Aki Basho 2012 Discussion Thread

[Igordemorais 75]

Kyokutenho is gonna pwn hardz

[Tsubame 368]

I completely agree, I find it hard to believe that they would refuse to promote Harumafuji with a 14-1 jun-yusho; it would create a near insurmountable standard in any future quest by the Japanese hopefuls.

But they already stated that standard by demanding two straight Yushos to get the Tsuna. Remember that ridiculous fuss about Kaios almost promotion to yokozuna in '03 and in '04 where he was able to win twice a Yusho/Jun-Yusho combination. But got he, he the almighty Kaio his quite deserved promotion? No, because he was not able to convince by two straight Yushos.

You can't expect a tiny guy to do consistently dominant forward-moving sumo against the other best in the world.

Sure, for many people watching sumo (including myself) this is quite exactly what they demand from a yokozuna. And all past yokozunas that I know from watching there bouts fulfilled that requirement. Ok, maybe without Wakanohana III, but he was also a great ozeki.

[krindel 675]

But they already stated that standard by demanding two straight Yushos to get the Tsuna. Remember that ridiculous fuss about Kaios almost promotion to yokozuna in '03 and in '04 where he was able to win twice a Yusho/Jun-Yusho combination. But got he, he the almighty Kaio his quite deserved promotion? No, because he was not able to convince by two straight Yushos.

Well, I think 2012 standards are not the same as 2003 standards, as shown by Kisenosato's one-win-short Ozeki promotion. The two-yusho-in-a-row requirement was a standard for a while, I agree (especially after the Futahaguro fiasco), but like I said, I think that they'll tone it down a bit, not for the sake of Harumafuji, but as an excuse for a future promotion with even less stringent criteria.

Of course, all that is just theory, HF has to first get to the last two days unscathed, and then throw the ball to the NSK...

Edit: Slight correction based on Fukurou's excellent point below (Laughing...)

Edited September 16, 2012 by krindel

[Asashosakari 19,661]

But they already stated that standard by demanding two straight Yushos to get the Tsuna. Remember that ridiculous fuss about Kaios almost promotion to yokozuna in '03 and in '04 where he was able to win twice a Yusho/Jun-Yusho combination. But got he, he the almighty Kaio his quite deserved promotion? No, because he was not able to convince by two straight Yushos.

But even at the time there were public rumblings (from YDC members no less) about relaxing the standard from two-straight yusho if the performance was otherwise convincing. The problem is that neither Kaio nor Tochiazuma (in 2006) really managed to do that:

2004.11: 12-3 jun-yusho for Kaio but Asashoryu was two wins up after Day 14

2006.03: 12-3 third place for Tochiazuma but both Asashoryu and Hakuho (as sekiwake) were two wins up after Day 14

And in the same realm:

2006.07: 13-2 jun-yusho for Hakuho but again Asashoryu was two wins up after Day 14 (didn't help that it was Hak's very first tsunatori, so no generous feelings)

The "what happens if an ozeki takes the yusho race to the final day but doesn't win the thing?" question really hasn't been tested since...one of Takanohana's failed runs? Not sure.

BTW, I really don't remember any type of public ruckus over a potential Kaio promotion in 2003. You mean his 11-4 J -> 12-3 Y run, right? Sure it's jun and yusho back-to-back, but pretty much the weakest combination imaginable. Nobody was treating the 11-4 as the start of a promotion run back then.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 45,530]

I feel like Kisenosato is not getting the attention he deserves... he is a beast this tournament.

Again, the boring, boring facts- in his 4 basho as Ozeki, Kisenosato only once won more than two of his last five bouts (he won three..), and that was in his Ozeki debut basho- the last three basho he was 2-3 in his last 5 bouts. He also never won more than 11 as an Ozeki. Why should it be any different this time?

"Three Ozeki are missing!!"

Oh, that.

We shall see.

[Fukurou 534]

Of course, all that is just theory, HF has to first get to the last two days unscathed, and then throw the ball to the NHK...

Are the TV people determining sumo promotions now? :-P ;-)

[Fujisan 533]

Takayasu was completely out of my radar until this basho. Until now his score against Y/O is 0:10.

Losing my #2 pick(Baruto) in Hoshitori doesn't usually bode well for my chances but with Takayasu off the bench,no complaints so far...

