Daily Archives: April 28, 2008

China vs USA Basketball 2008 Olympics

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Over the weekend, lots were drawn in Beijing to determine the preliminary round groupings for basketball tournaments during the Olympics. On the men’s side, Iran, Lithuania, Argentina, Russia, Australia, and one qualifier to be determined from Olympic qualifying tournaments were selected to play in group A; China, Angola, Spain, USA, and two qualifiers from Olympic qualifying tournaments were selected to play in Group B. The Olympic basketball tournament will run from August 9-24. The group matches are in a round robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the knock-out stage.

China will face off with the USA’s NBA stars on August 10. China’s basketball team is expected to be led by Houston Rocket center Yao Ming.

UPDATE:

If you missed USA vs China round 1 Olympic basketball action, go here to watch it.

Part 1 of the 2008 Olympics Basketball Draw

Part 2 of the 2008 Olympics Basketball Draw

Erik Spoelstra named new Miami Heat head coach

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Today, Erik Spoelstra was named the successor to Pat Riley as Head Coach of the Miami Heat. Currently, he is the youngest coach in the NBA. Spoelstra also becomes the sixth head coach in the Heat’s franchise.

Spoelstra just completed his 13th season as a member of the HEAT staff and his seventh in the role of Assistant Coach/Director of Scouting where he had the primary role of developing game plans for upcoming opponents. Spoelstra was responsible for coordinating the video staff and advance scouts while also overseeing the development of scouting reports and videos. He has been in charge of the HEAT’s Individual Player Development Program and has served as the head coach of the HEAT’s summer league squad each of the past three summers.

He’s got a lot of work ahead of him. We congratulate Erik on his promotion and wish him success next season.

Great prediction by “Balitang America” a year ago about Erik Spoelstra as head coach:

BTW – Erik Spoelstra is half-Filipino, a quarter Dutch, and a quarter Irish.

Jackie Chan joins WMA and wants Bollywood roles

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Jackie Chan had a very busy weekend. On Friday, Jackie Chan fired his agent at CAA and joined the William Morris agency. Hopefully, we will see William Morris get some great roles for Jackie Chan. “Forbidden Kingdom” is still holding strong at the box office.

Also Jackie was in India over the weekend for launch of the soundtrack of Tamil film “Dasavathaaram”. News organizations all over India are also reporting that Jackie Chan is interested in making a Bollywood film. India is the world’s biggest market for movies with about a thousand movies made a year. It would definitely be interesting for Jackie Chan to be in a Bollywood film.

Although the quality is low, here’s a clip of Jackie Chan’s speech in India:

API Smash

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API: S.M.A.S.H., which stands for (Supporting Music, Art, Soul, & Heritage) takes place today at:

San Francisco State University

Cesar Chavez Student Center

Jack Adams Hall

1600 Holloway Ave

San Francisco, CA

Doors Open at 5:30pm

This year the event is a collaboration between the San Francisco State University Asian Student Union (SFSU ASU) along with Manalo Movement. It is SFSU ASU’s big event for the Spring semester. The event is filled with performances and artworks by Asian & Pacific Island American. Performers at API: S.M.A.S.H include Passion, Gabe Bondoc, Mud (API Rock band from SF), Disco Dynamic, Jocelyn De Leon of 8th Wonder, Gookstaz, Infinity Funk Project, Rhapsodistas, and much more!! Also, we are also showcasing painting, sculpture and many different kind of visual art by various Asian American artists, such as Mike Luat (from LFS), Leah (Lady Bird SF), Mia, Jason, Viet Thi, and much more! This will be a awesome event which not only about showcasing the amazing talents of many of these up-and-coming Asian American musicians and artists, but also for a good cause for the Asian community.

Pre-sale tickets are $10, At the door $15.

Here’s a little Passion:

Here’s a little Gabe Bondoc:

Weekend Box Office results – Harold and Kumar 2 and Forbidden Kingdom

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“Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” debuted at No. 2 with $14.6 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The sequel cost only $12 million to make and is close to beating the theatrical take of $18.2 million for the first “Harold & Kumar” movie. In its second week of release, “Forbidden Kingdom” held on to 3rd place in box office receipts. However, the film debut at #1 in China this past weekend.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. “Baby Mama,” $18.3 million.

2. “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay,” $14.6 million.

3. “The Forbidden Kingdom,” $11.2 million.

4. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” $11 million.

5. “Nim’s Island,” $4.5 million.

6. “Prom Night,” $4.4 million.

7. “21,” $4 million.

8. “88 Minutes,” $3.6 million.

9. “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!”, $2.4 million.

10. “Deception,” $2.2 million.

Also important to note are that both “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” and “Forbidden Kingdom” were not produced by major studios. Hopefully, Hollywood executives recognize these box office results and will start producing more films with Asian and Asian Americans in the main roles. Asian faces on the big screen can draw. We hope the upcoming movie “The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor” will yield similar esults.

Where did the funding come from?

Forbidden Kingdom

Casey Silver Productions (US)

Relativity Media (US)

Huayi Brothers (China)


Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Mandate Pictures

Kingsgate Films

New Line Cinema

If you want to see more Asian Americans on the big screen, keep voting with your dollars by watching these films. Vote for Harold and Kumar!

29th Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival

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The Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans, a nonprofit organization based in New York City announces its 29th Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival with free outdoor music and dance featuring the most exciting traditional and contemporary Asian American artists. The festival is the largest Pan-Asian event on the East Coast. The Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival features music and dance showcases, arts & crafts, martial arts demonstrations, children’s fair programs and Asian delicacies. The event will be on Saturday, May 10th from 12-6 p.m. at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on East 47th Street and 2nd Avenue just steps away from the United Nations and Grand Central Station.

This year’s festival will be co-hosted by the following:

Ti-Hua Chang – Investigative Reporter, WWOR/My9

Nina Pineda – Reporter, Eyewitness News Team

Michelle Yu – Sports Reporter, NY1 News

Minya Oh – News Director, Hot 97

Eliot Chang – Comedian

The festival features performances by Soh Daiko, C. Eule Dance, DVL Dance, Misnomer(S), Taiyo Na, Hsunami, Makalina’s Hawaiian Express, Yosakoi Dance Project and Bollywood Axion.

Event: 29th Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival

Date & Time: Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 12-6 p.m.

Place: Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, East 47th Street & 2nd Avenue, New York

See what the festival is all about: