Re: Comparing sumo with other sports

[ccrayne@pacific.net]

In <002701bf3ddd$52bf51c0$dfbd90ce@oemcomputer>, on 12/03/99 
   at 04:25 PM, "Aaron Willis" <awillis@spys.org> said:

: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.

Since I can not look into her heart, I can not answer on behalf of Doreen,
but in my view, Japanese grand sumo is not what most Americans would
consider a professional sport. To begin with, of the almost 800 rikishi
(sumo wrestlers of all ranks), only about the top ranked 8% are entitled
to draw a small (by comparison to American sport stars) salary. The vast
majority get only room and board -- and a lot of hard work.

Nor is it easy to make a case that the Sumo Association itself is in it
for the money. Of course, like any business, the Association must at bring
at least enough revenue to cover expenses. However, since the stockholders
are themselves retired sumo wrestlers, it is reasonable to assume that
they did not enter the sport solely in the hopes that they would someday
become a stockholder.

It might be better, from a financial viewpoint, to compare sumo with
American college sports, in which the tickets sold for the varsity games
support the entire athletic program.

        -- Chuck Crayne
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ccrayne@pacific.net
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