24 - St. Louis defeats Kamehameha 33-9 for ILH championship

11/7/24 - No. 1 Campbell to face no. 2 Kahuku for the OIA title

11/6/24 - St. Louis vs. Kamehameha will be for the ILH championship (rather than the second round title)

11/5/24 - Campbell remains no. 1 though Kahuku gets a vote

11/1/24 - OIA Semifinal: Campbell comes back to defeat Kapolei 49-43, Sagapulutele breaks passing yardage record

10/31/24 - Brandon Gaea transferred from Bishop Gorman to Miliani this week and is eligible to play against Kahuku

10/19/24 - Lacaden runs for 248 yards and 4 TDs and St. Louis runs past Punahou 50-14

10/19/24 - No. 1 Campbell defeats no. 3 Kahuku 21-13

10/17/24 - Sagapolutele's next obstacle is Kahuku

10/15/24 - Matai Fuiava transfers from St. John Bosco to Kahuku

10/5/24 - Sagapolutele throws 6 TDs to lead no. 1 Campbell over no. 2 Mililani 41-20 / McKinley gets first win in five years

9/29/24 - no. 2 Kahuku edged by no. 3 Mililani 10-14 

9/15/24 - Kahuku no match for no. 1 Mater Dei

University of Hawaii Football 2024

12/3/24 - Timmy Chang gets extension until 2026

11/30/24 - Hawaii holds off New Mexico 38-30 as Alejado passes for 469 yards and 5 TDs

11/28/24 - Dan Morrison to retire after 52 seasons

11/27/24 - Angelos firing just the latest in a series of clown shows (Reardon)

11/26/24 - Immediate challenges face the new A.D.

11/19/24 - Craig Angelos out as Athletic Director

11/16/24 - Utah State routs Hawaii 55-10

11/9/24 - Hawaii edged by UNLV 27-29

11/2/24 - Hawaii rallies to defeat Fresno State 21-20 on the road

10/26/24 - Hawaii runs past Nevada 34-13

10/19/24 - Washington State turns back Hawaii 42-10

10/16/24 - Hawaii to join Mountain West as full-time member in 2026

10/12/24 - Hawaii run over by Boise State 28-7

10/5/24 - San Diego squeezes past Hawaii 27-24

9/25/24 - Blangiardi lobbying for Hawaii to join the Pac-6

9/21/24 - Hawaii dances past Northern Iowa 36-7 on Disco Night (crowd 9,678)

9/14/24 - Hawaii no match for Sam Houston 13-31

8/31/24 - Hawaii edged by UCLA 13-16 in front of record crowd (13,470)

8/24/24 - Hawaii gets by Delaware State 35-14

8/23/24 - Hawaii Football Special Preview

8/21/24 - Reardon predicts 6-6

8/2/24 - J.J. Nielsen, QB, commits to Hawaii for football and baseball 

7/25/24 - Brayden Schager given the keys

7/23/24 - Timmy Chang turns to June Jones for advice

7/21/24 - Bobby Curran ends radio show

7/21/24 - A looks a the Warriors position-by-position going into practice

7/14/24 - Mountain West capsules

7/11/24 - Warriors ranked 9th in pre-season

7/7/24 - Timmy Chang has been finding a way

5/3/24 - Jamar Sekona, DL, joins Hawaii from USC

3/1/24 - June Jones inducted into UH Circle of Honor

2/24/24 - 2024 Recruiting breakdown

2/11/24 - Roman Sapolu, Jacob Yoro leaving Hawaii (for Miami Dolphins and Missouri) 

1/28/24 - How Dennis Thurmond wound up as Hawaii's defensive coordinator

1/24/24 - Anthony Arceneaux hired as running backs coach

1/23/24 - KJ Hallums, offensive lineman, accepts 2025 scholarship

1/20/24 - Hawaii hires Dennis Thurmond, Dan Morrison, Jeff Reinebold / Chris Brown promoted, Kel Crowdus, wide receiver, transfers from Kentucky

1/18/24 - Boogie Henderson, offensive lineman, commits to Hawaii

1/17/24 - Raiola and Alejado back in Hawaii for Polynesian Bowl

1/9/24 - Hawaii back to age-old plan for hiring coaches

1/8/24 - Hawaii is eyeing Thurmond, Morrison, Reinebold / Cam Barfield, RB, transferring from Boston College, Fabian Ross, defensive back, transferring from USC

