Holy Toledo!

["Ivar Petersen" <ivar@morgan.com>]

How the hell did we get into this spot?  I have hardly been able to believe my
eyes lately.  Kawaki, who was a real treasure for this sort of a list server,
packs up his things and leave, and now Abe-san, who have been the most solid
and reliable backbone of sumo information, news, background the group could
have wished for are making noises about packing up too.

I think a lot of stupid things have been said lately and I have up until now
chosen to ignore it as this has historically been the most effective action to
take.  If however the list has degenerated to a state where the most
entertaining, informed and contributive members feel unwanted then the list as
a group has a lot to answer for.

If Abe-san leaves this list then, in my opinion, he takes a big part of the
list's value with him.  A sumo guru? Yeah, maybe... and so what? Who else could
you ask for a list of Ozeki's losing their first bout after promotion, the
lightest sanyaku rikishi ever, the yokozuna with the longest or shortest hair
and a variety of similar stuff.  I guess knowing all this AND being willing to
share the knowledge with the rest of us ignorants makes him a guru.  That
doesn't mean I'd mindless participate in terrorist activities if Abe-san told
me so it just means I have an immense respect for his knowledge.

Abe-san, please share your future plan with me and I hope it incooperates
staying on the list or at least starting a new one somewhere else.

Finally: In case anyone thinks this message does not have enough to do with
Sumo then I am afraid I am not brought up with Japanese politeness tradition so
my reply is: I couldn't give a monkeys'! I will however promise not to make any
more postings on this subject.

	-Ivar-