Kotomitsuki's Golden Opportunity

[Afrozuna]

And suddenly Asa's suspension blows the field wide open. Asashoryu has an intimidating aura that is currently not matched in Sumo. Let's face it Hakuho is not the dominant rikishi that Asa is and expecting him to take the next two Basho with 11-4s is dogdy. Of course this might motivate Hakuho even further as it affords him the opportunity to stabilise himself as a Yokozuna without the nerves of having to deal with another Yokozuna (a dai-yokozuna at that). However I am really hoping the veteran (Kotomitsuki) can maintain his focus as he did in Nagoya and become Yokozuna. It's exactly the type of feel-good story that Sumo needs. I won't even mention the fact that there would be a Japanese yokozuna to appease local fans.

I hope someone will be keeping an eye on the attandance figures for the next two bashos while Asa is on suspension. We can finally get a feel for how popular Asashoryu is by the impact his suspension will have on the attandance figures.

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

to make Japanese Yokozuna in next 2 basho, is THAT what this punishment is really about?

When Asa is out involuntarily , that is really not nice WAY (which is cleared by Kyokai) for Kotomitsuki to become Yokozuna.

Edited August 1, 2007 by Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj

[yamaneko]

i think hakuho will bounce back now that hes calmed down after promotion and take the next two yusho.

[Raishu]

I also asked myself who's going to win the Yusho in Aki and Kyushu?

Concerning this question I'd like to refer to your user name: A Maegashira Yusho is more likely to happen without a dominating Asashoryu ... (Tears forming...) (Whistling...) (Whistling...) (Should be a good poll question as well)

But let's keep realsitic. Hakuho is surely the favorit for September and Novemeber, and I really can't imagine Mickey picking up two Yusho's in a row.

Besides, I don't want to see Mickey retiring as a Yokozuna after six 8-7 records. ;-)

[Kintamayama]

to make Japanese Yokozuna in next 2 basho, is THAT what this punishment is really about?

When Asa is out involuntarily , that is really not nice WAY (which is cleared by Kyokai) for Kotomitsuki to become Yokozuna.

You are wrong. In everything you say. You have no idea. I suggest you go study and try to be a bit deeper than the puddle you are. I suggest you get Coocook to tutor you for a while. Maybe you'll learn something.

[yamaneko]

Completely hypothetical situation. I think zero chance of happening, but just wondering.

Lets say next basho, osh and mickey both go 15-0. Osh wins the yusho. Basho after next, both zensho again, mickey wins the yusho. Does both of them get promoted to yokozuna? Would it affect the answer if it was mickey first, then osh the next one?

[Peterao]

The answer is also completely hypothetical, as nothing like that has ever happened in the history of sumo. Nevertheless, I think that if two ozeki both went 15-0 over two consecutive basho, then both ozeki would be promoted to yokozuna, even if Kotoshogiku ended up winning both yusho.

[Kotonosato]

And suddenly Asa's suspension blows the field wide open. Asashoryu has an intimidating aura that is currently not matched in Sumo. Let's face it Hakuho is not the dominant rikishi that Asa is and expecting him to take the next two Basho with 11-4s is dogdy.

The fact is that very few rikishi in history have been as dominating as Asashoryu. Hakuho is not that overwhelming, but he is certainly not an 11-4 rikishi. There is no reason, once he gets used to his role, that he will not be at least 13-2 every basho, with many yusho scattered throughout his career.

[Doitsuyama]

Completely hypothetical situation. I think zero chance of happening, but just wondering.

Lets say next basho, osh and mickey both go 15-0. Osh wins the yusho. Basho after next, both zensho again, mickey wins the yusho. Does both of them get promoted to yokozuna? Would it affect the answer if it was mickey first, then osh the next one?

Of course both would be promoted to yokozuna, regardless of order. A double yokozuna promotion has happened before, look at Taiho and Kashiwado who got promoted to yokozuna after Aki 1961.

[Chiyozakura]

I think the current discussion in all threads regarding Asashoryu's suspension is extremely weak. I absolutely agree with Kintamayama that some of the people complaining and building up conspiracy theories have no idea about sumo whatsoever. A Yokozuna is supposed to be a role model and an ambassador for sumo. Faking an injury and then going out having fun is the opposite. Akebono once was heavily criticized for going out and having dinner with sponsors while he was kyujo. The first task of a Yokozuna is to do sumo and carry the traditions of the NSK. By playing soccer in Mogolia Asashoryu spit on the NSK and all the fans going to jungyo. If the punishment he received is fair or not is not for me to decide. But fact is that Asashoryu should have known the seriousness of his actions, and that he would leave the NSK with no choice but to react.

The sad part of the story is that we now have some nationalist idiots on this forums with no real interest in sumo, but only in guys from their countries or gaijin in general.

Why Hakuho is already criticized as being inferior to Asashoryu is beyond my understanding. The guy is 22 years old, has won two yusho back to back, one of those zensho, and has now had the usual shin-yokozuna drop, which led to the same result as Asashoryu's Yokozuna debut. I have no doubt that Hakuho will win at least 12, probably 13 or 14 in Aki, and be a serious contender for the Yusho. Starting next year I do not see him inferior to Asashoryu. To me he is on par with him, so if Asashoryu comes back focused we will have the chance to see two very strong Yokozuna fighting for the Yusho.

