in defence of Asashoryu

[paolo]

The whole thing is almost unbelievable to my eyes. Sumo's popularity is declining, not all tickets are sold, recruiting is becoming more and more difficult, it is hard to find sponsors and so on. What is this due to ? As in all similar cases, the only answer is : sumo "market" is getting narrow, young (and less young) people do not like it any more because it looks old and too bound to the past. Than a new man comes and shows that a Grand Champion not only can win tournaments

with injuries (and even lose tournaments with dignity when injured), but he can show emotions (remember when ho broke down to tears some time ago ?), fly back home to Mongolia to visit his family, does not consider himself as a divinity above the other people; and even, asked by his government, he plays (my God, what an awful action) a charity soccer match versus children !!! The modernity of this behaviour is really a scandal and he must be punished very severely !!! Let me add that I find it very hard to understand a good part of the comments that I read. Do somebody really think that sumo can be kept like it was fifty years ago and survive ? The world is changing !!!

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

According to Takasago Oyakata, Asashoryu is having a difficult time coming to grips with the severe punishment handed to him. He told the press, "[The yokozuna] would say he would gambarize one moment, and then he would say 'It's all over' the next moment. I am praying that he doesn't decide to retire."

The shisho said he has not had direct contact with Ryu but has received reports from the tsukebito. "I've heard that he is taking tranquilizers," the oyakata added. "He is very unstable emotionally. It's to the point that he can't fully comprehend the severity of the penalty."

Takasago explained by saying Asashoryu simply cannot understand the severity of the punishment in view of the fact that he has the accomplishment of 21 yusho and had carried ozumo as a solo yokozuna for the past four and half years. "Asashoryu feels that all his efforts have been negated. He keeps asking himself, 'Why?' He simply can't get any peace in mind."

The oyakata then said, "When he settles down a bit and starts feeling more positive, we will hold a press conference." It appears that, at the earliest, it would be until the beginning of next week.

The phones keep ringing

On the day the punishment was announced, the 30 lines at NSK rang continuously. According to a Kyokai staff member, the opinions were split between "It was a regrettable decision" and "The penalty was too light." The following day, the number of calls went down but the fans continued to call in with their opinions.

Yup. It was clear from the beginning the Punishment was malious act of betrayal. It is simply incomprehensible for many mongolians.

Difference in mentality is huge.

In Mongolia, any personal merit is exalted and life-long guaranteed prestige (not necessarily wealth) , regardless to wrestler's personal failure, loss of achievement, bad behaviour.

In Japan, yo have to work hard to keep that title. Japanese themselves started recruiting foreigners and now they fed up. But they don't say it directly, but stabbing from back all the time. In Mongolia, foreigners are not allowed to wrestle in state naadam, even fellow etnic mongolians from China or Russia is not allowed. Sorry for off topic :0 .

I hope Asa will get over it and prepare himself mentally for upcoming challenges.

Is he with his family?

Does he have contact with his family in Mongolia?

Does he have a right defend himself?. Does he have a defence authorney against NSK and all these accusation?

It is just malious act of betrayal covered by all sorts of b*llsh*t

Edited August 2, 2007 by Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj

[Asashosakari]

Sumo's popularity is declining, not all tickets are sold, recruiting is becoming more and more difficult, it is hard to find sponsors and so on.

What on earth are you possibly talking about? (Sign of approval...) Ticket sales this year have been up a bit, recruiting has been stagnant at roughly the same level for half a decade now (so it's not getting "more difficult"), and kensho sales (the primary type of sponsorship) have been at all-time highs during the last two years. In addition, the number of jungyo dates is finally increasing of late after they had big trouble finding any promoters until about 2005. Thanks to Asashoryu for potentially sabotaging that last part, BTW. All in all, the popularity level of sumo may not be good, but it's certainly not "declining" either.

Yup. It was clear from the beginning the Punishment was malious act of betrayal. It is simply incomprehensible for many mongolians.

Difference in mentality is huge.

In Mongolia, any personal merit is exalted and life-long guaranteed prestige (not necessarily wealth) , regardless to wrestler's personal failure, loss of achievement, bad behaviour.

Wonderful, a modern aristocracy. And it's Japan and the Kyokai who are behind the times?

Edited August 2, 2007 by Asashosakari

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

Wonderful, a modern aristocracy. And it's Japan and the Kyokai who are behind the times?

I wrote " prestige" = respect. Not aristocrasy=power

Edited August 2, 2007 by Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj

[Asashosakari]

Wonderful, a modern aristocracy. And it's Japan and the Kyokai who are behind the times?

I wrote " prestige" = respect. Not aristocrasy=power

Power isn't the only way to achieve a pseudo-aristocratic status (by which I mean a general tendency to consider oneself "above the law"). Nowadays it's more usually done by having lots of money, or by achieving some sort of celebrity. You're arguing that Asashoryu has "earned" to be above the law.

