From 1995 to 2011...

[lostinube]

...TBS had a Kinniku Banzuke related special on or around New Year's Day.

The first Pro Sportsman No. 1, won by Yakult Swallows player Tatsuya Iida, aired on January 1st, 1995. Other than 1996 and 2009 (on the 2nd and 3rd respectively), TBS aired the annual Pro Sportsman No. 1 show on January 1st.

In 2010, with Sportsman relegated to a clip show and Monster Box only contest (sidenote: I do not consider Hirokazu Oyama a Sportsman No. 1 winner), SASUKE took over the slot. In 2011, another SASUKE, aired on the 2nd.

But now that the New Year's TV schedules are out, we make it official: there will be no Kinniku Banzuke/Monster 9 programming this New Year's, marking the end of a 17 year run.

[TCM]

Tis a shame, but 17 years is a hell of a run.

[Badalight]

Almost my entire life. Pretty amazing all things considered, sucks though...

[arsenette]

Thanks Ube. Sucks it's official

[Deleted]

By "official" do you mean it's official that there's nothing Sasuke related for New Years, or do you mean it's official that Sasuke is over and the rumors about TBS were false?

[arsenette]

Dec 27, 2011 9:19:34 GMT -5 @tigerofhaughton said:

By "official" do you mean it's official that there's nothing Sasuke related for New Years, or do you mean it's official that Sasuke is over and the rumors about TBS were false?

Official nothing during New Years. Something from M9 has ALWAYS been in New Years (granted mostly Sportsman #1) but nothing at all is on the schedule since the full schedule is now out.

[r34gtr]

I'm really not a fan of the post-2001 PSNo.1 shows... I liked the '01 show because of Kane Kosugi, all the NFL players, and that Thirty event. I've also never seen any of the Celebrity shows, either.

Sad either way.

[quasikoz]

Damn. At least the Winter Classic will fill the void for me.

I still enjoy a Monster Box or a Salmon Ladder more everytime, however.