RabidJohn

I second what Morty said^.

Most of us (probably) know that, but does it need highlighting on a forum where English is not the first language for a significant number of members? In an effort not to end up on Asojima's ignore list or unnecessarily wind up Robnplunder, I ignore typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors - unless they are really funny, like the time Moti started a thread titled "Preparation of them asses". --- It's pure speculation on my part, but I've been wondering if Hakuho pushed (or pulled) hard enough to hurt himself not so much because he wanted a zensho, but because he did not want to face beast-mode Ichinojo in a play-off. Either way, I believe he's buggered his chances of winning the first honbasho of the new era. BTW, has the next era been given a name yet? --- Sad to see Tochinoshin lose his rank, but then I believe he was extraordinarily lucky to stay healthy just long enough to put in his record-equalling ozeki run. I can't see him managing 10 wins next time, though I'd be happy to be proven wrong (just like I was proven wrong about Takakeisho being too short to ever make ozeki). I hope he calls it a day, gets back to his wife in Georgia, and enjoys seeing his kid(s) grow up. --- Massive congratulations to Takakeisho. He's done the really hard part now. If he can only learn some effective defence when someone cops a hold of his mawashi, I wouldn't rule out his becoming one of the shortest guys ever to wear the rope...

I'm with Morty^. Takakeisho needs only one more win for ozeki promotion. If he manages to beat Ichinojo, it's a cert, but beating Tochinoshin will do. Steak, as Moti might say. That's a thing, how vanishingly miniscule must Ichinojo's attention span have been if concentration really is the issue he's come to terms with? I've often thought his problem was mental rather than the lumbar trouble he's said to have, but still... I'm kind of torn. I'm rooting for Takakeisho, but Ichinojo finally fulfilling the promise of his makuuchi debut is a really exciting prospect, too.

I've heard it referred to as "hanamichi security". You nearly always see new oyakata on duty there, no matter what their previous rank.

I've been thinking the same for a while now. He actually looks a quite likeable chap when he smiles; a total contrast to his unappealing 'game face', which somehow manages to be both arrogant and sullen at the same time.

No aspersion cast on the translation, but that's not a saying I've ever come across before. Is it a Mongolian axiom?

You're wrong. Tamawashi stayed at S1E while Takayasu was posting better numbers on his ozeki run. Caused a deal of consternation amongst the GTB players, as I remember. The fact is that sometimes they switch the high scoring sekiwake to the east slot, and other times they don't...

When the Soviets first started employing PEDs, the athletes referred to it as "American training"...

I know keiko/**geiko is training, but what is the difference between asageiko, degeiko and rengo keiko?

I know I said Chris Gould does some engaging between-basho sumo content, but I wasn't expecting this: Is it me, or is there something very slightly Alan Partridge about this guy?

Me, too. It can't be necroposting if the poll's still live... --- I voted yotsu, which I find more visually appealing, but I appreciate that there's significant variation in oshi-zumo - more than I first thought, anyway. Take the three recent sanyaku yusho winners, for example: Mitakeumi, Takakeisho and Tamawashi. All are oshi proponents, but their styles are quite different from each other. Mitakeumi generally goes for pushing up under the moobs/armpits (and he can switch to the belt at need), whereas Tamawashi tends to thrust for the centre of the chest or throat, and Takakeisho has that rhythmic upwards thrust combined with powerful lateral sweeps from his left hand.

I'm warming to Chris Gould. He puts together some engaging sumo content between basho, which I appreciate, and he seems quite well informed.

Yup, I was just thinking haematoma. 'Internal bleeding' may well be a perfectly valid translation, but does come across as a lot worse than 'bruise'.

Epic fail...

I know it's cruel, but I've always thought it's from when he was given a "good bashin' wi' th'ugly stick when 'e worra babby", as they say in Yorkshire. --- Massive congratulations to Tamawashi. None of us saw that coming, unless you count the solitary "someone else"! --- Re: Takakeisho's and Tamawashi's potentially identical ozeki runs, which was mentioned too far back for me to find again, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Tamawashi gets the nod with 11 wins in March, right after Takakeisho was told to keep trying. I won't find it contradictory, either. Tamawashi became a sanyaku regular before Mitakeumi and Takayasu, and he's damn near on a par with Mitakeumi (despite nearly always losing to him). Takakeisho doesn't have that sort of track record.