surprises

[sumofan]

Maybe this really is the only way he can get himself into "fighting mode", just like my son has his own rituals before he can sleep, for instance.

whatever his problems (i am not a shrink), i believe he still has that child-like look on the world that radiates innocence and awe.

the same look that convinces me that little children are the most sacred thing in the world.

he is just being who he is. not playing a role, and that is the reason i like him.

so far he has done well this basho, so i hope to see him at M2 or M3 on the next banzuke

[AsaMoe]

Roho will be next year Yokozuna - be sure.

Hope Roho is as optimistic as you are.

I also think, that he will rise very fast, but it would be an accomplishment to become Ozeki next year. We will see.

I even think, that Hakuho has to struggle hard, to become Ozeki next year, let alone Yokuzuna.

I believe this. Who else made Asashoryu do a cartwheel on the dohyo?

Well, with Kaio's loss yesterday and Tochiazumas injuries, no one of the present Ozeki will become Yokuzuna. I for myself believed, that Tochiazuma was the only one and i still hope, that there is a chance. But to be "pessimistic", there will be only one Yokuzuna in 2005 and maybe three in 2006.

[karlsmom]

3. Asashoryu....What is with this guy? No really. I am getting more and more convinced that he, not Kaio, is an alien. He's not human. Can't be. Everyone just forget the "Asashoryu Liberation Organization vs. the AACLU (Anti-Asashoryu Civil Liberties Union) conflict for a minute. Asashoryu has been something else lately. Well, for a year or so, actually. He is on a different plane. He has been so dominant, and so rarely in real trouble that it's boring, actually. As much as I admire an overachiever, I have a hard time watching after Chiyotaikai's match every day, because it is such an anti-climax to see Asashoryu win... again. I'm not saying I disapprove, though. Just that I am surprised that I find it boring.

My two cents on Asashoryu:

I can't say I will ever find his bouts boring just because he does dominate his opponents. The fact that he is smaller than a lot of the rikishi makes it exciting for me. He has to make his moves deliberate, he has to use his noodles (in the head) to make sure his techniques will work with the bigger, heavier rikishi. A split second of miscalculation, a lapse on his concentration, could end a bout for him. I always watch his bouts with anticipation and never take these for granted.

With the rise of bigger, younger rikishi who just seem unafraid of him - example Hakuho and Kokkai, makes me appreciate him more. In the same way that I am starting to be impressed with Ama or Kaiho, other small guys who just goes all out on every bout.

The fact that he carried almost the whole of 2004 as the lone yokozuna, I feel, is worthy of note. (Clapping wildly...)

[Taka]

Roho will be next year Yokozuna - be sure.

Hope Roho is as optimistic as you are.

I also think, that he will rise very fast, but it would be an accomplishment to become Ozeki next year. We will see.

I even think, that Hakuho has to struggle hard, to become Ozeki next year, let alone Yokuzuna.

I believe this. Who else made Asashoryu do a cartwheel on the dohyo?

Well, with Kaio's loss yesterday and Tochiazumas injuries, no one of the present Ozeki will become Yokuzuna. I for myself believed, that Tochiazuma was the only one and i still hope, that there is a chance. But to be "pessimistic", there will be only one Yokuzuna in 2005 and maybe three in 2006.

I also think, that he will rise very fast, but it would be an accomplishment to become Ozeki next year. We will see.

I even think, that Hakuho has to struggle hard, to become Ozeki next year, let alone Yokuzuna.

I don't think it will be particulary hard for Hakuho. The opponents he is beating in relative close bouts now, he will beat "much" easier in the very near future.

You can never say never and in reality it's almost too early to predict anything, but in my honest opinion i do not believe Roho is Ozeki material and certainly NOT within the next year. Like Kokkai recently did, I think he will very soon, at a high rank, meet very tough obstacles.

[Coo-cook]

You can never say never and in reality it's almost too early to predict anything, but in my honest opinion i do not believe Roho is Ozeki material and certainly NOT within the next year. Like Kokkai recently did, I think he will very soon, at a high rank, meet very tough obstacles.

I believe Roho is an Ozeki material, if not an yokozuna one.

Combination of strenght and flexibility, which Kokkai lacks at moment.

Both Roho and Kokkai should refine their technical skills.

Kisenosato also lacks some technic (so far he's been too classic).

He loses bouts which other guys would've won relatively easy(against Kotooshu,for example).

