Takanobaka

Couple more quick ones.... "Robocop shows off his usual keiko prowess" "I told you this would happen if you kept slapping yourself like that" "That's not the impression I was looking for.....Bob Sapp has no neck, not no chin"

"You maggot! Is that as far back as you can push back your chin! I give you three seconds to push it back and speak loudly and wipe that stupid grin off your face or I will gouge out your eyeballs and skull *&^@ you!!" "Sir yes sir!"

Much higher than other sports I'm sure, but not for the reason you think. In most sports, the reason for 'retirement' is lack of ability. Sure, they usually end up playing in some inferior or minor league somewhere, but in other sports, if a guy doesn't produce to the level of his contract, the team just doesn't resign him. Most players in several sports finish their careers for this reason. On the other hand (and correct me if I'm wrong), but Oyakata generally do not kick a guy out of the heya just because his sumo stinks, or because he thinks they'll never reach Sekitori. With that factor taken out, I'd guess that the retirement rate due to injury is probably somewhere on par with American football, maybe a little higher...

Tragedy part 2: Japan will be graced by Bobby Valentine again for the next 3 years! Lets just hope his players can hide the disguise kit from him.....didn't fly in the states, I think that would be even worse in Japan....but then again, I guess Lotte knows what they're getting....

For some reason, the picture won't load :-D

Doesn't sound promising. Might this finally be where the Ozeki situation changes? Either way, a crack in the shoulder sounds pretty serious...could seriously hinder him.

Perhaps not Fujisan, After a TV show yesterday featuring a few of the tops guys in a talent, sumo with kids, singing and 'strongest man in sumo' competition they (both Yokozuna) displayed no ability in anything outside the ring. Chiyotaikai won the strongest man thing which involved punching (a bag - 235kg? per sq inch I think), arm wrestling and sawing through wood. (think Kyokutenho was second). Former Terao did well too! Yokozuna did the sumo with kids for fun but a schools champ gave Takamisakari a run for his money somewhat by oshidasi(ing) him. Sakari demanded a rematch and went at it far more seriously - won of course. Kotomitsuki - should never be left alone with a microphone again - murdered an old Japanese song. Tochiazuma - visited his old school, ate lunch and could only come up with 'I eat a lot' when asked why he was so big. Also gave a speech on the dangers of crossing the road - as you do when you are a sekitori visiting your old school. All made for a rather amusing Sunday afternoon. ANR - now leaving to pick up the banzuke - watch this space to see if I'm first. They need to have the rikishi back on Tokyo Fun Park 2 again....I have the tape of that from way back in the day; there, at least, Konishiki showed some penchant for being able to name that tune....

He retires before March....

I suppose he did mean "sick to [my] stomach", as defined on this fine page... However, I do find it quite hilarious that on that page it uses 'shut my mouth' as a synonym for 'slap my afro'. I think I'd laugh someone out of the building if they told me to slap their afro....not exactly something you hear everyday/month/year/decade....maybe it was an idiom in the '70's or something....

I suppose he did mean "sick to [my] stomach", as defined on this fine page... I assume you would be right, especially since I am a native English speaker.... I was looking for an emotican that was green and looked like he was about to hurl....closest thing there was 'foot in mouth', but that didn't seem appropriate. The reason I said "sick to stomach" rather than 'sick to my stomach' is that that is what the icon would probably be named. And, yeah, that was frickin' disgusting....but pretty darn funny too.... And, no, sick to the stomach doesn't generally mean you've had enough of something, it generally means you feel like you're gonna puke, at least in America....Might be kinda like the difference between 'pants' in the US (slacks/trousers) and 'pants' in the UK (undergarment/utter shyte).

:-) I think we need an emoticon for sick to stomach...

Evidently, their server isn't there anymore...that would seem to indicate that they've disappeared... However, back issues to 1999 (when they changed servers) are still up on their old site at http://www.iac.co.jp/~sumowrld/

Officially, they've been the same for the past 15 years. Unofficially, I think that if someone ultra-popular (i.e. Takamisakari) made a run of 2 Yusho within three tournaments and made a decent showing in the middle one, they'd still get promoted. Or as I read in a book a long time ago (here, concerning the Hanadas), the "silver spoon treatment" from the YDC...

