I don't even remember your predictions, Tim, but as always your coverage has been great. I can't express how much better I enjoy this sport of ours, being able to come into this comment section and share enthusiasms with fellow fans. My takeaways, for what they're worth:
I've never been a Kotoshoho fan, but I'm genuinely glad for him today. He has come from the very depths of the Maegashira ranks and routed everybody who stood in his way. I daresay he even made the Blue Whirlwind, Aonishiki, look like the newbie he is. Who'd a-thunk it? Koto will have to show me more consistency before I believe he will score more Emperors Cups, but for today it is well deserved. His parents were in the stands! How great is that?
Did everybody see Butterball Kayo get a win by MOVING FORWARD?!? For two weeks I have been yelling at the TV for him to do that, and it seems he finally heard me. I guess he'll be going back down to juryo, but I hope to see him back up again soon. I can't explain why, but I just love the little tub of lard.
Always happy for Wakatakakage to win, even at the expense of Kirishima, whom I also love. Waka's had career setbacks, but here's hoping he completes his run to Ozeki.
Very happy to see Papa Bear Takayasu just bully Kusano out of the ring. Like Aonishiki, the kid will get his chance. For now the old bull rules.
And is that the same Asanoyama working his way back to juryo whose leg was so savagely broken last year? That looked like a career ender. I will cheer him on if/when he gets back to Maegashira, but dude, maybe consider another line of work!
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Tim, will you be alerting us to your interview next week on Steph's podcast? I'm really looking forward to hearing your wrap-up after you've had a few days to think about it. Just shoot out a little e-mail alert to us all.
Thanks so much for all this feedback and for being such a great presence in the comments all tournament long.
Kotoshoho really put together a string of amazing performances over the second week of the tournament. He did not get lucky in this tournament. He was super locked in and made some excellent strategic and technical decisions. One thing I love about sumo is that, anyone can win on a given day and that it's possible for any wrestler in this top division to get on a roll and turn that into a yusho.
Kayo had a very nice win on the last day, yeah. He did a good job of backing up to create space and get his opponent off balance and then hit him like a tow truck! He'll go to juryo for sure. Juryo doesn't look to be like much of a shark tank in September, Nishikigi, Ryuden and Shonannoumi will all come up. Daieseizan and Mita are good prospects and Asanoyama (yep, that Asanoyama) will be there, but Kayo should be able to get a winning record down there.
Whenever I do a podcast I'll be sure to send it out on an email.
There were a lot of special prizes given out in this surprising basho. I am happy both Kusano and Fujinokawa had strong debuts in makuuchi, and they were both a lot of fun to see. Kotoeiho was not as fortunate though, despite his brother's success, and I figure he goes back to juryo.
Yeah Kotoeiho is almost certainly going down to juryo. Kusano looks like an elite prospect. Fujinokawa feels like he could be a lot of fun. So much aggression and activity.
It certainly feels like we have a strong crop of young wrestlers to look forward to watching as they grow and improve. Another great run of coverage, Tim. Thanks for all of your hard work!
Agreed. I can't remember when there's been such a ravenous pack of little wolves coming into the sport. Two Yokozunas, probably multiple ozekis soon, and this bunch of up-and-comers...it's a Little Golden Age of sumo ahead!
Loved this basho, and it had such a different feel than the others. A new slate of fighters, two Yokozunas, an open slot for a new Ozeki... can't wait to see what happens in September!
Thanks for the coverage. I only got to read a few of your articles this time, but I love the analysis and the conversation with others on here. Great forum!
Thanks Dave, glad to see you here. That was a heck of a ride, first time we've had a maegashira win since Takerufuji (who we can credit as cracking the egg on the CME's sumo fandom).
Tim your coverage was fantastic, I love reading your thoughts and opinions and your always fare
Whoopdy Do is right on, we have a lovely young pack of wolves coming up behind some of the old boys!
They have been stunned by Kotoshoho winning
Licking their wounds, taking stock and realising they need to adapt
I listened yesterday to the Sumo. Association criticism of the two Yokozunas they were quite harsh, the chairman mentioned Retirement which he directly aimed at Onosato! And they are clearly unhappy with Ozeki and were not shy in spelling it out , to be honest I think they rushed in to pick a Yokozuna on both occasions, limited communication about the whole package, saying this is painful because I am a supporter of both
What’s happening is a shame, I don’t know what Hoshoryu and Onosato are doing really, They have a fantastic opportunity here to Gel and start pushing and creating the Rikishi to grow, right now basically the Rikishi are on their own
I feel the difference in Respect for these two Yokozuna isn’t there yet
Even now when Terunofuji walks in to the room his impact is huge
But we are not seeing that with these two at all .
I hope we see Daiesho in September
I think the pack we will see ruthlessly exploiting everything will be Aonishiki , Kusano, kayo, but also in there we will see Takayasu and of-course Kirishima and Tamawashi he did amazingly should he now retire?
Again everyone is going to be watching Aonishiki, he will now change all his tactics, because we definitely saw Kusano adapt very quickly to the new and various Techniques applied and in the end Kusano had the better technique
So last but not least Atamifuji can he get a Yusho , I think he can but he needs to be more experienced before getting murdered by the elite , he’s young plenty of time, but I also think he left doubt get in his head .I am going to get a fan towel to throw at him !
