Hatsu Basho 2013: Senshuraku

The foreign invasion continues!  Russian Amuuru took Jonidan, Mongols Oniarashi took Makushita, Takanoiwa took Juryo, and of course, Harumafuji took the top.

 

m38E Egyptian Osunaarashi to

Hatsu 2013 Day 9

2^nd half of hatsu basho 2013 is under way. Although it began with the somber note of the death of former yokozuna Taiho, it continues with a current yokozuna regaining his proverbial honor, some younger guys shaking up the lower half of the banzuke, and a few veterans staring the threat of possible retirement in its hairless eye. And, of course, not that it’s new, our Ozeki are under-performing. None were able to get kachikoshi on day 8, and most will struggle to make their 10 this basho. Well, in any event, here’s the way I see it for day 9.

Hatsu Basho Day 7 2013

The Murray Johnson Quote of the Day
[referring to Miyabiyama]
“The power in the gluteus maximus is gone….the butt.  It’s not firm, if I can say that.”

Kyushu Basho 2012: Day 14

Aloha and welcome to Day 14 of the Kyushu!  Chalmers here, reporting to you from Hawaii where the sun is shining and the NSK stream is lagging!  It’s okay, though, as the plot has stopped thickening and has congealed like the gravy in my arteries from yesterday’s Thanks Giving festivities.

Kyushu Basho 2012: Day 13

“We couldn’t see the crucial body parts”—Stuart Adkin’s quote of the day.

Aki 2012 Day 14

Of all days to make the sumo report, I’m tickled today happened to be my day.  Well, that’s not why I’m tickled, but moving on…

News: Takanohana shows some skin, Takamisakari keeps the peace, Ozeki get injured, and Kyokutenho’s chances for a repeat yusho drop to nil.

Takanohana-oyakata of the Takanohana stable, who used to be the former Yokozuna Takanohana, was seen putting his ass on the line in some butsukari-geiko with his newly promoted sekitori Takanoiwa. Takanoiwa is the first sekitori to come out of the Takanohana-beya, and I am sure that the oyakata is glad that he is finally poised to get some actual income. In preparation for his wrestler’s Juryo-debut, The 39 year old oyakata put on a mawashi and showed the young rock just what was what. According to Takanoiwa, the 90 kilograms Takanohana “… has the same power of guys that weigh 130-140 kilos.” The Mongolian born wrestler has said that his goal for the upcoming tournament “is first of all to kachikoshi, after I do that, I think 10 wins would be a good goal.”

Although it’s not uncommon for coaches to sumo in the ring to train with their wrestlers, they usually do this for only a few years after they have departed the pro world. TK is definitely an exception as he has been out of the sport for a full 9 years at this point. As you can see by his leg in the picture, it doesn’t look like age is treating him too badly though.

Haru Basho 2012: Day 14

I was a little overeager for Day 14 and I poured my glass of whiskey a bit early. (I’ve finished my Irish Honey and moved on to Bushmill’s White Labeled Irish Whiskey)  One glass led to two and two led to sleep.  So here I am (somewhat) freshly awoken, and sad to say that today’s report will come to you 10 hours after my last glass of whiskey and 10 hours before my next.

Haru Basho: Shonichi

Back in the saddle and ready for battle!  Greetings and welcome to the stormy Spring Basho in the big O.

 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t make mention of two factoids before we begin looking at the bouts of interest today.

Hatsu Basho 2012: Senshuraku

The topic of Yaocho, also know as match-fixing in English has been our top top search term this basho. Whether you believe it is happening or not that’s what people wondering about this basho, not Baruto’s first Yusho, nor the excellent playoff down in the Makushita Division.