1/3/24 - Hawaii won't retain three coaches

12/24/23 - Schager withdraws from transfer portal and will return to Hawaii

12/21/23 - 14 sign to play with Hawaii

NFL 2024

11/29/24 - Chicago fires Matt Eberflus after sixth straight loss

11/22/24 - Giants release Daniel Jones

11/4/24 - Saints fire Dennis Allen after seventh straight loss

10/8/24 - Jets fire Robert Saleh / Jeff Ulbrich will be interim head coach

9/26/24 - Doctor says Tua has high susceptibility to additional concussions

8/22/24 - Cowherd predicts the NFL standings

7/27/24 - Jordan Love signs $220 million, 4-year extension

7/26/24 - Tua agrees to $212.4 million, 4-year extension

6/3/24 - Justin Jeffersion signs 4 year, $140 million extension

20. Pittsburgh - Troy Fautanu, G, Washington

19. Los Angeles Rams - Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

18. Cincinnati - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

17. Minnesota - Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama

Minnesota trades up for Jacksonville's pick

16. Seattle - Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

15. Indianapolis - Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

14. New Orleans - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

13. Raiders - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

12. Denver - Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

11. New York Jets - Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

10. Minnesota - J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Minnesota trades for the Jets first round pick

9. Chicago - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

8.  Atlanta - Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

7. Tennessee - JC Latham, OT, Alabama

6. New York Giants - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

5. Chargers - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

4. Arizona - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

3. New England - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

2. Washington - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

1. Chicago - Caleb Williams, QB, USC 

4/25/24 - NFL mock drafts: The Athletic, USA Today Sporting News, Prisco, McShay, Jeremiah, Ryan Wilson, Chris Trapasso. Schrager, Zierlein, The Ringer, Bleacher Report, Athlon Sports, NFL Nation

4/3/24 - Buffalo trades Stefon Diggs to Houston for 2024 sixth round pick, 2025 second round pick, 2025 fifth round pick 

3/26/24 - NFL overhauls kickoff rules

3/16/24 - Pittsburgh acquire Justin Fields from Chicago for sixth round pick

3/16/24 - Rams sign Garoppolo to back up Stafford

3/15/24 - Aaron Donald announces retirement after ten seasons

3/14/24 - Chargers trade Keenan Allen to Chicago for fourth round pick

3/13/24 - Calvin Ridley signs with Tennessee for four years, $92 million

3/13/24 - Raiders release Garoppolo

3/12/24 - Mariota headed to Washington on one-year deal

3/12/24 - Derrick Henry to sign with Baltimore for two years, $16 million

3/11/24 - Saquon Barkley agrees to terms with Philadelphia for three years, up to $46.75 million

3/11/24 - Kirk Cousins leaving Minnesota for Atlanta for $180 million, four years

3/5/24 - Denver to part with Russell Wilson

2/1/24 - Commanders hire Dan Quinn as head coach

1/31/24 - Seattle hire Mike Macdonald as head coach 

1/26/24 - Falcons hire Raheem Morris as head coach

1/25/24 - Carolina hires Dave Canales as head coach 

1/24/24 - Chargers hire Jim Harbraugh as head coach

1/24/24 - Titans hire Brian Callahan as head coach

1/29/24 - Las Vegas to promote Antonio Pierce to head coach

1/12/24 - Patriots name Jerod Mayo to succeed Belichick

1/11/24 - Belichick out as Patriots head coach after winning six Super Bowls

1/10/24 - Pete Carroll out as Seahawks head coach after 14 seasons

Alexa Takai drawing comparisons to Michelle Wie

Alexa Takai, 14, and Brandan Kop, 63, regularly compete at Oahu Country Club. Takai is a rising freshman at Punahou. Kop is in the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame. Takai hits farther, with a disposition even further beyond her years. Kop knows that’s not normal.

He has been around a lot of great players. His grandfather, Guinea Kop, was part of the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame’s inaugural 1988 induction class. His uncle, Wendell Kop, was inducted in 1994. Brandan Kop himself followed suit in 2008, preceded by accomplishments that included a Western Athletic Conference championship and two All-WAC selections in the 1980s.

