Revenge Time

[madorosumaru 7]

Day 1 and Day 2 Torikumi announced.

Toyonoshima will have a chance at the yokozuna on Day 1. Tokitsukaze Oyakata will spend the next few days figuring out ways to get back at Asashoryu.

Day 2 opponent for Ryu is going to be Homasho.

As for tsunatori ozeki Hakuho, he will face Kotoshogiku on Day 1 and Kokkai on Day 2.

Edited May 11, 2007 by madorosumaru

[Ryukaze 0]

"Revenge time" or "piss your pants time" at the prospect of having to face the Yokozuna for these two.......

[aderechelsea 125]

tough day 2 for Asashoryu. He'll win most probably but Homasho is no push-over.

Hakuho will cruise through the first 2 days as long as he stays away from a tsuppari fest with Kokkai. Not that he cannot beat him at that, it is just unwise to let Kokkai throw all over the place his undisciplined tsupparis. He could enrage Hakuho and make him overanxious for the win, which makes him very vulnerable as we have witnessed in the past.

[Bealzbob 0]

Should have been a poll this one. And I'd definitely vote for 'piss your pants time'. Knowing Asa's temper I wouldn't be surprised to see Toyo go kyujo after day 1.

[aderechelsea 125]

Knowing Asa's temper I wouldn't be surprised to see Toyo go kyujo after day 1.

Nah .... he wouldn't want to aggrevate a situation that is already too intense with Tokitsukaze oyakata's remarks.

A "nice yorikiri with friendly escorting back in the dohyo" is my prediction.

[Bealzbob 0]

I'd be a little disappointed in that to be honest, because it means the Oyakata has won and has made him change his ways a little.

[Jakusotsu 6,394]

I'd be a little disappointed in that to be honest, because it means the Oyakata has won and has made him change his ways a little.

An Oyakata doesn't have to "win" anything. He's the Oyakata. Any rikishi has to abide. That's the way it is.

[philafuji 1]

Have we been fooled.

The reports up to this point that I have read say Toyonoshima is out with a serious injury.

Now this close to the basho he is suddenly better and ready to go.

Somethings up here. I don't know what, but it isn't good IMHO.

[Oimeru 0]

Hardly "suddenly better". There have been daily reports of his progress. Anyway how many times have we seen rikishi come back before they are ready. You could probably judge from the tone of the posts here that most people expect him to reinjure himself within the first few days and pull out. I'll be surprised if he is still going after day 5.

Yes, especially with the meat grinder treatment he is going to get. Even if he manages to get through the whole basho -- will he win many bouts? I really doubt it. I'd already be happy if he could only get five wins or something like that... sometimes kyujo might be the smarter move.

I'll be rooting for him, nevertheless.

[philafuji 1]

Now this close to the basho he is suddenly better and ready to go.

Hardly "suddenly better". There have been daily reports of his progress. Anyway how many times have we seen rikishi come back before they are ready. You could probably judge from the tone of the posts here that most people expect him to reinjure himself within the first few days and pull out. I'll be surprised if he is still going after day 5.

I have read the daily reports including posts reporting what the newspapers reported.

I may have missed something here, but I don't recall one report saying he was 100% healthy and ready to go. My original post still stands IMHO

[aderechelsea 125]

i don't think he is "100% healthy and ready to go".

is is just that he thinks he HAS to enter as long as he can walk and do minor keiko. It might (or will?) prove stupid in the long run but this is the way all rikishi act .... :-D

[philafuji 1]

Understood.

We all seem to be on the same page.

Here is a learning opportunity for me today.

At what point physically is it that a rikishi has to declare kuyo?

What if the rikishi feels he is ready to go and his oyoakata feels the rikishi should not enter.

Who wins?

Sorry for spelling mistakes. I am having a problem locating my list of words this morning.

Philafuji

[Jonosuke 28]

I've seen Toyonoshima's training from yesterday and he has a substantial bandage around his shin (actually from lower thigh to foot). He has been doing a few light sessions with non-sekitori and doing some leg pulls and lifts, looking like no condition to display any decent sumo).

He will be no match for the yokozuna. Asashoryu will not have to do anything except ti give a slight push and Toyonoshima will be out of the dohyo in seconds. Even Toyonoshima appears to accept his predicament as he said he wanted to get just a kachikoshi this basho. Rather a tall order for someone in his condition as far as I can tell.

[madorosumaru 7]

Clearly, Toyonoshima is not at 100%.

In his blog, he states, "I'm full of spirit and resolve. I will be okay (daijobu)."

As part of rehabilitation, he does pool exercises and spends time in the oxygen room.

He tries to remain cheery by joking, "A lot of these are new experiences. I always fall asleep in the oxygen room even though I am not supposed to. The nurse has to wake me up."

"I will do everything possible to be ready by Natsu Basho."