Hatsu 2012 Day 7

You stumbled upon Day 7, have you?  Mark ‘Spittlemaster’ Schilling joined Ross ‘Pancake Time’ Mihara in the distant NHK comfort booth for some gum-flapping while I chose to perfekt my Virgil Valentine’s Ole Irish Coffee in order to keep warm on this boner-killing cold day in northern

Hatsu 2012 Day 6

Creswell here with your Day 6 results.  Let’s put on our juryo spectacles and take a glance.  With the way Russian Amuru is fighting, one must wonder why it took him almost 10 years to get here… then again that may say more about his current opponents than himself.  Chiyotairyu (the artist formerly known as Meigetsuin) continues domination of the lower ranks, giving a hand pull to Oiwato (former Kanbayashi) after absorbing an decent tachiai and some vigorous tsuppari.  This cat came in at

Kyushu 2011 Wrap-up; or Kisenosato: Faux-zeki?

Another Kyushu basho down, another year in sumo comes to an end.  There was the potential for a good story line going into this basho.  With the Naruto-beya scandal and the death of Naruto oyakata, how will his deshi fare?  Will Harumafuji bounce back after his failed Tsuna-tori basho?  Is Kotooshu going to finally get that demotion that has been hanging around his neck like so many albatrosses?  Will Baruto scream “FIRE, BAD!” and lumber down the hanamichi, plowing through a wall of the Kokusai center?  Will the Geek pull his weight and get 10?  Will Kise make Ozeki?  Is Kakuryu going to try for another run?  Homasho+Meatgrinder=?

Kyushu Basho 2011: Day 14

Tonite was a bit lackluster.  No huge upsets, no overwhelming victories or defeats… well ther were a couple of overwhelming defeats (most notably Kimurayama…) and one over whelming victory (doesn’t take much imagination to guess who).  Although there were a few small surprises and a bit of decent sumo to be had.  In case you hadn’t heard, down in juryo Takamisakari secured his kachikoshi, and Ikioi has, without a doubt, secured the juryo yusho with a score of 12-2 so far.  As for makuuchi…

Kyushu 2011: Nakabi

Welcome to hump day sumo fans. Nakabi marks the half way point through our Kyushu journey together. I hope you’ve had the opportunity to enjoy the fine sumo that’s been taking place with a glass of whisky, cigar or whatever floats your boat, eh. I for one have been loving the action along with a nice glass of peaty goodness. Speaking of goodness? Would you care for a glass?

Kyushu 2011: Day 7

Let’s face it, if Takamisakari wasn’t fighting in Juryo this basho, the seventeen people who are sitting in Fukuoka Kokusai Center wouldn’t be there!  J10W Takamisakari (3-3) vs. J7W Hokutokuni (4-2): Hoktoad came in chest-first at the tachiai and Ringo responded with a left on his opponent’s back, a step backwards, and that’s all she wrote as Hoktoad slipped to the sandy clay.  Under-shoulder swing-down win for Takamisakari who improves to 4-3, and is two wins away from saving his

Kyushu 2011: Day 3

I know you all want to get to the big results, but bear with me for a minute here.  The juryo feed went in and out for a while.  We say that “Nihon Ganbarou” screen for a few bouts, although we could hear what was going on.  So I didn’t catch every juryo bout, but one in particular stuck out.  Sotairyu v. Hokutokuni.  I like Sotairyu because of his explosive tachi-ai, and unwillingness to quit at the edge,  but yesterday

Aki Basho 2011: Senshuraku

David Shapiro (aka Woody Allen) quote of the day—“The Yokozuna winning every yusho is very undemocratic.”  But Dr. Shapiro, wouldn’t Hakuho sharing the wealth with others be more socialist?

Aki Basho 2011: Nakabi

Wow a lot has changed since my Shonichi report. The young guns, save Tochinowaka have fallen off, or worse, performed some really crappy sumo, henka and all. Homie and Don Juan have both cooled off a bit but still have a good shot at the Komusubi rank if they get their eight. Kakuryu and Harumafuji seem to have

Poll: Will Takamisakari eight his way back to Makuuchi this basho?

Will Johnny Apple Seed make it back to the Makuuchi or has he sown his last robotic seed?

Poll 3 of 3