Natsu 2015 Basho Talk (spoiler alert!)

[orandashoho]

There are enough chances for the veterans to stay in Makuuchi and they've proven that they are clever enough to pick their fights. Not sure if Aminishiki's brave try to topple Kisenosato today has helped his knees, but it certainly showed that he is not a pushover.

[Tenshinhan]

If you believe the press, Terunofuji (IF he goes 14-1 and Yusho)

He shouldn't think about this too much. Just two more 10-5 records (now and in Nagoya) might be enough to become an Ozeki (and this is a bit more realistic).

[dingo]

Seems like Aminishiki's gameplan is more than just being a walkover for the sanyaku. That was a good bout with Kisenosato yesterday.

I'm also liking Kaisei this basho. He's lower on the banzuke than usual so the wins he's getting should not be a surprise, but he seems to be quite motivated this basho.

[krindel]

Did someone put something interesting in the west chikara-mizu? Seven out of seven so far for the west side!

[Taigiin khuu]

I don't understand that final bout initial decision. An incredible throw, why the rematch. Costs kinboshi money and likely also some later yusho excitement. And the the lack of mono-ii for the Kisenosato - Tochinoshin bout.. so frustrating.

Edited May 13, 2015 by Taigiin khuu

[Itachiyama]

How could they call a Torinoashi!!!!!????????

[Itachiyama]

Terrible job by the Shinpan!!!

[Tenshinhan]

How could they call a Torinoashi!!!!!????????

Hopefully, Harumafuji won't say something like: "Even a child could see that I had won. Why was there a rematch?"

[orandashoho]

How could they call a Torinoashi!!!!!????????

Hopefully, Harumafuji won't say something like: "Even a child could see that I had won. Why was there a rematch?"

I have great confidence that Harumafuji won't comment like that.

[CT3*]

Interesting day of sumo!

Amuru seems to have finally settled into lower Maegashira. Good start for him. Endo is having a bad start and probably shouldn't even be competing. But he might be able to pick up a win tomorrow against Gagamaru.

It isn't shown in Kintamayama's daily digest, but the Terunofuji/Ichinojo bout took a while to start. Seemed like Ichinojo was playing mind games at the line to disrupt Terunofuji's flow, but it didn't work. Terunofuji was all business.

This current crop of Ozekis make me shake my head sometimes. What an inconsistent bunch! For some reason, I sensed that Aminishiki was gonna henka Geeku and that's just what he did. Goeido looked like he didn't even belong on the dohyo with Osunaarashi today. Once there was separation between the two, Goeido didn't seem to have a Plan B. And I thought the Kisenosato/Tochinoshin decision was correct...but a monoii wouldn't have hurt.

Looked to me like Harumafuji clearly beat Sadanoumi the first time.

The moments after the Hakuho/Toyonoshima bout made me laugh out loud. After Toyonoshima went flying off the dohyo, Hakuho stood there for a second and then looked around the ringside seats as if to say, "Did ya'll see that? Pretty good, eh?"

Looking forward to tomorrow's clashes between Terunofuji/Tochinoshin, Ichinojo/Kotoshogiku and Harumafuji/Osunaarashi!

[Fukurou]

Endo is having a bad start and probably shouldn't even be competing. But he might be able to pick up a win tomorrow against Gagamaru.

Although it wasn't so apparent on day 4, it's been making me hurt watching Endo just walk, let alone do sumo. It looks like he's been putting as little weight as possible on that leg, using it just for balance more often than not during matches.

[Mongolith]

Sad seeing Joker and Endo looking that together they would at best have one set of healthy legs. I wish more sumos would be willing to drop down and recover like Shin. Seeing Goeido suck like usual, Geeku rush in blindly, and Kise blow a Yusho opening is just par for the course. At this rate Goeido just getting DD at Oz (even just 10) may be the highlight of his Ozeki career.

Edited May 13, 2015 by Mongolith

[Gurowake]

Harumafuji was clearly the aggressor in the original bout and I believed should have been ruled the winner. I'm not surprised at the torinaoshi decision, though; I'm thinking they assumed that Harumafuji would easily win if they had a rematch and not have to have their match decided by a close bout. Oops.

[Gurowake]

In Jonokuchi, Ura beat Daiki in a bout that may have been for the Jk Yusho. I'm a bit surprised at that, given that Daiki has multiple amateur championships and my impression was that Ura just does a lot of spectactular-looking sumo and isn't necessarily on par with the top collegiates. It's just one match though; Nagao beat Takagi in their first basho, and a year later Takagi is in the Makushita joi while Nagao is still in Sandanme.

[CT3*]

Here is a better look at the Terunofuji/Ichinojo bout. Might explain why Terunofuji gave a little extra shove at the end...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzuLsIsbZx8

[I am the Yokozuna]

On NHK broadcast it was clear that Kisenosato fell/touched the dohyo long before any part of the Tochinoshin's body was out of it. So, monoii was unnecessary. The explanation on the Harumafuji's first bout was related, in my memory, to the fact that the back of his feet turned against the dohyo when Sadonoumi was already in shinitai position. On other hand, quite surprised with the Egyptian choice of what to do with his hands. And on yusho race - unless it is mathematically impossible for Hakuho to not win it, it is always his to lose. One, two, three loses would not harm him any big time since all others would lose some as well.

[Highway]

Wow, I rarely comment on gyoji decisions, but it seemed like there were two big ones called wrong today. Kisenosato v Tochinoshin should have been a re-do, it seemed way too close for anyone to decide there was a clear winner there. But even more so Harumafuji - Sadanoumi -- in the first bout the latter's body clearly touched the ground first, I mean it wasn't even nearly as close as the Kisenosato match. So two big decisions that could be deciding for the cup at the end...

[bettega]

Some dance moves from Osuna today, ahn? :)

[Kishinoyama]

Harumafuji vs Sadonoumi - Apparently video replay is not being used or if it is being used, someone needs to have their vision checked.

[Asashosakari]

In Jonokuchi, Ura beat Daiki in a bout that may have been for the Jk Yusho. I'm a bit surprised at that, given that Daiki has multiple amateur championships and my impression was that Ura just does a lot of spectactular-looking sumo and isn't necessarily on par with the top collegiates. It's just one match though; Nagao beat Takagi in their first basho, and a year later Takagi is in the Makushita joi while Nagao is still in Sandanme.

[Asashosakari]

I'm seriously confused that anybody is complaining about the decision to call for a rematch after a bout where this happened:

"Who lands first" has never mattered when both rikishi are launching each other in the air like that.

Harumafuji was fortunate that his last-ditch throw managed to flip Sadanoumi over completely, normally that type of backpedalling results in only the Harumafuji-position rikishi going airborne, with the opponent dropping to his knee or something and getting declared the winner outright via shinitai.

Edited May 14, 2015 by Asashosakari

[specialweek 2]

Both dead in that frame. Slow Mo replay would indicate 12 to 15 cm separated them when Sada hit the ground. Judges decided they both were in the act of throwing each other so their bodies were in similar dead body status. Rematch.

[808morgan]

What do we call this? :-D

[Naganoyama]

It's a well-known Egyptian hypnosis technique.

[Itachiyama]

"Who lands first" has never mattered when both rikishi are launching each other in the air like that.

Interesting, never heard about this special rule!!