Re: Comparing sumo with American sports

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

First I would like to say that there is no such thing as a stupid question
just a stupid answer.


>Trying to make strained comparisons between Kevin
> McHale's job and Chiyonofuji's job is just going to result in a total
> misunderstanding of what an oyakata does.

There are strong similarities between Kevin McHale and Chiyonofuji.  They
were both remarkable athletes in their respected sport and because of their
love for the game they are teaching people how to participate and survive in
their sport.  Kevin is not a coach but spends a lot of his time working with
the players, teaching them how to play, informing them with his experience
how to survive in the NBA, and be respectable players both on and off the
court.  My understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) is that Chiyonofuji does
the same thing, only his sport is sumo and he lives in Japan.

>A sumo heya is nothing like
> a basketball team.

I agree

>A gyoji is nothing like a football referee.

I disagree.  They both move erratically around their respected fields, every
once in awhile they get knocked down, sometimes they make bad calls, they
both wear costumes, and they officiate a sport.

>Doreen
> Simmons made the point well - Whenever you ask the question "Is A
> similar to B?" ('A' being some aspect of some American sport and 'B'
> being some aspect of sumo), the answer is almost always going to be "No.
> They are nothing alike."

Does a gyoji have a whistle like a referee to call a foul?  Of course not.
Does a gyoji officiate an event like a referee to make sure the rules are
followed, help to prevent a player from injury, and make judgment calls on
the field?  Uh.........Yes.

>You can almost take it for granted that that
> will be your answer.  So what is accomplished by asking the question?
> It encourages off-topic posts (as in the recent discussion about Bobby
> Knight) and leads to the creation of misleading analogies.

I already said I am sorry, must I be constantly reminded (or are you on of
those many Knight haters :-)).

>
> Approach sumo on its own terms.  Read books.  Ask questions about sumo.
> "What does a gyoji do?" is more likely to get you a meaningful response
> than if you ask "Is a gyoji basically like a baseball umpire?".  (hint -
> the answer is "No." ;)

I could have done that but then we wouldn't be having this great thread :-).

>There are many resources available to learn
> about
> sumo.

Yes there are but some of us are too busy or not die-hard fans enough to
spend the time to research and take away from time we could be using to
enrich our lives through other contacts and issues in the world.


>Most importantly, ask good questions, not questions that are
> likely to spawn negative responses and off-topic discussion.
>

To see response go to top of page.

> I'm as American as the next guy (assuming that guy is also an American
> :),
> but I never felt that I couldn't understand sumo unless I cast
> everything
> about it in football and basketball terms.

Was this said?

>
> Sumo is....sumo.  It's not basketball.  Let's not try to make it sound
> like basketball.
>

I think it would be fun to see all the sumo guys playing some pick-up
basketball :-).


Aaron Willis