Kotooshu is very technical for a tall guy.But, he's not powerful enough.

Often, his height becomes a rescue factor.

[Ossetian Yokozuna]

First of all - I lose my fist prediction ( 0 - 1 ) (Applauding...) , but have 14 else.

Tomorrow result Roho - Kotooshu is obvious. :-)

[Taizeniki]

Should it really be true that he is "special",  and it is not just trying to get the attention, then life sure won't be easy for him at times, and I really admire what he has achieved up to now. Maybe this really is the only way he can get himself into "fighting mode"

i think it is clear that his pre-fight displays don't seem to be insincere or driven by some need to please the crowd, but rather a genuine ritural. could be that he really does have some kind of social miscue issues, it's just that from the first time I saw him I thought his affect just seemed a little skewed, that's all. thanks for the thoughtful and perceptive post.

Edited November 24, 2004 by Taizeniki

[Fujisan]

Asasekiryu and Kyokutenho have demolished my scores in the pre-basho games this time-

Thanks alot guys!

[Xris]

Asasekiryu and Kyokutenho have demolished my scores in the pre-basho games this time-

Thanks alot guys!

Same for me (Applauding...)

[Kishinoyama]

And he almost put a hand down in the first one....

just teasing :-D

(Applauding...) (Holiday feeling...)

[Guest Guy Caballero]

You can never say never and in reality it's almost too early to predict anything, but in my honest opinion i do not believe Roho is Ozeki material and certainly NOT within the next year. Like Kokkai recently did, I think he will very soon, at a high rank, meet very tough obstacles.

I believe Roho is an Ozeki material, if not an yokozuna one.

Combination of strenght and flexibility, which Kokkai lacks at moment.

Both Roho and Kokkai should refine their technical skills.

Kisenosato also lacks some technic (so far he's been too classic).

He loses bouts which other guys would've won relatively easy(against Kotooshu,for example).

Kotooshu is very technical for a tall guy.But, he's not powerful enough.

Often, his height becomes a rescue factor.

I agree. Roho has future ozeki written all over him.

Kotooshu will never get that high, but he's fun to watch. I do think he'll get to sanyaku, though.

[Kishinoyama]

You can never say never and in reality it's almost too early to predict anything, but in my honest opinion i do not believe Roho is Ozeki material and certainly NOT within the next year. Like Kokkai recently did, I think he will very soon, at a high rank, meet very tough obstacles.

I believe Roho is an Ozeki material, if not an yokozuna one.

Combination of strenght and flexibility, which Kokkai lacks at moment.

Both Roho and Kokkai should refine their technical skills.

Kisenosato also lacks some technic (so far he's been too classic).

He loses bouts which other guys would've won relatively easy(against Kotooshu,for example).

Kotooshu is very technical for a tall guy.But, he's not powerful enough.

Often, his height becomes a rescue factor.

I agree. Roho has future ozeki written all over him.

Kotooshu will never get that high, but he's fun to watch. I do think he'll get to sanyaku, though.

He gave Kaio a great match today. I know he got Kaio's attention. (Neener, neener...)

[Itachi]

Feeblemonji and Kyokuselesszan are just both apathetic and useless this basho, so terribly disappointing, they are the true elevators of makuuchi, excellent one basho, painful to watch the next (Sign of disapproval)

Tamakasuga not far behind.

Jumonji hasn't had a lot of experience at a higher rank than he is at now. It took him a long time to stick in Juryo let alone stop yo-yoing out of Makuuchi.

Yes, Kyokushuzan is an elevator cowboy who I believe purposefully tanks it good so he can have a nice easy successful basho now and then from the lower half of the division.

Jumonji, on the other hand, has never had an outstanding record as far as I recall and has never been all that close to sanyaku in all his time in makuuchi so I can't see calling him an elevator rikishi. He has inched his way up, 3 steps forward, 2 steps back, for a long time now and I am very pleased to see him in makuuchi at all. I never expected so much from him.

How does he compare to Buyuzan? Never as much success, but seems about the same level on average this year.

I hope Jumonji can avoid dropping into Juryo frequently a la Otsukasa but I certainly don't expect him to breach the sanyaku ranks.

[Kishinoyama]

Yes, Kyokushuzan is an elevator cowboy who I believe purposefully tanks it good so he can have a nice easy successful basho now and then from the lower half of the division.

