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

[Akinomaki 39,526]

Lost the original message because of the genius who decided "backspace" should leave the page, but only sometimes.

But you can get it back mostly from the auto-saved content: with "More Reply Options" you get "View Auto Saved Content" below the message and can restore it.

[Dwale 419]

Lost the original message because of the genius who decided "backspace" should leave the page, but only sometimes.

But you can get it back mostly from the auto-saved content: with "More Reply Options" you get "View Auto Saved Content" below the message and can restore it.

Oh, that's helpful, thank you. Now to see if I can remember for more than 20 seconds or so.

Edited March 20, 2016 by Dwale

[ALAKTORN 346]

I forgot to quote him but whoever asked how Kotoshōgiku got so good a few pages back… he says he’s been doing special training.

To who else said that Hakuhō’s been fighting off the belt… good point. He was a monster belt technician but I feel like he hasn’t touched the belt once this whole tournament. I wonder if anything’s gonna happen to him after today’s extra throw. I highly doubt it but could he be forced to retire similar to how Asashōryū and that other yokozuna (I think) who assaulted people were (they did it off the dohyō though)?

[Dwale 419]

I forgot to quote him but whoever asked how Kotoshōgiku got so good a few pages back… he says he’s been doing special training.

To who else said that Hakuhō’s been fighting off the belt… good point. He was a monster belt technician but I feel like he hasn’t touched the belt once this whole tournament. I wonder if anything’s gonna happen to him after today’s extra throw. I highly doubt it but could he be forced to retire similar to how Asashōryū and that other yokozuna (I think) who assaulted people were (they did it off the dohyō though)?

I think if their disciplinary measures were effective, they would have curbed Hakuho long ago. I find it doubtful they'll force him to retire, though to be blunt, I think they would be justified in doing so.

[Fukurou 534]

Are we slowly watching Hak morph into Asashoryu in his later years? He's employed some pretty brutal tactics this basho during the matches, and then has acted like a spoilt child after them by trying to injure his opponent. Poor Tochiozan probably won't get much sleep tonight based on how Hak has messed around with him lately...

Do you really think this is something new with him? Have you forgotten the semi-recent basho when his first move was slam his forearm/elbow right into his opponent's jaw? I forget who it was that was out on his feet because of that move. (wasn't Hak thought to be injured when that was going on?)

I will also point out that Hakuho has been giving the extra shoves off the dohyo after the matter was decided for years. He was the golden boy when Asashoryu was around because the PTB's did not care for Asashoryu one bit, but Hakuho has never been a choirboy.

Edited March 20, 2016 by Fukurou

[Fukurou 534]

Lost the original message because of the genius who decided "backspace" should leave the page, but only sometimes.

But you can get it back mostly from the auto-saved content: with "More Reply Options" you get "View Auto Saved Content" below the message and can restore it.

Oh, that's helpful, thank you. Now to see if I can remember for more than 20 seconds or so.

I usually cancel out and start over

[Katooshu 3,079]

I worry about Giku's health against Hak......that man is a loose cannon out for blood (which he got plenty of from Yoshikaze).

Also, that was some incredible throw from Boody.

[rhyen 1,799]

Are we slowly watching Hak morph into Asashoryu in his later years? He's employed some pretty brutal tactics this basho during the matches, and then has acted like a spoilt child after them by trying to injure his opponent. Poor Tochiozan probably won't get much sleep tonight based on how Hak has messed around with him lately...

Do you really think this is something new with him? Have you forgotten the semi-recent basho when his first move was slam his forearm/elbow right into his opponent's jaw? I forget who it was that was out on his feet because of that move. (wasn't Hak thought to be injured when that was going on?)

Myogiryu?

[rhyen 1,799]

//I may not be able to do my color commentary reactions to all bouts today as I need to go and watch some other sport. I know heresy!//

Here goes day 8!

