[sumo] GOAT in sumo?

[Scott Kahn]

This is an interesting and provocative list, and enjoyable to review.  
Thank you!  Qualifying my own list as including only those rikishi I 
have personally seen, my ranking includes at the top, Chiyonofuji, 
Kitanoumi, Asashoryu, Wajima, based on their records and mastery of 
techniques.

I have to question the inclusion of Takanohana on any GOAT list when, 
despite the reluctance of the Japanese press to properly investigate 
since he is sumo royalty, there is evidence that his performance was 
substance enhanced.

As for basketball, I don't know that I'd rank Kareem over Bill Russell 
or even Bob Petit who was responsible for the enactment of rule changes 
to make the sport fairer.

Not to take away from the spectacular performance of Phelps, but his two 
specialties, short distance freestyle and fly, afford him more 
possibilities for medals than others who are similarly dominant in their 
respective sports.  Individual and team medleys do not exist in all 
Olympic sports.

However as for the greatest athletes of all time, I would have to rank 
at the top of the list our earliest hominoid relatives who were able to 
outrun, outclimb, outleap, and outthink all predators without those 
fancy engineered swimsuits or footware.


Sukubidubidu

Magnus Berg wrote:

> For those interested, here is the entire list.
> Sorry that the sports names are in Swedish, but I think you get it...
> BTW, my vote for GOAT top 5 in sumo would probably be in the order of 
> Taiho, Chiyonofuji, Futabayama, Takanohana, Kitanoumi, with Asashoryu 
> closing in from behind.
> <snipped>