Hi sumofans,
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Darrell Wong [mailto:wongd012@hawaii.rr.com]
> Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 7:44 PM
> To: Sumo Mailing List
> Subject: Some end-of-basho comments
>
>
> I don't post to this webring much on account of not having access to
> live coverage, but there are a few things I feel like pointing out.
>
> Starting with the champ, who finished 1-2 and still took the
> championship by two wins. This, more than anything else,
> points out how
> glaring Takanohana's continued absence is. Musashimaru could *never*
> have gotten away with such a lackluster finish had his main rival been
> there. Of course, it doesn't help that Takanonami has crumbled and
> Musoyama and Chiyotaikai haven't been yusho threats in seemingly an
> era. Sadly, in the face of all this, there's little Musashi can do
> other than keep winning. Let's just hope he can make it 14 next time.
> (Lord, it's been a while since the sport had a credible
> 14-win Yokozuna,
> hasn't it?)
Why should Musashimaru risk any injury when there is nothing to gain for him?
>
> Kaio stumbled out of the blocks but was able to redeem himself with a
> strong finish against tough competition. He will get his shot at
> Yokozuna another day, but it's clear that the bad old streakiness is
> still there.
>
> Tochiazuma and Musoyama were both solid, as always, a bit of a relief
> after seeing three ozekis get knocked down in what seemed an
> eye blink.
> Chiyotaikai did well in shaking off kadoban status for the
> fourth time.
> Nothing ever seems to come easy for him, and one can only wonder where
> he'd be now if it weren't for that miracle yusho that cataputled him
> over the great barrier.
>
> Collectively, the four ozekis are all strong performers, but
> I don't see
> anyone challenging Musashimaru, let alone breaking through to
> yokozuna.
> Kaio has his consistency problems, Chiyotaikai never seems to
> be able to
> string together three good ones in a row, Tochiazuma is still
> relatively
> new to the rank, and while Musoyama oshi-zumo is formidable, he's no
> Hokutoumi. All except Tochiazuma have been kadoban at some point.
> Blame the flameout of Wakanohana and Takanohana's extended
> vacation for
> lowering the bar enough for all of them to make it, but the
> fact remains
> that they're there, and there's only one yusho per basho. The dry
> spells, especially for Chiyotaikai, could continue for some time.
>
> Completely random comment on two completely random lower Maegashiras:
> How about Dejima and Kyokushuzan? Knocked down so far, but
> were somehow
> able to turn it up this time and will head on up the banzuke again.
> Both petered out near the end, but that's only to be expected (don't
> wanna run with the sanyaku again just *yet*). The only question is
> whether they can make sanyaku again. I have no idea what the hell
> happened to Dejima (wasn't he an ambitious ozeki once?), but
> he's shown
> that he can win, and with the waters up high as tepid as they are now,
> there's no better chance to make his move. Kyokushuzan...not so sure.
> All that flash and style and high flying acrobatics have unfortunately
> concealed the fact that he just isn't that strong a sumotori. In
> particular, he doesn't seem to have any "Plan B" whatsoever; if his
> initial tactic doesn't work, he loses, plain and simple. The
> next basho
> will test them to see if they've learned from their mistakes,
> and I for
> one will be watching their results intently.
The travel down the banzuke of Dejima, and Miyabiyama, where caused by injury.
A healthy Dejima is a sure sekiwake candidate and even able to reach the rank of ozeki again.
And I think a healthy Miyabiyama is a yokozuna-candidate. :)
> Whew...went on longer than I expected. (So what else is new?)
>
Greetings from Germany and a happy tachiai
sashimaru
PS. I'm sending this mail a second time, because the first time I didn't received it. :)