I agree with this 100%. And when he gets promoted and has to fight the top guys... (Sign of disapproval)

[Otokonoyama]

Yes, Kyokushuzan is an elevator cowboy who I believe purposefully tanks it good so he can have a nice easy successful basho now and then from the lower half of the division.

I agree with this 100%. And when he gets promoted and has to fight the top guys... (Sign of disapproval)

You're both right on the money there (Neener, neener...)

Shoes-on has the skills to be M4 to M1 consistently. One, I think he's still miffed about the verbal spanking he received fom The Kyokai in the late '90s regarding his 'circus sumo'...and has decided to just play in Makuuchi, drawing a decent salary and showing his stuff once or twice a year just to prove he's still got it. (Eating...)

I doubt he could remain at komusubi for long should he rise that high again, but his earlier rise to that rank was no fluke.

[Kishinoyama]

I agree with this 100%. And when he gets promoted and has to fight the top guys... (Sign of disapproval)

You're both right on the money there (Eating...)

Shoes-on has the skills to be M4 to M1 consistently. One, I think he's still miffed about the verbal spanking he received fom The Kyokai in the late '90s regarding his 'circus sumo'...and has decided to just play in Makuuchi, drawing a decent salary and showing his stuff once or twice a year just to prove he's still got it. ;-)

I doubt he could remain at komusubi for long should he rise that high again, but his earlier rise to that rank was no fluke.

He has been an ordinary rikishi since the 'dressing-down'. What a shame... (Neener, neener...)

[Azumashida]

Shuzan is actually going for the highest number of basho as maegashira in a row. That's why he doesn't even try to get to the sanyaku ranks. Once he becomes the "longest lasting" maegashira, he will start destroying the opposition and become yokozuna. (Shaking head...)

Edited November 25, 2004 by Azumaryu

[kotooshu_bulgaria]

First of all - I lose my fist prediction ( 0 - 1 ) (Crowned...) , but have 14 else.

Tomorrow result Roho - Kotooshu is obvious. (Whistling...)

Just wanted to say hi to my friend from Ossetia. Roho-Kotooshu was obvious to me too, just in the other direction. We got a good rivalry here though, Kotooshu-Roho, these two guys will rise to the top together, but noone knows how high.

And hi to the other guys too, especially those who said that Kotooshu isn't powerful enough and won't make it past sanyaku. Don't forget he is younger than Roho and he will put on weight, especially this winter, and will come back over 150kg in Hatsu basho. Go Kotooshu! (Applauding...) (Shaking head...) (Punk rocker...)

[QttP]

Shuzan is actually going for the highest number of basho as maegashira in a row. That's why he doesn't even try to get to the sanyaku ranks. Once he becomes the "longest lasting" maegashira, he will start destroying the opposition and become yokozuna. (Crowned...)

YEAH!!! (Shaking head...)

Oh, and it took me a while to read it all, but now that I have, thank you, Iwagakki, for a very well-written and interesting post.

If I may comment on some of the things.

Musoyama: unfortunately I haven't been able to witness the time when Musoyama was really good. But even in his later self you saw such glimpses of power from him that you wouldn't believe. However it was clear that he just can't anymore. Therefore I'm not sad to see him go and not surprised at all. I'm happy he managed to leave with some grace, as ozeki.

Kaio: the only rikishi that is stronger than Musoyama. I guess he just has a bigger fuel tank than most, and it allows him to overpower most of the guys he fights with even now.

Takamisakari: his antics have been annoying to me for a while now. His completely undeserved popularity also (hype, right?). But he is a good maegashira, no doubt about that. Let the man do what he does, you cannot deny that he's a character.

Kokkai: stuck indeed. Kokkai has something that a rising star shouldn't have and that's unbeatable opponents, like Kotomitsuki, Dejima... Now with second makekoshi in a row, he will return to mid-maegashira and maybe make his way up again. Still, no reason to panic for Kokkai fans. History knows so many examples of those who rose quickly to fall quickly and those who went back and forth before settled at the top.

Chiyotaikai: your "bully who got confused when a bigger bully came" theory is very interesting indeed. I'll have to consider it for my Ph.D. thesis (Punk rocker...) Still Taikai is good to have around, although we might not have him around for very long. He seems weaker physically. Maybe he also had taken his Haru basho tough - I mean talking about bad luck - have one of your most successful runs (13-0 start, mind you), at the same time someone else is having his (very often 13-0 clinches yusho). And losing to Kaio again, despite the latter being out of the race already. That could be the moment when he stopped caring. At least if you look at his results from then on, it's clearly the turning point.

