Zentoryu 154 Posted February 19, 2003 Talking about Akebono and his post retirement prospects the other day got me to feeling rather nostalgic. Akebono was the first Sumo wrestler I ever saw and the one who got me interested in the sport. So I looked up some of his old bouts that I have on tape and on my hard drive and Monday (being snowed in and all) seemed like a good time to relive them. Being bored, and with little else to do except shovel snow, I decided to recap Akebono Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted February 20, 2003 Kotomitsuki was in Makuuchi at Maegashira #9 after having won a 14-1 Juryo Yusho the previous Basho. Little did we know that he was about to set the Sumo world on fire.(...) Day 2 vs. M1e Akinoshima Ahh, a classic match up! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tokimori 0 Posted February 20, 2003 Yes... Great to have some comments on the bouts, which we can follow at www.dohyo.com Especially for us who haven't seen or followed Akebono. When I started watching a year ago, there was question if Takanohana would ever retire or comeback. Akebono was history. So, great with some insight in old tourneys! Thx! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,259 Posted February 20, 2003 Nice flashback. Just two comments: 1) Wasn't it told in the forum lately that Wakanosato always, I mean ALWAYS, lost to the eventual yūshō winner? What is it then with his day 3 win? Something must be wrong here... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted February 20, 2003 Didn't Akebono retire after the Hatsu basho? This makes two months after the y Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted February 20, 2003 Hi, Great summary - thanks Zentoryu!. Day 3 vs. Kw Wakanosato I remember this excellent fight. Kyusho 2000 in general is one of my favorite basho. The day 11 match between Mickey and Musashimaru is worth honorable mention as well, another excellent fight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted February 20, 2003 Thank you for this message. It was nice to remember again one of the great ones even though I never was a fan of his; yotsu preferrer as I am. I'm glad all of you enjoyed this. I hesitated to post it, given that it was so long, but I'm happy that I did now.:-) I actually didn't care too much for his style either. I liked him for different reasons. His being an American like myself gave me an instant, natural, connection with him. I also loved his perseverence, his honesty, the dignified way he carried himself off the dohyo, and the way he upheld the rank of Yokozuna. He also earned my respect when, in the middle of his career, he re-trained himself. He was stuck in the middle of a prolonged strech without a Yusho and was suffering from a long losing streak to Takanohana. He realized that Tsuppari/Oshi wasn't good enough anymore and that if he was ever going to be a serious threat to Taka again he had to learn belt technique. This he did and by 2000 he could win in almost any style that he was forced to fight in. The fact that he did this re-training so late in his career always impressed me. Akebono's niramiai was classic. Intense stare over the dohyo at the poor guy destined to become his next ragdoll. My favorites were his stare downs with Takatoriki. The one they had during Takatoriki's Yusho run earlier that same year was absolutely classic. :-D Didn't Akebono retire after the Hatsu basho? This makes two months after the y Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted February 21, 2003 Quote 1) Wasn't it told in the forum lately that Wakanosato always, I mean ALWAYS, lost to the eventual y Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaikitsune Makoto 210 Posted February 23, 2003 Great to read these kind of posts! I follow the example of others and thank you with a bow for an interesting post! It does seem like Akebono just retired and the fact that it was 2 years ago sounds totally absurd and unbelievable to me. Time sure flies in multiple levels. Nostalic memories concerning Akebono always bring two bouts to my mind. The greatness in these bouts was mostly his foe's though! But it does prove Akebono having been a superb rikishi when bouts where he was not overwhelming and even lost are stuck to people's minds. Well the first one was Kaio-Akebono in Aki basho 1999 day 3. Kaio withstood Akebono's drive and got a mawashi grip he very rarely got against Akebono who said many times he does everything to avoid giving Kaio a grip. In this bout Kaio got a right shitate and launched a tremendous shitatenage which made Ake bounce off the ground and roll off. He injured his adductor muscle and had to go kyujo the next day. In Haru 2000 on day 4 Musoyama manhandled Akebono in almost amusingly devastating way. While Akebono walked back to bow he actually had a smile on his face with a message like "Now that was some loss!" Musoyama was at his best in this basho and of course won his only yusho too. Unfortunately Dale didn't make videos at that particular basho. Then in Natsu 2000 on day 4 Akebono's bout against Tochinonada. I never get bored with this bout and at the end Akebono gives Nada some well-deserved credit for incredible come-back. Just check it out yourself :-D Now THAT is power and a good example what Nada can do and why he is capable of stunning performances. http://banzuke.com/sumomovies/natsu2000/040500mov.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted February 23, 2003 Natsu 2000 on day 4 After reading your message I went to see the fight video. Just great! And thanks for the Kaio-Ake shitatenage pictures above. Kaio can be so powerful sometimes. I hope he's back at 100% soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
