[sumo] GOAT in sumo?

[Lon Howard]

On Aug 17, 2008, at 12:31 PM, Harold Shaver wrote:

>  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.

This is a great point.  For the most part, I've never given much  
thought to  GOAT discussions because of the great differences that  
existed between  opponents, and eras in general.  But if I had to  
make such a judgment, I would at least have to  whittle the field  
down to those yokozuna who had to hammer away year round - not only  
physically, but mentally as well.  Not that Futabayama, Tachiyama, et  
al couldn't have, but they didn't have to prove that they were up to  
the grind.

Beyond that though, it's very difficult.  The argument for  
Chiyonofuji is very compelling.  The one thing I would offer on  
Taiho's behalf is that he made winning seem so ridiculously easy most  
of the time.  Chiyo's bouts were more entertaining because of his  
size, but most of Taiho's opponents looked totally helpless.  They  
couldn't have been THAT bad, but he made them seem that way.

- Shomishuu