Yokozuna Hakuhou preparations-May un-basho

[Kintamayama]

Hakuhou jammed his left hand middle finger a few days ago, and it is still hurting. He needs his left hand for his favorite left uwate. "If it was the right hand, well.." he cited.As for the soken tomorrow: "I'll be there for sure, but I think I will only be lending my chest," he explained.

Edited April 29, 2011 by Kintamayama

[ilovesumo]

Now this sounds perfect for a planned "new great star ozeki" yushou. And that guy will be Yokozuna in 2011 and become the great rival for the sole yokozuna.......

If I am right this time, I'll eat 50 Sushi and document it!

[Asojima]

Now this sounds perfect for a planned "new great star ozeki" yushou. And that guy will be Yokozuna in 2011 and become the great rival for the sole yokozuna.......

If I am right this time, I'll eat 50 Sushi and document it!

But who will the "great star" be? Kotoshogiku has been much more impressive lately than the media star Kisenosato.

[Asashosakari]

The guy who will become yokozuna in 2011 is clearly Kaio. Now that he'll be forced to fight with full power in all bouts and not hold back half the time 13-2 and better is practically assured...

[Treblemaker]

The guy who will become yokozuna in 2011 is clearly Kaio. Now that he'll be forced to fight with full power in all bouts and not hold back half the time 13-2 and better is practically assured...

How so? Sure, he's had time to heal, but his competition hasn't changed. And they've had the same time to recover from whatever was ailing them.

Personally, I'd love to see the guy nail a 12-3 or even 13-2, but the rest of the Ozeki et al are under the same scrutiny. Given the nature of the non-basho, it's everyone for himself. I'd look for Osh and even HF to challenge Hak for the yusho. Kaio, even a healthier Kaio, is still an older Kaio. And whatever momentum he built up in Jan is long gone.

I hope I'm wrong. I'd love to see him get a promotion - it's long overdue. I just don't think it's possible.

[Peterao]

The guy who will become yokozuna in 2011 is clearly Kaio. Now that he'll be forced to fight with full power in all bouts and not hold back half the time 13-2 and better is practically assured...

How so? Sure, he's had time to heal, but his competition hasn't changed. And they've had the same time to recover from whatever was ailing them.

I'd give you 5-to-1 odds that Asashosakari was being sarcastic, but betting and sumo just doesn't mix well.

[Afrozuna]

Are we seriously discussing the possibility of promotion to Yokozuna for Kaio.

Just last year this discussion would have been labeled insane. I guess if one assumes Kaio has been holding back to elongate his stay at Ozeki one would imagine he still has a lot in the tank but i really doubt it. If anyone should be bummed about the recent events is Hakuho it could eventually cost him the yusho record which he was steamrolling to

[ryafuji]

Are we seriously discussing the possibility of promotion to Yokozuna for Kaio.

No.

[Pippooshu]

Next promotion will be Kisenosato for Ozeki status and in two years I think Kakuryu will follow him.

[Treblemaker]

Next promotion will be Kisenosato for Ozeki status and in two years I think Kakuryu will follow him.

If, and only IF, he can learn to combat the silly brain meltdowns and foolish losses that have plagued him.

In fact, a bottle of the best Heinz Ketchup says that the Kak make Oz before Kise does.

[Kintamayama]

As Doreen reported elsewhere, Hakuhou came to Kasugano today , where Kakuryuu, Okinoumi, Tochiouzan, Tochinoshin and Tochinowaka greeted him and did some keiko. 15 bouts in all for Hakuhou, one loss to Kakuryuu.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Fay]

15 bouts in all for Hakuhou, one loss to Kakuryuu.

Yippiehyippiehyeaaaaaaaaaaaah ;-)

[Pippooshu]

As Doreen reported elsewhere, Hakuhou came to Kasugano today , where Kakuryuu, Okinoumi, Tochiouzan, Tochinoshin and Tochinowaka greeted him and did some keiko. 15 bouts in all for Hakuhou, one loss to Kakuryuu.

I repeat what I've said above: Kakuryu in two years will be Ozeki. 5 or 6 kilos more and he'll be a great.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Pippooshu

[Orion]

As Doreen reported elsewhere, Hakuhou came to Kasugano today , where Kakuryuu, Okinoumi, Tochiouzan, Tochinoshin and Tochinowaka greeted him and did some keiko. 15 bouts in all for Hakuhou, one loss to Kakuryuu.

Sixteen if you count the 'loss'. In his first bout against the yokozuna Kakuryu got a lightning-fast morozashi and Hakuho made no attempt to fight back; just smiled and walked backwards, conceding defeat (or abandoning the bout). Then he had three full-scale bouts with Kakuryu and won them -- more easily than one of his bouts with Okinoumi that had immediately preceded.

