KaioU - the aftermath

[Kintamayama 47,175]

KaioU held a press conference this morning. " I am very happy that the Yuushou was decided on the last day in a bout between two Oozekis. Suddenly, I'm very, very tired", he said. He suffered through most of the second part of the basho from back pains that sometimes even kept him awake at night. A famous heavy drinker, he hardly touched any liquor at last night's Senshuuraku party.

Yesterday, after the bout, KaioU did not return to the shitaku-beya. He was standing in the doorway of the hanamichi holding his back, in a "half bent" position. He also had a small cut over one eyebrow."It was a long, painful Basho for me", he said, with tears in his eyes. "No use in holding back with the power. It was the last day, so I went all out. I'm glad that in the end, I did good Sumo.", he said, his voice shaking.

"Tsuna? Not giving up on it. I'm just starting!!", he said. Though he did get a 12 win yusho without facing a Yokozuna, he still has a chance- if he gets his 4th yusho as an Oozeki next basho, he will be promoted for sure, says the reporter.

He felt a sharp pain in his back during his bout against Takamisakari. He lost the next day to Touki. Oyakata said"If you're going to shame yourself with this kind of Sumo, better go kyujo!!". But he went on, as we all know.

Edited July 21, 2003 by Kintamayama

[Zenjimoto 40]

Frankly I find it quite worrisome that Kaio's back problem just is NOT going away. Wasn't this a basho where before hand he said, he'd never felt so good and pain free in a long, long time? And even then he ends up like this! (Applauding...)

I don't want to, but I am starting to see the writing on the wall that he may not be around for too much longer... it just seems to be getting worse and worse... Another reason to think that they might promote him next time if he wins, just so he can finally retire, with Yokozuna honors (Bye, bye...)

Cheers

Zenjimoto

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

I like Kaio, but I don't want to see anyone promoted just so he can retire with higher honors (Bye, bye...) However, a second consecutive yusho for Kaio, preferably defeating the yokozuna as well as ozeki next time, would make it a fairly easy decision fro the NSK and the YPC (Yokozuna Promotion Council: what's their Japanese-equivalent-abbreviation?) And he's Japanese, to boot.

Good job Kaio: he went all out and got rewarded. Back problems tend to not just disappear, unfortunately: it's either you stop the sport and lead a normal life, or continue the sport, problem gets worse, maybe eventually surgery to fix it, and retirment. Either path can be OK, especially if like Kaio you're good enough to win along the way.

And I agree with him, that was the best way to end the basho given the circumstances (Applauding...) : two ozeki, last fight, for the yusho, all out.

[Doitsuyama 1,259]

the YPC (Yokozuna Promotion Council: what's their Japanese-equivalent-abbreviation?)

It's not called Yokozuna Promotion Council, but rather Yokozuna Deliberation Council. In Japanese it's Yokozuna Shingiiinkai (yes, three "i" in succession, please make two pauses in speaking...). The abbrevation Japanese newspapers use for this is Yokoshin.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Thank you Doitsuyama-zeki -- exactly what I was looking for (Applauding...)

[Zenjimoto 40]

I like Kaio, but I don't want to see anyone promoted just so he can retire with higher honors (Applauding...)

Provided he wins the Yusho, of course. I guess I should have mentioned that, but I kinda thought it for granted (Bye, bye...)

Cheers

Zenjimoto

[Takanobaka 0]

I dunno....his back looked REALLY bad after falling off at the end of the match....was kind of afraid he'd have to get carted off in a wheelchair once again....