[sumo] Sumo topics

[Barbara]

Well, thank you for the on-topic reply.

Goeido was quite a prodigy!  To score that high, and be in contention 
for the yuusho for so long, is very very rare.  One has to wonder what 
is actually happening when a newcomer is moving up the banzuke so fast. 
I don't know, but he doesn't seem to be fabulously skilled, like an 
Asashoryuu.  How many of his bouts were first-time ones?  One might 
wonder how much of his success is a factor of his opponents not yet 
receiving coaching on how to face him.  In other words, the oyakata and 
rikishi do not have an adequate knowledge of his weaknesses and how to 
defend against him.  Once he is ready to meet an opponent the second 
time, things may go very differently.  So, I wonder how big a factor 
this "coaching" factor really is.

Another thing that fascinates me about sumo rikishi is the FEAR factor. 
How many times has a rikishi's advance been reversed by fear of injury? 
  It must happen a lot.  Who was it that broke Kotomitsuki's jaw in 
2002? I did a search in news stories but none of them mention the 
culprit. Was it Asashoryuu by chance?  That would explain a lot. 
Regardless, it seems like it took him forever to get his confidence 
back.  These days Kotooushuu seems to be in the same state.  He's risen 
to a high rank, he's taking in a good salary, and his knee is a bit 
marginal.  He looks terrified of being injured.  Did you see how he put 
his arm down, taking a loss instead of allowing himself to fall, in that 
bout with the mono-ii this basho?  I think he's trying to win, but 
unwilling to take even small chances.  That's my theory anyway.

Barbara Murasakihana
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:


Robert Hovestadt wrote:
> Barbara,
>      I would gladly discuss the aforementioned sumo items, but my 
> knowledge of such things is quite lacking.   I do believe Goeido's 
> preformance was extraordinary considering he is new to makuuchi.   As to 
> Kyokutenho not facing the Yokozuna was this possibly further 
> punishment?  Not that i want to start anymore conspiracy theories.
> 
>  
> On 9/27/07, *Barbara* <barbara at technogirls.org 
> <mailto:barbara at technogirls.org>> wrote:
> 
>     Obviously this is NOT the place to be if one wants to talk about sumo. I
>     must admit I'm getting a bit frustrated with this mailing list. It
>     seems
>     to only cover scandal, ideology, conspiracy theories, and rumor.
>     Barbara Murasakihana
>     :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
> 
>     Barbara wrote:
>      > I would like to talk about sumo instead.
>      >
>      > For instance.  Kyokutenhou ended the basho 12-3.  That's
>     amazing!  He
>      > was ranked M12W too.  Now, the only rikishi with a higher tally is
>      > Hakuhou himself, who won the yuusho.  Am I correct in assuming that
>      > Kyokutenhou won the "Junyuushou" or runner up? Despite his low rank?
>      > Often the Junyuushou is considered a yuusho-equivalent. Quite a
>     feather
>      > in his cap.
>      >
>      > So, he won 9 more than he lost.  My rule of thumb says that such
>     a score
>      > moves him up to about M3w or M4e.  Sound about right?
>      >
>      > Now, look at Goeido.  Amazing performance too, but he was ranked
>     lower
>      > than Kyokutenhou at M14w.  He scored 11-4.  But he got to meet the
>      > yokozuna.  Kyokutenhou did not.  It doesn't seem fair.  One might
>     almost
>      > suspect that the matching went the way of the popularity of the
>     meeting.
>      > They do have a lot of leeway in making the matchups, but still,
>     wouldn't
>      > a meeting between Hakuhou and Kyokutenhou have been much more
>     exciting
>      > than one with Goeido?  I feel slightly deprived.
>      >
>      > Barbara Murasakihana
>      > :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
>      >
>      > _______________________________________________
>      > Sumo mailing list
>      > Sumo at webtrek.com <mailto:Sumo at webtrek.com>
>      > http://www.webtrek.com/mailman/listinfo/sumo
>      >
>      >
>     _______________________________________________
>     Sumo mailing list
>     Sumo at webtrek.com <mailto:Sumo at webtrek.com>
>     http://www.webtrek.com/mailman/listinfo/sumo
> 
>