Yokozuna Asashoryu Scandal - The Final Chapter

[madorosumaru 7]

Asashoryu is leading the makuuchi pack this basho as a yokozuna should. Asashoryu once again is making headlines for off dohyo shenanigans as a yokozuna shouldn't.

A weekly magazine has come up with the scoop that Ryu got drunk out his mind earlier this basho, caused a ruckus and slugged an acquaintance in the process. It happened after he had defeated Kakuryu on Day 6. He went celebrating with group of friends to a watering hole in West Azabu and the party went on till four o'clock in the morning. By that time, Ryu was completely inebriated and caused such a scene that patrol cars were dispatched. While trying to intervene, the acquaintance received a knuckle sandwich for his efforts.

Asked about it the next day, the yokozuna denied the incident, "Never happened. You know, it's the same old stuff from the [yellow] press." However, a spokesman from the Azabu Police Station said, "There definitely was an incident. No one has filed a complaint so at this point there is no on-going investigation."

Musashigawa Rijicho has been through this routine before. When told about the incident, he only had this to say: "I think he needs to use a little more discretion when he goes celebrating after a victory. There still is a basho going on, so he really should concentrate on the matters at hand."

Edited February 5, 2010 by madorosumaru

[madorosumaru 7]

Asashoryu is leading the yusho race but the top news of the day was the report that Musashigawa Rijicho would summon him and his shisho to KK after the basho and give them a serious warning for the drunken incident in Azabu.

Yesterday, the rijicho received a report on the incident and an apology from Takasago Oyakata. According to the shisho, the victim of the punch was Ryu's personal manager and that the yokozuna claimed it was a private matter. To that the rijicho said, "It doesn't matter who he hit. It's something that he should not have done."

Takasago Oyakata acknowledged to the press that Ryu has already received several warnings from the rijicho in the past. "I told him, 'How many times are you going to repeat the same kind of thing?' No two ways about it. He was in the wrong."

According to the article, Ryu's response to the incident was a characteristically unrepentant "It's no biggie."

[ilovesumo 12]

"Great thing" for the Rikishi who seems to win the Yusho...

popularity minus... ;-)

We can be glad no "civilian" got hurt- might have led to curt...

[Kintamayama 45,503]

According to the shisho, the victim of the punch was Ryu's personal manager

He is ex-Komusubi and ex-Takasago Oyakata Fujinishiki's second eldest son.

[Kintamayama 45,503]

In English:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/23/2799569.htm

[Kuroyama 715]

In English:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/23/2799569.htm

"Sumo" for wrestler?

"Grand slam tournament"? WTH? That's not even a common error; they just made it up on their own.

And what does the conservative nature of the sport have to do with the impropriety of punching out an employee in public?

It'd be nice if they didn't play sumo for laughs every time they mention it.

[Asashosakari 19,648]

I wouldn't be surprised if "grand slam tournament" is either an auto-correction for a presumed missing word, or was added by an editor who assumed the same.

[sekihiryu 51]

Well one can't expect too much from the Australian media which is generally pretty mediocre

[madorosumaru 7]

Criticism mounts for the incorrigible yokozuna even while he laid claim to his 25th championship, third most among all time winners.

Regarding Asashoryu's most recent drunk and disorderly incident, former chairman of YDC, Yoshio Ishibashi, said, "This [incident] bothers me. It's as if a shadow has been cast over the luster of the yusho." He then added, "[The YDC] is an advisory body for the rijicho, so I am sure we will tell him to take care of this matter properly."

Committee member Mr. Sawamura said, "It's his hinkaku. We'd like him to recognize that [sumo] is different from pro wrestling or K-1. I suppose the problem is that he is a foreigner and can't understand that properly. That's where the shisho has to take responsibility." Another member, Mr. Yamada said, "I don't know all the details so I can't comment [on it specifically] but I am sure this will be a topic of discussion at the [post-basho] meeting."

Ryu's dogged critic, Minoru Yaku of the NSK Lifestyle Guidance Committee, yakked it up as usual, "They say that winning is everything, but this is different. I don't think he will fully understand unless he is penalized severely--such as by being suspended for a day during the basho."

