Stories from Day 12

[Kintamayama 44,165]

"BOOOO!! Go home!!", yelled some fans today at Baruto after his henka against Kisenosato (who is the one who should be yelled at himself for falling for it) "My body responded instinctively.. I apologize to the fans that came to watch.." mumbled Baruto.

"Yay!! Oyakata is taking me to see Batman 45!!" Baruto disgusted with himself for henkaing a guy who is 3-17 against him..

Then, it was Hakuhou's turn to fall for a blatant Harumafuji henka. "Well, it's my fault for losing that way as well.. Someone has got to topple Baruto..," he said, falling back two wins behind Baruto.

Harumafuji: "I admit I had the thought in my mind.. I was contemplating if I should go straight out or maybe sidestep.. It was tricky sumo. I should be happy, but I'm not.." he said

If that isn't a sheepish trickster's grin..

Myougiryuu got his KK today and extends his consecutive KK bashos to eight. "The flow was good (tampon commercial? Naah..). I managed to go about it calmly without getting confused. I'm not thinking of a possible sanyaku promotion. I will try to win all the rest of my bouts," he said later.

Juryo Wakanosato got his KK today and is on his way back to Makuuchi. "I won my eighth so I'm quite relieved.. My leg is much better, thank you very much.. I was a bit worried about it before the basho started but I am not anymore. These next three days are very important for my placing on the next Banzuke so I can't ease up now-I will continue to gambarize!!" he declared.

Asasekiryuu got his first KK today since, get this-September 2010!! He won by means of a henka. " In any case, I won and that's good.. I am relaxed now. I lost my confidence these last few bashos. I'm really pleased. I'd like to use this as an impetus to return to my old form of days gone by," he said, smiling sweetly. (It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.)

Edited January 19, 2012 by Kintamayama

[yorikiried by fate 1,987]

Over at ST Mario made up his case that Baruto likely dreamed up an improvised "strategy" after getting the shenenigans from Kise before tachi-ai. He somehow argued that this is related to Estonian mentality (of which Mario should know), which looks for swift and just revenge, when confronted with disrespect. IMHO Baruto's behavior, reactions etc. fit well to this scenario. Open for dissent of course.

[specialweek 2 136]

Pathetic sumo from the two ozeki..........17-3 record and the last 6 straight and baruto pulls that bullshit.

harumafuji has been constantly saying for years his sumo is for the fans...........geez.

If the sumo gods are watching from now on baruto loses one more and Hakuho beats him in regulation and in the playoff.

[Gusoyama 93]

Over at ST Mario made up his case that Baruto likely dreamed up an improvised "strategy" after getting the shenenigans from Kise before tachi-ai. He somehow argued that this is related to Estonian mentality (of which Mario should know), which looks for swift and just revenge, when confronted with disrespect. IMHO Baruto's behavior, reactions etc. fit well to this scenario. Open for dissent of course.

I would tend to agree with this. Looking at the video, Baruto seemed to be shaking his head in incredulity and rolling his eyes at Kisenosato's actions before tachi-ai.

As for Harumafuji's henka: I don't like it, but I suppose it is up to Hakuho not to fall for it. The pressure's really on the yokozuna to continue his staggering 25 basho Y/J-Y run.

[Azumashida 1]

Over at ST Mario made up his case that Baruto likely dreamed up an improvised "strategy" after getting the shenenigans from Kise before tachi-ai. He somehow argued that this is related to Estonian mentality (of which Mario should know), which looks for swift and just revenge, when confronted with disrespect. IMHO Baruto's behavior, reactions etc. fit well to this scenario. Open for dissent of course.

I would tend to agree with this. Looking at the video, Baruto seemed to be shaking his head in incredulity and rolling his eyes at Kisenosato's actions before tachi-ai.

As for Harumafuji's henka: I don't like it, but I suppose it is up to Hakuho not to fall for it. The pressure's really on the yokozuna to continue his staggering 25 basho Y/J-Y run.

