Razzberry Sansho

[madorosumaru]

Movies have the RAZZberry Awards, "The Razzies," as the antitheses to the Oscars.

Here are the winners of the Ozumo Haru Basho Razzberry Sansho . . . and the titular Yusho:

Least Outstanding Performance: Hokutoriki. Even among some pretty pathetic efforts shown during this basho, the winner(?) by a landslide.

Most Spiritless Effort: Kotooshu. After witnessing Tamanoshima's courageous performance in Hatsu and in view of Kaio and Ama's gallantry in the face of pain and suffering, Osh reminds one of pampered and selfish ballplayers like Garret Anderson.

Most Technically Inept: Roho. In a basho chockfull of personal low-lights, Big Foot blows one of his few winning efforts by stepping out of the dohyo on his own volition. Dishonorable mention goes to Kokkai for one of the ugliest (both in concept and execution) henka in the history of sumo on Day 14 against the pathetically toro-like Iwakiyama. A blind man in the cheap seats could have smelled that one coming.

Razzberry Booby Yusho:

Edited March 26, 2006 by madorosumaru

[Sanvean]

Great idea. (Showing respect...) Absolutely agree about laureates. (Holiday feeling...)

[madorosumaru]

Great idea. (Punk rocker...) Absolutely agree about laureates. (Holiday feeling...)

Glad you liked the idea. We need to have a sense of humor about these things. Next basho, it will be another group deserving the "barbed crown." (Showing respect...)

[aderechelsea]

the first category was definately one of the hardest to pick.

- Iwakiyama's "recent lobotomy, might not communicate" Sumo

- Riki's "absent minded" Sumo (why on earth did he try to get into mawashi battles a couple of times? Doesn't he remember he has no idea what to do when he grabs that cloth?)

- Roho's "i've never done this sport before" Sumo

i would also nominate the Tokitsuumi-Riki bout for "Time to get to the fridge" bout. senshuraku bout with 2 combined wins for the two rikishi. Trully breathtaking ....

and Iwakiyama must take the "Victim of the Basho" award since he was the only one who "managed" to get beaten by Riki.

Lobotomy must have been the problem. Same case in his bout against Kokkai as mentioned before ....

[Kotoseiya Yuichi]

People actually get some kind of gratification from disdaining the practitioners of the sport they claim to love?

[Zentoryu]

People actually get some kind of gratification from disdaining the practitioners of the sport they claim to love?

Wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?

[Doitsuyama]

People actually get some kind of gratification from disdaining the practitioners of the sport they claim to love?

No kind of gratification. But hey, love can be shown through honest criticim as well. You think the original raspberry awards don't love films? Where is the disdain here? Madorosumaru was all honest and made good choices for the awards. I am all for it to make it into a regular column of him.

[Kotoseiya Yuichi]

Wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?

As always.

I have a very long tirade about things that are utterly foul in ozumo nowadays but I will save it to be unleashed later. Constructive criticism is always OK. Beating the beaten is never.

[Olenishiki]

Movies have the RAZZberry Awards, "The Razzies," as the antitheses to the Oscars.

Here are the winners of the Ozumo Haru Basho Razzberry Sansho . . . and the titular Yusho:

Least Outstanding Performance: Hokutoriki. Even among some pretty pathetic efforts shown during this basho, the winner(?) by a landslide.

Most Spiritless Effort: Kotooshu. After witnessing Tamanoshima's courageous performance in Hatsu and in view of Kaio and Ama's gallantry in the face of pain and suffering, Osh reminds one of pampered and selfish ballplayers like Garret Anderson.

I'm just fine with having shansho razzberrys, but they need to be on-the-money to be funny. Calling Kotooshu's performance "spiritless" is way way off. I too admire the courage of Tamanoshima, Kaio, and Ama (especially Ama--I am enormous fan of this guy and we should razz those who dislike him because occasionally he'll get carried away in the fighting spirit that he utterly needs as a little man in a big man's sport and give somebody an extra push). But all three of those guys had injuries--shoulder, back, side--whose main drawback has to do with flat-out pain. Osh's injury was to his knee and then later, as well, to his ankle. That's not just a matter of pain. That's also a matter of balance and push and movement. And still he didn't go kyujo. That, in fact, is the essence of spirit. Even Asashoryu said he had "balls." As with the regular sansho, there's nothing wrong with a truly outstanding inverted performance being awarded more than one award. It's hard to imagine a more spiritless performance than Hokutoriki's. Or inept, for that matter. I think he should win the triple crown (yes, sharing one of them with Roho).

[Hashira]

Most Spiritless Effort: Kotooshu

boooooo

there is no way to compare injuries, decide that Kotooshuu could have done better, etc. As was said above, he could have easily gone kyujo, but continued, despite already having KK, and not needing to worry about going kadoban. he should be commended for that.i hope we're seeing a new culture of toughness in Makuuchi now, being led by the yokozuna and two newest Ozeki

[Jonosuke]

I understand that Tokitsuumi had a neck problem and Hokutoriki a back problem. I don't know how severe the injuries were though.

[madorosumaru]

I understand that Tokitsuumi had a neck problem and Hokutoriki a back problem. I don't know how severe the injuries were though.

Joe, I am sure those guys were hurting, as were many of the other rikishi. How else would one explain how someone like Riki can win 12 and the Kanto-Sho two months ago at M11e and perform so miserably this basho. Of course, he may have learned his lesson from Shu since he was 2-13 at M1w in Kyushu.

