Re: Oshi-dashi'd message

[<f95-sge@nada.kth.se>]

I also think 12-3 yusho would (and should) be enough.

There is nothing to say that the Kyokai showed or didn't show caution in
their promotions after Futahaguro though. They have simply promoted ALL
Ozeki who got consecutive yusho and NO Ozeki who did not get it.
Musashimaru's double 13-2 in times of absents was hardly better than
Wakanohana's 14-1+12-3 in times of absents. There is nothing particular
that can tell in advance whether a yokozuna will be short-lived or strong,
which the promotions of Musashimaru and Wakanohana with such similar
records should be one sign of.

I really think not promoting a double yusho winner would be a dangerous
precedent, and would also possibly be the start of a more subjective
promotion scheme which I think can be dangerous, especially when it's so
strict as around 13-2 and better yusho, at least two in a row. It's
already harder than in a very long time to become yokozuna and one should
not underestimate the difficulty in winning consecutive yusho. It isn't a
coincident that most yokozuna promotions of late have been during times
when the old generation faded and was injured, since that is often what is
actually needed to get those two yusho in a row.

But I agree this will probably not be an issue here, since Asashoryu seems
to be going towards a strong yusho...

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 04:37:39 +0000
> From: Joe Petrow <joepet@sdf.lonestar.org>
> To: sumo@statgen.ncsu.edu
> Subject: Re: Spoiler: Asashoryu Chances
> Message-ID: <20030124043739.GA10537@SDF.LONESTAR.ORG>
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>
> On Thu, 23 Jan 2003, Charles Beauchamp wrote:
>
>> > 12-3 no-playoff yusho: 2% chance.  Even with an
>> > uncontested yusho, losing
>> > two out the last three bouts will not make a good
>> > impression at all.
>>
>> Again, yusho get's it at 12-3 and rightly so.  Playoff
>> matters not.  As we learned with Wakanohana a yusho is
>> a yusho.
>
> Well, we more or less agree on the yusho being a requirement, but
> disagree on the quality of yusho required.  Think of what Asashoryu is
> being considered for promotion to.  This is not the same as being the #1
> ranked tennis player, or the world's heavyweight boxing champion. This
> is about becoming a yokozuna, the highest honor in sumo, one that is
> called on to perform many religious duties, and an honor that cannot be
> revoked for any reason.  Especially since the Futahaguro, the Kyokai was
> been erring on the side of caution.  The one time they did not exercise
> that caution was for Wakanohana, the last yokozuna to be
> promoted with a 12 win yusho, who failed to live up to his promotion.
>
> As a result, I don't believe any yokozuna will be promoted without back
> to back yusho of 13 wins or more, nor should they be.
>
> Having said that, I hope Asashoryu goes 14-1 and makes all this talk
> moot.
>
>   - Peterao