Natsu 2014 discussion thread **probable spoilers**

[Senkoho 552]

Takayasu-Kaisei: shouldn't it totally be a mono-ii there?

Edited May 13, 2014 by Senkoho

[krindel 688]

So Chiyoootori makes it to Komusubi for the first time, 21 years old and all. Second guy born in the Heisei era to do that after Takayasu. There's the press conference. This is what went on:

Chiyo: "I will be facing the joi so I will totally gambarize!!"

Kokonoe: "Let's hope you beat at least one of them.."

Chiyo: "I'll gambarize to the extent that I'll be able to beat about two.."

Kokonoe : "Now you're getting in way over your head there.."

Chiyo cringes.

Oh, look at that... Chiyootori beat an Ozeki, and its only day 3... I wonder what Kokonoe will have to say now :)

[CT3* 331]

Glad to see Sokokurai have such a good start to this basho!

Takayusa might also have his mojo back.

[CT3* 331]

Anyone else think that was a weird tachi ai between Gagamaru and Takanoiwa? I thought it was gonna be called a matta.

[Tsubame 378]

Anyone else think that was a weird tachi ai between Gagamaru and Takanoiwa? I thought it was gonna be called a matta.

And I guess Takanoiwa thought the same...

[ALAKTORN 346]

Anyone else think that was a weird tachi ai between Gagamaru and Takanoiwa? I thought it was gonna be called a matta.

And I guess Takanoiwa thought the same...

Yeah, I was about to comment just that.

Kaisei also definitely got robbed, their feet touched out at the same time, should’ve been a torinaoshi.

Kyokutenhō is 0–3… :(

[Benevolance 2,534]

That's only because Kyokutenho hasn't fought any of the wrestlers in my sumo pool yet...

[Gurowake 4,158]

Takayasu-Kaisei: shouldn't it totally be a mono-ii there?

Kaisei also definitely got robbed, their feet touched out at the same time, should’ve been a torinaoshi.

I totally agree that both of their feet touched down at practically the same time. However, Kaisei was clearly in a losing position and was in no manner attempting to remove Takayasu from the ring. One may say that it's possible that Takayasu was only able to generate the power possible to drive Kaisei from the ring by over-engaging himself to the point that he couldn't manage to stay in while Kaisei was still in the air, but Kaisei was well out of the ring and the fact that he touched down at the same time as Takayasu shouldn't stop the latter from being declared the clear winner. If Kaisei had been in a position in which he could hang on for a few more tenths of a second and manage to force Takayasu to step out before he was actually out, then I would agree he'd be reasonably called the winner, but he has to actively be trying to force his opponent out before he manages to go out. I can recall seeing more than one bout where the winner pushed his opponent totally out of the ring but touched the ground outside just as or even before his opponent managed to land; in none of those bouts was it unclear who the winner should be (nor a monoii called), even if it was unclear who literally touched down first.

Edited May 13, 2014 by Gurowake

[Tochinofuji 405]

I have to say, while I'm not generally a Kisenosato fan, he's looking particularly calm and solid this basho. Obviously he hasn't faced any truly stiff competition as of yet, but even still, he looks like he's found his rhythm again.

[shumitto 419]

I have to say, while I'm not generally a Kisenosato fan, he's looking particularly calm and solid this basho. Obviously he hasn't faced any truly stiff competition as of yet, but even still, he looks like he's found his rhythm again.

So many times times I was excited about his sumo only to be disappointed a little after that I will wait before agreeing with that. The same goes for Goeido. Impressive today were Osunaarashi with a very good display of dohyo sense and technique, and Chiyootori, who managed to escape from Kotoshogiku with the Ozeki having his gabburi-yori on him - no mean feat.

[yorikiried by fate 2,038]

I wrote a short poem which doesn't make sense:

Yokozuna Kakuryu

Komusubi Yoshikaze

Yokosubi Kakukaze

Komuzuna Yoshiryu

Yokoyoshi Tsunaryu

Komukaku Subikaze

Yokokaze Kakuzuna

Komuryu Yoshisubi

And they lived happily ever after.

