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Dave Wiggins
Former longtime Japan resident Dave Wiggins, who was a sports columnist and television analyst in Tokyo, is now a sports writer based in Vero Beach, Florida. He contributes a bi-monthly column on the North American sports scene to The Japan Times. Wiggins, who was a TV sportscaster in Hawaii for several years prior to his time in Japan, is known for his keen observations and acerbic wit. In 2006 he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Foreign Sportswriters Association of Japan.
For Dave Wiggins's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
MORE SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Jan 14, 2014
Coaching, managerial changes follow predictable patterns
Whenever a coaching change is made in the NFL or a managerial switch takes place in MLB, the players on the teams involved must feel like police suspects being subjected to the classic "good cop-bad cop" routine.
MORE SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Dec 31, 2013
NFL playoffs could produce another surprise champion
Just make the tourney, baby!
BASKETBALL / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Dec 17, 2013
NCAA's hoop hype not such an easy sell in December
If Howard Cosell were still with us, he would probably say this about NCAA basketball (you supply the nasal tone and staccato pace): There now exists annually a veritable plethora of enthralling inter-conference hardwood encounters between traditionally proficient American institutions of higher academia.
MORE SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Dec 3, 2013
Looking at both sides of the Martin-Incognito issue
The sports locker room code goes like this: "What you see, hear and say here, stays here."
MORE SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Nov 19, 2013
A tale of passion for football and Southern hospitality
It took a bad break — a flat tire and bent rim — to open a window for MAS to view both Southern hospitality AND a classic intrastate football rivalry — Alabama vs. Auburn.
MORE SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Nov 5, 2013
Saints looking like they have the pep back in their step
After the New Orleans Saints had thumped Buffalo last week to run their record to 6-1, quarterback Drew Brees rolled about the Saints' Superdome locker room employing a confident-bordering-on-cocky bop and dip in his step.
BASEBALL / MLB / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Oct 23, 2013
No secret to consistency of Cardinals
Time was when nearly every baseball team, from Little League to the majors, endeavored to play the game "The Dodger Way" or "Cardinal Style."
MORE SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Oct 8, 2013
Football landscape shifts with new rule changes
If Hank Williams, Jr. was still performing in the open for Monday Night Football, he might be asking you this: Are you ready for some kinder, gentler football?
BASEBALL / MLB / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Sep 24, 2013
Moneyball evolves as A's keep winning
So, you've seen the flick "Moneyball" and now you think you understand how the traditionally low-budget Oakland A's still managed to capture the American League West title again this season.
MORE SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Sep 10, 2013
'Small' schools deserve bigger respect
The headline of a recent story on ESPN.com read: "Small School QBs Have Big Talent."
BASEBALL / MLB / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Aug 27, 2013
Leyland says Tigers no lock for World Series
"My new favorite ballplayer is Nick Castellanos (Detroit Tigers outfield prospect) — I just found out his father is a lung surgeon." — Manager Jim Leyland
MORE SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Aug 13, 2013
It's not easy being 'Johnny Football'
Up front, I admit it: MAS has a huge man-crush on "Johnny Football."
BASEBALL / MLB / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Jul 31, 2013
Pirates aim to end epic futility streak
It's hard to feel sorry for Pittsburgh sports fans, given all the Super Bowls, Stanley Cups and World Series titles their pro teams have won over the years.
MORE SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Jul 16, 2013
Gauging offseason moves in the NFL
In this age of overlapping pro sports seasons, the MLB All-Star Game is more than just a sign the baseball campaign has reached its halfway point.
BASKETBALL / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Jul 3, 2013
Hard to see Heat becoming dynasty
"Not one (championship), not two, not three," a beaming LeBron James promised Miami fans at a raucous 2010 celebration held soon after he joined the Heat.
SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Jun 19, 2013
Washington skipper a cool customer
When a man is in the eye of the hurricane, he is sometimes blissfully unaware of the turbulence all around him.
SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Jun 5, 2013
Lack of American heavyweights sad
What if they held a world heavyweight title fight and no one in America showed up?
SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
May 22, 2013
Costas lamer than the young Astros
It must irk major leaguers to no end when a media twerp like MLB-TV's Bob Costas ? the type who has never worn a protective cup ? makes snarky, disparaging remarks about their playing abilities.
SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
May 8, 2013
Collins may lead move toward tolerance
After me, the deluge.
SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Apr 24, 2013
Remembering Jackie and lessons learned
One cool thing about being an old coot like MAS is that when Hollywood cranks out a historic docudrama, you often remember experiencing the event portrayed first-hand.

Longform

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree