Ama's Ozeki run

[HenryK 38]

Ama left himself with a huge mountain to climb.... Pity because ability-wise he's arguably there.

And as we're talking Ozeki -- what's wrong with Kootooshu? He looks as if all confidence had gone out of him, like a deflated balloon. Kotomitsuki is the only Ozeki at this juncture who looks the part.

Edited November 20, 2008 by HenryK

[Harry 67]

Kaio and Chiyotaikai have been ozeki for nearly a decade so one can cut them some slack I think. Kotooshu is disappointing for sure.

As is Ama. After all his 50 match keiko sessions I fear he has burnt himself out and rather than psyching himself up he has psyched himself out. He will get a KK but unless he gets his head in gear right now he will blow his chance.

Even Hakuho isn't looking that confident. I wonder if his foot is bothering him more than he lets on. I wonder if Asa is kicking himself for not doing keiko and entering this one as it seems most at the top are hurt like him.

Speaking of former ozeki, Dejima and Miyabiyama are doing well. There are some positive stories too for sure.

Edited November 12, 2008 by Harry

[Shomishuu 0]

And as we're talking Ozeki -- what's wrong with Kootooshu? He looks as if all confidence had gone out of him, like a deflated balloon.

That was one strange tachiai. Toyonoshima pulled a Mainoumi on him, and he just froze...scared silly of the morozashi, I guess.

[kaiguma 0]

;-)

He can still make it but.... yah he has made it a lot harder.

His feet don't seem to be under him when he moves out of the tachi-ai.

[Zuikakuyama 1]

Looking at the bright side, if he can get 10 wins here, he is still on an Ozeki run for next basho with a 11 win performance.

[Kintamayama 45,345]

Ama won today, but the elders will be looking at the crucial "naiyo" (content , but so far, "naiyo ga nai yo... there is no content..", as they say in Japanese) to see if 11 wins will clinch that Ozeki promotion. I'll stake the steak and say 11 won't be enough going by his performance thus far.

[Tikozan 4]

I hope, he will do it. 11 wins will be difficult this basho, but he can get them.

Go AMA (Holiday feeling...)

[kaiguma 0]

Ama won today, but the elders will be looking at the crucial "naiyo" (content , but so far, "naiyo ga nai yo... there is no content..", as they say in Japanese) to see if 11 wins will clinch that Ozeki promotion. I'll stake the steak and say 11 won't be enough going by his performance thus far.

I'd love to win Moti's steak in this and peronally deliver it to a victorious 11-win Ama, but instead I must agree.

I think it will take 12 wins - even the tottari didn't look too convincing. If he had been perfectly stable while executing it, yes, but no he wasn't (Holiday feeling...)

[HenryK 38]

Ama won today, but the elders will be looking at the crucial "naiyo" (content , but so far, "naiyo ga nai yo... there is no content..", as they say in Japanese) to see if 11 wins will clinch that Ozeki promotion. I'll stake the steak and say 11 won't be enough going by his performance thus far.

I'd love to win Moti's steak in this and peronally deliver it to a victorious 11-win Ama, but instead I must agree.

I think it will take 12 wins - even the tottari didn't look too convincing. If he had been perfectly stable while executing it, yes, but no he wasn't :-(

To get to 11 wins, Ama must realistically go 3-1 against the Yokozuna and Ozeki -- if so, wouldn't this help his case?

[Kintamayama 45,345]

To get to 11 wins, Ama must realistically go 3-1 against the Yokozuna and Ozeki -- if so, wouldn't this help his case?

He can still go 2-2 as well. In any case, the two losses to lesser fodder (Kisenosato and Goueidou) early on will not be overlooked by the powers that be. It will depend also on how dominant he will be in the remaining bouts. If he wins 12, THAT would mean he would have had to been 3-1 or even 4-0 against the Y/O.

[HenryK 38]

To get to 11 wins, Ama must realistically go 3-1 against the Yokozuna and Ozeki -- if so, wouldn't this help his case?

He can still go 2-2 as well. In any case, the two losses to lesser fodder (Kisenosato and Goueidou) early on will not be overlooked by the powers that be. It will depend also on how dominant he will be in the remaining bouts. If he wins 12, THAT would mean he would have had to been 3-1 or even 4-0 against the Y/O.