[Benevolance 2,534]

You can be my Yokokaze. Ooo-oh---ohhh-oh.

You can hikiotoshi me where ever I go!

On second thought, I doubt many people outside of Canada are familiar with the Bare Naked Ladies, so I'll stop my song there.

[krindel 688]

OK, whoever put sleeping powder in the Ozeki and Yokozuna's chanko yesterday, confess now...

[Morty 1,521]

Jokoryu looks like a completely new man. Got his mojo back. Let's see if he can keep it up

[wanderer 159]

Endo's ways look more and more like Asassoryu's to me.

[yorikiried by fate 2,038]

Endo's ways look more and more like Asassoryu's to me.

Steady the horses. It's a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way to the peak you were referring to.

[ALAKTORN 346]

Terunofuji vs. Takanoiwa was a fantastic bout. So many different technique attempts, full of strategy. The outcome was a bit of a pity considering the match, though, but I’m fine with it. vimeo.com/album/2870494/video/95257652

Aminishiki amazes me.

Nice win for Endō. I think Kakuryū made a tactical mistake, letting him get the morozashi, he could’ve gone into a hidari-yotsu instead.

Hakuhō looked impressive, that right-armed nodowa that was diverted to the side by Chiyotairyū didn’t break his balance a single bit, and he quickly pulled it back for a migi-yotsu.

Fantastic day today was.

Edited May 14, 2014 by ALAKTORN

[Kotogouryuu 143]

Endo's ways look more and more like Asassoryu's to me.

Steady the horses. It's a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way to the peak you were referring to.

People do get excited about Endo, and there comparisons are very early and don't really help.

That said, the way he floats his point of balance keeping him at a much wider stance that his legs should allow is an amazing thing to see. He has gained power and will keep growing. It's too early to make these comparisons now, but we'll see.

[Benevolance 2,534]

If Endo isn't mongolian, how can he become a yokozuna? Can he apply for Mongolian national status?

[shumitto 419]

Was I the only one who thought Endo might have touched the dohyo with something other than the sole of his foot before forcing Kakuryu out ?

Aoyama was very good today, and I saw that coming. Despite the 0-3 record he had put some quality performances against the three Yokozuna and Goeido must be very careful tomorrow.

Fujiazuma and Kotoyuki are not fully recovered from their respective injuries. Fujiazuma is losing some very one-sided bouts. Wakakoyu and Tosayutaka heading back to makushita soon as expected, so is Yoshiazuma.

[r12477 2]

Was I the only one who thought Endo might have touched the dohyo with something other than the sole of his foot before forcing Kakuryu out ?

I thought this too on my first watch of the video, but with on replay was less convinced.

[Asashosakari 20,315]

Fujiazuma and Kotoyuki are not fully recovered from their respective injuries. Fujiazuma is losing some very one-sided bouts. Wakakoyu and Tosayutaka heading back to makushita soon as expected, so is Yoshiazuma.

It's not easy being a pusher-thruster whose timing is off due to lack of practice... And I'll see your Yoshiazuma and raise you one Daikiho - now there's a guy whose 15 minutes of fame seem to be running out just about now, and nobody even seems to care. Quite a fall from grace for this once-hyped hope.

Not that I'm complaining, looking at the makushita-joi I'd like to see 5 of the top 6 rikishi in juryo next time (everyone bar Tochihiryu), so the more demotions the merrier.

[Jakusotsu 6,410]

Not that I'm complaining, looking at the makushita-joi I'd like to see 5 of the top 6 rikishi in juryo next time (everyone bar Tochihiryu), so the more demotions the merrier.

Hey! I like Tochihiryu! (...if only for his bowl cut B-) )

[kuroimori 1,634]

After another weird Hakuho bout, I am not sure at all whether he

A is absolutely not genki yet

B tries the "how-little-effort-do-I-have-to-invest-and-still-win" strategy

C makes it look a closer contest than it actually is to please/tease the upset-hungry crowd

Hey, this is almost a Trivia question, so I add another option

D none of the above

[Tsubame 378]

It is B

He has nowadays more skilled competitors and he is older and his skills are "fading". So, just a normal way to keep on winning in such a new (and changing) situation.