[sumo] Re: [sumo) a dark story in sumo

[Harold E. Shaver]

Scott,

What you seem to be forgetting and no one
else, that I have seen, has pointed out is
taking steroids in sumo is NOT a
"transgression".  As of this time it is not
against any rule in Ozumo.  The drug testing
they are doing is not for steroids it is for
illegal drugs such as marijuana.  All
rikishis are currently free to use steroids
if they wish thus it was not "cheating".

I do not approve of the way Takanohana has
comported himself since retirement especially
the airing of his familial disagreements in
public and the whole fiasco regarding his
father's funeral etc. but those are the
actions of an Oyakata not an active Yokozuna.

Once you leave the dohyo as an active rikishi
a lot more is allowable than when you are on
it.  For instance after his retirement the
revered Futabayama, he of the 69 consecutive
win record, joined a "goddess cult", went on
a rampage in a police station tryin to rescue
his "goddess" and yet was later elected to
the rijicho post!

You simply cannot compare Takanohana's
actions as an oyakata to Asashoyru's
activities as an active Yokozuna.  The
comparisons are not valid.  Even Spock would
have a difficult time finding any logic in
that.

Hal "Chisaiayam" Shaver