Asashouryuu considering intai

[Kintamayama]

Asashouryuu is considering intai if he loses Tochinonada today (in about 5 minutes from now) say the papers. His willpower is gone, his anger after losses is gone. He has been discussing his future plans with Takasago Oyakata. "I'm in bad shape. At this juncture, I'm wondering what to do..", he said. "I told him to decide his future by himself and let me know", added Takasago. After that, Asa went to discuss this with close friends. "I've decided. I'm quitting!", he is reported to have said, but was persuaded by friends to wait some more with a final decision. Still, on day 4, he is reported to have said that if he loses to Kisenosato, it's the end. But he won. It's going to be hard for him to continue after he has decided to retire. "He can retire at any given time. He has done enough already", say his surroundings. "If he loses again, instead of two straight kyujos, it will be intai", they added. Notwithstanding, Asa said "I will gambarize again!" to Takasago. "He's still in the yusho race with only two losses. Kyujo is not an option at the moment",said Takasago.

While writing this, he won today, so we shall see.

[Gernobono]

Asashouryuu is considering intai if he loses Tochinonada today (in about 5 minutes from now) say the papers. His willpower is gone, his anger after losses is gone. He has been discussing his future plans with Takasago Oyakata. "I'm in bad shape. At this juncture, I'm wondering what to do..", he said. "I told him to decide his future by himself and let me know", added Takasago. After that, Asa went to discuss this with close friends. "I've decided. I'm quitting!", he is reported to have said, but was persuaded by friends to wait some more with a final decision. Still, on day 4, he is reported to have said that if he loses to Kisenosato, it's the end. But he won. It's going to be hard for him to continue after he has decided to retire. "He can retire at any given time. He has done enough already", say his surroundings. "If he loses again, instead of two straight kyujos, it will be intai", they added. Notwithstanding, Asa said "I will gambarize again!" to Takasago. "He's still in the yusho race with only two losses. Kyujo is not an option at the moment",said Takasago.

While writing this, he won today, so we shall see.

better today than tomorrow.....

[Kintaro]

Hmmm... I had a thought on this... Individuals who abuse steroids ... ahhh... errr... vitamins... can experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking steroids vitamins, such as mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and steroid viamin cravings. The most dangerous of the withdrawal symptoms is depression, because it sometimes leads to suicide attempts. More drama to come...

[paolo]

Asashouryuu is considering intai.... His willpower is gone, his anger after losses is gone. ...

Beyond a possible steroid abuse, could it be that he has personal problems that affect his behaviour ? Being far from home, problems with his wife, children that he does not see ? Many people are much more vulnerable to personal events than we can imagine.

[Tomoe]

As I like Asa very much I am realy sad about him considering giving up...first time when its not easy to win the next basho, he is running away? (Neener, neener...) Champions are people standing up after defeat, fighting back and win again. I hope he has the strenght to continue... ;-)

[Peterao]

Hmmm... I had a thought on this... Individuals who abuse steroids ... ahhh... errr... vitamins... can experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking steroids vitamins, such as mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and steroid viamin cravings. The most dangerous of the withdrawal symptoms is depression, because it sometimes leads to suicide attempts. More drama to come...

Asashoryu no longer the odds on favorite to win yusho, and Kintaro on the Sumo Forum. The times, they are a'changing...

[Asashosakari]

...first time when its not easy to win the next basho, he is running away? (Neener, neener...)

I was struck by the same thought. Sure, it's true that he doesn't need to prove anything after 22 yusho, but quitting now will almost inevitably lead some to conclude that winning was only fun for him while it was easy. Especially given the whole mental breakdown whateveritwas during his suspension last year...

I'd like to see him stick around even if the 14-1 records won't be coming quite as regularly as they used to.

[Kintamayama]

...first time when its not easy to win the next basho, he is running away? (Neener, neener...)

