It's been a few years since I added a song to my songbook, but I saw this YouTube clip and had to post it.
"One Too Many Mornings" is easily one of my all-time favorite Bob Dylan songs. Not sure how a 24-year old gets away with singing a song about being "One too many mornings, and a thousand miles behind", but the lyrics are the typical Dylan genius in simplicity. Although I think the original version matches the tone best, I love the rock band version he did in the 70's and am slightly amused by the country version he did with Johnny Cash.
Here's the original, acoustic version from The Times They Are a-Changin':
Here's the alternate take he came up with on the Rolling Thunder Revue and Bob's incredible mid-70's hollering vocal style:
Here's the recently found Cash/Dylan version which I put around 1969-ish due to Bob's country (Nashville Skyline) voice. Their two voices never matched in the slightest, but they did a bunch of duets together and it seems from this video like at least they amused themselves.
It's been a few days since it ended, but since I was away, here's the wrap-up of the Summer tournament in Tokyo. It was a very exciting tournament, with 4 different wrestlers with a chance to win on the last day. In the end, Harumafuji won his first tournament ever, in a playoff over Hakuho.
On day 14, Hakuho lost his 33-match win streak when he fell to Ozeki Koto'oshu. That left him 13-1. It was followed by a match between Asashoryu and Harumafuji, both 12-1, to see who would stay tied for the lead. Harumafuji won it with a great leg trip. That left Hakuho and Harumafuji with 1 loss, and Asashoryu and Kisenosato with 2 losses going into the last day.
On Sunday, Kisenosato took care of business to finish 13-2. (It wasn't enough to win, but he did get the Fighting Spirit prize for the 3rd time in his career.) Then, Harumafuji faced Koto'oshu. A loss would have kept alive the possibility of a 4-way tie at 13-2. But Harumafuji came up with a great neck throw of Koto'oshu and finished at 14-1. Then, it all depended on the Asashoryu-Hakuho match. Asashoryu could have handed the tournament to Harumafuji by beating Hakuho, but he couldn't do it, and Hakuho ended up tied with Harumafuji at 14-1. Asashoryu finished in 4th place, at 12-3.
Then, Hakuho and Harumafuji faced off for the second time this tournament, in a playoff to determine the champion of the tournament:
In other news from the tournament, Kakuryu was one of three wrestlers who moved up to the top ranks for the first time, and he was the only one that survived it. He went 9-6 and won the Technique Prize for the 3rd time. He'll be moving up to Sekiwake for the next tournament.
Chiyotaikai actually won his last 3 matches (the fix was in, maybe?) to finish 8-7 and keep his Ozeki ranking. Besides Harumafuji, the Ozeki team was horrible as usual. Koto'oshu did manage to beat Hakuho, but he finished only 9-6, while Kotomitsuki, Kaio and Chiyotaikai all eked out 8-7 records.
Baruto, obviously injured, finished 4-11. Goeido finished 6-9 in his first tournament as a Sekiwake, and Tochiozan finished 6-9 in his first tournament as a Komusubi. All three will drop out of the named ranks, setting up a possible return to Sekiwake for Kisenosato after his 13-2 tournament at Maegashira #4.
The big loser this tournament was Homasho, who saved face with a win on the last day to finish 1-14. Ouch.
Young Russian Aran won his last 4 matches to go 8-7 at Maegashira #4, enough to move him up to the upper ranks and probably a date with all the Ozekis and Yokozunas in July. (I don't think he's ready for that.)
Giant Yamamotoyama lost 3 of his last 4, including the last day, to drop to 7-8 and get a small demotion for next tournament.
Young Japanese wrestler Toyohibiki followed up a championship in the minors in March with an 11-4 record in the majors this tournament, so he'll be moving up nicely in July.
Takamisakari went 6-1, then stumbled to a 9-6 record. But the good news is he isn't retiring. It was not his last tournament, just the last tournament under his current coach, who is retiring. Azumazeki is being replaced by current minor leaguer Ushiomaru, who did retire after this tournament ended.
Young up-and-coming Georgian wrestler Tochinoshin will move up in July after a 9-6 record this tournament.
The Juryo division was won by former major-leaguer Tama'asuka from the bottom of the minor rankings.
