Re: TIME magazine on Akebono

"Leigh Melton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> http://www.time.com/time/asia/arts/daily/0,9754,544736,00.html
>
> In order to remain in sumo, Akebono would have had to purchase the
> rights to a permanent stable-master position by the time his five-year
> retirement grace period expired in 2006. Because there are only 105
> stable-master slots in all of sumo, the prices for such training
> rights can easily approach $2 million. Famous retired wrestlers who
> want to become stable masters usually have a network of patrons to
> help cover the costs, but Akebono's official supporters' group
> disbanded in 1998. He cites the poor economy for his lack of
> assistance, but the group's former head recently told the Sunday
> Mainichi weekly magazine a different story. In sumo's highly
> traditional ways, righteous behavior outside the dohyo (or at least
> the appearance of righteous behavior) matters far more than in other
> sports, and this former patron claims he disbanded the association
> because he was unhappy with Akebono's extracurricular activities.
> These included the very public dumping of a popular TV-personality
> girlfriend, as well as getting engaged to his wife after she was
> already pregnant.
>

I knew about his wife being pregnant before they married - but this is
pretty common in sumo.  Asashouryu's marriage is the most recent example.
Wasn't Takanohana's wife pregnant too?  And didn't he also have a very
public and messy end to his relationship with Rie Miyazawa - Japan's poster
girl for bulimia.  Who was the TV 'tarento' Akebono was seeing - I don't
remember this story.

> But then he relates one bit of fallout from his press conference which
> clearly still stings. "When I announced my retirement, I got a lot of
> phone calls from the sumo elders saying, 'Good luck,' or 'Do your
> best,'" he says. "But not," he adds after a slight pause, "'Please
> stay.'"

I wonder just how may heads would roll if the same thing happened with
Takanohana.


--
jonathan