[sumo] [spoiler] Asashoryu vs Hakuho

[Dale Carlson]

At 04:53 PM 5/25/2008 +0800, you wrote:
>I only watched over the web-stream (so only one viewing).
>
>I think I saw Asashoryu give an extra 'victory shove' when Hakuho was
>already down, and a quick 'victory stance'.
>
>But then I think I saw Hakuho glare menacingly at 'Shoryu when he
>stood up after the bout.
>
>I even suspect I saw Asashoryu looking either scared - or possibly a
>bit sheepish due to his immediate after bout reaction - as Hakuho
>stood up.

Asashoryu smiled afterwards. Someone else here mentioned that as
one of his reactions to defeat. In this case, he won the match, but then
cancelled it out with his late shove after Hakuho was already down, and
then even a slap to his face. He wrestled defeat from the jaws of victory,
so to speak. Maybe the smile was his way of acknowledging that. My 
limited understanding of Japanese culture tells me that embarrasment 
or discomfort is often expressed by smiles or laughter. Maybe Mongolian
culture is similar, or Asashoryu has assimilated that in some odd way.

>Interesting bout to end the basho, but possibly for the wrong reasons.

Yeah, but a great basho nonetheless. The Bulgarian ambassador was so 
proud. Kotooshu is my new hero. I might even start eating yogurt :)

Dale