Asashouryuu considering intai

[Otokonoyama]

On 'roid rage:

[skycruiser]

he is not considering intai, he is considering the Javelin, with eyes for London 2012

And in order to increase the popularity of the sport (javelin throwing) Asashoryu is proposing a change in the rules, whereby the

thrower will be assisted by a catcher, and get extra points.

Asa has chosen, none other than Musashigawa as his catcher... (Ranting...)

Chiyonotora

[Arslan]

I remember reading a few years ago Chiyonofuji's comment about Asashoryu that his sumo was "fast, skilled and splendid!" I more or less agreed for the last 4 or 5 years without seriously considering that he could have taken steroids to augment his power and increase his muscle mass and weight. However, Asashoryu has always given the extra shove, has sometimes gloated a bit when he wins, and has in general been boorish to opponents that had the audacity to challenge his supremacy. That type of egotism, irritability and aggressiveness is sometimes associated with steroid abuse. Although he's intelligent, his personality on the dohyo has always been that of a bully, someone who wants not only to win but also to dominate others. High level sumo does not need to be that way. Takanohana II was not like that at all, and from all that I've read, neither was Taiho. Chiyonofuji was just a great athlete and didn't need to hype himself up with aggressiveness in order to win. Asashoryu will go down in history as a great yokozuna but one who was flawed, and he may be abandoned and ignored rather than revered as his career comes to a close.

Each yokozuna has his own unique personality. Should they all be alike?

[Kirinoumi]

. . .That type of egotism, irritability and aggressiveness is sometimes associated with steroid abuse. . . .High level sumo does not need to be that way. Takanohana II was not like that at all, . . .

Well, I seem to remember that there were quite a few indications that Takanohana II did indeed use steroids when he went from a powerful, healthy-looking, mid-sized rikishi to a pasty, bloated, behemoth in under a year. Interesting that nobody thought to do drug tests back then.

And, by the way, for those of you who bash Asashoryu for his off-dohyo personal problems, are you completely forgetting the favorite son's sullen feud with his brother, his disrespectful attitude toward his mother, and the cult-like influence of his trainer? Hardly "yokozuna-like," but it doesn't seem to have influenced the mainstream view of Takanohana as a Dai-Yokozuna. Asashoryu's legacy should be safe as well.

Each yokozuna has his own unique personality. Should they all be alike?

Yes they should.

Nishinoshima, I'll assume you forgot the "just joking" smiley, unless you'd care to explain how Chiyonofuji, Akebono, and Takanohana II were more alike than different.

Edited September 26, 2008 by Kirinoumi

[HenryK]

Yes they should.

Y1E vs. Y1W: :-P

Edited September 26, 2008 by HenryK

[Jonosuke]

And, by the way, for those of you who bash Asashoryu for his off-dohyo personal problems, are you completely forgetting the favorite son's sullen feud with his brother, his disrespectful attitude toward his mother, and the cult-like influence of his trainer? Hardly "yokozuna-like," but it doesn't seem to have influenced the mainstream view of Takanohana as a Dai-Yokozuna. Asashoryu's legacy should be safe as well.than different.

Because they are off-Kyokai matters. What gotten Asashoryu in deep troubles like his suspension was strictly Ozumo related like claiming an injury and leaving the country without having a proper permission from the Kyokai office or participating in an outside activity while a junyo was underway, the very Jungyo he asked to be excused.

As far as Takanohana was concerned (this was also true for Wakanohana III), as soon as he joined his father's heya, both brothers said they have left their family and deal with them as the shishio and okamisan (who has more or less separated from the oyakata by the time they were yokozuna). While true Takanohana's trainer having a cult like influence, Asashoryu's personal manager having as much influence on him in a way it's even worse. Even his shisho must deal with the personal manager as far as contacting him while Futagoyama oyakata was always in direct contact with Yokozuna Takanohana.

Where his run-in with Kyokushuzan or his dressing-down out of his heya, his transgression is very much sumo related and his problems with reporters were either occurring at the venue or while in public, not in his private life.

[hidenohana]

And, by the way, for those of you who bash Asashoryu for his off-dohyo personal problems, are you completely forgetting the favorite son's sullen feud with his brother, his disrespectful attitude toward his mother, and the cult-like influence of his trainer? Hardly "yokozuna-like," but it doesn't seem to have influenced the mainstream view of Takanohana as a Dai-Yokozuna. Asashoryu's legacy should be safe as well.than different.

Because they are off-Kyokai matters. What gotten Asashoryu in deep troubles like his suspension was strictly Ozumo related like claiming an injury and leaving the country without having a proper permission from the Kyokai office or participating in an outside activity while a junyo was underway, the very Jungyo he asked to be excused.

As far as Takanohana was concerned (this was also true for Wakanohana III), as soon as he joined his father's heya, both brothers said they have left their family and deal with them as the shishio and okamisan (who has more or less separated from the oyakata by the time they were yokozuna). While true Takanohana's trainer having a cult like influence, Asashoryu's personal manager having as much influence on him in a way it's even worse. Even his shisho must deal with the personal manager as far as contacting him while Futagoyama oyakata was always in direct contact with Yokozuna Takanohana.

Where his run-in with Kyokushuzan or his dressing-down out of his heya, his transgression is very much sumo related and his problems with reporters were either occurring at the venue or while in public, not in his private life.

Spoken like a true lawyer. :-)