[sumo] [spoiler] Rikishi Talk Day 15 Natsu Basho 2008

[Barbara]

[spoiler] Rikishi Talk Day 15 Natsu Basho 2008 (Madorosumaru)


Asashoryu: (Accepting responsibility for an unsatisfactory basho) It was 
my fault to allow someone of lower rank to win yusho. I get minus 99 
points for that. It is my job to serve as a wall.

Hakuho: (Reflecting on his regrettable performance) What can I say? My 
sumo down the final stretch really stunk.

Chiyotaikai: (On facing kadoban yet again after a personal worst 10-loss 
basho) I just have to do what is necessary to mount a comeback.

Kaio: (Sounding like a broken . . . record) There is too much 
diffference between when I am going well and when I'm bad.

Kotomitsuki: (After his all too predictable KK win over a fellow ozeki) 
It's rather pathetic, isn't it?

Kotooshu: (Waxing rhapsodic) I'm so happy. I still can't believe it. 
I've never [won 14] before. I did really good keiko before the basho, 
and my knee didn't hurt much at all.

Ama: (On receiving the Technical Merit Award) Boy, am I tired! Since I 
always do my very best, one bout at a time, good results will follow.

Aminishiki: (On receiving the Outstanding Performance Award) That was 
something that fell out of the sky. I suppose if you work hard, good 
things happen.

Kisenosato: (On receiving the Fighting Spirit Award) I am happy they 
selected me. I understand now that, if you keep doing forward-moving 
sumo, good results will happen.

Toyonoshima: (Continuing his campaign of self-promotion) I think today's 
sumo was worthy of the Kanto-Sho. It was also significant that I beat 
Ama-zeki on the last day.

Iwakiyama: (Finally, achieving KK after five straight losses) That was 
horrible. I got so uncertain after I started losing that I was about to 
drown myself in liquor.

Tochinoshin: (Sadly, a make-koshi in his makuuchi debut) That was too 
bad. It was a very difficult basho. They hit much harder in makuuchi.

Wakanoho: (Managing to win his eighth after teetering on edge of MK 
chasm) I wanted to get KK by any means. That sure was a tough basho.

Kotoshogiku: (Outlasting Futeno for a hard-fought KK) I am bushed. That 
was truly strenuous. For the first time in a long time, I was actually 
trembling.

Tamakasuga: (Treating us to some Geezer Talk after achieving KK) I think 
a lot about my age, but when I see the young rikishi, I feel that I can 
still go on for a while.

Chiyohakuho: (Winning juryo yusho with 13-2 record) I was nervous today. 
I've had positive feelings since pre-basho keiko. I was able to do a lot 
of forward-moving sumo this basho. I lost a few bouts early on by 
pulling and got chewed out by my oyakata.

Ogata: (Capturing the sandanme yusho with 7-0 record) I didn't do any 
back-tracking sumo. I was able to push forward throughout the basho. In 
addition to tsuki/oshi, I would like to work on more moves, such as the 
dashi-nage.

Homarefuji: (Achieving jonidan yusho with 7-0 record) This basho, I was 
able to do my own sumo while keeping a close eye on my opponents. I 
would like to get stronger so that I can push larger aite [more 
effectively] and hopefully reach juryo within a year.



Quote of the Day

Aminishiki: (On how he turned the basho around) The night of my fourth 
loss, my shisho told me, "As long as you are going to the Kokugikan 
[everyday], why don't you do some sumo." From that point on, I changed 
from just wanting to win to doing all-out sumo. The good results stemmed 
from that.