Takamizawa

Notice that Taikai didn't henka him in Haru 2009 when Mickey really needed it for his KK to recover from his own kadoban. This wasn't so much a gift to Taikai as the 2009 ozeki gift exchange programme (sounds nicer than ozeki back scratcher association). Mickey got his 8th win in an 8-7 basho that time. Taikai gave Kaio one when he was last trying to come back after kadoban so he got one back this time. Kaio got KK that basho too of course, 8-7. So please forgive Taikai or curse the three of them together. Exactly! Sorry, this is what I was trying to get at, but my wording was a little bit lame (Detective...) . I didn't mean for it to sound like a condemnation (I really don't mind the ozeki gifting each other wins), just that the henka was the safest and most logical course of action to assure Chiyo his much needed win.

In this case a henka was the easiest and safest way to guarantee Chiyo the win over Mitsuki. If they had fought straight forward in a fixed match, there was still the risk of Chiyo slipping up or something along that vein. Some people have been talking like Mitsuki didn't throw it or something. Cmon, he's my favorite rikishi, and I can tell you that he was gifting it to Chiyo.

Uchidate's just a sad individual, and she has to find some reason to give Asa crap (Sign of disapproval...)

I'm not disagreeing with you at all, but I do see a lot of potential with Aran as well. He's got a good build and a lot of strength, but his tactics and technique leave a lot to be desire certainly. Give him a year or two to get smarter (Sign of disapproval...) . His sumo already looks significantly better from his makuuchi debut basho. The next basho should be a good experience for him, despite the guaranteed asskicking he will receive heh.

This is so very true -- and it's not just the Japanese joi rikishi or the young guys either, just look at the Kyokutenho (who I love dearly) and Chiyo match on day 1 heh.

Haha gold! That gif is destined for greatness! I guess yaocho can serve to entertain the sumo viewer :-P

30% is a bit generous to that option, don't you think (Neener, neener...) . I was somewhere in between shaking my head with shame and laughing when I watched it. My roommate (not a follower of sumo) asked what was so funny, so I had him watch the replay. His response was "wow, it looked like the huge guy just jumped out." :-P

It's gotta be the Giku :-P

Back left is Aminishiki :-P

It's not like the questions the interviewers ask are ever insightful or earthshaking. Just seeing the emotion and happiness is good by me.

I thought it was rather endearing to be honest (Sign of approval...)

Hehe and the purple haired old lady next to his mom too (I am not worthy...) ; but in all seriousness, many congratulations to Harumafuji on a well-fought basho and a much deserved yusho!! I loved the interview hehe: "ureshii desu" ... "ureshii desu" (Sign of approval...) he looks so happy!!

Wait, what? You have been watching the complete lack of opposition Kaio has provided this week, right?

Great pictures of Kotomitsuki/Hakuho!!

I don't know if his legs are hurting or what, but his sumo has seemed especially lax and half-assed this basho. It's quite upsetting, cause I love the guy to death. It'd be nice to know if there was something in particular that was bothering him (Clapping wildly...) On a side note, cheers on being from Indiana (Neener, neener...)

I'm really looking forward to Harumafuji x Homasho (Sign of approval...)

He's got gout and he's how old??!? Late 20's?? Holy Cow. Well, he can't stew about it, and ruminate on this new circumstance. Well, I'm sure he'll be bullish in no time. He'll be back - he'd steak his reputation on it. Otherwise he'd be taking a lot of ribbing. He couldn't just chuck the two weeks out the window. But if he's not 100% prime, he'll be ground beef. Bahahaha dude you are the pun master (Yucky...) please teach me your secrets!! On a serious note though, I hope this doesn't trouble him this basho as seriously as it did Mitsuki in Hatsu...

I have a man-crush on Yoshikaze, and I'm not ashamed.

bahahahah gold -- there's a training method I can follow (Bomb about to be blown...)

I actually really like this idea; it would probably add a nice new dimension of excitement too, seeing as how it would reward achieving more than simply kk as an ozeki. Right now there is really no incentive for the ozeki to achieve any better than kk if they aren't threatening for the yusho, and it breeds some half-assed sumo. However, if we add that incentive it would likely foster a better quality of sumo from the ozeki bunch. Another idea would be providing more bonus $ to the winner of each ozeki/ozeki match, though honestly this probably wouldn't do that much...

Agreed 100%; I think 8-7 from M2 is far more impressive than 11-4 from M7 where you aren't facing any of the heavy-hitters.

Appendix, like Kaio? it's an oblique injury isn't it?

Dejima's arm is fine, he's just a huge crybaby. I submit that you don't know what you're talking about. Read the Rikishi Talk. Ok, poor word choice on my part in saying that his arm is "fine," apologies, but I submit that Dejima is still a crybaby when I watch him pouting after every single loss, muscle separation or not.

Dejima's arm is fine, he's just a huge crybaby.

woo! my favorite rikishi! his yorikiri is unstoppablely awesome. too bad he lost today, but I like Kaio, so there's some consolation. also.... eyebrows = intimidation