[sumo] Re: (sumo) Yaocho Story

[Doreen Simmons]

And of course in recent years the Judging Committee doesn't make the final 
day's pairings till the last possible minute on Day 14, to ensure getting 
the most exciting and honest bouts (like two 7-7- men meeting). (And how I 
wish people would stop quoting that article as if it were  serious study of 
real sumo done by people who have closely followed sumo over some years.)

>Earle Jones wrote:
>> I would agree with Nashikawa-san.
>>
>> According to Levitt in "Freakonomics", the big non-linearity occurs
>> at the break between finishing a basho at 7-8 or 8-7 -- kachikoshi vs
>> makekoshi.
>>
>> This is where the pressure would fall.  A rikishi on day 15 who
>> stands 7-7 has the most to win or lose.
>
>It bears pointing out that, while that was true in the 1990s, it's a lot 
>less relevant today. The "jump" from 6-9 to 7-8 or from 8-7 to 9-6 is 
>usually at least as valuable now, and in some basho even moreso than going 
>from MK 7-8 to KK 8-7.
>
>Asashosakari
_
Doreen Simmons
<jz8d-smmn at asahi-net.or.jp>