Asashoryu: Will he stay or will he go (or be gone?)

[Randomitsuki 2,843]

I'm interested in what forum members think about Asashoryu's near future:

Will he come back in Hatsu Basho (with a vengeance, potentially)? Or will he be calling it quits? Or will he even be fired, e.g. after being caught in trying to return to Mongolia during "house arrest"? Opinions are welcomed.

[Kintamayama 45,527]

I say he stays. I am biased. I hope he stays. I think he will.

[Asojima 2,874]

I say he goes. I am biased. I hope he stays. I think he will not be able to avoid another screwup in the next 5 months.

[Asashosakari 19,655]

On the dohyo in Hatsu, career-ending infraction at some other point in the next two years. Probably once his near-inevitable streak of success starting from Hatsu basho is over...

[madorosumaru 7]

I say he stays. I am biased. I hope he stays. I think he will.

I have read that he intends to do sumo until 30. Then, I think he will leave sumo. There is no way he can co-exist with some of those guys in the Kyokai.

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj 0]

Dolgorsurengyn Dagvadorj of Mongolia -Dai Yokozuna Asashoryu Akinori should stay and continue to fight to become Greatest of Great Champion.

[sekihiryu 51]

they (old fogies at the NSK) seem pretty strict about this "Triple H" thing - one slip up, one aberration and its strike three: you are out!

I somehow dont think Asa will be able to help himself, he wont be able to resist the temptation to "pop down the shops for an ice-cream" and some paparazzi will snap a photo and it will be just the ammunition the "get rid of him" faction of the NSK would be hoping for.

Triple H? I always thought Triple H was a wrestler of a different kind

funnily enough his calling card is "time to play the game" which is most ironical in the current predicament of the Yokozuna, time to play the game indeed.

[paolo 0]

In my opinion Asashoryu cannot stay if he thinks he is not competitive. He is a fighter and he wants to win: in no way can he adapt himself to a plain "kachikoshi" life. If he can recover from his problems (I hope so, but I have some doubts), he must be at the top level, because he will have to tackle a situation in which he now KNOWS for certain he is not liked. Under some circumstances this might have a strong positive effect on a person's pride; I am afraid though that his self confidence has been seriously affected by this story. He should fight without looking around him with his fierce glance, now knowing that many and many are hoping that he will fall. This can be a very tough environment in which to play a sport..... But I like his sumo so much that I really hope he finds in himself the moral strength to survive. I fear it is just a hope....

[Arslan 0]

He will stay and win more and more basho.

[Qijuryu 0]

I do have no doubt at all, he will stay.

Qijuryu

[Fuseigou 22]

I think he'll be present in Hatsu 2008 ! Maybe just to come back one more time before retirement, just to show who is the boss ? He doesn't seem to be the kind of wrestler who stops easily, at the first issue... he looks more like a challenger, and there will be challenge in 2008 !

[Jesinofuji 11]

He bites his tongue and stays. His life is sumo and there is nothing he can do that will further frustrate those who wish to do him as much harm as possible than shatter every record in the sumo record book (excepting perhaps Futabayama's). He is a victim of bias, a victim on ignorance, and a victim of outright hatred. But in the end he will stand above all and strike down his aggressors.

Edited August 30, 2007 by Jesinofuji

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

He is a victim of bias, a victim on ignorance, and a victim of outright hatred.

A victim, eh? Right now, he's just a victim of his own ego.

[kaiguma 0]

He is a victim of bias, a victim on ignorance, and a victim of outright hatred.

A victim, eh? Right now, he's just a victim of his own ego.

(Yucky...)

A real hoot!

And though I agree, I also think he will stay, am not biased, yet still hope he will stay for the good of sum and the good of his Self.