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 / BJ-LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
Nov 5, 2011
Gardener, Hargrow share offensive accolade for October
There were 56 bj-league games in October, the 2011-12 season's opening month. And now it's time to recognize some of the league's top players for their overall excellence.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Nov 4, 2011
Akita's Gardener proving a formidable force once again
With identical 5-1 records, the upstart Akita Northern Happinets and expansion Chiba Jets square off four times over the next two weekends. It will be a strong early season test for both squads.
BASKETBALL
Oct 31, 2011
Expansion Big Bulls edge Broncos for franchise's first-ever victory
The Iwate Big Bulls earned the first regular-season victory in franchise history on Sunday. And it didn't come easily.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 30, 2011
89ers fall short of victory in Sendai homecoming
Home openers are always special.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 28, 2011
Shimane's Yamamoto plays a cerebral game
The Shimane Susanoo Magic have begun their second season in terrific fashion, winning four games on the road.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Oct 26, 2011
For Yokohama star Simmons, the defense never rests
It shouldn't be shocking when team leaders are mirror images of their head coaches or managers.
BASKETBALL
Oct 24, 2011
B-Corsairs beat Jets to start off rivalry with series split
Rivalries grow in time, creating history, unique memories and storylines that extend beyond the current season.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 23, 2011
Unbeaten Jets edge B-Corsairs in OT
Coming off a pair of victories in their first two regular-season games, wins over the two-time defending champion Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix, the Chiba Jets were fired up to play the first home game in team history on Saturday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 21, 2011
Kabaya starts strong as B-Corsairs evolve
With four games in the books, the expansion Yokohama B-Corsairs now have several relevant things that can be discussed in team meetings. A few trends have started to emerge, too, including the solid play of guards Masayuki Kabaya and Kenji Yamada.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Oct 19, 2011
NBA owners won't give in
Wherever NBA games are played, there are thousands of people who depend on related opportunities to pay the bills, including those employed at the arena, nearby restaurants and hotels and game-day staff.
BASKETBALL
Oct 17, 2011
Aggressive Broncos charge to victory over B-Corsairs
Aggressive play doesn't necessarily show up in the statistics.
BASKETBALL
Oct 16, 2011
Osaka's Washington reaches 5,000-point milestone; Jets win first game in team history
Star forward Lynn Washington scored his 5,000th point in an Osaka Evessa uniform on Saturday, leading the hosts to a 79-60 season-opening victory over the Takamatsu Five Arrows at Sumiyoshi Sports Center. The Chiba Jets, meanwhile, collected a win in their first game in the bj-league.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 15, 2011
Golden Kings, Evessa class of the West again
Almost nothing remains the same in the Eastern Conference, as all 10 head coaches this season are in spots that they didn't occupy at this time a year ago.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 14, 2011
Gardow has expansion Jets prepared for takeoff
The bj-league's Eastern Conference is overflowing with newness this season.
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Oct 12, 2011
Iwate, Niigata coaches look to make imprint on teams
The start of a new season offers fresh optimism for every coach, player and fan. It also presents new challenges and on-the-fly adjustments that will change from week to week.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 10, 2011
89ers improve to 2-0; Shinshu, Yokohama earn first wins
The Sendai 89ers are the first bj-league team to be 2-0 this season. A pair of expansion teams, the Shinshu Brave Warriors and Yokohama B-Corsairs, meanwhile, are 1-1 after the league's first weekend of play.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 9, 2011
Phoenix edge B-Corsairs in overtime to win opener
First games are supposed to be memorable, and there was nothing uneventful about Saturday's Yokohama B-Corsairs-Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix season-opening clash at Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 8, 2011
Geary, B-Corsairs prepared for inaugural campaign
The Yokohama B-Corsairs are neither terrible nor terrific right now. Simply put, they are a brand new team, and their history begins in earnest on Saturday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Oct 7, 2011
Selfless Shimura relishing basketball's return to Sendai
In the immediate aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, Sendai 89ers guard Takehiko Shimura emerged as an encouraging voice and a brave, positive symbol of hope for the Tohoku region. And his tireless efforts involved traditional and contemporary methods.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 5, 2011
Big Bulls ready to charge into debut bj-league season
The Iwate Big Bulls are about to begin experiencing something every professional sports team must encounter: an inaugural season.

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