author

 
 
Ed Odeven
Ed Odeven covers primarily basketball for The Japan Times. He reported on a wide range of sports from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Summer Games for this newspaper. A native of the Bronx, N.Y., Odeven is a graduate of Arizona State University. He previously worked for the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff, Ariz., reporting on high school, collegiate, professional and Olympic sports (Flagstaff is a major international Olympic training site due to its high elevation) and writing a weekly column. His articles have appeared in Venezuela Online News, The Gleaner (Jamaica), the Monitor (Uganda), The Moscow Times, Swimming World Magazine and numerous other publications.
BASKETBALL
Apr 1, 2012
Phoenix continue march toward top spot in East
The scintillating hunt for the top spot in the bj-league's Eastern Conference is still, technically, up for grabs. Though it doesn't look like the reigning champs have any intention of relinquishing their hold on the top spot.
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Mar 31, 2012
Takamatsu's plight reflects poorly on league
The Takamatsu Five Arrows are awful, so bad that they don't even pretend to be a cheap imitation of a mediocre franchise.
BASKETBALL
Mar 31, 2012
Police clear Evessa star Washington in drug case
After 18 days in Osaka Prefectural Police custody, bj-league star Lynn Washington was released on Friday, and authorities said they will not prosecute him on drug charges.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 30, 2012
Marshall injury deals fresh blow to beleaguered Evessa
Already without two-time MVP Lynn Washington, the face of the franchise and the most famous player in league history after his March 13 arrest on suspicion of smuggling marijuana into Japan, the Osaka Evessa now are coping with the loss of center Wayne Marshall for an estimated four weeks.
BASKETBALL
Mar 26, 2012
Happinets secure spot in playoffs
The Akita Northern Happinets became the bj-league's second Eastern Conference team to clinch a playoff spot this season by defeating the visiting Saitama Broncos 97-87 on Sunday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Mar 25, 2012
Namizato, Golden Kings trounce Evessa
Between them, the Osaka Evessa and Ryukyu Golden Kings captured the bj-league's first four championships, including the Evessa's three-peat from the beginning of the league's existence. Both teams have also finished runnerup once apiece.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 23, 2012
Parmer says Phoenix primed for third straight title run
Attempting to win a third consecutive championship, the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix remain the beast of the East.
BASKETBALL
Mar 21, 2012
Washington to fight charges in drug case
Osaka Evessa power forward Lynn Washington's legal defense has begun, The Japan Times has learned.
BASKETBALL
Mar 20, 2012
Five Arrows' woes continue against Rizing
Sunday's bj-league competition highlighted the two-time reigning champion Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix's standard of excellence — a 100-86 win over the host Chiba Jets that improved their record to 29-13 — as they became the first Eastern Conference team to clinch a playoff berth this season....
BASKETBALL
Mar 19, 2012
Phoenix flex muscles to hold off late Jets charge
The Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix don't have the fiery, demanding Kazuo Nakamura barking instructions from the bench anymore, but the two-time defending champions still feature a gifted ensemble of basketball players capable of winning another championship in May.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Mar 18, 2012
Evessa nab emotional victory without star Washington
The Osaka Evessa have endured a week unlike any other in franchise history.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Mar 18, 2012
Shinshu's Raivio making impression with speed, skills
Shinshu Brave Warriors guard Derek Raivio makes basketball look like a simple game, taking complex concepts and executing them with ease.
BASKETBALL
Mar 17, 2012
Drug use rampant in bj-league, claims Saitama's Flowers
Saitama Broncos forward John Flowers, who played for West Virginia in the 2010 NCAA Final Four, told a CBS Radio show in Pittsburgh that drug use in the bj-league is widespread.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 16, 2012
Jockeying for playoff positions gets serious
Like high tide or low tide, as the season enters its stretch run, teams will rise and fall, and playoff aspirations will be realized or go unfulfilled.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Mar 16, 2012
League to test all players for drugs after Washington arrest
After Osaka Evessa star Lynn Washington's Tuesday arrest for his alleged involvement in smuggling a package (1 kg to 1.5 kg, various published reports stated) of marijuana into Japan in November, the bj-league reacted by announcing league-wide drug testing of players will be conducted by Friday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Mar 14, 2012
Evessa's Washington arrested in drug case
Osaka Evessa power forward Lynn Washington, the most famous player in bj-league history, was arrested at 10:20 a.m on Tuesday for alleged involvement in the importation of between 1 kg and 1.5 kg of marijuana, media reports stated the same day.
BASKETBALL
Mar 12, 2012
89ers finish Kyushu trip with victory over Rizing
Playing on the one-year anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Sendai 89ers gave their rabid Tohoku fans a heart-warming 73-65 victory to savor, and they salvaged a series split on Sunday in the bj-league.
BASKETBALL
Mar 11, 2012
Strong finish propels Rizing past 89ers
Despite a strong defensive effort, the Sendai 89ers fell 67-59 to the host Rizing Fukuoka on Saturday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Mar 10, 2012
Hannaryz score big win
First-year coach Honoo Hamaguchi brought discipline, a commitment to excellence and a pair of big-time big men to the Kyoto Hannaryz for the team's third season.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 9, 2012
With playoff spot already locked up, powerhouse Kings take on Albirex
With 14 games remaining, the Ryukyu Golden Kings have already clinched a playoff spot.

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