This is Toyonoshima's debut as a sanyaku rikishi. If he goes kyujo, he will lose his rank. I am sure he is determined to be on the dohyo if he can stand on his two feet.

[philafuji 1]

But if he gets MK, or has to pull out won't he be demoted anyway?

Philafuji

[madorosumaru 7]

But if he gets MK, or has to pull out won't he be demoted anyway?

Philafuji

He will at least have the experience of being on the dohyo as shin-sanyaku--a dream for all rikishi. As they say, "You can only [do it for the first time] once."

[philafuji 1]

I see. Well I hope he does well. I hope he does not damage himself to the point of no more sumo for life.

I understand what you have posted (thanks, by the way). It just seems strange to me, and I am sure my thinking seems strange to many.

Philafuji

[madorosumaru 7]

Sponichi calls it the "Grudge Match."

For 11 basho in a row since 05 Nagoya, Asashoryu has faced the west komusubi on opening day. Not his basho. The Kyokai explains the change by saying it was due to the retirement of Ozeki Tochiazuma. However, Sponichi calls it a "welcomed surprise."

When told about his shonichi opponent, Ryu said, "I thought it would be Shogun. That's cool. I knew I would have to face [Toyo] by Day 4. The injury incident doesn't bother me at all."

On Thursday, Ryu appeared in the keiko-ba for the first time since the Soken and sparred 18 bouts against the young guys. He had his way, using various techniques including judo waza. "I'm raring to go," he pronounced.

Toyonoshima thinks it's fate that has him facing the yokozuna right away. "I think I dreamed about the encounter," he said. "Maybe, it's a case of deja vu." Despite all the contentious words from Tokitsukaze Oyakata after the incident, Toyo himself said, "I am not all that conscious of the [heightened tension]. All I can do is hit him with all I've got."

As an aside, Sponichi reports that the number of daily "hits" on Toyo's blog went up from approximately 3,000 to almost 20,000. He has also been receiving floods of e-mail. "It'll be nice to get all the cheers for the underdog."

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

However as Asashoryu's oyakata he has complete power over Asashoryu. If he decided in the morning to hand retirement papers for the yokozuna into the kyokai then that would be the end of Asashoryu's career on the dohyo and there would be nothing he could do about it.

I know your post in hypothetical, but that is such a huge if as to be unthinkable. Talk about killing the goose that lays the golden egg. (Thinking in depth...) Most oyakata would likely kill for the chance to be in charge of the windfall Shoryu brings to his heya.

[Doitsuyama 1,259]

All it needs would be Asashoryu hitting Takasago's wife as you surely know.

[Afrozuna 8]

However as Asashoryu's oyakata he has complete power over Asashoryu. If he decided in the morning to hand retirement papers for the yokozuna into the kyokai then that would be the end of Asashoryu's career on the dohyo and there would be nothing he could do about it.

in light of current popularity of sumo it might just be the oyakata who gets the marching orders. Nsk would rather move asa to another heya.

Edited May 12, 2007 by Manekineko
fixed quote

[Asojima 2,874]

Plus it's virtually impossible to imagine an oyakata being forced to retire. In fact I don't think it's even possible.

Wajima. :-D

[aderechelsea 125]

i want to learn too.

i like what i've seen of him on the dohyo from DVDs and i consider him among my all-time favourites.

[Asojima 2,874]

Wajima. :-D

Tell me more. I've only heard bits and pieces about how he tried to sell the kabu to the yakuza or something.

First off, I agree that given a choice between Asa and Takasago, Asa would go.

I mentioned Wajima to quibble with the statement that it is not possible for the NSK to dump an oyakata. Wajima is my all-time favorite rikishi, but he had a habit of getting tangled up with people from the seamier side of life. He had too many contacts with the yakuza and used his kabu as collateral for a loan. He became a source of repeated embarrassment to the NSK and was asked/forced to leave.

I strongly suspect that the NSK has the power to eliminate anyone associated with Osumo if they consider that person to be detrimental to the sport.

[madorosumaru 7]

Toyonoshima spent his last keiko session going against sandanme rikishi for 17 bouts. The pain from injured his right knee and ankle is still there, but he tested his footwork from his favored hidari-yotsu position. "I still feel some trepidations, but the yokozuna can slip and fall, too," Toyo said optimistically. "As long as I am entering the basho, I am out there to win."

We know that the "hits" have gone up for his blog; so have supportive messages. Now, it is reported that there will be 32 kensho for musubi-no-ichiban. (Laughing...) Up until now, the 24 kensho for Roho vs Ryu this Hatsu Basho had been tops for the final bout of Day 1. That shows show much interest there is in the "Grudge Match."

Toyo knows the yokozuna has a big advantage. "I'm the challenger," he said. "There is no use thinking too much."

As they say in that shoe ad: "Just do it!"

Toyo: "I'm ready . . . I think I am." (Tears forming...)