Vegas Day 3

[madorosumaru]

The event starts, as in the prior days, with an demostration of basic moves. Konishiki does a yeoman's job as the emcee.

The dohyo-iri follows. "Man-in Onrei" banner is up though the stands don't look filled.

Round 1 begins:

First match pits Kasugao against Hakurozan . . .

More to follow . . .

Edited October 10, 2005 by madorosumaru

[madorosumaru]

Asashoryu wins his opening match in Rd 2. Temendous ovation for the yokozuna.

Kasugao and Dejima are involved in a close one--the winner is . . . Kasugao!

Taikai is still in great form as he advances . . .

Osh bites the dust . . .?

Details to follow . . .

Edited October 9, 2005 by madorosumaru

[madorosumaru]

Rd 2 cont'd:

Hakuho shows the flexibility in his body as he ucharri'd Tokitsuumi at dohyo edge.

Takamisakari, a crowd favorite everywhere, rolls ahead . . .

Ever the resourceful technician, Ama, grabs Kokkai's leg and forces him down.

Azuma advances.

Edited October 9, 2005 by madorosumaru

[madorosumaru]

Round 3:

Winners advancing to quarter-finals:

1. Ryu

2. Toyozakura

3. Miyabiyama

4. Taikai

5. Tenho

6. Hakuho

7. Robo

8. Azuma

[madorosumaru]

Quarters:

Easy win for Ryu - yorikiri Toyozakura.

Yesterday's champ is a chump today as he is pushed out by the Wobble-Monster, Miyabi.

Anti-climatic end to Hakuho-Tenho battle as Tenho inadvertendly stepped out during an exchange of nage.

Robocop wins the crowd but Azuma the battle as the ozeki moves on.

Only four guys left!!!

[madorosumaru]

Ha! Ha! Guess who won?!

Not surprisingly, Ryu ousts Miyabi in the semis. After they get into yotsu position, Yokozuna throws his aite down with an uwate-nage.

Azuma needs to prepare for the tomoesen so Hakuho moves on to the finals. These two also get into yotsu position. Hakuho then methodically nudges Azuma toward the edge and completing the attack with a final lift (tsuri-dashi).

The Yokozuna is too quick as after a brief tachiai standoff with the two tugging a each other's arms, he escorts the younger Monglian out of the ring. One report has it as an uwate-nage. Perhaps, a little throw at the very end that forced Hakuho out.

Now, after a rest period, they will hold the ketteisen with the three highest ranking sekitori.

Edited October 10, 2005 by madorosumaru

[madorosumaru]

It's all over, ladies and gentlemen . . .

First bout of the tomoesen: Azuma vs Taikai. (East wins...)

A dashinage sends Taikai all the way out of the ring. Taikai starts off fine with a tsuppari assault, but Azuma, at dohyo giwa, thrusts him down. It is called a tsuki-otoshi instead of a dashi-nage.

Second bout: Azuma vs Ryu. (West wins...)

Yorikiri Yokozuna. It is Asashoryu all the way in this bout.

Third bout: Taikai vs Ryu (West wins...)

After some jostling, Ryu grabs the mawashi and flings the ozeki down. Uwate-nage.

Overall winner: Yokozuna Asashoryu!!! (Yusho winner...)

Wild cheers, standing ovation for the champ!!! :-D (Applauding...) :-D :-D

Hurrah! Hurrah! Banzai! (Applauding...) (Applauding...) (Applauding...)

Edited October 10, 2005 by madorosumaru

[Asojima]

It's all over, ladies and gentlemen . . .

Overall winner: Yokozuna Asashoryu!!! (Yusho winner...)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great job on the coverage, Madoro-zeki. Whudda Thunk it !?!? He recovered from two days of ignominious defeat and grabbed victory from the utter jaws of defeat, and in a gold mawashi no less !!!! What a hero !!! (Applauding...) (Sign of approval) (Applauding...) :-D :-D (Applauding...) :-D (Applauding...)

[Mark Buckton]

this almost looks like a thread on wrestlers from a part of southern Russia! So much by one man. :-D

Still, content far different - fun to read - cheers M-san. (Sign of approval)

Edited October 10, 2005 by Adachinoryu

[Kintamayama]

Attendance-Final day-9227, overall 24,795. "We can call the koen a success. If a world -renowned sports venue like Las Vegas received us with open arms, this is a great 'page' for the NSK!", said Kitanoumi rijicho.

The final throwdown:

Champ:

Edited October 10, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Interesting angle:

Edited October 11, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Asojima]

And you thought the Emperor's Cup was hard to handle !