But around the time Michelle Wie broke onto the world scene as a young teenager in the early 2000s, Kop had a front-row seat. He played alongside a 14-year-old Wie at the Hawaii State Amateur Championship, annually held at the Pearl Country Club. She shot down the center of all 18 fairways and landed on 17 of 18 putting greens. He knew she was one of a kind. Then he met Takai.

“That’s the closest person I’ve seen so far to Michelle Wie,” Kop said.

“Michelle hit a little farther, a little tighter, but Alexa has a better short game. Her wedge and her putter is better.”

Last month, Takai became the second-youngest golfer to win the Jennie K. Wilson Women’s Invitational, a premier amateur women’s golf tournament that has been held since 1950. Wie won at age 11 in 2001. Comparisons between the two intensify by the day.

Amid the buzz, Takai still has so much more that she wants to accomplish, starting with her appearance at the 115th Manoa Cup match-play championship this week.

She is willing to go to great lengths to win another tournament, and with it, win a feeling unparalleled to any other she has experienced in her young life. Playing well is, in her own words, “addicting.”

“I’d give anything to feel that again, or even more than that,” Takai said.

When Takai and Kop first began their practice rounds at OCC last August, her drive consistently careened short of his. Surely, it was no surprise the strength of an eighth-grade prospect failed to match up with that of a veteran golfer. Takai didn’t see it that way. Kop assured her that she would naturally grow stronger in due time. So Takai expedited the process.

She spent the month of May focused on intense meal prep, balancing chicken, steak, eggs and other proteins with a proportional amount of carbs and fats to add muscle mass. Yes, she cooked many of her own meals. And yes, 10 pounds later, she effectively added 10-15 yards to her tee shot.

“When I’m talking to her, I look at her, I know what she’s thinking,” Kop said. “She’s thinking, ‘Why wait? … I want to do it now.’”

Takai is the youngest of four, and her parents have never held her to a certain standard in golf. She first swung a golf club at 5 years old because it was a fun activity, a family hobby. In the past several years, she’s wanted more from the sport.

Now she has it — more strength, more success and more spectators watching to see what she does next.

“My husband and I, neither of us have had the type of success she’s had in life,” Takai’s mom, Courtney, said.

“Alexa is in a transition period right now, where maybe six months ago or a year ago, not a lot of people knew who she was. And now, she’ll show up at a tournament and people will know her name, unexpectedly. We’ve never had that happen, really.”

To qualify for the Manoa Cup, Takai will need to shoot among the 16 lowest scores across a pool of 31 players in Monday’s qualifying round. Gonzaga-bound Jasmine Wong, who won ‘Iolani its first individual title in the David S. Ishii/HHSAA Girls Golf State Championship a month ago, and Mililani rising senior Kate Nakaoka, who won the Hawaii State Amateur over Takai by two strokes in March, will tee off with Takai at 11:15 a.m. Kop called them the state’s three best girls high school golfers, all of whom will compete on Takai’s home course, if you will.

No female, amateur or professional, holds a lower score at OCC than the 63 she recorded from the blue tees in a practice round on May 26, according to Kop, who witnessed the round along with one of Takai’s sisters. The red tees regularly used in the women’s amateur division are much closer.

Kop said even he has never shot a 63 from the blue tees, the farthest set from the green.

“I just try to play my own game and just get comfortable with playing in front of people and meeting (the) expectations they have on me,” Takai said.

“You can’t really go back. It’s a lot of pressure now.”

-- Star-Advertiser, June 16, 2024

Nadal to retire after Davis Cup

Rafael Nadal is calling it a career. In a video on his X account on Thursday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion announced that he will officially retire from professional tennis competition following the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in November.

"The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially," Nadal said. "I don't think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it's the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined."

Nadal previously alluded to the fact that 2024 might be his last professional season, but hadn't made any announcements prior to Thursday. Most recently, Nadal participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics in both the singles and doubles tournaments.

"I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country," Nadal said. "I think I've come full circle, since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004."

Nadal, 38, has dealt with significant injuries in recent years as he missed nearly all of the 2023 tennis calendar due to a hip injury. He suffered another setback at the start of the year with a small muscle tear in his hip, though not in the same spot where he underwent surgery.

