Tuesday, July 30, 2013

aikido anniversary

This year marks Seichi Tabata's 60th anniversary of teaching shin shin toitsu aikido in Hawaii. Tabata, 87, is the last original student of ki aikido founder Koichi Tohei to still actively teach the Japanese martial art here.

This year is also the 60th anniversary of Tohei's introduction of ki aikido to Hawaii and the U.S. mainland in 1953.

"Shin shin" in Japanese refers to the duality of the mind and body. "Toitsu" means "to bind or unify." So "shin shin toitsu aikido" could be translated as "aikido to realize the original oneness of body and mind."

Tohei's teachings also stress being at peace with the "ki" (similar to the Chinese "chi") — or flow — of the universe, so they are also often referred to as "ki aikido."

"Ki is very difficult to master," explained Tabata, a former Wai­alae Iki resident who now lives in a Hawaii Kai retirement community. "There's nothing visible to attach to; it's all emotional. But it's very important for everyday living. When I was doing sales for the Household DeVille discount retail chain on Keeaumoku Street in the '70s, they would send me for aikido training in Japan two or three times a year because they could see how aikido would help in selling and how it was a ‘plus.' It involves a lot of positive thinking, a lot of creativity, and it benefits others as well as yourself. And it's nonaggressive.

"Using aikido principles, I can compete with anyone in sales, and, in fact, I was a top salesman wherever I went."

After spending about 20 years with Household De­Ville, where he rose to become company president, Tabata sold life insurance for 15 years. He retired in 2006.

Born in Lahaina, Tabata was sickly as a child, so his father enrolled him in judo classes when he was 5 years old to strengthen him. Tabata pursued judo until he was 18, when he joined the Army during World War II, becoming a motor pool staff sergeant. Three years later, Tabata returned home to Maui from Japan with a new bride, Emiko, who would be his loyal and hardworking wife for 64 years. (She died four years ago. Tabata now has four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandsons.)

To help out his parents and their family of six boys and three girls, Tabata continued to work at the family grocery store on Lahainaluna Road after the war and started to teach judo classes on the side.

When Tohei was invited to Maui to teach his method of ki aikido in 1953, Tabata started gradually to adopt the ki principles and then to teach them to his own students in lieu of judo.
Tabata moved to Oahu a few years later to open his own dojo in Honolulu.

"For all my classes since the very beginning, I've never charged for my time," he said. "All my instructors have never gotten paid either. If the students pay any dues, all the money goes back to the dojo to pay for the dojo's expenses.

"I could make a lot of money at what I teach, but I want to return it to the community, to help people out."
Internationally, the ki aikido movement has blossomed to numerous schools in 24 countries, including the U.S., Japan, Brazil, Singapore, Great Britain, Russia and Australia.

The founder's son and president of the Ki Society headquarters in Japan, Shinichi Tohei, will be a special guest at the Honolulu Ki Society's celebration of the 60th anniversary of ki aikido in Hawaii this weekend. There will also be workshops that the public may observe to celebrate Tabata's 60 years of teaching thousands of students in ki aikido in the islands.

"I still teach at the dojo every Saturday, though of course I don't move as well as I used to," he said. "And I've had so many students, I can't remember them all. Recently, a man in his 60s came up to me and introduced himself. … he told me I had taught him judo in Lahaina when he was 12 years old!"

Sunday, July 28, 2013

top 50 basketball players of all time

[7/28/13] this is a subjective list (meaning your list is just as valid as his) created by Riley Schmitt in February.

Let's see how it matches up with mine.  Here's my top 10 (off the top of my head):

1 - Wilt Chamberlain [8/22/23] (though I know Michael Jordan tops everybody else's list and many/most have him below Bill Russell) [7]
2 - Michael Jordan [1]
3 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [2]
4 - LeBron James (maybe not now, but will be looking back) [15]
5 - Oscar Robertson [10]
6 - Bill Russell (since he's number 6) [6]
7 - Magic Johnson [3]
8 - Larry Bird [4]
9 - Kobe Bryant [8]
10 - Bob Pettit [19]
11 - Jerry West [9]
12 - George Mikan [38]
13 - Shaquille O'Neal [12]
14 - Julius Erving [17]
15 - Kevin Durant (maybe not now, but...)
16 - Hakeem Olajuwon [11]
17 - Moses Malone [14]
18 - Isiah Thomas [23]
19 - Charles Barkley [20]
20 - Karl Malone [21]
21 - Kevin Garnett (he was a beast in his first 8 or so years) [18]
22 - Tim Duncan [5]
23 - George Gervin [37]
24 - Elgin Baylor (used to be my favorite player) [16]
25 - John Stockton [25]
26 - Allen Iverson [30]
27 - Dominique Wilkens
28 - David Robinson [29]
29 - John Havlicek [13]
30 - Chris Paul (maybe not yet though)
31 - Dwight Howard (ditto)
32 - Walt Frazier [33]
33 - Elvin Hayes
34 - Earl Monroe
35 - Wes Unseld [42]
36 - Scottie Pippen [24]