This morning the opposite end of the scale, in Michinoku with nearly everybody away at degeiko. But the master waved me to a cushion beside him on a comfortable bench, and I watched half-a-dozen lower rankers working out, including a newish recruit (with hair still too short to tie up) getting a lot of training in the various movements. Very pleasant and relaxing.

Orion planning 'middle-of-the-road' tomorrow

[Shibata-gumi]

Treblemaker I will take your bet, one bottle of Heinz ketchup that Kisenosato DOES make it to Oz before Kakuryu! Sumo+gambling+funny bets=AWESOME!

[Kintamayama]

Hakuhou came to Naruto beya to finally face his nemesis Kisenosato who beat him twice in their last two outings. He was 19-2 against him. "Well, he has become my 'wall'. I will try to break it down little by little and use it to help me get stronger," said Hakuhou. He was heard shouting "Come on, make it quickly to Ozeki," during the keiko session. Kisenosato was bleeding from his nose and mouth during the fierce session. Hakuhou was thanked by Naruto oyakata for coming, and was seen speaking to him for a while later. "It's my first time at Naruto beya, but I saw my role model Wakanohana I's picture on the wall and I felt an immediate connection. When I was five or six, the first person from the sumo world I ever saw was Mr. Hanada (Wakanohana I)," he explained.

Hakuhou and a bleeding Kisenosato;

Edited May 4, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

[Kintamayama]

Hakuhou had 22 bouts today at Tokitsukaze beya with Toyonoshima, losing only once. "Little by little, I feel I'm gettin' in da flow," he kinda said approximately. Toyonoshima on the Yokozuna's tach-ai- "It's low and it's fast. His first step is awesome!"

Edited May 5, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Actually, he was 15-1 against Toyonoshima and had the rest against two other unnamed sekitori. He was "killing" Toyonoshima, and at one point Toyo seemed to aggravate his chronic back injury. "He's only human.. I have a chance of beating him like anyone else. Usually, when I'm weak in keiko I'm strong during the basho," said Toyo, for some reason reminding me of the Black Knight in Monty Python's "Holy Grail". I half-expected Hakuhou yo retort "What are you going to do, BLEED all over me?" Instead, he said Toyonoshima was always a dangerous rival and was moving quite well.

They are slated to meet on day 1.

[Kintamayama]

Kisenosato, after getting worked over by the Yokozuna yesterday:

"Shiver me timbers!":

Edited May 6, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

In a rare "Friday before the basho starts" degeiko the Yokozuna went to Sakaigawa beya. He was 11-2 against Goueidou, who won his two when his first step was quicker. "The only way to beat him is that way. If the bout drags on, he is stronger," said Goueidou. He meets Hakuhou on day two and has never beaten him in nine tries. "I'd like to confuse him ("Hey look!! No mawashi"??)," he said. He intends to utilize his speed to outfox the fox. All this talk of Kisenosato and Kotoshougiku starting an Ozeki run has rendered him impatient. "I'd like to quickly catch up to them and overtake them!!" he cried. "Hey, this is my thread you pissant!!Get out of here!! Open your own friggn' thread you hiramaku person!! You DON"T want to end up like the guy in the picture in the post before this, now do you ??" shouted Hakuhou from the bath.

After regaining control of this thread, it has been reported he was 18-3 overall today at Sakaigawa. He was 7-1 against Toyohibiki as well. Adds up perfectly.

"You take a bath for a moment and turn your back on these kids and suddenly they own my thread. I'm still dirty even after the bath.."

Edited May 6, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Hakuhou attempts un-plastic surgery on Toyohibiki's nose:

[Treblemaker]

"Well, yerhonor, after she saw my cell phone she came after me with one of my golf clubs......."

[Kotoviki]

Actually, he was 15-1 against Toyonoshima and had the rest against two other unnamed sekitori. He was "killing" Toyonoshima, and at one point Toyo seemed to aggravate his chronic back injury. "He's only human.. I have a chance of beating him like anyone else. Usually, when I'm weak in keiko I'm strong during the basho," said Toyo, for some reason reminding me of the Black Knight in Monty Python's "Holy Grail". I half-expected Hakuhou yo retort "What are you going to do, BLEED all over me?" Instead, he said Toyonoshima was always a dangerous rival and was moving quite well.

They are slated to meet on day 1.

the other "unnamed" rikishi were Tosayutaka who had 5 matches with Hakuho, then after Toyonoshima Kaisei had 3 matches with him and then did butsukari