Baseball: Former Giants skipper Fujita dies at 74
February 9, 2006Former Yomiuri Giants manager Motoshi Fujita, who led the Central League club to two Japan Series titles, died of heart failure Thursday evening at a Tokyo hospital. He was 74. Fujita, a pitching ace who joined Yomiuri in 1957, posted 17 wins in his first season in pro baseball to claim the Rookie of the Year award. He went on to win two consecutive Most Valuable Player honors from 1958-1959, posting a league-high 27 wins in 1959.
Olympics: Japan disappointed at failure to reinstate 2 sports
February 9, 2006Japanese sports officials voiced their disappointment at the rejection of bids to reinstate baseball and softball at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. ''We had disappointing results for both sports,'' Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda said after members of the Olympic body decided against putting the issue to a vote at an IOC session in Turin.
Olympics: IOC rejects reinstating baseball, softball in 2012
February 9, 2006The International Olympic Committee on Thursday rejected bids to reinstate baseball and softball in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. IOC members decided against putting to a vote the issue of readmitting the two sports, which were dropped from the competition program for the 2012 Games at an IOC general assembly meeting held in Singapore in July last year.
Olympics: Back problem hits Japanese Nordic skier Takahashi
February 9, 2006Top Japanese Nordic combined skier Daito Takahashi complained of discomfort in his lower back and cut short his practice session for the Turin Olympics on Thursday. Takahashi returned to the athlete village after making just one jump out of the three allowed for each competitor in the day's official practice session at the Pragelato hill.
Olympics: IOC rejects reinstating baseball, softball at 2012 Games
February 9, 2006The International Olympic Committee on Thursday rejected bids to reinstate baseball and softball in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. IOC members voted against a readmission of the two sports, which were dropped from the competition program for the 2012 Games at an IOC general assembly meeting held in Singapore in July last year.
Olympics: Kato gears for races in Turin
February 9, 2006World record holder and gold medal hopeful Joji Kato said he is ready to hit the ice trying to live up expectations as many of the Japanese Olympic athletes spoke to the press prior to the opening of the Turin Winter Games. ''People have said that I'm pretty close to the top of the podium and I think it proves that I've grown into a strong skater. I'll just go out there and do my best to live up to expectations,'' Kato said.
Baseball: Saito's major league dream within reach
February 9, 2006Former Yokohama BayStars right-hander Takashi Saito on Wednesday moved a step closer to realizing his dream of playing in the majors after signing a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 35-year-old Saito inked the deal a day earlier with an invitation to attend major league spring training and is intent on making the opening-day roster.
Olympics: Number of Winter Olympic medals won by Japan
February 9, 2006Japan has won a total of 31 medals, including eight golds, in its Winter Olympic history. After Alpine skier Chiharu Igaya won the first medal for Japan with his silver in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956, ski jumper Yukio Kasaya led a Japanese podium sweep in the 70-meter hill to give his country the first-ever Winter Olympic gold at the 1972 Sapporo Games.