Re[2]: The "Chiyotaikai Standard"

[Barbara <barbara@technogirls.org>]

JM> As usual, I can't back my fuzzy feeling with any hard fact, but wasn't
JM> Kyokai known to make extravagant demands for promotion criteria prior
JM> to the basho, to then accept not so brilliant results that were
JM> still well within standard demands? I think this may be some devious
JM> scheme to test how Chiyotaikai copes with increasing pressure, which
JM> he will have to be able to handle if he's promoted. If he can't stand
JM> it and crumbles (ie. no yusho), Kyokai will be able to told-you-so
JM> with impunity. And if he doesn't crumble and wins the yusho, even a meagre
JM> 13-2 one, I think Kyokai will decree that Chiyo showed he's worthy of the
JM> tsuna by quality of his wins or something like that. Or not. ;P

Isn't it true that (in modern sumo) Chiyotaikai has more makuuchi
yushos, without being promoted to yokozuna, than anyone in history?
If he gets even a weak yuusho so that he now has 4 (I think) yuushos,
how can they refuse him his promotion in view of his obvious continued
ability to win tournaments and gain an impressive career record?

For my part, I don't believe for a second that losing 11-1 against
Asashoryu in the public exhibition means anything.  C. knows that he
dare not incur even the slightest injury now for the next basho which
will be maybe the most critical one in his life.  But A. on the other
hand is desperate to gain back respect lost in his marginal 10-5 basho
last time, and has no big consequences of injury.  Drawing conclusions
from the recent A/C matchup is bound to be unreliable.  C. probably
has a "game plan" which includes every match in Soken, every keiko,
and everything he says in public.  Or at least that's my
instinct in the matter.

I also feel like Kaio is getting fairly formidable now.  He could
take the yuusho too.

Barbara