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

I think the current discussion in all threads regarding Asashoryu's suspension is extremely weak. I absolutely agree with Kintamayama that some of the people complaining and building up conspiracy theories have no idea about sumo whatsoever. A Yokozuna is supposed to be a role model and an ambassador for sumo. Faking an injury and then going out having fun is the opposite. Akebono once was heavily criticized for going out and having dinner with sponsors while he was kyujo. The first task of a Yokozuna is to do sumo and carry the traditions of the NSK. By playing soccer in Mogolia Asashoryu spit on the NSK and all the fans going to jungyo. If the punishment he received is fair or not is not for me to decide. But fact is that Asashoryu should have known the seriousness of his actions, and that he would leave the NSK with no choice but to react.

The sad part of the story is that we now have some nationalist idiots on this forums with no real interest in sumo, but only in guys from their countries or gaijin in general.

Why Hakuho is already criticized as being inferior to Asashoryu is beyond my understanding. The guy is 22 years old, has won two yusho back to back, one of those zensho, and has now had the usual shin-yokozuna drop, which led to the same result as Asashoryu's Yokozuna debut. I have no doubt that Hakuho will win at least 12, probably 13 or 14 in Aki, and be a serious contender for the Yusho. Starting next year I do not see him inferior to Asashoryu. To me he is on par with him, so if Asashoryu comes back focused we will have the chance to see two very strong Yokozuna fighting for the Yusho.

If you can not say- If the punishment he received is fair or not . Then you should not say -Asashoryu spit on the NSK and all the fans going to jungyo-. Be honest and just.

[Ruziklao]

While I do agree with the most of what Chiyozakura has written, I have my point regarding one of the sentences bolded by previous writer as well: "If the punishment he received is fair or not is not for me to decide."

It is not a matter of decision. Decision on punishment was done by NSK as expected. But the fairness is a matter of opinion and can be subject of discussion. Most long-time members are not surprised and see the punishment as fair, others do not. Everyone can have its own opinion on that issue. I tend to think that harsh punishment is all right. Nevertheless, marking someone as a "nationalist idiot" seems to be going too far a and someone with deep interest in sumo and its etiquette should reconsider that at least four times rather than only twice.

[Chiyozakura]

Nevertheless, marking someone as a "nationalist idiot" seems to be going too far a and someone with deep interest in sumo and its etiquette should reconsider that at least four times rather than only twice.

I have no other words for people argumenting that the whole punishment was only to hinder Asashoryu from passing Takanohana and thus saving Japan from having a Mongolian become one of the most successful Yokozuna ever...

[Kotonosato]

I think the current discussion in all threads regarding Asashoryu's suspension is extremely weak. I absolutely agree with Kintamayama that some of the people complaining and building up conspiracy theories have no idea about sumo whatsoever.

It wasn't just here. The SML dealt with the situation equally weakly. There are at least a couple of people there who would seem to say that if Asashoryu took out a knife and stabbed another rikishi during a bout, that putting him in jail would be because he's not Japanese.

As far as I know, there are no Mongolians on the SML, but the "Asa can do no wrong -- the Kyokai is out to get him" mentality is still there.

As for 'not knowing anything about sumo', I think the issue may really be "not knowing anything about Japan'.

[Afrozuna]

I think the current discussion in all threads regarding Asashoryu's suspension is extremely weak. I absolutely agree with Kintamayama that some of the people complaining and building up conspiracy theories have no idea about sumo whatsoever. A Yokozuna is supposed to be a role model and an ambassador for sumo. Faking an injury and then going out having fun is the opposite. Akebono once was heavily criticized for going out and having dinner with sponsors while he was kyujo. The first task of a Yokozuna is to do sumo and carry the traditions of the NSK. By playing soccer in Mogolia Asashoryu spit on the NSK and all the fans going to jungyo. If the punishment he received is fair or not is not for me to decide. But fact is that Asashoryu should have known the seriousness of his actions, and that he would leave the NSK with no choice but to react.

The sad part of the story is that we now have some nationalist idiots on this forums with no real interest in sumo, but only in guys from their countries or gaijin in general.

Why Hakuho is already criticized as being inferior to Asashoryu is beyond my understanding. The guy is 22 years old, has won two yusho back to back, one of those zensho, and has now had the usual shin-yokozuna drop, which led to the same result as Asashoryu's Yokozuna debut. I have no doubt that Hakuho will win at least 12, probably 13 or 14 in Aki, and be a serious contender for the Yusho. Starting next year I do not see him inferior to Asashoryu. To me he is on par with him, so if Asashoryu comes back focused we will have the chance to see two very strong Yokozuna fighting for the Yusho.

I don't know how you've managed to change this thread into another "Asashoryu suspension fair or not fair" thread. I started this thread in order to discuss the impact Asashoryu's absence will have on the upcoming two basho. Clearly a dominant yokozuna's impact can not be discounted.

I beg to differ with you however when you say Hakuho is on par with Asashoryu. Even if looking at recent bouts only it is clear to see all bouts won by Hakuho were long and hard fought while Asashoryu has tended to rout Hakuho in 2 seconds even at Nagoya. To me Asashoryu is still the standard setter, Hakuho might be a Yokozuna but he still has some work to do mentally and versatility wise to be at the level Asa is at.

Edited August 2, 2007 by maegashira-yusho