I'm probably missing somebody.  Yeah, I missed West and Shaq on the first pass.  Elgin Baylor and Dominique too. Probably missing a lot.  OK, make it top 36.   Have seven current players in there (LeBron, Kobe, Garnett, Duncan, Durant, Paul, Howard). Still probably forget two or three.

Now let's put the numbers of this guy in parentheses.

Who did I leave off?

50. Dennis Johnson
49. James Worthy
48. Paul Pierce
47. Billy Cunningham
46. Dave DeBusschere
45. Nate Thurmond
44. Clyde Drexler
43. Dwyane Wade
42. Wes Unseld
41. Patrick Ewing
40. Jason Kidd (?)
39. Gary Payton
36. Sam Jones (?)
35. Steve Nash (forgot about him)
34. Kevin McHale (him too)
32. Dave Cowens (I wouldn't put him above McHale)
31. Will Reed (ditto)
28. Bill Walton (I wouldn't put him this high, due to his injuries)
27. Dirk Nowitzki (forgot Dirk too)
26. Rick Barry (forgot him too, he would probably rank somewhere in the 20s for me too)
22. Bob Cousy (wouldn't rate him close to this high, then again I rated Mikan way up there)

OK, a lot of the current players I chose aren't on the list: Durant, Paul, Howard.  But I'm surprised Dominique didn't make the guy's top 50 (shafted again / here's a cool picture).  Also from my list not making it were Elvin Hayes and Earl Monroe.

Here's Jesse Dorsey's list (at least he had Dominique at 50).  And this guy has him #28.  And Elvin Hayes #17.  And this guy has them 39 and 37.

*** [2/22/18]

And here is Harris Ahmadzai's list of the top 32 (with my ranking from 4-1/2 years ago)

32. Chris Paul  (30)
31. Scottie Pippen (36)
30. Rick Barry (see above)
29.  Jason Kidd (unranked)
28.  Bob Pettit (10)
27.  Kevin Garnett (21)
26.  Kevin McHale (forgot)
25.  David Robinson (28)
24.  John Stockton (25)
23.  Elgin Baylor (24)
22.  Jerry West (11)
21.  Charles Barkley (19)
20.  Isiah Thomas (18)
19.  Stephen Curry (unlisted 4-1/2 years ago)
18.  Kevin Durant (15)
17.  Dirk Nowitzki (forgot)
16.  Karl Malone (20)
15.  Dwyane Wade (didn't make my list, he ain't better than Jerry West)
14.  Moses Malone (17)
13.  Julius Erving (14)
12.  Hakeem Olajuwon (16)
11.  Oscar Robertson (5)
10.  Larry Bird (8)
9.  Bill Russell (6)
8.  Tim Duncan (22 - not better than Russell, Bird, Robertson)
7.  Shaquille O'Neal (13)
6.  Kobe Bryant (9 - see Duncan)
5.  Wilt Chamberlain (1)
4.  Magic Johnson (7)
3.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (3)
2.  LeBron James (4)
1.  Michael Jordan (2)

I still like my list better.

Yao

makes Ralph Sampson look small

I remember Sampson being taller than Kareem, but these recent pictures show them almost the same height.  Maybe he shrunk? (like Hulk Hogan)

[10/11/14] Yao and Shaq.  Looks like Yao grew like 5 inches.  Shaq head comes only up to his chin now whereas he used to only a few inches shorter.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

the legend of Llewellyn Smalley

The legend of Llewellyn Smalley grows by the year and the telling. There were the mano-a-mano duels with Anthony Carter. The time he dropped 58 — no, was it 60? How about when Smalley, still in the Army, walked into the gym in his early 20s with little basketball know-how and filled it up, anyway?

The question invariably arises with repeated viewings of College Summer League games: Did you see Llwellyn Smalley play? It's usually said in hushed tones and hinted at as something of a religious experience.

The 6-foot-2 guard's official accomplishments are impressive, true; he set all manner of career records at Hawaii Pacific University en route to NAIA All-America status and a successful European pro career. But here, he's generally celebrated for another set of accolades.

