Taxis and an Ugly Game - Feb 8, 2010 (by Tyler Smith)
A week ago I played in one of the ugliest pro games of my life. The final score was 51-49. High school teams score more points than that. YMCA teams probably, too. In 8 minute quarters. With kids half our age. We might as well have let them play that day instead of us.
My team (Hitachi) shot a dazzling 39% from 2pt and 20% from 3pt. Numbers that would surely guarantee a loss on any night. On EVERY night. Except this one.
Somehow, we managed to hang on [read more]
A week ago I played in one of the ugliest pro games of my life. The final score was 51-49. High school teams score more points than that. YMCA teams probably, too. In 8 minute quarters. With kids half our age. We might as well have let them play that day instead of us.
My team (Hitachi) shot a dazzling 39% from 2pt and 20% from 3pt. Numbers that would surely guarantee a loss on any night. On EVERY night. Except this one.
Somehow, we managed to hang on. Despite scoring a whopping 5 points in the 4th quarter (which any grandma could do), and giving the other team (Panasonic) the final shot, we hung on for dear life and pulled out the most hideous win of the year. Well take it.
Wins have been tough to come by for everyone it seems this year except Aisin. Aisin is like the kid that hit the jackpot on Halloween and is just giving out candy b/c he cant eat it all. Theyve got all kinds of wins pouring out of their pockets. They are really good.
We take taxis to every game from our hotel. Seriously, whats up with the taxis in Japan? Theyre more like cop cars. You cant open some at all from the inside. Only 1 of the backseat doors occasionally opens. Actually, they open it for you from a magic level next to the driver. But then I am always crawling over backseats in order to sit behind the driver b/c the other rear door is always locked from the outside and inside. It's like mini mobile prison. Nobody in. Nobody out. They put FOUR doors on this bad boy for a reason. Can we use them?
I will say that the taxi drivers in Japan take their job very seriously. Full suit. Zero to negative zero conversation. No radio. Spotless interior. A single white-gloved hand on the wheel at all times. (Possible Michael Jackson tribute?). And you arent allowed to tip the driver. Pure armed guard-like focus.
I remember one taxi I got in when I was in the US. He had the radio blaring some awful music and as I got in he asked me, Hey, you mind if I eat? I havent had lunch yet. What am I going to say? Sorry, please starve yourself and risk crashing this beast and put my life in peril because you pass out at the wheel from hunger faintness?' (pretty sure thats not a word)
If everyone took as much pride in their jobs as Japanese taxi drivers, it would be Disneyland everywhere you go. Heres to you, Taxi man: Arigato for the safe rides. Keep rolling.
Panasonic - Mitsubishi 107-62
Panasonic is with 15-13 record after the win over Mitsubishi 107:62. Makoto Nagayama (184-G-77) led the way with 34 points and Kinoshita Hiroyuki had 15 points and 11 boards. Kurino-Dews Jo and Utsumi Shingo scored 10 apiece in defeat.
Aishin - Hokkaido 71-79
Aishin fell at 23-5 after the loss from Hokkaido 71:79. Christian Maraker (206-F-82, college: Pacific) paced all the winners with 26 points and 15 rebounds [read more]
Panasonic - Mitsubishi 107-62 Panasonic is with 15-13 record after the win over Mitsubishi 107:62. Makoto Nagayama (184-G-77) led the way with 34 points and Kinoshita Hiroyuki had 15 points and 11 boards. Kurino-Dews Jo and Utsumi Shingo scored 10 apiece in defeat.
Aishin - Hokkaido 71-79 Aishin fell at 23-5 after the loss from Hokkaido 71:79. Christian Maraker (206-F-82, college: Pacific) paced all the winners with 26 points and 15 rebounds. Matsui notched 14 and Orimo Takehiko scored 13. Takeuchi Kosuke responded with 19 points and 11 boards for the league-leaders.
Toyota - Toshiba 74-69 Toyota is 16-12 after roling over Toshiba 74:69. Michael Takahashi (198-F-74, college: Cal.St. Northridge) collected 26 points and 13 rebunds, while Michael Takahashi had 23 points and 12 rebounds. Ishizaki Takumi and Violette Cory posted 15 points each in defeat.
Hitachi S. - Tochigi Brex 76-81 Hitachi lost to Tochigi Brex 76:81 as the latter improved to 17-11 record on the second spot. Takuya Kawamura (191-G-86) top-scored for the winners with 18 points, while Merritt Scott had 16 points and 12 boards. Smith Tyler replied with 22 points in the losing effort.
Hitachi S. - Tochigi Brex 75-60
Six players scored in double digits as Hitachi cruised past Tochigi Brex 75:60. Joji Takeuchi (206-C-85) collected 14 points and 21 rebounds to lead all the winners. Tabuse Yuta responded with 14 points in the losing effort.
Panasonic - Mitsubishi 93-95 OT
Mitsubishi needed overtime to beat Panasonic 95:93. Ron Hale (203-F-77, college: Florida St.) was unstoppable with 28 points and 22 rebounds, while Utsumi Shingo notched 21 [read more]
Hitachi S. - Tochigi Brex 75-60 Six players scored in double digits as Hitachi cruised past Tochigi Brex 75:60. Joji Takeuchi (206-C-85) collected 14 points and 21 rebounds to lead all the winners. Tabuse Yuta responded with 14 points in the losing effort.
Panasonic - Mitsubishi 93-95 OT Mitsubishi needed overtime to beat Panasonic 95:93. Ron Hale (203-F-77, college: Florida St.) was unstoppable with 28 points and 22 rebounds, while Utsumi Shingo notched 21. Kinoshita Hiroyuki responded with 32 points in the losing effort.
Aishin - Hokkaido 84-65 Aishin rolled over Hokkaido 84:65 as they were too good in the first half. The most troubles the guests got in the second period as the were thrashed 8-23. Josh Gross (201-F/C-83, college: NC-Greensboro) and Selvy Daryan paced all the winners wit 17 points each, while Kashiwagi Shinsuke netted 16. Sakurai Ryota finished the night with 16 points in defeat.
Toyota - Toshiba 89-70 Toyota won all the quarters against Toshiba to open Regular Season Round 27 with 89:70 home win. Clif Brown (200-F-84, agency: ZAG Advocates, college: Niagara) top-scored for the winners with 32 points, while Arao Gaku netted 11. Violette Cory and Newton Tyler posted 12 points each in the losing case.
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