Musashimaru Drops out!

["Lynn Matsuoka" <artist@aloha.net> (by way of Lynn Matsuoka)]

hello- why did you send this to me???
LM





SUMO UPDATE!

Yokozuna Musashimaru has dropped out on the 4th day of the New Year`s
tournament due to the wrist injury he sustained in practice last week. I
spoke to him Sunday morning , the first day of the basho, and he explained
what had happened-

January 12,2000, Tokyo

  During a practice bout, he dislocated a bone in his left wrist. Tho` it
hurt, he didn`t realize at the time what the problem was, and continued to
practice with his stablemates, doing quite a few bouts before the pain
finally caused him to stop practice.

  He said he left the keilko-ba (practice ring) and went downstairs where one
of the other rikishi was able to snap the bone back into place - this is not
uncommon in the sumo world- these injuries occur so often that the guys know
just what to do.

(One of the many times,for instance, Yokozuna Chiyonofuji`s shoulder
dislocated during a tournament bout, one of the oyakata came into the
dressing room and re-located it for him. They don`t wait for the doctor.)

  The Yokozuna said on Sunday that even tho` there was no damage to the bone,
he still had a lot of pain in his wrist, and if he felt over the first 3-4
days that it was hurting his performance,  or that he might further injure
the wrist , he would elect to sit out the rest of the tournament. This is
something that only a Yokozuna is priveledged to do, without losing his
rank.

Doctor`s said today that he might be able to resume practice in 3 weeks.

  This ,of course , helps clear the field for Akebono, who is looking good
and marching toward that 10th yusho, which would put him in the ranks of the
GREATEST YOKOZUNA OF ALL TIME!



Lynn Matsuoka