[sumo] [spoiler] Asashoryu vs Hakuho

[Scott M. Kahn]

You bring up an interesting point.  However, considering his
position within the Kyokai, Magaki's actions made a mockery of the
reform that is being requested of sumo after Mr. Saito's death at
the hands of Tokitsukaze.  Furthermore, Magaki's unfortunate
comments immediately after his use of a bamboo
pole-sword-spear-weapon came to light demonstrated what we all
know, that the Kyokai sees itself as an old boys' network, entitled
to its own culture and decision making process, not having to answer
to anyone on the outside.

Magaki's contempt for reform is unacceptable, this is the reason for
the intense outcry over this incident.  It is an embarassment to the
Kyokai.  It is an embarassment to Kitanoumi, who we know is not
proactive, and has adopted policies of waiting out public outcries
for reform.  While Magaki only caused bruises to the rikishi in his
stable, one could only imagine what the negative impact on sumo
would have been if he had caused a hemorrhage that required
hospitalization or surgery.  This is a slight chance, but a chance
nonetheless, and Magaki's judgement is dubious.

Magaki is guilty of violating the zero tolerance rule expected of
the Kyokai with respect to corporal punishment.  That his actions
were not reported earlier and were instead covered up is an
embarassment to Mr. Saito's family.  The Kyokai is making a mockery
of the reform that is expected of these old men.  And it further
goes to show that Kitanoumi is not managing the Kyokai to the
extent expected of him on the outside.  Of all the emphasis he
placed on setting up committees, etc., here he has Magaki doing his
own thing.  To me, this is unacceptable in the current atmosphere,
all Oyakata should have suspended such training techniques until a
proper review was performed.  That Magaki chose to ignore such a
request and instead did his own thing AND GOT CAUGHT, is the crime.

But we all know that the Kyokai will find that bowed heads are
sufficient for Magaki and that life will move on in the Kyokai to
finding a reason to suspend Asashoryu for his improper extra push
vs. Hakuho.  How lucky for Asashoryu that Hakuho's response was as
disrespectful.

On to less important things such as drug and steroid testing, I
guess this is still under a lengthy review, if not forgotten...

Sukubidubidu

> Incidentally, I think the fuss being made over Magaki oyakata is
> plain stupid, and I think it's time the Kyokai Rijikai
> started facing up to the bureaucrats in the Education Ministry.
> It is unreasonable to put what Magaki did, hitting an apprentice
> on the body
> with a shinai and causing some bruises, on the same level as
> Toyozakura's hitting an apprentice over the head with a large
> metal ladle,
> causing an injury that required a number of stitches.
>
> Doreen Simmons
> jz8d-smmn at asahi-net.or.jp
>
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