Taka/Yokozuna? The Fix

[American Embassy <usemb@servis.net.tr>]

Wonder if the Kyokai is only waiting to make sure
they get a Yokozuna that can represent Japanese
manhood?  I think they want one who can take on
Akebono and beat him enough times to make it look
good after breaking down and promoting a gaijin who
has actually turned out not/not to look like a fool
at the top.
I really hope Akebono gets his knees back together.
The tapes I have seen on TV, when he's in good shape,
look like "Great Yokozuna" legend in the making and
its always fun to be there (witness my memories of
Taiho).

Second Item:
The rumor/discussion of fixes has been around for as long
as I can remember.  Back in the days when Takamiyama was
still an active rikishi, he used to come up to the Sanno
Military Club from time-to-time.  I became an acquaintance
(siriai) of his and asked about this.  According to 
Takamiyama, if there were any matches "fixed", he was
not aware of it and no one had ever asked him or his
opponents to his knowledge to "fix" a match.  But -
this is the first gaijin in Makunouchi Sumo, who was never really
"all the way in" so he may not have known.

I do know, however, that our Japanese colleagues sometimes
resent our knowledge and interest in the "National Sport" which
is so "esoteric a foreigner couldn't possibly understand the subtleties"
etc.  Perhaps, sour grapes when they refer to "the fix"?
Apologies to Abe-san (and my wife) who do NOT resent it. ;>)

Regards,
Jack Gartin
usemb@servis.net.tr
CIS 100330,705
US Embassy, Turkey