Hatsu Yusho for Baruto!

[Treblemaker]

Good for the Big Guy! Looked focused and determined this basho. He's come a long way from the guy who was swung around and dumped like a picnic basket by some shorter, lighter Mongolian guy exactly two years ago.

[Jaak]

More ozeki starts (first 10 basho):

Kotomitsuki - debut 10:5, 1 makekoshi (2:10:3), 4x 8:7, 1x 9:6, 2x 10:5, 2x 11:4

Tochiazuma - debut 13:2Y, 2 missed basho, 3 makekoshi (3:2:10, 0:6:9 and 7:8), 2x 8:7, 2x 10:5, 1x 13:2Y

Kaio - debut 11:4, 2 makekoshi (4:5:6 and 0:4:11), 1x 9:6, 2x 10:5, 2x 11:4, 1x 12:3, 2x 13:2Y.

For comparison, the recent yokozunas - the length of ozeki career.

Hakuho - 7 basho

Asashoryu - 3 basho

Musashimaru - 32 basho

Wakanohana - 29 basho

Takanohana - 11 basho

Akebono - 4 basho

Asahifuji - 17 basho

Onokuni - 13 basho

Hokutoumi - 5 basho

Futahaguro - 4 basho.

[Achiyama]

So this is what's gonna happen: they'll push Baruto to Yokozuna within the next 4 or 5 bashos, and give Kakuryu the free Ozeki spot.

There is no such thing as a free ozeki spot. Except for two which must be at all times on the banzuke, but even this can be a yokozuna too. I bet if Kakuryu gets 35 wins in three basho he will get promoted to ozeki, even if all current ozeki stay on their rank.

I totally agree with Doitsuyama, why not have 6 Ozeki, if Kakuryu completes the rule for wins in 3 consecutive basho? I don't know whether it happened in the past to have 6 Ozeki, but there was time when there were 3 and even 4 Yokozuna in a basho.

[Achiyama]

a baruto-yusho is not the worst thing to happen in ozumo

a kotooshu-yusho would have been worse......but just by a tiny margin.....

i cannot believe that one ot those stumbling baby-giants can get a yusho

I don't think Baruto is a stumbling baby giant. For the record.

Gernobono is talking total bullsh$t. How can you belittle the achievements of others? Is this jealousy or hatred - i don't know? You must be proud, man, that another representative of the European Union became a Yusho winner.

And for big Baruto? Congrats and go for the Zensho. It will be interesting on Senshuraku.

Moderator Notice

Please try and direct comments and remarks to the point other posters made, and refrain from cursing and insults if at all possible. While recent developments are exciting and have emotional impact, let's try and emulate the sumo maxim of starting and ending with respect.

Edited January 21, 2012 by Otokonoyama

[Achiyama]

I'm curious, what's wrong with Baruto winning the yusho? he seems pretty worthy of the rank of Ozeki to me at least, i can't imagine many rikishi looking forward to take him on, the man is a powerhouse, so why shouldn't he win?

Gernobono has a slight bias against (mostly Europe/Russia-based) rikishi with bad fundamentals. (Sign of approval...)

Well, as long as it's slight..

I don't understand what "rikishi with bad fundamentals" means? Can such a rikishi still hold the record for fastest progress to Ozeki (starting from Jonokuchi)?

[wanderer]

Asashoryu recently declared Baruto as Yokozuna in waiting. "It is in arms reach if he wants to. All he need is a little fire in him" he lamented.

[Treblemaker]

Asashoryu recently declared Baruto as Yokozuna in waiting. "It is in arms reach if he wants to. All he need is a little fire in him" he lamented.

... And frankly, he seems to be further on track of any of the Ozeki to accomplish this. And he's better equipped than HF. And more consistent than Osh. (Who, I admit, looked great this basho.) So, yeah, he's definitely up to the job, but only if Hakuho has another bummer of a basho in March. In a playoff between the two, Hak has far more experience and my shekels would be on him.

[Asojima]

Asashoryu recently declared Baruto as Yokozuna in waiting. "It is in arms reach if he wants to. All he need is a little fire in him" he lamented.

... And frankly, he seems to be further on track of any of the Ozeki to accomplish this. And he's better equipped than HF. And more consistent than Osh. (Who, I admit, looked great this basho.) So, yeah, he's definitely up to the job, but only if Hakuho has another bummer of a basho in March. In a playoff between the two, Hak has far more experience and my shekels would be on him.

He does not have to beat Hakuho to get the rope. A 14-1 jun-yusho would probably do it.