[sumo] [spoiler] Rikishi Talk Day 10 Natsu Basho 2008

[Barbara]

Quotes from Day 9 (Madorosumaru)

Asashoryu: (Taking care of Mini-Me Ama) More and more, I am getting into 
these stare-downs with the young lions. I suppose why not? As far as I'm 
concerned, it's like "Here I am. Come and get me."

More Ryu: (Analyzing his own bout) I couldn't get hold of a right-hand 
grip, so instead of doing anything rash, I took my time. You know he has 
that quick counter nage. [But once I got going] I really blitzed him, 
didn't I?

Even More Ryu: (Told the win was his 500th in makuuchi) Really? That's 
great. 500 is a nice number. I'd like to go for 1000. [mischievous smile]

Still more Ryu: (Asked about Kotooshu who is intruding into his 
tete-a-tete with Hakuho) Kotooshu can be really tough with his powerful 
hikitsuke technique. I am looking forward to the rest of the basho.

Ama: (Not quite ready for the prime time against the yokozuna) I'll do a 
lot more keiko so that I wil have a better chance to win. [As for 
tomorrow against Hakuho] I'll get even more psyched up and go do my best.

Kitanoumi Rijicho: (Assessing Ryu's chances in the yusho race) Looking 
at the way Hakuho is doing, I don't think he can afford to lose even one 
more.

Hakuho: (An injured Kakuryu is no match for him) My tachi-ai was good. 
So was the flow.

More Hakuho: (Asked about his next bout against nemesis Ama) I'll take 
care of tomorrow tomorrow.

Kotooshu: (Smug as a bug in a rug) If I back-track [against Tokitenku], 
he has those leg tricks of his. I took my time, got settled and pressed 
forward.

More Osh: (Asked if he was getting fatigued) I'm still okay. [smile]

Kaio: (Defeating Chiyotaikai for the 28th time in 45 bouts) I didn't 
want to get out-hit at tachi-ai. I made a conscious effort to move 
forward. I am satisfied [with my sumo] today.

Chiyotaikai: (Losing the Battle of the Hapless Ozeki) That was my best 
tachi-ai hit of the basho, but Kaio-zeki was too heavy to budge. [sigh] 
I have no other way to go except to hit with all my might.

Kotomitsuki: (Getting slapped down by Aminishiki at dohyo-edge) I 
thought I had him there. What a waste!

Aminishiki: (Winning when gyoji decision was sustained by the shimpan) I 
was concerned because the shimpan right in front [of the action] raised 
his hand. But I was pretty sure my foot was still on the tawara. I 
managed to hit hard at tachi-ai but the last move was out of desperation.

Kotoshogiku: (Resorting to henka for his sixth win) I did it because I 
wanted to grab an uwate first. There is a big difference between a win 
and a loss [at this juncture].

Toyonoshima: (Losing his second bout at the hands of Goeido) I should 
have taken advantage of my moro-zashi hold and gotten into better 
position. Darn it!

More Toyo: (Falling one more step behind the leaders) Being involved in 
the yusho race is not something you consciously seek out. Rather, it's 
the people around you that make the fuss. Well, it's still not over. I 
would just like to keep up with the leaders.

Tochiozan: (Finally getting his first victory) I was relaxed and went 
with a new approach. I am tremendously relieved.

Kokkai: (Losing a nage battle to Kisenosato for an early make-koshi) I 
messed up. It would have been better if I didn't try the nage.

Kisenosato: (Winning his sixth despite a little scare) By the time I 
realized it, my foot was at the edge of the dohyo. Against someone more 
adept at the nage who could use his body better, I probably would have lost.

Wakanoho: (Unrepentent even after being everely warned for his juvenile 
antics) Everyone does it. I get upset when I lose. I don't want to do 
it, but I end up doing it. Next time, I'll bring my own dishes to smash.

Isenoumi Oyakata: (Representing the Kyokai in the woodshed) He can't 
lose his temper like that. I told him, "You are a sekitori. You should 
be a role model to the others."

Magaki Oyakata, Waka's exasperated shisho: There are times when he can't 
control his emotions. That's something he needs to work on.

Encore Waka: (Admitting that he was chastized by his father over the 
phone) Next time I get all hot and bothered, I need to just suck it up. 
This is part of the learning process.



Bart Sez...

Baruto: (A miserable basho after a glorious Haru) I've even lost 
confidence in executing a nage. I was just futzing around on the dohyo.

More Bart: (Pulling a vintage Osh when asked about MK on Day 9) [. . .]