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In the opening moments of a new film called “Diamond Diplomacy,†Shohei Ohtani holds the ball and Mike Trout holds a bat. These are the dramatic final moments of the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

The film puts those moments on pause to share the long and complex relationship between the United States and Japan through the prism of baseball, and through the stories of four Japanese players — Ohtani included — and their journeys to the major leagues.

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Baseball has been a national pastime in both nations for more than a century. A Japanese publishing magnate sponsored a 1934 barnstorming tour led by Babe Ruth. Under former owners Walter and Peter Oâ€Malley, the Dodgers were at the forefront of tours to Japan and elsewhere.

In 1946, however, amid the aftermath of World War II, the United States government funded a tour by the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League. Director Yuriko Gamo Romer features archival footage from that tour prominently in her film.

“I thought it was remarkable,†she said, “that the U.S. government decided, ‘Oh, we should send a baseball team to Japan to help repair relations and for goodwill.†â€

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On the home front, Romer shows how Ruth barnstormed Central California in 1927, a decade and a half before the U.S. government forced citizens of Japanese ancestry into internment camps there. Teams and leagues sprouted within the camps, an arrangement described by one player as “baseball behind barbed wire.â€

The film also relates how, even after World War II ended, Japanese Americans were often unwelcome in their old neighborhoods, and Japanese baseball leagues sprung up like the Negro Leagues.

In 1964, the San Francisco Giants made pitcher Masanori Murakami the first Japanese player in Major League Baseball, but he yielded to pressure to return to his homeland two years later.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Masanori Murakami, shown on the a pro baseball field in 1964, was the first Japanese athlete to play in Major League Baseball. (Associated Press)

In 1995, when pitcher Hideo Nomo signed with the Dodgers, he had to retire from Japanese baseball to do so. (The film contains footage of legendary Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda teaching Nomo to say, “I bleed Dodger blue.â€)

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Now, star Japanese players regularly join the majors. In that 2023 WBC, as the film shows at its end, Ohtani left his first big imprint on the international game by striking out Trout to deliver victory to Japan over the United States.

On Friday, Ohtani powered the Dodgers into the World Series with perhaps the greatest game by any player in major league history.

In previous generations, author Robert Whiting says in the film, hardly any American could name a prominent Japanese figure, in baseball or otherwise. Today, Ohtaniâ€s jersey is baseballâ€s best seller, and he is a cultural icon on and off the field, here and in Japan.

Fans cheer as Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani hits his third home run during Game 4 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

“Suddenly, a Japanese face is the face of Major League Baseball in the United States,†Romer said. “People here can buy bottles of cold Japanese tea that have Shoheiâ€s face on it.

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“I know people who donâ€t care about baseball one iota and theyâ€re like, ‘oh, yeah, I know who that is.’â€

“Diamond Diplomacy†will show on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Newport Beach Film Festival. For more information, visit newportbeachfilmfest.com.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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A Milwaukee Brewers fan who threatened “let’s call ICE” on a Latino Los Angeles Dodgers fan in a video recorded Tuesday during NLCS Game 2 has lost her job, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Both fans have been banned from the Brewers’ American Family Field.

The woman in the video is Shannon Kobylarczyk, per the Journal Sentinel, which reported that her employer, the Milwaukee-based staffing company Manpower Group, confirmed on Wednesday she is “no longer with the organization.”

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Additionally, the Journal Sentinel reported that Kobylarczyk resigned from her role on the board of directors at Make-A-Wish Wisconsin.

The video captured an altercation between Kobylarczyk and Dodgers fan Ricardo Fosado in the seventh inning, reportedly after Kiké Hernández hit a leadoff double while L.A. led 3-1 en route to a 5-1 victory and a 2-0 series lead against the top-seeded Brewers.

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Fosado recorded a video of him jeering Brewers fans around him, saying “Why is everybody quiet?”

Kobylarczyk responded by saying, “Real men drink beer, p***y!” to Fosado, who was holding a Happy Thursday spiked refresher.

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Fosado continued: “Why is everybody quiet? What is this?”

