Sports

TOKYO (Kyodo)--Police searched three locations late Tuesday through early Wednesday after two Russian wrestlers, Roho and Hakurozan, tested positive for marijuana in the wake of the arrest of another Russian grappler on suspicion of possessing the drug.

The three locations are Roho’s room at the Otake stable headed by former sekiwake (sumo’s third-highest rank) Takatoriki, Hakurozan’s room at the Kitanoumi stable headed by Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi, a former yokozuna or grand champion, and Hakurozan’s apartment.

LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens has issued a defense of the association’s much-criticized language policy, saying that it is not aimed at a particular group of golfers and that it will be beneficial to the LPGA and the golfers themselves.

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Marijuana was detected in urine samples from Russian brothers Roho and Hakurozan on Sept. 2, further escalating a scandal in the ancient Japanese sport after Wakanoho, another Russian grappler, was arrested for allegedly possessing the illegal drug, the Japan Sumo Association said.

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has joined the “No on Prop. 8 — Equality for All” campaign in support of marriage equality in the state of California.

This campaign is an effort to defeat Proposition 8, which is on the November ballot. If enacted, the state would not recognize any marriage that is not between a man and a woman.

The JACL has been an advocate of marriage equality for years, being one of the first non-LGBT (lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender) organizations in the nation to support this issue.

Bryan Clay became the first American since Dan O’Brien in 1996 to win gold in the decathlon, earning the distinction of “World’s Greatest Athlete.”

The silver medalist in Athens in 2004 and world champion in 2005, he led the 2008 decathlon competition from the start, taking first or second in five of the 10 events and third in two others.

A native of Honolulu and current Los Angeles resident of Japanese and African American parentage, Clay joins fellow decathlon gold medalists O’Brien, Jim Thorpe and Bruce Jenner as Wheaties champions.

SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) this week announced her disappointment with the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s (LPGA) new policy that states all players must speak English or face suspension.

The LPGA has pointed to the need for players to be able to entertain sponsors in pro-am tournaments as the reason for the decision.

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is speaking out against the LPGA’s recent decision to require its players to speak English or risk suspension.

“The JACL does not accept the LPGA rationale that this rule is needed to increase its marketability and ensure public interest at pro-am events,” the JACL said in a statement. “Rather than invoke this rule, which would require players who have been on the LPGA Tour for two years to pass an English evaluation by the end of 2009, the LPGA should reconsider and retract this action ...

“Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story” is a documentary film about the first Asian American pro basketball player.

A Nisei born, raised and still living in Utah, Wataru “Wat” Misaka was the first-round draft pick of the New York Knicks in 1947. Just two years after Japanese Americans were released from the World War II internment camps, he overcame the national political climate of the time.

ULAN BATOR (Kyodo)--Asashoryu beat fellow Mongolian grand champion Hakuho to win the overall title of mini tournaments Thursday, bringing a fitting end to sumo's first-ever exhibition tour of the country.
Asashoryu downed compatriot Tokitenku in the second-day final and went on to topple archrival Hakuo, winner of the first-day tourney on Wednesday, with a belt-gripping throw in front of a sell-out crowd of 2,700 excited to witness a meeting between their hometown heroes.

HERCULES — The Double Eagle Golf Club held its monthly tournament on Aug. 17 at Franklin Canyon Golf Course. Results are as follows:

Kiyotaka Hidaka 81-14-67
Kunihiko Oshikawa 82-13-69
Hirotsugu Haga 88-18-70
Michiko Shoji 79-08-71
Hiroko Suzuki 94-23-71
Atsuko Yamamoto 92-20-72
Emiko Oshikawa 98-26-72
Shiro Saegusa 78-05-73
Katsuyoshi Matsuda 84-11-73
Osamu Taki 89-16-73