Tag: Japan

In Japan, Max Homa and Collin Morikawa are right at home as Dodgers’ fans during World Series

“We’ll be taking a peek here and there for sure.”

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/FieDupIBE3sNAappZD57/1729706092553_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLmFueWNsaXAuY29tL2FueWNsaXAtd2lkZ2V0L2xyZS13aWRnZXQvcHJvZC92MS9zcmMvbHJlLmpzIiBkYXRhLWFyPSIxNjo5IiBkYXRhLXBsaWQ9Iml6dXdrcmR2b2JldWVyanRvbmhlY3lscW9ibmVpbmp4IiBwdWJuYW1lPSIxOTk4IiB3aWRnZXRuYW1lPSIwMDE2TTAwMDAyVTBCMWtRQUZfTTgzMjciPgo8L3NjcmlwdD4=”][/anyclip-media]

Plenty of folks in Japan will be fixated to a television screen or their phone Saturday morning. Including Max Homa and Collin Morikawa.

The duo is teeing it up this week in the 2024 Zozo Championship, but they’re far from the only Los Angeles Dodgers fans in Japan. That’s thanks to Shohei Ohtani, the best player in baseball, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a standout pitcher.

With Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees beginning in California around the same time as the third round of the 2024 Zozo Championship will begin across the Pacific Ocean, fans in Japan will also have their eyes fixated on Dodger Stadium.

“Obviously we have two Japanese players on the Dodgers that are
tremendous, one of which is Ohtani, who is the best baseball player I’ve ever seen,” Homa said. “So it’s quite cool to come here. I’ve actually seen quite a few L.A. hats. It’s quite neat to be in Japan when the best baseball player in the world is Japanese and he’s on the team I root for. It’s kind of a dream scenario.”

The time difference makes for coffee baseball in Japan, which gives fans plenty of time to cheer for the Dodgers (or Yankees) before spending the afternoon on the golf course cheering on some of the best players from the PGA Tour.

“It’s been great watching the Dodgers play in Japan, in Tokyo. It was nice because they had it on TV. You wake up in the morning and it’s on,” Morikawa said. “They’ll probably be playing I’m guessing when we’re out on the golf course, but we’ll be taking a peek here and there for sure.”

It won’t be a shock to see fans keeping the players informed while waiting on tee boxes or walking down fairways. And even with a seven-figure payday on the line, Homa isn’t afraid to show his Dodgers’ fandom.

“I would be lying if I said I wish I wasn’t home a little bit so I could go to the game, or a game, but yeah, it’s neat to be here,” Homa said. “I’m hopeful to see some more L.A. hats. And yeah, it’s been great, the run they’ve been on, it’s been very fun to watch.”

Best photos from the PGA Tour’s 2024 Zozo Championship in Japan

Check out the scenes from Japan.

The PGA Tour is going international.

For the fifth event of the FedEx Cup Fall, the PGA Tour is in Chiba, Japan, for the Zozo Championship. This is the sixth year of the event and the fifth time it has been contested at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. Collin Morikawa is the defending champion, but he’s far from the only big name in the field.

Joining Morikawa in Asia are Japanese superstar Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Max Homa, Xander Schauffele and numerous others. It’s by far the strongest field of the fall, even if it’s only 78 players and a no-cut event.

Zozo Championship: Leaderboard

Here’s a look at the best photos from the 2024 Zozo Championship in Japan.

Photos: PGA Tour’s 2024 Zozo Championship

USWNT defender Fox injured in Olympic quarterfinal win vs. Japan

The right back looks to be in serious doubt for the team’s semifinal on Tuesday

The U.S. women’s national team defeated Japan 1-0 in a dramatic Olympic quarterfinal on Saturday, but it may have also suffered a significant loss.

Defender Emily Fox was forced out late in extra time with an apparent knee injury, making contact with Japan’s Riko Ueki as she was attempting a shot off a corner kick.

Trainers attended to Fox before she slowly limped off the field, seeming to put her availability for the team’s semifinal in serious doubt.