And in the Sumo pool, Kunitachi finished with a 2nd-straight 10-5 record. Though I should have done better, losing 2 tiebreakers in the tournament, I'm still on pace to make it up to Juryo in the pool by next March.
Here's one that lived up to the hype:
Unfortunately, this video doesn't have the replay with a closer look at the sweet move Hakuho made. Following his evil Sensei's advice ("Sweep the leg!"), with perfect timing he kicked Harumafuji's foot out from under him and down he went.
Hakuho is 13-0 (33-match win streak), with Asashoryu and Harumafuji one back at 12-1. Asashoryu faces Harumafuji tomorrow to see who gets to keep hope alive going into the last day of the tournament. (Of course, if it's Asashoryu there's more hope, since he'll be up against Hakuho on the last day.)
In other news, Takamisakari finally got his kachi-koshi (8 wins, guaranteeing a winning tournament). Unfortunately, if I was understanding the Japanese last night, it looks like this will be Takamisakari's last tournament. I think maybe he's retiring from competition so that he can take his coach's place at the head of the Azumazeki heya. His coach, the current Azumazeki Oyakata is turning 65 and maybe is forced into retirement (?). He is the former Takamiyama, the first great American wrestler and first foreigner to make the top of the Sumo ranks, reaching as high as Sekiwake, I think.
So did Kakuryu, who will definitely move up to Sekiwake, since both current Sekiwakes, Baruto and Goeido, now have 8 losses or more. And Chiyotaikai still lives, winning today to go to 6-7 with still a chance at 8 wins.
Matches of the day tomorrow: Hakuho vs. Koto'oshu; Asashoryu vs. Harumafuji
After 12 days, no one has been able to beat Harumafuji or Hakuho, so it's up to them. Hakuho easily moved Kaio out of the ring today, and Harumafuji put a nifty turn on Baruto to get behind him and usher him out, setting up a showdown tomorrow for the tournament lead. Here's video of Harumafuji's win over Baruto:
Hakuho moved to 32 straight wins, which tied him with two others for 5th-longest win streak ever. Next up is Asashoryu in 4th place with a 35-match streak a few years ago.
Asashoryu stayed just 1 back with another strong win over Kotomitsuki. With matches against Harumafuji on Saturday and Hakuho on Sunday, Asashoryu still has his destiny in his own hands. If he wins out, he wins the tournament.
Kisenosato had a bit of a miraculous save today against Miyabiyama to get his 10th win and preserve a slim chance to win the tournament (if the others all beat each other). Here's that match:
Chiyotaikai lost again today to drop to 5-7, meaning he needs to win his last 3 matches or he's no longer an Ozeki.
And Kunitachi keeps rolling, with a 4th straight win, to go to 8-4 and guarantee me a winning record and a move up the rankings for July. With a match tomorrow vs. 1-11 Ouchiyama, I expect to go to 9-4 and have a good chance at my 2nd straight 10-win tournament in the Sumo pool.
Match of the day tomorrow: 12-0 Hakuho vs. 12-0 Harumafuji
Not much change at the top of the Sumo tournament, though the leaders have been thinned out a bit.
The current leaders are still Hakuho and Harumafuji, both still undefeated at 11-0. Hakuho beat Ozeki Kotomitsuki today in his longest match of the tournament (over 1 minute long). In the end, Hakuho had more stamina and Kotomitsuki couldn't hold him off for that long and got pushed out. Hakuho extended his win streak to 31 matches, which puts him alone in 7th place all time, breaking a tie with Takanohana. (Asashoryu is 4th or 5th at 35 straight, which Hakuho would tie if he wins another undefeated tournament this time. The all-time record is 69.)
Harumafuji pulled a lame move at the face-off against rival Kisenosato today, stepping to the side and grabbing his arm and pulling him down. That knocked Kisenosato out of the race, down to 9-2.
Asashoryu continued to look dominating in the last few days, winning an easy one over the bigger Ozeki Kaio today. He's won 8 in a row now and he must be serious, because he's even stopped talking to the press.
