[sumo] More Comments

[Pierre Wohlleben]

Scott Kahn wrote:
> Are you claiming that xenophobia played absolutely no part in the 
> suspension of Asashoryu?

No more than it probably plays a role in everything else in Japanese society, i.e. as an undercurrent but not as the driving force. You're certainly free to keep banging that drum, but it comes across as mere apologia for what are pretty clear and serious transgressions by Asashoryu. 

That also goes for your continued investigating of whether it's possible to play soccer with a back injury...I don't intend to get into the same stupid flame war over the topic as on the Sumoforum where a couple of posters tried the same tack, so I'll cut right to the chase: if you seriously think this whole thing is primarily about the relative physical requirements of playing soccer and taking part in a jungyo, you don't understand the issue *at all*. Nobody besides foreign fans cares that he was seen playing soccer specifically. It could have been hula hoop, for all it matters.


> That this was simply based on merits and his "bad boy" image?   Need I 
> remind some people that it has been reported on this list that 
> Asashoryu  has taken it upon himeself at past tours and exhibitions to 
> act as sumo ambassador, long after all others had left.

You seem to be taking the interesting position that because Asashoryu is really nice half the time, he should be allowed to get away with being extra naughty the other half of the time.

I've generally enjoyed your posts to the SML, but ever since your meeting with Asashoryu your posts regarding him and his behavioural oddities have been way, way out there. I really do suggest you take a step back and re-calibrate.


> And, do we easily forget his subpar physical condition during the 
> past three tournaments, and how he continued against Hakuho despite 
> being injured so that Hakuho's yokozuna promotion would require a 
> yokozuna hurdle?

So? Asashoryu earned his promotion to yokozuna when something like three quarters of all top rankers were missing for two straight tournaments. Nobody cares now. It's nice if he stayed in the basho to provide the best-possible opposition, but other than him, you, and *maybe* Hakuho, it won't matter to anybody six months from now. It's the kind of thing top competitors do to prove something to themselves, not to anybody else. I'm not giving credit for that as some kind of "going beyond the call of duty".


> I deeply feel that the Kyokai has grossly mismanaged its relationship 
> with Asashoryu, and the qualities that he brings to the table.  They 
> have cornered themselves into continued xenophobic accusations, instead 
> of working with Asashoryu and his strengths in promoting sumo.

Please. These "continued xenophobic accusations" (BTW, is that a Freudian slip? You seem to mean "continued accusations of xenophobia") are coming from a vocal minority, and on this mailing list you're probably responsible for half of the posts containing them. The only one who's cornered himself into anything is you.

BTW, let's just note that you didn't spend a single word of your response to talk about how Kotokanyu fits into the "it's all about the xenophobia" picture you've been painting. Not entirely surprising, of course. As Moti has noted in the meantime, the reason foreigners are having more sanctions levelled against them is that they're committing more infractions. It really is that simple. And the (very) few times that Japanese rikishi have overstepped the limits (Toki, Kotokanyu) they've been getting the book thrown at them just like the foreigners.

Asashosakari