Day 7 comments

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

Ushiomaru and fatique, Wakatoba threw doen Wakanosyama and enjoys makuuchi atmposhere, Kakizoe's balance was too much for Asanowaka, Shimotori dragged weak Kaiho down, Aminishiki's pirouettes dizzied himself, Jumonji had a good victory over a tricky foe against whom he had been inferior to, Tamarikido collapsed, Yotsukasa's sumo was steady Yotsukasa-sumo, Dejima looks pathetic, Kotomitsuki wore down Buyuzan but needed oddly lot of time to oust him with way superior yotsu, Iwakiyama's dominant tsuki continued for the 4th day in a row, Takanonami did Takanonami sumo and tiptoed Asasekiryu out with right hand outside grip, Tosanoumi stopped his losing streak to Hokutoriki by dragging him down,

Toki's runway was uncharasterically long today reaching way back from shikiri-line. Toki also possessed even some extra vexatiousness to Sakke by attacking his throat and face as if trying to reformulate the facial tissues. Sakke is used to having his nose, chin and expression mugged in keiko so he calmly tightens his lips in order to protect teeth and uses his iron bar backbone to beat Toki with disdainfully polite fashion. Takamisakari has been awesome.

Kyokutenho is like a pig running. There is a Finnish saying "Improves like a pig its run!" so fits well. Grip pursuing yotsu-bout against Wakanosato never went into proper yotsu as neither had a good grip. Tenho then twisted Waka around with a persistent tottari arm clamp. Waka resisted for a while before collapsing. Good sumo by Tenho.

KaioU and Miya did some tsuki before KaioU closed the gap and dumped Miya with a nice shitatenage using also his right arm in the process. U gave a storm warning with this performance.

Tochiazuma and Tochinonada share a lot of pushing moments which favours Azuma especially since Nada doesn't have forward motion to back up his pushes. Azuma gradually forces Nada closer to edge and then does his rapid series of pushes getting rid of Nada in neat fashion. Good bounce back from yesterday's loss to Sakkeus.

Yorikiri.

[Ryunokaze 0]

Asashoryu`s match,what happened?

I`ll tell you what happened.Asashoryu easily won from the tachiai.Kotoryu simply couldn`t mount a defence at any piont and was swiftly forced,bum first, through his own position before finding himself on the wrong side of the tewara.Yorikiri.

The english commentator for N.H.K. used almost identical words to those I have been using since beginning to post here when ever discussing Asashoryu`s performance, this basho. I say again; Asashoryu again showing why he is the best man in sumo today.

I love it don`t you? (Ranting...)

[Jesinofuji 11]

Before the match Takamiyama was asked what Kotoryu would have to do to win. Takamiyama was silent thinking about it for several seconds before saying that Kotoryu would need a really good tachiai. Well Asa was the one that got the really good tachiai.

Though nothing like yesterday's SLAM, this was a no contect bout, Asa just charged foreward, got a good grip, and walked him out. Seemingly effortlessly too. After a week, as the sole leader, Asa looks like hes going to make his third yusho of the year. And being only 22 already turning out results like these, I don't think the future of Sumo is going to be bright for those who do not support Asashoryu.

[Asashosakari 20,223]

I don't think the future of Sumo is going to be bright for those who do not support Asashoryu.

Aww c'mon, did you really just say something to the effect of "If you don't support Asashoryu, you won't enjoy sumo"?! (Ranting...)

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

I don't think the future of Sumo is going to be bright for those who do not support Asashoryu.

Great, a decade of misery ahead. (Ranting...)

Edited September 13, 2003 by Kotoseiya Yuichi

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

I don't think the future of Sumo is going to be bright for those who do not support Asashoryu.

Great, a decade of misery ahead. (Ranting...)

Yeah... I am afraid that is not too far from the truth if Asashoryu continues as he has started. His and Kitanoumi

[Chinonofuji 35]

Yeah... I am afraid that is not too far from the truth if Asashoryu continues as he has started. His and Kitanoumi

Edited September 13, 2003 by Chinonofuji

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

Yeah... I am afraid that is not too far from the truth if Asashoryu continues as he has started. His and Kitanoumi

[Jesinofuji 11]

I really think Asashoryu is being judged too harshly. He is young and has a long way to go. We can't expect perfect behavior for someone that young. Nobody likes to lose. Even mellow mannered Kaio lost his cool this bashou. Yeah, Asashoryu has a bad temper, but he is not the villan people make him out to be. He donates to charities and schools in Mongolia. Look at other full contact sports and the actions of they're top players. If Asa were a boxer and acting like this, it would be seen as normal, and many boxers are a heckuva lot worse. Its just that Sumo holds its grand champions to such high standards.