I definitely think there was a link between Kisenosato's pre-tachiai pace-disrupting tactic and Baruto's handling of the tachiai, but more in terms of a natural way to adapt to Kisenosato obviously trying to 'win' the tachiai; as Baruto had to rise up again and thus be exposed to a 'flying' tachiai by Kisenosato (probably Kise's best chance of winning) when coming back down, it just made complete sense for Baruto, in the flow of things, to go for hatakikomi.

[Shibouyama 1]

I would tend to agree with this. Looking at the video, Baruto seemed to be shaking his head in incredulity and rolling his eyes at Kisenosato's actions before tachi-ai.

Hey, sorry I haven't been active on the forum for a loooooong time so please forgive me, but where do you see the vids? Youtube? I'm usually working 4-6 when the basho is on tv, and Sumo Digest doesn't come on until 2 or 3 in the morning.

(I signed in and hit New Posts, only 169 pages to check out. Ha ha.)

[Bugman 384]

I would tend to agree with this. Looking at the video, Baruto seemed to be shaking his head in incredulity and rolling his eyes at Kisenosato's actions before tachi-ai.

Hey, sorry I haven't been active on the forum for a loooooong time so please forgive me, but where do you see the vids? Youtube? I'm usually working 4-6 when the basho is on tv, and Sumo Digest doesn't come on until 2 or 3 in the morning.

(I signed in and hit New Posts, only 169 pages to check out. Ha ha.)

There is a thread just under this one in the "honbasho talk" section entitled "video's hatsu 2012", kintamayama's excellent daily compilations can be found there :)

Edited January 19, 2012 by Bugman

[Itachi 386]

I would tend to agree with this. Looking at the video, Baruto seemed to be shaking his head in incredulity and rolling his eyes at Kisenosato's actions before tachi-ai.

Hey, sorry I haven't been active on the forum for a loooooong time so please forgive me, but where do you see the vids? Youtube? I'm usually working 4-6 when the basho is on tv, and Sumo Digest doesn't come on until 2 or 3 in the morning.

(I signed in and hit New Posts, only 169 pages to check out. Ha ha.)

Try this place for starters ...

http://www.sumoreference.com/Results.aspx?b=201201&d=12

edit: As Bugman writes, Kintamayama's compilations are great too. They are also linked on Doitsuyama's Sumo Reference site.

Edited January 19, 2012 by Itachi

[Jaak 7]

As for Harumafuji's henka: I don't like it, but I suppose it is up to Hakuho not to fall for it. The pressure's really on the yokozuna to continue his staggering 25 basho Y/J-Y run.

Hakuho needs to lose two more to not get J.

[Kuroyama 715]

I would tend to agree with this. Looking at the video, Baruto seemed to be shaking his head in incredulity and rolling his eyes at Kisenosato's actions before tachi-ai.

A bit disappointing, that. I usually associate such tactics with Russians.

[Shibata-gumi 1]

lol my thoughts exactly to the russian comment lol

[mazurao 0]

As for Harumafuji's henka: I don't like it, but I suppose it is up to Hakuho not to fall for it. The pressure's really on the yokozuna to continue his staggering 25 basho Y/J-Y run.

But why? Why Harumafuji would do this to the yokozuna and his senpai? He did not the win that badly, and I see no reason why he wanted to embarass himself and Hakuho in the process.

[Onibushou 61]

I noticed the pre-tachi ai stuff, and expected Baruto to stand up and reset. I didn't immediately connect that to the henka, but looking at the replay, it seems that's exactly what it was. His expression after the match looked like a "Well, you asked for it..." I guess rather than a reset he just decided to henka him and see if Kise wanted to try that next time.

I find it a little odd that he is taking so much heat for henka-ing someone he likely would have beat anyways. Meanwhile Harumafuji pulls a spectacular henka on Hakuho of all people (If you're going to henka, henka big?) allowing Baruto to clinch on day 14 before he even meets Hakuho*. Would not that be the larger transgression? I just don't see the same level of rage for that one though. (and I can't help but think Kise being Japanese has something to do with that.)

