sumo 2nd most popular pro sport

[rowan klein <rowank@onthenet.com.au>]

Mainly an article about baseball, but the last paragraph is sumo raelated.

wanchan

Ichiro snaps Nagashima's streak in popularity survey 
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20010608p2a00m0fp012000c.html

Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, with his sensational achievements in his
debut year in the major leagues, has eclipsed Japan's Mr. Baseball, Shigeo
Nagashima, as the nation's favorite sportsperson, a poll shows.

Ichiro topped the list for the first time in five years, busting the
four-year streak of Nagashima, manager of the Yomiuri Giants, in Central
Research Services Inc.'s poll on sports stars.

Giants' outfielder Hideki Matsui ranked second and Nagashima trailed in
third. Japan's soccer superstar, Hidetoshi Nakata ranked fourth.

More than 35 percent of respondents to the mid-May poll, which covered some
1,400 people nationwide, said they hoped Ichiro would succeed in the U.S.
major leagues. The former Orix BlueWave member's outstanding play has
helped Seattle rocket ahead in the American League.

Asked about favored professional sports, 57 percent cited baseball,
followed by some 30 percent who favored sumo. J-League soccer came in
third, according to wire reports. (Mainichi Daily News)