[sumo] More On Hakuho, With Writer's Opinion

[John Racine]

There is a little in there about Hakuho.

Hakuho has "flourished under this system"?  By craftily remaining uninjured,
I suppose.

I think sports injuries are often due to a combination of bad coaching, and
the athlete's not admitting to a problem.  Both need to have a realistic
view of the injury, both long and short term.

If a young pitcher says he's ok to continue even though he's in pain, the
coach leaves him in the game and risks further injury.  Of course the player
wants to continue regardless.  

Likewise if the incentive to stay in the basho is great, the rikishi will
want to continue despite injury.  The sadistic shisho may insist that the
rikishi try harder, despite fractured ribs.  The motivating factor here
(besides cigarette burns to the arms) is to avoid falling down the banzuke
for the next basho.  The long-term view is to fall down the banzuke for the
time-being, recover fully, and then make a strong return.  

The long climb back to the top shouldn't be regarded as punishment, but as
rehabilitation.  If fully recovered, most former makuuchi rikishi will do
very well in makushita and rise again quickly against inferior opponents.
If they are not fully recovered, then it won't matter where they are on the
banzuke.

I think any story about sumo injuries should include something about
Kotokaze.  I don't know all the details, but I believe he made it to
sekiwake, got badly injured (knee?), and then fell all the way to the lower
ranks after sitting out for a year.  Finally he got well enough to compete
and within to years he became Ozeki and a crowd favourite.

Maybe someone else can fill in the details here.

John Racine