Basho Talk - Hatsu Basho 2017 ** (SPOILERS)

[gijo 27]

Mitakeumi vs Shodai will be a classic in the future I guess... 

It's the "change of the guard" basho for me. It's just the beginning... 

[Benevolance 2,302]

Poor old Geek. I just checked his record and he hasn't had 10 or more wins very often at all, has he? 

It all depends on how you frame it. Kotoshogiku is a perennial sekiwake/komusubi talent that overcame all odds through sheer force of determination to reach the rank of Ozeki. Despite being forced to wrestle far above his actual level, he's fought tenaciously for years and ultimately broke the decade long japanese yusho drought, easing the burden for a new generation of young rikishi moving forward. When he does finally retire, he will retire having won a yusho and a long - though perhaps not highly distinguished - ozeki career. 

[bettega 378]

10 minutes ago, Benevolance said:

 

 

It all depends on how you frame it. Kotoshogiku is a perennial sekiwake/komusubi talent that overcame all odds through sheer force of determination to reach the rank of Ozeki. Despite being forced to wrestle far above his actual level, he's fought tenaciously for years and ultimately broke the decade long japanese yusho drought, easing the burden for a new generation of young rikishi moving forward. When he does finally retire, he will retire having won a yusho and a long - though perhaps not highly distinguished - ozeki career. 

Thanks for sharing your point of view. It's refreshing to read, very human and thoughtful, even touching. So much negativity in some posts

Thank you! :D

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,064]

I would say Kotoshogikus Ozeki effort is pretty distinguished. He kept his rank through the era of zensho yusho and has nearly a .500 record against all the top guys except Hakuho. 

Yeah his style is predictable and not flexible but if that's such a weak point why couldn't any of those guys figure it out and beat him consistently? 

[RabidJohn 1,274]

I like Geek! Always have. I was thrilled when he got his yusho last January, and would be thrilled if he got the requisite 10 wins at sekewake next time, but it's quite unlikely. I will miss him when he's gone - and that's gonna happen fairly soon. As for his career, that yusho portrait will hang in the Kokugikan for another 9 years yet and the record is permanent. What he should do to put a perfect finishing touch to his legacy is announce his intai immediately after the basho.

[Atenzan 1,074]

At this point I wonder what the odds are on Kakuryuu pulling a Wakanohana and going 7-8.

Edited January 17, 2017 by McBugger

[Asashosakari 16,989]

15 hours ago, Rocks said:

Kitataiki  just committed the most blatant hair pull ever. Asahisho actually pointed at his head at the end to make sure they saw it. They did. DQ for Kitataiki. Also, MK for Kita.

Considering Kitataiki's loss the previous day was pretty non-standard as well, I wonder what he'll come up with tomorrow.

[Benevolance 2,302]

The third loss will be a dropped mawashi. 

[Dapeng 231]

4 hours ago, Rocks said:

You never know. He could get 10 wins in March. There's a good chance both Kakuryu and Harumafuji go kyujo for March. And as Sekiwake he'll have more bouts against lower rankers I think.  Giku might squeak out a 10 win in March. 

Ever since I began to watch sumo in 1989, only Tochiazuma did it and did it twice. 

[Frakazu 22]

5 minutes ago, Dapeng said:

Ever since I began to watch sumo in 1989, only Tochiazuma did it and did it twice. 

I remember also Takanonami. Demoted in 2000-1, he got 10-5 . But he definitely lost the ozeki title in 2000-5

[Kishinoyama 513]

11 minutes ago, Dapeng said:

Ever since I began to watch sumo in 1989, only Tochiazuma did it and did it twice. 

 

1 minute ago, Frakazu said:

I remember also Takanonami. Demoted in 2000-1, he got 10-5 . But he definitely lost the ozeki title in 2000-5

I was just about to say that!

Musoyama also did it in 2000 Aki. 

[Frakazu 22]

2 minutes ago, Kishinoyama said:

Musoyama also did it in 2000 Aki. 

Indeed.

Just five ozeki did it.

                          Date    Rank    Record    Date        Rank    Record    Date        Rank   Record
Mienoumi        1976.05    O2e    2-8-5    1976.07    S2w    10-5         1976.09    O2e    9-6
Takanonami    1999.11    O2e    6-9        2000.01    S2w    10-5         2000.03    O2e    7-8
Musoyama      2000.07    O2w    4-11      2000.09    S1w    10-5        2000.11    O3w    9-6
Tochiazuma     2004.05    O2w    0-0-15  2004.07    S2w    10-5        2004.09    O2w    2-2-11
Tochiazuma     2004.11    O2w    3-3-9    2005.01    S2w    11-4 J      2005.03    O2w    10-5

 

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=3&n_basho=3&form1_rank=o&form1_year=1958-2017&form1_m=on&form2_rank=s&form2_m=on&form3_rank=o&form3_m=on

[Bumpkin 438]

I remember Mienoumi.  I thought I also remembered Kaiketsu doing it once or maybe twice.  Nevermind. You're talking about immediate re-promotion back to Ozeki.

