Re: Reactions of Musashimaru Retirement

"Jakusotsu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Asashoryu will of course compete on senshuraku, probably against an ozeki
> (yusho leader Tochiazuma perhaps).
>
> The torikumi is always set only one day in advance, thus there will always
> be only one fusen win against a given kyujo rikishi.


Exactly.  They always seem to introduce the following day's schedule during
the longer than usual break between fights at around five o'clock every day.
I guess the NHK guys know a little before that so they can cue up some
footage of past bouts if there's a particularly interesting match-up.  The
exceptions seem to be for the last three days when, especially if it's a
tight race, all the final bouts for the yusho challengers are announced - I
could have this wrong but that's certainly the way it seems.

I recollect, mistakenly probably, that once, when there were three
yokuzuna - Taka, Akebono and the big Moose and there was a maegashira
challenging for the yusho that the schedule was such that Moose and Akebono
didn't fight each other.

I love it when there's a perfect record week one maegashira challenger or
better still two of them.  It totally screws up the expected timetable for
week two whilst the Sumo Kyokai try their damnedest to match the low-ranked
upstarts against oozeki and yokuzuna foes that they normally wouldn't come
within a jumbo nabe of meeting.  Usually it works and their winning streaks
fall - but once in a while - most recently I guess by Takatoriki at M14 in
March 2000 and Kotonishiki at M12 in November 1998 - they maintain their
momentum and secure the yusho.  Great fun to watch.



-- 
jonathan
--
"Never give a gun to ducks"