Basho Talk Natsu 2018 (SPOILERS)

[Rocks 1,807]

28 minutes ago, lackmaker said:

I will be interested to see if Hakuho comes with a different plan next time they meet. He will for sure be looking for revenge having failed in a straight up battle of strength.

I doubt it. It wasn't like Tochinoshin blew him away. Even as good as Tochinoshin has been this basho if Hakuho was a little sharper mentally and physically he could easily have won.

Edited May 24, 2018 by Rocks

[lackmaker 434]

35 minutes ago, Rocks said:

I doubt it. It wasn't like Tochinoshin blew him away. Even as good as Tochinoshin has been this basho if Hakuho was a little sharper mentally and physically he could easily have won.

That's true and he might want to show he still can do it. But he might like, or need to display his greater range of skills than Tochinoshin.

[WAKATAKE 2,644]

All I can say is wow. Hak knew he had a challenge coming, but a great comparison of this is in amateur wrestling world. Examples Rulon Gardner beating Alexander Karellin or Helen Maroulis beating Saori Yoshida for Olympic gold.

As my wrestling coach would say you can lose 1000 times to the same opponent but it’s that one you beat them at the end that matters.

Great match by the Geek, smarts and balance helped him out a lot this day.

[Rocks 1,807]

Great job by Giku.  He  won that match by out pushing Ichinojo. He did well to resist the push down/throw but it was a lame attempt by Ichinojo who could feel he would not be able to resist the bumpity-bump much longer.

 

I have to say I respect Ryuden's fighting to the bitter end, even at 2-9. But even Hakuho knew when it was time to step out. He could have hurt himself and Sadanoumi and Sadanoumi still has a shot at KK.  The guys that hang around a long time  know how to lose as much as how to win. Ryuden needs to learn that.

[ALAKTORN 346]

Wow, Tochinoshin. Amazing bout, I’m glad Hakuhō went for the belt. Would be wonderful if he can zenshō. I just hope he’s not juicing, as that would take away everything from the run.

And to think he was supposedly injured coming into the basho… he just looks stronger than ever. I can see him make yokozuna in 2 more basho.

[Hakuyobaku 33]

3 minutes ago, ALAKTORN said:

I just hope he’s not juicing, as that would take away everything from the run.

 

Of course he is. Just like most of top dogs. Between having no operational diping control, NSK not being a WADA signatory and it being a power sport there's every incentive to. 

 

In fact, i would argue hes just genetically more responsive to whatever steroids..

Edited May 24, 2018 by Hakuyobaku

[ALAKTORN 346]

1 minute ago, Hakuyobaku said:

Of course he is.. Theres no operational doping control in Ozumo and NSK is not a WADA signatory. Why would you nit juice in a power spoet like this?

I wish they’d test him so we’d know. Personally I have nothing against juicing, it improves the level of competition and gives us better bouts to watch, but my problem is when someone juices and beats someone who isn’t. That’s unfair.

[Kintamayama 44,639]

17 minutes ago, Hakuyobaku said:

Of course he is.

No he isn't.

[rhyen 1,823]

No wonder Tochinoshin wants to break into the Ozeki ranks.

 

Spoiler

More available at the link below.

 

 

[lackmaker 434]

25 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

No he isn't.

Do tell.

[Kintamayama 44,639]

22 minutes ago, lackmaker said:

Do tell.

What’s there to tell? I know EXACTLY what he knows - nothing - so our speculations are just that - speculations..

[Jyuunomori 226]

Tochinoshin is getting a nice send off to Ozekiship as well. Shukun-sho (which is his third in a row ) is all but a given.

The question remains will they just give him Gino-sho and Kanto-sho to go along with it? May as well give him all three because he is showing ALL the qualities atm.

Would not be surprised if he became 

Edited May 24, 2018 by Jyuunomori

[Rocks 1,807]

I know nothing either but as a guess I would think steroids are not in wide or common use in  professional sumo. Given their diet and steroids ill effects on glucose levels and insulin resistance it's just too deadly a game to play in sumo. I wouldn't doubt there is some limited use related to treating injuries but not just for bulking up, etc.

