Re: Itai on CNN

["RJ Friedman" <rjf@comasia.com>]

On Thu, 03 Feb 2000 03:46:00 GMT, Da Kine Sumo E-zine & Web site from
Kawika wrote:

>>Can't, technically, a rikishi only know about his own yaocho as well as the
>>yaocho of whoever he's yaochoing with?  I mean if it is arranged, then
>>presumably both parties know it.  Unless the loser loses on purpose and the
>>winner thinks it was a fair bout, but there would seem to be little point
>>in doing that.

>Agreed, it takes two to yaocho.

You guys are both SOOO naive.  :-)

Let us not forget that in any sporting event where there is "mafia"
money involved, and gambling involved there are always fixes. This is
behavior that is as old as time itself.

And it certainly does *not* take two to yaocho - all it takes is one
person being paid off to make sure he loses - his opponent can be
entirely unaware of what is going on. Throwing a match because you
get paid to do it happens all the time in every single sport under
the sun.

Sumo, for all its supposedly "spiritual" side, is no different. Where
there is mob money and gambling involved, there will always be fixed
matches. I like sumo as much as any of you - but let's not be totally
naive, here.