When yokozuna Asashoryu withdrew from the July 13-27 Nagoya Basho on Day 6, public opinion was largely split.
Official announcements had an injured elbow listed as the reason the Mongolian yokozuna decided to call it quits in week one, although he didn't appear to be having any trouble with his elbow on the days he did participate. Some sumo-watchers put the injury and subsequent retirement down to a lack of training. Others, however, pointed to a bruised pride.
Would a man once as dominant as Asa be content to see fellow yokozuna Hakuho pull away, undefeated, as he was himself flapped around being beaten by men whom, in earlier days, he would have thrown to the dirt with one?