Edited January 17, 2017 by Bumpkin

[hamcornheinz 839]

Mitakeumi and Ikioi avoid touching the belt almost all the time, but don't really push-and-thrust, or at least don't actively seek it. A strange middle ground, where evidently Shodai and Hakuho don't want to be. 

[Morty 1,426]

3 hours ago, Benevolance said:

 

 

It all depends on how you frame it. Kotoshogiku is a perennial sekiwake/komusubi talent that overcame all odds through sheer force of determination to reach the rank of Ozeki. Despite being forced to wrestle far above his actual level, he's fought tenaciously for years and ultimately broke the decade long japanese yusho drought, easing the burden for a new generation of young rikishi moving forward. When he does finally retire, he will retire having won a yusho and a long - though perhaps not highly distinguished - ozeki career. 

The Geek has been one of my favourites for a long time. As a rikishi he doesn't have the natural talent of some of his contemporaries but he has refined a particular method that works for him and then managed to squeeze everything possible out of that method to make Ozeki and win a yusho. And as we saw against Kise the other day, if you try and combat that method directly and beat him at his own game you inevitably lose. The change seems to be that he has become more susceptible to throws than he was previously. He has always had an issue with his opponents rolling him sideways, but he seems to have lost the capacity to counter that sideways movement as he has done in the past.

I would also suggest that his Ozeki record would have been better had he been healthy throughout his time at that rank. Half the time he has been swathed in bandages and tape and most of his MKs as an Ozeki have been when he has competed carrying injuries.

And he seems to be a really nice guy as well. I don't expect him to come back and win ten next basho and I suspect he will intai sooner rather than later. And I will miss him when he is gone. One of my absolute favourites.

[Highway 46]

- Has Osunaarashi lost a fair bit of mojo due to his weight loss? Doesn't have nearly as much confidence or aggression as he had before.

- Yeah, Kaisei and Aoiyama have found their level more or less. Will overwhelm you if you're not ready for them, but are pretty helpless against some intelligent sumo.

- I really hope Kisenosato has pull this basho off. The path is paved for him, many times in the past too yeah, but every dog needs to have his day eventually.

- Giku's last stand tomorrow? Though I can see him beating Kakury, the latter isn't in form either. Hope Giku can power up that train again.

 

[rhyen 1,622]

Ghiku survives another day, thanks to Kakuryu. 

[Fukurou 534]

Things have just gotten interesting in the Jonokuchi Yusho race.

[Bumpkin 438]

Maeta is now 5-1. Seven Jonokuchi wrestlers are currently 4-1. That means there will be four or five wrestlers at 5-1. Two or three will finish at 6-1. Play-off!

Edited January 18, 2017 by Bumpkin

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

On 1/13/2017 at 20:28, ScottyJoyJrBebe said:

Day 13...very anti-climatic....but...the day is young ;)

And now we get what we wanted, Hakuho vs Kisenosato as the Musubi No Ichiban on Senshuraku. What a way to start the year.

[808morgan 793]

Come on Kisenosato, this is your chance! Kak just went kyujo, Ama is out, Hak is behind, even the geek is having a bad time of it. If not now, when!? Rant over.

[Sakura 1,295]

Why Hakuho vs Tochiozan? I know he's next up on the banzuke but could we not get someone in the yusho race like Ichinojo instead?

[robnplunder 949]

Gee, how many times can Ura get away with a loss (or at least a monoii call) in this basho?   Are shimpans turning a blind eye on Ura?   He could have been easily 5-6 instead of 8-3.   I like Ura but he wasn't as good as his record of 8-3 indicates.   To shimpan's credit, they called one monoii, gave it a restart, and Ura ended up losing.   If that monoii wasn't called, he'd be unjustifiable 9-2.  

[Rocks 1,750]

2 hours ago, ScottyJoyJrBebe said:

And now we get what we wanted, Hakuho vs Kisenosato as the Musubi No Ichiban on Senshuraku. What a way to start the year.

I have a feeling the yusho will be decided by then.

[Rocks 1,750]

Ichinojo is looking real good.Still a little slow but he is moving nice and freely. I see no indications of pain.

Edited January 18, 2017 by Rocks