Frankly, it’s just great to have a real sport to watch again. I’ve quickly grown tired of the melodramatic rolling around on the ground and crying, emblematic of that other competition. So, it’s great to have sumo back. There’s no advantage given to miming and diving here.
from https://tachiai.org/2026/07/12/nagoya-2026-day-one/
i've watched last 30 minutes of a couple of ⚽ matches and i couldn't agree more with the above statement. I've read the paragraph while searching for more info about why i don't see Wakatakakage in this tournament
here:
The biggest storyline is the sudden kyujo of May’s tournament winner, Wakatakakage. He was rushed to hospital after experiencing severe pain in his thigh. He underwent surgery and we hope for a swift recovery. Thus, he is absent from the Day One match-ups. Another prolonged, multi-basho absence would be a real gut-check. He’d climbed back from the knee injury and we’d just started muttering the words, “Ozeki Run,” but now that’s gone. He will tumble into the midst of the rank-and-file for Aki, likely as far as Maegashira 10 or 11.
I don't watch football (soccer) because all the diving & rolling around on the pitch in agony, followed by two seconds of limping, only to be immediately followed by running after the ball at full speed, is damn tiresome! Then there's football (american)...so boring! And even more boring baseball.
Watching sumo is so much more entertaining! I only wish the NHK YT channel would show more than just 20 seconds of the rikishi preparing and then straight to the tachi-ai. Is there a better way to see the banner parade and preparations?
Also give me rugby any day!
Try this channel
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEGSm9D5mUHY
Thanks, will give it a try.