Edit: As a side note, am I the only one getting tired of flying zabuton? I thought you were supposed to throw them for a kinboshi, not an Ozeki winning by henka...

*Hakuho was 14-0 and lost to Baruto last time, so I guess even if Bart clinches, Hak would like to get some revenge and prevent the Zensho.

Edited January 19, 2012 by Onibushou

[EizoShita 0]

Over at ST Mario made up his case that Baruto likely dreamed up an improvised "strategy" after getting the shenenigans from Kise before tachi-ai. He somehow argued that this is related to Estonian mentality (of which Mario should know), which looks for swift and just revenge, when confronted with disrespect. IMHO Baruto's behavior, reactions etc. fit well to this scenario. Open for dissent of course.

I would tend to agree with this. Looking at the video, Baruto seemed to be shaking his head in incredulity and rolling his eyes at Kisenosato's actions before tachi-ai.

As for Harumafuji's henka: I don't like it, but I suppose it is up to Hakuho not to fall for it. The pressure's really on the yokozuna to continue his staggering 25 basho Y/J-Y run.

I Agree and there is also second reason to say, that Kise get what he deserved. That is his henka against Giku on day 10.

As for Harumafuji's henka: I think last basho gyoji took away Harumafujis win and gave it to Hakuho. So Harumafuji was grateful to Baruto for his senshuraku win over Hakuho.

Conspiracy (yaocho) theory: Baruto got a lot of money from Giku to revenge Kise's day 10 henka, but transferred it almost immediately to Harumafuji. :-)

[EizoShita 0]

I would tend to agree with this. Looking at the video, Baruto seemed to be shaking his head in incredulity and rolling his eyes at Kisenosato's actions before tachi-ai.

A bit disappointing, that. I usually associate such tactics with Russians.

You mean Aran and 3 other guys, now exmakushitas + Orora and Amuru ?

They are all Russian citicens, but only ethnic Russian is Amuru. Orora is Buryatian, culturally very close Mongols. Rest of them are Ossetians.

I think Orora has no tactics at all. Didn't noticed yet such tactics in Amurus arsenal.

[Shibouyama 1]

I would tend to agree with this. Looking at the video, Baruto seemed to be shaking his head in incredulity and rolling his eyes at Kisenosato's actions before tachi-ai.

Hey, sorry I haven't been active on the forum for a loooooong time so please forgive me, but where do you see the vids? Youtube? I'm usually working 4-6 when the basho is on tv, and Sumo Digest doesn't come on until 2 or 3 in the morning.

(I signed in and hit New Posts, only 169 pages to check out. Ha ha.)

Try this place for starters ...

http://www.sumoreference.com/Results.aspx?b=201201&d=12

edit: As Bugman writes, Kintamayama's compilations are great too. They are also linked on Doitsuyama's Sumo Reference site.

Wow, I saw that Hatsu video thread, but for some reason I was thinking it was later in the year. What a space cadet.

Couldn't see Kise's delaying baloney in that vid though, so will check out the other site's vids. Thanks.

I used to have all the great links favorited, but haven't used in of them in a few years. I've still been watching sumo when I can, but it became a less passionate interest for a while.

[Kuroyama 715]

You mean Aran and 3 other guys, now exmakushitas + Orora and Amuru ?

I mean the other 3 guys. I seem to remember Roho in particular having a lot of mattas.

[Anjoboshi 2]

After watching the Harumafuji vs. Hakuho bout I somehow thought this would be good inspiration for those throw-as-far-you-can-flash games:

A flash game, where you can move your rikishi-character into three directions at the tachi-ai: left, right and upwards ('Hayateumi'-style for experienced ones). The highscore is determined by how far your opponent gets at the distance (measure: 1st row, 2nd row, etc.).

Uh ...

Edited January 20, 2012 by Anjoboshi