With Malice…

As we all head into preparations for Super Bowl week, there’s still a helluva lotta other sport going on…

Today’s top stories in Sports-Japan are:

• Top League rugby wrap-up… [Daily Yomiuri]  Dynaboars to be relegated, and John Kirwan explores who’s going to play in the national squad…
• Hakuho handed first loss (sumo)… [Daily Yomiuri]  Hakuho loses, and suddenly there’s a 3-way tie at the top, including Asashoryu… getting interesting…
• BoSox happy to repay Japan for star imports… [Daily Yomiuri]  Boston appreciates the impact Dice-K & Okajima had on their team last year…
• Shimoyanagi OKs two year deal (NPB)…. [Japan Times]  39 year old pitcher signs with the Hanshin Tigers…
• Former national coach Osim to attend Japan Friendly (soccer/football)… [Japan Times]  Osim will attend the match between his homeland (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the nation he coached…