What cheek! Asashoryu wins the Nagoya basho (for his 21st grand sumo tournament victory), then spurns his loyal fans in eastern Japan by telling everyone that injuries prevent him from participating in the August tour. Then he summarily flies to Mongolia and plays in a soccer match, allowing a television crew to film just how sick he is!?
As if lying about his condition isn't bad enough, you'd think the guy would have the intelligence not to arrogantly strut around in public. By playing in that soccer match, he was in effect saying to the Japan Sumo Association "I'm Asashoryu the Untouchable! Do your worst!" So the JSA rightfully suspends him for the next two tournaments.
What shame on Asashoryu! As the dominant yokozuna, he's supposed to set an example for others. What makes matters worse is that I can already hear the neoconservative "gaijin-hating" Japanese (there seems to be more and more lately) beating their chests saying, "You see? Typical foreigner behavior!"
Asashoryu should get off his self-pity wagon and stand up like a man to his punishment and pledge to change his arrogant attitude. Sign me an ex-Asashoryu fan.