I was struck by the same thought. Sure, it's true that he doesn't need to prove anything after 22 yusho, but quitting now will almost inevitably lead some to conclude that winning was only fun for him while it was easy. Especially given the whole mental breakdown whateveritwas during his suspension last year...

I'd like to see him stick around even if the 14-1 records won't be coming quite as regularly as they used to.

I think he knows he will be hearing the "Retire, retire" drums beating stronger and stronger with every loss now. They had already started their quiet rhythmic beating before the basho and will get stronger as he fails to put up "Yokozuna" numbers.

What I'm trying to say is it's not entirely up to him.

Edited September 20, 2008 by Kintamayama

[ilovesumo]

...first time when its not easy to win the next basho, he is running away? (Shaking head...)

I was struck by the same thought. Sure, it's true that he doesn't need to prove anything after 22 yusho, but quitting now will almost inevitably lead some to conclude that winning was only fun for him while it was easy. Especially given the whole mental breakdown whateveritwas during his suspension last year...

I'd like to see him stick around even if the 14-1 records won't be coming quite as regularly as they used to.

I think he knows he will be hearing the "Retire, retire" drums beating stronger and stronger with every loss now. They had already started their quiet rhythmic beating before the basho and will get stronger as he fails to put up "Yokozuna" numbers.

What I'm trying to say is it's not entirely up to him.

First of all it's him being tired of all that. I guess it's very much up to him.

[Asashosakari]

I think he knows he will be hearing the "Retire, retire" drums beating stronger and stronger with every loss now. They had already started their quiet rhythmic beating before the basho and will get stronger as he fails to put up "Yokozuna" numbers.

What I'm trying to say is it's not entirely up to him.

He'll hardly be the first yokozuna to hear that from some particularly vocal sections of the peanut gallery, though. I don't care that his reputation may be playing a role here, too; no yokozuna should be retiring when he's barely 28 years old and (presumably) still capable of putting up 11-13 wins in most basho.

[Kintamayama]

He'll hardly be the first yokozuna to hear that from some particularly vocal sections of the peanut gallery, though. I don't care that his reputation may be playing a role here, too; no yokozuna should be retiring when he's barely 28 years old and (presumably) still capable of putting up 11-13 wins in most basho.

Yes, I agree, but he is by no means your regular every day revered Yokozuna. In the course of the last few years he has collected many enemies in high places, some of them who have repeatedly stated that in their eyes, he has already retired. Couple that with what looks like total apathy and mental fatigue, and you get a potent combination.

He'll probably continue for many years, though, in the end.

[Harry]

He does not seem very yokozuna-like these days. They're supposed to be invincible for the most part. You should expect that they will win every match and every kinboshi should truly be a surprise but these days that is far from true.

As with most sports, it appears from the outside to be mostly a physical game and there is much to the physique and the physical aspects of sumo that are troubling Asa but I've said before and am about to say again that most of his problems are in his head. He does not believe he is yokozuna quality, or invincible so he is not. Believing in yourself is not enough to win but NOT believing in yourself is enough to lose.

[ilovesumo]

Look at his face, his emotions. You can read in his face easily in these days. He looks like the guy hidden at his place after Soccer, don't you think?

[sekihiryu]

"say it aint so Joe......"

[Progress]

This seems ridiculous to me. Hes 28 years old. Does he have any major injuries? Minor ones? I don't see anything wrong with him.

I understand that a yokozuna is well paid and I'm sure he has made a significant amount from ads and such, but can he really afford to retire before the age of 30? Does he get some kind of "pension" at such a young age?

[aderechelsea]

i'd be an unhappy fan if this is happening. Shocking and sad .... (Shaking head...)

[Asojima]

This seems ridiculous to me. Hes 28 years old. Does he have any major injuries? Minor ones? I don't see anything wrong with him.