21: Yoshikaze vs Hakuho: Let the wind blow over you! Please Yoshikaze, beat him. Please! MULTIPLE CLASHES! BLOOD IS FLOWING! Hakuho smacks the shit out of Yoshikaze and throws his ass off the dohyo. They exhance looks of fury. They don't like each other for some reason, Hakuho takes his prize and is drenched in Yoshikaze's blood. THAT's ALL FOLKS!

And Hakuho manages to put Izutsu shimpan-Cho into an ambulance to the hospital after throwing Yoshikaze on top of him at the end of that bout. I think the Ozekis better concede the Yusho race to him ASAP before he injures anyone else.

Is the Izutsu the one who replaced Nishikido after Brody pushed his opposition on his stablemaster? I think Osunaarashi threw Endo on top of a shimpan too. Hakuho is out of the line with those extra shoves. Is there any reports what Izutsu damaged?

No, Izutsu is one of the three shimpan-cho (head of the referee panel, with Isegahama & Fujishima).

Foot injury, he had to be wheeled out.

[kuroimori 1,634]

nice double tori-naoshi in Juryo today.

In all three bouts, Asabenkei was the active rikishi, pushing Tenkaiho towards the tawara and out.

Finally, he was declared the winner - probably the shimpan were already out of breath from getting up and climbing the dohyo twice in a short time...

[Atenzan 1,074]

Are we slowly watching Hak morph into Asashoryu in his later years? He's employed some pretty brutal tactics this basho during the matches, and then has acted like a spoilt child after them by trying to injure his opponent. Poor Tochiozan probably won't get much sleep tonight based on how Hak has messed around with him lately...

Do you really think this is something new with him? Have you forgotten the semi-recent basho when his first move was slam his forearm/elbow right into his opponent's jaw? I forget who it was that was out on his feet because of that move. (wasn't Hak thought to be injured when that was going on?)

Myogiryu?

Right you are. A one-hit knockout, but Hak was quick enough to strike Myogiryu six times before he fell, count them. As disgraceful it was, it was also very impressive.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ohQlEMcs5w0

Edited March 20, 2016 by McBugger

[dingo 1,116]

Wow, Kisenosato is kachikoshi and leading the yusho race!

Cue breakdown in 3,2,1... :P

[orandashoho 720]

Isn't this just an example of a frustrated Hakuho forgetting himself in the heat of the fight and going for an over-the-top revenge?

[CT3* 331]

I think to some degree, the analysis of Hakuho's behavior is a bit overblown. Suggesting that he's purposefully seeking to injure opponents or should be forced to retire seem a bit much.

Speaking of Hakuho, he still seems to be avoiding the belt. I wonder if he'll change it up in the coming days.

Boody's throw of Endo was a thing of beauty! Looking forward to seeing him back in Makuuchi.

[Tsubame 355]

Isn't this just an example of a frustrated Hakuho forgetting himself in the heat of the fight and going for an over-the-top revenge?

My personal opinion on this?

This is just the normal Hakuho. He is not a good loser (I know it, because I am also a bad loser). As long as he is winning, you will never see that he is also a brutal bully.

The success of a sportsman make peoples (spectators) always blind on those eyes (in every sports!). The heros of sports do not have dark sides. As long as they are successful, you will seldom hear something evil. And if there maybe is something bad to say, the following success muffled all the discussion. And Hakuho was very lucky in this way: He was spared for years of injuries and real contendors/challengers. So his success overshines everything else.

But Hakuho is now clearly over his peak of performance. And now his bouts are more intense, he is not as dominat as before. And as his fights gets harder, he will show more often of his "evil" side. Or other said: people will now more clearly recognize it.

For me, Hakuhos (behaviour) is like (that of) Asashoryu. With the difference that Asashoryu could not pull him together offside the dohyo. And that Hakuho learnt that lesson. But in the end, both were the same kind of bullies.

[rzombie1988 157]

Almost forgot everything as soon as I watched it but I'll try to add some comments:

- Koto's win today was legit. I watched it a few times and thought it was legit.