The cartoonist then facetiously suggested, "When one wins yusho, the record would show his wins and losses. In Asashoryu's case, it would be X W(ins) - Y L(osses) and 1 or 2 S(candals). But I think if they did that, he would actually have a larger number of scandals than yusho."

Oy vey! And Miss Uchidate hasn't fired her final salvo yet.

[Treblemaker 254]

Criticism mounts for the incorrigible yokozuna even while he laid claim to his 25th championship, third most among all time winners.

Regarding Asashoryu's most recent drunk and disorderly incident, former chairman of YDC, Yoshio Ishibashi, said, "This [incident] bothers me. It's as if a shadow has been cast over the luster of the yusho." He then added, "[The YDC] is an advisory body for the rijicho, so I am sure we will tell him to take care of this matter properly."

Committee member Mr. Sawamura said, "It's his hinkaku. We'd like him to recognize that [sumo] is different from pro wrestling or K-1. I suppose the problem is that he is a foreigner and can't understand that properly. That's where the shisho has to take responsibility." Another member, Mr. Yamada said, "I don't know all the details so I can't comment [on it specifically] but I am sure this will be a topic of discussion at the [post-basho] meeting."

[Here we go again... YDC at their stick-up-the-sphincter, xenophobic best.]

Ryu's dogged critic, Minoru Yaku of the NSK Lifestyle Guidance Committee, yakked it up as usual, "They say that winning is everything, but this is different. I don't think he will fully understand unless he is penalized severely--such as by being suspended for a day during the basho."

[Right, like that's gonna happen... Explain that to the fans - especially the paying ones...]

The cartoonist then facetiously suggested, "When one wins yusho, the record would show his wins and losses. In Asashoryu's case, it would be X W(ins) - Y L(osses) and 1 or 2 S(candals). But I think if they did that, he would actually have a larger number of scandals than yusho."

weren't on the committee?]

Oy vey! And Miss Uchidate hasn't fired her final salvo yet.

[You mean once she stops chewing on her bone?]

I've come to the conclusion that the YDC is best described by one word: Retarded. No, wait, I can think of more: Stupid. Idiotic. Moronic. Self-shtupping.

And no comment on the Hakuho Brain-dead, Self-Destruction, Screw-up-the-dohyo-iri, Total loss of consentration, Bring-shame-on-the-role-of-the-Yokozuna crap performance of the decade. (Ok, so the decade is only 23 days old, but even still...)

I think it's time the YDC has it's own committee. To oversee the ludicrous ideas and comments by the Just-Got-Off-The-Circus-Bus members. We can call it the YDCACFCOSCC - the YDC Advisory Council For Correction Of Stupid Comments Committee.

[Asashosakari 19,648]

And no comment on the Hakuho ... [snip]

That's because they haven't met yet. They're commenting on Asashoryu's out-of-dohyo issue because that's currently going through the press, before the basho has even concluded; you may note they also haven't said much about Asashoryu's honbasho performance yet.

Brain-dead, Self-Destruction, Screw-up-the-dohyo-iri, Total loss of consentration, Bring-shame-on-the-role-of-the-Yokozuna crap performance of the decade.

You know, I've shied away from telling you that for quite a while, but here goes: If you'd been on this forum ca. 2005-2006 and you'd laid into Asashoryu the way you regularly lay into Hakuho (even discounting the intentional hyperbole in the above comment), you'd have come across as more unreasonably critical than every single person ever dubbed an "Asashoryu hater" around here. (Well, bar Kotoseiya perhaps.) But hey, I guess that's the persona you've chosen to adopt, or something.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Asashosakari

[Treblemaker 254]

And no comment on the Hakuho ... [snip]

That's because they haven't met yet. They're commenting on Asashoryu's out-of-dohyo issue because that's currently going through the press, before the basho has even concluded; you may note they also haven't said much about Asashoryu's honbasho performance yet.

Brain-dead, Self-Destruction, Screw-up-the-dohyo-iri, Total loss of consentration, Bring-shame-on-the-role-of-the-Yokozuna crap performance of the decade.

