Michishige

The biggest thing Takakeisho had going for him was that he didn't seem to "think" much during his fighting. He just went out, sort of slack-jawed, and did what came naturally to him. That's the best sort of mindset for a premier athlete. If he has lost that, it's going to take a lot to get back to his old form...it's like having the yips in golf.

I was pleased to see that Aoiyama (one of the 7-7 rikishi) caught a break this time. Because Abi (7-7) hadn’t fought Kotoshogiku (also 7-7) yet (and had already faced Aoiyama), Aoiyama gets Daieisho who has already gotten his KK. Not that I think anything fishy will happen, but I suspect Aoiyama will have a lot more motivation than will Daieisho even with the sanyaku nod on the line.

He's certainly gotten a bit of good luck with Takakeisho going kyujo. That was going to be a difficult bout for him given his 1-6 matchup record.

Is that Chiyoshoma smiling?!? I don't know which it is, but I feel like I've never seen it before...

Perhaps I'm not being sufficiently charitable, but I rather suspect it's less mental toughness and more a lack of deep mental activity. I don't get the sense that Takakeisho is someone who ponders much beyond his immediate circumstance. This probably allows him to avoid the sort of anxious anticipation that plagued Kisenosato over the years.

Poor guy. He won his match to move to 6-0, but I can’t help but agree that he looks like a shell of his former self.

It looked like Tochinoshin’s knee just...collapsed, for lack of a better term. While he was able to get up in reasonable fashion afterward, I’m concerned that the rest of his opponents will use the same twist tactic against that knee.

I also thought that sh$$posting had spread to the sumo forums as well. I'm sad that I was wrong as well.

Ok...I’m just going to say it because at least some of us are thinking it. Harumafuji’s retirement haircut is positively tragic!

I think that’s fair, looking back. It does feel a bit like he overwhelms Hiro with banter. And I’m a relative newcomer to watching Sumo (3 years), so perhaps his style is more appealing to me than to others.

I think you’re missing a significant difference between Kisenosato’s and Hakuhō’s most recent 9 basho. Hakuho won two of the three basho he completed, including a zensho yusho.

I agree with you about the commentator. DS was very informative, from my perspective, and interesting. I know that accent is almost a relic from s bygone age, but that shouldn’t completely discount what he says.

Did anyone else see Hakuho treat his foot gingerly when he was getting up from taking that natural ass-whooping? I’m still thinking it’s that right big toe.

It’s natural to speculate about unusual things. You’re clearly right that he hasn’t looked good throughout the basho. That’s rather new for Hakuho and it invites speculation. Besides...speculating about that is less depressing than contemplating the pile of injuries to popular rikishi.

I wish there were an eye-roll Response next to the Thanks trophy so that I could properly react to it. I wouldnt be surprised to find out that Hakuho’s toe is acting up again. Given his pride at being a Yokozuna and the state of the rest of the rikishi at that rank, I’d expect him to keep quiet about it and try to tough it out.