Dwale

Day ten, and the basho is still bonkers. I suspect this one's going to come down to the wire. Tochinoshin has a real chance to keep his rank. I wonder if he can pull it off? Did Takakeisho look like he was treating his knee a little gingerly after his match? I hope that's my imagination... I'm gonna take Mitakeumi as my pick for the yusho winner. Not really based on anything other than my desire to see him do well, but there it is.

Haven't had much to say because once a basho goes this far off the rails, there's nothing to do but hold on. Abi v. Asanoyama may not have been a display of technical prowess, but it was a superior display of vigor and fighting spirit! I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Great win for Asanoyama and just a hell of a match. Tochinoshin is in desperation mode, as well he might be. That was pretty funny, though. I doubt anyone seriously expected Okinoumi to zensho, so this was coming sooner or later. Wide open basho, folks, grab on and enjoy the ride. EDIT: Also, your periodic reminder that when Goeido is on, he's really on.

I didn't think anything could top Enho's bout today, but then I saw the gyoji trip during the Asanoyama match. After I stopped laughing, I ran it back and thought Asanoyama looked quite strong there.

Wow, Shodai's tachi-ai was bad even by his standards. Sometimes he looks good. Too often, he looks like he's in the wrong division. *sigh* You might be right. The first step is having the right attitude, and everything I've seen suggests to me that he has this. Time will tell. Aoiyama tends to crumple against the sanyaku, but it wouldn't surprise me if he's got an old injury acting up on top of that.

There's no tap-out in sumo. It is also illegal to choke the opponent. You can push on the throat or grasp the opponent in a headlock, but if it becomes a chokehold, that is forbidden and the match will be awarded to the opponent.

Kinda weird for Shohozan and Endo to be a developing rivalry, but there it is. I'll be looking forward to their match-up every time from now on. That was smooth as heck from Endo today. He seems really switched on this basho. Cautiously optimistic about Mitakeumi maybe getting his mojo going. We'll see. I hope Ichinojo is ok...

We had some dud matches today, but some good ones, too. Enho managing a win from that was impressive. I don't think Kotoyuki meant to do the hair-pull, but he needs to be more careful. The shimpan do, too. I can only speculate that the fighters were at just the right angle to where the shimpan couldn't see it. Either that, or it's time to visit the eye doctor. Enjoyed the Kotoshogiku bout, and glad to see Tochinoshin pick up a win finally. Still doubting he'll manage 8, unfortunately, but I'll be cheering for him. Endo looked sharp in there against Goeido. Props to him.

Enho is rapidly becoming a favorite. Doesn't always win, but he's just so entertaining to watch. Regarding Hakuho's kyujo, all I can figure is it must hurt a lot. I have read, but do not know if it is true, that losing one's pinkie reduces that hand's grip strength by 50%. If that is true, and Hakuho's not able to use his pinkie, then that would indeed constitute a serious problem for his sumo. Daieisho damn near had that match. I like to see rikishi bring that kind of passion early on. Also good to see Tamawashi looking like the fighter we all know he can be. I do hope he'll refrain from destroying anyone's elbow, however. I had high hopes for Ichinojo coming in with a depleted upper tier in sanyaku, but less so now. He could still rally. We'll see. Goeido, on the other hand, looked strong and aggressive. If he's firing on all cylinders then he could be a yusho contender. [I'm just not gonna comment on Takakeisho. Don't wanna jinx him.]

That's bizarre. But knowing him, it has to be pretty serious.

Well, well, quite a first day, was it not? Enho gets props for having the coolest win, easily, but the fun doesn't stop there. Hakuho was not a happy man, Hokutofuji had better be prepared to get "the treatment" next basho. I didn't realize he was already up to six, but so he is. Definitely has potential, so he may well cinch that ozeki rank someday. Asanoyama has really grown on me. I have the feeling he's gonna KK this basho. What is his limit, I wonder? Meanwhile, Mitakeumi continues being himself, subjecting his fans to his trademark roller-coaster of triumph and disappointment, more the latter today. Well, it's only day one...

You would need to ask someone more adept with statistics than I. But our yokozuna aren't getting any younger and I expect the era of Mongolian dominance is winding down. In any event, I want competitive ozeki and my comment was only expressing that wish.

