BASHO TALK -- Natsu 2017 -- SPOILERS

[Benevolance 2,478]

Is there a special name or phrase for that situation?

Indecision. Or, in Japanese, "INDECISION-DESU"

[Sakura 1,472]

2 hours ago, Gurowake said:

Well, the binomial distribution with p = .5 would actually favor far more 5-2 and 2-5s:

       Chance        *28
7    0.0078125    0.21875
6    0.0546875    1.53125
5    0.1640625    4.59375
4    0.2734375    7.65625
3    0.2734375    7.65625
2    0.1640625    4.59375
1    0.0546875    1.53125
0    0.0078125    0.21875

So they are actually far more bunched up then they would be on average, keeping in mind that any actual differences in skill between them would tend to produce more extreme records.

I should know better than to make silly comments on a site full of geeks.

Of course, the binomial coefficient makes more sense since you can view each bout as a coin toss (I would argue that the coin toss can become more weighted in Maukuuchi).

I did note that the number of 4-3s and 3-4s seemed a bit higher than I would expect, hence my throwaway (and inaccurate) comment about the normal distribution.

[d_golem 213]

57 minutes ago, Frakazu said:

Is there a special name or phrase for that situation?

In pro wrestling that's called "forgetting the script".

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

1 hour ago, Asashosakari said:

That's some mighty dose of armchair psychology. What makes you think you know what "the ideal moment to retire" is, and what makes you believe that a rikishi deviating from your idea somehow must be delusional about his career prospects?

I see this a lot, and not only with regard to rikishi retirement. ;)

[Amamaniac 2,078]

3 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

You don't actually believe that shisho force rikishi to fight on rather than intai, do you?

Of course not.  What inspired me to make the comment is that Kotoshogiku had told the press (earlier this year) that his shisho had advised him to keep competing rather than retire.  Sometimes athletes need a push so that they don't give up when things go bad.

[Rocks 1,807]

2 hours ago, Frakazu said:

In the match between Kisenosato and Mitakeumi, both sekitori remained almost frozen in the center of dohyô; studying each other and waiting the best moment to atack.

Is there a special name or phrase for that situation?

Yes, it's called "Tired as hell."

[Tiger Tanaka 222]

Mitakeumi has gained much experience through the first week of this basho. In his four losses, each were by different means and great efforts in each. In a couple of the cases, experience was much the reason he lost as he had advantageous positioning due to his strength and agility before losing the advantage.

He's got the skillset and is now learning his craft going against the upper divisions these past few basho. Hoping that he can take his game to the next level over the next year or two and become one of the next ozekis.

[Ack! 433]

2 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

That's some mighty dose of armchair psychology. What makes you think you know what "the ideal moment to retire" is, and what makes you believe that a rikishi deviating from your idea somehow must be delusional about his career prospects?

Agreed!  Having retired once myself, and also not necessarily at the time of my own choosing, it's a big deal!  I don't understand the fans in all sports who feel retiring while still on top is best, other than for their own hero-worship.  Fight on!  Gambarize until all hope and desire is gone, and especially until your future oyakata situation is well established.

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

12 minutes ago, Ack! said:

Agreed!  Having retired once myself, and also not necessarily at the time of my own choosing, it's a big deal!  I don't understand the fans in all sports who feel retiring while still on top is best, other than for their own hero-worship.  Fight on!  Gambarize until all hope and desire is gone, and especially until your future oyakata situation is well established.

Exactly!

By the way, Ack!  I just saw your profile pic and you are the SPITTING IMAGE of a mate of mine.  You could be twins!  And Baruto is looking a bit shifty there!  Nice pic!

[Ack! 433]

3 minutes ago, Pandaazuma said:

Exactly!

By the way, Ack!  I just saw your profile pic and you are the SPITTING IMAGE of a mate of mine.  You could be twins!  And Baruto is looking a bit shifty there!  Nice pic!

Baruto is about to go dashing on his way to be in line for the ring entering ceremony, as my photo op was making him just a bit tardy.  I've been told I have several dopplegangers in other parts of the world.  I had the chance to meet one once, but it wasn't that close of a resemblance.

[Onibushou 61]

Following demotion, Kotooshu went 8-7, 1-9 and retired. Konishiki went 2-13... then spent another 23 basho (none higher than M3) before hanging it up.

I see nothing wrong with either decision, if that's what they want.

[Gurowake 3,922]

Didn't Kotooshu say that he stayed as long as he did with such a bad record to get one last fight with Hakuho?

