[OT-Sumo] Natsu Basho

[Black Omega]

And here we go again. It's sumo season!

And for the fourth straight Basho Yokozuna Musashimaru is out with that wrist he had surgery on. He'd better be ready for the next tournament or people will start talking retirement for him.

Two days into the tournament and this time new Yokozuna Asashoryu seems a little more comfortable in his position. He's 2-0 and winning comfortably, as is his main rival Chiyotaikai. If Chiyotaikai wins this basho decisively he'll be promoted to Yokozuna, but the requirements will be tougher.

Musashimaru's stabelmate Musoyama is continuing his poor form. He needs a winning record this time or he'll be demoted and he's off to a 0-2 start. Not good at all, but it's been a while since he looked like an Ozeki.

 

[WizarDru]

Are they doing live feeds for this one, like some of the previous Bashos?

 

[Black Omega]

Yes, they are. You can check out the webpage for details.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Let's all keep our fingers crossed for the Moose. I think he's a great Yokozuna with a few years of greatness to go. He at least needs to hang in there until there's a poweful Yokozuna to leave the sport to. Asashouryu is still a bit green IMO.

Things will be bad for Musoyama as well, should Musashimaru retire. That'll put him at the head of Musashigawa-beya (the Sumo House), and he'll probably get a lot more flak for his bad showings.

 

[Shin Okada]

So you can watch Sumo on TV? I am interested in how Americans, Canadians, Aussies and Europeans like/dislike that sport.

By the way, I miss Musashimaru. He is surely a great Yokozuna. And to make the events exciting, we need two Yokozuna who can compete for the trophy.

 

[Black Omega]

I actually started watching sumo back when Wide World of Sports would occasionally show a tournament. I first watched Chiyonofuji, so it's inevitable that I'm now a big Chiyotaikai fan.

Most of the watching I do is actually on the webcast they do live for every basho. No commentators but at least we get to watch the action as it happens.

And yes, hopefully Musashimaru will be back for the next basho. Even though he really struggles against Asashoryu's quickness, he's an excellent wrestler who uses his bulk to best advantage. It's really been too long since we had two Yokozuna active. Musoyama seems to be on the downslide. 1-2 so far and if he can't make a winning record, he'll be dropped as an Ozeki. He's not looked Ozeki class for several basho now.

I'd love to see Chiyotaikai run away with this tournament and make Yokozuna but I'm still not quite sure he's up for it.

 

[WizarDru]

So you can watch Sumo on TV? I am interested in how Americans, Canadians, Aussies and Europeans like/dislike that sport.

By the way, I miss Musashimaru. He is surely a great Yokozuna. And to make the events exciting, we need two Yokozuna who can compete for the trophy.

I like Sumo a great deal, but U.S. coverage of the sport is spotty to non-existent. The last time I saw Sumo on US TV was when ESPN2 showed a short program on a recent Basho, condensing the whole tournament down to one 30 minute show. It loses a lot of the drama and excitement when shown this way.

There are some channels that cover Sumo, but mostly in California, where the demand is higher. I think Sumo would be mroe popular if more people in the US actually understood the sport.

 

[Jay Berg]

I am watching Sumo on Eurosports here in Germany. Luckily they bring pretty good coverage of every tournament. And the commentator is very good and knowledgable which is a big plus and very unusual for Germany.

Anyway I started watching I think eight years ago when Takanohana was unbeatable. Right now I actually cheer for both Chiyotaikai and Asashoryu. And I cheered for them ever since they entered the makouchi division!

I really look forward on how new young fighters like Hokutoriki or Iwakiyama will do in the future. Sumo rocks!

 

[Black Omega]

An update now that the basho is at the halfway mark.

Asashoryu leads with 8-1, but Chiyotaikai, Kaio and Wakanosato are right up there at 7-2. Toki and Buyuzan are also at 7-2 but I'll be very surprised if they keep up the pace now that the tournament is entering the toughest stage.

Asashoryu has looked a little steadier this tournament, though he's still having more close bouts than usual, at least he's mostly won them.

Chiyotaikai is dancing on the edge. He was told he needed a 13-2 or better record and winning the basho to become Yokozuna. To make this he'll need to go 6-0, no easy task.

Musoyama continues to struggle and looks almost certain of demotion at 3-6. And about time, he's not wrestled like an Ozeki for the last year.

Dejima is rolling along at 6-3 and faces the yokozuna tonight.

 

[Gizzard]

There are some channels that cover Sumo, but mostly in California, where the demand is higher.

If you are in the Bay Area, the asian channel shows NHK news at 10 or 11. The sports segment is towards the end of the broadcast. Speaking Japanese would help, but I get by without. They'll show the best bout of the day.

I think Sumo would be mroe popular if more people in the US actually understood the sport.

When I was a kid, my Judo teacher taught us Sumo. Not that it's that complex; there are about three rules for the actual bout. I've had a fondness for it ever since.