In June, Nadal announced that he was going to skip Wimbledon this year as he prepared for the Summer Games. The Spanish star has two Wimbledon titles to his name with the most recent win coming in 2010. He has also won a pair of Olympic gold medals during his professional career, taking home an Olympic singles gold medal in 2008 and an Olympic doubles gold medal in 2016.

Nadal has won 22 Grand Slam titles over the course of his career. His greatest success came at Roland Garros where he won the French Open an astonishing 14 times. The 38-year old won his final Grand Slam tournament in 2022 when he was victorious at the French Open.

line judges eliminated at Wimbledon too

LONDON — Wimbledon is replacing line judges with electronic line-calling, the latest step into the modern age by the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament.

The All England Club announced that technology will be used to give the “out” and “fault” calls at the championships from 2025, eliminating the need for human officials to make them.

Wimbledon organizers said the decision to adopt live electronic line calling was made following extensive testing at the 2024 tournament and “builds on the existing ball-tracking and line-calling technology that has been in place for many years.”

“We consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating,” said Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Club. “For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour.”

The move makes the French Open the only Grand Slam tournament without some form of electronic line-calling. The Australian Open and U.S. Open already had eliminated line judges and only have chair umpires on court.

Line judges at Wimbledon were dressed in famously elegant uniforms and, for traditionalists, were part of the furniture at the All England Club.

Bolton said Wimbledon had a responsibility to “balance tradition and innovation.”

“Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at the championships for many decades,” she said, “and we recognize their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service.”

Line-calling technology has long been used at Wimbledon and other tennis tournaments to call whether serves are in or out.

At the U.S. Open, there has been no line judges — and only chair umpires — since 2021, with Hawk-Eye Live electronic line-calling used for all courts.

2024 USA Olympic Basketball team

8/16/24 - Ten Olympic players who get a look at the NBA 

8/14/23 - The 2028 USA Olympic women's basketball team roster?

8/14/24 - The 2028 USA Olympic basketball team roster?

8/10/24 - LeBron named MVP for Olympic men's basketball

8/10/24 - Curry hits 8 threes as USA holds off France to win gold (highlights)

8/10/24 - Jokic leads Serbia over Germany to win bronze

8/8/24 - USA comes back to defeat Serbia to reach finals (highlights)

8/6/24 - USA dominates Brazil to reach semifinals

8/3/24 - Edwards leads USA past Puerto Rico

7/31/24 - USA defeats South Sudan to clinch trip to quarterfinals

7/29/24 - USA pulls away from Serbia to open Olympics

7/22/24 - LeBron leads USA over Germany 92-88

7/20/24 - USA barely gets by South Sudan 101-100

7/17/24 - USA defeats Serbia 105-79

7/15/24 - USA holds off Australia 98-92

7/10/24 - USA tops Canada 86-72

7/10/24 - Derrick White replaces Kawhi Leonard.  I guess Edwards and Booker can play wing.

6/28/24 - USA Select Team announced

4/17/24 - 12 player roster announced

G - Stephen Curry

G - Tyrese Haliburton

G - Jrue Holiday

G - Anthony Edwards

G - Devin Booker

F - Jayson Tatum

F - Kawhi Leonard

F - LeBron James

F - Kevin Durant

C - Anthony Davis

C - Joel Embiid

C - Bam Adebayo

Notable omissions

Tyrese Maxey

Jalen Brunson

Kyrie Irving

Cooper Flagg

Draymond Green

Paul George

Herb Jones

and more

Who was on the 2020 team?

Damien Lillard

Jrue Holiday

Zach LaVine

Devin Booker

Keldon Johnson

Khris Middleton

Jerami Grant

Jayson Tatum

Kevin Durant

Draymond Green

Bam Adebayo

Javale McGee

So there are five returnees.

