From the local fields and courts to the international stage, there was plenty to remember in 2013. Here is just a sampling of the stories that we covered.
January
“What?!” is the cry of disbelief from American figure skater Mirai Nagasu, after finishing seventh at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Omaha. She still has a chance to make the U.S. team for this year’s Winter Olympics.
Chapman University guard Kimi Takaoka scores 17 as her Panthers pull off a men’s/women’s basketball sweep over Occidental.
February
One of pro basketball sensations met one of its legends, as Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets was introduced to Wat Misaka, the first player of Asian descent to make it into the NBA.
Lauren Saiki seizes control of Mark Keppel’s CIF quarterfinal, scoring 10 in the fourth quarter on route to a win.
March
Tets Furukawa and Kenso Zenimura throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a spring exhibition game in Phoenix, where the Oakland A’s paid tribute to the history of Nisei baseball.
Former promising basketball center Robert Swift finally vacates his foreclosed house where had been squatting for some time, leaving a mess of feces, punched-out walls, beer cans, cigarette butts, pizza boxes, and bullet casings.
April
Takuma Sato becomes the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar race, taking the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
May
No love for the Southerners as the Northern Cal teams sweep the 2013 NAU State Tournament.
Flintridge Prep head coach Garrett Ohara is named the boys basketball Coach of the Year by the The Pasadena Star-News.
June
Bowling returns to Little Tokyo, as the X Lanes opens in the former site of Little Tokyo Bowl.
Brett Urabe and the UCLA Bruins capture the school’s first NCAA title for baseball.
July
42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm becomes the oldest player to make it to the third round at Wimbledon, only to lose to the tournament’s top thirty-something, Serena Williams.
Maryknoll Karate Club celebrates its 50 anniversary.
August
Yu Darvish gets to within three out of a perfect game for the second time of the season.
September
Nick Sekiya goes 3-for-4 as his Gardena Rebels win the AA State baseball title.
October
Running back Thomas Duarte makes his college debut at UCLA.
November
Frosh Lindsay Uyematsu continues to impress, scoring 22 for Cal State San Marcos basketball.
Valencia senior Keston Hiura commits to play baseball at the University of California Irvine.
December
Hideo Nomo becomes the first Japanese player to be listed on baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot.