oshi-dashi'd

[Basten <cbasten@statgen.ncsu.edu>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 18 May 2003 01:15:09 +0100
From: Alex Ferguson <abf@csmail.ucc.ie>
To: sumo@statgen.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: (spoiler - but a bit late now) RE: Day 7 results and day 8 pairings

On Sat, May 17, 2003 at 11:48:28PM +0000, Jezz S wrote:
> Subject: Re: (spoiler - but a bit late now)

I reckoned a spoiler warning would be somewhat redundant in a followup
to "Day 7 results". ;-)  Hope no-one was led astray...

> My guess is that he will remain in Makunouchi.  I know that if you play the
> 'numbers' game, then he should be destined for Juryo.  But those are
> guidelines only.  As he is a good rikishi, and fairly popular, I reckon the
> powers that be will find a slot for him near / at the bottom of the
> division, and sumo will be all the better for it ;-)

I suppose what surprises me is that a 0-2-13 record is treated as severely
as a 0-15-0 one, if I'm understanding this correctly.  (Unless you're an
ozeki or a yokozuna, in which case there is of course all the difference
in the world...)  Seems to add a further element of chance to genuine
cases of "public injury" -- if they happen at the end of the basho, you're
OK (assuming you weren't losing all your matches anyway, natch); if they
happen very near the start, you're potentially entirely hosed.  Granted
losing the first two anyway makes it look that bit worse...

Cheers,
Alex.