When I said this 'I don't think the future of Sumo is going to be bright for those who do not support Asashoryu.', I don't mean want to see people lose interest in Sumo. It can be fun to root against certain people too. Though his dominance over the next 10 years is unquestionable, he will also suffer many hard defeats. I'm sure the anti-asashoryu corner will savor them well.

[Asashosakari 20,223]

Though his dominance over the next 10 years is unquestionable

I'm sure the same was said about Takanohana at one point as well. ;-) His dominant phase lasted "only" about 5 years, and that was already exceptional. No doubt Asashoryu has the talent to be equally successful, but to claim that it's completely unquestionable...let's just say that people also said that Tochiazuma was definitely the next Japanese yokozuna less than two years ago. (Well, that could still happen, I guess. (Clapping wildly...) )

Asashoryu's dominance is only coming up on one year yet...Akebono absolutely dominated for the first year of his Yokozuna run, too, after which he settled into being a more regular Yokozuna. Just saying. :-)

[Kintamayama 47,178]

I don't think people are having any problems with Asashouryuu's "dominanace" as a wrestler, i.e. his winning Bashos, showing good Sumo etc. The problem most people are having is with his dominating character, his "dark" side , so to speak. So the history of dohyo-dominating Yokozunas of the past seems irrelevant to me. If he was a cool, softspoken guy, this debate would be moot.

The thing is, we've had bad tempered , ruthless Yokozunae before. Chiyonofuji was no Mr. Niceguy, to name but one. But he was a great wrestler.

I don't think anyone who dislikes Asashouryuu is in for 10 years of misery. On the contrary- I've found that a dislike for a rikishi fuels my appetite.. (See KaioU..)

I'm also not convinced (as an Asashouryuu fan) that he's such an overpoweringly dominant force at this time. True, he's having a great Basho so far, but all that can change in a twinkling of an eye. He still has to face Taikai and KaioU, against whom he has been having difficulties.

This Basho isn't over yet by far. I'd say 4 out of his 7 wins so far came after he seemed to be in a bit of trouble, and we're talking hiramaku opponents here.

Any small incident can make him lose his cool and his concentration.

Then, anything can happen.

AND, we may yet see the return of Musashimaru as a dominant force.

Edited September 14, 2003 by Kintamayama

[Ryunokaze 0]

I dont think Asashoryu could be termed "great" just yet.He is definently the best all round rikishi today and we all know he is by far the most aggressive.Its that aggression that gets him into a spot of bother now and then.Its fine on the dohyo but outside it must be curbed.The fate of Yokozuna who don`t keep it together off the dohyo is well documented.He needs to adopt that even temprement of the Japanese he now lives amoung.

Also it may be fair to say that the standard today is not as high as during other periods.I haven`t been watching long enough to make an informed guess either way really but I can say this;Asashoryu probably would find the going much tougher if Takanohana or Akebono were still going strong.(If only we could alter time some way,hey?The match-up`s we could have.Oh boy my head spins).

Only the passage of time can sort this one out.

Anyway,Juryo matches are on and they don`t seem to be waiting for me.

All the best.

[BuBa 77]

[He needs to adopt that even temprement of the Japanese he now lives amoung.]

So the problems are arising because he lived before in ill tempered place. ;-)

[Ryunokaze 0]

BuBa,you misunderstand.(I probably could have put it better).

Japanese show less emotion of anykind, particularly in public.It is one way the Japanese deal with such high populations in such a small inhabitable land mass.So if somebody always wears thier heart on thier sleeve ,in japan, it stands out.

Mongolians are probably no more" ill tempered" as you would put it, than any other race.It`s not what I meant ,by a long-shot.

All the best. (Riding an ATV...)

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Saying Asashoryu is already great and will rule for a decade is like saying the "henka" Tochiazuma bout from a couple of days ago is already notorious. Both these things take time, and only time, to sort them out. Let's not get caught up in hyperbole prematurely here (Protesting...)

Or maybe I'm just getting old... (Showing tongue at someone...)

[BuBa 77]

Dear Ryonokaze, the reply was meant as a joke. I am sorry for making you feel misunderstood. No offence whatsoever.