Ozeki Back-Scratchers' Club

[Tamaikazuchi 4]

Ya know, if I was somehow an ozeki and not in the yusho race I'd feel pretty awful if I was the guy responsible for knocking Kaio out of his career right before his homecoming. Luckily I'm not an ozeki because that's still not really an excuse, but you can't help but be a little sympathetic in this situation.

[Jakusotsu 5,877]

However, from that most recent angle Kaio didn't have the elbow locked nor did he apply near enough torque to do any damage thus causing the somersault escape.

There's no way we can tell from visual alone what kind of pressure Harumafuji felt, if just for the briefest of moments. He's experienced enough to fear the damage looming by that kind of Kaioness. It might not have been a conscious effort at all, but only his body screaming "get the hell outa here!". A little painful nudge can do that, especially coming from Kaio The Relentless.

And don't get me wrong either, I don't want search for evidence, quite on the contrary. I rather like to point out that video footage is subject to interpretation and can't prove anything in this case.

[Kintamayama 44,667]

All is well in Ozekiland.

Barf.

[Asojima 2,873]

All is well in Ozekiland.

Barf.

I will double down your barf. One of my favorites literally took a dive. (Neener, neener...)

[shumitto 418]

No one can consciously expect rikishi to stop throwing their bouts. But at least they should TRY to make them look legit. Kotooshu did a decent job as fas as acting is concerned, but Aminishiki's act hit a low level only achieved before by Baruto and Sylvester Stallone with his "you are the disease, I am the cure" line....

[Fukurou 534]

Against my better judgement, I suggest that the Kyokai is facing an attendance disaster in Fukuoka if Kaio does not appear. Could the word have gone out that if you can afford a loss, give him a break? I didn't say that.

And then divert attention by getting on Hakuho's tsukebito for hanging out around the wrong dressing room?

[Kintamayama 44,667]

It wasn't an Ozeki matchup, but to me at least, it seemed a totally legit match-U was strong-Kise was never in the game..

[omoimori 0]

However, from that most recent angle Kaio didn't have the elbow locked nor did he apply near enough torque to do any damage thus causing the somersault escape.

There's no way we can tell from visual alone what kind of pressure Harumafuji felt, if just for the briefest of moments. He's experienced enough to fear the damage looming by that kind of Kaioness. It might not have been a conscious effort at all, but only his body screaming "get the hell outa here!". A little painful nudge can do that, especially coming from Kaio The Relentless.

And don't get me wrong either, I don't want search for evidence, quite on the contrary. I rather like to point out that video footage is subject to interpretation and can't prove anything in this case.

My opinion is that Harumafuji was in physical danger and bailed out. I am not disagreeing with anyone that he did in fact bail. I will admit that it is odd that at the beginning of the basho Kaio looked helpless, and he has appeared to grow much stronger.

[Kintamayama 44,667]

Hey!!Remember me? Long time no see! But the beast has reared its ugly head today again. Pathetic. As a protest, I will not watch sumo for 22 hours.

[Asashosakari 19,034]

So can we finally bury the "as a foreign ozeki with aspirations Harumafuji won't get on the carousel" notion, or do we need to see him both receive and give first?

[Gernobono 463]

So can we finally bury the "as a foreign ozeki with aspirations Harumafuji won't get on the carousel" notion, or do we need to see him both receive and give first?

D'OH

of course that never happened before :-)

[Asashosakari 19,034]

of course that never happened before :-)

Yeah, but people kept making excuses for him. ;-)

[Kintamayama 44,667]

of course that never happened before :-)

Yeah, but people kept making excuses for him. ;-)

Did he ever need favors before? I forgot if this is his first kadoban or not..

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

of course that never happened before :-)

Yeah, but people kept making excuses for him. ;-)

Did he ever need favors before? I forgot if this is his first kadoban or not..

First time, IIRC.

[Flohru 176]

of course that never happened before :-)

Yeah, but people kept making excuses for him. ;-)

Did he ever need favors before? I forgot if this is his first kadoban or not..

Well, immediately in his first Ozeki basho he was in need for some favors when starting 0-4, 1-5. In the end he won against all four fellow Ozekis to secure his kk. But then the argument against Haruma being a member of this club IMHO always was that out of his first 12 matches as an Ozeki against other Ozekis he won 11, later it was 23-4 while now it is 26-14. Some of the wins even came against Ozekis in need of wins (e.g. Nagoya 09 against both Kaio and Taikai) with him being neither in the yusho race nor in any danger as for his own kk.

But then I assume that during the last couple of months he might have chanced his attitude like Osh apparently did some time ago, now being happy "just" to be an Ozeki, thus becoming a member of this illustrious club prolonging Ozeki careers...

[Asashosakari 19,034]

Did he ever need favors before? I forgot if this is his first kadoban or not..

FWIW, I thought gernobono was responding to the "he still needs to give a win" part of my earlier post, not the receiving...I honestly don't know if he's ever gifted one of his fellow ozekis, so I figured since gernobono clearly pays a lot more attention to this than I do :-) I'd just take him at his word.

[Jejima 1,358]

I wonder whether Kotooshu will manage to win today....?

For Bench Sumo, I had a chat with Fujiko about the possibility that her chosen Ozeki (Kakuryu) might not be worth giving points to, despite the fact that he is 15-11 ahead of Osh in career wins, and has won 6 of the their last 8 meetings. (Although in the most recent bouts, they have 'swapped' wins). She did not have many other good options for picks today, and so she was not happy about that.

[Kuroyama 715]

I wonder whether Kotooshu will manage to win today....?

Gosh, what a surprise.

[Asashosakari 19,034]

Considering there's a significant segment of fans who think Goeido has ozeki qualities in him, I struggle to see much wrong with Kotooshu's continued presence at the rank. Silly bout today, but what the hey.

Edited May 26, 2013 by Asashosakari

[Senkoho 552]

Well, this was terrible.

[Tsubame 359]

What Kakuryu did was still better (and much more entertaining) then "just slipping"...

[Kintamayama 44,667]

OTOH, let's not take Kotoshougiku's win today too lightly-that was major. It could cost Kisenosato a Yokozuna promotion, when numbers will be counted and all things taken into consideration- a 14-1 JY is far more significant than a 13-2. That loss can be seen as a mental lapse, after losing yesterday. Kise winning today would have been a great factor in his favor.

Still, there is already heavy talk of a tsuna-tori in the papers and from "anonymous sources close to the Kyokai"..

[Andreas21 183]

It could cost Kisenosato a Yokozuna promotion

It makes perfectly sense! In a way, very similar to Oshos win, just with respect to the opposite direction. (Assuming Yoks are not entitled to OBSC).

[Asameshimae 220]

I wonder whether Kotooshu will manage to win today....?

Gosh, what a surprise.

Before the bout, Kotooshu didn't even look like he wanted to win. And then after the bout, he had the "I almost wish I'd lost it, just to get it all over with finally" look on his face.

[Jejima 1,358]

How many people think that Goeido will win today?