[sumo] Basho Preview and More

[Robert Brown]

I would like to address one point, that of staying at the basho site and only announcing a kyujo at the last day in order to boost ticket sales.  I think this is dishonest and disrespectful to the fans.  If I bought a ticket because I thought my favorite rikishi was going to be participating and then he announced 2 days before the basho he was pulling out, I would be upset and very disappointed.  I would expect rikishi to announce their kyujo as soon as they know.

Kodaiyama


--- On Tue, 11/4/08, Jezz <jejima at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Jezz <jejima at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [sumo] Basho Preview and More
> To: "Sumo Mailing List" <sumo at webtrek.com>
> Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 12:17 AM
> Remember, I am also a fan of Asashoryu, but despite this, I
> try to
> view him objectively.
> 
> 2008/11/4 Scott M. Kahn <smk1 at columbia.edu>:
> > Mark and I have agreed to respectfully view Asashoryu
> from opposite
> > sides of the dohyo.  I believe Asashoryu is due some
> slack for
> > carrying sumo on his back for its reemergence after
> the Taka-Waka
> > hangover.
> 
> This is debatable.  The days of Asashoryu in his pomp are
> not known
> for having the kokugikan overflowing at its seams.  *If*
> Asa had never
> taken up Ozumo, or *if* he was nearly half as good as he
> was/is, then
> perhaps one (or more) of the following may have made it to
> Yokozuna:
> Kaio, Tochiazuma, (Chiyotaikai), (Kotooshu) or Kotomitsuki.
>  I have a
> feeling that Kaio or Tochiazuma as Yokozuna would have been
> very
> popular with the paying public, perhaps moreso than
> Asashoryu.
> 
> 
> > Yokozuna have excused themselves in the past for much
> > less,
> 
> Examples please.  Remember we are not discussing being
> absent for the
> basho - we are all happy about that - we are discussing not
> helping to
> promote a basho.  Please stay focussed on this point.
> 
> > I believe, and Asashoryu has been held to higher
> standards
> > since he is from Mongolia and travels home.
> 
> No, he has had a lot more leeway.  A kyujo Japanese
> Yokozuna (except
> in special circumstances - such as Taka going to France),
> would not be
> allowed to leave the country.
> 
> > The Kyokai could set
> > the tone for accepting Asashoryu in appreciation for
> what he has
> > given of himself before (unfairly) being branded the
> scourge of
> > sumo.
> 
> You are going back to an old topic, not the current one of
> whether
> Asashoryu could have come to Japan earlier to help sell
> tickets.
> 
> > But it serves the Kyokai better to have Asa serve as a
> > whipping boy for all of its ills.
> 
> Not the current topic of discussion.  Besides, have the
> kyokai
> actually publicly complained about Asa not being here?
> 
> > From all reports that I have
> > read, Asashoryu's absence had little or no affect
> on any ticket
> > sales between bashos.
> 
> Sadly, I tend to agree with you on this point, but this is
> *NOT* a
> good thing.  It is because the Japanese public have
> generally given up
> on Asashoryu.  Of course a Yokozuna should have some impact
> on ticket
> sales.  The fact that he doesn't is very sad.  Whether
> or not the
> number of tickets sold would have differed much, does not
> change the
> fact that Asashoryu could have returned a week earlier to
> Japan, and
> at least tried.
> 
> 
> > And, there is no comparison between how
> > Asashoryu is being treated to how Takanohana was
> treated, for
> > reasons that are obvious.
> 
> Again, is the kyokai actually treating Asashoryu badly? 
> They are
> allowing him to stay in Mongolia despite the upcoming
> basho, and him
> missing two return dates.  Seems they are being quite
> lenient.
> 
> > At least Takanohana had a chance to live
> > in Japan with his not-first-choice wife while he was
> recouperating.
> 
> Asashoryu has the same chance.  No one is stopping his wife
> and family
> from living in Japan.  Many, many, many sports people live
> with their
> familes when they get a job in a foreign country.  They
> take their
> family with them.  This is normal.
> 
> > Perhaps if the Japanese stalkerazzi would leave
> Asashoryu's family
> > alone, he would be able to spend peaceful time in
> Japan with them
> > while recouperating from his injuries.
> 
> I was unaware that his family was being hounded more than
> any other
> public figure.  Is there evidence of this?
> 
> > Should Asashoryu be
> > afforded that right, or is that summarilly dismissed
> as being part
> > of his Kyokai job description?
> 
> No doubt if it excessive, there are avenues he could turn
> to in Japan.
> >
> > Sukubidubidu
> >
> 
> Remember Mark's article and my points are that
> Asashoryu could have
> come back earlier to Japan to help with ticket sales.  If
> you wish to
> continue to counter-argue, please could you address this
> point.
> 
> Jejima
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