Comparing sumo with other sports

["Aaron Willis" <awillis@spys.org>]

> Aaron:
>
> You are not on the same page. You will get absolutely nowhere if you try
to
> find equivalents in the American sporting world. Even when things look the
> same, they've almost certainly come from opposite directions.
>
> Doreen in sumoland

Doreen

I spent all day yesterday pondering your statement and trying to figure out
why you would say what you said and how I should respond.  I want to ask why
I will get nowhere trying to find equivalents in American sports or World
sports, for that matter, with the sport of sumo?  Why are they so different
or what makes the sport of sumo such an opposite?  I ask because sumo (at
least most of what we talk about on this list) is a professional sport and
professional sports in my eyes only serve two purposes, to make money and
provide entertainment and I believe sumo is no different from the rest in
that aspect.  Sure sumo has a different history, rules, regulations and
probably countless other things we could mention but the one commonality and
the most important that sumo has with other sports is that they are
professional sports.

I think it is important to be able to compare and relate one sport to the
other, there is so much that can be learned from this.  I know and
understand American sports.  The most effective way for me to learn is to
compare and contrast my knowledge of one thing with something else that is
new.  It is also crucial to understand how important it is to be able to
keep the sports separate in what they practice and what they hope to achieve
for the masses that watch them.  We have seen this problem on the list,
where one member (forgive me, I forgot who made the observation but I will
give them credit here) pointed out that maybe some of the members are
placing their "American," "Western," or "culturally specific" views on the
henkas and slapping and questioning if it is sportsmanlike or not.  I think
this is why it is such a difficult topic and so two sided.

Please provide me with a better understanding of what you were trying to
say.  I would like to hear more.

Aaron Willis