1. His personal life is in shambles.

2. He is being plagued by chronic injuries.

3. His physical and mental condition has deteriorated.

4. The kyokai is on the verge of a roids witchhunt.

5. He is being overshadowed by a rival yokozuna.

6. His primary life interests seem to lie outside sumo.

7. There is a new rijicho who obviously has a strong dislike for him.

8. He is being verbally savaged by most of the other oyakata.

9. He is being hounded by a hostile press.

10. He is financially well off with many business interests.

11. He longs for Mongolia where he is most comfortable (and widely accepted).

Other than that, everything is fine.

Edited September 20, 2008 by Asojima

[aderechelsea]

1. His personal life is in shambles.

really? why? did i miss something ?

as for the rest ... i can agree with you .... (unfortunately)

[Asojima]

1. His personal life is in shambles.

really? why? did i miss something ?

His wife and kids are gone for starters.

[Progress]

This seems ridiculous to me. Hes 28 years old. Does he have any major injuries? Minor ones? I don't see anything wrong with him.

1. His personal life is in shambles.

2. He is being plagued by chronic injuries.

3. His physical and mental condition has deteriorated.

4. The kyokai is on the verge of a roids witchhunt.

5. He is being overshadowed by a rival yokozuna.

6. His primary life interests seem to lie outside sumo.

7. There is a new rijicho who obviously has a strong dislike for him.

8. He is being verbally savaged by most of the other oyakata.

9. He is being hounded by a hostile press.

10. He is financially well off with many business interests.

11. He longs for Mongolia where he is most comfortable (and widely accepted).

Other than that, everything is fine.

Haven't heard much about 1 or 2. Three seems to be speculation at best, at least the mental part. Competition seems somewhat better than what it was a few years back though. Maybe that has something to do with it. I don't see 5 at all. Hakuho, even though he is younger, has not come close to show the kind of skill and consistency Asa has shown. Perhaps its the "humbleness" the japanese like?

As much as i hate to admit it, 4 seems kinda "valid".

Care to elaborate on 7, 8 and 9?

What ever it is, sumo won't be the same if he retires.

[aderechelsea]

His wife and kids are gone for starters.

what do you mean? he is separated? or they are just living in Mongolia nowadays? (Shaking head...)

[Asojima]

His wife and kids are gone for starters.

what do you mean? he is separated? or they are just living in Mongolia nowadays? (Shaking head...)

I have seen references to both Mongolia and New York. What seems clear is that there is no longer a co-hab relationship.

[Peterao]

I understand that a yokozuna is well paid and I'm sure he has made a significant amount from ads and such, but can he really afford to retire before the age of 30? Does he get some kind of "pension" at such a young age?

He will get a nice lump of cash when he retires, but I don't believe there is any pension for an ex-yokozuna, unless that ex-yokozuna becomes an oyakata and stays on until retirement.

But he is a national hero in Mongolia, so I'm sure that there are no shortage of business opportunities for him there.

[Fujisan]

He does not seem very yokozuna-like these days. They're supposed to be invincible for the most part. You should expect that they will win every match and every kinboshi should truly be a surprise but these days that is far from true.

Which Yokozunas have you been watching?

I would love to know who the invincible ones are.

Asashoryu should get back to the business of winning and stop listening to the gossips and Asa haters.

And he will,if he doesn't get forced into intai....

[Jonosuke]

This story is so silly that it just makes me laugh.

Only reporters are talking about among themselves - trying to get any implication from anyone. But aside from one or two, no media outlets are picking it up and meaning a little credence to the original story.

Possibly a story has started from those who want Asahoryu to call it quits and obviously not exactly versed in the history of prior yokozuna.

Asashoryu was forced to take two basho off - not because of injury. But that's just as much as he has for missing a hon basho recently.

For anyone who takes this story seriously, I go advise to take a look at what the records of Musashimaru, Takanohana and Akebono just prior to their eventual retirement. You will know Asashoryu hasn't even come close to that even YDC's Uchidata cannot make an issue out of.

Stay calm. It's not even making a news in Japan except among die hard Asashoryu haters and watchers.

And one more thing, as far as I know Asashoryu is more or less separated despite any claim to the contrary.