Haidouzo

Weird day, indeed. A not-quite-so-horrific zero in DST is the lowlight. Another delicious kinboshi in SG is probably the highlight. Wins also in Bench and ISP. I didn't manage to get one of the six wins in TTT, but neither did anybody else anywhere near the top. The second consecutive loss in Quad drags me down to a large tie for 10th. And somehow currently 3rd in Juryo Game. Looking like SG, TTT, JG, Oracle, and (with a decent finish) Quad are my only fair hopes for (more) points. GANBARIMASU

Kind of a split day 8. Fairly good, but a loss in Quad is tough to take. Won in SG for a happy 5-3. Also got one of the few wins in TTT for a four-way tie for fourth. Also now on an inexplicable four-day win streak in Toto and in a large tie for 11th. I might be exaggerating if I say I don't think I've ever gotten any Masters points in Toto, but I also might not be. And 5-3 in SG while being 3-5 in Bench is unusual. Perhaps a not entirely rare abysmal performance across most the pre-bashos explains it. (But in the running to yusho in Oracle? Sometimes things happen in fantasy sumo that I will never even begin to understand.) GANBARIMASU

Minus Odd and TUG, it's a clean sweep! Tied inside the top 10 in Quad (6-1) and TTT (5-2), and a good day in DST put me JUST above the KK/MK line. GANBARIMASU!

The Kagayaki (Endo) bout is not listed in the primary pick list. It *is* listed in the backup pick list. I assume that sending picks by the usual email method could circumvent this (if one wished to make that pick).

Also 1/19th of a Chaingang point for me. Killed it in DST, but still below KK/MK. Rolling in Quad, now tied for 4th at 5-1. Won in Toto for a perfectly predictable 3-3. A recovering win in SG for 3-3. A good win in TTT for a large tie for 5th. 1-5 in ISP. Lost in Bench (2-4). Can't make anything happen in Odd. Missed in TUG. GANBARIMASU!

Wins in DST, Quad (4-1), Toto, SG, TTT, Chaingang, and TUG. 7 out of 10 ain't bad. (Especially when one "loss" is Odd.) GANBARIMASU!

I could have sworn my webcam was off!

Another missed "withdrawal," and I even checked the NSK page in time last night. After seeing at the start of the basho that retirements are not announced there, I should have known better. Thankfully, once again, not accounting for it doesn't seem to have made a difference anywhere. Wins in Chaingang, ISP (to finally get on the board), TTT (a fairly strong 2-2), and Quad (3-1, good enough to tie for 9th). Losses everywhere else. GANBARIMASU

Wins only in Quad, Chaingang, and Bench. (And the Baka Cup--and THAT'S only thanks to my overruling the Machine on Kise.) (And TUG.) Missed the withdrawal, but thankfully it made no difference, except perhaps way down the line in Quad. GANBARIMASU!

I, also, am somehow still alive in Chaingang. A fairly good day, with wins also in Quad, Toto, SG, DST (well, above the total average but below makuuchi average, but I'm counting it anyway), and Bench (with a perfect day). And also TUG. And, of course, the Baka Cup! Too early for me to take a serious look at the pre-bashos. GANBARIMASU!

Wins only in Chaingang and TTT. (And TUG.) (And the Baka Cup.) Here's hoping the Machine catches up with present conditions quickly. GANBARIMASU

1-5 Pandaazuma 6-10 ScreechingOwl 11-20 Andonishiki 21-40 Haidouzo 41-80 Reijinguoshan 81-120 Kobashi 121-200 Athenayama 201+ Fukurou

Oh, please. You know the routine! I win the bout, and then I end up with the Baka Cup anyway!

Registered for the two head-to-heads. M3? I guess it's time for another kinboshi ;) GANBARIMASU

I'm just not sure I see the point in punishing people who aren't around to make kyujo changes or who inadvertently pick a juryo wrestler who happens to be disqualified that day for this game's purposes.

Day 15: Akiseyama Takagenji Terutsuyoshi Tobizaru Daishoho Ishiura Aminishiki Hidenoumi Kotoeko

6-8 in Bench and SG after wins in each. Worst DST basho in maybe ever. 7-7 in ISP. Lost in Quad so points are out of the question there. Won a modest bet in Odd for 4th place, JUST ahead of the Panda. Miraculously in an 8-way tie for 6th in Toto. This would be amazing. Lost in TTT so also out of the points there, but at least KK is presumably secured. GANBARIMASU

NSK confirms.

Day 14: Wakatakakage Kotoeko Tobizaru Akiseyama Jokoryu Hidenoumi Tokushoryu Enho Toyonoshima

MK in Bench and SG. Now I suppose I'm just fighting to stay in makuuchi in SG. Somehow, I am in a massive tie for 7th in Toto. Some points there would be one unusual consolation prize. 5th in Odd. If I can win out in Quad (a tall order, for sure), I imagine I'd finish in the top 10 there. Perhaps this basho isn't quite as awful as I was afraid it would be. Oh, wait. The Baka Cup. GANBARIMASU

Day 13: Yago Kyokutaisei Tokushoryu Kotoyuki Toyonoshima Ishiura Azumaryu Jokoryu Shimanoumi

Stuff happened. 5-7 in SG (after, once again, losing my bout but winning the Baka Cup match) which means I need three wins or else, based on past experience, I should expect to go from komusubi to around M6 with an eighth loss. Somehow 7-5 in Toto, despite not getting to change my Goeido pick in time. Likewise in TTT. 5th in Odd. 5-7 in Bench and fighting to stay in Makuuchi from M13. GANBARIMASU