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Post by VenusHeadTrap on Feb 16, 2009 18:15:05 GMT -5
IMO it's Yamamoto, he hasn't passed stage 1 during Shin Sasuke, or since 2006. His performance last year was impressive so he also set the bar for a run with no mistakes this year.
Nagano, Shiratori and Takeda's success of 21 let's them know people hope for them to get that far again or else it is a step down for their reputation, but we all understand. Nagano might wear 100 each time, but each of these guys has a different kind of weight on them selves. Akiyama may have bad eyes, but to me it's about how he hasn't competed for a while or if he will ever try again.
Based on how long it's been since we've last seen them, physical problems or weaknesses, and past success, who will be the most pressured All star in 22?
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Feb 16, 2009 20:04:47 GMT -5
Yamamoto hands down. He's been healthy and doing nervous mistakes that took him out each time. Akiyama has his own pressure but he hasn't been there the whole time. Takeda, Shiratori and Nagano all passed Stage 1 (and 2 of them stage 2) so they feel a lot less pressure (though Nagano has the pressure of trying to win it again and being so close had to hurt... even Takeda was uber frustrated after his fall). Yamada could at least say he was hurt... though I"m sure he is feeling pressure too.. just not the same as Yamamoto.
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Post by Homeslice on Feb 16, 2009 20:32:08 GMT -5
While Yamamoto has been struggling mightily, I actually had to vote Yamada - his head has been playing games with him since 14 and there's always the reputation he holds. Kinda too bad I couldn't pick both.
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Post by talledega7 on Feb 16, 2009 22:14:21 GMT -5
Yamamoto. He was blazing through the course before getting hung up on the Flying Chute. Since he hasn't cleared sinced 17, he needs to do it before its too late.
Yamada is second since its been 5 and a half years since he last cleared the First. If he's healthy he made finally be able to do it.
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Post by TCM on Feb 16, 2009 23:00:46 GMT -5
I actually think Nagano is the most pressured. He's expected to do great each time, I wouldn't be surprised of you take a poll in Japan who watch the show and ask what stage do you expect Nagano to be in by the end of the show, you'll get 3rd or final every time. The "grand champion" always carries the weight of all competitors on his shoulders. He might not show it, but it's there.
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Feb 17, 2009 0:38:13 GMT -5
Oh I know he has the most pressure in some way (which is why I lumped Akiyama in there) but he actually does better when his friends go through. Yamamoto has yet to make it lately (same goes for Yamada but he was hurt the last time and actually Shingo had almost no excuse to miss) and his failures have been all mental the past few tournaments. Nagano is almost blessed in being last because he can feel relieved because a few of his friends actually made it. Shingo almost always is the first of the All-Stars in the past few tournaments so that's why I felt he gets hit with it the most.
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Post by obakemono on Feb 17, 2009 5:30:11 GMT -5
Yamada.
It is never, nor will it ever be, anyone else.
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Post by Homeslice on Feb 17, 2009 9:32:38 GMT -5
Oh I know he has the most pressure in some way (which is why I lumped Akiyama in there) but he actually does better when his friends go through. Yamamoto has yet to make it lately (same goes for Yamada but he was hurt the last time and actually Shingo had almost no excuse to miss) and his failures have been all mental the past few tournaments. Nagano is almost blessed in being last because he can feel relieved because a few of his friends actually made it. Shingo almost always is the first of the All-Stars in the past few tournaments so that's why I felt he gets hit with it the most. Valid point. And if Shingo is the first one to go again in Sasuke 22, the odds will be stacked against him. (And I'm kinda thinking that he'll be the first All-Star again, even with Akiyama there.) However... Yamada. It is never, nor will it ever be, anyone else. Notion seconded. It's like I said before. |
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Post by Badalight on Feb 17, 2009 14:43:55 GMT -5
1. Yamada: I'm actually surprised he doesn't have the majority of the votes in the poll. He always seems pressured and ends up fialing because of it. Not to say the other all-stars don't, but he has a huge weight on his shoulders. He hasn't won in a long time and each time it gets harder for him mentally and psyichally.
2. Yamamoto: He's been sucking as of late, and he really wanted to win last time, and if I remember his pace was just as good as nagano's, but he was too careful and din't get enough momentum for the flying chute. Stupid really, he always asks for a low number because he is pressured.
3. Nagano: Reigning champion, always scared to death. Remember Sasuke 20? That's an exmaple of how pressured he can get. He always feels the need to make it to stage 3.
4. Akiyama: First Champion, bad eye sight, feels like he needs to do good to hold up his name as an all-star. Depressed when he makes silly mistakes.
5. Takeda: Never beaten the made it to the final stage, always wants to out do Nagano.
6. Bunpei: People might say it's unfair putting Bunpei here, since he had his injury and all, he was probably really stressed and he had'nt beaten the new stage 1 before, but that was Sasuke 21. In 22 he'll have renewed confidence, and with obstacle in his backyard to practice there won't be many obstacles that he'll be afraid of fialing because he knows from experience he can beat them all. And he always seems like a happy go lucky guy who's never quite serious, pretty chill guy.
Feel free to disagree =]
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scnoi1217
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Post by scnoi1217 on Feb 17, 2009 23:42:05 GMT -5
Which All-Star is under the most pressure? Well that depends on which perspective you look at.
If you are talking about from a competitor's perspective, then it's Katsumi Yamada hands down. No one puts more pressure on themselves to perform then he does.
If you want to talk about pressure placed on them by fans, I would say it's close between Shingo and Nagano. Shingo because he always has the potential to beat the First Stage and Nagano because he is expected to go deep every single time. I would actually give this to Nagano because we as the fans put the pressure on him to succeed and he does feel it, as it shows during the TBS broadcasts.
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arsenette
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Post by arsenette on Feb 18, 2009 0:23:22 GMT -5
Agreed on all accounts  I still pick Shingo.. Unlike Nagano.. he doesn't have the friggin' God-like gift to pull things out of thin air. He's not the strongest, fastest or smartest out there.. and he doesn't even train for the dang thing.. so when he comes up to the starting line.. in first.. and he hasn't made it.. and he's not injured.. yeah.. he sees himself at the finish line well before he gets there and freaks out doing something incredibly stupid.. Nagano, Shiratori and Takeda can all say they at least succeeded recently so it's not playing with their minds (well.. Shiratori with the downhill jump, and Nagano and Takeda with Stage 3).. Yamada.. he can always say he was hurt. Akiyama this time is training for it well in advance and he knows the course a little more than he did before. So let's see  |
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Post by The Chief on Feb 18, 2009 1:01:24 GMT -5
I agree with sconi, Yamada puts way too much pressure on himself and Shingo has made stupid mistakes.
"Nagano, Shiratori and Takeda can all say they at least succeeded recently so it's not playing with their minds (well.. Shiratori with the downhill jump, and Nagano and Takeda with Stage 3).. Yamada.. he can always say he was hurt. Akiyama this time is training for it well in advance and he knows the course a little more than he did before."
I agree.
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I still pick Shingo.. Unlike Nagano.. he doesn't have the friggin' God-like gift to pull things out of thin air. He's not the strongest, fastest or smartest out there.. and he doesn't even train for the dang thing.. so when he comes up to the starting line.. in first.. and he hasn't made it.. and he's not injured.. yeah.. he sees himself at the finish line well before he gets there and freaks out doing something incredibly stupid.. 