Moments later, Kobylarczyk tapped the Brewers fan in front of her and said, “You know what, let’s call ICE,” meaning Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Fosado responded that he’s a U.S. Citizen and a war veteran. He told the Journal Sentinel that he served in the U.S. Navy from 2001-05, including in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“ICE is not going to do nothing to me. Good luck,” Fosado said in the video before laughing.

Kobylarczyk batted the camera away.

Fosado repositioned it and exclaimed, “Call ICE! Call ’em. Call ’em, F***ing idiot.”

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After the incident, Kobylarczyk reported Fosado to stadium security, and he was removed from the ballpark, Fosado, a Los Angeles resident and U.S. Citizen of Mexican heritage, told the Journal Sentinel.

“I don’t think it was like horrible or something that should get her fired. I feel bad for her,” Fosado said, according to the Journal Sentinel. “We cannot be judged on one mistake, and a lot of emotions were involved. It was just hurt feelings, nobody physically hurt anybody.”

The Brewers released a statement Thursday, announcing that both Kobylarczyk and Fosado have been banned from American Family Field.

“The Brewers expect all persons attending games to be respectful of each other, and we do not condone in any way offensive statements fans make to each about race, gender or national origin,” the Brewers said in the statement. “Our priority is to ensure that all in attendance have a safe and enjoyable experience at the ballpark.

“In this instance, the Milwaukee Police Department dealt with the individual who was ejected for actions apart from the events depicted in this video, including disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

“Separately, video shows that the other individual involved in the argument became physical in the course of her interaction with the person who was ejected.

“For these reasons, and, in accordance with our Guest Code of Conduct specific to ejections and physical confrontations, both fans are being notified that they are not allowed to return to the ballpark for future events.”

The Dodgers are hosting the Brewers for Games 3 and 4 and a potential Game 5 of the NLCS.

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American tech entrepreneur Brooklyn Earick has ruled out making a formal takeover bid for Tottenham.

Tottenham “unequivocally rejected” an informal expression of interest from a consortium led by Earick last month and insisted the club was not for sale.

But UK takeover and merger rules dictated that, having had an expression of interest rejected, Earick’s consortium needed to make an offer by 24 October or announce they would not do so.

Confirmation of the decision was made in a statement made by Tottenham to the London Stock Exchange, stating the club is “no longer in an offer period”.

Earick posted an image of the statement on social media, adding: “It’s been a privilege engaging with Tottenham Hotspur and the Lewis family’s representatives over the past few months.

“I have great respect for the club, its leadership, and its supporters, and wish them nothing but success.”

The club’s board thanked the consortium for its “constructive approach” in negotiations and for “respecting the clear position” of the owners that the club is not for sale.

Earick is a former DJ who also worked in spacecraft research for Nasa before founding Redacted RnD, which focuses on technology, media, sport and entertainment.

His approach was the third expression of interest rejected by the club’s board since the sudden departure of executive chairman Daniel Levy in September.

On 8 September, the club rejected approaches from former Newcastle United shareholder Amanda Staveley’s PCP International Finance Limited and a consortium led by Dr Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng through Firehawk Holdings Limited.

Levy and his family own about 30% of Enic Sports & Developments Holdings Ltd – which has an almost 87% stake in Tottenham.

Levy was the Premier League’s longest-serving chairman and is estimated to have earned more than £50m during his almost quarter of a century in the role.

But he was also the target of regular protests by Spurs fans, especially last season as domestic league results proved disappointing.

The north London club won their first trophy in 16 years when they beat Manchester United in May’s Europa League final.

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh volleyball played a second consecutive home match on Saturday afternoon, welcoming the American University Eagles to Grace Hall. The Mountain Hawks were bested by the Eagles in three sets on Dig Pink day.

American (12-4, 5-1 PL) rode a high-powered offense past Lehigh (8-7, 2-4 PL) in the first set, hitting a match-best .357 in the frame. The Mountain Hawks kept pace with the Eagles, eventually gaining a 14-13 lead. However, an 11-4 run brought the Eagles to a set point at 24-18 before a Sophie Dufour kill sealed a 25-19 set one win for American.

