News-July 5th

[Kintamayama 47,126]

Hi all!

This will be the last daily post. They will return after the Basho. Hopefully, someone (hint, hint.nod, wink..) will do the "rikishi talk" and other during-Basho stuff. Hope you enjoyed. For now, on with the action!!

Yokozuna Musashimaru, returning after 4 Bashos, meets Kyokutenho on day 1, and Kyokushuuzan on day 2. This is called a "Mongolian Grill" in some places, and Kyokutenhou's new nickname is "The Mongolian Assassin". It is the first time that a Yokozuna -Sekiwake match-up has been seen on Day 1 for 16 bashos. It will be a great test for Musa, to see how his left wrist will do."This kind of interesting torikumi from day 1 will hopefully generate some extra excitement.We know that the popularity of Sumo has been waning lately, but all Yokozuna-Oozeki participating and interesting torikumis should bring the fans back", said Futagoyama Oyakata.(I say, the fact that we have only one active Komusubi may have played a small factor here as well..) Musa did some very light training today. "The left wrist? It has nothing to do with it!", he said ,cryptic as usual. But everyone knows that everyone, including him, is waiting to see how he copes, after being away for so long, and the emergence of new powers while he was away, 10-ho being one of them. 10-ho is coming off a great run, beating Takanohana last Aki and Asashouryuu last Haru, and getting ten wins as Komusubi and the Kantoo-sho last Basho. Some are even suggesting he has started an Oozeki run. Although he is 0-9 against Musa, "The Yokozuna is coming back after a long hiatus and must be jittery. This is an ideal situation for me to get my first ever win against him", he said, after recovering from the initial shock when told who his opponent on day 1 will be.. (ISP players may take this into consideration..)

Ooshima Oyakata said, "The Yokozuna cannot use his left hand. If 10-ho moves well and goes on the offensive, he should have no problem!".

Musa has been 4-2 the first two days combined after his last three kyujo returns. This time around, his problems (8 months away, left wrist astray) are compounded. "The wrist is fine. It's all up to me!", he said. (Nikkan, Sponichi and Sankei)

The drums announcing the start of the upcoming Basho were brought out into the city center today, which is very unusual. This, to promote the upcoming Basho. Passers-by were apparently quite impressed, saying to each other "Hmm.. It's time for the Nagoya-Basho". (Seems the Kyokai has finally begun to smell the tea, and is actually doing stuff to promote the Basho.) This,after the dohyo-matsuri, held a day before each Basho (this morning, in case someone forgot..) at the venue, where gyoji dressed as priests do some dohyo-purifying ceremonies in front of the Kyokai bigguns and the general public. (Houchi)

Takamisakari was overheard saying he is a robot. Therefore, he is getting ready for day 1 with "no heart." Azumazeki -beys members got together yesterday and prayed for all their members to win. Sakari is continuing his system from last Basho. Nobody is to tell him who his opponent for the next day is, because when he knows who it is, he can't fall asleep, because of all the planning and strategies and stuff..

Although his nickname is "Robocop", he found that he gets over-excited when he has all the information, so he has decided to try to be a real robot, by not knowing who he's up against. He even had a robot-patterned yukata (robe) made for him lately. He ordered three hundred of those. "Everyone was ROTFLTAO (laughing..)!!!", he said, in a shy way. But that didn't stop him from wearing it everywhere he goes. Usually, these robes are made and given to the rikishi by support groups and such, but a rikishi making his own is quite, well, rare.. that shows how much he really wants to become a robot, says the reporter.

Last basho, he beat two Oozekis on the first two days (Musouyama and Chiyotaikai), and unbeknownst to him yet, he will meet Oozeki Tochiazuma on day 2.

After making a beer commercial a few months back, it seems he has come to terms with his wackiness and his looks, and it should make him feel more at ease on the dohyo as well, said the reporter. (Houchi, which seems to have "adopted" Sakari and are scrutinizing his every move..)

Kintamayama

Edited July 5, 2003 by Kintamayama

[Fujisan 533]

I will stick with Maru I think Kinta,not just because of his physical and sumo stature but also because I think Tenhos run will end this basho,I just cant see him keeping it up-Hes gonna hit a brick wall and his name is Musashimaru.