[Dwale 419]

Hakuho thought to wear Tochinoshin down. Take him into deep water, weaken him, then rush in for the kill. He sometimes does that with opponents who are very strong, but less technically-accomplished than he is. That was a tactical error in this case, however. I think he wanted to prove he could go chest-to-chest and still come out on top. 

[Yamanashi 3,772]

Tochinoshin has looked more and more intense the last year.  With his Georgian face, he reminds me of one of those Greek heroes/gods;  I just can't decide whether it's Achilles or Zeus.

Achilles

Edited May 24, 2018 by Yamanashi

[Rocks 1,807]

Takanoiwa got robbed again. This should not have been a redo. At least he won the 2nd match:

 

[Benihana 1,913]

17 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Takanoiwa got robbed again. This should not have been a redo. At least he won the 2nd match:

So was Arawashi

Spoiler

 

Is it just a feeling or is the monoii/torinaoshi count really way above average this basho?

 

Congrats to Tochinoshin, well executed, well deserved.

Not a single player (of 29) saw him as Ozeki for the 2019.01 banzuke. Ok, it's a bit 'til 2019.01, but then you'd need a freak accident for him not being there.

And none of 34 voted for him here

 

Edited May 24, 2018 by Benihana

[Rocks 1,807]

1 minute ago, Benihana said:

So was Arawashi

I'd agree that Arawashi's shoulder touched last but an argument can be made they were both "dead bodies"  at that point making that torinaoshi warranted.

[robnplunder 975]

So .... someone tell me.   How could Tochinoshin go 0 and 25 against Hak before the last bout?   Hak couldn't do much against him.   It was Tochi who looked like an Yokozuna on that bout.   It is a mater of time before he becomes the next Yokozuna.

If Mita goes KK, he will likely return to Sekiwake rank with Tochi going up the ladder.   Nice.

[The Fat Cyclist 27]

What worries me is the the rikishi seem to be trying to take out the Shimpan this basho. I've never seen so many being erm, landed on :)

 

[Ender Wiggin 43]

1 hour ago, robnplunder said:

So .... someone tell me.   How could Tochinoshin go 0 and 25 against Hak before the last bout?   Hak couldn't do much against him.   It was Tochi who looked like an Yokozuna on that bout.   It is a mater of time before he becomes the next Yokozuna.

Old, crusty, battered, and not mentally there goat going up against a resurgent forklift that has momentum and wheels/shocks that are not as rickety as before.

It was the right time for Tochi to finally win one against Hak. The stars were aligned for it to be so.

[Dwale 419]

1 hour ago, The Fat Cyclist said:

What worries me is the the rikishi seem to be trying to take out the Shimpan this basho. I've never seen so many being erm, landed on :)

 

Was just think earlier, "I hope those fellas get hazard pay."

[Jyuunomori 226]

To be fair Tochinoshin's bouts against Hakuho were mostly all hard-fought by the Yokozuna.

Despite the 25-1 record, Hakuho could have lost multiple times there.

[Michishige 66]

2 hours ago, robnplunder said:

So .... someone tell me.   How could Tochinoshin go 0 and 25 against Hak before the last bout?   Hak couldn't do much against him.   It was Tochi who looked like an Yokozuna on that bout.   It is a mater of time before he becomes the next Yokozuna.

If Mita goes KK, he will likely return to Sekiwake rank with Tochi going up the ladder.   Nice.

I feel like Tochinoshin had some issues with nerves in the past, even during the January basho when he took the yusho. He also had that terrible knee injury. As someone who is currently dealing with recovering from a knee injury, it can really sap your confidence with even simple things (e.g. stairs). I can't imagine how badly that messed with his confidence level as a professional athlete. The combination of generalized and specific anxiety can lead to underperformance.

 

He's been strong and capable for as long as I've seen him. Like we saw with Kisenosato, however, the mental stuff appears to have fallen into place. I don't know about becoming a Yokozuna, but his sumo has clearly improved over the past few basho. 

[lackmaker 434]

4 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

Tochinoshin has looked more and more intense the last year.  With his Georgian face, he reminds me of one of those Greek heroes/gods;  I just can't decide whether it's Achilles or Zeus.

Achilles

Heracles, God of strength.