[sumo] Videos at Barbara's, day 12 with spoilers

[Barbara]

Day 12:

Toyonoshima-Tamanoshima. Toyonoshima has been fighting while injured - 
an injury received at the hands of the yokozuna. These two island 
kittens [Toyo & Tama could pass for typical cat names in Japanese, 
"noshima" = "of the islands"] meet here each with a 3-8 record. It is 
not very complimentary for Tama, but for Toyo it is admirable 
considering his condition. He further impresses me here with this fine 
bout against Tama. The gyoji points his gumbai ("war-fan") to Toyo's 
side, but the decision goes to a mono-ii (judges conference). Afterwards 
the judges declare "Gumbai-dori" ("The war-fan pointed correctly.") so 
Toyo gets the win. You can see the pain on his face but he bears up.

Chiyotaikai-Asashoryuu. How long has it been since Chiyotaikai defeated 
Asashoryuu? Hasn't it been a few years? Today the Untouchable Yokozuna 
gets touched. OK, we all have to admit that when Chiyotaikai is truly 
inspired and at his peak, he is almost unstoppable. We have talked about 
his own yokozuna chances (probably nil now, but...) so Asashoryuu had a 
tough but doable match, but here he comes up short. Watch and you see 
why. Every time A reached for C's belt, C was precisely on target with a 
formidable stiff arm to the neck. C is not always this precise, but 
today he was. One miss and A would have had his belt, and he probably 
knew it. But each successful thrust to the neck forced A backwards, and 
the net result of the series of perfectly placed thrusts was A on the 
edge of the dohyo. One heartstopping moment later, A is falling backward 
into the 3rd row with a totally bewildered expression. Well, this 
probably does it. With Hakuho unbeaten still, and Asashoryuu back with 
the 2-loss contenders alongside Chiyotaikai, Kotomitsuki, and I think 
Futenho, Hakuho is almost certain to get both his yuusho and his 
yokozuna belt. Murray Johnson (I think) says what we are all thinking:
"Oh how the mighty have fallen..."  The audience is all smiles.

To see the videos, go to:
http://www.technogirls.org/sumo/S07B3.htm#2007_B3_Day_12

Barbara Murasakihana