[Kintamayama]

Asacup:

Edited October 10, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Asa- Hakuhou;

Asa beats Azuma in playoff number 1:

Asa spins Taikai like a dreidel to win the overall championship:

Asa does the ceremonial jump off the MGM Grand roof riding a motorcycle, "look ma no hands" ritual:

Edited October 10, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Mark Buckton]

just watched the NHK highlights and never seen so many 'high fives' and 'group hugs' as the fans in the Mandalay gave 'EACH OTHER'!!!!!

What the f?

Felt almost red faced for the boy.

Maru was on too - apparently went to 10/12 TV/Radio stations while there.

[Coo-cook]

just watched the NHK highlights and never seen so many 'high fives' and 'group hugs' as the fans in the Mandalay gave 'EACH OTHER'!!!!!

Since foreigners are allowed into sumo (ozumo?)...it's getting more and more a "gay" sport. So, we are all ......well, "different' than the rest.

I'm wondering why Kotooshu is not included in the whole spectacle. I thought he should be one who shall bring white guys blood boiling.

P.S Asa's motorcycle ride is amazing. I knew he has talents. I heard he can do contorsion, too.

[Kotononami]

What about Kotomitsuki's results?

Eliminated on first round each day?

Thanks.

[Asojima]

What about Kotomitsuki's results?

Eliminated on first round each day?

Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He made it to at least the quarter finals on day 1. Lost to Kise in round 2 on day 2. Day 3 unknown, but he did not make it to the quarter finals.

[madorosumaru]

What about Kotomitsuki's results?

Eliminated on first round each day?

As one may have concluded from the results, it doesn't matter.

The top guy won the overall "Grand Championship." The next two guys on the banzuke, Azuma and Taikai, each won a daily championship and participated in the tomoesen.

As for the two young hopes, Osh made it to the semi-finals twice and Hakuho reached the finals once. That could be called a wash or perhaps a slight edge to Osh who is #4 on the totem pole, with Kaio sitting out the trip.

Robocop, the crowd favorite, managed to survive till the quarter-finals at least twice (Day 2 and Day 3; there is no report on Day 1). The arena was rocking whenever he made his appearances so it behooved them for him to hang on for a spell.

As for Kotomitsuki, he was not mentioned at any time among the top finishers so clearly he was not "part of the equation."

There were 38 rikishi in the tournaments. That means the bottom 12 were unseeded and had to make it past Round 1 to join the seeded rikishi in the 32-man Round 2. He was not listed among the quarter-finalists for Day 3 so he must have lost in Rd 2 or 3. If that is the case, as the #5 guy on the banzuke, the likelihood is that he got to the quarters on one or both of Day 1 and Day 2.

By all accounts, the bouts were spectacularly exciting. They really put on a great show. It appeared to all eye-witnesses that they were truly going all-out. There were more exciting waza than in a normal tournament. And, I suppose, less henka after Roho got so roundly booed on the first day. Ama had the crowd roaring and stomping after he grabbed Kokkai's leg and toppled him with an ashi-tori.

The Kyokai pulled off the near-impossible. After a series of tremendously competive, nail-biting, crowd-rousing matches, the event ended with results that satisfied everyone involved. (Eh?)

Edited October 10, 2005 by madorosumaru

[_the_mind_]

takamisikari lost his first fight in day 1....in day 2 he won 1 and lost the second(as i recall).

incidently he was the crowd favorite because konishki was calling for the fans to make more noise when Taka was up there. saying...

"whose it going to be? such-in-such rikishi or your homeboy robocop!?"

i felt it was more then unnecissary for him to be PA commentator through the whole thing, while he did a good job, i guess it was for people who didnt know who the rikishi where or anything about them.

Edited October 11, 2005 by _the_mind_

[Kintamayama]

Standing ovation:

[Manekineko]

Apparently the show was good enough to attract new fans as well:

You must see Sumo in your lifetime!

(Eh?)

[Calvin]

Hakuho And (Another(?)) Golden Hair Girl

[Kintamayama]

For the playoffs. Asashouryuu came on from the "nishi" (west) side. Since becoming Yokozuna, he has always gone on the dohyo from the east side. "Well, it was a bit strange, yes indeed. The pace was different.. My feet placement and stuff had me a bit puzzled..", said the Yokozuna. On his way down the hanamichi for the playoffs, some guy shouted at him "I've got money riding on you!!". "That gave me some extra incentive!!", he semi-quasi joked.

There are about 22,000 Mongolians registerd in the US. 1500 fans were counted for the three days.

The Mandalay Bay casino issued special 25 dollar chips with Asa's picture on it. He bought 1000$ worth of them. "Better than buying some other lousy present..", he explained. He lost some money at the tables. "Well, it's better I save my luck for the next honbasho", he quipped.

Edited October 12, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

"Give me 200 for that henka you did on day 1"- Asa -Rohou:

Is that ex-Musouyama doing shinpan duty????