AU’s defense took center stage in the second, holding the Mountain Hawks to a .079 hitting percentage. Despite this, the Mountain Hawks still competed and managed to tie the match at 14-14. The Eagles then surged ahead, conducting an 11-5 run to close out the set and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Eagles opened the third set on a strong note, jumping ahead to a 14-8 lead. The Mountain Hawks would close within three points at 21-18, but the Eagles held on to claim a 25-20 set victory and match sweep.

Senior Natalie Luscomb led Lehigh offensively with 13 kills on an efficient .367 hitting percentage. Junior Abby Felkai tallied 15 assists to lead the Mountain Hawks. Defensively, sophomore Sophia Bond registered 10 digs and senior Madison McCartney led the team with five total blocks.

American’s Salme Adeele Hollas registered a match-high 18 kills on a .469 hitting percentage while Dufour joined her in double-digits with 12 kills.

The Mountain Hawks return to Grace Hall on Friday, October 10 at 7 p.m. to take on Loyola.

Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebook,Âfollow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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American Emma Navarro upset top-seeded Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 win in the fourth round of the China Open on Wednesday.

Navarro, seeded 16th, had not won more than three games in two previous matches against Swiatek, who put in an erratic performance and lost a love set for the third time this season.

Also, Sonay Kartal produced the biggest victory of her career by defeating Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals. It is the first time Kartal has beaten a top-10 player and the first time she has reached the last eight at a WTA 1000 event.

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“I think the way I carry myself on the court is one of my biggest assets. You could look down the other end at me and you wouldn’t really know if I’m winning or losing,” Kartal said. “I just tried to put that second set behind me. She played some great tennis, so I just tried to level it out in the third set and keep the scoreboard pressure as high as I could.”

Fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula was playing Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, and second-seeded Coco Gauff has already qualified for the quarterfinals, which she is scheduled to play against Eva Lys on Thursday.

Jannik Sinner, playing the concurrent men’s tournament in Beijing, won the China Open title by beating American teenager Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2.

The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.

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BEIJING — Jannik Sinner won the China Open by beating American teenager Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2 in Wednesday’s final to continue his preparations for the Shanghai Masters.

Sinner rebounded from his US Open disappointment by winning his third title of the season — and 21st altogether — with a dominant performance against the 19-year-old Tien, the second-youngest player to reach the tournament’s final.

“We will try to improve and push for more and let’s see what the rest of the season looks like, but I am very happy,” Sinner said.

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Sinner next goes to Shanghai, where he will be the favorite after Carlos Alcaraz withdrew because of an ankle injury sustained in the first round of the Japan Open, which he won Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Sinner won his 11th straight match against Alex de Minaur in their China Open semifinal. Sinner’s 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory took him to a ninth straight final at hard-court tournaments.

Tien, ranked No. 52, was playing in his first tour final after Daniil Medvedev retired injured when the score was 5-7, 7-5, 4-0 on Tuesday.

The ATP event in Beijing ran concurrently with the WTA 1000 tournament, which is into the fourth round and ends Sunday. Among those playing their fourth-round matches later Wednesday were top-seeded Iga Swiatek and fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula.

Second-seeded Coco Gauff has already qualified for the quarterfinals, which she is scheduled to play against Eva Lys on Thursday.

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September 30, 2025

(By Edgardo Vazquez)

As a Butterfly America coach, I am very proud to share what we experienced at the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games, where our Puerto Rican delegation once again demonstrated the high level and future of Puerto Rican table tennis.

It was a tournament filled with excitement, dedication, and results that reflect the efforts of our athletes:

Gold
• Edmarie León – Women’s Singles

Silver
• Krystal Meléndez / Enrique Ríos – Mixed Doubles
• Edmarie León / Krystal Meléndez – Women’s Doubles
• Steven Moreno / Enrique Ríos – Men’s Team

Bronze
• Edmarie León / Steven Moreno – Mixed Doubles
• Steven Moreno – Men’s Singles
• Edmarie León / Krystal Meléndez – Women’s Team

TOTAL: 7 MEDALS
(1 Gold – 3 Silver – 3 Bronze)

These results are a clear sign that Puerto Rico continues to grow and consolidate itself as one of the youth powers on the continent. Every medal is backed by hard work, discipline, sacrifice, and dreams that are gradually coming true.

I want to give a special thanks to Butterfly for all the support they provide to us as a Federation, to our athletes, and to me as a coach. These achievements confirm that when support, commitment, and talent come together, great things can be achieved.

