Basho Talk - Hatsu Basho 2016 +++ Spoiler Alert! +++

[Asashosakari]

The way koreyori-sanyaku is set for day 15, you have the following:

Kotoshogiku vs Goeido

Kakuryu vs Kisenosato

Harumafuji vs Hakuho

If Terunofuji were still in then he would have been Giku's opponent but obviously that's not happening. So there pretty much is no avoiding him.

They could make it Kotoshogiku-Tochiozan instead and give Giku some other opponent for Day 14, but that's not much of an improvement on paper (unless Tochiozan is 7-7 at that point), and would also be an obvious snub towards Goeido, which doesn't seem like the done thing if there's no pressing need for it. Not to mention that the other top-ranked yusho contenders did get to face Goeido and one could argue it would be unfair to Kotoshogiku if he's given a different opponent just because Goeido's haplessness is now more evident than it was a few days ago.

[Morty]

Giku just is finally having the right combination of headspace and physical health. It's a wonderful thing that happens in sports. If this were a work and I had the book, I would have saved the Hakuho/Giku match for senshuraku. Then I would have had the show on tape delay so that way a competing program could leak the news that Kotoshogiku wins and derisively comment that "that'll put butts in seats" so that way EVERYONE TURNS THE CHANNEL to see it happen.

Very clever :-)

[Monnodo]

Giku just is finally having the right combination of headspace and physical health. It's a wonderful thing that happens in sports. If this were a work and I had the book, I would have saved the Hakuho/Giku match for senshuraku. Then I would have had the show on tape delay so that way a competing program could leak the news that Kotoshogiku wins and derisively comment that "that'll put butts in seats" so that way EVERYONE TURNS THE CHANNEL to see it happen.

Mankind deserves this to happen! It truly would be one of the greatest moments in the history of our sport!

[Kurikara]

Can someone recommend me an alternative youtube channel in case Kintamayama can't make it? (on that note, a huge thanks to Kintamayama for doing these videos, they are integral parts of my morning in basho weeks!)

[wanderer]

All I can say is that Giku beat the three Yoks fair and square. So, Mongolians are definitely not in the yacho game. If Giku goes zensho con-theorists have to blame Japanese rikishi.

[WAKATAKE]

Sadogatake beya will be able to celebrate at least one yusho this basho as Kotokamatani goes 7-0 to win the jonokuchi division in his first pro basho. Needless to say the son of Kotonowaka was surrounded by the media after his match. Not that I think it will happen, but the current record for most consecutive wins from pro debut is 27 by Jokoryu. Perhaps he can make a run?

Edited January 22, 2016 by WAKATAKE

[Asashosakari]

And here's the 8-way playoff in makushita.

[Treblemaker]

With all the major sports getting into Analytics, looking at past records in specific situations, and applying the same sort of thing to sumo over the last year or so, there's NO way anyone predicts a Geeku yusho. Wasn't this guy on the ropes, both in rank and health not too long ago? Now, don't get me wrong - I'm NOT saying things are pre-determined, or that this was "in the works" (and the next person that refers to me as a ST - Ancient Aliens - Crystal Skull - Backscratching Theorist gets a poke in the eye!), don't you find this scenario totally out of left field? A little weird? Geeku was the LAST person I would have put a shekel on to even come close to a yusho, much less being on the cusp of Not Losing It.

I mean, I hope he gets to hoist the trophy and wave the flag. It would be a refreshing, welcome sight rather than all those boring Hak, Kak, HF yushos. (Like Harry Potter movies - you've seen one, you've seen them all...) I just wonder: Did The Geek get that tough, mentally and physically? Or have other people become that much, for lack of a better word, unprepared? To knock off THREE Yoks in succession, and we then watch the same Yoks go on and still be dominant over other opponents (so, it doesn't LOOK like they're injured, lame of predisposed to lapses in concentration...), what's going on here?

We still have 3 days to go. While my heart's with The Geek, my money's not on him. I think we pay close attention to, not only how he does over the next few days, but how the Yoks go about their own business. How can you reconcile them getting knocked off with relative ease, and then they put up the usual epic bouts with each other, if that should happen? Know what I mean? (I don't even know what I mean.....)

[WAKATAKE]

And here's the 8-way playoff in makushita.

Just like last basho?

[WAKATAKE]

Toyohibiki finally gets his KK today, winning by a rare "ushiomotare" which hadn't been used as a winning technique in the makuuchi since 2014.

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query_bout.aspx?show_form=0&m=on&kimarite=79

[kuroimori]

How the hell could the wily veteran Aminishiki get fooled by a Kotoyuki henka?

[kuroimori]

So Ichinojo finally missed to hit the snooze button of his honbasho alarm clock.

Now someone has to break the bad news to him that the basho already ends this Sunday...

[kuroimori]

and here come them kensho banners for the (100% japanese) highlight bout of the day.

[rhyen]

And Toyonoshima brings Hakuho back into the picture.

[hamcornheinz]

I guess they fixed that too.

Edited January 22, 2016 by hamcornheinz

[WAKATAKE]

As my former college wrestling coach used to say, "It ain't over till it's over!"

[Jakusotsu]

I wouldn't be in the least surprised if Kotoshogiku loses against Goeido. Disappointed? Sure, but not surprised.

Replace Goeido with Toyonoshima.

[kuroimori]

So the yusho jitters have finally creeped up on the Geek!

Seems like Toyonoshima hasn't watched the news lately...

To me he already looked a bit hesitating just before the tachi-ai while Toyonoshima was oozing confidence.

Well, I would say the momentum has swung back to Hakuho with Harumafuji taking the role of the sniper once again.

[hamcornheinz]

C'mon Kakuryu. Do it for not your people.

[Asashosakari]

I bet the folks who think (thought?) that "Japanese vs Mongolians" trumps everything else mostly follow team sports outside of sumo.

[hamcornheinz]

I bet the folks who think (thought?) that "Japanese vs Mongolians" trumps everything else mostly follow team sports outside of sumo.

or the world cup or something like that. I get the feeling like rikishi just look at each other as rikishi, and not by nationality.

[hamcornheinz]

I always wonder what they are talking about.

"Ama touched down first"

"Yes but there is a precedent- I present Akebono vs Takanohana May 1997"

or maybe

"the news is gonna be pissed if we call a doever"

"yeah but screw the news, who are they"

"hey, my wife works in the news!"

"ah I'm sorry. We'll call a doever"

[rhyen]

Nah:

"Saschigai?"

"You know we will have to suspend Inosuke for more than 3 days well into the next tournament"

*sweat beads*

"Well, if we can't give it to Kisenosato without suspending Inosuke,let's call for tori-naoshi"

"Yeah, Kise should know what to do now that he has seen Harumafuji's tachiai"

[kuroimori]

Nah:

"Yeah, Kise should know what to do now that he has seen Harumafuji's tachiai"

LOL

[WAKATAKE]

I believe there was somebody talking about Toyonoshima letting Kotoshogiku win today so that he could help his fellow Japanese sumo wrestler win the yusho?