CT3*

This entire thing has left a bad taste with me as well. I usually travel to Japan in January to take in some of the Basho but I'm skipping it this year. Now I'm just feeling lucky that I got to see Harumafuji 6 times before his sudden retirement. Gonna miss his dohyo iri....

I made my usual January trip for sumo this year (was there for Kisenosato's first yusho), but will likely skip it for 2018. Glad I already bought a Harumafuji tegata.

I hope that recent developments inspire Hakuho to go on an extended ass-kicking spree.

I appreciate seeing greatness and excellence in action. Michael Jordan, Floyd Mayweather, Hakuho. I never tire or get bored of watching athletes that are absolute masters of their chosen craft.

I feel sorry for the remainder of Hakuho's opponents this basho....

LOL! Missed the deadline again!

Wait. Are we really comparing recent newcomer Kagayaki to Hakuho?

Baruto is the rikishi that finally taught me to have a wait and see attitude. I was pretty certain that he would become a Yokozuna. But then the knee injuries...

Hakuho looked like he was having fun out there. I love watching him do his thing.

That really sucks. Boody just can't seem to catch a break!

I agree. But as soon as it happened I began wondering how much wailing and gnashing of teeth there would be in here.

I was going to post the same thing. I literally laughed out loud.

Great photos, Fay!

Anxiousness? Looked more like annoyance, imo.

I watched the Hakuho/Endo bout at least five times just trying to count the number of slaps that Hakuho laid down on poor Endo's mug.

You da man, Kinta!!

Great action today!

Great work, John! I'm looking forward to reading your ongoing column!

I doubt there is much excitement for yet another Mongolian Yokozuna. Especially after this basho's amazing, fairytale ending...

Anyone else anticipating the next bout between Kotoshogiku and Terunofuji?? Man, oh man. I hope it's epic!

Many thought that Terunofuji was going to beat the injured Kisenosato as well. Instead, he lost to Kise twice. That's one of the many things that I love about sumo; the unpredictability. And Terunofuji knew exactly what he was doing when he drove the stake into Kotoshogiku's chances. He wanted to do it. Perhaps there is bad blood between them that we'll never know. But now I look forward even more to their continued rivalry.

Thanks as always, Kintamayama! You are a giant amongst men and a true gift to the international sumo watching community.

Don't come at me like that, playa. Watch your tone.

I was wondering how all of the folks screaming their disgust about Terunofuji's henka of the Geekster would justify Kisenosato's use of a henka on senshuraku and in his first tournament as Yokozuna...

Same here. I was literally howling. The matta was so weak that the Geekster should have been a bit wary of the henka. The look he gave Terunofuji after the bout was priceless. And he didn't even pretend to bow.