[krindel 675]

Of course, all that is just theory, HF has to first get to the last two days unscathed, and then throw the ball to the NHK...

Are the TV people determining sumo promotions now? :-P ;-)

Well, if one of the conspiracy theorists hasn't suggested it yet, I am sure someone will any day now :-) . Until then, I guess I'd better correct my initial post ;-)

[yorikiried by fate 2,029]

Of course, all that is just theory, HF has to first get to the last two days unscathed, and then throw the ball to the NHK...

Are the TV people determining sumo promotions now? :-P ;-)

Well, if one of the conspiracy theorists hasn't suggested it yet, I am sure someone will any day now :-) .

I will do my best after Day 11.

[Asojima 2,874]

Day 9 close call for Osunaarashi. Monoii and a torinaoshi against Oazuma. Oazuma is probably the toughest opponent he has faced. A sandanme regular who has some kind of chronic injury or disease. He occasionally takes a 2 or 3 basho kyujo hiatus, drops to jonokuchi or jonidan, and kicks butt on his way back up. A good win for the Boody.

Edited September 17, 2012 by Asojima

[Asojima 2,874]

Interesting Day 10 matchups. Instead of putting undefeateds Kyokutenho and Takayasu against each other in a knockoff, Kyokutenho gets once defeated Kakuryu, and Takayasu goes up against Tsuna-bound Harumafuji.

Edited September 17, 2012 by Asojima

[salle 11]

Day 9 close call for Osunaarashi. Monoii and a torinaoshi against Oazuma.

That was very long mooooonoiiiiiii. I don't think I ever saw them discussing so much.

Is there a record for longest monoii?

[Harry 67]

Day 9 close call for Osunaarashi. Monoii and a torinaoshi against Oazuma.

That was very long mooooonoiiiiiii. I don't think I ever saw them discussing so much.

Is there a record for longest monoii?

New column needed in sumodb schema?

[Asojima 2,874]

That was very long mooooonoiiiiiii. I don't think I ever saw them discussing so much.

Is there a record for longest monoii?

I suspect that the replay evaluator was on a potty break, and they had to go find him.

[Morty 1,505]

The Kaisei - Tochinoshin match was one of the best I have ever seen and the fact that neither of them broke their neck on the way down amazes me!

[krindel 675]

And down goes the Great Japanese Hope...

[kuroimori 1,634]

And once again we have an all-Mongolian lead group...

[kuroimori 1,634]

I feel like Kisenosato is not getting the attention he deserves... he is a beast this tournament.

Nice jinx-job here :-)

[Morty 1,505]

The audience got their money's worth today :-)

[Asashosakari 19,661]

And once again we have an all-Mongolian lead group...

And Kyokutenho probably earned himself a second ozeki matchup for Day 11 with his win. Harumafuji?

[specialweek 2 136]

And once again we have an all-Mongolian lead group...

And Kyokutenho probably earned himself a second ozeki matchup for Day 11 with his win. Harumafuji?

You might be right. The projected match ups for Harumafuji after day 8 were. Tochiozan, Toyohibiki, Toyonoshima, Goeido, Kakuryu, Kisenosato, Hakuho.

Well that is out the window already meeting Takayasu Day 10.

[krindel 675]

I just hope that if HF ends up fighting Kyokutenho as well as Takayasu, that the venerable Tsuruta doesn't come up with a one-liner joke like "He has fought opponents that are too low in the banzuke"...

[yorikiried by fate 2,029]

Image of the day for me: Harumafuji stretching his back mid-bout just after he and Toyonoshima separated. Ama's a cool horse cat.

[specialweek 2 136]

I just hope that if HF ends up fighting Kyokutenho as well as Takayasu, that the venerable Tsuruta doesn't come up with a one-liner joke like "He has fought opponents that are too low in the banzuke"...

The irony may be that they choose to pit him on Day 11 against Tenho and if Tenho loses which seems possible the higher ranked potential opponent will go by the way. But if tenho wins critics will say he got it the easy way if he manages to do it again without fighting Harumafuji. Catch 22.

Edited September 17, 2012 by specialweek 2

[Igordemorais 75]

WHAT DID I TELL YOU, WHAT DID I MOTHER--CKING TELL YOU ABOUT THE KYOKMASTER RUNNING THE PWNTRAIN OVER TOCHIOZAN