Casey Krueger entered the game with just minutes remaining, and the outside back would appear to be the likely option to start the USWNT’s semifinal match if Fox is unable to go.

Losing Fox would be as serious blow for the USWNT, as the Arsenal right back has become a fixture in the team’s lineup over the past two years. The 26-year-old has started all four of the team’s Olympics matches so far.

Her absence could also mean the USWNT will be without two of its starting four defenders in the semifinal. Tierna Davidson suffered a knee contusion against Germany, and has missed both of the team’s subsequent games.

Head coach Emma Hayes did indicate prior to the game against Japan that Davidson would be a close call. Ultimately, the Gotham FC defender was unable to pass a late fitness test.

Fox and Davidson will have quick turnarounds for a potential recovery, as the USWNT’s semifinal is set for Tuesday in Lyon.

[lawrence-related id=79310,79006,79237]

Hayes: Shaw and Davidson game-time decisions for USWNT Olympic quarterfinal

The U.S. duo are both aiming to recover from injuries

U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes will wait until the last minute to determine the status of Tierna Davidson and Jaedyn Shaw for Saturday’s Olympic quarterfinal against Japan.

Davidson was forced out of the team’s 4-1 win over Germany after suffering a knee contusion, and missed the team’s group-stage finale against Australia.

Meanwhile, Shaw suffered a “leg injury” in training the day before the team’s Olympic opener against Zambia, and has missed all three of the team’s games thus far.

On Friday, Hayes was unable to make a determination on either player, telling reporters that she would make a late decision on the pair.

“There’s not a big turnaround. I’m going to leave it for as long as possible,” Hayes said in quotes on The Athletic. “I’ve got another 24 hours, so the injury update is touch and go, but I’m gonna give it the maximum amount of time to see if either one of them are available.”

Davidson is suffering from swelling after a knee-on-knee collision with Germany’s Jule Brand.

“She’s recovering really really well,” Hayes said on the center back. “It’s just, is there going to be enough time?”

In Davidson’s absence, Emily Sonnett has been filling in at center back alongside Naomi Girma.

Shaw has been replaced on the gameday squad by Croix Bethune for all three of the team’s matches in France thus far. The Washington Spirit rookie made her Olympic debut in the second half of the USWNT’s 2-1 win over Australia.

[lawrence-related id=79116,79119,79006]

Photos of former Notre Dame fencer Lee Kiefer winning team foil gold

Congrats again, Kiefer!

At the Tokyo Olympics, [autotag]Lee Kiefer[/autotag] became the first U.S. fencer to win a gold medal in an individual foil event. Now at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Kiefer, who once fenced at Notre Dame, has made more history. This time, she’s done it with her fellow Americans.

Kiefer, who already has defended her individual foil gold in these Olympics, became the most decorated fencer in U.S. history when she won the third gold of her Olympic career in the team foil event with teammates Lauren Scruggs, whom she beat for that individual foil gold, Jacqueline Dubrovich and Maia Mei Weintraub.

Kiefer and the others earned the first gold for the U.S. in the team foil event with a 45-39 victory over Italy, which came after Japan defeated Canada for the bronze. The U.S. previously won a silver in this event in 2008.

If you want to see the latest in a series of big moments for Kiefer, check out the photos below:

Former Notre Dame midfielder gets deciding goal for USWNT in Olympics

Way to score, Korbin!

Former Notre Dame midfielder [autotag]Korbin Albert[/autotag] hasn’t been with the U.S. Women’s National Team for very long. So it shouldn’t have been a surprise that she entered the 2024 Olympics in Paris with no goals yet in international play. That all changed though in the Americans’ group-stage finale against Australia.

With the U.S. already up, 1-0, on Trinity Rodman’s second goal of the tournament late in the first half, Albert entered as a substitute during the 65th minute, which also saw Rodman’s departure. Albert picked up a yellow card during her time on the field, but she won’t remember that. Instead, she’ll remember her first international goal, which she scored in the 77th minute:

The goal proved to be critical as Australia’s Alanna Kennedy had her second tournament tally in the 91st minute. That made it a 2-1 final score in favor of the U.S., which will begin the knockout stage when it faces Japan in Saturday’s quarterfinal match.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Japan’s Rui Hachimura was ejected for fouling France’s Rudy Gobert in the Olympics and fans hated it

Some fans think France got a favorable whistle at home against Japan.

