Tigerboy1966

In future, Naruto-oyakata really ought to pose for these kind of photos in a seated posture: otherwise will he just make his boys look short.

Don't know if this has been mentioned but Terunofuji has now equalled Chiyonofuji's record of four 12-3 yusho. http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&group_by=rikishi&having=3&form1_wins=12&form1_losses=3&form1_y=on&form1_m=on

I suppose the problem I had with this basho is that the potential narratives which emerged as alternatives to "Teru wins again" didn't seem particulary compelling. Yes a Sadanoumi yusho would have had a heart-warming "Cinderella Man" flavour but we had that when Tokushoryu won a couple of years ago, and for me, one Tokushoryu-type yusho goes a long, long way. Takanosho seems like a nice bloke and he's a very solid all-rounder but I just couldn't help feeling that if he was really the best we've got, we're in big trouble.

Sneaky Yamato displayed a straight-ahead matta, hoping to set Kazekeno up for the leg pick, but it didn't work. Come on, do you think that would fool a Sumiki? It's his debut, he found a thing that worked for him, and by jingo he was going to try for it every chance he got. Even if he didn't get a chance he still went for it. It's like a novice chess player who wins a match with the Grob (g4) and is convinced that he has the game solved. Yamato will learn, he's fast and young and he will be worth keeping an eye on.

Not 100% certain about Hidenoumi. He might just slide over to j1e. That's rare but it did happen as recently as 2018 (Kyokutaisei).

Yup. We badly need a couple of convincing ozeki, but pushing guys who aren't up to the role isn't going to solve anything.

Takakeisho looks to be hurting. Hope it's nothing serious.

Was that the one Gōeidō self-destructed in? I suppose you could call it that, but I'm a glass half full kinda guy.

Just to say that the most compelling yusho I ever saw was an 11-4. Harumafuji coming back from a 2-3 start to win at Aki 2017.

Don't think we've had one of those since March 1997 so yup, come on Mita!

One year ago Sadanoumi was posting a 6-9 at juryo 6 and looked to be drifting quietly towards retirement. He deserves enormous credit for turning things around at his age. Loved Tamawashi's expression just now when Ichiyamamoto stepped out "Aww why'd you do that, I wanted to hit you some more!"

If we hit "reset" right now and produced a new banzuke based on how good the wrestlers have been over the last few basho, how would the sanyaku look? Here's my version: Y: Terunofuji O: Mitakeumi, Wakatakakage S: Hoshoryu, Kiribayama K: Daieisho, Takanosho

You should ask to speak to the manager an demand a refund while you're at it.

I have to disagree about Ishiura. His extra win in March meant that he was certain to keep his place in maku'uchi. So when he takes May out to recover fully he comes back in July in juryo, rather than makushita. It was a gamble with his long-term health admittedly, but that's not exactly unheard of in this game.

Thanks to Shodai and Tamawashi for the shokkiri bout. I thought they only did those on the regional tours.