Namely, getting buckets, and getting fans on their feet in a small Manoa gym. People haven't forgotten his inspired, freewheeling play every summer from the mid-'90s through the 2000s.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Ryan Braun suspended for rest of season

Major League Baseball has suspended Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun without pay for the remainder of the 2013 season.

Braun will not contest the suspension, which was meted out for "violations of the Basic Agreement and its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," according to a statement released by MLB.

"As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect," Braun said in the statement. "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it ... has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization.

According to an Associated Press source, 50 games of the penalty were connected to Biogenesis. The additional 15 games stemmed from Braun's actions during the grievance that overturned his positive test from October 2011. The suspension will count as a first violation of the drug program, the source told the AP.

This is not the first time Braun has run afoul of the league's drug-testing policy -- the 29-year-old outfielder tested positive for elevated testosterone levels in 2012. However, he successfully appealed his 50-game suspension.

The penalty was overturned by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das after Braun argued that the collector of his urine samples in the fall of 2011, Dino Laurenzi Jr., did not follow protocol. The case marked the first time a baseball player has successfully challenged a drug-related penalty in a grievance.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Puig finishes second

If Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was dejected after missing out on the last All-Star spot Thursday, he sure didn't show it. Especially when Manager Don Mattingly told him he was starting in center field, spurring a happy-go-lucky dance in the clubhouse to blaring reggaeton music.

"Did you see him in there? He would have loved to be at the All-Star game and show off," Mattingly said. "But it's not going to take away from his joy for the game."

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman set a MLB Final Vote record with 19.7 million votes to edge out the Cuban phenom. Toronto Blue Jays reliever Steve Delabar won the AL Final Vote with 9.6 million votes.

Puig's exact vote count was not released, but the 22-year-old passed the previous mark of 15.6 million votes set by Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino in 2009.

"It's not what I had hoped for the fans and the city, but I'm very happy," Puig said. "I don't have my head down at all. Hopefully good things will come out of this."

Heading into the game against the Colorado Rockies, Puig was hitting .394 with eight home runs and 19 runs batted in in 35 games. He has galvanized the Dodgers' latest turnaround, in which they have gone from last place in the National League West when he debuted June 3 to second place, 11/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The result Thursday does not entirely rule out Puig's All-Star chances. Four of the five NL Final Vote candidates last year made the All-Star roster as injury replacements and last-minute substitutes.

*** [7/14/13]

Freeman injured, so Puig gets to play after all.  Right?  Nope, wrong.  Brian McCann gets the call.  It's the old guard conspiracy.  Or maybe it was just Bruce Bochy.

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Joey Chestnut sets the world record

The 2013 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest re-crowned two reigning champions — Joey Chestnut and Sonya Thomas.

Chestnut earned his seventh straight title in the men’s race, scarfing down 69 hot dogs and setting a new world record. He ate 18 more hot dogs than his nearest competitor.

Chestnut, who hails from San Jose, Calif., and earned the nickname “Jaws,” took home $10,000 and a bejeweled mustard-yellow champion’s belt.

Matt Stonie, 21, came in second, devouring 51 hot dogs.

Chestnut’s eating rival, Takeru Kobayashi, did not compete in the 97th  annual competitive hot dog eating event at Coney Island this year. But Chestnut bested Kobayashi’s record of six titles in a row with this year’s win.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Competitive Eating

In the women’s race, Sonya Thomas, of Alexandria, Va., picked up her third consecutive title. The “Black Widow” as she is known ate 36 and three-quarters hot dogs and buns to win the women’s competition.

Juliet Lee was the front runner for much of the race, but Thomas caught up with less than two minutes to go.

When the buzzer sounded, Lee trailed Thomas by just a fraction of a dog.

Sunday, July 07, 2013

Murray defeats Djokovic at Wimbledon

LONDON >> From the lawns of Wimbledon to the lochs of Scotland, all of Britain can celebrate.

Andy Murray made it possible Sunday, winning his country's hallowed tennis tournament to become the first British man in 77 years to raise the trophy at the All England Club.

Yes, this was history, and Murray's 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory over top-seeded Novak Djokovic was a fitting close to nearly eight decades of British frustration in its own backyard: A straight-setter, yes, but a hard-fought, 3 hour, 9 minute affair filled with long, punishing rallies and a final game that may have felt like another 77 years, with Murray squandering three match points before finally putting it away after four deuces.

