In a commanding series of bouts, the towering (six-foot, eight-inch) Bulgarian Kotooshu handily defeated both yokozuna to become the first European to win the Emperor's Cup, the top prize in sumo. Win or lose, sumo wrestlers tend to go for the same tough-guy mien favored by NFL linebackers. But after defeating yokozuna Hakuho, Kotooshu strode out of the arena boyishly grinning from ear to ear. It was fun to see. And his dad in the crowd enthusiastically waving a little Bulgarian flag.

Labels: sumo