A great close to the basho. We had exciting matches (Hokutofuji v Endo) some not so much (Abi v Kotoshogiku, though I did appreciate the guy in the audience laughing his ass off). Enho's first kachi-koshi in the top division, and Terutsuyoshi going well into the double digits. And a jun-yusho as well! Who would have expected that? Meanwhile Tomokaze proved he's not to be taken lightly, and Kotoyuki looked better than he's looked in makuuchi for ages. Even Endo got ten wins at M2. Well, well. Congratulations to Kakuryu, he had to fight uphill the whole way because of his back problems, but he stuck it out and reminded everyone he's yokozuna for a reason. Let's hope next time we can have a basho with reinvigorated ozeki to keep the yusho race interesting.

Enho cried, his family watching at home probably cried, the audience cried...good for him. Man, did he ever have to work for it. Let's hope it's the first of many. Well, I figured if Kotoshogiku was gonna beat Hakuho, this was a good time to do it. So, that was fun. Now we come down to the wire, with Hakuho needing to force a play-off if he wants that title, which we all know he does. But can he do it? You can never count him out, but this time it's an uphill battle. I'm looking forward to seeing some chonmage in serious disarray tomorrow. Kanpai!

He's another one of those guys who are strong as shit but don't really look like it.

Best day of the basho thus far, with heated matches and weird happenstance aplenty. I know not what this is all building up to, but I get the feeling there are more surprises in store.

Thanks! Looks like 19 if I counted right. Whereas Mitakeumi will be 16 next basho if Tachiai counted right. You know, I'd rather that he make ozeki rather that break that record, but at this point I'll take what I can get.

I wouldn't count Hakuho out at all, but I am hoping Mitakeumi can give him a loss. Not a yusho thing, I just like Mitakeumi. Speaking of which, I saw on Tachi-Ai's blog that he'll place second for most consecutive basho in sanyaku (without being ozeki or higher). Anyone happen to know who has the record and how long the streak lasted?

Highlights for me were... Enho vs. Sadanoumi: What a great effort by Enho. This nice thing about toukon is that the amount you have isn't contingent on the size of your body. Really hoping we won't have a repeat of last basho. I want Enho in makuuchi as long as possible. Abi vs. Aoiyama: Once again, Aoiyama should not be as nimble as he is. I like Abi and I want to see him do well, so hopefully he learned something. Mitakeumi vs. Meisei: I was tense as a tightrope watching this. I assume yotsu battle is never Mitakeumi's plan A, so it makes me nervous when he's drawn into it. He did well to win that one. Good try from Meisei. Kakuryu vs. Kotoshogiku: Kotoshogiku had him for a second there, but Kakuryu's defense was too much and he was able to turn the tables. If Kakuryu is still having back problems, he isn't showing it. I can't even remember the last time I saw him this strong.

If he's thinking anything but "I need to take care of my arm and not risk further injury," then he needs to reconsider.

Yeah, if it was a one-of I wouldn't think much of it, but he's been getting a lot of air this Basho.

I really feel honored to have had the opportunity to watch a legend like him, even if they weren't his prime years. This is one of those mono no aware moments, but I take consolation in knowing he'll be bringing up a crop of wily rikishi to keep things interesting for years to come.

That's how you beat Ichinojo. He should have one of those "this vehicle makes wide right turns" stickers on his butt because he's about as maneuverable as a tractor-trailer. Kakuryu used his mobility advantage to get in there and get it done. Takayasu ought to go kyujo now. None of that, "But I'm the only ozeki, so I need to..." No. Go fix your arm. Terutsuyoshi KK and Enho in good position to join him. I love it. I'm interested to see for how long Tomokaze can keep winning like this, but I think seeing how he handles his first MK will be more informative. Won't be this time, of course. Hokutofuji looks sharp this basho. Daieisho does indeed have good balance. Tamawashi's balance rather questionable...maybe he has an ear infection or something.

Not a personal matter about you (or in anyone else in particular). Just a general tendency.

Yeah, I was agreeing with you, up to a point. Also, I never heard anyone say "Well, if Ichinojo's back had been healthy..." whenever the match went the other way.

Well, and it makes it sounds like the win was a fluke, which is taking credit away from someone who deserves it. Hakuho's arm hasn't stopped him from kicking everyone else's ass this basho. Ichinojo was simply too much for him this time.