Best Maegashira in Haru

[Asashosakari 20,251]

As there seems to be some speculation going on in the jun-yusho poll about which Maegashira just might have a break-out basho, why not make a poll about it. (Applauding...)

Obviously, there's a chance that several will end up with the same number of wins...in the interest of not making the poll overly complicated, I haven't included any choices for multiple rikishi. Just pick the one you feel is most likely to score high and feel free to add other dark horses in the comments instead. :-)

PS: Poll data shamelessly copy-and-pasted from Jejima's poll, for the most part...thanks for saving me a lot of typing effort. :-O

[aderechelsea 125]

i was torn between Toki,Kotonowaka and Kokkai.

Toki and Koto usually score high when they are in the bottom ranks but in the end i voted for the Georgian.........(i hope thet he won't dissapoint me).

[Fujisan 535]

I think there are a few deceptively low on the banzuke but my vote goes with Robocop-

Will Toki be fit to fight his best at Haru is the question?

Edited March 2, 2004 by Fujisan

[Kashunowaka 300]

I like these polls, because I can vote whatever I like without taking any responsibility for my picks. :-P Go Yotsukasa!

[Asashosakari 20,251]

My vote went to Toki who should feel right at home with all of the oshi rikishi at the bottom of Makuuchi, although I think there are two more guys who just might end up with really good results, namely Hokutoriki and Iwakiyama. Both are just outside the danger zone, as the only high-rankers they will probably meet are the Musashigawa quartet, and both of them (especially Hokutoriki though) have shown that they're quite a bit better than the usual mid-Maegashira raffle.

[Takamueda 0]

I'm undecided between Toki, Takamisakari, Tosanoumi, Kotoryu and Asasekiryu. I think these 5 will do the best performance in the upcoming basho.

[Jejima 1,495]

PS: Poll data shamelessly copy-and-pasted from Jejima's poll, for the most part...thanks for saving me a lot of typing effort. :-D

Actually I copied and pasted mine from Gernobono's banzuke post - so extra kudos to him again :-) (In love...)

....and nice poll! :-P

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

There are many Maegashiras and several of them could end up with good results. My personal guess is that this will be the break-out basho of Takekaze who is also ranked low enough not to meet any of the joi-jin, so that's where my vote goes.

[Guest Akatabi]

1 vote for Kokkai, who now has a makuuchi basho under his belt, is still learning the tricks of the trade, and will not yet be meeting the top-rankers.

Akatabi

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

I was also torn between Toki and Takamisakari, on the assumptions that the former is fit physically and the latter is fit mentally for this basho. I think Kokkai will be overwhelmed by the increased level of competition.

[Manekineko 200]

Why make this poll less interesting by repeating my vote? This time I voted for Wakanoyama, who'll start his ozeki run any moment now. :-P

Seriously, Wakanoyama will probably feature in several of my games teams...

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

So you can change poll votes??

[Takanobaka 0]

I was between Toki, Iwakiyama, and Takekaze. Ended up going with Toki with the hopes that he's healed, although to a certain extent I think the withdrawal was more along the lines of Shoryu's a few basho back (little bit of injury, whole lot of embarrassment at their performance). Iwakiyama could surprise again now that he's not facing too many top-rankers, and I feel like Takekaze seems to get well motivated after poor basho. I don't think Takamisakari will enter the equation merely because he never seems to be able to put an outstanding basho together...even when he's all there and fighting only guys who are beatable, he still mentally slacks off hardcore once he gets close to his KK. As of Kokkai, I think he will ascend slowly but surely, and to a certain extent I think he understands the implications of being able to move up more slowly at this point so he can avoid a huge drop from moving up the ranks too fast. Thus, I think he'll start strongly, but may not try quite as hard once he acheives KK. I feel like recent history shows that oshi rikishi tend to do better in the long run with a slower ascent through the top division, and it seems like Oitekaze Oyakata has instilled this philosophy in him to some extent...

[Zentoryu 154]

Normally the favorites here would be Takamisakari and Toki.

But Toki is injured and it remains to be seen if he has recovered enough from that injury.

And I'm under the impression that Takamisakari is also suffering from some sort of injury (be it physical or mental). Ever since Asashoryu bodyslammed him in keiko, Taka has not been the same rikishi. He's been dreadful the last two basho, and not just against Sanyaku, but against lower ranked opposition as well. If he continues to display such sumo this basho, he'll be lucky to get KK.

Hokutoriki and Iwakiyama should do well, but my final vote went to Kokkai.

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

So you can change poll votes??

You mean you could change your vote after giving it? Not to my knowledge.

Meanwhile Hokutoriki is of low enough rank to be fed cannon fodder. (Laughing...)

[Manekineko 200]

So you can change poll votes??

No. But I voted for Kotonowaka to take yusho in the other poll, so "logically" he should also be my choice for best maegashira.

Logic is overrated. (Eating...) Coming from a female, I'm sure this comes as no surprise to our Rijicho. (Laughing...)

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

I must have misread something. The blood ratio in my caffeine circulation is too high. Must... be... corrected...