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SPORTS / U.S.A. May 1, 2017 THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 7 Ichiro returns to Seattle as member of 3,000-hit club By Jim Hoehn The Associated Press S OFFICIALLY AMERICAN. India-born U.S. national cricket team player Timil Kaushik Patel, middle, takes an oath as a naturalized U.S. citi- zen at a ceremony in Los Angeles. His wife, Pooja Patel, is seated to his left. Patel says becoming an American citizen will help bring new players onto the team since there are only three spots allowed for non-citizen residents. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin) India-born U.S. cricket player becomes American citizen By Amy Taxin The Associated Press L OS ANGELES — India-born U.S. national cricket team player Timil Kaushik Patel has become a naturalized American citizen — a move he hopes will help bolster his new country’s team. The 33-year-old California resident took the oath to naturalize at a ceremony in Los Angeles with nearly 3,800 immigrants from more than 100 countries. Until now, Patel has been occupying one of three slots on the U.S. national team for residents of the country who are not American citizens. Becoming an American shores up his standing as a player and helps the national team bring on talented new players before a key tournament in Uganda, he said. “It just gives us more options to select players and to be a stronger team,” said Patel, the team’s vice captain, adding that other teammates are trying to do the same to free up more spots for newcomers. Patel, who recently signed to play cricket for the St. Lucia Stars along with the U.S. national team, moved to the U.S. from India seven years ago with his family. He said he played for a junior national team in India but couldn’t start playing for the American team until he met a four-year U.S-residency requirement. Since the team is made up largely of immigrants from India, Pakistan, and other countries where cricket is popular, Patel said it’s key for those who can naturalize to do so to bring on new players. Patel, who also has a medical transport business in California, said he sees the sport growing in the United States. “It is not as crazy as it is in India but it is getting there,” Patel said. “We have a lot of plans in place. We’re playing more cricket than we used to.” EATTLE — Ichiro Suzuki received a rousing ovation for his first at-bat in Safeco Field as a member of the 3,000-hit club. The Japanese star spent his first 11-and-a-half American seasons with Seattle, getting 2,533 hits before heading to the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins. He batted ninth for Miami in his first appearance at Safeco since June 12, 2014, when he was with the Yankees. “He deserves everything he gets,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s been a great player. He’s been a great player for a long time. And obviously he started his career in the states here. It was nice to see that.” With the Mariners leading 3-0, Ichiro grounded out to second to end the third inning. He grounded out three times as his average dipped to .067 with one hit in 15 at-bats. The Marlins lost 1-6. The 43-year-old got his 3,000th career hit last season, and the Mariners had a pregame video tribute for him on the scoreboard, followed by an introduction at home plate with several former Seattle teammates and current players. Ichiro also had 1,278 hits in nine seasons in Japan. Banned yak meat smuggled in sweaters seized NEW YORK (AP) — Customs agents at John F. Kennedy Airport have seized more than 300 pounds of banned Yak meat smuggled in sweat- ers, pants, and shawls. Officials said the meat came from Nepal, a country affected by foot-and-mouth Continued on page 9 Passenger who was dragged off jetliner settles with United By Michael Tarm and Don Babwin The Associated Press C HICAGO — The passenger who was dragged off a flight after refusing to give up his seat settled with United for an undisclosed sum in an apparent attempt by the airline to put the fiasco behind it as quickly as possible. David Dao’s legal team said the agree- ment includes a provision that the amount will remain confidential. One of his law- yers praised United CEO Oscar Munoz. Munoz “said he was going to do the right thing, and he has,” attorney Thomas Demetrio said in a brief statement. “In addition, United has taken full responsibility for what happened ... without attempting to blame others, including the city of Chicago.” The settlement came less than three weeks after the episode and before Dao had even sued. The deal means United will not face a lawsuit, which could have been costly, both in legal bills and in further damage to the airline’s reputation. United issued a brief statement, saying it was pleased to report “an amicable resolution of the unfortunate incident that occurred aboard Flight 3411.” The dragging was one of several recent embarrassments for United. The airline was criticized in March after a gate agent stopped two teenage girls from boarding a flight because they were WARM WELCOME. Ichiro Suzuki of the Miami Marlins waves to fans while taking the field dur- ing batting practice before a baseball game against his former team, the Seattle Mariners, in Seat- tle. Ichiro received a rousing ovation for his first at-bat at Safeco Field as a member of the 3,000-hit club. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) “You know it’s been three years reaffirms that this is a special place.” Ichiro, who played mostly right since I’ve been back,” Ichiro said through a translator. “To get that field during his time in Seattle, warm reception that I did get, and started in left and made a nice with the ceremony and with having running catch on Taylor Motter’s the guys come out, Edgar (Martinez) drive into the corner in the eighth and Felix (Hernandez) and (Kyle) inning. “Even when I was with the Seager and (Hisashi) Iwakuma come out, just grateful. Grateful to them Yankees, I never played left field here and grateful to the fans. ... it’s been so at Safeco,” he said. “So this was the first view I got from that angle. That long. “I could have been forgotten, but for definitely kind of felt weird, kind of them to do that for me I was very was a little different. It was a thankful,” he said. “It kind of different experience.” wearing leggings — an apparent violation of a dress code for passengers travelling in a program for employees and their dependents. Then a giant showcase rabbit died in late April after it was shipped across the Atlantic on a United flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to O’Hare. Cellphone video of the April 9 confronta- tion aboard a jetliner at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport sparked widespread public out- rage over the way Dao was treated. The footage showed airport police officers pulling the 69-year-old Kentucky physician from his seat and dragging him down the aisle. His lawyer said he lost teeth and suffered a broken nose and a concussion. In a phone interview with The Associ- ated Press, Demetrio said the settlement also averts any lawsuit against Chicago officials, the airport police officers who pulled Dao off the jet work for the city. “I praise Mr. Munoz and his people for not trying to throw the city under the bus or pass the buck,” Demetrio said. “He stood in front of the world and has stated that, ‘We, United, take full responsibility.’” Demetrio said it was “unheard of” for a company to admit responsibility so quickly and completely. “I hope corporate America notices when you goof up. People respect you a heck of a lot more when you admit it, instead of making people go through three years of Continued on page 9 SLOW INTERNET? GET EXEDE! STARTING AT 49 $ 99 MONTH CALL TODAY! BLUE TIDE SATELLITE & INTERNET 503-278-5926 One-time standard installation fee may be charged at the time of sale. Minimum 24-month service term. Monthly service fee, equipment lease fee and taxes apply. 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