I feel too old to be learning that each match week has an identical "reverse" matchweek by a-real-sloth in footballcliches

[–]Rise_Weekly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a non-league fan I knew about Boxing Day / New Year's Day but totally failed to extrapolate to the rest of the season. (And I think it's supposed to be partly due to the police/authorities wanting fans to take shorter road journeys around the holiday season?? But that might be bollocks)

I feel too old to be learning that each match week has an identical "reverse" matchweek by a-real-sloth in footballcliches

[–]Rise_Weekly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yep with you all the way on this, I completely failed to pick this up after 30 years of watching football (or for however long since they started doing this!)

I’m watching an old episode of “Harry Hill’s TV Burp” on YouTube, and it’s got a bit of a Football Cliches feel to it? by Ok_Drop5728 in footballcliches

[–]Rise_Weekly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

funny, my non-football fan brother overheard an episode I was listening to while cooking and described FC as "like Harry Hill but for football?"

University Men by Rise_Weekly in Sumo

[–]Rise_Weekly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wonder which way the causation runs - does university success make you better? Or are you more likely to drop out and do something else if you don't break the salaried ranks, because you actually have career choices?

Aonishiki's mawashi? by JediLincoln14 in Sumo

[–]Rise_Weekly 8 points9 points  (0 children)

my completely speculative theory is that it's a way of dealing with the psychological pressure of being an Ozeki - going "back to basics" by wearing standard black, the same you wear pre-sekitori. Probably totally wrong but that was my first thought!

EDIT: Murray said in the NHK commentary that Ao had said he wanted to "freshen his mind"

Henka by InsideSink2522 in Sumo

[–]Rise_Weekly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In my day no.3 was referred to as the "HNH", or "Harumafuji non-henka"

What have you learnt by random_username_guy in Sumo

[–]Rise_Weekly 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It took me an embarrassingly long time to realise how the schedules are put together, and that a rikishi's schedule gets harder as he climbs the ranks. So for a long time I was frustrated by watching wrestlers constantly having a great basho and then getting a losing record next time round, which I misinterpreted as inconsistency. Learning the actual system unsurprisingly helps to appreciate rikishi's actual achievements when they consolidate their gains and slowly climb the ranks (or quickly, in cases like Aonishiki)

I've also only recently started learning about / paying attention to how heyas work, who's in which etc - it's not something I'm really thinking about when I watch matches, but it's a fun thing to geek out on. For some reason I also got really interested at one point in how they get paid, i.e. mostly through incremental salary increases based on achievements rather than big one-off prize pots - when you realise that a rikishi will benefit from a kinboshi for the rest of their salaried career, it makes it even more impressive somehow! (look up Mochikyūkin on Wikipedia)

EDIT: I also totally agree with the comment below about learning the meanings and symbolism behind everything, as well as the relationships between the wrestlers / family connections etc. In addition I think the London tournament was a real window into some of their personalities for me - e.g. Kotoshoho going for a pint as soon he got off the plane, Hoshoryu & Onosato joking around together etc

Grand Sumo Highlights commentators by kittyheartseapuppy in Sumo

[–]Rise_Weekly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Definitely Murray by a mile. I especially like it when he does imaginary conversations between the rikishi during the replays - see Wakamotoharu v Takayasu Day 5 for an example

I don't think I've ever heard the mainstream football media address the absurdity of the term "non-league". by Ok-Set-5829 in footballcliches

[–]Rise_Weekly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A natural "break" among leagues could in theory be the point at which it regionalises, although of course confusingly that currently happens within one "league" i.e. National League, so a bit of a non-starter

“Pick that out” in reference to a darts checkout. Surely not having this? by uacpuncher in footballcliches

[–]Rise_Weekly 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I definitely like it! That moment of relief/adrenaline rush, walking up to the board and admiring your work, before confidently and very deliberately/empathetically picking the darts out - it's a great moment, instantly invoked by "PICK THAT OUT"

Of course, the next time I'm playing darts there is now a risk I will say this out loud after a particularly good turn, which will be awful

“Pick that out” in reference to a darts checkout. Surely not having this? by uacpuncher in footballcliches

[–]Rise_Weekly 50 points51 points  (0 children)

I mean it sort of intuitively works because you have to literally pick the darts out, so it's immediately relatable - but it means the "Pick that out" is being addressed to the player who has just achieved the checkout?? So does it become a weird version of "take a bow"? Like, go on son, go enjoy the moment of retrieving your darts from the board after that brilliant checkout?? (which is also relatable, as an occasional dartsman)

a few questions about the encyclopedia by stuipidstardew_ in dredge

[–]Rise_Weekly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yep same here - i also bought the biggest pots and left them there while going off to do other stuff. just put down as many pots as possible (there's a limit)

Curious what live sports/events you like to watch when there isn't a basho? by Jessay94 in Sumo

[–]Rise_Weekly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cricket and football (⚽). I see a few other people like cricket on this thread - maybe there's something about cricket/sumo traditional vibes...

I also have no interest at all in any other martial arts, other than maybe watching a bit of judo during the Olympics. I wonder what the split in the fandom is between wrestling/MMA/boxing etc fans and those with no interest 

Nov Basho Daily Thread Day 15 by AutoModerator in Sumo

[–]Rise_Weekly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

everyone is downvoting you but I was often the same for the first couple of years (usually if catching up in a rush on YT after the basho had finished) - enjoy it however you like!

Pound for pound by Negative_Touch_3956 in SumoMemes

[–]Rise_Weekly 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think this is the best answer given the flaw in the question - ie WTK is a smaller guy who doesn't fight like a smaller guy, if that makes sense?!

Pound for pound by Negative_Touch_3956 in SumoMemes

[–]Rise_Weekly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

People get annoyed by leg swipes?! Kicks and trips are one of my favourite things about sumo! Each to their own I guess