since_94

It seems everything takes on sinister overtones when the culprit is wearing a mask.

“Caught” threads always deliver. NSK really excels at “catching”. They may even be overachievers in that regard. We should consider that perhaps secret kimarite-type nomenclature exists for punishing or otherwise expelling undesirables from the sport when they overstep the bounds of acceptable conduct. To wit, “Catching slap down”, “Catching force-out”, etc.

It’s the price of notoriety. I struggle with a similar dilemma at the start of every swimsuit season. It always comes back to the same, age old question: Is it better to conceal or to reveal?

Featuring #69 flanked by Yoshikaze, Miyogiryu, Izutsu and other walking wounded that got on the Great One’s bad side, perhaps? (no disrespect intended to any Paralympians)

Terunofuji is damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. Too much gaiety and he’s opening himself to criticism of lacking gravitas. An inopportune smile crosses his face for a fleeting instant and some will conclude he looks smug and self satisfied. Rictus of a forced grin and he’s not genuine enough for those who already want to believe that. He knows he is henceforth subject to relentless public scrutiny, having been thrust into the public eye as he has, and knows the masses will impute their own interpretations and motives to every little thing he does from here on out. Probably worked hard on his poker face and ensured he maintained it throughout.

Impossible to find a link to a live stream to this wonderful international event purportedly celebrating the spirit of camaraderie, inclusion etc. etc. Lots of “content not available in your region” Whole think stinks of money. IOC a bunch of corrupt, entitled fat cats. I would rather watch a basho any day than the Olympics. End of rant.

Godspodin, can you please expand on this bad injury of which you speak? I have not heard anything. News about more Ura setbacks is not what I want to hear, BTW, and I know I'm not alone.

Do forum members think Hakuho actually appears bored and looks at his Rolex often as he's being reprimanded by Hakkaku and the other oldies of the YDC? Or does he feign some level of interest in the proceedings and solemnly promise to reflect, take the criticism to heart, and mend his ways? I hope it's the former, but I suspect it's the latter. Hail the GOAT!

Louis Zamperini. Long distance runner.

Hopefully not “Irie, mon. Jah bless!”

Sounds legit. Helps 50% of smokers with stage fright. Gives the other 50% stage fright.

I have had two beers so I will laugh at this.

Well met. So long as you’re not a grass…

You must be a Brit to use that expression.

TAKAGANJA.

Picking up on this very interesting turn of phrase, Hakuho’s upper body looked very big and muscular this basho. His size was especially striking when he was standing on the dohyo with Hakkaku and the sanyaku on days 1 and 15. The physical juxtaposition with Terunofuji made it appear, IMO, that he was actually bigger than Terunofuji. I thought this was remarkable, and had to wonder whether it was just a trick of the camera angles/lighting, or even my own bias. This interview gives me more to ponder. Perhaps it was something more. Does he project an aura that makes him appear larger than life? Or maybe he physically grew, like he says he did. Hakuho defies science and is a fascinating athlete.

I was anticipating a deluge of bar graphs and pie charts. Maybe a thesis or two.

I agree with much that has been said and disagree with so much that has been said. Has any other basho generated so much discussion in this forum? * * That is meant as a purely rhetorical question, and should not be treated as an impetus for any member to pore over all the archived threads since the site’s inception to come up with a conclusive answer

No, you’re not alone. And I would venture the same might be said for how many fans feel about the entirety of Hakuho’s amazing career and its long arc.

Dear Mel, Easy does it, now. You don’t want to make us rule on kilt length next. Signed, The Powers that be

I think it’s referring more to people saying he’s washed up and it’s time to ride off into the sunset.

*** We can always ask the record keepers to put an asterisk beside #45 (and #16 zen yusho) with the annotation: “ugly sumo (as deemed by some pundits)” but somehow I think they won’t. ***

Terunofuji can take it. The finish was authoritative, to say the least.

People alleging “ugly sumo”…I dunno. Abema just rolled through replays of all his victories and there were some very colorful, dramatic, and technically skilled finishes among them. A couple of instances of brute power prevailing, a couple of lucky ones. He had it all. Today versus Terunofuji, I thought was the perfect bout under the circumstances. No one slipped, no boring yorikiri or hitakikomi, the harite exchange, they got on the belt, it went long, that awesome stare down as a lead up. I mean, what the heck do people want before they’re satisfied? As for alleging poor sportsmanship for the celebration….whatever. Look at those numbers, will ya?