Quotes from Day 5 - Haru 2009

[madorosumaru]

Asashoryu: (Satisfied with his fast start after thwarting Goeido's challenge) I've been able to focus properly. I'm treating [each bout] like it's still shonichi.

More Ryu: (Asked how it feels to face all the up-and-coming youngsters) Hey, guys, I'm still only 28. [When I was a komusubi] I really looked forward to going up against yokozuna and ozeki.

Goeido: (Taking his hat off to the yokozuna) He beat me at the tachiai. What can I do? I guess I'll just have to do my very best starting tomorrow.

Hakuho: (Marching Tochiozan right out of the ring) It was just a matter of the flow. [As for both yokozuna remaining undefeated] that's the way it should be.

Tochiozan: (Succumbing meekly to Hakuho after losing the previous day to the other yokozuna) I wanted to come up with something, but once he got hold of me, it was all over. Both yokozuna have really quick tachiai.

Kaio: (Surprising everyone including himself with a frenetic win against Miyabiyama) I have to do forward-moving sumo because backtracking puts too much of a burden on my [injured] legs.

Tomozuna Oyakata, Kaio's shisho: (Pleased by his deshi's sumo) Isn't he in great form? His tachiai is especially good.

Miyabiyama: (Flabbergasted by the unexpectedly mobile old warrior) I thought I had the flow going my way. If he could move around [the dohyo] like that, he couldn't be hurt that badly.

Chiyotaikai: (Seething after falling for a henka by Kakuryu) [. . .] [glare]

More Taikai: (To a hapless tsukebito inadvertently blocking his view of the TV) Get the %^&$ out of the way!

Harumafuji: (Unsatisfied despite delighting the crowd with a David flipping Goliath move against Baruto) My feet aren't moving [forward] at tachiai. I really don't know why.

More Haru: (Reflecting on his four straight victories) Somehow I am managing to win. I think I am getting into better form little by little.

Kotomitsuki: (Seeing some light in the darkness of kadoban tunnel) I was able to move forward well. I'd be satisfied if I could keep doing sumo like today's. I want to keep the momentum going.

Tosanoumi: (Winning his first by thrusting the gargantuan Yamamotoyama into the ringside seats) I'm really happy. I hate it when I'm in a losing streak. [YMY] is huge but, look, I've fought against Konishiki.

Yamamotoyama: (Impressed by the veteran's dohyo know-how) You really don't know [about sumo] until you do it. I felt he had the kind of strength that is hard to describe in words.

More YMY: (Satisfied with his performance so far) I think I am doing quite well. I just want to stay healthy and in good form for the rest of the basho.

Kokkai: (Winning when Shotenryo went down on his knee by himself) Sure, I was surprised. But, I was just getting into the position that I had planned. It wasn't just a matter of luck.

Homasho: (Asked whether Kakizoe pulled his mage during the slap down) I was fighting frantically so . But, if I could have moved forward even one more step, I would have won.

Dejima: (Defeating Wakanosato despite a possible torn arm muscle for his first win) Once you're on the dohyo, you can't go around complaining that you're hurting. [Obviously] I am not in perfect shape, but a win is the best medicine.

More Dejima: (Using this win as an impetus for reversing his fortunes) Hit hard and move forward--that's all I have in mind.

Kisenosato: (Complimented about his winning streak of three) Yes, things are okay. I hadn't been doing well against [Kotoshogiku] so I really wanted to win.

Kotoshogiku: (Staying positive despite losing four in a row) My sumo hasn't been bad. I'm not feeling down. I'll just gambarize tomorrow.

Bart Sez

(Lamenting his loss to the little guy while rubbing the left elbow hurt the day before by guess-who) Ahhh. Bad, bad, bad. [sigh] It's not that I'm in bad form . . .

[Saruwatari]

On day 2:

Kaio: (Winning on a kote-nage while back-tracking) That's about all I can do. I want to be moving forward but I am not in shape for that.

On day 5:

Kaio: (Surprising everyone including himself with a frenetic win against Miyabiyama) I have to do forward-moving sumo because backtracking puts too much of a burden on my [injured] legs.

That's why I love the guy (Neener, neener...)

[Washuyama]

Tosanoumi: ..., I've fought against Konishiki.

Funny, when I was watching this bout I was thinking Tosanoumi's probably the only one still around that faced Konshiki and was wondering if that helped against YMY.

(A quick check shows Kaio and Kyokutenho also faced Konishiki)

[ryafuji]

Tosanoumi: ..., I've fought against Konishiki.

Funny, when I was watching this bout I was thinking Tosanoumi's probably the only one still around that faced Konshiki and was wondering if that helped against YMY.

(A quick check shows Kaio and Kyokutenho also faced Konishiki)

And Tochinonada.

[Sashohitowa]

Kaio: (Surprising everyone including himself with a frenetic win against Miyabiyama) I have to do forward-moving sumo because backtracking puts too much of a burden on my [injured] legs.

(Neener, neener...) Quote of the day!

It just leaves me thinking that Hokutoriki might have injured... something else...., so that he tries to protects it by doing his backward moving sumo...