Basho Talk - Hatsu Basho 2016 +++ Spoiler Alert! +++

[kumasama 28]

Toyonoshima's win is probably the most surprising victory in a big match that I can remember. I give him great credit for not slipping or just letting himself be driven straight backwards, despite knowing that almost everyone in the building (and in Honshu) was hoping for that result. (Toyonoshima seemed a bit sheepish during his post victory interview.)

To be honest, I wasn't surprised at all... There's the fact that Toyonoshima has had Kotoshogiku's number for the past two years, but he's also well-equipped to withstand Kotoshigiku's attack. Kotoshogiku's game is getting under his opponents at the tachiai then using his arms to stand them up and corral them so they can get out of the way of his bumpety attack. Hakuho and Harumafuji lost at the tachiai--they had no time or leverage to turn the tables once they were upright. Toyonoshima kept his center of gravity low on the initial impact, so he could still move to the side while Kotoshogiku was regrouping.

I think these last three bouts are a bigger test for Kotoshogiku than the Yokozunas. If he lost to any of them... well, they're Yokozunas, they're supposed to win. But these last three bouts are (edit: bouts Giku is supposed to win) against opponents who have the advantage in the head-to-head numbers overall (Goeido (hapless as he may be at the moment) and Tochiozan) or recently (Toyonoshima), with the added weight of all the Japanese yusho hopes.... I'm quite nervous to see how he comes out today.

Edited January 23, 2016 by kumasama

[Kuroyama 715]

I still really hope that Kotoshogiku wins the basho...

So do I, but he's most likely going to have to beat Hakuho once more to pull it off.

[Treblemaker 254]

Before I/we forget, a hearty THANK YOU to Moti for all the work he does on the videos, supplying most of us with the opportunity to watch this incredible basho. May your G-string never go flat. (He knows what I mean. You there, with the nasty thoughts... out!)

[shimodahito 291]

kumasama,

WELCOME! what a great first post. I agree. these last matches will be a bigger koto test than the yoks.... mental stability -- does he have it?

[kumasama 28]

kumasama,

WELCOME! what a great first post. I agree. these last matches will be a bigger koto test than the yoks.... mental stability -- does he have it?

Thanks! Actually, I posted here very occasionally, years ago under a different name, which I have totally forgotten, but haven't been following sumo closely for a while. I didn't expect Kotoshogiku to get me excited about it again, but here's hoping! UBS is on, fingers are crossed...

[kuroimori 1,634]

So Kotoshogiku faces Goeido tomorrow and Toyonoshima gets Tochiozan.

Needs to be confirmed as I heard the NHK through the Mongolian UBS commentators talking.

[wuli 67]

It has nothing to with sensibilities. I am just tired of hearing the same bullshit all the time. Sorry.

so, at an open forum, what doesn't suit me, i proclaim as bullshit, and cry to mods to remove it from my view?

or just panda is the official designator of bullshit?

maybe we can have actual considerations and conversations here

i think an open forum means something like that

of course every posting won't please every member

in that case, one can just move along

if we damn, deny, shout down and chase out each view that doesn't suit someone, it won't result in a forum where we can actually learn

sad to say, there is a crowd amongst us doing just that; i'm glad to observe that the majority of members show great tolerance here

I have said nothing about shutting discussions down. I suggested a dedicated thread for your delusions. Thanks for the lecture anyway. It was impressively dull. The problem here is that you don't appear to realise that I have heard the same things from people like you a million times and I have gone through all the arguments a million times too. We all have. There is nothing wrong with that as such, but it gets very tiresome to hear snidey declarations of fixing every time the script is rewritten by people who don't have a clue what they're talking about. That is not 'open discussion'. It is bullshit.

Now as the mods haven't responded to my suggestion and as I have no interest in wasting time and energy on a flame war, I will just have to settle for blocking you personally...and henceforth anyone else who pretends to know when a bout or yusho race is fixed. And THAT really is a shame because that means I will miss out on any useful comments made by those same people.

ok

clear enough- no discussion wanted

good luck with your bullshit

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

So Kotoshogiku faces Goeido tomorrow and Toyonoshima gets Tochiozan.

Needs to be confirmed as I heard the NHK through the Mongolian UBS commentators talking.

Confirmed watching Japanese NHK broadcast.

Kyokai has the matchups on their website:

http://www.sumo.or.jp/en/honbasho/main/torikumi?day=15&rank=1

Edited January 23, 2016 by WAKATAKE

[Asashosakari 18,786]

If only Chiyonokuni hadn't won today...

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

Practically nobody is going to get to come up to Juryo next basho except for one.

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

Tochinoshin got shanked. I would have called a torinaoshi. Aminishiki's foot was out the same time as Tochinoshin's.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Tochinoshin will not be amused being sashichigaed by Isegahama shimpan-cho (in favor of his rikishi Aminishiki)

That wasn't even a half-assed utchari and in the replay Aminishiki's left heel seems touching the sand almost the same time as Tochinoshin's left foot touched the ground.

At least a tori-naoshi would have been fair.

[kuroimori 1,634]

And Toyonoshima remains in the race in a close tawara tango affair.

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

Giku regains the lead temporarily. Win or lose tomorrow, this is his best record in his career.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Kotoshogiku got the back-stretch right, kept his nerves in check and escorted Tochiozan out with ease and will enter Senshuraku with a 13-1 score facing Goeido while Hakuho at 12-1 still has to fight Kise today and Harumafuji tomorrow.

Talking about a silver platter for the Geek.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Isegahama oyakata shouldn't overdo it calling mono-ii left right and center.

Now he wants to save yet another of his kids Takarafuji by mage hansoku.

That's just outrageous!

[rhyen 1,809]

2 decisions from Isegahama shimpan that will probably enraged the viewers (that benefitted Aminishiki & Takarafuji).

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

Isegahama 2 for 2 in making sure his rikishi won by way of mono-ii. Talk about conflict of interest. Next thing you know Harumafuji is going to get something too.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Isegahama oyakata shouldn't overdo it calling mono-ii left right and center.

Now he wants to save yet another of his kids Takarafuji by mage hansoku.

That's just outrageous!

And they called hansoku loss for Goeido for alleged hair pull.

How the hell could the other shimpan agree with that?

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

Absolute shenanigans today from Isegahama. Is he drunk?? This basho has been outrageous for judging decisions.

[Akinomaki 39,771]

Don't forget the real and dangerous conspiracy going on this basho:

the Izutsu conspiracy to change sumo rules.

He overdid it and was found out, but he managed to also deny Aminishiki a mono-ii - would Kotoshogiku have been tricked and have lost in a tori-naoshi? No (sole) lead then anyway.

And now an Isegahama conspiracy?

Do we need a Theory Discussions subforum?

Edited January 23, 2016 by Akinomaki

[kuroimori 1,634]

Well, he couldn't do anything for Ama...

What a jerk!

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Well, he couldn't do anything for Ama...

What a jerk!

And breathe...

[kuroimori 1,634]

Well, he couldn't do anything for Ama...What a jerk!

And breathe...

Thanks, that really helped.

[Ganzohnesushi 507]

Who was that guy on the West side in the last Bout today? That was definitely not Hakuho....

Ganzohnesushi