Kintamayama 47,165 Posted August 2, 2003 The jungyo is now 20 minutes from Takamisakari's home town. Consequently, 3500 people turned up to give him a hero's welcome yesterday. The day before that, 200 of his supporters held a party in his honor, with much drinking and all. He seemed a bit tired to the reporter. "I am really happy to see so many people gathered", he said, notwithstanding. He had 16 bouts with the likes of Shoes-on and Miyabiyama. His parents were there as well. His Koenkai is planning to bus hordes of local fans to the K-Kan next basho, to cheer him on. "Number one popular rikishi? I am thinking only of Sumo! Girlfriend? None! I don't have the time for that now, so I don't need it! Teasing me about this stuff is unfair!!!", he said, jovially, I guess. He is serious - he has declared a "ban on love", say the reporters. He receives more than 50 fan mails a month, some of them from wildly enthusiatic young women. The combination of fame, merit and money assure him of being able to get a girl if he feels like it, says the reporter. "For me, this is a serious matter. I don't think I can easily find a girlfriend. I am having a love -affair with Sumo now, so it's out of the question right now. I just want to become stronger!!", he added. Reporter is in awe of the fact that Takamisakari will not be distracted by any temptation on his way back to Sanyaku. Interesting aside: Till now, he was described as a certain Sanyaku. In today's post, he is described as "advancing to Joi-jin in September, HOPING to be Sanyaku." For those who can't decide if Tosanoumi or Takamisakari will be the second Komusubi (or both..).. http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/sumo/headlines/n...s_00000015.html http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/sumo/headlines/f...s_00000002.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QttP 0 Posted August 2, 2003 For those who can't decide if Tosanoumi or Takamisakari will be the second Komusubi (or both..).. Yep. I think that both of them will be the second Komusubi... West Komusubi Takamisakanoumi... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 47,165 Posted August 2, 2003 And the cucumber shall arise and strike the gardener.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QttP 0 Posted August 2, 2003 (edited) And the cucumber shall arise and strike the gardener.... Suits you right for doing it all this time. (Blushing...) Edited August 2, 2003 by QttP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 47,165 Posted August 2, 2003 Suits you right for doing it all this time. (Blushing...) You probably meant "serves you right". Anyway, I would like to publicly apologise if I ever did that. I never intended it. I would like to make an Israeli "sulha" in public with QTTP. I offer a reconciliatory handshake. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QttP 0 Posted August 2, 2003 Suits you right for doing it all this time. :-P You probably meant "serves you right". Anyway, I would like to publicly apologise if I ever did that. I never intended it. I would like to make an Israeli "sulha" in public with QTTP. I offer a reconciliatory handshake. No handshakes! >(Blushing...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 47,165 Posted August 2, 2003 OK. No problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted August 2, 2003 What's up? I'm not following... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenjimoto 40 Posted August 2, 2003 And the cucumber shall arise and strike the gardener.... Like this? (Pulling up a swede...) ??? I just LOVE that emoticon!! (Blushing...) Cheers Zenjimoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenjimoto 40 Posted August 2, 2003 I wonder if Takamisakari's rise to super-fame will have any effects on his sumo eventually... so far, he seems to be fine - I hope he doesn't get carried away in it. I know he says that he doesn't "put on a show for the fans", but seeing last basho, I am not so sure that he didn't add a shoulder thrust or two before the shikiri, just for popular effect... that, and all the talkshows, commercials and women around him, (Pierced by Cupids arrow...) ... hmmm.... rather distracting, I am sure! Cheers Zenjimoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted August 2, 2003 I wonder if Takamisakari's rise to super-fame will have any effects on his sumo eventually... so far, he seems to be fine - I hope he doesn't get carried away in it. I know he says that he doesn't "put on a show for the fans", but seeing last basho, I am not so sure that he didn't add a shoulder thrust or two before the shikiri, just for popular effect... that, and all the talkshows, commercials and women around him, (Pierced by Cupids arrow...) ... hmmm.... rather distracting, I am sure! Cheers Zenjimoto Well, I Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted August 4, 2003 Wouldn't it be interesting to have a sport where the popularity of competitors had a direct impact on their salary? Oh wait, we already do: WWF (or whatever it's called today) (Black cat...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenjimoto 40 Posted August 4, 2003 (edited) Wouldn't it be interesting to have a sport where the popularity of competitors had a direct impact on their salary? Oh wait, we already do: WWF (or whatever it's called today) (Black cat...) Basically every professional sport is like that. After all, an athlete's lion share income is more times than not based on endorsements, rather than actual prize money. In that respect, the more popular athletes definitely make much more money than their possibly better-competing rivals. Think a certain female Russian "tennis star"... (Blushing...) Cheers Zenjimoto Edited August 4, 2003 by Zenjimoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 20,211 Posted August 4, 2003 Wouldn't it be interesting to have a sport where the popularity of competitors had a direct impact on their salary? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted August 4, 2003 More popular pro-wrestlers don't earn more money specifically because they're more popular, they do so because their bigger popularity makes them "better" competitors. And draw larger crowds to the arena. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 20,211 Posted August 5, 2003 (edited) And draw larger crowds to the arena. Yep, that's what I meant by that muddy term "popularity". (Blushing...) As it's not an actual athletic competition, the main measurement of success isn't yards run or goals scored or tournaments won etc. as in other sports, but how large a crowd somebody is able to draw. Edited August 5, 2003 by Asashosakari Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted August 5, 2003 (edited) And draw larger crowds to the arena. Yep, that's what I meant by that muddy term "popularity". :-P As it's not an actual athletic competition, the main measurement of success isn't yards run or goals scored or tournaments won etc. as in other sports, but how large a crowd somebody is able to draw. Yes, but that Edited August 5, 2003 by Yubiquitoyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 20,211 Posted August 5, 2003 Yes, but that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Takanobaka 0 Posted August 5, 2003 Wouldn't it be interesting to have a sport where the popularity of competitors had a direct impact on their salary? Oh wait, we already do: WWF (or whatever it's called today) (Black cat...) Pro Wrestling (WWE) isn't really like that. It's not as if they re-negotiate contracts on a daily basis based on how big of a crowd they'll draw to that specific exhibition. Besides, since it IS rigged, the powers that be can pretty much decide who will end up being popular (or loathed, which is just as valuable to their organization)... However, it DOES work that way for boxing. A person's take for the fight is definately much more related to popularity than skill or anything else. Contracts are negotiated for each individual bout, the crowd favorite usually ends up getting about 5 times as much as the underdog regardless of who actually has the better chance of winning, and some of the really popular fighters get a percentage of the pay-per-view take. There really isn't much other explanation as to how Mike Tyson (who is currently a schlub) makes about 5 times as much as current beltholder Chris Byrd.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted August 5, 2003 Are there stats kept on basho attendance? E.g. worst attendance ever, best ever, average % full for a given location, average % full for a given year, etc.? Perhaps the NSK keeps internal stats on these matters -- I imagine they must, in order to calibrate ticket prices? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 20,211 Posted August 5, 2003 Pro Wrestling (WWE) isn't really like that. It's not as if they re-negotiate contracts on a daily basis based on how big of a crowd they'll draw to that specific exhibition. Well, there are pay-per-view bonuses paid to the main eventers (and to a lesser extent also to the undercard wrestlers, I suppose), which I understand can be pretty substantial these days as the guarantee contracts aren't as large as they used to be anymore. Besides, since it IS rigged, the powers that be can pretty much decide who will end up being popular (or loathed, which is just as valuable to their organization)... Doesn't mean it'll always work. (Punk rocker...) There are loads of cases of a federation trying to push somebody down the audience's throat and him turning out to be a total dud in terms of drawing power. The real stars usually manage to catch the audience's eye even before the powers-that-be decide to push them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
