Basho Talk Natsu 2018 (SPOILERS)

[Eikokurai 3,437]

I know Tochinoshin and Ichinojo often slug it out for ages, but today’s bout surprised me. Ichinojo looked a lot more comfortable than he has in recent days and, dare I say, was even in charge at times. Was that an attempted tsuridashi? Well done Tochinoshin on seeing it through, though there was no need to fondle his left tit at the end. There are boundaries.

Goeido loses again. I think he and Tochinoshin should just swap places on the banzuke.

Brave effort from Yutakayama but not sure the two-handed throttle attempt was the way to go. First man to makekoshi. The roughest of several rough weeks since he reached Makuuchi.

[since_94 650]

Takakeisho rally beat up on Yoshikaze today. I felt it over here. Wouldn’t surprise me if his face was six shades of purple tomorrow. He will lead with it anyway, whatever color it is

[Yubinhaad 11,591]

Nice to see Myogiryu doing well and seemingly feeling confident physically too - I notice he has no wrapping on his right foot/ankle for the first time in at least a year.

Edited May 20, 2018 by Yubinhaad

[YoungSumo 93]

That Tochinoshin - Ichinojo bout was intense. I'm really excited for Tochinoshin's matches against Kakuryu and Hakuho, they should be great and the deciders for the yusho.

[Rocks 1,807]

There is nothing wrong with Ichinojo's back, at least this basho. Nobody with a bad back is going to lift Tochinoshin 3 times and still have enough in the tank to resist Tochinoshin at the edge for as long as he did. Ichinojo's problem this basho is lack of planning. But that was no issue in this match as Tochinoshin is happy to give you almost any grip on the belt you want and Ichinojo got his. Unluckily for Ichinojo Tochinoshin is the one guy strong enough to take all of Ichinojo's strength and bulk and still come out on top. Great match.  But it took everything out of Tochinoshin. He better get a quick grip on Daieisho tomorrow or he could have an issue.

Giku - Abi was a foregone conclusion. I don't know how long Giku will hang around but Abi will not have a good record against him. Giku is too good at grabbing and holding for the tsuppari guys to do their thing much against him. To beat Giku you need to either out push him or take his thrusts and turn him.

Good to see Hokotofuji look strong. Takakeisho looked vicious too. I wonder how much having Takanohano sitting right these had to do with that? Myogiryu is very surprising this basho. He's looking good. 

 

[Fukurou 534]

Loved Tochinoshin-Ichinojo - perseverance in the face of long odds. One of the English commentators on NHK World had a great explanation about why Kotoshogiku defeated Abi. It was that Abi hit him hard but however hard it was it just wasn't hard enough. Apparently you really have to smack Kotoshogiku for him to even have a reaction. 

So what is the problem with Hakuho. Is he still injured, finally getting old, not enough training, still ticked at the NSK, other?

[d_golem 213]

Wow Tochi-Ichi....I was almost as out of breath as Tochi was at the end of the bout! Was ooh-and-aahing and banging the table so hard watching the recap my wife was giving me dirty looks.

[Dwale 419]

Lots of really fun matches today. Ikioi is looking cool as hell.

I have to wonder, though. Chiyomaru doesn't have a chin, so what was Okinoumi pushing against? 

[orandashoho 720]

33 minutes ago, Dwale said:

I have to wonder, though. Chiyomaru doesn't have a chin, so what was Okinoumi pushing against? 

What do yoy mean, Chiyomaru has no chin? He has at least three.

[Dwale 419]

24 minutes ago, orandashoho said:

What do yoy mean, Chiyomaru has no chin? He has at least three.

I thought those were wattles.

[WAKATAKE 2,644]

Some great sumo today, Ikioi, Geek, Takakeisho, but the match of the day belongs to Tochinoshin and Ichinojo, with the former having to move a mountain. Goeido is in trouble, he hasn’t even faced Tochinoshin and the Yokozuna yet.

[maorencze 144]

2 hours ago, Fukurou said:

So what is the problem with Hakuho. Is he still injured, finally getting old, not enough training, still ticked at the NSK, other?

Many people pondering the same question - how so? It seems quite simple, his father died suddenly in midst of preparations and that's not a thing anyone who has anything close to good relationship with his or her parents can let slide in several short weeks. The pain of loss still too new, coupled with all the recent problems, that's just too much for anyone to handle better than Hak did recently.

[Rocks 1,807]

1 hour ago, Dwale said:

I thought those were wattles.

I thought that was just his upper stomach.

[Tsubame 359]

Will Terunofuji continue when getting demoted to makushita or not?

