[sumo] [Long] Asashoryu Yaocho Article from Shukan Gendai - Part 2

[Dale Carlson]

At 01:37 AM 2/4/2007 -0500, Kuramarujo wrote:

>But the article is so blatantly slanted it screams "the Mongolians 
>and other Gaijin have corrupted Sumo."  

To be fair, the article also mentions the Chiyonofuji era as another
alleged high point of yaocho. It seems almost acceptable to suggest
that he "wasn't allowed" to surpass Taiho's yusho record, because he
used fixed matches...

I just don't get the logic of the current allegations. Unless he's a 
phenomenal physical actor, Asashoryu seems to be in a class by
himself- far above the skills of his competition. And we are to believe
that Dejima is so powerful as to be a threat? Then why isn't he still
at least an Ozeki? Is it more profitable for him to let guys off easy and
sell wins?

And if Asashoryu is so desperate to buy wins, why did he sell one
to Kotomitsuki? Surely, he doesn't need the money, even if there were
no kensho envelopes. I guess he's just naturally generous :)

Regardless of its motivations, this whole thing strikes me as being a 
large load of crap. Unfortunately, it seems to be the big "sumo story"
of the moment, even for non-sumo fans in Japan.

I hope more important news stories get more professional coverage
there, such as political events. Somehow, like in the USA, I doubt it.

Dale