You know, I've shied away from telling you that for quite a while, but here goes: If you'd been on this forum ca. 2005-2006 and you'd laid into Asashoryu the way you regularly lay into Hakuho (even discounting the intentional hyperbole in the above comment), you'd have come across as more unreasonably critical than every single person ever dubbed an "Asashoryu hater" around here. (Well, bar Kotoseiya perhaps.) But hey, I guess that's the persona you've chosen to adopt, or something.

Full quote: ..."And no comment [by the selected members of the YDC, speaking out of Committee] on the Hakuho Brain-dead, Self-Destruction, Screw-up-the-dohyo-iri, Total loss of consentration, Bring-shame-on-the-role-of-the-Yokozuna crap performance of the decade. (Ok, so the decade is only 23 days old, but even still...)"

Simply a comment out of frustration that YDC members should launch into the extra-curricular activities of Asashoryu (who to Day 14, made 1 mistake on the dohyo, costing him a win) even before the basho is over, and the very same people neglecting to comment on some glaring mistakes made on the dohyo, in full public view by Hakuho. Even inadvertently painting all "foreigners" with the same brush. Hak AFAIK is also a "foreigner"...

I guess I have issues with unqualified, ignorant, provocative people in unwarranted positions of influence who eagerly bite the hand that feeds them. These same people would never make similar comments about those who employ them. And as I mentioned, without their pedestals, no one on the street would give them a second look.

[Kotosado 0]

And no comment on the Hakuho Brain-dead, Self-Destruction, Screw-up-the-dohyo-iri, Total loss of consentration, Bring-shame-on-the-role-of-the-Yokozuna crap performance of the decade. (Ok, so the decade is only 23 days old, but even still...)

Sigh***

The decade is a lot older, actually it will end at the end of this year.

There was nor ever will be a year 0!

A decade will always start with a 1 at the end of the number. And yes the festivities for the millennium were one year too early as we should all know by now.

Sigh!!!

[Doitsuyama 1,192]

And no comment on the Hakuho Brain-dead, Self-Destruction, Screw-up-the-dohyo-iri, Total loss of consentration, Bring-shame-on-the-role-of-the-Yokozuna crap performance of the decade. (Ok, so the decade is only 23 days old, but even still...)

Sigh***

The decade is a lot older, actually it will end at the end of this year.

There was nor ever will be a year 0!

A decade will always start with a 1 at the end of the number. And yes the festivities for the millennium were one year too early as we should all know by now.

Sigh!!!

Well... look it up in wikipedia, it will confirm that a decade can be any period of ten years (which is the obvious line of thought here). So which decade is he meaning? Pretty clearly from his context the decade from January 1st 2010 until December 31st 2019 (I mean he even gives you an exact number of days...). Now you are coming and disputing that this is a decade? Have fun.

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

(...) you'd have come across as more unreasonably critical than every single person ever dubbed an "Asashoryu hater" around here. (Well, bar Kotoseiya perhaps.) But hey, I guess that's the persona you've chosen to adopt, or something.

Yo! (I am not worthy...) Whomever attempts to dethrone me from the top Asashoryu hater spot, I'll gladly trounce.

And a decade begins on January 1st, ***1.

Actually, I did have something remotely worthwhile to say in another thread... Perhaps.

This was the first basho since September 1997 that I didn't follow practically at all. Better things on my mind now... (Applauding...)

[Afrozuna 8]

(...) you'd have come across as more unreasonably critical than every single person ever dubbed an "Asashoryu hater" around here. (Well, bar Kotoseiya perhaps.) But hey, I guess that's the persona you've chosen to adopt, or something.

Yo! (I am not worthy...) Whomever attempts to dethrone me from the top Asashoryu hater spot, I'll gladly trounce.

And a decade begins on January 1st, ***1.

Actually, I did have something remotely worthwhile to say in another thread... Perhaps.

This was the first basho since September 1997 that I didn't follow practically at all. Better things on my mind now... (Applauding...)

Rubbish before you get to 1 there is 0.0001-0.99999 if you catch my drift so how can the decade start on 1

[Kintamayama 45,503]

Musashigawa rijicho invited Asashouryuu and Takasago Oyakata to his office today for a slap on the wrist and a stern reprimand. "Because of the sake, I have caused trouble and I think I did a bad thing. I will be reflecting upon my deeds and I shall be more careful in the future", said Asashouryuu, again.

