Star Snippets: Yao Ming, Hisanori Takahashi, K. Rajagobal …..

November 20, 2009 | Posted by benjie

China’s injured star Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets donated $100,000 through his foundation to help rebuild the four playgrounds in Houston that had been destroyed by the hurricane. It was announced at the same time his foundation will have a charity gala with the Museum of Fine Arts early next year.

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Japan’s Hisanori Takahashi told local media that he wants to follow the footsteps of his former teammates Hideki Matsui and Koji Uehara who are now playing in the Major League Baseball in the United States. The 34-year old Takahashi recently filed for free agency.

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Kim Joo-sung of the Dongbu Promy became the first player in the Korean Basketball League to record 700 blocks. He had two blocks while playing against SK Knights in Seoul, South Korea.

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Malaysia’s national football team coach K. Rajagobal is optimistic about the future of the national team despite the setback against Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup. The defeat virtually knocked Malaysia out of contention but Rajagobal is confident that the Malaysians can perform better in the next two or three years.

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Venezuelan Alex Ramirez of the Yomiuri Giants and Yu Darvish of Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters were voted MVPs in their respective leagues this season in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Ramirez won his second successive plum in the Central League while Darvish had his second in htree seasons in the Pacific League.