Thank you to our athletes for representing us with such passion and to all of Puerto Rico for the support. This is just the beginning of what we can achieve together.

We continue to dream big and work wholeheartedly for our island.

 

  Stay “In The Loop†with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.

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September 30, 2025

(By Bowmar Sports/ Edgardo Vazquez)

We are proud to share the participation of Puerto Rico’s youth delegation in the Rosario 2025 Pan American Youth Championships, where our athletes demonstrated talent, passion, and dedication, achieving historic results for the island.

Our delegation was composed of:

• Edgardo Vázquez (coach sponsored by Butterfly America)
• Edmarie León (player sponsored by Butterfly America)
• Krystal Meléndez
• Carlos Gracia
• Alahia Medina
• Yadiel López
• Valentina Dávila
• Jerall Montijo
• Enrique Ríos
• Ariana Aponte
• Aurora Bonome
• Owen Shemesh (player sponsored by Butterfly America)
• Sergio Pérez (player sponsored by Butterfly America)
• Brianna Rodríguez
• Matthew Cao
• Esteban Ayala
• Naimaris Hernández
• Alexis Pietri
• Edgarz de Jesús

Highlighted Results:

Boy and Gir Teams Event

🥈 Junior Girls†Team – Puerto Rico Puerto Rico runners-up
🥈 Junior Boys†Team – Puerto Rico runners-up

Doubles and Mixed Event
🥇 Junior Mixed Doubles – Steven Moreno (PUR) & Edmarie León (PUR)
🥉 Junior Mixed Doubles – Enrique Ríos (PUR) & Krystal Meléndez (PUR)
🥇 Junior Girls†Doubles – Edmarie León (PUR) & Krystal Meléndez (PUR)

Singles Event
• 🥈 Junior Girls†Singles – Krystal Meléndez (PUR)

💥 Overall Medal Table:
1ï¸âƒ£ United States
2ï¸âƒ£ Brazil
3ï¸âƒ£ Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

This third place globally is a demonstration of the growth, discipline, and talent of our young players, who continue to consolidate Puerto Rico among the powers of youth table tennis. America and the world.

A very special thanks to Butterfly, sponsor of our Federation and fundamental supporter along this path. Thanks to their support, our athletes have the best conditions to compete at the highest level.

Puerto Rico continues to grow, dream, and demonstrate that with hard work and heart, anything is possible.

 

  Stay “In The Loop†with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.

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What made Keegan Bradley’s opening ceremony blooper, when he muddled surnames, so outstanding was not the basic fact Justin Rose is an Englishman who could not possibly have sunk the winning putt for the USA in the 1999 Ryder Cup. Instead, this was simply such a much-needed antidote to the micromanagement that now dulls the buildup to a biennial joust between a continent and a country. Golfers who ordinarily have plenty to say and who revel in the rarity of team combat find themselves delivering anodyne soundbites. Bradley’s blunder was such an endearing reminder of days gone by, when the Ryder Cup was more open to rogue elements. The whiff of cordite was never far away.

The Ryder Cup needs a little more fizz. That may well be provided by a volatile New York crowd, the arrival of a US president who polarises opinion and stars such as Rory McIlroy or Bryson DeChambeau who should not be backwards in coming forwards when the proper stuff starts. The shadow boxing is now over. What is so striking and impressive is that golfers who bump into each other on Floridian school runs somehow manage to summon the spirit of a great rivalry for one week out of every 104.

More pertinent, the Ryder Cup requires even the occasional away win. This is the weekend for Europe to seize that opportunity, with Luke Donald’s class of 2025 the best-placed team since 2012 to hand the US a bloody nose in their own backyard. That European win in Medinah was dubbed a miracle. In 2016 and 2021, just as in 2008, Europe were trounced. Home wins in 2014, at Gleneagles, 2018, in Paris and 2023, in Rome, were similarly comprehensive. The Ryder Cup has grown – perhaps too much – as an event and corporate attraction. For it to remain competitively valid, home teams cannot prevail time and again.