[Kintamayama 45,503]

The Shuukan Shinchou (another tabloid, all facts to be taken with a nice plate of hummus and some red peppers on the side) has just hit the stands claiming it has the "real story" about Asashouryuu's drunken night out. They say he attacked the manager of the restaurant he was in and broke his nose. If the victim will present a damage report at the Azabu precinct police station, and if Asashouryuu will be brought in for questioning by said police, more than just a suspension is possible. The alleged story is that he suddenly attacked the manager with great rage, punching his face in the back seat of a car. He then commanded the driver to "go to the river". "I'm gonna kill you there!!", he threatened, all the while attacking him. When a patrol car from the Azabu station came rolling by on a routine investigation of a traffic accident, the poor guy managed to escape, yelling "HELP!! I'm being kidnapped! I've been hit on the chin!" 3-4 patrol cars arrived at the scene, and ten policemen surrounded Asashouryuu. After a checkup, the victim was found to have a broken nose and suffered blows to the head, and was told he would take a month to heal. After the rumors about this started to surface, Asa's manager said he was the victim of the attack and tried to make it look like it was some "internal" fracas. But a police source said "The manager was the victim? I really don't want to go into details, but it sure wasn't him.." A Yokozuna hitting a "civilian' on the streets at 4 am in a drunken stupor during a hon-basho is not something to be taken lightly. Moreover, orchestrating an elaborate cover-up and going with the lie to the rijicho does not bode well for anyone, including Takasago. The Azabu police say that so far the victim has not lodged a complaint, and OTOH, they have not heard about any "private settlement' either. As for questioning Asashouryuu-"We'll have to see how this unfolds", said the police person. In any case, if a complaint is lodged, the police will have to question him.

The article sums up by saying that every time his problems get a little worse, and in case this goes to court, they see no alternative to a total dismissal.

Now, the fun begins, and possibly another round in court..

Edited January 27, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,503]

The victim is claimed to have stated that if Asashouryuu apologizes, he will not bring forth any charges. Asashouryuu didn't, so the victim and Ben Goshi the eternal lawyer went down to the Azabu police station for "consultations", but no complaint has been filed yet as of January 27th.

Takasago Oyakata today: "Asashouryuu went drinking with his "inner circle" and some quarrel was reported. I heard it was all settled quietly, and that's what I told the rijicho. I never told anyone that the victim was Asa's manager. I do not know the seriousness of the victim's injury, but if it really is a one month healing process as is being said, it is terrible!". Asked why Asashouryuu's camp had initially said the victim was his manager: "That's what the manager told me, so I don't really know.'"

Edited January 27, 2010 by Kintamayama

[madorosumaru 7]

This is to augment Kinta's excellent coverage.

Shukan Shincho 週刊新潮 is not just another tabloid. With a history of over 50 years, it is the oldest weekly of its kind. It also has the second largest circulation among such magazines behind only Shukan Asahi. Although like other weeklies, it can stoop to sensationalism but it also has a certain amount of legitimacy.

An article in Mainichi reports that the victim originally didn't intend to go to the police if Asashoryu had apologized. But since the yokozuna didn't do that, he discussed the matter with his lawyer and then went to the police station for consultation. That was on the 25th, but as of the 27th, he has not filed a formal complaint.

As Kinta wrote, as long as there is no complaint, the police will not call in Asashoryu for questioning. However, if the media won't let the incident go away, the Kyokai may have to take some kind of action.

[Asashosakari 19,648]

The guy probably deserved it.

[HenryK 38]

If this turns out to be true, I for my part would consider this far worse than playing soccer in Mongalia (or clinching a fist on the dohyo). The Kyokai should start its own investigation yesterday, independent of whether the victim files a complaint with the police or not.

Edited January 27, 2010 by HenryK

[ryafuji 815]

It may not be the original deed but the alleged cover-up that gets him. Just like Watergate...

[Harry 67]

水門醜聞

[Fay 1,677]

The guy probably deserved it.

Sorry, what?????????????????