Kwan Among Top Three to Compete in Marshalls Cup
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The world’s top three women skaters, including Michelle Kwan, have entered the 2004 Marshalls World Cup of Figure Skating, to be held at The Palace on Dec. 3.
Kwan, the five-time world and eight-time U.S. champion, and current world champ Shizuka Arakawa of Japan will compete, along with world silver medalist Sasha Cohen.
In October, Kwan beat Arakawa and Cohen at the International Figure Skating Classic.
The skaters will compete for $200,000 in prize money.
World Golf Pros to Generate $509 Million in Korea
SEOUL, South Korea — More than 30 professional golfers from around the world are committed to play in the Shinhan Korea Golf Championship, the first PGA Tour-sanctioned challenge season event in Asia, at Jeju-Jungmun Golf Club, Nov. 22 - 28.
The 36-man field features players from nine countries, including Great Britain’s Nick Faldo, 2002 and 2003 PGA champions Rich Beem and Shaun Micheel, 2004 Ryder Cup team member Padraig Harrington, and Korean golfer Choi Kyung-joo.
“We expect a direct and indirect economic effect of $509 million,” said Sang Park of South Korea’s Tourism Office.
First Japanese Makes NBA Suns
PHOENIX — Yuta Tabuse, a 24-year-old, 5-foot-9-inch point guard who mixes an off-court humility with an on-court flair for no-look, fast-break passes, was the first Japanese-born player to make it onto an NBA roster on Nov. 3. However he’s on the bench as of Nov. 8, recovering from strained right quadriceps.
“Hopefully the Japanese people are excited about my position right now [with the Phoenix Suns],” Tabuse said earlier this month. “It’s good for me and good for the Japanese people.”
Tabuse made the team as the third point guard — behind Steve Nash and Leandro Barbosa.
“It’s a big day for him,” said Suns coach Mike D’Antoni. “The guy’s working his rear off, and he deserves it. I’m happy for him.”
Tabuse played two seasons for BYU-Hawai‘i, an NCAA Division II school.
“He was a legend when he played for his high school team because they never lost,” said Japanese reporter Yasushi Kikuchi. “He’s the most famous basketball player in Japan.”
Hawai‘i Wahine Volleyball Wins WAC Awards
Players Kanoe Kamana‘o and Ashley Watanabe and head coach Dave Shoji of the University of Hawai‘i Wahine volleyball team have won Western Athletic Conference awards.
Kamana‘o, a 5-foot-8-inch sophomore setter, was named WAC Player of the Year for her outstanding leadership and setting. She led in assists per game (13.93) and is among the NCAA leaders; Kamana‘o is the only returning starter on the Wahines.
Watanabe, a junior libero, was named to the All-WAC second team. Watanabe is on pace to set a Hawai‘i record for digs, averaging 4.28 digs per game. She is an exciting back-row specialist who also has 18 service aces.
Shoji was named Coach of the Year for leading the Wahines to a perfect 23-0 record (13-0 WAC) and a No. 2 national ranking in a “rebuilding” year after 6 starters graduated. This was Shoji’s 5th Coach of the Year award.
Ching to be on 2004 Soccer’s Best XI Team
San Jose Earthquakes forward Brian Ching was selected to the RadioShack Best XI team for the 2004 Major League Soccer season.
Ching finished the season tied for the league lead in goals scored with 12, earning the MLS Golden Boot award. Ching was also named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year and earlier in the season started in the MLS All-Star Game.
Ching has also been a hit for the U.S. National Team, scoring two goals in the first two World Cup qualifying games this summer. The first goal came in the 89th minute to tie the game at 1-1 versus Jamaica on Aug. 18. His second goal came Sept. 4, putting the United States up 1-0 in the fifth minute in an eventual 2-0 victory over El Salvador.