Non-USA players who might play in the Olympics

Nikola Jokic

Giannis Antentokounmpo

Luka Doncic

Karl-Anthony Towns

Domantas Sabonis

Pascal Siakam

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Rudy Gobert

Victor Wembanyama

Rui Hachimura

Jock Landale

Bol Bol

Jamal Murray

Maxi Kleber

NBA 2023-2024

6/17/24 - Celtics defeat Mavericks for their 18th title

5/22/24 - All NBA: Jokic, SGA, Luka, Giannis, Tatum.  Second team: Brunson, Edwards, Durant, Leonard, Davis

5/8/24 - Jokic awarded MVP for the third time

1/24/24 - Doc Rivers to be hired as new Milwaukee head coach

1/23/24 - Adrian Griffin fired by Milwaukee after going 30-13

1/23/24 - Terry Rozier reportedly traded from Charlotte to Miami for Kyle Lowry and first round pick

1/18/24 - Pascal Siakam traded from Toronto to Indiana for Bruce Brown and two first round picks

11/29/23 - Mark Cuban selling majority stake of Mavericks

10/31/23 - James Harden, PJ Tucker, Filip Petrusev traded from Philadelphia to Clippers for Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, and multiple draft picks (2028 first round pick, 2024 second round pick, 2029 second round pick, first-round pick swap, and a 2026 first round pick from Oklahoma City)

10/23/23 - Giannis signs three-year $186 million extension

10/14/23 - Celtics hire Jeff Van Gundy as senior consultant

10/1/23 - Jrue Holiday traded from Portland to Boston for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, 2024 first round pick (via Golden State) and 2029 first round pick

9/27/23 - Damian Lillard traded from Portland to Milwaukee.  Portland receives Jrue Holiday (from Milwaukee), Deandre Ayton (from Phoenix), Toumani Camara (from Phoenix), Milwaukee's 2029 first-round pick, and Milwaukee swap rights in 2028 and 2030.  Phoenix receives Jusuf Nurkic (from Portland), Grayson Allen (from Milwaukee), Nasir Little (from Portland), Keon Johnson (from Portland)

9/6/23 - Christian Wood signs with Lakers for two years, $5.7 million

8/4/23 - Anthony Davis to remain with Lakers for three years, $186 million

7/31/23 - ESPN lays off Mark Jackson too

7/25/23 - Jaylen Brown signs 5 year, $304 million extension, richest in NBA history

7/8/23 - Patty Mills went from Brooklyn to Houston to Oklahoma City to Atlanta in 10 days

7/2/23 - Russell Westbrook stays with Clippers for the biggest pay cut in history

6/30/23 - Middleton re-signs with Bucks for three years, $102 million

6/30/23 - D'Angelo Russell to remain with Lakers for $37 million, 2 years

6/30/23 - Lakers re-sign Austin Reaves for $56 million, 4 years

6/30/23 Lakers re-sign Rui Hachimura for $51 million, 3 years

6/30/23 - Jerami Grant returns to Portland for $160 million, five years

6/30/23 - Draymond Green to remains with Warriors for $100 million, four years

6/30/23 - Gabe Vincent leaves Heat for Lakers for $33 million, three years

6/30/23 - Toronto signs Dennis Schroder $26 million, two years

6/30/23 - Fred VanVleet leaves Toronto for Houston for $130 million, three years

6/30/23 - Bruce Brown leaves Nuggets for Pacers for $45 million, two years

6/30/23 - ESPN cutting Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose

6/26/23 - Atlanta trading John Collins to Utah for Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick

6/25/23 - Minnesota keeps Naz Reid for $42 million three-year contract

6/22/23 - Washington to trade Chris Paul to Golden State for Jordan Poole, 2030 first-round pick and 2027 second-round pick

6/22/23 - Portland takes Scott Henderson with the third pick

6/22/23 - Charlotte selects Brandon Miller with the second pick

6/22/23 - San Antonio selects Victor Wembayana with the first pick of the 2023 NBA draft

6/22/23 - Bradley Beal, Isaiah Todd, Jordan Goodwin traded from Washington to Phoenix for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, first round pick swaps in 2024, 2026, 2028, 2030, second round picks in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2030, and cash

6/21/23 - Three team trade: Boston receives Porzingis from Washington, no. 25 pick from Memphis, 2024 first round pick (via Warriors), Memphis receives Marcus Smart from Boston, Washington receives Tyus Jones from Memphis, Gallinari from Boston, Muscala from Boston, no. 35 pick from Boston.

6/16/23 - Golden State names Mike Dunleavy Jr.. as new GM

6/16/23 - Michael Jordan to sell majority stake in Charlotte Hornets

6/16/23 - NBA suspends Ja Morant 25 games

6/13/23 - Toronto unveils Darko Rajaković as next head coach

6/2/23 - Suns to hire Frank Vogel as next head coach

6/1/23 - Monty Williams to be head coach of Detroit for $78 miPollion, 6 years 

5/30/23 - Bob Myers to step down as president and general manager of Golden State

5/30/23 - Philadelphia to hire Nick Nurse as head coach

5/29/23 - Three possible paths for the Lakers

5/28/23 - Milwaukee to hire Adrian Griffin as head coach

4/25/23 - Rockets name Ime Udoka as new head coach

Josh Gibson eclipses Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth

Negro Leagues statistics will become part of MLB history today, with more than 2,300 players from the seven iterations of the Negro Leagues (1920-1948) being officially added to the record books.

What this means: Negro League legends, unfamiliar to many modern fans, will now be listed among all-time leaders, while Negro League players who played in MLB — including Willie Mays, Minnie Miñoso and Larry Doby — will have their stats integrated and updated. 

The man, the myth, the legend: Negro Leagues icon and Baseball Hall of Famer Josh Gibson is now the all-time leader in batting average (.372, eclipsing Ty Cobb), slugging percentage (.718, eclipsing Babe Ruth) and OPS (1.177, eclipsing Ruth). Gibson, who played 17 years with the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords, also holds the single-season record in all three categories: .466 BA, .974 SLG and 1.474 OPS.

"He was referred to as the black Babe Ruth, but some believe it might be just as accurate to call the Bambino the white Josh Gibson," wrote Bill Johnson of the Society for American Baseball Research.

Linsanity

5/29/24 - Kobe didn't talk to Jeremy Lin for four months

9/15/23 - Jeremy Lin to join brother on New Taipei Kings

12/29/22 - Jeremy Lin returning to the U.S. to rest and reset

12/2/22 - Jeremy Lin fined by China over COVID comments

10/13/22 - Jeremy Lin wasn't always comfortable with Linsanity / but now is

10/9/22 - Linsanity was close to never happening

10/7/22 - GQ interview with Jeremy Lin

10/6/22 - Jeremy Lin with Dan Patrick

10/4/22 - Jeremy Lin remembers Steph Curry

10/3/22 - Jeremy Lin never looked the part / Lin questions the end of his NBA career

9/22/22 - HBO picked the right time to take a look back at Jeremy Lin’s 15 minutes of fame

9/21/22 - Mike D’Antoni was desperate

9/21/22 - 38 at the Garden will be released on October 11 on HBO (trailer)

9/5/22 - Lin signs with Guangzhou Loong Lions

8/12/22 - Jeremy Lin tried to run away

8/12/22- 38 at the Garden will hit HBO in October

6/29/22 - Jeremy Lin wants to redefine love

4/20/22 - A new documentary: 38 at the Garden

4/14/22 - D'Antoni didn't see it coming

4/14/22 - Lin punted on talking back to Kobe

4/12/22 - Mike D'Antoni calls Linsanity the greatest time ever

2/4/22 - The legacy of Linsanity, 10 years later

6/12/21 - Jeremy Lin to return to Beijing Ducks next season

5/26/21 - Jeremy Lin speaks at Harvard

5/18/21 - Jeremy Lin apparently says farewell to the NBA

5/12/21 - Jeremy Lin says he proved himself in the G League

4/14/21 - Jeremy Lin still waiting for an opportunity

2/23/21 - Jeremy Lin speaks out on hate crimes

2/17/21 - Jeremy Lin on finding peace

2/13/21 - Lin hits seven threes for 29 points

2/10/21 - Lin gets 18 points in G League opener

2/10/21 - Eli Pemberton has a guide

2/8/21 - Lin says people think he's crazy for choosing the G League

2/6/21 - Linsanity remembered nine years later

2/4/21 - Jeremy Lin excited to play in the G League

2/3/21 - Jeremy Lin encouraged by Steph Curry after day 1 of G League training camp

2/3/21 - Jeremy Lin Makes History as the First Asian American to Get Signature Basketball Shoes

1/11/21 - Jeremy Lin officially signs with Santa Cruz

1/8/21 - Jeremy Lin writes to Chinese fans

1/7/21 - Jeremy Lin to sign with G League after all

1/5/21 - Jeremy Lin reportedly willing to return to Beijing

12/30/20 - NBA proposes Jeremy Lin rule

12/20/20 - Jeremy Lin unable to get clearance from Chinese Basketball Association in time to join Golden State Warriors 

12/18/20 - Jeremy Lin reportedly signing with Golden State

12/17/20 - Jeremy Lin leaves Ignite team

12/14/20 - Jeremy Lin practicing with G League Ignite

11/11/20 - Jeremy Lin spotted working out with Steph Curry; Durant, Kyrie Irving

9/14/20 - Jeremy Lin leaving Beijing to seek return to NBA

8/13/20 - Jeremy Lin post-season interview (video)
8/10/20 - Jeremy Lin hospitalized after semi-final defeat
8/3/20 - Jeremy Lin has answered critics in China

4/25/20 - Linsanity returning to MSG (network)

3/20/20 - Jeremy Lin returns to China to resume league play

3/19/20 - Jeremy Lin objects to the term "Chinese virus"
1/13/20 - Jeremy Lin scores 41 in All-Star game

1/6/20 - Jeremy Lin saddened at the passing of Kobe
11/9/19 - Blood, sweat, and tears in Jeremy Lin's first week
11/8/19 - Jeremy Lin vs. Shanghai (26 points, 4 assists)
11/6/19 - Jeremy Lin vs. Shandong (24 points, 6 assists, 8 rebounds)
11/4/19 - Jeremy Lin CBA debut vs. Tianjin (25 points, 9 assists)
10/13/19 - Lin scores 40 in Beijing debut

9/27/19 - Jeremy Lin addresses Chinese media

8/30/19 - An ode to Jeremy Lin

8/27/19 - Jeremy Lin signs to play in China
8/21/19 - Jeremy Lin's route could be to China and back
8/20/19 - Beijing Ducks reportedly offer Jeremy Lin $3 million
8/19/19 - Nothing is official until I say something
8/18/19 - Jeremy Lin reportedly negotiating with Beijing
8/13/19 - Five actors we'd like to see playing Jeremy Lin in a movie
8/10/19 - What went wrong for Jeremy Lin?
8/10/19 - Jeremy Lin open to moving to China
8/6/19 - The next Stephon Marbury?
8/6/19 - Jeremy Lin defends getting emotional
8/6/19  - Carmelo and Jeremy Lin back in the news
8/4/19 - Nick Young tells Jeremy Lin to bring back the dreads
8/4/19 - Could Jeremy Lin be Stephen Curry's backup?
8/4/19 - Jeremy Lin getting support from VanVleet
8/4/19 - Could the Clippers pick up Jeremy Lin?
8/3/19 - Five potential landing spots for Jeremy Lin
8/2/19 - Jeremy Lin turned down Moscow
8/1/19 - Jeremy Lin is not a failure

7/30/19 - Jeremy Lin was The Great White Hope
7/29/19 - Jeremy Lin now tops the list (of remaining free agents)
7/28/19 - Jeremy Lin feels like the league has given up on him
7/12/19 - Jeremy Lin back to the Hornets?
7/6/19 - Jeremy Lin makes it to the top 10 (of free agents)
7/6/19 - Jeremy Lin's season with the Raptors

[6/15/19] Jeremy Lin predicted his championship fate in 2013
[2/27/19] Jeremy Lin: bittersweet
[2/22/19] Jeremy Lin: Miracle from God

[11/24/18] Jeremy Lin trade ideas
[10/24/18] Jeremy Lin on Freakonomics podcast
[7/31/18] What to expect from Jeremy Lin

[6/19/17] Podcast with David Nurse

[12/15/16] D'Antoni remembers Linsanity

[10/27/16] Second act for Jeremy Lin and Kenny Atkinson

[4/29/16] Jeremy Lin's impact in Charlotte on NBA GameTime

[4/21/16] Jeremy Lin, solid NBA player

[3/22/16] Jeremy Lin, role player

[10/31/15] Lin finds ideal locale in low-key Charlotte

[9/26/15] Five answers from Jeremy Lin

[7/13/15] Jeremy Lin in search of stability

[6/9/15] Jeremy Lin working out with Steve Nash

[3/29/15] Missed it by 8 weeks (from Isolation Play, an ESPN the Magazine story)

[2/17/15] Jeremy Lin's time in Los Angeles hasn't been smooth

[10/3/14] Anything but Linsanity

[10/9/13] Linsanity hits the Phillipines

[8/26/13] Coming in October

[4/16/13] NBA sensation Jeremy Lin chats with Shira Lazar at SXSW about his brand new documentary, "Linsanity" the movie, appearing in various YouTube videos and the overall message he wants fans to take away from his new film.

