Hatsu Basho 2013 - Discussion Thread

[Asashosakari 19,500]

On another note, Gagamaru looks disappointing to me as well this basho... I keep thinking he has it in him to be better than a jo'i - mid maegashira elevator, but he doesn't seem solid once more once he gets a bit higher up the ladder. And this time he's not even REALLY high, just on the jo'i borders...

I see his feet way behind his upper body. Easy pickings for the joi-jin.

Yup, always been like that. When his footwork isn't in order, he's a sitting duck for almost anybody in the maegashira single-digits and above.

[krindel 673]

On another note, Gagamaru looks disappointing to me as well this basho... I keep thinking he has it in him to be better than a jo'i - mid maegashira elevator, but he doesn't seem solid once more once he gets a bit higher up the ladder. And this time he's not even REALLY high, just on the jo'i borders...

I see his feet way behind his upper body. Easy pickings for the joi-jin.

Yup, always been like that. When his footwork isn't in order, he's a sitting duck for almost anybody in the maegashira single-digits and above.

Very valid points, of course, and for the largest rikishi in makuuchi that is a huge problem... Still, I was thinking that he was showing signs of constant improvement on his balance over the last year, and was hoping for more from him.

Well, maybe he'll find what he's lacking in the future, he's still young enough to learn. :-)

[rzombie1988 159]

Statiscally, Baruto has the best chance of being Harumafuji out of Harumafuji/Hakuho/Kotooshu, but I think right now, he is the worst match for Baruto. Baurto hasn't been Kotooshu since last January, hasn't beaten Hakuho since November 2011 but beat Harumafuji last March.

Edited January 20, 2013 by rzombie1988

[yorikiried by fate 2,029]

Statiscally, Baruto has the best chance of being Harumafuji out of Harumafuji/Hakuho/Kotooshu,

At times an at makes sense.

[ronnie 221]

Statiscally, Baruto has the best chance of being Harumafuji out of Harumafuji/Hakuho/Kotooshu,

At times an at makes sense.

You should never mock a mans ability in metamorphosis!

[rzombie1988 159]

Statiscally, Baruto has the best chance of being Harumafuji out of Harumafuji/Hakuho/Kotooshu,

At times an at makes sense.

You should never mock a mans ability in metamorphosis!

Statistically, he does. Am I saying he's going to beat him? Unlikely.

Sucks that Osunaarashi went down. Hope he can win the rest to hopefully set up a possible victory next basho. He really got manhandled.

Edited January 21, 2013 by rzombie1988

[Koorifuu 1,003]

3 mattas on Nionoumi - Shironoryu. On the first one Shironoryu actually got blasted into the 3rd row. It was entertaining.

And on Makushita, I see that in the battle of the 3 Arashis, Oni just oustlasted Chiyo and Osuna. And at 5-0 for a m1, he's staking his claim for a mid juryo place. He's the yusho favorite now, but Kairyu begs to differ.

Edit;

Takamisakari's bout against Kyokushuho consisted on a lost tachi-ai plus a few forced steps backwards. On a fasttrack to makushita he is.

Edited January 21, 2013 by Koorifuu

[specialweek 2 136]

3 mattas on Nionoumi - Shironoryu. On the first one Shironoryu actually got blasted into the 3rd row. It was entertaining.

And on Makushita, I see that in the battle of the 3 Arashis, Oni just oustlasted Chiyo and Osuna. And at 5-0 for a m1, he's staking his claim for a mid juryo place. He's the yusho favorite now, but Kairyu begs to differ.

Edit;

Takamisakari's bout against Kyokushuho consisted on a lost tachi-ai plus a few forced steps backwards. On a fasttrack to makushita he is.

Retirement, not makushita it would seem.

[Andonishiki 170]

hi out there, trying to get the stream working, but it seems, the NSK page sumo.goo.ne.jp is down.

anyone with similar problems ?

[sashimaru 10]

Links to the stream

mms://a442.l12513452441.c125134.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/442/125134/v0001/reflector:52441

or

mms://a9.l12513450008.c125134.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/9/125134/v0001/reflector:50008

For me, only the first one works.

[Asojima 2,874]

Links to the stream

mms://a442.l12513452441.c125134.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/442/125134/v0001/reflector:52441

or

mms://a9.l12513450008.c125134.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/9/125134/v0001/reflector:50008

For me, only the first one works.

For other options, see http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=30859

[Akinomaki 40,666]

So much for Aran 2.0, downgrading again to the slapdown and henka specialist ?

[Kuroyama 715]

So much for Aran 2.0, downgrading again to the slapdown and henka specialist ?

He's allowed one, I think. Lots of rikishi henka once in a while without being "henka speicalists". Strange he felt the need for it with Masunoyama, though.

[Vikanohara 171]

My day 9 highlights :

S : Kisenosato - Toyonoshima (there wasn't really a better one among the Sanyaku rikishi today)

M : Tokitenku - Tamaasuka (I can even beat you leaning back and on one leg) and Aran would better quit today than tomorrow

J : Takanoiwa - Akiseyama (bunny hopping) while of course Takanoyama had another amazing fight in space

Ms * : Oniarashi - Chiyoarashi (the former already certain of re-promotion, will the latter have a chance as well ?)

Ms Hi : Kihonoumi - Takageppo (both 0-4, the latter won the Sd Yusho last basho, will he win at least once this time ?)

Ms Lo : Osunaarashi - Dewahayate (as all eyes are on the Egyptian anyway, I suppose)

Sd : Hamaguchi - Wakakasuga (both 4-0, surprisingly long fight)

Jd : Aragyoshi - Hakuyozan (both 4-0, little Takanoyama in the making ?)

Jk : Mihamaumi - Komatsu (both 2-2, who will reach Jonidan for the first time ?)