- Kisenosato really needs a Hakuho loss. I think he can win the tournament if Hakuho goes to 2 losses before the Ozeki/Yokozuna matches. I expect Koto to rush him tomorrow and if it is a legit match, I think he can throw him. Kakuryu is not at his best in my opinion, Harumafuji is possibly out of the picture and there's no way Goeido goes under 3 losses.

- Terunofuji has hit a cold streak after looking like a contender early. He seems a bit tired or weak.

- Hakuho was my favorite wrestler for a while but I hate to see him abuse other wrestlers for no reason at all. Let's see how mighty he feels when his kids start watching him basically take cheap shots after the match someday and have questions. I don't think he will win the basho though. He is using a completely different style than usual which makes me think an injury is hurting his usual style.

- Was checking out Tochinoshin's match history and it's pretty consistent around the M2 level and above. He rarely gets more than 2-3 wins in the first week. I seriously hope a coach can assist his weakpoints. I don't think he's getting the KK with no losses to give.

- Ichinojo is back to his usual ways again with his passiveness. He should be able to get the KK though.

- Aoiyama literally had the win and then gave up the slaps. He has no belt technique at all so he basically gave it up when he went in.

- Big credit to Sokokurai for hanging in there today. I don't know if he would have had the same luck vs Hakuho but that was not a bad loss at all. Like Amuuru, I think he's too small and doesn't really have the style to make it much further than Maegashira.

- A total shame that Osunaarashi is down in Juryo this basho. Yes he is against weaker competition, but I've never seen him look so good.

Excited for tommorow. Kise/Koto is potentially the championship match. Will the OBSC(Ozeki Back Scratchers Club) come together? Hoping Ikioi can pull off an upset.

Edited March 20, 2016 by rzombie1988

[mikawa 1,794]

Might as well be a trivia topic:

Did we just see the first Chinese vs. Yokozuna matchup today, when Sokokurai tried hard and just ended up short in his effort to get the first ever Chinese kinboshi?

Sokokurai is not a chinese. He is a Mongolian.

Inner Mongolia, which is part of China, so yeah, first time a Chinese rikishi ever faced a Yokozuna

[mikawa 1,794]

Looks like the Jonidan Yusho this time around will be a straight shootout between Kotokamatani and Masunoyama, both have moved onto 4-0

[Masumasumasu 902]

I was wrong about Hakuho. He is not a bully. He is a kind-hearted gentleman who wouldn't hurt a fly. A person? Perhaps.

[Kuroyama 715]

Inner Mongolia, which is part of China, so yeah, first time a Chinese rikishi ever faced a Yokozuna

With China especially, since it's been a multi-ethnic empire for many centuries, nationality and ethnicity are not always the same thing. Strictly speaking, there is no one "Chinese" ethnicity, only a majority ethnicity (Han) and a patchwork of many others, Mongols included. Insisting it must be either/or isn't useful.

[Kuroyama 715]

Now that Hakuho's behavior has resulted in an injury to an oyakata -- and it was directly the result of the extra shove; there was no way after that for Yoshikaze to control his fall any better than he did -- someone will give him a bit of a talking-to?

[Fukurou 534]

Now that Hakuho's behavior has resulted in an injury to an oyakata -- and it was directly the result of the extra shove; there was no way after that for Yoshikaze to control his fall any better than he did -- someone will give him a bit of a talking-to?

They have in the past, or so they'd said.

[808morgan 805]

[CT3* 331]

He's been summoned before. And methinks he'll be summoned and spoken to over this.

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

He's been summoned before. And methinks he'll be summoned and spoken to over this.

He won't! Hakuho certainly doesn't look to be in the best of moods but that push on Yoshikaze was just part of the fight. Of course we can see easily on replays and gifs and the like that Hakuho is a monster because Yoshikaze's foot was out, but the man himself was just making an instinctive and split-second move to finish a bout against a very slippery customer.