sumo talk

[Peter Kaub <p-kaub@possum.murdoch.edu.au>]

Dear Sumo fans, in response to some of the discussion points, Martin
raised, here's my contribution.  The first is about the messages bouncing.
 With Tim Matthews I've had the same problem from when I first started the
mailing list up, however due to an oversight didn't leave it off when
posting these last few times.  I've put a message on the s.c.j newsgroup
for Tim or anyone knowing him to get in touch with an address that works,
so if he is interested I'm sure he'll be in touch, but for now if posting
I think it's better if you leave him off the ML, like I have done on this
message.  Regarding Scott, I've got through to him before and he's replied
without problems, however I had a bounce back from him today aswell.  His
system may be down or whatever, so I'd keep him on as I'm sure he's still
interested in receiving from this ML, and I definitely have got through to
him at the address listed.

Okay, now the formalities are over some replies to Martin's points.  First
I agree with the gaijin like gaijin rikishi is a common fallacy from the
Japanese.  I'm not fond of the Hawaiin trio very much, and agreed that
Konishiki didn't deserve the Yokazuna rank, as his repertoire is limited
and as has been shown time and again since that time when you get a good
tactical wrestler against him, such as Waka or even Mainoumi on occasion,
his one and only tool( his weight) is not enough to give him the win. 
I've got more respect for Akebono, as he definitely has worked hard on his
technique, particularly to get his centre of gravity down.  I remember
only 18 months ago when, he was still literally falling over his own feet.
He also carries the rank with a humble attitude, appropriate to that rank
and the sport.  In contrast I find Musashimaru is lacking in this
attitude, and his open "Pinnochio" attitude(to paraphrase the Japanese)
a black mark against the Hawaiin trio.  Konishiki I've heard from a friend
who was his girlfriend for 3 years (before the one he is now married to) is
the gentlest, nicest, kindest guy you could meet.  And seeing him and
Mitoizumi at a Sports Expo in Yoyogi, and giving some demonstrations and
then chatting, answering questions etc. after, they are both really nice
guys and could quite easily do a comedy chat show if they weren't in
another vocation.  Mitoizumi, the salt-shaker, is a sentimental favourite,
and it was good seeing him get that Nagoya basho, but to be honest his
knee's been buggered for ages now, and he hasn't really put in a good
performance since Nagoya.  I agree with Martin about the Onii-chan thing
as I think Waka is a better fighter, but doesn't seem to handle the
pressure as well as his ever confident younger brother.  The youngest tend
to get away with more and this tends to give them perhaps a bit more
confidence(I'm speaking as ichiban shita), but I think Waka is going to
outshine his ototo in the next few basho's.  Kirishima is a sentimental
favourite to, who when aggravated enough to actually use his vast muscle
mass, does well, but he does seem to have lost some of that muscle and
power since his last rest due to injury.  Unfortunate to see him lose
ozeki rank, but he has said he's going to stay at it, whatever the sumo
Council say, but I don't think it's as bad a downward spiral in store for
him as you suggest Martin.

Finally in regard to Martin's second posting I think, he's referring to
the retirement of Asahifuji and the other one who's face I can picture
explicitly, but I've forgotten his name, in quick succession after,
Chiyonofuji'shock retirement( which the young Taka played a hand in, and
perhaps is one of the things that got the media ball rolling in terms of
Taka-mania).  I think there was pressure from the Sumo Council, as they
were having basho's with no yokozuna, and many "wildcards" winning. 
Asahifuji, didn't want to go, but had been out for a while due to injury
and before that wasn't doing too well, so I think they put an ultimatum to
him to shape up or ship out.  I didn't see much of his work, but heard he
wasn't that great, with only one or two Emperor's Cups to his name.  The
other guy, who's balding and not unkindly, got a face a bit like a pig,
and often seen on Sumo Digest, retired about six months after that, and
again I think it was similar in terms of injuries/poor form/ultimatums.
If anyone has a bit more than my scant recollections, or other points to
raise, then don't be shy we've got a lot of fans out there waiting to get
into some serious sumo discussions.

Yoroshiku, Pete Kaub.

Come on Onii-chan (which I think if taken in the Japanese context more of
an endearing than derogatory reference).