TOKYO - As the only female coach in Japan's professional basketball league, Natalie Nakase knows there is more to her job than winning games.

Last November, Nakase became the first female head coach in the history of Japan's professional men's basketball league when she was hired by the Saitama Broncos after the team's previous coach — American Dean Murray — was fired for a violation of his contract.

Nakase's appointment was considered something of a breakthrough in conservative Japan, and the 31-year-old Los Angeles native says she is happy to give women some encouragement.

"I get a lot of attention for being the first woman in coaching," Nakase said at a news conference. "I'm starting to realize the responsibility I have of giving women a chance not only in basketball but in the corporate world as well."

And Nakase's ambitions go far beyond Japan.

"I'd like to coach in the NBA," Nakase said Monday. "Not necessarily as a head coach but as part of a coaching team. I think everyone wants to reach the highest level of their sport and, for me, that would be the NBA."

Nakase, a third generation Japanese-American, had experience as a head coach of a women's team in Germany. Last season, she was an assistant under former NBA coach Bob Hill for the Tokyo Apache. She said Hill's influence continues to guide her.

"I would say we talk once or twice a week," Nakase said of Hill, who is now coaching in China. "He taught me so much. I learned about work ethic, the commitment to detail and the importance of communicating with every player on your team."

Hill said he expects Nakase to continue to progress as a coach.

"I would never bet against her," Hill told The Associated Press via email. "Her strength is her desire to coach men and win. I believe she will continue to learn and become an outstanding coach. I think this season has taught her many many valuable lessons."

Taking over from another coach has been a big challenge for Nakase, who knew right away that changes were needed.

One of her toughest moves so far was taking former NBA point guard Kenny Satterfield out of the starting lineup.

"I knew right away the team needed a strict leader," Nakase said. "I could see there were going to be some feelings hurt but that's a coach's job."

The Broncos have a 9-23 record and are next-to-last in the 10-team Eastern Conference. The top six teams make the playoffs.

Nakase said a tough 94-84 overtime loss to three-time champion Osaka on Sunday gave her players encouragement as they drive for a playoff spot.

"The game showed our competitiveness," Nakase said. "Our goal is to make the playoffs. That may be a long shot at this point but I just tell my players to just stay focused on the next game."

In her playing career, the 159-centimetre (5-foot-2) Nakase was an all-conference point guard at University of California, Los Angeles from 1999-2003 and was the first Asian American player in the National Women's Basketball League, where she spent four seasons.

As she works toward a possible career in the NBA, Nakase gets encouragement from New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Earvin (Magic) Johnson is launching a basic cable television network targeting black viewers with positive, uplifting images of African Americans.

The former Lakers star tells the Los Angeles Times that his 24-hour Aspire channel will also offer opportunities for blacks who have struggled to find work in mainstream Hollywood.

Aspire's mix will include film, TV, music, comedy, performing arts and shows about faith.

The 52-year-old Johnson, who was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, says he's wanted a vehicle to showcase positive images of African Americans with stories written, produced and directed by blacks.

Comcast Corp. reached an agreement with the FCC and Department of Justice to diversify.

Johnson's channel will launch on June 30.

MIAMI - Heat star LeBron James apparently got too close for two young fans' comfort Sunday.

James' momentum inadvertently carried him into a row of courtside seats during the third quarter of Miami's game against the Orlando Magic. James ran out to defend a three-point attempt taken by Ryan Anderson, leaping to contest the shot. As he landed, he tumbled into the seats and atop two young boys.

Heat forward Udonis Haslem nearly went into the same area of stands in the fourth quarter. The boys didn't even flinch that time, as adults around them broke into laughter.

BRISTOL, Conn. - ESPN fired an employee responsible for an offensive headline about Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - ESPN has apologized for using a racial slur in a headline for a story on Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin.

ESPN ran the headline "Chink in the Armor" after Lin had nine turnovers in New York's loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night on its mobile website that could be seen on phones and tablet computers.

Lin is the NBA's first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. He has captivated sports fans with unexpected dominance on the court that sparked a seven-game winning streak.

ESPN said in a statement Saturday it removed the headline 35 minutes after it was posted. The cable network says it is "conducting a complete review of our cross-platform editorial procedures and are determining appropriate disciplinary action to ensure this does not happen again. We regret and apologize for this mistake."

The story was first reported by Outsports.com.