Linsanity on 60 Minutes

From Zero to Linsanity

[4/5/13] The movie

[12/17/12] Jeremy Lin is playing terrible this season

[6/9/12] Training with Jeremy Lin (pre-Lin-Sanity)

[4/22/12] Jeremy Lin tops the Time 100

[3/31/12] NEW YORK >> Linsanity won't be around for a playoff push.

Jeremy Lin is instead heading for left knee surgery that is expected to sideline him six weeks, possibly ending his amazing breakthrough season and leaving the New York Knicks without their starting point guard as they fight for a postseason spot.

Lin had an MRI exam this week that revealed a small, chronic meniscus tear and he has elected to have surgery next week in New York.

With the regular season ending April 26, the biggest story in basketball this season is probably done unless the Knicks make a deep playoff run.

[3/22/12] One-on-One with Ahmad Rashad

[3/22/12] Coca-Cola wants a piece of "Linsanity." Knicks fans will soon see Coke ads in Chinese on the rotating courtside signs at Madison Square Garden. Coca-Cola spokeswoman Susan Stribling said Coke has a long-standing partnership with the NBA and already displays ads at The Garden, but wants to take advantage of the enthusiasm surrounding NBA sensation Jeremy Lin and the Knicks.

[3/20/12] Jeremy Lin signs with Volvo

[3/14/12] Fact or Fiction? Are the Knicks better without D'Antoni?

[3/14/12] Mike D'Antoni resigns

[3/14/12] Trouble in New York

[2/22/12] Two straight SI covers (article, article) (new links: 2/20/12, 2/27/12)

[2/19/12] Linsanity is too good to be true

[2/17/12] Lin-Sanity responsible for return of MSG to Time Warner Cable?

[2/16/12] Jeremy Lin added to Rising Stars lineup

[2/16/12] Today's Jeremy Lin story

[2/16/12] Jeremy Lin finds an apartment

[2/13/12] The latest tribute video

[2/12/12] Somehow, the most improbable story in NBA history found himself in the most improbable place on Friday night: The ball in his hands, Madison Square Garden on its feet, and the fourth quarter genius of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant determined to obliterate this burgeoning mythology. Out of Bryant, had come a barrage: twisted, contorted fades, a self-pass off the backboard, the A-list arsenal out of the world’s most gifted scorer.

Somehow, Jeremy Lin never flinched. Somehow, Jeremy Lin never let himself become a spectator, never stopped to wonder what in the world he was doing out here. The ball was so safe, so snug, in his hands. There was such an easy effortlessness to the downright diabolical manner with which he dismantled the Lakers and Bryant. Sheer hysteria had thundered down on the Garden floor, a phenomenon called Linsanity, and the most polished, most poised, presence happened to be Lin.

This kid out of nowhere – out of Harvard University, out of the Reno Bighorns and Erie Bayhawks – had done it again, done it with a devastating 38 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in the Knicks’ 92-85 victory over the Lakers.

*** [2/5/12 - the beginning of Lin-Sanity]

Jeremy Lin cut through the Nets' defense all night before he was finally surrounded.

As teammates hugged him at center court while Pearl Jam's ''Jeremy'' blasted through the arena, it was clear the New York Knicks had finally found a spark.

Lin scored a career-high 25 points and the Knicks salvaged the finale of a back-to-back-to-back set by the New Jersey Nets 99-92 on Saturday night.
 
[video highlights]

***

Landry Fields couch

Top Ten Jeremy Lin puns of the week

Jeremy Lin: most added player of the week

Jeremy Lin: True Hollywood story

Jeremy Lin: American story

Jeremy Lin fever begins