September 16, 2023 News and Notes

• Homecoming game forfeited and all classes moved online for the last three days at Riverview Gardens High School in St. Louis.
• Cause:  An outbreak of dangerous fights on the campus.
• Several other schools in the St. Louis area have done the same:
• St. Mary's Southside:  Game last night stopped, fights in the stands.
• Alton High School:  One day of classes cancelled, moved to online learning earlier this month.  DOZENS of on-campus fights at that school.
• Vashon High School:  Threats and fights on the campus got at least one game forfeited.
• And a fight in-game between Granite City and Cahokia High Schools last week forced forfeitures for this week.
• Seven days through the September sumo tournament in Japan:
• Maegashira Rank 15 Atamifuji is 6-1 in an impressive return in his second top-division tournament.
• Former Sekiwake Takayasu is also 6-1, and they lead the tournament through seven of 15 rounds -- Takayasu trying to work his way back up from injuries.
• Eight wrestlers, including Ozeki Kirishima and Takakeisho, are next at 5-2.
• They include Tsurugisho, a Rank 16 Maegashira who's struggled to stay in the top flight.
• Due to injuries, both Kirishima and Takakeisho are kadoban, and must get a winning record this tournament to stay in full Ozeki status.
• On his maiden Ozeki run, Hoshoryu is 3-4, and the back half of his run is heavy with top-ranked wrestlers.
• As earlier reported, Yokozuna Terunofuji is out with a back injury.
• On the other end of the spectrum, Rank 3 Maegashira Tomawashi is 0-7 to start his tournament.  He COULD drop all the way to Juryo without a better second week.
• The two majorly-suspended 2020 wrestlers, Abi and Asanoyama, are both Rank 2 Maegashira, and both are 3-4 for the first week.  Both face former fallen Ozeki in Round 8.
• Asanoyama defeated Abi in Round 7.
• Quick baseball kayfabe through Friday night:
• AL East:  Orioles and Rays tied
• AL Central:  Twins by 8, Magic Number 7.
• AL West:  Houston by 1/2 over Texas and 1 1/2 over Seattle.
• AL Wild Cards:  Orioles/Rays 35 over .500 Texas 82-65, Seattle 81-66.  Toronto 1/2 game out.
• Next AL Tragic Number:  The Angels, who just shut down Ohtani, Tragic Number 2.
• Next AL Magic Number:  Rays for a playoff spot:  4.  Orioles is 5.
• NL East:  Barfs win the division.
• NL Central:  Brewers by 5.5
• NL West:  Dodgers by 13.5, Magic Number 2.
• NL Wild Cards:  Philadelphia 80-67, Cubs 78-70, Cincinnati 77-72 and a 4-3 record over Arizona.  Arizona out on the tiebreaker, Miami 1/2 game back, Giants 1 1/2 games back.
• Next NL Tragic Number:  Washington at 3.