Roho: I'm afraid that what happened to Kokkai may happen to him. He seems to be capable of good winning streaks, but ultimately falls on a losing streak. 8-1 to 8-4 now. And it's not just because of the opponents. Besides Kaio, he hasn't fought anyone who is really in a different class. "Future ozeki/yokozuna"? Let's just say that the road doesn't seem too clear.

[AsaMoe]

Tomorrow result Roho - Kotooshu is obvious. 

Yes, obvious, but the way round. (Shaking head...)

Ok, i knew the result.

[kotooshu_bulgaria]

Tomorrow result Roho - Kotooshu is obvious.

Edited November 25, 2004 by kotooshu_bulgaria

[Onnagumo]

[ummmmm you think Taka is "special"? I just thought he was almost or is blind without his glasses on and this lead to some of his antics. You really think he is mentally impaired? Or am I not thinking what you are thinking?  ;-)

I don't know what "mentally impaired" precisely means (as you probably know, I'm not a native English speaker), so I don't know if I should answer yes or no. But I'll try to explain what I mean.

I don't doubt Takamisakari's intelligence at all. Of course not, he is an ex-college rikishi. But there is more to it than just intelligence. It is hard to get a good idea of what a person is like when you don't know him personally, but apart from his antics on and around the dohyo, he seems extremely naive to me. (that is, if the things I read about him are true, of course).

Some people are highly intelligent, but still they can be, sort of, "socially handicapped", and that can make life hard for them at times. I know such children, and he makes me think of them. I sometimes wonder if he might be like them, more or less. That is all.

Of course I don't know in what ways it influences your behaviour if you are nearly blind. I know only one blind person, a twelve year old boy. He moves a bit peculiar; he has a slightly odd walk, he usually keeps his eyes closed, and he often keeps his head tilted to one side. He probably doesn't realise we don't do that, I think. But when I talk to him, he sounds exactly like most other children I know.

To me it sounds plausible that 'Sakari's being so shortsighted is the reason for a lot of the things he does; I can imagine that it also influences your social behaviour, when you can't read other people's "body language". But does that also explain e.g. why he seems to cry so easily, or why he answered "women with big breasts" when he was asked what kind of women he liked? I honestly don't know.

But whatever it is, I like Takamisakari, and I hope he'll be around for a long time.

Edited November 26, 2004 by Onnagumo

[Ossetian Yokozuna]

kotooshu Bulgaria - my congratulations. And thanks for moral suppot.

[Kishinoyama]

I don't doubt Takamisakari's intelligence at all. Of course not, he is an ex-college rikishi. But there is more to it than just intelligence. It is hard to get a good idea of what a person is like when you don't know him personally, but apart from his antics on and around the dohyo, he seems extremely naive to me. (that is, if the things I read about him are true, of course).

Some people are highly intelligent, but still they can be, sort of, "socially handicapped", and that can make life hard for them at times. I know such children, and he makes me think of them. I sometimes wonder if he might be like them, more or less. That is all.

Of course I don't know in what ways it influences your behaviour if you are nearly blind. I know only one blind person, a twelve year old boy. He moves a bit peculiar; he has a slightly odd walk, he usually keeps his eyes closed, and he often keeps his head tilted to one side. He probably doesn't realise we don't do that, I think. But when I talk to him, he sounds exactly like most other children I know.

To me it sounds plausible that his being so shortsighted is the reason for a lot of the things he does; I can imagine that it also influences your social behaviour, when you can't read other people's "body language". But does that also explain e.g. why he seems to cry so easily, or why he answered "women with big breasts" when he was asked what kind of women he liked? I honestly don't know.

But whatever it is, I like Takamisakari, and I hope he'll be around for a long time.

Sounds like Asperger's Syndrome or a very high functioning Autism..... I have a little experience dealing with that..... :-P Sorry for going off topic.... ;-)

[Guest Guy Caballero]

Sounds like Asperger's Syndrome or a very high functioning Autism..... I have a little experience dealing with that.....  :-P Sorry for going off topic....  ;-)

I think it's all theatrics, just to get a rise out of the crowd, like that dumbass Kitazakura and his salt throwing.

I'm sick of the guy myself. He's a rank-and-filer all the way, but he gets treated like an ozeki going for yokozuna promotion every bout.