[sumo] Twixt basho rampant speculation

[James Eaton]

Well then, if it's opinions you want...


> First, let's think about Hakuho.  If he wins the Yusho this time out
> will he be promoted?  I've been reading that book, "Gaijin
> Yokozuna" (which is really very good) and it talks a little about
> Konishiki's run of 14-1Y, 13-2, 14-1Y and how he wasn't promoted.
> Hakuho is working a string of 14-1Y and 13-2 himself.  If he wins the
> Yusho will he be promoted?


My view is that they desperately want another Yokozuna and I think Hakuho 
is the only candidate on the horizon.  If he wins the yusho, then yes he 
gets promoted.


> Second, it's the big guy.  Miyabiyama is on a string of 10-5, 14-2 &
> 10-5.  This puts him right on the bubble.  He has 34 wins in 3 bashos
> but his sumo wasn't Ozeki quality, it seems.  What do you think it will
> take for him to get back to Ozeki?  IMNSHO, I think if he can get 11 or
> more wins he ought to be promoted.  Will this be enough?  And more
> importantly, do you think he'll choke?


Does anyone care?  Miyabiyama has to be the most unexciting rikishi in the 
upper ranks.  His wins are mostly awkward and unconvincing.  If he retired 
tomorrow I wouldn't care.


> Lastly, we have Oosh.  He's been hurt so he hasn't been burning up the
> doyo.  Since his Ozeki promotion he's been 10-5, 9-6, 8-7 & 8-7.
> Hopefully Kotooshu will be as close to 100% as possible for Aki.  We
> know he's got the potential but is he the real deal?  Or is he a Dejima?


That's a question I've been asking as well.  Is his lackluster performance 
only a factor of his injuries or is it something more?  He's shown a side 
of himself, not dealing with the limelight and the injuries very well at 
all, that I wasn't aware of before he became ozeki.  I'm wondering if he 
has the mental toughness that's necessary to be remain an ozeki.  So far, 
it sure doesn't look like it.