[sumo] GOAT in sumo?

[Harold Shaver]

> So, are Dagens Nyheter just semi-ignorant of things sumoan or are there 

> any objective arguments for placing Taka as the sole sumo on the list? 

> What do you think?

> 

> Maguroyama

 

I believe it is probably more a factor of the press that Takanohana received
both in and outside of Japan.  All factors put together I, if I had to
choose only 1 of those rikishi to put on that list would probably take
Chiyonofuji.  You have to take into consideration the entire careers of each
of those Dai Yokozunae.  True Taiho had the most Yusho ever including 8 or 9
Zensho yusho and twice winning 6 basho in a row.  Futabayama was a great
Yokozuna beyond doubt, but just to say he would have won 30 yusho if he had
competed in the 6-a-year schedule is somewhat unfounded as we don't know
what his endurance or injury situation might have been wrestling that many
times a year.  Certainly he would have wone more that he did but 30? I'm not
convinced.

 

Asashoryu and Takanohana have certainly had the most press of any Yokozuna
Dai or otherwise.  Unfortuneately for him most of Asa's has been negative
press.  Takanohana was a great crowd favorite and had the demon gaijine
Yokozunaa Akebono and Musashimaru to do constant battle against.  Couple
that with the horrendous knee injury and the incredibly long kyujo period
that they allowed him (nearly 18 months) he became quite well known in the
international press as well as domestically.

 

Finally my choice for the Greates Of All Time (GOAT) in sumo: Chiyonofuji.
The Wolf was NOT a natural he had to work and work hard to become very
nearly the winningest of all time and indeed holds the current record for
most Makuuchi wins at 807 of any rikishi.  His early career was very
checkered constantly moving up and down the Banzuke in the lower ranks.  It
wasn't until after nearly 10 years that he began winning and doing it
consistently.  It was almost like he had an epiphany and all of a sudden a
light bulb went on and he said oh, that's how you win a bout.  The loss of
his child also was a tribulation to be fought past and he did.  With all of
these points one still only has to go to You-Tube or other such sites and
search for Chiyonofuji bouts and watch some.  Watch as many as you can
because each is a thing of beauty, even the rare losses.  The man was
undoubtedly an athlete of the 1st caliber and a man that set high standards
for himself and his fellow rikishi such that when a 17 year old Takanohana
defeated him, despite tha fact that I am positive he could easily have won
antoher 5-10 yusho had he remained active, he went intai as he wasn't
performing at HIS standards.

 

Considering everything I would have had him certainly in the top 20 of such
a list and Taiho, Kitanoumi, Takanohana, Asashoryu and probably Futabayama
should be included certainly in the top 100 of any such list.

 

Okay back to lurking mode, every now and then I have to contribute my 10 yen
worth.