Rokko Jeff

Am I the only one who felt this was over on day 9? What an incredibly disappointing tourney. Coming in the storylines were sexy as can be. Asa and Hak poised to beat the snot out of one another, the clinically depressed looking Bulgarian ready to make a run at Yok. Meanwhile, Wakanoho and Futeno (repeat those names) took out the pretenders on day 9. And sorry to all you Aichi folks, but if cheering for 'mitsuki is the best you can come up with on your summer days, then perhaps your region lacks for excitement. The bloke ain't worthy of the rank.

Really!? Surely, they'll take it easy on a relative newcomer? Right? Spook, key, key, key. No seriously, I've been a huge Asa fan since 3/01, my first live basho. Cheered for him for 6 years in America, but the supremacy sure seems over. I feel it goes beyond finally having a rival (singular, sorry Koto). Seems mental--needs to be less thin skinned and a bit more zen. Perhaps nursing too many grudges against the Kyokai and what have you. And the behavior in May vs. Hakuho was simply undignified, something I chose not to see for far too long. Kinboshi, meanwhile, are not acceptable. Anything can happen, but my once upon a time confidence in his ability to make a run at the biggest record of all has just about collapsed. Isn't there something about champions and adversity, judging them when times get tough. Hard to feel too generous if one were forced to make that judgment today. Mind you I hope he proves me wrong.

Totally agree with Mr. Buckton--Asa was on the defense the entire time, against a has-been, a pleasant has-been but come on! And BTW, I will have to figure out how to alter my moniker now--back in Kobe, "The Japan" after a 6-year exile in my homeland!

Thanks for the info and sorry about the Chiyo confusion--yes, the lesser Chiyo, though on that day he had the wolf-like cajones of his namesake. I'd like to have this on hand to show folks (read certain closed-minded Yanks, my father among them) that there is far more to sumo, in a single visceral bout, than they might think.

Would anyone have/be able to post/know where a post is available of an incredible bout between these two? Was more a boxing match than sumo, but it is an awesome spectacle. They showed it around the time of Muso's intai, and then stupid boku taped over it. 'gato!

Newbie here. Have NHK via satellite here in Florida, though my wife (Japanese) and I are moving to Portland, Oregon next month. I've been watching sumo since '99 ('99-'02 in Japan). I think Hakuho's tachiai is horrible, but he has until the last few days been able to fight back due to his great strength and foundation. But start slow long enough against quality opponents and you'll start losing. And now it's just snowballing/mental. He certainly lost to Kaio the first time too. Who would have thought two months ago when Asa & H's roles were reversed, that H wouldn't even figure on Day 15 in Nagoya. And with a new ozeki coming our way and Kotooshu rediscovering interest in the dohyo, September should be awesome.