It's actually an interesting dynamic...the non-Mongolian foreign fans who think this is an outrage seem to be saying the same thing, it's just that their excuse for why Asashoryu should be above the law isn't "he has earned it", but "the Kyokai needs him". I'm quite sure both the Kyokai and the majority of Japanese fans (and let's face it, they're the only ones who count, as far as the Kyokai's decision-making goes) would disagree with those assessments.

Edited August 2, 2007 by Asashosakari

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

You're arguing that Asashoryu has "earned" to be above the law.

Oh man, you have problem of making thing complicated. I have just given an example of mental differences . Nothing else

[Asashosakari]

You're arguing that Asashoryu has "earned" to be above the law.

Oh man, you have problem of making thing complicated. I have just given an example of mental differences . Nothing else

So you're just throwing stuff into your posts without an actual thinking process about what it means that you're saying? I'm glad we've cleared that up... I suppose that means there's no need to respond to (or even read?) your posts in the future, if you're simply venting your feelings rather than trying to make an argument. Thanks!

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

So you're just throwing stuff into your posts without an actual thinking process about what it means that you're saying? I'm glad we've cleared that up... I suppose that means there's no need to respond to (or even read?) your posts in the future, if you're simply venting your feelings rather than trying to make an argument. Thanks!

It is you who did not understand. If you don't understand, don't respond. Thanks

Edited August 2, 2007 by Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj

[Asashosakari]

It is you who did not understand.

Wait, how did I manage to write a response that was "making things complicated" if I didn't even understand you in the first place? Methinks you're a bit confused about your own post, let alone my response. You seem like a nice enough guy (other than the excess nationalism from earlier in the thread), but you don't strike me as somebody who has terribly much experience in laying out a clear argument, and it shows. I'm really not trying to be an ass here, just please, spend a little more time thinking before you post.

[Joeblack]

People have been claiming that he "fakes" his injury? Did he uses his injured elbow or back while playing "few" minutes of soccer? No, so what kind of claim is the suspension based? Did they found out that the doctor had "faking" the medical report? Hell, no.

There is no evidence that Asashoryu was not injured. Therefore, he was honest about his condition. The claim that he plays hooky is wrong.

I can see that Sumo is not about honesty and truth. It is about Mob rule. The Counsel is trying to pacify the public, so they sacrificed Asa.

So the counsel dislike the fact that Asashoryu did not participate in Keon, thus, hurt the organization. Now, they are doing the exactly same thing, suspending him for 2 bashos and hurting the organization.

I will not watch the next two bashos.

And to whoever wins the next two bashos, YOU are not a true winner.

[Joeblack]

Let's just be honest. The suspension is not because of what ever ill doing Asashoryu has done. It is about it is not good for business for Asa to play soccer while he is injured. It "makes the public" perceive that Asa might be lying regardless of the truth.

Therefore, the organization decided to make business even harder by suspending Asa.

Brilliant (Sign of approval...)

[Otokonoyama]

People have been claiming that he "fakes" his injury? Did he uses his injured elbow or back while playing "few" minutes of soccer? No, so what kind of claim is the suspension based? Did they found out that the doctor had "faking" the medical report? Hell, no.

There is no evidence that Asashoryu was not injured. Therefore, he was honest about his condition. The claim that he plays hooky is wrong.

I can see that Sumo is not about honesty and truth. It is about Mob rule. The Counsel is trying to pacify the public, so they sacrificed Asa.

You did watch the Youtube video that was posted earlier by another member, right? :-/ It certainly raised a few questions (Nodding yes...)

Edited August 3, 2007 by Otokonoyama

[Peterao]

People have been claiming that he "fakes" his injury? Did he uses his injured elbow or back while playing "few" minutes of soccer? No, so what kind of claim is the suspension based?

Did you even watch him playing? Falling down, diving for headers? Even if he didn't exacerbate his injuries, the potential for doing so was definitely there.

But all of that is moot. Participating on jungyo tours is every bit as vital a responsibility as honbasho. The only acceptable excuse for missing a tour is being physically unable to travel. It would have been bad enough if he had been simply found out drinking at a bar. He was discovered out of the country, laughing and playing and exerting himself in a physical activity.

I will not watch the next two bashos.

Your perrogative. Your loss.

And to whoever wins the next two bashos, YOU are not a true winner.

By that logic, there has been no true winner of any basho since 1949, when yokozuna Maedayama was forced to resign for going out to watch a baseball game while on kyujo.

[Takemi]

And to whoever wins the next two bashos, YOU are not a true winner.

Word!

Edit: The same goes with a Yokozuna promotion.

Part of the reason for Asashoryu's lack of popularity may stem from the fact that no matter what he did he got away scot free. Now the opposite is the case. The kyokai have come down on him like a ton of bricks.

And another part is; He is not japanese! (Nodding yes...)

Edited August 3, 2007 by Takemi