Intai poll

[Burainoan]

Well, it's been about a month since our last poll, so i figured we needed a new one. this is the best i could come up with in a short time, and with Kotoryu's intai and Asanowaka's probable intai, i figured it would be a little timely.

the list is somewhat limited, but i decided to go with the biggest names, hence the absence of over-30s like Wakanoyama, Otsukasa and Yotsukasa, Gojoro, Tochinohana, the guy who looks like Kaiho (don't they all? (Whistling...) ), the Zakura brothers, Nishinoshima, etc.

Anyway, my choice is Kotonowaka, who will have to retire after the Aki or Kyushu unless he wants to have an interim Sadogatake Oyakata. beyond him, Chiyo is the next most obvious if he is unable to get his KK this basho, or Kaio if his arm injury doesn't heal. but i'm betting both will be fine. Kaio will likely be gone sometime next year, but i think he's got a little gas in the tank yet.

Edited April 25, 2005 by Burainoan

[Jejima]

I said Kotonowaka. I think there will come a time within the next 12 months when he is in a position to drop down to Juryo. He will then retire in preference, and will be ready to take over the heya (Whistling...)

Having said that, any of the current Ozeki could beat him to it.... I can't see Kaio continuing as a Sekiwake. I don't think Tochiazuma would continue if he fell out of sanyaku. Not so sure about Chiyotaikai, althuogh I reckon his oyakata might force him to retire if he also dropped out of the joi-jin (Annoyed...)

[ilovesumo]

Takamisakari - slapping himself to much> "brain quake" (Hitting with chair...) ;-) ;-)

JOKE for sure. (Whistling...)

But...I don't want to say "Kotonowaka" is next- that feels bad (Being unsure...).

Edited May 1, 2005 by ilovesumo

[AsaMoe]

I am much surprised and delighted, that Tochiazuma is not on your list.

[Asashosakari]

On the other hand, I'm surprised that Toki is on the list, since he's really in the same class as Tochinohana, Wakanoyama etc. Then again, that gave me an easy choice for this poll. ;-)

[Ryukaze]

On the other hand, I'm surprised that Toki is on the list, since he's really in the same class as Tochinohana, Wakanoyama etc. Then again, that gave me an easy choice for this poll. ;-)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Toki retire!!?? Noooooooo way right as he's in the prime of all his might and glory???!!! overwhelming opponents left and right with his powerfull tsuki attack and his ever unconquerable fighting spirit??? No way man never Toki till I "D.I.E" biaaaaaatch! -

p.s. Im thinking of having the kanji for toki tattoed on me, maybe one on each buttcheek whaddya think????

[Yubiquitoyama]

On the other hand, I'm surprised that Toki is on the list, since he's really in the same class as Tochinohana, Wakanoyama etc. Then again, that gave me an easy choice for this poll. B-)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As the apparently only other person voting Toki, I completely agree. I kind of think that every rikishi currently a sekitori should be included in a poll like this though. I'm not entirely certain whom I would vote for in that case, but I'm leaning towards Kitazakura. I think it might go fast downwards from now on, maybe very fast... :-S

[Asashosakari]

As the apparently only other person voting Toki, I completely agree. I kind of think that every rikishi currently a sekitori should be included in a poll like this though. I'm not entirely certain whom I would vote for in that case, but I'm leaning towards Kitazakura. I think it might go fast downwards from now on, maybe very fast...

Edited April 25, 2005 by Asashosakari

[aderechelsea]

Since Assanowaka is not on the list and i hate the "other" option in polls i will vote for Taikai cause he will lose his rank this basho :-S

[Asashosakari]

hey! i am a big name! 12 letters yo!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You were a bigger name before this. :-S

[Jejima]

Since Assanowaka is not on the list and i hate the "other" option in polls i will vote for Taikai cause he will lose his rank this basho

Edited April 26, 2005 by Jejima

[QttP]

Chiyotaikai if he goes makekoshi in Natsu, otherwise Dejima.

[aderechelsea]

Since Assanowaka is not on the list and i hate the "other" option in polls i will vote for Taikai cause he will lose his rank this basho

[Burainoan]

Well, he's intai now.

i didn't include Tochi because i figured he would likely continue for a while even if he were demoted, while Chiyo and Kaio especially would be very unlikely to do so. and speaking of such, it is interesting to see how quickly Chiyo has caught up with Kotonowaka, a guy who is virtually guaranteed to be out within four to six months. the basho ain't even started yet, and already the sharks are circling.

personally, i think he's gonna make it. he does that, and he's at least guaranteed the #3 all-time longevity slot all to himself.

[Yubiquitoyama]

Well, he's intai now.

i didn't include Tochi because i figured he would likely continue for a while even if he were demoted, while Chiyo and Kaio especially would be very unlikely to do so. 

Do you think so?

Personally I agree that Kaio no doubt will retire when he loses his Ozeki rank, but as for Chiyotaikai and Tochiazuma I'm not so sure. I suspect that Chiyotaikai might stay one basho to try to get back up immediately if he was to lose rank and of course the same for Tochiazuma. But if they, either of them, missed that opportunity, I don't think they would stay around any more. But I suppose that could well be a topic for a completely different poll...