On a cloudless, 80-degree day on Centre Court, Murray put his name beside that of Fred Perry, the last British man to win Wimbledon, back in 1936.

That sentence doesn't have to be written again.

The second-seeded Murray beat the best in Djokovic, a six-time Grand Slam winner known for both a mental and physical fitness built to handle what he faced Sunday: A crowd full of 15,000 partisans rooting against him, to say nothing of Murray himself, who, since falling to Roger Federer in the final last year, had shed some baggage by winning the Olympic gold medal on Centre Court, then following that with his first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.

Anderson Silva caught by Weidman

LAS VEGAS >> Chris Weidman sent a shock wave through mixed martial arts, stopping Anderson Silva in the second round of the main event at UFC 162 to become the new middleweight champion on Saturday night.

Silva talked, taunted and dared Weidman to engage him. When the champion lowered his hands early in the second round, Weidman caught him with a short left that sent the MMA star to the mat. Weidman pounced and landed a few more shots that forced referee Herb Dean to stop the fight at 1:18.

"I felt destined for this," Weidman said. "It was far-fetched, but I imagined it so many times before in my head."

The win put an end to Silva's nearly seven-year reign atop the UFC middleweight division and his 17-fight win streak.

"I worked for this fight, Chris Weidman is the best now. He is the champion," Silva said. "I've had the belt for a long time. I'm tired."

The former champion fell to 33-5 with the loss.

"(Silva) was an idol of mine. I didn't want to mention it in the camp," said Weidman (10-0), who earned knockout of the night award. "I looked up to him for many years."

Friday, July 05, 2013

NBA transactions 2013-2014

2013-2014 trade recap

3/2/14 - Jimmer Fredette signs with Bulls

2/20/14 - Aaron Brooks traded from Houston to Denver for Jordan Hamilton

2/20/14 - Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen traded from Philadelphia to Indiana for Danny Granger and a second-round pick

2/20/14 - Luke Ridnour and Gary Neal traded from Milwaukee to Charlotte for Ramon Sessions and Jeff Adrien

2/20/14 - Washington acquires Andre Miller from Denver, sends Jan Veseley to Denver, sends Eric Maynor to Philadelphia.  Philadelphia receives 2015 second round pick from Washington and 2016 second round from Denver.  Washington receives 2014 second round pick from Philadelphia.

2/20/14 - Spencer Hawes traded from Philadelphia to Cleveland for Earl Clark, Henry Sims, and two second round picks.

2/19/14 - Nets send Jason Terry and Reggie Evans to Kings for Marcus Thornton

2/19/14 - Steve Blake traded from Lakers to Warriors for MarShon Brooks and Kent Bazemore

2/1/14 - Pacers sign Andrew Bynum

1/7/14 - Chicago trades Luol Deng to Cleveland for Andrew Bynum, a first round pick, two second round picks, and the right to swap 2015 first round picks (lottery protected).  Chicago expected to drop Bynum.

12/9/13 - Toronto trades Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray, Quincy Acy to Sacramento for John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, Chuck Hayes.

10/25/13 - Suns trade Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown, Malcolm Lee, Kendall Marshall to Wizards for Emeka Okafor and a protected first round draft pick

9/25/13 - Paul George signs five-year extension

9/11/13 - Michael Beasley headed back to Miami

8/30/13 - Caron Butler traded from Phoenix to Milwaukee for Ish Smith and Viacheslav Kravstov

8/26/13 - Clippers sign Antawn Jamison after passing on Lamar Odom

8/26/13 - Tracy McGrady announces retirement

8/21/13 - Allen Iverson reportedly to announce retirement

8/16/13 - Nikola Pekovic re-signs with Minnesota for five years, $60 million

8/15/13 - Al Harrington signing with Washington

8/8/13 - Knicks sign Beno Udrih

8/7/13 - Mo Williams signs with Portland for two years, $5.6 million

8/3/13 - Greg Oden will take his talents to South Beach

7/30/13 - Pistons acquire Brandon Jennings from Milwaukee for Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton,
Viacheslav Kravtsov.

7/28/13 - Marcus Camby to sign with Rockets

7/27/13 - Indiana acquires Luis Scola from Phoenix for Gerald Green, Miles Plumlee, and a lottery-protected first round pick

7/27/13 - Charlotte resigns Gerald Henderson for 3 years, $18 million

7/24/13 - Mike Miller to return to the Grizzlies

7/23/13 - Golden State signs Jermaine O'Neal for one year, $2 million

7/22/13 - Nuggets to sign Nate Robinson

7/22/13 - Clippers sign Byron Mullens

7/18/13 - Magic reaches deal with Samuel Dalembert

7/18/13 - Orlando signs Jason Maxiel

7/18/13 - Ronny Turiaf signs with Minnesota for two years, $3.2 million (wow, he got above minimum?)