During group play in the 2024 Paris Olympics, one of the best games featured Japan and France.

France entered as heavy favorites but the game went into overtime largely due to a stellar performance from Japan’s Rui Hachimura, who is a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers. He looked like a star for his country during the game against the host nation of France.

After hitting multiple 3-pointers to bring his scoring total to 24 points with around nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Hachimura was called for his second unsportsmanlike foul of the game after making contact with France’s Rudy Gobert.

It was a bad mistake for Hachimura after already having an unsportsmanlike foul on Bilal Coulibaly from earlier in the half because this was an automatic ejection under FIBA international basketball rules.

After review, the call stood and he was ultimately disqualified. France went on to take the game into overtime and then secured a victory.

Fans couldn’t believe the decision

Victor Wembanyama stood two feet (!) taller than an opponent on Japan during an Olympics victory

The tallest Olympic basketball player played against the smallest.

It isn’t exactly breaking news to report that Victor Wembanyama is very tall. But we were reminded yet again during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Wembanyama, who probably stands somewhere around 7-foot-4, is the NBA’s reigning Rookie of the Year. He also stars for the host nation of France on their Olympic basketball team.

During group play for the French national team, Wembanyama had a thrilling matchup against Japan. While on the court, the Spurs big man briefly stood at close proximity to Japanese guard Yuki Togashi.

The guard, who is 31 years old and actually went to high school in Maryland, is listed at 5-foot-6 but reportedly stands at 5-foot-4.

He and Wembanyama reportedly have the largest height difference of any two basketball players competing in the Olympics. Wembanyama is listed as 55 centimeters taller than Togashi, per FIBA’s website:

REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Former Notre Dame fencer Nick Itkin wins Olympic bronze in foil

Way to go, Nick!

Both current and former Notre Dame fencers have made quite an impact on the 2024 Olympics in Paris. [autotag]Lee Kiefer[/autotag] won her second straight gold medal in the women’s individual foil, and [autotag]Eszter Muhari[/autotag] took bronze in the women’s individual epee for Hungary. Now, we can add [autotag]Nick Itkin[/autotag] to the medal count.

Itkin, who won a bronze medal with the U.S. for the team foil during the pandemic-delayed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, has his first individual Olympic medal. He claimed the bronze with a 15-12 defeat of Japan’s Kazuki Iimura in the men’s individual foil. That made him the first American to medal in the event since Alexander Massialas won silver at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Cheung Ka Long of Hong Kong successfully defended his gold medal in this event, defeating 2016 gold medalist Daniele Garozzo of Italy. Meanwhile, [autotag]Gerek Meinhardt[/autotag], another former Irish fencer in the event and Kiefer’s husband, bowed out in the round of 16, 15-10, to Enzo Lefort of France.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

A Team Japan fan tried to troll Team USA about missing Caitlin Clark with a sign, and it backfired spectacularly

This Caitlin Clark Olympics sign aged poorly.

The United States women’s national basketball team hasn’t lost at the Olympics since 1992, and the streak stayed alive on Monday against the Japan women’s national team in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Team USA dominated Japan, 102-76, with Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson leading the Americans with 24 points.

What made the victory just that much sweeter was a sign in the Paris stands from a Team Japan fan, one that read “You need Caitlin Clark to beat us.”

As has been discussed aplenty, the Indiana Fever rookie guard didn’t make Team USA this year. However, her absence didn’t have an impact in Monday’s game as the United States dispatched Japan in style.

In other words, this fan’s game sign aged very poorly and very quickly.

We’re not sure if anyone on Team USA saw this sign and used it as a bit of fuel, but going for the gold and keeping the unreal win streak alive has to be enough, right?

Either way, we doubt opposing fans will get to use this taunt once the 2028 Olympic Games come to Los Angeles and Clark is most likely playing for Team USA in competition.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=11490]