Hatsu Basho 2013 - Discussion Thread

[sekihiryu 51]

Just watched Miyabiyama's day four bout (first time to watch the see him fight this basho). Absolutely pitiful and had zero in the tank. His time has come, he nothing left to give. Osturare Miyabiyama. If he doesnt retire this Basho I will be very surprised.

[dingo 1,263]

I don't want to jinx anything, but Takamisakari seems to be doing quite well -- 3-1 after four days. Of course I haven't seen all of his matches so I don't know if he's having solid fights or being lucky. I'd hate to see him intai just yet, so I'm rooting for him to stay in Juryo.

[Akinomaki 40,411]

Takamisakari has hurt his right shoulder, like the heavy taping indicates. On day 3: "I can't concentrate. When I noticed it last evening the pain had grown intense. I can't develop strength with my shoulder." He was in the hospital in the morning of that day for treatment.

"I don't want to lose. I don't want to give up. Until the last moment. There's nothing but to forget the pain with kiai (energy focus)."

As long as he keeps winning that's no problem, but will he ?

[Nabuko 11]

The best day so far with all ozekis (and moto ozeki) toast.

[Akinomaki 40,411]

Another premature bout-over call. Last time it was the shimpan, this time the gyoji pointed a winner, although his foot wasn't out.
A sandanme bout, Sadanishiki against Kisenowaka., the gyoji culprit: Shikimori Kazuki.
This time not a yari-naoshi, but the usual tori-naoshi. Sadanishiki won it, after having been pointed the winner wrongly before.

[tzutzy 0]

Was it just me, I thought a lot of rikishi slipped on the dohyo today (day4).

[Yubinhaad 11,657]

Oh... do we not have to wear a hat and a shoe when reading this thread now? Just when I was getting used to it...

After their zenpai Shonichi nightmare, the six Aomori sekitori have bounced back with a collective 14-4 record in the following three days. Apple power! (Other brands of gadget are available)

Was it just me, I thought a lot of rikishi slipped on the dohyo today (day4).

I didn't notice any more slipping than the previous days, but today there was lots of pushmi-pullyu sumo going on which can give the impression of slipping. Anyway, it can't be worse than the last basho (even Freud would've slipped on the Fukuoka dohyo).

[shumitto 418]

I liked watching Baruto's bout. There was some fighting spirit in there, and he showed an alternative to plan A by waltzing on the dohyo like Shohozan would against him. Goeido was fine, too, and although a bit unlucky so far, I still think Toyonoshima will have a decent basho. Takekaze is mystery to me. I never knew what had brought him up in the first place and I am even more clueless about what is wrong with him now.

Edit : Is anyone following Yoshiazuma ? I am yet to watch one of his bouts, but 0-4 doesn't bode well for a 35-year-old veteran. Was he hit by bad luck (close calls and such) or is he losing power ? Anyway I will try to check it myself later...

Edited January 16, 2013 by shumitto

[Asashosakari 19,306]

Oh... do we not have to wear a hat and a shoe when reading this thread now? Just when I was getting used to it...

Sorry, I complained about it in a (now-deleted) post last night. ;-)

[Igordemorais 75]

Im really starting to like Tochiozan and Shohozan both

[Vikanohara 171]

Is anyone following Yoshiazuma ? I am yet to watch one of his bouts, but 0-4 doesn't bode well for a 35-year-old veteran. Was he hit by bad luck (close calls and such) or is he losing power ? Anyway I will try to check it myself later...

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_basho.aspx?r=296&b=201301

So losing power indeed. His best bout so far this basho was on day 3.

But today it was very clear, losing so badly against a 20 cm less tall opponent.

I don't want to jinx anything, but Takamisakari seems to be doing quite well -- 3-1 after four days. Of course I haven't seen all of his matches so I don't know if he's having solid fights or being lucky.

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_basho.aspx?r=875&b=201301

Not bad, but not superb either :

He put in a great effort on day 1, but seemed to lose due to arm length.

Won on days 2 & 3 against low weight opponents thanks to slippery moments.

But his victory today was well deserved. So we can't really tell yet.

Miyabiyama is toast indeed.

And didn't Harumafuji's knee or calf muscle briefly touch the ground shortly after tachiai ?

[Gernobono 466]

And didn't Harumafuji's knee or calf muscle briefly touch the ground shortly after tachiai ?

i watched it on replay and stopped the tape over and over

it is not clear to see.....although the gyoji is looking at kyokutenho at the moment and at this part of the dohyo there clearly was not mark to check.....

and additionally there was no replay from the side of the right foot.....only from behind him

i guess we will never know for sure........