7/18/13 - Warriors sign Toney Douglas

7/17/13 - D.J. Augustin signs with Toronto

7/17/13 - Jordan Farmar returns to the Lakers (from Turkey) / took a pay cut

7/16/13 - Miami amnesties Mike Miller ($6.2 million + $6.6 million)

7/16/13 - Milwaukee amnesties Drew Gooden (two years, $13.4 million)

7/16/13 - Elton Brand signs with the Hawks

7/16/13 - World Peace coming to New York

7/14/13 - Lakers sign Wesley Johnson

7/13/13 - Dwight Howard feels the love in Houston

7/13/13 - Atlanta matches Milwaukee's offer sheet for Jeff Teague

7/12/13 - Monta Ellis signs with Dallas for three years, $28 million (so it's kind of a Mayo for Ellis trade)

7/12/13 - Dallas was an hour away from getting Iguodala

7/11/13 - Nets  sign Andrei Kirilenko

7/11/13 - Lakers sign Nick Young (fun), say good bye to World Peace (reaction, D'Antoni)

7/11/13 - Chauncey Billups returns to Detroit for two years, $5 million

7/10/13 - Minnesota sends Luke Ridnour to Milwaukee for trade exception (to make room for Corey Brewer).

7/10/13 - Andrew Bynum decides to take his talents to Cleveland

7/10/13 - Corey Brewer to sign with Minnesota for 3 years, $15 million

7/10/13 - Bulls waive Richard Hamilton

7/8/13 - Lakers sign Chris Kaman to one year contract for $3.2 million.  Will amnesty Metta World Peace.

7/7/13 - Denver signs J.J. Hickson for three years, $15 million

7/7/13 - Darren Collison signs with Clippers to be Chris Paul's back (again)

7/7/13 - Jarrett Jack headed to Cleveland for four years, $25 million

7/6/13 - Carl Landry signs with Sacramento for four years, $26 million

7/6/13 - Josh Smith signs with Pistons for four years, $56 million

7/5/13 - Mavericks sign Jose Calderon for four years, $28 million

7/5/13 - Dwight Howard has decided to take his talents to Houston.  What now for the Lakers?  / Dwight & Kobe: the conversation / David Aldridge's alternate universe

7/5/13 - Paul Millsap signs with Atlanta for two years, $19 million

7/5/13 - OJ Mayo signs with Milwaukee for three years, $24 million

7/5/13 - Warriors sign Andre Iguodala; send Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins, Brandon Rush and multiple draft choices to Jazz for cap space and Kevin Murphy

7/5/13 - Matt Barnes re-signs with Clippers for 3 years, $12 million.

7/4/13 - JR Smith and Pablo Prigioni re-sign with Knicks.

7/4/13 - Sacramento sends Tyreke Evans to New Orleans for Greivis Vasquez.  New Orleans sends Robin Lopez to Portland for Jeff Withy.  Portland sends future draft pick to Sacramento.

7/4/13- Al Jefferson signs with Charlotte for 3-years, $40.5 million.

7/2/13 - Kevin Martin headed from Oklahoma City to Minnesota for $28 million for four years.

7/2/13 - In a three-team trade, Suns receive Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler, Clippers receive J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley, Bucks receive two second-round draft choices (one from Suns and one from Clippers).  [Wow, I would have thought they would have gotten more for Bledsoe.  The Suns got a steal.]

6/30/13 - Toronto trades Andrea Barnani to Knicks for Steve Novak, Marcus Camby, first round pick and second round pick (subject to league approval)

6/30/13 - Rockets trade Thomas Robinson to Blazers, waive Carlos Delfino and Aaron Brooks to clear cap space

6/27/13 - Garnett waives no-trade clause clearing way for Celtics to trade (in principle) Garnett, Pierce, Terry to Nets for three first round picks, Keith Bogans, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans. / Garnett had to be convinced by Pierce

6/27/13 - New Orleans drafts Nerlens Noel with the sixth pick and trades him to Philadelphia for a first round pick.  Philadelphia also gets a 2014 first round pick.

6/24/13 - Darko won't return to NBA
6/3/13 - Jason Kidd retires after 19 seasons (then becomes Nets head coach)
6/2/13 - Grant Hill retires