[robnplunder 975]

7 hours ago, since_94 said:

Takakeisho rally beat up on Yoshikaze today. I felt it over here. Wouldn’t surprise me if his face was six shades of purple tomorrow. He will lead with it anyway, whatever color it is

Takakeisho, with short arm span and all, has been slapping like a mad man in this basho.   What goes around will come around.  Once he gets a reputation as a slapper, guys with longer reach can fight fire with fire and slap him silly.   But if it works for Takakeisho, so be it.   I am just saying.

As Kintamayama stated in an earlier post, Ichinojo may have injured his back again.   He did look better against Tochinoshin in the losing effort.   But Tochinoshin has been a man possessed to reach his Ozekihood and possibly gain another yusho.   So, losing to him wasn't a shame.  Will see how Ichinojo fares the rest of the basho.  

[Jabbamaru 166]

Tochi-Ichi yutsu; yay!

 

 

[Rocks 1,807]

2 hours ago, Tsubame said:

Will Terunofuji continue when getting demoted to makushita or not?

I have no idea. But I do think he will come back on Day 10 to try to get a few wins. If he can get 4 wins he should avoid demotion. 

[Konrad 3]

On 18.5.2018 at 21:11, Benihana said:

You get a bonus of 10 hoshokin-points, a yusho gives you 30. Not bad.

"The kinboshi bonus is one reason why the NSK strongly encourages a declining yokozuna to retire. Besides blemishing the yokozuna's "honor", losses accrue unwelcome, life-long payments for the Kyokai!"

http://www.lemondedusumo.com/english/MDS16_wages.php?mag=mds&num=16

Is there a calculus wizard who can demystify the incomes of some of the sekitori of the last years?

[Rocks 1,807]

Now they say Goeido is withdrawing. Tochinoshin looks like a shoe in for Ozeki now. If not flat out favorite for the Yusho. Speaking of the Yusho I'm thinking it will take at least 13 wins now and only the Yokozuna and Tochinoshin have a shot at it. 

[Kaninoyama 1,711]

13 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Now they say Goeido is withdrawing. Tochinoshin looks like a shoe in for Ozeki now. If not flat out favorite for the Yusho. Speaking of the Yusho I'm thinking it will take at least 13 wins now and only the Yokozuna and Tochinoshin have a shot at it. 

So that means both Ozeki, Takayasu and Goeido, will be kadoban next basho.

Edited May 21, 2018 by Kaninoyama
Grammar

[robnplunder 975]

41 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Now they say Goeido is withdrawing. Tochinoshin looks like a shoe in for Ozeki now. If not flat out favorite for the Yusho. Speaking of the Yusho I'm thinking it will take at least 13 wins now and only the Yokozuna and Tochinoshin have a shot at it. 

It's hard to pick which one will prevail, Hak, Kak, or Tochinoshin.   In Hak's heyday, it'd been no contest but Hak looks unfocused at times these days.   And why not?  He accomplished everything there is to ozumo.   Kak will have just as good a chance to get another yusho but I am hoping it is Tochinoshin who prevails just to balance things out.

Takayasu, Goeido kadoban?   That will make the next basho more interesting, especially, if Kisenosato comes back.   With 3 yokozuna healthy & Tochinoshin, KK will not be a sure thing for Ozekis returning from injury.

 

I am thinking, even I can do better than Hattorizakura.   Too bad that there is an age limit to get into sumo.   

 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

52 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Now they say Goeido is withdrawing. Tochinoshin looks like a shoe in for Ozeki now. If not flat out favorite for the Yusho. Speaking of the Yusho I'm thinking it will take at least 13 wins now and only the Yokozuna and Tochinoshin have a shot at it. 

Not a big surprise. He’s been poor and if he’s going to MK, he may as well get some rest doing it. 

[Benevolance 2,482]

My money is still on Hakuho for the yusho, but I cannot see how Tochinoshin doesn't make ozeki after this tournament. The only credible threats remaining to face are the yokozuna, and surely it's impossible to blow this? 

[d_golem 213]

20 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

I am thinking, even I can do better than Hattorizakura.   Too bad that there is an age limit to get into sumo.   

 

There's little to no point being a little bit better than the worst current active sumo wrestler around, no? Unless you're looking to live in Japan while not paying for meals and lodging. Mind you, I have a sneaky suspicion I would still lose to Hattorizakura in an arm-wrestle or amy strength contests....

[Yamanashi 3,772]

1 hour ago, Kaninoyama said:

So that means both Ozeki, Takayasu and Goeido, will be kadoban next basho.

So, two out of three?