I don't even remember your predictions, Tim, but as always your coverage has been great. I can't express how much better I enjoy this sport of ours, being able to come into this comment section and share enthusiasms with fellow fans. My takeaways, for what they're worth:
I've never been a Kotoshoho fan, but I'm genuinely glad for him today. He has come from the very depths of the Maegashira ranks and routed everybody who stood in his way. I daresay he even made the Blue Whirlwind, Aonishiki, look like the newbie he is. Who'd a-thunk it? Koto will have to show me more consistency before I believe he will score more Emperors Cups, but for today it is well deserved. His parents were in the stands! How great is that?
Did everybody see Butterball Kayo get a win by MOVING FORWARD?!? For two weeks I have been yelling at the TV for him to do that, and it seems he finally heard me. I guess he'll be going back down to juryo, but I hope to see him back up again soon. I can't explain why, but I just love the little tub of lard.
Always happy for Wakatakakage to win, even at the expense of Kirishima, whom I also love. Waka's had career setbacks, but here's hoping he completes his run to Ozeki.
Very happy to see Papa Bear Takayasu just bully Kusano out of the ring. Like Aonishiki, the kid will get his chance. For now the old bull rules.
And is that the same Asanoyama working his way back to juryo whose leg was so savagely broken last year? That looked like a career ender. I will cheer him on if/when he gets back to Maegashira, but dude, maybe consider another line of work!
_____________________________________
Tim, will you be alerting us to your interview next week on Steph's podcast? I'm really looking forward to hearing your wrap-up after you've had a few days to think about it. Just shoot out a little e-mail alert to us all.
Hey man,
Thanks so much for all this feedback and for being such a great presence in the comments all tournament long.
Kotoshoho really put together a string of amazing performances over the second week of the tournament. He did not get lucky in this tournament. He was super locked in and made some excellent strategic and technical decisions. One thing I love about sumo is that, anyone can win on a given day and that it's possible for any wrestler in this top division to get on a roll and turn that into a yusho.
Kayo had a very nice win on the last day, yeah. He did a good job of backing up to create space and get his opponent off balance and then hit him like a tow truck! He'll go to juryo for sure. Juryo doesn't look to be like much of a shark tank in September, Nishikigi, Ryuden and Shonannoumi will all come up. Daieseizan and Mita are good prospects and Asanoyama (yep, that Asanoyama) will be there, but Kayo should be able to get a winning record down there.
Whenever I do a podcast I'll be sure to send it out on an email.
There were a lot of special prizes given out in this surprising basho. I am happy both Kusano and Fujinokawa had strong debuts in makuuchi, and they were both a lot of fun to see. Kotoeiho was not as fortunate though, despite his brother's success, and I figure he goes back to juryo.
Yeah Kotoeiho is almost certainly going down to juryo. Kusano looks like an elite prospect. Fujinokawa feels like he could be a lot of fun. So much aggression and activity.
It certainly feels like we have a strong crop of young wrestlers to look forward to watching as they grow and improve. Another great run of coverage, Tim. Thanks for all of your hard work!
Thanks Dan! Yeah, lots of young guys we get to see develop. Hopefully they can stay mostly injury free.
Agreed. I can't remember when there's been such a ravenous pack of little wolves coming into the sport. Two Yokozunas, probably multiple ozekis soon, and this bunch of up-and-comers...it's a Little Golden Age of sumo ahead!
Great coverage of a great basho!
Thanks Andrew, glad you enjoyed both the coverage and the tournament.
Loved this basho, and it had such a different feel than the others. A new slate of fighters, two Yokozunas, an open slot for a new Ozeki... can't wait to see what happens in September!
Thanks for the coverage. I only got to read a few of your articles this time, but I love the analysis and the conversation with others on here. Great forum!
Thanks Elizabeth, good to hear from you. I'm glad you enjoyed the tournament!
What a ride! Thanks for your awesome coverage, Tim!
Thanks Dave, glad to see you here. That was a heck of a ride, first time we've had a maegashira win since Takerufuji (who we can credit as cracking the egg on the CME's sumo fandom).
Tim your coverage was fantastic, I love reading your thoughts and opinions and your always fare
Whoopdy Do is right on, we have a lovely young pack of wolves coming up behind some of the old boys!
They have been stunned by Kotoshoho winning
Licking their wounds, taking stock and realising they need to adapt
I listened yesterday to the Sumo. Association criticism of the two Yokozunas they were quite harsh, the chairman mentioned Retirement which he directly aimed at Onosato! And they are clearly unhappy with Ozeki and were not shy in spelling it out , to be honest I think they rushed in to pick a Yokozuna on both occasions, limited communication about the whole package, saying this is painful because I am a supporter of both
What’s happening is a shame, I don’t know what Hoshoryu and Onosato are doing really, They have a fantastic opportunity here to Gel and start pushing and creating the Rikishi to grow, right now basically the Rikishi are on their own
I feel the difference in Respect for these two Yokozuna isn’t there yet
Even now when Terunofuji walks in to the room his impact is huge
But we are not seeing that with these two at all .
I hope we see Daiesho in September
I think the pack we will see ruthlessly exploiting everything will be Aonishiki , Kusano, kayo, but also in there we will see Takayasu and of-course Kirishima and Tamawashi he did amazingly should he now retire?
Again everyone is going to be watching Aonishiki, he will now change all his tactics, because we definitely saw Kusano adapt very quickly to the new and various Techniques applied and in the end Kusano had the better technique
So last but not least Atamifuji can he get a Yusho , I think he can but he needs to be more experienced before getting murdered by the elite , he’s young plenty of time, but I also think he left doubt get in his head .I am going to get a fan towel to throw at him !