In a much less grave incident, the sport’s top competitor, a Mongolian called Asashoryu, pulled out of an exhibition tournament after claiming an injury, then was caught on tape playing soccer in his native country five days later. The Japanese, who obviously don’t have many Manny Ramirez types in their culture and take this kind of thing seriously, were mortified. Asashoryu was expelled, the first time an active wrestler has suffered this punishment.
The Japanese are also taking the weed thing as a real blow — Wakanoho’s stable master has actually resigned from the sumo association out of shame. It seems to me a 357-pound guy who makes his living getting belly-slammed in his underwear should be able to relax a little in his spare time if he feels like it. Two points for smoking the sumo tree.
Go WVU!
Here’s something you don’t see every day. A pair of West Virginia University basketball players, Joe Mazzulla and Cam Thoroughman, were arrested at a Pittsburgh Pirates game for fighting, drinking, and generally being assholes. (Oh, and, also, they’re underage, which is going to add a charge or two to their beer-fueled offenses.)
I’m racking my brains and can’t recall another instance of an athlete getting arrested while attending another sporting event as a spectator. (Any reader who remembers one, please let me know.)
When he's not googling "Irabu strikes out" and "Wakanoho no-no," Matt Taibbi writes for Rolling Stone. He can be reached atM_Taibbi@yahoo.com.
