Yangnomazuma

He stepped out...I posted same time. Mods to the rescue with a joining of the strings????

Roho spoiled a win with his big feet, stepping out of the dohyo with a clearly beaten Kotomitsuki falling out behind him. Officially it's Isamiashi. He also spoiled my perfect 10 winner ganbare lineup in Bench :'-(

This and Kintamayama's site has some old "who's next" polls. What we find is that the HOT Ozeki of the time generally gets the majority of the votes in these Yokozuna polls. Will that be the case here? Will the masses overlook Tochiazuma and choose Hakuho instead? Will Baruto get any play? Let's see.... Personally I think it's Hakuho and only Hakuho from that list. Only possible exception is Baruto and that's a topic for a couple years from now and only if he proves better than any of the current Europeans.

I've always been a big FAN of a LARGE kettei-san. Every time I think it might happen, I'm usually disappointed with a two person kettei-san or an outright yusho. Is this the basho, after quite a while, where we get a 3- or 4-man kettei-san? I'll be pulling for one....

Certainly the winner of the Hokutoriki -v- Hakuho bout. I give the edge to Hakuho since a win there evens the table and he's already faced the toughest of his challenges so day 14/15 should be his wins as well. Tochiazuma/Kotooshu/Asashoryu have a tough pair of matches within the triumvirate and the Ozekis have a tough bout in the remaining day as well. It will certainly be the best yusho race we've had for MANY basho.

I remember the last time these two faced off with yusho implications on the line, a lot of people claimed that Hakuho pulled the henka to help out Asashoryu. I'm not sure of that, but I'm nearly sure that we can expect no henka tomorrow. Hakuho has his own yusho dream still alive and he'll face this challenge head on. He's showing the type of sumo many claimed would make him the next ozeki. He's been beaten to that pinnacle by Kotooshu, but I think we can all agree that he IS NOW the next Ozeki.

Gotta go with a 13-2 kettei san. I'd put my tarnished and fragile reputation on Hakuho to win tomorrow leaving a few at 11-2 through 13 days. If Tochiazuma also loses it might preclude a 13-2 kettei san, but would make a 12-3 kettei san a much higher possibility. Speculation only since the torikumi of Hokutoriki and Tokitsuumi can effect the outcome greatly...

This was an era where Yokozuna promotion was quite strict. Bottom line in my mind though was that the Kyokai was convinced that Taka was the real deal and there was no need to rush promotion. I'm sure there are other reasons as well, but I'd wager this was primary in the thought process.

I thought the bout was OUTSTANDING. Hokutoriki is obviously a very smart one indeed. One of two things proves that. 1) He PURPOSEFULLY performed 4 matta with the very intention of ticking Kokkai off enough that a henka would face plant him immediately. OR 2) He suffered through the stalling tactics of Kokkai which caused him to matta four times and finally got ticked off himself and paid the indignant young Kokkai with a henka. Either way, I too find myself lacking a butt because I laughed it off. Should anyone find one floating along the coast of Japan, could you mail it back to Okinawa?

It's been noted before, not only with the announcement of the torikumi, but also for the announcement of the winners of each bout. Don't know why, just know that it is common.

Another bout with a totally different outcome was the Kisenosato -v- Kyokushuzan bout. At the tachi-ai, Kyokushuzan tapped both hands down and sprang forward against an obviously not-yet-ready Kisenosato. Why a matta was not called I'll never know. I'd be pretty pissed if I was Kisenosato (and I'm a little ticked cuz it cost me some much needed points in my Bench Sumo battle....).

Why would Futeno get alarmed? His mawashi was so loose that Ama had ZERO leverage. When Ama released the top layer to attempt to get a tighter second layer instead, Futeno pushed the tide of the bout in his favor. Futeno, by design or mistake, won the bout due to his loose mawashi. Ama had him in dire straights if his grip would have provided any leverage.

I'll take care of it...there, it's done and sent.

Don't know anything about fonts changing, but one thing has changed...the number of people who use the chat. Sure seems lonely in there lately....

Call me clueless....

I voted four and believe Hakuho will get one or two and a surprising Chiyotaikai is due for his occasional yusho.

With Roho listed with 19 after day one and picking up 10 on day two, he should be 29. Of course I don't truly believe he had 19 on day one....

My Japanese is rudimentary at best, but it appears that Kotonowaka has gone Intai. Anyone with better skills than my own able to confirm or deny?

Just curious if anyone has any information on the relative health of Wakanosato. Is he expected to compete in January and is he anywhere near "genki"? Any information would be highly prized....

Amiga (Yeah baby) and .rm

If you're still thinking of doing something to pique the curiosity level or maybe light a fire, consider getting some of the more "athletic" and exciting bouts to show them. Show them that Sumo is not just a cliche; that they are athletes and the bouts can be, and often are, quite exciting... One bout that comes to mind immediately is the controversial but wholly impressive bout between Asashoryu and Kotonowaka in which Asashoryu bridges backward to secure the win.

Consider me retired...

An obvious edit. The "spit" is too white and too square... Nice try though :-O

FWIW, I use the same software that Doitsuyama uses and it works fine for me. Have to tweek the settings on your firewall though... If you can't get it working, I'd assume the issue might be some kind of PEBKAC

Ikemoto