Sumo in "Freakonomics"

[arnisador]

From a review of "Freakonomics" by economist Steve Levitt:
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/0820nd4.htm

Levitt co-authored a study that analyzed the won-loss records of sumo wrestlers in tournaments and concluded the matches were rigged. Levitt says he didn't hear a peep from the Japanese press — even after sending the findings to the Japanese version of the National Enquirer, which had written about corruption in the sport.

I flipped through it at the bookstore and skimmed this section. Basically, he compared rematch rates and found that wins were not coming at the predicted rate, hinting at pro-wrestling style, or at least quid pro quo, manipulation of the outcomes.

See also:
http://tigerhawk.blogspot.com/2005/05/freakonomics-mini-excerpt-incentive-to.html
http://www.freakonomics.com/blog.php

 

[arnisador]

Guy confuses sumo with American TV wrestling

Russian sumo wrestler Roho became the latest foreign import to land himself in trouble after smashing a window and hitting two photographers in a fit of pique.

The wrestler was given an unprecedented three-day ban from Japan's ancient sport Sunday for throwing a tantrum after a defeat the previous day.