Re: "hapless yokozuna"

[Nela Zatloukalová <nela.z@worldonline.cz>]

Jim Bitgood wrote:

> This description of Musashimaru was printed in the Japan Times online
> edition on July 21, 2002 following his third straight loss on day 14 of
the
> Nagoya Basho.
> Now to my mind, "hapless" and "yokozuna" are two words that should not be
> in the same paragraph, let alone the same sentence or phrase. With all the
> discussion about what kind of shape Takanohana is in, I think somebody
> should by talking to Musashimaru about "Yokozuna Pride." If he were in
> Kokonoe Beya, I suspect he would have received a lecture or two about
"YP."
> Granted he still maintains his record of kachikoshi tournaments. A fine
> Ozeki record, but not a Yokozuna record. I still maintain that KK for a
> Yokozuna is at least 12 wins....

Well, that's right but (correct me if I'm wrong) I believe there was none
yokozuna who took at least 12 wins in every basho he was participated in and
I don't think that one should consider retiretment each time he fail to do
so. I don't want to catch you up and I suppose you agree to this, but (maybe
I'm prejudiced) it seems to me that if Maru won six tournaments in a row and
then once going only 10-5 or so, some people would want him to retire. Yes,
I'm exaggerating, but think about it. He's not always in top condition, but
if so, then he's going for yusho or at least jun-yusho; sometimes even
despite injuries (didn't he win the Kyushu 01 with quite badly injured
wrist?)
Since he became yokozuna he took 6 yusho, 4 jun-yusho and withdrew only
twice and IMHO this IS good enough to deserve the title of yokozuna. Maybe
he's not as good as Takanohana, but he's definitely one of the best yokozuna
ever and it would be absolutely foolish to want him to retire, because I
think no-one of our current ozeki could replace him any time soon.
And as Charles said I bet he'll be in the top 5 for most yusho in career
after he retires.

Just my opinion

Nela