Videos Hatsu 2013: Days 1-15

[kuroimori 1,634]

Aran 2.0 what doest thou?!

You could have been great...

:'-(

Looks to me like he just couldn't resist (any longer?)

Henka 2.0 - cos he seems to have henka'd you as well.

[yorikiried by fate 2,016]

I have quit smoking. I know how it is.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Aran brand henka 2.0 seems to be contagious for the victim. Looks like incubation time is one day.

[Kintamayama 44,987]

Day Ten:

[igirisujin 3]

"The henka atmosphere has everybody hopping"

lol

[Bugman 384]

It's looking very shaky for Baruto now isn't it? He really got turned around there by Harumafuji, i suppose he'l still be a regular in Makuuchi so it won't be so bad for him, also, i know it sounds odd but maybe Shohozan should wear his gold mawashi again next basho, bend it to his will! :-)

[Treblemaker 254]

There's more side-stepping going on than at a Presidential Press Conference. I'm enjoying it. The looks on the faces of the henka-ed are priceless. Lots of good throws, good bouts.

Hak is looking good, ahd HF is just SO quick... Looking forward to the Day 15 match-up between the two.

Is it just me, or - looking at the Ozeki group, and determining (as we stand now) if there's a Yok candidate among them - are we seeing this group beginning to sit down in the comfy couch of semi-mediocrity and bored, uninspired bouts? Used to be, when HF was Ozeki, or even back to Kaio, there was excitement when this group climbed on the dohyo. Now, with Geeku, Kise, Osh and Kak, there doesn't seem to be any inspired, creative, exciting dances. In fact, the guys in the middle and lower ranks are the ones providing the entertainment for the evening.

[Koorifuu 939]

There's more side-stepping going on than at a Presidential Press Conference. I'm enjoying it. The looks on the faces of the henka-ed are priceless. Lots of good throws, good bouts.

Hak is looking good, ahd HF is just SO quick... Looking forward to the Day 15 match-up between the two.

Is it just me, or - looking at the Ozeki group, and determining (as we stand now) if there's a Yok candidate among them - are we seeing this group beginning to sit down in the comfy couch of semi-mediocrity and bored, uninspired bouts? Used to be, when HF was Ozeki, or even back to Kaio, there was excitement when this group climbed on the dohyo. Now, with Geeku, Kise, Osh and Kak, there doesn't seem to be any inspired, creative, exciting dances. In fact, the guys in the middle and lower ranks are the ones providing the entertainment for the evening.

I actually think it was really enjoyable by the time Kakuryu hit the spot. It has derailed so much it feels it's happened far longer ago than it did. There was a great pack of Kotoshogiku, Kisenosato, Baruto, Harumafuji, Kotooshu and Kakuryu all looking like strong ozekis. (Ok, Kotooshu not as often). Since then... Harumafuji climbed up on merit, Baruto went down on injury, Kotoshogiku looks half as strong and effective as before and Kotooshu is still the King of 8-7. The only ones still looking like Ozekis are Kisenosato and Kakuryu. At this point even Goeido got a chance to get in and he isn't any better than he was one year ago. The opposing wall just got much weaker.

[Kintamayama 44,987]

Day 11:

[Bugman 384]

If Harumafuji gets any faster he's going to bump into himself on the way back of one of his maneuvers, I was thrilled today by his bout, his planning, his speed, his strength, when he's like this i fear even Hak can't stop him, i think he's going to make it all the way without a single loss.

[Jakusotsu 5,904]

You forgot one chapter of the Tokitenku story:

4. Always wears a loose mawashi.

[Asashosakari 19,193]

I'm filling in the video gaps right now, so if there are any bouts you'd been looking for, they should be there sometime tonight. Unfortunately my early recording of Day 5 was extremely corrupt, and the one assist I was already offered had similar issues - between those two recordings some bouts can probably be rescued, but if anyone out there has recorded the complete first hour or so (from the start of jonokuchi until Tamaisshin-Takasaito), I'd appreciate the clip.

Edited January 23, 2013 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 44,987]

Day 12:

[Bugman 384]

I had a feeling Osh was going to win but i don't know why, he had nothing to lose i guess and Hak was under pressure, meanwhile Harumafuji continues with his perfectly thought out strategies, who can stop him now? Thank you Kintamayama. :)

[Kuroyama 715]

You know, it's a good thing for Hakuho that he was on his way out anyway. It probably spared him the embarrassment of losing by hansoku. Seems to me he had a good grip on Osh's hair at the end there.

[Naganoyama 5,889]

Well that explains some of the more questionable judging decisions. The Head Shinpan is Stevie Wonder.

[Akinomaki 40,271]

Apparently because expecting zabutons flying a yobidashi came rushing onto the dohyo after the Hakuho-Kotooshu bout, they also made a warning announcement not to do it.
It wasn't the last bout, it must be rather unusual to throw them nonetheless - and there were none today when the yobidashi was up.

Edited January 24, 2013 by Akinomaki

[Jakusotsu 5,904]

At least one zabuton flew before the yobidashi came running.

[Akinomaki 40,271]

Only after watching that part again I saw the zabuton above - and the yobidashi from the other side who took it. Still that east yobidashi looked peculiar.

[Kintamayama 44,987]

Day 13:

Edited January 25, 2013 by Kintamayama

[Mukonoso 273]

Nice one Osh!

[kuroimori 1,634]

tobi-sagari

weird flying sagari action here - almost cartoonesque:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=18Uzr4NCgp4#!

footage as always courtesy of araibira:

Edited January 25, 2013 by kuroimori

[yorikiried by fate 2,016]

Man, this thing hitting the gyoji, who in turn stumbles off the ring and knocks out a shimpan with his fan...

...and we would have restored sumo's popularity within a couple of youtube hours.

[Treblemaker 254]

Observations:

1. Almost EVERY 6-6 guy won today. (Except for the awesome Goeido-Aran dance which was impressive, and the Geeku loss, which wasn't.) One after another 6-6'er got their wiin, sometimes surprisingly easy, others by a masterful move (Aminishiki comes to mind). Hmmm.....

2. HF got away with having a clutchful of Kise's hair... Looked pretty much that way on a blurry video.

3. Osh hasn't looked this good in a while... Now, only if he didn't constantly look like he's totally bored out of his mind....

4. I'm impressed with Hibiki's performance. Maybe I just haven't been paying attention to him, and he's always been this way, but somehow he's more active this basho?

5. While i'm not a fan of Geeku, and I rather like Kakuryu, I'm not seeing the old versions of either, what got them to the Ozeki level - neither has impressed this basho. Both are capable of so much more. At least Kise (who I'm certainly not crazy about) takes a beating and gets his hands dirty.

6. Miyabiyama, well, I'm beginning to feel sorry for. Good footwork, zero power.

7. Takamisakari hasn't got it either. (Actually, he hasn't had it for quite a while, but it's beginning to look like a kabuki performance...)

8. I thought for sure this would have been Hakuho's yusho, simply because he's been out of the loop for a while... And he may yet nail it, bit he needs help. And a miracle or two. But it's just not been the impressive Hak of old. Still forward to the Day 15 Ultimate Dance.

[Kintamayama 44,987]

Day 14:

Edited January 26, 2013 by Kintamayama