In any case, when a rikishi performs superlatively and earns the Shukun-sho for Outstanding Performance, he is often in "The Zone" with good health, good form and good fortune all smiling on him at the same time. Haru Basho obviously was the opposite for Riki. Alas, such are, as Manekineko-san so wisely pointed out in another thread, the Yin (陰)and Yang (陽) of sumo.

Edited March 26, 2006 by madorosumaru

[Jonosuke]

I actually agree both Hokutoriki and Tokitsuumi's peformances were more than pathetic. I am not really sure the Kyokai should be patting themselves on the back congratulating themselves that no sekitori went on kyujyo when you looked at these two guys. Personnally if you paid a good money to come see them, then you deserved your money back as far as these two guys were concerned.

OTOH Kotooshu (despite badmouthing him occasionally myself) deserved more recognition for staying through the whole basho. He is a banner Ozeki as we all know he is enourmously popular so if he missed it, there would have been many fans who have been going home disappointed not seeing him. Remember these guys only appear in Osaka once a year so I really respect his will to be there for the fans. Despite the injuries he got 9 wins so he fulfilled his responsibility as Ozeki under the circumstance.

Edited March 26, 2006 by Jonosuke

[sekihiryu]

Hokutoriki a back problem. I don't know how severe the injuries were though.

personally I think he had a wallet problem (Sigh...)

[Kishinoyama]

Hokutoriki a back problem. I don't know how severe the injuries were though.personally I think he had a wallet problem (Applauding...)

Well, that went over my head.... (Sigh...) Are you trying to say "the fix" was on? Or am I just lost? (Applauding...)

[sekihiryu]

I have a very long tirade about things that are utterly foul in ozumo nowadays but I will save it to be unleashed later. Constructive criticism is always OK. Beating the beaten is never.

sigh.....I wait in interest to see what you have to say and what vitriol you have to vent in your tirade.

Some of the "beaten" in this basho displayed a lack of guts or "konjo" in this Basho. Even the injured can still hold their head high and show some guts ie Tamanoshima last basho and in this basho Kaio.

When the performance appears gutless and to quote your words "utterly foul" and possibly driven by ulterior motives then a firm rebuking seems in order.

Kotooshu for one doesnt deserve it - he was seriously injured and should have been rested but the knuckleheads in the NSK saw fit to abolish the Kosho system and force people to compete - now that is "utterly stupid"

Whatever, I like the idea of the RazzyAwards - I think its fun and deserves a poll each basho, were we the fan can vote and have a bit of fun, fun huh! what the hell is that foreign concept??? wouldnt want to have any of that now would we?

[Kishinoyama]

Whatever, I like the idea of the RazzyAwards - I think its fun and deserves a poll each basho, were we the fan can vote and have a bit of fun, fun huh!

I think it is a good idea and I would definitely vote for my favorites.

[Flying_Monkey]

How about 'Most Disappointing Performance' The rikishi who promised the most only not to deliver. I nominate Kotomitsuki... (again)

'Most Impressive Injury' - Ama (has to be).

Or 'Ugliest Rikishi' - lots of competition there!

Hokutoriki didn't look injured, just not interested - but you never know.

Roho - definitely most technically inept. He does sometimes look as if he really doesn't know which sport he is supposed to be practising... his brother looks like that occasionally too, but I think he has more talent. Neither float my boat at all though...

[Shibouyama]

Great idea! Yes, let's try to inject a little fun into the forum.

Maybe it will replace a little of the moaning and one-upmanship between forum members.

By poll is the best way, I think.

:-(

[Murakami]

I like the idea. The Razzberry Sansho.

But only for fun and humor. :-(

[madorosumaru]

I like the idea. The Razzberry Sansho.

But only for fun and humor. :-(

Of course, it is only for fun and humor. I don't represent the Kyokai. I am not the media. As a plebian and obsequious member of an obscure minor sport fan forum, my opinion is worth hardly "2 cents" or however many Euros that would buy--on the black market or otherwise. (Clapping wildly...)

[Kishinoyama]

Of course, it is only for fun and humor. I don't represent the Kyokai. I am not the media. As a plebian and obsequious member of an obscure minor sport fan forum, my opinion is worth hardly "2 cents" or however many Euros that would buy--on the black market or otherwise. :-(

Well, I think your opinion is worth more than two cents. I think it even tops two euros (Clapping wildly...) .

[Peterao]

Most Spiritless Effort: Kotooshu

boooooo

there is no way to compare injuries, decide that Kotooshuu could have done better, etc. As was said above, he could have easily gone kyujo, but continued, despite already having KK, and not needing to worry about going kadoban. he should be commended for that.i hope we're seeing a new culture of toughness in Makuuchi now, being led by the yokozuna and two newest Ozeki

Agreed. There's no way that a visibly injured rikishi that goes out and gets his KK should win "Most Spiritless Effort", no matter what his rank is or how much he bitches about his injury.

I would either give this award to Hokutoriki as well...or better still not award it at all, as a reward to everyone for having the first basho with no sekitori kyujo in over a decade.

[Shimpu]

There's no way that a visibly injured rikishi that goes out and gets his KK should win "Most Spiritless Effort", no matter what his rank is or how much he bitches about his injury.

Visibly injured? - because of hard tapped knee? Hmm, look at Dejima or Kotomitsuki :-D As for me his performance (9-6) was still "too good" as for serious injury. I don't buy all this crap about his dead knee. I just express my point of view and I am not hijacking anything (especially this thread) :-D Over. (Showing respect...)

Edited March 27, 2006 by Shimpu

[Fay]

Great idea and I don't mind the "winners" although I have an unfounded weakness for Roho (Showing respect...)

Edited March 27, 2006 by Fay