As the Kyushu Basho, running Nov. 11-25, rumbles around once again, so does the regular talk of ozeki retirement.
In sumo there is nothing more depressing than seeing a one-time ozeki powerhouse hobbled by injuries and struggling to stretch their careers through a few more mediocre basho, offering only glimpses of their former prowess. The question this time is which local boy best fits this description? Chiyotaikai or Kaio?
So many times in recent years the bouts of both men have served as little more than schedule stuffers of no real importance: a time to visit the concession stand or grab a beer from the refrigerator before the yokozuna's bout. The boys' bouts only become essential viewing when they are fighting a title-chasing rikishi.
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