[Igordemorais 75]

I don't think his knee hit the floor.

[rzombie1988 158]

I don't think his knee hit the floor.

I didn't think so either. Here's why:

And this one:

It looks like he just evaded it, somehow.

The dohyo did seem rather slippery today. Kotooshu in particular can't seem to get a good hold on it.

Tochinowaka is at 4-0. His match against Sadanofuji, who is always tough, will be interesting tommorow.

I was really surprised to see Aoiyama go down to Gagamaru so easy.

I thought Hakuho was a little rough in throwing his opponent off the dohyo today:

He really seemed to give him an extra push.

My full report with pics/gifs here: http://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/sumo-january-hatsu-basho-day-4.html

Edited January 16, 2013 by rzombie1988

[Igordemorais 75]

I was sure he did the extra push. Every time he feels threatened he turns into an as*hole, when he was getting owned last year he started his forearm blows, now he lost on the third day and went berserk.... I'm starting to like him less and less

[Igordemorais 75]

rzombie, where are you getting those sweet GIFS?

[ronnie 221]

I got the impression that the push began inside the tawara and continued beyond it as Toyo was about to attempt a last stand at the rope. The yokozuna made sure of the victory, that's all.

[rzombie1988 158]

rzombie, where are you getting those sweet GIFS?

I make them myself :-) Now if I only had a feed off of my television(and if I had HD) and not the internet, we could have some serious fun!

Edited January 16, 2013 by rzombie1988

[rzombie1988 158]

I got the impression that the push began inside the tawara and continued beyond it as Toyo was about to attempt a last stand at the rope. The yokozuna made sure of the victory, that's all.

These are my reasons I'm thinking it was on purpose:

If you look at these you can see that Hakuho was looking at the dohyo and his opponent's feet where it was very clear that he already lost. In the last one, it is also clear that he extended his arm the full way, making it seem likely that the push was on purpose. In fact, he's looking at his opponent's back!

Edited January 16, 2013 by rzombie1988

[Asashosakari 19,306]

Geez. You're asking him to abort a friggin' push in mid-action? How much time do those screencaps cover, 0.3 seconds or so? Please get real.

This is getting as ridiculous as some of the late-career complaints over Asashoryu's on-dohyo behaviour. Must be a two-yokozuna era thing, I guess.

Edited January 16, 2013 by Asashosakari

[Andreas21 184]

I liked watching Baruto's bout. There was some fighting spirit in there

That is true! Miserable that Kisenosato is not able to finish his bouts at his 99% chances. I hope it is a wake-up call for Baruto. That he connects to the real fighting at the basho which he didn't for half a year.

Is anyone following Yoshiazuma ? I am yet to watch one of his bouts, but 0-4 doesn't bode well for a 35-year-old veteran.

I did for a while. Tall and slow he is but his long reach lets him win bouts. Nothing special about his 0-4. He's been a decade in upper Makushita and this is where he belongs to. Lucky for him to touch Makuuchi once in his career (okay twice in fact). In a way, a bit like Kyokotenho, two floors below.

[Mukonoso 273]

rzombie, where are you getting those sweet GIFS?

I make them myself :-) Now if I only had a feed off of my television(and if I had HD) and not the internet, we could have some serious fun!

Now that I see it from this angle it sort of looks like Haru might have twisted his knee. Did he walk off the dohyo fine or have a slight limp?

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

rzombie, where are you getting those sweet GIFS?

I make them myself :-) Now if I only had a feed off of my television(and if I had HD) and not the internet, we could have some serious fun!

Now that I see it from this angle it sort of looks like Haru might have twisted his knee. Did he walk off the dohyo fine or have a slight limp?

Even if his knee did not touch down, it looks very possible that the side or his foot did. Anything other that the soles of the feet and it's a loss.

[Kuroyama 715]

rzombie, where are you getting those sweet GIFS?

I make them myself :-) Now if I only had a feed off of my television(and if I had HD) and not the internet, we could have some serious fun!

Now that I see it from this angle it sort of looks like Haru might have twisted his knee. Did he walk off the dohyo fine or have a slight limp?

Even if his knee did not touch down, it looks very possible that the side or his foot did. Anything other that the soles of the feet and it's a loss.

Almost impossible to determine one way or the other, and it seems to me a certain amount of foot-rolling is always tolerated.

[yorikiried by fate 2,027]

Re: Harumafuji's leg

Whatever happened exactly, if THIS is the situation and the culprit is a YOKOZUNA it is never ever what the rules are addressing.

And that is a good thing in earnest.