Sure. I just made an allowance for dropping one on the road.

[HenryK 38]

Ama fought himself back into contention. But of course the big ones are still coming.

[kaiguma 0]

If he finishes with 11, it is likely to come down to his projected day 11 bout. 11 wins without beating Hakuho and I do believe he will be turned away.

(contrary to my opinion as expressed in poll commentary pre-basho)

[HenryK 38]

Very strong sumo today for Ama's first Ozeki scalp of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Baruto completes a formidable Sekiwake ticket.

[Asashosakari 19,501]

The whole "Ama desperately hangs on to his ozeki run after two early losses" story has been quite entertaining and is probably one of the highlights of the basho so far, especially since he's making an effort not to henka his way through (until now anyway).

[Jonosuke 28]

I want to see how Ama does against Baruto before I pass my judgment...

[Sokkenaiyama 81]

I'm expecting an 'upset' on day 12. Hakuho might decide to ease Ama's way into the rank.

[Harry 67]

I'm expecting an 'upset' on day 12. Hakuho might decide to ease Ama's way into the rank.

Ama seemingly had Hakuho's number for a while there so I wouldn't call his win a gift. In the current environment they'd better be careful about giveaways is all I should say!

[Asashosakari 19,501]

Hakuho isn't terribly steady this basho anyway, presumably due to his foot surgery. The Day 1 loss was a very timely wakeup call that he's not in any shape to rush through his bouts this time, and he's been extremely deliberate in pretty much every bout, even by Hakuho standards. It helps that most opponents have been dumb enough to play right into it, when it would probably be much better to attempt to force Hakuho into a faster bout. I wouldn't be surprised if Ama has figured that out, too.

[kaiguma 0]

I'm expecting an 'upset' on day 12. Hakuho might decide to ease Ama's way into the rank.

SO I guess you are also predicting Kotooshu will be out before he has a chance to face the Yok?

By my calculations that is the only way to explain that you are calling the bout on day 12, and yes it is quite likely now that you mention it...

But as others said, if we see Ama beat Hakuho I very much doubt it will be a gift. For all the reasons previously stated.

[Kintamayama 45,345]

But as others said, if we see Ama beat Hakuho I very much doubt it will be a gift. For all the reasons previously stated.

AND I doubt it will be considered when the powers convene to decide his promotion. We've had that before, I think with Hakuhou when he was coming up , or maybe someone else..Someone remember?

[kaiguma 0]

But as others said, if we see Ama beat Hakuho I very much doubt it will be a gift. For all the reasons previously stated.

AND I doubt it will be considered when the powers convene to decide his promotion. We've had that before, I think with Hakuhou when he was coming up , or maybe someone else..Someone remember?

In general you may be right, but I do think that they are looking at how the Sekiwake handles the O/Y ranks if they are considering him to join. And since this basho the ranks are decimated they really only have Hakuho and Kotomitsuki. Sorry, Chiyotaikai just isn't there anymore in my opinion, at least not against other others OYs.

For example: compare Ama's performance this basho to Kisenosato and Toyonoshima thus far. They both have outperformed him even as Toyo stands with one less win, by virtue of facing tougher opponents up until now. We DO know that the last 5 days of the Ozekitori basho are very important and a good candidate must finish strong.

Edited November 18, 2008 by kaiguma

[Peeter 15]

I to be Hakuho thinking: better 4 sick ozekis, than one health and unpredictable - no time for gifts! :-)

[Asashosakari 19,501]

SO I guess you are also predicting Kotooshu will be out before he has a chance to face the Yok?

By my calculations that is the only way to explain that you are calling the bout on day 12, and yes it is quite likely now that you mention it...

Kaio's out already. Ama Day 12, Osh 13, Taikai 14, Mickey 15.

[Sokkenaiyama 81]

Exactly. Anyway, if I were Hakuho and Ama had my number, I'd rather know him up there leading the Ozeki ranks so I could fight him on days 13-15 than have to deal with him mid-basho. Things are arranged more easily after you know how you stand. And a favor to Ama now would have him pay back later (from a strictly business-like point of view, Hak would still be the yusho favorite this basho). We shall see.