Edited January 21, 2013 by Vikanohara

[krindel 673]

So much for Aran 2.0, downgrading again to the slapdown and henka specialist ?

He's allowed one, I think. Lots of rikishi henka once in a while without being "henka speicalists". Strange he felt the need for it with Masunoyama, though.

Not the biggest fan of henka, but I can't blame anyone for doing one once in a while... After all, advertising you are NEVER doing one is not good tactics :-)

[Koorifuu 1,003]

Aran obviously cared for Masunoyama health and didn't want him to push himself too much!

Oh well.

[Morty 1,498]

I was watching the NHK Japanese telecast today (on tv, not the internet feed) and during the Miyabiyama match they kept the camera on him the whole time before and the whole time after. I couldn't believe how much tape was attched to his body - hands, knees, fingers, toes etc. After he won he was extremely relieved, but he was obviously moved while doing his winner's waterboy duties. Afterwards, as he walked back down the race he was crying like a baby, tears pouring down his face and sobbing. It obviously meant a huge amount to him to win one, because I think he realised his time is up. Despite what he says I would expect intai sooner rather than later.

[Akinomaki 40,666]

Osunaarashi also was in tears at the end of the interview after his loss. "The tachi-ai ? It was a mess" He couldn't dedicate a win to Taiho, the former master of Otake-/then Taiho-beya. He does keiko while the dead body of Taiho lies in Otake-beya. The wake is on the 30th, funeral service on the 31st.

Edited February 18, 2013 by Akinomaki

[rzombie1988 159]

I am so sick of all the henka's. Seriously, did Harumafuji have to pull that bogus stuff to take out ONE LEGGED Baruto of all people? I know they called it an okuridashi, but Haruma side-stepped him then did the move. Cheap. I'm also tired of Tokitenku's crap. I don't think he'd engage a 10 year old. He keeps screwing over people who have possible shots at winning to get his cheap victories.

Edited January 22, 2013 by rzombie1988

[Tsubame 368]

You cannot call Harumafujis move a henka. He goes into the tachiai and after that he moves aside. I guess Harumafujis move would not have been worked so well, if Baruto had a belt grip. But Baruto did not grap the mawashi and so it was so easy for Harumafuji to go around him. It was well anticipated by the yokozuna.

Edited January 22, 2013 by Tsubame

[Vikanohara 171]

My day 10 highlights :

S : Kisenosato [7-2] - Kotoshogiku [6-3] (often suspense between the two of them)

M : Aoiyama [5-4] - Aran [4-5] (see, you can do without if you want)

J : Jokoryu [7-2] - Homarefuji [6-3] (spectacular) while this was another close call

Ms Hi : Chiyomaru [3-1] - Arawashi [3-1] (if only for the gyoji) though this was a nice one as well

Ms Lo : Sasanoyama [3-1] - Terutsuyoshi [3-1] (not really following his heya mate Sakumayama aka Jokoryu yet)

Ms * : Watanabe [0-4] - Akinokawa [0-4] (special of the day, for two guys not really enjoying Makushita after recent success)

Sd : Kakutaiki [4-0] - Wakayama [4-0] (will the guy who started his career with two successive Yusho finally grab one in Sandanme ?)

Jd : Masutoo [4-0] - Kotorikuzan [4-0] (will the Hungarian rocket his way back to Makushita ?)

Jk : Sato [3-1] - Arishima [4-0] (will the guy on the lowest spot on the banzuke keep winning ?) while this one wasn’t a fight at all, weird

Edited January 22, 2013 by Vikanohara

[Asashosakari 19,500]

I am so sick of all the henka's. Seriously, did Harumafuji have to pull that bogus stuff to take out ONE LEGGED Baruto of all people? I know they called it an okuridashi, but Haruma side-stepped him then did the move. Cheap. I'm also tired of Tokitenku's crap. I don't think he'd engage a 10 year old. He keeps screwing over people who have possible shots at winning to get his cheap victories.

You do realize that it's not in Tokitenku's job description to contribute to a suspenseful yusho race by rolling over for certain opponents? This isn't pro wrestling, and he's not enhancement talent.

And Harumafuji did not henka.

[rzombie1988 159]

I am so sick of all the henka's. Seriously, did Harumafuji have to pull that bogus stuff to take out ONE LEGGED Baruto of all people? I know they called it an okuridashi, but Haruma side-stepped him then did the move. Cheap. I'm also tired of Tokitenku's crap. I don't think he'd engage a 10 year old. He keeps screwing over people who have possible shots at winning to get his cheap victories.

You do realize that it's not in Tokitenku's job description to contribute to a suspenseful yusho race by rolling over for certain opponents? This isn't pro wrestling, and he's not enhancement talent.

And Harumafuji did not henka.

I don't bother with people who discriminate others for things they like, so you won't get any further responses from me.

Back to the sumo discussion please.

Edited January 22, 2013 by rzombie1988

[rzombie1988 159]

You cannot call Harumafujis move a henka. He goes into the tachiai and after that he moves aside. I guess Harumafujis move would not have been worked so well, if Baruto had a belt grip. But Baruto did not grap the mawashi and so it was so easy for Harumafuji to go around him. It was well anticipated by the yokozuna.

I did call it by its official name but it is a move that is looked down upon. I wasn't really impressed with his tactics. I expect more from a Yokozuna against a one legged wrestler. Lets see him pull that on Hakuho. Edited January 22, 2013 by rzombie1988

[Asashosakari 19,500]

I don't bother with people who discriminate others for things they like, so you won't get any further responses from me.

I don't discriminate against fans of pro wrestling (I'm one myself), I just get annoyed when people apply their pro wrestling fan attitudes to sumo wrestling for no good reason.