[Burainoan]

I'll grant there is a reasonable chance that Chiyo might go one basho as a sekiwake to try to get his rank back, but i think he'd retire if/when he got loss number six. Kaio wouldn't even bother. (and the way he's looking so far i kinda hope he sits this one out, or we may find out the answer to that sooner than expected.)

i disagree on Tochi, though. based on the comments Tamanoi Oyakata was making about "fighting his way back up" back when his shoulder was looking really bad, i think he would continue if he lost it. besides, if you consider his comparatively short tenure and lack of major accomplishments - okay, two yusho, but not exactly Kaio/Chiyo level - it would not seem especially odd for him to continue. of course, after Nami, i guess even Chiyo could continue....

Edited May 1, 2005 by Burainoan

[Burainoan]

On the other hand, I'm surprised that Toki is on the list, since he's really in the same class as Tochinohana, Wakanoyama etc. Then again, that gave me an easy choice for this poll. ;-)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Meant to hit this before....

i put Toki on the list because he is easily the most popular/well-known of the more senior "second-tier' rikishi, and also because he has - correct me if i'm wrong - accomplished more than any of the others like him in that group.

[Asashosakari]

i put Toki on the list because he is easily the most popular/well-known of the more senior "second-tier' rikishi, and also because he has - correct me if i'm wrong - accomplished more than any of the others like him in that group.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd say at least Wakanoyama and Kaiho compare favorably to Toki - both have more sekitori basho, both have sansho, and both are otherwise more accomplished (e.g. Kaiho has a kinboshi and Wakanoyama has Juryo yushos; Toki has neither). All three of course topped out with a sole Komusubi basho, so Toki isn't ahead of them there either. Likewise, the only category in which Tochinohana lags Toki is longevity as a sekitori, but as far as career highlights go, he's also at least Toki's equal.

In other words, besides his admittedly larger fanbase, there's really no reason to rank him higher than middle of the field among the current veteran rikishi.

[Yubiquitoyama]

I'll grant there is a reasonable chance that Chiyo might go one basho as a sekiwake to try to get his rank back, but i think he'd retire if/when he got loss number six.  Kaio wouldn't even bother.  (and the way he's looking so far i kinda hope he sits this one out, or we may find out the answer to that sooner than expected.)

i disagree on Tochi, though.  based on the comments Tamanoi Oyakata was making about "fighting his way back up" back when his shoulder was looking really bad, i think he would continue if he lost it.  besides, if you consider his comparatively short tenure and lack of major accomplishments - okay, two yusho, but not exactly Kaio/Chiyo level - it would not seem especially odd for him to continue.  of course, after Nami, i guess even Chiyo could continue....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lack of major accomplishments... Seriously... The guy is probably among the 6-7 strongest rikishi only to reach Ozeki in 50 years and has 2 yusho to show for it. What would he have to do to get some credit around here... Nami is about the same level as Tochiazuma and not way out in front as you seem to hint at...

[Jesinofuji]

I voted Toki. He's pretty low on the Banzuke.

[Sasanishiki]

Personally, I think Tochiazuma would keep going. His father still has another 4-5 years before retirement, and the heya doesn't have a sekitori prospect in sight. They have 21 guys (according to their website) but only 5 or so of those are under 20. Mostly there are a lot of late 20s rikishi, some of whom have made it to makushita but noone who really seems to be likely to kick on in the next couple of years. Tochiazuma is bound to take over the heya, but I don't see him doing that until his dad is almost ready to leave. I think the ozeki would battle on, particularly as his sumo has been better lately. He would still be ableto hold a sanyaku or M1 rank for a while yet. Of course, the only variable is his body and susceptibility to injury...

[ilovesumo]

I can't understand the [31.71%] for Taikai...

Couldn't he go on like Dejima etc. ? Sure he isn't that young anymore but retirement?

[Burainoan]

i put Toki on the list because he is easily the most popular/well-known of the more senior "second-tier' rikishi, and also because he has - correct me if i'm wrong - accomplished more than any of the others like him in that group.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd say at least Wakanoyama and Kaiho compare favorably to Toki - both have more sekitori basho, both have sansho, and both are otherwise more accomplished (e.g. Kaiho has a kinboshi and Wakanoyama has Juryo yushos; Toki has neither). All three of course topped out with a sole Komusubi basho, so Toki isn't ahead of them there either. Likewise, the only category in which Tochinohana lags Toki is longevity as a sekitori, but as far as career highlights go, he's also at least Toki's equal.

In other words, besides his admittedly larger fanbase, there's really no reason to rank him higher than middle of the field among the current veteran rikishi.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I disagree with you strongly on Tochinohana. Toki's been a solid mid+ maegashira for most of his career, while Tochi has barely made a dent in the top division; how many people outside of hardcore fans have even heard of him? (i do like the guy, but let's face it, except for his first couple of makuuchi basho, he hasn't done a whole lot as a sekitori.)

i will grant your points about Wakanoyama and Kaiho; indeed, those are the names i thought most about before choosing Toki. however, to me, the key here was indeed his "admittedly larger fanbase." my thinking was to choose the one fairly successful "second tier" rikishi whose retirement would be the biggest news, who would be significant even to casual fans, and i think Toki is it. (with Kaiho in second place.)

interesting that no one - including me - said Tochinonada for this one, but i guess he's generally thought to have at least another good couple of years or so in him....

I'll grant there is a reasonable chance that Chiyo might go one basho as a sekiwake to try to get his rank back, but i think he'd retire if/when he got loss number six.

Edited May 2, 2005 by Burainoan

[Kishinoyama]

I'm glad no one has voted for Baruto, yet...... (Struck by lightning...)

[Kasugaran]

Asa is going to shock everyone and take up professional knitting...