JariM

I thought the same thing. Just look at his face. He looks more slim than Kotooshu.

Well it's not like you can just decide and go. Btw. Doesn't excessive water drinking cause the sample to be diluted? Which could cause a false negative? Anyway I'm not saying that Harumafuji would be on roids or anything. Just wondering.

What was the reason (Sign of approval...) He was busted for Mary Jane.

I think he should change it. Ama is too short shikona for an Ozeki.

Or being quenched by others. Quenched by the officials or by other sekitori? Maybe both? As others have said he hasn't really been making friends with the people in high places. Anyway he is not winning the way he used to. Right now he might to be having his worst basho since september 2004. (I'm excluding may 2006 and july 2008). To me it seems he's clearly passed his prime.

Lets look at some other Yokozuna and how old they were when the retired: Wakanohana 29 (sixth youngest yokozuna to retire) Takanohana 30 Akebono 31 Musashimaru 32 Kitanoumi 32 Taihō 31 Chiyonofuji 35 (almost 36) Asashoryu is 28 in few days. So it would be one of the earliest retirements ever. But it wouldn't be unheard of (I guess). Of course one should also look at other things than age. Like the durations of careers and recurring injuries. Asashoryu has burnt very brightly. Brighter than many others. Maybe his fuel is simply running out?

What an impressive win by Ama today. It seemed Asashoryu never had chance.

Yesterday I voted "Give him one year to reflect and take him back at Jonokuchi then" but If I had known about the whole sueing thing I would have voted "It's his own fault and I don't feel sorry about it. Away with him!"

Yes. I also agree with Iwagakki. I started to feel sorry for Wakanoho but thats all gone now. He has now made sure that his days in pro Sumo are over.

Who knows? If they would go to MMA it would most likely have to be DREAM or some other Japanese promotion. Or they could go kickboxing and have their heads kicked off in K-1. They might also make a nice tag team in puro resu. Two rikishi brothers from russia! BANNED from sumo! But if they get deported it would be unlikely or even impossible. And I can't see there being much interest in them outside Japan.

Is there a connection? Many forms of wrestling have evolved indendently from eachother. Also while Sumo and Ssireum may look alot like eachother at first glance they are quite a bit different. Sumo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAhMMacc6e4& Ssireum: For example Sumo style slapping is lot allowed in Ssireum.

Quite good article. I pretty much agree with the writer's thoughts about the suspension.

Same two Yokozunas. Kaio retires. Kotooshu demoted but rises back after one tournament as sekiwake. One new ozeki.

He had a horrible tournament. Does anyone know if he had an injury or something? Record of 3-12 is really bad.

When I watch the NSK DVD collection, I remember an old fight where a drunk man came running up the dohyo and hit the back of the winner because he was not happy that his favourite rikishi lost. I find this fight and download it on youtube It was Ozeki Wakahaguro vs. Yokozuna Wakanohana I Kyushu 1959 14th day 12th win for the Ozeki... who will win the Yusho after his senshuraku fight... At the end of the fight we can see the drunk man on the dohyo (Shaking head...) Did Wakahaguro even notice that guy who was pushing him?

Hei (Laughing...) I like to watch sumo. I am from Finland eli Suomesta. I see there are other people from Finland also. T

Well I think Masami looks quite nice. Good luck to Tochinohana an Masami and also to Ushiomaru and Mami.