在日本JBL已經混了五、六年的前UCLA球員J.R. Henderson，在七月初正式取得日本籍，加入日本國家隊，將在亞錦賽披掛上陣，而且改名Sakuragi J.R. -- 櫻木J.R.。這小子是不是灌籃高手看多了啊？
話說這個曾經在2005年花蓮觀護盃籃賽扣碎籃板的美國櫻木，在UCLA期間曾是我頗為欣賞的球員，不過他在1998年NBA選秀會到第二輪才被灰熊挑走，混了一年就打包走人。之所以淪落到日本，多半因為他算是個沒有基本動作、外線不良的小前鋒，而他的球路也從來都不強力。換句話說，這種軟調前鋒流落到日本打球討生活，還算蠻正常的。
American Henderson has a yen to play for Japan
Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:32AM EDT
TOKYO (Reuters) - American-born basketball player J.R. Henderson has acquired Japanese citizenship in the hope of playing for Japan's national team, Kyodo news agency reported.
A forward for the Aishin Sea Horses, the 30-year-old could be part of the national team in time to play a central role for Japan at the men's Asian championship starting on July 28.
Henderson played for the Vancouver Grizzlies in the NBA in 1998-1999 and joined Aishin in 2001.
"It was a huge decision for me, but (I) came to this after consulting with my parents and wife," the 2.03 metre (6 ft 7.92 in) forward said in a statement.
Former UCLA player gets Japanese citizenship, spot on national hoops team
"This player had applied for the citizenship a long time ago, but it wasn't permitted so soon," said Japan coach Kimikazu Suzuki at a news conference after the team's open workout and farewell ceremony for the Olympic qualifier at Yoyogi Gymnasium Annex on Monday.
According to Suzuki, Sakuragi finally received the citizenship on July 2.
無論如何，這是日本再一次期待利用歸化洋將的作法，快速提昇國家隊戰力。先前曾經歸化日籍的洋將，分別有Michael Takahashi、Dan Weiss、Eric McArthur和Walter Brown等人。打從明治維新以來，日本的西化運動作法似乎都如出一轍。相對於中國西化的心不甘情不願、半調子、打著羊頭賣狗肉，還有什麼可笑的「中學為體、西學為用」，日本從不介意全盤、徹底的西化。放到籃球上來看，他們是相當努力的在和歐美接軌，請外籍教練、鼓勵球員到國外發展、努力將歐美思潮引進日本、學習建立好的制度。
如果要講究短期效應，如果來不及學到，或是學到的東西還來不及發揮...我用買的、用拗的總可以吧！歸化洋將的作法，即由此來。
坦白說，雖然中國已經拿到北京奧運門票，只派第二隊參加亞錦賽，加上日本是地主，占有優勢，但他們以「奪得北京奧運亞洲參賽權」的目標，還是極為過度的期待，畢竟，以日本目前的實力想在亞洲出頭，難度實在很高。
然而，日本人也可愛在這裡。他們一向就是設定目標，然後努力去衝。你要譏笑他們也好、不屑他們也好，他們還是這麼認真的在擬定計劃、訓練，作該作的事，球員上場就是拼一分鐘。即使最後未能達成目標，依然無怨無悔。
而我們對中華隊的期望，不也是如此而已嗎？
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Howie Landa，熟悉的名字
Landa named Fukuoka Rizing coach
Howie Landa, one of the finest U.S. junior college basketball coaches of all time, is the Rizing Fukuoka's first head coach, the bj-league expansion team announced. He agreed to a one-year contract, which begins September 1.
Landa, 75, graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia in 1950 and then starred at Lebanon (Pa.) Valley College. He played in the Eastern Pro League in the 1950s. Landa later coached at Mercer (N.J.) County College for 26 years, winning the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association title two times in four appearances and earning national coach of the year honors three times.
Landa also earned a paycheck as a New York Knicks assistant coach during his distinguished career. He joined Jerry Tarkanian's UNLV staff in 1989 and was an interim head coach there in 1994. He also served five years as an assistant coach for the university's Runnin' Rebels' women's squad.
In recent years, Landa has worked as a WNBA scout, been an assistant coach for the Phoenix Mercury and authored a book on women's basketball. In addition, Landa is a member of 10 basketball halls of fame.
高齡75歲的美國教練Howie Landa，接下了bj League的福岡Rizing隊教練一職，讓我想起多年前在台灣和他的「萍水相逢」。
正確時間忘記了，但推想起來應該是在1998年中華職籃CBA還健在的時候，曾在採訪戰神練球時見到過他。當時他似乎是被請來擔任短期顧問，和他有過短暫的訪談。而當時我只知道他曾是個頗有名氣的Junior College教練，而且擔任過UNLV的教頭。
他待沒多久就離開台灣了，也許是合約沒談成或什麼的。但當時受他指導頗多的戰神中鋒陳澤銘，卻在下一個球季展現出不小的進步幅度。他由97-98球季的2.2分，進步為98-99球季的6.9分、2.5籃板，同時命中率提昇到52.2%，可惜，CBA在該年就宣布倒店。
陳澤銘後來赴美國Arkansas、Kansas攻讀學位，還極為感念Landa的提攜和指導之恩。
教練不是神仙，無法點石成金，但一名好教練的指導，確實可能讓一個球員得到截然不同的體會。對我來說，Howie Landa之於陳澤銘，正等同於前宏國教練保羅(Paul Coughter)之於劉義祥，在他們的籃球生涯留下不可磨滅的貢獻。
而這也證明，教練年輕化有時並不見得是正確的選擇，不同的球員和球隊，需要不同的教練來帶領。我始終強調，2001年換血之後的中華男籃，用同樣菜到不行的球員和教練攪和了五、六年，或許不如聘請一個戰場經驗豐富的老教頭掌兵來得好，至少不會出現球員和教練在場上同時傻眼、不知所措的情況。
今年的鄭光錫，照理說是個不錯的人選，但他卻面臨著兩個先天不良的問題：一、短時間內就要驗收成果(亞錦賽)，並不公平。二、場下場上的韓文翻譯問題。這個問題大概也被說爛了，我只能說，目前的這個翻譯人選，可能會把中華男籃和鄭光錫害慘。