May 20, 2007
I am going to leave out the annoying and that bad, knowing that it doesn't really matter in the end. Rather, I have decided to tell you the way I want to remember what I have seen today. Today I went by subway to the sumo ring to watch the wrestlers do their thing. To see the ultimate in pure male physical exertion. To hear the crack of bones, feel the sweat of the fighters, watch as two men big enough to crush me with their bare hands smash together like trains colliding.
Without a doubt, this spectacle was a feat I would enjoy repeating again and again.
We walked through the doors into the arena and promptly walked all the way to the floor level, 2nd row from the actual ring itself. I sat just to the left of the judge to the north. Seated just behind that judge, I was able to see every pore on the face of the competitors, every bruise and straining muscle, every nervous eye, the sand sticking to their feet, the sweat dripping from their foreheads, and the hair on the back of their thighs... okay, so sitting directly behind that particular judge may not have given me the greatest of views... I did end up looking right at the back side of the wrestler before he crashed into the opponent, but I was very happy to be that close. Close enough to reach out and touch the wrestlers waiting their turn.
Regrettably, I was sick today. I was running a fever as soon as I woke up so after nearly 4 hours of watching and enjoying sumo I had to leave early. I am sad about leaving early. An actual sumo match is everything I have ever thought it would be, and I would gladly do it again in a heartbeat. If I ever get the opportunity to come to Japan and see Sumo again, I know that I will jump at the chance. It was everything I wanted it to be and more, even with all the foreign guys competing.
Keep your eyes open for the sumo matches shown on ESPN this month.... You may just catch us all on film. Because we were there. Second row, center... on the floor.
And our tickets were for the nosebleed seats...
