Sue

Once is a freak occurrence. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern. I need to see Shodai do well in Osaka (or in May) before I'll start believing in him again.

It's a bit early to talk yusho, but he probably at least has the inside track for a sansho, if the rest of his tournament goes reasonably well. And he'll put Goeido in a rather sticky spot if he wins tomorrow.

The thing that gets me about TnoF is that he's the same age as Ura. I keep thinking of Ura as an exciting young prospect, and Terunofuji as an over-the-hill old man in decline, but both of those things are wrong.

Hattorizakura!

MacArthur, more like. Eisenhower was a nice man; MacArthur had an ego.

He's having a better comeback than I expected, but winning a Makushita yusho and contending in Makuuchi are two very different things.

You can be the one to tell the rikishi that you think they're unstable. Let me know how that goes.

Where's Waldo? In the front row today, over to the left of the dohyo.

What on earth is going on with the universe? Konosuke wore a colour that isn't red. If we can have a non-red Konosuke, what's next? A Shodai ozeki run? Hakuho being praised for his good sportsmanship? The mind reels.

Wow, was Next Ozeki Shodai really the last undefeated Makuuchi rikishi before Previous Ozeki Kotoshogiku defeated him?

Never fear -- Next M9 Shodai will find a way to disappoint everyone in the second half of the basho.

Ura wasn't coming back this basho, was he? He'll be starting from Jonokuchi (or Bg) when he does, if not.

Meanwhile, in North America, the Steelers (of the NFL) just shut down (star player) Stephon Truitt for the season after a similar injury. It's a shame that sumo doesn't have the concept of "season-ending surgery."

Sumo is traditional. Traditional Chinese/Japanese medicine, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and shiatsu (which is organically Japanese) is traditional. It's also a relatively non-invasive way to activate the placebo effect.

There's a reason why it's called "Guess the Banzuke," not "Construct the Banzuke."