The next biggest news is the possible impending demotion (or retirement?) of Chiyotaikai. He needs 8 wins to preserve his Ozeki ranking, but after losing his 4th straight match today, he's down to 5-6. That means he needs to win 3 of his last 4, against Baruto, Kaio, Koto'oshu and Kotomitsuki. I doubt he'll make it, so the question is, will he keep wrestling at a lower rank (I think a 10-win tournament in July automatically gets him back to Ozeki) or would he just retire and keep his dignity?
Today there was a super-long match between Aran and Tokitenku. It went so long, the wrestlers were allowed to stop for a drink of water and a rest in the middle. The way they do it is, the referee makes marks in the sand where their feet are, then they can move. When they're ready to start again, they put their feet in the exact same place, then get the exact same grips and put themselves in the same position. (One of the judges looks at video of where they were when they stopped, I think.) Then, the referee taps them both at the same time and they start again (see picture). Usually, it only takes a few seconds after the break, because they've rested enough for the final push. This was the first time they've done this since 2005.
Other scores: Another mediocre tournament for the rest of the Ozekis with Kaio dropping to 8-3 today and Kotomitsuki and Koto'oshu at 7-4. Baruto lost his 8th today, so he'll probably drop all the way out of the sanyaku (top ranks) after 4 straight tournaments at Sekiwake. Goeido is 5-6 and needs 3 wins to stay at Sekiwake, which is possible for him. Kakuryu has won 4 in a row to get up to 6-5 and a great chance to move up to take Baruto's place as Sekiwake.
Big fat Yamamotoyama had a rough patch, but won his last 2 to get back on the positive side at 6-5. Takamisakari started out 6-1, but since then he's 1-3 and still hasn't nailed down his winning tournament. 21 yr.-old Georgian Tochinoshin is also 7-4 and just 1 win from another promotion.
And in the Sumo pool, Kunitachi has won 3 straight to get back up to a respectable 7-4. One more win for a 2nd straight winning tournament, with a goal of reaching the Juryo division by next March. (I'm currently #57 in the division below Juryo.)
Last night's show reminded me how amazing Sam Cooke was. As I keep threatening, some day, I will create my Top 100 Singers list, and I think I've got Sam Cooke slotted in at #3 all time.
Let's hope he goes on a tear starting tonight. Loved this picture on the Globe web site.
Look at this video from a special on Yellowstone. This fox can hear rodents 4 feet beneath the snow.
With the tournament half over, Harumafuji is looking like he will be a contender to the end. And with Asashoryu hanging around only 1 back, that means it could be a very exciting finish next Sunday.
Hakuho has looked shakier, nearly losing yesterday to Baruto, but coming back with an easy win today over Tamanoshima to stay undefeated. He's 8-0 and now on a 28-match win streak.
Harumafuji is the only other 8-0 wrestler left. He started his matches against co-Ozeki's today with a win over Chiyotaikai. With 7 days left, he has 3 more Ozeki matches and 2 Yokozunas to face. (Same goes for Hakuho, though.)
Asashoryu has looked great since his Day 3 loss. Suddenly, he's been winning easily with his usual combination of speed and skill. At 7-1 and only 1 behind Hakuho, he is still in a pretty good position to make something happen on the last day of the tournament (when he goes up against Hakuho himself).
Also at 7-1, Kaio continues an amazing renaissance. Can't remember him even being in danger in any of his 7 wins. He could send a message with a win tomorrow over Harumafuji. Also 7-1 is Kisenosato, who looked especially strong today in his first-ever match against 568-pound man-mountain Yamamotoyama. Here's video for any readers who think Sumo wrestlers aren't as big as they used to be:
At 6-2, 2 back and still hanging in the race by a thread, are Kotomitsuki, Kotoshogiku, Toyohibiki, and our hero Takamisakari.
Baruto almost came up with the miracle against Hakuho, but he couldn't get him out, and he's dropped to 3-5. Needs to go 5-2 to stay at Sekiwake.
And Chiyotaikai at 5-3 needs to go 3-4 in the next 7 to keep from losing his Ozeki rank.
I had a rough day Saturday in the Sumo pool, but came back with 8 out of 10 right today. Unfortunately, so did my opponent and I lost the tiebreaker and dropped to a mediocre 4-4 record.
Match of the Day tomorrow: Harumafuji (8-0) vs. Kaio (7-1)
(also Asashoryu vs. Chiyotaikai and Hakuho vs. Goeido)