Keegan Bradley’s opening ceremony blooper was an endearing reminder of days gone by. Photograph: Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile/Getty Images

“It has been pretty one-sided either way,†said McIlroy. “So whatever team, whether that’s Europe or America that is the one to break that duck, I think honestly is going to go down as one of the best teams in Ryder Cup history.

“Luke said it in his opening [ceremony] remarks but we are playing for history and we’re playing for the players that came before us and the people that basically laid the foundations for what the European Ryder Cup team is.

“We are also playing for the guys that are going to come behind us, as well, the young boys that are dreaming of becoming European Ryder Cup players. We want to try to leave a legacy for them as well. We have a wonderful opportunity this week but we also understand it’s going to be very difficult.â€

McIlroy’s status has only been enhanced by his triumph at Augusta National in April. Donald is calling upon only the sixth man in history to complete a career grand slam. The European team supposedly exist without hierarchy but McIlroy’s approach here, with arms round teammates throughout the Ryder Cup lead-in, is of a true leader. Europe are so lucky to have him. “He’s gone from obviously being an incredibly good player to a great Ryder Cup player to now being, I would say, the cornerstone that Europe needs,†said Jon Rahm of McIlroy. “It’s special to have him around. He’s a heck of a superstar. My respect for his game only grows the more time I spend with him.â€

The consistency Donald sought from the team that prevailed in Rome has been delivered. There was a scouting trip to Bethpage last week. The level of detail and preparation attached to this European side gives cause to ponder when they might ever win on the road if Sunday does not deliver the legacy McIlroy dreams of.

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Scottie Scheffler is a dominant force but there are questions surrounding some of his US teammates. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Bradley has Scottie Scheffler, so imperious and dominant in individual golf. Questions hover, though, above other members of the US team. Four are rookies, which in theory is less of an issue at home but could be significant if the backdrop is febrile. DeChambeau could be terrific or terrible, Xander Schauffele has been out of sorts all year and Collin Morikawa wobbles more than a 3am drunk. The unlikely star of this US team could well be JJ Spaun. Bradley’s contingent have been irked by questioning about the move to pay them to perform here, which is a live and legitimate issue despite protestations to the contrary.

Bethpage, once regarded as an X-rated venue, has been tamed by heavy rain. Soft greens combined with a lack of truly punishing rough offers scope for excitement. There are half a dozen par fours where players will require only a wedge for approach shots if tackling them boldly. Europe have the talent level, camaraderie and confidence to shatter American hopes. The Ryder Cup generally would benefit from that outcome. Every serious sporting competition needs jeopardy.

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – U.S. captain Keegan Bradley on Monday defended the PGA of America’s decision to pay American players a stipend to play in the Ryder Cup.

This year, for the first time, each U.S. player will receive a $200,000 stipend in addition to $300,000 that will be distributed to charity.

That’s an increase from the $200,000 that was strictly earmarked for charity previously. It’s a similar payment scheme to what the PGA Tour has for Presidents Cup participants.

Bradley has already said that he will donate the entirety of his $500,000 bonus. He did not disclose how many of the U.S. players will follow suit, saying it’s a “personal decision.â€

“The PGA of America asked me to help out with this,†Bradley said, “and this is the best way we came up with to do it.â€

Added PGA CEO Derek Sprague on Monday’s “Live From the Ryder Cup”: “[Bradley] wanted to do more good with the money, so that’s why there is $300,000 out of the $500,000 allocation going to charity. … At the end of the day, charity’s going to win again.â€

The pay-for-play issue dates to the 1999 matches but came under the spotlight once again two years ago in Rome, with reports that U.S. players wanted to be compensated for participating in the PGA’s biggest money-making event.

Bradley was asked four questions – by two U.K.-based journalists – about the new plan, and if it creates a perception that it “means more†to the European players because they’re not being paid to play.

On the first official day of Ryder Cup week, as his team began its preparations in earnest, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley admitted Monday that he thought about playing “every second.â€

“Well, I’m not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. I’m concerned about what my team is doing,†Bradley said. “We did the best we could, and I think a lot of good is going to come from this. I think the players are going to do a lot of good with this money, and I think it’s great.â€

European captain Luke Donald was seated beside Bradley on Monday afternoon but did not receive any questions about the Americans’ new monetary arrangement.