(In a state of confusion...) Seriously though, no he wouldn't have simply because there were already two guys dominant enough to prevent any of them to have won 2 Yusho in a row many times. 10 years ago, however, I think there's really no question that Asashoryu's better than Wakanohana III ever was. I'll agree that he's already a very solid Yokozuna. Lest us not forget, the quality of sumo is probably better than it was in the Konishiki era, and Asa has at least been able to make it to Yokozuna AND win two more Yusho in the 4 basho after promotion. In my opinion, he's already avoided being called a weak Yokozuna by commentators in the future....

Sad, I went to Hebrew school for many years, and STILL the only words I remember are "Sheket bevakashah" (Shut up please)...

(Pulling hair...) (Pulling up a swede...) (Getting punched...) (Protesting...) (Laughing...) (Jumping on the other guy...) (Being ill...) (Hanged myself...) (Foot in mouth...) (Depressed...) (Pirate bones...) (Running over the other guy...) (In a bad mood...) :-D (Annoyed...) :-P (Ranting...) Fricking Red Sox....

For the most part, I think we were operating under an assumption that Moose would reture soon when we were talking about Asashoryu's future and potential Yokozuna. No doubt in my mind that it happens within the next 3 basho. Sad to see him go, but then again, it's really been a while since he was here...

Do you really want to identify yourself with Bud Selig? ;-) LOL not really... Actually, I did sign up last night. However, does anyone know how to change your team name? I really don't feel like being "McAvoy Entry" all season...

I totally would if I had the time (NBA is my first passion in sports), but I'm already the commissioner of a league for my office as well as running a team in it (kinda like Bud Selig, y'know?). Depending on how you do it, I may be able to join up. Do you have more details (i.e. when the draft is, etc.)?

Of the people mentioned, I think Kotomitsuki has the best shot....he seems to have come back well from his injury, which is rare, and does have some youth left in him, along with a massive frame to which he could still add quite a bit of strength if he truly dedicates himself. The other guys just don't look like they have the potential. Also, I don't see any of the current Sanyaku stringing together 2 consecutive Yusho, barring an injury to Asashoryu. As for the 1 Yokozuna point, don't forget that for all intents and purposes we've only had one Yokozuna for the past year and a half (Moose for a while, then Asashoryu....Takanohana doesn't really count if he wasn't wrestling). I don't see anyone who is in Sekitori right now who could rise up too quickly (there are a few with potential i.e. Kakizoe, Kokkai, Takekaze, but they need much more seasoning to get to that level. Thus, my best guess is that there will be some fast riser who is either in Makushita or lower, or who is still in college. Unless the Kyokai changes their unwritten 2 consecutive Yusho rule, there could be only 1 Yokozuna for quite a while....

I think you can make a decent argument that he's in his prime right now. I know it seems young, but Asashoryu has a speed game going on like nobody I've personally seen before. Speed and quickness tends to deteriorate with time, not get better. Of course, he could compensate by becoming much more crafty, but it doesn't look like he'll continue to stay good by significantly increasing his strength (i.e. Chiyonofuji) or size (i.e. Moose, Takanohana) since he really doesn't have the frame for either of those. Seriously, the main issue is whether or not any serious contenders will come along while Asa still has his speed advantage. That's probably a no, but its really hard to say when that will dissapate (but he will certainly need to change his style after his first major injury). Tactically, he's good enough to win some Yusho even without his superior quickness, but not that many. 15 is definately realistic, after that is just pure speculation that's beyond any of our magic crystal balls.... As far as the Ozeki situation goes, all four are injury prone, Taikai is inconsistent, Kaio is old, Tochiazuma is a high Maegashira who has gotten stuck at Ozeki, and Musoyama should be closer to Juryo than Yokozuna by now. If all four are on, they're a good combo, but it's been years since even three of them have performed well in the same basho.

Then again, if could be "fo- (Censored) -shizzle I gotta make the banzukizzle o mah mama will come drizzle on my izzle-dizzle".... At least that's how Snoop Dogg would say it....

Tokkurinage sounds about right, but I disagree about the henka part....was really more of a sidestep than a charge. Additionally, Pedro was walking away when Zimmer started charging. Most of the replays don't show wide enough of an angle to show what was really going on. Unlike all of my co-workers (who are all Yankees fans), I actually think it was legitimate self-defense (yeah he's 72 years old, but what would you do if you saw 300 lbs of flesh charging at you?) The one I'm curious about is when Nolan Ryan gave Robin Ventura that noogie years ago....I guess that would be fusen since it was with a closed fist, although it was definately more of a closed fist 'rub' than a closed fist 'strike'..........