[sumo] Asashoryu Should Retire

[Barbara]

Joe Kuroda wrote:
> He
> left to Mongolia without a prior notice figuring the
> request would be approved. And of course this was not
> the first time he went to Mongolia without providing
> any prior notification.

Although Asashoryuu has left to Mongolia before for trips without 
permission, according to at least one report this time the trip was 
actually approved (possibly after A. was already en route). However, it 
was approved only because he said he needed treatment for injury in 
Mongolia.  The key to the transgression in this case is not that he was 
absent, but that he exaggerated his injury, then behaved in a way which 
showed his injury was minor, then was careless enough to not act the 
part.  Keep in mind that at his second examination, the injured elbow 
was rediagnosed as being only a slight injury which would heal on its 
own with therapy, whereas originally Asashoryuu was using a diagnosis 
saying "surgery is required".  I think it was a second doctor, not the 
same one, who reversed the treatment prescription. The JSA began seeing 
a pattern in which A. was using diagnoses and excuses to manipulate what 
he wanted to do or not to do.  My opinion: After JSA began seeing A. as 
dishonest, A. lost his protective aura of greatness in their eyes, and 
was seen more as just another dishonest foreigner.  That's why suddenly 
there was a landslide of anger over his past misdeeds to add to his 
current one.  Also, it explains why censure was not enough - JSA would 
see that punishment as something which would not matter to A. and 
therefore it would be no punishment at all.  Suspension is a punishment 
a foreigner can understand clearly, perhaps even a MORE demeaning 
punishment than simple retirement.  How many Japanese Yokozunas would 
retire instead of agreeing to such a suspension?  Perhaps most.  That 
being the case, A. may lose some additional respect for not retiring -- 
in addition to not "bearing up like a man" in the aftermath.  Reasonable 
or not, JSA is FURIOUS at him.  He's lucky he has a chance to return. 
But back to your thesis.  Yes, I agree he should retire, for the above 
reasons.  He isn't going to enjoy the scrutiny he will be under if he 
tries to continue, he won't be getting the same respect, the attention 
will be divided with Hakuhou having had two "sole yokozuna" bashos, and 
for his own protection, Takasago is going to have to exert a lot of 
control over his delinquent star, and A. is not going to feel like too 
many are on his side anymore.

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Barbara Murasakihana