Kotoshogiku faces Hakuho on Day 8 with the same number of wins Kotooshu had, but it's 2 days earlier.

[dada78641 884]

I always love seeing Hakuho versus Geek, because their record is 50-5 now. I'm just curious how someone mentally prepares for a match like that.

[ScreechingOwl 343]

I too suspect today's bout with Hakuho might be Kotoshogiku's final one. A loss will leave him one loss away from make koshi, which is assured the way he has been wrestling this basho. He's only 33, but his power seems gone, most likely decreased by the accumulated wear-and-tear of injuries. It's difficult to see him carrying on after this basho, and an almost certain demotion to the maegashira ranks, but time will tell.

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

A nice sidestep by Ura gives him the win against Onosho today, getting him to 6-2. Get enough wins and he could be looking at a sansho.

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

After struggling a bit, a slap from Takekaze was all it took to take down the giant Ichinojo!

[fwuzzle23 66]

Jeez, Okinoumi just got bulldozed right out of the ring there...

[Adil 232]

After such a crushing victory, I am starting to believe that Terunofuji has recovered completely from his injuries, unless he is chock-full of painkellers. Unbelievable power! I bet nobody else on the banzuke can do that: lifting a guy that heavy with a kime grip. He is so confident about the strength of his kme grip that he doesn't give a tosh if his opponent gets morozashi. In fact, his opponent getting a morozashi against him is more of an advantage for Terunofoji because that gives him the chance to employ that insane kime grip. For a moment, I was telling myself that this kind of kime lifting can't be good for his fingers because of the way he locks them together, but then I told myself to just shut up and drink in the beauty of a technique that I will be seeing very, very rarely (if ever).

Edited May 21, 2017 by Adil

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

First 8-0 start for Hakuho since Natsu 2016, the last time he won the yusho.

First 8-0 start for Harumafuji since Haru 2014.

[kumoryu 88]

5 hours ago, ScreechingOwl said:

I too suspect today's bout with Hakuho might be Kotoshogiku's final one. A loss will leave him one loss away from make koshi, which is assured the way he has been wrestling this basho. He's only 33, but his power seems gone, most likely decreased by the accumulated wear-and-tear of injuries. It's difficult to see him carrying on after this basho, and an almost certain demotion to the maegashira ranks, but time will tell.

I'd expect him to be more focused on one last bout against his old pal and rival, Kisenosato -- I'm assuming that will be on Day 10.

[ScreechingOwl 343]

57 minutes ago, WAKATAKE said:

First 8-0 start for Hakuho since Natsu 2016, the last time he won the yusho.

First 8-0 start for Harumafuji since Haru 2014.

Haru 2014 is also the last time Hakuho and Harumafuji simultaneously got off to 8-0 starts.

It was an impressive display of power by Terunofuji, but his use of the kime grip so often seems to be lazy/bad sumo to me. He should be getting a grip on the mawashi.

Goeido's sumo was so poor that it's almost beyond words. He should easily be able to defeat Endo going forward, but instead he pulls, almost loses, and then, two feet from the edge of the dohyo, decides to pull again. He's just an awful ozeki - I think the worst since Miyabiyama. I hope he can't pull out eight wins this time and loses the rank. (Although that's not going to happen.)

Takayasu, on the other hand, continues to impress on his way to ozeki promotion.

[Chijanofuji 110]

1 hour ago, WAKATAKE said:

First 8-0 start for Hakuho since Natsu 2016, the last time he won the yusho.

I'd go even further than that...

In his entire 13-year career in Makuuchi there has been only one occasion in which Hakuho did not at least get a Jun-Yusho after starting 8-0!

That one time was his debut basho as a Yokozuna (Nagoya 2007) when he finished 11-4 after a 9-0 start...

FWIW - My current opinion is that this is Harumafuji's basho to lose. He is winning far more convincingly than Hakuho.

Hakuho (like Terunofuji) does appear (to me at least) to be gaining more confidence with every win though...

[Morty 1,480]

Great catch by Aioyama there while waiting for his bout

[dada78641 884]

Greetings from a 喫茶店. Nothing quite beats watching sumo on TV in Japan. Not to mention right next to Ryogoku...

[rhyen 1,809]

28 minutes ago, dada78641 said:

Greetings from a 喫茶店. Nothing quite beats watching sumo on TV in Japan. Not to mention right next to Ryogoku...

Will we meet you in the kokugikan, one of these days?