[sumo] [spoiler] A dark day for sumo

[jdemund at aol.com]

 I agree - this is s very dark day for sumo
AND I also think that he is being forced out because he came to close to  breaking some all-time records. It is a sad thing to see a noble sport become so political

 


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott M. Kahn <smk1 at columbia.edu>
To: sumo at webtrek.com
Sent: Thu, Feb 4, 2010 11:07 am
Subject: [sumo] [spoiler] A dark day for sumo


Asa's retirement is a dark day for me, for sumo, and a blight on the NSK.  Some may argue that Asa was responsible for his own actions.  I see this as the culmination of the Kyokai's attempts to force him out, a fait accompli. 
 
In robbing the sumo-loving public of the chance to see Asa establish himself as perhaps the greatest Yokozuna of all time on the dohyo, as measured by career yusho titles, I for one will hold the Kyokai to its new contrived behavioral standard for rikishi and officials. 
 
 From here on in, I will refer to this as the "Asa-standard".  Whereas in the past, transgressions for which Asashoryu ultimately was dismissed- missing jungyo, getting drunk, etc., were covered up and readily excused for Japanese Yokozuna, the Kyokai has now set the Asa-standard. 
 
Then, we have the stalkarazzi press that feeds on the voyeuristic and xenophobic tendencies of the public.  Let's see who they turn to next.   Will they seek out Japanese Takanohana for his transgressions?  Kitanoumi for his role in allowing the Kyokai to cover up the hazing death?  Those in the Kyokai who forewarned Japanese rikishi of upcoming drug tests?  Or are those not delicious enough for pubic consumption? 
 
I look forward to the robotic conformity of the next future Japanese Yokozuna.  Heaven forbid if he dons a Hawaiian shirt.  I, for one, will be watching closely...  For those who think the Kyokai has now risen to defend sumo, I believe you will be disappointed.  The Kyokai will continue with their back room dealings, their hypocritical and arbitrary rulings, and their attacks on foreign rikishi.  The Kyokai's treatment of Asashoryu, as compared to Japanese Yokozuna of the past, will strengthen accusations of xenophobia. 
 
Be careful what you wish for... it may come true.   On the dohyo, I believe there will be a glaring absence of sumo quality that Asa provided.  There will be pressure unlike before on Japanese rikishi to make Yokozuna.  If they fail, this will ironically make sumo that more irrelevant in today's Japanese society, negatively affecting the NSK's bottom line.  And, speaking of irony, it was Asa who single handedly saved sumo from the post- Taka-Waka hangover.  The Taka-Waka period for which the Kyokai, I believe, sold its soul. 
 
Sukubidubidu 
 
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