[sumo] [spoilers]Asashoryu's open armed and beloved return.

[Moti]

--- Original Message ----

<<I appreciate the messenger, but isn't Asashoryu-bashing passe, now that
 
there are more important issues on the table- lest one forget the 
overhanging manslaughter trial and Kyokai reform?  Please tell me if I 
am wrong, is the local "news" appetite and consumption so misguided?  
Were locals truly rooting for Asashoryu to be forced to retire because 
his flight back to Japan was overbooked, and are they hoping for his 
demise because of injury?  Please.

There are more important questions to be answered, in my opinion.
  Among 
them is how the training of rikishi will change now that techniques
 from 
the past are likely to be altered (the proliferation of bats was 
disturbing to me).  Will such changes within the heya result in a
 meeker 
"fighting spirit" and lead to worse sumo, or as I suspect, will it be a
 
change based only in tradition.

There are political questions as well.  How long will Kitanoumi be 
allowed to maintain his position?  One more scandal, and will he be 
out?  Is Kitanoumi putting other reforms into place, a good measure
 will 
be how long of a leash he will extend to Asashoryu for travel outside
 of 
Japan.

I, for one, am looking forward to the return of REAL sumo.  At least
 for 
me, I eagerly anticipate how Asashoryu will perform, will he be rusty 
and come back as a shell of his old self, or will he demonstrate true 
Yokozuna-like mindset and performance.  In the meantime, it is quite 
interesting to compare the public's anticipation and acceptance of the 
return of Takanohana from (steroid ) knee injury, and the return of 
Asashoryu.

Provocative enough?

Sukubidubidu>>

<<Much ado about nothing, in my opinion. etc..>.



You've got it all wrong this time (again?..) my friend. The general
public is very happy to see Asa back as could be seen at the jungyo
where the overwhelmingly large majority gave him a warm welcome. Of
course, there are some old guys who don't like him etc., but so far,
they are a very silent majority. So far.

As for the papers, if anything, they are very sympathetic and quite
respectful of his showing up for keiko this morning regardless of his
new injury.
The Kyokai reform committee you so want to
see perform are at the forefront of bashing Asa for his keiko
roughness, if you have been reading my posts lately..And the police
investigation into the death of Tokitaizan is in full swing and is
being reported daily as well.

There is no Asashouryuu bashing per se at all in the press, except for
the one tabloid that has been doing it anyway and the question of 

Asa's apologies being real or not, which is a legitimate question and pure speculation by editors at best. 
As for the flight story, it only illustrates the incompetence of Asa's
immediate surroundings- visa not renewed in time, neglecting to reserve
flight seats on time, and even the final booking was treading a fine
line-they only had 35 minutes to catch the connecting flight in Seoul,
which means that a small delay in departure in Mongolia would have
caused them to miss the connection altogether.

As for Kitanoumi, there are elections in January for the kyokai, and we might see him gone sooner than we imagined..

And the leash for Asa and his frequent trips home -  Are you for or against letting him continue to do whatever he pleases?
And finally, the comparison of his return to Takanohana's- the public's
perception of the two was vastly different from the start, so it's kind
of an unfair question, although I don't think Asa will be booed or
disrespected in any way.

And let's not forget the REASON for both of them missing the bashos -  you can see they are not even remotely similar..



The messenger




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